Secrets of the Cottage by the Sea: An absolutely gorgeous and emotional page-turner
As
Ellie stood on the boat, watching the small island come into view,
she wondered what awaited her on shore. What secrets would she
uncover in this place?
When Ellie
Roberts inherits
a cottage on a remote Scilly Isle, she’s shocked. She’s never
heard of the previous owner, Patience
Ellis,
so why did she leave Ellie her legacy?
Overwhelmed with
unanswered questions, Ellie travels to the isolated island. Windswept
from the boat, salt spray still on her skin, she searches for
Patience’s whitewashed cottage, hidden behind overgrown ivy. But
when she steps inside, the house feels strangely familiar, and she
has a memory of laughing as a child with her beloved mother in the
window seat overlooking the sea… The mother she lost when she was
only a child.
Determined to find out more, Ellie meets enigmatic
local Branok
Shore. While
at first he seems uninterested, he believes he can help. Charmed by
his green eyes, and curious about his past on the island, he and
Ellie grow closer, but Ellie knows she needs to understand her own
story before she can embrace the future. And when Branok prises open
Patience’s dresser, filled with letters from the Second
World War,
Ellie discovers the shocking secret Patience was forced to hide –
and the truth that will change her own life forever.
The letters
tell the story of a brutal storm on a dark night in the depths of
war, and of an injured soldier who begged Patience for help, and
asked her to make an impossible choice…
But the letters don’t
hold the answers Ellie so desperately needs. Why did Patience leave
her home to her? And how can Ellie have memories of the cottage, when
she’s never been there before? When
Ellie finally uncovers the truth, will she be strong enough to put
the fragments of her life back together?
An
absolutely heartbreaking and unforgettable read, perfect for fans of
gripping family dramas, and for those who enjoy the novels of Debbie
Macomber, Fiona Valpy and Nancy Thayer.
A
heartfelt dual timeline romance, set on a remote Scilly isle.
When
Elowen "Ellie" Roberts learns she is the beneficiary of a
will, she's stunned to find out she has to live in a remote cottage
for one year before she can inherit it. Despite objections from her
father, along with her own reservations, she's determined to meet the
terms of the will. During her time at the property, she uncovers
secrets from the past and discovers her connection with Patience
Ellis, the woman to who the cottage belonged.
Patience
Ellis was a force to be reckoned with and a woman determined to live
her life as she saw fit. She made mistakes, yet managed to find
workable solutions to her problems. She was a risk taker but somehow
juggled her life on the remote island she called home.
Set
in the present and beginning during WWII, the narrative tells the
fascinating story of how these women are connected. It reveals
secrets and family deceit but also, the overwhelming pull the island
has on them. The historical aspects are both intriguing and
heart-wrenching, as we learn about young Patience's "Patsy's"
life and the impact the war had on herself and her family. Eighty
years later, Ellie realises the rundown cottage is more than a
renovation project.
The
author is new to me and I'm impressed by how smooth the narrative is
as it alternates between the past and the present. The descriptions
of the island and the life there conjure up images of how life exists
both then and now. It creates both heartbreaking emotions yet is also
injected with humour. A true
reflection
of how life is, with its ups and downs. Ellie and Patsy are endearing
characters, surrounded by an equally warm, and friendly cast and
community. Collectively, they create a delightful page-turner, set
against a stunning backdrop.
Overall,
this novel comes highly recommended.
***arc
received courtesy of Bookouture via NetGalley***
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Rebecca
Alexander was born in Malta and grew up on the south coast of
England, becoming a psychologist. She escaped parenting six children
to study writing in 2011, and the Secrets series
of novels was published in 2013. A
Baby’s Bones and
sequel followed. Rebecca lives in a haunted 300-year-old cottage in
Devon where she grows fruit, paints, and bakes. She reads and writes
all sorts of genres, from women’s fiction to fantasy to crime. She
is married with four chickens, two grandchildren and a cat.
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Twitter: www.twitter.com/rebalexander
Email sign up: https://www.bookouture.com/rebecca-alexander/
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