This is a brilliant holiday read which takes you away to the beautiful Emerald Isle. The author transports you to Ireland with her descriptions of the land and the people.

The storyline itself goes along at a great pace, slow enough that you can enjoy the read yet not so much that you lose concentration. I found myself connecting with all of the characters, that is a sign that the author ‘gets’ her target audience extremely well.

I would highly recommend this to those looking for a great read, whether that be for a holiday or at another time of the year. Many thanks to Bookouture and Netgalley for providing a copy.

This is a great summer read book, especially if you are thinking about going to Ireland on holidays. This book will put you right in the mood for the Irish scenic countryside! The book was a little predictable but if you enjoy heartwarming romances like Cathy Bramley, you'll enjoy this book!

Maeve is working herself to death in London, as an interior decorator to the stars (and rich yet undecided) she’s working eighteen hour days on an endless day of putting out fires, organizing deliveries and gently coaxing clients toward the ‘best’ choices for their new décor. But she’s now experiencing panic attacks and sleepless nights, and a weight loss that has alarmed her doctor who prescribed she get away and relax for a few weeks. The past few years have been a never-ending round of work, work and more work. But her recent dreams have brought her to Sandy Cove and Willow House, a favorite childhood hideaway owned by her beloved aunt and uncle. She and her sister Roisin had spent many summers there enjoying the simpler things in life, and now with her uncle having died and she not able to go to the funeral, she’s decided to visit her aunt, Philomena, and regroup and recuperate in the old house. A quick visit with her sister to borrow her car and head west, and Maeve is soon in Willow House – the old place is in need of repair and work, and Aunt Phil has discovered a worrying ‘mystery’ amongst Joe’s things, things she couldn’t face sorting through in the years since his death.

Willow House has provided everything Maeve needs – scenery, beach, memories from her childhood and a quiet place to regroup as she thinks about the ‘new man’ she met before leaving London, and the Irishman that owns the ‘bookshop’ who stirs her interest and feels ‘familiar’, as well as intriguing. From digging through Joe’s laptop to discovering his real “secret’ that could be the saving of Willow House and all of the repairs it needs, she’s also been coming to grips with Phil’s alone-ness and her own desires to stay in Sandy Cove. Maeve is also finding herself fitting right back in to the way of life at Sandy Cove: swimming, quiet walks to town, reading with Phil to the old ladies in the “communal house’ they occupy, even nights in the pub or stargazing all bring her a sense of peace and home that was missing in London. But, not the most daring of creatures, Maeve is, despite her not wanting to, planning her return to London and the rat-race.

Oh this was a lovely story: with Maeve coming up on forty and finding that what she dreamed of as a young girl – designing and decorating - isn’t quite the ‘lark’ she thought it would be, and her boss, with her inability to say ‘no’ to a job, the boss’ increased deterioration of mood, vacillating and overly demanding clients and the expectations that none of her time is her own, have her dreaming of the day when things are different. And, with the push, the opportunity and a promise of something more with the boy who kissed her and disappeared when she was 15, never to be forgotten – she’s taking the chance to start anew in Sandy Cove. A lovely vacation read with plenty of heart and opportunity, choices and chances, and lots of laughter and healing make this a book that is hard to put down and harder to forget. Grab this for an escape into places that everyone wants: timeless, accepting and supportive, with heart, laughter and love sure to put a smile on your face.

I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.

Review first appeared at <a href=” https://wp.me/p3OmRo-akZ/” > <a> I am, Indeed </a>

Lovely!!! Suzanne O'Leary has given us a memorable and lovable cast of characters, a wonderful old house by the sea and Ireland - What's not to love?!

After a failed relationship and a job that has left her exhausted, Maeve decides a change of scenery is in order and heads to Sandy Cove and her aunt Philomena. Philomena is feeling a bit down herself, rattling around in her decaying home after he loss of her beloved husband. The two women take solace in each other, and Maeve beings to believe she can see a future in Sandy Cove and begins attempting to restore the old grande old home. I love this story for its setting and its characters, the women are the stars of this story and men play only a secondary role. No one is looking for a white knight to save them, and that’s my kind of fairy tale