I absolutely loved this book. It is an attention keeper from the first to the last page. I really enjoyed the storyline. It’s the first book I’ve read where the profession of the main character was a tattoo artist. But it worked because Samantha Tonge is such a fantastic author.

Never thought I would read a book about a tattoo artist, but just goes to show, don't judge a book by its cover. It was a well written and excellent book by Samantha

Lots of books start off with a character being jolted out of their current life and into a new situation but few people have such a shocking and dramatic change as Lizzie does at the beginning of Summer Secrets at Streamside Cottage. What could possibly persuade a London-based tattoo artist to move to a tiny cottage in a rural setting, and how on earth will she fit it when she does? Was there ever a more fish-out-of-water scenario to open a book?

Well, finding out how this can all possibly work out is the joy of this book, and Samantha does a fantastic job of unfurling a convincing story out of this implausible scenario and making it all make sense. There are family secrets lurking in the walls of Streamside Cottage and Lizzie is determined to weed them out and try and make sense of why she became estranged from her over-protective parents, and why some villagers in Leafdon are so reluctant to talk about the past of Streamside Cottage.

Wrapping up an intriguing mystery with an exploration of family dynamics and what it really means to love and lose another person, this book has so much to offer to a range of different readers. It also seemed early on that the story might have a touch of the paranormal about it, until it took a very different direction. The story jumps backwards and forwards to different points in Lizzie’s life, so you have to pay quite keen attention to the headings at the beginning of each chapter to check what point you are at at any given time or the story won’t make sense, and the time jumps are not linear, but if you do that, the story will flow quite easily. I did have an inkling fairly early on as to what part of the secret might be, but this did not detract from my enjoyment of the book as I was eager to find out if I was right – and the answer was – not 100%!

I loved the fact that Lizzie was a tattoo artist – not something you come across often as a profession in a novel – and Samantha has included a little fact at the beginning of each chapter about tattoos, which tied in with events in that chapter. I found myself googling some of the things she referred to, I was so interested. She had obviously done a lot of research, and it was something Lizzie is very passionate about in the book. After living for 10 years with someone who has a bit of a tattoo addiction and having watched him add to them, I understand how meaningful they can be, and how much thought goes in to them, and this really came across in the writing here.

The storyline of the book is quite complex and dark, and the writing doesn’t shy away from this. I actually found myself in tears close to the end, so this may not be the light and fluffy read people come to expect from this type of fiction. However, this is something that appeals to me, I like the fact that romance novels can address some very personal and intense topics in an accessible way and I think people often underestimate this about the genre. This novel offers the reader a lot to think about during the read, and proved very satisfying.

This is a meaty read from Samantha Tonge, and will be enjoyed by anyone who loves a romance novel that they can get their teeth into.

This was a quick beach read that I thoroughly enjoyed. When Lizzie’s estranged parents pass away there are many untold secrets, including a property she didn’t know about, Streamside Cottage.

I enjoyed the writing in this book and Lizzie’s quest to find out the answers to who her parents really were.

Having read some of those early romances, I’ll admit I was perhaps expecting this book to be a little lighter – but that’s in no way a complaint, because I thoroughly enjoyed the way the author blended dark secrets and thriller elements into this excellent story.

After an over-protected – loving, but a little stifling – upbringing, Lizzie has struck out on her own, training as a tattoo artist, a job she really loves. She’s become estranged from her parents, but their loss in a tragic accident hits her hard – and when she discovers that they owned a property in the village of Leafton that she didn’t know about, left to her aunt in their will, she decides to visit for a while with no particular plan other than to try to understand a little more about the parents she thought she knew so well. The cottage is a little neglected, but she takes solace in its beautiful natural setting – the woodlands, the river, all beautifully and vividly described – and is welcomed by the community, finding a particular friend in postman Ben, along with a nice frisson of attraction. But she’s no closer to understanding why her parents kept the place a secret, although she does uncover all kinds of other details about the cottage’s past.

At first, I was expecting a touch of the supernatural – some of the stories she uncovered seemed to be leading that way. But then – and it’s beautifully led up to – the secrets she really wanted to uncover begin tumbling from the woodwork, and the whole book moved in a direction I never expected. And it’s so well handled – that steady drip as the truth becomes clearer, the glimpses of her past life fed into the narrative, the real surprises as the full story slowly emerges.

At the book’s centre, Lizzie is superbly drawn, and very likeable – independent, a little quirky, passionate about her art and the future she’s chosen – and I really liked the way her character fleshed out as the story unwound, with those early glimpses of her former life and her increasing understanding of the difference between wrapping in love and over-protection. I don’t think I’ve ever read a book where tattooing played such a prominent part either – small facts beginning each chapter, relevant to what follows, that I found simply fascinating – and there’s some really well developed detail about an art that’s often misunderstood and the reasons why people might choose that particular adornment.

The story that emerges is dark and unexpected, but the whole book is particularly well balanced – there’s lightness and humour too, a slow-burning and believable romance, and a lot of warmth in the character interactions. It’s certainly a page turner – and I rather enjoyed the fact that it almost encouraged me to draw my own conclusions about the way the story was going, only to find that I was far wide of the mark. That’s really clever writing – and it certainly kept me on my toes, and rather on the edge of my seat. The final revelations might have been a surprise, but were wholly consistent and believable with the way the story unfolded.

Very different and original, I thoroughly enjoyed this one – and I’ll definitely look forward to reading more from Samantha Tonge.

(Review copied to Amazon UK, but link not yet available)

There is a hefty secret running through this intriguing story which is guaranteed to keep a reader turning the pages.
Lizzie is an interesting protagonist, in that she's rebelling against her cloistered, stuffy and very over-protected upbringing and in doing so has been abruptly forced to stand on her own two feet before she is emotionally or mentally ready.
She's vulnerable, yet edgy, sweet yet damaged, and I absolutely adored her.

Another thing I adored was her job and her creativity. I learnt so much about tattoos and tattooing, and it was fascinating. The mystery at the heart of this story is teased out thrown the pages, slowly, bit by tantalising bit. And as far as secrets go, this one is a doozey! And it keeps on giving, too! Just when you think you've got a grasp on it, it twists and turns in your hands.

Couldn't read it fast enough!

I’ve never read a book about a tattoo artist and I was eager to find out more about this profession. The beautiful cover of the book also drew me in. As I mentioned at the start of this post I was very surprised with this story of love, loss, forgiving, finding acceptance and moving on.

Secrets have a way of coming to haunt you or the people you love and leave behind. Having been estranged from her parents and then finding a family secret, leaves Lizzie grappling with it all. But there’s a certain comfort that she finds among some new friends and a cat in the quaint village of Leafton !

I found the author’s style of storytelling very easy and I was immediately drawn into the story, the setting and being able to identify with some of the characters. The book is has greatly relatable characters and Lizzy herself is a very sincere, loveable character, who has managed to carve a life for herself despite her the somewhat over bearing and over protective parents.

Summer Secrets at Streamside Cottage makes a good read with a great storyline – family, community, secrets, mystery and romance – and great characters.

I’m looking out for more books from this author.

Secrets and tattoos. A little mystery, a little romance, and a whole lot of fun. Lizzie is stunned to hear about the death of her estranged parents. When she learns of Streamside Cottage A place she’s never heard of before she decides to check it out. Lizzie is hopeful that this cottage in this small town will reveal the family secrets and eventually lead to her healing. Lizzie was a great character and I loved her artistic vibe. Also really liked all the little tidbits about tattoos throughout the book, even though I myself will probably never get a tattoo I thought it was really interesting. I have to admit the book was a lot more secret and a lot less summer than I was expecting. But once I got into the meat of the family mystery I was completely invested. Loved this small town and how challenging it was to pry any information out of the residence. A great story filled with wonderful characters and a lovely setting.

5☆ A Page Turning Gem! Not to be Missed!

Summer Secrets at Streamside Cottage is an Engrossing and Enthralling Read, filled with secrets, drama, intrigue and mystery, and I loved it!

First of all I have to mention how much I adored all the Tattoo references at the beginning of the chapters. Especially fitting as the main character is a tattoo artist. I was also excited as I'm finally, after having it cancelled 3xs, due to lockdown going to get my second tattoo! 🥰

OK back to the story, Lizzie has just found out her parents have died in a tragic accident. We're quick to find out that she had a very estranged relationship with her parents but no mention as to why.

So fast forward and the funeral has been and gone and now she is finding out that her parents were hiding a fair amount from her.
One name pops up and that's Streamside Cottage that is left to her Aunt Fiona!

Lizzie's curiosity gets the better of her so she sets out to Leafton, to rent out Streamside Cottage for a lil while to see if she can discover her parents secrets, get some answers and maybe get some inspiration to tattoo again!

But is Leafton all it appears to be?
The residents are a close knit community, where everyone knows everything. But people are very quick to say nothing, when it comes to Streamside Cottage.
Can Lizzie get the answers she so desperately seeks? Will she keep Taz her adorable kitten who she saves? Will she become romantically involved with the devilishly handsome postman Ben?
I guess you will just have to read it to find out 😏

Once again Samantha Tonge has written another Page Turning Gem!
I adore her books and know that whenever I pick one up I'm guaranteed an Enthralling and Compelling Plot, with juicy twists, Endearing and Loveable Characters and a Picturesque Location, and Summer Secrets at Streamside Cottage ticks every single box!

I found this book incredibly difficult to relate to. The storyline was convoluted and the characters unsympathetic.

When Lizzie Lockheart hears of the passing of her parents, who she fell out with years previously, her world is turned upside down. She suddenly realises that she didn’t know them as well as she thought and no longer has all the time in the world to reconcile with them.

I just loved this! I found it to be a very different and unique storyline. The characters are all really well developed throughout the book and you will fall in love with all of them.
As the story twists and turns, the past and present are weaved together so well, you may feel that you know where the story is going but there will be surprises along the way.

The main problem with Samantha’s books is that I want to read, read, read but I also want to slow down and savour them!

I really liked the tattoo aspect of this story and learnt a lot about it and the history behind it.
Lizzie is such a wonderful character, easy to relate to and I love the way she grows in herself as she learns things from her past and learns to embrace new experiences.

I will be looking forward to the next story from this wonderful author.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publishers and most importantly the author, for the chance to read this book, in exchange for an honest review.

This was a great read. If life had left me alone (work, kids, etc) I would have read it in one sitting. I had many theories throughout the book about what was going on but I never guessed the end result. No spoilers here! I loved Lizzie's character and everything she learned along the way and how she was strong enough to follow her heart. I liked how it was told in the present and past and how each flashback took me closer to when the event happened.
** A couple of swears, but otherwise clean.

This is a very original and interesting book that covers some important themes including: family, parenthood, memories and identity, as well as touching on mental health issues.

Once again, Samantha has proved her excellence whilst creating likeable and relatable characters. I really felt like I went on a journey with Lizzie, who comes across as a clever and caring young lady, and I was glad that she eventually got the closure she needed.

This was more of a slow burn read and I have to say it didn’t grip me in the same way the previous book did. However, I do feel that there was a brilliant balance of domestic drama and romance, and I wasn’t expecting that to come across so well.

The ending is executed perfectly, and though some of it was predictable in a comforting and satisfying way, some elements of the ending and the build up to it were completely surprising and unexpected.

Overall, I would describe this is an uplifting and cosy book which has its fair share of secrets and mystery, which is great for nosy readers like myself!

Starting out slowly made me a little unsure of this book. But then things picked up and I was drawn into the story line and couldn’t wait to figure everything out. I loved the secrets, small town vibes, and self growth that rounded out this read!

I loved the main character, Lizzie. I felt like she was relatable and I admired her character growth through the book. I also loved the artistic passion that Lizzie has. The end of this book got me! I love the way the author ended it!

Push through the first part if it seems slow. It is worth it!!

Wow what a read another superb book by Samantha Tonge. This story really packed a punch and I loved the way it unravelled as | kept reading, taking me on an emotional journey
Lizzie is a tattoo artist who is happy with the life she is forging for herself but since a falling out with her parents a few years before she has many unanswered questions. I loved getting to know Lizzie and learn about her relationship with her parents, there are lots of mysteries contained within the pages of this story and once I had started to read I loved losing myself in her story.
When Lizzie decides to visit Streamside Cottage she doesn't realise just how significant this visit will be to unpeeling back the layers of her life to get some answers to questions that she never had a chance to ask her parents.
Set in a picturesque village, Lizzie quickly got to know people in the village and made friends that in turn helped reignite her passion for art and designing tattoos. I personally love tattoos and love this form of expression and the significance of this in the story.
I loved that throughout the story there are little facts and anecdotes under the chapter numbers and looked for them each time. The perfect mix of love, mystery and loss to hook you early on and make you eager to keep turning the pages.

If you look for family drama, intrigue, mystery and romance, in your reading, this story gives the reader all of these with relatable characters and heartfelt emotion. Lizzie, estranged from her parents, is devastated by their unexpected deaths before they can reconcile. The will reading reveals a mystery cottage bequeathed to Lizzie's aunt. Desperate for answers and grieving months later, Lizzie rents out the cottage to discover what it really meant to her parents.

Told in dual timelines the reasons for the estrangement and the reasons for the secret cottage gradually reveal themselves leading up to a climactic final revelation that is impactful and unexpected.

This is a delightfully different book to read. Lizzie is easy to empathise with, and the supportive cast of characters give the narrative authenticity and depth. Told with emotion and sensitivity, this is a story that resonates.

I received a copy of this book from Aria via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

Lizzie is at Streamside after discovering it is a property her parents owned and she knew nothing about it. The house is left to her Aunty when she loses her parents - Lizzie had been estranged from her parents for several years and now she won't have the chance to make up with them or find out the secrest they were keeping from her.
She seems to find her place in the small village, with neighbour Ben and all her new friends. But wil lall that change when she starts to ucover some of the secrets?

Samantha Tonge is my favourite authors, so when I heard her new book is about to getpublished I was absolutely delighted.

The sunshine and blue skies on this gorgeous cover look so sweet and invting that if I asked you what the book is about, you'd never guess it is about dark secrets and digging in the family past. Lizzie is a tattoo artist. She is passionate about her work which more often than not requires empathy and a deeper understanding of her clients' state of mind. She also needs to be focused and concentrated. Something that is difficult to do when your aunt arrives to give you the worst kind of news- Lizzie's parents, from whom she has been estranged for five years, have passed away. They left one of their properties Streamside Cottage in a tiny picturesque village of Leafton to her aunt, who cannot even bear the very mention of it. It appears that Lizzie's parents let an agency deal with renting it out and kept it secret for years and years. But why? Lizzie decides to investigate and what she finds out completely changes her world.

I really enjoyed learning fun facts about tattoos. Every chapter begins with one of them, which of course propmted me to do more research, which in turn helped me understand better Lizzie's fascination with her chosen medium of art. We get glimpses from the past - Lizzie's relationship with her strict parents. Subconsciously Lizzie has always known that there was something off, some secrets (and what secrets they were!). Had her parents made different choices, Lizzie would have grown up having a closer relationship with them.

Small towns and villages make such a great setting for a novel of this kind. People remember things from long time ago, but are often reluctant to talk. Keep reading and you will understand that they are sweet and kind neighbours and Leafton is indeed a lovely community, although the pace of life is very different from London.

Samantha's trademark writing style makes it very easy to follow this intriguing story. I'm sure fans of this versatile author are going to be delighted with this new book.

I have read and enjoyed a few of Samantha’s books. I love the way in which she writes such heart warming and funny feel good stories. I read the synopsis of ‘Summer Secrets At Streamside Cottage’ and it certainly sounded like another corker of a read. Well it certainly was that and so much more. I thoroughly enjoyed reading ‘Summer Secrets At Streamside Cottage’ but more about that in a bit.
As soon as I started reading ‘Summer Secrets At Streamside Cottage’ I knew that I was going to be in for a treat and so it proved. I picked the book up only intending to make a start on it and read a couple of chapters to fill in half an hour but I ended up becoming so wrapped up in the story that I was still sat there reading over an hour and several chapters later. I wasn’t able to read the book over the course of a day because things like life got in the way but any spare time I had, I rushed to get back to this amazing story. I found ‘Summer Secrets At Streamside Cottage’ to be an enchanting and fun read, which held my interest throughout.
‘Summer Secrets At Streamside Cottage’ is really well written. Samantha certainly knows how to create truly lovable characters and she describes them so well that they seem just as real as you and I. For me this story hit the ground running and maintained a gentle pace throughout. I love the way in which Samantha tackles some difficult subjects but she does so in such a compassionate and sensitive way. I felt as though I was part of the story and that is all thanks to Samantha’s very vivid and realistic storytelling.
In short, I thoroughly enjoyed reading ‘Summer Secrets At Streamside Cottage’ and I would recommend it to other readers. I will certainly be reading more of Samantha’s work in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 4* out of 5*.

The main character, Lizzie, is a tattoo artist and the book has wonderful tidbits about tattoos throughout the book.

Lizzie lives in London and has been estranged from her parents for 6 years. She gets devastating news that both her parents have died. She also finds out they have owned a cottage for decades in the town of Leafton which Lizzie knew nothing about.

Lizzie arrives at Streamside Cottage curious and confused and determined to discover why her parents held on to a cottage they didn’t want her to know they owned in a place they wanted no part of.

My Thoughts

I love the main character, Lizzie. She is creative, forthright and a cat rescuer.

The town of Leafton with its unique shops and people add to the charm of this read.

Finally, the secrets themselves and the reason why Lizzie became estranged from her parents are perfectly timed in their reveal.

Extra bonus..there is a sweet romance too!