Beautifully written, a story of hope, story of long held secrets that to some may cause heartache, but ultimately frees the soul. The characters are lovely, vulnerable people who all need a second chance, love and redemption. The setting of Heavens Cove is Magnificent, stunning and I want to go back to read the first two standalone books for more views of the Sea!

Having read the first two book in this series, I think that this book can easily be read as a standalone (although the other books were delightful, so why not read them anyway!).

Freya finds herself in Heaven's Cove, at the doorstep of her half-sister Belinda. She didn't have much of a choice, her marriage is over and she has lost her job. She is looking for a fresh start and Belinda has lined up an interview as a live-in carer for an elderly lady, Kathleen. Kathleen is a feisty woman who does need a bit of extra help but doesn't really want it and was steamrolled by Belinda to accept it. Belinda is the biggest gossip in the village and she seems to have very few redeeming features actually, but she IS family and Freya puts up with her. Freya is a sweet, calm, caring woman whose low-key approach to life works with elderly women and teenage girls as well, it seems. Kathleen has a secret that Freya is about to find out about....

Ryan is a widower with a 12 year old daughter, Chloe. Chloe is trying to navigate her way through the world of the teenage girl, which isn't easy for anyone. All those those hormones and bodily changes that you are not sure about etc etc. She wants to be friends with Paige, one of the "cool" girls, whose mother Isobel is a little bit TOO interested in Ryan. Paige and Isobel sound completely dreadful.

Anyway, interesting dynamics here between all the characters, the nice and the nasty ones. Excellent characterisations from the author. I got fully immersed in the world of Heaven's Cove and it was nice to see other characters pop up from the other books too.

Looking forward to reading the next book in the series.

4.5 stars from me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.

I’ve read and loved the previous books in this series and was looking forward to reading this one.

It can be read as a stand alone, although characters from previous books do appear in this one.

Freya comes to Heaven’s Cove after a relationship breakdown and the job she loved doing is no more. Her sister lives there and is known as one not to keep something to herself. Freya moves in with Kathleen as her carer, although Kathleen isn’t that happy about it and her son isn’t either. Soon, Ryan changes his mind about Freya,

But a secret that has been kept by Kathleen bring about a change in Ryan’s behaviour towards Freya?

The story keeps you engrossed and you don’t want it to end. You will need tissues as there are some sad parts throughout.

The characters were relatable, especially Freya and Kathleen and their friendship.

Highly recommend this series.

The Girl at the Last House Before the Sea by Liz Eeles is about Freya, a woman who must start her life over after her marriage has just ended. She moves to Heaven's Cove where her half-sister lives, and Freya starts working for an elderly woman Kathleen. Full of secrets, this well-written, intriguing book will have you guessing until the end.

Loved it. This was a great follow up to the first two books. Heaven's Cove seems like such a wonderful and beautiful place to live. Although, everyone seems to know everyone's secrets and it's hard to keep anything quiet. (Looking at you Belinda.) It was nice to see Rosie, Lettie, Claude and a few others from the previous books. Kathleen had been keeping secrets from her family for so many years and those secrets are what brought her back to Heaven's Cove. Freya was definitely the right person to help Kathleen. Ryan and Freya were perfect for each other. I couldn't understand why Ryan was so mad at Freya for not telling him Kathleen's secret. It wasn't her place to reveal it to him. Kathleen trusted Freya enough to confide in her. Ryan completely overreacted. Freya and Belinda are completely different. I can understand why so many people have a problem with Belinda. She gossips about everything and wants to know everyone's business. Belinda definitely grew on me by the end of the book. I think Isobel is just as much of a gossip as Belinda and much worse. I LOVED Belinda's husband Jim. He's the sweetest man, has the patience of a saint and loves his wife dearly.

Definitely recommend the book and the previous ones in the series. Wouldn't mind reading more books about Heaven's Cove. Hopefully there's a few more in the series. Look forward to reading more books by the author. Loved the cover of the book.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bookouture through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This is a completely captivating novel telling the story of people whose lives had endured terrible heartbreaks. Kathleen is getting older and a sad story emerges from her life years ago. Freya is newly divorced from her husband who dropped the divorce in her unaware lap. Ryan, Kathleen’s son, is struggling to raise his almost teen daughter and get over the guilt he feels from his wife’s death. All three lives converge when Freya comes to Heaven’s Cove to tend to Kathleen. It is a moving and emotional story that will take your heart and hold onto it until the very end.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Although this is the 3rd book in the series I have only read one of the others so I can say that these can be read as standalones. This lovely book was a real pleasure to read and I can't wait for the next one to be released. Liz is a very good author and she writes very well making her books a pleasure to have in your hands. well worth 5 stars.

Thanks to Netgalley and publisher for this e ARC

Although this is book 3 in the Heaven’s Cove series, it can be read as a stand alone. I haven’t read either of the first two books but enjoyed this one and never felt there was anything missing, or something I should know about. I would quite like to read the previous books as I loved the descriptions of the area, set in a small coastal village overlooking the sea in Cornwall, a wonderful setting.

Freya, approaching 40 has not only lost a job that she very much enjoyed, working in a care home, but has suffered a somewhat acrimonious split with her husband too. She is at a complete loss as to where she goes from here, when her older sister Belinda invites her to stay at Heaven’s Cove with the promise of a job opportunity as live in assistant to an elderly resident of the village.

The story revolves around 80 year old Kathleen and her family. Her son Ryan along with his 12 year old daughter Chloe. Freya has always been a good listener and it is this that seems to encourage people to divulge their secrets to her. But for Freya that’s not always a good thing, as you see her getting into more and more awkward situations as a result. Ryan and Chloe aren’t without their own problems too which all makes for a reasonably fast paced story line that keeps you wanting to read more.

There’s a little bit of mystery, lots of family angst from all angles in the plot. It’s a story of a sad past for Kathleen, difficulties for Ryan as a single Dad bringing up his sometimes troubled teenage daughter on his own and the somewhat fraught relationship Freya has with her older sister Belinda. You find yourself rooting for just about every character in the book towards the end, hoping for a happy outcome. I really enjoyed the story.

3.5 stars

This is the second book I’ve read this year that features a small seaside village, and the parallels were quite a few. A cliff overlooking the sea that youngsters use as a diving point, beautiful though old cottages, old secrets, a widower and a divorcee who is nee to the village. But the story line is different of course, and I enjoyed this one almost as much as I had enjoyed the first one.

Freya decides to settle in her half-sister’s village of Heaven’s Cove while reeling from a divorce, and gets a job caring for Kathleen, an eighty-year-old woman with a haunting secret. In spite of her sister’s gossiping nature, Freya ends up liking the village and gets close to some of its inhabitants. But something in Freya’s face makes people want to confide in her and gradually she is burdened by others’ secrets.

This was a quick, easy read with good characterisation. The setting was also beautifully done.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for the ARC.

This is book number three in the Heaven's Cove series and although it can be read as a standalone I would recommend reading the previous books.

This is another well written, heart warming story about family, friendships, secrets and love, with well drawn likeable characters and it will appeal to lovers of women's fiction / romance.

An absolutely wonderful story. This was such a heart wrenching tale. I had high hopes for Freya and Kathleen as they started to live together Freya as carer for Kathleen. Little did I know what would transpire. A secret held for decades causing so much hurt to Kathleen was finally revealed. I loved all the characters and it was lovely to see all the characters lives unfold. A beautifully written story which touched me deeply.

Book 3 in the series, but wasn't lost. Want to read the other books though, as this was a story full of interesting characters and a delightful seaside village. When Freya (love the name) leaves home after the break up of her marriage and losing her job, she is given a chance when her half-sister invites her to come work for Kathleen,, an elderly lady in the village. She also meets Kathleen’s son Ryan, a widower, and his teenage daughter Chloe. A sweet and sad at times story, but found it hard to put down. Highly recommend.

Having read and enjoyed the previous books by Liz in the Heaven’s Cove series I was excited to read her latest book, The Girl at the Last House Before the Sea.

Liz certainly does not disappoint, and this is another amazing book.

Although part of a series, and there is reference to characters you meet in previous books, it can be read alone.

It is a wonderful, engrossing story which I did not want to end. It did however pull at my heartstrings in places and I needed to reach for the tissues.

The book is full of wonderful characters and I particularly loved Freya and Kathleen and the friendship that develops between them.

I am relieved though to learn there will be others in the Heaven’s Cove series.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Bookouture and Liz for the opportunity to read this and I will totally be recommending.

This is book 3 in Heavens Cove series and although it isn't essential to read the previous books , as this can easily be read as a stand alone, you will be missing out on two fabulous books. This is a absolute page turner of a book and completely engaging. Freya moves to Heavens Cove to start afresh after losing her job & recently splitting from her husband. Kathleen, an octogenarian who won't admit to needing help, reluctantly agrees to employ Freya to help care for her on a trial basis. Ryan, Kathleen's son, is none to impressed with the situation, but agrees to the trial. As the story unfolds & we learn about these characters, we also learn they all have secrets. Beautifully written, totally captivating and an absolute must read.

This is book #3 in the Heaven's Cove series. Whilst it is part of a series, you can easily read it as a standalone book. I've read the previous two books however, and it was lovely to return to the pretty seaside village. In this book we are introduced to Freya, who following her marriage breakdown, comes to stay with her half sister, Belinda, in Heaven's Cove. If you've read the previous books, you'll know Belinda as the village's "busy-body", but Freya couldn't be more different!

The book was an absolute delight to read! Not only are the characters and storyline so likeable and wonderful, the location was just perfect with its windswept cliffs and sandy beaches. I loved Freya's character and really connected with her. Belinda and Freya are complete chalk and cheese, and while Belinda is someone you would definitely cross over the road to avoid, I did find myself warming to her as the book moved on.

The story follows Freya as she settles in life caring for elderly village resident, Kathleen, who needs some support as she's getting older. It's told from Freya, Ryan (Kathleen's son) and Chloe's (Kathleen's granddaughter) point of views with snippets of Kathleen's past. It's full of emotional and heart-warming moments which will move you to tears throughout! There are a few storylines running alongside each other, and some deal with difficult topics, but these are all beautifully and sensitively written and connect to each other well.

It's filled with likeable characters (and even a couple of ones you'd love to hate!), but my favourite has to be Belinda's long suffering husband Jim! He seems like such a good man and one whose utter devotion to his wife must make him an absolute saint!

This is such an engaging and gripping read, with a storyline which will tug at your heartstrings and lighten your heart all in one go! LOVED this book and am loving the series! Where will the author take us next? - I can't wait to find out! Would definitely recommend!!

This is the engaging story of a woman whose sister gets her a job as a carer of an older woman. The woman had worked in a care facility that is shut down, and has left her husband. She needs a change.

The story
Freya, at almost 40, is getting divorced when the care home she works at is forced to close when the building is condemned. Her nosy older half-sister Belinda is the self-appointed VIP of Heaven’s Cove. She has arranged an interview with the elderly Kathleen to do live in work as a carer. Kathleen isn’t keen until she realises how Freya can help her, and Kathleen’s son Ryan is really not keen. He feels like it’s his responsibility to care for his mother. But soon Ryan is accepting Freya, and his 12 year old daughter Chloe is too. But will The family’s secrets tear them apart before they are able to truly trust each other?

My thoughts
I really enjoyed the two previous books in the Heaven’s Cove series and was so excited to read this instalment. It’s not necessary to have read the books in order as the characters are different in each, but it is nice to feel like you are revisiting the same seaside town. I enjoyed the historical aspects of the stories in each of the stories, including this one. The budding relationship between Freya and Ryan is sweet, although both seem to be relatively insecure (eeck). A positive is the multiple POV from both Freya, Ryan and his daughter Chloe. A light and entertaining, enjoyable read 👍

4.2 Stars

One Liner: Heartwarming

Freya arrives in Heavens Cove looking for a fresh start. It’s not easy at thirty-nine when she is still recovering from her broken marriage and the sadness of losing a job she loved.
Belinda is a force to reckon with in Heavens Cove. While she keeps things up to date in the small town, her love for gossip and lack of tact make everyone wary of her. It doesn’t help that Freya happens to be Belinda’s half-sister. She’s desperate to get away, and Belinda promised her an escape.
Kathleen is now eighty but can never forget the pain of her past. The Driftwood House has memories she can’t let go of, and hiding the past for so long has been a burden.
Freya becomes a temporary caregiver to Kathleen and stays at home, thanks to Belinda. Of course, Kathleen’s son, Ryan, is annoyed by the arrangement. He and his pre-teen daughter Chloe moved to the town after his wife’s death in an accident. He is torn between caring for his aging mother, earning an income, and trying to deal with a confused 12yo.
After a few hits and misses, they all seem to get together. Kathleen easily warms up to Freya and shares her long-buried secret. Freya knows she needs to help Kathleen. But she also worries about keeping the secret from Ryan.
What happened back then to Kathleen? How does it impact the future? Can Freya and Ryan get another chance at a happy relationship? How can Chloe decide what’s best for her and be an assertive not-so-little girl?

My Observations:
• Like the previous two books in the series, this one has recurring characters but can be read as a standalone (I forgot most of them anyway).
• The writing flows well and keeps the momentum going.
• There are a couple of mandatory vampish characters. No pretense. You see what you get. Pretty much in line with the checklist.
• The leading women are likable and sweet. Kathleen is gritty, vulnerable, and a typical eighty-year-old. Freya is slightly more vulnerable but is assertive enough in her calm way.
• The story alters between Freya, Ryan, and Chloe’s limited third-person POVs. This gives us a good glimpse into the confused state of Chloe. I felt sorry for the poor girl.
• Quite a few miscommunications and misunderstandings happen throughout the book. The saving grace is that none are left too long or stretched. The characters talk and resolve it in a couple of chapters. That’s a relief.
• <spoiler>The book also deals with the Magdalene Laundries-type of the house for unwed pregnant girls. Though it doesn’t take the primary space in the book, it is an integral part of the story. It is yet another reminder of the double standards of society.</spoiler>
• Having read the previous two books in the series, I felt this one was much better written and had stronger narration. Though there are some expected tropes, the story doesn’t drag or feel boring at any time.

To sum up, The Girl at the Last House Before the Sea is a heartwarming story of second chances and building family relationships.
Thank you, NetGalley and Bookouture, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

What a deeply moving story! I am overwhelmed with emotion. It is obvious The Girl At The Last House Before the Sea (book #3 of Heaven’s Cove) by Liz Eeles has been written with great love and respect on a sensitive subject. I do not want to reveal the main secret in the novel, since it is an important part of the plot and character development of Kathleen but I can say that at a younger age, this elderly lady was forced to move from Ireland to England under painful circumstances. Shamed and rejected by her family and betrayed by another, she goes through life feeling less than whole and plagued by remorse. 

After losing her husband and moving to Heaven’s Cove, Kathleen, now in her eighties, faces the re-occurrence of painful memories and heartache from her youth. Realisations and regrets haunt her, often leaving her sobbing alone in her room. Her sadness (along with her age) is weakening her and she can no longer properly care for herself. The town organiser/gossiper, Belinda, tries to convince her she needs help. But Kathleen is determined to remain alone in her frailties and misery-- until Belinda’s half-sister, Freya, comes to town. Freya is fleeing a broken marriage and needs a job and a place to live. She is an experienced care giver for the elderly. After a kitchen fire, Kathleen admits she needs help. Freya appears to be the perfect fit for the job and becomes the new live-in carer but Kathleen’s son, Ryan, is unconvinced. 

The novel opens with a prologue that contains hints of Kathleen’s trauma and a secret that she plans to take to her grave. We are provided with a wide perspective as the story is told through three points of view: Freya, Ryan (Kathleen’s son) and Chloe (his teenage daughter) but during the epilogue Kathleen gets to tell her bit at the end which delivers a beautiful finale. Nobody could read this without shedding some tears as it is so expertly delivered.

Also, part of this magnificent setting is a residence called Driftwood Manor, set high on a cliff overlooking the sea. It is a house filled with many secrets from the past. The walls of its structure stand strong but the memories inside that have been hidden for years are about to surface and the tales it will tell will change lives. But this is an important part of the restoration theme for these secrets must be shaken from their foundations to free burdened hearts. Early on Freya notices Kathleen’s reaction to this place and begins to wonder of its connection to her. Did something happen there to Kathleen? This journey of revelation becomes an interesting one and it unfolds at an appropriate pace, thus keeping us intrigued.

It is also a story about identity and becoming comfortable with who you are and that you should not become someone else to impress others: especially to please those not deserving of your devotion. For a real friend and a truly loving, forgiving family member, would not ask such things of you. 

The issues and hazards of peer pressure are strong in this novel. Valuable lessons need to be learned that trying to become someone you are not will only lead to a path of deceit and heartache. Chloe particularly must learn this for her insecurities were caused by unfortunate events beyond her control. For Kathleen, it is based more on family pressures and public perceptions of the time. Unfortunately, these things caused each of them emotional damage and made them vulnerable to exploitation by others on power trips. Fear of rejection has taken root in their hearts leading to frustration, anger, tearful outbursts, reclusiveness, hiding true feelings, blaming others, blaming themselves, feeling unloved and unlovely. These negative emotions created such bondage that the journey to healing becomes a very difficult one—though not impossible. 

This is where Freya, a wounded soul herself fleeing from a broken marriage, comes to Heaven’s Cove for a new beginning and to see her half-sister Belinda (but brings so much more). These two have never been close. Partly due to their father’s actions that affected each of their lives. But Freya’s broken life leads her to the only person she can reach out to (a family member) and Belinda has offered to help her find a job. Their journey from being an acquaintance to having a deeper and honest relationship is a rocky road, but hope is on the horizon when honesty unveils their wounds. 

In fact, it appears that Freya’s arrival to Heaven’s Cove ends up having a positive effect on many of its residents’ lives but not without turning some worlds upside down first. She becomes the true catalyst for healing. Not only for others but herself, too. So, it seems that this coastal village originally an initial escape for her and others becomes a place of redemption. 

And there are a lot of damaged souls in this story who need healing, including Kathleen’s son, Ryan. He carries his own secrets and remorse for his wife, Chloe’s mother, who has died in an accident. The circumstances surrounding those events, too, have affected him and it becomes clear as to why he struggles to find happiness. But as with each person in this story, he learns about the destruction of secrets and how honesty is necessary to truly become free.

I had never read any of Liz’s books before but I am happy I took this one on. It has been a wonderful author discovery. I feel she has done an amazing job covering the topic of healing and what it would be like to be Kathleen dealing with such life-altering traumas. I also admired Freya for having the courage to move on after her dilemma and how she handled all the secrets everyone placed on her. I felt compassion for Chloe who starts out as an angry teenager making bad choices partly due to the loss of her mother. And with Ryan, his annoying reactions are understandable as he tries to care for his mother and daughter. I am happy to say Liz provides wonderful character development for each (including Belinda). As these characters deal with their flaws and secrets, the reader is left with a satisfying ending.

It is interesting that before Christmas I bought a copy of Liz’s first book in the Heaven’s Cove series. Now I look forward to not only reading it but also adding book 2 to my collection. The Girl At The Last House Before the Sea was such a moving experience, I know I will love the others, too. I became fully engaged with the story and characters at all times. It may be a second chance feel good story, but there’s a tremendous amount of depth and thought below the surface. The heart of this story is genuine compassion and particularly Freya is the one who delivers it. She has quite an effect on everyone. Unveiling secrets is messy business but necessary for change to come. And it does bring a whole new array of experiences--even unexpected love--between siblings, parents and children and two people not looking for it. I highly recommend this unforgettable novel. 5 heartfelt Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Many thanks to Bookouture and Netgalley for a copy to review.

Let me start by telling a little story. A few years ago I was visiting a friend and our kids wanted a burger and fries. I volunteered to go to the local snack bar to get a take away. When I came back I told her something the owner told me. She looked at me and said: ‘ I have been going to that shop every week for about three years now and you know more about the owners than I do…’ LOL

So I understand how Freya is feeling when she says people want to tell her personal things. The only difference is that they never swore me to secrecy. Their stories were more every day events, but I still kept them to myself. That’s what you do when people trust you enough, but what happens when you are sworn to secrecy and you promised you would be open about everything to someone else close to your heart?

It's time to act and make some decisions, but what does this mean for the future? Will be a step toward a bright one or a big leap back to where you came from?

I thoroughly enjoyed it and am looking forward to this author’s next story.  5 stars

Thank you