This is my first Catherine Hope novel. It is definitely a slow-burn romance with a bit of mystery involved.

When Lizzie comes to Savage Cove she is there to start a new life without her beloved twin brother. She promised him she would pursue her travel writing career and find peace in her life. What she found was an intriguing text message, a mysterious disappearance, and a brooding widower who captures her heart.

The love story between Lizzie and Nick is a slow and steady build with moments of joy and promise and then it seems to drag on. They are both broken from the loss of someone close to them which causes hesitation and doubts. It’s frustrating at best and I found some parts repetitive and unnecessary. As for the mystery of the missing person, I found it hindered the story, especially at the end. I could have done without it actually.

If you enjoy sweet and mysterious love stories with lovely characters and gorgeous Pacific Northwest scenery, give this book a try.

Thank you to Ms. Hope for giving me the opportunity to read this book with no expectation of a positive review.

Unfortunately this one just didn’t do it for me. The book couldn’t decide whether it wanted to be a thriller or a romance. There were countless times throughout the story when it seemed to be setting up for some kind of twist and then…nothing. Then the very end of the book was a whirlwind and made my head spin. Most of the book was slow, painfully slow, and I found myself struggling to finish. The story also switched between first person and third person when switching points of view and that just didn’t seem to flow well for me. The idea for this story was good but it seems the execution was just a miss.

An emotional read, the story of Nick and Lizzie. Also a mystery, what happened to the woman in the pictures? A great read.

3.5 stars rounded up. Lizzie is grieving the death of her twin brother. She made him a death bed promise to travel the world and enjoy life. In The Last Message, she is taking a trip to Savage Cove, a secluded beach town on the Pacific Ocean in Washington State. It is one place, out of the many she plans to visit to fulfill her promise to Rob. On the ferry, she loses her phone in the water trying to take a picture of a whale and her calf. She purchases an old refurbished phone until a new IPhone can be delivered to the small store. Apparently the number is also recycled, as she receives a sad and emotional text to someone named Marissa. She wants to know more and begins to research a missing local woman. The next morning, she meets Nick and his dog, Houdini, on the beach. There is an instant connection, but Nick is also grieving the loss of his wife, three years earlier. As they run into each other on the beach, they begin to develop a friendship, that eventually becomes more. Can they both get past their grief, guilt, remorse and more to open up to the possibility of love?

The Last Message was poignant and heartwarming. The reader is aware that it is Nick who sent the message, but Lizzie is not sure and Nick doesn't know that Lizzie received it. This was a slow burn romance, that developed naturally, yet over a few weeks. I liked both Lizzie and Nick, and felt for their emotional issues. There were times I got frustrated with both of them, but they passed quickly. I enjoyed the inclusion of the dogs (Nick's father also has one named Candy) as they were instrumental in bringing Nick and Lizzie together and add some humor to a rather serious story. Having Nick's father and his female friend in the story added a feeling of family that Lizzie definitely needed and helped her decide that maybe Savage Cove was a good place to put down some roots. Catherine Hope is a descriptive writer and I could envision the places that Lizzie was visiting and writing about. Of course no romance is without some angst and roadblocks and there were a few. Once the emotional hurdles were done, there was one big on that didn't work for me. I don't want to spoil the story for anyone, so I will just say that is was almost as if someone said there had to be a twist and huge problem for the romance to work. I disagree. I think the mystery of what happened to Marissa could have ended a bit differently. Up until that point, this was a solid 4 star read for me, but I am dropping off half a star. Again, this is a slow burn, closed door romance with great characters, cute dogs and lots of great places to visit for the armchair traveler. This is Catherine Hope's debut and I will be watching for more books from her in the future.

This was a 3.5-star read for me. The blurb drew me in; the premise was promising and I enjoyed the book but the ending felt rushed and unsatisfying.

After losing her phone to the ocean, Lizzie temporarily purchases a refurbished phone while waiting for her new phone to arrive. That night she receives a text message meant for someone else. The message is intriguing and reminds her of her own grief.

She's in Savage Cove fulfilling the promise she made to her twin brother before he passed away.

Nick, is a widower who lost his wife over three years ago. She disappeared off their sailboat and some people suspected Nick had something to do with it.

They happen to meet each other on the beach when his energetic dog begins to play with her. The attraction is there for both of them. Because of their pasts, they proceed to get to know each other cautiously but definitely falling for each other.

Until the past comes back to haunt them.

Thank you so much to the author, CaffeinatedPR, HeadlineEternal for this ARC to review.

I’m not a big romance reader, but there are a few key elements that will draw me in. Lost letters and the mysterious death of a loved one, are bound to catch my attention.

Luckily for me, both of these elements formed a strong basis for The Last Message. Lizzie, a travel photo blogger and freelance journalist, is using her travels to deal with the death of her twin brother, Rob. She clumsily loses her phone on the ferry to Savage Cove, a small and quaint seaside settlement she plans on calling home for the next six weeks. Unable to buy a new phone immediately, she buys a secondhand phone to keep her on the network while she waits for her new phone to arrive.

When Lizzie receives a text message on her brand-new secondhand phone late at night, she is haunted and intrigued by the message. Obviously a last message. Who sent it? And who was the recipient suppose to be?

On the other side of the coin, we have Nick. A brooding widower who just happens to be a multimillionaire with a very cute dog.

Are these two grieving and searching for happiness souls bound to cross paths? And is there more to the death or presumed death, of Nick’s wife than the obvious facts?

The Last Message is an intriguing love story filled with mystery and a profound sense of hope and redemption.

This was my first Catherine Hope's book, and won't be my last. I loved this breathtakingly well written love story. Nick and Lizzie's story is emotional, thrilling, and intriguing. They are both amazing characters. This is a beautiful slow burn romance, filled with grief, healing, secrets, and mystery. The supporting characters are interesting. I enjoyed it, and I highly recommend it.

In The Last Message, Catherine Hope delivered to her readers a compelling story designed to capture the heart and leaves one believing in destiny, soul mates and the healing power of love. It’s a story of two people’s journey on the road to healing, self-discovery and love.

The Last Message introduces readers to Lizzie and Nick. At the beginning of the story, Lizzie is taking a trip to Savage Cove, a secluded beach town. This trip is one out of many she plans to take in her attempt to fulfill a promise made to her twin brother on his deathbed. A promise which would see her fulfilling the dream she gave upon to take care of him. 

On arriving in Savage Cove, she lost her phone. This led to her receiving a temporary outdated phone while waiting for the replacement she ordered. The same day she received the outdated phone, she receives a text message. Now, based on the contents of the message, she knew it was not meant for her. The journalist within her was intrigued, and she sets out to learn about the person for whom the message was intended.

During one of her many treks on the beach, she meets Nick, with whom she shares an instant connection. Nick and Lizzie like each other, but he is mourning the loss of his wife and Lizzie’s stay in Savage Cove is temporary. This made a relationship between them a challenge. However, while spending time with each other made them recognise they wanted more.... But can their love for each other overcome the grief and guilt of the past?

The story hidden between the pages of The Last Message was poignant, heartwarming and filled with inspiration. When an author has you falling head over heels for the characters, you know you have a winner. Nick and Lizzie are characters readers will have no problem falling for. They have endured so much one cannot help but root for them to find the happiness they so deserved.

The romance that developed was sweet, slow burn, closed door romance. It was a joy seeing how Nick and Lizzie’s relationship developed. It faced many challenges, but love triumphed in the end. Along with the romance, the author included an element of mystery. Although I had a fair idea of what to expect from this aspect of the story, it was still interesting to see how it all unfolded.

Now, as much as I enjoyed the story, it was not without its faults. There were a lot of details, some of which felt unnecessary, and which caused the story to drag in some parts. Also, I wanted more closure as it relates to the mystery element. The perpetrators got off too easily for all the heartache and pain they left in their wake.

Overall, The Last Message delivered a beautiful story of hope, self-discovery, healing, and love.

BLOG TOUR REVIEW


Review for 'The Last Message' by Catherine Hope.


Read and reviewed via Headline Publishers for Catherine Hope NetGalley and Headline Eternal Publishers.


Publication date 11th April 2023.


This is the first book I have read by this author.

I was originally drawn to this book by its stunning cover and intriguing sounding synopsis and title. I must admit I was also biased due to the publisher being Headline Eternal. I have yet to read a book published by Headline that I haven't enjoyed. Hopefully this won't be the first... Watch this space! (Written before I started reading the book).


This novel consists of 50 chapters. The chapters are short to medium in length so easy to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!


This book is based in the fictional Savage Cove, Washington, USA 🇺🇸.

This book is written in a mix of third and first person perspective and the protagonists are Lizzie and Nick. The benefits of books written in first person perspective are as long as they are well written it makes you feel that you are being spoken to by the protagonist and it can create more of a bond between yourselves and them. If there are several protagonists you also get to see more of what is going on. The benefits of third person perspective with multiple protagonists are that it let's you see the bigger picture of what's going on and you get to know more characters more, what they are thinking and what they are doing. It feels like you get to see the whole picture and not miss out in anything. To have the benefit of both first and third person perspective ensures you don't miss out on anything.


'The Last Message' discusses some topics that may upset some readers or may not be suitable for others. I like to point this out ahead of time in my reviews so you can judge if this book is for you or not. In this book Catherine discusses/includes cancer and loss.


WOW!!!! What can I say?!?! One thing I have got to say before getting into my review is clear your schedules and grab the tissues as you will need them!!! One of the most STUNNING books I have ever read!!!


This book is beautifully written with vivid descriptions setting the picture perfectly in the readers mind. The title, description and cover works perfectly with the storyline.


This book is a stunning story of loss, love, grief and moving on with life. It is an absolute rollercoaster ride of emotions filled with heartbreak, family, love, loss, secrets, friendship, caring, moving on, and so much more. Catherine's writing and descriptions are so evocative I really felt I was right next to both Lizzie and Nick the whole time. While you are reading you can feel the sand on your feet, smell the sea air and taste the delicious treats from Sol. Reading this book really does make you feel that you are standing with Nick and Lizzie and going through their pain, love, struggles and suffering. While you are reading this you are going through a journey of love and loss, heartbreak, secrets, love, anger and forgiveness and so, so much more. It really is a rollercoaster ride of emotions. I was utterly glued to the pages and I could not bring myself to put it down. I was carrying the book to read it every chance that I got and I had tears absolutely streaming down my face several times and both happy and sad!! Lizzie is heartbroken after losing her brother Rob to cancer and is determined to keep her promise to him to live her life and travel the world. Nick is heartbroken after losing his wife 3 years ago and still hasn't got over the way it happened. Lizzie loses her phone on the ferry over to Savage Cove and receives a text message from an unknown number that changes her life. Nick is walking his mischievous dog, the aptly named, Houdini when he bumps into Lizzie. They end up bumping into each other more and end up meeting on the beach on several occasions. As their feelings towards each other grow and develop they both hide secrets that could tear everything apart. This book is a stunning story filled with emotions about love, self-discovery, hope, healing and grief that sweeps you onto the stunning Savage Cove where secrets are held, hope is given and lives are changed. Catherine made Savage Cove come alive and portrayed the Cove perfectly. perfectly, I would absolutely love to see Catherine bring Savage Cove back to life in another of her stunning books and I am keeping my fingers crossed that she will live. I was devastated when I turned the last page and realised I had come to the end of my holiday there and had to unpack my suitcase and return to rainy Wales!! You need to clear your schedules and get the tissues at the ready because you will not be able to put this book down and devour it in one sitting like I did!!! I was gobsmacked by the twist at the end which I did not see coming so a HUGE congratulations Catherine for managing to shock me. It isn't an easy feat as I have read so many books of different genres that it gets harder and harder to not work out what is happening, especially in romance books so a huge congratulations is in order!! This is one of those books that will stay with me for a long time and I cannot wait to jump straight into the next book by this amazing author and have already added all her books to my wish list. This would make a stunning movie and a gorgeous series (Hint, Hint Catherine ;) !!

Clear your schedules as you will not be able to put this stunning page turner down!!


The characters are strong, well rounded, realistic and I became completely invested in both Lizzie and Nick. I felt each of their pain, heartbreak, betrayal, guilt , anger, sorrow and so much more. My heart broke for each of them who went through so much change and more (but I can't say more as I don't want to spoil the storyline for anyone) . Both of them were such strong protagonists that willl stay with me for a long time!!! My heart went out to Lizzie after she lost her brother, then her phone and ended up questioning what to do as her life changed on Savage Cove. She did annoy me on several occasions when it seemed she was quick to run away from what was happening and when she refused to let other things happen as she had made a promise that, personally, I think she took too literally. However, I really liked her character and loved watching her relationship with Nick develop throughout the book. I absolutely adored Nick who is sweet, loving and a genuine guy. My heart tore apart for him when a certain event happens, sorry for the tease but you will just have to get your copy to find out what I mean but I can promise you, you wont be disappointed!!! I have got to mention the absolutely adorable, but the very naughty Houdini!!! I am a huge animal lover so any pets and animals in books get bonus points for me and this on e gets extra because he is such a big part in this story and because he is such a wicked chap!! I also adored Nick's Dad Walter who is such a handsome and sweet gentleman who says it as it is and his adorable dog Candy. It is so sweet how close Nick and Walter have and is lovely to see how they look after and protect each other. I also enjoyed getting to know Claire who Lizzie meets in Sol after watching her on several occasions when she is enjoying a drink absorbed in a book herself. Walter and Claire are both lovely characters who both have a wicked sense of humour!! I loved the majority of characters in the book and there were only two that I could not stand but I cannot name them or say any more as it will give too much away but when you have read this amazing book feel free to message me and share your thoughts on them with me!! Regardless of how I felt about the characters they all worked perfectly together to make this gorgeous book an unputdownable memorable one that will send you off onto a stunning holiday away to Savage Cove!! Catherine did a fantastic job of bringing each and every one of them to life and I would love to meet them all (well, almost all) again. Another hint Catherine!!


Congratulations Catherine on an absolutely stunningly beautiful unputdownable book!!! I am looking forward to reading more of your previous and future books. I would absolutely love to see this book and series turned into a movie!!! Welcome to my favourite romantic author list and here's to your next success 🥂


Overall an absolutely unputdownable, thought provoking, addictive and compelling beautiful, heart-warming book about grief and moving on with a twist you wont see coming!!!



Genres covered in this book include Women's Friendship Fiction, Women's Contemporary Fiction, Women's Domestic Fiction, Contemporary Romance, Women's Romance Fiction, Romance, Romance Novel, Family Drama, General Fiction, Contemporary Women's Fiction, Domestic Fiction, Literary Fiction, Women's Fiction, Contemporary Fiction, Women's Literary Fiction, Romantic Comedy and Contemporary Romance Fiction and amongst others.



I would recommend this book to the fans of the above as well as fans of Fiona Valpy, Lucinda Riley, Barbara O’Neal, Jojo Moyes, Debbie Macomber, Susanne O’Leary, Pamela Kelly, Nancy Thayer. Amanda Prowse, Diane Chamberlain and anyone who loves a page turner.



416 pages.


This book is just £2.99 to purchase on kindle and £10.99 in paperback at time of review, via Amazon which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!!


Rated 5 /5 (I LOVED it ) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Amazon US and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook.


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DNF

The book is exceedingly long for a very guessable plot. It's obvious Marissa is Nick’s wife, and the revelation will cause havoc between unexpected friends who will soon become lovers, Lizzie and Nick. And that's something I knew at 19%. Even if that doesn't happen, the guessability takes points off the book’s charm, and even the setting and abstractly monotonous monologues of Lizzie’s day at Savage Cove don't enchant me. It might be for those just stepping into the mystery genre, but that's a very specific and tiny niche to target. The book isn't for me, and I don't see myself picking it up again anytime soon.

3.5 stars

The Last Message is a story of loss, healing, and finding love again.

Lizzie and Nick have both lost people close to them. Her brother died and his wife disappeared and is presumed dead. When they meet and connect, both in person and via text, there is unexpected chemistry. However, there is a lot for them to work through.

I liked the premise for this story and thought it was interesting to see how Nick and Lizzie's relationship developed. The pacing was a bit slow at times, though, and I was surprised by the switch between first and third person narration with each POV. Overall this was a nice read from Catherine Hope.

The Last Message is quite an emotional read. Lizzie is fullfilling her late twin brothers wishes and travelling the world when she receives a message thats clearly not meant for her. Nick's wife disappeared 3 years previously, and is now presumed dead. By chance Lizzie meets Nick on the beach. Despite their loss's they are attracted to each other and as they say put a toe in the water and slowly slowly explore where this relationship could go. Lizzie doesn't tell Nick about the message and eventually works out that Nick sent the message to his Wife. Lizzie and Nick's story is a long, slow burn with an element of mystery. There were a lot of places which just felt way to slow, with the author going into detail about the surroundings and the story grounding to a halt for a while before picking up again, which in my opinion made it difficult to stay interested.

I was excited for this one especially because of the cute cover and a cute title. But the two different POV’s styles was confusing and didn’t add to story at all. The character’s didn’t capture my attention and I just couldn’t make myself care. Besides the whole phone situation the story felt similar to many others and didn’t stand out. I might have given it a higher rating but the different POV choice sharing the same page wasn’t a good choice and took away from the story.

Thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher for the ARC.

My first from this author and sadly it most likely will be my last. The premise was very intriguing with Lizzie finding a message from a man to his presumed wife/lover on a refurbished cell phone and the way her discovery of its former owner changes her life forever. Lizzie's burgeoning relationship with the closed-off Nick is a sweet one and I did enjoy how their romance unfolded. The addition of the mystery of the cell phone made for a multi-layered story but sadly the book lost its way more than once with Lizzie's silly reactions and the sudden appearance of a long-lost 'love'.

In fact, the last 1/4 of the book was downright ridiculous and could have been so much better with more sensible reactions from Nick, Lizzie and the mysterious person who wants to wreak havoc on their lives. I was hoping for more and was disappointed about how the story ultimately unfolded. It almost seemed as if the author didn't know how to tie things up and made it way easier than it should have been for our couple to find their happily ever after. And it's too bad since I did like the first part of the book and how Lizzie and Nick both find each other and are able to unload the burdens that have plagued them. But overall, the story just wasn't for me.

2.5 stars.

The premise of this book held such promise, but the execution was just so poor. It flip-flops between first and third-person POV, which I found to be an odd creative choice on the author's part since it made things confusing for the reader. And the ending was so rushed and forced and.... not even resolved. What was the point?

Skip it.

I received an advance reader copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review as part of the book tour hosted by Headline Books.

I never seem to manage to read many romance books, and so u jumped at the chance to review this one. The Last Message is a tender and sweet, cosy love story with some mystery mixed in.
Lizzie is fulfilling her twin brothers dying wish that she travel, see the world, and make a career doing what she loves in the process. When Lizzy arrives at her latest location, Savage Cove, she accidentally drops her phone into the depths of the ocean and has to buy a cheap, ancient one for emergencies until her new phone arrives. That night, Lizzie received an emotional message from an unknown number that she then can't stop thinking about. The next day, as she strolls along the beach, Lizzie meets a playful dog and his master Nick and is instantly drawn to him as he is to her. When Lizzie begins to question who the missing woman is in a photograph at the local cafe, she falls in love with and her mysterious death, things become complicated and fractured. But can she decide what she wants and make a decision before it's too late.
This was such a sweet story with a wonderful fun and likeable cast of characters, and I just loved Houdini, the dog! I will definitely be reading more from this author.

This was a very slow moving novel. So slow in fact that I couldn't complete it. I have seen that others have enjoyed it, however, it just wasn't my cup of tea.

What a beautiful book.
I loved going on Lizzie’s journey with her. From losing her phone, to meeting Nick and beyond. I was fully invested in where the promise would take her.
Both Lizzie and Nick are dealing with a myriad of emotions including grief and guilt, but meeting each other brings a happiness to their lives they have been missing.

What I enjoyed most was how invested I was in both Nick & Lizzie. And with dual POV it gave the perfect insight into their emotions and what was driving them.
Oh, and that mystery. I was completely intrigued and extremely torn. I was loving reading about this new love, but equally wanted to know more about the Lady of the Sea (as Lizzie named her). It was brilliant.

I wished I lived somewhere like Savage Cove. It sounds like a little piece of heaven of earth especially with a cute little cafe. ☕️🥰

The reason I can only give 4 stars is hard to explain without giving any spoilers, but it felt a little rushed & left me with questions.

Overall, I loved this book. A gorgeous book about loss, self-discovery and love.

Thank you, Felicia from Headline Publishing Group, for reaching out and providing me with a physical copy & to NetGalley for making it possible for me to request the book in the first place.

I'll start by saying I'm a bit surprised at the low rating people are giving this book. It is rather slow paced, but I felt like that went with the whole vibe of the story...meandering on the beach, sitting and watching the sunset, etc. There were parts that could have been minimized, like when Lizzie was off on her own little trips. I'll also say that I love the cover.

This is a story of recovering from loss. It is a story of learning to love and letting go of hurts caused by those you love. The losses of Nick and Lizzie were different, but each had hurting hearts. Their coming together was gentle, but totally heartfelt. They fit well and made for a great couple. The dogs
and the secondary characters were an added bonus. I was totally caught up in this story.

Thanks to Grey's Promo and NetGalley for the gifted copy. All thoughts are my own.

The Last Message is one of those emotional reads that keeps the intrigue going through the story. Lizzie and Nick both have been through a lot in their past and so their meeting seems serendipitous. I loved how they kept bumping into eachother on the beach - a favourite place of mine to unwind and relax.
Grief and moving on play a big part of this story and I found both characters easy to empathise with. The twist reveal was cleverly done and added a little suspense to what is a lovely romance.