Dreams of the Cottage by the Sea: A totally gripping and emotional page-turner (The Island Cottage Book 3)
Rebecca Alexander
324 pages
Bookouture
published April 4, 2023
About the book
As the waves crash against the boat, Nicole wonders if the island will be as magical as she remembers… Will it offer her the new beginning she’s been searching for?
When Nicole finds herself in need of a new start, she instantly thinks of Morwen Island. She remembers the beautiful, remote place from her student days and, as she thinks of its cobbled streets and salty sea air, she wonders if this might be the place where she can begin again…
As she settles into island life, Nicole begins to feel like her old self. And when a knock on her cottage door brings handsome local Josh, who she remembers from her time on the island, she is instantly attracted to his charming smile. With their shared passion for the island’s wildlife, they spend more time together, and soon Nicole finds it hard to ignore her growing feelings. But is her fragile heart ready to embrace the possibility of love once more?
When Josh suggests they investigate the supposedly haunted old house where Nicole lived as a student, she is forced to put her feelings for him to one side. She recalls the past heartache she felt there all too well and, as she looks up at the crumbling old building, she wonders whether the locals are right. Does the house still have secrets to hide?
As she explores, Nicole learns about the women who lived there during the Second World War, a long-forgotten family secret, and a loss that will break her heart…
As Nicole pieces together what really happened during the war, she feels a stronger pull to the island than ever before. Will she be able to uncover what became of the women who lived in the old house? And, if she does, will she learn from their story, and open her heart to a new life with her one true love on Morwen Island?
An absolutely heartbreaking and unputdownable read, perfect for fans of gripping family dramas, and for those who enjoy the novels of Debbie Macomber, Fiona Valpy and Nancy Thayer.
My Review
I read the second book in the series and loved it, so I jumped at the chance to read this one. I love the setting of this series. I live so far from water and can only imagine the beauty of seeing it every day. I love that series explores the restorative power of the small island setting. While this works as a stand alone book, there is a treat of seeing previous book’s characters as you read this one.
I like the dual timelines and how they tie together with Nicole and Josh researching the history and secrets of the island. It explores how grief, trauma and scars both physical and mental are healed. How there is hope in the midst of a struggle. I usually favor one timeline over another when there are dual timelines and in this one I found myself immersed in both of them.
This was a refreshing and uplifting read for me. Such the opposite of the crime and mystery thrillers I read that are full of the bad side of life. It was nice to read and root for Nicole to get her fresh start.
About the author:
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.
Author social media:
Twitter: www.twitter.com/rebalexander1
Email sign up: https://www.bookouture.com/rebecca-alexander/
Leave a Reply