The Girl at the Last House Before the Sea by Liz Eeles - Book Review

The Girl at the Last House Before the Sea by Liz Eeles

Heaven's Cove Book #3 (Standalone)

Publication Date: 28th Feb 2022

Genre: Contemporary Women’s Fiction, Romance

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. 
• 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.
• 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. 

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