The Key to the Last House Before the Sea by Liz Eeles - book Review

The Key to the Last House Before the Sea by Liz Eeles

Series: Heaven’s Cove #4 (Standalone)

Publication Date: 19th Aug 2022

Genre: Contemporary Romance, Women’s Fiction, Small Towns

4 Stars 

One Liner: A sweet continuation to the series 

*****

Nessa Paulson is down on her luck big time. She has nowhere to go, and the temporary stay at Rosie’s Driftwood is not an ideal solution. Grieving the loss of her grandmother, Nessa has to deal with the lack of a job, home, and just about everything. How on earth can she take care of her five-year-old girl, Lily? An unexpected discovery seems like the only solution, no matter how farfetched or difficult. 

Gabriel Gantwich is in Heaven’s Cover on serious business. He has to complete the formalities for his father’s company to clear the land and start building apartments/ houses on Surreal Cove. It shouldn’t even be a problem, but it turns out to be one when Nessa is standing in his way. Her only chance at having a home collides with Gabriel’s business. 

It doesn’t help that Valerie, Nessa’s ex-MIL is a boon and bane of her life. What does one say to a woman who refuses to acknowledge the truth? 

What happens to Surreal Cove and the cottage? Can Nessa hope for a better future? Can Gabriel understand his weariness with life and decide what he wants the most? 

The story comes from the limited-third person POV of Nessa, Gabriel, and Valerie. 

My Observations: 

• I’ve been following the series from book one and love the setting. Though this book doesn’t many recurring characters, it is still a part of Heaven’s Cove. In fact, I see the stories getting better as the series progresses. 
  
  
• The characters are well-etched. Nessa, Gabriel, and Valerie have vital roles. Each of them has a steady character arc. I love the idea of giving Valerie her own POV. It makes the story much more impactful. 
  
  
• Family dynamics and relationships are the major themes of the book. Nessa and Gabriel (in fact, even Valerie) are dealing with family issues in different ways. How they react and respond to the developments affects them and others. 
  
  
• I miss the friendly and nosy characters from Heaven’s Cove. The previous characters do make an appearance, but somehow, it doesn’t feel enough. 
  
  
• I love happy endings, so this is a treat to read. The history of Surreal Cove is used well, though the prologue seems wasted in the overall storyline. 
  
  
• Lily is a sweetheart and a typical five-year-old. I wish she had a wee bit more space in the book. Cute kids are a treat to read about. 

To sum up, The Key to the Last House Before the Sea is a heartwarming story about determination, family, relationships, and doing what makes one happy. 

Thank you, NetGalley and Bookouture, for the eARC. 

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