Book Review: The Lost Secret of Ireland by Susanne O’Leary

The Lost Secret of Ireland


by Susanne O'Leary
Publication Date August 31, 2021
Published by Bookouture
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Genres: Fiction / Romance / Contemporary, Fiction / Romance / General, Fiction / Romance / Holiday, Fiction / Romance / Romantic Comedy, Fiction / Women
Pages: 262
Format: ARC

An enchanting summer romance set on the gorgeous Irish coast, where fresh starts are made, love beckons and secrets are sure to unfold…

In the tiny village of Sandy Cove in Ireland, Ella Caron is trying to recover. When she moved from Paris to a beautiful coastguard cottage on the sea, she wanted peace and quiet and the space to grieve after her mother’s death. She never imagined that her mother’s eccentric best friend Lucille would insist on moving in to keep her company.

With Lucille by her side, Ella finds herself laughing more than she has in years and it soon becomes clear that Lucille has her own reasons for coming to Sandy Cove: she wants Ella to help her move to her own little cottage by the sea. But then Lucille’s son Rory comes to town and her dream is under threat: he wants her in Tipperary, where she can safely grow old in their family home. Ella admires Lucille’s sense of adventure but she can’t help but wonder if Rory is right. Especially when she sees the rickety old cottage Lucille intends to buy and realises that the real reason she wants to escape could turn Rory’s life upside down.

As Ella and Rory get closer, sharing a moment under the stars that feels meant to be, Ella finds herself caught between the man she is falling for and the loyalty she has to Lucille. Ella knows that she must convince Lucille to tell her family the truth, but it may force them to leave her and Sandy Cove for good…

A dreamy Irish romance that will warm your heart and show you that it’s never too late for a second chance. For fans of Debbie Macomber, Sheila O’Flanagan and Mary Alice Monroe.

My Review:

The Lost Secret of Ireland by Susanne O’Leary is a lively, feel-good, sweet romance set in a small town in Ireland.  It is the second book in the Starlight Cottages series, but can easily be read as a stand-alone book.  

Ella is an artist living in a cottage in Sandy Cove, Ireland.  While painting a mural, she slipped off the ladder and broke her pelvis.  While recovering in her cottage, with the help of the local villagers for support, she gets a call from Lucille, her late mother’s best friend.  Lucille sweeps into her life full of energy, eccentricity, and many secrets.  

This is a book about love, families, friendship, and getting older. These characters are very well developed and I enjoyed all of them.  I especially enjoyed the daughter of the neighbor’s five-year-old daughter Amanda.  I liked that the author wrote the character of Amanda in a very realistic way.  She was cute, like most five-year-olds, but also a bit naughty and needy, also like most five-year-olds!  I liked that she wasn’t the picture-perfect girl that so many books describe.  

This book also had a lot of mystery that kept me turning the pages.  There is a bit of a love triangle, but it’s clear from the start who should be with who.  This is a sweet romance, but most of the book is about the relationship between Ella and Lucille.  

I recommend this book to anyone who loves books about small towns and family relationships.  I received a complimentary copy of this book.  The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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