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REVIEW
Wow again! I absolutely love The Starlight Cottage series. Each book goes higher and deeper into the lives and happenings at Sandy Cove. The Lost Letters of Ireland is an outstanding and beautifully delivered story that grabbed my heart from the first line and even when my eyes were closing to sleep, I kept shaking myself awake so I could learn the outcome of everyone. I devoured it within a twenty-four hour period and savoured every moment I could snatch from my schedule to complete my reading. I felt so many emotions as I watched the major characters of Edwina and Pamela on their journeys but also Shane and Max. The letter in the bottle and the letters in the box created an added sense of mystery and a fun exploration for two of the characters. These, of course, are tied to one of the cottages and lead to other meetings and events.
I love renovation stories and this one takes the five charming Starlight Cottages and delivers them up to a woman who is needing a fresh start after her last relationship disaster. We met Edwina previously in an earlier book of the series and at that time she was not very likeable due to the havoc she imposed on her brother’s life, Max, but here she turns a new leaf and heads in a brave direction—one that sees her coming to a special place of purpose and fulfilment. With the purchase of the five cottages and taking on this massive project, she digs deep and discovers what is truly important in her life and begins to mend fences she has broken. Her brother Max and her mother Pamela are part of that healing process but also her love life is transformed through meeting the handsome, though sometimes difficult, Doctor Shane. She moves away from the flashy trends, the high fashion model needs and soaks in the natural glitter of the stars, the gentle wooing of the moon, the calming echo of the waves and the honey warmth of the sun. Standing on a Starlight Cottage platform, she becomes alive for the first time and discovers there is so much more waiting for her on this solitary shore in Kerry. Certainly more than what she left behind in the lively, cosmopolitan city of Dublin. Her broken heart is mesmerised and transformed by this quaint village and its people. And when her mother arrives unexpectedly, the same wonder and magic of this community begins to transform her, too. But will the euphoria last?
Susanne has a way of lifting the veil in a style of writing that pulls you in, gets you focused on the scenes, characters and events while the outside world falls away into the mist. The view at Sandy Cove is dazzling, bright and blue—and even when the clouds appear, and the sky shakes with rain, that cool fresh breeze that carries the salt from the sea into your lungs will invigorate and free you from despair. This is a place to escape to heal, to see facades evaporate and masks come off. Where lessons are learned about forgiveness, about being true, about letting go of layers of armour. To get down to the basics of life—of natural living by diverting your eyes away from the false glitter – while leading you to the unpretentious beauty of nature where true peace, enters your heart.
You need to read this story. It is the best medicine you can offer your weary, war torn soul. It is a balm from the trials that surround us today. Society has seen hope shatter, trust violated, fears of Covid and other health concerns rise on tumultuous tides. This novel whisks you away from all that to a place of calm, where the setting is breathtaking and where uplifting solutions abound and bring restoration. Yes, there are bumps in the road and even some wild motorcycle rides! But The Lost Letters of Ireland is a breath of fresh air as it offers intriguing insights and transformation through a wonderful cast of characters in the most divine setting. Much like you would experience on a holiday! I highly praise and recommend The Lost Letters of Ireland for it is an unforgettable and profoundly enriching story that deserves even more than 5 Stars. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Many thanks to Bookouture and Netgalley for a review copy.
