Secrets of Willow House: A heartwarming and uplifting page turner set in Ireland

Name: Secrets of Willow House: A heartwarming and uplifting page turner set in Ireland
Rating: 4.660377502441406 (159 reviews)

Susanne O'Leary

Mar 2019 · Bookouture

4.7

159 reviews

Ebook

350

Pages

About this ebook

‘What a wonderful read this was!... The definition of feel-good – reading it felt like sunshine… The first ‘feel good’ novel I’ve read this year that actually made me feel good… I just couldn’t put it away.’ Goodreads Reviewer

A heartwarming and moving story about secrets, fresh starts and the power of friendship, set in the wilds of Ireland’s shores.

Maeve McKenna is on the verge of a breakdown. Having worked herself into the ground as a sought-after interior designer in London, she’s in desperate need of a vacation.

Philomena Duffy is a little lonely. After losing her husband, their crumbling mansion, Willow House, feels awfully empty.

With the rugged shores of Ireland calling, Maeve visits her aunt Philomena in Sandy Cove, where she once, as a teenager, kissed a wild, mysterious boy – a kiss she has never been able to forget. The beautiful night’s sky is dotted with stars as far as the eye can see, and Maeve is worlds away from her chaotic life in the city.

As Maeve throws herself into restoring Willow House to its former glory, a deep friendship with Philomena begins to blossom. Surrounded by the faded walls and peeling carpets of the old mansion, together they stumble across a secret that turns their family upside down.

All the while, she can’t stop thinking about the enigmatic boy from her past, and that magical kiss… Is he still in Sandy Cove?

Just as she’s beginning to feel at home, reality calls. Part of Maeve can’t bear to leave Willow House and its rocky beach. Does she have the courage to leave the security of her old life behind, and put down new roots in Sandy Cove, or is that just a daydream?

Fans of Sheila O’Flanagan, Debbie Macomber and Mary Alice Monroe will fall head over heels for this stunning read.

Readers are absolutely loving Secrets of Willow House:

‘Loved this! So many emotional twists I couldn't put this down! Absolutely delightful!... Great read on a rainy day or a vacation read!!!!’ Goodreads Reviewer, 5 stars

‘Lovely!!!... A memorable and lovable cast of characters, a wonderful old house by the sea and Ireland. What's not to love?!’ NetGalley Reviewer

‘Oh, this was a lovely story… A lovely vacation read with plenty of heart and opportunity, choices and chances, and lots of laughter and healing, make this a book that is hard to put down and harder to forget. Grab this for an escape into places that everyone wants: timeless, accepting and supportive, with heart, laughter and love, sure to put a smile on your face.’ I Am, Indeed

‘A great summer read… This book will put you right in the mood for the Irish scenic countryside… If you enjoy heartwarming romances like Cathy Bramley, you'll enjoy this book!’ Goodreads Reviewer

‘I love this story… My kind of fairy tale.’ For the Love of Books

‘This book is exactly what the cover and title promise: a beautiful house and a better beach… You can almost feel the sea air when you read this book. Perfect vacation fare.’ Goodreads Reviewer

‘A story of family, love and the relationships that bring it all together… Read this wonderful book and find out! A book for a rainy day. Guaranteed enjoyable.’ Goodreads Reviewer, 5 stars

‘I loved my time spent at Willow House… Another enchanting read from Susanne O'Leary and I'm delighted to learn it is the start of a series. I can't wait to return to Sandy Cove.’ Rachel’s Randomr Reads, 5 stars

‘Completely delightful!’ Goodreads Reviewer, 5 stars

‘Loved it!!! What more can I say... The author takes us from London the Ireland... Her detailed descriptions of Sandy Cove make me want to transport myself right to Willow House.’ Goodreads Reviewer, 5 stars

‘Brilliant… Transports you to Ireland… I would highly recommend.’ Goodreads Reviewer

Ratings and reviews

4.7

159 reviews

Gaele Hi

March 25, 2019

Maeve is working herself to death in London, as an interior decorator to the stars (and rich yet undecided) she’s working eighteen hour days on an endless day of putting out fires, organizing deliveries and gently coaxing clients toward the ‘best’ choices for their new décor. But she’s now experiencing panic attacks and sleepless nights, and a weight loss that has alarmed her doctor who prescribed she get away and relax for a few weeks. The past few years have been a never-ending round of work, work and more work. But her recent dreams have brought her to Sandy Cove and Willow House, a favorite childhood hideaway owned by her beloved aunt and uncle. She and her sister Roisin had spent many summers there enjoying the simpler things in life, and now with her uncle having died and she not able to go to the funeral, she’s decided to visit her aunt, Philomena, and regroup and recuperate in the old house. A quick visit with her sister to borrow her car and head west, and Maeve is soon in Willow House – the old place is in need of repair and work, and Aunt Phil has discovered a worrying ‘mystery’ amongst Joe’s things, things she couldn’t face sorting through in the years since his death. Willow House has provided everything Maeve needs – scenery, beach, memories from her childhood and a quiet place to regroup as she thinks about the ‘new man’ she met before leaving London, and the Irishman that owns the ‘bookshop’ who stirs her interest and feels ‘familiar’, as well as intriguing. From digging through Joe’s laptop to discovering his real “secret’ that could be the saving of Willow House and all of the repairs it needs, she’s also been coming to grips with Phil’s alone-ness and her own desires to stay in Sandy Cove. Maeve is also finding herself fitting right back in to the way of life at Sandy Cove: swimming, quiet walks to town, reading with Phil to the old ladies in the “communal house’ they occupy, even nights in the pub or stargazing all bring her a sense of peace and home that was missing in London. But, not the most daring of creatures, Maeve is, despite her not wanting to, planning her return to London and the rat-race. Oh this was a lovely story: with Maeve coming up on forty and finding that what she dreamed of as a young girl – designing and decorating - isn’t quite the ‘lark’ she thought it would be, and her boss, with her inability to say ‘no’ to a job, the boss’ increased deterioration of mood, vacillating and overly demanding clients and the expectations that none of her time is her own, have her dreaming of the day when things are different. And, with the push, the opportunity and a promise of something more with the boy who kissed her and disappeared when she was 15, never to be forgotten – she’s taking the chance to start anew in Sandy Cove. A lovely vacation read with plenty of heart and opportunity, choices and chances, and lots of laughter and healing make this a book that is hard to put down and harder to forget. Grab this for an escape into places that everyone wants: timeless, accepting and supportive, with heart, laughter and love sure to put a smile on your face. I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.

2 people found this review helpful

Cathy Ofenstein

July 3, 2022

A nice easy read with loveable characters. I really appreciated the skill used in describing the landscapes and scenery. There is enough description to transport the reader to various places, but not so much that the reader is constantly reminded there is an author behind the curtain.

Jodi Peerman

July 7, 2022

An absolute definite page turner, you brought these characters to life. It was such a heart warming feel good story of how things truly do work out in the end. I'd love to find a place like Willow House one day,and even make a knivkerbocker glory 😊

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