The Last Song of Winter

by Lulu Taylor

Set off the coast of Wales between the 1940s and present day, The Last Song of Winter is a beautiful, romantic story from the author of The Winter Children.

'Completely unputdownable, every Lulu Taylor novel grips you to the very end' – Lisa Jewell, author of None of This is True

'A book to lose yourself in as nights draw in' – Gill Paul, author of Scandalous Women

'Lulu Taylor is the Queen of winter fiction' – Veronica Henry, author of How to Find Love in a Book Shop

An island full of secrets. A truth that could change everything . . .

1940 Young and romantic, Veronica cannot help falling in love, even with unattainable men like handsome film star Jack Bannock. Her other passion is St Elfwy, the windswept jewel of an island off the coast of Pembrokeshire. It becomes her retreat, a refuge from war and a place to recover from lost love. But even peaceful St Elfwy cannot prevent tragedy and heartbreak. . .

Present When Romy arrives on St Elfwy, now a bird sanctuary and retreat, she only has the enigmatic warden for company. As she devotes herself to understanding the lure of this beautiful, haunting place, she is drawn into the past and the tale of Veronica Mindenhall. The island hides stories of betrayal and loss, as well as redemption - but it is a perilous path to discover its secrets . . .

Winner of the RNA's Historical Romantic Novel Award

Praise for Lulu Taylor

‘A beautifully written, emotionally compelling story’ – Daily Mail

‘Utterly compelling. A really excellent winter’s story’ – Lucy Diamond, author of Anything Could Happen

‘A hugely enjoyable, escapist treat’ – Daily Mirror

Genres: Historical Fiction, Historical, Fiction

468 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 21, 2024

About the author

Lulu was brought up in the Oxfordshire countryside, attended a girls’ school and then went to Oxford University, where she read English Literature. After university, she worked in publishing for several years, before becoming a novelist.

Lulu says of her books: ‘I’ve always adored stories of the rich and reckless at play, everything from The Great Gatsby to the brilliant blockbuster novels of the 80s. It’s fantastic escapism, and I’ve always loved creating my own stories of adventure, romance and luxury. My heroines are often very privileged and blessed with great looks and good health – but that doesn’t mean their lives are simple – far from it. They go through plenty of drama and suffering before everything is finally resolved.

‘Sex, love, beauty and money have always entranced us, and one way or another are the basis for just about every story ever written. There’s plenty of all of that in my novels, along with high fashion, which I love. What’s more, writing about fashion means I can go virtual shopping, dressing my heroines in all the wonderful clothes I adore – the racks of Marchesa ball gowns, the shelves of Louboutins, mountains of Chanel bags and acres of Dior dresses... it’s lots of fun. The stories can also get quite racy at times. It’s all about entertaining and amusing the reader, and enjoying being inside my characters’ glamorous, rarefied existence. ‘I’m always thrilled when someone enjoys reading my book as much I enjoyed writing it.’

Lulu now lives in West Dorset near the Somerset border, with her husband and two children.

Reviews

[Tri✿ · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story bounces between two timelines—about two women drawn to a mysterious island off the coast of Pembrokeshire, Wales. Romy’s story, set in the present, focuses on healing and survival, while Veronica’s journey in the 1940s explores the aftermath of war and the pursuit of her dreams.


I was captivated by how suspensefully the island is depicted—a remote, windswept place with a rich history. Once home to a haunting monastery, it now serves as a bird sanctuary. The isolated, atmospheric setting plays a major role in the story, making you eager to uncover the island’s secrets. It was never dull. I also thought the little insights about birds sprinkled throughout this book is a unique touch to the story.


The characters were well thought out, each carrying their own emotional struggles and heartache. The balance of historical fiction with emotion, mystery, and nature was beautifully done. 



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💬 

‘Let’s say you are only ever given vegetable soup, cheese and bread to eat your whole life. You would stay alive, perhaps even like it . . . but you would never know the joy of eating the finest food in the world, all the exquisite flavour and choice, the art of cooking, the pleasure and sophistication in the finest things . . . the enjoyment that marks a life truly well lived.’


💬 

They couldn’t all use bombs and guns and planes. Some of them had to use words, and ingenuity and talent and laughter, and a multitude of tiny acts of faith, charity and kindness to defeat the enemy. 


💬 

‘Be careful,’ [..] had said, ‘of trying to fix other people’s problems for them. Watch out for feeling their pain more than you feel your own. It might feel like a good thing to do, a caring thing to do. But you can’t fix other people, that’s not your job. If you want to help them, you let them know you’re there, that you care for them in their struggle, that you have faith in them getting through it. But that’s all.’


💬

Something I’ve learned is that everyone knows suffering, one way or another. Everyone you walk past in the street, or sit next to on the bus, or who’s drinking a coffee on the next table in the cafe . . . they’re all suffering. And if they’re not, then they have been, or they will be. Pain helps you learn to be human, to accept other people’s humanity. If it doesn’t do that, then you have a big problem. The people who feel pain and become less human and less kind – those are the people you need to avoid.


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[Jo Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Happy publication day 🥳🥳
In 1940’s England we are introduced to 17 year old Veronica, the daughter of a theatrical and quite well heeled couple, war is looming but it is decided that Veronica should still be allowed to attend finishing school in Paris. She is particularly keen to get away as she is harbouring a love for family friend Jack Bannock, a singer and actor who she soon discovers is in love with another man. In Paris she meets and strikes up a beautiful friendship with the slightly older more glamorous Irene.

Modern day, Romy seeks solace after years spent dealing with mental illness, and a yearning to rediscover her talent and finally get down to writing, she applies to the committee of a small island to use their cottage for a few months.

The island itself is not only remote, but it is the natural habitat for many species of birds, and is therefore protected and maintained by Richard.

The two women’s stories enter-twine in a beautiful way, infact Veronica’s father once owned the island, and whilst in hospital Romy discovers a film made there, hence a longing to be there.

What transpires is the unravelling of a mystery years kept under lock and key, there are several twists and turns along the way that make The Last Song of Winter a poignant and heartfelt winter read/listen.

The island setting is hauntingly beautiful, and considering my irrational fear of birds and the fact that the island is a sanctuary it was really quite something that I longed to be in that remote cottage.

I absolutely loved the sound quality of the audio, it was very fitting of the time for Veronica’s chapters, it would’ve been a nice touch if it had varied a little for Romy’s chapters I thought, but really that’s only my tuppence worth. Lovely job by the narrator.

Personally I feel that the synopsis could be tweaked very slightly to better fit the story, and perhaps garner more interest, but I rarely read a synopsis- I came back to it in a brain fog moment where I couldn’t remember the name of the stunning island. So again that’s me throwing my own opinions in when nobody asked for them.

Overall a very well deserved 4 🌟 jam packed full of heartache; loss, mystery and intrigue.

My thanks to MacMillan audio and NetGalley for the opportunity to review this ELC

[Maddie Erskine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I do love Lulu Taylor books, and this is no exception. A dual timeline which tells the story of Veronica in 1940s and Romy in the present day. Veronica’s story is fascinating, following her childhood through her teenage and adult years. Touches on gay love, which was forbidden in those days, unrequited love, tragedy and so much more. Romy is recovering from a mental breakdown and isolates herself on Veronica’s remote island bird sanctuary to write her book, which in turn, leads her to uncover the story of Veronica and her fascinating life. A wee bit too much about the birds for me, although I learnt quite a lot in that regard lol, otherwise an engrossing storyline, as always.

[Joanna Park · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Last Song Of Winter is an absorbing, gripping dual timeline book that I thoroughly enjoyed.

The story follows Veronica as she negotiates growing up during world war 2 and Romy in the present day who has travelled to the island Veronica lived on to escape from recent events while finding out more about the Island’s history. Out of the two timelines I did slightly prefer Veronica’s story as I’ve always loved stories set in the Second World War but I did find Romy’s story fascinating as it was interesting to learn more about Veronica through her discoveries. I quickly warmed to both the girls and found I really enjoyed learning more about their stories. Veronica was a tad irritating at the beginning as she seemed very immature but I think this was a reflection of her age and sheltered upbringing as she soon grew on me.

I thought the book had a great pace to it and there always seemed to be something happening to keep me reading. With the benefit of hindsight I could guess at what might happen to some of the characters, especially in Veronica’s storyline, but that just helped add to the gradual increase in tension about what might have had on the island. There were lots of surprising twists and revelations that helped keep me glued to the page. I loved following the two storylines as the slowly joined together and all the secrets where revealed.

This is the first book I’ve read by this author but I’ll definitely be reading more in the future. Huge thanks to Maya from Pan Macmillan for inviting me onto the blog tour and for my copy of this book. If you are a fan of dual timeline mysteries then I highly recommend this book!

[Jo · Rating 4 out of 5]

This dual timeline novel follows a young woman around the time of the Second World War and another in present day, both with a connection to a remote island off the Welsh coast. A lovely story in some respects with some aspects of mild peril.

[Charlotte Chaps · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 - 4 stars

[Ellie · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 this story is set over 2 time frames (ww2 and present day) with the story weaving between the characters. Whilst I became invested in the character development of the ww2 story, the present day story and characters were hard to engage with. Especially the obvious nature of the red flag character and the ties between the 2 storylines towards the end.

[Lydia Bailey · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5*The Pembrokeshire coast setting of this book is sublime & I really enjoyed the overall story and the use of the dual-timeline. I also like Lulu Taylor’s writing style & characterisations. What spoilt it for me were the increasingly bizarre/unbelievable events which added up to a slightly surreal ending. Still an enjoyable read but a bit of a wacky one!

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This dual time story has a main setting of a private island off the coast in Pembrokeshire but also flits between Paris and London. Veronica’s story starts in 1938. The daughter of an actress and a playwright father, she has a privileged albeit sheltered life and like any 16 year old young girl has her crushes however it is not until she lives in Paris that she finds love.

In the present day Romy has been given permission by the island’s trustees to occupy a cottage on St Elfwy whilst she writes her book. Romy seems rather a fragile character, recovering from health issues however she has not been completely honest with the Trust about her reasons for staying on the island.

As much as I was intrigued by Romy’s present day timeline, it was Veronica’s story that hooked me. Her time in Paris is very much a coming of age, with the encouragement of supporting characters like the enigmatic Irène. When war separates Veronica from those she cares most about, it is her beloved St Elfwy that provides her with comfort and peace, at least for a while.

Veronica and Romy are the main characters however there are many supporting ones who also play their part in this story of love and tragedy including handsome crooner Jack, the rather unpleasant playwright and actor Oswald Grey and Richard, the island warden. The island of St Elfwy was a character in its own right, having become not just a bird sanctuary but also a retreat albeit with its own history of death and danger.

I very much enjoyed the way the two timelines came together with some surprising revelations. Although initially I felt that Romy’s main purpose was to be a vehicle to expand on Veronica’s life, she was nevertheless an interesting character who despite her fragility showed a surprising strength of character in the face of unexpected events.

With its background themes of heartache, love and betrayal, the 550 pages of this intriguing and haunting historical novel flew by. Superbly drawn characters, vividly described locations and a storyline of intrigue and drama, make this one to recommend. This is the first book I’ve read by Lulu Taylor – I’m delighted to see she has an extensive backlist. I’ve already purchased another to read.

[Liz Chapman · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first chapter in this book with the 1930 s teenage angst and passionate crushes on men I found boring . The book did improve moving between the present day and post war Paris and Britain and began to get interesting. I wanted to find out what happened to the various characters in the book but on the whole they didn’t seem real . It was all too fictionalised with pockets of reality such as the birds on the island . Ok it was fiction but rather light and fluffy .

[Erika · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another absorbing novel from Lulu Taylor, again spanning 2-3 generations and encompassing notable periods in history. I look for her books every Christmas and this one hasn't disappointed.

[Jordan Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars ⭐️ One of the best books I have read this year. A mix of my favourite things - romance, action and WW2 stories. Plus I really enjoyed the split narrative.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every year at the start of winter, Lulu Taylor brings out a new novel, and every year she never disappoints. There was so much rich detail and interest in this dual timeline story, and I enjoyed every page of it.

[PrettyFlamingo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lulu Taylor intertwines two timelines, drawing parallels between the lives of Veronica, a young woman navigating love and loss during and just following the Second World War, and Romy, a present day writer grappling with her own challenges while uncovering mysteries from the past. The dual structure weaves together the threads of two very different lives, both set against the backdrop of an island in Pembrokeshire.

Veronica’s Story (1938–1948)
Veronica’s narrative begins in 1938, when she is just 16, and concludes a decade later. She comes from a theatrical family and her demeanour and thoughts I found unusually mature for her age, so much so that her dialogue often feels implausibly adult, detracting slightly from the realism. Although the story makes a point of her immaturity at finishing school in Paris just before the war, she seems far more composed and self-assured than one might expect, even more so than many adults. More so than me in my 30s I would say.

Her timeline is steeped in tragedy, encompassing war, heartbreak, and loss. The grim realities of the 1940s are powerfully evoked, and the narrative doesn't shy away from the harshness of the era. Veronica’s relationships are central to her story, though often deeply upsetting. Jack is a particularly poignant figure who left me heartbroken, while Grey Oswald’s despicable actions remain unpunished, adding to the overall sense of injustice. Other characters, such as Andre, begin with promise but ultimately disappoint, contributing to the emotional weight of Veronica’s journey. Taylor does capture the chaos and unpredictability of wartime relationships well, but at times, the sheer volume of tragedy feels overwhelming.

Romy’s Story (Present Day)
In the present, Romy is recovering from mental health struggles and obsessive behaviours. She retreats to the island, which once belonged to Veronica’s family, to write a book about her and unravel the secrets of her life. The depiction of Romy’s isolation, combined with her family and therapist’s constant monitoring through video calls, felt suffocating in a way. While the juxtaposition between overcoming mental health issues in the present day and succumbing to them in the 1940s may have been intentional, it didn’t entirely resonate. It seemed as though Romy’s mental health challenges were added to make her storyline more dramatic, but her experiences with relationships, particularly the themes of boundaries and over-accommodation, were strikingly relatable and well-handled.

Romy’s entanglement in a love triangle with Richard, the island warden, and Jesse, who operates a boat service, felt clichéd and I didn’t care for the “woman in peril” trope. Meanwhile, the island setting, now a bird sanctuary, is beautifully depicted but occasionally bogged down with excessive detail about birds, which could have been scaled back.

The novel covers an impressive array of themes: war, forbidden gay relationships, teenage crushes, the Resistance, loss, mental health. At times, however, this breadth comes at the expense of depth. Certain events and characters could have benefited from further exploration to give their stories more weight and impact. Veronica’s timeline is particularly gripping, though also deeply upsetting, while Romy’s story explores healing and self-discovery, even if it leans on somewhat predictable plot devices.

One notable thread running through both timelines is the enduring power of the written word. Veronica’s notes resonate across decades, and they serve as a reminder of the lost art of letter writing, which is done well. This aspect of the story underscores how words can bridge time, offering insight into lives long past and find redemption.

Last Song of Winter is an absorbing read, drawing readers into its intertwined timelines and richly atmospheric settings. While the narratives are compelling, the story occasionally falters under the weight of its ambitions, with some characters and events lacking the depth they deserve. Despite this, Taylor’s exploration of love, loss, and the echoes of the past is undeniably moving, leaving readers reflecting on the resilience of the human spirit and the ways in which history shapes us all.

[Ruth · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Last Song of Winter is an utterly compelling dual timeline story of grief, longing, heartbreak, love and birds! Set in 1940’s Britain and Paris and present day Wales the backdrop to the stories held within are enticing. The star of the story is beautiful St Elfwy Island off the cost of Pembrokeshire, where we learn all about the bird life and the monks that used to live there in from the point of view of the present day Caretaker and the residents in 1940.

Romy, is recovering from a long term illness and applies to stay on the Island to research about the author of a film that is eerie, set on the island and it’s hidden imagery of loneliness and grief that have haunted her ever since watching it. To gain a short term stay on the Island as an artist, she decides to lie, saying her research is about the ancient monastery, as she is aware film fanatics aren’t popular with the trust.

In 1938 the story tells the coming of age of Vanessa, as she travels to Paris to be school with her famous father, rubs shoulders with her ultimate crush only ti have her dreams crushed. We meet the beautiful and mysterious Irene, who takes to Vanessa and treats her like the you g woman she is becoming. After the gaiety of Paris Vanessa begins to long for the peace of St Elfwy Island where her family usually spend Summer. We hear how over the next 10 years the Island (which is owned by her family) becomes very important to her and her close friends. How it helps to heal those who need time and space to be alone away from their thoughts, busy lives and heartaches. The secrets of Vanessa’s life and loves are slowly revealed to us as we read but the greatest secrets of all are hidden, potentially only to be revealed by Romy, as she too falls in love with the island.

Every Winter I chose to cosy up and indulge in a new Lulu Taylor book. The wintery themes and the promise of Summer at the end always tempt me. “The Last Song of Winter” did not disappoint. It ticked every box with strong female lead characters and plenty of secrets to be revealed. I loved reading this and look forward to next Winter, if not before, when I can enjoy cosying up and indulging myself in another Lulu Taylor book.

[Joanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s become a bit of a tradition of mine to read a Lulu Taylor book at this time of year. They just seem perfect for winter reading: big, satisfying novels to curl up with and lose yourself in. The Last Song of Winter was no exception.

There are two timelines in the book. One is the contemporary story where the protagonist, Romy, has come to stay on the small island of St Elfwyn off the Welsh coast. She is recovering from illness and has come to the island as a form of retreat and to research her book about playwright Veronica Mindenhall and her most famous work, The Last Song of Winter. The more she looks into Veronica’s past and her connection with the island, the more fascinated and caught up with her research she becomes.

In the historical timeline, we meet a young Veronica who is on the cusp of womanhood and full of romantic ideals. We follow her coming of age as she moves to Paris and falls in love. The author takes us into the glamourous theatrical world of the time and introduces us to some of the fictional shining lights of the era. War comes and life in Paris is not the same for Veronica or any of her friends.

There was so much happening in this book which kept my attention throughout. I enjoy the way that Lulu Taylor writes her dual time line novels. Rather than alternating chapters, she spends quite a period of time with each character so you really get to know them well. It was great reading about the young Veronica from her point of view but it was also good to find out more about her through the medium of Romy’s research. There were so many unexpected strands to Veronica’s story which surprised Romy and surprised me.

I do enjoy Lulu Taylor’s captivating wintry novels with their mysteries to be solved and secrets to be revealed which keep me hooked right until the end. The Last Song of Winter is another satisfying read with its stunning remote island location and fascinating characters.

[Paula · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a beautiful adaptation of a type of winter wonderland setting with so much story in an intertwined dual timeline from World War 2 era to the present day.

We have the main characters, Veronica and Jack, who go through their own twists and turns in the UK, and then Veronica moves on to Paris, where she meets Irene and builds a beautiful friendship. There are many revelations during this timeline that only are discovered further on in the story by Romy and Richard, who are in the present timeline...

Romy who has set herself up to work on a beautiful little cottage in Pembrokeshire where there is now a bird sanctuary to write and gain some peace in healing after dealing with mental illness finds herself discovering much much more than she anticipated than just a connection with beautiful birds and scenery. When she begins to learn of Veronica's life and how interlinked they are, it shows how journaling and documenting what happens in our lives can have a place in the future of others. You just never know who makes sense of events that you personally experienced. There is no greater thing than someone putting pen to paper and detailing things that may never otherwise be known within families or history overall. How else do we learn?!

The narration for this audio was done by what sounded like an old cb radio type sound which was absolutely fitting and perfect for the timeline of Veronica however personally I'd have changed it for Romy timeline simply to help the listener immerse more with the cadence of the narrator in to each individual timeline as at times I did find myself pausing for a moment to figure out exactly where I was at. It was lovely to listen to it. It felt very like it took you back to how things may have been during that era!

Many thanks to Netgalley and MacMillan UK Audio for this ARC in return for an honest review.

[Julia · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Last Song Of Winter by Lulu Taylor is a most beautiful dual timeline novel that consumed me from the start.
The stories are set in the 1940’s and in present day. Both time periods are linked to a couple of families. The war consumes characters in the 1940’s. In present day there is a search for the truth. A resistance member ‘disappeared’ and her family and descendants really need to know what happened to her so that they can put the past to bed.
The novel is one of discovery as characters learn just who they are. A teen in the 1930’s is ‘helped’ to blossom as she is taken under the wing of a Parisienne lady. Her time at finishing school opens her eyes to new possibilities under the guidance of the older, more sophisticated female.
A lonely island off the Pembrokeshire coast holds its own secrets. The wild, untamed landscape appeals to some characters but not others. It contrasts sharply with the gay sophistication of Paris before the war.
Love blossoms where it will. In the 1930’s there was a love that society forbids. It had to be hidden for fear of retribution.
The whole book was beautifully written. The wild landscape of the island and the lights of Paris all came to life under the author’s marvellous pen.
This is an epic and highly entertaining read. I will leave the final word to a character:
“Freedom, truth and liberty were worth fighting for and dying for.”

[Annie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked up this book in a charity shop because I remembered the author's name - Lulu Taylor - and having enjoyed another couple of her books before.

This one is a narrative split between Veronica in the 1940s and Romy in the 'present day' (the book was published in 2024. Veronica's story is about musical theatre, Parisian high society, secret relationships, obsessive love - and a house on a Welsh island full of birds. Romy's goes to the island to research a book about Veronica, but ends up having her own unlikely adventures, torn between two men she meets who may or may not be hiding things of their own.

It's well written and compelling - though, by the halfway point, I really wasn't sure where it was going because there wasn't a particularly strong throughline to either narrative thread. And, sure enough, the massive melodrama at the end of both storylines came pretty much out of nowhere and wasn't really connected to much of the rest of what happened in the book.

Still, I was engaged throughout and it kept me guessing until the end - though there were a couple of quite ridiculous coincidences used to push the plot forwards at certain points.

The exploration of Romy's struggles with her mental health was largely well done, and I liked both female protagonists.

Lulu Taylor does know how to tell a yarn (even if it did have me rolling my eyes a few times) and I'll definitely pick up more of her books if I come across them.

[Thebooktrail · Rating 4 out of 5]

Discover the locations in the novel here


Lulu Taylor does some of the best scene setting in novels and I am HERE for it. The island in this one is fictional but she got me thinking there's an entire bird sanctuary here and I had to take a small boat to get there.

Storylines are wonderfully intertwined and there's a lot to get your teeth into. Serious subject such as the treatment of women and homosexuals during the war but a loving study of people and how one life can affect another in unexpected ways.

Two women from two backgrounds and separated by the years. Oh but how that island is the story that unites them both. One of them is there as a film is set on the island and she wants to see the locations. Well, I loved her from the start!

Some clever storytelling here.

Wonderfully evocative!ive!

[Northern Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review. A novel set across two historical periods always appeals to me and this was, overall, another good example of a dual timeline story. It started a bit slow for me, but once Veronica gets to Paris things seemed to speed up and I found that I was enjoying the book more. Alongside Veronica's story we have the modern day story of Romy, recovering from significant mental health concerns, who secures a place staying on the remote Welsh island, St Elfwy, lying about her reasons for wanting to stay there, something which causes her some trouble when she comes up against the island's 'caretaker'. There were elements of menace in Romy's story on the island - it is clear that at least one of the men who is supposed to be her friend is far from that, but which one is the threat is not obvious for some while. The unravelling of the threads between V and R's stories was done well in the last section of the book and overall this felt a satisfying if not an amazing read.

[Helen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first time reading a Lulu Taylor novel. I was unsure about the dual timelines at first but it works well and I love how the island connected both women, it just made it all really suspenseful and I loved the history of the place. It ends up almost becoming a character in its own right and I was excited to unlock all the islands hidden secrets. I also liked the factual elements contained within the bird watching aspects of the story - I could really picture all the different species of sea birds flying around the rocky cliff face. The characters all work well and are well-rounded and there were definitely a lot of plot twists and turns that I did not see coming. I felt it was hauntingly beautiful in places and there was a great balance between the emotional element and the mystery and historical aspects, especially concerning Irene, who goes missing in the war and only at the end do we find all the pieces of her story puzzled out. It was just really cleverly done and the only reason I haven’t gone for a full star rating is because I probably wouldn’t give it a re-read.

[Wendy(Wendyreadsbooks) Robey · Rating 4 out of 5]

A poignant and beautiful story. I loved the intertwined stories of our two female protagonists and felt that the dual timeline worked so well in keeping the story flowing.
Veronica’s story came to life through Romy’s stay on the island and I loved seeing the links between the two women. As we came to understand more of Veronica’s life, so Romy was able to work through her own emotions and I really enjoyed seeing both women driven to do the right thing.
Love and loss are central to the two stories, and I thought both were beautifully written as we learnt about the difficulties both women faced in their lives.
St Elfwy sounded idyllic and the wildlife and peace obviously a huge draw for many of the inhabitants over the years

[Rona · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story starts in the 1940's Veronica is 17 and the daughter of a comfortably off couple.
She is due to attend finishing school although war is looming but she finds friendship in Paris.
We also meet Romy now and she is keen to write and goes to stay on an island. The book goes between Romy and Veronica 's storylines.
This had some really nice settings and interesting characters.
The author keeps a bit of mystery you can definitely get into the story.
I enjoyed this book.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley.

[julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for this review copy of Lulu Taylor’s latest book. A dual storyline, Veronica in the 1940’s wartime era, and Romy present day staying on a remote island off Pembrokeshire. This is an easy to read mystery story with some interesting warm characters. It’s a long book so you do feel very immersed in this story, and is a solid chunky read for the winter that is not too taxing. The sort of book that I would happily pick off the library shelf.

[Cheryl Briggs · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a Christmas present and I really enjoyed it. I liked the main characters Veronica and Romy,their dual timelines worked well.
From about halfway I was on the edge of my seat, I just really wanted everything to come together. Really interesting story.
I would have given 5 stars had it not been for the birds on the island being described over and over again - 'flying here,soaring there,they're dive-bombing,mating' etc,just a bit much on every other page.

[Amy Dora · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set in the late 1940s, this haunting, romantic yet heartbreaking book follows Romy and Pen whos lives entwine with that of Veronica and Jack and so the story is written from two narratives spanning the past and present.
Beautifully written and completely captivating, my heart broke for Jack and the challenges he faced in that time and I loved the link between the past and present. Definitely was oozing emotion.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

A captivating read. The dual storylines circle and swirl around each other meeting for a decisive ending. Really enjoyable read which keeps you guessing but doesn’t disappoint. The setting sounds glorious and the two storylines are distinct and definite parts of the book. One to lose yourself in.

Thank you Netgalley

[Bookwormbadger · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had read and enjoyed one of the author's previous books and I very much liked this one as well. Set alternately in the 1940s and present day, partly on a fictional island in Wales and partly in France during WW2, this was a great saga-style book with interesting, lively characters and an original plot.

[Ali Bookworm · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every Summer might end but it would lead to the next one and better days would come bsck, bringing happiness with them....oh my...how very true. The Last Song of Winter/Summer was a most lovely heart rendering read. As one who hates Winter with avengance, I loved that quote. I want to go live on an Island, and write. Loved it.