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The Inn at Penglas Cove: A BRAND NEW sweeping Cornish mystery of doomed love from Lauren Westwood
Not yet published
Expected 27 Jan 26A BRAND NEW, beautifully atmospheric and utterly spellbinding historical mystery of forbidden love and haunting secrets, set in a crumbling inn on the wild Cornish coast ✨🌊 Perfect for fans of Eve Chase, Daphne du Maurier and Poldark! When Juno’s marriage implodes, an unexpected inheritance offers her a way a crumbling inn perched high on a Cornish cliff, left to her by a great-aunt she never knew. Hoping to give her children a fresh start, Juno swaps city life for windswept coastal walks and salty sea air…
…only to find that the Cross Keys Inn is steeped in secrets. Locals talk of pirates, and a mysterious ghost ship connected to the chilling tale of Bess Trevelyn, murdered at the inn two centuries before. Meeting the handsome but cold landowner Will Penhelion, a descendant of poor Bess's husband, Juno realises the past and present are entwined in ways she never imagined.
Drawn into the legend of doomed lovers and her own tangled family history, Juno must decide whether the inn at Penglas Cove is her escape or her undoing. For in a house where love and betrayal echo across generations, some promises refuse to die...
Praise for Lauren
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 'Lauren Westwood is a wonderful writer' Sophie Hannah
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 'A top 5 star read for me. I absolutely loved this story from start to finish.' Reader Review
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 'This was a new, unknown author to me, BUT literally, within minutes of finishing this book, I was downloading her back catalogue. I can’t remember the last time I read a book that elicited such atmosphere.' Reader Review
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 'Unsettling, compelling, very different - and superb writing' Reader Review
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 'Brilliant! It was a real page turner. I couldn’t put it down.' Reader Review
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 'You get swept away by the author's writing to the point where I looked up and hours had gone by.' Reader Review
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 'Good combination of secrets, history, story & characters, hard to put down' Reader Review
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 'An enchanting and engrossing read that I highly recommend and, if you have not yet read Lauren Westwood's books, then what on earth are you waiting for?' Reader Review
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 'Full of twists and turns, captivating and absorbing. I loved it' Reader Review
…only to find that the Cross Keys Inn is steeped in secrets. Locals talk of pirates, and a mysterious ghost ship connected to the chilling tale of Bess Trevelyn, murdered at the inn two centuries before. Meeting the handsome but cold landowner Will Penhelion, a descendant of poor Bess's husband, Juno realises the past and present are entwined in ways she never imagined.
Drawn into the legend of doomed lovers and her own tangled family history, Juno must decide whether the inn at Penglas Cove is her escape or her undoing. For in a house where love and betrayal echo across generations, some promises refuse to die...
Praise for Lauren
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 'Lauren Westwood is a wonderful writer' Sophie Hannah
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 'A top 5 star read for me. I absolutely loved this story from start to finish.' Reader Review
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 'This was a new, unknown author to me, BUT literally, within minutes of finishing this book, I was downloading her back catalogue. I can’t remember the last time I read a book that elicited such atmosphere.' Reader Review
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 'Unsettling, compelling, very different - and superb writing' Reader Review
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 'Brilliant! It was a real page turner. I couldn’t put it down.' Reader Review
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 'You get swept away by the author's writing to the point where I looked up and hours had gone by.' Reader Review
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 'Good combination of secrets, history, story & characters, hard to put down' Reader Review
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 'An enchanting and engrossing read that I highly recommend and, if you have not yet read Lauren Westwood's books, then what on earth are you waiting for?' Reader Review
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 'Full of twists and turns, captivating and absorbing. I loved it' Reader Review
298 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication January 27, 2026
2 people are currently reading
8 people want to read
About the author
Lauren Westwood
21 books120 followersLauren Westwood is my pen name for writing women's fiction. Thanks for taking the time to look me up and I hope you enjoy my books, which are a blend of romance, mystery, and romantic suspense.
Here are a couple of things that I'd like you to know about the real me, not the social media me:
I try very hard to write books that people will like and want to read, and I take a lot of pride in my work. It can take up to 1000 hours to write a book from beginning to end. I am unfortunately not able to make a living as an author, so I have a day job working as a lawyer. I also have three children.
Your honest ratings on goodreads are very important to me, and I try to take comments on board - both good and bad. I know that there are a lot of books out there, and that your reading time is precious. Thank you in advance if you choose to read my books.
Here are a couple of things that I'd like you to know about the real me, not the social media me:
I try very hard to write books that people will like and want to read, and I take a lot of pride in my work. It can take up to 1000 hours to write a book from beginning to end. I am unfortunately not able to make a living as an author, so I have a day job working as a lawyer. I also have three children.
Your honest ratings on goodreads are very important to me, and I try to take comments on board - both good and bad. I know that there are a lot of books out there, and that your reading time is precious. Thank you in advance if you choose to read my books.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
A lovely dual timeline story which was easy to read. it didn't jump about very much like some others do. My thanks to netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
What It’s About
In The Inn at Penglas Cove by Lauren Westwood, Juno’s life takes a sharp turn when her marriage falls apart and she inherits the old Cross Keys Inn on the Cornish coast. Hoping for a fresh start, she moves her kids there — but the inn isn’t just a fixer upper. It’s full of stories, whispers of pirates and smuggling, and the tragic tale of Bess Trevelyn, who met her end there two hundred years ago. As Juno digs into the past, she finds herself caught up in secrets, legends, and a touch of romance.
Review
This book has a great atmosphere — Cornwall’s wild coastline really comes alive on the page, and the inn itself feels like a character in its own right: crumbling, haunted, and full of history. The story runs on two tracks: Juno in the present, trying to rebuild her life, and Bess in the past, whose story is tied to the inn’s darker side.
What I liked most is how it shows that things aren’t always what they seem. The old tales of piracy and smuggling aren’t just dusty history — they echo into the present and shape the lives around the inn. That gave the book a nice edge of mystery and adventure.
There’s also a bit of action woven in — stormy nights, ghost ship legends, and smuggling routes — which keeps the pace lively. And while the story has its haunted moments, it also carries a sense of hope, with romance and new beginnings tucked in among the shadows.
My rating:
Plot 4.0 out of 5 Stars
Good mix of modern drama and historical mystery, with plenty of atmosphere and adventure.
Character Development 4.0 out of 5 Stars
The focus is on Juno in the present and Bess in the past. Both felt real and engaging, even if the side characters weren’t explored in as much detail.
Themes & Message 4.0 out of 5 Stars
Evocative and atmospheric, with Cornwall vividly described. The haunted undertones and adventurous energy add extra flavor.
Writing Style 4.0 out of 5 stars
Evocative and atmospheric, with Cornwall vividly described. The haunted undertones and adventurous energy add extra flavor.
Enjoyment 4.0 out of 5 stars
An engaging read that kept me hooked, with a satisfying ending
Overall 4.0 out of 5 Stars
A Cornish mystery full of atmosphere, action, and adventure — with haunting echoes of the past, plus a touch of romance and the promise of new beginnings.
Recommended for readers of:
Readers who enjoy atmospheric mysteries, historical fiction, and stories where the past refuses to stay buried — with a dash of adventure and romance.
Review copy provided through Netgalley at no cost to me.
In The Inn at Penglas Cove by Lauren Westwood, Juno’s life takes a sharp turn when her marriage falls apart and she inherits the old Cross Keys Inn on the Cornish coast. Hoping for a fresh start, she moves her kids there — but the inn isn’t just a fixer upper. It’s full of stories, whispers of pirates and smuggling, and the tragic tale of Bess Trevelyn, who met her end there two hundred years ago. As Juno digs into the past, she finds herself caught up in secrets, legends, and a touch of romance.
Review
This book has a great atmosphere — Cornwall’s wild coastline really comes alive on the page, and the inn itself feels like a character in its own right: crumbling, haunted, and full of history. The story runs on two tracks: Juno in the present, trying to rebuild her life, and Bess in the past, whose story is tied to the inn’s darker side.
What I liked most is how it shows that things aren’t always what they seem. The old tales of piracy and smuggling aren’t just dusty history — they echo into the present and shape the lives around the inn. That gave the book a nice edge of mystery and adventure.
There’s also a bit of action woven in — stormy nights, ghost ship legends, and smuggling routes — which keeps the pace lively. And while the story has its haunted moments, it also carries a sense of hope, with romance and new beginnings tucked in among the shadows.
My rating:
Plot 4.0 out of 5 Stars
Good mix of modern drama and historical mystery, with plenty of atmosphere and adventure.
Character Development 4.0 out of 5 Stars
The focus is on Juno in the present and Bess in the past. Both felt real and engaging, even if the side characters weren’t explored in as much detail.
Themes & Message 4.0 out of 5 Stars
Evocative and atmospheric, with Cornwall vividly described. The haunted undertones and adventurous energy add extra flavor.
Writing Style 4.0 out of 5 stars
Evocative and atmospheric, with Cornwall vividly described. The haunted undertones and adventurous energy add extra flavor.
Enjoyment 4.0 out of 5 stars
An engaging read that kept me hooked, with a satisfying ending
Overall 4.0 out of 5 Stars
A Cornish mystery full of atmosphere, action, and adventure — with haunting echoes of the past, plus a touch of romance and the promise of new beginnings.
Recommended for readers of:
Readers who enjoy atmospheric mysteries, historical fiction, and stories where the past refuses to stay buried — with a dash of adventure and romance.
Review copy provided through Netgalley at no cost to me.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The Inn at Penglas Cove is a gorgeously atmospheric historical mystery that sweeps you straight to the wild Cornish coast—salt on the air, waves crashing below, and secrets lingering in every shadow of the crumbling Cross Keys Inn. It’s the kind of novel that feels like stepping into a gothic daydream, rich with mood, mystery, and the ache of old stories refusing to stay buried.
Juno is a wonderfully relatable heroine, arriving at the inn bruised by the end of her marriage and desperate to give her children a fresh start. Her vulnerability, paired with her quiet resilience, makes her easy to root for as she trades city noise for cliff‑top solitude. But the inn she inherits is far from peaceful. Whispers of pirates, a ghost ship, and the tragic tale of Bess Trevelyn—murdered two centuries earlier—give the story a deliciously haunting undercurrent.
The novel shines in the way it braids past and present. Juno’s encounters with Will Penhelion, the aloof landowner tied to Bess’s legacy, crackle with tension and unspoken history. Their dynamic adds a compelling emotional thread, echoing the forbidden love and betrayal that once unfolded within the inn’s walls.
As Juno digs deeper into her great‑aunt’s secrets and the legend of doomed lovers, the narrative becomes a beautifully layered exploration of inheritance—of stories, of trauma, of love that refuses to fade. The Cornish setting is vivid and immersive, the mystery unfolds with elegant pacing, and the emotional stakes build quietly but powerfully.
Spellbinding, windswept, and wonderfully evocative, The Inn at Penglas Cove is perfect for readers who adore gothic‑tinged mysteries with heart, history, and a touch of the uncanny.
With thanks to Lauren Westwood, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC
Juno is a wonderfully relatable heroine, arriving at the inn bruised by the end of her marriage and desperate to give her children a fresh start. Her vulnerability, paired with her quiet resilience, makes her easy to root for as she trades city noise for cliff‑top solitude. But the inn she inherits is far from peaceful. Whispers of pirates, a ghost ship, and the tragic tale of Bess Trevelyn—murdered two centuries earlier—give the story a deliciously haunting undercurrent.
The novel shines in the way it braids past and present. Juno’s encounters with Will Penhelion, the aloof landowner tied to Bess’s legacy, crackle with tension and unspoken history. Their dynamic adds a compelling emotional thread, echoing the forbidden love and betrayal that once unfolded within the inn’s walls.
As Juno digs deeper into her great‑aunt’s secrets and the legend of doomed lovers, the narrative becomes a beautifully layered exploration of inheritance—of stories, of trauma, of love that refuses to fade. The Cornish setting is vivid and immersive, the mystery unfolds with elegant pacing, and the emotional stakes build quietly but powerfully.
Spellbinding, windswept, and wonderfully evocative, The Inn at Penglas Cove is perfect for readers who adore gothic‑tinged mysteries with heart, history, and a touch of the uncanny.
With thanks to Lauren Westwood, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
When Juno inherits an inn in Cornwall from a great aunt that she hadn’t met, it seemed like fate as her marriage had just ended. This is a dual time line story, where the fate of Bess in 1820 is intertwined with the present. In the present day, there are people smugglers, contraband and an interesting array of characters. Gradually both stories unfold with some surprises and justice being served. I found this a very enjoyable and credible story, especially the way the pieces all came together with a happy ending. Thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for providing this book for me to read and freely review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
My thanks to Net Galley, Boldwood, and the personal invitation I received to review this arc
Juno is left an inn from a distant relative and moves with her 2 children there from London to the Cornish coast after her divorce. What she discovers there are human trafficking, a pirate story, an alleged murder/cover up, a forbidden love and a new love. This is intertwined with a past story that brings it together with the current one.
I really loved this and highly recommend
Juno is left an inn from a distant relative and moves with her 2 children there from London to the Cornish coast after her divorce. What she discovers there are human trafficking, a pirate story, an alleged murder/cover up, a forbidden love and a new love. This is intertwined with a past story that brings it together with the current one.
I really loved this and highly recommend
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This story was told thru dual timelines. I thought both were good and perhaps a bit predictable at times. There was a slight twist in one so that was a nice surprise. Definitely an enjoyable book to add to your list
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
OMG - very atmospheric. I have been to Cornwall and the descriptions bring back vivid memories as these two stories entwine and unfold. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews