The Lost Letters of Ireland

Starlight Cottages #5

by Susanne O'Leary, Jennifer Fitzgerald (Narrator)

Edwina is looking for a fresh start. So when a friend suggests she renovates a series of coastguard cottages in the tiny village of Sandy Cove, she wonders if the beautiful Irish seaside town might be her chance for a new beginning.

Soon after she arrives, Edwina meets Shane O'Flaherty, a charming local doctor, with whom she feels an instant connection. As the pair walk the streets of the picturesque village together, Edwina's feelings grow stronger, and she begins to wonder whether Sandy Cove might be the place she can finally call home. But when Edwina discovers a message in a bottle, written twenty years ago and washed ashore at Wild Rose Bay, she is haunted by its contents. Touched by the heartbreaking letter, Edwina resolves to find the person who wrote it. As she begins to uncover the identity of the person who wrote the letter all those years ago, everything Edwina thought she knew about Shane changes in an instant. Has she unearthed a secret that should never have come to light? And does her heart still lie in Sandy Cove?

Fans of Sheila O'Flanagan, Mary Alice Monroe and Debbie Macomber will fall in love with this delightful, feel-good Irish romance.

Genres: Romance, Fiction, Irish Literature, Contemporary Romance, Womens Fiction

Audible Audio

Published October 27, 2022

About the author

Susanne O’Leary is the bestselling author of more than 30 novels, mainly romantic fiction set in Ireland. Her many books set in County Kerry have been hugely popular with readers all over the world. She shares her time between Dublin and Kerry, where she and her husband have a little cottage near the beach. The wild, beautiful landscape, the small villages and the friendly people of that county have inspired her to write her feel-good stories. She's been inspired to represent people of all ages and walks of life, with lots of romance, and more than a dash of humour.

When she is not writing or reading by the fire, Susanne loves heading for the great outdoors, walking on the beaches or scaling the green hills of her favourite county.

Reviews

[Carrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review coming soon.

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Lost Letters of Ireland #5 Starlight Cottages
4 ✨

[Robin Loves Reading · Rating 5 out of 5]

Susanne O’Leary has written two delightful and connected series. The Sandy Cove series had nine wonderful stories, and this series, the Starlight Cottage series, is currently at five books and is just as enjoyable. This book, The Lost Letters of Ireland, was a perfect fit for both of these lovely series.

Edwina is about to make a fresh start when she makes what she hopes will be a sound business decision. She has purchased five cottages in Sandy Cove, and problems surface almost immediately. Gossip abounds as to what the new developer might have in mind for the cottages. In fact, Edwina does not want anyone to know that it is she that purchased the cottages. Not only do the people in town doubt the integrity that would go towards keeping the historical elements of those cottages alive, Edwina also faces issues with her brother Max, and those issues must be ironed out.

Edwina does meet someone who will no doubt change her life eve more than it already has, but that’s not the relationship that really appealed to me in the story. She meets the town’s Doctor Shane after injuring her ankle, but she also meets his son Daniel whom he has for a few months as part of a custody arrangement with his ex-wife. It is at this point that another story is told in this engaging novel. At some point, Edwina discovered a letter in a bottle and she is determined to solve the mystery contained in that letter. Edwina and Daniel strike a good friendship that is beneficial on many levels. For one thing, that pair delve into the mystery of the letter that Edwina found. More than that, Daniel’s relationship with his father plays into what happens between Edwina and Shane as the story develops.

Meanwhile, the renovations are underway, and it is soon made clear as to whom the new purchaser of the cottages is. This brings in another enjoyable character in this book and that is Edwina‘s mother Pamela, who plays a role in Edwina’s plans to renovate the cottages.

This story works on so many levels. What I loved about it the most was all of the relationships - Edwina and Shane. Edwina and Daniel. Edwina and her brother Max. Edwina and her mother Pamela. Shane and his son Daniel. Every relationship flowed together so smoothly in this book and gave this very lovely story incredible depth. Also, considering that it is part of a series that I have loved from the beginning, and as mentioned, the previous series, there were some familiar faces that came through the pages of this truly engaging read by Susanne O’Leary.

If you want a sweet, effective story that will give you a warm feeling inside, then you cannot go wrong with this book. This character driven story, set in a beautiful location, changes Edwina’s life for the good, making this book a truly delightful read.

Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

Please enjoy my YouTube video review - https://youtu.be/YkNkMWX-VJU

[Els · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a reader we travel a lot. The world is our oyster and the authors treat us to, not only fabulous stories, but also include some history or a bit of sightseeing or other titbits about the destinations they take us to.

So if you missed me the previous days, I was taken to Ireland, more specifically Sandy Cove.

Being there feels a bit like coming home. Recognizing some places, meeting up with some recurrent characters from previous books and getting to know new people. Some very loveable, others a bit less. But never say never and the more annoying ones often change and become loved ones under the right circumstances.

For the fans who have read the previous book, Edwina was not a stranger. We already know she is Max’s sister and someone I would invite over if I was looking for a fun night.

She was rather haughty and often looked down on people and things around her. But the beauty of the scenery at Sandy Cove can melt the coldest heart. Can it have the same effect on Edwina too?

Sometimes you have to turn your life upside down and find a new project. This is what Edwina wants as well and then the perfect opportunity comes her way.

From the moment Edwina arrives in Sandy Cove, the little beachfront village can start working its magic. A lot of people have not been able to resist its charms and found love there. Will this be the case for Edwina too, arriving but never leaving or will she run to the big city again without looking back?

Let the author take you on this great journey and find out what she had In store for you. I was charmed. 5 stars

Thank you

[Kimberley · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was not the target audience for this book - it feels aimed at women aged 40+

However that being said it was a nice distraction when I needed something to listen to that wasn’t the depressing news on the radio and overplayed songs. I found the story fast paced and easy to get through. It was a nice palate cleanser

[Sams_Fireside · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Lost Letters of Ireland is the fifth in the Starlight Cottage series, but only the second one I’ve read, and these can definitely be read as a stand-alone
.
Edwina is nearly forty and has come to a fork in the road that is her life. She’s just resigned from her job in the city and has recently broken up with a flashy boyfriend. So what does she do next?

I loved reading about Edwina’s new project in Sandy Cove and the friends she makes along the way, most of whom you will have met before if you have read any of the other Starlight Cottage books. The project eventually brings her family closer together, but can they all put what happened in the past behind them and move on?

Aside from Edwina's renovation project, there is another story intertwined as she sets herself a mission to find out who wrote the message in a bottle, which she discovers in the sea at the beginning of her stay in Sandy Cove.

I love this book’s cover; it’s so adorable and I want to walk down that path to the cottage and see what’s behind the blue door! Check out Susanne O’Leary’s latest novel if you want something lovely to read as the nights draw in and you settle down with a mug of tea.

I am lucky enough to be a part of Books on Tour for this book, so thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to read and review an ARC of The Lost Letters of Ireland by Susanne O’Leary.

[Pam · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Lost Letters of Ireland: A Heart-warming and unforgettable Irish Romance: Starlight Cottages Book 5 is by Susanne O’Leary. Once more, Susanne takes us back to the land of Kerry In Ireland, to the small cottages near the lighthouse at Sandy Cove. She makes it feel like coming home and meeting all our old friends again.
Edwina had broken up with her boyfriend or rather had been dumped by him and had quit her great job as a fashion expert and was recovering from a party the night before when her best friend Jonathan, a media consultant and real estate guru had called her early on Sunday with a great idea. He wanted her to purchase four cottages at Sandy Cove, near her brother’s home, and redo them so she could rent them to the rich and famous. It would give her a job and money and do wonders for her. She finally sad she would go visit them and see after talking to her accountant. Although he discouraged it, her accountant finally had to give in; but he did suggest she get another investor in to help her. The only person she knew who might help was her mother. Would she help her out ? Would redoing the cottages give Edwina what she was looking for? Would it help mend the riff between herself and her brother?

[Michelle Stanislawczyk · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have found a new favorite author. This book is the best one in the series.

[Cindy Spear · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow again! I absolutely love The Starlight Cottage series. Each book goes higher and deeper into the lives and happenings at Sandy Cove. Book five '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 for 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 and gentle wooing of the moon, the caressing 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 a 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 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 see what happens to 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, 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 a solitary shore in Kerry than what’s 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. Will the euphoria last?

Suzanne 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.

[Caroline|Page~Turners · Rating 5 out of 5]

Edwina needs a second chance, a new beginning. After her last breakup she knows that she has to make a major change in her life. She hears about a cottage that is for sale in the tiny village of Sandy Cove. She can’t help but feel as if it’s the new beginning and fresh start she longs for. She uses all of her savings to buy the cottage, which is in need of a lot of fixing. Edwina is walking along the white sandy beach and finds an old bottle that washed up on shore. Inside there was a message that was written about twenty years ago. She reads the heartbreaking story in the bottle and makes it her new ambition to find the person who wrote the letter.

I thoroughly enjoyed the continuation of this amazing series. It was nice to reconnect with the people of Sandy Cove. I love the escape to the Irish coast and returning to the quaint little village. I felt like I was back with family and friends. This heartwarming story of redemption and romance in Sandy Cove was absolutely delightful. I loved reuniting with the characters from the previous books in the series. The author did a fantastic job of tying up the ending just beautifully. This book was captivating from the beginning and had the perfect amount of romance and humor. I love second chance stories and this one did not disappoint. I highly recommend this charming read.

Thank you Susanne O’Leary for such a wonderful, brilliant and completely delightful story. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I highly recommend it.

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Lost Letters of Ireland by Susanne O’Leary is another trip to the lighthouse keepers’ cottages in Sandy Cove, County Kerry, Ireland. We have been here before and met the people who have lived in these cottages recently. Now Edwina was contemplating buying them and redoing them. She had just quit her job and she needed a change. It would cost her most of what she had but it held the huge potential for profit. Her friend, Jonathon, was a realtor who had brought the opportunity to her attention. She met her mother for lunch, which was a situation fraught with peril, but turned out to be enjoyable, and her mother offered to invest. It had been a rough year. She had been dumped by her boyfriend, a man her mother had envisioned her marrying in a huge society wedding. She was still not facing reality about that situation. The additional benefit to buying these houses was that she would be near her brother, with whom her relationship was rocky, mostly due to her. She was excited for the first time in forever.

Edwina was a good character. At 40 she felt her life was getting away from her. Her time in Sandy Cove changed her perspective, as did the handsome doctor she nearly crashed into with her car the first night. She grew personally with this project and knowing the people of Sandy Cove. Eventually her mother joined her and Sandy Cove had the same effect on her. Lost Letters is not a deep book but it has an intriguing subplot involving a letter in a bottle that had been floating for 20 years, that Edwina found one day at the beach. It was fun. Remodeling didn’t go smoothly, but that is not a surprise to anyone. It was an extremely pleasant read, a great follow-up to previous books that have taken place in Sandy Cove. We revisit places and people. It was like going home.

I was invited to read a free e-ARC of The Lost Letters of Ireland by Bookoutre, through Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #Bookoutre #SusanneOLeary #TheLostLettersOfIreland

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

The last book in the series was disappointing. The quest for the author of the letters was dropped.
"Heartbroken and feeling lost after the end of her last relationship, Edwina is looking for a fresh start. And when she hears that a coastguard cottage in the tiny village of Sandy Cove is for sale, she knows it could be her chance. She remembers the village from her childhood with its beautiful sandy white beaches, and wonders if using her life savings to buy the cottage might give her a new beginning in the Irish town beside the sea.
Not long after she arrives, Edwina discovers a message in a bottle during one of her walks along the coast. Written twenty years ago and washed ashore at Wild Rose Bay, it tells the story of a desperate young man, driven to despair after a terrible accident that left him separated from his true love. Touched by his heartbreaking letter, and haunted by its contents, Edwina resolves to find the person who wrote it.
As she begins her search, Edwina meets Shane O’Flaherty, a charming local doctor with green eyes, with whom she feels an instant connection. As the pair walk the cobbled streets of the village together, Edwina’s feelings grow stronger, and she begins to wonder whether Sandy Cove might be the place she can finally call home…". synopsis copied

But when she uncovers the identity of the person who wrote the letter all those years ago, everything Edwina thought she knew about Shane changes in an instant. Has she unearthed a secret that should never have come to light? And will it force her to leave the place where she thought she had finally found happiness?

[Helfantis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Berührt das Herz
Das Cover gefällt mir hier wieder sehr gut und ich war sofort „daheim“ und fühlte mich wohl.
Edwina geht mit dem Kauf und den Renovierungen der Cottages ein großes Wagnis ein, nicht nur finanziell. Sie wagt den Sprung ins kalte Wasser… wie kalt es tatsächlich wird, ahnt sie zu Beginn noch nicht.
Kalt ist auch ihre erste Begegnung mit Shane, er ist der Arzt in des Küstendorfes. Das weiß sie zu diesem Zeitpunkt noch nicht. Allerdings ist es für den Leser absolut nicht kalt, sondern sehr knisternd und heiß. Spannend wird es auch Dank der „verlorenen Briefe“ ,was zusätzlich die Story auffrischt.
Der Schreibstil wieder flüssig und leicht zu lesen. Bereits nach der ersten Seite war ich gefesselt und mittendrin. Auch dieser fünfte Teil bescherte mir prickelnde und humorvolle Lesestunden. Tiefgründiges mitten aus dem Leben… Das detaillierte Setting hat mir sehr gut gefallen. Alle Dorfbewohner sind wieder mit dabei und wir dürfen auch an ihrem Leben teilhaben. Eine gelungene Mischung die keinesfalls kitschig oder gar langweilig wird.
Besonders gut gefallen hat mir hier die Charaktere von Pamela, der Mutter von Edwina.
Von ihr hätte ich gerne mehr gelesen. Aber vielleicht passiert das ja auch schon im nächsten Band? Wenn es wieder heißt zurück in den Cottages. Ich freue mich auf jeden Fall darauf.

Fazit: Wiedermal Irland Liebe ganz Groß – sehr schöne Wohlfühlmomente.
Klare Leseempfehlung von mir
Danke an NetGalley und Bookouture für dieses Rezensionsexemplar.
Was meine Meinung hier in keiner Weise beeinflusst hat.

[Elaine - Splashes Into Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

Be transported to the delightful Irish coastal village where
Folks all know each other and show they care.
It is here that Edwina is returning for a fresh start
After putting behind her a broken heart.

She's also hoping to help heal family strife
So she can get on with her brother and his wife.
But she now has plans and schemes
As she starts a new way to follow her dreams.

A swim in the sea and stroll on the beach
A floating sealed bottle just in her reach.
A trip, a fall, on shattered glass
A visit to the Doctor, she's unable to pass.

The note in the bottle leads to adventures that are new
As she investigates the mystery with a teen helper, too.
Several encounters with mixed feelings, too,
Leave Edwina unsure about just what to do.

This story puts the reader in the midst of every thing
Sharing events, new friendships and all that family drama can bring.
A heartwarming story that's a delight to read,
One that I hope you'll also be tempted to need!

It is the next in a series, but will still work as a standalone, too,
They do follow on and share many characters all the way through.
I've really enjoyed everyone that I've had chance to read
And now others by this author or what I'll soon need!

For my complementary copy of this book, I say thank you,
I very highly recommend it and this is my honest review.

[Deanne Patterson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Being of Irish nationality I love to visit Ireland through books as I dream of actually visiting there someday. This was a magical visit to the beautiful south-west of Ireland to the fictional village of Sandy Cove on the gorgeous Irish coast.
Edwina is ready to settle in and make a new start and she does so by buying five cottages in Sandy Cove. Immediately the gossip starts with villagers speculating on who bought the cottages and wondering if they will be torn down and what building will replace them. You just can't escape the small-town gossip mill.
Walking along the beach she finds a bottle that has been washed up upon the shore and after reading the heartbreaking message the only thing she can think about is finding the person who wrote the letter. She's not sure if this will even be possible as the message has been written twenty years ago.
I was drawn into Edwina's life as she discovers family secrets, has a reunion,shows graciousness and forgiveness and finds a special relationship. A mix of the perfect amount of romance and heartwarming scenes.
The author pulls you into her writing world with the scenery, set up and characters.
The loose threads from previous book have come together and I look forward to more in this entertaining series.

Pub Date 20 Oct 2022
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

[loopyloulaura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Edwina has been dumped so throws herself into a renovation project in picturesque Sandy Cove. Can she heal her heart and get a fresh start?
The Lost Letters Of Ireland is the 5th romance novel in the Starlight Cottages series by Susanne O'Leary. It is set in Ireland in the present day and we are reunited with characters from earlier books.
The plot revolves around Edwina who is a city girl with a broken heart. She heads to the coast to lead on a property development but fears opposition from locals so keeps her intentions quiet. On her first day she meets the locum doctor and there is an instant tension between the pair. Alongside this romance, there is a separate plotline about a message in a bottle and other letters which are discovered in one of the cottages.
There is plenty of rich description and as usual the landscape features strongly. The characters all go on a journey of discovery and self awareness over the course of the book. Edwina needs to build bridges and develop relationships with her family whilst also having the chance to find someone who values her. The locals are welcoming and there is the opportunity to catch up on the main characters from previous books in the series.
The Lost Letters Of Ireland is a warm toned novel centred around a gently developing romance.

[Paula · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Lost Letters of Ireland, Starlight Cottages Book 5 by Susanne O'Leary is an absorbing read about characters changing their lives. Edwina is one such character. I remember her from another story in which she was not a likable character. Now she wants a fresh start and to be a person who values the right things in life. It is hard to change my mind about a character once I have made up mind, but Ms. O’Leary has done so with Edwina. I found myself sympathizing with her and wishing her well in her endeavors to renovate the coastguard cottages.

This is a story of new beginnings while finding a place to feel at home. Also a story of forgiveness, long lost secrets, family, and seeing to improve your life and others around you. Then of course, one of acceptance and love too. There is a mystery concerning a twenty year old message in a bottle, as well as letters found that held my attention as I follow along with the characters to discover the writer of them.

All in all, the new addition to the Starlight Cottages Series, The Lost Letters of Ireland is a lovely read that is as enjoyable as it is entertaining.

An ARC of the book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley which I voluntarily chose to read and reviewed. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Donna · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story
Edwina has resigned from her job in Dublin and is looking for a new challenge when a friend suggests taking on a project. The four cottages on the Irish coast are ripe for a renovation, and Edwina takes it on with some financial help from her mother. When she arrives in Sandy Cove she meets single doctor Shane and his teen son Daniel. It’s also a chance to make amends with her architect brother Max who lives nearby.

My thoughts
I have read all the books in this series, and some are better than others. Edwina is a bit spoilt and stuck up, and the insta-love that happens with Shane does not seem very believable at all to me. She starts off by hiding her involvement with the development of the cottages to everyone she meets, seems to have very little to do with the renovation until the construction firm goes belly up and her mother comes to take over. I read to the end of the story but it was a superficial plot. 🤦‍♀️

Read an eARC copy courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher
My rating 3/5 - ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for a copy of "The Lost Letters of Ireland" in exchange for my honest review.

This is the 5th story in the Starlight Cottages series set in County Kerry, Ireland. In it we meet Edwina Courtney-Smythe who decides to buy the 4 old Coastguard Station cottages and do them up with a fresh new feel. We have already met Edwina's brother Max in a previous story as well as her sister-in-law Allegra.

While doing up the cottages Edwina meets Shane Flaherty the GP. She also finds a message in a bottle from a young man named Pearse who is longing for a lost love. After finding some old letters in one of the cottages, all the threads between the past and present are tied up.

The fun part of this series was seeing who would rent out the cottages next. Now that they have been done up and sold - except for the one Edwina keeps for herself - there might not be as many interesting characters passing through the coastguard station.

[Allyson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley, the publishing house and the authro for the opportunity to read a cpy of this book in return for a review based upon my honest opinion.

I have thoroughly enjoyed each of the books in the Starlight Cottages series and this is no exception. I wish I could book a holiday and stay in one of the newly renovated cottages and sit on the deck in the hottub and enjoy the view, walk the Wild Rose Bay beach and lunch at the nearby cafes. The author does a lovely job of description and the characters, while each book is about a new character, is like visiting old friends, because so many of them make an appearance. Cannot wait for the next book and to see who else moves to the area.

Definitely recommend these books. They could each easily be read as stand alone books but i think if you read one, you will read the rest.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I was looking forward to reading The Lost Letters of Ireland after reading the other books in the Sandy Cove series and I wasn’t disappointed! When Edwina, a woman who has quit her job in the city and decided to revisit the area of her youth, is swimming in the sea when she finds a message in a bottle; she is intrigued and is determined to find out more. I love how Suzanne drew me in, I love reading about the area of Kerry; I felt the characters were so likeable and relatable. Fabulous read
 

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Edwina was not a likable character in the last book but we learn more about her and her life. This was a great book!

Amazon shortened synopsis:
Heartbroken and feeling lost after the end of her last relationship, Edwina is looking for a fresh start. And when she hears that a coastguard cottage in the tiny village of Sandy Cove is for sale, she knows it could be her chance. She remembers the village from her childhood with its beautiful sandy white beaches, and wonders if using her life savings to buy the cottage might give her a new beginning in the Irish town beside the sea.

[Jamie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Susanne O'Leary’s The Lost Letters of Ireland is the story of Edwina who moves to the village of Sandy Cove on the Irish coast. Desperately in need of a change in her personal life, her friend convinces Edwina to start a new business venture. I voluntarily read complimentary copy of this well-written, heart-warming novel full of secrets from the past, family, love, and friendship. I look forward to reading Susanne O'Leary’s next book.

[Rachel Stansel · Rating 2 out of 5]

Part of a series I've not read before. It read fine alone. Though I found it enjoyable, the characters are annoyingly unrealistic in how suddenly and dramatically they change their entire lives. If you are mostly keen on the lost letter aspect, this is threaded through but minor when looking at the story as a whole.

Full disclosure- I received a copy of the book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

[penny · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m surprised to say that I did not love this book

I loved books 1-4 and it was fun to catch up with previous characters but the characters in this book, especially the female lead, left me just wanting it to be over. I found her somehow aggravating and not easy to like - so different from the characters in the first four books, all of whom I was cheering on and hoping for the best. I will try book 6 of course!

[Marnie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A tale of family secrets, love and finding ones self, this book made my heart smile. Set in the village of Sandy Cove, on the Irish Coast, brings this gorgeous story to life and drew me into our lead Edwina’s world as she goes on a journey in search of new beginnings. Beautifully written with a cast of wonderful characters, I throughly enjoyed this book and I look forward to reading more from the author..

[Rhonda · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was a cute no nonsense read that took me to place I want to visit!
A story of a spoiled socialite that turns her life around and does something with her life and made it more fulfilling and became very down to earth! Falls for the local dr.
Recommend the whole series just good down to earth stories based on a little town on the coast in Ireland!!

[Dianna Peck · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this story, series

One of best series I've read. Excited there is another one coming. Sandy cove may be fictional but Susan O'Leary brings it to life. Each new book is wonderful, characters seem so real. I wish Sandy cove was real , I'd visit it for sure. Highly recommend this author

[tracy tumbleson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Helps with stress...

I like to read books that take me to a different place so I can forget about the hectic and crazy world we live in. I love this author and series because I'm right there with the characters and setting. This entire series is light, cheery, and uplifting. A treat after a long day. I hope you like it as much as I did.

[anita tanner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Emotional

Loved the story of the letters and how Edwina's family became close and how her mother became more loving towards her also how her and her brother decided feuding was no good and got on together. Most of all her love with Shane and how they managed to get over the argument and their breakup and decided to give love another chance and succeeded.