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Cliffehaven #22
The Long Road Home: The enthralling new historical novel in the bestselling Cliffehaven series
The irresistible new historical novel in the Cliffehaven series from the Sunday Times bestselling author, perfect for fans of Katie Flynn and Dilly Court.
___________________________
Cliffehaven, 1947
In the wake of heartbreaking loss, Roisin Reilly makes a promise to her granddaughter Bella that they will cross the Wye Valley and travel to Cliffehaven to find the family she left with no warning nearly fifty years ago.
As the pair embark upon their journey, there’s no telling who they will find – and whether they will be welcomed with open arms – when they get there.
Meanwhile Roisin’s estranged brother Ron has been drawn back into his own memories of the past – even in spite of his daughter-in-law Pauline going missing and his son Jim suffering as years spent fighting in Burma catch up with him.
The war may be over, but there are plenty of storms still to weather.
Will love be enough to hold the Reilly family together?
___________________________
Cliffehaven, 1947
In the wake of heartbreaking loss, Roisin Reilly makes a promise to her granddaughter Bella that they will cross the Wye Valley and travel to Cliffehaven to find the family she left with no warning nearly fifty years ago.
As the pair embark upon their journey, there’s no telling who they will find – and whether they will be welcomed with open arms – when they get there.
Meanwhile Roisin’s estranged brother Ron has been drawn back into his own memories of the past – even in spite of his daughter-in-law Pauline going missing and his son Jim suffering as years spent fighting in Burma catch up with him.
The war may be over, but there are plenty of storms still to weather.
Will love be enough to hold the Reilly family together?
455 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 12, 2026
About the author
Ellie Dean
36 books142 followersEllie Dean lives in Eastbourne, which has been her home for many years and where she raised her three children.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
June 1, 2026
What a wonderful end to what has been a fantastic series!! I loved it and will miss the Reilly family and all who were connected to them.
This book is about what happens to them now and what's going to happen going forward but it also has it's own story regarding Ron and his long lost sister.
I loved that most of the people from previous books were in this even if some just got a mention so that we know what happened to them. There are the usual ups and downs which come with everyday life and the story flies along.
In a letter at the front of the book, the author says she wanted to finish it now as she couldn't bear to have any of them die off, even Harvey the dog, who I always adored. I'm so glad she did this as I couldn't bear it either. This was a great way to finish it up.
To any of you who have been following the series and haven't yet read it, you're in for a treat. A highly recommended read and series which I know I'll reread again and again!!
This book is about what happens to them now and what's going to happen going forward but it also has it's own story regarding Ron and his long lost sister.
I loved that most of the people from previous books were in this even if some just got a mention so that we know what happened to them. There are the usual ups and downs which come with everyday life and the story flies along.
In a letter at the front of the book, the author says she wanted to finish it now as she couldn't bear to have any of them die off, even Harvey the dog, who I always adored. I'm so glad she did this as I couldn't bear it either. This was a great way to finish it up.
To any of you who have been following the series and haven't yet read it, you're in for a treat. A highly recommended read and series which I know I'll reread again and again!!
June 25, 2026
Finally the Cliffehaven series has come to an end. It went on for far too long. Funnily enough there's more rationing now in 1947 than at the height of the war.
While I did become close to the Reilly family and the characters they interacted with the longer the series went on I began to sympathize with the people I was supposed to hate like Doris and Pauline. Especially Pauline given the events of this book. God they were all awful to her and they were awfully self righteous about it, instead of facing consequences for being holier than thou dick heads toward her. Bad enough she lost two kids but she was literally dealing with a medical emergency and no one wanted to help her or get her any sort of help. At least Dolly was decent here. As for Doris she was redeemed then the author seemed to realize she needed a villain and made her bad again for no apparent reason.
I also came to despise characters I loved, like Peggy who became a nosy hypocritical know it all who seemed to have no problem breaking the offical secrets act or let anyone have any privacy ever. Thankfully the end of the war took Sarah away cause she was the worst.
But at last it's come to an end and this was a pretty good way to end it. Similar to the final Maisie Dobbs books we do a lot of reflection of the series, we learn how Ron got his shrapnel he complained about during the war. We meet his sister Roisin and her granddaughter Bella and I really wish Dean had done the prequel series with Ron and Dolly and possibly one about Roisin.
The book is half told through Roisin as she attends the funeral of a former lover who was Romany and who's family didn't want them to be together but now seem to be stalking her and Bella.
The other half is the usual Cliffehaven drama. Poor Pauline is spiraling out of control and her story is devastating. At first I hated Dolly but she got better and was a good mother to Pauline.
For some reason Rosie is also acting weird and not like her usual self but unlike Pauline who's shunned, Ron is forced to break the law to placate his wife.
Cissy has a secret that's going to help her future and it drives Peggy crazy, cause again she needs to know every damn thing that's going on even if it's none of her damn business.
We flash back a bit to scenes from the series, Adolf the rooster, Queenie the cat, Jim loses a good friend, and the book ends with a happy reunion and of course a wedding cause heaven forbid anyone remain single around Peggy, and don't you dare decide you want a quiet simple wedding or else she'll stuff you into a fancy white dress and drag your ass to a crowded church like it or not. But that being said I'm glad the series is over, I'm happy I stuck to it despite the things listed above and this was a sweet and nice way to end things. As the author stated it would've been painful to watch Cordelia, Harvey and Ron grew older, frailer, and eventually pass away. Everything comes full circle with evacuee one from book one Sally paying a vital role at the end of this one. So now it's time to leave Cliffehaven. It's been a up and down journey. But part of me will miss the gang, I'd love to see what becomes of Cissy and Bella and even little Daisy but I really don't want to think of losing Cordelia and Harvey so it's for the best to say goodbye now.
While I did become close to the Reilly family and the characters they interacted with the longer the series went on I began to sympathize with the people I was supposed to hate like Doris and Pauline. Especially Pauline given the events of this book. God they were all awful to her and they were awfully self righteous about it, instead of facing consequences for being holier than thou dick heads toward her. Bad enough she lost two kids but she was literally dealing with a medical emergency and no one wanted to help her or get her any sort of help. At least Dolly was decent here. As for Doris she was redeemed then the author seemed to realize she needed a villain and made her bad again for no apparent reason.
I also came to despise characters I loved, like Peggy who became a nosy hypocritical know it all who seemed to have no problem breaking the offical secrets act or let anyone have any privacy ever. Thankfully the end of the war took Sarah away cause she was the worst.
But at last it's come to an end and this was a pretty good way to end it. Similar to the final Maisie Dobbs books we do a lot of reflection of the series, we learn how Ron got his shrapnel he complained about during the war. We meet his sister Roisin and her granddaughter Bella and I really wish Dean had done the prequel series with Ron and Dolly and possibly one about Roisin.
The book is half told through Roisin as she attends the funeral of a former lover who was Romany and who's family didn't want them to be together but now seem to be stalking her and Bella.
The other half is the usual Cliffehaven drama. Poor Pauline is spiraling out of control and her story is devastating. At first I hated Dolly but she got better and was a good mother to Pauline.
For some reason Rosie is also acting weird and not like her usual self but unlike Pauline who's shunned, Ron is forced to break the law to placate his wife.
Cissy has a secret that's going to help her future and it drives Peggy crazy, cause again she needs to know every damn thing that's going on even if it's none of her damn business.
We flash back a bit to scenes from the series, Adolf the rooster, Queenie the cat, Jim loses a good friend, and the book ends with a happy reunion and of course a wedding cause heaven forbid anyone remain single around Peggy, and don't you dare decide you want a quiet simple wedding or else she'll stuff you into a fancy white dress and drag your ass to a crowded church like it or not. But that being said I'm glad the series is over, I'm happy I stuck to it despite the things listed above and this was a sweet and nice way to end things. As the author stated it would've been painful to watch Cordelia, Harvey and Ron grew older, frailer, and eventually pass away. Everything comes full circle with evacuee one from book one Sally paying a vital role at the end of this one. So now it's time to leave Cliffehaven. It's been a up and down journey. But part of me will miss the gang, I'd love to see what becomes of Cissy and Bella and even little Daisy but I really don't want to think of losing Cordelia and Harvey so it's for the best to say goodbye now.
April 6, 2026
a wonderful ending
Peggy and her extended family will be missed. It has been wonderful over the years to meet them all and be involved in all their stories.
Peggy and her extended family will be missed. It has been wonderful over the years to meet them all and be involved in all their stories.
March 31, 2026
A sad goodbye to some dear friends in Cliffehaven
So sad this is the end but such a brilliant ending and if Ellie Dean wants to right some more and come back to it it looks like she can clever Ellie.
So sad this is the end but such a brilliant ending and if Ellie Dean wants to right some more and come back to it it looks like she can clever Ellie.
March 23, 2026
Wonderful Family Saga
I have read every book in this saga of the Reilly family at Beach View boarding house. The characters are lively and so likable. I have enjoyed each book in the series. I look forward to the newest one to be written.
I have read every book in this saga of the Reilly family at Beach View boarding house. The characters are lively and so likable. I have enjoyed each book in the series. I look forward to the newest one to be written.
March 20, 2026
Brilliant
A beautiful read and very good last book in the series. Just wish there were more to look forward to. Thank you for hours of brilliant reading.
A beautiful read and very good last book in the series. Just wish there were more to look forward to. Thank you for hours of brilliant reading.
June 15, 2026
Absolutely brilliant
I have read all the boarding house series and have thoroughly enjoyed them. You feel as if you really know the people, this last book is wonderful, putting all the pieces together. I didn't want it to end and felt sad when I had finished it. I just hope that Ellie will write another series in the same vein similar to these books. She is such a brilliant storyteller. The characters really come to life.
I have read all the boarding house series and have thoroughly enjoyed them. You feel as if you really know the people, this last book is wonderful, putting all the pieces together. I didn't want it to end and felt sad when I had finished it. I just hope that Ellie will write another series in the same vein similar to these books. She is such a brilliant storyteller. The characters really come to life.
March 27, 2026
Absolutely lovely
I loved this book, catching up with the characters from Cliffhaven and the Reilly family. I absolutely have loved reading all the books in this series but I am sad that this is the last book in this series. This book had the best ending to a final farewell. Thank you Ellie Dean for creating this series of books and making a lot of people enjoying them.
I loved this book, catching up with the characters from Cliffhaven and the Reilly family. I absolutely have loved reading all the books in this series but I am sad that this is the last book in this series. This book had the best ending to a final farewell. Thank you Ellie Dean for creating this series of books and making a lot of people enjoying them.
March 22, 2026
The Long Road Home
I will miss reading about the Reilly family and all their adventures. Thank you SO much Ellie, it has been a wonderful journey with them. I look forward to whatever you decide to do next
I will miss reading about the Reilly family and all their adventures. Thank you SO much Ellie, it has been a wonderful journey with them. I look forward to whatever you decide to do next
April 27, 2026
Have loved reading about Cliffehaven from the very first book.
Every story has captured my heart.
This last story did not disappoint.
Thank you Ellie Dean for writing this series of books 📚 l am sad it has ended 😭
Every story has captured my heart.
This last story did not disappoint.
Thank you Ellie Dean for writing this series of books 📚 l am sad it has ended 😭
March 26, 2026
Can't believe it,a over
Loved this book as I have all the others and must admit i,m so sad it's the end,I may have to start them all again.
Loved this book as I have all the others and must admit i,m so sad it's the end,I may have to start them all again.
March 29, 2026
Oh het laatste deel in telde Cliffehaven series. meer dan 20 boeken meegeleefd en nu een einde. Ze zouden hier een serie van moeten maken🩷
March 30, 2026
Great read
Great read as usual the storyline was brilliant and loved all the characters Peggy is the blue that keeps everyone together
Great read as usual the storyline was brilliant and loved all the characters Peggy is the blue that keeps everyone together
April 12, 2026
Such a fabulous series and a fitting end. Julie Maisey is the best narrator in this series so I was pleased she read this latest book. Julie is the perfect Peggy.
April 15, 2026
I can’t believe this is the end. I found Cliffhaven about the time the third book in the series was published and it rapidly became my favorite escape.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 7, 2026
I have read all of this series of Cliffehaven and lost myself in all their adventures a fitting end loved them all.
June 4, 2026
Cliffehaven
This last book in the series tied up a lot of loose ends. But it's a shame so little was said about Bob.
This last book in the series tied up a lot of loose ends. But it's a shame so little was said about Bob.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
This has been an awesome series. I will miss visiting this wonderful family
June 24, 2026
I love this series so much and although this is the last book ever I'm so glad it got written. I loved that Ron's missing sister was featured in this book.
July 9, 2026
I have thoroughly enjoyed all of this series of books. Hope to read something of Ellie’s writing again.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews