The Moonstone Sister

The Sea Stone Sisters #2

by Eleanor Buchanan

Across land, sea and time, the stones will summon them home . . .

'Unpredictable and unputdownable . . . a stunningly good read' SANTA MONTEFIORE
'Cleverly layered and wonderfully compelling' KAREN SWAN
'A captivating, sweeping dual-timeline saga' SORAYA LANE

From the Scottish coast to the glamorous French Riviera, The Moonstone Sister is the second epic story in the Sea Stone Sisters series - a spellbinding series in which Eleanor Buchanan intricately weaves together the stories of four sisters and their descendants scattered across the globe.

'A gorgeous immersive epic' KRISTIN HARMEL
'Evocative, immersive and completely involving' CLARE FLYNN
'The perfect successor to Lucinda Riley' ZOE MARRIOTT
'An enchanting, edge-of-your-seat tale' CHRISTINA COURTENAY
_________________________

'Wear the ring, take it with you wherever you go. It is your link to Skara and to your sisters and it will keep you strong.'

The Moonstone Sister is the second in the sweeping and moving Sea Stone Sisters series, perfect for fans of Soraya Lane, Lucinda Riley and Clare Flynn. Let yourself be whisked from Scotland to the French Riviera in this epic tale of family mysteries, unexpected love and enduring courage.

Four lost sisters. An epic journey home. Will you follow?

Kindle Edition

Expected publication January 14, 2027

About the author

After a haphazard early career that took her around the world, Eleanor Buchanan settled in York and began writing award-winning romance, historical, and time-slip novels under various pseudonyms.

Reviews

[Romy]

I thought the first book was sad, but boy, I was so not ready for the second book. This one broke my heart and had me crying my eyes out. So naturally, I loved it. It is one of my favorite reads of the month, and I'm thankful for having had the opportunity to read this amazing ARC.

This book is about a 15-year-old Lily having to start over away from her sisters in a different country. Lily is responsible and determined, but a bit stubborn, and unfortunately, forced to grow up too fast.

She didn't have an easy life by any means, but she remained kind, thoughtful, and brave enough to start over. Lily's strength and resilience are admirable, but I'm still heartbroken for everything she went through.

Just like Iris, and I dare to say like the rest of her sisters in the upcoming books, she has a special connection to her ring (inherited from her mother). Nothing can get between her and the ring, and I loved the touch of magic and mystery surrounding the ring.

There are some good plot twists, and there's one particular scene that you know is coming from the very beginning, but when I got there I was devastated. I think the whole thing was heartbreaking but nicely done.

The main themes are sisterhood, resilience, and legacy, but there is a lot more to be said about this book. It is also about female empowerment, overcoming grief, and finding a place that feels like home.

In this book, the feeling of nostalgia is much stronger, or at least that's the way it felt for me, and it is almost ubiquitous. It also caught my attention how different the relationship between the Blackmore sisters is in comparison to Clara's.

This book is beautifully written, has amazing characters, and an engaging plot. It invites the reader to reflect on several things. I'm still thinking about the choices these characters had to make and how heavily they weigh on their hearts.

I could not put this one down. This book caught my attention and my heart, and I cannot wait to read about the rest of the Blackmore sisters. This book is a yes for me, and so far the same goes for the series.

[Meg Pearson]

The Moonstone Sister by Eleanor Buchanan

I have never begged for an ARC before, but after absolutely loving The Sea Stone Sisters, I knew I had to get my hands on the next book—and thankfully, The Moonstone Sister did not disappoint!

Eleanor Buchanan has once again created a wonderfully immersive dual-timeline story filled with family secrets, mystery, complicated relationships, and characters you can't help but become invested in. This time, we follow Lily's story in the 1930s alongside Clara in the present day, as the mystery of the moonstone ring begins to unravel.

What really stood out to me was Buchanan's incredible attention to detail when bringing the South of France in the 1930s to life. The glamour, beauty, and atmosphere were so vividly portrayed that I could practically see myself there. But there's something wonderfully sinister about reading about all that beauty and decadence while knowing exactly what is looming on the horizon. That sense of impending history gave the story an added layer of tension that I absolutely loved.

I was completely invested in Lily's journey and loved seeing how the past connects with the present. The mystery surrounding the sisters, their rings, and their family history continues to unfold in a way that kept me turning the pages. There were moments of heartbreak, moments of hope, and plenty of secrets that had me desperate to find out what would happen next.

And now I have exactly one problem: I have to wait even longer for the next book! Eleanor Buchanan has completely hooked me on this series, and I am already impatient to discover the next sister's story.

A beautifully atmospheric, emotional, and compelling sequel that completely lived up to my expectations.

5 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley, Headline Publishing Group, and Eleanor Buchanan for the opportunity to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Tracey Dyson]

Free courtesy of Netgalley

This is the second book in the series, and like the last book, it was really confusing in the beginning. I personally think it should have had a little recap in the beginning of what happened in the first book. In the present it was a completely new person and as I read the first book a while ago, it felt jarring that I could remember bits from the first book, but this one didn't follow on.

The book follows the 3rd Blackmore sister Lily, who was taken from her father with her little sister, by their aunt. They were both destined to go to America with another Aunt but she decided to only take Daisy, so Lily was sent to the French Riviera to live with another of her mother's sisters, who she had never heard of as she was estranged from the family. As this was 1931 she was chaperoned on the journey by Lady Milbourne and her son Peregrine. They deliver her to her Aunt Florence's villa, where she finds her Aunt is a recluse and the villa receives no visitors. The story follows Lily's journey.

In the present Clara is a researcher who lives in York, but also looks after her grandmother in the Dordogne region of France. When she is employed to research a famous photographer and life in the riviera between the world wars, she stumbles across a photographer's initial LB, what is the link between LB and Clara.

I really enjoyed the book, once I got into it, and it has the feeling of Lucinda Riley's books. As I said with the first Sea Stone book, if you can move past the beginning and get into the story, it is very well written and will draw you in. I can't wait for the third book, and as I am now aware it will probably be another new character paired with either Rose or Daisy, I am hoping I can get into it straight away. I would recommend this beautiful book.

[Alyson]

This the second book in the series The Sea Stone Sisters and I would really recommend reading the first before reading this. Indeed, even though I'd read the first, it was a while ago and I'd forgotten much of the story. Fortunately it came back to me, to some degree, but a quick precis of the first book at the beginning would have been nice.
This is the story of the second ring, a blue moonstone, which was given to Lily Blackstone but has ended up in the possession of Clara. It seems the women in Clara's family are all subject to betrayal of some kind and it is when the same fate falls on Clara that she finds the ring leads her to another family and new friends.
As with the first book, it is the descriptions of places that really drew me in. In this case it is the French Riviera between the wars., a time when the rich and famous wanted to be seen and had oodles of money to spend throwing parties and having a good time. There was, of course, a seedier underside, of crime, drug running, gang crime and robbery, which the author manages to touch on and incorporate into the novel.
Again, the descriptions of Scotland are joyous, the castle on a headland and an art deco house that is a ruin.
Both Lily and Clara are feisty characters and Perry is initially annoying as is he supposed to be but turns our to have hidden depths.
As with the first book, I really enjoyed the story once it had got going. The opening was rather repetitive, and we are continually being reminded of the relationship between Lily and Daisy and Clara and Emilie. A little more editing could have cut some of the this and got the story going more quickly, but having said that, I really enjoyed the story and look forward to the next instalment.
With thanks to Netgalley, the author and Headline Publishing Group for an early copy in return for an honest review.

[Rachel Sharp]

This is the second book I've read in this series, and it certainly didn't disappoint. I found it easy to pick up the threads from the first book, with the story cleverly weaving past events into this new instalment. Although it could be enjoyed as a standalone novel, I think readers will get even more from it if they read the first book beforehand.
Once again, this is a beautifully crafted dual-timeline story, moving between the glamour of the French Riviera in the 1930s and present-day York and Scotland. We follow Lily, the third of the Blackmore sisters, who is still only a young girl when she is separated from her family and sent alone to the Riviera during the height of its glamorous social scene, just before the outbreak of the Second World War. Despite the hardships she endures, Lily remains remarkably resilient and never dwells on the unfairness of her circumstances.
The moonstone ring once again links past and present, mysteriously finding its way into Clara's life after being bequeathed to her by her grandmother. As a historical researcher, Clara uses her skills to unravel her family's hidden past. Her journey takes her back to Scotland, where she finds both answers and a deeper connection to her heritage and the folklore woven throughout the series.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and quickly became invested in the characters once again, finding it difficult to put down. It's an engaging, well-written novel with a wonderful sense of place, perfect for anyone who enjoys being immersed in stories that seamlessly blend history with the present day. The closing chapters offer intriguing hints about the remaining two sisters and their rings, leaving me eager to continue with the rest of the series.
Many thanks to the author, Headline Publishing Group and NetGalley for again providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Leanne]

The Moonstone Sister is a beautifully sweeping and deeply romantic continuation of the Sea Stone Sisters series, and it absolutely delivers on everything I love about multigenerational, dual‑timeline sagas. Eleanor Buchanan writes with such evocative detail that you feel transported—whether to the wild Scottish coast of Skara or the glittering French Riviera of the 1930s.

Lily’s story is captivating from the moment she’s forced to leave her beloved home and is swept into a world she never expected. Her journey through Cannes is rich with atmosphere, glamour, and shadows, and watching her navigate this new life—its beauty, its dangers, and its heartbreaks—makes her a wonderfully compelling heroine. The moonstone ring as her link to her sisters adds a lovely emotional thread throughout.

The present‑day storyline with Clara is just as engaging. Her life upended by grief and betrayal, she finds herself drawn into the mysteries of her grandmother’s past. The parallels between her research and Lily’s world unfold with satisfying depth, and the way the two timelines echo and enrich each other is one of the novel’s greatest strengths.

This instalment has everything: romance, mystery, family secrets, gorgeous settings, and that irresistible sense of fate pulling generations together. It’s immersive, emotional, and wonderfully atmospheric—exactly the kind of story you sink into and don’t want to leave.

A stunning second book in what is fast becoming a standout series. I really enjoyed this one and can’t wait to follow the next sister’s journey home.

with thanks to Eleanor Buchanan, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC

[Emma Ashley]

🩷 Blurb-
1931. When Lily Blackmore and her sisters are forced to leave their beautiful Scottish home of Skara, she hopes to at least remain with her younger sister Daisy, but instead finds herself on the Blue Train headed for life on the French Riviera, and an aunt she's never met.
As she attempts to find her feet in this completely new world, Lily is faced with both the beauty and ugliness of life in Cannes. And, as a shadow starts to fall over Europe, she must learn to forge her own way forward.
Present day. Newly engaged and working on a job she loves, Clara Gibson had thought that everything was falling into place. But when her grandmother dies, and she is faced with an unthinkable betrayal, Clara finds herself desperately trying to escape her life.
When the newly discovered secrets of her grandmother's life emerge, and demonstrate odd parallels to the mysterious 1932 photographer that haunts Clara's research, she starts to uncover a long-forgotten story.
🩵 Review -
I enjoyed the first book in the series and The Moonstone Sister certainly didn't disappoint. This was such a beautiful and well written novel. From the very first page I was hooked and I kept reading until the end as I wanted to know what happened. I loved the author's writing style and the pacing was just right. The place settings in the story sounded beautiful and there was a good cast of characters. Overall a brilliant novel that I highly recommend to other readers. I look forward to reading more by the author.
💚 Thank you to Headline Books, the author Eleanor Buchanan and Netgalley for my arc ebook copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

[Judith]

This, the second of the Sea Stone Sisters series is equally as engrossing as the first. Very reminiscent of Lucinda Riley’s series ‘The Seven Sisters’.

Written in the same format as the first book, this emotional family saga has romance, intrigue and drama and is told in two timelines spanning from 1931 to the present day. The main theme is that four sisters have each been given a ring made from the stones in their mother’s necklace which must be passed down through the female line. Circumstances conspire to separate the four girls and this story follows Iris’s journey from the wilds of the Scottish highlands to a very different new life with her aunt in the French Riviera. In the present day there is an intriguing puzzle for Clare the current owner of Iris’s ring to solve, to prove that she is one of the true Blackmoor descendants after spotting a post on the internet asking owners of the rings to contact a law firm in Edinburgh.

Eleanor Buchanon is a great storyteller, it is very well written and the descriptions bring places to life. It is a real page-turner and gets truly gripping towards the end. Very much looking forward to the next in this series.

Many thanks to the publisher for the invitation to read an early copy via NetGalley, it is much appreciated and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

[Tractor Girl]

Having thoroughly enjoyed the first book in the series, I was eager to return to these characters in The Moonstone Sister, and it more than lived up to my expectations. The story builds beautifully on the foundations laid in the previous novel while remaining an engaging and rewarding read in its own right.

The author has a wonderful gift for creating rich, believable characters whose lives and relationships continue to develop in meaningful ways. I quickly became immersed in their journeys, enjoying the blend of emotion, family bonds, and the secrets that gradually unfold throughout the story. The historical setting is vividly brought to life, adding depth and authenticity without ever overshadowing the characters themselves.

The pacing is well judged, balancing quieter, reflective moments with plenty of intrigue to keep the pages turning. Themes of resilience, love, identity, and belonging are handled with warmth and sensitivity, making this an emotionally satisfying read.

I would recommend reading the first book before starting The Moonstone Sister, as it provides valuable background and makes the continuing story even more rewarding. Fans of historical fiction with strong characters, family drama, and emotional depth will find much to enjoy. I thoroughly enjoyed this latest instalment and am already looking forward to reading the next book in the series.

[bookbrownie0]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 Stars

After absolutely loving The Sea Stone Sisters, I was thrilled to receive an email inviting me to ARC read The Moonstone Sister, and it did not disappoint. This was a fantastic second instalment in a series that is quickly becoming a favourite of mine.
This time the spotlight falls on Lily, and I loved uncovering her story through the beautifully woven dual timelines. From the glamour of the French Riviera in the 1930s to the present day mystery surrounding the sisters, Eleanor Buchanan once again creates an immersive, emotional, and utterly captivating read.
The settings were stunning, the family secrets compelling, and I found myself completely invested in both timelines. Buchanan has a wonderful way of bringing her characters to life, making you feel every moment of joy, heartbreak, hope and discovery alongside them.
I raced through this book and was genuinely disappointed when I reached the final page because I wasn’t ready to leave these characters behind. I already cannot wait to discover the next sister’s story.

A beautifully written historical fiction novel filled with family secrets, mystery, love and unforgettable settings.📚✨

Perfect for fans of The Seven Sisters, The Forgotten Village, The Midnight House, Daughters of Night

[Maggie's Book Collection]

Having loved the first book in The Sea Stone Sisters series, I was really looking forward to book two, and I was not disappointed. Book two is about Lily Blackmore in 1931 and Clara Gibson in the present day. Lily is the third sister in the Blackmore family, and she inherited the Moonstone ring from her mother.

Lily is sent to the French Riviera on her own after the four sisters are split up and taken away from their home in Scotland. She is to live with an aunt she has never heard of, who is wrapped up in her own world, and care for Lily. I really liked Lily; she is tenacious, and despite a myriad of setbacks, she always picks herself up and carries on.

I liked Clara too; I enjoyed how she starts to unravel her grandmother's story and, in the process, finds her own way forward. The characters are well written, and I equally liked or hated them, as appropriate.

This is a wonderful story of intrigue, hidden truths, deceptions and finding a way to deal with the past and present. I will wait impatiently for the next sister's story to be released in due course.

[Northern Rose]

I have just finished reading an ARC of this book and absolutely loved it! When I got to the end I realised it was actually the second in The Sea Stone Sisters series and am gutted not to have spotted the first Sea Stone Sisters book when it came out as an ARC earlier this year. I now have to wait until the first book is published - next month - to read book 1.
I have to say though, the fact that this is book 2 in a series did not detract in any way from the pleasure of me reading it - it was a fantastic self-contained novel which I found compelling to read and which drew me in, making me want to know more about the characters. I loved the descriptions of the Riviera, and wanted to be there.
I want to read book 1 simply because I enjoyed this book so much I want to know more about what happened to the first sister, Iris.
If you like historical fiction such as books by Kate Morton I'd definitely recommend this book

[Lynn Reads]

The Moonstone Sister is the second book in the Sea Stone Sisters series, which is fast becoming my favorite historical fiction series. I paced myself to enjoy this book fully and not finish it in a day, finishing it instead in two days. It was such a great read!

Eleanor Buchanan is a brilliant storyteller. Her vivid descriptions transport you around the world and to different times, whether it’s York in the present day or the French Riviera in 1930.

The different perspectives and timelines kept me turning the page, wanting to find out more. There was mystery, joy, grief, sadness, laughter, but most of all love. It was wonderful to find characters from the first book making an appearance and getting to know the new characters intimately.

I can't wait to see where the story of the sisters goes in the next book!

Thanks to Headline and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this review copy.

[Heather Howarth]

I really enjoyed this 5 star read. The second story in the Sea Stone series is set in the French Riviera and centres round the life of Lily. She is sent to live at 15 with her estranged aunt in her mansion near Antibes. Here she befriends a German couple and develops her interest in photography.

It is her photographs and the gift of the moonstone ring from her grandma which inspire Clara to find out more about her family background. A quest which takes her to Skara and brings her into contact with Ros - another ring inheritor - and Finn who is trying to find the heirs to the Blackmore trust.

With difficulties in her personal life, she finds understanding more about her background helps her to feel grounded in the present.

A delightful read. I look forward to the next episode.

[Avril Mcauley]

AMAZING!
This is the second in the series of The Sea Stone Sisters. Set again in a dual timeline between 1931 and present day.
There was nothing g to dislike about the second one telling the story once again of The Blackmore Sisters.
The second one tells the story of Lily and is-set in France in 1931 and present day Clara set in France, York and Skara.
The Moonstone ring is set on leading Clara to learn about Lily and The Blackmore Sisters and keeping it safe is the key.
I loved every page of this book, the characters and the descriptions of where it takes us.
I am now eagerly awaiting the next instalment and I can’t wait.

[Jane]

I had previously reviewed the Sea Stone Sisters and was so pleased when the publishers invited me to review this book

I loved this, this is the second book in the series. This time we see Lily and the clever dual timelines. We see the french Riveria in the 1930s to the present day mystery surrounding the sisters. There is mystery, family secrets and more. I could not put this book down I was lucky as the school was closed so had 2 heat days off.

Recommended series but sadly reader will have to wait till January 14 2027 to read this. Looking forward to the next book.

[Libby Reidy]

For fans of the Late Lucinda Riley's Sisters series, this is a must read. I did not read the first of the series; I will request it from my library. Four sisters are left rings with different stones by their deceased mother. The reader meets the female descendants of this woman (Clara in this book, Iris in book one of the series). Searching for the history of the mysterious moonstone ring she has inherited leads Clara to discover her connections to her ancestors and family that she didn't know. A fascinating story, I can't wait for the next book.

[Bev Dulson]

I am really enjoying this series and already looking forward to the next book.

The saga continues in the book as Clara tries to find out what her connection to the moonstone is, whilst dealing with heartbreak of her own.

The dual timelines work well as we find out about the original owner of the moonstone, Lily and her life.

Raced through it, my only disappointment was not getting to find out about Perry's memoirs at the end :(

Thanks to netgalley for the opportunity to review this book. This is my honest opinion.

[Angela]

Highly recommend this book it is set in two periods 1931 and current time. The more you read the book the more you wanted to know what happened to the other stones, and learn more about all the characters. There is romance, betrayal, rejoicing and discovering the hidden series of secrets throughout the book.

[Julie Williams]

Fantastic book , second in the Sea Stone Sisters series.
This time we learn of Lily and present day Clara’s lives with secrets and mysteries some solved some not. The story is very atmospheric and interesting as it’s set in South of France and Uk. I found it quite emotional at times but very well written with great characters.
My thanks to Net galley and publishers for the advanced copy.

[Alayne Emmett]

The second book in this series and it was as good as the first one. I throughly enjoyed reading about the next sister and it reminded me a little of Lucinda Riley's sisters series. My thanks to netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

[Toni-Louise]

Following on from the first book this instalment in this series follows Lily as she is sent to France and tries to make something of herself.

Really great writing with lots of mystery and intrigue

[Celia]

Superb! Absolutely loved this, just as good, maybe even slightly better than the first installment. Can not wait for the next one!

Highly recommend!

My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me the opportunity to read an advance digital copy in return for an honest review.

[Carol]

Wow I loved this book I was hooked and can not wait for the rest of the series. It was full of romance and emotion with a touch of drama well worth reading
Thanks to Netgalley and Headline books for my arc copy