Ghost on the Shore

Blackbird #3

by Lily Foster

How many times have I stood on the bank of this river feeling the weight of the things I’ve done?
After all these years, I don’t know if I come here for you, if I come here looking for forgiveness, or if I come here trying to find myself.
I’ve told so many lies, kept so much of myself hidden that I feel like an imposter in this life I’ve built. I’ve got my dream job, I’ve got family—even got myself a good man. But it’s all wrong. It’s like living in a house of cards with a hurricane bearing down on you.

Without you, I’m nothing more than a ghost on the shore.
The January wind whips my hair and freezes the stray tears on my cheeks. The rock I’m standing on is icy, and this isn’t the first time I’ve been tempted to let myself go, to slip and sink under. But I won’t do that because someday you might come looking for me.
Reaching up to touch that spot on the back of my neck, I know I’ll never forget you.
I made sure of that, little blackbird.


The Blackbird series by Lily Foster is intended for readers 18 and older due to mature language and sexual content.

Genres: Military Fiction

300 pages, ebook

First published January 11, 2021

About the author

Lily Foster writes "genuinely engrossing" contemporary romance (Publishers Weekly) and coming of age fiction that "will satisfy more discerning fans of the new-adult genre" (Kirkus Reviews).

In addition to writing, Lily is an avid reader, snail-paced runner, and lover of all things falafel and red wine-related.

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Reviews

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ghost on the shore was such a touching emotional story. I was engrossed right from the start to the end. And the author does such a good job that I could feel Grace’s heartbreak and her happiness. Grace is strong and has been through a lot. I love Damien, and the love they shared. I definitely recommend this book.

[Dawn Nesmith · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love everything I've read from this author. This was a very emotional romance with lots of steam. There is a military background which I loved because it added context without overpowering the story. Definitely one I'll recommend.

[Jean · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is book three in The Blackbird Series and it is Grace's story and omg what a story it is. Grace's story starts when she meets Damien but what follows will break you and then put you back together again. Grace is a high school teacher but she hides behind everything that life has thrown at her and her life is a complete charade and even the people closest to be doesn't know what she has gone through or the secrets that she has kept from them. Damien is in the military and on leave for six weeks he meets Grace and he wants to spend as much time as he can with her and get to know her but he is also there for his best friend who has just got out of the military after there past deployment and he is really suffering so Damien is being pulled in many directions and the more time that Grace and Damien spend together the more they fall for each other but time is ticking as Damien is due to be deployed again but what happens next is the biggest shock. The characters and storyline pulled you in right from the first page and I couldn't put this book down as I had to keep turning the pages to see what would happen next and it was such a story full of pain and it was so addictive. There are many twists and turns along with danger, hope, love, secrets, loss, pain and many emotional situations that had me in tears with everything that Grace had gone through on her own and yet I couldn't believe how strong she was but yet broken at the same time and this story completely broke me apart and I felt like I was going through everything with her. This is the first book that I have read by Lily Foster and I can't wait to read more of her books in the future as it was so well written and a absolutely amazing story.

I Voluntarily Reviewed an Arc Copy of this Amazing Book.

[Ginger · Rating 5 out of 5]

I stayed up last night as soon as this landed on my kindle. Another raw, emotional love story in a series that I am loving. Cannot wait for the next one. Great job!

[Brynn King · Rating 5 out of 5]

A heartbreaker that will have you laughing one minute because Grace is a spitfire, and then crying once disaster strikes. Two love stories here and both of them are compelling. I'm loving this series.

[Nobody · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's one of those books that, sadly, I know I can't do justice to with my review. It is passionate and touching, and sad too, very sad. But it is real: the ability of this writer to convey such realistic emotions and situations in words is to be admired.
It's the third book in a series, so some things about Grace showed up in the previous books, but I skipped the second one and kept up anyway. There are two love story: the first is a love story between young characters (twenties), the second is set fifteen years later.
When we meet Grace, we see from her point of view that she survive by hiding behind a facade of happiness and satisfaction. But inside, she feels like an empty shell. A shell with ghosts to keep her company.
It is impossible, in the first part, not to feel the love that springs between Damian and Grace, the concern for Eli, the bewilderment and sadness of Grace, then her pain, and this love that remains with her, for Damian and for Birdie, always. I am so sorry for Damian's fate. And I was hoping that Eli, despite everything, had managed to recover. I was hoping that, in her journey in search of the past, Grace could meet him and share her mourning with him, instead of with Gianna.
In the second part, I appreciated the character of Owen, his being so solid and positive despite the personal difficulties he had. But Grace's path was necessary: ​​you can't build a relationship, one that lasts, pretending to be someone else or without first solving those problems that keep you stuck. Especially if you have sincere feelings for your possibly partner and really want his/her happiness. So yes, the third part of the book was necessary, but I found the ending, while satisfying for my taste, a little too open (so 4 stars and not 5). We saw Owen and Grace together, we saw how they can be and how they probably will be, but I would have liked to see something more after their reunion.
I hope some questions will be answered in the next book, given who is one of the protagonists (and that's a *big spoiler*, if you hadn't read it in the presentation at the end of this book).

[Nati · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fourteen years ago Grace changed forever. She was loved and she lost it all. Can she recover from the ghost of her past and find love, happiness and her purpose in life? Meeting Owen will help figure it all out. An emotional tale about love, lost, death and so much more. A really good book.

[Brooke · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had a really hard time connecting with this book and our main character Grace and I think it’s because it was not what I was expecting at all. There will be some spoilers here - I thought it was going to be a second chance romance between Grace and Damien when I first started, however that was quickly proven wrong as Damien ultimately ends up passing away. This leaves Grace behind to deal with the difficult decision of putting their baby up for adoption. We don’t really get any insight into why she makes this choice when it’s clear that in the present tense this is a decision she regrets. Then we get a bit of Jack and Grace who she ends up leaving because she doesn’t love him and hasn’t opened up to him although they’ve been together for several years. Then she hops right into something with a character named Owen who she states reminds her of Damien but they break up for a few chapters and then the last is them back together. The timeline stuff just really did not work for me, the first half is Damien and Grace’s story which I enjoyed and then we get a few chapters of Owen and Grace. I feel like if they were the ones who were supposed to end up together the book should have focused more on them. I did like the tie ins with the previous books though.

[Nancy Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

GHOST ON THE SHORE by Lily Foster that caught my interest and bought in the November of this year. The other night I was searching for something different to read and this book met all my expectations. It has a beautiful love story that made me cry with emotion. It has a good ending but not the ending only a miracle would take to happen. I had trouble putting this book down till the very end.

When Grace Dawson met Damien Erikson at a bar, she felt the pull they had for each other. They even kissed, and it was the best kiss each of them ever had felt. A jealous girl ruined the magic moment, but fate drew them to each other once again. They only would have a limited time together, because he was in the military and on leave. They made the most of their time together. He regretted his signing up to reenlist. They made promises to each other, and she said she'd wait for him till he came home again. Together they both were the happiest they had ever been in their lives, and they dreamed of their future life...him, her, a house on the river, plus lots of babies! He told her even if he didn't get to have all that with her, he'd still be so grateful for what she'd given him in these few weeks. They'd just wanted to focus on their right now. “Don't borrow sorrow from tomorrow.”

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I recieved an ARC of this book for my honest review. I did not realize until I came to write the review that it was book #3 - and I appreciate that - nor did I realize I read book #1! No wonder Charlotte and Simon sounded so familiar! Anyways. I didn't feel like I was missing any back story and that is important to me. This was an emotional read. I was prepared for some strong emotions going into it, but the author made it smooth and not gut wrenching like I thought it might be. A great story and I look forward to reading #4!

[Misty Warner · Rating 5 out of 5]

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book. This is the 3rf book in the Blackbird Series. Each book can be read as a standalone.
Grace's story is very emotional and heartbreaking. It starts 14 years ago when six weeks would change her entire life. Now she is a shell of her old self and hasn't let anyone in. Not even her best friends. Somehow Owen gets her to open up. Makes her feel things she hasn't in years.
Grab those tissues your going to need them. And I can't wait for the next book! I need it now.

[Susan Ney friedlander · Rating 5 out of 5]

Grace and her loves

Grace is a lucky girl. She has had the love of two incredible men. Although her first love was a short one filled with tragedy, she got the entire of experience of being in and receiving love. It took her years but she was able to meet the second love of her life as well. He was amazing and would do anything for her. This story was about love, loss, and finding your way back again.

[Pattip]

What an emotional, interesting and hard hitting romance that deals with human insecurity, young love, tragedy, and resilience. I really enjoyed this story and the way that it was written. I already went back and purchased the first in the series as I want to find out how the story started for Charlotte. This is my voluntary and honest review after received a free ARC.

[M · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is an emotional roller coaster and with every turn of page I've experienced love, loss, heartache and the promise of second chances with our heroine. The author has done an amazing job with the whole storyline, right from Charlotte Mason to Grace Dawson, tying up everything neatly. Can't wait to get my hands on the fourth book.

[Adrianna santos · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been blown away by every book in this series, but I think Grace's story might be my favorite. I love this author's writing style, the realism in her plot lines, and the way we come to know and love the characters, flaws and all.

[Tom Carver · Rating 5 out of 5]

Blackbird Book 3

This story made cry many times. Just as I thought everything was good it would jerk tears again. I would say it is one of the best I have ever read. A very loving story.

[Linda Jerome · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ghost

This was such a moving story which covered so many areas that could have been anyone's story. It was so moving to read about a strong love,heart ache and a second chance at a new love. I feel everyone will love this book.

[Laur · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this was a touching and truly excellent love story.

[V. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. I loved Grace’s story and now I’m itching to get my hands on the next book. From what it sounds like, it’s going to be focusing on the child she gave up for adoption years ago.

[Saunders · Rating 2 out of 5]

there was a huge chunk of this storyline missing. Especially in the early years.

[Judy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series is awesome. Period.