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The Boatman's Wife
There was some dark secret in this western edge of Ireland that her husband never wanted her to find out. She might never be able to lay his body to rest, but she could gain some kind of closure by finding out who the man she married was.
When Lily married her soulmate Connor, buffeted by the sea spray and wild winds of her coastal homeland in Maine, she never imagined she’d be planning his memorial just three years later. Connor has been lost at sea in the bleak stormy Atlantic, leaving Lily heartbroken.
But as she prepares to say goodbye to Connor for the last time, she is shocked to discover a message to him that he never told her about: Does your wife know who you really are, Connor Fitzgerald? Don’t ever think you can come home. Because if you do, I swear I’ll kill you.
Unable to bear living in the home she and Connor shared, Lily decides to find out her husband’s secret. She flies to Connor’s home town of Mullaghmore on the west coast of Ireland, a harbour town hugged by golden beaches and emerald-green fields. But when doors are slammed in her face, she begins to realise that she knows nothing about her husband’s past.
Connor’s grandmother, a hermit living on the cliffs of the wild Atlantic, must know the truth about her grandson. But when Lily tries to find her, threatening notes are pushed through her door warning her not to stay. Will Lily leave the darkness of the past where it belongs? Or will she risk everything to find out the truth about the man she married…
A completely heartbreaking story about the lies we tell to protect the ones we love. Fans of The Light Between Oceans, Lisa Wingate and Susanne O’Leary will lose their hearts to The Boatman’s Wife.
When Lily married her soulmate Connor, buffeted by the sea spray and wild winds of her coastal homeland in Maine, she never imagined she’d be planning his memorial just three years later. Connor has been lost at sea in the bleak stormy Atlantic, leaving Lily heartbroken.
But as she prepares to say goodbye to Connor for the last time, she is shocked to discover a message to him that he never told her about: Does your wife know who you really are, Connor Fitzgerald? Don’t ever think you can come home. Because if you do, I swear I’ll kill you.
Unable to bear living in the home she and Connor shared, Lily decides to find out her husband’s secret. She flies to Connor’s home town of Mullaghmore on the west coast of Ireland, a harbour town hugged by golden beaches and emerald-green fields. But when doors are slammed in her face, she begins to realise that she knows nothing about her husband’s past.
Connor’s grandmother, a hermit living on the cliffs of the wild Atlantic, must know the truth about her grandson. But when Lily tries to find her, threatening notes are pushed through her door warning her not to stay. Will Lily leave the darkness of the past where it belongs? Or will she risk everything to find out the truth about the man she married…
A completely heartbreaking story about the lies we tell to protect the ones we love. Fans of The Light Between Oceans, Lisa Wingate and Susanne O’Leary will lose their hearts to The Boatman’s Wife.
296 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 14, 2021
925 people are currently reading
412 people want to read
About the author
Noëlle Harrison
16 books40 followerspseudonym: Evie Blake
Born in London, I moved to Ireland in 1991, shortly afterwards setting up the theatre company Aurora. I have written four stage plays, Northern Landscapes, Black Virgin, Runaway Wife and The Good Sister, and one short film, Blue Void. I have also written extensively on visual art in Ireland, contributing to various journals and artists’ catalogues over the years.
In August 2004 my first novel Beatrice was published by Tivoli/ Pan Macmillan. My second novel, A Small Part Of Me, was published by Tivoli / Pan Macmillan in September 2005. My third novel I Remember was published by Pan Macmillan in September 2008. The Adulteress an erotic ghost story set now and in 1941 in Ireland was published by Pan Macmillan in September 2009. The Secret Loves of Julia Caesar is an illustrated limited edition novella, a companion book to The Adulteress as well as a novel in its own right. It is published October 2012.
I currently live in Bergen in Norway. In September 2012 Beatrice was published by Juritzen Forlag in Norwegian. My books have also been translated and published in Italy, Germany, Holland, and Hungary.
I offer a critiquing service for budding writers and teach various creative writing workshops through Inkwell Writers.
I also write under the pen name of Evie Blake, author of Valentina published by Headline in October 2012, Valentina on the edge (March 2013) and Valentina Unlocked (October 2013). The Valentina Trilogy will be translated and published in Italy, Germany, Holland, Spain, France, Portugal, Brazil, and Serbia.
Born in London, I moved to Ireland in 1991, shortly afterwards setting up the theatre company Aurora. I have written four stage plays, Northern Landscapes, Black Virgin, Runaway Wife and The Good Sister, and one short film, Blue Void. I have also written extensively on visual art in Ireland, contributing to various journals and artists’ catalogues over the years.
In August 2004 my first novel Beatrice was published by Tivoli/ Pan Macmillan. My second novel, A Small Part Of Me, was published by Tivoli / Pan Macmillan in September 2005. My third novel I Remember was published by Pan Macmillan in September 2008. The Adulteress an erotic ghost story set now and in 1941 in Ireland was published by Pan Macmillan in September 2009. The Secret Loves of Julia Caesar is an illustrated limited edition novella, a companion book to The Adulteress as well as a novel in its own right. It is published October 2012.
I currently live in Bergen in Norway. In September 2012 Beatrice was published by Juritzen Forlag in Norwegian. My books have also been translated and published in Italy, Germany, Holland, and Hungary.
I offer a critiquing service for budding writers and teach various creative writing workshops through Inkwell Writers.
I also write under the pen name of Evie Blake, author of Valentina published by Headline in October 2012, Valentina on the edge (March 2013) and Valentina Unlocked (October 2013). The Valentina Trilogy will be translated and published in Italy, Germany, Holland, Spain, France, Portugal, Brazil, and Serbia.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 102 reviews
January 19, 2021
EXCERPT: Rockland, Maine, 1st November 2017
Does your wife know who you really are, Connor Fitzgerald? I don't want you to even forget not one day goes by when I don't want to get you back for what you did. You're not welcome in Mullaghmore ever again. So, don't ever think you can come home with your new wife. Because if you do, I swear I'll kill you.
ABOUT 'THE BOATMAN'S WIFE': There was some dark secret in this western edge of Ireland that her husband never wanted her to find out. She might never be able to lay his body to rest, but she could gain some kind of closure by finding out who the man she married was.
When Lily married her soulmate Connor, buffeted by the sea spray and wild winds of her coastal homeland in Maine, she never imagined she’d be planning his memorial just three years later. Connor has been lost at sea in the bleak stormy Atlantic, leaving Lily heartbroken.
But as she prepares to say goodbye to Connor for the last time, she is shocked to discover a message to him that he never told her about:
Does your wife know who you really are, Connor Fitzgerald? Don’t ever think you can come home. Because if you do, I swear I’ll kill you.
Unable to bear living in the home she and Connor shared, Lily decides to find out her husband’s secret. She flies to Connor’s home town of Mullaghmore on the west coast of Ireland, a harbour town hugged by golden beaches and emerald-green fields. But when doors are slammed in her face, she begins to realise that she knows nothing about her husband’s past.
Connor’s grandmother, a hermit living on the cliffs of the wild Atlantic, must know the truth about her grandson. But when Lily tries to find her, threatening notes are pushed through her door warning her not to stay. Will Lily leave the darkness of the past where it belongs? Or will she risk everything to find out the truth about the man she married…
MY THOUGHTS: The Boatman's Wife by Noelle Harrison is an interesting story spread across two timelines, 1992 in Mullaghmore, Ireland, and 2017 in Rockland, Maine. It took me most of the book to figure out the connection and solve the mystery, although I did have glimmers of suspicion from time to time. I particularly liked the sections set in Ireland, somehow relating more to Niamh, whose character seemed far more realistic, than Lily, although once Lily gets to Ireland her story and character became more interesting to me.
The Boatman's Wife has an interesting and complicated plot involving family relationships, love, loss, grief, and the Irish 'troubles'.
This is a beautifully written and emotional story, was a full 4 star read for me until almost the very end, which disappointed me. Everything was wrapped up nicely and quickly in pretty paper with a large bow on top. It was just a little too perfect.
So, if you like a dish of warm fuzzies with a side of intrigue and mystery, The Boatman's Wife is ideal. And just for the record, the title has two completely different meanings, both relevant to the story.
⭐⭐⭐.6
#TheBoatmansWife #NetGalley
THE AUTHOR: pseudonym: Evie Blake
Born in London, I moved to Ireland in 1991, shortly afterwards setting up the theatre company Aurora. I have written four stage plays, Northern Landscapes, Black Virgin, Runaway Wife and The Good Sister, and one short film, Blue Void. I have also written extensively on visual art in Ireland, contributing to various journals and artists’ catalogues over the years. I currently live in Bergen in Norway.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Bookouture via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of The Boatman's Wife by Noelle Harrison for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
This review and others are also published on Twitter, Amazon, Instagram and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
Does your wife know who you really are, Connor Fitzgerald? I don't want you to even forget not one day goes by when I don't want to get you back for what you did. You're not welcome in Mullaghmore ever again. So, don't ever think you can come home with your new wife. Because if you do, I swear I'll kill you.
ABOUT 'THE BOATMAN'S WIFE': There was some dark secret in this western edge of Ireland that her husband never wanted her to find out. She might never be able to lay his body to rest, but she could gain some kind of closure by finding out who the man she married was.
When Lily married her soulmate Connor, buffeted by the sea spray and wild winds of her coastal homeland in Maine, she never imagined she’d be planning his memorial just three years later. Connor has been lost at sea in the bleak stormy Atlantic, leaving Lily heartbroken.
But as she prepares to say goodbye to Connor for the last time, she is shocked to discover a message to him that he never told her about:
Does your wife know who you really are, Connor Fitzgerald? Don’t ever think you can come home. Because if you do, I swear I’ll kill you.
Unable to bear living in the home she and Connor shared, Lily decides to find out her husband’s secret. She flies to Connor’s home town of Mullaghmore on the west coast of Ireland, a harbour town hugged by golden beaches and emerald-green fields. But when doors are slammed in her face, she begins to realise that she knows nothing about her husband’s past.
Connor’s grandmother, a hermit living on the cliffs of the wild Atlantic, must know the truth about her grandson. But when Lily tries to find her, threatening notes are pushed through her door warning her not to stay. Will Lily leave the darkness of the past where it belongs? Or will she risk everything to find out the truth about the man she married…
MY THOUGHTS: The Boatman's Wife by Noelle Harrison is an interesting story spread across two timelines, 1992 in Mullaghmore, Ireland, and 2017 in Rockland, Maine. It took me most of the book to figure out the connection and solve the mystery, although I did have glimmers of suspicion from time to time. I particularly liked the sections set in Ireland, somehow relating more to Niamh, whose character seemed far more realistic, than Lily, although once Lily gets to Ireland her story and character became more interesting to me.
The Boatman's Wife has an interesting and complicated plot involving family relationships, love, loss, grief, and the Irish 'troubles'.
This is a beautifully written and emotional story, was a full 4 star read for me until almost the very end, which disappointed me. Everything was wrapped up nicely and quickly in pretty paper with a large bow on top. It was just a little too perfect.
So, if you like a dish of warm fuzzies with a side of intrigue and mystery, The Boatman's Wife is ideal. And just for the record, the title has two completely different meanings, both relevant to the story.
⭐⭐⭐.6
#TheBoatmansWife #NetGalley
THE AUTHOR: pseudonym: Evie Blake
Born in London, I moved to Ireland in 1991, shortly afterwards setting up the theatre company Aurora. I have written four stage plays, Northern Landscapes, Black Virgin, Runaway Wife and The Good Sister, and one short film, Blue Void. I have also written extensively on visual art in Ireland, contributing to various journals and artists’ catalogues over the years. I currently live in Bergen in Norway.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Bookouture via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of The Boatman's Wife by Noelle Harrison for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
This review and others are also published on Twitter, Amazon, Instagram and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
November 19, 2022
2017: Lily married her Irish love Connor Fitzgerald three years ago and she didn’t know a lot about his family or his past? They live in Maine, Lily comes from a seafaring family and her dad is a lobster fisherman, he owns a boat called the Lily May and she and her cousin Ryan are both members of his crew. Her beloved Connor is lost at sea during a violent storm, somewhere floating in the Atlantic Ocean is his unclaimed body and Lily's absolutely devastated. While planning his memorial she finds a message on his laptop that said “Does your wife know who you really are Connor Fitzgerald and don’t think you can come home. Because if you do, I swear I’ll kill you.”
Lily can’t stand being alone in her little house she shared with Connor, she’s angry at her father for not turning his boat around, not returning to shore when the weather was so bad and she was the one who should have been on the boat instead of her husband. She decides to fly to Ireland and makes her way to Mullaghmore, a beautiful place on the Irish coast and she’s determined to find Connor’s Grandmother Rosemary. Somewhere nearby she lives alone in her cottage and she doesn’t know her Grandson Connor has passed away. None of the locals will talk about Connor; Lily senses they knew him and yet they won’t tell her anything about his family?
I received a copy of The Boatman’s Wife from NetGalley and Bookouture in exchange for an honest review.
The Narrative has a complicated plot, it’s interesting and full of twists and turns. The dual timeline story is based around Connor’s mother's involvement during the 1990’s conflict with Northern Ireland, Rosemary’s Fitzgerald’s terrible struggle with depression and Connor’s troubled teenage years, Connor being lost at sea and Lily becoming a young widow. Three stars from me and a quick read.
Lily can’t stand being alone in her little house she shared with Connor, she’s angry at her father for not turning his boat around, not returning to shore when the weather was so bad and she was the one who should have been on the boat instead of her husband. She decides to fly to Ireland and makes her way to Mullaghmore, a beautiful place on the Irish coast and she’s determined to find Connor’s Grandmother Rosemary. Somewhere nearby she lives alone in her cottage and she doesn’t know her Grandson Connor has passed away. None of the locals will talk about Connor; Lily senses they knew him and yet they won’t tell her anything about his family?
I received a copy of The Boatman’s Wife from NetGalley and Bookouture in exchange for an honest review.
The Narrative has a complicated plot, it’s interesting and full of twists and turns. The dual timeline story is based around Connor’s mother's involvement during the 1990’s conflict with Northern Ireland, Rosemary’s Fitzgerald’s terrible struggle with depression and Connor’s troubled teenage years, Connor being lost at sea and Lily becoming a young widow. Three stars from me and a quick read.
March 17, 2021
Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for an egalley in exchange for an honest review.
Two women- one in Ireland in the 1990s and one in Maine in the 2000s, appearing unconnected to one another, but each on a collision course to one another. It is an intriguing premise with a good historical back story for the Irish storyline, but I changed my 3 stars to a 2 star after some reflection.
I felt that both protagonists were as dramatic as the book cover's tagline. It was really difficult to connect with them because my eyes were too busy rolling out of my head. That being said, Niamh had a much more interesting back story than Lily. I think she could have carried this novel all on her own. But Lily was another matter entirely as I had a hard time believing this was a woman in her 20's. As my fave literary protagonist, Claire Fraser would say " Jesus H Roosevelt Christ," because I just wanted to give this girl a good shake. Unless you are six years old or under, no one should call their father "daddy."
All in all, it was an okay read.
Publication Date 14/03/21
Goodreads review published 17/03/21
Two women- one in Ireland in the 1990s and one in Maine in the 2000s, appearing unconnected to one another, but each on a collision course to one another. It is an intriguing premise with a good historical back story for the Irish storyline, but I changed my 3 stars to a 2 star after some reflection.
I felt that both protagonists were as dramatic as the book cover's tagline. It was really difficult to connect with them because my eyes were too busy rolling out of my head. That being said, Niamh had a much more interesting back story than Lily. I think she could have carried this novel all on her own. But Lily was another matter entirely as I had a hard time believing this was a woman in her 20's. As my fave literary protagonist, Claire Fraser would say " Jesus H Roosevelt Christ," because I just wanted to give this girl a good shake. Unless you are six years old or under, no one should call their father "daddy."
All in all, it was an okay read.
Publication Date 14/03/21
Goodreads review published 17/03/21
January 18, 2021
The Boatman’s Wife is a powerful, evocative and richly-imagined standalone domestic drama by Irish author Noëlle Harrison and tells the emotional tale of loss, one family’s long-held secrets, a widow desperate to solve the mystery and discover exactly who her late husband really was, and the enduring bonds of love. It begins in Rockland, Maine on 18th October 2017. Lily had always been a lucky child as evidenced by winning the Lobster Races three years in a row alongside her proud father. Coming from a seafaring family, fishing is all Lily has ever known and this allows her to feel an affinity with the ocean with her father even naming one of his boats after her - calling it Lily May - and unlike most girls her age she loved working as a lobster fisher. Four years ago, in 2013, Lily was just about to hit the milestone age of 21 and beginning to feel lonely and the odd one out in her circle as most of her friends had gotten married and started a family already. On her birthday morning she takes out a rowboat into the lake in the chilly winter air and makes a wish - the wish for a soulmate. The following day she meets Irishman and bartender Connor Fitzgerald and they appear to fall for each other hard - or you could say hook, line and sinker. Now four years later all that remains of him is the cold space in their bed in which he used to sleep. She dredges up memories of their first meeting at Moll’s bar down by the port. But one stormy night Connor goes fishing on the Lily May with Lily's father and never returns. He had fallen overboard in a tragic accident while pulling up lobster traps and suddenly Lily is aware that she won't even have his body in order to lay him to rest.
She's devastated that the long life she had planned for them had been taken from her so cruelly. Feeling as though she wants to maintain some sort of connection with Connor she decides to travel to Connor's hometown of Mullaghmore on the West coast of Ireland to meet the family he hid from her the whole time they were together. What could be so bad to warrant that amount of secrecy? When a terrible secret about him emerges, Lily is forced to question if she ever really knew the man she married. The Boatman’s Wife aims to take you on a journey between two women connected and yet unknown to each other. To Lily in Maine and her life upon the Atlantic Ocean. How it snatches away what she holds most dear. To Niamh, lost in the dark woods of Ireland as she clings on to what she’s always believed in. It is a captivating, deeply emotional and beautifully written tale that features such a substantial mystery that the tension was palpable throughout, and I felt more riveted than I often do when reading a full-on thriller as the urge to know what Connor was hiding was strong in me. There is so much intrigue, a tonne of heartbreak and a plethora of secrets and duplicitous behaviour and the sense of time and place evoked by the stunning descriptions was breathtaking. At the heart of The Boatman’s Wife is the search for what is true, no matter how hard the consequences. From the wild western ocean to the stark Irish boglands, the landscape mirrors our quest, drawing solace from nature. This is a study of sadness through deep loss and of small seeds of hope that pull us through. How this pain can expand our hearts to receive more joy ultimately. To understand love is not finite. Highly recommended.
She's devastated that the long life she had planned for them had been taken from her so cruelly. Feeling as though she wants to maintain some sort of connection with Connor she decides to travel to Connor's hometown of Mullaghmore on the West coast of Ireland to meet the family he hid from her the whole time they were together. What could be so bad to warrant that amount of secrecy? When a terrible secret about him emerges, Lily is forced to question if she ever really knew the man she married. The Boatman’s Wife aims to take you on a journey between two women connected and yet unknown to each other. To Lily in Maine and her life upon the Atlantic Ocean. How it snatches away what she holds most dear. To Niamh, lost in the dark woods of Ireland as she clings on to what she’s always believed in. It is a captivating, deeply emotional and beautifully written tale that features such a substantial mystery that the tension was palpable throughout, and I felt more riveted than I often do when reading a full-on thriller as the urge to know what Connor was hiding was strong in me. There is so much intrigue, a tonne of heartbreak and a plethora of secrets and duplicitous behaviour and the sense of time and place evoked by the stunning descriptions was breathtaking. At the heart of The Boatman’s Wife is the search for what is true, no matter how hard the consequences. From the wild western ocean to the stark Irish boglands, the landscape mirrors our quest, drawing solace from nature. This is a study of sadness through deep loss and of small seeds of hope that pull us through. How this pain can expand our hearts to receive more joy ultimately. To understand love is not finite. Highly recommended.
January 22, 2021
Publication date : January 14, 2021
Lily was 25 but she often sounded immature and childish. I dislike when author tell about the events, instead of showing us. We are constantly told how good and lucky Lily is but somehow she left me cold. I didn't enjoy dual timelines and narrators. Just when you get into one character's story, you get interrupted. After a while, story started to drag for me and not much seemed to happen. It was okay but I expected much more.
Lily was 25 but she often sounded immature and childish. I dislike when author tell about the events, instead of showing us. We are constantly told how good and lucky Lily is but somehow she left me cold. I didn't enjoy dual timelines and narrators. Just when you get into one character's story, you get interrupted. After a while, story started to drag for me and not much seemed to happen. It was okay but I expected much more.
November 29, 2020
What if the person we love the most in the world is not who we thought they were? Are some secrets unforgivable? Noelle Harrison explores these questions in her dual timeline, ‘The Boatman’s Wife,’ to be published January 14, 2021.
This is an atmospheric novel set in Mullaghmore, on the West Coast of Ireland in 1992 and in Rockland, Maine in 2017. Harrison’s alternating chapters culminate in the most surprising manner and leave you pondering the power of love. You will be captivated by this historical novel with contemporary resonance and relevance as it focusses on family mysteries and generational secrets.
Lily and Connor Fitzgerald are lobster fishers off the coast of Maine who are working on the ‘Lily May’ to save money in order to start a family. One night in a particularly bad storm, Connor goes overboard while pulling up lobster traps. Desperate to deal with this tragic accident at sea and gain closure, Lily feels the need to keep a link to Connor so she travels to Ireland to meet the family he has hidden from her for years. Why did he not want her to know them? Is he trying to hide something?
Unable to get emotional support from her grieving mother, Niamh Kelly falls into the wrong group of friends after her father passes away. Soon she becomes mixed up in the very conflict that had caused her dad’s death. Her cousin, Brendan, comes to her rescue. Unfortunately, it’s not the type of help Niamh needs. He encourages her to help her take the anger of her father’s death and turn it into revenge. It takes her down a wrong path that takes years to make right again. How are these two families across the wild Atlantic connected to each other? Who is the boatman’s wife?
This story of redemption will pull at your heartstrings and leave you with the biggest smile when you realize the lengths some women will go to find the truth and ensure family harmony. It’s also about the legacy of the enduring power of love these strong women leave in their wake and how the pain expanded their hearts to receive more joy. Harrison has crafted a captivating story with strong, flawed characters who grow and change as a result of a single act of kindness. Nature features prominently in Harrison's story and you’ll read about its role in shaping the characters. The wild Atlantic Ocean snatches love away from Lily, yet offers her a life of income. The boglands and bird-filled lanes of Ireland give Niamh solace, yet insolate her from life outside the country village and hide what should really be exposed. Readers can’t help but become engaged in this enthralling story as it has just the right mixture of atmosphere, adventure, intrigue, history, forbidden love, a bad boy, a nasty girl, a forgotten handicraft, and a lovable working tourist. You’ll love this epic journey and think, like me, that this has strong potential for screen adaptation.
Thank you to Noelle Harrison, Bookouture and NetGalley for this amazing advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
This is an atmospheric novel set in Mullaghmore, on the West Coast of Ireland in 1992 and in Rockland, Maine in 2017. Harrison’s alternating chapters culminate in the most surprising manner and leave you pondering the power of love. You will be captivated by this historical novel with contemporary resonance and relevance as it focusses on family mysteries and generational secrets.
Lily and Connor Fitzgerald are lobster fishers off the coast of Maine who are working on the ‘Lily May’ to save money in order to start a family. One night in a particularly bad storm, Connor goes overboard while pulling up lobster traps. Desperate to deal with this tragic accident at sea and gain closure, Lily feels the need to keep a link to Connor so she travels to Ireland to meet the family he has hidden from her for years. Why did he not want her to know them? Is he trying to hide something?
Unable to get emotional support from her grieving mother, Niamh Kelly falls into the wrong group of friends after her father passes away. Soon she becomes mixed up in the very conflict that had caused her dad’s death. Her cousin, Brendan, comes to her rescue. Unfortunately, it’s not the type of help Niamh needs. He encourages her to help her take the anger of her father’s death and turn it into revenge. It takes her down a wrong path that takes years to make right again. How are these two families across the wild Atlantic connected to each other? Who is the boatman’s wife?
This story of redemption will pull at your heartstrings and leave you with the biggest smile when you realize the lengths some women will go to find the truth and ensure family harmony. It’s also about the legacy of the enduring power of love these strong women leave in their wake and how the pain expanded their hearts to receive more joy. Harrison has crafted a captivating story with strong, flawed characters who grow and change as a result of a single act of kindness. Nature features prominently in Harrison's story and you’ll read about its role in shaping the characters. The wild Atlantic Ocean snatches love away from Lily, yet offers her a life of income. The boglands and bird-filled lanes of Ireland give Niamh solace, yet insolate her from life outside the country village and hide what should really be exposed. Readers can’t help but become engaged in this enthralling story as it has just the right mixture of atmosphere, adventure, intrigue, history, forbidden love, a bad boy, a nasty girl, a forgotten handicraft, and a lovable working tourist. You’ll love this epic journey and think, like me, that this has strong potential for screen adaptation.
Thank you to Noelle Harrison, Bookouture and NetGalley for this amazing advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
January 12, 2021
Well, I'm a bit disappointed in myself for not liking it as much as I should have.
The narrative shifts in each chapter between Lily's present and Connor's past as the truth unfolds. Lily has some mourning and forgiving to do, while also trying to understand why Connor has been secretive of his past and Irish roots. The overall message from the author is that of forgiveness and letting go of the past so as to welcome a brighter and happier future.
The plot as such was good with a very positive message. However, the writing was not engaging enough. The editing was pretty loose and the actual mystery of the email was not revealed until 70% in, which I felt was too dragged out as it left very little room to explore the aftermath i.e., the broader aforementioned lessons of forgiveness, and so on. It also made me uncomfortable that a 25-year-old Lily addressed her father as "Daddy" and to read winding phrases like, "her daddy, looking at her mother, said..." (why not just say, "Jack [Lily's dad] looked at his wife and said..." instead?) Because the writing was so digressive in places and more dialogue-driven than events/conscience-driven, I found myself feeling apathetic to most things leading up to the mystery reveal.
All in all, the plot was interesting but was let down by the prose. Thank you Netgalley and Bookouture for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest reveiw.
Lily recently lost her husband of 3-years, Connor, in a terrible sea expedition and was left heart-broken. She came home from his memorial to a threatening email sent to him by his folks from back home, a chapter of his life that she had thus far remained oblivious to. She decided to up and go to Ireland in the hunt for the truth herself and why someone was sending her husband, who she'd known to be a gem of a person, such menacing messages.
The narrative shifts in each chapter between Lily's present and Connor's past as the truth unfolds. Lily has some mourning and forgiving to do, while also trying to understand why Connor has been secretive of his past and Irish roots. The overall message from the author is that of forgiveness and letting go of the past so as to welcome a brighter and happier future.
The plot as such was good with a very positive message. However, the writing was not engaging enough. The editing was pretty loose and the actual mystery of the email was not revealed until 70% in, which I felt was too dragged out as it left very little room to explore the aftermath i.e., the broader aforementioned lessons of forgiveness, and so on. It also made me uncomfortable that a 25-year-old Lily addressed her father as "Daddy" and to read winding phrases like, "her daddy, looking at her mother, said..." (why not just say, "Jack [Lily's dad] looked at his wife and said..." instead?) Because the writing was so digressive in places and more dialogue-driven than events/conscience-driven, I found myself feeling apathetic to most things leading up to the mystery reveal.
All in all, the plot was interesting but was let down by the prose. Thank you Netgalley and Bookouture for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest reveiw.
December 5, 2020
My first Noelle Harrison novel and I loved it so much. This book is set around a fishing community and tells the story of Lily who marries her soulmate Connor whose love story tragically falls apart and goes in search of answers . It's so true ,be careful what you wish for and along the way I wanted to paint Connor as the bad guy but wasn't I just wrong.I enjoyed this book so much and it touched on family,love,grief and compassion. I highly recommend this book to anyone as it reminds you of the beauty of friendship and if you need an awesome reason to read it,it's set in a fishing town. The plot was bonkers in a good way,characters too awesome and the cover gorgeous
April 4, 2021
4.5 stars rounded up
This was a dual time-line story that grabbed me from the beginning. It was a story that evoked many emotions. You immediately assume you know how the two timelines will eventually come together, yet there are still surprises in store.
It seemed so unlikely that Connor, who seemed such a sympathetic character, could have a secret so serious that he would receive death threats. Mullaghmore, Connor's tiny home town in Ireland seemed so beautiful, so benign, that it seemed implausible that someone who lived there could wish him ill. And more to the point, why, even after the residents of Mullaghmore know that Connor is dead, do they still threaten Lily and want her to leave?
Lily was such a strong character that it was difficult to read of her bereavement and suffering which was compounded by her anger at her father whom she blamed for Connor's death.
The settings of this novel were two of my favourites. Anywhere near the sea is enticing to me as a setting and this one delivered twice - on either side of the Atlantic Ocean.
Besides being a tale of two women, their losses and their loves, it also contained more than a little suspense and intrigue. This is a story about the many stages of grief, of hope for the future, and of changed circumstances that inspire new beginnings.
Highly recommended! I enjoyed this story so much that I already have the author's "Island Girls" loaded on my Kindle.
This was a dual time-line story that grabbed me from the beginning. It was a story that evoked many emotions. You immediately assume you know how the two timelines will eventually come together, yet there are still surprises in store.
It seemed so unlikely that Connor, who seemed such a sympathetic character, could have a secret so serious that he would receive death threats. Mullaghmore, Connor's tiny home town in Ireland seemed so beautiful, so benign, that it seemed implausible that someone who lived there could wish him ill. And more to the point, why, even after the residents of Mullaghmore know that Connor is dead, do they still threaten Lily and want her to leave?
Lily was such a strong character that it was difficult to read of her bereavement and suffering which was compounded by her anger at her father whom she blamed for Connor's death.
The settings of this novel were two of my favourites. Anywhere near the sea is enticing to me as a setting and this one delivered twice - on either side of the Atlantic Ocean.
Besides being a tale of two women, their losses and their loves, it also contained more than a little suspense and intrigue. This is a story about the many stages of grief, of hope for the future, and of changed circumstances that inspire new beginnings.
Highly recommended! I enjoyed this story so much that I already have the author's "Island Girls" loaded on my Kindle.
January 11, 2021
When the love of Lily’s life, Connor is lost at sea in a fierce Atlantic storm she’s left utterly devastated. The plans they had made for a life together vanished in an instant. Her grief turns to anguish when she discovers an alarming email he’d received before his death leaving her questioning if she truly knew him. Determined to discover the truth, she embarks on a journey from Maine, USA to Ireland, Connor’s birthplace where she soon discovers he had hidden much of his past from her.
We also follow the life of Niamh in 1990’s Ireland, living with her widowed mum who’s struggling with the grief of losing her husband at a young age. Niamh is a troubled young lady, unsure of her future and torn between loyalty to her family and the memories of her father's death at the hands of The Ulster Defence Association.
The story takes the reader on a beautiful, often heartbreaking, journey. The descriptions of the coastal landscapes of two very different countries on opposite sides of the same ocean are so intense that I could almost feel myself being there, with the Atlantic wind in my face.
This is the first Noelle Harrison novel I’ve read, and it most certainly will not be the last. Dual timeline stories are a favourite of mine, with this one leaving the reader trying to work out the connection between them for quite some time, which just added to the intrigue. I highly recommend this title, it was such a pleasure to read.
Many thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the review copy.
We also follow the life of Niamh in 1990’s Ireland, living with her widowed mum who’s struggling with the grief of losing her husband at a young age. Niamh is a troubled young lady, unsure of her future and torn between loyalty to her family and the memories of her father's death at the hands of The Ulster Defence Association.
The story takes the reader on a beautiful, often heartbreaking, journey. The descriptions of the coastal landscapes of two very different countries on opposite sides of the same ocean are so intense that I could almost feel myself being there, with the Atlantic wind in my face.
This is the first Noelle Harrison novel I’ve read, and it most certainly will not be the last. Dual timeline stories are a favourite of mine, with this one leaving the reader trying to work out the connection between them for quite some time, which just added to the intrigue. I highly recommend this title, it was such a pleasure to read.
Many thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the review copy.
July 23, 2021
Interesting story, and a fun read. But, the ending was incomplete. Why does Jesse never get to find out about his son? The ending wraps up too quickly and the mystery and intrigue of Connor is underwhelming.
January 15, 2021
This was a dual timeline story that had my emotions all over the place. The story of Lily and Connor is set in Maine in 2017. Lily works on her dad's lobster boat and is beginning to want more. She meets Connor who is working at the local bar where the men and Lily go to have a beer before heading home. There is an immediate attraction between them and within a few months they get married. Three years later, Connor is dead, drowned in a storm that should have sent her father and his crew home, but he made the decision to stay out too long. Lily, dealing with her loss and her anger at her father, heads to Ireland to try and find Connor's grandmother and why he didn't want her to know anything about his past.
The second timeline is the story of Niamh. She has gotten herself involved in the IRA in the 1990s. She is recruited by her second cousin, Brendan, and when she tries to get out, finds out that it isn't possible. As well there is a romance between Niamh and an American who is working as an apprentice boatbuilder in her town. Lily finds out a lot more than she had planned when she ends up in Connor's home village in Ireland.
I visited Ireland a few years ago and signed my name on one of the "Peace" walls in Belfast. I also went on a walking tour and learned a bit about the Irish Conflict, but not a lot. This story gave me a look through the eyes of the people who lived through it and how it effected their lives. Then there were the beautiful settings that were described in Noelle Harrison's wonderful prose. I could picture the beaches and feel the terror of the storms. The story of Lily's journey to find out more about Connor and to meet her family was interesting and emotional. There were a lot of secrets and lies that she had to make her way through. This is the first Noelle Harrison novel I’ve read, and it will not be the last. I enjoy dual timeline stories and this one had me trying to work out the connection between them. I thought I knew, but there was just enough doubt that I wasn't positive until the end. There was some intrigue, what happened to Niamh that when this was revealed I was surprised. Overall, a very enjoyable story that I recommend to those who enjoy historical fiction with some romance and intrigue, as well as those who enjoy dual timeline stories. I was gifted a copy of this book upon request. The rating and opinions shared are my own.
The second timeline is the story of Niamh. She has gotten herself involved in the IRA in the 1990s. She is recruited by her second cousin, Brendan, and when she tries to get out, finds out that it isn't possible. As well there is a romance between Niamh and an American who is working as an apprentice boatbuilder in her town. Lily finds out a lot more than she had planned when she ends up in Connor's home village in Ireland.
I visited Ireland a few years ago and signed my name on one of the "Peace" walls in Belfast. I also went on a walking tour and learned a bit about the Irish Conflict, but not a lot. This story gave me a look through the eyes of the people who lived through it and how it effected their lives. Then there were the beautiful settings that were described in Noelle Harrison's wonderful prose. I could picture the beaches and feel the terror of the storms. The story of Lily's journey to find out more about Connor and to meet her family was interesting and emotional. There were a lot of secrets and lies that she had to make her way through. This is the first Noelle Harrison novel I’ve read, and it will not be the last. I enjoy dual timeline stories and this one had me trying to work out the connection between them. I thought I knew, but there was just enough doubt that I wasn't positive until the end. There was some intrigue, what happened to Niamh that when this was revealed I was surprised. Overall, a very enjoyable story that I recommend to those who enjoy historical fiction with some romance and intrigue, as well as those who enjoy dual timeline stories. I was gifted a copy of this book upon request. The rating and opinions shared are my own.
January 14, 2021
The Boatman's Wife is a compelling story from Noelle Harrison taking the reader from the fishing communities of Maine to Mullaghmore in the west coast of Ireland. As well as being set in two places, the story also unfolds over two different times, something I always enjoy in a book. In the present day story in Maine, Lily is devastated by the death of her Irish husband Connor in a tragic accident at sea. While trying to find out how to contact his family in Ireland, she discovers a threatening email to Connor warning him never to return to Ireland. She realises that he has been keeping secrets from her and to find out just what those secrets were, she decides to travel to Ireland. In 1990s Ireland, young Niamh has fallen for handsome American visitor Jesse who is working in the local boatyard for the summer. This does not go down well with her cousin Brendan, as both he and Niamh have secrets of their own.
I really enjoyed the dual timeline aspect of the story and seeing how both these strong female characters developed over the course of their individual stories. Niamh was particularly interesting with her involvement in the complicated political situation in the Ireland at the time, a situation she wanted to get out of, but it wasn't all that easy and put herself and her family in great danger. Noelle Harrison wrote so movingly of the grief experienced by Lily following the death of her young husband and of her conviction that he couldn't possibly be any different from the kind and gentle soul she knew him to be. The alternating perspectives made this a really compelling read and I finished each chapter wanting to know more but also keen to move on and find out what was happening to the other woman. I was intrigued to know not only what Connor's secret was but also in what way the two stories were connected. The way Noelle Harrison brought the two together was poignant and uplifting.
The Boatman's Wife is a captivating story of loss and secrets in two very different but beautiful settings. It is also a hopeful story of reconciliation and moving on. The Boatman's Wife is another compelling and emotional read from Noelle Harrison.
I really enjoyed the dual timeline aspect of the story and seeing how both these strong female characters developed over the course of their individual stories. Niamh was particularly interesting with her involvement in the complicated political situation in the Ireland at the time, a situation she wanted to get out of, but it wasn't all that easy and put herself and her family in great danger. Noelle Harrison wrote so movingly of the grief experienced by Lily following the death of her young husband and of her conviction that he couldn't possibly be any different from the kind and gentle soul she knew him to be. The alternating perspectives made this a really compelling read and I finished each chapter wanting to know more but also keen to move on and find out what was happening to the other woman. I was intrigued to know not only what Connor's secret was but also in what way the two stories were connected. The way Noelle Harrison brought the two together was poignant and uplifting.
The Boatman's Wife is a captivating story of loss and secrets in two very different but beautiful settings. It is also a hopeful story of reconciliation and moving on. The Boatman's Wife is another compelling and emotional read from Noelle Harrison.
January 16, 2021
You know when you read a book and it leaves you in an emotional state? The Boatman’s Wife did this to me. The author takes you on a heartbreaking story from Maine to the West coast of Ireland that you can’t put down. I was reading it on the Kindle app on my phone every spare second I got until I finished it! Just to let you know the story is told in a dual format from two badass women in different decades who have ties that you can’t imagine.
The story begins with Lily, in 2017 heartbroken that her beloved Connor is lost in a storm at sea. She blames her dad who was in charge on the fishing boat and finds it hard to forgive him for making her a widow at such a young age in her 20’s. Devastated by grief she begins to hunt for information on his Irish family to let them know what’s happened. Then she finds a strange and threatening email to him warning never to come home to Ireland. Of course strong willed Lily won’t let this lie and sets off to Ireland to find out the truth. She’s met with hostility and told to go home. Eventually she finds out the truth and is more brokenhearted than ever.
The other story line playing out alongside Lily’s is of Niamh’s in the early 1990’s. Niamh’s story is set in Ireland. She falls in love with American Jesse a gorgeous boat builder who is only here for the Summer. Her cousin Brendan isn’t happy about this due to the secrets they are hiding.
I’m in awe of this compelling powerful story. The lead characters tug your emotions all over the place, a beautiful setting told so vividly you will believe you are right there by the water or deep inside the Irish countryside. A magnificent 5 star read for me!
Thanks to Bookoutre and Netgalley for the advance copy.
You can read more of my review here https://rachelbustin.com/books/the-bo...
The story begins with Lily, in 2017 heartbroken that her beloved Connor is lost in a storm at sea. She blames her dad who was in charge on the fishing boat and finds it hard to forgive him for making her a widow at such a young age in her 20’s. Devastated by grief she begins to hunt for information on his Irish family to let them know what’s happened. Then she finds a strange and threatening email to him warning never to come home to Ireland. Of course strong willed Lily won’t let this lie and sets off to Ireland to find out the truth. She’s met with hostility and told to go home. Eventually she finds out the truth and is more brokenhearted than ever.
The other story line playing out alongside Lily’s is of Niamh’s in the early 1990’s. Niamh’s story is set in Ireland. She falls in love with American Jesse a gorgeous boat builder who is only here for the Summer. Her cousin Brendan isn’t happy about this due to the secrets they are hiding.
I’m in awe of this compelling powerful story. The lead characters tug your emotions all over the place, a beautiful setting told so vividly you will believe you are right there by the water or deep inside the Irish countryside. A magnificent 5 star read for me!
Thanks to Bookoutre and Netgalley for the advance copy.
You can read more of my review here https://rachelbustin.com/books/the-bo...
January 14, 2021
I read this wonderful book in a single sitting, only reluctantly putting it down when absolutely necessary.
The book is set on dual timelines and Noelle weaves this tale together in a wonderful way.
Don’t be mistaken in thinking that this is a sloppy romantic story. It isn’t. There is romantic love in it, there’s parental love, platonic love. It’s about people, and power , strength and loyalty. All the things that make us human. The things that help us get through the lives we live. Most of all, it thrives on strong women who are determined to get through whatever they need to whatever the cost to themselves.
If you haven’t found Noëlle Harrison yet, I suggest strongly that you pre-order this book which I received via Noëlle Harrison, bookouture, and netgalley. I have it pre-ordered too, so I can read it again.
Thanks for a great read!
Merged review:
I read this wonderful book in a single sitting, only reluctantly putting it down when absolutely necessary.
The book is set on dual timelines and Noelle weaves this tale together in a wonderful way.
Don’t be mistaken in thinking that this is a sloppy romantic story. It isn’t. There is romantic love in it, there’s parental love, platonic love. It’s about people, and power , strength and loyalty. All the things that make us human. The things that help us get through the lives we live. Most of all, it thrives on strong women who are determined to get through whatever they need to whatever the cost to themselves.
If you haven’t found Noëlle Harrison yet, I suggest strongly that you pre-order this book which I received via Noëlle Harrison, bookouture, and netgalley. I have it pre-ordered too, so I can read it again.
Thanks for a great read!
The book is set on dual timelines and Noelle weaves this tale together in a wonderful way.
Don’t be mistaken in thinking that this is a sloppy romantic story. It isn’t. There is romantic love in it, there’s parental love, platonic love. It’s about people, and power , strength and loyalty. All the things that make us human. The things that help us get through the lives we live. Most of all, it thrives on strong women who are determined to get through whatever they need to whatever the cost to themselves.
If you haven’t found Noëlle Harrison yet, I suggest strongly that you pre-order this book which I received via Noëlle Harrison, bookouture, and netgalley. I have it pre-ordered too, so I can read it again.
Thanks for a great read!
Merged review:
I read this wonderful book in a single sitting, only reluctantly putting it down when absolutely necessary.
The book is set on dual timelines and Noelle weaves this tale together in a wonderful way.
Don’t be mistaken in thinking that this is a sloppy romantic story. It isn’t. There is romantic love in it, there’s parental love, platonic love. It’s about people, and power , strength and loyalty. All the things that make us human. The things that help us get through the lives we live. Most of all, it thrives on strong women who are determined to get through whatever they need to whatever the cost to themselves.
If you haven’t found Noëlle Harrison yet, I suggest strongly that you pre-order this book which I received via Noëlle Harrison, bookouture, and netgalley. I have it pre-ordered too, so I can read it again.
Thanks for a great read!
January 17, 2021
Thank you Netgalley and Bookouture for the chance to read an advanced copy of The Boatman's wife by Noelle Harrison. Once I started this book I couldnt put it down. It was a heartbreaking story set in dual timelines.
When Lily married her soulmate Connor in Maine, she never imagined she’d be planning his memorial just three years later. Connor has been lost at sea in the bleak stormy Atlantic, leaving Lily heartbroken. But as she prepares to say goodbye to Connor for the last time, she is shocked to discover a message to him that he never told her about: Does your wife know who you really are, Connor Fitzgerald? Don’t ever think you can come home. Because if you do, I swear I’ll kill you. When Lily flies to Ireland to Connor's home to visit his Grandmother and find out his secrets she is met with hostility. Will Lily leave the darkness of the past where it belongs? Or will she risk everything to find out the truth about the man she married.
The dual storyline is interesting. It seems to be two totally different stories, but you know at some point they are going to connect. It was not only a wonderful read, but a chance to revisit Ireland again!
When Lily married her soulmate Connor in Maine, she never imagined she’d be planning his memorial just three years later. Connor has been lost at sea in the bleak stormy Atlantic, leaving Lily heartbroken. But as she prepares to say goodbye to Connor for the last time, she is shocked to discover a message to him that he never told her about: Does your wife know who you really are, Connor Fitzgerald? Don’t ever think you can come home. Because if you do, I swear I’ll kill you. When Lily flies to Ireland to Connor's home to visit his Grandmother and find out his secrets she is met with hostility. Will Lily leave the darkness of the past where it belongs? Or will she risk everything to find out the truth about the man she married.
The dual storyline is interesting. It seems to be two totally different stories, but you know at some point they are going to connect. It was not only a wonderful read, but a chance to revisit Ireland again!
January 28, 2021
‘When Lily married her soulmate Connor, buffeted by the sea spray and wild winds of her coastal homeland in Maine, she never imagined she’d be planning his memorial just three years later. Connor has been lost at sea, leaving Lily heartbroken.’
This is a an emotional, and at times heartbreaking, story of two very different women from opposite sides of the ocean. From the very first page, I was enthralled by the dual narrative, which swept me away from beautiful Maine and over the sea to the West of Ireland. The author’s lyrical descriptions and consummate storytelling had me gripped from start to finish. I was really rooting for grieving young widow Lily, desperately seeking answers to an unexpected mystery, and captivated by charming free spirit Niamh, in above her head with some very dangerous people. As their two stories collided, I couldn’t put the book down! I was desperate to discover the connection between Lily and Niamh, and the dark secrets in Connor’s past.
Another hit from one of my favourite authors!
January 28, 2021
https://book-bucket.com/2021/01/28/th...
The story is told via a dual timeline told from the POV of newly widowed American Lily, who finds a threatening email on his computer and realises her husband may have a history she knows nothing about, and Irish Niamh, who comes of age during an active period of the Troubles and becomes involved in the cause.
Niamh felt real and more fleshed out as a person, and the conflict over the border was very well told. The choices made and actions taken felt authentic and I could feel the ever-present undercurrent of danger that her situation put her in. In contrast, where I should have been feeling Lily's anguish over becoming a very young widow and the tensions it caused within her family, I never quite warmed to her or felt any of that anguish.
This was a good story and I did enjoy it, but I definitely found myself enjoying Niamh's parts more than Lily's. I liked the ending.
The story is told via a dual timeline told from the POV of newly widowed American Lily, who finds a threatening email on his computer and realises her husband may have a history she knows nothing about, and Irish Niamh, who comes of age during an active period of the Troubles and becomes involved in the cause.
Niamh felt real and more fleshed out as a person, and the conflict over the border was very well told. The choices made and actions taken felt authentic and I could feel the ever-present undercurrent of danger that her situation put her in. In contrast, where I should have been feeling Lily's anguish over becoming a very young widow and the tensions it caused within her family, I never quite warmed to her or felt any of that anguish.
This was a good story and I did enjoy it, but I definitely found myself enjoying Niamh's parts more than Lily's. I liked the ending.
January 18, 2021
This captivating story takes us from one fishing community in Maine, USA to another on the west coast of Ireland, Mullaghomore. What binds these two places besides the sea?
Told in two different times, it is the present day story of Lily, a passionate, sea-faring woman who has been in the lobster fishing business with her father. It’s also the story of Niamh, a young girl living in Ireland in the 1990s.
Though it was Lily who was an intrepid sailor, but it was Connor, ever a reluctant sea-farer who died in a tragic accident. Lily struggles with the loss, her guilt that her husband went in her place and above all anger with her father on whose watch Connor died. She realizes that she knows hardly anything about her husband’s background and family. When she discovers a threatening email to Connor, she decides that she’s going to uncover more about him and his life in Ireland before he met her. More importantly, she wants to meet his grandmother who brought him up.
Niamh, who lives with her mother, is a reluctant participant in the covert operations that formed a part of the Irish civil war. With her mother copping out after the death of her father, the only attention she received was from her cousin Brendan, who drew her into these activities. How she meets and falls in love with a ‘boatman’ and what follows is another tragic and all too real tale of those times.
I loved the two strong female characters – Lily and Niamh (a name I learned is pronounced as nee + iv” or “neev”). What I loved about the book is that there were really no ‘villians’ in it – just people responding to difficult circumstances in different ways.
An absolutely beautiful story of loss, pain, passion, secrets and above all the redemptive power of love and family.
I will certainly be on the look out for more books from Noelle.
Told in two different times, it is the present day story of Lily, a passionate, sea-faring woman who has been in the lobster fishing business with her father. It’s also the story of Niamh, a young girl living in Ireland in the 1990s.
Though it was Lily who was an intrepid sailor, but it was Connor, ever a reluctant sea-farer who died in a tragic accident. Lily struggles with the loss, her guilt that her husband went in her place and above all anger with her father on whose watch Connor died. She realizes that she knows hardly anything about her husband’s background and family. When she discovers a threatening email to Connor, she decides that she’s going to uncover more about him and his life in Ireland before he met her. More importantly, she wants to meet his grandmother who brought him up.
Niamh, who lives with her mother, is a reluctant participant in the covert operations that formed a part of the Irish civil war. With her mother copping out after the death of her father, the only attention she received was from her cousin Brendan, who drew her into these activities. How she meets and falls in love with a ‘boatman’ and what follows is another tragic and all too real tale of those times.
I loved the two strong female characters – Lily and Niamh (a name I learned is pronounced as nee + iv” or “neev”). What I loved about the book is that there were really no ‘villians’ in it – just people responding to difficult circumstances in different ways.
An absolutely beautiful story of loss, pain, passion, secrets and above all the redemptive power of love and family.
I will certainly be on the look out for more books from Noelle.
January 9, 2021
Lily is devastated and frankly angry when her husband Conor is lost at sea while pulling lobster pots on her father's boat. It's not long after when she finds a mysterious email to him which reminds her that she knew very little about Conor so she heads to Mullaghmore. No one is receptive to her inquiries, including Conor's hermetic grandmother Rosemary. This isn't just Lily's story- it's also the story of Niamh in 1992, when the troubles were raging. Harrison uses the dual time line well, alternating chapters to let you see a fuller picture of Conor. No spoilers from me but this is more complex than I anticipated. The characters are well drawn and the atmospherics of the fishing towns where it is set are wonderful. Prepare to change your mind about various people. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A very good read.
July 31, 2025
I think Sandy‘s review is excellent and this book is one of my tops. I save the five star for my absolute favourite books, but this comes to a 4.5. It was so hard to put down. Niamh was well crafted and Lily developed once she was in Ireland. The tales were fascinating and it took me a long time to figure out the connections. Rosemary, the grandmother was an excellent tie in. The ending however although nice just came too easily out of the blue.
However, I would definitely recommend.
However, I would definitely recommend.
January 3, 2021
My first Noelle Harrison story and I really enjoyed it. The dual timeline aspect kept the story moving along at a good pace and Niamh and Lily were engaging main characters. The story focuses a lot on grief and loss but it is also full of hope. The writing is beautifully descriptive as we get to feel and understand the full force of the Atlantic Ocean at Maine and the sinister peat bogs and marshes in and near the Irish border.
January 18, 2021
The Boatman’s wife is a dual timeline story, following Lily in present day USA, and Niamh in early 90s Ireland.
Lily is in her early 20s when the love of her life, Connor, is lost at sea during a storm. While she tries to come to terms with what happened, she discovers a dark secret about Connor that takes her to his home village in Ireland.
Niamh is also in her early 20s, and lives in a small village in Ireland, close to the border with Northern Ireland. She finds herself caught up in the wrong thing, and is left with some difficult decisions to make.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading about Ireland and the troubles that have occurred over there. It took me back to my holiday over there, and reminded me about how recently the conflicts occurred. I loved seeing the character development, especially that of Niamh. The book has a very ‘neat’ ending, but was such a great book to read.
Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to read and review this book
Lily is in her early 20s when the love of her life, Connor, is lost at sea during a storm. While she tries to come to terms with what happened, she discovers a dark secret about Connor that takes her to his home village in Ireland.
Niamh is also in her early 20s, and lives in a small village in Ireland, close to the border with Northern Ireland. She finds herself caught up in the wrong thing, and is left with some difficult decisions to make.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading about Ireland and the troubles that have occurred over there. It took me back to my holiday over there, and reminded me about how recently the conflicts occurred. I loved seeing the character development, especially that of Niamh. The book has a very ‘neat’ ending, but was such a great book to read.
Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to read and review this book
December 13, 2020
4 Stars
From Maine to Western Ireland, the book deals with love, loss, and hope in the lives of two women whose lives are connected in the most unexpected way. The story runs in two timelines, every alternate chapter dedicated to either of the women.
Lily from Maine travels all the way to Ireland after the death of her husband, Connor. There are secrets in his past, and she is determined to know them. Two decades ago, Niamh led a turbulent life in a small Oceanside town.
How do their lives intersect? What had happened in the past, and why does it affect the present? Why was Connor secretive about his life in Ireland? Will the truth break Lily?
The premise of the book sounds like a mix of women’s fiction and a thriller. But let me tell you that this is pure women’s fiction. The hints of suspicion don’t lead anywhere. The threatening email Connor receives doesn’t live up to its hype.
But, set that aside, and you’ll see the book deal with complex emotions of love and loss in different ways. We have three women who lost their loved ones. Each of them responds differently, and it’s their actions that lead to a series of events.
The book is quite heavy with grief. It ends well, though. Predictable but positive and warm. As a fan of happy endings, I have no complaints here.
The descriptions of the settings were a highlight. I enjoyed them the most, especially the way the author wove the weather and human emotions together. I wish she did the same towards the end when the story went into full-on ‘tell’ mode about how a character spent her life in the past few years. It felt as if the author wanted to give us a summary and get over with it so that she could move on to write the ending.
Rosemary, Niamh, and Lily are the three main characters of the book. Niamh is my favorite and looked like she was created and developed with a lot of care. Rosemary has two sides, both of which were interesting to read. Lily seemed a bit overdone. Guess it highlighted the difference in their lives and their backgrounds.
Overall, this was a bittersweet book to read that will touch our hearts at some places and inspire our wanderlust at others. It is a sad yet beautiful story.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and Bookouture and am voluntarily sharing my review.
#TheBoatmansWife #NetGalley
From Maine to Western Ireland, the book deals with love, loss, and hope in the lives of two women whose lives are connected in the most unexpected way. The story runs in two timelines, every alternate chapter dedicated to either of the women.
Lily from Maine travels all the way to Ireland after the death of her husband, Connor. There are secrets in his past, and she is determined to know them. Two decades ago, Niamh led a turbulent life in a small Oceanside town.
How do their lives intersect? What had happened in the past, and why does it affect the present? Why was Connor secretive about his life in Ireland? Will the truth break Lily?
The premise of the book sounds like a mix of women’s fiction and a thriller. But let me tell you that this is pure women’s fiction. The hints of suspicion don’t lead anywhere. The threatening email Connor receives doesn’t live up to its hype.
But, set that aside, and you’ll see the book deal with complex emotions of love and loss in different ways. We have three women who lost their loved ones. Each of them responds differently, and it’s their actions that lead to a series of events.
The book is quite heavy with grief. It ends well, though. Predictable but positive and warm. As a fan of happy endings, I have no complaints here.
The descriptions of the settings were a highlight. I enjoyed them the most, especially the way the author wove the weather and human emotions together. I wish she did the same towards the end when the story went into full-on ‘tell’ mode about how a character spent her life in the past few years. It felt as if the author wanted to give us a summary and get over with it so that she could move on to write the ending.
Rosemary, Niamh, and Lily are the three main characters of the book. Niamh is my favorite and looked like she was created and developed with a lot of care. Rosemary has two sides, both of which were interesting to read. Lily seemed a bit overdone. Guess it highlighted the difference in their lives and their backgrounds.
Overall, this was a bittersweet book to read that will touch our hearts at some places and inspire our wanderlust at others. It is a sad yet beautiful story.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and Bookouture and am voluntarily sharing my review.
#TheBoatmansWife #NetGalley
December 15, 2020
5/5 stars!
What if the person you love and trust most in the world dies? What if everything you thought you knew about that person ends up being a lie? And after their death, more and more secrets are revealed, indicating you don't really know them that well at all. How would that make you feel? Can some secrets ever be forgiven?
The Boatman's Wife is that story. Lily married her soulmate, Connor, who is tragically lost in the Atlantic Ocean during a terrible storm. While Lily grapples with her loss and attempts to find closure, she comes across an email Connor never mentioned to her. A threatening email that states "Does your wife know who you really are, Connor Fitzgerald? Don't ever think you can come home. Because if you do, I swear I'll kill you." Lily flies to Ireland (where Connor is from), and travels to the small seaside town of Mullaghmore to find answers to the many questions she has, and to announce to Connor's grandmother, the loss of her grandson.
A beautifully written novel. I enjoyed Harrison's writing style. Interchanging the perspectives of two characters, set in different times was captivating. It was really well done, flowing so beautifully from 1992 to 2017. It took me a little while to understand the perspective of Niamh and why it was relevant, but once I did, I very much enjoyed reading her story and understanding the decisions that led to the present story.
I think that the characters are really well developed, and I felt almost as though I knew them. Their sorrows and fears, happiness, etc., became my own.
It's truly a beautiful story to read. The ending is really well-written and leaves you with a sense of closure with everything that's happened. I highly recommend this novel, despite its heartbreaking story with a bittersweet ending. I will be on the lookout for more works from this author in the future, you can count on it!
I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher of this advanced digital copy for the opportunity to read this novel in exchange for an honest review! I will also be posting my review to Amazon Canada upon publishing.
What if the person you love and trust most in the world dies? What if everything you thought you knew about that person ends up being a lie? And after their death, more and more secrets are revealed, indicating you don't really know them that well at all. How would that make you feel? Can some secrets ever be forgiven?
The Boatman's Wife is that story. Lily married her soulmate, Connor, who is tragically lost in the Atlantic Ocean during a terrible storm. While Lily grapples with her loss and attempts to find closure, she comes across an email Connor never mentioned to her. A threatening email that states "Does your wife know who you really are, Connor Fitzgerald? Don't ever think you can come home. Because if you do, I swear I'll kill you." Lily flies to Ireland (where Connor is from), and travels to the small seaside town of Mullaghmore to find answers to the many questions she has, and to announce to Connor's grandmother, the loss of her grandson.
A beautifully written novel. I enjoyed Harrison's writing style. Interchanging the perspectives of two characters, set in different times was captivating. It was really well done, flowing so beautifully from 1992 to 2017. It took me a little while to understand the perspective of Niamh and why it was relevant, but once I did, I very much enjoyed reading her story and understanding the decisions that led to the present story.
I think that the characters are really well developed, and I felt almost as though I knew them. Their sorrows and fears, happiness, etc., became my own.
It's truly a beautiful story to read. The ending is really well-written and leaves you with a sense of closure with everything that's happened. I highly recommend this novel, despite its heartbreaking story with a bittersweet ending. I will be on the lookout for more works from this author in the future, you can count on it!
I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher of this advanced digital copy for the opportunity to read this novel in exchange for an honest review! I will also be posting my review to Amazon Canada upon publishing.
July 20, 2023
Another new author,for me, who has given us a strong character in Lily. From Ireland to Maine this is a story of love,family and lose.
February 11, 2021
I love this type of “saga”. I hated to see it end .I looked forward to reading it each day. I’m on to her next one island girls.
December 22, 2020
The Boatman’s Wife follows the story of Lily who has worked on her dad’s boat alongside her cousin Ryan since the age of fourteen. All she ever wanted to be is a fisher and loved going out on the Lily May lobstering. She’s never been interested in boys and babies like her friends at school, yet when she’s twenty one she meets gorgeous Irish chef, Connor. They marry within a year and she’s the happiest she’s ever been. Until one fateful morning when Connor replaces her in the boat and tragedy ensues. Realising she knows little of his past, Lily sets off to the Emerald Isle to see if she can locate his grandmother, but will that be all she finds there or will details of Connor’s true past come to light?
I devoured every page of this book. Noelle Harrison is a new author for me and I am eager to read more. I enjoyed the way her characters developed through the chapters and the way the book is set between present day and Ireland in the early nineties. It covers some tough subjects but they were handled with sensitivity. I can highly recommend this book.
Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture and the author for the chance to review.
I devoured every page of this book. Noelle Harrison is a new author for me and I am eager to read more. I enjoyed the way her characters developed through the chapters and the way the book is set between present day and Ireland in the early nineties. It covers some tough subjects but they were handled with sensitivity. I can highly recommend this book.
Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture and the author for the chance to review.
January 20, 2021
Such an intricate plot
I loved this book. Noelle conjures such strong images of the locations that I felt like I was there with the characters. The weaving of characters stories was really clever, leading to a satisfying ending. I'm looking forward to the next novel which will be set in Norway x
I loved this book. Noelle conjures such strong images of the locations that I felt like I was there with the characters. The weaving of characters stories was really clever, leading to a satisfying ending. I'm looking forward to the next novel which will be set in Norway x
January 5, 2021
The Boatman's Wife is about two women who are connected with each other but don't know it yet! It's a story of love and loss, family battles, and coming together. The journey each woman takes is remarkable and heart-breaking. I cried in several places! The characters were so well written and described, you feel like you know them. I aim to read more of Noelle Harrison's work
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