The Cottage by the Sea

The Sunrise Coast #3

by Elise Darcy

Where do you go to mend a broken heart? When Abigail’s world falls apart, she doesn’t know how to pick herself up and carry on after losing her soulmate. They had plans. Her late husband worked as a paramedic and they were saving hard to buy their own home. Toby had been working an extra shift when he died. If he hadn’t been, Abigail knew he’d still be here today. Abigail is shocked to discover Toby has left her a cottage in his will – The Hideaway. At first she thinks there has been some mistake; there were no secrets between them – were there? Now her world falls apart again when she realises she is grieving a man with a secret past. Abigail’s best friend, Lili, comes to the rescue, persuading her to visit the cottage by the sea she has inherited on the fringes of a Suffolk market town. Once there she meets the Somerville’s; Hugh, still grieving the loss of his wife in childbirth thirty-five years ago, his son, Oliver, set to inherit Somerville Hall, and his older sister, Carys, who has returned home to the hall after a messy divorce. But all is not what it appears with the Somerville’s, and as their lives unravel, Abigail discovers they might hold the key to unlocking the secrets of Toby’s past. This is the third book in the Sunrise Coast Series. It can be read as a standalone novel.

Books in the Sunrise Coast
Book New Beginnings at the Harbour Inn
Book The Secret of the Summerhouse

Genres: Contemporary

490 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 30, 2022

About the author

Elise Darcy grew up in North London in the 1970's, the daughter of two baby boomer school teachers. Her love of books began at an early age when trips to Regent's Park always culminated in a visit to Foyles, the legendary independent bookstore in Charing Cross Road. She has fond memories of exploring a veritable Aladdin’s cave of books; a magical place with winding staircases, old creaking lifts, and cosy corners in which to settle down and lose herself in a good book.

After university Elise Darcy worked in London before embarking on her writing career. She now lives in an apartment in a picturesque market town in Suffolk where she writes her novels.

Find out more at www.elisedarcy.com

Reviews

[Ari (Head in a Book) · Rating 1 out of 5]

It relies too much on previous characters on the series to carry it, and Abigail was absolutely annoying, Lili was also annoying, Abigail's husband has died recently and you're talking about her finding someone else already???

[Pat · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was one of the longest, most boring books I have ever read. Took me days to get thru and I’m usually a fast reader but so, so boring.

The author was putting too much in, repeating stuff over and over until, as a reader, I just didn’t care any more.

First off the lead character was awful. So rude. I don’t care if she was newly widowed that doesn’t excuse her actions. Then when she inherits a wonderful cottage by the sea that she and her recently deceased husband used to vacation at she is upset that he hadn’t told her about it since they were scrimping and saving for a house. That part dragged on too long. Throw in her disconnect from her own family and her husbands family- good grief did they not see anyone they were related too?

Course then we have to go down the road of why Toby had inherited the cottage. And his DNA test results. And so many made-up stories about what the true answers could be. Throw in a crotchety old man as a neighbor, not one but 2 men vying for her attention, a failed suicide attempt, more secrets than any one book should contain and I almost threw in the towel. But I was just a bit curious to see how it would all play out. Then after the big reveal- poof- it was solved and everyone moved on to a happy ending. Very disappointing. This could have been a nice story if the author hadn’t chosen to throw too much into it.

Did like the dog though. He was a nice addition.

[Nikki · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the 3rd book in the Sunshine Coast series, and I'm totally invested in this series, I cannot stop reading the books.

This book tells the story of Abigail, Lili's friend. A recent young widow, Abigail finds herself in Suffolk after inheriting a cottage from her late husband, Toby. She's a young widow and as she knew nothing about the cottage, she's naturally suspicious. She finds out more about the cottage, and about the family Toby never knew as he was adopted.

Can there be hope for Abigail, a new life for her?

This is a brilliant series and one which I highly recommend. It's one of the best series I've read in a long time. The books are best read in order of publication to preserve continuity of the characters and series.

I'm already looking forward to book 4!

[Deanna Green · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good Read

The actual plot of the story was good which is why 4 stars, however for me it was quite long winded and I did skip quite a lot and could still pick it all up right away. Also there were a lot of editing errors, which I do find annoying. Like so many long drawn out novels it wrapped up quite suddenly and quickly. One minute Oliver is packing and leaving the hall, the next there’s the last chapter which was more like an epilogue. However I’m sure many will love this book.

[Elva Cartwright · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Cottage by the Sea (The Sunrise Coast Series Book 3)

Another well written surprisingly full of excitement, loss but love too. Resulting in more surprises and a Wedding. I recommend that you read this series in the order they are numbered and you will enjoy every chapter. Elise Darcy

[Jo Hammond · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this a little hard-going to start with, but stuck with it as I had liked the last one so much. It was nice to read about areas that I know and have visited myself. I'm so pleased I stuck with it, I thoroughly enjoyed it

[June Churchill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it

Another lovely book in the series. What a wonderful read. My only criticism is that it wasn't very well proof read, so I had to read a few sentences twice to make sense of them. Great story though. Now on to the next in the series.

[kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely read

Great read and a good carry-on from the previous book with familiar characters.
Loved the storyline and was glad to see abigail finding happiness again.
I look forward to reading more.

[patricia mctaggart · Rating 5 out of 5]

it was very intriging cant wait for the next one

[Pat Langhelt · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fantastic story it was like reading long lost family , she writes fabulous tales kept me glued.

[Julia Hardy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely book but I love anything escapist and coastal.

[Elizabeth Ann brookman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good read but Author needs to be careful to use correct character names Alberts name change to Gerald at one point in the book

[Claire Brewster · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story

Loved this follow on story, the twists and turns in all the characters lives were exceptional and kept you turning the page

[Margaret Fantom · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read following from the previous books kept me wanting to keep reading can’t wait to start the next book in the series