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Summer Secrets: A heart-warming drama set in Cornwall
A moving tale of love, loss and self-discovery! Perfect for fans of Liz Fenwick, Barbara Taylor Bradford, Fern Britton and Phillipa Ashley.
Can Marina’s seaside idyll mend her broken heart?
Cornwall, 1975
Distraught after the death of her young daughter, Marina Meredith craves nothing more than solitude.
With her son Joshua struggling to accept losing his twin, and her husband Giles refusing to discuss the tragedy, her home life feels intolerable.
In desperation Marina flees to a tiny cottage in Cornwall, hoping to grieve in peace, but is dismayed when a family of holidaymakers seem intent on taking her under their wing.
Reluctantly at first, she allows herself to be coaxed into the Gage family’s charmed circle. As she and Joshua blossom under the Cornish sun, Marina discovers new friendships and a closer bond with her son.
But just as life seems to be looking up, she finds herself confused over her husband’s strange behaviour … and at risk of being swept away by charismatic actor Conrad Gage .
And when a shattering secret reveals itself, she soon finds herself questioning everything she thought she knew…
Summer Secrets is a compelling saga of grief, family life and learning to love again with a supernatural twist. It is set on the atmospheric Lizard peninsular in Cornwall.
‘ A real gem! … A truly remarkable tale, exquisitely written.’ – Booklist
‘ A rich, beautifully devised family history … It will make you cry and laugh … just like real life.’ – Prima
‘ Moving and gripping … full of memorable characters and surprises. ’ – Kirkus Reviews
Can Marina’s seaside idyll mend her broken heart?
Cornwall, 1975
Distraught after the death of her young daughter, Marina Meredith craves nothing more than solitude.
With her son Joshua struggling to accept losing his twin, and her husband Giles refusing to discuss the tragedy, her home life feels intolerable.
In desperation Marina flees to a tiny cottage in Cornwall, hoping to grieve in peace, but is dismayed when a family of holidaymakers seem intent on taking her under their wing.
Reluctantly at first, she allows herself to be coaxed into the Gage family’s charmed circle. As she and Joshua blossom under the Cornish sun, Marina discovers new friendships and a closer bond with her son.
But just as life seems to be looking up, she finds herself confused over her husband’s strange behaviour … and at risk of being swept away by charismatic actor Conrad Gage .
And when a shattering secret reveals itself, she soon finds herself questioning everything she thought she knew…
Summer Secrets is a compelling saga of grief, family life and learning to love again with a supernatural twist. It is set on the atmospheric Lizard peninsular in Cornwall.
‘ A real gem! … A truly remarkable tale, exquisitely written.’ – Booklist
‘ A rich, beautifully devised family history … It will make you cry and laugh … just like real life.’ – Prima
‘ Moving and gripping … full of memorable characters and surprises. ’ – Kirkus Reviews
299 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1990
2 people are currently reading
8 people want to read
About the author
Jean Stubbs
65 books13 followersAka Emma Darby
Jean was born in Lancashire and educated in Manchester. She has written many novels and short stories for magazines and collections, several of which have been adapted for radio and television. She has lived for more than twenty years in a cottage in Cornwall, England, with her husband.
Jean was born in Lancashire and educated in Manchester. She has written many novels and short stories for magazines and collections, several of which have been adapted for radio and television. She has lived for more than twenty years in a cottage in Cornwall, England, with her husband.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
December 27, 2025
This was not a "heartwarming" story as described in my opinion. I kept waiting for something nice to happen to the female main character and it never came.
October 10, 2012
1990.
Enjoyed reading the book. Altho there is plenty of sadness and trouble in it, it's an optimistic book. Passionate affairs and troubled marriages play a large role, but minor characters [mothers, neighbors, friends] are of interest, and the main character's relationship with her 9-year-old son develops nicely in the course of the book -- perhaps too nicely to be realistic but one would like to think it could happen this way.
Enjoyed reading the book. Altho there is plenty of sadness and trouble in it, it's an optimistic book. Passionate affairs and troubled marriages play a large role, but minor characters [mothers, neighbors, friends] are of interest, and the main character's relationship with her 9-year-old son develops nicely in the course of the book -- perhaps too nicely to be realistic but one would like to think it could happen this way.
January 25, 2008
Marina goes for a long break to an isolated cottage to recover from a tragedy. Her growing relationship with her 'difficult' son makes a powerful thread to this book. Very sympathetic characters and a good plot with some drama and excitement.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews