I wanted to like this, I normally love these kind of books.  it had all the right ingredients but in the end this wasn’t for me and gave up half way through. 

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for giving me a copy.

This was full of pain, heartbreak, friendship and healing. The story and characters drew me in instantly. It was the classic, wholesome and enjoyable read you can expect from a Heidi Swain novel!

Tess goes away to the Norfolk coast where she has good memories of her mum after making a shocking discovery at home about her parents.



Leaving her father's business in the lurch and switching off her phone she sets about helping the lovely locals, Sam, Hope and there she meets brother's Joe and Charlie.



However as she grows closer to them she finds out a huge life changing secret and her workaholic dad surprises her beyond belief...



The ending was phenomenal, a huge unexpected plot twist which made me gasp I was shocked and hooked on reading on about her family what a twist! A perfect read to distract through current times I was immersed in this wonderful world and the characters lives.



Many thanks to the publishers for allowing me to review this book for them!

Heidi never fails to brighten my days with her beautiful, descriptive writing of idyllic settings and characters that feel like you can friends with.

Tess starts off overworked, stressed and on the verge of falling apart. When she gets to Wynmouth she transforms. Partly the sea air and partly due to a certain local???

I was totally lost in this book and didn’t want it to end. The romance wasn’t as predictable as it first seemed and something was revealed much later in the book that I really wasn’t expecting. So many people underestimate these types of books. Colourful, feminine cover, romantic theme...but they often have so much more to them than you’d expect. This book dealt with deeper issues of mental health and family dramas. But it’s written in such a way that it’s not in the slightest bit maudlin. The entire book is captivating, charming and pure escapism.

Thank you to Simon and Schuster for letting me take part in this tour and for my copy of this book via Netgalley. I am a big fan of Heidi's work so I was excited to read this book and on top of that, we have a new location with lots of new people to meet! 

The main character in this book is Tess. Tess is overworked and hasn't taken a break in years. She decides to take off to Wynmouth. Tess is such an easy character to like. I can see why the Wynmouth locals are so quick to become friends with her. She is such a fun character and I just loved being around her. She has such great ideas and really put the community first. 

I loved all of the locals. Once their walls came down and they let Tess in they really were a lovely bunch.  I could see myself living among them, visiting Sophie's cafe and the pub. It's a great little community. 

This book has Heidi's stamp all over it. I love Heidi's writing style. I love the community feel and the beautiful locations. 

The theme of this book is not to jump to conclusions which is something that we should all take on board. Heidi also wanted to put across the message of slowing down and making sure you have a good work-life balance 

I really loved reading this book and I can't wait for another Heidi book later in the year.

A lovely easy read set in a beautiful North Norfolk coastal village. It had a few twists and turns which kept it interesting and I really warmed to the main characters.

This book is a relaxing read like all the book's i have read by this author.. The characters hook you in and you want to know more and more about them. You always want more and more. It makes you  spend hours reading to see events unfurl. Definitely worth a read

Following the sudden death of her mother Tess Tyler is helping her Dad sort her mother's possessions when she finds her diary. That evening Tess starts to read the diary. It indicates her Dad's infidelity and her Mother's sadness. With the pressure of working for the family business and coming to terms with her Mother's death Tess decides to take a holiday revisiting her childhood holiday memories of Wynmouth. A beautifully written story unfolds of friendship and love and some home truths.

Fantastic read with some monumental twists! A cosy tale with some fabulous characters and a new setting. Reading this book is like a reassurance that everything is going to be ok and nothing is insurmountable. The turns and twists in the story keep you engaged in what will happen next and will they/won’t they.  I thoroughly enjoyed it and can’t wait for the opportunity to return to Wynmouth. 

Thank you Netgalley.

I’m always a fan of Heidi Swain’s novels, and this was no exception. A lovely, calming summery read which made me long for long days at the beach. 
Tess escapes her hectic work life to return to a place which she remembers fondly from her childhood. There she finds herself quickly becoming a part of the community, finding friends and love on the way. 
Read this to dream of summers on the beach.

Heidi Swain you have done it again! I'm one happy little book worm here after devouring your book since this morning. I haven't been able to put it down as the pages turned themselves with determined intent that had me hooked from the word go. The warmth and charm emanating from this story was glorious and I am moments away from packing a suitcase and moving to Wynmouth myself....the only thing stopping me is this teenie tiny situation called lock down. But in my heart I'm in the Smuggler's Inn, snaffling a sausage sandwich and admiring a pair of emerald eyes from afar....no I'm not bitter that Tess got in there first if anyone asks....nope not one bit!

But seriously what a delicious destination to set a story on. I fell head over heels in love with the place, including their eclectic collection of colourful inhabitants kicking around the joint. How can you not when good intentions are at the heart of every gesture. Speaking of intensions, there was a fine number of jumping to conclusions on the specials board and we all know where that can leave us? Assumptions were a much talked about thread weaving through the narrative but it lead to some of the most heartfelt poignant moments that this book had to offer.

So emerald eyes aside, this story delivered on the character creations on every level. Sophie was something special and I was simply drooling over each culinary delight wafting off the page. I swear I've gained weight just reading about these tantalising treats....or maybe it was the left over easter egg I had a little snaccident with earlier 😁. I must say though that we were simply spoilt for choice on the testosterone front with not one, but two male, smouldering specimens at the heart of this tale. Be still my beating heart for Sam and Joe were definitely lead role material - but truthfully I was on #teamgreeneyes

The Secret Seaside Escape was everything I expected from a Swain story. It gave me all the romantic feels with the greatest first kiss to go down in history described to perfection. I'm hugely disappointed to have come to the end of such an all consuming story but I would like to know if my invitation is in the post for this year's Summer Solstice party? Or will social distancing prevail?

Simply amazing. This is my first book by Heidi Swain and it certainly won’t be the last.
This book was beautifully written and drew me in right from the start. I identified with Tess and became invested with her quest to rediscover herself and unravel her parents past.  I felt my shock was quite possibly equal to Tess’s when her dad finally caught up with her and told her the truth.  
So many heartfelt and beautiful story lines perfectly wrapped up together making this a simply beautiful read.

Tess is running away.

Heidi Swain’s The Secret Seaside Escape is pure happiness and sunshine in book form. I adored heading off to Wynmouth and being transported to the Norfolk coast. There’s such a glorious sense of place in Heidi Swain’s descriptions so that I felt I was walking around the village and on the beach with Tess. I thoroughly appreciated the fact that there are vagaries of weather that lend a realism alongside the escapism too. Tess is just as likely to be blown about by a squall as have her freckles deepen in the sunshine so that the story has an underlying credibility.

And what a story there is in The Secret Seaside Escape. We might well be expecting a happy ever after ending from this genre, but my goodness there’s quite a journey to get there with exploration of some weighty themes and a plot that romps along with several surprises along the way. There’s a characteristic sense of community that this author always explores so well, but there is the added piquancy of a turbulent past for Wynmouth villagers too, that intrigues and enthralls completely. I was desperate to get to the bottom of the dynamics between Joe and Sam so that it actually felt as if I were Tess, rather than reading about her. These were real people I cared about, not characters in a book. Tess in particular appealed to me. She embodies the modern successful woman and still has flaws and desires that make her utterly compelling. I finished reading The Secret Seaside Escape feeling as if I wanted to visit her in Wynmouth because she felt like an old friend.

Heidi Swain explores so beautifully, and somehow completely naturally, the real values of life in The Secret Seaside Escape too. Top of the range cars and money can’t buy happiness and Tess and Hope both have to learn that they cannot always control life or have the outcomes they want for themselves and others. Love, family and other relationships, the impact of over-work, loyalty, friendship, secrets and community form a fascinating backdrop that held me spell bound. The more I’ve thought about The Secret Seaside Escape since I finished it, the more I think it might just be Heidi Swain’s best book yet!

When it comes to feel good fiction, Heidi Swain is an absolute expert. She makes her readers laugh, and cry, and leaves them feeling they have had the highest quality entertainment along the way. The Secret Seaside Escape is an utter joy and I loved it.

I loved this! 
After her mother's sudden death Tess throws herself into work at her Father’s PR firm. Working long hours and not taking holidays Tess is heading for burnout.
Deciding to help her dad sort through her mother's things Tess finds a diary that turns her whole world upside down.
Leaving her father a short message Tess flees to the place that holds her fondest childhood memories, Wynmouth.
There Tess settles in quickly and with the help of Landlord Sam, Cafe owner Sadie and her daughter Hope and Farmer Joe Tess begins to feel like a local. Can Tess find the answers she needs in the small seaside village or will she find more questions.
As always with Heidi Swain it is beautifully written. The characters, setting and story are all outstanding. A great book you can lose yourself in.

This is the first Heidi Swain book I have had the pleasure of reading, and it certainly won't be my last! I loved it from the start, warmed to the main character Tess really quickly and couldn't stop reading. A heartwarming, and in some places heartbreaking book. I had tears of laughter and sadness along the way. All of the characters were brilliant, and there was a good age range too. I loved the area descriptions of where it was set, and there were some unexpected twists at the end that I didn't see coming. An absolute joy to read!

Life and work just gets too much for Tess.  After losing her mother she had immersed herself in her work for the family firm and now, burnt out and resenting her father, she returns to Wtnmouth, the place she spent idyllic childhood holidays.

As Tess makes friends in the village, she discovers secrets, misunderstandings and a sense o peace and belonging.

A well written HEA escapist novel which helped pass the time during the current state of lockdown . If you cannot visit the seaside  then the next best thing is to read a good book about it!

Heidi Swain is one of my go to authors for a feel good novel.Life a

This is the first book I've read by Heidi Swain. I chose it because I felt in need of an escape (who doesn't at the moment?!), and the idea of a secret seaside escape was too good to miss!

The book is a gentle read, a mix of friendship, romance, intrigue and family relationships. There are some very likeable characters here, and I enjoyed reading about their exploits in this pretty-sounding part of the world. Throw in a few surprising twists and turns, and you have yourself a perfect summer read!

Will look out for more novels by this author.

My thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an ARC. All opinions my own.

I’m a huge fan of this author and her wonderfully escapist books which are just what I need at the moment.

The wonderful descriptions of Weymouth made me feel nostalgic for past family holidays on the beach. I’ve always loved the idea of moving somewhere new and starting again, so you can imagine how much this book appealed to me. The descriptions were very vivid and made me feel that I was actually there experiencing everything alongside them. I can’t wait to go to the beach when all of this is over.

I loved the close knit community depicted in this book which was heart warming to read about. It was so nice to see everyone looking out for and helping each other for once. There were some fabulous, unforgettable characters which made me laugh out loud at times. George in particular was incredibly funny and Joan and Sophie brought tears to my eyes as they were such lovely people.

Overall I thought this was a fantastic, compelling novel which I got lost in for hours at a time. I loved following Tess, Sam, Joe and Hope as they go about their lives in Weymouth and slowly become part of the community. There are some great hidden meanings in this book too about how important friendship is and how it’s important to take chances sometimes which just made this book for me.

Huge thanks to Harriet from Simon & Schuster for inviting me onto the blog tour and for my copy of this book via Netgalley.

I read this book whilst the country is in "lockdown" and so there is no chance of a holiday or getting away from everyday life. This heartwarming story proved to be a perfect distraction from this. A chance to travel to a beautiful seaside town and make new friends all without leaving my own home. 

The story has many character whom the reader grows to love and care about, along with lots of plot twists and turns which keep one guessing and ensures the ending is not quite as expected.

Well worth a read and will be a perfect holiday read once we can once again travel, but right now is a gentle and warm way to while away enforced time at home. Thank you.

I know I'm late so heading straight to Amazon to leave a 5 star review xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx