I'm very much that boring nerd who has a weakness for World War II stories and, in particular, the World War II love stories which any self-respecting historian would probably try to set on fire in my hands, to teach me a lesson I would not learn. Naturally I was excited for this story, which was filled with promising elements: 1943, Cornwall, shipwreck, mermaid ?? It wound up not quite delivering; for everyone's convenience I have chopped my reaction into pieces and arranged them in a numbered list.

1. Narrative voice. This is probably my least helpful criticism but unfortunately it also affected me the most throughout; the narration of this book seemed eminently modern. I'm not even talking about our very hashtag woke hero/ine, I genuinely do not care if an author writes modern sensibilities into their work, but something about the way the words were arranged on the page -- very modern! I went on a kick earlier this year of reading books which actually came out in the 40s, so my standards here might just be unrealistic.

2. Setup and payoff. This isn't a mystery story, per se, but it has a bunch of mysteries in it, and some of them are handled competently but most of them are handled weirdly. Alice spends the first two chapters being very mysterious about where she comes from and why she's hiding, in line with the blurb, and then at the end of the second chapter -- the book has 27 chapters, for reference, so this happens extremely near the beginning and I don't feel bad about spoiling it -- she reveals that she's a nun not only to the reader but also to the hero, which basically removed all the suspense from the situation. It seems genuinely nuts to me that you wouldn't at least keep that fact from your hero and use it to build more tension between them as he chafes to figure out her whole deal? And then they could have spent the first six chapters circling around each other instead of being blandly nice, which, I'm sorry, bored me. The other really bonkers example of this weird defusing-tension is in a moment where Alice is talking to Merle, a friend of the hero's, who refers to Jack in the third person as "his lordship". Alice's reaction to this is "who is she talking about??" which didn't, like, delight me, but I assumed it was setting up a mystery for later which would enrich our understanding of Jack's behaviour next time he turns up. Instead Merle says on the very next page "he's so modest for a viscount" and Alice gets it. I guess I don't understand why you would set up the reveal, have Alice misunderstand, and then actually reveal it all in the same conversation. Surely at that point you can skip the misunderstanding? I don't think the author intended for me to think that Alice was a little dumb, which is unfortunately all I took out of that interaction.

3. Research. This is both a pro and a con, in that I know the author did research, because there were a few things which were explained in solid detail. Settings were done well in my opinion, as was the religious stuff and a brief episode of bell-ringing. Unfortunately the downside to this is that I felt I could also tell when the author was trying to gloss over things; quotidian details suffered. Period details in particular seemed awkward and shuffled in; the author relied a lot on Alice reading a copy of Frenchman's Creek to remind us we were in the 40s. There was also one weird moment where Alice looks at a banknote and describes it mostly for the benefit of the audience, surely, but since she had spent the last nine years in a nunnery I have to give that one a pass. The one I won't let go is when she, in 1934, longed to see Saratoga, which came out in 1937. 

4. Modern sensibilities vs. Alice's backstory. So I said earlier that I didn't care if authors wrote modern attitudes into their work, and I stand by that; I am fine that our hero clearly drinks a healthy dose of woman respecting juice every day, I am fine with what is probably a wildly progressive view of religion and wholesale nunnery abandonment for the 1940s, I am even fine that Alice goes out of her way to benevolently declaim that Muslims worship the same God as Christians. What I am less fine with, in the wake of all this, is a very one-note portrayal of Alice's backstory as a Christian missionary in the Belgian Congo. We only ever hear about this from her in the present, but it very much falls into the cliche of "evil witch doctors did bad things :(" and having "won" souls over to Christianity, which, well, I simply didn't love!

5. Theme and plot. I found myself returning often to a sort of baffled refrain as I read, which was "what is this about??" which is perhaps not a good sign. First it was the story of a nun who wants to start life anew, and then it became, hm, a society romance and family drama, and then a spy caper? The question mark means I do not think the genre mashup was entirely successful. The mermaid thing that gets mentioned ominously in the summary does not pan out to be anything more than a local myth, which was sad for me on a personal level but probably a decent choice to avoid crowding the story more. Alice's arc was mostly that she felt bad about leaving the religious order, but was insistent that she had not stopped believing in God, and this was a successful subplot throughout in that she felt bad a lot, and towards the end she received external validation from a better nun, I guess, and felt better. Sorry, I'm being very glib, I know. There were good elements to this; the fact that she was asked to use a nun disguise in the spy caper tied these things together nicely for me. Unfortunately, the negatives outweighed the positives. The romance felt generally bland and basically nonexistent unless it was a specified romance moment, and the filial drama didn't work for me at all. It annoyed me that Alice's stance never really changed or grew -- she starts out very sure that she can still be a good Christian and keeps being quite sure and then someone else validated this belief. It drove me absolutely bats that we only get the brief suggestion of a resolution to this, because it was the most consistent throughline of the book.

This list sounds like I hate the book, but I don't -- I think it could have been a lot better, but it works fine for what it is, which is a light, plot-driven drama. The writing went down easily, and I got through it fairly quickly over the space of a couple of days. I don't regret reading it, and I imagine that most people in the weird WWII romance niche would feel the same.

Thank you to NetGalley & Lake Union Publishing for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Another story with a World War II background set between the coasts of Cornwall, scenes of quiet rural life with hidden secrets and then moving across to France and all the turmoil there with German occupation.

Alice is a survivor of a ship torpedoed by the Germans and washed up on the Cornish coast. With her shorn hair and secretive speech, her rescuer knows that there are secrets behind the façade of the washed out, exhausted woman found at his doorstep. When her life story is told which in itself is intriguing (a convent in Africa, a questioning of faith, an idea of leaving the strict no feelings to be shown policy of the convent) and with her knowledge of French, Alice becomes a key person in the permanent quest of finding people who can infiltrate the French coast and bring back airmen and others who need to get back to England.

Following her adventures both in and out of France at great personal risk to herself and reading about her life in the convent in Africa, both the highs and lows - you can see how far the church has come since those difficult times of strict laws, and rules and nothing else. It was a tough time for anyone who chose a vocation unless you were devoid of any natural feelings.

The story of survival, of faith, and finally of a peaceful end and love finding a way is all told in this imaginative story.

Alice is a survivor of a German ship crash in 1943 that washes up onshore.  She is found by Jack and they become close.  Alice wants to starts a new life and escape her past.  She tells Jack her secret and asks him to keep it and her safe.  Jack also has a secret of his own.  This was well-written and historically accurate.  The storyline was kind of predictable, but the writing was good enough to overlook it.

5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This book was such a delight. I had no idea It was about a shipwrecked girl during WWII. The romance had the mysterious feel of “Rebecca” for me, in the sense that I couldn’t figure out Jack’s feelings. He was mysterious and Alice misread all her surroundings, in part to her past. 
I identified with Alice and her need to be authentic. I felt her struggle with God, and how everything she did was mechanically recited and done out of habit. She longed to have a heartfelt purpose in her life. 
As the story progressed with the risks, I found I couldn’t put it down. I was holding my breath, anxious and thrilled at the flow of this wonderful writing. 
This was more a historical, women’s literature book than romance. The romance was light and clean. I hope to one day visit the place this story took place. I very much liked the ending. 
I highly recommend this and want you to read it. 

Thank you NETGALLEY and the publisher for this ARC, in exchange for my honest review.

I enjoyed this book mostly for its beautiful setting in Cornwall which is one of my favourite places in the world! The author obviously knows the area well.

I would describe The House at Mermaid's Cove as historical romance because a lot of time was spent on Alice's emotional ramblings about whether Jack was interested in her or not. I wanted to grab her by the shoulders and say "Of course he is interested in you - it couldn't be more obvious." But that's just me.

The rest of the book was a good story about the French Resistance in WW2. I could have wished for a bit more depth but it was interesting. Basically this was a light, enjoyable read.

I love books set during WWII and since I read so many of them, I love it even more when I find one that tells a different tale. The House at Mermaid Cove was unique enough to make it stand out from the crown.

The story opens with a girl with shorn hair and a number washing ashore in Cornwall. The dashing man who finds gives her food, shelter, clothing, and eventually a job. This beginning sounds a lot like everyone WWII romance. However, the woman is a nun wanting to leave a rather restrictive order. The regulations she describes do not look anything like what I see from the nuns in Call the Midwife. But then again she is Irish so it would be a Catholic order instead of an Anglican order that would be in England. 

Her boat being bombed on her way back to Dublin from Africa seemed like a sign - a sign that she could start a new life where she could do good. The dashing man, Lord Trewella (but he prefers Jack), has just the job for her - working with the French Resistance and Allied Forces.

We get a little look at the life on the home front as Jack's estate is a working farm with Land Girls milking cows and tending the vegetable gardens. There's also a dance with the American Forces stationed nearby and regular village life. But we also get to see how the English helped the French Resistance by ferrying supplies and information to Franch and bringing back downed Allied pilots.

Ashford has also found an interesting legend in which to build her story - about a mermaid who lures men to their deaths. We also weaved into the story the lush, tropical-like, landscape of this part of Cornwall - providing a visual beauty that is matched by her beautiful writing. 

The characters, the writing, and the setting all combine to give the reader a lush and enjoyable story that tantalizes all the senses. 

My review will be published at Girl Who Reads on Tuesday, Aug. 18 - https://www.girl-who-reads.com/2020/08/the-house-at-mermaid-cove-by-lindsay.html

When Alice is washed ashore on a beach in Cornwall in 1943 after being on a torpedoed boat set for Ireland she realises it is a chance to reinvent herself and start again.  Rescued by Jack, the Lord of the Manor, she starts to have feelings for him but can she trust him enough to tell him her true story.....and what secrets is he keeping himself? 

A lovely story that I couldn't put down with just the right mixture of romance, history and intrigue.  The characters of Alice and Jack were both strong and likeable and so you were rooting for both of them.  Perfect summer read.

Jack finds a young women who has washed up from the sea wearing a thin dress with a code sewn into it. He gives her shelter where she will work in the farm in exchange. A friendship blossoms, where they both share their deepest secrets. 

I went into this book not knowing anything about it. I had requested it from NetGalley because the beautiful cover intrigued me. I was pleasantly surprised to find out it was a WWII novel, which is one of my favorite genres to read. I enjoyed the atmospheric scenes and the strong friendships between the characters but it feel a little lack luster and I wanted a bit more action. Overall I enjoyed it.

Over and over again, Lake Union Publishing releases books that I really enjoy and want to recommend to others, and The House at Mermaid's Cove continues this pattern.

Set in WWII, Alice washes ashore in Cornwall after her Ireland-bound ship is torpedoed by the Germans. Jack, the lord of the nearby manor rescues her, but doesn't have completely selfless intentions...

Not only is this a slow burning love story, but it's a story about the strength of women. I really enjoyed Alice as a character, along with her friend Merle. The men in the story were fine if a bit two-dimensional, but this is really a story about Alice and her growth. This is a shorter read, so not too much time to fully develop everything -- I would have liked more detail about her background story her time in Africa -- but still one to enjoy.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with the arc of this book. It has not influenced my opinion.

This story of a mysterious woman who washes ashore on a beach in Cornwall during World War II is a blend of adventure, romance, and history. Alice had a back story I never would have expected, but it was an intriguing twist.

The first half of this book dragged a bit for me. It picked up in the middle but by then it felt like the author was scrambling to tell the rest of the story before the last chapter. The romance was a bit predictable, but sweet. The male main character was interesting but seemed a bit underdeveloped.

All in all, this book was not what I expected, but not altogether unpleasant.

The House at Mermaid's Cove by Lindsay Jayne Ashford is an excellent WWII story that is different from any I have ever read. A torpedoed boat survivor washing up on a lonely deserted Cromwall coast in 1943 begins this novel of wartime romance, mystery, and secrets. Jack has cause to be wary of Alice but he is kind anyway. The secrets that both keep are not ones that will divide them but draw them together.

Wonderful character development with the reader seeing Jack through Alice’s eyes. The story flows beautifully so that I was caught up in it, continuing to read without realizing how long that I had been reading. I was drawn to the title but loved the characters, main and supporting. While you get the feel of how the war has impacted lives this is a different from any other that I have read.

The first book I have read by this author but I will be looking for others. The House at Mermaid's Cove by Lindsay Jayne Ashford will stay with you long after you have finished the last page. 

An ARC of the book was given to me by the publisher through Net Galley which I voluntarily chose to read and reviewed. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Alice was a fabulous and endearing main character. And although romance is not the predominant focus of the story, I really enjoyed the slow-burn romance between Alice and Jack. It was done very well in a way that suited the tone of the story. I also really enjoyed the setting of the book. The story takes place in Mermaid's Cove, a fictional place located on the coast of Cornwall. From the quaint, rural coziness of the village to the salty breezes of the beach, the location was described so beautifully and vividly that I found myself longing for a trip to Cornwall. With regards to the WWII setting, those elements of the story were clearly very well-researched, which I really appreciated. This book is perfect for anyone who enjoys a good historical novel with a sprinkling of slow-burn romance.

It was 1943 when Alice washed ashore, more dead than alive, on a small beach in Cornwall, a beach she came to love which was named Mermaid’s Cove. Alice had been on a ship bound for Ireland from Africa when it was torpedoed by the Germans. Jack Trewella was the man who rescued her, carrying her to a small boathouse nearby. As Alice’s wounds healed, she came to look forward to Jack’s visits and that of his dog. She learned more about where she was, what was happening and what she could do to help.

The Land Girls were helping at Jack’s farm, milking the cows, making butter and once Alice was well, she joined them. But it wasn’t long before Jack had different work for her. The past which she’d told Jack about, but asked him not to mention to anyone, would come in handy in the work that was needed. With danger and courage as partners, Alice and Jack, along with Merle and others, continued to work toward ending the war. Alice’s fear of getting into a boat again was great, but she overcame that fear, knowing what needed to be done. Would they succeed? What would be the outcome for Jack and Alice, for young Ned, Merle and the children?

The House at Mermaid’s Cove by Lindsay Jayne Ashford was a wonderful read. It went in a direction I didn’t expect, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Alice’s character was of strength, humility and surprising courage, while Jack was portrayed perfectly for who and what he was. I have read one other of this author’s work and loved it - The Woman on the Orient Express, and have The Snow Gypsy waiting on my kindle – I'm keen to read more of Ms Ashford's now. Highly recommended.

With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book and it was one I just couldn't put down. Alice and Jack's story set in beautiful Cornwall during WWII is a story that just flows through with mystery, intrigue and romance. Alice's story especially is a unique story and nothing like I had ever read so her character in particular stood out. 

These two characters find each other and discover more about themselves than they ever knew possible about the direction they thought their lives would take to where they actually end up.

Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the chance to read this ARC. My review is not impacted in any way by the receipt of the ARC.

This a wonderful WWII novel set in Cornwall in the months leading up to the invasion at Normandy. This novel was so many things, I had thought it would be a love story but it was more a story of a woman discovering who she was and what is that she wanted. 

It was a very interesting and different premise as the story is told through the eyes of a woman who has been largely removed from the war. Discovering the atrocities and events along with the main character, Alice, was a very interesting perspective. I enjoyed that Alice was not ignorant to war and violence as one may assume from her distance from the war, it made her a very well-rounded character. 

This is a beautiful story of self-discovery, family, and all of the ways that we, as humans, can show our love and compassion for one another.

Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. 

WWII at this peak ... A shipwreck off the coast of England ... a survivor with a secret past ... a Viscount with links to the French Resistance .... a blossoming love story ...

This book started of really strong for me . aAlice and her past were so intriguing and so unique, I wish we had learned more about her ... the love story started off so slow and beautify, but then was rushed .. and half way through it’s like this became a different book, and I wish it hadn’t .Although the second half was good in its own way, I was really enjoying the quiet, different perspective on the war that the first half presented. And I had a bit of hard time believing how the story developed in the second half. 

Overall, still an enjoyable WWII love story .

Book rating :⭐️⭐️⭐️ 💫 
Cover rating : ⭐️⭐️

This book is set in WWII Cornwall England. We discover Alice on a shore having survived a blast on the ship that she was returning from Africa to Dublin in a mission trip. This tragic event she used to her advantage since she had been a nun and no longer wanted to live in the service. Listening to her stories I wouldn't think anyone would want to live that way.  At least in the convent she was in at the time. She was rescued by a man who was walking along the beach. He tended to her injuries and helped her recover. Over the course of a few months she helped out at the estate, then was asked to help with more important work for the war. 

The details and plans that were outlined in this work was very daring. In the authors note you read that she interviewed and researched the history all along that area in Cornwall so that there is a lot of factual WWII stories interlaced into it this story as well as a mix of factual places. I really enjoyed Alice's story. 

The longing felt in this story in a time of great despair and distress was conflicting. Lives had to go on despite a raging war happening over the channel. Romance and love and children were still happening even with bombs dropping so close by. It all sounds so terrifying.

 "My emotions seemed to have come alive the way seeds do when rain comes . Pale stalks of desire sprang up from the desert place where I had buried them." 
I adore these kinds of quotes.

What a charming read! Set in Cornwall during WWII, The House at Mermaid's Cove is an excellent read with a fascinating read. I highly recommend it.

Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

I received an ARC from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. 

The House at Mermaid’s Cove struck my interest thanks to both the title and blurb and the vague sense that I had read something from that author before (turns out she’s the same Lindsay Ashford who wrote the Jane Austen murder mystery I loved a few years back!) And this book definitely delivers, being incredibly engrossing, in terms of characters, plot, and setting.

I admittedly have a love-hate relationship with books set in Cornwall, especially further in the past, due to the link with smugglers, but this one was so atmospheric, and I loved reading about the atmosphere of Mermaid’s Cove, especially when I found out about the real locations and associated legends that inspired it. 

Jack and Alice are great characters, both hiding secrets about their pasts and trying to do good for others during the war during the present. While I have complex feelings about romantic arcs involving someone who is or was part of a holy order, I like how Alice’s evolving views and crisis of faith were handled, and that this was addressed prior to things progressing from friendship to romance with Jack. And I also appreciated how the hints about Jack’s own past were conveyed as he and Alice grew closer and she helped him reckon with them. 

I loved this book and its unique perspective, especially what it adds to the incredibly saturated World WarII historical “subgenre.” I recommend this highly if you you also love historical fiction.

Jack is stunned when his dog finds a young woman washed up on the beach and he quickly brings her home to care for her.  It's just before DDAY and Cornwall has to be worried about the Germans.  Alice has a secret, one that's not bad, just one she doesn't want to share (so I'm not going to share it either).  Jack, who is a Viscount, also has a secret.  These two find their way to happiness in a mature way that blends WWII drama, resistance, and old Cornwall tales.  I'm a sucker for anyrhing set in Cornwall so this was a must read for me.  Yes it's another WWII story but its got a good twist.  Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.  A good quick read that will keep you turning the pages.