Beautiful and Poignant.  The House at Mermaid's Cove reads like an old fashioned romance novel with looks and forbidden gestures.  A nun who leaves her old life behind only to be thrust into a new and more dangerous one with a litany of well rounded characters and protagonist to root for, this book had it all.  It reminded me of The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society and well worth the read.

Quite thrilling, an excellent beach read or travel take along. The characters, Alice and Jack, are complicated and riveting as they each have secrets and darkness. Yet slowly feelings, wanting begins to tease their hearts despite themselves. What starts out as a mild romance novel between an ex-nun and a disgruntled viscount during World War II on the edge of England, takes a sharp turn into a secret government resistance espionage. A page turning world of who will survive.

I really liked this book!  The storyline was quite unique and fascinating.  A very different and engaging view point on WWII.  
The first pages grab you as the story unfolds with a young woman, Alice,  being washed up on a secluded beach in Cornwall, England.  Her head is shaved and she’s wearing a smock with numbers stitched inside.
Her rescuer, Jack, learns Alice’s secret and they begin a friendship with each other as the wages on.
This is a historical novel but with a different take on how the Cornish people helped the French Resistance.
A beautiful slow burn romance, intrigue, suspense, mystery and redemption.
The research the author put into this story is truly amazing.  I really enjoyed the writing style of Lindsay Jayne Ashford and look forward to reading more from her.
Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read and review this book for my honest opinion.

Good, quick summer reading about a nun who washes up on the shore of Cornwall during World War II. Alice has just left the Congo survived an attack on the ship carrying her back to the UK. An aristocrat, Jack, offers her shelter...but then asks her to participate in the French resistance movement against the Nazis.

The storyline and plot were good, but the story could have been much better developed. The protagonist had a huge crisis of faith and calling that were barely touched on. Her time in the Congo was also glossed over. Even though I enjoy a quick read now and then, this novel would have been better (in my humble opinion) as a much longer and more developed novel.

Overall, however, I really liked the book and would recommend it.

I chose to read this book mainly because I live in Cornwall. I enjoy reading about the area. I'm pleased that it only briefly referenced the supernatural mermaid, and in no way was it a main part of the plot, as that is all done in too many other books. I've also read most of the Dauphne Du Maurier' novels, which I would highly recommend even though they were written so long ago. They remain classics for a reason. However, there was one reference to Du Maurier's private life that I am sure was not correct and that put me off and left me wondering what other elements might not be fully researched.
All said I enjoyed the storyline relating to WW2. That was intriguing enough to read the book alone. I'm not a fan of chicklit and the main characters relationship was too obvious from the start and I nearly didn't continue reading the rest of the book. However, I'm so glad that I did read this variation from my usual choice of novel.

I read and enjoyed Snow Gypsy by Lindsay Jayne Ashford and out of the (almost) 200 books I've read since then the story still sticks in my head. So when I saw The House at Mermaid's Cove as an ARC, I jumped at it 🧜‍♀️ And I was not disappointed at all! A quick, short historical fiction set in Cornwall, The House at Mermaid's Cove explores the complexities of trust, belief, and dedication. I really enjoyed the story, as well as the author's notes which are always very much appreciated! There were times that I struggled to deeply identify with the characters and parts where the pacing was off, but it was still good. ⭐⭐⭐.75/5 Thank you, #netgalley for the complimentary ARC. THAMC publishes August 11 from Lake Union. Definitely pick this one up - and in the meantime, check out Snow Gypsy 💃

I enjoyed this novel a lot. It was super interesting and captivating the whole time. I thought the characters were well-developed and watching Alice’s journey was wonderful. Seeing herself discover what was best for her life and how to make herself happy was quite beautiful. I loved seeing the romance develop as well, and to see Alice make Jack a better person. Their love story was inspiring and I thought it was paced nicely as well. 

I loved seeing Alice grow as a mother figure as well, and seeing her caring nature as a nun shine through in herself as a person. She also never lost sight of her religious beliefs, which I thought added to her overall character arc. 

Overall, I would give this novel 5 stars because it was a beautiful novel and I greatly enjoyed the writing style. Looking forward to reading more from Lindsay Jayne Ashford!

3.5 stars

I received this book from NetGalley for a fair and honest review. 

I found The House at Mermaid's Cove to be an enjoyable, and quick read. It is a perfect read for fans of WWII historical fiction. This book included plenty of twists and turns that leave the reader flipping to the next page. If you are looking for a slightly lighter historical fiction read, then this book would be perfect for you!

I did find some issues with the pacing, as it felt rushed in places, leaving room for more plot and character development. I would have preferred a slower pace that allowed for details to be drawn out more. 

As far as trigger warnings go, there aren't too many. However, I will warn that there are some for rape-although there are no explicit details included in the book. Rather, it is mentioned in passing by side characters. 

Overall, I thought The House at Mermaid's Cove was a charming read. I would pick up more books by this author.

I had been having a bad few days: washer quit, faucet leaking, and a sick cat. I decided to read for a while and try to regain my sanity. All I can say is "Thank you, Lindsay" This book hooked me from the very beginning. you. However, if you like strong heroines, flawed but gorgeous heroes, and witty dialogue....this is it! Thank you Netgalley.

A well written and entertaining historical novel.  Great plot and character development.  A great read.

I was intrigued to read this book as the description was spine tingling that you were wondering if Alice would turn into a mermaid! But as I settled into the story I was pleasantly surprised to find it folding out into my favourite timeline of WW2 and links to the SOE, my favourite type of book.  I felt in areas the book was rushed and more detail could have been put in about the SOE process, but I still enjoyed the story. Thank you to Netgalley for the chance to read the book.

I honestly loved everything about this book! To say that I was sad when I reached the end is an understatement. I sat down over the weekend to read, setting a time limit of one hour as I had to get some things done...after an hour passed I said to myself "just another 1/2 hour"...3 hours later (after I couldn't put the book down) I finished the book. 

I think the author did an amazing job with the setting - the descriptions of the cove where Alice stayed in the boathouse were so vivid that I felt like I was there, smelling the salty, fishy air and feeling the breeze. I also think the characters were brilliant - Alice and Merle were my favorites. I could really sense the inner turmoil felt by Alice - a former nun, she feels a higher purpose, but doesn't think that the rigid style of her former convent is how she can best serve her calling. 

This was the first book I've read by this author - after my experience with this book, I will definitely be seeking out more books written by this author.

Thank you to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for providing a copy for review.

A story of re-invention, redemption, love.  from the breathtaking cover to the story inside I loved every page of this novel

I really enjoyed this novel. I think right from the beginning, the author draws the reader in with her descriptions. The characters are intriguing, and she is extremely descriptive in her details. The way the story unfolds, it seems to largely differ from many of the WW2 novels I have read. I will definitely recommend this one!

This wasn’t for me. I found the pace too slow and the story predictable.i gave up before the end. Life’s too short.

I wasn't too sure what to make of this once I started it, I had been attracted to it by the cover and title and hadn't really paid much attention to the blurb.

Alice is washed ashore at Mermaid's Cove after the ship she was travelling back to Ireland on was sunk by the Germans, she is found at the waters edge by Jack who quickly realises she has things in her past she wants to leave behind and that her unplanned arrival in Cornwall has become her way to achieve what she wants from life without returning to her old life.

But is the freedom to choose really what she wants?

Jack has a few secrets of his own, and his motives for helping Alice after she explains some of what she's leaving behind are not entirely what they seem. 

Ultimately this was a book which surprised me, I had no idea what choices Alice would make nor what Jack would ask of her, and my goodness was there alot going on - secret missions, a secret wife and child, Alice's attempts to hide her origins, the usual small town characters and all set in the tense days of 1943. But the decisions by both Alice and Jack ultimately feel right for what we see of their characters.

I found that while I'm sure not all of the things featured are going to have been historically accurate it was nice to see the SOE in a fiction novel, an organisation which seems to be little known to the general public.

Definitely recommend.

Genre: Historical Fiction
Rating; 5/5
Plot: 
In April 1943 a young woman washes ashore on a deserted beach in Cornwall, England. With shorn hair and a number stitched on her tattered chemise, Alice is the survivor of a ship torpedoed by a German U-boat. She’s found by the mysterious Viscount Jack Trewella, who suspects that she’s a prisoner of war or a spy. But the secret Alice asks Jack to keep is one he could never have guessed, and it creates an intimate bond he never expected.
With her true identity hidden beneath the waves, Alice grasps the chance to reinvent herself. But as she begins to fall for Jack, she discovers he has secrets too—ones echoing the legend of a mermaid said to lure men into the dark depths of the sea.
For two strangers in the shadow of war, lost love, and haunting memories, is it time to let go of the past? Or to finally face it—whatever the risks?
My verdict: Firstly thank you to Netgalley for letting me review this book prior to its release on the 11th August. I throughly enjoyed this saga based on Cornish myth and real historical events ultimately shedding light on the vital work the Resistance did to help us win World War II. I loved the conflict that Alice battled with throughout the novel; She was saved and brought to Cornwall to help others and at times putting herself in danger. On the other hand, she is an ex nun trying to contain her passion and stubborn streak just as she is taught. She ultimately battles with herself to decide wether her love and passion is a bad thing. Jack’s character is someone who is a victim of social class prejudices which leads him to carry around this guilt which he tries to rectify throughout the narrative. I hope that this book may be turned into a series as it would be nice to see character progression from the supporting characters and how they deal with their own inner conflict and the fall out of World War II. I loved how the emotions throughout the novel builds much like a wave and even though it seems calm, their are still some ripples on the surface which is perfectly natural in life. Ashford writes with such empathy that you can’t help feeling sorry for the adversaries. A well researched and moving narrative about learning to take risks despite of what others may think. Overall a very serious novel filled with contradictions and conflicts, I rooted for the characters throughout and care for them deeply and I think that the moments of romance and levity balance out the novel giving you a warm feeling and wanting more. A job well done!

Click the link so you can go to amazon and preorder your copy.

Did'not finish this book.  Maybe because I have read too many WWII books recently and currently watching a series on the French Undeground.  Will try to read at a different time.

This one just wasn't for me. I felt like the text was super repetitive, the pacing too slow, and the romance was pretty much non-existent until the last two chapters. The war stuff was interesting but felt like it was wrapped up all too easily, and the mermaid mythology the author tried to weave through the text didn't have much payoff either.  I also wasn't a huge fan of the religious aspects of the novel. Overall, just not my taste but I think many people will get in with this better than I did.

Lovely romance story dated in WWII time.  
Alice is a nun on her way from Africa to a convent in Ireland, the boat is torpedoed and  she is washed up on a Cornwall beach. She is saved by misterious Jack, nothing less than viscount. And story starts to entangle. 

Cozy and nice read.