A stunning story about love and friendship and things not being as they seem at first. Proof that love has the strangest ways of manifesting itself and proof that you are never too old to make new friends. A story that will make you laugh and cry in equal measures, aínñnd believe that there is someone out there for everyone.


Two women both travelling from Ireland to France by ferry and then driving across the continent alone. By chance they end up sharing a dining table in the restaurant on the ferry.

Deira’s Husband Gavin has left her for another woman (he has history in that department – Deira was once ‘the other woman). Deira’s trip is slightly reminiscent of the film Thelma and Louise, in that she has stolen Gavin’s convertible Audi.

Grace’s Husband Ken has died and she seems to be turning their usual summer break planned to the nth degree by her late Husband), into some kind of pilgrimage; she is fulfilling her late Husband’s wishes to have his ashes scattered in the Celtic sea. It turns out that he died (killed himself?) after being diagnosed with MND. It turns out that before he died he set a treasure hunt for Grace, involving some online documents that Grace has to work out the passwords for.

Both women are undertaking trips that were meticulously planned by their Husbands. They have a remarkable amount in common and when they meet again at a hotel in Nante, they get chatting. They work together solving treasure hunt clues. When Deira’s car is badly damaged by a fire at their hotel, they decide to travel on through France, together. This in turn becomes a fantastic road trip between two new friends, in pursuit of the treasure.

I cannot tell you how this story ends, but implore you to buy the book and find out for yourself..

I enjoyed this book by Sheila O'Flanagan which tells the story of two women, Grace and Deira who meet up in France, the former's husband Ken having died and left her with a trip across France and Spain booked with clues for her to solve. Deira has just broken up with her partner and taken his car on a journey across France. I would recommend this book as a lovely holiday read.

Circumstances find two women from different backgrounds and with different reasons alone on a trip. During the trip they find themselves and make peace with themselves. Well written, the ares they visited were described in such detail it felt like i was there. Enjoyed it

I Throughly enjoy Shelia O’Flanagan novels and this beautifully written novel will whisk you away to happier times.
Two woman brought together by loss and coming together to get through their grieve and sadness is so beautifully written and had me gripped. I would highly recommend.

2 women who have both suffered a loss but in different ways both go on a solo road trip but end up meeting each other on the ferry. They keep bumping into each other at stiops along the way, without spoiling the story they end up doing the trip together and helping each other overcome their respective sadness and problems.
Great book, loved it

I really enjoyed this book. Sheila is a great author & I will be recommending this book to people. Thanks for the opportunity to read & review it.

I've read and enjoyed a lot of Sheila O'Flanagan books in the past. I have not enjoyed some of the more recent books as much as her older ones. I was drawn to this book though by the cover and description. From the first few chapters I was drawn into the book, and I wanted to keep on reading it. This is the best book that I have read from Sheila O'Flanagan for a few years. The characters of Deira and Grace are very different, but they find themselves on a road trip together driving through France and Spain. I read this in Lockdown, and the locations in France and Spain were very appealing and fascinating. The locations were not the usual beach resorts, but towns and cities with historical or literary pasts, and I found it interesting to read about them. It makes it stand out from other books about holidays. I enjoyed reading this a lot, I loved all of the classical literature references, as somebody who has studied literature. It was also good to see the characters work together and help each other to decide which direction they wanted their lives to go in. This is an easygoing read, perfect for relaxing with. I'm looking forward to reading more books by this author. Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for my ARC.

Thanks to Headline and Netgalley for an advance copy of this book in exchange for a review.

Deira and Grace are both on separate road trips for different reasons. Fate, however, brings them together and this is the story of their adventures through France and Spain (and to a lesser extent Ireland). I really enjoyed this - I could almost feel the heat of the foreign emanating from the book and as that's not something we're likely to feel for a while this was a perfect escape.

Thanks Netgalley and the Publisher. I have liked everything this author has written and this was no exception. Great storyline and great characters, loved every page.

Two friends who have known each other years meet up again and enjoy their company but could they ever be more than friends after the past and do 2 people want the same things!
I found the story interesting and inspirational and couldn’t put it down as wanted to know if friendship could turn into more but willing for it to happen. I would love a follow on from this story but I would read another book by Sheila o Flanagan due to how much I enjoyed reading this story I hope her other books are as good.

Deira and Grace who meet whilst they are on separate road trips, decide to travel together.

Deira - has taken her ex’s spirts car on the holiday that they had booked to go together before he he left her for another woman.

Grace’s whose husband died, he’s booked this trip for her and left clues for a treasure hunt

What I loved was how the women are on their own personal journeys, but they bond together and support one another in trying to solve the clues to the treasure hunt.

I couldn’t wait to see what the treasure was at the end of the hunt and so wanted to read the ending to find out.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for a review.

I am a big fan of Sheila O’Flanagan books but I struggled with this one. It’s a tale of two women, Deira and Grace, one a newly single thirty-something and the other a well to do older lady with three children and one or more grandchildren. The two leave Ireland for a road trip and meet by chance on the ferry to France. After an unfortunate incident with Deira’s car they end up travelling companions passing through France and Spain. The older of the two, newly widowed has been tasked by her controlling husband to solve a series of clues that will therefore reveal a last goodbye message and gift. I am not sure how she would have coped had she not had the help of the younger companion who seems to easily solve the clues for her.
For what seems a long while the book goes along travelling through various towns and villages of France and Spain. I am sure readers familiar with any of these places would appreciate the reminder of them but I quite like the Irish settings of the authors other books. I didn’t connect with these characters at all while other main characters in the book were unpleasant including Deira’s ex, her sister, and Grace’s dead husband. I was happy when the journey and story concluded.
I was underwhelmed with this book but I now look forward to catching up with one of Sheila’s older as yet unread books.