The Little Island Secret by Emma Davies is a contemporary women’s fiction title that does have an element of romance. The relationship in the story is one that actually started over correspondence so it’s not a matter of watching a budding relationship with two characters interacting.

Abby is first and foremost a single mother trying to do the best for her daughter while she runs her own bookstore. Abby received a letter from man looking for an obscure title that Abby was also a huge fan of herself which began a back and forth exchange between them.

As time passed Abby and Cam grew closer and he did come to visit Abby and her daughter and they both fell in love with him. Afterwards though Cam stopped contacting Abby so of course she worried and tried to get in touch only to find out that Cam had died. Abby struggled with coping with the loss and her daughter was going through a lot at school so she decided they would take a vacation to the island where Cam had lived.

While I completely enjoyed reading The Little Island Secret it’s another I don’t think the tag lines quite fit. This wasn’t absolutely heart breaking to me in the sense that while I felt empathy towards Abby losing the chance at love I wasn’t that invested in Cam with his not being in the story other than briefly. I got caught up in wanting to know what would happen after the news broke and was more invested in the twist to the story. I found the overall plot to be thought provoking and just romantic enough to wish for a happily ever after.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

Shop owner and single mom Abby has a life she enjoys, she and her daughter Beth live above the bookshop she owns, Beth is in school and they have a nice, but routine life.

Abby meets Cam online and they start writing emails back and forth and a lovely relationship begins. It progresses to the point that Cam spends a weekend with Abby and Beth, before returning to his little island is Scotland. Emails continue until one day they stop. Abby is devastated and despondent..

After a few months and realizing that Beth is being bullied in school, Abby plans a trip so they can visit the island Cam loved, and that’s where things get confusing.

I don’t do spoilers, so I can’t tell much more of the story, in fact, I intentionally left out a facet in the paragraphs above. This was a well-written, clean, emotional story that I believe has it’s roots in a classic play, can’t say which one because it would give it away. I really liked the book and recommend it.

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book, but my opinions are my own.

What a great quick read ! Abby and her daughter travel to Scotland to help
Heal. While there things are not what they thought. Loved Abby and Beth. A definite good read!
While this is my first by this author it most definitely won’t be my only !

The Little Island Secret is the first book I’ve read from Emma Davies and I adored it. I was hooked from page one as the story of Abby and Cam’s friendship develops after he first contacted her little book shop in search of a particular book. They begin emailing every day and when then finally meet after Cam travels from the tiny Scottish island of Kinlossay, they feel like they know everything about each other. Abby’s daughter, Beth adores him too. Until one day the messages stop and Abby receives the devastating news that Cam has passed away.

Abby and Beth travel to Kinlossay in the hope that the break will help them both. Beth needs to escape the school bullies and Abby needs some closure but when they step off the ferry, a figure appears who Abby recognises immediately and her heart is broken again. What secrets does this island hold and will the truth change Abby?

A beautiful and poignant novel that will stay with you for weeks to come. Well written and with great characters I can highly recommend this book.

Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture and the author for the chance to review.

This is a sweet if unbelievable women’s fiction book that would work well for a beach holiday. I liked the setting even if it was predictable.

Abby, a single mum, and her daughter Beth are having challenging times. They decide to take a break on the Scottish Island of Kinlossay, where their friend Cam lived. When they get there things are not as they expected. This is a lovely quick read. It’s almost a book in two halves. The story is heartwarming and has an emotional twist. A perfect afternoon read, a treasure to add to a holiday bag, a treat for the beach.

In some ways a book of two halves ,set I two places.. I loved Beth and so felt for her times. Children are cruel. It was a love story in a different way. A perfect ending and all the book parts I loved. A jolly good read. Gwen was a fab friend and Patrick a total idiot. I would have left too. Abby was the main character , it took me little time to warm to her..A worth while read

This was a great beach read, quick and flows easily.
Single mom, Abby, learns of a tragedy in both her life and her daughter, Beth. She decides to go to the Scottish island of Kinlossay. There the people welcome her and Beth, but while there she learns that someone close to her, Cam, was not who he said he was.
Had some romance, some mystery. Overall and enjoyable read.
I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This was my first book by this author and, despite a rather slow start, I enjoyed it.

Abby Prendergast owns and operates a second-hand bookstore inherited from her beloved grandfather. She resides with her 11 year old daughter, Beth, in the flat above the Cambridge store and lives a fairly insular life with few friends and few luxuries. Despite her mother’s and sister’s attempts to get her to date, she has little time or inclination for romance. All this shifts when she develops an online relationship with Cameron (Cam) Inness, a teacher who lives on Kinlossay, a small remote island in the Inner Hebrides, Scotland. It all started with a simple request for a book purchase and, after months of correspondence, culminated in a weekend visit that strengthened their bond from friendship to love.

Devastated to learn of Cam’s subsequent death and deeply concerned about Beth being targeted by bullies, Abby travels to Kinlossay in an effort to find closure for herself and relief for Beth. Here, the mother and daughter are embraced warmly by Cam’s family and discover secrets and deceptions that are deeply unsettling. Despite her concerns, Abby finds herself torn between her feeling of belonging on the island, coupled with Beth’s desire to stay, and her sense of obligation to her business and family back in England. The resolution of her dilemma is a satisfying conclusion to the book.

The beginning of the book seemed to get bogged down, providing more detail about Abby and the bookstore than I needed. However, I much appreciated this same attention to detail once Abby arrives on Kinlossay. The descriptions of the island’s beauty and its residents brought the whole experience to life. The author did a good job exploring the significant life issues of grief, trust, bullying, forgiveness and love. Ultimately, Abby’s dilemma of taking a risk or returning to a safe, if bland, life illuminates the need for being true to oneself. Overall I felt it was a refreshing story with charm and an interesting twist.

My thanks to the author, Bookouture, and NetGalley for the privilege of reviewing a digital ARC in exchange for an independent, honest review.

This review is being posted immediately to my GoodReads account and will be posted on Amazon upon publication.

The Little Island Secret was the perfect summer read with romance and a little mystery as well - my favorite combination!

Throughout this story Emma Davies built up a wide range of emotions and tackled subjects like grief, bullying, and deception all while portraying the story of Abby Prendergast and her daughter Beth. In the end, it was a story of finding yourself and what you want in life, all while set in a beautiful Scottish island. Although it was a slow start that left me wondering where the story was going, it suddenly turned in a twist and had me hooked until the end. Ultimately the beginning is required in order to help understand Abby and her connection with Cam and Alfie, and to see how Abby grows throughout her journey. While I am new to Emma Davies, this certainly will not be my last!

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book that allowed me to provide this honest review.

This was a nice refreshing story that I read in one day!
The story was descriptive and flowed easily. There was a small twist that surprised me. It had the right amount of romance and I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough.
I really enjoyed this book, I will have to look for more by this author.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the early copy

I found the book a little confusing at times, but overall it was a good read. Single mom Abby seems to be coming to a crossroads in her life, especially after connecting with Cam via an email request to her second hand bookshop. Learning that Cam has died, and that daughter Beth is being bullied at school, Abby decides to visit the remote Scottish island of Kinlossay, where she finds that Cam wasn't who she thought and that the island and the people offer welcome and hope.

At the bottom of the meadow is a tiny crescent of beach, and beyond it the wild grey sea. I’ve pictured this view in my head so many times, and now I’m here, I know it will change everything. The whitewashed cottage with a peeling green painted door to my right must be his house…

When Abby steps off the ferry and onto the tiny island of Kinlossay, she squeezes her daughter’s hand and prays this trip will be the escape they both so desperately need. For now, at least, Beth is safe from the bullies making her life a misery, and perhaps Abby might find out more about the mysterious man behind the letters she’s been receiving…

Cameron first got in touch to see if Abby’s shop stocked his favourite book. And has written every day since to tell her of his life on his rugged little island, where buttercups dance on rolling fields and the sky never stops moving. The weekend he once came to visit her - singing with Beth in the kitchen, kissing Abby’s lips so tenderly - is a memory she will treasure forever. But then, one day, the messages stopped. Abby received the heartbreaking news that Cameron had passed away.

As she watches her daughter run laughing along the windswept beaches he described so perfectly, Abby wonders if this goodbye trip could also be a new beginning. But then she sees a face across the street that she recognises instantly, and her heart shatters. If Cameron is dead, who is this man? What devastating secrets has this little island been keeping? The truth will change Abby and her daughter’s life forever – but only if they let it. This was a quick fun read for me which I finished in one sitting! I was engrossed from start to finish; such a well-crafted, thrilling and moving story surely marks this author as an author to watch. I can't wait for more!

With grateful thanks to netgalley for an early copy in return for an honest opinion.
Having read a few of this authors other books I was looking forward to this one.
I found Abbey rather neurotic and the story slightly far fetched at times I know the death did really get to her with so many unanswered questions and Beth being bullied at school, there were excellent parts to this book that I loved but on the whole it was rather bizarre and then when she went to the island the truth came out and who really was cam.

This slow-burner women’s fiction will have you re-evaluating what it takes to be happy and which lies, if any, are forgivable.

Abby Prendergast has a busy life in Cambridge that leaves no room for romance. She owns a bookshop and is a single mom to her 11-year-old daughter, Beth. When Cameron Innes from Kinlossay, a tiny island in the Inner Hebrides, writes to order a book from her business, they continue to exchange letters and form a friendship. When he comes for a visit, it’s love at first sight. Abby is devastated when she discovers that Cam has died shortly after their meeting. When her daughter, Beth, is bullied at school Abby decides it’s best for them to seek healing on Kinlossay. Abby and Beth haven’t been on the island for long when Abby spots Cam! What’s he doing here? Isn’t he supposed to be dead?

If you read Davies’ previous novel, After The Crash, you’ll see several similarities. Firstly, the main characters are a mother and her daughter. Secondly, the protagonist attempts to heal wounds by a change of scenery. Thirdly, in her grief, the protagonist learns to stand up for herself. Fourthly, the ‘antagonist’ is unconventional. Finally, how the protagonist learns to deal with the crisis is paramount as it has the potential to undo everything. This format put into a quick easy read works well for Davies. It’s a perfect beach read and deals with loss, grief, secrets, hope and love.

“Hope is what you have when you set yourself free.”

I think after the year we’ve all had, we’re itching to be set wild and free. I think we can all identify with Beth and Abby.

To be published July 21, 2021.

I was gifted this advance copy by Emma Davies, Bookouture and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.

An emotional read.

Abby has been writing to Cam and then meets him only once before she learns of his death. When she takes a trip to the island where he lived, she discovers that everything was not as it seemed. What does this mean for her and how she felt about Cam?

Not quite the book I expected from the description.

The Little Island Secret was a really good, quick read.
This is my first book by Emma Davies and to say I'm hooked is an understatement.

First I want to say thanks to NetGalley, Bookouture and Author for this advanced ebook copy.

My Review.....
Sheez... this was one beautiful book.
When I say this one surprised the heck outta me. I wasn't expecting this!
I was hooked from front to cover.
This story is one that I will recommend to all my family & friends.

The story-- was so beautiful. My heart throbbed for Abby.
Abby & her daughter Beth move to a tiny island on Kinlossay. She is hoping this is the chance to escape & live life with her beautiful daughter.
This what they both so desperately need. A new start.
A mysterious guy has been writing to Abby about this island. And he has written wrote her every single day.... just to let her know how life is on this tiny little piece of heaven.

Cameron is the mysterious man behind the letters. He went to visit Abby & Beth one weekend and the memory will stay with them forever. Playing & singing with Beth... Kissing and spending time with Abby. It was an amazing weekend.

All of a sudden the messages and letters stop.
Then she receives the gut wrenching news that Cameron has died.
She goes to this island kind of as a goodbye trip. But also hopes to bring new fondness for her & Beth.
Until she sees a something across the road and she recognises it immediately and her breath catches and her heart breaks.
Cameron is dead? So who the heck is this man?!

Abby is about to discover some secrets this tiny piece of heaven has to offer. And will the truth change Abby & Beth forever?

My Personal Thoughts--
I absolutely loved this book! I was in awe!
The story was so touching & riveting. It had me captivated until the end. And that's why I love reading.
If a book can hold my attention the way this book did.... its a great day!
And I couldn't be more excited for this author because she outdid herself here!

Read It! Read It! You won't be sorry.

Thank you again for giving me the opportunity to read & review this outstanding advanced ebook. Forever thankful.

I'll post to my Goodreads & Bookstagram account closer to pub date.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.

Emma’s never fail to disappoint.

Abbey and her daughter go on a trip to the island of Kinlossay. She hoping it’ll be good for both her and her daughter Beth whose having a hard time at school. Also, she’s hoping to solve the mystery of the letters she’s been getting.

She first heard about Cameron when he contacted her about a book she might stock that he was after, and since then they kept in touch. Then he came to visit her for a weekend. Suddenly, one day, she doesn’t get anything from him, and soon after receives news, he’s gone forever.

Now, as she sees her daughter, completely different from what she was like back home, Abbey’s thinking, could the trip that was meant to say a final goodbye, actually be a new start for them both? Seeing a face, one she’s recognised immediately shatters that thought. If Cameron has gone, then whose this person?

What secrets await her on this island and will they change both their lives forever?