The word that kept popping into my mind as I was reading this tale of family, loss and memory was – ordinary. It’s a reasonably entertaining read, reasonably well-plotted with reasonably convincing characterisation, but oh so ordinary. I felt that I had read something similar so many times. A dual-time narrative - yet again – about a wounded WWII soldier Archie Maxwell, heir to an estate, who is missing, presumed dead, and journalist Eva, who forty years later is looking for a story and suspects she has found one in an old photograph. The writing is competent and Sarah Maine is a competent storyteller but I was only marginally engaged.

This didn't quite hit the perfection of "The House Between Tides" for me, but I cannot deny that it was a brilliant read. Sarah Maine does historical romance so well and I really enjoyed the historical timelines. The present day narrative was less engaging and less enjoyable.

Thank you to Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Wounded whilst on active service in 1940, Archie Maxwell returns to his family home in Scotland to convalesce however, with his nightmares haunting his sleep, Archie finds little solace and is often belligerent with those who seek to help him recuperate. Archie's tempestuous relationship with his father's new wife only adds to the uneasy atmosphere which pervades Rosslie House.

Forty years later, journalist, Eva Bayne finds that her childhood memories of living in Newfoundland have been triggered by a glimpse of an old photograph which brings back memories she thought she had forgotten. Intrigued by these memories Eva is determined to uncover the past which reveals far more long buried secrets.

This beautifully evocative story takes us from the wilds of a Scottish ancestral home, to the cloistered and rather forbidding atmosphere of the Newfoundland coast and does so with a detailed imagining of what it was like to live through two very different time frames. The author brings both to life so well that I was equally comfortable reading of Archie's recuperation at Rosslie as I was spending time with Eva during her unusual childhood living at Heart's Repose in 1966.

The Forgotten Shore is an emotional and thought provoking read about the long buried hurt which people carry with them and the inevitability of the shedding of secrets which if left too long can fester and destroy.

Set over. a 40 year period, the book is based on Eva Bayne a young journalist who spent some of her childhood in Newfoundland, and Archie Maxwell a reluctant heir who was injured in the war, and after a quick fling with his new step-mother flees the Uk to Newfoundland .

Eva is trying to make her mark as a journalist, when she is asked to go to an auction at the Maxwell estate with a colleague. Archie has not been heard of for 40 years, and is presumed dead, however when Eva seems a picture of him, she recognises him as the 'mad drunk' who lived in the same town as she did as a child.

An interesting read....

The Forgotten Shore by Sarah Maine

Scotland, 1940. Wounded in action, Archie Maxwell has returned to his family estate of Rosslie. But between the uneasy company of his father's beautiful new wife, and the memories that haunt his nights, he finds the house more of a battleground than a refuge.

Forty years later, Eva Bayne is a journalist looking for a story. Ever since the disappearance of Rosslie's heir during the war, the Maxwells have lived under a shadow - and Eva is drawn to the mystery. Especially when the glimpse of an old photograph stirs up long-buried memories of her childhood in Newfoundland . . .
A brilliant dual time story that grips you from the first chapter.
I really enjoyed seeing the plot through Eva's eyes and the way she went about solving the mystery of Rosslie.
The descriptions of the area was so well described I could almost feel myself alongside her which for me makes an excellent read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Hodder and Stoughton for my copy of The Forgotten Shore by Sarah Maine.
Although this isn’t my normal reading material (Ifancied a change from thrillers) I got totally lost in it. It pulls you in and I throughly enjoyed it. Set over three different eras 1940s 1960s and 1980s the story meshed together and made for an excellent read.

I thoroughly enjoyed The Forgotten Shore. It is beautifully written with a wonderful sense of place and time in the three time lines that make up the story. The characters are memorable and believable. It is a meaty tale with a lot going on and worth savouring to absorb and digest the events as they unfold. Moving from Scotland in the 1940’s to Newfoundland in the 60’s and back again to Scotland in the 1980’s, the characters’ lives change dramatically and I found it very moving and emotional at times as previous actions come back to haunt them. The last few chapters were dramatic as through twists and turns the final threads of their lives were sorted out and put into place. Like Eva and Archie, I felt that I had been on a journey of discovery, not always comfortable but impossible to leave until I got to the end. Sarah Maine is a wonderful storyteller and I will look out for her next book with great interest.

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for an opportunity to read this.

The Forgotten Shore is another dual time period family saga by Sarah Maine.

The Forgotten Shore takes place in three time periods, 1940, 1966 and 1980. The novel opens at Rosslie a Scottish estate belonging to the Maxwell family, whom have fallen on hard times. An auction is taking place to raise money to assist with the upkeep. Eva Bayne is a journalist covering the auction. Jilly Maxwell and her son Duncan are trying to maintain their dignity and their home. Then a gentleman stands up and says the auction cannot continue as Duncan is not the true heir, his older half-brother Archie is. Archie has been missing since after WWII and no one knows what has happened to him. Eva sees a picture of Archie and is taken back to her childhood in Newfoundland where she befriended the local drunk Tam Nairn. Why does the picture of Archie remind her of Tam Nairn? Eva decides to return to Newfoundland to solve the mystery, The story takes the reader through the different timelines as we follow Archie, Jilly, Eva, Ross and Duncan through the tragedies and betrayals that shaped them.

The writing as with all Ms. Maine’s books is lyrical, and the unfolding of the storyline keeps you turning the pages until the final resolution.

Thanks to Netgalley, Hodder and Stoughton and the author for the chance to read and review this book.

For the first few chapters, I wasn’t sure if this book was for me and then, I was suddenly hooked! The immersive writing and the characters drew me in so deep, I didn’t stop reading and finished it in a day!

Set in 1940, the 1960s and in 1980/81, the story centres around injured war veteran, Archie, who flees his family estate in Scotland and heads to Newfoundland where he drowns his sorrows in alcohol until an unexpected bond with 10 year old Eva, over their shared love of books changes the whole course of his life.

Historical fiction with stunning descriptions and evocative detail, combined with family drama, mystery and some clever twists, make this a gripping read. I was invested in every character’s life, from Miss Sinclair, to Susie!

5 ⭐️ Thanks to Netgalley, Sarah Maine and Hodder and Stoughton for an ARC in return for an honest review.

Fascinating family drama spanning decades & the Atlantic🌊
4.5🌟stars
This historical fiction drama grew on me and won me over.
After the first few chapters, this novel took off and thereafter kept me thoroughly engrossed. In switching from Western Scotland in the early years of World War II to 1960's Newfoundland and then both locations in the early 1980's, author Sarah Maine took me on an educational journey that included the horrors of war, the government-orchestrated demise of the small fishing settlements of Newfoundland, the Scottish clearances, and the struggles of sustaining rural estates in modern times. All this as the backdrop to a Scottish family's dramatic transformation through wartime injury and death; the uncertainty and disruption of a patriarch's death without a clear heir; and the touching, forbidden friendship between a lonely, young, doctor's daughter and a rough, hard-drinking expat fisherman with hidden depths. I found the characters, especially young Eva and damaged Tam/Archie, fascinating studies.

A real treat of a story in my eyes, after a dramatic and nightmarish wartime start. Excellent writing, fascinating plot and really great main characters: definitely recommended.

Thanks to Hodder & Stoughton and NetGalley for sharing a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest opinion.

Interesting and well written story of family rifts and relationships that goes back and forth in time to reveal events. Nice settings and some twists, an easy read.

An entertaining and well plotted story that made me escape reality and travel to a fascinating place.
Well plotted, poignant, and compelling.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

I would like to thank Hodder and Stoughton for giving me the opportunity to review this book.
I loved it the story sweeps from Newfoundland to Scotland and back again. The characters are believable and I found myself lost in the narrative and time flew by.
If you like Daphne du Maurier with a hint of Lucinda Riley mixed up with a pinch of Judith lennox you will devour this like I did.

Great storyline, loved the easy way Tam and Eva gelled together through the years and all the events that happened.
Sarah Maine does it again, another fabulous read.

Archie Maxwell is severely wounded during the Second World War, he returns home to his father's Scottish estate Rosslie and every night he has terrible nightmares. Archie fought in France, with the 51st Highland Division, they were corned by the Germans on the cliffs of St Valery and only a few men survived.

His father, the Baronet of Rosslie or Sir Andrew Maxwell has recently remarried his much younger wife Jillian and she seems happy growing her victory garden and sharing the produce. Archie and his older brother Andy lost their mother when they were young, the Baronet is a rather stern man and not one to show his emotions.

The story has a dual timeline and it’s told from the points of view of the two main characters, Archie and Eva, it's set in the 1940’s, 1966 and in 1980 and it's easy to follow.

Eva Bayne is a journalist, her boss discovers the Baronet of Rosslie has passed away at the age of ninety six and the family are holding an auction and he's sends Eva to investigate. The heir of Rosslie, Archibald Maxwell disappeared decades ago, he has been heard from since 1945, they need to know if he could possibly be alive and to settle the debt riddled estate.

As a child Eva’s father was a doctor, he worked in Canada and in a small town called Heart’s Response in Newfoundland. Eva can remember a man living in Heart’s Response in the 1960’s, his name was Tam and after seeing a picture of Archie Maxwell she's positive it’s the same person. Of course they think Eva was too young to be sure it was Archie, it was fifteen years ago and causes a lot of debate.

I received a digital copy of The Forgotten Shore by Sarah Maine from NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton in exchange for an honest review. The dual timeline fictional narrative looks at the odd and strained relationships between the characters of Archie, his older brother Andy, their father Sir Andrew Maxwell and his second wife Gillian. It centers around the Second World War and Archie struggling to cope, life in the small villages in both the West Coast of Scotland and Northumberland.

A story about love, loss, post traumatic stress disorder, lies, deception, forgiveness, a big cover up and a secret is revealed. My favourite characters were Archie, Eva, Ross and Kenny the gardener and perfect for fans historical mysteries, set in remote places and four stars from me.

Dual timelines – wartime 1940s Scotland and the glitz of the 1980s, Maine tells the story of the grand estate Rosslie. Rosslie was supposed to be a haven for war-weary Archy Maxwell, but instead became the exact opposite. A generation later, journalist, Eva Bayne stumbles upon the story of the Maxwell family, who have never recovered from the disappearance of the family’s heir apparent. The story strikes a chord with Eva and brings back memories of her childhood in Newfoundland. Nobody pens a historical novel like Maine, with strong characters, beautiful locations and unforgettable storylines

I love Sarah Maine’s dual timeline novels – the setting is always like taking a holiday in a strange and historical place. This was easily digestible and I got through it in two sittings. Not my favourite of her works but a very enjoyable read nevertheless.

I must say I am a big fan of Sarah Maine and this book yet again didn't disappoint me. She knows how to write and how to tell a story.

Spread over three timelines this is a story that is intriguing and interesting. It is a story about family, about secrets and about what happened in the past. Set in Scotland and Canada this story flows between these places and the wonderful characters the author has created. It is like a rollercoaster ride, where there is emotion, tenseness, calm and chaos.

I love this book and I just wanted to keep reading, I wanted to know what was happening, past, present and future. It is a wonderful read and I highly recommend it.

Thank you NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

A dual timeline plot that does not feel disjointed in anyway. The forgotten shore is an intriguing and absorbing story that kept me engaged from beginning to end. Several twists and turns meant that I was kept guessing until the end and I thoroughly enjoyed Sarah Maine’s latest novel.

4.5

Rosslie, Argyle, Scotland.

An auction selling paintings from Rosslie House is abruptly halted over the legitimacy of the sale, following the death of Sir Andrew Maxwell, with his heir apparent, Archie, having been missing for decades. Eva Bane, a journalist present at the ill-fated auction, starts to investigate and discovers there may be a connection to Newfoundland, where she grows up. The story is told in three timelines, by Archie in 1940, Eva in Newfoundland in 1966 and Eva in 1980.

This is another immersive page turner from the talented author, Sarah Maine. She is so adept at storytelling from different timelines that the narrative flows. She creates a rich atmosphere in both the Canadian setting and in Scotland, with some excellent descriptions so you can visualise the landscape and the scenes. The tone constantly changes and encompasses souls in pain, strain or unsettled too sharply sceptical and then despair and everything in between.

The characterisation is exemplary and most are easy to like. When we first meet Archie, he’s a tortured soul, but I love how he changes through the circumstances he finds himself in. Eva is terrific, for one so young she is intuitive and can think on her feet and both main characters face tough times.


The plot ebbs and flows going through periods of comparative calm followed by huge storms which often seem to come out of nowhere. It’s very moving in places and sad and much of this fits into the context of the times. There are many suspenseful moments and tense encounters. The storyline builds and there are some surprising revelations right to the end.

I thoroughly enjoy this beautifully written novel, it’s evocative and immersive reading and one I can recommend for all readers not just of historical fiction.

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Hodder and Stoughton for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.