A young woman washes up on the shores of Cornwall, England, found by a young man who comes upon her on the beach. The year is 1943. For Alice McBride, this is the beginning of a new life, far different from that of a nun where she was at an Order in Africa. For Viscount Jack Trewella it was quite a surprise to find her there. Each have their secrets and as they unfold we find ourselves with a book that is quite enjoyable. Far different from other WWII historical fiction I have read before. Different in a good way! My thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was a surprising book. First time I read this author and I was captivated from the beginning.

It's set in WWII, just before D-Day, in Cornwall and France. Alice washes ashore after the ship she was traveling in is sunk. Jack's dog finds her on the beach and he takes her to the boathouse until she can walk (her feet were injured).

Despite the circumstances, Jack and Alice build a tentative friendship. He's not sure of her at first, but he keeps providing clothes and food for her and when she gets better, he brings her to work at farmhouse. She then discovers he's actually a viscount.

I really liked Jack and Alice. They're both brave and doing all they can to help others around them. Although the story is told from Alice's first person POV, we come to know Jack through her eyes and those of others in the story.

I also enjoyed the secondary characters and their stories.

I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley and this is my honest opinion.

Excellent plot,loved the main characters, the setting was very vivid, made the reader feel that they were there.
Good plot,historical in places.Definitively recommend this book to family and friends.

Unfortunately I couldn't connect to the characters and found the story boring and slow paced. I think the story needed a stronger magical quality so that the mermaid aspects were more mysterious. To me, the description of the book sounded like a magical realism story but it just didn't appeal to me. The main character being a former nun was a turn off for me as well which also made it hard for me to enjoy this book.

The House at Mermaid’s Cove by Lindsay Jayne Ashford is a historical fiction novel taking place during the latter years of WWII (starting in April 1943) mainly in Cornwall, and also takes place on the mainland as well. Resident Viscount Jack Trewalla and Alice, a survivor of a boat wreck destroyed by the Germans and washed ashore along the Cornish coast, become introduced during a time of uncertainty and war. Alice has secrets and Jack doesn’t have any clue. He thinks she could be a spy or even a POW. Alice uses the catastrophic occurrence of barely surviving to create a new life for herself. She and Jack end up becoming romantically involved, and the secrets come out, and complications and harrowing adventures occur.

I won’t say any more as it will ruin the surprises within the plot. I can only say that I enjoyed Alice and Jack as separate characters as well as their chemistry together. I enjoyed the location, landscapes, plot, and I loved the ending.

A great read. 5/5 stars

Thank you NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for this ARC and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon and B&N accounts upon publication.

Alice is the survivor of a ship torpedoed by a German submarine in 1943. She’s found on a beach in Cornwall by Viscount Jack Trewalla, who isn’t sure whether she’s a spy or a POW. Alice sees a chance to start a new life, leaving her past buried at sea, and she takes Jack into her confidence, asking him to keep her shocking secret. This story of World War II bravery and sacrifice is coupled with the old Cornish legends about mermaids to great effect. A lovely story about a time and place where life seemed no less fraught with danger, but still somehow filled with bravery and integrity