Told in alternating perspectives from the present day, when Rebecca goes to help her Mum’s cousin, Olivia, get discharged from hospital and back to her own home on the Cornish coast; and during the Second World War when Olivia was a child growing up in the same house.

The timelines weave together as we discover the secrets that both Olivia and the house are holding.

Olivia was such a wonderful character (I knew there was a soft heart hiding under that tough exterior) and finding out about everything she had been through was just heartbreaking. I adored the relationship that formed between Rebecca and Olivia and I think I’ve realised recently that a female friendship across generations is my favourite type of relationship to read about.

This book had a much slower pace to it than some of the other historical fiction books that I’ve read recently but I actually really enjoyed that. I also loved the setting of the beautiful Cornish coast and the imagery that that brought with it. A really beautiful book.

Absolutely amazing read!!!! This book had me captured and enthralled from beginning to end! Totally mesmerized by the characters and places and was cheering Rebecca in throughout the chapters. Loved it!!!!

Synopsis: Rebecca’s mother has recently died and while sorting through her personal belongings, she finds a letter from her mother’s cousin, Olivia who is elderly and requesting assistance. Feeling at loose ends with her mother gone, Rebecca decides to go and meet Olivia to see if she can assist. She arrives in Cornwall to find Olivia in the hospital and a very run-down house which has to have major fixes and improvements done in order for Olivia to be discharged from hospital. Rebecca gets to work restoring the home and while doing so uncovers secrets from long ago and the present.

My thoughts: This book has a dual timeline set in present day and during WWII. We have a bit of everything in this book – a story where the house is a main character; murder; financial abuse of the elderly, romance and to my utter delight – a swearing parrot. There are a lot of layers in this book and I found it very enjoyable. I found it quite reminiscent of Kate Morton’s works and if you enjoy her books, you will quite likely enjoy this story.

This book is available now from booksellers.

Thank you to Netgalley who provided this book to me in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 Stars

This book is filled with a lot of quirky characters that will bring a smile, tear or outright chuckle to your reading experience. The story was interesting enough and kept me reading to find out what secrets were being kept but it wasn't as captivating as I was hoping for, The story jumps back and forth between Rebecca's present, trying to repair her elderly cousin Olivia's house so she can return from the hospital to recover, and Olivia's past during WW2.

This book started of great. The vulgar parrot, a stubborn old Cornish lady and a distant relative from London. It grabbed me within the few first chapters. Unfortunately somewhere around the middle it started to loose my attention. But luck won, and by the last 10 chapters, it had hooked me again and it was relatively smooth sailing through the last few chapters.

It had a few laughs, a few shocking truths and a strong sense of meant to be.

Princess Fuzzypants here: After her mother’s funeral Becky realizes how out of control her life is so when she reads a letter addressed to her mother from an elderly cousin who needs help, she picks up and travels to Cornwall. Olivia, the cousin, wants to go home from the hospital but unless her dilapidated house can be put in order, she will be forced into a nursing home. Olivia is a feisty and tough old bird, prone, like her pet parrot, to bursts of profanity. She does not make things easy for Becky which turns out the be the making of her.

The book falls into two sections, the current story line with 90 year old Olivia and her youth during WW II when her world changed irrevocably. It is blended to get her in a beautiful way as we see the events that will make Olivia whom she is today. But along the way, there are secrets and lies and so many deep dark family intrigues. But thanks to Becky, her own deliverance and Olivia’s is possible. By shining light on old wounds, they are able to close doors... and in doing so, open doors to a brighter and more fulfilled future.

The characters are unforgettable and exceptionally moving in their frailty and flaws. The story has so many levels of death and rebirth. It is a remarkably satisfying read. Five purrs and two paws up.

I received this book free from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 Stars

I wasn’t sure if I would like this book or not but it was awesome. I loved the back and forth between past and present. I loved that it had hard hitting realities. I loved that hidden family secrets and most of all I LOVED OLIVIA!! One of the best characters ever. She’s such a little fire cracker.

I’d recommend this to everyone.

I love historical fiction. This book was written with in two time-lines.
Rebecca, whose mother has just died, finds a letter from Olivia, her mother's aging cousin.
Rebecca, needs to get away from her own life, she decides to go and help Olivia with hers.
What Rebecca finds is a house in decay, a parrot with explicit language, a Seagate, tunnels under the house and no second cousin. The housekeeper informs her that her 2nd cousin is in the hospital.
Jane Johnson has weaved a story of lost loves, betrayal, familiy dynamics that continues through generations. As Rebecca tells her story in the present, Olivia reveals hers with her past.
This is a story that will pull at your heartstrings. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this latest novel by Jane Johnson.

The Sea Gate is a captivating read that takes place in coastal Cornwall, in an old house full of secrets waiting to be uncovered. When sorting through her deceased mother's flat, Becky finds a letter from a 90 year old cousin. Cousin Olivia asks for help to restore her beloved home to a state of habitability while she is recovering from illness in hospital. When she arrives at the old house, Becky sets to work and the story shifts in time from her experience in the present day, to Olivia's in WWII Cornwall

The Sea Gate is a narrative featuring strong female leads, family secrets, forbidden romance and a sassy parrot. It is mysterious, atmospheric, and one of the most satisfying aspects is the strong sense of place. You can practically smell the salt wind and the Cornish landscape springs fully to life. Johnson handles the dual timeline with skill. This is the kind of book that many readers wish for, one where you can get truly lost in the many-layered story and feel transported for a while.

Thank you to Netgalley and Simon and Schuster Canada for the advance copy of this title.

Jane Johnson's novel, The Sea Gate, published last month but I had been waiting for it for months before that. I saw the cover, read what it was about, and it immediately went on my Highly Anticipating list. Because this has been the year it's been, I just finally got to reading it over the last week. It didn't thrill me as much as I expected but it intrigued me enough that I just had to see how the mystery would unfold and how many secrets were being hidden.

Here's the synopsis:
A broken family, a house of secrets—an entrancing tale of love and courage set during the Second World War.
After Rebecca’s mother dies, she must sort through her empty flat and come to terms with her loss. As she goes through her mother’s mail, she finds a handwritten envelope. In it is a letter that will change her life forever.
Olivia, her mother’s elderly cousin, needs help to save her beloved home. Rebecca immediately goes to visit Olivia in Cornwall only to find a house full of secrets—treasures in the attic and a mysterious tunnel leading from the cellar to the sea, and Olivia, nowhere to be found.
As it turns out, the old woman is stuck in hospital with no hope of being discharged until her house is made habitable again. Rebecca sets to work restoring the home to its former glory, but as she peels back the layers of paint and grime, she uncovers even more buried secrets—secrets from a time when the Second World War was raging, when Olivia was a young woman, and when both romance and danger lurked around every corner...
A sweeping and utterly spellbinding tale of a young woman’s courage in the face of war and the lengths to which she’ll go to protect those she loves against the most unexpected of enemies.
I'm really not sure why I didn't fall head over heels for this book. World War II stories never get old for me so that wasn't it. I think it boils down to the way the story was told. And boy was it told. It's super slow to start and I was just waiting for the moment where all would be revealed, and I knew just how it would be done too. There was a whole section at the end where Olivia tells Becca (and therefore the reader) everything. Sure, there were some flashback scenes but it was sort of an info dump as the loose ends got tied up.

There were a few things I did like about the WWII aspect of the novel. First, I liked that it was another insight into how the war affected those who were left behind. How did the women and children (and men who couldn't fight) look after the homes and farms with so many men away at war? We get so many war stories from the male perspective but it touched the lives of far more people than just those who were on the battlefield and the effects were felt far beyond where the battles were fought.

Olivia's mother is away for the majority of the war and I appreciated that Johnson mentioned that she had been part of the SOE. It's a part of WWII's history that isn't talked about as much because it was mostly involving women. It has shown up in a number of books in the last year or so and I am so here for it because those women were heroes who deserve to be recognized.

Finally, Johnson also touched on Prisoners of War and the prejudices that ran rampant during the war. There were clear parallels between both the flashbacks and contemporary story (perhaps too clear...like it was history repeating itself and I think that was something I struggled with) with a white woman and a non-white man having romantic feelings for each other. One of the things that showed was that things have not changed nearly enough in the years since WWII ended.

Jane Johnson's The Sea Gate didn't hit the high notes for me but I still found myself needing to know what secrets Olivia and her home were hiding and that kept me reading until the last page.

*An egalley of this novel was provided by the publisher, Simon & Schuster Canada, via NetGalley in exchange for review consideration. All opinions are honest and my own.*

This was a nice surprise! A little slow at first, so I wasn't sure I would love it, but then it picked up and I never wanted to put it down. Beautifully written, this is a story of love and war and hope.

I love books with dual parallel storylines: one in the past and one in the present. This tells the story of modern day Becky as she travels to Cornwall to care for elderly Cousin Olivia; and WWII-era Olivia as she longs for family. At first, I thought Olivia's chapters were a bit slow and I was irritated when we left modern day Becky's chapters for hers, but then they slowly became more interesting.

Overall, this was a lovely novel. A bit sad at times, but so poignant.

This is a story told in a dual time setting. It's one of my favourite styles to read. One story is in present day and revolves around Becky who has just lost her mother. She has been going through some difficulties in her own life as well. As she is cleaning out her mother's belongings she finds some letters from a long-lost elderly cousin named Olivia. It seems that Olivia is in need of help and was seeking Becky's mother's assistance. Olivia resides in Cornwall and Becky decides to go and try to help her. The second story told is Olivia's in 1945. It is a coming-of-age type of story with some mystery. Soon the two stories will collide as Becky begins to put the pieces together about Olivia's life.

I did enjoy the story. It was interesting and had some colourful characters. The setting of Cornwall and the old house was very atmospheric. The author adds a lot of description and detail. It was a slow moving story until exactly half way through when it picked up. I know the writing is lovely and it will be a 4 or 5 star book for many. Just for me personally the writing is too drawn-out and perhaps a little too descriptive.

I'd like to kindly thank NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Canada for granting me access to this Advanced Reader Copy.

This book takes place in 2 different time periods and has 2 POVs. I found I got hooked to the book once Olivia's point of view started. I was intrigued in learning about Olivia's life and scandals.

Content warning - this book does involve a scene around rape.

The story is about a young woman named Rebecca who, when sorting through her deceased mother's things, comes across some letters from her mother's cousin Olivia, stating that she needs help. Rebecca immediately leaves her home to Cornwall "only to find a house full of secrets - treasures in the attic and a mysterious tunnel leading from the cellar to the sea, and Olivia, nowhere to be found."
Olivia is in the hospital and cannot be discharged until her house is accessible. As Rebecca tries to turn the house around she comes across buried secrets from the "Second World War, when Olivia was a young woman, and when both romance and danger lurked around every corner..."

While reading, I found myself not enjoying Rebecca's character. She is a strong woman, in regards to her personal health, but in regards to her love life, she is weak. She is with this awful man, Eddie, who treats her like garbage and doesn't seem to care about her or her family. I, however, enjoyed her character as she began to find out more about herself when she left home and went to Cornwall.

Throughout the story, we learn of Olivia's strength, courage, love, talents, and loss. It is a beautiful story that had me tearing up in the end. Reviews will not do this story justice. It is a book that needs to be read!

THE SEA GATE begins with the passing of Rebecca’s mother. Rebecca also known as Becky goes with her brother to help sort through some of her late mother’s belongings. While going through the mail Becky comes across some letters from her mother’s elderly cousin Olivia. Olivia needs help. Although Rebecca tends to be timid in nature she decides to go to Cornwall to help Cousin Olivia.
Once in Cornwall Becky finds a house not only in desperate need of repairs it is a house full of secrets. Unless Olivia’s house is made habitable the ninety year old will have to go to home care when she is released from the hospital.
Rebecca takes on the project and finds out she is stronger than she thinks.
The novel is told from two points of view. The present day parts are told in Becky’s voice. The other voice belongs to sixteen year old Olivia who is living in the family home during World War ll.
I am partial to stories that present two different time periods. I find it interesting the way the past weaves itself into the present. Jane Johnson did a superb job of developing and joining the two different time periods to a satisfying conclusion. Loved the young and old Olivia character.
I would recommend THE SEA GATE to fans of Jennifer Robson or Genevieve Graham.
Thank you to Simon and Schuster for the opportunity to read THE SEA GATE.

Thank you Netgalley, @
Simon and Schuster and Jane Johnson for free e-ARC in return of my honest review.

After Rebecca’s mother death, she sorts out her flat and goes through her mother’s mail. She find a letter from an old cousin, Olivia, asking for help to save her beloved home. Rebecca decides to visit Olivia and help her. This decision changes Rebecca’s life forever.

It is quite and easy fast pacing book with some mystery, some WWII adventures and horrors, and, of course, a love story. It is very funny in places and in parts it may make you cry. Keep a box of tissues around.

Characters are amazingly developed. Rebecca comes out alive and vibrant. Her energy is contagious. At first, she seems like a simple fearful woman, but as the reader learns her story she grows to a strong willed, persistent and brave woman. Olivia is nicely done too, I particularly liked her chapters.

At the end it was all a bit cheesy, but as all happy endings are. If you like Women’s Fiction and Romance, please give a try and let me know.

A fascinating story of 2 women, weaving in and out of 2 different timelines. Mesmerizing characters and even a parrot, make this an intriguing suspenseful read!

The Sea Gate by Jane Johnson is a great book. It drew me in from the very first page! The author gives a great description of this historical fiction. I will not be giving anything away here, all I will say is, it has all the elements of a very good, engaging read. I highly recommend this to all historical fiction fans. Thanks to NetGalley, Jane Johnson and the Publisher for giving me an advanced copy to read in exchange for my honest review! I will be keeping my eye open for more Jane Johnson novels in the future.

Thank you NetGalley for an advanced copy of “The Sea Gate”. Two timelines, two stories, multiple family secrets and a happy ending summarize the plot of this novel. During WWII, a teenage girl is left to her own resources to foster another child and manage the upkeep of her family home. Along the way, Olivia witnesses a terrible incident, becomes entangled in a murder and falls in love. Fast forward to a new century and the introduction of the second timeline in which Rebecca uncovers letters from a distant relative who needs help. And so, the two characters meet.

This story is one of family secrets and the discovery of a hidden past, which sounds very intriguing but falls short. Unfolding in a variety of unbelievable twists and turns, the plot is too contrived and I found myself “eye rolling “ many times during this read. Towards the end of this story I just found myself wanting it to come to an end. It was no longer believable and I was disinvested in the characters. The attempt by the author to provide closure resulted in a soap opera novel. Hence, I cannot rate it any higher than 2 stars.

Many thanks to NetGalley for this ARC. I love historical fiction and I really enjoyed this one! I liked the dual storylines, the mystery, and the characters. Will be recommending this for sure.

Many thanks to NetGalley for a chance to read this book ahead of time. An excellent historical fiction pick - dual storylines, mystery and solid characters.