I knew I would love this story as soon as I saw the hint of "You've Got Mail" vibes! Romance by letters always makes me smile, because the people fall in love with each other's souls before they even see one another. It's something so hard to come by in today's society, with the advent of social media and instant communication. Being wooed by the written word sounds much more fun than unsolicited pictures of the nude variety. This short and sweet story had me reading in one sitting, excited to see where the love headed and how the revealed identity situation would be resolved. Because as it was in You've Got Mail, the heroine doesn't realize he's her letter writer until much later. Thankfully this hero does a much better job of making amends, and we finally get the happy ending that I think was deserved in the movie.

Widowed Deborah Cartwright has no expectations of finding love again, after losing her husband five years ago. Instead she focuses all her energy on their inn, Siren's Retreat, which has formed a reputation for bringing guests together in love. Despite this, by happy accident she has fallen into an engaging correspondence with a man known to her only as LostinLondon, and their almost daily letters have brought light into her heart and spring to her step. When he lets her know that he'll be visiting in town, she is thrilled, but his visit is accompanied by another visit of a more sinister sort. A man has arrived from London, sweet talking her into showing him the inn, while his motives are to buy the inn out from under her on behalf of his nobleman employer. Patrick Gretham is delighted that his business brought him to Brighton, and with it the opportunity to advance his career and create the life he's always dreamed of. And if that means a life with his mystery woman, Salt&Sea, then that is all the better. However, when he realizes that she is the proprietress of the inn he's supposed to purchase against her will, he is at war with himself. Give up his dreams to pursue a new one with this captivating woman...or pursue a better life for himself and lose forever the love of his life.

The romance was swift yet beautiful as the reader saw their relationship develop. While the letter writing took a backseat since most of the book they were both in the same place, I enjoyed hearing more about their previous letters. Poor Deborah was so confused, not believing she could have a grand love again and yet feeling so much for a man she had never met. Of course, once she meets Patrick things become even more complicated. He's charming, kind and seems very interested in her. Which makes it all the more devastating when she realizes her trust has been broken. Without giving things away, I felt the ending was handled really well, and I liked that Deborah's happiness was held in such high regard. It was tied up quite neatly but in a way that showed the reader the brilliant happy ever after she and Patrick could look forward to. And although you get the impression they are older, Deborah was only 35, and so I found myself happily picturing another 50 years of wedded bliss for them. Makes me want to visit Brighton myself...perhaps find my own Siren's Retreat.

I continue to be eager to read anything Erica Ridley writes! She captivates not just my romantic heart but my thirst for drama and intrigue. Looking forward to reading more.

This is an interesting story of two lonely people who need to consider that their futures do not need to follow the path that they planned. Mrs. Deborah Cartwright and Mr. Patrick Gretham have been sending letters back and forth under assumed names, developing a close but anonymous friendship. Deborah is not looking for love, and Patrick thought he would meet and woo his pen pal; however, both find that they are attracted to the other. All is well until Deborah discovers Patrick’s real reason for being in Brighton. This is yet another well written historical romance by Erica Ridley.

We always buy Erica Ridley for our library. Our patrons adore her. She writes the perfect blend of romance, wit, and plot.

Mr. Patrick Gretham, is the man of business for the powerful and wealthy Earl of Edgewick. Whatever the Earl wants, it's Patrick's job to get it for him. When the Earl sets his sights on Siren's Retreat in Brighton as an ideal place for a new gambling hell, Patrick sets out to secure the property. He's also excited to finally meet the secret pen pal he's been corresponding with and hopes they have as much in common as their letters suggest. Deborah Cartwright is the brains behind the success of Siren's Retreat. She makes sure all her guests have the best romantic experience while there and many guests find true love enhancing the reputation of the inn. Can these two find love or are they on a collision course that will destroy them both?

I thoroughly enjoyed this last novella in the quartet. A secret pen pal was such a clever way for both Patrick and Deborah to have a relationship before they met. While their growing attraction to each other becomes obvious, their devotion to the secret pen pals continues to shine through. This was a slow-burn romance with only a few kisses, but I loved that Patrick and Deborah appreciated all of their other qualities as well. I'm sad to see the series end and would have happily read many more stories about Siren's Retreat.

Mrs. Deborah Cartwright lives for Siren's Retreat. Built by she and her husband, it is the only gift she has after his death. For those who stay at the inn will find true love, like they did. Responding to letters for a local newspaper, Deborah begins a correspondence with LostInLondon. His letters give her hope for another chance at love. The arrival of a man-of-business for an Earl to purchase Siren's Retreat and replace it with a gambling hall is breaking her heart. Where can she get the money to outbid the buyer? Patrick Gretham has a job to do, but once he meets Deborah he must decide what comes first, Deborah the woman he loves or his job. Even worse, what happens when she finds out he is
LostInLondon?
Friends to enemies, a second chance and an unexpected ending. Lots of kisses.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book
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Can I get a reservation at Siren’s Retreat? I have loved reading the three previous novellas in the series, but this final installment was a favorite and a book I would recommend to a friend!

Mrs. Deborah Cartwright opened Siren’s Retreat with her husband, and their love story made the inn a destination to come to find love. Deborah lost her true love but was able to keep the inn open and help others find their one true love. Deborah begins to wonder if maybe lightning does strike twice when she begins a correspondence with her pen pal, LostInLondon.

Mr. Patrick Gretham has drudged through life as the man of business for several aristocrats. His most recent employer, a crotchety old earl, is sending him to Brighton to secure Siren’s Retreat to turn it into the best gambling hell in Britain. Patrick is eager to take on this assignment as it may allow him to meet his pen pal, Salt&Sea.

Patrick and Deborah may both be looking for love with their respective pen pals, but they begin to rethink their relationship with each other as they work to save Siren’s Retreat.

Love Letters by the Sea is the fourth story in Erica Ridley and Grace Burrowes new collab, The Siren's Retreat Quartet. All four books take place in Brighton, in a picturesque inn called Siren's Retreat—where, legend has it, all who cross its threshold with an open heart will soon meet their true love. Each story is a standalone and 100-200 pages each.

This epistolary romance was so sweet and charming! When not responding to advice column letters, entrepreneurial widow Mrs. Deborah Cartwright runs beautiful Siren’s Retreat, the inn in Brighton legendary for helping lovelorn guests find their perfect match. Deborah and her late husband were the first to experience love there years before but now a widow, Deborah knows that lightning does not strike twice. Recently she’s been consumed with letters from a certain anonymous writer. But there’s no time to even contemplate a romance, not while a heartless blackguard is in town to try and take her beloved inn away from her! Clever, career-minded Mr. Patrick Gretham is the trusted man-of-business for a powerful lord who is eager to turn this perfectly situated property wasted on lovebirds into a gambling hell. Patrick arrived in Brighton to scope out the place but meets and falls for Deborah the moment he sees her. While anonymously penning love letters to one another in secret, during the day as Deborah and Patrick these two couldn’t be more on the opposite side.

This was really a cute, sweet epistolary romance for widowed heroine Deborah. I loved how instantly connected Patrick and Deborah are upon meeting for the first time, not realizing they are one another’s secret pen pal. There was definitely some low angst over them finding that out while fighting over the inn. I loved some of the other moments in this read: Patrick is a fabulous hero and steps it up to prove his love for Deborah, I liked Deborah’s relationship with her nieces, Deborah was a celebrated soprano in the London opera and does local performances at the tea shop, we also get to see Allegra & John (who are the couple from the 2nd book in the series, An Affair By the Sea). This one was low steam compared to Allegra & John’s read.

3.5 stars/rounded up on GR. Thank you to the author and WebMotion for an e-ARC via NetGalley. All thoughts in this review are my own. Love Letter by the Sea has a publish date of April 12, 2022.

This is a wonderful new take on 'Shop Around the Corner' for fans of historical romance. This is the first in the series that I have read but it was easy to get a feel for what the Siren's Retreat series is all about. I wasn't sure I quite understood the deal struck between Deborah and the earl because it didn't seem to benefit him as much as her. I also hope that Deborah and Patrick find some help for the hotel so that they can have some time for themselves to travel and do other romantic things with one another. The pacing is perfect and there isn't a single sentence or paragraph wasted. It's aa quick read which makes it the perfect way to spend a spring day.

Super cute You've Got Mail retelling here with the widowed inn-owner exchanging letters with a man of business, who happens to work for an earl who wants to buy out the inn. Deborah has been attached to Siren's Retreat as the place for couples to find true love and she's still very much attached to her husband (even though he died five years ago). When she starts exchanging letters with a stranger, she starts to feel guilty for betraying her husband. Meanwhile Patrick dreams of making a life together with his letter companion.

Her secret pen pal is no secret anymore!
I enjoyed this sweet and clean story, which finishes the 4 book series of couples finding true love at this seaside resort in Brighton. This time, the widowed lady that works hard to provide a beautiful vacation spot for her clientele, gets her own happily-ever-after. A secret pen pal, the threat of the owner of the resort threatening to sell the resort out from under her, and an attractive agent for the buyer of the property, all add drama to our story.
I have enjoyed the other books in this series, and this one adds the “frosting on the cake”! 4.5 rounded to 5 stars.

Oooo I love a “mature” romance! Because, you know, age 35-40 is soooo old… Anyway, I consider this a second-chance romance, in that the heroine is a widow who has already experienced the great love of her life - or has she? But the best part of this novella was that it was 100% inspired by The Shop Around the Corner/You’ve Got Mail, and the anonymous letter writing trope is my absolute favorite!

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

I really enjoyed this book by Erica Ridley. It was very well done and I would definitely recommend this book to anyone

A widow, Deborah, starts a several year correspondence with man of business Patrick. Neither know who the other is. When Patrick’s boss sends him to buy Deborah’s inn they are attracted to each other. They must reveal themselves to each other to find true love. I received an ARC from NetGalley and WebMotion for my honest review.

I was so happy to see that Deborah got her own story in this series. Hard working Patrick is her perfect counterpart. I love how they fell in love through letters first, then in person without knowing who the other is. Very romantic!

A very entertaining story and romance that built between Deborah and Patrick. It was wonderful to read a more mature age romance for a change. Erica Ridley weaves a well crafted story in the final book of The Siren's Retreat series.

The romantic love continues on with hopes eternal flame by the seaside. Deborah and Patrick share in the the joy of finding romance by the sea. The characters made the story very entertaining for me. There was a mixture of dialogue and narrative, but the story maintained the interest of a wonderful story. The love between the two characters was very cute.

What happens when the proprietress of Siren's Retreat discovers the charming romantic she's been corresponding with is same villain turning her beloved property into a gaming hell?
When not responding to advice column letters, entrepreneurial widow Mrs. Deborah Cartwright runs bright, beautiful Siren’s Retreat, legendary for helping her lovelorn guests find their perfect match. Deborah experienced love years before, and lightning does not strike twice. Although there might be a light flirtation with a certain anonymous letter-writer she’s definitely not falling for, there’s no time for romance. Not whilst a heartless blackguard is in town to wrest her beloved inn out from under her!
Clever, career-minded Mr. Patrick Gretham is the trusted man-of-business for a powerful lord, who is eager to turn this perfectly situated property wasted on lovebirds into a gambling hell the likes of which no one leaves with their fortunes intact. Over Deborah’s dead body! The beautiful proprietress hates everything Patrick stands for and will fight him every step of the way. Except when they find themselves on opposite sides of a plume. Or falling into each other’s embrace.
Patrick is LostInLondon Deborah is Salt&Sea. They don't know that the anonymous letters that each of them received is from the other one until Patrick discovers it by accident.
Erica Ridley has once again written another fine book.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. This in no way affects my opinion of this book which I read and reviewed voluntarily.

I adored this. Love Letters by the Sea is the final book in the four book series, Sirens Retreat, in which Deborah gets her own story, and I was so happy to read it.

A bit on the shorter side, time wise, this is the perfect length for a cozy weekend day read.

This series has been such a joy to read.