I loved The Key to the Last House Before the Sea! I've never read Lix Eeles before but I'm going looking for her other novels right now! I was captured and enraptured from the beginning. Nessa is a young single mother who is grieving the loss of her beloved grandmother, yet determined to do her best for her daughter Lily. By repairing her gran's mothers old home, Nessa hopes to save the Ghost Village from demolition and posh development whilst providing them with somewhere to live. Gabriel's father expects him to do everything he can to prevent Nessa from succeeding. Highly recommend

The story
Nessa is a 30 year old single mother to her daughter Lily. She lost both parents when young, and now that her grandmother has passed away, her home has gone too. She’s jobless after the owner of the hardware store retired and is stayed with her best friend in her B&B for the moment. When she has the chance to move into her grandmother’s deserted childhood home, she grabs the chance. But property developer Gabriel cannot let they happen.

My thoughts
There is a lot of raw and tough emotional stuff for Nessa to deal with in this lovely story. She sees the sadness within Gabriel and is respectful to him, even when it’s hard. Secretly, both have feelings for each other, but it’s all very restrained. At the heart of this story is a great mother, trying to do whatever she needs to do to give her young daughter a stable and loving home despite dealing with every challenge thrown at her. It’s a goodie.

I read an eARC copy courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed this book a lot. It's the fourth book in a series and I haven't read the other books, but I was still able to enjoy this one.

nessa is left a key to a cottage by her grandmother. Thus starts a fight to save the cottage and heavens cove from being destroyed. Heartbreaking and heartwarming at the same time. Nice read!

4 Stars
One Liner: A sweet continuation to the series
Nessa Paulson is down on her luck big time. She has nowhere to go, and the temporary stay at Rosie’s Driftwood is not an ideal solution. Grieving the loss of her grandmother, Nessa has to deal with the lack of a job, home, and just about everything. How on earth can she take care of her five-year-old girl, Lily? An unexpected discovery seems like the only solution, no matter how farfetched or difficult.
Gabriel Gantwich is in Heaven’s Cover on serious business. He has to complete the formalities for his father’s company to clear the land and start building apartments/ houses on Surreal Cove. It shouldn’t even be a problem, but it turns out to be one when Nessa is standing in his way. Her only chance at having a home collides with Gabriel’s business.
It doesn’t help that Valerie, Nessa’s ex-MIL is a boon and bane of her life. What does one say to a woman who refuses to acknowledge the truth?
What happens to Surreal Cove and the cottage? Can Nessa hope for a better future? Can Gabriel understand his weariness with life and decide what he wants the most?
The story comes from the limited-third person POV of Nessa, Gabriel, and Valerie.

My Observations:
I’ve been following the series from book one and love the setting. Though this book doesn’t many recurring characters, it is still a part of Heaven’s Cove. In fact, I see the stories getting better as the series progresses.
The characters are well-etched. Nessa, Gabriel, and Valerie have vital roles. Each of them has a steady character arc. I love the idea of giving Valerie her own POV. It makes the story much more impactful.
Family dynamics and relationships are the major themes of the book. Nessa and Gabriel (in fact, even Valerie) are dealing with family issues in different ways. How they react and respond to the developments affects them and others.
I miss the friendly and nosy characters from Heaven’s Cove. The previous characters do make an appearance, but somehow, it doesn’t feel enough.
I love happy endings, so this is a treat to read. The history of Surreal Cove is used well, though the prologue seems wasted in the overall storyline.
Lily is a sweetheart and a typical five-year-old. I wish she had a wee bit more space in the book. Cute kids are a treat to read about.

To sum up, The Key to the Last House Before the Sea is a heartwarming story about determination, family, relationships, and doing what makes one happy.
Thank you, NetGalley and Bookouture, for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

Number four in the Heavens Cove series, but like the others, its a perfectly good stand alone. I absolutely love this series and if you have not yet read the previous books it's well worth doing so. As with all the books so far, my biggest upset is that they have to end. Such a well written captivating story, that I devoured in a day. An absolute must read.

A family tragedy leaves a lasting scar on Nessa's family when a great storm rose up and wiped out most of Sorrel Cove and Nessa's great-grandmother. Nessa has grown up with her grandmother hearing stories of Sorrel Cove and the storm her entire life so when Gabriel comes to Heaven's Cove with plans to turn the "Ghost Town" into luxury housing for executives looking for weekend getaways, Nessa will do anything to save her family's home, including trying to fix up the old cottage and live there for 30 consecutive days to fulfill the terms of the lease. Will Nessa succeed and save Sorrel's Cove or will Gabriel's plan for housing win?
This was a lovely story where you spend most of the time rooting for Nessa to come out on top and can barely manage to get through to the end when things are looking bleak. I loved the descriptions of the beach, the water, and Sorrel's Cove, it was so real, I felt as if I were standing in the sand with Nessa, Gabriel, and Lily. Valerie was a good foil for Nessa and it was interesting to see someone dealing with retirement and not finding the enjoyment she thought she'd find.
I really enjoyed this book and would love to visit Heaven's Cove again.

I have enjoyed this series of books immensely and this one was no exception. The characters are engaging, the setting beautiful. I can imagine myself there! Loved it.

A fantastic book. I have loved this series, I love the characters and the setting. Would definitely recommend this series of books to anyone.

Love this series, the books never disappoint. Heaven's Cove sounds like a beautiful place to live, even if everyone knows all your secrets. You can't get away with anything living there. I think I remember Nessa from the first book. So glad Valerie finally took off her rose tinted glasses and saw the truth about her son. Nessa allowed Valerie as much time with Lily, but that wasn't enough. Nessa was brave living in that house at first. It was pretty dilapidated and would have been scary at night, not to mention all the spiders. Loved the relationship she had with Gabriel, of course both of them refused to see that they were the best thing for each other. There definitely needs to be an update about all the characters from the previous books.

Definitely recommend the book and the previous ones in the series. Loved the characters, story and writing style. Wouldn't mind reading more books about Heaven's Cove. Hopefully there's a few more in the series. Look forward to reading more books by the author. Loved the cover of the book.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bookouture through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Although this book was not my usual genre (mystery/thriller) I found the synopsis and the title intriguing and really enjoyed it. The characters were strongly depicted. Nessa was feisty and dauntless determined to do the best she could for her young daughter. Gabriel was marching to his father's tune, forced into a mould he was not comfortable with having given up his dream of art college. Nessa's Mother-in-law believing the fantasy of her perfect son and that Nessa was a schemer who was responsible for her son moving to Manchester. I would love to read more by this author.

Quite a contemporary story covering social issues of today and set in the fictional Devonshire village of Heaven’s Cove. Single mum Nessa has grown up in Heaven’s Cove but now her grandmother has died, Nessa finds herself homeless as she lived with her grandmother in a rented cottage. As if that wasn’t enough to contend with she has also lost her job when the owner of the shop she worked in decided to retire.

While clearing her grandmother’s effects, Nessa finds an old key. She suspects it’s for the cottage at the ‘Ghost Village’ so named by the locals as the cottages there were abandoned many years ago after a severe storm swept away most of the homes apart from Nessa’s grandmothers childhood home. Desperate to find a home for herself and her young daughter, Nessa thinks that if she puts the work in, she will be able to renovate the cottage and make it a home for herself and her young daughter.

Unbeknown to Nessa developers have beaten her to it and plan to demolish everything remaining in this little hidden cove and turn it into a luxury housing complex for rich investors. Something of a threat to many living in rural and coastal communities today, the developers are always there, ready to pounce.

It’s a story of family loyalties and perseverance. Nessa very much faces adversity from all sides, from the property developer’s son to her Mother-in-law. There are plenty of reasons to root for the characters. It’s not just Nessa who has family problems. It’s an interesting plot looking at how people can often find themselves living their life to please others rather than doing what makes them happy. I enjoyed this book which keeps you turning the pages.

*To be posted to blog for blog tour on 20 August*

This is an amazing read, I am loving this series if books. Be prepared with tissues before you start reading as it's a tear jerker. I'm looking forward to the next book

What an incredibly powerful story of determination, love, transformation and overcoming the odds! Liz’s stories always have ample layers of depth to them and The Key to the Last House Before the Sea is no exception. Intricate thoughts always manage to rise to the surface like driftwood on the sea.

I have absolutely loved this entire series so jumped at the chance to read the newest ARC. In fact, any book by Liz will be a must-read as I have really enjoyed her heart-felt themes, complex characters and exceptional writing. The Heaven’s Cove series is phenomenal. Each book is a standalone so you can read them in any order. These may be classed as ‘feel good’ or ‘uplifting fiction’ but that does not mean they are not filled with complicated situations, especially since they are always about relationships and families—which we know means lots of colour, clashes and crises. Solutions are always found though, leaving the reader satisfied with an apt ending that is usually happy but why not? Life is full of enough dramas and so it is nice to see positive things, happen to devoted, determined individuals with good hearts and honest intentions like Nessa: a character I thoroughly admired.

Nessa is a single mom with a five year old daughter. She has been abandoned by her husband, a free spirit, and their child rarely sees her father. He is a weak person who shrugs off his responsibilities. His mother, Valerie, though, has difficulty seeing his flaws and blames Nessa for chasing him away. Valerie wants her son around more but for selfish reasons. Nessa, on the other hand devotes her life to trying to make her daughter’s life safe, comfortable and happy but her lack of funds and loss of job (no fault of her own) have presented challenges that seem insurmountable. Also, her grandmother, with whom she has lived, has recently died and this leaves her homeless (though she stays briefly with a friend) while she continues to find a way to get a roof over her and her daughter’s head. A key comes to her through a package left by her grandmother that may be the answer to her troubles but this task bears many challenges and road blocks. She must make difficult choices. Yet through these decisions, we see she is a selfless woman with a great love for her daughter. But there are those lurking nearby who try to take advantage of her circumstances.

One issue addressed in this novel is how difficult it can be to have no family support either because members have all died (as in Nessa’s case) or through selfish expectations imposed by others (as in Gabriel’s case).

The characters in The Key to the Last House Before the Sea truly carry a complexity with many facets to explore. Sometimes I like to look at character’s names. Nessa’s name means pure, holy; butterfly and I think it fits her well. Gabriel – we know means bearer of good news (as one of heaven’s angels) and although he starts out being a bearer of bad news, he manages to find courage to become a finer man. But I won’t give anything away except to say he is not as he appears and once he spends time with Nessa, she sets about in him a transformation. Her pureness of heart (honest love for her daughter) and positive attitude of going after her dreams rubs off on him. Does she help him become a better man or the man he really is, without all the trappings imposed on him by his father? For he is not just a business man but also a suppressed artist. Not only does Nessa affect him but also Heaven’s Cove does as well. The longer he is in this glorious setting, the more it begins to do its magic on his heart.

The story is told through three characters: Nessa, Gabriel and Valerie (the ex-mother-in-law). The dynamics of these three is quite interesting: the sparks of friction have a way of heating up and keeps the plot rolling. We hunger to see character growth in Gabriel and Valerie. Nessa, though, is more of a static character (like Anne of Green Gables). She is not so much one who changes (little bits maybe) but she brings change in others by being who she is. Her good heart brings out the best in people or shows them up (as in the case of her ex-husband whose faults come through loud and clear through his own pitiful actions).

This novel caught my interest from the cover to the first page and held me in its grips to the very end. I loved everything about it! You can smell the salt, hear the gulls, see the light playing on the waves in this gorgeous setting of Heaven’s Cove which acts as another character. The story of Ghost Village is powerful and transforming and will tug at your heart strings in an eternal way. It is easy to see why Nessa wants to hang on to the cottage with so much family history embedded in its past. And its connections to her grandmother have become entwined around her heart. Her fight and dealings to save it, left me cheering throughout. To believe in a special history so much, you will try everything to save it – that’s beautiful in my books! Progress is not always right or good and sometimes pieces of the past must be preserved to ensure the future is bright. I loved The Key to the Last House Before the Sea and highly recommend it. 5 Shimmering Stars. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 

Many thanks to Bookouture and Netgalley for a copy to review.

I was so excited to be successful in obtaining an early ARC of The Key to the Last House Before the Sea.

I have absolutely loved this series and this one was no exception. Although part of a series it can be read alone.

A lovely, easy read which had me totally gripped from the beginning but I am gutted to have finished it so quickly.

Liz is definitely one of my favourite authors and I look forward to reading more of her books.

I highly recommend this and the others in the series.

I love Liz Eeles descriptive writing style. A single mother trying to do her best for her daughter with the help of her disillusioned mother in law. Is the cottage, that holds so many memories, on the derelict part of the headland, about to be destroyed to make room for holiday homes? This is an excellent read that held my attention all the way through.

Perfect summer read, lovely story with a great main character. Well written, nicely descriptive. Although it's part of a series it can be read as a stand alone book. Thank you netgalley for the advanced copy

Oh I loved this.. Nessa was an amazing character. Divorced single mum. Her mother in law, oh my.The house was amazing and the love element perfect. An inspiring main character. Some times we all need money. A good ending not too predictable. A very enjoyable read

This is book #4 in the Heaven’s Cove series. Whilst part of a series, it can easily be read as a standalone book. I’ve read all the other books in the series, and they are all lovely and focussing on a different character from the little seaside village of Heaven’s Cove. In this book the attention turns to single mum, Nessa. I loved her character! She’s having such a rough time after her grandmother’s recent death. She’s lost her home that she shared with her grandmother, and Nessa finds herself and her little girl having to move into Driftwood House, the B&B her friend runs. When she finds a key amongst her grandmother’s belongings that fits into an old derelict cottage that her grandmother used to live in, Nessa wonders whether she can bring the cottage back to life as a home for her and her daughter.

It was truly lovely to be back in Heaven’s Cove. It’s such a beautiful sounding place, and just imagining standing up on the cliff’s edge by Driftwood House certainly revitalises me! We get to meet a handful of the village’s residents from previous books, but this story does focus mainly on Nessa and newcomer, Gabriel Gantwich. He is a funny one to work out though – always in a suit and tie, even on the sunniest of days – and he’s obviously come to the village for a reason. But his mean and moody exterior and handsome good looks certainly catches Nessa’s eye, and…who could blame her! Their storylines bump up and down throughout the book, one minute they get on and the next they don’t, but they held my interest right from the moment they set eyes on each other!

The book is a wonderful read! It has its light-hearted moments and some more tender or sadder times. The location sets the scene perfectly and you can picture yourself walking over the cliff tops or scrambling through the deserted Ghost Village. The characters are all likeable – even the ones I didn’t like initially redeemed themselves – and you can easily to relate to many of them. It’s definitely one of those books where it captures you so easily that time flies by while you’re reading it! I really enjoy my visits to this series and would happily recommend each and every book!

This book was wonderfully intriguing; but it was the emotion in the story and the quality of the writing that sang out to me.
A lovely book with a great cast of characters. Beautifully written and I got really invested in the story. I would highly recommend reading this one.