This was a lovely book I was fully immersed in this from the start. A dual time-line set in WW2 and present day I found it fascinating. A new author for me and I will be looking for more books by this author soon. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

*****may contain spoilers******


A beautiful blend of the past and present,
This book is written to perfection and winds itself into a beautiful love story between two very different characters.

This book is something special, it really made me smile reading it as I have personally been lucky enough to travel around the Isles of Scilly and enjoyed island hopping. Some of the places and scenes the author writes about, really took me back to that special place.

The white sand beaches, the seals on the rock, the boat wrecks, the one beautiful little pub on a tiny remote island (the Turks head!!) the salty sea air. She absolutely nailed it, and I could really imagine some of those characters in her book being their and living on those islands today.

Thank you for a wonderful read, I really did enjoy it very much.

This tale of two different women in different time periods was a delight. I had not read anything by this author before so wasn’t sure what to expect. The writing is very smooth and rich, the dialogue sounds natural, and the characters and story really draw you in. Ellie moves to an island off Cornwall to fulfill the terms of the will of a woman she barely remembers. From there, Ellie’s story and Patience’s story pick up and intertwine. I do not always like dual timeline books, but it really worked here. I thoroughly enjoyed this and highly recommend it. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy in exchange for an honest opinion.

This is a dual-time of WWII and the present. During the war, Patience Ellis’ father rescues a young man many believe to be a German sailor. He goes by Dutch. Patience lives life accordingly to her own rules, but after her adopted daughter dies, she loses touch with her young granddaughter. She leaves her island cottage to Ellie with the stipulation that she live there for a year. Life on the island stirs long-ago memories for Ellie, with surprising revelations.
Rather slow but interesting.

The Island of Lost Secrets is a dual time period story. It is an emotional story of life on a small island off the shores of Scotland at the beginning of WW2 and the preceding years. The story revolves around Patience, a girl of ten, and her family. Her life changes after her father pulls a man from the water after a U-boat sinks a fishing vessel. The only word the man says is "Dutch."

The author gave me glimpses into the struggles of the residents. More importantly, I gained an understanding of the belief systems during the time period. Desperate to remain on the island, Patience will make shocking decisions in the name of love, in the name of motherhood, in the name of teaching. Patience was a brilliant character. I couldn't help but wish I had had her as a role model like so many of those that lived on the island.

I enjoyed how the author told the story partly through Ellie, Patience's adopted granddaughter. She inherits Patience's home, without remembering her. Without remembering the island of Morwen. Her days on the Isle are spent searching for information on Patience and her mom. Along the way she falls in love with the area, the people and Bran.

The people on the island have wonderful stories about Patience and Dutch. I soon realized that residents had suspicions when Patience returned to the island with a "cousin's baby" but they accepted her ruse. Ysella, Ellie's deceased mother, was a secret talked about behind closed doors but adored in public.

Grab The Island of Lost Secrets and join me in falling in love with the people of the small island of Morwen.

In different time periods, a cottage on the Scilly Islands (near Cornwall in England) brings two women together through family.

During WWII, a young woman (Patience) befriends a U Boat survivor who washes up on the shore near her home. Their story sets the narrative for the book.

In the present, another young woman (Ellie) inherits the cottage. While renovating it, she finds hidden family secrets and develops friendships on her new found home.

A feel good book to read on a rainy day (or anytime!) I loved it.

When Ellie Roberts inherited a cottage on the Scilly Isles, she’s a bit resentful about the condition she needs to fulfill to claim it – live in it for one year. She wonders why Patience Ellis left the cottage to her when she had relatives who lived right on the island.

While trying to make the cottage livable, Ellie begins to befriend the islanders and learn more about Patience Eliss.

As Ellie’s story goes on in the present time, the readers are treated to Patience’s life story. Her struggles and her choices are inspirational.

By the time Ellie reaches the same place as the reader, one is completely captivated by the characters in both times.

I completely enjoyed this emotional read with strong female lead characters and the loving and supportive community of the islanders.

Will be looking out for more books from Rebecca Alexander.

Outstanding. I'll be sorry to not have it to read tonight but couldn't put the book down on a wet afternoon!

I warmed to the Island residents straight away and Elowen warmed on me once she got to know the Island and realised Leo wasn't for her!

I tried to find out if the places were real as they were described in such loving detail I felt I wanted to visit them.

The story had lots of twists and turns which kept the reader interested to the final page.

Highly recommended to others and I will be looking for more from this author having enjoyed this book so much - thank you!

Before long you’ll be wishing you’d inherited Kittiwake Cottage on Morwen Island instead of Elowen Roberts!

Thanks to Rebecca Alexander’s vivid descriptions, I was able to journey to this beautiful island and live out the terms of Patience Ellis’ will. The descriptive writing in this book is absolutely spectacular ~ some of the best I’ve ever read. I’m normally not drawn to multi-generational family sagas, but I was immediately pulled into this family, enveloped by Patience’s overflowing love, and immensely excited to follow Elowen on her journey towards solving the mystery and finding love.

I love it when I have an emotional response to a character’s actions! I found myself getting so upset with Ellie for being so blind to Branok Shore’s feelings towards her and choosing to keep her life in London on the backburner. Patience Ellis knew what she was doing when she left her cottage to her grand-daughter. We just have to wait until Ellie knows why, too!

This poignant story of long-buried family secrets will pull at your heartstrings and make you reconsider your motive for wanting to hide something from someone. The author reveals the effects of secret keeping on those who are purposely kept in the dark and the multitude of experiences and choices they miss out on because of one person’s rash decision. It would be good for us to consider the ripple effect of secret keeping should we ever feel the need to withhold information. It’s not just about us. Think of ‘them’.

The rhythm of the island appealed to me and the slow reveal of pertinent facts was well-paced.

Rich characterization and vivid descriptions mixed with the perfect proportion of mystery made this a memorable read. This author is now on my radar!

I was gifted this advance copy by Bookouture and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.

An interesting dual timeline historical read.

1940s - Patience is a child when the almost lifeless "Dutch" is rescued by her father from a U-boat attack. The story follows Patience as she grows up to become a teacher and mother. It also follows Dutch's story.

Current day - Ellie has inherited a cottage on an almost forgotten island, from a grandmother she's forgotten. One stipulation is, she most spend a year on the island before collecting her inheritance. There she finds the secrets of the island and Patience.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for a temporary, digital ARC in return for my review.

A nice easy read with a good two timeline story. I really enjoyed how everything unfolded and tied together.

Great novel from Rebecca Alexander. I was given an advance reader copy, and I can honestly say, I loved it. Emotional and nuanced story of how lives interconnect on an island.

Great family story with a. generational twist. Two generations of the same family - one in 1940 and one in present time - tell theirs story and the two come together with secrets found out and life on the lovely island becomes home for the new ones.

Grab a warm, cozy blanket...cuddle up on a comfortable sofa...grab a warm steaming cup of herbal tea, add some scones or muffins...build a blazing fire...time to be transported to this story...likable characters...a setting that is memorable...a quirky protagonist...people who seem real...although this book is fiction, it reads like nonfiction...it makes me want to visit the places in the story...it is so realistic...a cozy romance...love and romance...family and friends...and secrets...oh my goodness...so many secrets. I do not enjoy the divided timeline that has become so popular in books...that being said, it works in this one. I don't know which time I enjoyed the most...then or now...or just both...I liked this book. I liked this book so much that I wish the author would do a sequel, so that I can find out what happens with these characters after the fact. This is a novel written by a talented and gifted author...hope to read more...this book was sent to me by Netgalley for review. Thanks so much to the publisher for the electronic copy. Wish I could give the book more than five stars.

The island of lost secrets was a joy to read. Immersive, suspenseful and humane, this is a novel to savour. This book transported me to another world…in another time….. A beautifully written page-turner ... When you've finished reading you'll be desperate to pass it on…..

In a dual timeline narrative, two women, one from World War II and one from the present, connect in a small windswept cottage. Ellie Roberts has never heard of Patience Ellis, so she’s shocked to learn that the woman has left her a Scilly Isle cottage in her will. With nothing to keep her in London, Ellie travels to her new home and is surprised to discover how familiar it seems to her. Ellie turns to the island residents for answers to her questions – who was Patience and why has she left the ivy covered cottage to Ellie? World War II bravery, a doomed love affair and a handsome islander all combine to make this story an almost magical getaway