Interesting first book in this series, full of secrets and discovery. Well written characters and a setting so well described you can close your eyes and be there. First quarter is a little slow but worth it in the end. Thank you netgalley for the advance copy

Lowri Morgan’s life is flipped upside down when she becomes a widow. After two years, she finally finds the strength to pack up her husband's belongings. As she continues to go through his things she comes across a letter…one she had never seen before and one he had never spoken of. Clearwater Castle now belonged to Lowri and one day will belong to their young daughter Wren. Lowri’s head immediately fills with so many questions. Lowri packs up her things and she and Wren take off to Clearwater Village. Nothing appeared as she thought. The castle is dilapidated and the village seems to be just as lifeless as the run down so-called “castle”. When Lowri meets Huw, a local stonemason, it seems that fate may have new plans for Lowri and Wren. The castle, the village, Lowri and Wren may just get a second chance at the life of happiness they have always wanted.

Secrets of Clearwater Castle by Emma Davies was a wonderful read. It was full of secrets, surprises and new beginnings. Just when Lowri was unsure of what her future would be like, after losing her husband, she found hope. This heart-warming, uplifting and inspiring book was an absolute joy to read. I couldn’t put it down as I read it in one sitting. Author Emma Davies has such an amazing way of pulling you into her stories, and actually living your life among the pages. This story of second chances was a wonderful escape. I loved it and highly recommend it!!!

Yet again, Emma has come up with a stunning book with lovely characters. Hoping it will be another bestseller. Thank you Emma.

Welcome to my stop on this lovely Books On Tour, I hope you enjoy my review.

Lowri is finally sorting out her late husband Alun’s belongings that have been stored in a her spare room for two years, with her friend Jess they uncover a unusual document about an inheritance that Alun never told Lowri about. When she gets it checked over she finds that she’s the new owner of a dilapidated house called Clearwater Castle!.

Can Lowri have a fresh start and bring Clearwater back to life ?.

I really enjoyed this story following Lowri and her daughter Wren as they navigated a new life and a fresh start.

All the “nice” people they meet along the way are such good strong characters, especially Huw, Elin & Seren . Lowri also comes across some not so nice characters and I was intrigued to find out what secrets they held and why?.

I felt quite emotional at the end because the story was just so magical and heartfelt, I really didn’t want to it end and I’ll be waiting for the next in the series.

This is the first book in the Clearwater Series. I loved this book! It is heartwarming, charming and full of hope. It is hard not to fall in love with Lowri and the lovely people that she surrounds herself with. I have never rooted for a character in a book as much as I rooted for Lowri. Davies writes so that the book could be put into more than one genre. It’s romance, it’s a cozy mystery, it’s women’s fiction all rolled up into one. And it’s all enjoyable. I appreciated that there wasn’t any unnecessary background information or detail, but there was just enough detail for me to imagine Clearwater House and the estate. Oh, don’t forget your tissues because there are a few parts of the book that made me cry. I don’t doubt that anyone that reads this book will fall in love with Clearwater Castle, and all of the people there (sans Bridie). This book is for anyone really… not just those that like a particular genre. I can't wait to read the next one!

I absolutely loved loved loved how this story flowed! Emma Davies, i am so excited and waiting eagerly for the next book in the series.
The secrets of Clearwater Castle was a perfect blend of romance, mystery and breathtaking locales plus some Welsh history! What more could a girl want?
One of my favourite reads of 2023 by far!!

My brain works in a bizarre way and when I read “Emma Davies” I immediately joined the blog tour as I love her “Adam&Eve” cozy mystery series.
I neither read the plot nor checked the genre. It could have been a recipe for a disaster but I thoroughly enjoyed this story.
There’s something that made me think of action&adventure stories I read when I was a child: the inheritance, the secrets, the descriptions of wild life in Cornwall.
And there’s a story that the adult me liked as Lowri is a clever and well plotted character as it’s poignant, heart-warming and compelling.
Emma Davies did a good job in developing a complex and timeless plot and I’m curious about what will happen in the next stories.
It was a lovely surprise and I’m happy I read this novel.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this arc, all opinions are mine

It’s been quite some time since the wonderful Emma Davies has written anything in the romance genre as she turned her hand to cosy mysteries which I have to admit wouldn’t be a genre that I would read. So I was thrilled to see that she is back with the first in the Clearwater Castle series – Secrets of Clearwater Castle and what a return to the genre it was. I was completely and utterly sucked in right form the very first page and I adored everything about the story. It was pure perfection from beginning to end with memorable characters that you root for all the way, not to mention a brilliant storyline. This is the women’s romance genre at its very best and from early on I could tell that Emma Davies was loving writing this feel good, romantic tale which had lots of mystery and trials and tribulations along the way.

Lowri Morgan is a widow in her early thirties with a young daughter named Wren. Her husband Alun has been dead for two years and Lowri is slowly starting to emerge from the shock and horror that she has experienced since the accident that took him from her. That’s not to say she wants to move on, she would rather that her family life had never been shattered but slowly she is becoming stronger and she is described as being small, mighty and fearless. These words are very apt in summing up Lowri especially when she comes up against fierce opposition the further the story develops. Lowri can no longer pay for the family home she shared with Alun and it’s time to move on both physically and emotionally.

Her sister is offering her a cottage near her which she can do up. I could sense that Lowri wasn’t overly happy with this set up but that she really had no other option. Fortunately, fate stepped in and whether it turned out to be overall for the positive or the negative, well I was eager to discover as even within the first few chapters I could sense that I was in for a real good story that would have me caught up in its spell until I reached the final word. Whilst sorting through Alun’s stuff she finds a box of memorabilia and is horrified to discover that he had been keeping a huge secret from her. Anger stirs within her when she finds out that a letter that relates to a piece of land which given their current situation regarding moving doesn’t go down well with her at all. Lowri visits the solicitor mentioned in the letter and discovers that she has now inherited Clearwater estate with its crumbling castle/tower, a millpond, cottages, gatehouse and a textile business not to mention several acres.

To say she is overwhelmed and completely surprised would be an understatement and to be honest I’d say anger, anxiety and apprehension all feature strongly too. Lowri is faced with a decision - stay on the path she had set out on and move near her sister or else take the bull by the horns and take on Clearwater and all its accompaniments and the troubles and challenges that they will each bring? Deep down, she knows the road ahead of her will be a very difficult one, but maybe she wasn’t meant to find out about Clearwater right until this very moment? A glimmer of hope sparks within her and she is determined not to quash it. A decision is made to stay and try and implement some changes especially to the textile business which needs a radical updating and perhaps the castle could also be brought back to life.

No doubt about it, Lowri, is a gutsy character who when faced with even more upheaval in her life begins to face things head on despite Bridie Turner who has acted like a caretaker manager, throwing lots of obstacles in her way. It was like she knew Lowri was somewhat clueless in what she had to do moving forward and Bridie certainly took advantage of this. But I loved how Lowri found new friends and established a strong circle around her. She was making a fresh start and was like a fish out of water but with dependable people surrounding her the reader hopes that kindness will triumph over hate and the small things that we do for one another will mean more than can ever be expressed.

Clearwater slowly starts to heal Lowri’s broken heart as she begins to take the estate back to its heritage and though many jump to conclusions about her intentions for the estate and its long term future there are those who are behind her every step of the way. One of those being, Elin whom I loved. She was so generous, thoughtful and supportive and was like a best friend and sister all rolled into one and even though they had never met before, there was an instant connection between the pair. They were on the same wavelength and both had the same appreciation and love for the estate. For Lowri, this came quickly and was only further enhanced by Huw.

Huw was the enigma of the story. He lives on a narrowboat near to the castle and spends a lot of time drinking. He is not in a good place, the reasons for which become clear much further on and he doesn’t always put his best foot forward and present the best version of himself. Deep down, I could see that he must be traumatised by past experiences but given a chance he could do marvellous things. He is desperate to get the job restoring the castle but there are little twists and turns that crop up that really do turn things on their head. I enjoyed reading of the development of the friendship between Huw and Lowri. They don’t get off to the best of starts but they do have things in common, if only they could open up to each other. They needed to get everything out in the open and not harbour secrets or let miscommunication and false information get in the way of something that could truly be fabulous and wonderful. I mean that in terms of both a romantic sense and a working professional sense. Things are out of balance and wrong and the past collides with the present and this all just makes for the most fantastic story that I fully lost myself in.

For me Huw gave off distinct echoes of Amos a character from one of Emma’s earlier books. He is someone that has long stayed on in my mind as being one of the best male characters I have ever read and given the amount of books I read it takes that special something to make such a lasting impression on me. The fact I got these vibes from Huw meant I knew I was guaranteed a book which reminds me just how much I love reading and that is exactly how I feel about this book. I can often become tired of the women’s romance fiction genre as it can tend to just be the same plot rehashed over and over again and I find myself longing for that little something different to inspire me to fall back in love with the genre again and Secrets of Clearwater Castle did just that. It’s a stand out book in the genre with a superb setting, fascinating, varied characters all of whom have something to hide or else shouldering a burden and amidst it all there is strength, continuity, love, friendship, support and community. If you can’t tell by now I loved loved Secrets of Clearwater Castle and if this is the calibre of book one and it makes me feel this way than I can’t wait for book number two which I hope Emma Davies is already hard at work on. A Christmas visit to Clearwater Castle sounds perfect to me! Fingers crossed.

Emma Davies is back writing romantic fiction with this book, the first in a new series. I really enjoyed reading this book. I loved Emma Davies's earlier books and I was delighted to see that she was writing romantic fiction again. This book is very well written, it really drew me in.
It has a great cast of characters, some mystery and intrigue, lovely location and it was just a fantastic book. I am really looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for my ARC.

This was a lovely start to a new series. I do hope that I get approved for the next one as I would love to find out what happens next. This book is delightful and very light-hearted. I did enjoy this one. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

3.5 stars

When Lowrie discovers a document buried in a box of her deceased husbands' things in the attic, she has no idea what it means for the rest of her life!

I enjoyed this book. The setting was beautiful, I could picture the river, the meadow with wildflowers and rare orchids, the remnants of Clearwater Castle, the watermill, and the factory in all its disrepair. The gatehouse sounds like a cute little place to live, sweet and cozy.

There's plenty of secrets as the title implies. Why did Lowrie's husband Alun never tell her about the inheritance, or mention Clearwater Castle at all? Who is Bridie and why is she so invested in seeing Lowrie fail? What happened to Seren's brother all those years ago? Why is Huw so quiet and withdrawn from people? It is all revealed in time as the story unfolds.

The title indicates this is Book 1 in the series. I am looking forward to seeing where the author takes the story from here.

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book, but my opinions are my own.

This is a lovely read and one I read in one sitting. With an inspired and eclectic cast of characters, and landscape to wonder at, this is a read you will find difficult to put down until the end. The character I really loved was Elin, she was the kindest most welcoming person, extrovert and loving.

Briefly, Lowri lost her husband two years earlier and is left bringing up her young daughter Wren. She is struggling financially and is forced to sell the house. Out of the blue she discovers a solicitors letter in her husbands files which states he had been left a property called Clearwater, by his uncle. Visiting the site in Pembrokeshire she falls in love with what basically a ruin. With plans to develop Lowri finds herself in the middle of a property development battle and secrets from the past that some people would prefer remain secret rise from the ruins.

Well written this is a gentle and heartwarming read. A rollercoaster of an emotional ride through the Welsh countryside with characters to lift your heart as you become totally immersed in them and their lives. If you are looking for a book to read by the fireside one evening or on a sunny warm beach this is for you. There’s something for everyone secrets, romance, sad loss and new starts and Lowri a woman who finds strengths she never knew she had. A wonderful read.

Thank you Bookouture and NetGalley for the ARC, this review is my personal, unbiased opinion.

4* A enjoyable read

About starting life anew, making good friends and finding unexpected love.

Two years after her husband died in a car accident, Lowri Morgan was forced to sell her house. Sorting through her late husband's belongings, to her surprise and shock, Lowri discovered that her husband owned an estate in Wales including a castle. Inheriting from her husband she's now the owner and Lowri decides to move to Clearwater, a far better choice than staying and living under her sister's disapproving gaze. Lowri and her small daughter arrive at Clearwater only to find the castle is dilapidated and the cottage she intended to live in barely habitable. Even the textile business on the estate and run by the villain of the book, Bridie, is scarcely surviving.

Beginning to make friends in the village, Lowri soon experiences betrayal, intrigue and deceit, all while struggling with the responsibility of running and making a success of Clearwater Estate.

The first third of the book seemed a little slow but the plot picked up speed to a most satisfactory conclusion.

4* rating because the book is written in a present tense, a style I don't particularly like when a story is set over a long period of time.

Good reading, recommended.

Another really lovely book by Emma. Secrets Of Clearwater Castle is really lovely and heartwarming. I am so happy it's the first book in the new series. If you want a book you will be hooked to from the first page this is for you. It is filled with mystery, friendship, romance and drama.

In this book we meet Lowri who is a Yong widower. Who involves into a strong and independent person with an amazing shining light throughout the book.

I am so glad I took the time to read and review this captivating novel by Emma Davies. Secrets Of Clearwater Castle stole a piece of my heart! I absolutely was hooked from the first page of this novel and could not put it down. I became completely lost in the drama and read it rather quickly. And loved every minute of it, too! The story is as intriguing as its gorgeous cover. Mystery, romance, family, secrets, friendships, creativity and determination are just a few of the elements that make this first book of a new series enchanting.

Young Welsh widow, Lowri Morgan, is such a fascinating character. Her exceptional abilities don’t show immediately but eventually pieces of her strong personality come shining through. She is so much more than first impressions lead us to believe. I loved how the author did a slow reveal giving us time to get to know her. We soon learn what a courageous gifted woman she is. Especially since her life has been upended after her husband tragically dies in an accident. She is left in a less than secure financial position and with a young daughter to care for. Now that her husband is gone, she must make some radical changes to ensure they have a good life. In the aftermath of her husband’s death, she is faced with some unsettling questions about his past. It all starts when she discovers an official piece of paper in his belongings. He had inherited some land and property of which she was unaware. This sends a shock wave through her heart to know he kept such important information from her. What other secrets did he harbour? This sets her on a mission to uncover the mystery property: an intriguing journey that leads to Clearwater Castle. A place that holds more than one secret, including information on her husband’s background and family.

Lowri decides to move into the cottage on the estate with her daughter where she contemplates her next move. Now that her husband is gone, the inheritance is hers. What will she do with it? This unique landmark-castle is a shadow of its former self and practically in ruins. But there are other buildings on the property still usable, although needing upgrades, where work is happening. Due to her husband’s absence, another person was hired to look after the premises and business. The revelations we learn of this character prove to be both entertaining and disheartening. A challenge for Lowri but not one she cannot overcome. Many changes need to occur, if Lowri decides to take on this project. There are obstacles she must face but she is not alone in the fight.

There are some delightful creative characters (like Elin, Seren, Huw) and a sly villain (I won’t name) that make this story crackle like a vibrant hearth fire. The castle and grounds are somewhat static characters as everything and everyone revolves around them. But as this property unveils its secrets, change for all is on the horizon— even for the buildings to make way for new business ventures that could help the community!

There’s so much to love about this story such as the inspiring descriptions, the atmospheric setting, the eclectic cast of characters, the perfect plot, the just-right pace and intriguing storyline. All this wondrous writing is wrapped up in secrets, strangeness, mystery and mayhem to deliver a magical outcome. Thankfully forgiveness, justice, restoration and victory trickle through the veins of this story and into the hearts of those involved. But not without hard work and digging into the past for evidence to support surmised activities.

Clearwater Castle ‘…a ruin, a place of forgotten dreams and a shattered past. …could become a place of new hopes and dreams.’ Which way will the pendulum swing for Lowri and her team? Will they get the grant they need to rebuild it? Emma Davies has delivered a wonderful story that lifted my spirits and carried me away to a castle that stole my heart (just as it did Lowri’s) and it will do the same for others, too! I highly recommend this triumphant story. 5 Shooting Stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thanks to Bookouture and Netgalley for my review copy.

It had been two years since Lowri Morgan had lost her husband Alun, and it had been a period of grief and unimaginable pain. Their six year old daughter, Wren, was what helped Lowri through, plus her best friend Jess, always in her corner. On the brink of moving to a home near her sister, Lowri discovered Alun had owned an estate, Clearwater, details of which he'd kept from her. When Lowri drove to Clearwater, while Wren was in school, she saw Alun's solicitor. The news he gave her was such that it would change her life. The crumbled ruins of the castle stood proud among the beauty around it, and the gatekeeper's house was one such building.

Lowri and Wren moved to Clearwater, not knowing what to expect, but the cottage was charming and Wren loved her room. When Lowri met Elin, a bubbly, full of life young woman, she knew she'd found a friend. And she felt the same with Selen. But the working factory, which Lowri now owned, was set in the past and Lowri knew she needed to work toward better working conditions for the staff. But it was someone else who had it in for Lowri - and she was also beginning to understand that Alun had kept things from her. Big secrets that she was determined to uncover. What would it mean for the future of Clearwater? Would they be happy in their new home?

Secrets of Clearwater Castle is the 1st in the Clearwater Castle series by Emma Davies, and I loved it. Heartwarming and charming, with the setting of Wales and the beautiful meadow near the river with the castle in the background, the flowers and rare orchid - all designed to delight, and it did. I'm looking forward very much to #2 in the series and have no hesitation in highly recommending Secrets of Clearwater Castle.

With thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.

It’s a good start to a new series. There’s lots of secrets and surprises in this book. Looking forward to the next one, can’t wait to see what happens at Clearwater House. Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the early copy

This was a great story with lots of secrets, and hidden side stories. Putting everything together made a wonderful read. Love the characters, Huw and Lowri especially, and enjoyed the way the plot unfolded little at a time. A must read for the beach!
I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Secrets of Clearwater Castle tells the story of Lowri, a Welsh widow raising her young daughter, Wren, who finds a letter among her deceased husband's personal effects about an inheritance that she knew nothing about - her husband Alun's uncle had left him Clearwater House and the surrounding estate. Lowri and Wren move to the Clearwater gatehouse to begin their new lives and find themselves surrounded by friends who become like family to them. The story has likeable characters, family secrets that surprised me, and the perfect villain in Bridie, the dishonest estate manager. I'm looking forward to reading the next books in this series to find out what happens with the estate, the textile factory, the new friends that Lowri and Wren have made, and especially if love will blossom between Lowri and Huw, the hunky stonemason.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

I really liked and enjoyed this book. It kept me entertained and I quickly read through it.
I just reviewed Secrets of Clearwater Castle (Clearwater Castle series Book 1) by Emma Davies. #SecretsofClearwaterCastle #NetGalley
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