Tess Tyler is pretty much running on empty. Working for her father's PR firm it isn't unusual for her to work late into the night repeatedly, especially when her clients seem to have no idea how to behave. After a stress induced attack of vertigo adds to the pain she still feels at the sudden death of her mother Tess knows if she doesn't get away for a while she will break.

Remembering the wonderful holidays spent with her parents in the small Norfolk seaside village of Wynmouth, Tess books a fortnight's stay in small holiday cottage and leaves almost everything else behind. All she has with her are the devastating secrets hidden in the pages of her mum's diary which detail her crippling sadness caused by watching her husband move fom one affair to another with little consideration of the consequences.

The village however, is almost exactly as she remembers, small, friendly, and safe. The fact that Sam, the owner of the local pub and her new landlord, sends shivers of excitement down Tess's spine just by looking at her is an added bonus and as she begins to immerse herself in the life of Wynmouth, Tess begins to wonder whether she will ever want to leave. A chance encounter with an old acquaintance however, reveals long hidden secrets and Tess begins to realise hiding has its limitations whoever you are or wherever you choose to do it.

This is such a lovely feel good story, beautifully written, with great characters and a wonderful location which is easy to envisage. I read it in one sitting and liked Tess, Sam, and the other main protagonists immediately and could picture them without any hesitation right from the start. After just a few chapters I thought I knew what would happen as well as knowing what I wanted to be in place by the end. This didn't spoil anything, rather it made me embrace the whole story totally and, even though I didn't get it all right, there was nothing which felt out of place but there were definitely some brilliant surprises.

I hadn't read any other books by this author but that will definitely change especially as there seems to a series of books set in one location. The only problem I had with this book was that I finished it and I would really like to find out what happens next for everyone, especially as they all have stories which could soar.

I was able to read an advanced copy of this book thanks to NetGalley and the publishers in exchange for an unbiased review and will be buying my own copy on release day. I would highly recommend it to anyone who wants to lose themselves in a literary world of loveliness even if for just a few chapters at a time.

My first visit to Wynmouth, the location of many of Heidi’s books, and it won’t be my last. Loved the many life messages that were threaded through this life-affirming story of self-care, being true to yourself and the pitfalls of making choices before you know all there is to know! A perfect read for troubled times!

What a beautiful feel good easy read.
Tess is still grieving the loss of her mother and although work has been her saviour, her body is desperately calling for a break.
Having recovered some old diaries in the attic which she assumes were her mother's she learns of affairs in her parents marriage.
She decides to escape to wynmouth, a favourite holiday destination from her childhood with fond memories.
Unable to face her father, she leaves not telling anybody where she is going.
She soon becomes embroiled in village life, learning some village secrets as well as secrets from her family's past.
Highly recommend this lovely book.

Swain is incredible she has created another delightful world for us to get lost in Wynmouth! It is the perfect seaside town to whisk yourself off to without leaving your cosy read nook.⠀
⠀
This absolutely gorgeous story of secrets and second chances is stunning, a ray of sunshine on this cloudy overcast day ☀️⠀

Thanks to Simon & Schuster books and Netgalley for sending me this in exchange for an open and honest review.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

OMG, put me through a wringer, had secrets and misunderstandings galore, kept me reading not wanting it to end!

Tess, a workaholic, mourns her mums passing and finds her diaries whilst clearing her belongings, with her dad, and decides to take time out for herself to revisit a family holiday destination.

Tess arrives in Wynmouth, Norfolk on a miserable day and settles into a cosy cottage, her holiday home.
She meets the gorgeous Sam who owns both her cottage and the pub next door, she has a feeling of recognition but can't put her finger on it, definitely a spark there though.
Tess forges a beautiful friendship with Sophie, a vibrant, cheerful cafe owner,
Tess is enjoying the memories of her family holidays there. Sunbathing, looking in the rock pools and visiting the beach huts where she had her first unforgettable kiss.
She embraces being part of the village, helping to organise events for the pub, with the help of Sophies daughter Hope.
Joe, a local farmer returns from an extended absence and saves Tess one windy day, but not everyone is happy to see him, Why? What secrets is he hiding and what do people have against him?
Tess likes Sam, but believes he is spoken for, with someone she regards highly as a friend.
Tess finds herself, her family, and a great future all next to the sea, great story and setting did not want it to end.

A wonderful book to read in lockdown, lovely description of a small seaside village, Wynmouth, and their community. The main character, Tess, used to go there on holiday with her parents when she was young. Her mother has recently died and Tess who works for the family business decides she need a break as her father is a demanding boss. When she’s trying to clear out her mother’s possessions she comes across a diary which she takes with her to a small holiday cottage in Wynmouth. She extends her stay several times as she loves the village and has become part of the community. Eventually her father tracks her down and she realises that what she first thought was totally wrong. There’s romance and drama along the way to keep the reader turning the pages until the wonderful last chapter. I loved the book and look forward to reading more from this author..

Firstly a big thank you to the publishers for approving my netgalley request to read. Ive read a few of Heidi’s books and they are all such a delight.

Heartwarming and romantic this is the perfect getaway especially as we cant physically get away.

Whst begins as a simple break to recharge,it becomes so much for Tilly. Also for those she meets, she impacts a lot of lives.

Be prepared to be whisked away and possibly swoon. There may be a hot man or 2 in these pages…

Family secrets,regrets and lies,can the past be forgiven and a new future started. Unpredictable and deals with real issues as well as making you forget your own.

You can picture yourself on the beach and in the places that become home for Tilly. Heidi writes beautifully and captures the scene perfectly.

This was a really engaging book with loveable characters, the community setting and feeling was really vivid and I loved that. While the plot did have drama and humour it was also had a lot of feeling and cute moments. Overall a lovely read.

I wanted to like this, I normally love these kind of books. it had all the right ingredients but in the end this wasn’t for me and gave up half way through.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for giving me a copy.

This was full of pain, heartbreak, friendship and healing. The story and characters drew me in instantly. It was the classic, wholesome and enjoyable read you can expect from a Heidi Swain novel!

Tess goes away to the Norfolk coast where she has good memories of her mum after making a shocking discovery at home about her parents.



Leaving her father's business in the lurch and switching off her phone she sets about helping the lovely locals, Sam, Hope and there she meets brother's Joe and Charlie.



However as she grows closer to them she finds out a huge life changing secret and her workaholic dad surprises her beyond belief...



The ending was phenomenal, a huge unexpected plot twist which made me gasp I was shocked and hooked on reading on about her family what a twist! A perfect read to distract through current times I was immersed in this wonderful world and the characters lives.



Many thanks to the publishers for allowing me to review this book for them!

Heidi never fails to brighten my days with her beautiful, descriptive writing of idyllic settings and characters that feel like you can friends with.

Tess starts off overworked, stressed and on the verge of falling apart. When she gets to Wynmouth she transforms. Partly the sea air and partly due to a certain local???

I was totally lost in this book and didn’t want it to end. The romance wasn’t as predictable as it first seemed and something was revealed much later in the book that I really wasn’t expecting. So many people underestimate these types of books. Colourful, feminine cover, romantic theme...but they often have so much more to them than you’d expect. This book dealt with deeper issues of mental health and family dramas. But it’s written in such a way that it’s not in the slightest bit maudlin. The entire book is captivating, charming and pure escapism.

Thank you to Simon and Schuster for letting me take part in this tour and for my copy of this book via Netgalley. I am a big fan of Heidi's work so I was excited to read this book and on top of that, we have a new location with lots of new people to meet!

The main character in this book is Tess. Tess is overworked and hasn't taken a break in years. She decides to take off to Wynmouth. Tess is such an easy character to like. I can see why the Wynmouth locals are so quick to become friends with her. She is such a fun character and I just loved being around her. She has such great ideas and really put the community first.

I loved all of the locals. Once their walls came down and they let Tess in they really were a lovely bunch. I could see myself living among them, visiting Sophie's cafe and the pub. It's a great little community.

This book has Heidi's stamp all over it. I love Heidi's writing style. I love the community feel and the beautiful locations.

The theme of this book is not to jump to conclusions which is something that we should all take on board. Heidi also wanted to put across the message of slowing down and making sure you have a good work-life balance

I really loved reading this book and I can't wait for another Heidi book later in the year.

A lovely easy read set in a beautiful North Norfolk coastal village. It had a few twists and turns which kept it interesting and I really warmed to the main characters.

This book is a relaxing read like all the book's i have read by this author.. The characters hook you in and you want to know more and more about them. You always want more and more. It makes you spend hours reading to see events unfurl. Definitely worth a read

Following the sudden death of her mother Tess Tyler is helping her Dad sort her mother's possessions when she finds her diary. That evening Tess starts to read the diary. It indicates her Dad's infidelity and her Mother's sadness. With the pressure of working for the family business and coming to terms with her Mother's death Tess decides to take a holiday revisiting her childhood holiday memories of Wynmouth. A beautifully written story unfolds of friendship and love and some home truths.

Fantastic read with some monumental twists! A cosy tale with some fabulous characters and a new setting. Reading this book is like a reassurance that everything is going to be ok and nothing is insurmountable. The turns and twists in the story keep you engaged in what will happen next and will they/won’t they. I thoroughly enjoyed it and can’t wait for the opportunity to return to Wynmouth.

Thank you Netgalley.

I’m always a fan of Heidi Swain’s novels, and this was no exception. A lovely, calming summery read which made me long for long days at the beach.
Tess escapes her hectic work life to return to a place which she remembers fondly from her childhood. There she finds herself quickly becoming a part of the community, finding friends and love on the way.
Read this to dream of summers on the beach.

Heidi Swain you have done it again! I'm one happy little book worm here after devouring your book since this morning. I haven't been able to put it down as the pages turned themselves with determined intent that had me hooked from the word go. The warmth and charm emanating from this story was glorious and I am moments away from packing a suitcase and moving to Wynmouth myself....the only thing stopping me is this teenie tiny situation called lock down. But in my heart I'm in the Smuggler's Inn, snaffling a sausage sandwich and admiring a pair of emerald eyes from afar....no I'm not bitter that Tess got in there first if anyone asks....nope not one bit!

But seriously what a delicious destination to set a story on. I fell head over heels in love with the place, including their eclectic collection of colourful inhabitants kicking around the joint. How can you not when good intentions are at the heart of every gesture. Speaking of intensions, there was a fine number of jumping to conclusions on the specials board and we all know where that can leave us? Assumptions were a much talked about thread weaving through the narrative but it lead to some of the most heartfelt poignant moments that this book had to offer.

So emerald eyes aside, this story delivered on the character creations on every level. Sophie was something special and I was simply drooling over each culinary delight wafting off the page. I swear I've gained weight just reading about these tantalising treats....or maybe it was the left over easter egg I had a little snaccident with earlier 😁. I must say though that we were simply spoilt for choice on the testosterone front with not one, but two male, smouldering specimens at the heart of this tale. Be still my beating heart for Sam and Joe were definitely lead role material - but truthfully I was on #teamgreeneyes

The Secret Seaside Escape was everything I expected from a Swain story. It gave me all the romantic feels with the greatest first kiss to go down in history described to perfection. I'm hugely disappointed to have come to the end of such an all consuming story but I would like to know if my invitation is in the post for this year's Summer Solstice party? Or will social distancing prevail?

Simply amazing. This is my first book by Heidi Swain and it certainly won’t be the last.
This book was beautifully written and drew me in right from the start. I identified with Tess and became invested with her quest to rediscover herself and unravel her parents past. I felt my shock was quite possibly equal to Tess’s when her dad finally caught up with her and told her the truth.
So many heartfelt and beautiful story lines perfectly wrapped up together making this a simply beautiful read.