This was a beautiful adaptation of a type of winter wonderland setting with so much story in an intertwined dual timeline from World War 2 era to the present day.

We have the main characters, Veronica and Jack, who go through their own twists and turns in the UK, and then Veronica moves on to Paris, where she meets Irene and builds a beautiful friendship. There are many revelations during this timeline that only are discovered further on in the story by Romy and Richard, who are in the present timeline...

Romy who has set herself up to work on a beautiful little cottage in Pembrokeshire where there is now a bird sanctuary to write and gain some peace in healing after dealing with mental illness finds herself discovering much much more than she anticipated than just a connection with beautiful birds and scenery.

The narration for this audio was done by what sounded like an old cb radio type sound which was absolutely fitting and perfect for the timeline of Veronica however personally I'd have changed it for Romy timeline simply to help the listener immerse more with the cadence of the narrator in to each individual timeline as at times I did find myself pausing for a moment to figure out exactly where I was at. It was lovely to listen to it. It felt very like it took you back to how things may have been during that era!

Many thanks to Netgalley and MacMillan UK Audio for this ARC in return for an honest review.

I had read and enjoyed one of the author's previous books and I very much liked this one as well. Set alternately in the 1940s and present day, partly on a fictional island in Wales and partly in France during WW2, this was a great saga-style book with interesting, lively characters and an original plot.
The narration was good although there was a very tinny background in some chapters which was a bit offputting.
With thanks to NetGalley for my advance copy of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

In 1940’s England we are introduced to 17 year old Veronica, the daughter of a theatrical and quite well heeled couple, war is looming but it is decided that Veronica should still be allowed to attend finishing school in Paris. She is particularly keen to get away as she is harbouring a love for family friend Jack Bannock, a singer and actor who she soon discovers is in love with another man. In Paris she meets and strikes up a beautiful friendship with the slightly older more glamorous Irene.

Modern day, Romy seeks solace after years spent dealing with mental illness, and a yearning to rediscover her talent and finally get down to writing, she applies to the committee of a small island to use their cottage for a few months.

The island itself is not only remote, but it is the natural habitat for many species of birds, and is therefore protected and maintained by Richard.

The two women’s stories enter-twine in a beautiful way, infact Veronica’s father once owned the island, and whilst in hospital Romy discovers a film made there, hence a longing to be there.

What transpires is the unravelling of a mystery years kept under lock and key, there are several twists and turns along the way that make The Last Song of Winter a poignant and heartfelt winter read/listen.

The island setting is hauntingly beautiful, and considering my irrational fear of birds and the fact that the island is a sanctuary it was really quite something that I longed to be in that remote cottage.

I absolutely loved the sound quality of the audio, it was very fitting of the time for Veronica’s chapters, it would’ve been a nice touch if it had varied a little for Romy’s chapters I thought, but really that’s only my tuppence worth. Lovely job by the narrator.

Personally I feel that the synopsis could be tweaked very slightly to better fit the story, and perhaps garner more interest, but I rarely read a synopsis- I came back to it in a brain fog moment where I couldn’t remember the name of the stunning island. So again that’s me throwing my own opinions in when nobody asked for them.

Overall a very well deserved 4 🌟 jam packed full of heartache; loss, mystery and intrigue.

My thanks to MacMillan audio and NetGalley for the opportunity to review this ELC