Goddess Fish Review for “Sea Glass and Fireflies” by Kate Ellington

I am honoured to be part of the Goddess Fish Book Tour for Kate Ellington’s historical romance Sea Glass and Fireflies.

I am late with my review and apologize. Recovering from surgery three weeks ago was more of a challenge than I had anticipated.

(Please note: I received a free copy in exchange for my honest review.)

My Review:

From the beginning, I was drawn into this delightful historical romance. Kate Ellington has created very real characters, especially Elsie and Charles.

Elsie has lost her fiance and escapes to recover at her Uncle Max’s home. She reunites with Charles, her best friend from her childhood. As they reconnect, we are presented with flashbacks to the past and learn what happened to their friendship.

There is a mystery for Elsie to solve about Gabriel, her betrothed. And as she and Charles work together for her uncle, we can’t help but wonder whether there will be a second chance for them. There is grief and loss to face and then her feelings for Charles to work through.

I would highly recommend this historical romance, which gives us much detail of the time and an intriguing story to capture your imagination. Lovely writing, interesting characters and secrets to unravel make this a most enjoyable read.

Book Blurb

Elsie Hayward moves into her uncle’s seaside estate on what should have been her wedding day. All she wants is peace and quiet, and to escape the guilt that’s haunted her since her betrothed was lost at sea. Any hope of tranquility is dashed, however, when Charles Rockingham arrives in town. A lifetime ago they’d been best friends and almost more. If there’s one person she can’t hide her feelings from, it’s him. Charles hasn’t received a letter from Elsie in over a year. He returns home hoping to recapture the deep bond they once shared, but shadows of the past stand between them. One last secret must be revealed before they can find their way back to each other.

Excerpt:

Invigorated by the stirring wind, Elsie ran through the garden to the beach. It was her favorite kind of weather.

 When her feet touched the sand she let out a happy sigh. After walking for a few minutes, she reached a driftwood log as big as a tree, its roots and branches removed or washed away years ago. With the tide as high as it was now, the log was close to the shoreline. She sat down in the sand and rested her back against the cold wood, facing the sea. The full moon reflected on the dark, undulating waves.

 In the distance, the foghorn sounded. It was mournful yet held the sound of safety for those ships out on the water. She closed her eyes and listened to the gathering wind. Soon there came a new sound: rocks crunching under light steps. She didn’t have to turn to know it was Charles.

 He sat on the log, his knee almost touching her shoulder. “What are you doing out here, Elsie? A storm is coming.”

 “This has always been my favorite time on the beach,” she said, craning her neck to look up at him.

 “I know, and I’ve told you since we were children it isn’t safe.”

 “We’ll go in before the storm really hits.” She turned her face into the wind.

 “Are you ready to talk now about why you ran away?” Charles sounded like he was awaiting a confession.

 She traced patterns in the sand with her fingers. “I wasn’t running away.”

Author Bio and Links:

Kate Ellington grew up in a woodsy New England town where summer days at the lake seemed to last forever. She read her first historical romance at age eleven when a teacher challenged her to find a book in the library written by an author she’d never heard of. Thus began a life-long love of love stories.

After graduating from college with an art degree she settled in the Pacific Northwest, where she currently resides with her family.

Kate wrote her first romance when she was sixteen, then set her pen down for years until another story floated into her head out of the clear blue sky. She jotted it down, just for fun, but soon it took on a life of its own.

 https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/29720924.Kate_Ellington

 https://www.kateellington.com

 https://www.facebook.com/kateellingtonauthor