Praise for Secrets of the Shell Sisters
Enchanting, emotional, deeply moving - just wonderful
At one level, laced with deeply buried secrets, this book is an engrossing family drama. But it is considerably more than that – the three Morgan sisters’ lives are entwined with others, shaped by their differing experiences, with shadows from the past touching them all in different ways as they contemplate what the future might hold.
There’s romance in each of the sisters’ lives, second chances so perfectly handled – but often particularly emotional and complicated. There’s mystery and intrigue too – more layers to the story, all so clever woven together. And then there’s the touch and more of real Irish magic, and a few moments that do require some suspension of disbelief – and if you’re beginning to think “too much”, I have to say I absolutely loved every single moment.
There’s one particularly dramatic and otherworldly scene towards the book’s end that had me in tears – although there were elements to the story that I really hadn’t expected, I found the whole book entirely enchanting and deeply moving.It’s quite beautifully written, its perfectly described wild setting on the Atlantic coast integral to its highly original and compelling story. Emotionally, it’s absolutely perfect – and I can only urge other readers to give it a try, and hopefully love it as much as I did.
Magical
What an utterly amazing story this is! Just when I thought nothing could compare to book 1 in the series, Summer of Secrets, here I am, having spent the past few days in Rosshaven again, thinking I've read the best book for this year so far and longing to go back. Book 3 won't come soon enough.
A skilful writer tells an amazing story
This story has an individual beauty. It has a spiritual and mystical quality which is beautiful but for those who are more grounded in their beliefs, it is highly plausible. It’s a love story with a love for life and living with an intimate knowledge of a wonderful setting. The more I read the greater my love of the unusual characters which are so well drawn.
Brilliant!
Fantastic story, couldn’t put it down. A really good read!!
Magical tale of secrets, second chances and sisterhood
Set on Ireland’s ancient east coast, the Morgan sisters are in crisis. Cassandra runs the family hotel and it's struggling, as secrets from her past threaten to resurface making things worse. Greer is fleeing a failed relationship with a powerful man, but if she returns will she stay? And then there’s Orla - fey, funny and mysterious - insisting messages from the shells must heeded or what will become of them all?
A Sparkling Read
This book is such a brilliant read. The author has such skill in drawing the reader in and not letting her go until the last page. I loved all the characters - they seemed so real, as if I knew them personally! This is one of those books that you want to savour the delightful storytelling, but also keep turning the pages to the last to find out the conclusion. A fascinating story that will keep the reader hooked - I absolutely loved it. Easily a 5 star read and a book I can thoroughly recommend to curl up with particularly now the nights are drawing in. A wonderful bit of escapism. Well done Ms Vaughan.
Wonderful Characters – I felt like I knew them personally
This is such a lovely read. The sisters' relationships are so warm and caring that it made me wonder what it must be like to have a sister you get on with and how much I have probably missed being an only. Vaughan's weaving of the modern day and the otherworldliness of the sisters and their friends is masterful. It is not often I enjoy novels that factor in another place dimension, but I really enjoyed this. There is a subtle releasing of information and just when I thought I had figured everything out she surprised me in the nicest of ways. The pace is lively, the characters interesting, and the setting fascinating. Well deserved of my 5 stars.
Returning to Rosshaven was a delight, especially as this story, while fresh and original, is cleverly intertwined with characters from the first book, Summer of Secrets.
A beautifully written tale of relationships, lost love and second chances, laced through with a touch of Irish magic - so deftly delivered it feels as natural as the sea itself.
This is romantasy at its best and I loved it.
At one level, laced with deeply buried secrets, this book is an engrossing family drama. But it is considerably more than that – the three Morgan sisters’ lives are entwined with others, shaped by their differing experiences, with shadows from the past touching them all in different ways as they contemplate what the future might hold.
There’s romance in each of the sisters’ lives, second chances so perfectly handled – but often particularly emotional and complicated. There’s mystery and intrigue too – more layers to the story, all so clever woven together. And then there’s the touch and more of real Irish magic, and a few moments that do require some suspension of disbelief – and if you’re beginning to think “too much”, I have to say I absolutely loved every single moment.
There’s one particularly dramatic and otherworldly scene towards the book’s end that had me in tears – although there were elements to the story that I really hadn’t expected, I found the whole book entirely enchanting and deeply moving.It’s quite beautifully written, its perfectly described wild setting on the Atlantic coast integral to its highly original and compelling story. Emotionally, it’s absolutely perfect – and I can only urge other readers to give it a try, and hopefully love it as much as I did.
Magical
What an utterly amazing story this is! Just when I thought nothing could compare to book 1 in the series, Summer of Secrets, here I am, having spent the past few days in Rosshaven again, thinking I've read the best book for this year so far and longing to go back. Book 3 won't come soon enough.
A skilful writer tells an amazing story
This story has an individual beauty. It has a spiritual and mystical quality which is beautiful but for those who are more grounded in their beliefs, it is highly plausible. It’s a love story with a love for life and living with an intimate knowledge of a wonderful setting. The more I read the greater my love of the unusual characters which are so well drawn.
Brilliant!
Fantastic story, couldn’t put it down. A really good read!!
Magical tale of secrets, second chances and sisterhood
Set on Ireland’s ancient east coast, the Morgan sisters are in crisis. Cassandra runs the family hotel and it's struggling, as secrets from her past threaten to resurface making things worse. Greer is fleeing a failed relationship with a powerful man, but if she returns will she stay? And then there’s Orla - fey, funny and mysterious - insisting messages from the shells must heeded or what will become of them all?
A Sparkling Read
This book is such a brilliant read. The author has such skill in drawing the reader in and not letting her go until the last page. I loved all the characters - they seemed so real, as if I knew them personally! This is one of those books that you want to savour the delightful storytelling, but also keep turning the pages to the last to find out the conclusion. A fascinating story that will keep the reader hooked - I absolutely loved it. Easily a 5 star read and a book I can thoroughly recommend to curl up with particularly now the nights are drawing in. A wonderful bit of escapism. Well done Ms Vaughan.
Wonderful Characters – I felt like I knew them personally
This is such a lovely read. The sisters' relationships are so warm and caring that it made me wonder what it must be like to have a sister you get on with and how much I have probably missed being an only. Vaughan's weaving of the modern day and the otherworldliness of the sisters and their friends is masterful. It is not often I enjoy novels that factor in another place dimension, but I really enjoyed this. There is a subtle releasing of information and just when I thought I had figured everything out she surprised me in the nicest of ways. The pace is lively, the characters interesting, and the setting fascinating. Well deserved of my 5 stars.
Returning to Rosshaven was a delight, especially as this story, while fresh and original, is cleverly intertwined with characters from the first book, Summer of Secrets.
A beautifully written tale of relationships, lost love and second chances, laced through with a touch of Irish magic - so deftly delivered it feels as natural as the sea itself.
This is romantasy at its best and I loved it.