Secrets of the Lighthouse - by Santa Montefiore (Paperback)

About the Book

"Ellen Trawton is running away from it all - quite literally. She is engaged to marry an aristocratic man she doesn't love, she hates her job, and her mother...well, her mother is not a woman to be crossed. So Ellen escapes to the one place she knows her mother won't follow her - to her aunt's cottage on Ireland's dramatic Connemara coast. Once there, she is embraced by a family of aunts, uncles and cousins her mother never mentioned. Her imagination is captured by the picturesque ruins of a lighthouse where, five years earlier, a young mother died in a fire. Locals say she may have been murdered by her husband, Conor Macausland, who abandoned the his castle after his wife's death. Cutting all her ties chic London society, and therefore not knowing about the search for her that has begun, Ellen gives in to Ireland's charm, warmth, and romance, thinking her future may lie where so much of her past has been hidden. Meanwhile, Caitlin Macausland is mourning the future she can never have. After dying in the lighhouse fire, she is unable to move on. She watches her children and her husband, hoping they might see her, that she might feel their love once more. When Caitlin notices Ellen's arrival, she senses her world is about to change. Can she prevent it? Or can she find a way to freedom and happiness, the happiness she sees in the spirit of a little girl who, for some reason, also can't move on? The rugged coastline, tightknit communities, and ancient landmarks of western Ireland provide the backdrop for this story of two women seeking peace and the love they desparately need. For each of them, the key can be found in the secrets of the past, illuminated by the lighthouse"--

Book Synopsis

Set in Ireland on the wild coast of Connemara, this hauntingly romantic novel tells the story of a young woman who goes in search of her family's past and ends up discovering her future.

Ellen Trawton is running away from it all. She hates her job, she doesn't love the aristocratic man to whom she is engaged, and her relationship with her controlling mother is becoming increasingly strained. So Ellen leaves London, fleeing to the one place she knows her mother won't find her, her aunt's cottage in Connemara. Cutting all her ties with chic London society, Ellen gives in to Ireland's charm and warmth, thinking her future may lie where so much of her past has been hidden. Her imagination is soon captured by the compelling ruins of a lighthouse where, five years earlier, a young mother died in a fire.

The ghost of the young wife, Caitlin, haunts the nearby castle, mourning the future she can never have there. Unable to move on, she watches her husband and children, hoping they might see her and feel her love once more. But she doesn't anticipate her husband falling in love again. Can she prevent it? Or can she let go and find a way to freedom and happiness?

The ruggedly beautiful Connemara coastline with its tightknit community of unforgettable characters provides the backdrop for this poignant story of two women seeking the peace and love they desperately need. For each, the key will be found in the secrets of the past, illuminated by the lighthouse.

Review Quotes

"A love story with so many layers that perhaps it's best to call it a story about love."-- "Kirkus Reviews"

"A lyrical novel rich with ghostly beings, love, and loss set along the idyllic Connemara coastline of Ireland."-- "Publishers Weekly"

"A story of history, fate, and second chances...captivating, enchanting."-- "Booklist"

"With a brooding hero, dark secrets and a jealous, ghostly narrator, this modern gothic is a blood-tingling good read."-- "People"

About the Author

Santa Montefiore is a Sunday Times (London) bestselling author. Her books have been translated into more than twenty-five languages and have sold more than six million copies in England and Europe. She is the bestselling author of The Temptation of Gracie and the Deverill series, among many others. She is married to writer Simon Sebag Montefiore. They live with their two children, Lily and Sasha, in London. Visit her at SantaMontefiore.co.uk and connect with her on X @SantaMontefiore or on Instagram @SantaMontefioreOfficial.