By 
Kimbra Drake, the Author of “Where the Heart Meets the Sea” has written a captivating and heartfelt novel. In this well written novel, the author describes the scenery, the setting, the story, and the colorful and dramatic characters. I love Kimbra Drake’s descriptions of Norway, the cottages, the sea, and how everything appeals to the senses. I also enjoyed the description of the various art describing nature and custom. The characters are complex, and complicated. The female protagonist Ella Nilsen has never met her parents. Her grandmother raised her in America. Ella has just opened a boutique and has rent to pay. When her Norwegian grandmother passes away, she finds out that she has inherited a cottage in Lyngor, Norway set by the sea. Ella’s grandmother would not talk much about her parents, and was secretive about this cottage. Ella is determined to sell the cottage, and go back home. As Ella is going through the cottage, she finds artwork from her mother and pictures. It seems Ella’s mother was very talented and what happened is a mystery that Ella is determined to find more information about. Ella does have a fear of the sea, and has a vest, and wears an amethyst for good luck.
Ella does meet other people from the area. Some of the people are not welcoming to her. Leif Arnesen is a boat builder and extremely creative as well. Leif ’s father was in an accident at sea, and was supposedly drunk at the time. Leif starts to help Ella, and shows her around. The two of them are attracted to one another. Leif helps Ella with her mystery to unlock the timeline of the past. They start to find secrets, betrayals, and danger. I highly recommend this memorable and thought-provoking book. There are twists and turns, and surprises.
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