The Ghost of Seagull Cottage by Anne Allen

The Ghost of Seagull Cottage

 by Anne Allen

The Ghost of Seagull Cottage by Anne Allen

 was published on 14th May 2024 by Sarnia Press.

My thanks to the author and the publisher for sending me a copy to review and to Random Things Tours for inviting me to take part on the tour.

Synopsis

A haunting tale of love, loss and finding one’s place in the world

Widowed artist Annabel returns to Guernsey seeking a fresh start for herself and her young daughter away from her late husband’s controlling family. Seagull Cottage appears perfect, by the sea and with a low rent. The snag is it comes with a resident ghost, Daniel, a sea captain who died 70 years ago in 1946. He built the cottage and objects to anyone not family living there. He and Annabel have to come to terms with sharing what he still considers to be his home.

After a difficult start they begin to share their pasts and an unlikely friendship blooms, becoming deeper as they spend more time together. Annabel realises she’s falling for him but would she truly prefer a ghost to a real live man?

Blending elements of romance, mystery and the supernatural into a compelling tale about the power of human connection and presenting a modern twist on R.A. Dick's novel The Ghost and Mrs Muir and the classic movie of the same name.

My Review

Emotive, beautiful and restorative are the three words I would choose to describe this lovely story that is the ninth in The Guernsey Novels that Anne has written. Even though I have not read any of the previous stories in the series that does not matter as they are all standalones set in this beautiful channel island that many of us love visiting. The story is inspired by the classic film The Ghost and Mrs Muir starring Rex Harrison and Gene Tierney.

The story is a classic romance that will move you emotionally as their friendship for each other grows and becomes a relationship they both need in order to move on in life ( and death). I love Anne’s writing style and the ease at which she portrays the different characters in such as way to make you feel that you are part of Annabel’s ever increasing circle of supportive friends. Yes at times, it may seem a bit too easy for Annabel and she pursues her art and , more recently,  her writing, but at the end of the day this is a feel good story that actually restores your faith in humanity and allows you to escape into this world for a few hours.

I will be looking out for more of Anne’s books to read in the very near future as well as rewatching  The Ghost and Mrs Muir.

About the Author

Anne was born in Rugby to a Welsh father and an English mother. As a result, she spent many summers with her Welsh grandparents in Anglesey and learned to love the sea. Now she is based in Devon to be near her daughter and two small grandchildren. Her restless spirit has meant many moves, the longest stay being in Guernsey for nearly fourteen years after falling in love with the island and the people. She contrived to leave one son behind to ensure a valid reason for frequent returns. Her younger son is based in London - ideal for city breaks ☺

By profession, Anne was a psychotherapist who long had a desire to write and Dangerous Waters, her first novel, was published in 2012. It was awarded Silver(Adult Fiction) in The Wishing Shelf Awards 2012. Since then she has published six more books in The Guernsey Novels series; Finding Mother, Guernsey Retreat, The Family Divided, Echoes of Time- winner of The Diamond Book Award 2017, a finalist in Readers favourite awards and granted a Chill With A Book Award, The Betrayal, and The Inheritance, published April 2019. Her Previous Self. a Regency time-slip, is published 2nd August 2021.

To find out more about Anne visit her website - www.anneallen.co.uk

You can also find her on Twitter - @AnneAllen21