On a lonely cliff beside the vast blue sea there is a house.In the house there lives a girl, and in the girl there lives a dream.Soon she’ll be as free as the fishes that swim beneath the water. But until then she bides her time and lives quietly, her every move ruled over by an uncaring, heartless stepmother.The hope for freedom is all she has to hold onto. So close she can almost taste it. But … she can almost taste it. But when her stepmother’s estranged younger brother comes to stay, he presents a mystery that lures her in.
The girl doesn’t understand that beneath the allure of the unknown sometimes all we find are horrors. And in searching for the truth, her heart is in danger of falling like a rock to the bottom of the deep dark sea.
Beyond the Sea is a standalone Gothic Romance set in modern times.
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I’m not usually a fan of gothic style romance, but I’ve read great books by this author before and I wanted to give this story a fair chance. I am so glad I did. The characters and the world they live in are well built, which help to being this story to life. I found this story to be dark and unique, with an air of mystery and modernity. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time, devouring every page.
Wow! L.H.Cosway really outdid herself this time!
Loved this story so much! Everything you could want in a story is there!
Estella is blessed or curse? You decide! Not everything you see is what it seems and that was my favorite part of this book!
Well done!
Five Hauntingly mysterious stars
As someone who typically gravitates toward lighter, sweeter, more emotional romances – I find myself an unlikely fan of gothic romance. There’s something so satisfying about the sort of eerie quality of these tales. I like to flirt with the darkness. I like to feel a little unnerved about what has happened that we don’t know about yet, and what might unfold over the course of the story.
Under the Sea was exactly like that for me. I gobbled it up! I was so interested in the story from the very first page. I was sucked right into the atmospheric, unsettling reality of Estella’s life. It read like a Cinderella story, but then it took a sharp left and left me rattled and surprised and a little bit shattered. This story wasn’t what I expected at all, but what an addictive ride it was!
I loved Estella and Noah’s relationship. I didn’t connect to it on an emotional level necessarily – their feelings weren’t something that I felt down to my bones – but I loved how they gravitated toward each other and balanced each other out. As pieces of their story unfolded, they took my heart by bits and pieces and when all secrets were unveiled and my heart was rocked to its core — I knew that I would never be able to let them go.
This is a little bit dark, a little bit creepy, but ultimately incredibly satisfying. I lost myself for hours in the compelling storytelling and the mesmerizing story. I enjoyed it so much, and definitely recommend!
Wow! This was an amazing, atmospheric read! Top Read 2020!
“I planned for everything, but I didn’t plan for you.”
Estella Shannon is counting down the days when she can finish school and escape from her stepmother’s cruelty. When her stepmother’s hitherto unknown younger brother, Noah Dylan, comes to stay, the landscape of her life begins to change as everything she thought to be true unravels as shocking revelations come to light bit by bit.
“The knowledge that he wanted me, that he burned for me like I burned for him, was unlike anything I’d ever experienced.”
This was such a engrossing read! The novel played out in my head like an old Hitchcock film. The author built atmosphere, eeriness and creepiness into her descriptions of the house. Estella was such a perfect name for a Gothic heroine! I loved her character. She was stoic, kind and strong in her faith. She was inexperienced and often confused by Noah but also really smart. He was a bundle of mystery and contradictions. He was clearly a bad boy but I adored his manner with Estella – he was protective and fascinated by her, and he pushed her to be braver. I loved the connection and sexual tension between them. It was thrilling and delicious, and all the little things made me sigh and my heart feel full. Such a fabulous read!
A slow burn, twisting love story with mystery, intrigue and dark, haunting undertones. I loved it!
Estella is 18, sweet, innocent and genuinely kind and caring but is desperate to finish school so she can leave her house of horrors. Living with her stepmother Vee, who has made her life miserable since her father died two years before, she can’t wait to escape. That is until Noah, Vee’s mysterious, alluring but troubled younger brother returns home and tips her world upside down.
This is a gothic style romance, set in Ireland. With supernatural vibes, is the spooky, dilapitated house by the sea hiding the secrets of it’s past in its walls, or is there an even darker force at work forcing their way into Estella’s dreams?
Beyond the Sea is very different to the other books I’ve read by this author, but no less enthralling. It’s hauntingly beautiful in its darkness – atmospheric, emotional, engaging and full of chilling, dark suspense. There are so many secrets being kept and the people are not always what they seem. Some very unexpected twists and utterly heartbreaking revelations kept me guessing until the end. It is a slow burn romance but that didn’t affect the pace at all. It built and grew, added to the tension and evolved into the most beautiful soul healing love.
I loved this story and with everything that happened, the ending was perfect and for once, everyone got exactly what they deserved………..
4.5 stars
This is quite an unusual romance for sure. As a modern gothic romance, it certainly lived up to my expectations. With an air of mystery and an undercurrent of something dark and dangerous always in the background of the story line, I was pulled into this book pretty quickly.
Estella is sweet and innocent but has been dealt a bad hand in life. She’s trying to hold on until she can finally escape from the home and life that has kept her captive. Written completely in her point of view it doesn’t take long to realize that she is more than a virginal teenager. Haunted by dreams that seem to have moved into her reality, we experience every emotion she feels as she processes what’s happening.
Noah kept me on my toes. I wasn’t sure how bad this bad boy was or what his ultimate agenda involved. No doubt he was delicious and the chemistry between him and Estella was always present but we didn’t really get into the heavy action until the last part of the book. His mystique is definitely what carries this story more so than the house or the heroine’s dreams. I didn’t mind.
This has lots of threads that lead to different revelations and I must confess, I never saw how this was all going to end. I absolutely loved how this all came together with a nice epilogue to tie it all up nice and juicy like.
What a story! You are on the edge of your seat from beginning to end. A beautifully intense love story. I recommend this book and this author. I received an Audible ARC from the author today and it was just as wonderful listening to it as well
***4 Stars***
I haven’t read much Gothic themed books, but whenever I imagine what a Gothic book should make me feel while reading is a feeling of foreboding with an eerie otherworld feel to it all while being excited and wary about what and how everything will be revealed and this baby hit the mark. It had all of that as well as a vein of hope, humor and redemption woven through it with a slew of unique characters that brought this world to life.
This is one of those books that the less you know going in, the better. So, I’ll be keeping things vague. I found all the characters intriguing. Each had their own unique battle going on and vision of how things should or shouldn’t be. The main protagonist, Estella, I liked even when I didn’t always agree with her choices ~ though to be fair, she is a teenager transitioning into new adulthood. Her life hasn’t been easy and yet she still has faith and hopes that her future will be brighter and is determined to make it happen.
I want to say more, I want to say more about HIM but as he is a pivotal part of all that is going on, I’m going to remain mum on it and simply say, he fascinated me. As for the mystery, I have to say it was well thought out and executed. I attempted to figure out just what was going on, and I got kind of close, but when everything was revealed, even I couldn’t have imagined all of that going on. There are some triggers in here that may make some uncomfortable and religion/faith is woven in, but all handled well and are necessary pieces of the puzzle.
~ Copy provided by the author & voluntarily reviewed ~
Beyond the Sea is a well-written haunting masterpiece of a book, I was immediately sucked in. L.H. Cosway painted such an amazing picture with her words I felt ill-at-ease, a dark sense of foreboding while reading. It’s not necessarily horror, but I definitely felt on-edge until the end of the last chapter into the epilogue (I felt physically lighter after one event in particular, but it’s potentially a spoiler). The characters were so well developed, it’s written in 1st person, so we only see Estella’s pov, my thoughts and feelings on the other characters were constantly changing as the story went on and secrets were revealed, I found myself really conflicted. The build of the story was perfect, slow, well thought out. This is a fantastic read, it has mystery, plot twists, a paranormal aspect, what it isn’t is light. It does have an hea, but it’s definite agony and work to get there. Highly recommend if you’re looking for something darker. Thank you to L.H. Cosway for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I will start out by saying I love L.H. Cosway’s “Rugby” and “Hearts” series and was so looking forward to reading her new book, Beyond the Sea.
Beyond the Sea is a Gothic romance set in contemporary times which provided a freshness to the story along with all the haunting chills, secrets, and mysterious aspects I love from a Gothic romance. Oh, this one completely drew me into the story, and I could not put it down until I’d gone through all the feels and learned all the secrets!
Thanks to the author for an ARC of the book in exchange for an honest review.
A dark tale filled with lies, horrific people, dark history, darker events, ghosts, coming of age, and love. This one twits at the heart strings. I loved it, it made me cry and cheer.
Estella is living in her wicked step mother’s home after losing her father. She is 18, just trying to graduate so she can collect her inheritance and find some happiness somewhere. In this house with the ghost of her loving father, her mean alcoholic step mother and sickly step grandmother, life is dreary. This is a house without love or hope, it’s dark and filled with nightmares. She finds solace in her religion as a devout Catholic.
Noah is a dark star 25 yrs old, her step mother’s younger brother. He walks into her world and everything changes. He is all shadows, darkness and mystery. He is an unknown and she is drawn to him. His story is in the pages, you don’t want me to spoil it.
This is a very different book from what I’m used to reading from this author. I usually love all her characters and and be can sure of a HEA. Not in this book, I really hated a few of them and doubted any happiness could come out of it. Estella, the main female character was a slow to love one. She was young, meek, and super religious, not my kind of girl. Noah was the darkness but it wasn’t like I’ve come to expect in many stories. Both of these characters were so new and fresh to read. Watching their stories unravel and the truths be revealed was sweet and shocking. They start so disconnected so unhappy and slowly they get closer, some sparks fly and yet there is something very wrong. The other characters were.. well I’m not going to say . There were very good at what they were. At the ned of the book I was so sad to see the story end. I will miss them.
Great story Ms. Cosway
Thank you to the author and the publishers for a review copy in exchange fro an honest review
Oh my word. I have no words! How can I review this story? Described as a gothic romance, and yes it most definitely is, but it’s so much more. A bit of a modern day Cinderella vibe, as, following the death of her father, Estrella is ridiculed by her stepmother, Vee. Until that is Vee’s younger brother returns after a10 year absence. Things really start to get interesting with both Noah and Vee hating their mother equally. Estrella cannot understand why they hold so much contempt for the sweet, harmless wheelchair bound grandmother figure that Estrelle helps to care for. Add into the mix a possibly haunted house, spiteful bullies at school, and her mixed feelings toward Noah, and it’s enough to mess with her head. Like Estella, I had no clue what to believe, because Noah kept her in the dark, never particularly explaining his actions and seeming to answer her questions with riddles. So many secrets, so much emotion, so much passion. Romance, suspense, angst, and a wonderfully addictive storyline make this book one of my favourite reads this year.