Portobello Book Blog

Come Back to Me is the third novel by this author set on the fictional island of Seal in the Outer Hebrides. I have read both the others and really enjoyed them but this can be read perfectly well as a standalone novel, although you will spot some familiar faces if you have read the other two novels.

There are several key characters in this book whose stories overlap and intertwine. Grace is the island doctor who moved there from Edinburgh. She is single, has no children, and with past hurts buried deep inside, is afraid to entrust her heart to anyone. Matthew has recently come to the island and is burdened by guilt and grief following the death of his wife. He is trying to rebuild a life while feeling like he does not deserves one. Selena is a mysterious character appearing only to Matt, often at night. There is an ethereal, unreal quality about her and Matt feels strongly that she has a message from beyond the grave from his late wife.

In a setting familiar to Daniela Sacerdoti fans, we also meet Rose and Jacob in Glen Avich. Jacob is the adopted older sibling of Rose. Over the course of some years, we watch them grow and witness Jacob’s anger problems and Rose becoming fiercely protective of him. We see the effect Jacob has on Rose’s family and her life but it is unclear, and therefore intriguing, what their connection is to the rest of the story.

What always strikes me from the minute I begin reading a Daniela Sacerdoti novel is her beautiful, poetic use of language. Her creation of Seal Island reveals it to be a place of refuge, a place to heal, a place which works its quiet magic on the lost or lonely souls who find their way there. Her descriptions of the island’s wild and solitary landscape evoke a sense of beauty yet danger.

There is a lot of sorrow and heartbreak throughout this book. Your poor heart will be well and truly put through the wringer! Ultimately though, there is satisfying resolution to each of the storylines. Come Back to Me is a mystical, haunting and atmospheric read. It is a beautifully romantic story which will touch your soul.

My thanks to Anne Cater at Random Things Tours for my review copy of the book and inviting to be part of the tour. Come Back to Me is published as an ebook by Headline tomorrow and the paperback will follow in July. You can order a Kindle copy here: Come Back to Me

From the back of the book

Three separate lives. Three broken hearts.

Haunted by his wife’s death, Matt arrives on Seal Island determined to be alone and unable to escape his grief.

In the island’s hospital, a young woman named Rose lies in a coma, trapped by the memories of events leading up to her accident.

Grace, the island’s doctor, is at the heart of the community. Only she knows how much she regrets turning down the chance of love and a family years ago.

For these three people hope seems gone.

But life is about to offer an unexpected new beginning…

About the author

Daniela Sacerdoti is a phenomenon. Over one million copies of her novels have been sold in eBook, her debut novel WATCH OVER ME was the 8th bestselling Kindle book of all time in 2015 and she was also ranked as the 11th top-selling Kindle author. Daniela writes beautiful, haunting and bestselling fiction for adults (the Glen Avich series), young adults (the Sarah Midnight trilogy) and children. Her novels have been translated in twelve languages. Daniela was born and raised in Italy. She studied Classics, then lived in Scotland for fourteen years, where she married and taught in a primary school. Daniela’s children’s book Really Weird Removals.Com was shortlisted for the Scottish Children’s Book Awards. She has also written for the BBC. Daniela, her husband and their two sons make their home in a tiny village in the Alps. To discover more about Daniela and her world, visit http://www.danielasacerdoti.com.

Follow the rest of the blogtour