The Secrets of Harbour House

By Liz Fenwick

A sweeping, escapist summer read set in Cornwall

‘Compelling, intriguing, romantic… deeply satisfying and emotional’ Santa Montefiore

‘A sweeping story of love, loss and finding the courage to be your true self’ Phillipa Ashley

‘A heartbreaking, addictive story told by the very best – a forbidden love that will break your heart’ Amanda Geard

‘A haunting story of love lost and love found set against an intriguing mystery that will keep you turning the pages. Entrancing!’ Sam Blake

‘Woven with mystery, this hauntingly evocative book is a work of art’ Clare Marchant

‘Cornwall AND Venice. What a perfect blend. History and Art, Poetry and Romance, Fenwick is a mesmerizing storyteller’ Pernille Hughes

****

When Kerensa is sent by her father’s auction house to catalogue a neglected house overlooking the sea in Newlyn, Cornwall, it’s a welcome escape. Once the home of two female artists, Harbour House is a treasure trove, but one painting in particular catches Kerensa’s eye – a hypnotically sensual portrait of a beautiful young woman which dominates the hallway.

Captivated and intrigued, Kerensa finds herself piecing together the enigma of Bathsheba Kernow, a fiercely talented young artist who left St Ives almost a hundred years before, eager to escape a society that wouldn’t understand her, and her sweeping journey from the underbelly of Paris to the heady luxury of Venice, where a chance encounter would change her life for ever, drawing her into the most dangerous and forbidden of love affairs.

For Kerensa, still reeling with a grief of her own and facing an uncertain future in love, Harbour House will have secrets that will change her life too, and in ways she could never have imagined…

****

‘Heartrending, captivating and compelling, from the very first page I was swept away by the story’ Fiona Schneider

‘Oozes glamour and elegance. Captivating from the first page’ Lorna Cook

‘Achingly beautiful, so evocative and moving. I was completely transported to Venice and Cornwall, and found myself thinking about the characters long after I’d put it down’ Emily Kerr

‘An utterly enthralling story of love, loss, hope and redemption. I adored it!’ Amanda James

‘A dazzling and heartrending story of love and loss full of exhilarating twists and turns’ Linda Wilgus

‘Rich, expansive, thoughtful and engrossing – I loved it’ Jane Johnson

Format: Paperback
Release Date: 17 Jul 2025
Pages: 384
ISBN: 978-0-00-860874-3
Price: £9.99, £9.99 (Export Price) , €None
Called ‘the queen of the contemporary Cornish novel’ by the Guardian, Liz Fenwick is the author of ten books, including the most recent The Secret Shore. She lives with her husband and two mad cats near the Helford River in Cornwall. When not writing Liz is reading, painting, knitting, plot walking, and procrastinating on social media.You can find her on X @liz_fenwick, Instagram @liz_fenwick, Facebook @liz.fenwick.author and TikTok @lizfenwickauthor.For more information or to join her mailing list visit lizfenwick.com.

Praise for Liz Fenwick: -

'Fascinating and complex… It’s beautifully researched and the life and landscape of the secret part of Cornwall around the Helford river gloriously evoked. What a pleasure to read!’ Rachel Hore -

‘A wonderful, evocative novel, brimful of atmosphere and tension, with an unforgettable heroine… With her meticulous research and brilliant storytelling, Liz Fenwick has once again swept me away. What a treat!’ Jenny Ashcroft -

‘Feel-good and beautifully written’ Woman -

'A beautifully researched, romantic read full of mystery and atmosphere, I loved it' Deborah Carr -

‘Liz Fenwick weaves intrigue and romance into this profound, luminous novel’ Woman’s Own -

‘Liz Fenwick has created a stirring tale of intrigue… The compelling and unusual love story at its heart… will sweep you away on dangerous tides’ Jane Johnson -

‘A gorgeous, sweeping novel, impeccably researched and threaded with mystery and romance’ Amanda Geard -

'A gripping, action-packed, love-filled odyssey… A must read this summer' The Star -

Readers are enchanted by The Secrets of Harbour House! -

'This was storytelling at it's best, Liz always finds a way to make you completely entranced in her books' (Five stars) -

'Good twists you did not see and a neat ending. Read it. Absolutely loved it' (Five stars) -