Rachel Sweasey – författare

An epic story of love, loss and second chances, The Last Boat Home will captivate readers of Fiona Valpy, Lorna Cook and Hazel Gaynor.

1940: When Daisy, a paintress at the local pottery, looks out across Poole Harbour, waiting for the ‘little ships’ to bring the retreating soldiers home from Dunkirk, she prays her husband will be among them. But Alfie is declared missing, presumed dead, and Daisy must learn to live as a widow. Then a chance encounter with a French soldier throws Daisy’s life even further off course, with heartbreaking consequences that will span generations.

1996: Decades later, Felicity is just holding herself together after the sudden loss of her husband. Needing escape, she travels to a small seaside town in the South of France and is surprised to find a piece of home in the window of a small shop. How did a jug from her home-town’s pottery find its way to the Cote d’Azur? Seeking answers, she opens the door to the shop, and on the possibility of finding happiness after all hope seemed lost…

Boldwood Books are proud to support the RNLI and have pledged to donate to the RNLI based on sales of The Last Boat Home to support the work they do saving lives at sea.

Readers are loving Rachel Sweasey''s captivating debut:

''I was swept up by this beautiful story of love, loss and the courage of so many during WW2'' – Helen Parusel

‘I loved this dual time-line read. Set in the start of WW2 and present day it deals with loss and war and finding love when you don''t expect to ever love again. This was a great book and I highly recommend this one.’ Goodreads reviewer ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

‘Loved this book. I got totally immersed in the characters and their lives, loves and loss. The mix of fact and fiction and the two different time lines worked very well.’ Goodreads reviewer ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

‘A brutally honest account of how both men and women coped with the changes in their lives. This author writes so authentically about grieving that at times I simply had to stop reading. Anyone who has lost someone will immediately identify with the visceral pain felt by the characters. The settings were gorgeous and the descriptions of French food made me long to go back.’ Goodreads reviewer ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

‘Loved it, sadness and joy, ups and downs. Hope there will be a sequel!’ Goodreads reviewer ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

‘Fantastic read, was enjoyable – even cried at one part I felt I was inside the book.’ Goodreads reviewer ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A moving story of love and courage that will captivate readers of Fiona Valpy, Lorna Cook and Hazel Gaynor.

''Spanning continents and decades, this sweeping epic stole my heart'' – Renita D''Silva

1941: For the townspeople of Poole on the Dorset coast, the war feels like it''s right on their doorstep. And with more and more men leaving to fight, one fisherman’s daughter is determined to do whatever she can to help. Peggy volunteers to use her skills on the water to work with the flying boats alongside the RAF based in the harbour. But when she is asked to undertake a special mission, she will have to make a terrible choice – between her duty to her country and her only chance of happiness.

1998: Rebekah has travelled halfway around the world to take up a role on Brownsea Island. This tiny island off the coast of England is a treasure trove of natural wonder, but it still carries the scars of fighting. And when Rebekah discovers a lost letter from the war, hidden all this time, she becomes determined to deliver it, fifty years later.

But the idyllic Dorset harbour hides many more secrets, and Rebekah’s search for the truth will change her life in ways she never imagined possible…

Readers are loving Rachel Sweasey''s captivating writing:

''I was swept up by this beautiful story of love, loss and the courage of so many during WW2'' – Helen Parusel

‘I loved this dual time-line read. Set in the start of WW2 and present day it deals with loss and war and finding love when you don''t expect to ever love again. This was a great book and I highly recommend this one.’ Goodreads reviewer ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

‘Loved this book. I got totally immersed in the characters and their lives, loves and loss. The mix of fact and fiction and the two different time lines worked very well.’ Goodreads reviewer ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

‘A brutally honest account of how both men and women coped with the changes in their lives. This author writes so authentically about grieving that at times I simply had to stop reading. Anyone who has lost someone will immediately identify with the visceral pain felt by the characters. The settings were gorgeous and the descriptions of French food made me long to go back.’ Goodreads reviewer ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

‘Loved it, sadness and joy, ups and downs. Hope there will be a sequel!’ Goodreads reviewer ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

‘Fantastic read, was enjoyable – even cried at one part I felt I was inside the book.’ Goodreads reviewer ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A BRAND NEW World War Two novel of love, courage and family secrets from the BESTSELLING author of The Last Boat Home ❤️ Must-read for fans of Fiona Valpy and Lorna Cook!

''Spanning continents and decades, this sweeping epic stole my heart'' Renita D''Silva ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Paris, 1940: Marie-Claire steps into the Gare de Lyon, not knowing it will be the last time she''ll see her husband and son. Fleeing occupied Paris, she travels into the countryside of Normandy, and stumbles upon a chateau near Caen and a growing resistance movement.

Soon, Marie-Claire finds herself working in a cafe in the quiet village of Sainte-Mère-Église, where she tries to come to terms with all she has lost – but little does she realise that her presence in Normandy will change the course of history…

1998: Half a century later, Esther is returning to the Normandy village she visited as a teenager, seeking a break from her monotonous life. Back then, she''d fallen in love with a rustic farmhouse and the family that lived there – not least the charming eldest son, Jules Joubert.

But now, when Esther discovers an old annotated cookbook in the family kitchen, she begins to realise that the place she holds so close to her heart may hide more secrets than even the Jouberts realise...

What stories does the area carry? And could this trip change Esther’s life for ever?

Praise for Rachel Sweasey:

''I was swept up by this beautiful story of love, loss and the courage of so many during WW2'' – Helen Parusel

‘I loved this dual time-line read. Set in the start of WW2 and present day it deals with loss and war and finding love when you don''t expect to ever love again. This was a great book and I highly recommend this one.’ Goodreads reviewer ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

‘Loved this book. I got totally immersed in the characters and their lives, loves and loss. The mix of fact and fiction and the two different time lines worked very well.’ Goodreads reviewer ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

‘A brutally honest account of how both men and women coped with the changes in their lives. This author writes so authentically about grieving that at times I simply had to stop reading. Anyone who has lost someone will immediately identify with the visceral pain felt by the characters. The settings were gorgeous and the descriptions of French food made me long to go back.’ Goodreads reviewer ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

‘Loved it, sadness and joy, ups and downs. Hope there will be a sequel!’ Goodreads reviewer ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

‘Fantastic read, was enjoyable – even cried at one part I felt I was inside the book.’ Goodreads reviewer ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️