Where the Sea Lavender Grows

by Kitty Johnson

A woman restoring a historic cottage on the English coast uncovers a startling connection to the past in a haunting and bittersweet novel about art, loss, and love by the author of Closest Kept.

Elise, an artist grieving the loss of her son and a fracturing marriage, is in North Norfolk to restore Marsh House to its former glory, its walls adorned with the fading murals and paintings of its long-ago owner, Lilias Carter-Brown. Elise makes an immediate connection to the house, to Sam—a carpenter and a comfort—and to history itself when an old photograph draws Elise into Lilias’s heartbreaking past.

In 1939, with war threatening, Lilias and her sister turn Marsh House into a sanctuary for London evacuees—a young boy and his mother. But it’s the boy’s father, Harry, an enlistee soon to report for duty, with whom Lilias forms an unexpected and intimate bond. When Harry suddenly vanishes without a trace, it changes the course of Lilias’s life forever.

Now, as Elise and Sam work to solve the mystery of the disappearance, the restoration of Marsh House is bringing Elise back to life as well—to love again, to put her and Lilias’s pasts to rest, and to finally move on.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Historical, Mystery, World War II, British Literature, Ebooks

318 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication May 1, 2026

About the author

Kitty Johnson is an awarding-winning writer of emotional stories about empowerment and living your best life. She lives in Norwich, Norfolk in the UK, with her partner and son. Her novel Five Winters was awarded the Star Award 2024 by the Women’s Fiction Writers Association.

A nature lover, Kitty enjoys walking in the local woods and by the sea in Norfolk with her dog. Also an artist, she paints and makes collages in her studio when she has time. Kitty enjoys a challenge and once performed stand-up comedy as research for a book - an experience she found very scary but hugely empowering. Kitty has an MA in Creative Writing from the University of East Anglia and has also published as Margaret K Johnson.

Reviews

[Becky Bell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This quietly engaging novel, set against the salt marshes, lanes and tidal skies of Norfolk, stitches together the lives of two women separated by eighty years and bound by paint, loss and the slow work of repair. In the present day Elise, a mother and artist, raw with grief after the death of her son, tries to make sense of the world by restoring a body of work in a house once owned by Lilias, a gifted Norfolk artist. She becomes fascinated with an old photograph she finds of a young boy who looks very much like her son and is tenacious in her attempts to find out more about him. In the 1940s timeline, Lilias herself becomes a kind of salvific presence when she takes in David, an evacuee boy who unexpectedly flourishes in the countryside despite his actual mothers dislike of the place. The story flips seemlessly between the two timelines, cleverly revealing more of the mystery and keeping the reader hooked. The ending is truly satisfying...but no spoilers! I found it well paced and the beautiful descriptions of the Norfolk countryside really bring it alive. I loved both sides of the story, but Lilias's really stands out. There is plenty here to appeal to book clubs as the themes of grief and difficult family relationship coupled with the historial aspects of the war would provide plenty to discuss. This is another wonderful book from Kitty.

[Robin G · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved it, This is my first book from this author, I will be reading more of her books.

[Shawna Briseno · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Elise takes on a job restoring a WWII-era home, she has no idea what she’s getting herself into. At first it’s simply a project, a way to use her artistic talents. And yes, it’s a way to distract her from troubles at home…the recent death of her son as well as her increasingly troubled marriage. But it soon turns into far more than a DIY project. She finds herself drawn into a tale from the past. Someone, or something, is trying to get her attention. There’s unfinished business from decades ago, and it seems as if Elise is the only one who can help. This is a wonderful story. It has all of my favorite elements-historical fiction, WWII era, intriguing characters, alternating storylines and perspectives, and a bit of a mystery woven in. Five stars!

[Erika Bazzle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tragic, yet deeply touching. Where the Sea Lavender Grows explores a 70 year old family mystery, the devastation of war beyond the battlefield, and the fortitude of a mother.

“But that’s war, isn’t it? So much waste and injustice. So much loss.”

TW: infant/child loss

[Tiffany · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amazon Preview on Kindle

The story was good, I enjoyed it. I struggled with the obvious direction the twist was going in because the math was bad. The 2 timelines were about 60 years apart. Marie should have been Elise’s mother, not grandmother.

[Bea · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this book from First Reads, a free teview book. Thank you, Kindle Books.
The story is great. I just have a personal dislike of ghosts or supernatural, so I wish she could have told the story somehow without that. The ending was anticlimactic, but the story behind the house was very good.

[Jean-Francois Simard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Here are the 5 main takeaways from Kitty Johnson's Where the Sea Lavender Grows (major spoilers included):

1. Grief Can Create Unexpected Bridges Across Time and Generations: Artist Elise arrives at Marsh House in North Norfolk, raw from the death of her young son and the slow collapse of her marriage. While restoring the fading murals and paintings left by former owner Lilias Carter-Brown, she discovers an old photograph of a WWII evacuee boy who bears a striking resemblance to her lost son. This visual echo pulls her deep into Lilias’s hidden past, forging an emotional connection that helps Elise process her own unbearable loss. The novel tenderly shows how shared sorrow—across decades—can offer solace, understanding, and a sense of not being alone in pain.

2. Art Serves as Both Preservation and Revelation of Hidden Truths: The core of the story lies in the murals and paintings at Marsh House, which preserve Lilias’s story while gradually revealing long-buried family secrets. As Elise meticulously restores the artwork, layers of history emerge, mirroring how creative work can uncover emotional truths that words alone cannot express. The book celebrates art not merely as decoration but as a powerful, enduring medium that connects people, documents love and heartbreak, and allows the past to speak directly to the present.

3. War Forces Ordinary People into Extraordinary Acts of Kindness and Moral Complexity: In 1939, as WWII looms, Lilias and her sister transform Marsh House into a sanctuary for London evacuees, including a young boy and his mother. Lilias forms a deep, intimate bond with the boy’s father Harry—an enlistee heading to war—leading to forbidden love and life-altering consequences. The story portrays the quiet heroism and painful compromises of those on the home front: opening homes to strangers, navigating duty versus desire, and carrying secrets amid national upheaval, all while highlighting the human cost of conflict on personal relationships.

4. Healing Often Begins with Restoring What Has Been Damaged—Both Places and Hearts: Elise’s commission to bring the neglected coastal cottage back to its former glory parallels her own emotional repair. Working alongside carpenter Sam (who becomes a source of comfort and potential new love), she confronts her grief and marital fractures while uncovering Lilias’s heartbreaking choices and their ripple effects through generations. The narrative emphasizes that restoration—whether of a historic house, faded artwork, or a shattered life—is slow, painstaking work that requires patience, support, and a willingness to face uncomfortable truths before beauty and wholeness can return.

5. Love and Loss Are Intertwined, and New Beginnings Can Emerge from the Deepest Heartbreak: Both women grapple with profound loss—Lilias through wartime separation, forbidden romance, and its consequences; Elise through the death of her child and a fracturing marriage. Their stories converge around themes of maternal love, regret, and resilience amid the sea lavender–dotted Norfolk landscape. The bittersweet resolution suggests that while some wounds never fully heal, confronting the past, accepting help (from people like Sam or through discovered family ties), and choosing vulnerability can open doors to renewed purpose, connection, and a redefined sense of home and family.

Where the Sea Lavender Grows is a haunting, emotional dual-timeline novel set against the atmospheric North Norfolk coast. It weaves art, WWII history, grief, and quiet romance into a bittersweet exploration of loss, secrets, and the restorative power of place and creativity—perfect for readers who enjoy introspective historical fiction with strong emotional depth.

[Pamela McKenzie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great Love and Great Lose

An intriguing premise and beguiling story. Following lives so full and sadness and rich with hope. War and family, both bring pain and love.

[Mitzi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent excellent book!

I read a lot of books, and unfortunately many end up being disappointing in one way or another -- weak storylines, uneven pacing, or characters that don't feel real or are just plain stupid. Where the Sea Lavender Grows was a wonderful exception.

Kitty Johnson tells this story with warmth, depth and honesty. The characters feel genuine and their emotions ring true, which made it easy to become completely absorbed in the story.

This was one of those rare books where everything works -- the storytelling, the pacing and the emotional depth. A truly memorable read that I highly recommend.

[Simone · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really amazing story and super hard to put down. The only negative thing for me was that some of the plot twists or reveals were at times too obvious or easy to guess where you lose the shock value for the reader, but doesn't affect my rating because of how I view the novel in hindsight. There was also a small amount of grammatical errors (not referring to the dialogue from the novel, just the narrative portion), but they didn’t affect the ability to understand the story and it is prepublication, so it's nothing that would really affect the rating in my eyes.

(Spoilers now!!)

Overall I really loved this novel and enjoyed the dual-timeline style to compare and contrast Lilias and Elise. Some things in this novel were easy to guess far before they happened, and others caught me completely by surprise. I found myself getting kind of annoyed by it at times because I'm a sucker for a story catching me off guard (well... only if it's in a good way and not in a "and then he woke up" way), but thinking about the reveals in hindsight and comparing them to what we now know made me appreciate them a lot more even if I did guess them early on.

Now having read and thought about the novel, I think the best way I can appreciate it is by imagining that Lilias is our posthumous narrator. It makes me appreciate the structure of the novel more as if it were being told the way Lilias would want us to know.
And in reference to me being disappointed by not feeling shocked by a reveal or having guessed it already, in a way, I actually like that the majority of those were primarily meant for the characters in the book as they were happening (like Elise discovering the family connection between everyone in the room together) than for us as the reader to feel shocked/confused and then receive the explanation. I imagine it's how Lilas has felt, knowing what has happened, the context, and some of the nuance behind it, but wanting us as the reader to view it how she has, having already come to terms with the truth. Knowing what's coming and seeing how this growing character handles it and uses the experience to continue healing. Keeps you on the edge of your seat while still making you feel like you have wisdom of certain things and know what's going to happen as if you've already experienced it.

Since it's canon in the novel that Lilias, from beyond, is in some way communicating with Elise as her ancestor, it makes the motivation of her revealing all of this to Elise and inciting this reunion way more meaningful than it just being a bunch of supernatural events happening. Uniting her sister Ruth (who no longer had anyone in her old age) with her long lost family members, pieces of Lilias, to bring her comfort towards the end of her life. At the same time, helping guide her granddaughter Elise, who is very similar to Lilias, through the most difficult time in her life with the death of her child and her husband's year-long affair. Almost feeling like an opportunity to be the mother that Elise never really got to have (aside from her Gran), Lilias likely got closure from helping Elise navigate this grief in her life, giving her the motivation and purpose to move forward and heal. I don't think, from what we know, that Lilias tried to intervene much with Marie's life (supernaturally, at least like she did with Elise) likely out of respect for the decision she made to leave Marie with Nadine and allowing her to be the mother, yet still sort of facilitating a stab at Nadine for kidnapping her baby and for making David leave the safety of the Marsh House.

One other thing that I wasn't crazy about at first was the very ending. I had wished the final two chapters were flipped because of how the final chapter ends, with Lilas jumping out of the plane, and not with the museum conclusion and the reference to Charlie and the rainbows because it just makes it less satisfying than if Elise's chapter were to be the happy conclusion. BUT if we look at it again with Lilias as the narrator of the novel, she didn't get to have the satisfying ending of her story with her loved ones reunited. Her time in the resistance was the last part of her life, and is how her story ended, so it would make sense that she leave us as she was left. Having assumed a completely different identity and acting as a French spy with no ties to her past sort of makes it fitting that we don't get to know exactly how Lilias intervened with Elise's life, just the story of it and how she wanted it to be told since she was never able to tell it herself while she was alive.

Lilias being the narrator of the entire novel is a somewhat loose idea that I think would be fun to explore further. Honestly the novel could make for such an incredible thematic essay because there's so much you can pull and analyze from this in such a variety of different ways.

Thinking of some of the other reviews: I understand the feeling of plot convenience that some other people have mentioned where the events line up almost too well, but that's also sort of the point, especially if you view it from Lilias's narrative POV, going out of her way to directly relate her life to Elise's life to help Elise learn and grow and showing her how she understands her. Also, LGBTQ people have always existed, but as we see with people like Percy Cook, they historically could not be open with who they love or else they'd be risking their safety and public exile. Thankfully, Ruth has a loving and trustworthy sister who accepts her, so we are able to explore Ruth's feelings in a real, meaningful way as a gay woman in the 1940s. I greatly appreciate how the author never made Ruth and Gloria's love feel any less valid, important, or true than Lilias and Harry's love for each other.

[Marion Sheppard · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 strong stars. Where the Sea Lavender Grows is a dual-timeline novel that weaves together past and present through a shared place: a weathered seaside cottage called Marsh House on the Norfolk coast. One of its strongest elements is its evocative coastal setting. The windswept Norfolk landscape and the fragile beauty of sea lavender mirror the emotional tone of the story—quiet, melancholic, but ultimately hopeful. The house itself almost feels like a character, holding memories that slowly come to light.

In the present day, Elise—an artist grieving the death of her young son and struggling with a failing marriage—travels to restore Marsh House via paintings. The presence of sea lavender – both fragile and enduring – serves as a quiet metaphor for healing and renewal. As memories resurface, the narrative weaves between past and present, gradually revealing the emotional wounds the character carries and the relationships that shaped them. She becomes emotionally tied to both the house and Sam, a local carpenter who helps her. When Elise discovers an old photograph, she is drawn into the story of the house’s former owner.

That story unfolds in 1939, where Lilias Carter-Brown and her sister open their home to evacuees during the early days of World War II. Among them is a young boy and his mother—but it’s the boy’s father, Harry, who forms a deep and complicated connection with Lilias. When Harry mysteriously disappears, it leaves a lasting emotional wound and a mystery that echoes into the present.

As Elise uncovers what happened to Harry, her own healing journey begins. The novel gradually links both timelines, showing how unresolved grief and love can transcend generations. I found this book to be a nice respite among the other books I have read recently – and it was a featured book in the Amazon First Reads this month. Here we have a gentle, poignant historical novel that can appeal to readers who enjoy reflective, character-driven stories rather than fast-paced plots. It’s less about twists and more about emotional resonance – how people carry loss, and how healing can come from unexpected connections across time. While the pacing of the two time periods is not the same, the emotional threads weave them together in lyrical manner and keep the storyline moving forward.

[Maj · Rating 4 out of 5]

Where the Sea Lavender Grows by Kitty Johnson is exactly the kind of book you save for a quiet weekend—preferably by the water, or at least near a window where you can pretend there’s a moody coastline just beyond it. Highly recommend pairing with tea and scones…or anything that makes you feel like the main character in your own softly dramatic life.

This is a gentle, atmospheric story that moves between past and present, following a grieving artist restoring a coastal cottage and uncovering the life of a woman who lived there during WWII. It’s less about shocking twists and more about the slow, emotional unraveling of memory, loss, and connection across time. There’s a soft, slightly haunting quality. The story itself explores grief not as something to “get over,” but as something that reshapes the landscape of a life—much like the salt marshes that define its setting. The dual timeline isn’t just a storytelling device; it mirrors how the past lingers in the present, especially through art, memory, and family stories. There’s also a quiet but powerful commentary on women’s lives during wartime—the sacrifices, the secrets, and the way history often softens or erases their complexity. The slightly mystical element (the sense that the house and paintings “remember”) gives the story a soft, atmospheric edge rather than full ghost story energy—more whisper than apparition.

All in all, I find this book is not a “just one more chapter at 2am” kind of book (unless you’ve also committed to becoming a morning person overnight), but more of a “read a few chapters, stare wistfully into the distance, repeat” experience. Quiet, reflective, and a little bittersweet—perfect if you’re in the mood for something comforting with a touch of mystery.

[Chelsie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this story and really felt for Lilias and all her loss. Told through a dual time line Elise is an artist who was hired to restore House Marsh back to as close to its original coloring as possible. She is excited for this change and can hardly believe her luck when she gets there. There are murals everywhere and she cannot help but be honored to be the one to bring these back to life. A photograph of a boy has her captivated and she knows she needs to find out his story, it's part of this house. Lilias and her sister Ruth take in evacuees from London, a boy and his mother. David loves it at Marsh House but his mother cannot take another moment and heads back to London leaving him behind with the sisters. Setting into life with a child, Lilias can't remember the last time she was this happy. David has become like a son to her and with his father Harry making visits to check on David, they have formed a relationship as well. Lilias didn't think finding love once again would be possible and during another war but once again her heart is broken when Harry leaves one morning and doesn't return and David's mother sends for him. Elise feels this house is giving her answers and as she continues to find pieces of what happened during the war, it's her great grandmother who holds the key to everything that happened back then and the connect Elise has to Marsh House and the evacuee David that once was housed there. Absolutely loved this story! War, history, secrets, mystery, dual time line and romance all wound together. Thank you to the author for the complementary novel and to Suzy Approved Book Tours for another tour invite for this author. This review is of my own opinion and accord. I have added seeing sea lavender in Norfolk to my traveling bucket list!

[Linda Zagon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kitty Johnson, the Author of "Where the Sea Lavender Grows" has written a captivating and intriguing novel. The Genres for this novel are : Historical Fiction, Mystery, Suspense, World War Two, Romance, Magical Realism and Literature. In this well written novel, the author weaves two time -lines in England, and fits them together. Kitty Johnson vividly describes the devastation of war and separation of families, the scenery and landscape, and the dramatic characters. The first set of characters appear in the timeline of 1939. In England, children were often sent to less crowded areas away from the chances of bombs. Lilias Carter Brown and her sister reside in the Marsh House, and provide sanctuary for one family. The wife leaves her son, and her husband Harry comes to check on him. With tragedy and problems, both women have a difficult time, but are courageous and try to survive.

In present time, Elise, an artist, who has just lost her son, and has a dysfunctional marriage, is updating the original Marsh House. She meets other characters that each have their own problems. I love that in both timelines, there are two dogs, with their unique personalities. Elise notices Lilias's paintings, and subtle changes. It is almost like the house wants to tell her the secrets.

There are betrayals, tragedy, secrets, lies and twists and turns. I appreciate how the author discusses the importance of forgiveness, communication, second chances, family, friends, love, and hope. I highly recommend this novel.

[Marti · Rating 5 out of 5]

Where the Sea Lavender Grows by Kitty Johnson was a book I picked from Amazon’s first reads. I have seen the plants known as Sea Lavender and found them pretty, so I was enticed to read this novel. I had not heard of Kitty Johnson as an author, but will gladly read another book by her. The book takes place mostly in North Norfolk, England, near the marshes by the sea.

Lilias Carter-Brown’s home was Marsh House, and Elise (our main character) has been hired to restore the painting and art work. For Elise, it is a chance to stay away from her home and husband. She is struggling with her grief after losing her son Charlie to a long illness. Elise feels a connection to the house and to the original artist.

Lilias Carter-Brown’s story is told in a dual time line with Elise. Her story focuses on her time during WWII and the refugee David who stays with them. Lilias lives with her sister in Marsh House, as the war continues she begins painting on the walls of the House. She also becomes quite connected to David and his father Harry.

The dual time line allows the reader to draw conclusions and make inferences about Lilias and Elise. The story grabs you and the connections to Lilias and Elise allows the reader to root for them and to be surprised at some of the happenings. The book is a wonderful story that really tugs at your heart while allowing you to enjoy the story. Where the Sea Lavender Grows by Kitty Johnson was a really good read!

[Janine · Rating 4 out of 5]

A poignant story of two women whose lives are 80 years apart but become intertwined during an art restoration and a secret is discovered.

Elise, an artist grieving the death of her son and in a fractured marriage, comes to North Norfolk to restore the fading murals and paintings of Marsh House’s deceased owner, Lilias Carter-Brown. But it is an old photograph of a young boy that really triggers her interest.

This is a slight dual time line story: the period of 1939-1943 when Lilias was alive and present time when Elise is restoring the manor. In 1939 Lilias and her sister open their house to London evacuees. A family with a young son, David, arrive. Lilias is attracted to his father, Harry, who suddenly vanishes. In present time Elise and Sam, the manor’s caretaker, work to uncover what happened to Harry.

Part women’s fiction and mystery, this book is a story about grief, reawakening of self and appreciation for nature - the setting of the book is wonderfully described. The book is paced well as Lilias’s story is told. Her courage is an inspiration for Elise. There is such a sweet underlying tenderness to this story.

I’d like to thank NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for allowing me to read this ARC.

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars.

I got this book through the Amazon Prime First Reads giveaway, by an author I've never read before, and it turned out to be one that I had a hard time putting down. Its a story set in England in several time periods with two female main characters: 1939 with Lilias, a young woman who takes in an evacuee boy during the war, 2006 with Elise, also a young woman, this one an artist coming to restore the art murals in the house created by Elise, and present time. I enjoyed her writing style and would have rated this a 5 star but the similar names were so confusing that I always had to reorient myself to who and what time period each chapter would be. They even had similar dogs that I would get mixed up. I wondered why the end events with Lilias in the war were so rushed .... those in themselves would have made their own novel. At the end I was really confused when Gran and Nonna entered the storyline. Mostly however, I really enjoyed this book and am now hoping to read more by this author.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

An engaging read that pulls you in and doesn't let go. Elise is an art restorer and is off to North Norfolk for a job. She is trying to start "living.working" after the loss of her little boy and his bout with cancer. Elise and her husband Robbie are still struggling over the loss of Charlie. Once Elise is settled in at Marsh House, things begin to occur. The first question is why does this evacuee boy's picture resemble Charlie? Elise finally confides in Sam, the woodworker dealing with repairs on the house, about what has been going on with her drawings. As Elise and Sam try to unfold the mysteries of Lilias Carter-Brown, Elise begins to find strength in living once again. The mystery revolves around Lilias, her sister Ruth, David, the evacuee young boy they have staying with them, Harry, David's father, and Nadine David's mother; what really happened to them during WWII. The back and forth from the WWII era to the 2000's flows quite well and keeps you engaged in both eras with all of the characters.

[Rachel Woods · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautifully woven dual-timeline story, Where the Sea Lavender Grows balances past and present with a gentle, emotional touch. Moving between World War II and the modern day, the two narratives mirror and contrast each other in a way that feels deliberate and carefully crafted, gradually revealing the threads that bind them together.

The parallels between the two main female characters are clear early on - from their artistic talents to the echoes in their relationships - and it’s easy to start forming theories about how they might be connected. Even when the direction isn’t entirely obvious, the eventual reveal feels both surprising and earned, staying true to the characters rather than forcing a twist for the sake of it.

What stands out most is how seamlessly the timelines come together, building toward a satisfying full-circle ending that ties everything back with warmth and intention.

A thoughtful and engaging read, especially for fans of dual narratives and historical fiction with a modern link.

[Nathalie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to like this book. It started off so well, too. Halfway in, I found myself intensely disliking quite a few things, so the second half of the book was tiresome to get through.

The characters were not likable. They were quite shallow. The gardener’s appearance (Cook) was completely irrelevant and unnecessary.

The dialogue was juvenile and embarrassing at times. The plot was predictable. As someone who is a prolific reader of historical fiction, this book barely scratched the surface of WW2 events.

Why didn’t the author, whose bio says she’s an artist, describe the art restoration process Elise was doing? This was one of the main points of the book and should have been expounded on.

I also do not like books that push modern agendas - one of which served no long-term purpose for the plot.

This book was cringy is a lot of ways. I’m happy it’s finished. I’m also glad it was a free offering for the month through Amazon’s First Reads. I’ll be deleting it from my library without any guilt whatsoever.

[Malcolm Watson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful story of love, bravery and discovery.
Elise is an artist who is commissioned to restore paintings in Marsh House, a run-down house in Norfolk.
She is taken with the murals and paintings of it's long-ago owner Lilias and especially of one with a young boy in it who reminds her of her own son, Charlie, who had recently died. She sets out to uncover the story behind the face.
She discovers he was an evacuee during the second world war and together with Sam, another person helping to restore the house, she begins to unravel the whole story.
However, she has no idea were this will lead her; separation from her husband, love with Sam and a secret that has remained undisclosed for a generation. A secret that will effect her and her family in totally unexpected ways.

A very enjoyable read and highly recommended.

[Kaelee Dewit · Rating 2 out of 5]

There was a lot going on in this book, and it felt slightly chaotic. I usually enjoy a dual timeline, but for some reason it was hard to keep all of the characters straight. I also don’t enjoy reading books where the main characters are engaging in infidelity, no matter the reason. I was able to spot the final plot twist right away. I’m disappointed because the plot line was engaging and the book description had my interest piqued.

Ultimately, this felt like another book where the author used a woke checklist while writing a historical fiction novel. Infidelity and divorce? ✓ LGBTQ character? ✓ I skim-read the last half of the book and would have DNFed it and moved on if it hadn’t been an ARC.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

[Courtney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Where the Sea Lavender Grows is the fourth novel by Kitty Johnson I’ve read, and while I’ve enjoyed them all, this is my favorite. The unique North Norfolk countryside provides a beautiful setting for the intertwining of Elise’s story of healing from the loss of her young son in present day and Lilias’s caring for a young London evacuee boy during World War II who looked like him. I was completely drawn in to the world of Marsh House now and then, as well as the mystery of the two women’s unexpected connection. Interesting characters, love, loss, suspense, and the hope of second chances—it’s all in this wonderful, heartfelt novel. Thank you, Lake Union, for providing me an Advanced Reader Copy of Where the Sea Lavender Grows via NetGalley to review. All opinions are my own.

[Jean Lindholm · Rating 5 out of 5]

An entertaining, romantic story about living in the UK during the Blitz

Elise, an accomplished painter, is hired to restore the many murals and artworks in the former home of a deceased artist. The home is situated in the middle of a bog that is filled with lavender. As soon as Elise enters this house, she feels the vibe of the former owner. So, naturally the book goes back and forth between Elise's experience and that of Lilias, the former owner. Both women are surrounded by interesting characters - romantic interests, beloved little boys, and dogs. Both stories are engrossing and interesting, with a surprise ending. I really enjoyed this story which was not too long and ended very satisfyingly.

[Elise Skidmore · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book. It combines historical fiction (circa WWII) with family drama, unsolved mystery, and even a bit of ghost story thrown in for good measure. The characters are well drawn and come alive as you know them better. For me it was one of those books I was happy to pick up whenever I had the chance, even if I didn't have a lot of time to do it in. I would highly recommend this book--and have already to my close friends.

I would add there one of the main characters has lost her 10 year old son to cancer six months before the story begins. You learn this almost at the start, so it's not actually a spoiler, but if that is something that will strike a nerve for you on a personal level, you should be warned.

[Abbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Totally riveting

I chose this historical novel from Amazon's First Reads and am so very glad I did. I was introduced to a nation on the brink of world war. Everyday, kind, ordinary people were caught up trying to prepare for battles and bombs from Hitler's war machine. Evacuated from cities to protect them, children were released into the care of households far from anything to draw bombers there.

Twisted into the narrative is a modern day discovery hidden by decades and it's secrets. The timeline shifts were insightful and slightly spiritual happenings ramped up to stunning revelations.

No spoilers. It is best to let the story unfold itself to you one on one. I'll bet you have to read it now, right? Happy reading.

[Betsy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting tale of World War II, love gone right & wrong, a tale that long needed to be told.

I like the tying the past to the present. It wasn't woo woo but more spriitural
The story of Lilias and what happened after she and her sister Ruthie took in evacueees Nadine and her son David.
The restoration of Marsh House was also restoration of Elise on love, loss, and family.
It was necessary for Elise to let sorrow go and live in real world, as the decision of her great grandmother made to leave Marie in care of Nadine and defend her country. Perhaps Lilias felt it was her duty to country that Harry would have done if he had not been at Marsh House & Lavender Cottage.

[Nina · Rating 3 out of 5]

A dual timeline novel set in England in present day and during WWII. An artist is restoring wall murals in an old house that she feels curiously drawn to. She has "visions" of people who used to live there, draws them accurately, and seems to get messages from the long-ago artist who lived there. She sees a photo in the village of young evacuee who spent a couple years at the house during the war, and he bears an uncanny resemblance to her son who died 6 months ago. It was a fairly decent novel, although not the type I usually read, and I could have done without the goofy visions and sleep-painting. I did like the human relationships, however.

[D. Starr · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overlapping Lives

4.5 Stars
for Adult (mature) readers
Sex (very little detail)
Ghost (?)
Unnecessary same-sex relationship
Complicated, realistic characters
Setting - England WWII and Nowadays

Plotline:
An artist, Elise, whose young son had recently died of cancer, gets a commission to restore the murals of a woman named Lilias who'd died during WWII. Among Lilias's work were likenesses of a young boy who looked, eerily, like Elise's own son.

Personally, I became annoyed with some of the characters and events until the plot developments in the last part of the book. Then - an especially satisfying resolution.

[Helen H · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is Kitty Johnson’s best novel yet!
I loved every minute spent in the company of these characters and the North Norfolk sea marshes.

I adored Lilias; such an incredible woman. Strong and resilient in the midst of so much loss during wartime.
Decades later, Elise with her own loss and grief finds healing in the landscape and people connected to Marsh House, which was Lilias’ home for 40 years.
Both women talented artists whose lives are interwoven in such an enthralling and compassionate tale.

Where the Sea Lavender Grows is a perfect blend of historical fiction, dual timelines, mysterious discoveries, a picturesque setting, riveting characters and the most captivating storyline.