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WHERE THE HEART MEETS THE SEA
Twenty-nine-year-old Ella Nilsen has never known her parents—or even how her mother died. Raised by her emotionally distant Norwegian grandmother, Hilda, Ella has long accepted that the topic of her parents is off-limits. When Hilda passes away, Ella is shocked to find that her inheritance includes a summer cottage perched above the sea in a place called Lyngør, a remote island in Norway. To sell it, she’ll have to visit the cottage and take stock of what’s there—and maybe Lyngør holds the key to her mother’s mysterious passing, if she can get the locals to talk.
For as long as he can remember, Leif Arnesen, a thirty-four-year-old boatbuilder in Lyngør, has carried grief and shame from his father’s death, an accident that upended their small community. When Ella breezes into Lyngør looking for answers, her very presence stirs up old ghosts and earns her the villagers’ suspicions. As sparks begin to fly between Leif and Ella and their relationship blossoms quickly, everything Leif knows to be true threatens to capsize.
Perfect for fans of Jennifer Probst’s Our Italian Summer and set amid the rough and wild beauty of the Norwegian archipelagoes, Kimbra Drake’s Where the Heart Meets the Sea asks what happens when we’re forced to rewrite the stories that have defined our lives—and what we do with the next chapters.
“Drake conjures a deep sense of belonging to tell an emotional and heartwarming story of the search for family and the need to connect with the past in order to build a future.” —Jayne Ann Krentz, New York Times bestselling author
“Where the Heart Meets the Sea is a rich, emotional story that sweeps readers to the beauty of Norway, is full of family drama and romance, and has a heroine readers will cheer for.” —Jennifer Probst, New York Times bestselling author
“A richly atmospheric and emotionally layered novel, Where the Heart Meets the Sea sweeps you away to Norway’s wild coast, where love and mystery intertwine. With graceful prose and haunting depth, it’s a story about courage, renewal, and the secrets that can set us free.” —Julianne MacLean, bestselling author of These Tangled Vines
“Kimbra Drake's When the Heart Meets the Sea is a delightful novel filled with everything I love: secrets, a found home, a plucky heroine, a gorgeous backdrop of sea and sky, and some romantic twists and turns that I didn't see coming. I'm ready to move to Norway after reading this beautiful book of second chances.” —Maddie Dawson, bestselling author of Matchmaking for Beginners
“Where the Heart Meets the Sea is a beautifully atmospheric story that captures the captivating charm of Norway’s coastal landscapes. The island of Lyngør feels like a living, breathing character, and the author’s ability to transport the reader there is truly immersive. With themes of identity, family, and healing, the novel offers a heartfelt exploration of how the past can shape—and sometimes surprise—our future. A lovely and reflective read set against a stunning and unforgettable backdrop.” —Jennifer Moorman, USA TODAY bestselling author of The Vanishing of Josephine Reynolds
“Set against the breathtaking backdrop of coastal Norway, Drake brings the setting to life with crisp, atmospheric detail, guiding readers through a story filled with subtle twists, tender surprises, and an undercurrent of mystery. A heartfelt love story about finding belonging, healing old wounds, and opening oneself to the possibility of new love.” —Suzanne Simonetti, USA Today bestselling author of The Sound of Wings
“Kimbra Drake’s dynamic, heartfelt coming-of-age debut mixes family drama with romance in a setting that sparkles with nostalgia. It's the kind of story that gently draws in the reader, each page a soft reminder of a time close enough to remember but distant enough to long for.” —KJ Micciche, author of The Book Proposal
“When Ella's grandmother dies and leaves her a house on a private island near a small town in Norway, she embarks on a journey of discovery that takes her not only to the land of her ancestors, but also deep into a mystery surrounding her mother's death. Kimbra Drake has woven a beautifully atmospheric story of family secrets, romance, and self-discovery that will delight armchair travelers everywhere.” —Kerry Anne King, bestselling author of Improbably Yours
“Kimbra Drake’s Where the Heart Meets the Sea is a deeply moving exploration of identity, legacy, and the ways love can both wound and heal across generations. For readers who love novels like Our Italian Summer by Jennifer Probst or The Light Between Oceans by M.L. Stedman, Where the Heart Meets the Sea offers that same blend of emotional honesty, mystery, and breathtaking setting. It’s a book about rewriting the stories we tell ourselves about our parents, our choices, and the meaning of home. Ultimately, Drake delivers a story that lingers long after the last page.” —Los Angeles Book Review
“When Ella Nilsen inherits her grandmother’s seaside cottage on a windswept Norwegian island, she goes there from Colorado seeking closure. Instead, she uncovers the secrets her family left behind. With the help of Leif Arnesen—a quiet, intriguing boat builder bound to her past—Ella is drawn into a love story that unravels old mysteries and offers the chance to heal generations. Where the Heart Meets the Sea is a haunting, evocative tale of secrets, loss, and the journey home.” —Patricia Sands, bestselling author of the Love in Provence series
“Flott jobb (‘great job’ in Norwegian)! Ella Nilsen, an American who inherits her grandmother’s cottage on a remote Norwegian island, searches for answers in a page-turning story set in the land of the fjords. Where the Heart Meets the Sea is the memorable journey to Norway I have always wanted to take. —Marilyn Simon Rothstein, author of Who Loves You Best
“Kimbra Drake's deft eye for detail creates a captivating main character of the Norwegian archipelagoes, and the chemistry between and mysteries uncovered by Colorado-born textile artist and designer Ella and stubbornly loyal boat builder Leif linger with the reader long after the final page. Where the Heart Meets the Sea is a love affair of place, a compelling love story, and a love letter to family lost and found.” —Kelly Sokol, author of Breach and The Unprotected
“Kimbra Drake’s Where the Heart Meets the Sea is a deeply moving and gorgeously written novel that blends romance, mystery, and self-discovery in a setting as evocative as its characters are unforgettable. Drake’s prose is lush and immersive, painting the Norwegian landscape with vivid sensory detail—salt air, heather-covered hills, and the ever-present sea become characters in their own right.” —Steven Joseph, author of A Grownup Guide to Effective Crankiness and Cranky Superpowers