Where the Sea Lavender Grows: A Novel

Elise, an artist grieving her son's death and struggling with a failing marriage, travels to North Norfolk to restore Marsh House, a historic coastal cottage. The house contains fading murals and paintings created by its former owner, Lilias Carter-Brown. As Elise works on the restoration with Sam, a carpenter, she discovers an old photograph that reveals a connection to Lilias's past. In 1939, as war approached, Lilias and her sister opened Marsh House as a refuge for London evacuees, including a young boy and his mother. Lilias develops an unexpected bond with Harry, the boy's father and an enlisted soldier preparing for deployment. When Harry disappears without explanation, it fundamentally alters the course of Lilias's life. As Elise and Sam investigate the mystery of Harry's disappearance, the restoration work becomes transformative for Elise herself, offering her a path toward healing, renewed love, and closure regarding both her own past and Lilias's.