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Borteen Secrets #1
The Girl on the Beach
Who is Harry Dixon? When Ellie Golden meets Harry Dixon, she can't help but feel she recognises him from somewhere. But when she finally realises who he is, she can't believe it because the man she met on the beach all those years before wasn't called Harry Dixon. And, what's more, that man is dead. For a woman trying to outrun her troubled past and protect her son, Harry's presence is deeply unsettling - and even more disconcerting than coming face to face with a dead man, is the fact that Harry seems to have no recollection of ever having met Ellie before. At least that's what he says ... But perhaps Harry isn't the person Ellie should be worried about. Because there's a far more dangerous figure from the past lurking just outside of the new life she has built for herself, biding his time, just waiting to strike.
256 pages, Paperback
First published January 22, 2017
58 people are currently reading
92 people want to read
About the author
Morton S. Gray
16 books12 followersMorton lives with her husband, two sons and Lily, the tiny white dog, in Worcestershire, U.K. She has been reading and writing fiction for as long as she can remember, penning her first attempt at a novel aged fourteen, the plot of which closely resembled an Errol Flynn film. As with many authors, life got in the way of writing for many years until she won a short story competition in 2006 and the spark was well and truly reignited.
She studied creative writing with the Open College of the Arts and joined the Romantic Novelists’ New Writers’ Scheme in 2012. After shortlisting in several first chapter competitions, she won The Choc Lit Publishing Search for a Star competition in 2016 with her novel ‘The Girl on the Beach’. She has gone on to publish a further five books with Choc Lit 'The Truth Lies Buried', 'Christmas at Borteen Bay', 'Sunny Days at the Beach', 'Christmas at the Little Beach Cafe' and 'Summer at Lucerne Lodge' She has stories in two charity anthologies 'Cosy Christmas Treats' and 'Sunny Summer Treats' both published by Choc Lit Publishing.
Previous 'incarnations' were in committee services, staff development and training. Morton has a Business Studies degree and is a fully qualified Clinical Hypnotherapist and Reiki Master. She also has diplomas in Tuina Acupressure Massage and Energy Field Therapy.
She enjoys crafts, history and loves tracing family trees. Having a hunger for learning new things is a bonus for the research behind her books.
She studied creative writing with the Open College of the Arts and joined the Romantic Novelists’ New Writers’ Scheme in 2012. After shortlisting in several first chapter competitions, she won The Choc Lit Publishing Search for a Star competition in 2016 with her novel ‘The Girl on the Beach’. She has gone on to publish a further five books with Choc Lit 'The Truth Lies Buried', 'Christmas at Borteen Bay', 'Sunny Days at the Beach', 'Christmas at the Little Beach Cafe' and 'Summer at Lucerne Lodge' She has stories in two charity anthologies 'Cosy Christmas Treats' and 'Sunny Summer Treats' both published by Choc Lit Publishing.
Previous 'incarnations' were in committee services, staff development and training. Morton has a Business Studies degree and is a fully qualified Clinical Hypnotherapist and Reiki Master. She also has diplomas in Tuina Acupressure Massage and Energy Field Therapy.
She enjoys crafts, history and loves tracing family trees. Having a hunger for learning new things is a bonus for the research behind her books.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
May 20, 2018
This is an excellent romantic suspense novel and I couldn't put it down. I managed to read it in just one day.
Ellie feels she recognises new headmaster Harry Dixon and when she finally works it out she's stunned by who he really is and so was I! Harry though, thanks to a head injury can't remember Ellie at all. To make matters worse her violent ex-husband is released from prison. I loved how all three lives are interwoven and how the events play out.
Lots of twists, the characters are great and I enjoyed the romance angle as much as the action and suspense. It all comes together excellently at the end. I think I have a bit of a crush on Harry myself!
A brilliant debut. I have the next release The Truth Lies Buried and can't wait to read it.
Thank you to Choc Lit and netgalley for this release
Ellie feels she recognises new headmaster Harry Dixon and when she finally works it out she's stunned by who he really is and so was I! Harry though, thanks to a head injury can't remember Ellie at all. To make matters worse her violent ex-husband is released from prison. I loved how all three lives are interwoven and how the events play out.
Lots of twists, the characters are great and I enjoyed the romance angle as much as the action and suspense. It all comes together excellently at the end. I think I have a bit of a crush on Harry myself!
A brilliant debut. I have the next release The Truth Lies Buried and can't wait to read it.
Thank you to Choc Lit and netgalley for this release
January 4, 2017
Morton keeps us guessing all the way through! Fabulous characters that I immediately liked and rooted for. Harry is a very complex character and Ellie wonders if she can trust him in view of his denial of their first encounter years before.
Ellie has her own problems as her ex husband is released from prison and the tension mounts. Her son is a fabulous character and so well written.
I really enjoyed the educational and mentoring side to the story. Very positive and made a lovely contrast to the darker main plot.
I look forward to more from Morton :)
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Ellie has her own problems as her ex husband is released from prison and the tension mounts. Her son is a fabulous character and so well written.
I really enjoyed the educational and mentoring side to the story. Very positive and made a lovely contrast to the darker main plot.
I look forward to more from Morton :)
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
January 8, 2017
Recently, I’ve had the privilege of reading some novels before their published date; my thanks to those who’ve been so generous to allow me to do so, you know who you are. Around two weeks ago, I was accorded the honour of being sent a copy of the author Morton S Gray’s debut novel ‘The Girl on the Beach’, published by Choclit.
I’ve read a few debuts over the years and obviously some are better than others. If you’re lucky, you’re left doing a passable goldfish impression with your mouth simply repeating, ‘OMG! OMG! OMG! Whilst some honestly leave you wondering how on earth they got published. This novel sits firmly, as in set-in-stone firmly, in the former category. I finished it last night and just sat there enjoying a special feeling…you know the one where you know, you just know that you’ve found a special author and you’re going to be ticking off the days on your calendar until their next release!
Those who read my reviews will know that I don’t tend to give much away about the plot, it spoils the twists and turns – and there are plenty here – that a good author will sprinkle around their work. Ms Gray’s story is as much ‘Suspense’ as ‘Romance’ and considering the subject matter, this is just as well. Because of this, I have to explain what I mean and tell you a little more of the story than I normally would. I prefer to concentrate on how the writer…um, writes.
Ellie Golden is an artist who’s recently moved to a seaside resort with her son Tom, but Ellie is a lady of secrets and her carefully planned world is turned upside down by the appearance of the new headmaster of Tom’s school, a gentleman who bears more than a passing resemblance to someone from her past she thought long gone, the mysterious Harry Dixon. Ellie is convinced she knows who Harry really is, whilst he’s just as certain that he doesn’t know who Ellie is. As a kind of status que is reached, Elli’s ex turns up and rarely have I so enjoyed someone getting their comeuppance so much. A tale of bluff and double-bluff which shows the best and worst of people, often on the same page, there is a satisfying ending for the protagonists, though not quite how you’d expect.
That doesn’t give too much of the plot away, but you need to be aware that this isn’t a piece of fluff. Yes, it’s a romance and a very well written and plotted one, but it’s so much more than that and is much more enjoyable for it. This is a novel which obviously took some serious research to bring together and the fact that generally everything holds and comes together so well to a satisfying conclusion, bodes very well for her future undertakings I look forward to reading them very much.
I’ve read a few debuts over the years and obviously some are better than others. If you’re lucky, you’re left doing a passable goldfish impression with your mouth simply repeating, ‘OMG! OMG! OMG! Whilst some honestly leave you wondering how on earth they got published. This novel sits firmly, as in set-in-stone firmly, in the former category. I finished it last night and just sat there enjoying a special feeling…you know the one where you know, you just know that you’ve found a special author and you’re going to be ticking off the days on your calendar until their next release!
Those who read my reviews will know that I don’t tend to give much away about the plot, it spoils the twists and turns – and there are plenty here – that a good author will sprinkle around their work. Ms Gray’s story is as much ‘Suspense’ as ‘Romance’ and considering the subject matter, this is just as well. Because of this, I have to explain what I mean and tell you a little more of the story than I normally would. I prefer to concentrate on how the writer…um, writes.
Ellie Golden is an artist who’s recently moved to a seaside resort with her son Tom, but Ellie is a lady of secrets and her carefully planned world is turned upside down by the appearance of the new headmaster of Tom’s school, a gentleman who bears more than a passing resemblance to someone from her past she thought long gone, the mysterious Harry Dixon. Ellie is convinced she knows who Harry really is, whilst he’s just as certain that he doesn’t know who Ellie is. As a kind of status que is reached, Elli’s ex turns up and rarely have I so enjoyed someone getting their comeuppance so much. A tale of bluff and double-bluff which shows the best and worst of people, often on the same page, there is a satisfying ending for the protagonists, though not quite how you’d expect.
That doesn’t give too much of the plot away, but you need to be aware that this isn’t a piece of fluff. Yes, it’s a romance and a very well written and plotted one, but it’s so much more than that and is much more enjoyable for it. This is a novel which obviously took some serious research to bring together and the fact that generally everything holds and comes together so well to a satisfying conclusion, bodes very well for her future undertakings I look forward to reading them very much.
March 6, 2017
I received a copy of this book from Choc Lit in exchange for my honest review. I absolutely loved this book. This story has it all, great characters, secrets, twists and turns, action, and romance. Wonderfully written, I look forward to reading more books by this author.
February 2, 2017
Reviewed at Keeper Bookshelf
Our past is always out there. Waiting. Perhaps to bring a comforting memory in times of need. Or perhaps to relive a nightmare we’d thought long buried and gone.
Ellie has built a new life for herself and her son. One that is far removed from the abusive man she was once married to, away from the beatings that left her now looking nothing like her former self. She’s established a new life here one that fits perfectly with who she is right now… beyond the nightmares of the past. Until she meets the new teacher at the school, a man who is vaguely familiar… until she realizes she’s seeing a dead man or should have been. It cannot be Ben, it simply doesn’t make sense. Yet the longer she’s around Harry the more certain she is that something extremely odd and perhaps dangerous is going on. For she remembers this man – but he obviously does not remember her, or the part her former husband had in his life.
The past rarely stays buried for long – and this time, it’s come back with a vengeance.
The Girl on The Beach is one of those stories that slowly washes over you as you see the past and the present come crashing together at your feet. I was easily swept up into Ellie’s world, and her fear, confusion and realizations about Harry. She knows who he is or was, but he has no memory of her whatsoever. Her need to protect herself and her son is strong, but Harry draws her in for so many reasons. It would be foolish to take the risk on this man, but she is sorely tempted.
I don’t believe I can say much more about the details of this story, for to do so would be to give away spoilers. This is a story you need to experience first hand. The tensions, underlying mysteries and the feeling of approaching danger is captivating and will grab your attention from the very start. Harry and Ellie share a past – but now can they take the risk of a shared future. With scenes that are tenderly crafted, at times frightfully real The Girl on The Beach is a striking debut story from Morton S. Gray. One that I can only hope is the first of many in a long, successful career.
*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley. That does not change what I think of this story. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*
Our past is always out there. Waiting. Perhaps to bring a comforting memory in times of need. Or perhaps to relive a nightmare we’d thought long buried and gone.
Ellie has built a new life for herself and her son. One that is far removed from the abusive man she was once married to, away from the beatings that left her now looking nothing like her former self. She’s established a new life here one that fits perfectly with who she is right now… beyond the nightmares of the past. Until she meets the new teacher at the school, a man who is vaguely familiar… until she realizes she’s seeing a dead man or should have been. It cannot be Ben, it simply doesn’t make sense. Yet the longer she’s around Harry the more certain she is that something extremely odd and perhaps dangerous is going on. For she remembers this man – but he obviously does not remember her, or the part her former husband had in his life.
The past rarely stays buried for long – and this time, it’s come back with a vengeance.
The Girl on The Beach is one of those stories that slowly washes over you as you see the past and the present come crashing together at your feet. I was easily swept up into Ellie’s world, and her fear, confusion and realizations about Harry. She knows who he is or was, but he has no memory of her whatsoever. Her need to protect herself and her son is strong, but Harry draws her in for so many reasons. It would be foolish to take the risk on this man, but she is sorely tempted.
I don’t believe I can say much more about the details of this story, for to do so would be to give away spoilers. This is a story you need to experience first hand. The tensions, underlying mysteries and the feeling of approaching danger is captivating and will grab your attention from the very start. Harry and Ellie share a past – but now can they take the risk of a shared future. With scenes that are tenderly crafted, at times frightfully real The Girl on The Beach is a striking debut story from Morton S. Gray. One that I can only hope is the first of many in a long, successful career.
*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley. That does not change what I think of this story. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*
January 27, 2017
It's that time of year again, beach reads—well I am an optimist! The girl on the beach ticks all the right boxes for a delightful romantic suspense. Harry/Ben is a hunk and Ellie is the talented seaside artist who suspects he's not all that he seems, but the truth of it is he can't remember.
I love books set by the sea, books with strong characters and even stronger plot lines and this ticks all the boxes - roll on Summer.
I love books set by the sea, books with strong characters and even stronger plot lines and this ticks all the boxes - roll on Summer.
January 31, 2017
I wanted to like Ms. Gray’s debut novel really badly. I really did. But, unfortunately, that did not happen.
The story is shallow and disjointed with far too many coincidences. For example, Harry just happened to come to be headmaster in the school where Ellie’s son attends. Also, there is not enough ‘meat’, and there are no twists or turns.
Another flaw is weak character development. There were only two leading characters (Ellie and Harry) and two minor characters (Mandy, her friend, and Tom, her son). Ellie came across as a very uninteresting and dreary person, and Harry was supposed to be an undercover drug cop, which was neither believable nor convincing. With some meaningful elaboration of the characters, some strong dialogue, and a great interplay between past and present, this could easily have been a remarkable romance about two people overcoming all obstacles in order to find happiness.
Many phrases were too contrived, like “he wanted to bury his fingers in her curls” or “her bare toes curled in bliss” or “Ellie added a few more tears to the moisture in the air”.
Often, there was very flimsy rationale. I, the reader, was supposed to believe that Ellie, who I felt was mousy and defenseless, was now trying to rescue her son from captivity by three thugs and did not care about waiting for help from the police. I get that she was trying to save her son, but her actions were too far out of character to be believable. This helpless woman now deciding that she suddenly had courage simply wasn’t credible.
My suggestions would be to develop a stronger character in Ellie, establish more details, find some problems/solutions to increase story tension, and invest more drama in some of the conflicts. On the plus side, the book was a quick and easy read.
The story is shallow and disjointed with far too many coincidences. For example, Harry just happened to come to be headmaster in the school where Ellie’s son attends. Also, there is not enough ‘meat’, and there are no twists or turns.
Another flaw is weak character development. There were only two leading characters (Ellie and Harry) and two minor characters (Mandy, her friend, and Tom, her son). Ellie came across as a very uninteresting and dreary person, and Harry was supposed to be an undercover drug cop, which was neither believable nor convincing. With some meaningful elaboration of the characters, some strong dialogue, and a great interplay between past and present, this could easily have been a remarkable romance about two people overcoming all obstacles in order to find happiness.
Many phrases were too contrived, like “he wanted to bury his fingers in her curls” or “her bare toes curled in bliss” or “Ellie added a few more tears to the moisture in the air”.
Often, there was very flimsy rationale. I, the reader, was supposed to believe that Ellie, who I felt was mousy and defenseless, was now trying to rescue her son from captivity by three thugs and did not care about waiting for help from the police. I get that she was trying to save her son, but her actions were too far out of character to be believable. This helpless woman now deciding that she suddenly had courage simply wasn’t credible.
My suggestions would be to develop a stronger character in Ellie, establish more details, find some problems/solutions to increase story tension, and invest more drama in some of the conflicts. On the plus side, the book was a quick and easy read.
May 2, 2017
Morton S. Gray's debut novel will blow you away! The perfect mix of romance, suspense and drama, I was at the edge of my seat throughout Ellie and Harry's story, desperate to uncover the truths that were hidden, and see my favourite characters safe in their new life.
'The Girl on the Beach' tells the story of Ellie, single mum to teenager Tom, who after an abusive marriage has uprooted her life to a new town in the hope to keep her and her son safe when her ex-husband is released from prison. But her newly created life is threatened with the arrival of the new headmaster at her son's school, a man who she knew and loved in another life as Ben, but who doesn't remember her, nor goes by that name.
I loved the will-they/won't-they storyline of Ellie and Harry, especially as we begin to see cracks in the life that Harry has created for himself, and Ellie starts to worry that she is clinging to the past. They were both strong characters who still had their flaws, which made me really connect to them. Ellie's determination to keep her son safe above all else made for some brilliant Mother/Son scenes, which were some of my favourites in the book. As well as seeing both Ellie and Harry grow as characters, it was Tom's development that I adored witnessing the most.
With some fantastic secondary characters, and a thrilling plot which will have you racing to the end, 'The Girl on the Beach' is a great mystery that you will still be thinking of long after you've turned the last page.
5 stars!
February 7, 2017
The Girl on the Beach by Morton S. Gray is amazing. The novel lures readers deep into a mysterious past and an even more mysterious present life. The future is shrouded in darkness and the unknown. If only the danger could be put behind them, life would be wonderful. A woman thought she lost her husband only to see him at an art exhibit. He is going by a different name and his appearance has been altered. He can't remember exactly who she is...but when he does, it will be hard to let her go again. Especially, when he finds out that he's been a father all this time...
Morton S. Gray has masterfully created a stunning plot. The tale weaves through an emotional rollercoaster and one of a mystery. Lives are once tangled up again...and it's only a matter of time to see where it all will go. I found it interesting. The attraction and detail Ellie felt towards Harry was a hook for me. It even made me curious. Who was Harry and whay did he make Ellie feel like she knew him...puzzling, enticing, and fun. The attraction from both Ellie and Harry is strong. Both want each other. Danger soon comes. Details from the past come spilling out and their lives are up in the air. The Girl on the Beach is a page turner. I couldn't stop reading it. Overall, I highly recommend this suspenseful novel to all.
Morton S. Gray has masterfully created a stunning plot. The tale weaves through an emotional rollercoaster and one of a mystery. Lives are once tangled up again...and it's only a matter of time to see where it all will go. I found it interesting. The attraction and detail Ellie felt towards Harry was a hook for me. It even made me curious. Who was Harry and whay did he make Ellie feel like she knew him...puzzling, enticing, and fun. The attraction from both Ellie and Harry is strong. Both want each other. Danger soon comes. Details from the past come spilling out and their lives are up in the air. The Girl on the Beach is a page turner. I couldn't stop reading it. Overall, I highly recommend this suspenseful novel to all.
February 4, 2017
Ellie Golden had finally found her place in Borteen; a place of comfort and stability. Owner of her own gallery, she spent her time painting and creating ceramic pieces to sell. She and her son Tom had escaped an abusive life with her ex husband, moved and adopted new identities in hopes of starting over. Tom had a difficult time making friends and fitting in, as did Ellie but they finally had seemed to be a part of a nurturing community. Judging the art show at the local high school, where Tom attended, Ellie is surprised at how young the new head master is. Harry Dixon. Harry is quite attractive and somewhat familiar to Ellie. His looks remind her of a long lost crush she once had. One that could not even be possible because the young man had died in a surfing accident.
Harry Dixon, the new head master at the local school is happy of the new phase in his life. Borteen, a new place, a
new start in his life. Harry has no recognition of Ellie though she acts as if she knows him. This is quite impossible
since Harry has never been to Borteen, has never met Ellie even though her finds her alluring he knows that it is for the better to keep things professional. Though his troubled mind nudges him otherwise, Harry remains to himself
and together with Ellie, they mentor some of the students at the local high school.
Harry Dixon, the new head master at the local school is happy of the new phase in his life. Borteen, a new place, a
new start in his life. Harry has no recognition of Ellie though she acts as if she knows him. This is quite impossible
since Harry has never been to Borteen, has never met Ellie even though her finds her alluring he knows that it is for the better to keep things professional. Though his troubled mind nudges him otherwise, Harry remains to himself
and together with Ellie, they mentor some of the students at the local high school.
January 20, 2017
The Girl on the Beach was a joy to read, with likable main characters that had a habit of staying in your head until you could sneak away to pick up the story again. When Ellie meets Harry Dixon, she has a distinct feeling they have met before, and boy was she right. Loved the twist which I did not see coming and how a tense plot line played out in a sleepy seaside town. Gray caught the atmosphere so well I could almost smell the salt in the air. This is a great debut that did not feel like a debut at all. Will definitely read more by this author.
March 5, 2017
I read most of this on the plane home from holiday - and it was the perfect escapist read for those end of holiday blues.
I enjoyed the building of tension through the book as Ellie and her son find themselves in danger. Back story was dropped in gradually so the reader was kept guessing about exactly what had gone before.
Recommended easy holiday reading.
I enjoyed the building of tension through the book as Ellie and her son find themselves in danger. Back story was dropped in gradually so the reader was kept guessing about exactly what had gone before.
Recommended easy holiday reading.
July 17, 2017
Totally enjoyed this book.. For me the first few chapter started a bit slow but that was probably because I really did want to know who Harry Dixon was and what connection he had to Ellie Golden.
Loved the storyline and it all heats up etc over the last number of chapters
It's a good read with some interesting characters.
Loved the storyline and it all heats up etc over the last number of chapters
It's a good read with some interesting characters.
March 1, 2017
Thrilling romantic suspense with a truly evil villain – I was rooting for the heroine from the word go and fell in love with the hero. And there is a wonderful cast of secondary characters too – really loved Nicholas! A great debut!
February 5, 2017
What an excellent first novel I could not put it down.
It's full of suspence and romance. Fabulous characters I think Harry Dixon is a woman's dream.
Can't wait for the next book.
It's full of suspence and romance. Fabulous characters I think Harry Dixon is a woman's dream.
Can't wait for the next book.
October 12, 2024
This is the debut novel by Morton S Gray and it’s an accomplished piece of work.
The story is a thriller with romance at its heart and I kept turning the pages as the intrigue that was keeping Ellie Golden and Harry Dixon apart gradually unravelled to reveal a shocking past that had moulded both of them into who they were now.
The suspense racked-up and the pace increased as the plot developed.
I will be buying more books by this author!
The story is a thriller with romance at its heart and I kept turning the pages as the intrigue that was keeping Ellie Golden and Harry Dixon apart gradually unravelled to reveal a shocking past that had moulded both of them into who they were now.
The suspense racked-up and the pace increased as the plot developed.
I will be buying more books by this author!
February 1, 2024
I really enjoyed the mystery aspect to this book, and I also like how it didn’t necessarily have a traditional happy ending where everything is fixed, and was more true to life, and that sometimes dangerous situation don’t resolve themselves. I actually also liked how the romantic storyline in this book developed..
February 7, 2024
One of the best stories I have ever read. I laughed and definitely cried! For me to sit down at breakfast and feel compelled to carry on reading is just not me but there I was reading at every free moment, I was hooked from page 1, what a brilliant writer. Looking forward to reading more of the author’s work.
December 7, 2023
I was looking for Christmas themed mysteries and came across this author. Her Christmas novel is actually the third in a series so I started from the beginning (although they appear to be stand alone plots). Her books are light romance with a mystery sprinkled in. I really enjoyed this book! It was somewhat light, but it was well written. And there was a good mystery as a backdrop! I will continue to read this series. In fact I just finished the second. It was also good!
December 17, 2025
An easy read, predictable but enough going on to keep me reading.
February 20, 2017
This book contains all the ingredients needed for an enjoyable read. Interesting main characters, the beautiful setting of Cornwall, engaging dialogue and a supporting cast of three dimensional secondary characters.
But, The Girl on the Beach is so much more than just that. It is described as Romantic Suspense and the suspense will have you on the edge of your seat, turning the pages (or swiping the screen) to find out what happens next, so that all thoughts of going to bed/doing the housework/eating… are completely forgotten. And the romance part of the story is just perfect.
Ellie Golden has a secret in her past, and when she meets Harry Dixon, the new Headmaster of her son’s school, she knows she has met him before, but can’t remember where. Then she does. But the man she remembers is dead.
Ellie is an artist and a single parent who moved to the seaside town of Borteen in Cornwall to start a new life with her son, Tom, who is fourteen. Harry also has a secret past, but is suffering from memory loss. There is a certain time in his life that he can’t remember at all. When Ellie confronts Harry, he denies he has ever met her before but, despite the tension that this causes between them, they are attracted to each other.
The writer feeds us information about Ellie and Harry in small chunks. This heightens the tension and keeps the reader turning the pages.
When Rushton Jacobs, Ellie’s ex-husband is released from prison, he comes looking for her. Rushton beat Ellie so badly that she needed reconstructive surgery. Ellie found money that Rushton obtained through drug dealing, which she used to help her start a new life. Rushton wants the money back. When he arrives in Borteen he comes after her. Soon Ellie, Tom and Harry are in danger.
This story is told on two levels; the suspense of the danger they are in, and the romance that develops between Ellie and Harry. The present and the past are beautifully entwined in this story, giving meaning to the behavior of the characters and their feelings. Both Ellie and Harry have suffered physically but it is their mental scars that keep them tied to the past.
As well as the main conflict, the writer keeps us entertained with descriptions of life in Borteen and the activities of the minor characters, who also play their part in the action. Tom is convincing as a troubled, withdrawn teenager, who slowly comes out of his shell. Mandy Vanes is a close friend of Ellie’s and plays her part in the action. Nicholas is a disadvantaged school-boy who is good at art.
As the story progresses, the reader becomes increasingly involved in the lives of everyone in the book. It is a book you don’t want to put down, neither do you want it to end. A thoroughly absorbing read and one that stays with you for a long time after.
But, The Girl on the Beach is so much more than just that. It is described as Romantic Suspense and the suspense will have you on the edge of your seat, turning the pages (or swiping the screen) to find out what happens next, so that all thoughts of going to bed/doing the housework/eating… are completely forgotten. And the romance part of the story is just perfect.
Ellie Golden has a secret in her past, and when she meets Harry Dixon, the new Headmaster of her son’s school, she knows she has met him before, but can’t remember where. Then she does. But the man she remembers is dead.
Ellie is an artist and a single parent who moved to the seaside town of Borteen in Cornwall to start a new life with her son, Tom, who is fourteen. Harry also has a secret past, but is suffering from memory loss. There is a certain time in his life that he can’t remember at all. When Ellie confronts Harry, he denies he has ever met her before but, despite the tension that this causes between them, they are attracted to each other.
The writer feeds us information about Ellie and Harry in small chunks. This heightens the tension and keeps the reader turning the pages.
When Rushton Jacobs, Ellie’s ex-husband is released from prison, he comes looking for her. Rushton beat Ellie so badly that she needed reconstructive surgery. Ellie found money that Rushton obtained through drug dealing, which she used to help her start a new life. Rushton wants the money back. When he arrives in Borteen he comes after her. Soon Ellie, Tom and Harry are in danger.
This story is told on two levels; the suspense of the danger they are in, and the romance that develops between Ellie and Harry. The present and the past are beautifully entwined in this story, giving meaning to the behavior of the characters and their feelings. Both Ellie and Harry have suffered physically but it is their mental scars that keep them tied to the past.
As well as the main conflict, the writer keeps us entertained with descriptions of life in Borteen and the activities of the minor characters, who also play their part in the action. Tom is convincing as a troubled, withdrawn teenager, who slowly comes out of his shell. Mandy Vanes is a close friend of Ellie’s and plays her part in the action. Nicholas is a disadvantaged school-boy who is good at art.
As the story progresses, the reader becomes increasingly involved in the lives of everyone in the book. It is a book you don’t want to put down, neither do you want it to end. A thoroughly absorbing read and one that stays with you for a long time after.
September 28, 2017
Many thanks to Choc Lit, the author and Netgalley for the digital copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
Who is Harry Dixon?
When Ellie Golden meets Harry Dixon, she can’t help but feel she recognises him from somewhere. But when she finally realises who he is, she can’t believe it – because the man she met on the beach all those years before wasn’t called Harry Dixon. And, what’s more, that man is dead.
For a woman trying to outrun her troubled past and protect her son, Harry’s presence is deeply unsettling – and even more disconcerting than coming face to face with a dead man, is the fact that Harry seems to have no recollection of ever having met Ellie before. At least that’s what he says …
But perhaps Harry isn’t the person Ellie should be worried about. Because there’s a far more dangerous figure from the past lurking just outside of the new life she has built for herself, biding his time, just waiting to strike.
I really wanted to like this book and was excited to see all the 4 and 5 star reviews but I really couldn't warm to it. There were too many coincidences. like, Harry just happened to become the new headmaster in the school where Ellie’s son attends. There are no twists or turns.
The two main characters were not that believable. Ellie came across, to me, as a very dull and uninteresting person who at times seemed so wrapped up in her art. As for Harry, he was supposed to be an ex-undercover drug cop, with memory loss, which was not very convincing or believable.
I would have liked the style of writing better if there had been less of the "Mills and Boon" type lines - “her bare toes curled in bliss” or “he wanted to bury his fingers in her curls”. I curled my toes when reading these and it certainly wasn't in bliss!!
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Who is Harry Dixon?
When Ellie Golden meets Harry Dixon, she can’t help but feel she recognises him from somewhere. But when she finally realises who he is, she can’t believe it – because the man she met on the beach all those years before wasn’t called Harry Dixon. And, what’s more, that man is dead.
For a woman trying to outrun her troubled past and protect her son, Harry’s presence is deeply unsettling – and even more disconcerting than coming face to face with a dead man, is the fact that Harry seems to have no recollection of ever having met Ellie before. At least that’s what he says …
But perhaps Harry isn’t the person Ellie should be worried about. Because there’s a far more dangerous figure from the past lurking just outside of the new life she has built for herself, biding his time, just waiting to strike.
I really wanted to like this book and was excited to see all the 4 and 5 star reviews but I really couldn't warm to it. There were too many coincidences. like, Harry just happened to become the new headmaster in the school where Ellie’s son attends. There are no twists or turns.
The two main characters were not that believable. Ellie came across, to me, as a very dull and uninteresting person who at times seemed so wrapped up in her art. As for Harry, he was supposed to be an ex-undercover drug cop, with memory loss, which was not very convincing or believable.
I would have liked the style of writing better if there had been less of the "Mills and Boon" type lines - “her bare toes curled in bliss” or “he wanted to bury his fingers in her curls”. I curled my toes when reading these and it certainly wasn't in bliss!!
To read this and other reviews like and follow me at
https://crimeandmysterybookreview.wor...
www.twitter.com/crimemysteryboo
www.facebook.com/crimeandmysterybooks...
January 18, 2019
The Girl on the Beach Morton S. Gray
Review from Jeannie Zelos book reviews
I’ve read lots of books from Choclit, and really enjoyed them. Usually there’s a strong romantic theme running through, but with this one the romance is much more subtle, almost taking a back seat to the suspense part of the story.
I enjoyed this story, its a debut book and very well written.
Its not a story I’d re-read though. I didn’t get totally sucked in to it, you know how with some stories there’s that “can’t put it down” feel, and the characters seem as if they’re people you really know. Maybe with time that will come, certainly its a great start to a writing career.
I liked the characters but I felt they needed a bit more personalisation, more to make them special. Harry was a nice guy, but that’s it, just an ordinary bloke, and Ellie was a good mum, a talented artist but I never felt they had more of a connection than as just people living in the same village. I didn't feel much real attraction, no sensuality, no sexual attraction.
There were some nice touches, the school art competition and mentoring scheme which brought in some of the side characters in a good way.
The suspense side was good though the final wrap seemed a bit simplistic given all that had gone on in the past.
I think possibly that’s my main criticism, that there was lots of build up and then that final part just felt too easy, too simple, I found it hard to believe a seasoned criminal would use that place.
I would happily read more from this author, its a great start even though I felt there were weak parts.
Stars: Three and a half, a good debut story.
ARC supplied for review purposes by Netgalley and Publishers
Review from Jeannie Zelos book reviews
I’ve read lots of books from Choclit, and really enjoyed them. Usually there’s a strong romantic theme running through, but with this one the romance is much more subtle, almost taking a back seat to the suspense part of the story.
I enjoyed this story, its a debut book and very well written.
Its not a story I’d re-read though. I didn’t get totally sucked in to it, you know how with some stories there’s that “can’t put it down” feel, and the characters seem as if they’re people you really know. Maybe with time that will come, certainly its a great start to a writing career.
I liked the characters but I felt they needed a bit more personalisation, more to make them special. Harry was a nice guy, but that’s it, just an ordinary bloke, and Ellie was a good mum, a talented artist but I never felt they had more of a connection than as just people living in the same village. I didn't feel much real attraction, no sensuality, no sexual attraction.
There were some nice touches, the school art competition and mentoring scheme which brought in some of the side characters in a good way.
The suspense side was good though the final wrap seemed a bit simplistic given all that had gone on in the past.
I think possibly that’s my main criticism, that there was lots of build up and then that final part just felt too easy, too simple, I found it hard to believe a seasoned criminal would use that place.
I would happily read more from this author, its a great start even though I felt there were weak parts.
Stars: Three and a half, a good debut story.
ARC supplied for review purposes by Netgalley and Publishers
August 12, 2017
The title, The Girl on the Beach, and the gorgeous cover promise a certain amount of intrigue. I was surprised and thrilled by just how much intrigue Harry Dixon held for me. Harry stayed with me after the last page and does still. Proof of an immensely satisfying read. We have suspense, drama, a burgeoning romance that you are desperate to see flower but with so many obstacles in its path you wonder, how? Harry Dixon isn’t who he seems to be. Forced to change his identity after an undercover drugs operation that saw him a marked man, Harry can never reveal he was once Ben Rivers, the carefree surfer found beaten and supposedly drowned on a beach with no memory of how he got there; no recollection of the heated sex with the girl on the beach preceding his assault.
Single mother to teenager Tom, Ellie Golden remembers Ben, though, the man who touched her to the core. And Harry Dixon is too much like Ben Rivers for her heart or mind to ignore. After an abusive marriage that left her physically and emotionally scarred, her son traumatised, Ellie doesn’t trust easily. She certainly can’t trust a man, now headmaster at her son’s school, who isn’t who he claims to be. Nor can Harry trust Ellie with his secret even though her suspicions threaten to expose him. They both need to forget their former lives and move on, but the arrival of Ellie’s abusive ex-husband, a stark reminder of their shared past, isn’t going to allow that. There is another superb twist here, but … I think that would be a massive spoiler. I suspect you might have gathered that I was definitely intrigued and enmeshed in Harry and Ellie’s story hook, line and sinker. If you like your romance with a bit of bite, this is a book for you. Highly recommended.
Single mother to teenager Tom, Ellie Golden remembers Ben, though, the man who touched her to the core. And Harry Dixon is too much like Ben Rivers for her heart or mind to ignore. After an abusive marriage that left her physically and emotionally scarred, her son traumatised, Ellie doesn’t trust easily. She certainly can’t trust a man, now headmaster at her son’s school, who isn’t who he claims to be. Nor can Harry trust Ellie with his secret even though her suspicions threaten to expose him. They both need to forget their former lives and move on, but the arrival of Ellie’s abusive ex-husband, a stark reminder of their shared past, isn’t going to allow that. There is another superb twist here, but … I think that would be a massive spoiler. I suspect you might have gathered that I was definitely intrigued and enmeshed in Harry and Ellie’s story hook, line and sinker. If you like your romance with a bit of bite, this is a book for you. Highly recommended.
February 17, 2017
Ellie is an artist who has recently moved to a seaside town with her son Tom - she enrols Tom in his new school and gets the shock of her life - she knows the headmaster Harry Dixon - but it is impossible he used to be called Ben Richards and he is dead!
Harry does not appear to recognise Ellie - which is great news for her as she also has a past that she has escaped from but this catches up with her on the release from prison of her ex husband!
A great story with lots of intrigue that pulls you in right from the first chapter, there are some wonderful characters in it and it was a book that I couldn't put down until I had finished it. I will definitely be looking out for future books from this author
Harry does not appear to recognise Ellie - which is great news for her as she also has a past that she has escaped from but this catches up with her on the release from prison of her ex husband!
A great story with lots of intrigue that pulls you in right from the first chapter, there are some wonderful characters in it and it was a book that I couldn't put down until I had finished it. I will definitely be looking out for future books from this author
May 12, 2018
I loved this book - the combination of mystery and romance made this thriller fantastic. I couldn't put this book down.
A great start to the book which hooked me in straightaway. Beautifully descriptive, the tension builds up through the book with plenty of twists and turns to keep you guessing. Beautiful seaside setting. I loved the two main characters, along with a brilliant cast of supporting characters. A truly satisfying ending - I can't wait for the next book in the series.
An amazing debut novel, highly recommended.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
A great start to the book which hooked me in straightaway. Beautifully descriptive, the tension builds up through the book with plenty of twists and turns to keep you guessing. Beautiful seaside setting. I loved the two main characters, along with a brilliant cast of supporting characters. A truly satisfying ending - I can't wait for the next book in the series.
An amazing debut novel, highly recommended.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
December 6, 2020
This was one of the books I found during a recent trawl through my Kindle app to find books that had somehow slipped through the net. And I am so glad I found it because this was a really good read.
I loved the characters of Ellie and Harry and Ellie's son is particularly well drawn. I was intrigued by the blurb. Ellie meets Harry, a man she thought was dead. But he has no recollection of having met her. The story races along at a good pace. It's a real page turner and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
I have just downloaded The Truth Lies Buried, the second in the Borteen Secrets series and this one will definitely not sit unread on my Kindle for so long.
I loved the characters of Ellie and Harry and Ellie's son is particularly well drawn. I was intrigued by the blurb. Ellie meets Harry, a man she thought was dead. But he has no recollection of having met her. The story races along at a good pace. It's a real page turner and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
I have just downloaded The Truth Lies Buried, the second in the Borteen Secrets series and this one will definitely not sit unread on my Kindle for so long.
March 3, 2017
This is Morton’s debut novel, and a most accomplished debut it is too! The settings, the characters, the subtle but growing attraction between Ellie and Harry, and the gradual build-up of suspense were all perfectly judged – I grew to care about the characters very quickly and the seaside town of Borteen was easy to visualise.
This is an easy and enjoyable read – and calling it an easy read is not in any way derogatory. As Nathaniel Hawthorne said – ‘Easy reading is damned hard writing’. Well done, Morton – I can’t wait to read more about Borteen and its inhabitants.
This is an easy and enjoyable read – and calling it an easy read is not in any way derogatory. As Nathaniel Hawthorne said – ‘Easy reading is damned hard writing’. Well done, Morton – I can’t wait to read more about Borteen and its inhabitants.
October 9, 2018
I don’t often read romantic suspense but I am so pleased I picked this book up; it had me hooked right from the start. It is well paced, the characters were likeable – I’m a little in love with Harry Dixon – and the story gripping. I read it over a couple of days. From the early revelations in the book to the action packed ending the story holds you, transporting you to Borteen Bay and into the complex lives of Ellie and Harry. Having said I don’t often read romantic suspense, I now can’t wait to read Morton’s second novel.
January 14, 2020
I really like the pace of this suspenseful story, that intrigues and gives partial answers just at what always felt like the right time. It also has characters to whom I easily got attached - not only Harry and Ellie, but also Ellie's 14-year-old son and even some of those who didn't have such important roles - and a setting I already liked, having read the series in reverse order (which doesn't make any difference). So... well, I hope no one asks me which book in the series is my favourite because I doubt I'd be able to decide.
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