SOLVED. Romance book about a woman who moves to a town by the beach with her baby girl and becomes a housekeeper for a young business man and fall in love. [s]

[Emma]

Hi there.

I’m hoping someone can help me remember the name of a book I read a couple years ago 2016 on holiday (but it was written way before that)I absolutely loved it and want to read it again! I can’t remeber much but this is what I have..

A young woman and her daughter (toddler age) move to a village/town that is near a beach. She had lost her job and found one as a house keeper (or looking after a house) whilst a young business man goes away on his business trips. He designs and builds bridges for his job.

At first he hates the fact a young woman and her toddler are living in his home but they grow on him and story short, they fall in love. I remeber things like her visiting his dad (or and old man) in a care home a lot and that she is scared of the beach because when she was little she found a human hand and it has scarred her for life. The young man has a dog. He also has a secret lover who he visits on his business trips which causes a ‘heartache’ throughout the book but then he stops.He lives in a beautiful, old house. She is scared of heights and and the end he proposes to her on one of the bridges he designed.

I can’t remeber any names, places etc and I know it’s vague but I’m hoping someone has read it too! Thanks x

[Mai]

Maybe Secrets by Freya North? (paperback published in 2012) Here are a couple of comments from readers that match your description:
Joe loves his life as he has a great job building bridges around the world, lives in a wonderful house in Saltburn by the sea, and has no dangling relationships. However, being away a lot, Joe needs a house sitter to walk Wolf, but she must respect his quiet. He advertises in the Cleveland Gazette. London manicurist Tess applies for the position. She arrives for the interview with her eighteen month old daughter Em.

His journey from being the aloof commitment-phobe "player" to faithful one-girl-guy was very well done. There were moments which bothered me but which were ultimately realistic (I'm referring to his continuing with Nathalie even though he'd already begun something with Tess)

[Emma]

Mai, you’re a life saver, this is the book! Thankyou so much :)