Single dad Mitchell Fisher has said a firm goodbye to romance. He relishes his job cutting off the padlocks that couples fasten to his hometown’s famous ‘love story’ bridge. Only his young daughter Poppy knows that behind his prickly veneer, Mitchell is deeply lonely – and he still grieves the loss of her mother.

Then one hot summer’s day, everything changes when Mitchell bravely rescues a woman who falls from the bridge into the river. He’s surprised to feel an unexpected connection to her, but then she disappears. Desperate to find the mysterious woman, Mitchell teams up with her spirited sister Liza to see if she’s left any clues behind. There’s just one – a secret message on the padlock she left on love story bridge…

Brimming with Phaedra Patrick’s signature charm and a sparkling cast of characters, The Secrets of Sunshine follows one man’s journey to unlock his heart and discover new beginnings in the unlikeliest places.

Published 14th May 2020 by HQ

Oh yes, I’m on a reading roll at the moment and have another FIVE star review for you today. I can’t stop smiling when I think of this book. It’s soul food, the perfect pick me up during these strange times. It is indeed sunshine in word form

Single dad Mitchell has turned his back on romance and has no qualms about his job removing ‘love locks’ placed on the city bridges by romantic and love struck strangers. Then one day while working on the bridge, a woman falls into the river below and Mitchell jumps in without thinking. Overnight he becomes a local hero and a focus for the cities romantics. But is Mitchell himself ready to move on and accept love once again?

Ah… Mitchell 💛 I loved this character so much! Prickly and lonely, his sad story broke my heart before the author kindly put it back together with such care. I can’t remember ever rooting for a character as much as I did for him. The other characters are equally as brilliant, from his nine year old daughter, Poppy to the adorable concierge, Carl and lovely, lovely Liza. I want to know these people and have them as my friends

The story is undoubtedly romantic, my heartstrings were in overdrive, but it never felt cheesy. In fact, there’s some pretty serious topics going on aswell as a bit of a mystery. Yet this is a book bursting with hope and inspiration. It’s about moving on, forgiving yourself and acceptance. I finished this book with a huge soppy smile and feeling completely uplifted. Warm and heartfelt from beginning to end, It was perfect!

Thanks to the publisher for my #gifted proof copy