Tropes
Low Steam, Historical Romance, Titled Hero, Damaged Heroine, Politician, Miscarriage/Death of a Child, Angst Romance, Second Chance Romance, Redemption

The Plot
Oh boy, this was a hard book to read; it was sad and, personally, very relatable. Penelope and Vergilius spent a better part of nine years not communicating at all. I really wished that one of them would have seen reason. Nine years seems like such a long time to suffer with what they went through and with his family.

The Heroine
Penelope broke my heart. I can’t imagine being a new bride, dealing with overbearing in laws, a husband having new responsibilities thrust upon him, and suffering the death of a child. I was hoping she would have seen reason before he left the cottage, but it was even sweeter when she was finally able to read his letters. I wish she would have spoken up more for herself to him and his family.

The Hero
Vergilius broke my heart too! He lost his child and his dad shortly after, thus inheriting a TON of responsibilities. I only wish he had been more assertive with getting Penelope to come to him instead of just waiting for letters from her.

The Steam
This more of a heartbreaker than a love maker, but there was one scene which was just so so special.

Stand Out Moment
There were so many sweet moments between Penelope and Vergilius while they try to rekindle there marriage. ( )

I usually don't give a novella 5 stars. A Tryst by the Sea is an exception. Got this book today and devoured it, on the edge of tears the whole way. This story is all emotion and feeling.
Pen has decided to leave her husband of ten years but is shocked when Gill shows up at the same place where she hid away. Gradually, the reader learns what has changed a once happy young marriage into a sterile and strained relationship where the two don't know how to talk to each other.
Pen and Gill are lovely, both trying so hard when it looks like the marriage is doomed to failure anyway. The interference from his family is infuriating and just evil. It's a lovely story, one that I'll remember, filled with Ms. Burrowes trademark excellent writing. ( )

A Tryst by the Sea by Grace Burrowes
The Sirens Retreat Novella Quartet #1

The Sirens Retreat is a magical place to stay with the myth tied to it that if you spend the night there you will find your true love. Where better to go when love seems lost than back to the place you honeymooned, consummated your relationship, and believed would be the beginning of your happily ever after? Serendipitously Gill and Pen find themselves at The Sirens Retreat but will they find their true love…or not?

This is not an easy book to read because the couple suffered so much for nearly a decade. They were both miserable while wearing masks and putting their best foot forward socially. The reason for the years of pain are explained and not surprising but they were sad and made me wish that the two had been less circumspect, more forthright, and had not had to suffer silently for so many years.

I felt the author did well in sharing their pain and the reason for it and was thrilled that the two were finally old enough to know what they wanted and mature enough to honestly communicate with one another. And, those conversations were not always easy for them…or fore me as I read them.

I was thankful the story ended as it did and hope that later in this quartet of stories I will find out what Pen and Gill are doing with their lives since there was no epilogue.

Did I enjoy this book? Yes
Would I read more by this author? Yes

Thank you to Erica Ridley and Grace Burrowes for the ARC – this is my honest review.

5 Stars ( )