The Secrets of Trelenna House

‘Transporting and profoundly moving…this is a gripping, sweeping romance to break your heart.’ ―Amanda Geard, author of The Midnight House

‘A total treat…I was transported by this beautiful tale of sisterhood, family drama, war, and love. The Distant Daughter is an unforgettable read.” ―Jenny Ashcroft, author of Beneath a Burning Sky

Singapore, 1941: Singapore City lights up with explosions as the first Japanese bombs rain down. Until now, the war has seemed a distant threat for Issey and her friends, drinking and dancing at Raffles. But with the Japanese invasion looming, Issey knows she must leave. Mysterious, handsome Alex Cartwright has sworn he will see her to safety.

Cornwall, 2025: Nursing a broken heart, Lamorna flees her life in Singapore, returning to Trelenna, her Cornish family home. With ambitious plans to save and finance the crumbling house, her sister Zennor needs Lamorna’s help.

When Zach, a local archivist, suggests telling the house’s story through the family archives, Lamorna discovers a battered leather diary written by Issey, a young woman living a glamorous life in 1940s Singapore.

Within its pages, she finds the gripping story of Issey’s desperate escape. Fascinated by the links with her own life, Lamorna longs to know: did Issey and Alex survive the horrors of the Japanese attack on Singapore? And can their story of enduring love, strength and sacrifice inspire Lamorna to embrace a new life—and new love—at Trelenna?

The Distant Daughter is an epic, heart-wrenching, uplifting and utterly enthralling family story, perfect for fans of Santa Montefiore, Karen Swan and Kate Morton.

© 2025 by Lorna Cook. ℗ 2025 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.