Romance, mystery and magic, with a touch of spine-tingling suspense …

LATEST NEWS:
Legacy of Secrets has been shortlisted for a Romantic Novelists’ Association’s Novel of the Year Awards 2026

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About Adrienne Vaughan

Adrienne Vaughan has been a writer since the age of seven, from the moment she first sat at the kitchen table, thumping out stories about ponies, witches, and unicorns on her turquoise Petite typewriter.

Today she writes award-winning, page-turning romantic suspense.

Adrienne’s first three books, The Hollow Heart, A Change of Heart and Secrets of the Heart – feature a feisty investigative journalist, a wilful West Highland terrier and a supporting cast of highly entertaining and eccentric characters; all set on a remote isle off the West Coast of Ireland.

Her latest novels, Legacy of Secrets, Summer of Secrets and Secrets of the Shell Sisters − are all spell-binding family sagas with a touch of Celtic magic and are based on Ireland’s Ancient East Coast.

Legacy of Secrets is a finalist in the Romantic Novelists’ Association’s Novel of the Year Awards 2026.

Adrienne’s first historical novel Mystery of the Midnight Madonna has just been shortlisted for the Historical Novel Society’s ‘First Chapter’ award.

Her collection of short stories and poetry, Fur Coat & No Knickers, was shortlisted for the Irish Carousel Prize for Anthology. Her short story Dodo’s Portrait was shortlisted for the Colm Tóibín International Short Story Award at the Wexford Literary Festival in 2018, and her short story Matilda’s Wings was runner up in the Society of Women Writers & Journalists Short Story Competition 2023.

All her books are enchanting, heart-warming, and uplifting tales of mystery and romance, laced with twists and turns, and many laugh out loud moments.

Brought up in Dublin, Adrienne lives in the English countryside with her husband, two spaniels and a rescue cat called Agatha Christie – ‘So-named because we never know who she’s going to kill next!’

Two of her favourite places in the world are the Wicklow Mountains in Ireland and the coast of South Devon, both great influences on her writing.

A former journalist, Adrienne ran her own PR practice for over 30 years, writing novels, poems and short stories in her spare time. From 2025 she decided it was time to take on what she considers the best job in the whole world, a fulltime author.

And although being a novelist has always been her destiny, she still harbours a burning ambition to be a Bond girl!

Sun, sea and spaniels – what more can a girl want? Adrienne with her beloved Wignell and Watson.

Award-Winning Romantic Suspense

Praise for Adrienne’s work...

    ‘These books are so well written that you fall in love with the characters and the island, and since the point of reading a novel is to become lost in a story, I can’t recommend this one highly enough.’

    Savvyshoppers Amazon US

    I enjoyed the stories, some of my favourites were; Fur coat and No knickers, A seed of Doubt and A visit at Christmas. From the poems I especially enjoyed A pink Day.

    Roses are Amber VINE VOICE

    A skilful writer tells an amazing story

    It’s a love story with a love for life and living with an intimate knowledge of a wonderful setting. The more I read the greater my love of the unusual characters which are so well drawn.

    Ros Rendle

    A gem of a collection. Read it!

    An absolute feast of enjoyment that I will read again and again!

    June Tate. Author

     Another 5-star enthralling romantic adventure

    the last of the Heartfelt Trilogy, is another enthralling romantic adventure, once started, difficult to put down.

    Mags Cullingford

    Compelling and magical story

    Long after you have finished this novel, and the credits roll, you will be thinking about the magic of this story and its layers of meaning, behind the scenes.

    Lady Bracknell

    Loved every moment…

    How gorgeous was this book? The story is just wonderful, moving from the cut-throat world of investigative journalism, through glamour, glitz and mayhem,and on to the perfectly-drawn setting of Innishmahon

    Welsh Annie

    Magical tale of secrets, second chances and sisterhood

    A beautifully written tale of relationships, lost love and second chances, laced through with a touch of Irish magic – so deftly delivered it feels as natural as the sea itself.
    This is romantasy at its best and I loved it.

    Lady Bracknell

    A TRULY MAGICAL JOURNEY

    Returning to the beautiful community of Rosshaven was a welcome treat. I loved my last visit and was thrilled to discover the some of the characters I had met previously were either there or mentioned. 

    This story revolves around Octavia Griffin and her connection to the pretty coastal town in Ireland. The prologue had me intrigued, introducing Jerome Nightingale, who has a magical relationship with the passing of time. I could write for hours about how this book left me feeling. A truly magical journey of love and a fierce sense of good triumphing over the not-so-good, and I was utterly immersed in this charming story. I look forward to reading future books in this series. 

    Barbara Wilkie − @BooksEscapeBlog

    GRIPPING AND EMOTIONAL ‘CAN’T PUT IT DOWN’ READ

    This is the third in a trilogy, inasmuch as the setting and some of the characters reappear. 

    The main character, Octavia Griffin, is set in her ways and is scared to do anything outside her comfort zone. When she ends up in Ireland following a letter from Jerome Nightingale, telling her she is in line to inherit from him, her life begins to change dramatically. Octavia’s whole outlook on life has to change, and with the help of some ‘magic’ and some intriguing happenings along the way, she eventually fulfils the prophecy.

    I loved this story, it was gripping, emotional and a ‘can’t put it down’ read.

    Mary Bate, proofreader & artist

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