The author of A Fall of Marigolds journeys from the present day to World War II England, as two sisters are separated by the chaos of wartime …She stood at a crossroads, half-aware that her choice would send her down a path from which there could be no turning back. But instead of two choices, she saw only one—because it was all she really wanted to see… Current day, Oxford, England. Young … day, Oxford, England. Young American scholar Kendra Van Zant, eager to pursue her vision of a perfect life, interviews Isabel McFarland just when the elderly woman is ready to give up secrets about the war that she has kept for decades…beginning with who she really is. What Kendra receives from Isabel is both a gift and a burden–one that will test her convictions and her heart.
1940s, England. As Hitler wages an unprecedented war against London’s civilian population, hundreds of thousands of children are evacuated to foster homes in the rural countryside. But even as fifteen-year-old Emmy Downtree and her much younger sister Julia find refuge in a charming Cotswold cottage, Emmy’s burning ambition to return to the city and apprentice with a fashion designer pits her against Julia’s profound need for her sister’s presence. Acting at cross purposes just as the Luftwaffe rains down its terrible destruction, the sisters are cruelly separated, and their lives are transformed…
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I loved this book. It’s told in a unique way (and I’m not talking about the dual-time aspect). I loved both Emmy and Julia in turn. My heart broke for each of them more than once. I was surprised when I learned about their mother and Emmy’s father in the Blitz. I was happy to see beauty rising from ashes. I was eager to reach the end with its …
Talk about oral histories! What a story!
This is the first Susan Meissner title I have read, and I couldn’t put it down. It broke my heart, but I loved it. I won’t look at wedding dresses the same way, and Castle Combe is my favorite Cotswold village. I was hoping to hear it mentioned, but alas, it wasn’t. However, I had no problem …
Loved the characters in the book. Their lives and emotions come to life page by page. Even the secondary characters add such strength to the book.
I’ve read this marvelous book twice now!
I seem to be drawn to novels set during World War II. I think it is because there are so many powerful stories of strength, survival, and resilience. There are so many lessons we can learn from these stories.
This book starts out in modern times, then flashes back to the real story set during the Blitz in London during the war. Two sisters were …
I could not put it down.
Historical learned a lot about the war with some romance as well.
I do like historical fiction this book kept my interest to the end I love it was sad but happy at times if you like historical fiction you will love this
I loved this book.
If you love historical fiction this has got to get on your to read list. Ww2 when London is attacked by Germany and how one family was destroyed but hopeful in the darkest of times. I have since become a fan of Susan Meissner’s books.
5 Stars
I’ve really been enjoying time-split novels and discovered Susan Meissner’s work. This book follows the heartbreaking lives of two sisters who are torn apart by the bombing of England during World War II.
The story begins with two girls being raised by a single woman who is less than optimal as a mother, and then brings the reader right into the …
Interesting & likable characters so you care about what happens to them.
“Secrets on a Charmed Life” is about the decisions people make and how it effects them and the people around them. Emmy has a dream for her future and knows from a young age what she wants to do with her life. Her dreams are within reach. But one night as, as bombs rain down on London, her perfectly constructed plans shatter. On a quest to find …
Loved!
I felt like I was an eye witness to England in world war 2. The writer really knew how to make Emmy/Isabel’s life come alive to me.
This was another enjoyable book by Susan Meissner. This particular aspect of the time period was something I hadn’t read much about, even though I have read many books about WWII; so it really kept my interest. The characters were well developed and interesting. The number of “near misses” was at the same time frustrating and believable. Stay …
love it!
This was a fantastic story! Great characters and so well written that I couldn’t put it down. I read it in two days and didn’t get much sleep because the story was so compelling I had to keep reading to find out what happened next!
Really enjoyed the characters and the plot, hard to put down once I started it