For years things have run smoothly at Cavendon Hall, with very few quarrels, dramas, or upsets among the Inghams and the Swanns. But since the end of World War II, things have changed. The Secrets of Cavendon picks up in the summer of 1949, with the new generation of the estate at the forefront of the scandal and intrigue. With romance, betrayal, heartbreak, and possible murder threatening to … threatening to tear them apart, the Inghams and Swanns will have to find a way to come together and protect each other in the face of threats they never could have predicted.
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I won this book from Goodreads giveaways. I was not required to give a favorable review. This was another wonderful story from Barbara. She writes such wonderful stories that draw you into the storyline and make you feel what the characters are feeling. I have read her other series which was based on Emma Harte and I love that she is mentioned in this story. This one is about the family after WWIII and how it was becoming harder for some of the English families to run large estates and still keep up with the taxes and other things that came after the war. This had a lot to do with the next generation of Ingram and Swans. I hope to be able to get the first 3 books in the series to give me more background on the family. But if you have read them, this book can stand alone and still draw you in.
Secrets of Cavendon by Barbara Taylor Bradford is fourth book in Cavendon Chronicles Series. It is June in 1949 at Cavendon Hall. Countess Cecily Swann Ingham is working to make the property profitable and for them to be able to pay the upcoming taxes. Lady Daphne objects to how commercial Cavendon Hall is becoming and decamps with her husband to Switzerland. Lady Cecily must now stay on at Cavendon Hall full time while managing her business, Cecily Swann Couture long-distance which has been struggling since the war ended. Lady Cecily decides to create a new collection using the gardens at Cavendon Hall as inspiration. Alicia Ingham Stanton is starting a new film and is taken by Adam Fennell, the associate producer. Can Adam be the love of her life? Victoria is busy doing photo shoots and is intrigued by her latest subject, Christopher Langdon. Lady Daphne’s family is worried about her health, but she is evading their questions. Life is never dull for the Swann and Ingham families. Come see how they are faring in Secrets of Cavendon.
Secrets of Cavendon did not feel as if it was written by Barbara Taylor Bradford. It lacked focus and jumped around from character to character (and kept introducing more people). The last 15% of the book was the most interesting. I was never pulled into the story the way I was with other works by this author (A Woman of Substance for example). Before embarking on Secrets of Cavendon, you need to have read the first three books in the Cavendon Chronicles Series (or you will be utterly lost in the beginning). The story dwells on Lady Cecily trying to keep the estate afloat. There is a lack of action until the end of the book when a murder occurs. Most of the characters lack depth, and they are all very similar (and felt fake). Many of them are superficial and do not add to the story. It is easy to predict how the book will turn out (it is expected). I found many of the same details repeated throughout the story (like filler) along with information from the previous books in the series. I do feel that Barbara Taylor Bradford accurately portrayed the financial woes that befell many great estates after World War II. Otherwise, I was not impressed with Secrets of Cavendon. I will hesitate before picking up another book by this author (she used to be one of my favorites).
I liked the book very much
Barbara Taylor Bradford brings us another timeless tale with Secrets of Cavendon.
Cavendon has its secrets that is for sure, but it also has strong family values and bonds that cannot be broken. Tragedy strikes and brings a family closer together, while dealing with a con artist and a failing business. All of these pieces of the puzzle keep the Swanns and the Ingrams pushing forward to keep their name in society rightly where it belongs.
Cecily Swann is the current head of the manor, overseen by Aunt Charlotte who is murdered later on because of the secrets that she keeps. Cecily runs a high fashion boutique that is slowly in need of assistance. The family steps in to help save the business while saving their name.
Alicia is another member of the family who is being stalked by an unwanted person. High in the picture world, she finds her happy ever after in unexpected places.
This book keeps you on your toes as to finding out what happens with each member of the family and how they overcome the secrets that they keep. All secrets are resolved with a bit of love and a lot of family trust. This book will keep you guessing from page one. I give it a solid four stars.