This incredible debut historical novel—in the tradition of Beatriz Williams and Jennifer Robson—tells the fascinating story of a young mother who flees her home on the rocky cliffs of Cornwall and the daughter who finds her way back, seeking answers.Cornwall, 1940. Back in England after the harrowing evacuation at Dunkirk, WWII Red Cross nurse Anna Trenowyth is shocked to learn her adoptive … adoptive parents Graham and Prue Handley have been killed in an air raid. She desperately needs their advice as she’s been assigned to the military hospital that has set up camp inside her biological mother’s childhood home—Nanreath Hall. Anna was just six-years-old when her mother, Lady Katherine Trenowyth, died. All she has left are vague memories that tease her with clues she can’t unravel. Anna’s assignment to Nanreath Hall could be the chance for her to finally become acquainted with the family she’s never known—and to unbury the truth and secrets surrounding her past.
Cornwall, 1913. In the luxury of pre-WWI England, Lady Katherine Trenowyth is expected to do nothing more than make a smart marriage and have a respectable life. When Simon Halliday, a bohemian painter, enters her world, Katherine begins to question the future that was so carefully laid out for her. Her choices begin to lead her away from the stability of her home and family toward a wild existence of life, art, and love. But as everything begins to fall apart, Katherine finds herself destitute and alone.
As Anna is drawn into her newfound family’s lives and their tangled loyalties, she discovers herself at the center of old heartbreaks and unbearable tragedies, leaving her to decide if the secrets of the past are too dangerous to unearth…and if the family she’s discovered is one she can keep.
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Such an excellent story! Loved the story of both mother and daughter being told in present time. Great characters, great story. A must read!
This book was one that I could not put down. It tells the fascinating story of a young mother who flees her home on the rocky cliffs of Cornwall and the daughter who finds her way back, seeking answers.
Cornwall, 1940. Back in England after the harrowing evacuation at Dunkirk, WWII Red Cross nurse Anna Trenowyth is shocked to learn her adoptive parents Graham and Prue Handley have been killed in an air raid. She desperately needs their advice as she’s been assigned to the military hospital that has set up camp inside her biological mother’s childhood home—Nanreath Hall. Anna was just six-years-old when her mother, Lady Katherine Trenowyth, died. All she has left are vague memories that tease her with clues she can’t unravel. Anna’s assignment to Nanreath Hall could be the chance for her to finally become acquainted with the family she’s never known—and to unbury the truth and secrets surrounding her past.
Cornwall, 1913. In the luxury of pre-WWI England, Lady Katherine Trenowyth is expected to do nothing more than make a smart marriage and have a respectable life. When Simon Halliday, a bohemian painter, enters her world, Katherine begins to question the future that was so carefully laid out for her. Her choices begin to lead her away from the stability of her home and family toward a wild existence of life, art, and love. But as everything begins to fall apart, Katherine finds herself destitute and alone.
As Anna is drawn into her newfound family’s lives and their tangled loyalties, she discovers herself at the center of old heartbreaks and unbearable tragedies, leaving her to decide if the secrets of the past are too dangerous to unearth…and if the family she’s discovered is one she can keep.
It was a very good read. Not a 5 rating, but I enjoyed it, particularly as it juxtaposed one time period with a succeeding one very well.
I liked it. It gave a realistic picture of the periods in the book.
Liked the historical aspects. Descriptive.
This book took me across a broad spectrum of emotions – there were tragic moments, inspirational moments, and romantic moments. Those are the things it takes to figure out who one really is – beneath the name.
For lovers of WWI & WWII novels, this book will satisfy both. Cross generational, revealing family secrets, trials & triumphs, The Secrets of Nanreath Hall held me to the end. A very good read.
A glimpse at what it must have been like for the British aristocracy when there was no longer a place for them in society as they had known it. Even some of their children were protesting some of the old mores and traditions. We see this adjustment against the backdrop of both the first and second World Wars. The young women in this novel are particularly good at pushing the boundaries of convention. And knowing where they fit in.
It was an interesting juxtaposition of times during world war 1 and world war 2. Rules for women were very different. Some twists and turns in the plot.
A really captivating story. I couldn’t put it down.
Well written book. I couldn’t put it down till I finished it. I usually can figure out the story as I read but this one was a surprise till the end.
A heartwarming story of love and loss during two wars as the story flips back and forth between the mothers story and the daughters story both placed in war torn London and Cornwall. The heroine is placed by the war office in a nursing facility in her birthplace where she discovers facts about her birth family and herself.
Simultaneously set during the two world wars, the novel is historical with a touch of scandal that manages to evoke sympathy for even the least likable characters. The only drawback was the rather abrupt ending… perhaps to make way for a sequel. For me this story was enough as a stand-alone and the weak ending kept the rating from being five stars.
This book was written in the flash back/flash forward type of story telling, interesting, but not my favorite way to have a story told. However, this was done well. There are several twists and turns that helped move the story along.
Loved the characters, and plot with back and forth WWI to WWII. Very satisfying ending but was so sad to see it end!
Wonderful
This book may have been good historically, jumping between the 2 world wars, but, the character story is very predictable.
A good read for getting a sense of WWII privation, courage, and damage to people and property in Britain.
I liked the way the author moved between the different characters and times. The writing was smooth and kept my interest. As a nurse, I appreciated the picture of nursing during WW2.
I’m a sucker for English period novels, especially set in old manor houses . This one is good in that it keeps the reader guessing and rooting for the poor relation.