When Olivia Shaw’s mother dies, the sophisticated food editor is astonished to learn she’s inherited a centuries-old English estate—and a title to go with it. Raw with grief and reeling from the knowledge that her reserved mother hid something so momentous, Olivia leaves San Francisco and crosses the pond to unravel the mystery of a lifetime.One glance at the breathtaking Rosemere Priory and … Priory and Olivia understands why the manor, magnificent even in disrepair, was the subject of her mother’s exquisite paintings. What she doesn’t understand is why her mother never mentioned it to her. As Olivia begins digging into her mother’s past, she discovers that the peeling wallpaper, debris-laden halls, and ceiling-high Elizabethan windows covered in lush green vines hide unimaginable secrets.
Although personal problems and her life back home beckon, Olivia finds herself falling for the charming English village and its residents. But before she can decide what Rosemere’s and her own future hold, Olivia must first untangle the secrets of her past.
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It was easy to get caught up in this story. The characters had depth and nuance and the pace of the story flowed organically. O’Neal is one of my favorite authors and this book was a satisfying addition to my library.
Barbara O’Neal’s stories are always as beautiful as they are poetic. She possesses a writing style I admire and is an expert at weaving tales I can’t put down and crafting characters that, depending what they do, reward and frustrate. They are the best and stick around long after the final page. THE ART OF INHERITING SECRETS is a gem. Fans, new and old, will fall in love with the book’s layers and textures, and Olivia’s journey into a world she never fathomed belonged to her.
Mix Downton Abbey and Brideshead Revisited. Add a soupçon of Rebecca. Maybe even a pinch of The Crown to taste, and you will be in the right mindset for Barbara O’Neal’s The Art of Inheriting Secrets.
Family secrets, vivid relatable characters, slow-burn romance, gorgeous descriptions of places and people, and — Oh! — the food. Sexy, too. 😉
Now I ask you: What’s not to like?
One of many striking things about this book is how it’s lushly crafted. I could picture every detail of the setting as if I’d been plunked down in rural England. I could practically taste the coriander and other spices in the food described in the book (and frankly was disappointed not to be eating it). And I fell for Samir at least as hard as Olivia did. The characterization is so complete and vivid and fresh. I wanted to be their friend and learn more about them.
This is part love story, part mystery, but mostly it is a story about an already capable woman coming to know herself (and her mother) better as she solves the mystery of her family heritage and her deceased mother’s buried secrets.
I’ll remember this one for a long time. Do yourself a favor and pick it up!
I loved the main character’s ability to bounce back as one thing after the other hit her as she’s trying to get over a string of bad luck. Having to fight for your destiny is the best way to find true love. Amazing story.
If I could give this ebook AND Audible more than 5 stars, I would. The Audible was the best one I have listened to in a couple of years. Need to find more ebooks she narrated.
Olivia Shaw recently list her mother and discovered that her mother had a whole life she didn’t know about. Like her mother was a Countess and the heir to sprawling, estate called Rosemere Prior with a crumbling 37 room mansion. In addition, Olivia is recovering from a near fatal car crash that brought out the worst in her fiance, who she has been with 8 yrs. Not sure why she stayed with the jerk.
The best part, she’s the food editor of very trendy magazine. A true foodie. Olivia’s REAL soulmate is FOOD! I loved listening to the description of the food she eats as well as the way she describes the food taste. There is a all too brief encounter with strawberries that made me want to run out and buy them. And take a cold shower afterwards. Just kidding. And The village bakery has the most mouthwatering pastries I ever imagined. Especially the carrot cake, which Olivia didn’t try much to my disappointment.
Oh, and there are other people in the book, too. Olivia meets the family of the woman that Olivia’s grandmother brought back with her from India when she inherited the estate. She becomes especially close to the grandson Samir and his sister Pavi. They help her on her quest to discover why Olivia’s mother mysteriously vanished from Rosemere and came to live in San Francisco. Luckily there are people in the village that remember Olivia’s Grandmother, Mother and the Uncle she never knew existed. Can they help discover the mystery of Olivia’s family?.
Now, back to the food. The strawberries would have been great dipped in dark chocolate. Which Olivia did not seem to indulge in much to my disappointment.
I highly recommend this book and Audible. I had originally borrowed the book and bought the Audible. Right after I finished the book, it became available at a reduced price so naturally I bought a copy. I intend to read/listen to it again in the not too distant future.
Enjoy the book.
As someone who loves olf manor houses and English villages, I enjoyed Neal’s take on a woman who finds out her mother has been keeping a secret from her. It leads to a trip to England and finding out she’s inherited a manor house that needs lots of work. Includes a bit of romance with a hint of steam.
Olivia Shaw is astonished to find she has inherited a crumbling manor house in England that her mother never mentioned. Staying in the nearby small town, she meets people who are connected to the family she didn’t know and who hold the keys to their secrets. In the process of uncovering a long-ago tragedy, Olivia discovers her own way forward.
Perfect way to sweep you away.
A love story with a treasure hunt, family secrets and adventure! Great read!
So beautiful I am hoping for a follow up.
I am a huge fan of Barbara O’Neal and this book was no exception. She packed it with food, a fascinating English countryside setting, romance, family drama, and a female lead figuring out what her authentic life and self should be. (Yes there were a few unrealistic plot threads, but who cares when the rest of the strengths kept me turning the pages deep into the night?)
Barbara O’Neal’s writing is glorious: her descriptions are so sensual and beautiful that they take my breath away. Loved all the characters in this story. The smart, strong heroine discovers that her mother’s past was far different from what she believed. That past draws her in and changes her life in profound ways. The romance is gorgeous and hot. The secondary characters are vivid and fascinating. I fell into this story and reveled in every page. Brilliant!
I have loved every single book by Barbara O’Neal that I have read. Her writing is such that you have almost no choice but to sit back, slow down and surround yourself with every word. It’s like the story wraps you in a warm fuzzy blanket while a snowstorm rages outside.
I love the food aspects of O’Neal’s writing. This book brought us the joys of the pastries of England and the spiciness of the food of India. It was just one more aspect of the story to savor and imagine. O’Neal’s characters and plot are the real stars of the book. The bringing together of the hero and heroine with such different cultural backgrounds was superb and heartwarming. Olivia and Samir were the perfect meshing to show that love can matter more than expectations and prejudice.
I am just in awe of this story.
The latest release from one of my favourite authors. I can’t wait to read it.
When several of my favorite things in books (or life) – a picturesque English countryside, an broody British Indian man, a crumbling manor house in desperate need of repair, family skeletons and an older woman- younger man romance – are paired with a gripping prose, how could I help but devour the book in one sitting?
A thoroughly enjoyable read.
I enjoyed this book greatly. The mystery kept me turning page after page quickly. Memorable characters and you will feel transported to the English countryside. Will recommend to friends and I give this book 5 stars.
Wonderful story!!
Well-written book that is suspenseful and absorbing. The characters jump off the page and the plot is original.
Omg…new favorite author! Second book I’ve read and absolutely loved it! Written very beautifully and descriptively, you feel like you are there and can picture everything. It’s almost like a mystery buried in a romance or vice verse as you fall in and try to figure out what’s going to happen next to just be surprised but the turns the book takes.
When food editor Olivia Shaw’s mother dies, she learns that her mom, who never talked about her background, has left her an estate in England. An honest-to-god landed estate, complete with crumbling manor house, a ruined abbey and a title. Reeling from grief and shock, the new Countess of Rosemere flies to England to assess her inheritance and discovers more secrets.
Olivia doesn’t intend to fall in love with England, not to mention trying to resist the charms of a certain Indian-American author, but lately nothing in her life has gone according to plan. Some of the locals she encounters help her, while others work to actively undermine her. She runs into lots of pitfalls and obstacles, but also finds joy and a sense of belonging.
The book is so well-written, the characters seem real, and the description is wonderful, esp. Olivia’s lyrical descriptions of the food she eats, befitting a food editor.
Highly recommended for fans of women’s fiction, Downton Abbey, or anyone just wanting a feel good read. It was a joy to relax and immerse myself in the world O’Neal so vividly created.