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bonniereads777's review
5.0
In the late 1970s, Lexie Gordon returns home with her daughter, Daisy, to Aultbea, a small fishing village on Loch Ewe in the Scottish Highlands. She has come to live in her family’s cottage after a vocal cord injury ended her singing career in London. Embarrassed at first that the town gossipers might judge her for her lost career or single parenthood, Lexie slowly begins to reconnect with her town. She also begins to discover, through the townspeople, secrets of her family’s past.
In 1939, Flora Gordon lives with her family in the Keeper’s Cottage in Aultbea. Her father is the gamekeeper for the Laird, a surly and imposing man. Aultbea is suddenly tapped as the location for the Royal Navy’s Arctic convoys and is turned into a military base virtually overnight. At the same time, Flora finds herself falling in love with the Laird’s son.
Valpy paints a gorgeous word picture of the beauty of Scotland, both before and after the war, as well as the scars left behind in Loch Ewe when the war is over. I also enjoyed the description of everyday life in a fishing village and how that is suddenly changed by a military presence. The characters are well developed. The love between Flora and her family, and the love Lexie has for her daughter, is palpable. I was often furious at the cruel tactics of the well-crafted and despicable Laird. The town comes alive through its people and their connection to each other. This is a well written novel involving WWII fiction, Scottish history, and family dynamics with a touch of romance.
I received a free copy from Amazon Publishing UK and Historical Novels Review Magazine via Netgalley. This appeared on The Historical Novel Society Website/Historical Novels Review Magazine
In 1939, Flora Gordon lives with her family in the Keeper’s Cottage in Aultbea. Her father is the gamekeeper for the Laird, a surly and imposing man. Aultbea is suddenly tapped as the location for the Royal Navy’s Arctic convoys and is turned into a military base virtually overnight. At the same time, Flora finds herself falling in love with the Laird’s son.
Valpy paints a gorgeous word picture of the beauty of Scotland, both before and after the war, as well as the scars left behind in Loch Ewe when the war is over. I also enjoyed the description of everyday life in a fishing village and how that is suddenly changed by a military presence. The characters are well developed. The love between Flora and her family, and the love Lexie has for her daughter, is palpable. I was often furious at the cruel tactics of the well-crafted and despicable Laird. The town comes alive through its people and their connection to each other. This is a well written novel involving WWII fiction, Scottish history, and family dynamics with a touch of romance.
I received a free copy from Amazon Publishing UK and Historical Novels Review Magazine via Netgalley. This appeared on The Historical Novel Society Website/Historical Novels Review Magazine
mssarahbni's review
5.0
I have read a few of this authors books now and my opinion of them has been varied but this one I loved. The storyline both past and present were gripping and emotional and I was really engrossed in the story the whole time. I liked how the story had so many layers and it just made me want to keep on reading. It was a really great story.
angelan's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
relaxing
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
markreadsbooks_sg's review
4.0
I got, The Skylarks Secret by, Fiona Valpy, From NetGalley for a fir and honest review
Loch Ewe, 1940.
Gamekeeper’s daughter Flora has her life altered by World War II as her remote highland village finds itself turned into a base for the Royal Navy’s Arctic convoys. With life in her close-knit community changed forever.
In defiance of his disapproving father, the laird’s son falls in love with Flora, and as tensions build in their disrupted home, any chance of their happiness seems doomed.
1970’s
Flora’s daughter, singer Lexie Gordon, is forced to return to the village and to the tiny cottage where she grew up. Having long ago escaped to the bright lights of the West End, London still never truly felt like home.
Now back, with a daughter of her own, Lexie learns that her mother—and the hostile-seeming village itself—have long been hiding secrets that make her question everything she thought she knew.
As Lexie pieces together the fragments of her parents’ story, she finds the courageous, devastating sacrifices made in her name. It’s too late to rekindle her relationship with her mother, but can Lexie find it in her heart to forgive the past, to grieve for all that’s lost, and finally find her place in the world?
I read this book in a day which is something I do not normally do, but this is one of those stories that draws you in from the start, not only with the style of writing, but the way that the author draws you into the, story.
The story is told over two timelines, one set, during World War II, when Loch Ewe, was used as a naval base for the arctic convoys, where Flora’s relationship with Lexie’s dad and the problems which caused.
In addition to this it examined how the small village coped with the change from being a quiet village out of the way, from the world to being a naval base and its young men away fighting in the conflict, and the losses that happened.
The Second timeline was all about Lexie coming back to the village after being a rising star in the West End, with not only having her career ended, a lone parent and her mother just having passed away.
I loved the way that the book knitted the two parts of the book together, with little puzzles laid in the 1970's only to be resolved fully in the part which went back to the 1940’s. What also made the two timeline work was that as a reader I was never confused about which timeline I was in, while reading a chapter.
The only weak point in the story for me was the way that the people were written in that they were almost two dimensional stereotypes, with the Laird being a bully and his wife being timed, while the old people interfered with the life of the young. Having said that, the descriptions and personalities that the writer gave them was enough for the book.
What i must praise though is the writing about the place that the story is set in, was what made this book above average, the way that the land, sea and atmosphere was described really added to the atmosphere of the story.
This story is aimed at people who love stories about how the human spirit deals with the problems in life and how people are not just about what they do individually or how they respond to events at the time but also how it affects future generations. So if your into stories that have these elements then you should read Fiona Valpy’s latest book The Skylarks Secret.
Loch Ewe, 1940.
Gamekeeper’s daughter Flora has her life altered by World War II as her remote highland village finds itself turned into a base for the Royal Navy’s Arctic convoys. With life in her close-knit community changed forever.
In defiance of his disapproving father, the laird’s son falls in love with Flora, and as tensions build in their disrupted home, any chance of their happiness seems doomed.
1970’s
Flora’s daughter, singer Lexie Gordon, is forced to return to the village and to the tiny cottage where she grew up. Having long ago escaped to the bright lights of the West End, London still never truly felt like home.
Now back, with a daughter of her own, Lexie learns that her mother—and the hostile-seeming village itself—have long been hiding secrets that make her question everything she thought she knew.
As Lexie pieces together the fragments of her parents’ story, she finds the courageous, devastating sacrifices made in her name. It’s too late to rekindle her relationship with her mother, but can Lexie find it in her heart to forgive the past, to grieve for all that’s lost, and finally find her place in the world?
I read this book in a day which is something I do not normally do, but this is one of those stories that draws you in from the start, not only with the style of writing, but the way that the author draws you into the, story.
The story is told over two timelines, one set, during World War II, when Loch Ewe, was used as a naval base for the arctic convoys, where Flora’s relationship with Lexie’s dad and the problems which caused.
In addition to this it examined how the small village coped with the change from being a quiet village out of the way, from the world to being a naval base and its young men away fighting in the conflict, and the losses that happened.
The Second timeline was all about Lexie coming back to the village after being a rising star in the West End, with not only having her career ended, a lone parent and her mother just having passed away.
I loved the way that the book knitted the two parts of the book together, with little puzzles laid in the 1970's only to be resolved fully in the part which went back to the 1940’s. What also made the two timeline work was that as a reader I was never confused about which timeline I was in, while reading a chapter.
The only weak point in the story for me was the way that the people were written in that they were almost two dimensional stereotypes, with the Laird being a bully and his wife being timed, while the old people interfered with the life of the young. Having said that, the descriptions and personalities that the writer gave them was enough for the book.
What i must praise though is the writing about the place that the story is set in, was what made this book above average, the way that the land, sea and atmosphere was described really added to the atmosphere of the story.
This story is aimed at people who love stories about how the human spirit deals with the problems in life and how people are not just about what they do individually or how they respond to events at the time but also how it affects future generations. So if your into stories that have these elements then you should read Fiona Valpy’s latest book The Skylarks Secret.
mnboyer's review
3.0
Popsugar 2022 reading challenge #29
I've read a few of other Valpy's novels and this one was not *as great* as the others. I think the setting was wonderful and I didn't mind the back-and-forth timelines (in fact, Valpy tends to do this very well) but the story as a whole did not pull at me and draw me in as well as some others I've read. I did also listen to part of this on Audible and have to commend the reader because that was a great experience.
I'll definitely pick up another book by this author though!
I've read a few of other Valpy's novels and this one was not *as great* as the others. I think the setting was wonderful and I didn't mind the back-and-forth timelines (in fact, Valpy tends to do this very well) but the story as a whole did not pull at me and draw me in as well as some others I've read. I did also listen to part of this on Audible and have to commend the reader because that was a great experience.
I'll definitely pick up another book by this author though!
claalaaa's review
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.75
texmom22's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
emcoffin's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
smilesgiggle's review against another edition
4.0
Thank you, Netgalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for a free, nonbiased review of this book.
Lexie left home as soon as she could - thanks to a performing arts school scholarship. She enjoyed several years of success as an actress and signer - until she became pregnant and lost her voice. The father simply didn't want to be burdened with a child - or a long term relationship. After surgery and failed lessons to rebuild her voice, Lexie returns to her small Highland hometown, months after the death of her mother. With struggling strength, Lexie begins to rebuild her community connections - her mother's closest friend, her long time friend who stayed in the small village, married and also with a young child.
The story of her parents is told from her mother's perspective. World War II has started - and comes to Flora's small village. Her father is the gamekeeper for the estate, a long time family position. Flora and her friends volunteer for the WRNS, doing their part to contribute as their loch becomes a secret stash for merchants and the English navy. As the war continues, Flora shares the impact on the close knit community - taking in young children from the larger Scottish cities, the impact of young men's deaths on families and a community doing their part to support the war effort.
Flora and Alec have been childhood friends - the laird's son and the keeper's children have grown up together. Alec and Flora realize their connection is more than friends, exploring their love. As the war continues, the impact on Alec's mental health becomes quite obvious to Flora, causing a serious rift in their relationship.
I greatly enjoyed this family story. Lexie discovers who she really is - without her voice. She builds an amazing life for herself and daughter, learning to enjoy the close connections of her small community.
Flora sheds light on a small community's war experience - as well as the mental health impacts of war; even in the 1940's, not just today.
Lexie left home as soon as she could - thanks to a performing arts school scholarship. She enjoyed several years of success as an actress and signer - until she became pregnant and lost her voice. The father simply didn't want to be burdened with a child - or a long term relationship. After surgery and failed lessons to rebuild her voice, Lexie returns to her small Highland hometown, months after the death of her mother. With struggling strength, Lexie begins to rebuild her community connections - her mother's closest friend, her long time friend who stayed in the small village, married and also with a young child.
The story of her parents is told from her mother's perspective. World War II has started - and comes to Flora's small village. Her father is the gamekeeper for the estate, a long time family position. Flora and her friends volunteer for the WRNS, doing their part to contribute as their loch becomes a secret stash for merchants and the English navy. As the war continues, Flora shares the impact on the close knit community - taking in young children from the larger Scottish cities, the impact of young men's deaths on families and a community doing their part to support the war effort.
Flora and Alec have been childhood friends - the laird's son and the keeper's children have grown up together. Alec and Flora realize their connection is more than friends, exploring their love. As the war continues, the impact on Alec's mental health becomes quite obvious to Flora, causing a serious rift in their relationship.
I greatly enjoyed this family story. Lexie discovers who she really is - without her voice. She builds an amazing life for herself and daughter, learning to enjoy the close connections of her small community.
Flora sheds light on a small community's war experience - as well as the mental health impacts of war; even in the 1940's, not just today.