I do love a dual timeline novel, and since writing one myself am even more in awe of writers who make them work. Clare Marchant’s stunning debut, The Secrets of Saffron Hall, is one such book. The level of research the author has undertaken shines almost as much as her gorgeous prose, and put together they make the book a thoroughly satisfying read.

I normally enjoy the historical strand of a story more, so wasn’t remotely surprised when I became more and more lost in Eleanor’s world at the cusp of the dissolution of the monasteries. That I read it on holiday while visiting ruined abbeys was undoubtedly a factor, but Tudor life in rural Norfolk was so richly drawn I just loved falling into it. I felt the chill winds sweeping across the fens, saw the saffron swaying gently in the dawn.

It took me longer to relate to twentieth century Amber although in the end I was rooting for her happy ending. The fact hers isn’t a traditional boy-meets-girl love story was brave for a debut and I loved it. Credit must also go to Aria for not dumbing this book down, as sadly seems to be so fashionable in romance publishing at the moment.

Apologies for the late review.

A first novel! Really! You would not think so as the author displays with the crafting of this enchanting and riviting novel. I've not read a novel set in the tudor period before but as soon as I became aware of this novel from reading the blurb, I knew I had to read it! A timeslip set 500 odd years apart, I am really growing to love this type of novel, and Ms Marchant pulls this off with aplomb!

This is a strong novel, with good pacing and rounded characters. I look forward to her second story.

My thanks to Netgalley and Avon for the reading copy.

You would think that as a seasoned reader I would be impervious to a great cover but this book is proof that I am not. I think I took one look at the cover and I had to have it. I did realise that in addition to a gorgeous cover (check), it was dual timeline (check) and also that it featured an old house with secrets (check check).

When Amber returns to her grandfather's home, Saffron Hall, it is in theory to catalogue his massive book collection. It actuality, it is a place that she is retreating to because of the grief she feels at losing her stillborn daughter, hiding away from friends and also her husband.

Saffron Hall has a tower that has always been locked and that no one has entered for generations. No one even knows where the key is. When they discover that the tower needs urgent work done to make it safe, one of the builders gives Amber a book that he finds. It is a book of hours that has been locked in the tower for centuries.

The beautiful illustrated book belonged to Eleanor, a young woman who was married off to the owner of what became Saffron Hall after the death of her father. She takes with her crocus bulbs which were given to her by the brothers at the local abbey as her only dowry. In addition to taking on the responsibilities as lady of the house, Eleanor becomes mother figure to her new step daughter. She also plants her bulbs and soon is producing quality saffron. Her merchant husband, Greville, is a man who is determined to make his mark at court. He has attached himself to local nobility and his cause and wealth is certainly aided by the quality of the saffron that Eleanor is growing. As an aside, I always associate saffron with Middle Eastern food so it really surprised me that it would thrive in England, but even today it is grown there.

There are two problems though. Eleanor and her family are staunchly Catholic in a period when that is a dangerous thing to be, especially seeing the court in question is that of Henry VIII. There is also the question of who Greville is associated with and what happens when you align yourself to the wrong person at court.


As readers we get to see Eleanor as she lives her increasingly fragile life, but Amber is looking back through the centuries as she reads the book, trying to solve the mystery of what happened to Eleanor, and to unravel what it is the common link between the two women, despite the differences between the 1500s and 2000s. I do think there could have been an epilogue to help the reader find out what happened after the end of the book, but having said that Amber would never have known so maybe it was fitting that we also didn't. The historical timeline was the stronger of the two for me, although that is true most of the time when I read dual timeline books.

When I requested this, I don't recall noticing that the book was set in the Tudor period. Whilst I used to read a lot of books set in this period, I got all Tudored out years ago so now it is quite rare for me to choose to read one now. Luckily I enjoyed this debut novel, especially because while the events that were happening in the court of Henry VIII shaped the lives of the characters, the story was not centred there. I will be keen to read whatever comes next from this author!

This split time novel was extremely well done and very interesting. The historical time period was set in England in the 1500's. The connection to the modern time period was the same castle, Saffron Hall. In the 1500's, Greville and Eleanor, a second wife, maintained the Hall. Eleanor grew Saffron from which the hall got its name. In the contemporary thread, Amber's grandfather was the owner of Saffron Hall. The second connection was that both Amber and Eleanor lost daughters at childbirth.

Both plot lines were filled with distances between husbands and wives, touches of sweetness, and threads of mystery. Both women were strong and independent, yet unsure of their relationships with their spouses and wished for more from them. Both time lines were so interesting, and it was easy to follow the switches back and forth. The role the tower played in each time line added to the suspense and the Book of Hours played a special part as well.

My only miniscule complaint was that I would have loved for Amber to pursue the genealogy to prove that she and Eleanor were related. But I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys split time fiction.

**I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions are mine alone. I was not compensated for this review

Overall this book was a great read with a very well thought out and well done story line. The way the author parallels the two distinctly different worlds yet the same, is well done. The reader can clearly switch between the two time periods and not get lost. And the story is not left hanging but wrapped up nicely.
There were a few things I didnt care for, the first was that many of the scenes drag on and get a bit normal or boring, then others seem to change thoughts abruptly. Editing and e-book formatting could be stronger because more than a few times I felt the need for a space before starting a new paragraph that was was onto to the next day or next scene. It didnt flow nicely.
Secondly was the main characters of Amber and Eleanor. I completely understand what Amber was going through with her loss but it came off more like a child acting act and shunning those around her, particularly her husband who would have been hurting as well, but she just blew him off which I didnt like. Eleanor was a spoiled brat who ordered her serving staff around a bit too haughtily and then would sulk about it. Her character was not likeable in my mind even though this was indeed how many upper class ladies acted back in the day.

I do highly recommend this book for its story line and intrigue and well written prose.
I received an advanced reading copy in exchange for my review

Thank you to Netgalley, Avon Books and Clare Marchant for this e-copy in return for my honest review. I'm a sucker for historical fiction. I absolutely loved this book, well researched, fantastically drawn characters and the plot drew me right in.. I love how the two stories years apart were intertwined.

A very well written dual time line book. Good plot and character development. I definitely recommend this book. I received an advance ebook from the publisher and this is my unbiased review.

Amber recently lost a baby and has decided to help her grandfather at his home. Her relationship with her husband due to their loss and is unsure of where that is now headed. She finds the journal of a woman who lived five hundred years before her that lost a child. She feels a connection with this woman and feels she is communicating with her.

I understand the loss of both children and I enjoyed the journey of acceptance that Amber underwent.

I received a copy of this book via Netgalley. My opinions are my own and a positive review was not required of me.

I love a dual time-line novel and this one did not disappoint. Not familiar with the Tudor times, I adored meeting Eleanor and learning of her journey in 1541. Likewise, I enjoyed being transported back to the present day and the storyline of Amber and her tragic circumstances and how the two woman from centuries apart were similar. What a joy Saffron Hall was to imagine. A truly delightful read that I would recommend.

This book was amazing. Firstly, my favourite genre of a dual timeline, coupled with being set close to where I live. Add in an excellent story line and two characters that are instantly engaging and you have a winner for me. I loved the historical element set in the reign of Henry VIII, the insight into growing of Saffron and dissolution of the monasteries. I thoroughly recommend this book.

The Secrets of Saffron Hall is a tale of two mothers, nearly 500 years apart, who share the loss of a loved one.

Most of the story is given over to Eleanor, a young bride who comes to Saffron Hall following her marriage during King Henry VIII's reign - how she deals with her new life as a married woman, who makes the most of her skills in growing saffron and treating others.

We also learn of Amber, who is trying to get over the loss of her baby, some 500 years after Eleanor was at Saffron Hall. And through uncovering more about Eleanor, Amber learns to deal with her own loss.

I felt that there was something missing in the story about the reason behind Amber's family being banned from going up the tower.

It was interesting to read about life in Tudor times, and how little say a woman had in those times.

The story highlighted, at least to me, that the loss of a loved, regardless of when, is a personal and difficult one.

Thank you to Netgalley and Avon Books for this eARC.

An absolute joy of a Book to read,especially for those who love History , Romance, Woman's social development! It fascinated me to learn more about the growth of the Saffron Crocus & harvesting of this special & still very valuable spice in England, plus the keeping of a Physic Garden within a normal Household to develop their own Apothecary for treating the ailments within that Household, where they normally belonged to Monastical Orders. Eleanor's & Amber's close bond over five centuries once Eleanor's Book of Hours is discovered , & how the discovery leads to healing for both Women.
This is a Book I will buy to have on my Bookshelf & recommend to both Family members & Friends , & it is a Book that will be good to read again at some point too.

I am not sure what to say, except I loved this book. I started reading it last night and finished it this afternoon. I could not put it down. I love the author's writing style, and the plot was just perfect. the way the past was intertwined with the present, made me not put the book down until it was finished.
A young grieving mother who finds a mystery from another young mother 500 years later, a tale of love, loss and finally closure. five stars.

Beautifully written and descriptive historical novel. I loved the way it was interwoven alongside a story from modern day but the writing style set them clearly apart. Two strong women hundreds of years apart unravel and reveal the secrets of Saffron Hall. A great story and most enjoyable to read.

The story is told in two time frames. 1538 and 2019 five centuries apart. The story which we read in present times is an eerie similarity to what went on five centuries before and you do kind of think that there is much more to life than what actually meets the eye.

Saffron Hall is a crumbling manor house lived in by Amber's grandfather. Amber after a miscarriage almost at the end of a normal pregnancy has fled to her family home as she cannot bear to live in the house with her husband who is also grieving but who seems to be able to cope better with the emotional trauma of this loss.

Amber's reason for being there at Saffron Hall is to deal with the enormous collection of books that are lying around, to archive it and to bring it to some sense of order. Discovering an ancient manuscript when one tower of the Hall comes down, reveals a story that Amber feels compelled to follow. She feels that Eleanor is trying to tell her a story about the child she carried which died, and which was never properly buried. Trying to unravel this piece of history and bring it to completion is what Amber feels will also bring peace to herself and a reconciliation with her husband. Till this is resolved, she is determined not to leave Saffron Hall.

The story alternating between two centuries is a poignant one in both time frames. Both Eleanor and Saffron suffered immensely from their loss and both had to come to peace before they could move forward.

First I would like to say thank you to Clare Marchant, Netgalley, and Avon Books UK for allowing me to read this novel.

I am not one who usually enjoys reading novels with great time-jumps; for example 500 years ago to today. I think it’s hard for people in the present to relate to the past, as the conditions, beliefs, and everyday life is so different. Often the lives of the main characters seem to be parallel to each other, even though they are separated by centuries. They experience everything the same, and are merely separated by time. So, needless to say when I first read the synopsis I was skeptical. And by the end I was pleasantly surprised.
I absolutely love a Tudor story that takes place from away from the court. There aren’t many out there with this perspective. This story unfolds at a country manor, in Norfolk; the only mention of court is when Eleanor’s husband returns home or sends her a letter from his position in the household of Queen Catherine Howard. This perspective is full of possibilities, and Marchant takes full advantage of that. From her beautiful descriptions of Amber’s grandfather’s dusty old library, to the golden fields of saffron swaying in the breeze, the reader floats effortlessly between these two worlds.
Her characters are fully-developed and I quickly became invested in their stories. In fact, I had a lot of trouble putting this book down; having to know how/if the incident in the previous chapter was resolved, before I would let myself move on to the tasks I needed to complete. I will say I do wish Marchant would have carried the story on so I could know if Eleanor and her family made it to France, or if they were captured by the King’s men.

*****This section below was not included in public reviews*****

There were two things in the book that I was not crazy about.
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1. There is a metaphor used where’s lines on the character’s face make it appear to be “quilted.” I understand what the writer is going for, but I don’t feel that metaphor works.

2. After agonizing over Amber not being him and shutting him out, Johnathan sends Amber the letter about separating permanently, but when they meet the next day or so and she says okay I know I was wrong to shut you out and want to stay together he just says okay. It is not believable that after he has become so frustrated to the point of giving up that he would just say ok as if nothing happened. To me he should have asked m, are you sure this is what you want to do? He should have showed some hesitation before just giving in.

Overall, I think this is a great novel and I would certainly recommend it!

The secret of Saffron Hall by Clare Marchant
What a great book by Clare Marchant. This is the first novel I have read by this author. The Secret of Saffron Hall is excellent book. I love anything about the Tudor and this was right up my alley. The book is written it two different time periods 2019 and 1538. You will love Amber and Eleanor and the struggle they each have. Sometime I struggle with reading a book in this format, but it was very easy to follow along. If I could describe it I would say it's a book about is love, grief and intrigue.

I recommend this book to family and friends through Facebook, Amazon, Goodreads, Bookbud and Barnes and Noble.

I gave a 5 out of

I received this book from netgalley and was under no obligation to write a review. All thoughts and opinions are mine and mine alone.

I received an ARC of this book from @netgalley.

I absolutely adored this book!!! There wasn’t a thing that I didn’t love. The dual timeline, the strong feline leads, the mystery.

I love the connection between Eleanor and Amber. I love how it touched on an issue that is faced even today. I love how Amber was relatable in her grief.

This is a solid 5 star read.

I really enjoyed this book, set between characters living in the Middle Ages and current time. I preferred if the story of Eleanor was longer. The story was an easy read and descriptive with colourful details. I really enjoyed the book.

First, thank you NetGalley, Clare Marchant, and Avon Books UK for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review!

To be honest, I wanted to read this book solely because of the gorgeous cover. Didn't read a single word of the blurb. So, I was pleasantly surprised to see it's composed of two things I adore in a good read: Tudor history and a dual timeline. The story follows Eleanor in the time of Henry VIII (which honestly, already tells us something terrible is going to happen to her given the s***show his later existence was), and Amber in today's time. Both have experienced the same loss, so Amber feels a sort of bond with this ancestor of hers after finding her diary. Pretty soon she realizes a mystery has been in the works for the past 500 years or so, and off she goes to solve it. What she ends up solving is not only Eleanor's secret, but she faces a few things in her own life.

First, the good: Marchant does an excellent job of transporting you to her characters' lives. I could easily imagine the people, scenery, even the smell of the saffron so vividly described. I was obsessed with reading Eleanor's portions - couldn't get to them fast enough, and couldn't read them fast enough. Which would probably explain how I
managed to read the last 60% of the book in a couple hours. What started off (for me anyway) as two whiny, selfish, unlikeable characters ended up with me empathizing with them. Character development was great for the most part (a few HUH?? moments which I'll get to in a minute) so you feel for them when you're supposed to feel the things.

Now the not-as-good: Did I mention I didn't like Eleanor and Amber for a good portion of the book? I get Amber is grieving a miscarriage and people who are grieving can have some pretty challenging moments. But this girl was nasty, manipulative, and just selfish. Maybe I'm being too hard on her but it annoyed me enough that I put the book down several times for days at a time. I found myself speed-reading-maybe-a-little-skimming over her parts. Eleanor just confused the heck out of me once. She's managing her new household on her own for months at a time, and suddenly she realizes she's in love with her husband. Her husband who's gone for ... months at a time. How did that happen?? WHEN did that happen?? It would've been nice to see that part play out a little more, since Marchant made such a huge deal out of how terrified she'd been of their wedding night, and guarded against him in general. The other odd thing I found was how differently I could like two timelines written by the same author. Like I said earlier, I couldn't get to Eleanor's story fast enough, and couldn't finish Amber's fast enough. It was almost like two different people wrote them, but obviously you know that didn't happen. An epilogue would've been a great way to end the book. I could see this easily having a sequel.

Overall I really enjoyed it and recommend it. I suspect my reaction to Amber might be different if I read this again at a later date, in a different time in my life.