The Skylark’s Secret is a dual timeline novel that follows Flora during WWII, and Flora’s daughter, Lexi in the late 70’s. Both storylines are set in what sounds like a remote and beautiful place, Loch Ewe, Scotland.

I really enjoyed the history behind this story. I like learning about different aspects of history especially home front stories that take place during WWII. The fact that there were so many ships harboring in a lake baffles this desert-dweller’s mind! The author does an excellent job of describing what a huge impact hosting the Home Fleet made to that tiny village.

The love story between Flora and Alec was beautiful and real. I loved watching Alec and Flora try to navigate their complicated relationship. My favorite character was Davy, who was relocated from Glasgow to remote Loch Ewe during the war.

I could have used less descriptions of each and every voyage Alec took as part of the Arctic Convoys. It was just one too many voyage for me.

I always appreciate Author’s Notes at the end of historical fiction so I can learn the historical facts behind the story.

I recommend this to historical fiction lovers, and people who enjoy reading WWII home front stories.

The Skylark 's Secret was a wonderful story,such a heart warming story by "Fiona Valpy".. You really felt part of the story and the research was terrific! I felt like I was in Scotland. What a life these two had,mother and daughter .This is a heart felt story where you have to have tissues ready.Received this book from Net Gallery.This story goes back in time telling not only Flora's story but Lexie. You don't get confused as in some stories. Follow their lives as mother and daughter and the trials and the kind of lives they had. This story will stay with you!

I love when a historian fiction book leads me to dig in further to the events surrounding the plot I am reading, and this book did just that. A great WW2 story set in the Scotland that beautifully tells the story of life for these people during the war. It has a romantic side to the plot, but it doesn't distract, nor is it the main storyline. We hear the story being played out through the mother and daughter's perspectives in alternating timelines that are not difficult to follow at all. Really great and thoughtful story that will make you want to learn more about Loch Ewe and their role in the war.

This book was an amazing story into the war and the tale of two lovers both from the wrong sides of their community. Fans of historical fiction will fall in love with this book as I did. I highly recommend this book

Thank you to NetGalley, Amazon Publishing UK and Fiona Valpy for giving me the opportunity to review The Skylark’s Secret.

I adored The Dressmaker's Gift so I had really high expectations going into this one - perhaps that it is why it didn't capture me the way I thought it would. That being said, this book has a great story that is wonderfully told. I'm a huge historical fiction fan and it was a real treat to learn about the Scottish history related to World War II.

The book centers around a mother (Flora) and daughter (Lexie) - one who lived through WWII and the other who is on a path of discovery in the late 1970s. Readers are given a front row seat to how WWII affected both Flora and Lexie when Lexie returns home after her mother has passed away. An aspect of the book that I appreciated was Lexie getting to know her mother better by delving into her past - something she didn't get to do (and a struggle she never understood) while her mother was still alive.

The book is beautifully written and I was left wanting more (I would've particularly loved to know how Lexie's homegoing experience influenced how she raises her own daughter, Daisy).

I had read other books by Fiona Valpy but I have to say I loved this one the best. It grabbed my attention from the beginning and I had a difficult time putting it down when I had other things to do. This book occurs during two timelines; one during WWII and the other in the 1970's-1980. It is about a daughter searching for her way in life after a disappointing change in her career and uncovering a secret about her family. Lexie (the daughter) searches for who her father is and who her mother (Flora) was growing up. She finds friendship and a home in the process of her search. It is about a young lady (Flora) dealing with her life during the war along with longing for a romantic relationship between differing lifestyles and social status. Chapter titles are provided to keep up with the timelines in the book. It is about town and land that loves deeply and has to adjust to how the war affects their lives. The characters are realistic and the writing flows easily throughout the book. It did take me a bit to learn who some of the characters were and how they all fit together in the story but it was not frustrating to keep up with the characters and two timelines. I could easily put myself in the story line and the events of the book.
This is a historical fiction book dealing with WWII in the Scottish Highlands. I had never read a book about what happened in Scotland during WWII so this was interesting to me. I recommend this book to anyone who likes historical fiction or WWII books but it is also great for anyone who like reading about families and relationships. Pick up a copy and give it a try today. I was provided with an advanced copy of the book through Netgalley for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Overall 4.5*
The story is set around the beautiful Loch Ewe in the Highlands and is told from two viewpoints - that of Flora and her life there during WW2 and her daughter Lexie who heads for the bright lights of London as soon as she can, only to return back to the village after the death of her mother and the demise of her singing career, with a daughter of her own , who like her mother before her, has no father to help out. The stories of both these women highlight the struggles which they have as single mothers although in two different eras and the author weaves the story in a dual timelines effortlessly.
I have recently been reading quite a few stories set in and around WW2 and this is one of the best with plenty of information to keep the historians among us satisfied along with a good solid tale of mothers and daughters. Fiona is also very descriptive of the Highland area and this really sets the scene for you as the reader to be enveloped into the village.
I have been given this book as an ARC to be read for my book club, Thx.

The Skylark’s Secret is a beautifully written story set in Loch Ewe, Scotland. It follows Lexie Gordon and her mother, Flora, in dual timelines as Lexie returns home and sets out to learn more about her parents and family history. Lexie’s timeline is based in the 1970s and Flora’s begins in 1940 just as Loch Ewe becomes a port for the British Navy. and it’s allies. The historical facts of WWII interwoven within the story itself makes it that much more interesting and engaging.

Another lovely aspect are the vivid descriptions of the gorgeous landscape of Loch Ewe along with the constantly changing seasons of Scotland that lend more meaning to the timeframe of the story and especially Flora’s. Both Flora and Lexie are similar in that they are single mothers, but Lexie believes that her mother was so much a better person than herself and her journey to discover more about her parents leads to revelations about herself and the beliefs she had about her home and tight-knit community. That tight-knit community is full of warm and lovable characters that give the support and encouragement that Flora and Lexie both need.

This was a highly enjoyable read filled with love and loss, interesting characters and a wonderful plot.

This is a great story (well 2 actually) set on the shores of Loch Ewe in north west Scotland. The wartime story relates to the Arctic convoys; those who sailed in them and the impact on the local inhabitants. The second story, set in the late 70s, is about Lexie returning to her roots with her young daughter and trying to discover what happened to her mother and father in the war.

This is a part of the war which is not written about as much as other aspects and I found it very interesting. Who knew that the aircraft used on aircraft carriers at this time were bi-planes!!

This book is well-written, atmospheric, with some great characters, and has a few plot twists as well. Recommended.

Bouncing from one generation to another helps a daughter to return home to a community she left behind and to which she feels ashamed to have returned, an unwed mother, unemployed, and without even a smidge of interest from the child’s father. Like her daughter after her, her mother was also an unwed mother in circumstances that differed widely from her daughter’s experience, but since he died in wartime unaware, she yearns to know of him. Only the community can teach her what he was like, revealing along the way, a lifetime secret never shared by her mother. Moving exploration of tangled webs and the things people do for love — and for love of status. The reader learns of events through the eyes of both mother and daughter.

This was such a beautifully written book about such a sad time period. I enjoyed the alternating view points. I found it fun to read one view point and then find the things that were the same in the other view point be - people to mementos. It was like fitting puzzle pieces together. The book was filled with beautiful images from the scenery of this Scottish village to the songs Lexxie and Elspeth sang.

I wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone who likes to read historical fiction, about WWII or about Scotland.

Thank you to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK for providing me with the book. Opinions expressed are my own.

I received an ARC from Netgalley.

Written in the dual time line format, The Skylark Secret tells the story of Lexie and Fiona. Lexie goes back home to her Scottish hometown to learn the truth of her mom's (Fiona's) past.

It was a well written story of a WWII love story and a woman learning of her past. I learned a new information from WWII. The characters are well developed and you can't help feeling a kinship to Fiona and Lexie. There are enough twists to keep you interesting.

This beautifully written historical fiction work develops the story of love, lost love, and re-found love by oscillating between WWII and the late ‘70’s. A deep structure of one small community’s connectedness is revealed by this time travel. The author brings a fresh angle to Europe’s involvement in WWII - this time in a small, close-knit highland village in Scotland. Music as healing and music as a medium to share love are two central themes throughout the book, making the title perfectly fitting. The skylark is known for it’s song, but the metaphor of soaring over and keeping watch is another strong metaphor throughout the book. My emotions soared like the skylark, on both ends of the spectrum, while reading this heart-warming story.

This was such a phenomenal story that I couldn't put it down. The story goes back and forth between dual timelines in Loch Ewe, Scotland: 1940s during WWII where we meet Flora, the groundskeeper's daughter, her family, and her love, Alec, who is the son of the lord of the manor, and Lexie Gordon in approx. 1980, a single mom who has returned to her roots in Loch Ewe while struggling with many losses in her life. No spoilers - but it's so worth reading. It was fascinating to learn about the part that the upper Scottish Highlands played in helping the war effort with the Russian Arctic convoys to support the allies and help defeat the Nazis. This is the second book I have read by Fiona Valpy and I am looking forward to reading more of her books. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book in return for an honest review.

This historical fiction is told in alternating chapters by two women, Flora and her daughter Lexie, in two different timelines. Flora’s story takes us through World War II, and Lexie’s viewpoint is the late 1970’s. The setting is Loch Ewe, Scotland, where Flora, the gamekeeper’s daughter for a large estate, falls in love with the laird’s son, Alec. Unfortunately, Alec is a casualty of the war and dies without knowing that Flora is pregnant, and Flora is left to bring up Lexie on her own. Lexie’s narration begins when she returns to Loch Ewe after Flora’s death. Lexie had moved to London seeking a career as a singer and while she had a great voice and a chance at success, lesions ended her singing career. Now, her lover has dumped her and she is returning with their daughter, Daisy.

Lexie begins to ask questions of her mother’s friends, wanting to learn more of the relationship between her parents. We are privy to that knowledge because Flora’s story alternates with Lexie’s. Slowly, Flora’s friends reveal to Lexie the life they led during the war, and for the first time she realizes the depth of their courage and heroism. Loch Ewe is a natural deep water sea loch linking to the Atlantic Ocean by a narrow mouth. The natural protection against enemy submarines made it the perfect place for a convoy collection point and the loch was used for refueling as well as outfitting convoys with supplies. Flora and her friends joined the WRNS, and were on duty the night the SS William H. Welch ran aground and 14 of 74 crew members were killed. They participated in the search and rescue on the rocks during a snow storm, driving ambulances along the icy roads. Lexie understands the loss and sorrow these women experienced by losing friends, neighbors, brothers, lovers and husbands.

For the most part, the book was well-written with wonderful descriptions of Loch Ewe’s beauty and good character development. However, the use of Scottish words and sayings was excessive. I agree they added to the authenticity of place, but it was difficult to keep the story flowing. I had to stop and look things up, or puzzle out what was being said. The book is also much more of a romance with historical fiction tossed in, and romance just isn’t my preference. The book also moved very slowly, with a lot of pointless detail of baby play dates and hunting non-essentials. While there were a few details you might not figure out, the ending was totally predictable.

While I gave this book 3 stars, it’s quite possible that you may feel differently after reading it. It appears I am in the minority as it has received so many 5 star reviews on Goodreads.

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Love and loss in the Scottish Highlands
This is a historical fiction story that has a duo timeline; a WWII romance and a single mother in the late 1970s. This such a well-written story that it was difficult to put down. The WWII story is filled with not only the harsh conditions of normal life but the fear of trying to live through the war that is too close to home. The 1970s story has everything to do with the older story. A young mother comes back to the small hamlet where she was born and raised to lick her wounds and raise her daughter. This is an excellent book. The author went to great lengths to ensure that the book was accurate and realistic. I plan on reading more of this author's work. I received this ARC book for free from Net Galley and this is my honest review.

The Skylark's Secret is the first book I've read by Fiona Valpy. This historical fiction took place in Loch Ewe, Northwest Scotland was quite a page turner and beautifully written. Here lies a wonderful Story based on a dual timeline about a mother Flora and her daughter Lexie. It was an emotional piece that shows love, compassion, sacrifices and forgiveness. It was so realistic that I actually pictured myself there watching the story. A must read. I guarantee you wont be disappointed.

Thank you NetGalley, Amazon Publishing UK, and Fiona Valpy for this ARC.

I enjoyed this book very much. The story weaves back and forth between a mother and daughter (1940’s-1978).

It takes place mostly in Scotland (some London) and It is well written with historical reference to World War II and the brave people who fought the evil during that time. I learned some things about Scotland’s part in the war too.

The characters are well developed and easy to care about. There is enough tension to keep you wanting more.

Thoroughly enjoyed it and highly recommended!

Flora Gordon lives in Loch Ewe with her father Iain and brother Ruaridh. Her brother is enlisted in the Royal Navy at the beginning of WWII as Loch Ewe is being used as a Navy Base and as a point for arctic convoys during the war. Flora’s father is the keeper for Arduath Estate for the family of Sir Charles Mackenzie-Grant and Lady Helen. Flora is in love with Sir Charles’ son Alec, and he does not approve of the relationship due to class differences. Despite his disapproval, their relationship continues to grow stronger by each passing day.

As we fast forward to 1978, Lexie Gordon is returning to Loch Ewe with her daughter Daisy after the death of her mother Flora. She had left Loch Ewe years earlier to follow her passion of singing that lead her to London and heartbreak. She’s now coming home to find answers to the questions she has always had about her mom and the father she never knew. Told from alternating timelines by Flora at the beginning of WWII and Lexie from the 1970’s, we follow Flora through her Journey as a WREN and her relationship with Alec. At the same time, we are following Lexie as she is learning the story of her parents and a secret that has been hidden for so long, learning about her village history and how they came together during one of the worst times in history. Lexie even learns about herself and love along the way.

The story was very heart felt and I enjoyed the storyline but at times it felt like the story was stalling and I wasn’t quite sure where it was heading. Overall, I liked the book and it was an okay read. Thank you NetGalley, Amazon Publishing UK, and Fiona Valpy for this Advanced Reader’s Copy in exchange for this honest review.

I liked this quite a lot. I’m not always a fan of the back and forth timeline construct but I liked this. The history was interesting and the characters were charming. I was curious about the way the stories were told - one in first person and one in third. It worked, but at first it threw me a bit. I definitely recommend.