This was an amazing story! Told in 2 storylines that was just so good! I fell in love with these warm characters! Historical fiction at its best! Highly recommend

A beautifully written story which is told over 2 time frames. This was a really interesting story about World War 2 in a beautiful and wonderful part of Scotland.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy.

I liked this story, but I wasn't gripped by it. I think I have been more immersed in other Valpy novels than I was with this one. It's a good read though. I think possibly that the problem (at least for me) was the dual timeline. I particularly enjoyed reading about Fiona's life during World War Two, and I enjoyed Lexie's story too in the late 70s, except I didn't feel I got to know Lexie all that well. I think a little more time should have been spent on her part of the story. But otherwise, the historical detail, the sense of place (which Valpy does so well), was superb. The characters were all well-written too. With thanks to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Netgalley, Amazon Publishing and Fiona Valpy for this advanced reader's copy in return for my honest review. I'm a massive historical fiction fan and having loved Fiona's The Dressmaker's Gift, I was delighted to have the opportunity to read this book. The book drew me in from the start and I loved how the different strands of the book were interwoven into one story of love and sacrifice. Simply stunning writing, well researched, would definitely recommend.

Another great piece of writing by Fiona. I love how she mixes historical facts with fiction.
This story flits from 1942 to 1973. Lexie moves back to her childhood home in Scotland with her daughter Daisy. Her mum Flora has recently died and Lexie needs to know her own history.
With the help of her mum's childhood friends they help to piece together her story.
A story of wartime sadness, social casting and life in rural Scotland. Love and death paved the way for their small community.
A great easy read.

Beautifully written across several timeframes. I didn't want the book to end but at the same time I wanted to unwrap each new secret as quickly as possible. Great character development as well: it made me feel like I really got to know each of the characters as secrets were shared. Highly recommended.

This is the second book by Fiona Valpy that I have read and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It flips between the war years and the late 1970s, telling the story of young Flora and Lexie, her daughter. It does this very skilfully, on the way explaining how both Flora and Lexie became single mums. I love how Fiona Valpy gives such beautiful descriptions of the setting in Highland Scotland and the attention to detail throughout is excellent. This story not only tackles how it feels to be a single mother, it also looks at social class differences, friendship, family, how women were integral to the war effort and looks closely at life in a small community. It is an engaging read and I am grateful to Netgalley for being able to read and review this lovely book.

This story had me entranced from the first to very last page. A story of joy and laughter , sorrow and loss. A story of courage written with such empathy, I was often reduced to tears. The storyline is excellent, the writing descriptively superb and the attention to detail and extensive research add up to making this book a bestseller. Thanks to the author, Netgalley and TBC for giving me the opportunity to read this book.

I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of this book (thanks to NetGalley, Amazon Publishing UK and Fiona Valpy) and have just finished reading it. I was absolutely gripped by the story from start to finish. It had me looking up Loch Ewe to see if it was a real place; I had no idea of the role it played during WW2. I am a sucker for a dual timeline story but usually those have no
character crossover, and I loved that aspect of characters appearing in both periods in this story, it really added to the connection. I have previously read the beekeepers promise by the same author, which I enjoyed but it did not have me as gripped as this story. I now want to head off for the Scottish Highlands (and read more of Fiona's work)! #NetGalley #TheSkylarksSecret

A story of love, sacrifice, secrets, WW II, self discovery set in beautiful Scotland. I particularly enjoyed reading about Loch Ewe, the Scottish countryside, the local food, and I had no idea during WW II Scottish children from the cities were evacuated to the countryside. I have read all of Fiona Valpy’s books and The Skylark’s Secret is now added to that list. My thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Skylark's Secret, set in Scotland, is book with a duel timeline. The first follows Flora's life during WW2 and the second is her daughter Lexie in the 70's. Lexie returns from London after she is unable to sing on the west end after falling pregnant and straining her voice. Lexie moves into her late mothers Cottage and finds it hard to adjust to the village life.

I really loved the way this book was written, I loved reading about both characters lives and how different they were. I'm not usually a huge fan of split stories but i felt this one was written so well, the two stories intertwined seamlessly and came together at the end to reveal a lifelong secret.

This book is quite a tragic tale of love and loss, yet it is also such a beautiful story about family, friends and community.
I would definitely recommend this book.

I really enjoyed this book. It is set in Scotland at Loch Ewe. It tells the story of Flora, who served in the WRENS during the war and of her daughter Lexie in the 1970s. There is a lot of historical fact woven into the story. I previously knew very little about the Arctic Convoys, so I learnt about that era, almost without realising I was learning. We also learn about life during the War at Loch Ewe; about the children sent there for safety, leaving behind all they knew, about fishing, hunting, Gaelic music, friendships and the emotional toll on everyone, especially those on board the Arctic Convoys.. however the story is by no means gloomy. There is love and romance, as well as descriptions of beautiful scenery. There was also a surprising twist near the end, which I didn’t see coming.
I had never read any of Fiona Valpy’s books, I would strongly recommend this book. I will now look forward to reading her other books.
Many thanks to Netgalley, Fiona Valpy and Amazon Publishing UK for an ARC of this enjoyable book.

I enjoyed the WWII storyline set in a unique area. Loved this one!

Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

I love books that offer more than one thing. This book offered a great story (actually two when I think of it), historical information and descriptions of Scottland I loved. Let's start with the story. I really liked the both main characters, Lexie and her Mum Flora. They have no easy lives, but their beliefs and strengths are obvious. I love their connection to music that is well shown through out the book and that connects not only them, but also each of them and their homeland. What I liked most about the story was that it was not an obvious and normal love story even though love plays a big role here. I'll continue with the historical background. This book brought so much new information about the WWII, I didn't expect to recieve and it inspired me to some internet research which broadened my view of this period. And that is a great achievement for a novel, I think. In addition to that I don't feel that this information was artificially included in the book. Just the opposite, you get so much information by just reading a great story and you don't even notice that it is included. Thanks to the author for that! And the last point: This book allowed me to travel to places I would like to visit and I am very happy that it was possible.
I recommend this book strongly.

I enjoy Fiona Valpy very much and this book was no exception. It was a really lovely story which had me totally engrossed. The setting was gorgeous, I loved the interwoven stories and enjoyed the way the novel played out.

Thank You NetGalley/Publisher & Author for this gifted E-ARC!

Loch Ewe, 1940. When gamekeeper’s daughter Flora’s remote highland village finds itself the base for the Royal Navy’s Arctic convoys, life in her close-knit community changes 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.

Decades later, 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.

This was a beautifully written book.
The characters were very well enjoyable.

Rating 4/5 Stars

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.

Thoroughly enjoyed reading this fabulous book.

Reading this book, made you feel that you was actually there seeing what you was reading and being surrounded by the colours of the sky.

I recommend this book, you’ll not be disappointed.

Thank you #Net Galley for this ARC. It is a story of a mother and a daughter, each if their lives are expired. And it is beautiful. I've read this author before and she did not disappoint then either. This story is woven beautifully.

Flora’s story is interesting enough though I seldom enjoy WWII stories. The pacing for Lexie’s is rather slow and I found myself skipping her chapters.

I like Fiona Valpy’s writing style. It reminds me somewhat of Maeve Binchy’s. But The Skylark’s Secret failed to grip me unfortunately.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. this is my honest opinion.

Set in the remote north west corner of Scotland, The Skylark's Secret, Fiona Valpy's latest pageturner does not disappoint.

Moving seamlessly from 1940's wartime to the 1970's the story of mother and daughter hold strong parallels and the rich storytelling evoke both the challenges of class and daily life under the shadow of war, together with the perceived prejudices of 1970's Scotland.

I eagerly wait for Valpy's latest offering, and this certainly did not disappoint.

Highly recommended.