"Anna Stuart's historical fiction, with its dual timelines following Lorna in the present day and Nancy's post-WWII diary, captivated me from start to finish. Unlike most books of this genre, both storylines held equal appeal.

Nancy, in particular, became a cherished character. This heartwarming tale of friendship and resilience takes readers on an unforgettable journey.

I loved this book! One of my favorite historical tropes is the dual timeline. And I am definitely a one click on anything to do with a secret diary especially from the war. This book drew me in from the first page and I read it straight through. The writing and storyline are so good! Any fan of historical fiction would be pleased with this book.

I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by NetGalley

This is my second book by Anna Stuart and once again she has blown me away with her beautiful and emotive writing. The Secret Diary is a beautifully written, emotional and captivating story, one which entwines past and present. It's full of secrets and intrigue and will keep you turning the pages. A must-read!!

This is my second book by Anna Stuart and I loved it every bit as much as the first one I read by her. I loved the dual time line and reading both Nancy's and Lorna's story, both of which were emotional in their own ways. Brilliant book!

Another of Bookouture's quick read, entertaining dual time-line WWII women's stories! This one one of the better ones, enjoyable and entertaining, and delves, from the present, back into the life of Nancy, a gunner girl in WWII. Fascinating to learn that some women performed this role when the men left for the front lines.

Brilliant, emotional and heartwarming. I loved the plot and the characters and can't wait to read more from the author.

This was my first book by this author and I enjoyed it so much I ordered her other books! If you love Historical Fiction, you will love this unique book.
I love a dual timeline that looks into the past. During WW2 a gunner girl is trying to keep the skies safe, but she finds returning back home after the war, less than stellar. She wants to do more than be a wife and mother. She and her husband have survived the war and he supports her drive for more. Unfortunately they are forced to live with his parents, and things are difficult.
Fast forward, Lorna finds a journal hidden away and discovers something from the past. The journal has been hidden since 1945. The author does an excellent job in portraying the things women went through during the 40’s.
Thank you NetGalley, Anna Stuart, Bookouture for this advanced reader copy as I found a new author to admire.

A hidden Diary in a old cottage brings together two lives one from the past and one from the present.
This dual time slip goes back and forth between Lorna in present day and Nancy during WWII.
This was a quick and enjoyable read for me. I wanted to read it all in one go but at the same time I wanted to savour each chapter.
Lorna recently lost her husband in a tragic accident. She needs some time away and has decided to spend the holidays with her mum and her new husband in The gamekeepers cottage.
Lorna was to stay in the annex of the cottage which was like stepping back in time. Everything in the annex was exactly how it was in the 1940’s. It wasn’t until Lorna opened an old desk and found a secret drawer containing a diary that belonged to Nancy that their two worlds collided.
Throughly enjoyed every page of this book.

Thanks to Bookouture and Net Galley for the advanced copy.

The story is told through dual timelines starting post WWII, 1945 to present day. In books with dual timelines, I usually like one timeline better than the other, but Anna Stuart did a terrific job of keeping me interested in both stories throughout the book.

This is one of those books that you think about after you’ve finished reading it. It’s an outstanding book, set in twin timelines, post WWII and modern day. The postwar timeline was a fascinating look at a woman named Nancy who’d been in the ATS during the war as a gunner. When the war ends, she marries a man she met in the service and they go live on his family’s farm.
It’s a far cry from being a gunner to being expected to become a farm housewife, and Nancy struggles with her new identity.
The modern timeline has a grieving woman named Lorna who finds Nancy’s diary. She faces many of the same issues as Nancy, and it’s interesting to read how she coped.

I highly recommend this book, 5 stars.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

4 stars. I so enjoyed this book! While my jam is definitely WW2 history, this dual timeline seamlessly extends beyond the end of the war and into the first year or two of peace. It centers on the struggles of four women that went from great responsibility during the war to being banished back to the kitchen at the end of it. Extremely interesting and enjoyable read!

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion. My views are my own and not influenced by anyone. Ever.

When it comes to historical fiction novels, I love reading about new perspectives. Fortunately, I have been on a run of luck in that regard.
The historical in this case centers around four friends who worked as gunner girls in England during WWII. I learned a lot about their tasks and about the perspective of smaller towns during the war.
As I read through the story, I realized that’s something that often gets overlooked. Books set in this period are often centered around major cities (Berlin, London, Paris), or in the smaller towns of France and Germany. Since a majority of the fighting was in and around the countries of those cities, it makes sense.
But it’s easy to forget that the war was much more widespread and even though there wasn’t actual land combat on a grand scale in England, there was a very real fear of German invasion.
I thought the author did a good job of relating the gunner girls’ lives. This was done with a simple diary entry followed by detail of the scene. It was an effective storytelling method, because those chapters were sort of like an introduction followed by a tale.
The diary is Nancy’s (which we know right away) and details her struggle with re-entering society after being de-mobbed. Once again, the author breaks fresh ground, because a lot is known about men having troubles after the war, but women are often overlooked.
Come to think of it, that is a major theme of this book. England went to war as one country, but after the war, everything had changed. Societal expectations were the same, but different. And women who had responsibilities in the war were all of a sudden thrust back into traditional roles – but they knew they were capable of more.
I did feel like the “feminist” point of view verged on preachy a few times, but the author stayed just on the side of non-annoying. Nancy’s struggles felt real.
And in a strange way, they paralleled Lorna’s struggles as she tried to figure out her life without her husband. Both women were facing bold new worlds that they had to find their footing in. That was a nice connection between the two eras.
There’s a touch of mystery as well, as Lorna reads the diary and realizes that something must have happened to change the lives of the four gunner girls. I really enjoyed Lorna’s “sleuthing” as she tried to get more answers.
In fact, I thought the entire story was very well-balanced between the two eras. That’s not always the case. But this one had me eager to get back to each one as they alternated. They were separate stories but cleverly intertwined.
I would definitely recommend this book for a unique perspective on the roles of women in post-WWII England. And for the message that strength can be found in even the smallest things and moving forward is worth the struggle.

One of the many reasons I started requesting ARCs was to try new genres of books and also new authors. And so, I opted to read The Secret Diary, only to fulfill the promise I had made to myself to step out of my comfort zone and try something new. Going into this book, I was initially not sure how much I will be able to get into such a different type. I was pleasantly surprised as this book did more than that - I completely enjoyed the story, particularly that of women of the 2nd World War times. Most of the things I read in the book I didn't know and was interestedto know more. I also liked the way the book traveled within 2 worlds- 1945 and the current times. Author Anna Stuart has done a wonderful job in bringing out all things which paved the way for women of our time to be where they are because of women of those times. She also clearly portrays how a time of absolute loss and despair actually brought out the other facets of women of those times and showed them the other side of living - a life filled with excitement and accomplishment. I am glad I read this book and for all these things, this book rates 5 stars from me.

I got an ARC of this book in return for an honest review and all the opinions I expressed here are my own. Thanks to the publishers, the author and Netgalley for the ARC.

Thanks to Netgalley for a copy of this book for an honest review.

Yet another WW2 book, this one depicting the gunner girls. A duel timeline book, set in 1945-6 and modern day, it tells the story of Lorna, a mother of 2 young boys trying to recover in her mother's home from a terrible tragedy when she discoverers the diary for gunner girl, Nancy. Nancy, along with her friends Peggy, Dot and Connie have a secret that slowly gets uncovered.

In 2019 Lorna is dealing with the tragic loss of her husband. Needing some time out and some TLC she takes her two boys to stay with her Mum in the Gamekeeper’s Cottage. Being a history teacher, someone like this would usually get her excited but she has nothing left – she is emotionally drained. But then she finds a diary hidden away, concealed since the end of the war. As she loses herself in the details, we meet Nancy.

In 1945 the was has ended and Nancy is trying to settle into life as a wife, stepping away from her place in the war as a gunner girl. But she’s finding it harder to adjust than she ever imagined. She misses her girls and the exhilaration of the job. And she doesn’t want to just be a wife in the kitchen. As she struggles, she spills all her thoughts in her diary. But she also writes down a secret, tearing it and hiding it away – a secret the girls had promised not to disclose…… Will the secret come out? Will Lorna find out what it was in the present day? Does Nancy settle into her new life? And will Lorna learn to deal with her heartbreak?

This is a wonderful dual timeline novel full of raw emotion, history, family, love and secrets. I really felt for Lorna and loved the fact that the diary gave her something to focus on during the tough days following the death of husband. Her emotions are so raw and it’s heartbreaking to read about, it’s just like her emotions seep from the page. It’s also sad to watch her boys go through the loss of their Dad too, and how the manage. Her Mum and husband are brilliant, and David is a huge encouragement to Lorna which is lovely to see. In 1945 I absolutely loved Nancy. The story really opens your eyes to how much of a struggle things might have been for women then, despite the fact that they also took an active part in the war, but were expected to step down and resume their previous lives.

Being the history geek that I am, I loved finding out more about the gunner girls and it’s really made me want to look into women’s roles during the war. There are so many roles women took on that we probably don’t even realise. The setting is fantastic and I felt like I was stepping back to the 40’s.

The storyline is brilliant and the writing is engaging and a pleasure to read. If you’re a fan of historical fiction, or enjoy a dual timeline and are looking for something gripping, emotional and wonderful then you should check this out! Most definitely recommended by me.

If you know me, you know I love books about WWII. I think my fascination stems from the fact that my father fought in the Pacific during it and my parents were married when he was home for a few weeks on leave.

I’m happy to be part of the Bookouture blog tour for this historical fiction novel by Anna Stuart. I love all the particulars: current day and past intertwined, old diaries, deciphering secrets of the past. Highly recommended if you enjoy this genre like I do!

Thank you for including me on the tour and for my e-copy!

Lorna Haynes has her two boys with her, Charlie and Stan, when she goes to stay with her mother shortly after the death of her beloved husband. Lorna and the boys will be staying in a house called The Gamekeeper's Cottage, beautiful on the outside, but definitely in need of renovation. She is a history teacher, so discovring a precious diary in a dressing table surely catches her attention.

The diary begins with the date of 16 June 1945, and was written by Nancy Jones Wilson. Nancy once lived in the Cottage, which was now her family hyome after marrying Joe, a man she met while they were both in the military in 1943. The two marry about a year later, and they had been seperated due to the war. With the war being over, Nancy and Joe move to his parents farm and take up residence. Nany may be happy with Joe, but she had learned quite a bit as part of the ATS, Auxiliary Territorial Service, on a gun crew with three other women. Becoming a housewife and cooking, cleaning and sewing is certainly not what Nancy now has in mind for her immediate future. Ted is Joe's father, and his passes his expectations about Nancy down to Joe.

These are among the things Lorna is now reading about in the diary. Finding the diary proves to be a very good distraction for Lorna, because her grief is almost more than she can bear. The deeper Lorna gets into the diary, the more curious she finds herself about Nancy and the other women.

This exceptional read is accompanied by very informative Historical Notes that are well worth reading. The women in the military, especially Nancy as this dual-timeline story, played pivotal roles, and this book shows their importance in Britain. Nancy Jones may have been a fictional character, but proved an exceptional portrayal of how important these women were, and how difficult it would have been to squeeze back into more traditonal roles.

Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

A beautifully told novel about old ghosts, past shadows and heart-wrenching sacrifice, Anna Stuart’s The Secret Diary is a poignant, atmospheric and captivating tale perfect for Kate Morton and Lorna Cook fans.

Norfolk, 1945 and Nancy Jones cannot believe how much her life has changed. From a gunner girl doing her duty for king and country, Nancy is now a gamekeeper’s wife struggling to adjust to her new role and to juggling the responsibilities and duties of her household. Nancy adores her handsome husband Joe and she is still head over heels in love with him, even though she cannot help but wonder just how well she knows her husband. When a secret from her past emerges, Nancy finds herself wondering whether the truth about what happened during one terrible night long ago will end up destroying her marriage…

In 2019, Lorna Hayes is mourning the death of her beloved husband. Wracked by grief and despair, Lorna retreats to the beautiful but crumbling Gatekeeper’s Cottage, where she hopes to have some time by herself to regroup after the last couple of months and try and piece together the shattered pieces of her heart. Stumbling upon a locked room in the cottage, curiosity gets the better of her and she walks through the door and finds herself swept back in time. Feeling as if she has walked into a snapshot from the past, Lorna is floored by the soldier’s uniform hanging at the back of the door, the flowery wallpaper and the spindle of a record player frozen and ready to play. But the biggest discovery of all is a leather-bound diary she finds hidden in a desk drawer.

Still battling with her own heartache, Lorna begins to escape into the pages of this diary and finds a story of love, loyalty and sacrifice which leads her to uncovering a powerful secret that will end up changing the course of her own life in the most startling and unexpected of ways.

In The Secret Diary, master storyteller Anna Stuart has written a wonderfully beguiling and evocative novel that beautifully blends romance, mystery, drama and intrigue into a spellbinding tale readers will thoroughly enjoy. A captivating read that grips from the start and which will hold readers spellbound until the very last page, Anna Stuart’s The Secret Diary is an emotional, enthralling and absorbing tale that touches the heart and brings a tear to the eye.

The Secret Diary is told via a dual timeline, something I am sure some of you already know I absolutely adore!. Alternating between the present day and the 1940’s, we follow the lives of two incredibly strong, resilient women as they navigate their way through the many difficulties life has thrown at them.

In the present day Lorna is trying to come to terms with the loss of her husband following a tragic accident. As she tries to adjust to life as a single mother as well as being a widow, she decides to go and stay with her mother for the summer, with the added bonus of having some much needed support throughout her grief. Her mother has recently married David and moved into the house he has recently inherited, and as she is adjusting to her new surroundings she comes across a notebook that has been tucked away in a hidden compartment within a desk draw.

The diary belongs to Nancy, a gunner girl from the war, and within the pages of this diary we get to experience what life was like for Nancy throughout such uncertain times and the friendships that she had made with the women she worked alongside too. Their job of shooting down Nazi planes was often given to men, but with them all being called away to war the job falls to this group of women. When the war finally comes to an end, they struggle to readjust to life as it was before, especially the aspect of forming relationships and having to maintain their traditional roles – something incredibly difficult following all they have achieved.

I absolutely adored this book from the moment I began reading it. The characters are authentic and believable, and with each passing chapter we get to learn more about them and the lives they have lead and the situations that have made them who they are. The storyline flows effortlessly from beginning to end, and as the timeline alternates between past and present tense you get experience the hardships they faced alongside them. The plot is perfectly structured and is laced with mystery and intrigue as we learn more of Nancy and what secrets she harbours. This is a truly captivating story that I would recommend to others who love historical fiction as much as I do.

The Secret Diary is a dual timeline story set in present times England and just after the World War II in the year of 1945 and 1946. Lorna who is grieving her husband finds a diary when she visits her mom. The diary belongs to Nancy. Lorna in the search of Nancy's story starts her healing process and finds new happiness. I can't write much without revealing spoilers.
The Secret Diary is a very light and enjoyable read. Its a story of courage, love, family and women friendships. The story is very interesting and cannot be put down. The secret can be guessed at midway but the novel keeps interest till the end. A wonderful novel.