A beautiful read. Friendship, family, love and heartbreak, it will make you weep with sadness and laugh with joy. I love how the author seamlessly blends the two timelines together, Set in WW2 and the present day, you meet and the brilliant characters of Guy and his granddaughter Leo. They strike up and strengthen the bond between them as Leo is coming out of a failed marriage and needs to leave her job in the city. She travels to Vis and takes on her grandfather's quest to find out answers for him back 75 years ago.

I read this book over a couple of days and would have read it sooner if I had the chance. Its atmosphere, the courage, the characters, and the way the island is described makes it very much real. Thank you!

I can’t wait to discover more of Eva Glyn’s books!

Regular readers of my book review blog will know I enjoy reading historical fiction novels set during World War 2. This book caught my eye when I read the blog tour invitation from Rachel Gilbey, because it is partly set in Yugoslavia – somewhere I knew very little about.

This was a fascinating and thought provoking read, alternating between Guy’s war time experiences and his granddaughter Leo’s time on the island, trying to find out what happened to the locals her grandfather met whilst making decisions about her own future.

The book is beautifully written and very emotional in places, as the two stories unfold. We discover the best and the worst of how people behave towards others. I look forward to reading more by Eva Glyn (aka Jane Cable) in the future and I’m happy to recommend this well researched novel.

This book combines the best of dual timelines - a historical story set in wartime Yugoslavia and a modern romance set in what is now Croatia. It made a pleasant change to read about this aspect of WW2, as most book focus on other regions. Well told and a reminder of the horrors of war and the enduring nature of love. I really enjoyed this book and can thoroughly recommend it.

This is a book that will stay in the memory for a long time! Hugely atmospheric with the stunning backdrop of Croatia as the setting, this is a tale of family history, love, heartache, hope and courage.

Eva Glyn has such an easy writing style, it is impossible not to be swept up in her tale. Main characters Leo, Guy, Andrej and Ivka and their relationships are described beautifully, leaving the reader to empathise fully with their individual plights.

This is a dual timeline story which is expertly weaved to its’ climax. One not to be missed!

With thanks to the author, Rachel at Random Resources and One More Chapter for the opportunity to participate in the tour.

This was such a beautiful story! I relished learning about different parts of the war. Throughout the book we read how Guy, on a secret mission with the British forces had met Ivka and how they fall in love. The author did a great job capturing the sense of place. She had wonderful descriptions of the landscapes. This book pulled me in from the start!

Leo accepts her grandfathers wishes to go back to where he served during WW2 and she makes this happen. There are so many reasons to find himself back there and as Leo finds out more about her grandfather she doesn't know who her grandfather really is.

Leo Holmes is facing a crossroads in both her personal and professional life, her marriage is over and her high flying job in the city is draining her of energy. Guy Barclay, Leo's elderly grandfather, is becoming increasingly frailer by the day and Leo, with time on her hands, agrees to go to Vis, an island in Croatia, where seventy-five years ago, her grandfather spent time during the latter years of WW2. Her grandfather's quest to right the wrongs of the past is the focus of the story, and flipping expertly between two time frames, both Guy's story in the past and Leo's story in 2014 come forcefully to life.

An Island of Secrets brings this beautiful part of the world to life in a really meaningful way, and in following in her grandfather's footsteps Leo discovers that there is much to learn about the past, especially Guy's role as a SOE during this crucial, and particularly, challenging time in the war. The story is so beautifully descriptive that the place, and the people, in both the past and present time frames come alive as the tiny island streets around Komiža harbour once again feel the patter of feet and the strident clammer of voices.

The shadow of the past is never forgotten and this is made all the more poignant by following what happened, not just on the island in 1943 but also to the woman who captured Guy's heart so many years ago. Although the book is very much about the past, there is also meaningful time spent in the present and Leo's burgeoning relationship with a local man, Andrej Pintaric, who not only helps her to discover the events of the past, but his warmth and encouragement also gives the story a wonderful, romantic edge.

Beautifully written, emotional and with a real sense of history coming alive, An Island of Secrets is one of those rather special stories which stays in your heart long after the last page is turned.

I’ll make an admission here. I signed up for the blog tour for this book without reading the book’s blurb because I have loved Eva Glyn’s previous work. I was kind of dismayed when I did get round to looking at what the book was about because, as a general rule, I don’t read novels set in times of modern warfare. It is just a genre I don’t particularly enjoy. However, a promise is a promise, so I decided to give it a go.

Lo and behold, I actually really enjoyed this book. It is set at a time and place during the Second World War that I am not familiar with at all and I found it absolutely fascinating from a historical perspective. I’d never heard anything about wartime activities of the British in, what was then, Yugoslavia and the precursor to the rise of Tito and communism in that country. Despite my lack of enthusiasm about modern conflict-set books, I do love to learn new information, so this previously unfamiliar aspect of the Second World War pulled me in and piqued my interest. It is clear that the author has done a lot of research about the location and what went on there during this period and this really brought the history to life.

Another reason that the book held my interest was that the focus was not primarily on the conflict, but on the relationship between Guy and Ivka and the war was the backdrop for that. Don’t get me wrong, the war is central to the story because their love story only unfolds the way it does because of the situation they find themselves in, but the focus on these intimate, personal experiences of war and how they affected the lives of those involved forever, changing the course of their futures, is what made it absorbing for me. The author has drawn beautiful, sympathetic characters in this book and their story was intensely moving and emotional. It would be a stunted heart that couldn’t feel the pain that war has caused these people by the end.

There are some quite disturbing events described in the book and the author does not shy away from telling the reader the truth about the horror of war, and not just the atrocities committed by the enemy. I was very shocked at one of the story threads running through the book, never having heard anything about such things happening before, and I think one of the best things about novels such as this is keeping the memories of these atrocities alive and trying to make sure they never happen again. Given the threats that women are still facing every single day across the world at the moment, even in supposedly progressive nations, these things are important. I am feeling especially sensitive to media around these topics at the moment, so I found reading this book quite painful and anger-inducing, but these are emotions that are necessary to overcome complacency and apathy and remind ourselves that we need to keep fighting against these things.

This sounds like the book might be a heavy read, but it really isn’t. The writing is engaging, the location setting vivid and immersive and the historical detail fascinating. If a book like this can engage and impress a war-phobic reader like me, fans of the genre are going to love it.

Thanks Netgalley for allowing me to read this. Leo s asked to go on an adventure to find her grandfathers first love. She travels to Vis which is a small island and starts asking questions. I liked the chemistry between Leo and Andrej

I often find myself referring to this author’s work as atmospheric. I can honestly say that each of her previous books, that I have read, have transported me into the heart of the story and I have been moved by them all. An Island of Secrets is another dual timeline which switches between WW2 Croatia on the Island of Vis and a more modern-day experience in the UK and Croatia.
I must confess to being somewhat ignorant to the struggles of wartime Yugoslavia and was only aware of the more recent troubles in Serbia. However, I must have had some awareness as I certainly remember hearing of President Tito and his somewhat cruel regime.
In 1944 we meet Guy Barclay, an SOE officer embedded within an allied force supporting the Partisan efforts against the Nazi occupation. The depth of research never fails to impress me, and I learned of the struggles that the resistance faced both in the face of the Nazi regime and at the hands of their own leaders. It was difficult to discover the fate of any female Partisan, or Partizankas, should they be found to have been fraternising with their male counterparts.
Along with Guy, we are introduced to 3 incredibly brave women; Kata, Ivka and Anka. Their stories and how their lives impacted on Guy create the muse for the modern-day element of the book.
Guy’s granddaughter, Leo, is asked to travel to Vis and see if she can find out more about the fates of the women, as a last request from her dying grandfather. There she meets Andrej who acts as her guide and helps to piece together the tragic story of her grandfather’s time in Croatia. What Leo doesn’t realise, when she first sets off, is how much she needs the break from the stresses of her own life. Finding closure for Guy may just be exactly what she needs to put her own life back in order.
I know, without a doubt, that this book will stay with me for some time. The seamless way the timelines blended was a testament to the author’s exquisite talent. I genuinely felt the pain and desperation described in this beautiful but difficult story, but I also felt the love and optimism that the characters were driven by.
I cannot recommend this book enough and am now, once again, moved to visit the beautiful country of Croatia.

I really enjoyed the crossover from WW2 to the present day, and the relationship between Leo and her grandfather Guy, whose time on the Island of Vis in Yugoslavia during World War 2 is the focus of the story. I like learning about different parts of the war - it was truly a world war and a salutory lesson for us in the present day. Guy is used to keeping secrets in his role in the war, and this affects his relationships. he forms a friendship with local girl Ivka - but what happened to this special relationship when the war ended. And what does he want burnt out executive granddaughter Leo to investigate. I loved reading of Leo's stay on Vis and would love to take off like that. Really interesting read. #netgalley #AnIslandOfSecrets

I savoured this book. I like reading timeslip stories but often find that I am more invested in either the story in the present or the one in the past, however with Eva Glyn’s book I felt equally invested and committed to both sets of characters – Guy and Ivka in their wartime reality and Leo and Andrej in the present day.

The setting of the island of Vis is lovely and it made me want to visit it in the future. The author painted the role of the place and its inhabitants in World War 2 very realistically.

I was cheering on the side lines for Leo and Andrej and at one point dissolved into tears as I had become so involved in their relationship.

Eva Glyn has a lovely, lyrical, almost haunting way of writing that I enjoyed very much.

Two different love stories, in two different decades.
Guy on his deathbed asks his granddaughter Leo, if she could go to Croatia to find out what happened to people he knew during WW2.
Leo heads over to Croatia and meets Andrej, who rents out his late grandmother's house.
Throughout the book we read how Guy, on a secret mission with the British forces had met Ivka, they'd fallen in love but faced many battles.
Great descriptions of Yugoslavia during WW2, of the Partisans lifestyle and rules.
The story of Leo, is that not only is she searching for her granddad, but she's also searching for answers for herself.
Despite the book covering two eras, it flowed well and it's a great read.

AN ISLAND OF SECRETS by EVA GLYN.

This is a beautiful story. Told on the dual timeline of 1944 and 2014.
Guy Barclay is 93 and back in 1944 he was based on Vis, a small island just off Croatia.
When he returned to the Uk, Guy left love and secrets behind on the island.
Now as he nears the end of his days, Guy sends his granddaughter Leo out to Vis to find the answers to the questions that still trouble him from his time there during the war.

With her own life crumbling around her ears, Leo packs her bags and sets off to uncover her grandfather’s secrets and maybe to rebuild her own life at the same time.

This book really is quite breathtaking. Written with such exquisite attention to the geographical and historical detail of the area.
You will be whisked away by this well-written story, which is perhaps especially poignant in these current times.
Beautiful, heartbreaking and thoroughly unputdownable.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

With thanks to #Netgalley and #HarperCollinsOneMoreChapter for a digital arc of this wonderful book.

Friendship
Family
Heartbreak
Romance
I have to say, as I began reading, I wasn’t sure how I was going to like An Island of Secrets. I am so happy I kept on reading! What a truly wonderful story!
Told in duel timelines of WWII time frame of 1944 and present day of 2014.
The detailed descriptions of life on the island on the coast of Croatia are beautiful as well as heartbreaking. The story is full of historical information that I found very intriguing.
I went through many emotions reading An Island of Secrets. Author, Eva Glyn, draws you into her story with her beautiful flow of writing.
Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

A dual timeline romance. A grandfather at the end of his life, asking his granddaughter to visit the island that he found love so many years before, during WW II. A granddaughter, fulfilling her grandfather's wish and learning so much more!

This is one of the best books I’ve read so far this year!

Guy Barclay is a 93-year-old WWII British veteran searching for answers before his time is up. So he asks his granddaughter, Leo Holmes, to travel to the Croatian island of Vis to see if she can find out what became of the young woman he had fallen in love with and her sister.

This story is told from past and present POVs, providing not only a glimpse into the history of the small island’s military base and the brave citizens who fought to protect it from German occupation, but also the island’s current residents and their pride and devotion for allowing their beautiful landscape to remain untouched.

One thing I loved about this story was how effortlessly Eva Glyn glides between timeframes. One moment Guy is back on the island of Vis with Ivka and making plans to bring her and her sister to Italy, and the next, Leo is walking the same streets her grandfather one had with Andrej as her guide. The parallels between their experiences were undeniable as well. It seemed as though they were all fighting battles of their own, even ones of the heart, and at times, I was overcome with emotion because the the writing just so pure and raw and immersive. I felt as though I were experiencing the love and heartache right alongside them.

If you enjoyed The Olive Grove, I knew without a doubt that you will love An Island of Secrets. Highly recommend!

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4687878102

4.5 stars rounded down

Seventy five years ago, British SOE spy Guy Barclay was forced to leave behind the woman he loved in war-ravaged Yugoslavia. Now, ninety three year old Guy's days draw to a close, he asks his granddaughter, Leo, to go looking for answers. Given that her marriage has imploded, and her city job is on the verge of killing her, Leo agrees and rents a house in the island of Vis, where her grandfather was stationed in WWII. But Leo's search takes her down unexpected roads - and into the path of a gorgeous local.

The story alternates between 1944 and 2014. This is a descriptively written story. We visit a tiny Croatian island, Vis. Guy Barclay had to leave the woman he loved in war-ravaged Yugoslavia. Now aged ninety three, he asks his granddaughter, Leo, to go in search of answers. The characters develop slowly. I was pulled in quickly to this story. I don't want to say anything about the plotline as I would as I would spoil it for potential readers. Fans of historical fiction and dual timelines will love this book. The two timelines came together seamlessly by the end.

I would like to thank #NetGalley #HarperCollinsUK #OneMoreChapter and the author #EveGlyn for my ARC of #AnIslandOfSecrets in exchange for an honest review.

This is a dual time book set mainly in Croatia. It is a location that I hadn't learned much about during World War 2. I found it interesting to read about.
This book is beautifully written and flowed easily between the different times. I enjoyed reading it.
Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for my ARC.

Having thoroughly enjoyed Eva Glyn's previous novel, I very much looked forward to reading 'An Island of Secrets'. Already hooked by its gorgeous cover and intriguing blurb, the story did not disappoint. It was excellent. It's a dual timeline where each story moves seamlessly from one to the other. The novel is beautifully crafted and the author has created multi-layered characters for the reader cares about. I particularly liked the relationship between Guy and his granddaughter, Leo, the love between them shining through. The fact that the book was inspired by a true story makes the novel even more poignant. I felt I was there in Croatia, witnessing the events in 1944 and later in 2014, urging on Leo to find answers for her grandfather. It was very clear that much research had been done and was not surprised to learn that the author had been able to visit Komiža and walk in the footsteps of her characters. Wonderfully evocative, this story stayed with me long after I closed the book. Highly recommended. Thank you to Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read it.