Coldwell Hall is a country estate, and in 1911, Kate, a surprisingly young woman, holds the role of head housekeeper. However, Kate has many secrets. Jem, the new handyman, also has his own hidden motives for working there. After the original owner passes away, his irresponsible son inherits the estate, bringing along his valet, Mr. Henderson, a manipulative man determined to uncover everyone’s secrets for his own gain. The aristocrats and their overworked servants live side by side as the era comes to a close, with everything changing once the Great War begins.

This was another great Historical Fiction to add to my collection! I really enjoyed the blend of historical and mystery with a taste of romance.

I listened to the audio format and really enjoyed this narration by Raphael Corkhill and Shakira Shute.

*many thanks to St Martin’s Press, Macmillan Audio and Netgalley for the gifted copy for review

The Housekeeper’s Secret by Iona Grey is a beautifully layered historical novel that weaves together themes of love, duty, and deception against the backdrop of pre-World War I England. Set at the isolated Coldwell Hall, the story follows Kate Furniss, a dedicated housekeeper who has spent five years carefully hiding her past and maintaining a facade of professionalism. However, her carefully crafted life begins to unravel when the enigmatic Jem Arden enters the picture as the new footman.

The chemistry between Kate and Jem is palpable, and as the two develop a forbidden romance, the tension of the story builds to a simmering heat. Yet, the novel doesn’t just explore love and passion—it delves into the characters’ secrets and the consequences of living in a time where social boundaries are rigid and the past has a way of catching up with you.

Told through alternating timelines, from the last summer before World War I to the brutal trenches of the war itself, Grey paints a vivid picture of the emotional and physical turmoil of the era. The narrative takes the reader through moments of heartbreak, betrayal, and the hard choices made in times of war, all while maintaining a poignant connection to the past that shapes the characters' present.

The Housekeeper’s Secret is a richly detailed and deeply emotional story that will appeal to fans of historical fiction with complex characters and slow-burn romance. Grey’s writing is evocative, drawing readers into the world of Coldwell Hall, where love, duty, and hidden truths intertwine in a story that stays with you long after the last page is turned.

𝗠𝘆 𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 3⭐️
THE HOUSEKEEPER’S SECRET
🤍𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗿𝗲: historical fiction/romance
📖 368 pages
𝗘𝗺𝗼𝗷𝗶𝘀: 🤫 💕 ✉️🪖📖👻🐎📔🫖

𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗶𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲:
◽️ multiple POV
◽️ alternating timelines
◽️ WWI
◽️ forbidden romance

💚𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲💚

Thank you @stmartinspress @macmillian.audio for the #gifted copy!

While this book had all the elements of historical fiction I usually enjoy, something was missing. The shifts in POV were confusing, especially in the audiobook format, where the transitions didn’t feel clear. Additionally, the large cast of characters made it difficult to keep track of everyone, which sometimes took away from the story’s flow 😵‍💫.

That said, I still found it entertaining, particularly the romance between Kate & Jem, which was filled with longing & stolen kisses. The novel did a great job portraying resilience & the struggles of starting over, while also shedding light on the harsh realities faced by maids, footmen, & housekeepers during that time. If you enjoy these themes, this book might be worth picking up!

𝗣𝗹𝗼𝘁: Coldwell Hall, set in the remote moors of Northern England, is the perfect hiding place for Kate Furniss. For 5 years, she has carefully maintained her role as the house’s respectable housekeeper. In the summer of 1911, the arrival of a mysterious new footman, Jem Arden, changes everything. As their forbidden romance blossoms, Kate’s carefully built facade begins to crack. However, Jem carries secrets that could shatter everything Kate has worked to protect.

💭

#TheHouseKeepersSecret #paperback #audiobook #giftedbooks #historicalfiction #romance #SMPinfluencers #mystery #WWI #bookaddict #whattoreadnext #botwxbs #bookcollector #booksaremylife #booksonbooks #crimewithaclaw #cozycorner #historicalromance #netgalley
𝗠𝘆 𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 3⭐️
THE HOUSEKEEPER’S SECRET
🤍𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗿𝗲: historical fiction/romance
📖 368 pages
𝗘𝗺𝗼𝗷𝗶𝘀: 🤫 💕 ✉️🪖📖👻🐎📔🫖

𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗶𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲:
◽️ multiple POV
◽️ alternating timelines
◽️ WWI
◽️ forbidden romance

💚𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲💚

Thank you @stmartinspress @macmillian.audio for the #gifted copy!

While this book had all the elements of historical fiction I usually enjoy, something was missing. The shifts in POV were confusing, especially in the audiobook format, where the transitions didn’t feel clear. Additionally, the large cast of characters made it difficult to keep track of everyone, which sometimes took away from the story’s flow 😵‍💫.

That said, I still found it entertaining, particularly the romance between Kate & Jem, which was filled with longing & stolen kisses. The novel did a great job portraying resilience & the struggles of starting over, while also shedding light on the harsh realities faced by maids, footmen, & housekeepers during that time. If you enjoy these themes, this book might be worth picking up!

𝗣𝗹𝗼𝘁: Coldwell Hall, set in the remote moors of Northern England, is the perfect hiding place for Kate Furniss. For 5 years, she has carefully maintained her role as the house’s respectable housekeeper. In the summer of 1911, the arrival of a mysterious new footman, Jem Arden, changes everything. As their forbidden romance blossoms, Kate’s carefully built facade begins to crack. However, Jem carries secrets that could shatter everything Kate has worked to protect.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio for an advance audio copy of The Housekeeper’s Secret.

Kate is the esteemed housekeeper of Coldwell Hall…or at least, that’s what everyone thinks. In truth, she sees, hears, and pockets information to keep for herself. 1911 brings a slew of new arrivals, including a new footman named Jem which ignites a passionate and forbidden affair. Both of them are hiding secrets and as the romance deepens they find themselves in a tenuous spot.

I am very hit or miss with historical fiction, so I did take a chance on this one and I’ll say that I am partially to blame for not enjoying it. I just needed more. More scandal, more action…just more everything.

I struggled to get into the story as it starts very slow. I struggled with the audio and the timeline changes.

At the end of the day, this had all the pieces of historical fiction that I don’t like - that work better for me as a movie instead of a book. If it did end up being translated to screen one day I would give it another go and possibly enjoy it more.

I read part of this book and listened to audiobook for part. I liked the narration and listening to it better. A dual timeline story taking place in the trenches of WWI and in a home in northern England. Story focused on the sergeants, Kate and Hem and the secrets they are trying to keep hidden.

After a slow start, the story picked up and I enjoyed the narration. The book was a great blend of romance, historical fiction, and mystery.

*received for free from netgalley for honest review* I could reread this book for sure! i was so sad when it ended

There was much that drew me to this book going in - a historical mystery/romance set in the early 20th century, in an era and setting that gives Downton Abbey/Upstairs, Downstairs vibes. It's told with dual timelines, alternating between a country house on the moors of Northern England in 2011 and letters written in 2016 in the trenches of WWI Somme valley, France. The mysteries and stories unfold slowly. It's a bit confusing in the early stages, with multiples characters introduced, and early on I wasn't quite sure how I felt about this one. But the main characters, Kate and Jem, both have shadowy pasts that are hinted at and are eventually revealed, as is a current ongoing mystery. The characters were intriguing enough to keep me wanting to read more and learn their secrets, and in the end I was happy I'd stuck with it for the satisfying conclusion.
I listened to the audiobook which was beautifully narrated by Raphael Corkhill and Shakira Shute.
Thanks to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for providing a digital copy for an unbiased review.

So perfect for fans of Downton Abbey! Reading this book actually made me want to rewatch the entire series. The storylines are obviously different but the vibes are spot on. The only issue I had was the sheer amount of characters to keep track of. I did have to go back and relisten to bits in the beginning because I couldn't remember which character was doing what. Highly recommend for anyone who loves historical fiction, the Edwardian era, WW1, or what daily life was like for household servants 100 years ago.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio for the ALC copy!!

Unfortunately this one was just okay for me. The story seemed to drag a bit and I found it hard to really get immersed. However, I do think the audio was done wonderfully!!

3.5 stars. This book grew on me. The first part of the book felt long and lost me a few times - whether it was heavy details or overly descriptive, I'm not entirely sure, but I had to put this one down for a little bit and come back to it. The second two thirds of the book was much quicker paced and definitely sucked me into the story between the housekeeper and the footman. There was even more of a mystery element than I was initially expecting and I thought that added an element of intrigue and suspense to the story overall.

This one felt long - I do think there were parts of the plot that could have been streamlined. The two MCs were interesting in their own right - with fairly well fleshed out backstories and motivations for their actions throughout the course of the story. The romance element was almost secondary to the mystery that the footman was there to solve - but it was satisfying to watch the romance develop. Definitely a bit of a slow burn with the forbidden romance element very strong in the storyline.

Thank you to Macmillan and Netgalley for the ALC.

This was SUCH a wonderful book. I wanted to keep listening and ignore literally everything else in my life.

I initially had difficulty keeping all of the characters straight, but after only a handful of chapters, I was fully immersed. The non-linear timeline was really fascinating, and I loved hearing the story play out in kind of a non-order order, if that makes sense.

I loved the setting of circa-WW1 England—it’s not a time period that I’ve read much about. I also loved that the book was told about the help—the people who worked so hard to make sure that the nobility could live their posh lives without interruption—despite the war.

The narration was so good. It really set the tone and atmosphere of this meaningful book, and conveyed ALL the emotion that came with such a difficult time in history.

Overall, this was one of those stories that sticks with you. About love, friendship, solidarity, commitment, hard work, and pushing forward despite heartbreak and tragedy.

Thank you netgalley for the advanced preview audio book. I just love getting advance copies! This one lives up to the hype!

Grey is a lovely writer, but this isn’t going to be for you if you’re not into romance.

I was hoping the book would feel more like the historical fiction label it’s been tagged with, but it’s more of a historical romance, which didn’t work for me.

I liked the writing and the sense of place is very well-rendered, but the history (and really, any broader plot) takes a backseat to a fairly overwrought love story, which failed to hold my attention well and veers too frequently into manufactured angst and heartache for my taste.

If you enjoy romance, this one is at least well written, relatively accurate historically speaking, and not of the open door persuasion. But if you’re looking for true historical fiction, look elsewhere.

I wanted to like this book more than I did. The setting in a spooky manor house and a main character with a secret made me want to read it. However, it didn’t live up to expectations. The dual narratives of Kate and Jem initially promised intrigue, but the pacing in *The Housekeeper's Secret* was simply too slow.

The mystery surrounding the housekeeper's past lacked the element of surprise. Readers can easily guess what Kate is trying to hide and predict the events of the second half of the novel. Jem's arc is more intriguing but was kept vague for a large part of the story. The slow unveiling of his secrets could have been more effective with earlier foreshadowing. The romantic elements were interesting and could have got moving sooner than they did,

The audiobook narration by Raphael Corkhill and Shakira Shute is a highlight, delivering a pleasant listening experience. However, the novel's uneven pacing made it difficult to finish.

I overall enjoyed this book!

I felt like it was beautifully written, and was easy to read and absolutely enjoy

While "The Housekeeper's Secret" was a lovely historical romance with a darker undertone, it was not the gothic "Rebecca"-esque book I hoped it would be. There was a sweet, soft romance and close-to-no twisty moments. I made it 70% through then called it quits because of the pacing.

Thanks to MacMillan Audio for a copy of this book. I really enjoyed it. It took me a bit to figure out who was who and the different time periods in the beginning but once I got that down I was invested in the story. Everyone has secrets! Following the servants gave me Downton Abbey vibes - loved that! It all wrapped up well in the end. Highly recommend if you like historical fiction + mystery + a love story.

Grey gives gothic mystery meets Downton Abbey with this emotional thriller.

Kate and Jem are servants in early 1900s England. A dreary existence on the moor as the house they serve isn’t too colorful or exciting. The characters carry the story with their stories they keep the reader feeling like some things are absolutely going unsaid. As secrets reveal themselves, I couldn’t help but find myself wanting a future for the two if they could ever escape the lives they’ve planted themselves in.