This author is a master of historical fiction, while she hasn't written many to date each is beautifully written. I think it's because they feel like she is sharing a story that has been passed down and cherished. Love that this one is a different spin to it than many books written in the same time period. There were times it was hard to do the audio (but to be fair I don't usually like historical fiction as audio books, I like to hold them in my hands), but speeding it up a little helped. That being said, I plan to actually read the hard copy of this now too as I feel like I missed some things that make it so much fuller while listening. But that wasn't a story line problem, it was my listening skills issue. I recommend this author and book to all historical fiction fans- you will want all of her books.

Macmillan Audio ALC
I still remember where I was when I read The Glittering Hour, so I was so excited to see that she had written another one. This book is heartbreaking and tender. The comp to Downton Abbey is accurate. I loved how the author created the dual timelines here - between 1911 and the trenches of WWI. It created such a compelling story and mystery. I loved the character of Kate and how the reader is slowly introduced to her. I also liked how Jem's parts had a male narrator, which captured the war in such brutally honest ways. I think this book brilliantly explored how secrets and power between house staff created such intricate dynamics. I was invested in Kate's secret, Jem's secret, and the other secrets present and how they weaved together to create this compelling story. The narrators are British, which added such depth to the characters. The performances were excellent.

I was so excited for this book as a newcomer to historical fiction of romance and mystery. I mainly read mystery/thriller books, so diving into this was somewhat treading new waters. I must admit that my love of Downtown Abbey drew me into this and the promise mystery reeled me in. Unfortunately, only the historical parts were interesting and not the romance or mystery parts.

I enjoyed reading the daily challenges of the characters, the social trysts they had to endure. That was the historical parts that made the book interesting. Everything else that was supposed to stir the waters didn't really pack a punch, as I wasn't really pulled into what would happen and what had happened to catapult any other events. I almost preferred just to read the historical facts during that time and what the upstairs and downstairs of these characters went through and that would be it.

Most of it was because there were sooo many characters that it was difficult to keep up. If it were centralized to just Kate and Jem and the occasional facts about Coldwell Hall, it would have deepen the entire book so much better. But it was littered with all the extras that didn't make this book so mysterious.. This became meh for me,

Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin's Press and MacMillan Audio for an audio copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

🎧audio review:
I have to admit I was lost most of the first half of this audio book. I had a hard time keeping the characters straight and it moved very slowly. However the second half picked up and I was able to get invested in the characters and pick up the plot. It was a solid second half and I was able to enjoy the way the author wrapped up the whole plot line.

Duty, desire, and deception reside under one roof.

I throughly enjoyed Iona Grey’s new novel, The Housekeeper’s Secret. Told in alternating timelines from 1911 and 1916, the story is full of secrets, mystery, romance, and murder.

As the title implies, the story is primarily told by Kate, the housekeeper at Coldwell Hall. Kate has come to Coldwell to escape her past. It’s there that she eventually meets Jem, a footman with a mysterious past of his own. As they embark upon a forbidden romance, the mysteries of Coldwell Hall, and of their pasts, are slowly revealed.

With a full cast of “downstairs” characters, it gave off some Downton Abbey vibes. All of the characters and their stories were well developed and the time-period felt authentic.

Thank you for the ALC. The narrator did a wonderful job bringing each character to life.

Kate Furniss is the housekeeper of Coldwell Hall. This is the perfect hiding place for her. She is running from an abusive husband.

Then there is the footman, Jem Arden. He is at Coldwell Hall to find out what happened to his brother. His brother has been missing and he went missing from Coldwell Hall.

I enjoyed the mystery surrounding these two characters. And when their love blooms…it just might find them in a mess. Jem is strong and he protects Kate to the best of his ability. Kate is also tough, tougher than she knows. But will their strength protect them??

Boy this book is long! Longer than it needed to be. It just moved so slow. But the author created enough mystery surrounding the two main characters that I kept with it. I have only read one other novel by this author The Glittering Hour. And apparently I had the same thoughts about that novel.

I do believe the narrators, Raphael Corkhill; Shakira Shute, were another reason I kept listening to this book. They were truly fantastic.

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.

Thank you St. Martin’s Press for the #gifted ARC and thank you Macmillan Audio for the #gifted ALC of The Housekeeper’s Secret! #MacAudio2024 #TheHousekeepersSecret #IonaGrey #stmartinspress

𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐤𝐞𝐞𝐩𝐞𝐫’𝐬 𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐭
𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫: 𝐈𝐨𝐧𝐚 𝐆𝐫𝐞𝐲
𝐍𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐬: 𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐫𝐚 𝐒𝐡𝐮𝐭𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐑𝐚𝐩𝐡𝐚𝐞𝐥 𝐂𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐥
𝐏𝐮𝐛 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: 𝐀𝐮𝐠𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝟏𝟑, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒

This book reminded me a lot of Downton Abbey, where the lives of the staff intersected with their upper-class employers. There were secrets and lies and forbidden romance. I had really high hopes because I loved Downton Abbey. However, this one did not work for me. I had a really hard time keeping up with the different characters and the alternating timelines. I think the intentions were great and I really wish this one would have worked better for me, but I just could not get into it. I do not listen to a lot of historical romance, so if you gravitate towards this genre, maybe you will love this one.

I listened to the audiobook, and I did enjoy the narrators. I think they were perfect and really did a great job bringing the characters to life. This was my first time listening to Shakira Shute and Raphael Corkhill and would definitely listen to an audiobook narrated by either of them in the future!

Posted on Goodreads on August 11, 2024: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/144922955?ref=nav_profile_l
**Posted on Instagram - Full Review- on or around August 11, 2024: http://www.instagram.com/nobookmark_noproblem
**-will post on designated date

I loved these narrators. I think they made this story come to life so well. Kept me listening all the way through. I enjoyed this book more because of the narrators.
This was a very interesting book for me. I've not read many at all set in this time period. From Edwardian Age to the trenches of WWI. Set in the moors of Northern England, Coldwell Hall. A story told from the servants POVs.

Kate is determined to keep the secrets of Caldwell Hall in. She's also determined to keep her own secrets hidden. And yes she has a few. One that could hurt her. But she is very good at her job and does all she can to keep things running smoothly. Then she meets Jem and things take a turn. Is it love? Or something else?

Jem has secrets of his own. He came to Caldwell Hall for reasons of his own and did not intend to fall for anyone much less the head housekeeper.

Told from different timelines and different prospectives this story will hold your interest once it gets going. I have to admit that it was a bit slow starting for me but it didn't take to long to get there. To get the main characters. It's fairly easy to follow and the flow is pretty good. There are some things that tended to interfere with the flow but it can be overlooked in part. At least I managed.

This book was a new subject matter for me. Being about the servants instead of the rich homeowner. All that they do each day and the secrets that they all tend to have. I think this author did a good job of getting things right. Well researched. Read the Acknowledgments for more info.

I enjoyed this book.

Thank you #NetGalley, #MacmillanAudio, for this ARC. This is my own true thoughts about this book.

Four stars.

🎧🎧 Book Review 🎧🎧 A sweeping journey back to the Edwardian era of England. Told over the span of near a decade from 1911 to 1919, The Housekeeper’s Secret is an absolutely rich and immersive dive into the world of the wealthy and those who cater to their every need and want. Desperation, while for varying intentions, seems to be the one thing that connects those from all walks of life. Hope for a better future helps Kate and Jem forward but can they truly leave the past in the past? In a world changing so fast with inventions and on the brink of war, their own lives mirror this uncertainty. This absolutely beautifully written, gripping novel is a poignant reminder that while the world was such a different place a century ago, humanity has remained the same and that through the darkness, there is beauty and light.

Review is on Goodreads and will be on instagram and Amazon on publication date.

I could not finish this book. I made it about half way but I was confused for most of it about who was who and could figure out where this book was going.

Well written story, however I found it hard to keep track of all the characters and their importance and relationships with each other throughout the audiobook. I probably wouldn’t have had such an issue with this if I was reading the text. If you like romance books set in the early 1900s and like a dash of war/military and some secrets, you’d enjoy this book!

The Housekeepers Secret
By: Iona Grey
Pub Date: August 13, 2024
Publisher: St. Martins Press

4⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

1900s in England.

A sweeping novel with the servants POV. Secrets, mystery, love and intrigue.

Kate is the housekeeper and she knows about the goings on in the manor and the secrets. She does not want this secrets to get out.

The challenges of the servants at the time were well historical accurate. I admit I don’t know much about that time period, but this novel was very detailed and interesting.

Thank you for the advanced audio.

ARC Review: "The Housekeeper's Secret" by Iona Grey (Audiobook)

"The Housekeeper's Secret" by Iona Grey promises a captivating blend of historical intrigue and forbidden romance, set against the backdrop of Coldwell Hall in early 20th century England. Narrated with eloquence and depth, this audiobook delves into the complexities of duty, desire, and deception within the confines of a grand estate.

Kate Furniss, the stoic housekeeper of Coldwell Hall, has meticulously crafted a facade to shield her true self from a world filled with secrets and societal expectations. As the narrative unfolds through alternating timelines—from the opulent summer of 1911 to the grim trenches of World War I—the listener is immersed in a tale that intertwines passion and peril.

Iona Grey's prose is evocative, painting vivid scenes of the moors and the grandeur of Coldwell Hall, enriching the atmosphere and bringing the historical setting to life. The author weaves a web of relationships and hidden truths, particularly focusing on Kate's forbidden romance with Jem Arden, the enigmatic new footman whose arrival disrupts the delicate balance of the household.

However, despite the promise of a sumptuous narrative, the audiobook proves challenging to engage with initially. The pacing is slow, requiring patience from the listener to unravel the layers of the story. While Grey's meticulous research shines through in the historical details and character development, the plot's progression may test the endurance of those seeking a more briskly paced experience.

Yet, as the story gains momentum, Grey's adept storytelling and the emotional depth of the characters begin to resonate. Kate and Jem's relationship, fraught with tension and longing, becomes a poignant focal point, drawing listeners into their world of forbidden love amid the tumultuous backdrop of war.

In conclusion, "The Housekeeper's Secret" is a beautifully written historical audiobook that rewards patience with its rich atmosphere and complex characters. Despite its slow start, Grey's narrative prowess and the evocative narration make it a worthwhile listen for enthusiasts of historical fiction, particularly those captivated by tales of romance and intrigue in Edwardian England.

Rating: 3.5/5 stars

This novel actually took me quite some time to get into. I found the pacing quite slow in the beginning, and even though not much was happening yet, it still took me awhile to figure out what was going on, while being introduced to the house and the characters.

The book is primarily set in 1911, focusing on the “downstairs” staff of Coldwell Hall (with brief vignettes set during the war in 1916). There is a lot of staff to get to know, and it did take me quite awhile to keep them all straight.

BUT, even though I was struggling so much early on, I didn’t DNF, and I’m glad I didn’t because I actually really enjoyed it! The romance itself is definitely important to the story, but I felt the mystery was the part that kept me reading. (Until the end when I was just hoping a praying for the best for our characters!)

Audiobook notes: Really well done. I’ll admit, it took some adjusting for me to keep track of whose POV we were on, because there were mid-chapter, abrupt changes throughout. But once I got a handle on the cast of characters, I was better able to keep track of these changes, but I imagine it could be potentially distracting for others.

Thank you @macmillan.audio for providing me an ALC of this book. All opinions are my own.

What this book is giving:
✅ Historical Fiction
✅ Mystery
✅ Romance
✅ 1911-1916
✅ Downton Abbey-esque

Rating:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / 5
🌶️½ / 5

This was a hard book to get through. It was very slow. There were SO many characters, it was hard to keep track of who was who. When the point of view changed, the chapters were not labeled it was very confusing. I muddled through and found it very predictable. I enjoyed the historical fiction throughout the book, but overall, not for me.

This is a historical fiction piece about secrets and lies amongst the help in a household. I feel like the blurb really makes this sound like it should be awesome, but it's just so slow. I liked the main characters, but there were many other smaller characters that I had trouble keeping track of. It was just a lot, and I don't think it needed to be. I wanted the story between the two main characters to move along more quickly. I also don't know that the changing timelines were necessary, and honestly, it confused me at times. I will say that the audiobook narrator was really good, the story just wasn't for me.

So, to be honest, I came to Goodreads about halfway through to see what I was missing...

I am listening to the audiobook, and it kept jumping back and forth, but without dates or identifiers...so I felt like I was missing something...
But, once I figured it out, it made much more sense!!

So, we are in the early 1900's, in Europe, and Kate Furniss is acting as a respectable housekeeper for a large estate. One where she can easily be lost or hopefully forgotten about. This is what she wishes, anyway...
She has many duties, and she faces each day with determination and steadfastness in getting each and every job done, and setting all those in (or under) her care--straight. Therefore, making each of their jobs a bit easier in the longrun.

However, she was not prepared for when a new footman arrived by the name of Jem Arden. He has his own agenda, and she is not a part of it...but somehow, once their paths cross...it's impossible for them to go their separate ways...

As the home grows in size due to a wedding, and the need for further house help, things begin changing. And as these changes take place, Jem continues his searching for his own peace of mind...
(I know this does not make sense now, but if/when you read the book, you will understand...)

Then, in another/dual timeline we have some of the house staff in the setting of the war. (This is where I was lost...) As we see the horrors of the war take shape, and men start losing their lives, their resolve begins to fade...and letters are written, as they realize that they might not make it home...alive...

Additionally, as in all books, we have some good characters, and some bad (really bad) ones...Of course, I wanted to reach through and smack some heads..but of course, I cannot...

This one had a little bit of everything in it, and I did really enjoy it!
Love. Family. Hope. Faith. Daily routines and challenges. People helping people. And, friends that become family...under one roof...and beyond...
But, as mentioned above, it also had some really bad characters who inflicted harm, and actually killed (and/or maimed) others, too.

Thanks to #NetGalley and #MacmillanAudio for an ARC of the audiobook which is due to be released on 8/13/24, so about a week from now!

#TheHousekeepersSecret by #IonaGrey and narrated nicely by #RaphaelCorkhill and #ShakiraShute.

4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 💫 stars for me, rounded up to 5!

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Lovely period drama, where you can’t help but connect with the characters and be invested in their stories. Great read for the fans of Downton Abbey. Although, the similarities could be a drawback for some readers. At times, I couldn’t help but imagine the characters of the book in the familiar setting of the show. That aside, I have come to really love Kate and Jem and their heartbreaking stories.

I was hoping for a historical fiction that focused a bit more on WWI but this really only had a very small amount of moments that actually dealt with that aspect. This was mostly a character developed drama that focused on the lives of the servants of a large manor in England. There was a mystery unfolding and a lot of personal story lines to keep track of. I really enjoyed Jem and Kate’s story but even though it was technically the main focus there was so much going on I didn’t feel like I got a good connection with any of them. Not a bad story but just not as great a fit for me as I’d hoped. I think has I not expected war content and was told it was a bit like the back of the house in downton abby I would’ve been ready for it and enjoyed it a bit more.

I do appreciate the publisher for the arc!

This is a slow-paced, atmospheric novel that moves back and forth in time. It reminds me of Longbourn by Jo Baker. I enjoyed the audiobook narration.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC.