The Secrets of Saffron Hall

This was a lovely book set in the olden days and then the modern day. How two worlds collide. Very interesting sad and funny in places.

Loved this book. It told the story of 2 women separated by over 500 years but both touched by sadness. One in Tudor times and the other in 2019. Both have connections to Saffron Hall. Ancient book of hours is discovered in an old locked tower and the story slowly unfolds of how the house got its name and what ties these women together. Great read. Highly recommend.

Saffron is one of the most precious and expensive of all spices, and Amber has discovered a very old book in her grandfather’s home, Saffron Hall about the dark history of her home and the precious flavoring. Much of the story centers around the court of King Henry the VII and the green thumb of the wife of one of his subjects. Eleanor is able to grow and harvest the crocuses needed for saffron and while at first this ability makes Henry look favorably upon the couple, things take an ugly turn. Stories that connect a past event with the present are everywhere right now and this one is especially good for those interested in the Tudors

I looooove these types of books and I never get tired of them.

I particularly enjoyed this one as it was very well detailed and easy to read. Some can get confusing to follow, but this one definitely wasn't.

This book lived up to the promise of the description. I always enjoy dual time period novels and this one did not disappoint, both time periods have interesting plots and both heroines were believable and developed well over the course of the book. So many novels set in Tudor times focus on the time around Anne Boleyn being queen so it was nice to read one set in an equally fascinating and tragic period, the rise and fall of Catherine Howard. This setting meant that once the final section of the novel began it was obvious what the tragic outcome would be for Eleanor and her family, but it was still handled sensitivitely by the author and the conclusion for Amber was satisfying. I look forward to more novels by this author in the future.

I loved this book. I’m a fan of dual timeline novels and this one was particularly well done.

We first meet Eleanor, in 1541. In our next chapter we are in 2019 with Amber. This story cleverly weaves parallels between their lives and we begin to see how they are linked.

Eleanor is an educated young lady who finds herself married to a widower with a small daughter after the death of her father. Her portion of the story is a good insight into the hard work involved in growing saffron, but also the court of King Henry VIII. Historians will surely recognise what is happening as they read- I was unfamiliar with some names and therefore was rather more surprised!

Amber is living temporarily with her grandad in her ancestral home, grieving her stillborn daughter. When lightning strikes (literally!) she finds a small prayer book, wrapped in linen. Her chapters deal with her exploration of this book, while she tries to rebuild her life after devastating loss.

I liked both main characters. They were strong women who dealt with the hand they were given.

The book itself was beautifully written and kept me gripped and interested throughout. I wanted to see what would happen in both timelines but I was also intrigued with how they fitted together.

All in all, this is an excelled debut novel and I look forward to reading more by this talented author! Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for my copy of this book.

Thanks Netgalley and the Publisher. I really enjoyed this book, loved the characters, the descriptions and most of all the storyline, a really good read

Unusual and interesting story,one modern ,one medieval. Two female characters tied by history and loss. A good read.

I was drawn to this book because of the interesting premise, the cover, and I love Saffron. I also enjoy dual timelines when it's done well, and here it was. The different timelines did not jump back and forth in a confused manner and was smoothly done by the author. 

The women, Eleanor and Amber, are strong characters and who live in the 1500's and 2019, respectively. Their stories were certainly heartbreaking but I believe it's what made them who they are.
 
This did get a bit slow in parts for me, I think it was slightly more drama involved than I am used to. Regardless, it was still an enjoyable read and it was interesting to see how their lives related to each other.  

3.5 Stars! 

Thank you to Net Galley, Avon Books UK, and Claire Marchant for providing me this eARC in exchange for my honest reivew.

Release Date: August 6, 2020
Avon Books UK  
General Fiction | Historical Fiction

This book made me feel so many emotions! Sadness, gladness, a bit of laughter, but most importantly - Hope.
I love the thread of hope that is woven throughout the story - in both eras of time.
I was impressed with the author's talent for going between time lines - from the mid 1500's to 2019.
The intertwining stories flowed well with each other - giving you a sense of believability.
There was a constant feel of mystery, suspense and drama.
I enjoyed learning about some historical facts concerning saffron, and some of the events surrounding the royalty of that era.
In my opinion, the characters were well thought out, with good dimensions.
I liked how the author was able to describe things, whether it was the landscape, buildings, or even smells, without going into too much detail and describing every leaf and stone - which gets tedious at times.
Overall, this was a well written book, and I enjoyed it. I received an advance copy from the publisher. I am not required to leave a review. If you like stories with two eras of time, some historical facts, and a touch of mystery and suspense, I recommend this book - because you'll probably enjoy it too!

The Secrets of Saffron Hall is a well-written historical fiction novel, which takes place in the present and in the past England during King Henry VIII reign. Beautiful and immersive book, that pulls the reader back in to the old times. Absolutely page turning read.
I liked Eleanor’s and Amber’s characters as well. As they are both strong, independent women dealing with a lot in their lives. A charming book about love and loss.

This debut book was just lovely, with compelling and sympathetic characters that were multi-dimensional and complicated. Set in two eras, one in the 1540s during the reign of Henry VIII and contemporary time, the book shows the timelessness of the human experience of love, grief and recovery from that grief. Two women, 500 years apart share the same tragedy when they suffer the loss of a newborn baby daughter. Part ghost story, part mystery to discover the treasure or secret, part history lesson about the unsettling times when Henry VIII was dismantling the Catholic Churches and monasteries in 16th Century England, part history lesson in court politics and the quickly changing fortunes of courtiers. This work of fiction gives the reader a glimpse of what life was like and how challenging it was for women, who were at the mercy of the menfolk in their lives. The two women share the experience of the loss of a newborn, separation from their husbands and strong female friendships that help them get through their grief. I didn't know about the cultivation of crocus for producing saffron, which was the arcing theme that tied the two stories and gave the estate the name Saffron Hall. As a followup I would love to read the story of Eleanor after she escapes to France.

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


I was hooked when reading The Secrets of Saffron Hall, it was an intensely gripping, emotional read, that kept me turning the pages until the early hours of the morning.

In the present, Amber’s grief is almost relatable, you feel her loss as keenly as she does herself, you want her to heal but not knowing if it’s possible.

The scenes in the past were beautifully depicted. Making me feel as though I was really there, living under the shadow of cruel, capricious Henry VIII, who looms large throughout.

Feeling the fear and difficulty of that time, the tightrope that everyone must have walked in order to stay in favour with the king. The book had me gripped until the end.

Highly recommend it.

Lovely well written story using the present and the past to link 2 characters in a tale of love, loss and tragedy spanning two centuries; the 16th century at the time of Henry 8th and the present day.

Two women five centuries apart...a secret/mystery set at the time of King Henry VIII 1538. 2019 an ancient book found at Saffron Hall with a dark secret. I thoroughly enjoyed the history and the writing. Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The secret of saffron hall by Clare Marchant, weaves a story of loss and acceptance and a haunted ancient castle into a beautiful tapestry. Her story is cleverly written and enthralling to read. Well done!

The secrets of saffron hall is a lovely historical story set in two time lines. The 1500's when the King was Henry of many wives and modern day time. There are links between Saffron Hall in tudor times when Eleanor was the mistress and when Amber is living there temporarily with her Grandfather following the loss of her baby.
While grieving and trying to keep herself busy Amber discovers an old book of hours with latin incsriptions referring to Eleanor's life and her children, one in particularly - Mary.
What is the mystery of Saffron Hall and why is she drawn to the tower and what secrets does it hold behind that locked door?
The past slowly unfolds and the writing reveals how life was during this uncertain religious time when Henry was disobeying the Pope. We learn about Eleanor's life running the hall on a day to day basis and how her husband Greville is away at court trying to earn favour with the king.
Lots of beautiful descriptions of tudor life and how life was for a young wife 500 years ago.
Heartbreak and secrets are revealed and eventually all the pieces of the puzzle fit together.
I did enjoy this story I believe the author Clare Marchant did a great job but I felt the modern element of the dual time line was repetetive and the characters in our time line were not developed enough.
Thank you to Netgalley and Avon publishing for the opportunity to read this.

For those who enjoy a good historical fiction, which switches between present day and past events - then this book will be a satisfying read.
The events surround Saffron Hall - with Eleanor in the late 1530’s whose husband is trying to gain favour with the court of Henry VIII - and with Amber who is visiting her grandad at the Hall during the present day.
The author was very good at switching between timelines and tying the events together to gradually weave an intriguing story.
I liked the characters, there was obviously a lot of research that had been undertaken to help establish the timelines and the story moved along at a good pace.
If you like historical fiction then you will like this, however I need to mention that I had a spooky premonition while reading - this book is a new release in August 2020 however I know I have read this book before. To the point that I knew exactly what was going to happen, what “secrets” the Hall held and how it would end.
I genuinely cannot explain how or why, but maybe for those who have read a lot of historical novels they will unravel the “secrets of saffron hall” before the end as the clues are there and maybe that’s what happened to me!
Still a book I enjoyed and I rated it 4⭐️.

I enjoyed this book, which moves slowly at first, then the reader is gradually drawn into the story, as it speeds up..
It concerns the discovery of a Book of Hours, by Amber, who is hurting from the loss of her baby. This book goes back to King Henry VIII. It relates the story of Eleanor, who marries a man that she does not care for, and gradually grows to love him.
The Book of Hours is hard to translate, and Amber has trouble doing it, but she finally succeeds, by painstaking work. Then she realises that Eleanor is trying to send her a message, through the veils of time, and only she can understand it. What secret is held in the Hall? Well, you will have to read the book to find out, as I am not going to spoil it for you,
In the meantime, Amber finds a new meaning to her life, due to the research. I shall say no more, for fear of spoiling the book, but I would highly recommend the novel.

This is a lovely book about uncovering secrets of the past. Both the story lines in the present and the past were enjoyable to read and I like how things came togehter. There is both sadness and happiness. I'd love if this book would have a sequel. I am wondering what happened after the diary finished. I'll certainly read more by this author!

I don't tend to read Historical Fiction but I really enjoyed this. With its present-day storyline interwoven with a 500-year-old mystery it had just the right balance for me. I also loved the descriptions of olden time Norfolk as I recognised many of the places from my childhood. I highly recommend it and it had me hooked!

I really enjoyed this dual timeline novel. The book interweaves the story of a grieving mother in the modern-day and a young wife in the time of Henry VIII’s marriage to Catherine Howard. Both were written sympathetically and I thoroughly rooted for both characters. However, it was the historical timeline I found absolutely captivating. I loved being immersed in Eleanor’s story - the fear and uncertainty of living under a capricious king in times of religious upheaval, and the sense of doom contributed to by the reader knowing what will befall the queen, although unsure of how that will impact this particular family. The farming of the saffron itself was also of great interest and whilst aware of the value of saffron, I felt like I was learning something as I read. The author's historical research was clearly well done and she held my attention throughout. I am looking forward to reading more of her books.

I do love a good historical thriller and this one took us back to the time of Catherine Howard. A nice change from Anne Boleyn! The court, the anguish of trying to survive as a woman is highlighted on every page. What I really felt worked well is the dual time line and that despite the hundreds of years inbetween, there are some stories that women share. Two women can connect over many years when their pain is this personal and heartbreaking. The character in the present day and the one in the past told their stories well and the overall message and story was heartbreakingly good.

A really nice writing style and I'm very pleased I found this author!

Two ladies, living centuries apart, both dealing with a similar problem, can they help each other come to peace?

Two stories come together in this book as we learn of Eleanors life in the 1500s and more recently Ambers. The main focus of the story is Eleanors life and as such includes a lot of historic detail which brings the story to life. It’s a lovely tale of love, tradition, rules and family and how different life was then.
It is well written for a dual time book, although you would have to question why it has taken over 500 years to make the discoveries that are made.
Although I really enjoyed the book, at times it could be a little repetitive and some of the themes in the book I feel I have read about quite a bit in other books recently, just with variations in the telling.
For me, I almost wish I haven’t read the prologue as I feel the whole book just leads up to this reveal at the end, yet you had already found this out and the story does not continue beyond this point. I would have loved to know more of what happened to Eleanor and her family after the events at the end of the book.
All in all I really enjoyed this read and would recommend it to fans of dual time and historic fiction books.


Thank you to Netgallery and the publishers for the chance to read this book, in exchange for an honest review.

love love love this book. From the first page it pulled me in, and didn’t let go. I just finished reading, and my heart is pounding from everything that happened in the last quarter of the book.
Wow. So worth the read. It’s a book I won’t soon forget.

I was drawn to The Secrets of Saffron Hall because I enjoy historical novels. I was intrigued that the story is set in two different time lines, the 1500s, during the rule of Henry VIII and present day. I learned a lot about saffron and found the historical aspect very interesting. The day-to-day life of Eleanor as mistress of Saffron Hall and how she nutured and grew the spice was detailed and informative. The author researched her material well. I loved reading Eleanor's development as a character and watch her slowly come to love her husband. It was sad to see how little time her and her husband actually spent together, but I'm sure that is what happened, as courtiers did try to gain favor with the king in order to better themselves. There was a lot of beautiful description of the Tudor lifestyle and how it was for a young mistress of a household. It was lovely seeing Amber's growth as she pieced together the secret that Eleanor had hidden in her beautiful prayer book.

I recommend this book to lovers of historical mystery and lovers of anything Tudor related.

I would like to thank Clare Marchant, Avon Books UK and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book and exchange for a fair and honest review.

This was a magnificent , beautifully written, emotionally driven and unforgettable first book by Clare Marchant.

Each turn of the page was an enchanting, mystical experience, and it felt like I was being transported back in time, and living amongst the characters in a time long since past. The author did such a good job of weaving a spellbinding historical tale, and the rich history of the time practically shone off of the pages, The reading experience was truly an experience to behold.

With a dual time , past to present storyline revolving around the characters of Eleanor, in the turbulent, unpredictable Tudor England era of Henry VIII and Amber in the modern day ,both women linked by tragic circumstances that have parallels between the two timelines.

The characters were well defined and you could relate to the turmoil of both women.

Amber is suffering after the loss of her Daughter and has taken refuge, away from everything that is a reminder ,to stay with her Grandfather at the family estate of Saffron Hall .

While there , she discovers an old book of hours with a Latin inscription referring to a baby girl Mary , what happened to her? What is the mystery surrounding the tower at Saffron Hall , kept locked and forbidden to enter? Amber is determined to uncover the secrets hidden there . The past is revealed in snippets through the entries in the book of hours.
The lavish, vibrant writing epitomizes the religious unrest of the reformation and you sense the impending doom facing Eleanor and her husband Greville, through his aquaintances and shifting alliances and intrigues at court .
The immense amount of detail woven into this novel shows just how much research that went into the book, and made it that much more captivating and enthralling.


This book has so many things in it that make it so beautiful: it is intriguing, heartbreaking at times, extremely hopefully in others, and much more. Many moments had me on the edge of my seat holding my breath to see what would happen next, and I absolutely could not put this book down. ⁣This was one of those books that I nearly read in one sitting, as I hated tearing my eyes away from the pages, and I only put the book down when absolutely necessary; I was completely mesmerized by the story.
⁣
If you enjoyed historical fiction, I highly recommend this book, because as a history lover myself, I absolutely loved it!

Highly recommend!

DUM SPIRO SPERO (Latin for - while I breathe, I hope)

On starting this historical novel by Claire Marchant, my curiosity was piqued and I continued reading. I am new to this genre and still unsure it is for me. I wanted my review to be about how this book is written and not about what the book is about, which can be gleaned from the back cover.

Commencing in 1541 with Lady Eleanor Lutton at her home Milfleet, later changed to Saffron Hall where she successfully grows saffron which her husband, Sir Greville Lutton, sells in London and Paris. This has brought Greville wealth and Eleanor is grateful she has assisted her husband in the success of the Saffron she grows. Eleanor has also lost a baby, daughter Mary and is grieving. This is their story of love, loss and hope.

In 2019 with Amber Morton, an activist, who is cataloguing her grandfather's books at Saffron Hall after the loss of her baby daughter, Saffron. Amber is grieving for her baby and, at present, is living apart from her husband, Johnathan, who is also grieving for his baby daughter, but in a different way. This is their story of love, loss and hope.

Each chapter alternates between centuries, which I thought suited the novel and was relevant in the storytelling. I did not like long descriptions given in the novel but some readers will enjoy the atmosphere it creates. At 50% of this book, I was considering not commencing further, as I was forward-thinking the plot and struggling to continue. I found the book predictable in parts but the ending was thought-provoking.

For readers who enjoy historical facts the book is a must.

I WANT TO THANK NETGALLEY FOR THE OPPORTUNITY
OF READING AN ADVANCED COPY OF THIS BOOK

In “The Secrets of Saffron Hall” by Claire Merchant, the intertwined stories of Eleanor during the reign of Henry VIII and modern-day Amber bring a gripping story of love and loss in the setting of a beautiful ancient British Hall. The tower is a landmark feature and a focus to bringing this story to life. I loved reading about the cultivation of crocuses that make the prized saffron spice and how each woman lived in her respective time and station in the same place. The characters in this book are ones that you want to get to know and the author brings them and their thoughts and feelings alive very well.
This book kept me going until the very end. If anything, I wanted more detail at the end and was surprised at the sudden ending. I do not want to give away any spoilers, but I wanted a bit more resolution to one of the character’s stories. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and highly recommend it to others.
Thank you to NetGalley and AvonUK for the opportunity to read this ARC. My review is my own thoughts on the book and are not influenced by the receipt of the ARC.

I love a good historical novel and this definitely fit the bill. It has a dual timeline which I loved and i found it to be a compelling and interesting read.

To be honest I was first drawn to this book by the fact it was 2 stories in different ages being told simultaneously, very much in the Lucinda Riley style of the Seven Sisters series which I really enjoyed, so I was expecting a poor man's version of this. What I found however was something that day surpassed my expectations, and if I'm being honest, was better than the Lucinda Riley series due to not having needless swearing and sex scenes in it. This story was more an emotional rollercoaster where you felt each woman's pain off the circumstances they'd been found in, and in particular Amber's story was all the more heartbreaking due to knowing what was happening in the country at that time, so I was on the edge of my seat knowing where the story could end up but not knowing if/when it would affect her. I am definitely going to be looking out for further books by this author as I really devoured this one

I have had this book on my shelf for some time and hadn’t started it as I felt it may be a bit dry. How wrong I was. The book was beautifully written and the 2 storylines were absolutely superb. The storytelling was faultless and very moving. If I could award more than 5 stars I would. It would have been fantastic to find out what happened to Eleanor but I can understand the need to stop her story where it did.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers who allowed me the opportunity to read this excellent book. I really hope the author writes more. I cannot believe it is her first novel.

Completely incomparable! The writing style is profound with articulate blends of the two different but similar stories.
This was a wonderful novel, very rich in character and history. I could literally see the events through the eyes of the two heroines.

Simply magnificent

I was initially drawn to this book because dual timeframe stories are my absolute favourite and I am pleased to say The Secrets of Saffron Hall did disappoint.

Two strong storylines, set 500 years apart, featuring likeable female characters both living with their own challenges. I was envious of Amber’s discovery - I couldn’t wait to see what might unfold as the detail from the prayer book was revealed and I thoroughly enjoyed Eleanor’s character development, which saw her growing from a vulnerable nervous young girl to a strong confident woman, not afraid to take charge and take risks when it was needed.

A great read, with historical elements well-researched. All I need now is a sequel please! I think there’s definitely more to Amber and Eleanor - were they actually related, how did the rest of Eleanor’s life play out? We got a sneak peek of Amber’s future and it looked rosy but does she get her happy ending? I’ve made my own theories!

Brilliant summer read
Just love these books with a mystery set centuries before present day and resolved in present time.
Well researched and loved the way the two heroines are linked
Has a whole gamete of emotions
Can’t recommend it enough

Before anything else, I want to wish our author @Clare Marchant good luck for her upcoming book.

Now about the book:
Well, this book is about two beautiful women, Elenor and Amber. But both of them belong from two different centuries! 1538 and 2019. Elenor’s story starts in 1538 at a village in england, when she was 17 years old. After her beloved father’s death, her cousin fixed her marriage to a rich older and widowed man Greville who works for the king(merchant) without asking her state of mind. Then her life’s major ups and downs begin!
Whereas, Amber lost her daughter during(or before) birth in 2019 , her story also starts with grieving. She decided to take a break from her usual life and her husband Jonathan, then she moved to her grandpa’s house, which is an old hall or you can say mansion with loads of history, named “Saffron Hall”. This place is really close to her heart that's why she named her daughter Saffron! Now one day she found a prayer book(like a diary), which was centuries old! Amber, who is an archivist finally got something to forget about her loss but the story is not that simple. The prayer book actually belongs to Elenor! TADAAAAAA!
NOW THE MYSTERY BEGINS!!! What is the connection between them?? Is there any?
(Well yeah!!) To find out what, you have to read the book my dear! Because I don't give spoilers! I AM A GOOD GIRL!!

My thoughts:
Well I felt AMAZING!!! I also once lived in an old palace with loads of mystery and always wished “one day I will “ find something like this, a diary or anything but sadly that never happened! While reading this, those memories got alive again! God! It was awesome…
This book has pain, love, history, mystery, questions, all together! I was stuck with this book for a few days! People seriously need to read this. Definitely !!

Thank you @Clare Marchant for this amazing book and thank you @Avonbooks for giving me the opportunity to read it.
The book is releasing on Aug 6th, 2020. Do read it!

A beautifully written dual story of the lives of Eleanor and Amber , and their connection to Saffron Hall. I was quickly drawn into the emotional stories of both women; Eleanor's story of grief then finding love, and Amber struggling out of the haze of grief to try and re-find love again. The history element was fascinating and links to the court of Henry VIII very realistic. A must for all historical fiction fans.

I loved this book so much! I love a dual timeline historical fiction, and this book takes place during my favourite time period- Tudor England! This also included a bit of historical mystery, which I love!
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I was immersed in the story of both the main characters-Amber and Eleanor. Amber is dealing with grief and goes to live with her grandfather in Saffron Hall to help catalogue his collection of books so that she can get away and take a moment to grapple with her grief. Through her work, she finds something that connects to someone in the 1500s England, that might connect to her family home, Saffron Hall. Now, moving to Eleanor, she was such a fierce and strong character. She is forced to leave her family home to live in her new husbands household, but the brings Saffron to the new home and completely changes the identity of the Hall and helps with her husbands merchants business. I loved both of these characters so much and they were strong female characters.
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This book takes place during a very turbulent time in history, when Henry Tudor broke away from the Catholic Church in order to divorce his first wife and marry his second. People in England have a tough time with this change, because their religion played a large role in their lives and the monasteries play a large role in society, which we can see through Eleanor's experiences.
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Overall, this was a great book if you love historical fiction!

Wow what a first book. Many congratulations!! It started off slowly but the characters built with each chapter and I loved learning more about each different one. And so wonderfully described. I felt I was in that tower sorting out the saffron. And the link into the current day was so well done. I was in tears at the end. I loved it

I really enjoyed this book. It has the dual time Lines i really like in a historical fiction book. It had strong Main characters that i fell inn love with. And i just needed to read one more chapter just one more chapter. Thank you to netgalley for letting me read this e arc

I loved this book and the women who are at the heart of the story.
It's a well written, engrossing and entertaining book with great characters and a plot that kept me hooked.
Strongly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

I love historical fiction and was excited to read this book, I found it absolutely charming, especially as I live in Kings Lynn, which was mentioned many times throughout the book.
I enjoyed how the historical sections were intertwined with the modern day scenes via the Prayer book.
The secrets were enthralling and I found the book absolutely gripping to read. Emotional at times, I found myself willing Amber on with her mission, not only to help her grandfather but to overcome her own heartbreak and for her to start embracing her life once more.
Such a beautiful story,that is told with such clarity and intricate details, that led to me becoming completely absorbed into the happenings at Saffron Hall and especially with the lives and losses of the two women that lived there, one who was from the Hall’s past and one who is its future mistress.

Many thanks to Net Galley, Avon Books UK and the author for a chance to read and review this book. All opinions are expressed voluntarily.

To begin with, that gorgeous cover that had me requesting the book without even checking the blurb. And then my favorite genre of dual time story that had me in heaven.

The Secrets of Saffron Hall is the story of 2 women spanning centuries who fights against unbearable grief and then learn to live with that pain making them that much stronger and tougher to face life.

Eleanor at 17 in 1538 is married by her guardian to Greville Richard Lutton, a wealthy merchant looking to move into the exalted circle of the King’s men. Her only dowry is the bulbs of crocus that is given to her by the priests of the Priory to which Eleanor is infinitely attached. Eleanor and her faithful friend and companion Joan begin a new life in Milfleet, growing into the responsibilities of being a mother to Greville’s 3 yr old child, and as the new mistress of the hall. Each and every change in her life with the birth of Henry, adopting the young mute boy Thomas, bringing her husband riches and value in the form of the saffron she cultivates in the fields, Eleanor has her hands full. It is also the time in history when the King ordered the closure of abbeys and monasteries thus leading to daring acts of courage and bravery.

Amber in 2019, recovering from a traumatic event has taken refuge at her family estate called Saffron Hall cataloguing her grandfather’s immense collection of books. When a Book of hours is discovered in a tower room abandoned by the family for centuries, Amber becomes intrigued and begins the search for answers about her family history and the significance of the name Saffron.

There’s a gentle flow to the story that lures the reader in, a tug at your heart as the story of both women unfolds thru each and every page. The secret that is revealed is not much of a mystery as it is easy to guess the direction it is leading to. But the sense of the era thru Eleanor’s story was brilliant and fans of historical fiction are really going to be overjoyed reading this tale.

The slow and painful process of struggling with grief and finding a semblance of peace to never let go of hope has been described beautifully. I loved the gentle pacing of love between Amber and Jonathan and the space and distance that they both struggle to overcome.

A beautifully written tale of 2nd chances and not forgetting to live!


DUM SPIRO SPERO, while I breathe, I hope

This is one of those books with 2 timelines explored in parallel. One is the present day and the second relates to the Book of Hours with journal entries which is found when lightning damages Saffron Hall. The earlier part of the story is set during the dissolution of the monasteries, when Henry VIII was wresting power from the church. These were exciting and dangerous times when one had to be careful about the company one kept, but had to develop friendships in order to "get on", particularly at court. One of the morals of the tale is to be careful what you wish for.
This is an interesting and well written novel with a wealth of historical detail.

A beautifully constructed tale dealing with parallel stories of Eleanor and Amber who live 5 centuries apart. The reader is engaged from the first chapter with Amber retreating to her grandfather’s home, the Saffron Hall of the title and her involvement in sorting out his library and the discovery of a beautiful ancient Book when a storm hits the tower of the property. Eleanor the reluctant bride who is turned out of her home with only the crocus bulbs from the monks at the nearby abbey settles into a desolate landscape where she is now the step-mother to her husband’s little daughter. Whilst Eleanor lives in the sixteenth century and Amber in 2019, each has similar feelings and sadness and how the stories lead to a discovery is carefully crafted. A great read and it begs for another book on Eleanor’s life after Saffron Hall! Excellent - had to read it in one go!

I am a huge fan of dual time period novels, especially set in Tudor times. This was a wonderful addition to the genre. I first saw it advertised on a Facebook group page for historical and time slip novels that I belong to and then was delighted to see it as a pick on Netgalley.

This is the 1st novel that I have read of Clare Marchant, but will not be the last. The story follows Amber in the present. She is assisting her grandfather with the cleaning of the family home, Saffron Hall and mourning the death of her infant daughter. One evening a violent storm literally hits the tower of the hall and when the workmen examine the damage, they find a Tudor book of hours that they pass onto Amber.

In the past we have Eleanor, the educated, much loved daughter who is left orphaned and alone when her father dies. His estate is inherited by a cousin and the cousin’s not very likable wife. They arrange to marry Eleanor off to a wealthy widower with his own estate and young daughter. Eleanor is given crocuses by the monks who lived in the monastery by her childhood home and decides to grow saffron at her new home. Not an easy task.

The story goes between the past and the present smoothly and the mystery is well done. I liked the past story a bit better than the modern, but that is usually the case with me and dual time line stories. The characters were likeable, well drawn and the story kept my interest. I recommend this book for any readers who love dual time stories with a bit of mystery, ghostliness and history mixed in. I look forward to future books from Clare Marchant as she has a great way of drawing the reader into another world.

Thank you to Netgalley, Avon books and Clare Marchant for the chance to read and review this book.

Past and present weave together to tell the story of Saffron Hall as well as some of its inhabitants. Eleanor (past) and Amber (present) share bonds of joy and sadness as each learned to deal with the blows life gave them. This story touched me in a way few books do and I would love to see a sequel. The diary might have ended but that is not the end of Eleanor's story nor Amber's. I would definitely read more by this author but not sure if eBook is the best way to enjoy this particular story because the typesetting didn't align properly and parts were difficult to read because of it.

Wow, what a story. I read till four a.m. The author used two timelines one from 1541 and the other in
2019. Eleanor is seventeen, her father has died, her uncle has come to claim the castle. He also arranged a marriage for her with someone she had never met. While in 2019 Amber has come to live with her grandfather at Saffron Hall. Her husband is a vicar in town and she is an archivist at the university but she needed time away. I love the story Eleanor fell in love with her husband eventually and Amber loved her husband but a tragic event has overtaken them. There are a few surprises along with happy and sad occasions. I must admit the tears flowed a couple of times. I had hoped for an epilogue after everything. Eleanor lived during the time of Henry the eighth and that was a turbulent time. There are a lot of similarities between the two women.
The characters and the descriptions of the surrounding area were wonderful. Both in Ixworth and
Norfolk. The author used her words quite effectively to make things come to life.
I received this ARC from Net Galley and voluntarily reviewed this marvelous book.

This story begins in 1541 with the sad death of a new born child. Her mother Eleanor leaves a message in her prayer book but it is not until 2019 that the message is finally read. It is found by Amber, another young mother who has lost a child. At first we think Amber is feeling her own pain rather than a ghostly presence in the Hall. As the story switches between the lives of both the two women it becomes obvious why Amber has been chosen to solve the mystery. Saffron Hall has been home to both of them and there is family connection between them.
At first this is an enjoyable mystery but the destruction of the monasteries by Henry V11 brings danger to Eleanor and just as Amber reunites with her vicar husband another tragedy for Eleanor unfolds. Her husband Greville is working at court for one of Katherine Howards lovers and he sadly dies under torture as one of the men who have surrounded her.
This is an entertaining novel with characters that are easy to sympathise with. The Tudor part of story is well researched and believable. This is an enjoyable read for anyone who likes historical mysteries.