The Skylark's Secret

The Skylark’s Secret tells the asynchronous stories of a mother and daughter, Fiona and Lexie, and their lives at Loch Ewe in the Scottish Highlands. Fiona is an ambulance driver for the Wrens during WWII and Lexie is a washed up musical theater star with a young child. As Lexie returns to her home from London, she starts to explore her mother’s history and the past of the father who died before she was born. This story talks about life in the highlands during World War II and Fiona’s love affair with the laird’s son, Alex, despite the disapproval of his father. Lexie starts to unravel her mother’s secrets as we follow Fiona’s story as the war worsens.

The good:
This book was incredibly well researched and immersive. I felt very much a part of the story and the unique life in the highlands on the loch. I enjoyed Fiona’s story and definitely learned some things about history that I didn't know. I found Fiona’s story compelling and really loved Davie’s character.

The bad:
I’m not a fan of stories that tell split stories in two different times because I never feel like I get to know the characters as deeply. I felt like the storylines weren’t as well developed because only a portion of the book was dedicated to each one. I also had to look up quite a few words that were specific to the highlands and had very little context to help me unravel them, which I found a little annoying.

Overall, I enjoyed this book—I just wanted to hear more about Fiona!

Fiona Valpy’s, The Skylark’s Secret was a beautiful book about the depth of mother’s love as well as friendship and love during wartime. I loved reading this book and especially loved the dual-storyline describing 1940s Flora and Alec and their very different familial bonds and mother and daughter, Lexie and Daisy in the present day.

The book is set in Loch Eowe, described as a quaint and close-knit crofting village in the Highlands. I found this setting to totally draw me into the story.

In each timeline, friendship, love, overcoming personal hardships and family are strong themes and are very compelling.

I am rating this book 5 stars, I enjoyed it very much!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

With grateful thanks to netgalley and fiona valpy for an early copy in return for an honest review.
I have read all the other books by this Author so I knew it was going to be a good one.i didn't realise how good,this is one of the most OUTSTANDING authors it felt so real as if I was actually there even down to the colour of the sky and the sound of the skylarks singing, this dual time line worked absolutely perfect between flora in ww2 and her daughter lexie in the late 70's it flowed seamlessly it really is quite a tragic tale of love and loss
I really can't praise this book enough and can highly recommend this OUTSTANDING book.

I loved this book. I think Fiona Valpy is a great writer anyway as I have loved anything I've ever read that was written by her so I was very excited when I began to read 'The Skylark's Secret'. I was a great read. It was deep and emotional showing love of family, of past relationships and of survival. WE saw Fiona's and Lexie's stories her as they were told together. I really enjoyed it and I highly recommend it.

Set in Scotland, with a dual timeline, the story follows the lives of Flora during World War II and her daughter, Lexie, in the late 70s. Lexie, disillusioned with life in London and no longer able to sing, returns to her late mother's cottage in the Scottish village where she grew up. But she finds it hard to adjust to her new life.

I loved reading both the characters' stories, and the background setting of the loch and the simple way of life added a touch of magic to the narrative. The two stories seamlessly interweave, and come together at the end with a lifelong secret being revealed.

I've already read a couple of books by this author and loved them, so I knew this would be a wonderful read. Her writing transports you to another time and place, with characters who will remain in your heart for a long time after you've finished reading. 

A beautifully written story I highly recommend.

The world is at war in 1940 when the Royal Navy decides to build a base for it’s Arctic convoys in Loch Ewe. Flora is the daughter of the gamekeeper, and against society’s conventions and his own father’s warnings, the son of the laird falls in love with Flora. Many years later, Flora’s daughter Lexie returns to the small cottage on Loch Ewe where she grew up with her mum, bringing her own daughter. Lexie is determined to uncover the truth about her birth, even though those who know what really happened seem determined that she never find out

Set in the remote north west corner of Scotland, The Skylark's Secret, Fiona Valpy's latest pageturner does not disappoint.

Moving seamlessly from 1940's wartime to the 1970's the story of mother and daughter hold strong parallels and the rich storytelling evoke both the challenges of class and daily life under the shadow of war, together with the perceived prejudices of 1970's Scotland.

I eagerly wait for Valpy's latest offering, and this certainly did not disappoint.

Highly recommended.

Flora’s story is interesting enough though I seldom enjoy WWII stories. The pacing for Lexie’s is rather slow and I found myself skipping her chapters.

I like Fiona Valpy’s writing style. It reminds me somewhat of Maeve Binchy’s. But The Skylark’s Secret failed to grip me unfortunately.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. this is my honest opinion.

Thank you #Net Galley for this ARC. It is a story of a mother and a daughter, each if their lives are expired. And it is beautiful. I've read this author before and she did not disappoint then either. This story is woven beautifully.

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

Thoroughly enjoyed reading this fabulous book.

Reading this book, made you feel that you was actually there seeing what you was reading and being surrounded by the colours of the sky.

I recommend this book, you’ll not be disappointed.

Thank You NetGalley/Publisher & Author for this gifted E-ARC!

Loch Ewe, 1940. When gamekeeper’s daughter Flora’s remote highland village finds itself the base for the Royal Navy’s Arctic convoys, life in her close-knit community changes forever. In defiance of his disapproving father, the laird’s son falls in love with Flora, and as tensions build in their disrupted home, any chance of their happiness seems doomed.

Decades later, Flora’s daughter, singer Lexie Gordon, is forced to return to the village and to the tiny cottage where she grew up. Having long ago escaped to the bright lights of the West End, London still never truly felt like home. Now back, with a daughter of her own, Lexie learns that her mother—and the hostile-seeming village itself—have long been hiding secrets that make her question everything she thought she knew.

This was a beautifully written book.
The characters were very well enjoyable.

Rating 4/5 Stars

I enjoy Fiona Valpy very much and this book was no exception. It was a really lovely story which had me totally engrossed. The setting was gorgeous, I loved the interwoven stories and enjoyed the way the novel played out.

I love books that offer more than one thing. This book offered a great story (actually two when I think of it), historical information and descriptions of Scottland I loved. Let's start with the story. I really liked the both main characters, Lexie and her Mum Flora. They have no easy lives, but their beliefs and strengths are obvious. I love their connection to music that is well shown through out the book and that connects not only them, but also each of them and their homeland. What I liked most about the story was that it was not an obvious and normal love story even though love plays a big role here. I'll continue with the historical background. This book brought so much new information about the WWII, I didn't expect to recieve and it inspired me to some internet research which broadened my view of this period. And that is a great achievement for a novel, I think. In addition to that I don't feel that this information was artificially included in the book. Just the opposite, you get so much information by just reading a great story and you don't even notice that it is included. Thanks to the author for that! And the last point: This book allowed me to travel to places I would like to visit and I am very happy that it was possible.
I recommend this book strongly.

I enjoyed the WWII storyline set in a unique area. Loved this one!

Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

I really enjoyed this book. It is set in Scotland at Loch Ewe. It tells the story of Flora, who served in the WRENS during the war and of her daughter Lexie in the 1970s. There is a lot of historical fact woven into the story. I previously knew very little about the Arctic Convoys, so I learnt about that era, almost without realising I was learning. We also learn about life during the War at Loch Ewe; about the children sent there for safety, leaving behind all they knew, about fishing, hunting, Gaelic music, friendships and the emotional toll on everyone, especially those on board the Arctic Convoys.. however the story is by no means gloomy. There is love and romance, as well as descriptions of beautiful scenery. There was also a surprising twist near the end, which I didn’t see coming.
I had never read any of Fiona Valpy’s books, I would strongly recommend this book. I will now look forward to reading her other books.
Many thanks to Netgalley, Fiona Valpy and Amazon Publishing UK for an ARC of this enjoyable book.

The Skylark's Secret, set in Scotland, is book with a duel timeline. The first follows Flora's life during WW2 and the second is her daughter Lexie in the 70's. Lexie returns from London after she is unable to sing on the west end after falling pregnant and straining her voice. Lexie moves into her late mothers Cottage and finds it hard to adjust to the village life.

I really loved the way this book was written, I loved reading about both characters lives and how different they were. I'm not usually a huge fan of split stories but i felt this one was written so well, the two stories intertwined seamlessly and came together at the end to reveal a lifelong secret.

This book is quite a tragic tale of love and loss, yet it is also such a beautiful story about family, friends and community.
I would definitely recommend this book.

A story of love, sacrifice, secrets, WW II, self discovery set in beautiful Scotland. I particularly enjoyed reading about Loch Ewe, the Scottish countryside, the local food, and I had no idea during WW II Scottish children from the cities were evacuated to the countryside. I have read all of Fiona Valpy’s books and The Skylark’s Secret is now added to that list. My thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of this book (thanks to NetGalley, Amazon Publishing UK and Fiona Valpy) and have just finished reading it. I was absolutely gripped by the story from start to finish. It had me looking up Loch Ewe to see if it was a real place; I had no idea of the role it played during WW2. I am a sucker for a dual timeline story but usually those have no
character crossover, and I loved that aspect of characters appearing in both periods in this story, it really added to the connection. I have previously read the beekeepers promise by the same author, which I enjoyed but it did not have me as gripped as this story. I now want to head off for the Scottish Highlands (and read more of Fiona's work)! #NetGalley #TheSkylarksSecret

This story had me entranced from the first to very last page. A story of joy and laughter , sorrow and loss. A story of courage written with such empathy, I was often reduced to tears. The storyline is excellent, the writing descriptively superb and the attention to detail and extensive research add up to making this book a bestseller. Thanks to the author, Netgalley and TBC for giving me the opportunity to read this book.

This is the second book by Fiona Valpy that I have read and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It flips between the war years and the late 1970s, telling the story of young Flora and Lexie, her daughter. It does this very skilfully, on the way explaining how both Flora and Lexie became single mums. I love how Fiona Valpy gives such beautiful descriptions of the setting in Highland Scotland and the attention to detail throughout is excellent. This story not only tackles how it feels to be a single mother, it also looks at social class differences, friendship, family, how women were integral to the war effort and looks closely at life in a small community. It is an engaging read and I am grateful to Netgalley for being able to read and review this lovely book.

Beautifully written across several timeframes. I didn't want the book to end but at the same time I wanted to unwrap each new secret as quickly as possible. Great character development as well: it made me feel like I really got to know each of the characters as secrets were shared. Highly recommended.

Another great piece of writing by Fiona. I love how she mixes historical facts with fiction.
This story flits from 1942 to 1973. Lexie moves back to her childhood home in Scotland with her daughter Daisy. Her mum Flora has recently died and Lexie needs to know her own history.
With the help of her mum's childhood friends they help to piece together her story.
A story of wartime sadness, social casting and life in rural Scotland. Love and death paved the way for their small community.
A great easy read.

Thank you to Netgalley, Amazon Publishing and Fiona Valpy for this advanced reader's copy in return for my honest review. I'm a massive historical fiction fan and having loved Fiona's The Dressmaker's Gift, I was delighted to have the opportunity to read this book. The book drew me in from the start and I loved how the different strands of the book were interwoven into one story of love and sacrifice. Simply stunning writing, well researched, would definitely recommend.

I liked this story, but I wasn't gripped by it. I think I have been more immersed in other Valpy novels than I was with this one. It's a good read though. I think possibly that the problem (at least for me) was the dual timeline. I particularly enjoyed reading about Fiona's life during World War Two, and I enjoyed Lexie's story too in the late 70s, except I didn't feel I got to know Lexie all that well. I think a little more time should have been spent on her part of the story. But otherwise, the historical detail, the sense of place (which Valpy does so well), was superb. The characters were all well-written too. With thanks to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A beautifully written story which is told over 2 time frames. This was a really interesting story about World War 2 in a beautiful and wonderful part of Scotland.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy.

This was an amazing story! Told in 2 storylines that was just so good! I fell in love with these warm characters! Historical fiction at its best! Highly recommend

Tragic, traumatic and heart-warming by turns, a story of courage and fulfilment in difficult times. The dual timeline of this engaging novel features Flora in the 1940s and her daughter Lexie in the 1970s, both in the Scottish Highlands. Professional singer Lexie has returned to her ancestral home with her toddler Daisy, having been deserted by her director boyfriend when she became pregnant with their child. On her mother's recent death, she has inherited the cottage where she grew up. Her mother had also been a single parent, but highland communities take care of their own. A moving tale of love, loss, bravery and happiness against the odds.

I am a fan of historical fiction, especially when it is woven into a story of family history.. Since I read and enjoyed Fiona Valpy’s Sea of Memories, I looked forward to reading her latest book, The Skylark’s Secret. After modern-day Lexie’s mother died and her own career in London’s musical theater came to a screeching halt due to an unfortunate event with her vocal cords, she decides to return (with her small daughter) to the little seaside town of Loch Ewe in the Scottish highlands to stay in the cottage where she grew up and where her mother lived before her. She has questions about her father, whom she never knew and about whom her mother would not talk. The story goes back and forth from present to around 1940 where we encounter Lexie’s mother, Flora, along with her father, brother, and friends in the village that is involved with the harboring of the Royal Navy’s Arctic convoys during World War II. As would be expected, the close-knit community reels with the angst of sending their young men off to war and failing to see many of them return. We learn that Flora is the daughter of a games keeper and is in love with the laird’s son. The relationship is frowned upon by the laird and, in fact, is expressly forbidden. All of this is a fine premise of a story, but unfortunately, for me, everything gets bogged down in the narrative as it slowly takes place. We expect families to worry, young men to die, and Flora and her young man to struggle facing his father’s judgment. I found most of the book a slog to get through and really never felt engaged in the story, It was, frankly, very boring and tedious for me. Of course at the end of the book secrets were revealed, as one would expect from the title, and I found this part of the book more interesting and engaging. It just took too long to get there. I did enjoy reading of the transformation of Lexie herself and felt satisfied with the way things turned out for her. All and all. I was rather glad when the book ended, and I probably would not recommend it to my friends.

This story left me in awe. So many different pieces were woven together to make this emotional story of love, sacrifice, and strength. The writing was so detailed it made you feel as if you were right there alongside the characters. I loved every minute of this story. I think I was more sad when it ended then I was throughout the story because I loved the characters so much.

This is a wonderfully written tale set in Loch Ewe, with a dual timeframe centred around the lives of Flora during WW2 and her daughter, Lexie during the late 1970s. Following the death of her mother and an illness that sees an end to her singing carrer, Lexie returns home from London to Aultbea – a remote village in Wester Ross. Here she begins to slowly learn more of her mothers life and the role she played when the area becomes a naval base for the Home Fleet. Like many during the war, Flora and the villagers suffered hardships and heart break and here we see a glimpse of how this shaped and changed many people, and how the impacts of war also impacted the generations to come. We also see new relationships develop as hundreds naval servicemen, as well as evacuees, arrive in the village. There are also new relationships, and old ones reconnected, for Flora and it is through these connections that she learns more about her parents, their relationship and secrets long buried begin to unfurl.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, the descriptions of the countryside were so accurate and intense that I could almost feel myself standing in the heather with the sea air blowing in my face. The inclusion of extracts from traditional Scottish folk songs was a lovely reminder to me, as a Scot who grew up with these songs, of the importance of these in telling the story of our homeland and its people. Overall, a very well written book, interesting storyline and enough intrigue to keep the reader gripped throughout. Many thanks to Amazon Publishing UK and NetGalley UK for the free review copy in return for an honest review.

This was a beautiful story and the author’s writing captured me from the first page. The story is told from two points of view. Lexie and her mother Flora. The story moves back and forth through time as we uncover the story behind Lexie’s birth and the relationship between her mother Flora and the man she loved Alex.

If you’re a fan of historical fiction that takes place during World War II you’ll love this and the settings from Scotland are superbly done bringing this fictional town and all its inhabitants to life.

I could not put this book down!
The Skylark’s Secret is a duel timeline novel. Told from the view of a mother during WWII and then her daughter in the 1970’s. Sometimes duel timelines can be hard to follow, but I thoroughly enjoyed the way the author intertwined both stories.
A beautifully written story about the sacrifices mothers will make for their children. A heartwarming tale of love, loss, courage and bravery.
The setting is set in a crofting village called Loch Eowe in Scotland. During the war, it was the base for the Royal Navy’s Arctic convoys.
If you’re a fan of historical fiction that takes place during World War II, you will love The Skylark’s Secret. Fiona Valpy immerses you into the story, you feel like you are right there with them.
Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and author, Fiona Valpy, for the arc of The Skylark’s Secret in return for my honest review. I truly enjoyed this book very much!

Heartbreaking story of Flora during World War 2 and so many others during this time.

I absolutely adored this book. This author has a real talent for writing historical fiction. I always learn so much as well as get absorbed fully by the story.

Lovable characters and some unexpected revelations, what else do you need from the good book!

I am a huge historical fiction fan.so i thought i would love this book. But the book did not pull om my heart strings , like i want HF books to do. But i enjoyed where the book took place the scenery was top notch. I liked the romance . Thank you to netgalley for letting me read this e arc in exchange for an honest review

The Skylark’s Secret tells the stories of Lexie Gordon, returning to her childhood home in the Highlands with her infant daughter, Daisy, and Flora, Lexie’s mother, who has recently died. The chapters alternate between Lexie’s experiences in the late 1970s as she settles back into her mother’s old cottage, and Flora’s life as the gamekeeper’s daughter and later a wren during the Second World War. The small community where Flora lived and where she raised Lexie lies on the shore of Loch Ewe, which during the war became an important base for the mustering of ships in readiness to make the perilous arctic runs around occupied Norway to provide supplies to the Russian allies, described by Churchill as ‘the worst journey in the world’.

I thoroughly enjoyed this dual timeline tale. Flora’s story is the larger part of the book and rightly so as part of Lexie’s journey in returning to her roots is to learn more about her mother’s wartime life and in particular her mother’s great love - Lexie’s father, Alec, whom Lexie never knew.

This is an unusual Homefront story, based around an aspect of the war that I knew little about. It is rooted in fact: the Home Fleet arrived in Loch Ewe in September 1939. Three thousand men lost their lives on the Arctic Convoys. They were fraught with danger and conducted in extreme weather conditions. Fiona Valpy conveys this in Flora’s story alongside the courage of the servicemen and women and the community spirit fostered by the local people whose lives were changed forever by a naval base of 3,000 military personnel and the constant coming and going of naval and merchant ships.

Within both stories there are descriptions of the beautiful landscape and the constantly changing seasons and weather patterns. Fiona Valpy has skilfully interwoven the natural world into the stories of Lexie and Flora and those of the other characters we meet, each of whom has their lives touched by the impact of war. The characters are warm, likeable and genuine and the sense of a Scottish community is vividly portrayed. There are some nice twists at the end which lift the story out of being too predictable.

I strongly recommend this book. It has been my first Fiona Valpy read and I’m already looking forward to the next. I have a strong back catalogue to choose from! My thanks to the author and to Net Galley for providing me with an advance review copy in exchange for an honest review.

#TheSkylarksSecret #NetGalley

Special thanks to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK for providing me with ARC.
This novel is heartwarming, i loved since page one and can't put it down, i am a mom and know very well what you feel when you raised a child, who is taking all your time , energy and in the end of the day you will feel sham about many things you forget to do.


I loved Lexie character so much, she is adorable and lovely, i loved also her mom cottage because i am a person who adore quite and natural places.


This is the first book to me by Fiona Valpy but will not be the last and i will try more books by her.

Thanks Netgalley for allowing me to read this book. It begins in a small town of Loch Ewe where we meet Flora who is interested in the Lairds son much to his families dismay. I just couldn't get into this book.

This novel is set in Loch Ewe, in the Scottish Highlands. Chapters alternate between two women a generation apart. Flora's story tells of her life in the village as the gamekeeper's daughter during World War II, volunteering as a Wren, and her love of the laird's son, which infuriates his snobbish father. Her daughter Lexie, who left the village to attend a prestigious theater program in London and became a West End star, returns to the village in the late 1970's with a baby, after she is rejected by her egocentric boyfriend and can no longer sing professionally. The village has many secrets, and Lexie is discovering more about the father she never knew. We learn about Flora, her friends, their joys and tragedies, and their men serving in the locally based Arctic Convoys, I was not familiar with the author, but will definitely look for more of her books. I really enjoyed getting to know these characters, and if you like historical fiction with an evocative setting, this novel would be a good choice. Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for allowing me to review this advance copy.

Set in beautiful Scotland, Lexie returns to the Lock Ewe where her mother, Flora, lived. Lexie discovers many secrets, tales, and experiences that he didn't imagine, including those of her father. She learns of the sacrifices of her mother and things she never knew about her own past. It was a beautifully, written historical fiction novel that tugs at the heart strings and takes you back in time.

Just my second book by this author, the other also featuring WWII, but I enjoyed this book far more.
The simplicity and sincerity fit the poignant story of a family from Scotland's Highlands and their lives as lived in the area near Loch Ewe. This was a location important during the war as a muster point for convoys of warships.
The narrative alternates between the modern day (1970's) and the war period (1940's) with one thread featuring mother and the other her daughter. I don't usually enjoy sentimental love stories, but this one was well thought out and well constructed to strum the heart strings in a good way making for a strong female-centered tale.

Gorgeous prose and beautiful descriptions. This story is both heartbreaking but uplifting.
I just adored the periods of time this was set in. Present day, the seventies, eighties and war torn Britain. The descriptions were so vivid that you felt immersed in the emotions.
This is a story of love and sacrifice. Joy and hope. It is also a story to remember.
I really enjoyed this gentle tale

Good historical fiction wrapped around several nicely told mysteries, THE SKYLARK’S SECRET, is a dual timeline tale set in Scotland in WWII and 1978. The two tales take place in a small town where everyone knows everything, for better or worse. There’s a tendency for the author to dwell too often on the psychic benefits of love, friendship and familial bonds; it feels a tad preachy at times. But overall the characters and the setting are engaging, the story moves quickly and the sense of place is completely realistic. This is a community readers will want to visit. The book is good and a pleasure worth indulging. I received my copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

🌅Beautiful story of love and loss with a moving history lesson⚓

Fiona Valpy's page-turner novel focuses on strong women who deal with love, loss and single parenthood in a tight community. The story is told alternating between mother and daughter and two time periods: World War II and the late 1970's. During the earlier time period, the young women of Loch Ewe, a remote sea loch in Northwest Scotland, find love and suffer as their men risk life and limb at sea. Lexie, the daughter of a dead naval officer and the faithful woman who loved him, finds her way back to Loch Ewe when her life in London falls to pieces. This is a drama with so many memorable characters that it's best read for yourself rather than summarized. But it's so emotional, tragic at times, and a really good story of romance in trying circumstances and the tragic human cost of war. The more modern heroine's young daughter Daisy is a sunny treat.

The World War II part of the story was an eye opener for me. I had no knowledge of the dangerous missions staged out of Loch Ewe through the North Atlantic and Arctic oceans to supply Russia's armies in their defense against Germany's Russia campaign. I love a good historical novel that has a strong grounding in research and fact and Valpy's novel delivered a fine history lesson about Loch Ewe's role in the War. I wish I had known when I visited the area several years back on a tour of the Scottish Highlands.

Thanks to Lake Union published and NetGalley for providing an advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest review.

An interesting novel about the North Atlantic crossings bringing supplies from Scotland to Russia during World War 2. This is the story of a mother, Flora and her daughterLexie, during the war years and during the 80’s Both women are single mothers raising their daughters under taxing circumstances. Flora, the gamekeeper’s daughter and Alec the autocratic son are star crossed lovers. Who are torn apart by Alec’s father and the war. Lexie has left her Scottish home and has a flourishing career as an opera singer in London. When she becomes pregnant and is deserted by her lover she must return home to raise her daughter. She tries to find out about her real father, Alec who her mother had only told her had died during the war. The story is told from Flora’s point of view and then likewise from Lexie’s life story. The story is finely researched and although the characters are fictional the times and history are accurate. The characters are well developed and interesting, especially Flora’s friends. This is the second novel by this author I have read and I look forward to reading more.

Love love love Fiona Valpy! Every book she writes is amazing, and The Skylark's Secret is no exception. It is a beautiful story about love, sacrifice, and forgiveness set in the Scottish countryside. This book is based on a dual timeline and told from the view of a mother during WWII, and her daughter in the 1970’s. It's truly a gripping story from start to finish, and I read it all in one day as I could not put it down. Highly recommended!

Lexi Gordon reluctantly returns home to Loch Ewe in the Scottish Highlands following the death of her mother Flora. Her career as a rising West End musical star is over following the loss of her voice and a failed relationship. However, she has the compensation of a beautiful baby daughter in Daisy. The story is told in alternating timelines by Lexie in 1980 and by Flora from 1939 with the outbreak of World War 2, tells the story of her love affair with lairds son Alec MacKenzie-Grant. It weaves in the historic importance of a Loch Ewe as a naval base for the Home Fleet and for the Atlantic and Arctic Convoys.

I absolutely loved this book from start to finish. I’m always drawn to books set in Scotland but had a personal reason for wanting to read it as my father was in the navy and spent a brief time in Loch Ewe before heading to Scapa Flow and elsewhere. As well as being totally transfixed and transported by the storytelling I learned so much too! It’s beautifully written, the mother daughter alternating stories works really well and it flows effortlessly. There are some stunning descriptions of the landscape of this lovely area which made my heart soar like the skylarks in the story and make such a contrast to the horror of the wartime convoys. The characters are fantastic and most are so likeable, the exception being Alec’s father, Sir Charles who is arrogant and cold. I love how the two women’s stories change, Alec and Flora’s initially shines brightly and then changes, becoming darker and tentative whilst Lexi starts uncertainly but finds her anchor in the warm embrace of the lovely community and a very special man. Flora’s story emerges slowly with all its well hidden secrets and at times in very intense and there’s some tension where you almost hold your breath. The war sections are especially vivid especially as the impact of war is reflected in the loss of loved ones with all the grief and devastation. This is so blindingly obvious in a small community dashed by one blow after another and is heartbreaking.

Overall, this book was just what I needed it’s heartwarming, it’s sad, it’s joyous, there are little touches of humour, there’s a wonderful community but most of all the songs and singing. I love the interspersing of traditional folk songs which express so much. Thank you Fiona Valpy for this fantastic and emotional read.

With thanks to NetGalley and Amazon for the ARC for an honest review.

Flora's Waltz

This book is a tearjerker. The book brings home the loss of loved ones during a period of war. It also is a story of secrets. It has been said that "The Truth is a Powerful Force" and I believe it is true. It is certainly true in this story.

The story is about the love between Flora and Alec, and a love story between Davy and Lexy. It's a story of war and the losses felt in the small Scottish village of Loch Ewe. The people in the town and how they gathered together in times of need to help each other. It's about love and friendship and courage. It's about a secret the town kept to keep one of their own safe.

Although the story is written in two time periods, the stories of a mother and in later years her grown daughter, it is very easy to follow . Many of the characters are the same in both stories.

I loved the story and the scenic background of the seaside village. The descriptions of the place, the flowers, and other details were descriptive enough I could picture them in my mind. I also loved the characters.

The story was very well written and I would recommend it.

Thanks to Fiona Valpy, Amazon Publishing UK, and NetGalley for allowing me to read a copy if the book in exchange for an honest review.

This book is set with dual time lines. I thought each one was interesting. I thought the characters were good and felt a connection to them. I think historical fiction fans will enjoy this book. I definitely recommend!
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the early copy

A novel about mothers,daughters,lovers,friends, set in a beautiful Scottish setting. It begins with the story of Flora and then evolves into Lexie Gordon s story. Good story

I went back and forth on how to rate this book. In the end, I'm just giving it two stars because it pretty much spiraled downward for me so I just didn't care though I was interested and liked it in the beginning--less and less so and the book progressed.

I enjoy historical fiction--but here, I use the term's applicability lightly. I also like dual timelines which this has, but...

The settings: "Loch Ewe, 1940. When gamekeeper’s daughter Flora’s remote highland village finds itself the base for the Royal Navy’s Arctic convoys, life in her close-knit community changes forever. In defiance of his disapproving father, the laird’s son falls in love with Flora, and as tensions build in their disrupted home, any chance of their happiness seems doomed."

1978: "Flora’s daughter, singer Lexie Gordon, is forced to return to the village and to the tiny cottage where she grew up. Having long ago escaped to the bright lights of the West End, London still never truly felt like home. Now back, with a daughter of her own, Lexie learns that her mother—and the hostile-seeming village itself—have long been hiding secrets that make her question everything she thought she knew. As she pieces together the fragments of her parents’ story..."

And so it goes,

From the start, I wondered about the predictability of this book. And yes, it was--totally. This is a real disconnect for me. I like surprises but more, not knowing the trajectory from almost the start! Way too neat and tidy,

One HUGE criticism--there are many, many Scottish phrases and descriptions! This book would have benefitted from a glossary, [one advantage of reading in Kindle format]

The writing was acceptable. BUT, I regret spending the time when I could have read a much better book! I could have walked away at any time.

I feel as if I've read this book and seen this movie before--many, many times.

Note: I'm in the distinct minority of opinions.

A real feel-good read, I couldn't put this book down. Set in rural Scotland the story alternates between Lexie who has returned to the place she grew up along with her baby daughter, and her mother during Ww2. One us a love story and the other is about finding a slower pace of life and finding what is important in life.

Loch Ewe, 1940. When gamekeeper’s daughter Flora’s remote highland village finds itself the base for the Royal Navy’s Arctic convoys, life in her close-knit community changes forever. In defiance of his disapproving father, the laird’s son falls in love with Flora, and as tensions build in their disrupted home, any chance of their happiness seems doomed.

Decades later, Flora’s daughter, singer Lexie Gordon, is forced to return to the village and to the tiny cottage where she grew up. Having long ago escaped to the bright lights of the West End, London still never truly felt like home. Now back, with a daughter of her own, Lexie learns that her mother—and the hostile-seeming village itself—have long been hiding secrets that make her question everything she thought she knew.

Valpy's book was perfect escapism for me to the heart of the Scottish Highlands. The tale of mother and daughter both defiant in times of loss, sacrifice and heartache. The dual narration of the novel was incredibly effective in building up both characters and their individual stories which intertwined flawlessly. Although the story is ultimately quite tragic, Valpy crafts little nuggets of pure happiness into the narrative with themes surrounding family, friends and community. I would absolutely recommend.

(This review will be shared on my Book Blog - Instagram.com/whatson.mybookshelf)

The story is told in two time lines. Flora lives in Loch Ewe. Her father is the gamekeeper for the laird. She and her brother are best friend's with the laird's son, Alec, and when they grow up realize that they feel more than friends but his father is against the union. During the war the town houses a naval base so Flora works with the Wrens and Alec is a naval officer working the Arctic runs.

The second time line is the late 1970's when Lexie, Flora's daughter, comes home from London with her daughter, Daisy. She had a flourishing career in musical theater but lost her voice. Her mother has just died and she hopes to stay in the cottage until she comes up with a new plan for her life.

I loved this story of love, resilience and protection. The town wrapped Lexie and Daisy up in love and support and we watch her grow from a bitter young woman into someone willing to accept the love that is extended to her. There were so many colorful characters, Bridie who was one of Flora's best friends, becomes a surrogate grandmother to Daisy. Davy was a young boy during the war who was sent to the country to be safe and after the war he came back. Elspeth, her childhood friend, who she had lost touch with over the years but upon coming home gives her a new purpose. The countryside was lush and green and brutal with the storms. The war years were so vivid to me with the storms and the soldiers.

Flora was always evasive when Lexie would ask her about her father. She knew who he was but never what happened or how they fell in love. There were no pictures of them together and she never talked about the time during the war. Lexie sets out to find out what the secret is. It wasn't revealed until the very end and I could not have been more surprised.

I found Fiona Valpey's books while reading Kindle Unlimited last year and now she is one of my favorite authors. I hope there are a lot more of her books in my future.

Thank you to Netgalley and Amazon Publishing UK for providing me a copy of this book. These opinions are my own.

What a beautiful, well-written book that kept me captivated from the first page to the very end. The story toggles between Alexandra "Lexie" Gordon 1978 and her mother, Flora Gordon 1939.

Flora is a young woman who lives with her father and brother in the Scottish Highlands. She is in love with the laird's son Alec Mackenzie-Grant and her father is the game keeper for the laird. As the war begins, Flora joins the Wrens with two of her girlfriends, Birdie and Maire, and becomes an ambulance driver while Alec joins the Navy.

Alexandra "Lexie" is Flora's daughter who went to London to pursue a career on stage with a fantastic voice. She falls in love with her director, gets pregnant and he leaves her. After her baby girl, Daisy, is born, Lexie returns to her hometown in Scotland to the cottage she grew up in. Her mother has passed away and Lexie wants to find out more about her father.

I really enjoyed this book with all the history in it as the WWII unfolded. The characters are all really good (except one) and I loved the story line between the two time periods. There were a lot of Scottish terms I was not familiar with that I did stop to look up which made this a longer read for me than usual.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of this wonderful book in exchange for an honest review.

I am thankful to have received this advance copy from Lake Union Publishing & NetGalley.

I am a huge fan of Historical Fiction, especially pertaining to WWII. But, reading about different locations around the world that were somehow affected by the war is a plus.

This book takes place in a village in Loch Ewe, which is the NW Highlands of Scotland. Time frames are early stages of WWII & also alternating chapters in the late 1970's.

The 2 main characters are Flora, and Flora's daughter, Lexi.

Flora's chapters are based around what happens in the village as the war escalates, friendships & romance. We read about the struggles the village & surrounding areas have to deal with, on top of watching ships come & go & the loss of local men.

Lexi's part of the story is how Lexi finds out the truth of what happened prior to her birth & also opens her eyes to the locals who she was unsure of.

I really enjoyed this book, it had a little bit of this & that. History, romance, sadness, music, a sense of appreciation & beautifully written. I enjoyed reading about how women were there during times of war, in small ways & large.

“The Skylark’s Secret,” by Fiona Valpy highlights a little known facet of World War II history in Great Britain—the pivotal role played by the Loch Ewe in the Western Scottish Highlands, which served as the muster point for Arctic convoys to Murmansk and Archangel, providing supplies to Russia during the Nazi offensive there.

The novel alternates between two time periods. The first covers 1977-1980, focusing on Lexie Gordon who, after her mother Flora’s death, returns to her cottage home in the Scottish Highlands as an unwed mother with an infant daughter, mirroring her own mother’s life there where she also lived alone in the cottage raising Lexie with the help of her friends in the community.

The second time period focuses on Flora and her fellow WRNs during the war years between 1939 and 1944 and the separations and losses they suffered during that time while they played their own supporting roles as ambulance drivers and canteen operators.

At the heart of the novel is Lexie’s quest to uncover a secret surrounding her birth, which her mother never revealed to her before she died. The alternating time lines slowly unfold to reveal the truth. In addition to this secret, the book also focuses on the love and support provided to both women by the close-knit Scottish Community of Loch Ewe.

This character-driven historical fiction novel will appeal to those readers seeking a fresh take on World War II history with its spotlight on the part the Scottish Highlands played in winning the war.

I wish to thank NetGalley and Amazon Publishers UK for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this book. I have voluntarily read and reviewed it. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This is a World War II story focusing on the Scottish Highlands and then fast forwarding to the 1970’s. The timelines go back and forth. In the 1970’s Lexie returns home to Loche Ewe following her mother’s death. She and her young daughter settle into the Game Keepers Cottage and she begins to unravel the story of her mother. This story has long been held a secret from her. The story teaches one about Naval movements and how children were sent from the horrors of daily London bombings into the countryside for safety. You learn about the dangers of the war ship convoys trying to avoid U-Boats and the role of the Loch Ewe’s ports during the Nazi invasion. The story is well researched and brilliantly written. It is love stories in two different time periods and you feel you are experiencing all of the ups and downs of war torn Europe. You feel a part of this small village where people cares about one another as small towns often do. I enjoyed the story and learned a lot at the same time.

I do wish that some of the Scottish terms had been explained in a glossary as they were not words I understood and feel that would have been beneficial.

What a lovely descriptive, light and flowing read! This is a new author and I thoroughly enjoyed her style of writing! Easy to follow and it flicked between two time lines and two characters, Flora and Lexie. I smiled lots whilst reading this and didn’t want it to end! I will definitely read more of Fiona’s books.

I have never read Fiona Valpy before despite having had one of her books on my kindle for several years. This book was a delight. I love stories set in two distinct times and war fiction is my preferred genre. Also Scotland is somewhere we visit every other year so this book certainly hit several spots for me. It is a great story of Flora and Lexie and the threads that connect them - to each other and to their home turf. Well written and well plotted. With thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review a free e-ARC of this engaging book.

Thank you to NetGalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review. 

Shifting POV and overlapping time periods were well orchestrated and not the usual historical fiction fare.  I did predict the twist but it was kind of inevitable.  The light romance was...well, light. 

This author is one to watch and I would read more by her.

Gorgeous cover, too!

There is so much I love about this book! The Skylark’s Secret is an emotionally compelling blend of historical fiction and a story about home and family. Set in dual timelines, every aspect of the story is told with exquisite detail as well as deep, complicated feelings of love, community, regret, heartache, and vulnerability. Flora’s story is set in Scotland during WWII, which was fascinating, as I’d never read a book set in Scotland during the war. Flora’s story was incredibly moving; a young woman in love during wartime, who winds up battling more than the challenges of living during such an unsettling time. Lexie’s story is set in 1978, although her story truly begins before she was even born. When she returns home as a single mother, after a successful career in London, she is at first resentful of the close-knit community, and even embarrassed. But she soon finds the true meaning of community, and how she herself was saved and shaped by her coastal village. Flora and Lexie were such wonderfully complex characters, and as I became entrenched in their stories, I truly cared for them. The setting of this coastal village in Scotland was a character itself—the beauty, the ever-changing weather, the tightness of the community as it works together during wartime as well as when it is a quiet, peaceful place for Flora, Lexie, and the rest of the endearing characters.

A mother/daughter story. I loved this book! You are transported into two different time periods in a HIghland Village in Scotland.. The Royal Navy’s presence changed the town forever. This novel is rich in history and a heart wrenching love story of Flora and Alec. Also, the lovely songs transport you to this close knit town. Read this one - you won’t be disappointed .

“The Skylark’s Secret” is about a young woman named Flora, her family, her friends and her community in Scotland in the Second World War. Their full story is discovered when her daughter, Lexie, moves back from London to Scotland when her mother passes away in the 1970s. We see both stories play out alongside each other as Lexie makes discoveries with the help of Flora’s old friends.

There are lots of aspects to this story that stand out: the horrors of war, the bonds of friendship, the realities of love during wartime. But the thread that really resonated with me was the love between mothers and daughters. Not everyone is fortunate enough to experience that but the way the author told the stories of Flora and Lexie’s relationship felt real, if a little bit sentimental at times. But given that Lexie was looking back on her mother’s life after her passing, a bit of sentimentality would probably be real in this situation.

I admire the author for her attention to detail, particularly with the research she must have done into that area of Scotland during the war. While this is a fictional story, it’s heartbreaking to think how much of it is based in reality. You really get the sense of how much the author wanted to pay tribute to all those who made sacrifices made during the war. I think she did them justice.

If I have one criticism, other than the sentimentality, it’s that the scenes between Flora and her beloved Alec going out to sea and then returning, and then going out to sea and returning (and the reactions this caused in the characters) became a bit repetitive. I would be interested to know whether men in Alec’s role in real life would have had so many opportunities for shore leave.

But overall I really enjoyed reading this book and would recommend it to others, particularly anyone who enjoys fiction set in this time period.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me the opportunity to read this book.

1940 - Flora lives with her father and brother in a cottage overlooking Loch Ewe, a base for the Artic conveys.
She is in love with Alec, the Laird's son which is not want the Laird wishes for his son.
1978- Lexie, Flora's daughter moves back to the small Scottish community. Flora has died and Lexie has a daughter but no husband.
Lexie begins to unravel her Mother's story with the help of the community and begins to feel she has come home. What secrets will be revealed and can she find happiness?

Beautifully written story covering two timescales, one in ww2 and the other in 1970's. It's a story of community, secrets, love, misunderstandings, bravery and compassion. There's nothing startling or shocking. It's an easy read that gives a history of a small Scottish village (I was completely unaware before and have been inspired to find out more) during the war. Interesting, engaging and thoroughly enjoyable.

The characters in this book are sweet and I enjoyed spending time with them. Also, I really enjoyed the history and the insights into unknown history. That, topped with the fact that we have Scottish charm sprinkled throughout made this a satisfying read.

I confess, and I KNOW this is reader error on my part, I was absolutely confused about what was happening in the beginning. I knew the story was being told with alternate timelines, but I was not prepared for the same character's story to be told with dates that flipped from the future to the past. Read the titles carefully, people! Don't be like me.

As much as I enjoyed the characters and the story, the pace of this one was a little rough. The descriptions of characters, landscapes, and events were a bit repetitive and slowed the story down. This is unfortunate because the story is a good one and I especially loved the mother-daughter threads woven through the story.

I recommend this read, but be prepared to push through descriptions. If you can push through some heavy exposition then I think this read will reward you.

I liked this quite a lot. I’m not always a fan of the back and forth timeline construct but I liked this. The history was interesting and the characters were charming. I was curious about the way the stories were told - one in first person and one in third. It worked, but at first it threw me a bit. I definitely recommend.

Flora Gordon lives in Loch Ewe with her father Iain and brother Ruaridh. Her brother is enlisted in the Royal Navy at the beginning of WWII as Loch Ewe is being used as a Navy Base and as a point for arctic convoys during the war. Flora’s father is the keeper for Arduath Estate for the family of Sir Charles Mackenzie-Grant and Lady Helen. Flora is in love with Sir Charles’ son Alec, and he does not approve of the relationship due to class differences. Despite his disapproval, their relationship continues to grow stronger by each passing day.

As we fast forward to 1978, Lexie Gordon is returning to Loch Ewe with her daughter Daisy after the death of her mother Flora. She had left Loch Ewe years earlier to follow her passion of singing that lead her to London and heartbreak. She’s now coming home to find answers to the questions she has always had about her mom and the father she never knew. Told from alternating timelines by Flora at the beginning of WWII and Lexie from the 1970’s, we follow Flora through her Journey as a WREN and her relationship with Alec. At the same time, we are following Lexie as she is learning the story of her parents and a secret that has been hidden for so long, learning about her village history and how they came together during one of the worst times in history. Lexie even learns about herself and love along the way.

The story was very heart felt and I enjoyed the storyline but at times it felt like the story was stalling and I wasn’t quite sure where it was heading. Overall, I liked the book and it was an okay read. Thank you NetGalley, Amazon Publishing UK, and Fiona Valpy for this Advanced Reader’s Copy in exchange for this honest review.

I enjoyed this book very much. The story weaves back and forth between a mother and daughter (1940’s-1978).

It takes place mostly in Scotland (some London) and It is well written with historical reference to World War II and the brave people who fought the evil during that time. I learned some things about Scotland’s part in the war too.

The characters are well developed and easy to care about. There is enough tension to keep you wanting more.

Thoroughly enjoyed it and highly recommended!

This was such a phenomenal story that I couldn't put it down. The story goes back and forth between dual timelines in Loch Ewe, Scotland: 1940s during WWII where we meet Flora, the groundskeeper's daughter, her family, and her love, Alec, who is the son of the lord of the manor, and Lexie Gordon in approx. 1980, a single mom who has returned to her roots in Loch Ewe while struggling with many losses in her life. No spoilers - but it's so worth reading. It was fascinating to learn about the part that the upper Scottish Highlands played in helping the war effort with the Russian Arctic convoys to support the allies and help defeat the Nazis. This is the second book I have read by Fiona Valpy and I am looking forward to reading more of her books. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book in return for an honest review.

This historical fiction is told in alternating chapters by two women, Flora and her daughter Lexie, in two different timelines. Flora’s story takes us through World War II, and Lexie’s viewpoint is the late 1970’s. The setting is Loch Ewe, Scotland, where Flora, the gamekeeper’s daughter for a large estate, falls in love with the laird’s son, Alec. Unfortunately, Alec is a casualty of the war and dies without knowing that Flora is pregnant, and Flora is left to bring up Lexie on her own. Lexie’s narration begins when she returns to Loch Ewe after Flora’s death. Lexie had moved to London seeking a career as a singer and while she had a great voice and a chance at success, lesions ended her singing career. Now, her lover has dumped her and she is returning with their daughter, Daisy.

Lexie begins to ask questions of her mother’s friends, wanting to learn more of the relationship between her parents. We are privy to that knowledge because Flora’s story alternates with Lexie’s. Slowly, Flora’s friends reveal to Lexie the life they led during the war, and for the first time she realizes the depth of their courage and heroism. Loch Ewe is a natural deep water sea loch linking to the Atlantic Ocean by a narrow mouth. The natural protection against enemy submarines made it the perfect place for a convoy collection point and the loch was used for refueling as well as outfitting convoys with supplies. Flora and her friends joined the WRNS, and were on duty the night the SS William H. Welch ran aground and 14 of 74 crew members were killed. They participated in the search and rescue on the rocks during a snow storm, driving ambulances along the icy roads. Lexie understands the loss and sorrow these women experienced by losing friends, neighbors, brothers, lovers and husbands.

For the most part, the book was well-written with wonderful descriptions of Loch Ewe’s beauty and good character development. However, the use of Scottish words and sayings was excessive. I agree they added to the authenticity of place, but it was difficult to keep the story flowing. I had to stop and look things up, or puzzle out what was being said. The book is also much more of a romance with historical fiction tossed in, and romance just isn’t my preference. The book also moved very slowly, with a lot of pointless detail of baby play dates and hunting non-essentials. While there were a few details you might not figure out, the ending was totally predictable.

While I gave this book 3 stars, it’s quite possible that you may feel differently after reading it. It appears I am in the minority as it has received so many 5 star reviews on Goodreads.

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Love and loss in the Scottish Highlands
This is a historical fiction story that has a duo timeline; a WWII romance and a single mother in the late 1970s. This such a well-written story that it was difficult to put down. The WWII story is filled with not only the harsh conditions of normal life but the fear of trying to live through the war that is too close to home. The 1970s story has everything to do with the older story. A young mother comes back to the small hamlet where she was born and raised to lick her wounds and raise her daughter. This is an excellent book. The author went to great lengths to ensure that the book was accurate and realistic. I plan on reading more of this author's work. I received this ARC book for free from Net Galley and this is my honest review.

The Skylark's Secret is the first book I've read by Fiona Valpy. This historical fiction took place in Loch Ewe, Northwest Scotland was quite a page turner and beautifully written. Here lies a wonderful Story based on a dual timeline about a mother Flora and her daughter Lexie. It was an emotional piece that shows love, compassion, sacrifices and forgiveness. It was so realistic that I actually pictured myself there watching the story. A must read. I guarantee you wont be disappointed.

Thank you NetGalley, Amazon Publishing UK, and Fiona Valpy for this ARC.

This beautifully written historical fiction work develops the story of love, lost love, and re-found love by oscillating between WWII and the late ‘70’s. A deep structure of one small community’s connectedness is revealed by this time travel. The author brings a fresh angle to Europe’s involvement in WWII - this time in a small, close-knit highland village in Scotland. Music as healing and music as a medium to share love are two central themes throughout the book, making the title perfectly fitting. The skylark is known for it’s song, but the metaphor of soaring over and keeping watch is another strong metaphor throughout the book. My emotions soared like the skylark, on both ends of the spectrum, while reading this heart-warming story.

I received an ARC from Netgalley.

Written in the dual time line format, The Skylark Secret tells the story of Lexie and Fiona. Lexie goes back home to her Scottish hometown to learn the truth of her mom's (Fiona's) past.

It was a well written story of a WWII love story and a woman learning of her past. I learned a new information from WWII. The characters are well developed and you can't help feeling a kinship to Fiona and Lexie. There are enough twists to keep you interesting.

Bouncing from one generation to another helps a daughter to return home to a community she left behind and to which she feels ashamed to have returned, an unwed mother, unemployed, and without even a smidge of interest from the child’s father. Like her daughter after her, her mother was also an unwed mother in circumstances that differed widely from her daughter’s experience, but since he died in wartime unaware, she yearns to know of him. Only the community can teach her what he was like, revealing along the way, a lifetime secret never shared by her mother. Moving exploration of tangled webs and the things people do for love — and for love of status. The reader learns of events through the eyes of both mother and daughter.

This was such a beautifully written book about such a sad time period. I enjoyed the alternating view points. I found it fun to read one view point and then find the things that were the same in the other view point be - people to mementos. It was like fitting puzzle pieces together. The book was filled with beautiful images from the scenery of this Scottish village to the songs Lexxie and Elspeth sang.

I wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone who likes to read historical fiction, about WWII or about Scotland.

Thank you to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK for providing me with the book. Opinions expressed are my own.

Overall 4.5*
The story is set around the beautiful Loch Ewe in the Highlands and is told from two viewpoints - that of Flora and her life there during WW2 and her daughter Lexie who heads for the bright lights of London as soon as she can, only to return back to the village after the death of her mother and the demise of her singing career, with a daughter of her own , who like her mother before her, has no father to help out. The stories of both these women highlight the struggles which they have as single mothers although in two different eras and the author weaves the story in a dual timelines effortlessly.
I have recently been reading quite a few stories set in and around WW2 and this is one of the best with plenty of information to keep the historians among us satisfied along with a good solid tale of mothers and daughters. Fiona is also very descriptive of the Highland area and this really sets the scene for you as the reader to be enveloped into the village.
I have been given this book as an ARC to be read for my book club, Thx.

The Skylark’s Secret is a beautifully written story set in Loch Ewe, Scotland. It follows Lexie Gordon and her mother, Flora, in dual timelines as Lexie returns home and sets out to learn more about her parents and family history. Lexie’s timeline is based in the 1970s and Flora’s begins in 1940 just as Loch Ewe becomes a port for the British Navy. and it’s allies. The historical facts of WWII interwoven within the story itself makes it that much more interesting and engaging.

Another lovely aspect are the vivid descriptions of the gorgeous landscape of Loch Ewe along with the constantly changing seasons of Scotland that lend more meaning to the timeframe of the story and especially Flora’s. Both Flora and Lexie are similar in that they are single mothers, but Lexie believes that her mother was so much a better person than herself and her journey to discover more about her parents leads to revelations about herself and the beliefs she had about her home and tight-knit community. That tight-knit community is full of warm and lovable characters that give the support and encouragement that Flora and Lexie both need.

This was a highly enjoyable read filled with love and loss, interesting characters and a wonderful plot.

This is a great story (well 2 actually) set on the shores of Loch Ewe in north west Scotland. The wartime story relates to the Arctic convoys; those who sailed in them and the impact on the local inhabitants. The second story, set in the late 70s, is about Lexie returning to her roots with her young daughter and trying to discover what happened to her mother and father in the war.

This is a part of the war which is not written about as much as other aspects and I found it very interesting. Who knew that the aircraft used on aircraft carriers at this time were bi-planes!!

This book is well-written, atmospheric, with some great characters, and has a few plot twists as well. Recommended.

I had read other books by Fiona Valpy but I have to say I loved this one the best. It grabbed my attention from the beginning and I had a difficult time putting it down when I had other things to do. This book occurs during two timelines; one during WWII and the other in the 1970's-1980. It is about a daughter searching for her way in life after a disappointing change in her career and uncovering a secret about her family. Lexie (the daughter) searches for who her father is and who her mother (Flora) was growing up. She finds friendship and a home in the process of her search. It is about a young lady (Flora) dealing with her life during the war along with longing for a romantic relationship between differing lifestyles and social status. Chapter titles are provided to keep up with the timelines in the book. It is about town and land that loves deeply and has to adjust to how the war affects their lives. The characters are realistic and the writing flows easily throughout the book. It did take me a bit to learn who some of the characters were and how they all fit together in the story but it was not frustrating to keep up with the characters and two timelines. I could easily put myself in the story line and the events of the book.
This is a historical fiction book dealing with WWII in the Scottish Highlands. I had never read a book about what happened in Scotland during WWII so this was interesting to me. I recommend this book to anyone who likes historical fiction or WWII books but it is also great for anyone who like reading about families and relationships. Pick up a copy and give it a try today. I was provided with an advanced copy of the book through Netgalley for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

I love when a historian fiction book leads me to dig in further to the events surrounding the plot I am reading, and this book did just that. A great WW2 story set in the Scotland that beautifully tells the story of life for these people during the war. It has a romantic side to the plot, but it doesn't distract, nor is it the main storyline. We hear the story being played out through the mother and daughter's perspectives in alternating timelines that are not difficult to follow at all. Really great and thoughtful story that will make you want to learn more about Loch Ewe and their role in the war.

This book was an amazing story into the war and the tale of two lovers both from the wrong sides of their community. Fans of historical fiction will fall in love with this book as I did. I highly recommend this book

Thank you to NetGalley, Amazon Publishing UK and Fiona Valpy for giving me the opportunity to review The Skylark’s Secret.

I adored The Dressmaker's Gift so I had really high expectations going into this one - perhaps that it is why it didn't capture me the way I thought it would. That being said, this book has a great story that is wonderfully told. I'm a huge historical fiction fan and it was a real treat to learn about the Scottish history related to World War II.

The book centers around a mother (Flora) and daughter (Lexie) - one who lived through WWII and the other who is on a path of discovery in the late 1970s. Readers are given a front row seat to how WWII affected both Flora and Lexie when Lexie returns home after her mother has passed away. An aspect of the book that I appreciated was Lexie getting to know her mother better by delving into her past - something she didn't get to do (and a struggle she never understood) while her mother was still alive.

The book is beautifully written and I was left wanting more (I would've particularly loved to know how Lexie's homegoing experience influenced how she raises her own daughter, Daisy).

The Skylark's Secret follows a mother and daughter over two timelines. Flora's life is forever changed by the horrors and losses of WWII. She comes from a small town in Scotland, Loch Ewe, which is located in a cove, and used as a base to send many ships to sea. She will experience first hand the devastation of war and the suffering endured by so many people.
Her daughter Lexie left their hometown and her mother to pursue a singing career in London. Lexie comes home broken and sad with a daughter of her own. She feels like a failure, her career is over, she is almost broke, her boyfriend abandoned her when she became pregnant, and her mother has died. She is full of love for her child but fears the townspeople will judge her harshly and she initially avoids contact with even her closest friends and those that were her mothers.
Lexie realizes that she doesn't actually know much about her mother's life during the war, or her father who died before she was born. Told in the past through Flora's eyes, and in the present by Lexie slowly opening herself to the possibility of a new life, this was a heartbreaking and compelling read. At first, I was more interested in Lexie's story, but after several of Flora's chapters, I was hooked on both timelines.
I tend to gravitate towards historical fiction almost as a palate cleanser when I have read one too many mysteries, thriller, or horror books. Not only was the writing beautiful and descriptive, but I found myself really caring about many of these characters.

The Skylark’s Secret is a dual timeline novel that follows Flora during WWII, and Flora’s daughter, Lexi in the late 70’s. Both storylines are set in what sounds like a remote and beautiful place, Loch Ewe, Scotland.

I really enjoyed the history behind this story. I like learning about different aspects of history especially home front stories that take place during WWII. The fact that there were so many ships harboring in a lake baffles this desert-dweller’s mind! The author does an excellent job of describing what a huge impact hosting the Home Fleet made to that tiny village.

The love story between Flora and Alec was beautiful and real. I loved watching Alec and Flora try to navigate their complicated relationship. My favorite character was Davy, who was relocated from Glasgow to remote Loch Ewe during the war.

I could have used less descriptions of each and every voyage Alec took as part of the Arctic Convoys. It was just one too many voyage for me.

I always appreciate Author’s Notes at the end of historical fiction so I can learn the historical facts behind the story.

I recommend this to historical fiction lovers, and people who enjoy reading WWII home front stories.

The Skylark 's Secret was a wonderful story,such a heart warming story by "Fiona Valpy".. You really felt part of the story and the research was terrific! I felt like I was in Scotland. What a life these two had,mother and daughter .This is a heart felt story where you have to have tissues ready.Received this book from Net Gallery.This story goes back in time telling not only Flora's story but Lexie. You don't get confused as in some stories. Follow their lives as mother and daughter and the trials and the kind of lives they had. This story will stay with you!

I'm a bit of a sucker for a dual-timeline book, and having read previous books by Fiona Valpy I was pretty sure that I'd like this one too - I wasn't wrong.
Set in Scotland in the present day with Lexie and during the second world war with Flora; Lexie returns to the small Scottish village she grew up in after fleeing to London to begin her West End career. She's apprehensive about returning to her old home by the loch but she soon feels back at home again as she learns more about her parents and their relationship.
Gorgeous descriptions of Scotland embellish this lovely story and make you really feel like you're there (or want to be there).

A new to me author that was recommended. I do not usually enjoy mother and daughter stories, but this one was a dual timeline and well written; it absolutely captured my heart! I was willing to take the chance because I love stories set in the Highlands as well as WW2 and I was not disappointed. The historical detail is rich and informative, without being dry and boring. Flora and Lexie’s stories blend together in a way that captures the beauty and complexities of love, friendship, and family. I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley and all opinions expressed are my own and freely given.

I am a fan of HF, and the premise sounded intriguing.

She needs to piece the pieces of family puzzle together
so she can pass down history to her child.

I was not connected to characters and got lost in storyline.

This is a beautifully written story with a dual perspective on the lives of the mother,Flora and daughter,Lexi across the years from WWII to more recent times. The story of Flora and Lexi was warm and engaging, and as a reader I felt I got to know them both, through the ups and downs of their lives and how the setting of the Highlands managed to help them both to come to terms with the loss and loves in their lives.
The historical references are well researched and the descriptions of the Scottish Highlands are beautiful.
Wonderfully described characters come alive and show the compassion needed both in wartime and now to help the community stay together.

Beautifully written historical novel with stunning scenery and well developed characters. It introduced me to an aspect of World War Two that I have never thought about: the sailors risking their lives in the navy and their impact on the quiet rural communities in the Scottish Highlands. The switch between past and present as the story unfolded added to the intrigue and tension as I wanted to know how the story would play out. I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and highly recommend it to all lovers of historical fiction.

In 1940, WWII intrudes on Flora Gordon’s life when her sleepy Highland village, Loch Ewe, becomes a base for Arctic convoy ships and her life changes for ever.

Nearly 40 years later, after Lexie Gordon’s dream of being a West End star is dashed, she returns to her late mother’s cottage in Loch Ewe, feeling like a failure and thinking her world has ended. Trying to cope with her mother’s death and her own circumstances, she realises that she needs to find out more about her parents lives, particularly Alec, the father she never knew.

This is a beautifully told story of a mothers love for her child and the sacrifices made for that child. Lexie finds that her own life is echoing her mothers, and that far from being a naive country girl, Flora was a strong woman who loved her family very dearly. The Highland setting feels so real, as does the feeling of what is was like living through this small part of history. I really enjoyed the story being told in the voices of both mother and daughter. Having read several of this genre recently, this is definitely one of the best. An atmospheric read which captures the feeling of wartime Scotland as well as supposedly more liberated 70s.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.

I love dual time stories and read them often. The cover pulled me to this book, but I found the story a bit more difficult to capture me.
I received a complimentary copy from NetGalley

I got, The Skylarks Secret by, Fiona Valpy, From NetGalley for a fir and honest review
Loch Ewe, 1940.
Gamekeeper’s daughter Flora has her life altered by World War II as her remote highland village finds itself turned into a base for the Royal Navy’s Arctic convoys. With life in her close-knit community changed forever.
In defiance of his disapproving father, the laird’s son falls in love with Flora, and as tensions build in their disrupted home, any chance of their happiness seems doomed.
1970’s
Flora’s daughter, singer Lexie Gordon, is forced to return to the village and to the tiny cottage where she grew up. Having long ago escaped to the bright lights of the West End, London still never truly felt like home.
Now back, with a daughter of her own, Lexie learns that her mother—and the hostile-seeming village itself—have long been hiding secrets that make her question everything she thought she knew.
As Lexie pieces together the fragments of her parents’ story, she finds the courageous, devastating sacrifices made in her name. It’s too late to rekindle her relationship with her mother, but can Lexie find it in her heart to forgive the past, to grieve for all that’s lost, and finally find her place in the world?
I read this book in a day which is something I do not normally do, but this is one of those stories that draws you in from the start, not only with the style of writing, but the way that the author draws you into the, story.
The story is told over two timelines, one set, during World War II, when Loch Ewe, was used as a naval base for the arctic convoys, where Flora’s relationship with Lexie’s dad and the problems which caused.
In addition to this it examined how the small village coped with the change from being a quiet village out of the way, from the world to being a naval base and its young men away fighting in the conflict, and the losses that happened.
The Second timeline was all about Lexie coming back to the village after being a rising star in the West End, with not only having her career ended, a lone parent and her mother just having passed away.
I loved the way that the book knitted the two parts of the book together, with little puzzles laid in the 1970's only to be resolved fully in the part which went back to the 1940’s. What also made the two timeline work was that as a reader I was never confused about which timeline I was in, while reading a chapter.
The only weak point in the story for me was the way that the people were written in that they were almost two dimensional stereotypes, with the Laird being a bully and his wife being timed, while the old people interfered with the life of the young. Having said that, the descriptions and personalities that the writer gave them was enough for the book.
What i must praise though is the writing about the place that the story is set in, was what made this book above average, the way that the land, sea and atmosphere was described really added to the atmosphere of the story.

This story is aimed at people who love stories about how the human spirit deals with the problems in life and how people are not just about what they do individually or how they respond to events at the time but also how it affects future generations. So if your into stories that have these elements then you should read Fiona Valpy’s latest book The Skylarks Secret.

One of my favorite times in history to read about, is World War 2. This was a beautifully written story! I had never really heard much or thought about the role that Scotland may have played during this time. It was very interesting to learn about the courageous and important role that Scotland had in the war.

I loved the characters and enjoyed the parallels between the lives of Lexie and Flora!

I can't wait to tell others about this book!

Thank you to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK for the opportunity to read and review this book!

The beginning of The Skylark’s Secret held a lot of promise, but sadly did not follow through for me. However, the descriptions were beautiful.

I appreciate the ARC from NetGalley and the publisher, Lake Union Publishing in exchange for an honest review.

I can not recommend Fiona Valpy’s books enough. She really has a way with connecting two different time periods and this book is no exception. It was great. The two stories flowed so well together and the scenery was so rich. I felt like I was right there, a part of it all.
I have never read a WWII novel set in Scotland, so this was a new adventure for me. It was eye opening in some parts. I ended up doing a little research myself as I read, because my interest was so peaked. Incredible.
This book was so well done, so heartfelt, so tragic it pulled on all my emotions.
The leading ladies showed so much strength and bravery. My favorite kind of main female character.
The romance was well done.
My only complaint was I found Lexie’s story a little slow at times compared to Flora’s. I wanted to rush through to get to Flora’s perspective. I was so sucked in.
This was such a ride, and the surprise at the end... fantastic.
4.5⭐️s rounded up.
Thank you NetGalley, Amazon Publishing UK and Fiona Valpy for a copy of this incredible novel. All thoughts are my own.

In 1940 Gamekeepers daughter Flora Gordon's life is changed forever by the horrors and losses of WWII and when her remote highland village Loch Awe becomes a base for Arctic convoy ships.
Thirty-plus years later Flora has passed away, Lexie, her daughter, returns to the family cottage with her daughter, unhappy and feeling like a failure, her career finished, ditched by her boyfriend when she became pregnant, Lexie was anxious about returning. Still, she soon feels back at home as she learns more about her parents and their relationship and more about her father who died before she was born.
A charming story of a mother's love for her child and the sacrifices she made. The story is told in the voices of both mother and daughter.
The historical aspect is well researched, descriptive, engaging and informative. The complexities of love, family, and camaraderie are well written.
A historical novel with characters you will warm to as the story progresses.
I want to thank NetGalley, Amazon Publishing UK and author Fiona Valpy for a pre-publication copy to review.

I'll start by saying that this was my first book by Fiona Valpy and it will not be last!

This book is told in two-time frames telling the story of Flora and Lexi. Ultimately this is a book about love, family, romance, war, friendship, community, songs, secrets, loss, and learning from and about your past.

Loch Eve, 1940 Flora Gordon lives in a remote highland village in Scotland. When her village becomes the base for the Royal Navy's Arctic Convoy, life in the remote village changes forever. The Laird is Flora's father's employer and when Flora and the laird's son, Alec, begin a relationship, there is no smooth sailing ahead for them.

During the late 70's Lexi Gordon, Flora's daughter has returned to her small village in the highlands after her promising singing career in London is halted by strained vocal cords. She has returned with a young daughter of her own and soon begins to unravel the truths about her past, her mother's past, and the village itself. As she learns more, she begins to remember her mother's songs, she rekindles her own love of singing.

This book is beautifully written and full of historical facts that are not overbearing and work well with this story. I enjoyed the use of both storylines to tell the story and unravel the truth. The dual timelines flowed effortlessly. There is never any confusion about what timeline or what woman you are reading about. That is a plus! If you have ever read a book and became confused because it isn't clear what or who you are reading about due to two-time lines, you will know why this is important to me.

It is also clear that the author did her research. I appreciated her attention to detail not only about the war but also in the village, landscape, and surrounding areas. She detailed the hardships suffered by both Flora and her daughter, Lexi.

Thank you to Amazon Publishing UK and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

My fascination with the Arctic Convoys which delivered war supplies and food to a starving, blockaided Russia during WWII began in high school when I read Alistair McClean's debut novel based on his personal experiences in the war, HMS Ulysses. Loch Ewe, Scotland, one in a cluster of 13 Lochs abutting the North Sea, is circled by very small crofting communities including Aultbea, Ardlair, Ardtuath, Slattadale, and Ghruididh, and played a pivotal role in the success of the vital arctic convoys. As the new home to the British Royal Fleet, Loch Ewe offered a safe harbor for the supply ships from Allied countries to assemble while awaiting a quorum. During that time, the population of the Loch Ewe area increased from a few hundred to over three thousand with military personnel, almost overnight.

The Skylark's Secret is an excellent tale of three generations in the tiny lock-side community of Ardtuath in the Scottish Highlands from pre-WWII 1939 into 1980. We begin with Flora Gordon, 20-something daughter of Iain, the gamekeeper of Ardtuath House, part-time home of Sir Charles and Lady Helen Mackenzie-Grand. Flora and her friends Mairi Macleod and Bridie Macdonald are very involved in the community as they receive and home children from the cities being bombed, adjust and adapt to the introduction of the Royal Fleet into the local community and do what they can to provide supplemental nutrition as the war escalates and rationing becomes a way of life. Flora lost her mother at a very young age, and her brother Ruaridh joined the British Navy a couple of years back so they don't see him often before the war, but with the fleet in the Loch, he is stationed locally as a signalman. Flora is in love with Alec Mackenzie-Grand, a childhood friend who is now an officer on one of the support ships for the Arctic Convoy. Sir Charles is not going to accept a marriage between his son and the gamekeeper's daughter, although Lady Helen approves of Flora for her son.

And then we follow Lexie, their daughter, as the years of post-war privations fade away, as she and her mother sing their way thorough joy and strife the old Scottish ballads and hymns of long ago. Lexie sings her way into a full scholarship at a college in London and develops an interesting and successful career as an actor and singer in musicals in London. Damage to her vocal cords brings her back to Ardtuath where she must adapt to living without her mother, and learn to accommodate the needs of her new daughter, Daisy. Altogether, an excellent read, over too soon. More, please, Fiona Valpy.
I received a free electronic ARC of this novel from Netgalley, Fiona Valpy, and LakeUnion Publishers. Thank you all for sharing your hard work with me. I have read this novel of my own volition, and this review reflects my honest opinion of this work. Ms. Valpy writes an interesting, well-paced story with historical markers that tie the tale to an accurate picture of the past.

Told in dual timelines and spanning several decades, The Skylark’s Secret explores what it means to be a mother and to find one’s place in the world. Family relationships are tested are friendships are formed with issues such as class and background forming the backbone of this story.

As with other books by this author, setting plays a huge role in shaping the essence of the plot and story line. Scotland, and in particular the village and sea, were an interesting choice and it was fascinating to see the changes between Flora’s story line in the WW2 setting and Lexie’s in the 70s. I skimmed over a lot of the marine language however thoroughly enjoyed the vivid descriptions of the Scottish Highlands.

Historical Fiction told in dual timelines is often hard to follow however the two storylines were beautifully intertwined with a lot of similarities in the two characters’ paths. Unfortunately I couldn’t connect with either of the two main characters in the same way that I usually do with other previous books by this author. Some of the minor characters were quirky and interesting but could not hold my attention and I ultimately left and came back to the book several times.

This is a beautiful story of resilience and compassion with impressive storytelling and a fantastic setting. Despite several slow parts and a set of average characters I finished it with a smile on my face and sense that it will be a pleasurable read for many fans of the genre.

A wonderful, moving story about a place very near to my heart, the Highlands of Scotland. I love dual time line books and the mother's story told during World War Two is always an excellent time to set a story. Her daughter's story is set in the 1970's. As always with Fiona Valpy's books its beautifully written, immersing the reader in the story and living the journey of her characters.
Perfect historical fiction. Loved it .

This book was a combination of my favorites, Historical Fiction and Romance. Fiona Valpy’s writing effortlessly tells the story of a mother and daughter - switching between Flora in 1940 Scotland and her daughter Lexie in 1978. Over the course of the book, Lexie learns about her (deceased) parent’s love (and loss) as well as sacrifices that were made. Valpy takes you on a vivid tour of Loch Ewe Scotland, easily transporting me away from my couch. I truly enjoyed disappearing into this book!

Wow - what a beautiful book! This story is told in two timelines - Flora during World War II, and her daughter Lexie 20+ years later. Both women have their share of hardships to endure and their strength to learn about. I found myself more drawn to Flora's storyline, with her star crossed lover constantly away doing his military duty and their class struggles when he was at home. I did appreciate both points of view though - the way one told the story and one learned the story. The writing in this book is gorgeous, and the way everything ties up at the end was both surprising and satisfying. Certainly one I would recommend.

Thank you to NetGalley for my ARC of this book!

Review: The Skylark’s Secret by Fiona Valpy

Many thanks to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

If you would like to skip to the chase, I liked this book a lot. See my star rating at the end of this review.

As with most historical fiction novels, I like to read the Author’s Note (Afterword) in order to be aware what is real and what is fictional as I read. For this novel, the time and place are real. The characters and story are the author’s creation. Ms. Valpy’s description of the Scottish Highlands is wonderful. If you don’t already want to visit this part of the world, you will after reading this novel. Scotland is moving up to the top of my wish list.

Also like a lot of historical fiction novels, this one alternates between the World War II years (1939 - 1944) and a generation later (1977 - 1980). Each chapter is titled with a main character’s name and the year, so it is easy to follow. This is not a Holocaust story. I loved that four strong women made up the majority of this tale. These women had their flaws and struggles, but their stories felt real. All of the characters, men and women alike, were well-drawn and believable in their stories and relationships.

As the title indicates, there is a secret. Naturally, I tried to figure out the secret throughout the book. I had four distinct possible “secrets.” I was wrong on all counts. I was glad to be wrong. I really do not like guessing the mystery too early. This secret was adeptly kept until almost the end of the book when it was perfectly timed to reveal. Nice job, Ms. Valpy!

One added bonus in this novel is Ms. Valpy’s use of Scottish folk song lyrics. These were wonderful. I was glad that I read this book on my Kindle. There is some Gaelic off and on throughout the novel. It was nice having the handy Kindle dictionaries to use for translation and definition.

I hope you enjoy this book as much as I did.

Star rating: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ (4 stars)

The Skylark's Secret is set in two timelines - WWII and 1970's, telling the story of a mother, Flora and daughter Lexie. It is a beautiful, well researched book. I enjoyed reading about the lives of those in the Highlands of Scotland during both periods. The camaraderie of village life and people never fails to amaze me and Ms Valpy showed this in abundance throughout the story.

A very enjoyable book. I rarely read romances or war stories but this book brings them together beautifully. Flora and her friends have lived all their lives in Loch Ewe when a naval base is set up to support merchant convoys in WW2. Flora's daughter, Lexi is a singer in the seventies but damages her vocal chords while pregnant with her daughter Daisy. After her mother's death Lexi returns to Loch Ewe hoping to find out more about her father who had died before she was born.
Story is told in 2 time lines - Flora's and Lexi. It is very clear whose story is being told and the book is beautifully written. Valpy describes vividly what it must have been like for the women of the village watching their menfolk leave with the convoys not knowing if they would return. To balance this, the author includes singing and the words of lots of traditional songs.

If you fancy a jolly good cry this is the perfect book for you. A real tear-jerker. Better than anything Hollywood ever produced.
This is the story of Flora and Lexie: mother and daughter. It is also the story of a community: Loch Ewe, during those daring and deadly days of arctic convoys, and a population swollen by more than three thousand during World War Two, and thirty years later when memories are being revived and secrets told for the very first time.
The writing is passionate and honest. The story is gripping and at times heart-breaking. It is a book I will never forgot.

Gentle tale about a small community in Scotland. Told in two time frames, World War II where Loch Ewe becomes a Royal Navy base leading dangerous Arctic missions and the late 1970’s where the secrets of the past come to light. Lexi Gordon returns to live in Loch Ewe to raise her child and perhaps find out about the father she never knew. Embraced by the community who knew her and her mother Flora we hear their story of love, friendship, and courage. Although much of this takes place during war with all its horrors it is still more about the compassion and commitment these people have for each other and the secrets they keep to protect those they love. Thanks to NetGalley and Amazon publishing for an advanced reader copy of this enjoyable book.

The Skylark's Secret by Fiona Valpy is a beautifully written novel that explores the secrets between a mother and daughter and is told in a dual timeline point of view. We meet Lexie, a young mother who returns from her lost career as a singer in London in the 1970s with her young daughter to the village of Loch Ewe in Scotland where she was raised by her mother, knowing nothing about her father except his name. The other point of view is her mother Flora's story. Flora was an ambulance driver for the Wren's when Loch Ewe was made into a British base for their Arctic Convoys during WWII.

I enjoyed both storylines, especially the well researched information on how the Scottish Highlands figured into the British efforts during WWII. This was a fascinating behind the scenes story into those tragic times and how the war touched the lives of those in this small Scottish community. Absolutely heartwrenching.

Thank you to the author, Amazon Publishing UK and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this novel for my honest review. You won't be disappointed with this novel!

The Skylark's Secret by Fiona Valpy
This was a page turner of a novel with an intriguing storyline and well defined characters. It was told from two different point of views in two different timelines , Flora a gamekeepers daughter in 1940 and her daughter Lexi, a decade later. The setting is a remote highland village in Scotland, Loch Ewe, to which singer Lexi returns to the small cottage where she was bought up, with her own daughter. Here Lexi uncovers her parents story and the villages secrets from the time when the village became the base for the Royal Navy’s Arctic convoys. The romance runs throughout the book and connects the two timelines. The narrative moves the story on at a good pace and it flows nicely. The detailed descriptions of both time and setting bring to life the historical era it’s trying to convey. There is plenty in the plot to keep you happily turning the pages. The characters, especially mother and daughter stayed with me long after I have finished the novel. I felt totally immersed in the story whilst I was reading it. A lovely novel, and a five star read

The Skylark's Secret is historical fiction/romance that takes the action to Loch Ewe, Scotland during WWII and tells of the courage of the citizens of that village when it became a base for the Royal Navy. From there they escorted Merchant Marine ships on dangerous routes to bring needed supplies to Russia, their ally during the war.

The story follows two strong female characters, mother and daughter, in alternating chapters. Flora's story takes place during the war years of 1939 to 1944 where she became a WREN to do her part to help the war efforts. She has a love interest in Alec. However, she's from a working class background and Alec is the son of a laird.

Her daughter, Lexie's story starts forty years later, from 1977 to 1980. Lexie never knew her father; her mother never really talked much about him except to tell her that he died during the war. When she returns to Loch Ewe with her daughter after her mother dies, Lexie is determined to discover what she can about her father. As she talks to the villagers, she gradually learns more and more about both of her parents. Of course, she has a love interest as well, but their relationship does not go smoothly.

This is the fourth book I have read (and enjoyed) by Fiona Valpy. I found The Skylark's Secret to be a fascinating and informative story, both in the historical details as well as the romance. I look forward to reading future books by this author.

I really enjoyed reading this book, both for the strong female characters and the history l was unaware of. In the long years of WWII, a small town called Loch Ewe in Scotland became the base for many while in the Russian Arctic convoy, delivering needed supplies to the Russians. Flora was in love with Alec, a member of the convoy. Flora, with her best friends Mairi and Bridie, join the WRENS. In the 1980’s, Lexie returns to Loch Ewe after leaving London once her famous voice suffers and she cannot sing anymore. Returning home with her daughter, Daisy, she understands the challenges her Mom faced, and is anxious to find out about her past. This is a good one to dive into, and I recommend it and thank NetGalley for the ARC.

This is the first book I've read by the author Fiona Valpay, and I like her style. I found my "reading to myself voice" having what I would consider my highland brogue! It was a very enjoyable-to-read book. I was immediately pulled into the story of both the mother, Fiona, and the daughter, Lexie. as told through two different timelines. The way the author wove the two story-lines together was very thoughtfully done, bringing in two of the mother's friends to help Lexie understand her mother's story. I thought the characters of friends in both timeframes were an integral part of their lives.. Fiona had a heartbreaking story revolving around Lexie's father, Alec, and his domineering father (who plays an important part in their lives).... and Lexie wants desperately to know what it is that everyone seems to be shielding her from.. I found the historical information about the Royal Navy's Arctic convoys very interesting as this was not something I was aware of occurring during WWII. I definitely recommend this book to others who enjoy historical fiction. Thank you to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing for the ARC of this book in return for an honest review, which this has been. #NetGalley #TheSkylarksSecret

I found this to be a lovely, heart-warming story told in a dual time-line, about a mother and daughter. The setting is a small town on Loch Ewe in the Scottish Highlands. The mother, Flora’s story is told during the war, she has secrets, including a lover above her class. The other timeline is her daughter,Lexie in the 1970s who returns to the small town after a brief singing career in London. She brings a daughter with her and tries to adjust to returning to this small town. The people of the town embrace her and slowly Lexie learns the story of her parents and grandparents and she makes a home for herself there again.

I received a copy from Netgalley for an honest review.

This is one of those books that make you feel as if you are coming home. It's heartwarming, intriguing, and soul touching.

I enjoyed the dual timeline following Lexie's journey back home and her mother, Flora. It has a hint of family mystery and unabashed friendship. I love how the war wasn't just a forgotten backdrop but lead ipthe characters down a winding path through life.

Beautifully done.

Skylark''s Secret is set in a crofters' village in the Scottish Highlands at the edge of Loch Ewe (an inland sea).. Two storylines alternate between a young woman (Flora) during WWII and her daughter (Lexie) in the late 1970s. Village life for Flora, the gamekeeper's daughter, changes dramatically during the war as she becomes a Wren and falls in love with Alex, the laird's son. Their relationship is forbidden by the laird, who does everything in his considerable power to squash it. Alex sails in and out of Loch Ewe as a naval battleship commander assigned to protect the merchant marine convoys supplying Russia with food and weapons.

Lexie's story begins with her return to the village after a promising career as a London musical theatre star plummets when she becomes pregnant and then loses her voice. Battling her lose of self-esteem and grief over her mother's death, Lexie wants to know more about the father she never met. Her mother always refused to talk about him and his family, and the village keeps those secrets close when Lexie starts asking questions.

I enjoyed this book, although it dragged some in the middle as Lexie was stonewalled when she tried to learn more about her father's and his family. But the historical detail and depth of characters, especially in Flora's storyline, kept me reading. After reading many WWII historical novels set in Europe and England, I enjoyed reading one set in Scotland (glad I read this with the Kindle app so I could look up local terms as I read!). The author vividly describes the food, music and family life of a rural community that is pressed into service during WWII hosting naval armadas as they gathered in the inland sea to form convoys during the war. We shared in their loves, frustrations, growth and sorrows. I recommend this book. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an ARC for me to read.

This is may first book by this author. It is set in Scotland and the storyline about a mother and daughter, goes back and forth between two time periods. It was an enjoyable story and I loved the description of the setting. .
Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an advanced readers copy in exchange for my review.

This is the 1st book I have read by the author Fiona Valpy. It was a lovely dual time story of mothers and daughters, secrets and growth.

The story follows Flora, the daughter of the local Laird’s gamekeeper during WWII and her forbidden love with the Laird’s son Alec, and Flora’s daughter Lexie and her daughter as they retreat from their life in London to the small cottage where Flora lived and loved. Lexie spends her time researching her mother’s past and realizes how strong and resilient her mother was.

This is a wonderful book of mothers and daughters, secrets, lies and the hope that come from finding the truth and growing from it. The book also has some very interesting and to me unkown aspects of WWII and the Royal Navy.

I would recommend this book to anyone who loves dual time novels, historical novels and family dynamic novels.
I will definitely look for more from Fiona Valpy.

A story of secrets, sacrifices and broken families. Flora was not able to live the life she wanted but should her daughter Lexie be forced to suffer as well. Will Lexie get the answers that she wants or will she discover that her life was not as it seemed. Can she find happiness and find her place in life?

Despite some obvious issues, I really liked this book. The main character was well defined, not overly emotional and goal oriented. She finds herself in a situation where she has to go back to her hometown in Scotland, and find out about her mother’s life. The most obvious issue I found is the title of this books. It did not evoke any response to me, indeed, it was just confusing. And her mother’s secret? Meh. However, I was drawn to both stories and enjoyed the book.

I was pleasantly surprised by this novel. I didn't expect to like it as well as I did since it's not my usual type of story. Unlike most of the other novels about World War II, this was set in Scotland, which gave it a unique twist. It follows two generations of women living in Scotland, the mother's story centering around the World War II era and the impact of the war on the villagers, and her daughter, who returns from London three decades later to her home village after the death of her mother. While there is romance in both women's lives, I certainly wouldn't call this a genre romance. The romance is coincidental to each woman finding her own path in life.

Flora, the mother, loves her childhood chum, despite being from different social classes. Her story revolves around the uncertainty and loss she and the rest of the village must endure when war comes to their village. Lexie, her daughter, whose singing career has fallen apart as well as her romance with her director, returns, with her young daughter, to the village she grew up in and left behind all those years ago. With her dream crushed, she must find a new meaning to her life. The story is told from alternating viewpoints of the two women. There is a symmetry to the way their stories play out and the end of the novel brings things to a neat conclusion.

My only criticism is that the author seems a tad prone to overusing clichés. I lost count of the number of times people knew something "like the back of their hand". And the final reveal was a bit predictable but still satisfying. Overall I enjoyed the read.

This book is really good will look in future for books by Fiona Valpy.

This is the story about Lexie Gordon returning home to her birth place. The story goes from Lexie in the present day to the time of her Mother Flora in World War 2. I was crying in places at the sad bits. Lexie wants to know more about her Father as her Mother had never talked about him. Flora's best friend Bridie still lives in the village and does not want to tells her anything. Eventually the story comes out.

I would read this book again as it is a really good story.

What an enjoyable book. While characters and circumstances are fictional, they are all based on things that actually happened during WWII. This book is centered on a hidden cove in Scotland called Loch Ewe. There are 2 time periods that we jump between.

Flora and her father live as keepers for the big house where Flora's beau resides. This book takes us through the struggles of watching loved ones leave over and over from this safe haven and cross the deadly seas to take supplies to allied countries. I loved the descriptive nature of this book. I really felt that I was walking the wind-swept trails with the characters. I could hear the wind, smell the salty sea air, and understood the heartache of a war that took far too many loved ones.

Decades later we get to follow Lexie, Flora's daughter through a lost career in London's West End and back to her home town at the Loch. She uncovers secrets she never even knew to look for and while her world is rocked, she also finds acceptance and love.

An overall uplifting story.

Thank you NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

I am not always a fan of duel narrative and time in books, but this technique was ideal for the telling of both stories. The switching between Lexie's story and Flora's did not bother me as I wanted to continue their journeys as they were both engrossing.
Flora, Lexie's mum, has her story told in the third person. During the second world war the home fleet was based at Loch Ewe and Flora, Alec and the rest of the community have their lives changed forever.
Lexie tells her story in the 1970's. After a successful career as a singer in the West End, Lottie returns to Loch Ewe after the death of her mother,with her small daughter and her career in ruins. With the help of Flora's friends she starts her new life and discovers the secret of her birth .
I really enjoyed this well researched book. The two beautifully entwined stories brought the two eras to life. Highly recommended.

The Skylark’s Secret by Fiona Vaply is a story about a daughter’s journey to discover the secrets her mother held so close. Loch Ewe, 1940s, the remote highland village becomes the base for the Royal Navy’s Arctic convoys, life in the close-knit community changes forever. The gamekeeper’s daughter, Flora, falls in love with Alec, the laird’s son. Decades later, Flora has passed away, and her daughter, Lexie Gordon, is forced to return to the village and the tiny cottage where she grew up. With a daughter of her own, Lexie learns that her mother and the village had secrets, secrets that will question everything she thought she knew about her parents and her village. Lexie is determined to fill the missing pieces in the story her mother always told her. When she finally learns the truth, will she be able to finally forgive, grieve for those lost and find a place to truly call home?
The Skylark’s Secret is a beautiful story of love and sacrifice. Set in the beautiful Scottish highlands, it is a story of love, war, and community. It is a story of a mother’s love and the secrets she holds in her heart. Ms. Vaply’s descriptions are so vivid that I could image the crystal blue waters of the loch and the rolling hills of the highlands. Told from Flora’s and Lexie’s perspectives and times, a story is revealed of wartime bravery, love found and lost, and the true meaning of home. It’s a slow simmer that keeps you hooked as you want to know the secrets and when one twist is revealed and you think you have it figured out, there is another twist! This book was my first by Fiona Vaply and it certainly won’t be the last. I look forward to reading more from Ms. Valpy. It is an awesome story and I highly recommend the Skylark’s Secret!

The Skylark’s Secret is available in paperback, eBook, and audiobook.

If you like to visualise the setting of a novel in all its glory this is the book for you. Fiona did such a wonderful job describing the west of Scotland you could picture being there! Beautifully written tale written in alternate times-one during war time and the other in present day, covering hardships, and the romantic and sad times in relationships. A real treat to read.

This is a beautiful story about a mother and daughter, based on two timelines. Lexie has to come back to her Scottish home left to her by her mother Flora. They both have had young fatherless little girls and the similarities don’t end there.
The Second World War attracted ships to the village and it becomes the central point for arctic convoy ships to start from. Flora is in love with the local lard’s son who also loves her. Their love story will not have a happy ending but at least Lexie is the happy result. Lexie herself has a successful stage career in London and her mother is very proud of her achievements. However getting pregnant leads to the end of her career and the potential father washes his hands of them, not even knowing Lexie has the lovely Daisy as a result.
When you realise that Davy the fisherman who befriends Lexie is the same Davy who came to the village as a wartime refugee the story knots together.
This is a beautiful story well to9ld and moving in many ways. This is an author to look out for and a highly recommended read

Lexie Gordon thought when she left her small village she would never have to return to the place where she felt judged and stifled. But, sometimes life has a way of causing you to go back to your roots.

The dual timeline of WWII and the 1970’s that Fiona Valpy created was masterfully done. Each one had beautiful stories and poignant reminders of making difficult decisions and loving others above yourself. The ending had me saying, “Bravo!”

Thank you to NetGalley for an electronic copy of this book in exchange for my opinion.

Set in Loch Ewe during the 1940s and decades later, this remote Scottish highland village is filled with characters that knows everyone. Romance is fractured, people are put in their places, disapproved friendship and love is found throughout, unhappy marriage, boys being sent to war and some don't return is weaved with beautifully written storytelling. I found myself drawn in and really felt for some of the characters. The main character, decades later, is found unraveling the truth about her mother and the others in the village. I really enjoyed reading this historical fiction. Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher, for the ARC.

As a lover of World War 11 fiction, I’m always looking for stories written in a different perspective or stories about a part of the war I’m not familiar with. I never really thought about Scotland’s participation in the war and I had never heard of the Russian Arctic Convoy. I’m definitely been inspired to do more research on this because of this novel. I loved all the references of Scottish music, too., and plan on looking into those as well. The story is inspiring and uplifting, everything I love about this genre. I felt the big reveal was a little unbelievable but certainly didn’t take away from my enjoyment of this book

Set in Loch Ewe, Scotland and told in dual timelines, this novel explores the story of Flora in the early 1940s, and her daughter, Lexie, in the late 1970s. Lexie has come home after health issues interfered with her singing career. Her mother has died, and Lexie has questions about her father that have been left unanswered. Reading this book, I learned about a time in Scotland's history when Scottish forces teamed with Americans to aid the Russians during World War II. Loch Ewe was instrumental during that time in making sure the Russian people were supported with food and medical supplies during a time when the Germans were fighting the world to further their cause. I found out so many things I didn't know as I read this book. And I enjoyed the mystery that unfolded with each page until it's ultimate conclusion. There are love stories, triumphs and tragedies, and family dramas. I recommend this story about resilience and loyalty and the power of love. Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the opportunity to read this book.

Unfortunately this story was written in a style I don't care for, going back and forth between stories. It was rather slow at times and difficult to keep interested in.

A 2 timeline story set late 1970s and WW2. After her mother dies, Lexie returns from London with her young daughter to rural Scotland where she grew up. She has never met her father who died a war hero before she was born. Apart from his name and his wartime job, she knows little about him and so seeks to find out the story surrounding her mother and father.
The villagers seem evasive but gradually the tale evolves. Nice ending. A nice gentle tale with accurate research about the area during wartime.
Thanks Netgalley for ARC for an honest review.

I received a free ARC of this book from Netgalley.
It started off a little slow, but then I really enjoyed the main characters as the book goes back and forth between mother and daughter when they are both young adults dealing with relationships. Lexie never knew her father and she has questions that her mother Flora, recently deceased, will never be able to answer. Flora's closest friends are obviously still keeping secrets from Lexie that she is finally able to discover as they bond.

I was unable to access the book so I am unable to give an honest review. I will say that the premise of the book looked very interesting so I was disappointed that I was unable to actually read it..

Fiona Valpy always writes such good stories, The Skylark's Secret is no exception.

I love these stories set during WW2 where everyone has to pull together.

Although desperately sad in some parts the overwhelming feeling was of hope.

I will continue to read Fiona's books for as long as she writes them.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. This is my first book by Fiona Valpy. I enjoyed the storyline and the small Scottish town the story is set in. She brought it to life wonderfully and I could easily place myself there looking out at the ships in the Loch.

Reading about both mother and daughter's lives simultaneously, we learn the truth of Flora's life. I rather liked going back and forth between the two time periods, separated by several decades as it gave two perspectives to the same story. While I don't mind reading WWII era books, I found the details on the war to be too many and I skimmed over much of it.

Thanks to NetGalley, Amazon Publishing UK and Fiona Valpy for my copy of The Skylark’s Secret.

Told in two different viewpoints, this book tells the stories of Lexie Gordon and her mother Flora Gordon. It is the late 70s and Lexie is a single mom returning to Keeper's Cottage in Loch Ewe Scotland after her mother's death. She knows very little about her father and tries to get information from a couple of her mother's friends but they do not disclose anything at first.

Flora's story is told during 1944 and World War II when the little town in Scotland becomes a "hub" for the Royal Navy's arctic convoys. Growing up, Flora and her brother Ruaridh spent a lot of time with Alec - the son of the man that owned a house where Flora's dad was the gamekeeper. Ruaridh and Alec join the war effort and Flora, Bridie and Mairi become WRENs assisting on land.

This was the first book I've read by this author. She deftly wound both stories together. This is a book about love, loss, courage and bravery.

An enjoyable read that combines love stories with the reality of war. All the characters are well drawn. Memories of my childhood were brought back by the inclusion of lines from traditional Scottish songs.

Fiona Valpy pens a beautiful story interweaving the past and the present from the war-torn years to the most recent. Stamina and courage are so evident in the lives of those who lived during World War II, but so many times the heartbreak and the secrets were never revealed. Flora and Lexie are excellent examples in The Skylark's Secret and it is the end of the book before the true story is unveiled. You must read this one.

Lexie is a talented singer, having the leading lady part in the west end when suddenly her voice changes and she finds out she is pregnant, with no hope of her voice recovering Lexie and her daughter Daisy move back to her childhood home of Althea. Here Lexie learns the story of her mother Flora and her Father Alec.

A fantastic book switching between narratives of Lexie and Flora.

My first by this author and I was not disappointed. Split between WW2 and 1978+ the story follows Flora during WW2 and her daughter Lexie later in 1978. It goes from Floras life and her relationship with Alec to Lexie and her discovery of who she is. We also meet many other amazing fictional characters in both eras. Set in Scotland’s, Loch Ewe the historical aspect is well researched plus the additional of fictional places.
Thanks Fiona Valpy and NetGalley.

I love to read historical fiction and The Skylark’s Secret was no exception. This novel was different from most that I have read because it was set in Scotland and told the story of living in a coastal town during WWII. Skylark’s Secret also tells a dual story of women in the same family from 1939-1980. I felt a part of the village and felt as if I were in their beautiful country.
Thanks to NetGalley for loaning me this book. I was not required to review it.

The novel Skylark’s Secret in a beautifully written historical novel set in Scotland. The novel takes place in two time periods. The first is during WWII centering on Flora Gordon, a gamekeeper’s daughter. The second is during the late 1970’s, centering on Lexie Gordon, Flora’s daughter.
The weaving back and forth between Flora and Lexie’s stories draws you in to a tale of love , loss and the revealing of secrets
I look forward to reading other novels by Fiona Valpy
Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the opportunity to read this ARC.

I absolutely love Fiona Valpy's books. She has the gift of being able to transport you to any place and any time with her beautifully descriptive writing.

Lexi is forced to return to Loch Ewe, a remote Highland village, as a single parent following the death of her mother and the fall of her west end musical career.

Determined to find out more about her past and her parents, she soon befriends her mothers best friends and starts digging for clues.

The chapters alternate between Lexis story (set in the 1970s) and her mother Flora's story (set in 1940s war time) and we soon begin to see long kept secrets unravel.

A story of family, friendship, community, love, loss, heartbreak and overall, hope. I absolutely loved The Skylarks Secret and would highly recommend.

I love historical fiction books based on WWII. And the fact that this is a dual timeline book, it was automatically going to be a favorite read. This was a different take on WWII because it was based in Scotland. And while you were exposed to negative aspects of the war, you don’t endure the atrocities experienced in the concentration camps.

What a lovely story of redemption of a mother and daughter. They each share their story and you travel through their lives and how they experience growth, maturity, and self-discovery. And what a wonderful sense of community and caring and support by those who lived in the village. The folk songs, traditions, delicious food, secrets, and sacrifices shared made this such a delight to read. I highly recommend you put this on your to-read list.

Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

Another marvelous historical novel by Fiona Valpy. Set in Scotland during
WWII and alternate timeline 1942, it follows Flora, and later her daughter Lexie in 1975. This is a story of mothers and daughters and what they take on to survive and make the best possible lives for their children.
It’s about the tragedy of war, the sacrifices that were made and the struggles endured, during a bleak time in history. The author gives us wonderful characters in both time frames and introduces the reader into the wonderful camaraderie of the Scottish people, that come together as a community, to support their military and share the little that they had with their neighbors !
We also see the difference in class and the sacrifices that occur because of it.
I loved everything about this book and thank #NetGalley and #Lake
Union Publishing for the ARC!

I learned soooo much reading this book. I was never a big history buff. Maybe if some of the lessons included this story, I would have at least paid attention! The landscaping descriptions, the language and way of life was so interesting. About 2/3 of the way into the book I wondered where this title came from, but Eventually it is revealed. Even the Arctic made its way into this book. It is amazing what has gone before us.

This is a wonderful, sweeping saga that tells the story of Lexie Gordon and her quest to find out more about her mother and father who were caught up in the prejudices of the class system and the brutality of World War 11. We learn their fate through chapters that alternate between Lexie and her mother, Flora’s, stories. It’s a beautiful yet tragic story that made me yearn to live in a small, tight-knit, remote community that looks after its own; one that revolves around give and take, and protects its secrets.
I loved the stark contrast between the beauty of Loch Ewe and the harsh reality of war for those aboard the merchant ships of the Home Fleet that set off on their arctic convoys in the late 1930s.
Flora and her friends, as heroic as their sailor sweethearts, are wonderfully strong characters and I was filled with admiration for their courage. The story also touches on evacuee children, and preserving traditional Scottish music.
Author Fiona Valpy says she tried to reflect historical facts as accurately as possible, and the result is a fascinating insight into a very specific aspect of the war woven into a compelling story.

A brilliant story based on the Arctic Convoys based on Loch Ewe. Fine characters who epitomised the strong spirits of the crafters. Beautiful descriptions of the area. More please?

Such a beautiful slow paced story. I absolutely loved it.

Dual time narrated, The Skylark’s Secret is addictive. Fiona Valpy made an incredible job describing the Scottish countryside so well that made me feel I have actually visited the places in person.
This book was a proper palette cleanser after all thrillers and murders I have read about lately. Such a joy to have the opportunity to read this incredible story of loss, friendships, love but also hope in what is there to come. A story about community, war and romance; pain and social differences. The story of Flora during WW2 told in parallel with the story of her daughter Lexie decades later is absolutely mesmerizing.

THE SKYLARK’S SECRET was my first Fiona Valpy book but I can asure you it won’t be the last. I fell in love with the way she managed to pull me in and make me picture it all like I actually lived both women’s lives. I understood all Flora did in the name of love and I also stood by Lexie every step of the way.

I struggled a bit with the song’s lyrics and had to look up for some words but that actually made the story more charming and unique. I would love to visit the Scottish countryside and get even closer to this story. I highly recommend it to all historical fiction lovers.

What’s it About?
It's about the Scottish Highlands and about Flora in 1940 when her little village becomes a Naval base and about her daughter Lexi, in the late 1970's who returns with her own daughter to try and find out about her Mother's past.

What I liked:
Always and forever here for historical fiction, especially that set in WWII, this was lovely. This is the second WWII book I've read this year actually, set in Scotland, and I really enjoyed it. I loved Flora's story, her work as a WREN, how despite the war going on the Navy being stationed on their doorstep, in many ways highland village life carried on as normal. I loved Davy and Stuart, the two evacuees that Flora takes under her wing, I loved her romance with Alec and the friendship she has with her two best girlfriends. I was so so here for all of that.

What I liked Less:
I wasn't so taken with having to jump forward to 1978 and Lexie's story. I really loved The Dressmaker's Gift which followed a similar formula; there, I felt the jump forward added to the story but here I just felt like it took away. I wanted less Lexie; more Flora. It was bit sentimental for me too, at times,

Lexie is returning to the small Scottish village she left years before to pursue a singing career. Her mother has passed away, Lexie’s voice is gone and she is a single mother to Daisy. Lexie realizes just how good her mother was at keeping secrets and yearns to find out more about her mother and the father she never met. Told from the point of view of Lexie in the 1970’s and her mother during World War II, Lexie learns that small town life has benefits she’d never imagined.

Placed at the beginning of WWII in northern Scotland, this refreshing read tells of merchant ships going between Russia and the US. A heart filled story of Flora, the game keeper's daughter who falls in love with the boy next door who happens to be the land lord's son.
A rift of classes in 1940's which will change due to the war does not help Flora in this time period.
Alternatively told by her daughter Lexie in present day as she returns to this small village to learn about her mother and father. While today's woman wants to be independent, she needs friends and neighbors to make a new family.

I enjoyed this book for lots of reasons and thank NetGalley for the opportunity to read it and be introduced to an author I was unfamiliar with. I’m not typically a fan of split-screen writing, but didn’t mind it in this case, as I felt both story time-lines were engrossing. Lexie’s plight as a struggling single mother with life-changing issues intersected smoothly with the backstory of her Mother’s life, making the best of difficult situations during WWII. As a student of Scottish Gaelic music, I was especially taken with the additions of song snippets and lyrics, and also loved the setting off Scotland’s west coast, having actually visited that very area some years back. The research the author put into regarding the Arctic Conveys was impressive and I definitely learned something new. If you enjoy realistic stories about engaging characters who navigated the difficult years of WWII, you should enjoy this atmospheric, well-written book.

The Skylark's Secret by Fiona Valpy is a book with two storylines and two generations that takes place during wartime starting in 1940 in the Highlands of Scotland.

Loch Ewe, is a very remote highland village that becomes the base for the Royal Navy’s Arctic convoys.

This is as much a love story as it is a Historic Fiction

I am a fan of historic fiction, and did like how the book started off, however I found it very slow moving for me and unfortunately lost a little interest quite quickly

I have not read any of Fiona Valpy’s book before, and did like how she painted a picture of the area, and times

Thank you to NetGalley, the Author, and Amazon Publishing UK. For my advanced copy to read and review

#TheSkylarksSecret #NetGalley

This was a slow read for me as I picked it up in between other reads. But this allowed for the story to build and marinate as I took in the various story lines. I think it actually added to the story that I didn’t read it too quickly. Whichever way you want to read it, fast or slow, I do highly recommend this book.

Half of this story is set in the 1940s during World War II and follows Flora Gordon. The other half of the story is set in the 1970s and follows Lexie Gordon, Flora’s daughter. Both stories are in Loch Ewe, a Scottish Highland. Even decades apart and under very different circumstances, both Flora and Lexie must face their fears, accept losses, be open to love, and learn how to handle secrets. Valpy carefully crafts two love stories decades apart with striking similarities and differences.

An amazing element of this story was the scenery. Valpy’s descriptions of the Scottish highlands, landscapes and culture are beautiful. You are drawn into the detailed descriptions and at times feel as though you can even hear the crashing waves or smell the salty air. These parts of the story are slower as the atmosphere and surroundings are described.

This is not a fast paced WWII historical fiction but instead it is a deeply heartfelt and steady retelling of the war’s impacts on Loch Ewe and everyone who lived there, emphasizing how tragedies of war can ripple for decades.

This was a lovely book with a dual time-line, I seem to reading a lot of those lately and I do love them!!! This particular story was set in Scotland in WW two and present day. It was a sad book in some ways, loss of lives in the war and lost loves but, it also was happy. The descriptions of Scotland brought everything to life and I could picture the loch, the mountains and even the rain!!
I do love Fiona Valpy’s books and this was no exception.
My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

Lexie left home as soon as she could - thanks to a performing arts school scholarship. She enjoyed several years of success as an actress and signer - until she became pregnant and lost her voice. The father simply didn't want to be burdened with a child - or a long term relationship. After surgery and failed lessons to rebuild her voice, Lexie returns to her small Highland hometown, months after the death of her mother. With struggling strength, Lexie begins to rebuild her community connections - her mother's closest friend, her long time friend who stayed in the small village, married and also with a young child.
The story of her parents is told from her mother's perspective. World War II has started - and comes to Flora's small village. Her father is the gamekeeper for the estate, a long time family position. Flora and her friends volunteer for the WRNS, doing their part to contribute as their loch becomes a secret stash for merchants and the English navy. As the war continues, Flora shares the impact on the close knit community - taking in young children from the larger Scottish cities, the impact of young men's deaths on families and a community doing their part to support the war effort.
Flora and Alec have been childhood friends - the laird's son and the keeper's children have grown up together. Alec and Flora realize their connection is more than friends, exploring their love. As the war continues, the impact on Alec's mental health becomes quite obvious to Flora, causing a serious rift in their relationship.
I greatly enjoyed this family story. Lexie discovers who she really is - without her voice. She builds an amazing life for herself and daughter, learning to enjoy the close connections of her small community.
Flora sheds light on a small community's war experience - as well as the mental health impacts of war; even in the 1940's, not just today.

I loved The Skylarks Secret! I’m a sucker for historical fiction and this story tells me more about the Scottish Highlands during WWII. It is amazing how much every day people helped out! All of the characters were well developed- they seemed like old friends. The story could have gone on forever and I would keep reading.

This is the story of Lexie Gordon's discovery of who she is and where she came from. It is told through two timelines - one is her mother's during WW2 in the early 1940s and the other is her own in the late 1970s.

Valpy's prose paints a vivid picture of Loch Ewe in the Scotland Highlands, although sometimes her language felt a bit forced. The book alternates between the two timelines disrupting the flow for me. I never really got into either story, never connected to the characters, and therefore didn't really care what happened to them. Additionally, sometimes the storyline felt a little predictable, and the characters one-dimensional and stereotypical.

Overall, I give this book two stars, which is a "Fair" rating. I want to thank NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK for this ARC.

I have enjoyed the other Fiona Valpy books that I have read and this one did not disappoint. The switching between time periods is always a winner for me and Fiona does it so well. She really makes me feel invested with the people involved in both timeframes.. I loved that this book was set in Scotland.

This is a beautiful book. Beautifully written in a way that evokes the very feeling of the West coast of Scotland, tranquil, wild and unchanged. The way in which the story develops from 2 different aspects set apart by 40 years is unusual and interesting and lends a real character to the book. The story is set during the Second World War and details the Arctic Crossings, something I had never heard of so it was lovely to learn more about these highly dangerous trips to help protect our shores and nation during the war.
A lovely book which I would very happily recommend.

The Skylark’s Secret is a story set in Loch Ewe, Scotland. It follows Lexie Gordon and her mother, Flora, in dual timelines as Lexie returns home to learn more about her parents and family history. It's a beautiful story and I would highly recommend it.

Loch Ewe, a remote highland village, served as a base for the Royal Navy’s Arctic convoys in WW2. The gamekeeper’s daughter Flora and members of her close-knit community each played a role in supporting the convoys and the war effort. But Flora was also in love with Alec, a sailor from a higher social class.
Decades later, Flora’s daughter, singer Lexie Gordon, returns to the village with her infant daughter. Emotionally wounded and alone, Lexie begins to piece together the fragments of her parents’ story. As she uncovers secrets, Lexie discovers the courageous, devastating sacrifices made in her name and finds her place in the world.
I love this book! It flows well, is clean, and tells a story that features strong feminine characters. It's also light on romance and high on patriotism and courage. I also appreciate the look into a new-to-me aspect of the war, the Arctic convoys. While reading, I fell in love with Lexie, Flora, Davy, and Bridie.
I'm definitely adding author Fiona Valpy to my "favorite authors" list!

This story goes between two time periods Flora in 1940 Scotland and her daughter Lexie in the later 1970's, and each chapter goes back and forth between each character.
Both were singers and both became single mothers, something that is told effortlessly as we weave back and forth between their lives. Both stories are fascinating to follow, as we go back and forth in time, discovering secrets from the past and as new and old friendships are formed and lost over the years.
This author paints us a wonderful picture of the town of Aultbea, a small fishing village situated on the shores of Loch Ewe in Scotland and of its people, a place that became the center of Naval activity during WWII.
Lexie had left this town, in search of a life as a singer in London, becoming known, but then to eventually lose her singing voice, and with her daughter decides to return to her hometown and settle her mothers estate.
Once there and reconnecting with a group of people who were both her friends and her mothers, she sets out to learn the truth about her father and mothers history as she never got to meet her father.
So many good stories and fascinating people to read about, this was a book that I will remember.
This is the first book that I have read by this author but I have a few more by her and look forward to reading them.

I usually read contemporary fiction so it was a refreshing change to read something set in the past. Two time lines telling the stories of mother and daughter play out beautifully in the picturesque landscape the writer creates for us. You will feel transported, and find the plots and characters very engaging.

This is a well written and dramatic narrative that I feel readers of historical fiction will enjoy, especially if you love a good love story.

I enjoyed how the stories entwined and, though sad at times, I did like the way each story ended.

My only criticism was that, as much as I enjoyed the style of writing, sometimes the use of description was over played, especially towards the end where I felt it slowed the pace somewhat. Though not enough to have spoiled it for me.

Highly recommended!

I don't know what happened but when I went to read this book, it wasn't on my Kindle, I couldn't find it anywhere even though it appears in my list on my shelf, so I unfortunately wasn't able to read it and review it. I wish there was a way to give this information without being force to give a "star rating" but NetGalley doesn't allow that. Maybe better luck next time, it sounded like a good read.

*** I received an ARC of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review ***

I really enjoyed this book. It is a multigenerational story following a mother and daughter's stories (after the mother has passed away). Alexandra (the daughter) returns home to the Scotland Highlands after the passing of her mother (Flora) with her baby daughter (Daisy). The Skylark's Secret follows Alexandra as she discovers the secrets of her mother's past and shapes her future for herself and her daughter. It is a story of war, sacrifice, love, family, loss, and grief. I had never heard of the Arctic convoys that travelled from Scotland and Iceland to Russia to supply troops with ammunition and supplies during WWII. Also, the WRENS female military group was something I was unaware of. These aspects of Flora's story and WWII were very interesting to me. Though I haven't read any other novels by Fiona Valpy, I look forward to her reading some of her other novels as her writing style is full of descriptions and historical details that really took me into the scene. I would highly recommend this book, especially if you're into the WWII historical fiction genre.

I enjoyed this book, thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. It's set in Scotland, told in two time periods about a mother and daughter each with their own story but the stories intersect. It was beautifully written about love, friendship, and courage. I'm not a huge fan of books set in world wars but the war was a very minor part of this book.

The Skylark's Secret is a story told in two times through the lives of two women: Flora lives during World War II and Lexie, her daughter, is a young woman in the 1970s. Lexie left her childhood home in Scotland to make it in the West End in London, and, after a successful but short career she's going back to regroup with her baby Daisy. During her stay there, she tries to learn more about who her father was through Flora's best friends.

First of all, what I liked most was Lexie's story (for me, Flora's was moving too slow) going back to a small village/town and constantly second-guessing what others think of her. I liked the way in which the small community was described and how everyone was so welcoming to her. The voices of the characters and the small vocabulary changes kept reminding me that this was a story set in Scotland (and from time to time I had to go to the dictionary to figure out some words).

What I didn't like... As I said above, for me Flora's storyline moved very slowly. I think it could have been shortened with no detriment to the full story. At the same time, I liked learning about the Scottish experience of WWII, and the lives of those who left and those who stayed. I guess in my head when people went to war they either came back or they did when it ended or they got injured. In the book, Flora and her friends' sweethearts come and go multiple times, making each separation harder as you see how what they see when they're gone affects them. The story is fictional, but some actual events are described in the book.

But in reality, for me the biggest let down was the "big reveall". With a title like "The Skylark's Secret", I was reading and expecting a big reveal/twist about Lexie's father. The truth, when it finally (and I want to emphasise "finally" because the book was starting to drag at this point) arrived, left me with a sense of disappointment.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK for the free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The Skylark’s Secret by Fiona Valpy is a work of historical fiction set during World War II in Scotland. There are two narrators . One is Fiona, an woman who lives in Scotland and is alive during the time of World War II. The second narrator is Fiona’s daughter, Lexi, who is telling her story from the 1970s time period. Fiona has died and Lexi has decided to move back to Scotland and live in her mother’s home. . As time progresses Lexi learns things about her mother’s life that she never knew. She learns about what it was like to live during these turbulent times of war. I truly enjoyed reading this novel. I also learned quite a bit about life in Scotland during the war and in the 1970s. There is also a theme of love, loss and betrayal that is seen in this novel. I do not think you will be disappointed if you decide to read It! I would like to thank netgalley, Fiona Valpy and the publisher for allowing me to read this novel in exchange for a fair and honest review.

An excellent story that keeps you involved from the beginning right through until the final page. Definitely recommended to those readers who enjoy reading this type of book.

I thoroughly love historical fiction but I was disappointed with this book. The setting, the characters all had the makings of a first rate story but this just didn’t do it for me.
The story starts out fine, the location, the highlands all seem wonderful and then the story just seems to bog down.
Thank you NetGalley for the advanced copy.

I LOVED this book. I am not a big fan of war books, but this book was more about two generations of women raising their babies in a village community in Europe. The writing drew me in, and I really felt for the characters. The love stories were pure, the depiction of the scenery was gorgeous, and the history was rich without being boring. I loved the contrast of the vulnerability and strength of both main characters, mother and daughter, and their struggle to find themselves in the world. Overall, this book was fantastic and I will absolutely find other books by this author in the future.

This is the first book I’ve read by this author. It is very rare that I don’t finish reading a book once I’ve started. There were multiple times in the first few chapters that I almost put this one down because its was soooo boring. I forced myself to continue because surely it had to get better! Gradually it did about midway through. Lexie’s story was just okay for me and in the beginning Flora’s was so-so. Flora’s did improve which made this a fairly enjoyable read.

Initially, I planned to give this novel 3 or 3.5 stars.
It tells two stories in parallel: that of Lexie, a single mother in the late 70s, and her recently deceased mother, Flora, during WWII. Lexie returned home to Loch Ewe, a remote village in the Scottish Highlands, after she is no longer able to sing professionally in London. She knows virtually nothing about her father, who died before she was born, and no one in town is willing to talk about it. Most of the story focuses on daily life in this Scottish community during WWII while it served as a mustering point for Arctic supply runs to Murmansk, Russia. This was reasonably interesting. However, I wondered what was the point of all of this mundane detail. The author invested heavily in creating atmosphere at the expense of building the plot. Nothing seemed to be happening and the objective appeared buried or forgotten. Because of the setting, it was pretty obvious what became of Lexie's father. The question is how did it happen and why is it such a taboo subject.
Not until the last 50 or 60 pages of the book did the author get around to the real crux of the story. The actual mystery took me pleasantly by surprise. The climax of the novel was sufficiently intriguing to merit an extra star.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

A well written historical romance. The imagery that Valpy creates makes you feel like you are there. The novel had me excited, sad, happy, and melancholy. The authenticity in the situations of the characters is real, and makes you feel as if you are there with them. Although this is not what I would have in my classroom, it brought a wonderful time of escape for myself.

Such a good book - I didn't want it to end. Fiona Valpy writes such wonderful stories set during WW2. This book was set in Scotland not a million miles away from where I live. I got so caught up with the characters and their lives that I cried more than once. Loved the stories of Flora and Lexie set more than 30 years apart and that Lexie found the truth finally. The setting was perfect to - and the book served as a history lesson to me too.

The juxtaposition of present day and WWII in Scotland and the interaction of present day daughter and mother and WWII era daughter and mother makes for a very compelling narrative.

I loved this book. I had an advance copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review and I'm delighted to give it 5 stars.
The book tells of the lives of a mother and daughter in two time periods, the second world war and the late 1970's. Both characters are warm and their stories, in some way parallel each other.
The book is set on the far north west coast of Scotland and the Scots tradition and way of life is built into the threads.
I learned much about the history of the convoys between Scotland and the US and to Russia. The book is well researched both in historical detail and in geographical and local detail.
The story is not without its sadness, but it moves along at a good pace and with a liveliness which keeps you reading.
This book is well written and it is a very enjoyable read. I had only read one other book by Fiona Valpy, but I'm going looking for some others now.

A awesome story about Mother daughter love and what the do for that love.
Flora story start during WWII and Lexi story is recent.
Interesting information about the Scottish Highlands during the War.
They both went through some difficulty but persevered .
Enjoyed the story and characters.

Wow, this book took me by surprise. Just loved it. I think being familiar with the area helped. Also loved the fact that the MacLeod family name was mentioned as it is quite predominant in the area, also it is part of our family and they still live up there. Fiona obviously has a good working knowledge of the area.
The historical side of it was quite enlightening. Now I really must go and check out any other books by this author as this was my first. Thank you for the opportunity to read it and introducing me to a new aythor.

I loved this gentle tale split between 2 time zones (early 1940 and late 1970’s) and everything about it: the setting, the characters, friendships, loves, loss., heartbreak. The story gently unfolds itself and comes together nicely at the end. A real feel good book. I think it would make a great book club read as plenty to discuss and interesting navy angle on the war that we don’t read about very often

I absolutely loved this book. The characters are written so well that you can feel how they feel, the scenery is breathtakingly gorgeous, the wartime scenes are haunting, and the book is page turning. I couldn’t put the book down once I started and gulped it down in one day. Thank you so much for offering a fictional glimpse into their life showcasing love, mothers, and family.

The Skylarks Secret is a duo storyline that begins with Lexi Gordon returning to the Scottish Highlands following the death of her mother, Flora. After returning home to try and start a new life with her daughter, Daisy, Lexi learns that she gets her strength and resiliency from her mother and finds out more about her mother in her death, than she knew in her life.

The story goes to Flora as a younger woman and her endurance and survival of WWII.

With breathtaking descriptions of the Scottish countryside and story of hope and love, The Skylarks Secret was a beautiful story that had me captivated instantly. The only reason for my 4 star review, and not 5 stars is I feel to some degree, that most Historical Fiction books have found this trend of having the dual storylines, where they flip flop back and forth only to find out they intertwine with one another at the end. While I don't mind it, it's becoming a bit repetitive and a little lackluster for me. But that's my personal opinion.

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for my review and honest opinion.