This book is the fourth in the series and unfortunately I haven't read the first three. Perhaps it would have helped if I had.

It's 1949 and WWII is over. Like the other great estates in England, Cavendon has gone "commercial" open to the public out of necessity to keep the funds coming in and the estate staying solvent. Now it is left to Cecily to take the lead, to somehow find a way to keep Cavendon from falling into the abyss. With money tight across England due to the war, cities ruined, thousands of men killed and her own couture business destroyed, she must find a way to keep everything saved, to survive. But there is more to this story than this and with what seems to be a cast of thousands, this story has left me uninterested. The dialogue, at best, is stilted and the story seems forced. The book doesn't offer much in terms of plot or conflict. They are all beautiful people, and when any problems come along, they are solved immediately. Whatever suspense there could have been and whatever mystery there was, there was no surprise. So the secrets of Cavendon was quite literally unsuspenseful. Unfortunately, I couldn't finish this novel!

I am quite disappointed as years ago I read "A Woman of Substance" and thought (at the time) it was one of the best stories I had read. Unfortunately, something has changed and I am sorry to say that I honestly couldn't recommend this. NetGalley supplied this book for an honest review, I just wish it could have been better.

Publisher's Description:

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Barbara Taylor Bradford, comes a striking, breathtaking saga featuring the aristocratic Inghams and the Swann family, who have loyally served them for generations.

It’s the summer of 1949, and things have run smoothly at Cavendon Hall for years, with very few quarrels, dramas, or upsets between the two families. But since the end of World War II, changes have arrived at Cavendon. A new generation is at the helm, and also at the forefront of new scandal and intrigue. With romance, betrayal, heartbreak, and possible murder threatening to tear them apart, the Inghams and Swanns will have to find a way to come together and protect each other in the face of threats they never could have predicted.

Told with Bradford’s inimitable deftness of prose and a beloved cast of characters, Secrets of Cavendon is a captivating novel that will draw readers in and grip them until the very last page.

My Thoughts:

When I saw this book by an author of so much fame I thought I'd give it a try. Historical romance is my favorite genre but this story and the time period just aren't for me.
The numerous characters and the love at first sight thing turned me off. I had a hard time keeping up with the numerous storylines within the story. The plot is too convoluted for this reader and finishing the book was not an easy task. Maybe if I had read at least one of the other books in the series I would feel differently.
I gave this book 2.5 of 5.0 stars for storyline and characterization.
I received a complimentary digital ARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley to read. This in no way affected my opinion of this title which I read and reviewed voluntarily.

Thanks St. Martin's Press and netgalley for this ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

With this fourth novel in the Cavendon series, we get to know the latest generation more. It's a soap opera novel series! Addicting, maddening, and unstoppable.

I absolutely adore this book! I had not read the first three in the series, so it did take me a couple chapters to get caught up on characters and back story. However, Barbara Taylor Bradford made it easy for newcomers to catch-up, which not all authors are good at doing. The book itself has awesome characters, a fantastic storyline and brilliant writing. I love that the plot resolved itself. Do you know what I mean? Sometimes a book is so fraught with stressful situations that never seem to resolve, causing the reader to feel as though reality is the escape rather than the book offering such. But Secrets of Cavendon had twists and turns enough to keep me on the edge of my seat, all of which offered a very "happily ever after" feel. A wonderfully satisfying read.

I was so disappointed in this. Where were the editors? A Woman of Substance will always be my favorite book but this book was a mess.

Another good Cavendon Hall mystery about the Inghams and the Swanns. Engaging and very well written.

When I started reading this book, I soon realized it was a series. I wanted to read it right from the beginning so I picked up the other books from my local library. I am so glad I did! This is a great series about the lives of two great families, the Swanns and the Inghams. They have supported and cared for each other for a very long time. This particular book is about the younger generation from these families and what happened in their lives. I really enjoyed it, but I think the reader will get more out of this wonderful story if they read the whole series. You will not be disappointed!

This is the fourth book in the Cavendon series and readers will have a better feel for the characters if they read the other books first. This book starts out after Word War II and mainly concentrates on the changes that women faced after the War. Most of the characters are beautiful and rich and loved by any man who gazes upon them. And while Taylor Bradford does a good job of describing the scenery, homes and clothing of her characters, there is little to connect the characters to the reader in any meaningful way. A Woman of Substance was so good because Emma was so relatable. I would love to see the author return to her earlier style of reading

I'm sorry, but I was unable to finish this book. While I'm a huge fan of Barbara Taylor Bradford, this latest book was one I couldn't get into. I felt the story line to move at too slow a pace. I wish you much success with the publication.

This is my first review for an ARC received through Netgalley and I was very excited to read the book. I remember reading the author's books a couple of years back and I recollect them as feel good romance novels. I was expecting a similar kind of experience from this book as well.
Even though I haven't read the other books in this series, it was easy to get into the details and figure out most of the characters within the first couple of chapters. Though the story is set immediately after WWII, most of the characters are women from the English upper class who are working in various different professions and fairly independent for the time period; this was the best part of the book. However, the book doesn't offer much in terms of plot or conflict. Everyone is gorgeous and good looking, most of them are very good people, most of the romances are love at first sight, all problems get solved by applying the first idea that comes to the character's minds. Even the suspense and murder mystery was quite expected. Everything just feels too easy.
On the whole, this book is good for a breezy read when you have no expectations or for anyone who likes the Cavendon Hall series. It just wasn't for me.

I am loving this series! I fell in love with Barbara Taylor Bradford when she introduced us to the Harte family. The Cavendon series is such a treat!