have loved every single book by Barbara O'Neal that I have read. Her writing is such that you have almost no choice but to sit back, slow down and surround yourself with every word. It's like the story wraps you in a warm fuzzy blanket while a snowstorm rages outside.
I love the food aspects of O'Neal's writing. This book brought us the joys of the pastries of England and the spiciness of the food of India. It was just one more aspect of the story to savor and imagine. O'Neal's characters and plot are the real stars of the book. The bringing together of the hero and heroine with such different cultural backgrounds was superb and heartwarming. Olivia and Samir were the perfect meshing to show that love can matter more than expectations and prejudice.
I am just in awe of this story.

Olivia Shaw is the editor of the food magazine, Egg and Hen. Some months ago, she had a car accident that shattered a bone in her leg and has been off from work for some months as she heals. In addition, her mother, Caroline, recently died which has devastated her. The woman had been a very talented artist. Olivia has been living with Grant for several years in a nice apartment in San Francisco.

Olivia received a letter from a solicitor in England about a house that had belonged to her mother. It is called Rosemere Priory and it is a vast mansion. However, no one has lived in it for 40 years and it is probably ready to be torn down. It had been lived in by her mother’s family for 3-4 centuries until one day all of the family fled the house. Olivia learns that her mother was actually Lady Caroline and now Olivia is the Countess of Shaw.

Finding much of the mansion in bad disrepair, she does find some lovely aspects and one room appears to have been untouched. The grounds and land are enormous with numerous outbuildings. Now, Olivia learns that repairing and rebuilding the place will cost a huge amount of money. However, with the money Olivia can get from selling her mother’s house in San Francisco, she might be able to undertake saving Rosemere. She meets many locals and finds that some seem to have an agenda of their own for wanting her to sell the place. However, a British Indian family take her under their wing and become close friends. One member of the family is Samir. Although he is a few years younger that she is, they share an attraction. What is the mystery surrounding Rosemere that sent her family fleeing it years ago?

I enjoyed this book and found the descriptions of Rosemere and its grounds to be well-written. The mystery is a good one and I’m betting most readers won’t be able to solve it in advance.

Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

The Art of Inheriting Secrets was almost magical in its storyline. I enjoyed the beautiful imagery throughout the novel. Shortly after her mother passes away, Olivia learns that she has inherited the English estate Rosemere Priory and a title along with it. Olivia travels to see the estate. She finds out that the manor is falling apart and needs a lot of work done to it. And she realizes that there is a whole mystery to why her mother never told her about the estate. The more that she explores her mother’s things, the more secrets she discovers. Olivia struggles with all of the things that need taken care of, both with her mother’s house back in California and with the estate in England. She forms new friendships as she works her way through the property, paperwork, and finances of everything. The characters all around Olivia are presented in a way that makes you wish you could live in the village among them. The story line follows Olivia and her new friends as she works her way through the challenges of her new ownership of the Rosemere Priory and the decisions she must make. The imagery of the artwork, food, and flowers surrounding Olivia on her journey are wonderful. The story explores the past and the secrets of those who lived in the estate in the past.

The authors descriptions of a very rundown, centuries old English estate and the surrounding area was breathtaking. I feel like I stepped inside this book and went on a journey across the ocean and felt like I was right there! It was hard to put down. Excellent storytelling and descriptive words had me from beginning to end.
Thank you to NetGalley, Lake Union Publishing and Barbara O'Neal for a truly deserving 5 star book.

This was a lovely, gentle read. The visuals, the scene-setting that O'Neal accomplishes are uplifting - even in the dreary parts of the old house. Just a hint of mystery, a few love scenes, and some terrific food descriptions. Made for summer reading!

I enjoyed this book and even though it took a few days to finish I did not want it to end. The main characters where warm and I could see being friends with them all. The boyfriend back in California got what was coming to him. I always enjoy that, even if you have a long wait to see it happen. Thank you for a great summer in the pool read.

This was my first book by this author and I loved it! I got hooked from page 1 and the writing was so beautiful! The richness of the story,the food and the love affair that blossomed! I felt like I was seeing the castle before my very eyes! Highly recommend this book!

I loooved this book!! The words, the colors, and the flavors. Olivia and Samir jumped off the pages and into my heart. Rosemere was not only a home , it was family and heartache and rebirth. I really hated for this book to end. I can't wait to get my own print copy. I truly hope there is a sequel. Highly recommend this book. Thank you for this ARC.

This book was such an unexpected treat for me. The characters and descriptions were so rich I could imagine them as if they were right in front of me. The main character was complex and layered which made her fun to get to know. She was on such an amazing journey and it was fun to go along with her each step of the way as she discovered her mother’s past and her own heritage, uncovering more secrets along the way as she moved toward finding her place in the future.
This was my first by Barbara O’Neal, and I am enamored with the way she writes, especially her descriptions. This was a beautifully written story that swept me away,
#TheArtofInheritingSecrets #LakeUnionPublishers

The Art of Inheriting Secrets. When Olivia’s mother died she went to Rosemere and finds many secrets. First of all her mother never told her about Rosemere but Olivia thinks her mother sent her to Rosemere on a treasure hunt by leaving the information. Read the book and find the treasure hunt of secrets her mother sent her on.

The Art of Inheriting Secrets captivated me from the very first page and kept me turning pages far into the night! Imagine losing your mother, and while in the depths of grief you discover a past that she kept hidden your whole life...a past that includes a crumbling estate in England and the title and challenges that come with it. The mysteries that the house is hiding, the secrets that it holds, kept me in suspense until the end. But what captivated me even more than the suspense, were the rising and ebbing emotions of Olivia, the main character of this story. I was pulled in by her journey of discovery of who she was, where she came from, and where she was going. Her relationship with Samir was so organic, the chemistry between them crackled on the pages, their attraction and their feelings romantic and genuine. This is the first book I’ve read by this author and I look forward to reading more!

What a fabulous story! I loved discovering Rosemere and England along with Olivia. The imagery is just stunning. I really enjoyed the bit of mystery in this book, and the unveiling of the secrets. The characters are all amazing, even the ones I didn’t like. This was the first book of Barbara O’Neal’s, and it certainly won’t be my last.

What a thoroughly enjoyable read. The Art of Inheriting Secrets has a little of something for every reader. The book is set in the English Countryside where Olivia Shaw becomes Lady Shaw overnight by inheriting her mother's crumbling manor home after her mother's death. Olivia did not know that her mother owned the estate and is now trying to unravel the secrets behind it's walls. There is a little suspense and mystery, a little romance, lots of good food and a cast of really well written characters that kept the pages turning. If only I didn't have to work, I could have read this one faster!

Thank you to Net Galley & Lake Union Publishing for the digital copy for my honest review.

I love Barbara O'Neal's work and The Art of Inheriting Secrets is no exception. This is one of those novels that sneaks up on you. It started a bit slowly and then I couldn't put it down, sneaking peeks and pleading for time to read just one more chapter.

Olivia, the main character, needs to come to terms with her family secrets and how that defines who she is. It's a delight to follow along on her discovery.

Add this book to your beach bag! You won't regret it!

Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

➳ Rate: 3,5 / 5 stars

This was my first book by Barbara O'Neal and although I admit at first I found it a bit boring and it was hard to get into, soon the mystery that Olivia found herself trying to figure out pulled me in.
It kept me compelled to the story just to find out why her mother had never told about Rosemere, and then to find out just what everyone was keeping secret from her. I found myself loving that part of the story, along with the romance of course.

Samir, Pavi, their dad, the Earl.. I loved all the side characters they made the story more and truly interesting. I love that Olivia was not only trying to find out the truth but soon it wasn't just about her and her mother, but about a whole town that loved that house, about 600 years of history and the people that had lived there. Olivia not only learned a lot about her family and their past, but she found a whole new family in that small town in England.

The Art of Inheriting Secrets was a story about learning and coming to terms with family secrets, about finding yourself among these new discoveries; it was a story about grieving and moving on with life, and new dreams; it was a story of love, for yourself, others, a house of history and generations and a whole town that welcomed you in.

Barbara O’Neal has written a gorgeous novel focusing on a woman’s emotional awakening under difficult circumstances. Set in a quaint English village with a crumbling centuries-old estate. 5/5 for a compelling story line, warm characterizations and a setting you’ll want to inhabit forever.

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the review copy.

#TheArtOfInheritingSecrets #NetGalley

Caroline kept a whopper of a secret from her daughter Olivia, a food writer based in San Francisco. Olivia had no idea- none- of her mother's background, especially that she had a title (which Olivia has inherited) and Rosemere Priory. Wow. Inheriting the Priory is not the simple easy thing she thought it might be. Beyond the secrets, there's the prosaic issue of getting the place into livable shape. O'Neal has written a lovely story of a woman looking into her mother's past and figuring out her own future. What to do about her fiancé Grant? What about Samir and the others in the village? What about a nascent romance. There are delightful descriptions of food (especially Indian food). Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. This is old fashioned story telling.

The Art of Inheriting Secrets is an exciting book that I devoured in one day. The author‘s writing style is captivating drawing the reader into secrets, mysteries and unbelievable plot twists. A woman who never knew her family history inherits an estate, a title and a life she never expected. This book is a fast paced story that kept me intrigued until the end. I was somewhat disappointed that all the storylines didn’t quite seem to be complete but maybe there is hope for a series. I look forward to reading more books by this author and have already researched and purchased a few more of her books. Thanks to the author, publisher and netgalley for making this book available for me to read, enjoy and review.

I love this book and found it hard to put down. After Olivia's mother dies she inherits an estate with secrets as well as a title in England, both of which she knew nothing about. This book draws you in from the first page and keeps you wanting to read more. I highly recommend this book.

I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a review copy in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion of it.

The protagonist of Barbara Neals' upcoming The Art of Inheriting Secrets is a daughter raised by a single mother in San Francisco. When her mother dies, Olivia discovers that she is heir to a vast, ruined estate in England. Going to investigate, Olivia discovers hidden secrets and present-day potential in a derelict building, beautiful paintings, and new relationships. 
Possibly this bare summary sounds like something you've read before - or walked right on by? 
This story is not that.
I've left the summary deliberately sparse so there are no spoilers. That's how I came to the story and I would want other readers to share that experience, in landing in a different country with a protagonist determined to close up estate business and move on in her own high-powered, dreamed-of career leading a food publication. 
Neal is an exceptionally experienced and adept writer, technically sharp and deft with description, setting, pace, and structure. I savored learning how to weave a story from a master storyteller by reading her work. Having taken a terrific workshop with her several years ago, I enjoyed seeing her light-handed and intelligent craft in action.
Among her many tools is specificity. For example, the main character named her dog "Arrow" after the dog in 1971's Harry Nilsson's album and animation The Point. For those who don't know this incredible film and album, The Point is the story of a round-headed boy named Oblio living in the land of Point. Everything and everyone has one - and is required to have one. Revealed as being "pointless," Oblio is banished to the Pointless Forest where his adventures unfold with loyal Arrow at his side. Again, I won't spoil it for you - see this movie. The songs are wise, light, piercingly true. The boy and his dog are charming, simple, wise as well. The animation is beautiful.
Neal hit a resonant chord with me by dropping this small, unremarkable and highly specific fact about a character's background. Simply citing this counter-culture story lays open a character's background, her heart and joy, deepening her presence and my reader relationship with her. 
I bet Neal loved this movie, too. Us writers do things like that, weave in the jokes, references, pleasures that we know and love. 
Animals play an important role in the story - but it's not all light and sparkle, happy little songs. While we are beguiled by the roses and the garden, Neal explores class issues, urban sprawl, book publishing, illness and death, finances, family obligations, writers, art, food, and discrimination. Yeah, that's a lot of ground to cover. 
However, while she examines the issues, they are woven into the story, never upstaging or blaring or getting in the way of a story about a woman finding her way after a terrible accident and the loss of her mother who was a guiding light and powerful loving presence. These themes and recurring images support, enrich, add critical dimension and heft to a solid story. 
Neal did not pull any punches. She did not ratchet up tension in predictable, yawn-worthy ways, but there was plenty of it.
What she did do was ground her characters and events in a place, a time. They are so well-grounded, so centered in themselves, that it was a joy to spend time with them, the real-feeling people and the places I would dearly love to visit.
So, for certain readers, I recommend this book without reservation. It is fast, beautiful, delightful, truthful, all manner of wonderous. If you enjoy women's fiction or romance, this is a writer you need to read. For those other readers who don't typically read stories like this, you might want to give it a chance. Failing that, go find The Point and watch it. That I can recommend to anyone, everyone, with no qualms.