Set in 1946 this novel reads as if the characters just left the film Brief Encounter. You need to be prepared to read a very stylised form of writing.

Lucy is a widow at 26 and has left Bristol to work and live above the printers her Uncle owns. She has publishing experience but does not get to use it, as a newcomer is the editor and she types, does the books and makes tea.

A lot of the book is taken with the inner thoughts of the main character Lucy - Mrs P. She also describes the inner thoughts of other characters which I found a little over the top. Although she does have some sort of sixth sense, so maybe she did know what everyone else was thinking.

There were glimpses of an intriguing plot and I did finish to find out how it all ended. Reading more like a gothic novel to me than one set post war I found it very hard going. Veiled romantic interactions and yet then an outright relationship between two unmarried people in a small village in this time felt unrealistic.

It wasn't really for me. I never became invested in the characters and Lucy herself was so dramatic and I thought belonged in a Wilkie Collins story.

This book is set at the end of wW2
This book has some romance, some mystery and is also historical fiction.
This is such a cute book that will appeal to most readers.

The start is very slow and I had to make several attempts to get into the book and I wasn't as engaged with the characters as I could have been. I feel it could have been shorter, maybe as a short story rather than a whole novel. I would try more from the author, perhaps in a different genre.

I felt this book needed a little time to pick up, the start was unfortunately quite slow for me. It is, however, a lovely story of family and one historical fiction fans, especially those who like WWII fiction, will enjoy.

I really enjoyed this book, it wasn't too heavy but also wasn't just fluff, making it the perfect book to read at the minute.

That said, it didn't really inspire me to talk about it in depth. There's nothing wrong with that of course! Sometimes we just need a nice book to break things up a little.

I found this book a slow burner.
You couldn't help but feel sorry for Lucy and all that she had endured.
The book was pleasant enough to read and captured my attention for a few hours.

I'll admit historical fiction isn't always my bag, but the premise of this novel sounded really interesting and I was keen to give it a go.
I think, ultimately though, this is not something that really grabbed me. I felt sorry for the character of Lucy, having been widowed, but unfortunately felt like her character lacked the depth I hoped I'd find. I also found that the plot moved along pretty slowly and found myself leaving this down for periods of time to go read other things that did grab me more. It was a little hard to read something that was so central to one person's inner thoughts, as it felt like we were just along for the ride with Lucy's stream of consciousness rather than following a plot and this made it hard to enjoy as much as I could have done. Overall, a nice book, but just not to my taste.

In honesty, I did not finish this book. I was intrigued by the synopsis but ultimately was not drawn in by the plot, nor the characters. Thank you to NetGalley and the published for the advanced copy of this book. I hope to read more from this publisher in the future.

This book was an alright read. It wasn't one that will stay with me unfortunately. Sett around the story of 'Mrs P' a widow from WW2 who returns to work in her uncles print shop.
It has mystery and romance. And is written well but just failed to grip me

Unfortunately not for me. I really struggled to get i to it and really didn’t enjoy it all that much as a result.

This was a pleasant story set in the late 1940s. Any WWII genre fans would love this novel.
Nice character development and very descriptive of the era.
Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read for my honest opinion.
Four stars!

Princess Fuzzypants here: WWII changed the lives of Lucy, Robert and Lucy’s aunt and uncle. Lucy was made a widow early in the conflict and while she has functioned, she has lived life in a vacuum. Robert’s experiences as a POW have coloured his world and he has roamed aimlessly trying to find a place until he met Lucy’s uncle and aunt. The paper shortages both during and after the war have put their publishing firm on very shaky ground. They too do not know what the future will bring but when Lucy returns home and joins the firm, their interactions will test and restructure their lives.
And at the heart of it is a book that they are going to publish and a young girl whom they suspect was ill treated by someone in the past. There seems to be no trace of her after a diphtheria outbreak and Lucy and the author fear the worst. Somehow the fate of this young girl means a lot to Lucy and it is only in her search for what happened that Lucy and the others get to put their ghosts to rest. The results are unexpected but surprisingly hopeful.
The book was not what I expected yet it was highly satisfying. It is not a “light” read but worth the effort.
Four purrs and two paws up.

Mrs. P’s Book of Secrets
Lorna Gray
3 stars.
Mrs. P’s Book of Secrets tells the story of Lucy Pease (Mrs. P), a WWII widow, who works for her Uncles small print shop. Lucy lives above the print shop because her co-worker, Mr. Robert Underhill is now living in the room that Lucy used to occupy in her Uncle’s home. Mr. Underhill is a mysterious man who has shown up after being a POW in the war for 5 years. The local doctor, who may be interested in Mrs. P, is very suspicious of Mr. Underhill and some of the actions he’s taking. In the midst of this story is the books, specifically the one that the printshop is preparing in time for Christmas publication about an estate that was used to house giraffe’s during the war, and that housed a young girl, who mysteriously disappeared.
This was an interesting book. The triangle between Mrs. P, Mr. Underhill and the doctor was intriguing. There were a few mysteries in the midst that were also good, but weren’t focused on as well as I would like. I really was interested in the giraffe manor house, but that story sort of fell to the wayside as the story between Mrs. P and her suitors took the spotlight.
Thank you to the publisher and #Netgalley for the advanced e-copy in exchange for an honest review. #MrsPsBookofSecrets

This book was alright. I found myself a little bored at time’s. I guess it wasn’t exactly as I had expected and that took me by surprise, but not necessarily in a good way. It was alright, I’m almost indifferent. I’m not sure I’ll remember this book in a few months...

Mrs P, Lucy Peuse, works for her uncle’s printing firm after the death of her husband in the Second World War, one morning she is handed a manuscript by an old lady, who wants to publish her story about an Ashbrooke house, and the people who lived there. She believed that one of the gentlemen had bred giraffes in the Cotswolds. At the same time, Lucy is developing a relationship with her uncle’s assistant Robert Underhill..

I have to admit, I quickly lost interest in the story, I found Mrs P quite irritating and the whole story dragged terribly. It might have worked better as a short story, rather than a full blown novel.

Sorry, not for me.

A historical fiction novel set around the war is one of my favourite things to read. So when I was asked by Ms Lorna Gray if I’d like to take part in her bookish blog tour (#30daysofbookblogs) and read a copy of her new book Mrs P’s Book of Secrets, I just knew I had to read it.

Set in 1946, during the Christmas period, in a beautiful town in the Cotswolds, lives widowed Lucy (Mrs P). Her husband was lost at sea and she has returned to work (and live above) her Uncle’s publishing business which is struggling under the paper rations in post war Britain. She meets the new editor of the publishing house, Robert, who was a prisoner of war and is still dealing with the ordeals he endured. When they are left to uncover the secrets of a young girls apparent abandonment, which has been discovered in a prospective new novel to be published by the business, they grow closer and realise they have more in common than they first thought.

This book was a slow burner to begin with but I personally love those kind of books that draw you in, allow you to get to know the characters before slowly dropping twists and tales in plot. The characters were intriguing and each scene was set out with so much detail.

It’s a clever story which explores grief, loneliness, overcoming, acceptance and love. A beautifully written novel.

Thanks so much to @netgalley for letting me have a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review and to Lorna Gray for asking me to take part.

I adore this author and this book was a brilliant read and one that is perfect to escape for a few hours and loose yourself.
Characters that fall out of the pages of the book and make you fell apart of the story, the setting comes alive and captured is well with words.
A great read. that I would highly recommend.

A cute and engaging read. Thank you for the opportunity to review this book with a delightful cover.

I don’t read historical fiction as often as I would probably like and it’s been a while since I have read one so I was really looking forward to reading Mrs P’s Book of Secrets.

Set in the aftermath of WWII we meet Lucy Peuse, a young widow. Lucy or Mrs P as she is known by some has come to stay with her Aunt and Uncle who own the publishing company Kershaw and Kathay and Lucy works as secretary alongside Robert Underhill, editor.

Now this isn’t a fast paced story, it’s more of a story that builds up slowly as you turn the pages and it certainly draws you right in, absorbing you in the words and the world that was 1946 and it’s very easy to get lost in.

It’s clear that there has been a lot of research done for this story and I loved reading about the workings of a publishing company back in those days, it’s quite fascinating how the process worked.

I really enjoyed reading about Lucy and Robert, both characters had such sadness in their lives and it was lovely to watch them grow and I hoped that they would overcome their loss and grief. It was hard reading at times, but I always had the feeling of hope while I was reading.

Mrs P’s Book of Secrets is very atmospheric and absorbing. It’s a story that I found needed all my attention, it’s not a story you could dip in and out of and to be quite honest I probably couldn’t have even if I’d wanted it that way. It did take me a few chapters to really get into the story, I found I really had to give it my all but I was rewarded with beautiful writing and a feeling of warmth at the end. It’s a story of loss, love, hope and family but there’s a mystery within the pages, I won’t say anymore.

If you’re a historical fiction fan then I highly recommend you give Mrs P’s Book of Secrets a read, it’s quite captivating, beautifully written with such attention to detail it’s so easy to get swept back in time.

I have been really looking forward to reading a new Lorna Gray book, I love her attention to detail, her passion for the era and the stories which she tells radiates off the pages, it’s immersive and atmospheric. I do have to say first that I did feel a little misled when I started reading as the story itself does feel different to what the back blurb hints at. I did expect a bit more of the supernatural feel to it, but I liked how that aspect of the story was hinted at.

The story is written in the first person, through Lucy’s eyes which allows the reader to really see how much of a low patch she is in, unable and unsure of how to move forward after losing her husband who she only really knew for a short period of time, yet that doesn’t diminish her loss. She has sunk into a bit of a depression, her mind is broken and it is actually very uncomfortable reading at times as we get to know her and are privy to her inner thoughts, but also crucial for the story.

It is 1946, Lucy (Mrs P) finds herself not only widowed but unemployed, she has no choice but to go home, back to the relatives who raised her; her aunt and uncle who basically takes pity on her current state and gives her a job as a receptionist in their family-run publishing house. But as with a lot of women in the same situation life just isn’t the same, she feels a little put out she doesn’t feel she belongs there. Once at her aunt and uncles she meets the new editor; Robert Undershill, a former prisoner of war who has shadows that cloud his mind as he too tries to move forward with his life.

The project Robert is working on soon reveals old and hidden secret of an unknown little girl, that little girl is missing and it is a mystery that Lucy feels she needs to uncover, plus she wants to understand the mystery behind where Robert frequently disappears off to, what is he hiding? What are his secrets and how is it all connected? These questions are hidden in the story.

This really is one my favourite period in British history, it is a harsh and yet fascinating moment in history. The war is over, there is a moment of peace, yet the county is still on rations and will be for quite some years to come, life is hard for everyone. The men who survived are now returning and having to find a place in this completely different society, they not only must find their feet again but most have to overcome great trauma, not just physically but mentally they are broken. Most can’t return to their old lives as they don’t exist anymore and when they do everything has changed. Women who have been keeping the country going either in the fields with the land army or in the factories are now being told to return to their homes. Then there are those who a loved never returned to them, young women who may have had only months or weeks with their husbands, never really knowing them are now widows. I have always found stories from this particular era fascinating. Lorna Gray really grasp hold of that uncertainty which people would have been feeling during the time, she writes Lucy’s emotional conflict towards her life, what she starts to feel for Robert with such sensitivity and realism.

This isn’t the type of book that you can settle in to read in a weekend, then put it down and come back the weekend after when times allows, no it makes you take notice you really need to put 100% concentration into this to fully grasp the happenings within the pages, but if you do put all your focus and mind into the story you will be hugely rewarded as this is a beautifully written, complex, poignant and very loving story all about family, finding one’s feet after trauma and how important true friends are to a person. I can guarantee that if you really delve into this one and look past the misleading back blurb you will love it.

This was an Arc copy via the publisher and Netgalley, which I voluntarily reviewed as apart of the #30DaysOfBookBlogs tour