The Secret of the Chateau is a gripping story that enthralls from beginning to end.

The setting is gorgeous- from Versailles to a chateau in the French Alps. If you are ever going to fall in love with a setting in a book, this is a strong contender for your affections. I’ve been to Versailles, and a small village in France and this story quickly took me back there.

It is two stories in one - a modern-day tale of a group of friends transitioning into retirement together and a historical tale of the Comte and Comtess of Verais during the French Revolution. I found the historical fiction to be the most compelling and poignant of the two stories. That period is fascinating to me. Admittedly it is fascinating in a car wreck kind of way but still engaging. It was a clear case of man’s inhumanity to man. So many people died by Guillotin when their only crimes were being born to a titled family and obliviousness. Most nobles were not malicious or perpetrators of crimes.

The current day story was not as intriguing, but it was still a charming tale. I would never even think of having a retirement home to live in with my spouse and our three closest friends. Their plight, though, did not hold my attention like the struggles of the chateau’s former occupants.

The mystery and the paranormal aspects gave the novel a fun, chill-inducing twist. I love a good haunting story, and this one did not disappoint. I also enjoyed the plethora of pets, from the kittens – Flip and Flop – to the dog, Felix, and Clarabel the goat. It is a lovely cast of pet characters that are all endearing.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Wonderful feel good read especially in this lock down era.
It is one of those books that lifts your spirits and makes you feel very happy.
Just loved it and can’t recommend it enough.

We are introduced to a group of friends who have all known each other for 40 years. They are all nearing or have taken early retirement and their children are all grown up and have left home. A chance remark by the single man of the group, Graham, suggesting that they all pool their money to buy a property together to live in and enjoy their retirements sees him, Lu and her husband Phil and Steve and his wife Manda buying a run down chateau in the South of France.

I have to be honest and say I wasn’t entirely sure about this book. The cover, to me, suggests a romantic read, but the blurb says differently. The story is told through two different timelines – present day and during the 1700’s in France at the time of the French Revolution. The ‘past’ storyline introduces us to Catherine Aubert, the new Comtesse de Verais, and her husband Pierre, who is one of King Louis XVI’s advisers. It tells of their struggles during the French Revolution and where they are forced to escape to the family chateau – the one which in present day the group of friends have just bought.

Both storylines were equally as gripping, but I was drawn more to the present-day side of the story to discover what secrets the chateau held. The present-day storyline focusses more on the character, Lu who initially didn’t want to move to France and once there was feeling more isolated than ever. She throws herself into looking at the chateau’s history and here she finds long told stories of electrics with a mind of their own, a ghost that haunts the chateau and, strangely a window in the tower which leads to no room!

Switching between the two timeframes, it became obvious, to me, where the story was going. This didn’t however, spoil the enjoyment of the book in any way, if anything making me more eager to reach the reveal. The story was told well, and the historical writing was gripping and well-researched. I liked Lu’s character and did feel for her throughout the book. It did feel that her opinions weren’t really taken into account with regards to the move, particularly from her husband Phil. Similarly, when they moved to France, she seemed the only one of the group who didn’t really have a purpose there. I loved Lu’s research into the local history, as in her shoes I would have probably done exactly the same thing!

I have to admit that I’m not a fan of fiction set in the European countries – I’ve not been to many different countries, so can’t really relate to these places. However, the descriptions of the area in this book have filled my imagination with beautiful images of French villages with chateaus, towers and vineyards accompanied with a backdrop of snow topped mountains, which coupled with a truly mesmerising storyline made this a very enjoyable read! Filled with family relationships, historical mysteries and insight into the French Revolution, this perfectly paced book is one I shall remember! Would definitely recommend!

kathleen mcgurl books knock it out of the park every single time!!!!!!! this book is wonderful and you should read it. rightn ow. seriously. go. do it. right now.

This is the first book I have read from author Kathleen McGurl and I was not disappointed!
After reading the synopsis I was very intrigued by this book, how two stories, two hundred years apart could be told in one book.
I was drawn in from the first chapter but wondered if it would be two stories told separately just alternating each chapter, I was soon to see this would not be the case!
As the tales unwind and link together you get to know and love the different characters, you feel their sorrow and pain and feel lifted when good things happen.
It is rare that a book brings tears to my eyes but this one succeeded! I wanted to be in the book, there along side the characters, hoping that history wasn’t set in stone.
This is a well written enchanting tale, bringing history into a book in a way I haven’t discovered before, but a way that held me captivated right to the last words.
A must read for everyone, whatever your taste in books.

It is the end of the 18th century and Pierre and Catherine Aubert, the Comte and Comtesse de Verais, have fled the privileged life they lead at the court of Versailles to set up home at a chateau, the ancestral home of Pierre. With attitudes towards the aristocracy changing rapidly, will the couple manage to start a new, more bourgeois life or will their aristocratic life catch up with them?

In the present, Lu and her husband, along with three of their friends have upped sticks to France to start a new life as joint owners of French property - the chateau Aubert. When people start to talk about the ghost that is known to live there, Lu's interest is piqued and she begins to research the history of their house, revealing a secret that has remained hidden for centuries...

As always, it is a privilege to be part of the blog tour for one of Kathleen McGurl's books as this is an author whose work I always eagerly anticipate. As in previous books, the story is told in two time frames: the present and, in this case, the lead up to and the aftermath of the French Revolution. It soon became apparent how much research the author has done into this turbulent time, not only with her historically accurate account of the events In France but also with the descriptions of the Alpes Maritimes. It was easy to visualise the setting such was the description, Kathleen McGurl painting a very picturesque view of this area of south east France.

In the two main characters, we see contrasting personalities. Lu is someone who is in need of a purpose in life after retiring from work to care for her mother. The death of her mother has left her at a loose end and so the opportunity to relocate to a chateau in France with her husband and friends seems like an ideal opportunity. Her uncertainty about the venture, however, is the complete opposite to Catherine, a woman who, despite her tender years, knows her own mind, even though her desire to emulate Marie Antoinette could end up being her downfall.

As someone who researches my family history, I liked reading about the discoveries made by Lu as she attempted to find out about the previous occupants in the chateau. This was where the two story lines converged, leading to a harrowing revelation about what actually happened to Pierre and Catherine Aubert. I found this very moving and, although I won't give any spoilers, I was pleased that there could be closure for characters in both time frames.

As expected, I thoroughly enjoyed The Secret of the Chateau and loved the slow, mysterious build-up leading to a heart-breaking yet satisfying conclusion. This is a standalone, but I can definitely recommend all of Kathleen McGurl's previous dual time frame books.

I have been a fan of Kathleen MCGurl’s books for a while now, She writes wonderful dual time stories. I was thrilled when I saw her latest available on Netgalley and doubly happy since it is set in France and is a story about the French Revolution, both favorites of mine.

The story revolves around 5 friends who decide to retire to France and pool their resources to buy a French chateau. They find one in the region of the Alpes-Maritimes region. This area has delights for all their hobbies, except for maybe Lu, the main protagonist, but she loves history and the friends have bought a historic chateau, voila a hobby is found, researching the history of the chateau.

The other part of the story is the story of Pierre and Catherine Aubert, Comte and Comtesse de Verais. They are favorites in the court of Louis XVI, which would be great if it was not for that pesky revolution. They flee to their chateau for safety, but is there safety to be found?

The story was wonderful for the history, the setting, the mystery and the writing. If you like a good dual time story like I do, this is a great pick, and if you have not given Kathleen McGurl books a try. I highly recommend that you do so at the first opportunity.

Thanks to NetGalley, and the author, Kathleen McGurl for the opportunity to review this book.

I should start by saying that I did enjoy this story. The book briefly begins in the late 1700's with the story of Pierre & Catherine Aubert, members of Louis XVI's Versailles court, who then retreat back to their chateau in the south of France. It continues by alternating between their troubled lives and those of 5 best friends who buy the chateau in the present day. It details the new lives the friends create and the past history of the area & the chateau which Lu, a retired history teacher, undercovers through her research.

The two stories are woven together really well, although I would just say that at times I found the pace a little slow and some points a bit laboured. That did not stop my enjoyment of the story however; I was just keen to discover what was in the next chapter.

I felt that all the ends were neatly tied up (I really don't like it when things are left unresolved!) and would recommend this book; a nice easy read, including some history in a wonderful part of the world and a good story.

Thank you to Net Galley and the publishers for allowing me to read this book in return for a honest review.

I enjoyed this book for its overall atmosphere, which takes us back and forth between the present time and the end of the reign of Louis XVI in France. In the present time, we meet five friends who decide to retire together in France and purchase a beautiful old chateau in the Alpes-Maritimes. We share their adventures in a French village and discover how they settle in their new life. Central character Lu is the link between the present and the past. She decides to research the story of the chateau and brings together the past and the present. She brings to light the story of the couple who owned the chateau and who lived through the troubled times of the French revolution, at the court of the king and at their chateau until the sad end of their life. This book is using history as a background (although it could have done with a little more depth in the historical part), and tells a story of friendship, under the Provence sun. I loved the descriptions of places and nature in the book. However, the village and chateau are fictional, and they borrow details from different places that don’t belong to the same region, so to the readers who know the area … it feels strange. Overall it was an enjoyable read, and who would not like to dream of buying an old French chateau!

Thank you to NetGalley, HQ Digital and the author Kathleen McGurl for the opportunity to read this Advanced Readers Copy of "The Secret of the Chateau".

#TheSecretoftheChateau #NetGalley

I wanted to read this book because I know the area it is set in very well and expected to read more about the locality than was presented in the book.
Having said that, I did enjoy the book, especially the historical parts and would recommend it to anyone who is looking for an easy read to escape from the world for a few hours.

I absolutely loved this book. The way each chapter switched between eras was something I'd encountered in other books and it hadn't always worked. This time though it was so successful. It allowed for a great read about a group of people settling in France into a 18th Century chateau. Their life there was accurately portrayed for someone moving to a French village. (I've actually done this, so know exactly how it works!)

The contrasting chapters about the court of Louis XVI went into just anough detail historically to make it an enthralling read without overloading you with factual information.

I really struggled to put this book down and will definitely be looking out for more books by Kathleen McGurl, who until now was not an author I had read.

The stroy is told by Lu, a member of a group of friends who have done everything together for years. Their latest idea is to buy a chateau in France and move there en masse. Finding a beautiful place set high in the hills, they all manage to sell their own houses (amazing!) and move to set up their new home. As they settle in, meeting the village Maire and some of the other inhabitants, they begin to wonder about the previous occupants, the original owners of the Chateau.
The story veers between a historical look at the French revolution years, and modern day. I found the descriptions of Pierre Aubert and his wife's lives fascinating. Their time at the Royal Court, their later years at home in the chateau, and the terrors, are all so well written. The two stories of the 1700s and today are interwoven and help so much to set the theme.
A very enjoyable book. Thank you NetGalley for a review copy.

I loved this book and recommend it to fans of Beatriz Williams and The Lost Vintage. Head to France in The Secret of the Chateau by Kathleen McGurl. This story starts out with five friends starting retirement joking about buying a home together in the south of France. It alternates chapters between present day with protagonist Lu and the couple who owned the chateau the friends buy, Pierre and Catherine as well as their servant Claudette, on the cusp of the French Revolution. While her friends set out on their own hobbies Lu begins to uncover the history of the Chateau and what happened to the family who lived there. I enjoyed seeing both storylines play out and converge as Lu learns more and more. Was a charming story with beautiful settings and cozy friends. After finishing the book I want to retire to the south of France with my best friends.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book.
Some of the concepts were a little outlandish - would six friends in their late 50s really decide to buy a chateau in France and move their entire lives there without a backward glance? But, overall, the book was really enjoyable. The alternate chapters of the contemporary story and the French revolution worked well. Court life prior to the Revolution and the contrasts between this and the poverty most of the population at the time lived in were described in vivid detail. The naivete of the young Countess, Catherine, and her unquestioning loyalty to Marie-Antoinette led you to empathise with the Revolutionaries, but the Count was a much more sympathetic character, for whom I wished a good outcome.
A good read.

This story alternates between the present day and the French revolution with some very laboured comparisons between the two sets of characters in different eras. At first I thought I wasn't going to enjoy this book but ended up getting quite hooked! An easy read with a well thought out setting which made me think I was at the French chateau. Perfect escapism!

The historical part of this story was much more interesting than the modern part. A group of fifty somethings who are long time friends buy a chateaux in France and as they refurbish it they drove into the history.

This is a story about a small group of friends who actually realise their dream of retiring to a French chateau. There are rumours that the chateau is haunted and one of the signs is the flickering of the lights, although that could just be down to the ancient wiring.
The second strand to the book is set at the time of the French Revolution when the last lord of the manor was in residence.
A satisfying tale of friendships and love, with a bit of a history lesson included for good measure.

A historical fiction focusing on 5 friends who move to a château in France. The chapters go between current day, and back to the French revolution period following the previous owners of the château. Although predictable in part I still enjoyed reading this book, and not having much knowledge on the French revolution it also led me to do some further research as to what happened during this time.

A pleasant enough read, but rather predictable. The story was rather simplistic in its telling. I would not recommend it.

Predictable? It probably is..
But I still found a good read. Something I categorise as a holiday read, it's easy to read, you enjoying it and it has a bit of a mystery.
I liked the fact that descriptions of locations made you actually feel that you've been there and I had a very clear picture of the place. Catherine's character did irritate me a lot, but that was because she was very irritating spoiled little girl. I don't really like ghost presence in novels, much prefer their absence and just real mysteries, but guess it should've been part of the story here. Other than that I did enjoy it and would read something else by the author at some point.