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 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 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.

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

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.

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

Loch Ewe Scotland 1940, Flora Gordon and her father Ian live in Keeper’s Cottage in the remote North-West highland village of Aultbea and her father is the local gamekeeper. The residents of the little fishing community have a peaceful life nestled on the banks of Loch Ewe until during WW II it finds itself the main base for the Royal Navy’s Arctic convoys, suddenly the harbor is busy with naval ships and it soon becomes a German target. Flora's dad’s boss The Laird is a horrible man, a bully and his son Alec is not at all like his father. Growing up Alec, Flora and her brother Ruaridh are best friends and they had a great time playing together. Alec is now an officer in the Royal Navy, he’s stationed at Loch Ewe and when he and Flora develop feelings for each other the laird isn’t happy. He makes it very clear to Flora that she’s nothing but the help and would never be good enough to marry his son.

Loch Ewe Scotland 1978, single mother Lexie Gordon, returns to the village of Aultbea with her daughter Daisy and live in the tiny cottage where she grew up. Once she was a professional singer performing in the London West End, until she strained her voice and damaged her vocal chords. By returning home to Aultbea, single Lexie assumes the locals will think she’s failed, she’s embarrassed and it’s not the case at all. Lexie has always known her father died during WW II, the details about her dad are rather sketchy and now that her mum Flora has passed away has she left it too late to find out more about her parents relationship and his family?
Lexie begins to ask her mum’s best friend Bridie questions about her mother’s past; she discovers her mother was an incredibly strong and courageous woman who made big sacrifices for the people she loved and especially to protect her daughter Lexie. While delving into the past, Lexie also starts to heal herself; she remembers her mum singing the local Scottish folk songs and she begins to rediscover her love of singing by sharing them with Daisy, her little friends at playgroup and with the handsome Davy at the local pub.

I loved The Skylark’s Secret; it’s about love, sacrifice, secrets, WW II, self discovery and the story is set in beautiful Scotland. I particularly enjoyed reading about Loch Ewe, the Scottish countryside, the local food, yummy mince and tatties 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 my favorite and five big stars from me.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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!