I've read quite a few books set during or just after the second world war recently, this one is a little different. Set mostly in England, it tells the story of a pair of Russian spies who first come over to the country when Russia is still on the side of the Nazis. Neither of them is particularly passionate about their cause but they have their own reasons for having left their homeland on this dangerous mission.

At the same time, we have the modern-day story of Laura, who has recently separated from her boyfriend. She also carries the scars, mentally at least, of an accident that happened when she was just a child. As she starts to renovate the walled garden at a stately home, she uncovers a seventy-five-year-old mystery.

I enjoyed both of the stories in this book, both the modern-day one and the spy story from during the war. There is a certain bittersweet ending to the older story and while I could see where it was going, I did hope that it might not quite play out the way that it did. While I enjoyed the modern-day story, I was a little disappointed with how incredibly passive the main female character was. At one point, she simply stands by mutely, not speaking up about the way that she feels or what's happening. While things do resolve themselves eventually, I am a little over these doormat women, who seem to think being quiet is a virtue. Give me some fire!

This was a good read overall and one that I enjoyed.

England, 1940, Anya is working as a spy in rural England. This seemed liked a great opportunity for her to escape Russia, but she is now second guessing her decision. She lives her life in fear of being found out. But the only person that she trusts is Nikolai. He is a fellow informer, whom she is also attracted to. They risk their lives fighting against the Nazi’s. But if they ever get separated, they have a plan of how they can reunite. They have coded messages and a key hidden in their favorite meeting place, a secret garden.

Present day, England Laura needs a fresh start, so she agrees restore the gardens of a historic home. While in the gardens working, she finds a box buried underneath a willow tree. Inside the box is a key and a coded message. She begins to piece together the meaning of the message and the key. She soon uncovers the mystery of what happened in the secret garden many years ago. This fast-paced story was absolutely beautiful. I was so taken with this story, that I found myself unable to put the book down. I had to race through the pages to see what was going to happen next. The cover is just as stunning as the story. Absolutely breathtaking. It’s books and authors like this that make historical fiction one of my favorite genres to read. This must read is completely engrossing and will stay with you for quite a long time.

Thank you Suzanne Kelman for such a wonderful and unputdownable book. This was a such an unforgettable story. I highly recommend this book.

The Garden of Secrets is the 1st book that I have read by Suzanne Kelman and I really enjoyed it What 1st struck me was the beautiful cover and then the synopsis. Though there are a lot of WWII novels out now, very few are told from the point of view of citizens of Stalinist Russia.

The novel is told in dual times, during WWII and present day. In present day Laura is staying in a cottage with her friends on the estate of Hatworth Manor. She is fleeing heartache and working to restore a walled garden on the estate. While investigating.a downed willow tree after a storm, she discovers a cigarette case, inside is a message “Please FInd me, Grace Mere is our only hope”. How cryptic, Laura feels impelled to investigate. During WWII the book follows Anya and Nickolai, two Soviet citizens who have been trained to spy for the Russian Secret Service. They are sent to England to spy and end up at Hatworth Manor together, but then circumstances intervene and the cigarette case is buried under the Willow tree for 70 years. Can Laura piece together the puzzle and find out what happened to Anya and Nickolai?

This was quite a compelling book. I try not to read too many WWII novels, but this one intrigued me, and I am glad that I gave it a whirl.

Thanks to Netgalley, Bookouture, and ghe author Suzanne Kellman for the chance to read and review this book.

This book was fantastic. It was a little slow paced at first, but a lot happens in the last 100 or so pages.

This book is written from 3 different POVs and a couple of different time periods (1940s, 1950s, and present day). It is so much fun seeing the story play out from when it was originally happening and when it is being discovered in present day. Watching the stories intertwine is so fascinating and wonderfully written.

All of the characters are written extremely well, even the ones you only see for a chapter or two. Each character has so much personality and depth to them it feels like you’ve known each of them for years.

There are so many good twists and turns throughout this book. You will also feel every emotion throughout it- anger, sadness, happiness, and love are just a few of them.

This is definitely a story that will stick with you and make you think about life, guilt, friendships, and love in a way you probably haven’t before. Definitely a book everyone should read at some point in time

“Under the shade of the weeping willow, she could see a sparkle of silver… She reached out to it and felt a tremor through her body, knowing instantly: this was a secret, and somebody hid it here in this garden…”

I have devoured every tale penned by Suzanne Kelman since the equally heartbreaking "A View Across the Rooftops" and each tale is just as heartbreaking, as well as poignant, as the last. GARDEN OF SECRETS tells of a a secret buried in the lush walled garden of Hatworth Manor in Norfolk during the war that wasn't uncovered for another seventy five years...and set the pace for this wonderful dual timeline story that will have you reaching for the tissues.

Russia 1941: Twenty two year old Anya Baranov finds herself left with nothing after the tragic death of her mother and the learing eyes of her step-father who wants to marry her off to someone loyal to Stalin and with enough wealth to keep him in the lap of luxury to which he sees himself. But Anya refuses to be bartered off and when her step-father offers her another alternative, Anya makes her escape in the dead of night and joins the Russian secret service where she meets Nickolai Petroff, a man with his own reasons for aligning himself with the NKVD. They train together as agents for Russia before they are sent to England to spy for the Germans, as they prepare to invade Britain. Neither of them really wants to be a spy but they both have compelling reasons to escape and soon they find themselves in too deep that they see no way out.

Together they are sent to Hatworth Manor in Norfolk where Anya is to work as Land Girl and Nickolai as a footman, although they have had their identities anglicised to Annie Stone and Nicholas Brown. As Anya makes her way to Hatworth to join the Land Girls there, she meets bubbly and vivacious Millie and, despite preferring to keep to herself, soon becomes fast friends with the likeable young woman. When Nickolai arrives at Hatworth some days later, Anya knows they must maintain a level of secrecy by keeping their distance. Each one has a specific role to play but neither one is comfortable with this fact as they become closer and even less so when Anya feels a bond of friendship with her Land Girl comrades. How can she betray them? Her only friends?

Flung together, Anya and Nickolai are drawn to one another and find they cannot fight the attraction they feel for one another. In the chaos of war, a romance blossoms between them and they meet nightly in their secret garden, the walled garden, where they grow together. In the midst of ambiguity when they hear the disturbing news that Germany has invaded Russia, their supposed Allies, Anya and Nickolai wonder what this means for them and their mission? And in the shadow of uncertainty, they make a plan and a promise for the future...should the tendrils of war reach them and they need to flee.

Norfolk, present day: En route from betrayal, Laura has escaped London to work on restoring the beautiful gardens of Hatworth Manor, staying with two old friends - Simon and Alicia - in their cottage on the estate and where Simon is estate manager. Flinging herself into her work to forget the troubles she left behind, Laura uncovers a silver cigarette box containing a small key and a mysterious message beneath an uprooted willow tree in the once beautiful walled garden. Puzzled by her find and wondering what it means, Laura resolves to uncover its mystery.

The cryptic message was written on a torn piece of ration card and alludes to someone called "Grace Mere". The ration card itself would have been a precious commodity during the war so leaving a message on it implies a sense of urgency because no one would tear up something that important unless they had to. And who was Grace Mere? Laura decides to dig into Hatworth's history to see if she can make some sense of the mystery she's uncovered which leads her to Jamie, a handsome artist who lives in a cottage that had somehow played a part in her mystery.

As Laura and Jamie delve into the past, they come up against several obstacles - one of which from Laura's recent past set on reclaiming her - but are both dogged in their determination to uncover the truth. But how can they follow a trail that is seventy five years old? Can they find who the little silver box belongs to? What the key unlocks? Who the cryptic message is for? And will they discover who Annie Stone was and why she fled Hatworth Manor one night and the same night a footman disappeared, never to be seen again?

Although the story was slow to start, it picked up pace about 40% in once Anya and Nickolai's mission was set in motion as I found the foundations laid in Russia to be a little lagging. Up to this point, it was Laura's timeline that interested me the most but soon Anya and Nickolai's overtook hers as the featured story and I found myself enthralled in the trail left behind and the double life the couple were reluctantly living. There is romance in both timelines and both are overshadowed by their past or their present in each respective case.

I loved each of the characters as they were incredibly easy to like. Anya, Nickolai, Laura and Jamie. Even the secondary characters such as Millie in the past and Simon and Alicia in the present were a delight. I didn't much like Liam. He was too arrogant for my liking and the assumption that he continued to make despite Laura spending the past few months telling him otherwise. I would have liked to hear what happened to him, though, in the end and more of Jamie's past would have been welcome as well. Especially considering he told Laura that if they were to have a relationship of any kind that there were to be no secrets and to be up front yet his past was only hinted at and something he never elaborated on whilst Laura poured out her deepest secret at the first opportunity.

The garden at Hatworth is a character in itself, playing such a a major role in both the past and present, that it is only fitting it featured as the title of this timeslip novel. I could really picture myself there with the beautifully scented roses and the willow tree, apple tree, the swing and even the treehouse (although I doubt I could climb up there now...)

Usually in dual timeline tales, the contemporary present day is more diluted and overshadowed by the past story. But in this case it started out the other way around with Laura's story well-crafted and Anya's the more diluted one. However, the roles were reversed soon enough as the past became entwined with the present. I love dual timeline tales and am easily lost to the past and present storylines. The alternating chapters between Laura, Anya and Nickolai are so well written that the reader is so immersed that we feel as if we are watching the entire story play out in real time.

My only complaint is the long winded way in which the story begins, particularly with Anya and Nickolai. I can see why it was told that way but it really slowed the pace down and the only reason I continued was because I am familiar with Ms Kelman's outstanding writing ability that I knew it would get better. By 20% I've usually given up, but Laura thankfully kept me engaged long enough until Anya and Nickolai's story picked up around 45% and took over. I knew I would be rewarded in the end...it was just a slow beginning, in my opinion. And although the ending was satisfying, I found it a little lacking for reasons I can't disclose due to spoilers. It ended with a promise of something when I would have preferred something a little more tangible is all I can say. But it was still a delightful read.

In summing up, GARDEN OF SECRETS is a heartwarming and heartbreaking tale in equal measures despite its slow start. And perfect for fans of Kate Morton, Kathleen McGurl and Lorna Cook. And like all Suzanne Kelman books, I highly recommend.

I would like to thank #SuzanneKelman, #NetGalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #GardenOfSecrets in exchange for an honest review.

This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.

Suzanne Kelman has become one of my favorite historical fiction authors. Her stories are always well-balanced between contemporary and historical storylines, and she always manages to find a unique aspect of history to use as a starting point. Garden of Secrets is no exception.
In this case, I feel like the author succeeds in unique settings for both timeframes. In the contemporary, Laura works as a garden restoration artist, and after a personal loss, she accepts an offer to stay with friends and restore a garden on an old estate.
This leads her to a 70-year-old mystery that she feels compelled to solve. Is it because of her own losses? Or is there something else driving her to discover the truth behind the note and items she finds?
That is one thing I really enjoy about this author’s works. She allows the characters to have real reasons for their actions. They don’t fit a stereotype or only do what is expected. People react to things differently, and her characters are always individuals.
The story then unfolds with Laura in the present chasing down clues and trying to figure out the meaning of what she finds. Those chapters alternate periodically with Anya’s (in the past) and a few from Nikolai (also in the past).
Anya and Nikolai’s story is fascinating, although I was slightly slower to warm to it for some reason. I’m not sure why, because it is by far one of the most interesting threads I have read in recent memory.
It is more common to see Germany as the enemy in historical fiction novels, and it is rarely remembered that Russia was an enemy as well – at least to a point.
I don’t want to give anything of their plot away. Usually, I like one storyline slightly better than the other, but in this case, I was eager to get back to either plot. That’s the way to keep a reader engaged.
I do have to say that I love the analogy using the Avon River. Having been there (and it being one of my favorite places ever) I was able to picture it clearly. Not to mention, it was just good life advice as well.
Garden of Secrets is another great entry in the historical fiction genre, and I can never get enough of Suzanne Kelman’s books.

A dual time book.

In this book the time changed every chapter so I felt I just just getting into the story before being pulled out again. I didn’t need the drama that happened in the current time story. I would have been fine without it, it distracted from the secret Laura was trying to uncover. I would have liked more chapters about the WWII story.

I enjoyed the twist and turns in the end.

so first of all I have to say giving some sort of character to the garden that everything happens in, is a perfect idea. definitely one of the strong points on this story. the story is told in three perspectives, Laura, Anya and Nikolai.
it's 1940. Anya and Nikolai are Russian spies sent to England to gather information.
it's present day. Laura has found a job in Norfolk to restore an old garden. where she finds a box buried under a tree. a box of secrets. what's I this box and what had happened to Anya and Nikolai during WWII? well you have to read this heartwarming novel to find out.
a well executed and wonderfully written novel that I deeply enjoyed reading.
thanks to NetGallery for providing my copy.

Garden of Secrets is a book that I although I raced through the pages to find out what happened, I hated the book to end.

The book is told in dual time line World War 2 and present day.

The tie between them is stately home and its secret garden in Norfolk.

There is a twist to this story as Anya and Nikolai are actually Russian spies based at the home.

Present day Laura is trying to solve a 65 year old mystery of what she found under the willow tree.

The story is both heart wrenching and beautiful.

Suzanne Kelman is a born storyteller and she never fails to capture my heart

Treat yourself to The Garden of Secrets and if you have not read anything by Suzanne Kelman before then you are missing out on great stories.

Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for a book that was hard to pu

Suzanne Kelman is one amazing author.and this book is no different absolutely outstandingly beautiful wonderful characters playing there parts oh so well fir me it was total escapism I can't praise this book enough and can highly recommend fir a truly beautiful read.

A powerful message about love, loyalty, and bravery from the unique WWII perspective of escaping the horrors of war in Russia. This historical story with a contemporary tie-in transported me to a different time and place. Anya and Laura both experience wonderful journeys of self-discovery and transformation that keep you turning the pages. Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the digital ARC.

This is a book set in two time frames- World War 2 and the present day and both stories are full of romance and intrigue keeping the reader entranced until the very last page.
Anya and Nikolai are Russian agents , sent to England to spy for the Germans in the early part of the Second World War when Russia and Germany were allies. Neither of them really wants to be involved in espionage but they have compelling reasons, Anya to escape a violent home life and Nikolai to try and find out what happened to his father who has disappeared.
Flung together they fall in love and swear to be together forever but this is World War 2 and they are both enemy agents…..
In the present day Laura is restoring a garden in a Manor House in Norfolk where she is staying with two old friends. Trying to escape a broken heart and a dark event in her past Laura throws herself into her task. When she finds a box containing a small key buried under a tree in the garden she resolves to find out what it means.
There is romance and mystery in this wonderful story and I raced through the book wondering what was going to happen to Anya and Nikolai as well as trying to find out how Laura’s discovery fitted in.
The garden itself played such a major role in the book that it was almost like another character. I thoroughly enjoyed this entertaining read and would definitely recommend it to anyone who likes a well researched historical mystery with some romance thrown in.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for my arc.

4.3 Stars

One Liner: A few misses but a satisfying read.

1940, Russia: Anya is an English-speaking Russian sent to England as a spy. She has to work as a Land Girl in Norfolk and pass on information to the Russian authorities. Nikolai is her partner in crime (or spying). He is an intelligent young man with soulful eyes and secrets of his own. When the war gets complicated, Anya and Nikolai know they have to depend on each other to survive in the enemy country. They devise a plan to find each other if things go terribly wrong. But did they find each other or perish in the war?
Present Day, Norfolk: Laura takes up the job of restoring the old garden in the Norfolk Manor. She is struggling with personal issues and trying to make the right decision. When she comes across a box buried under a willow tree in the secret garden, Laura is determined to get to the root of the mystery. Maybe unraveling the mystery will also help make sense of her life.

What I Liked:
• Both timelines get almost equal importance in the book. In many dual timelines, I find the contemporary track diluted or ineffective. Here, Laura’s track is well-sketched to create a likable heroine.
• The elements of nature weave in and out of the story to create a mystical effect. The garden is also a character in the book.
• The book deals with Russian spies in England during WW II. It felt refreshing to read another perspective.
• Despite dedicating alternate chapters to the past and present, there are no bumps or jerks in the narration. It only adds intrigue to the story.
• The emotions come out strong, especially towards the end of the book. Even though some of it seems a little too neatly tied up, it was satisfying to read the ending.
• The second half gains pace (or maybe I just slow fast-read to finish the book). Though a lot happens, none of it is overwhelming or confusing.
• I wondered why a particular secret was dragged through the first half. It made sense after reading it. The revelation happened just when it should. That’s a very good execution.
• There’s something highly satisfying when reading about older couples finding their lost love.

What Didn’t Work for Me:
• The story starts with long, winded sentences (probably to set the mood) that slowed my reading pace. It didn’t help that I tend to zone out when every alternate sentence is three to four lines long.
• A little more about Jamie’s past/ life would have made things even better. There’s hardly anything we know about him compared to Laura. That dimmed the impact the relationship should have on the reader.

To sum up, Garden of Secrets is a heartwarming and satisfying read, despite the slow start.

Thank you, NetGalley and Bookouture, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

A book set in two different timelines,. During WWII we first take a journey with Anya, a Russian girl who becomes a spy for the Nazi's. As a spy her journey takes her to England as a land girl , not exactly where she thought she would be. Making friends, she might have to betray them, a position she may regret. Fast forward to the present time, we are in England with Laura who finds a buried box with a note and a key in the garden of an estate. A secret that was left 75 years ago. An intriguing story, well written, leaving the reader in a hurry to find the answer. Filled with betrayal, espionage and love, this is a book that was enjoyed and read so fast you might want to read it again. I have read Kelman before and have enjoyed her writing. After this novel, I will patiently wait for the next novel!! My thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

What a powerful, passionate and transformational story! Suzanne Kelman has delivered one of the most beautiful World War two romantic mysteries I have ever read. I connected deeply with its themes, characters and poetic vision. I was truly swept away by its flawless mesmerising execution. The eloquent descriptive writing style in Garden of Secrets suited me perfectly.

You know a story is going to be extra special when you discover that elements of The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett are gently tucked inside its seed of inspiration. Gardens are magical places and ones that hold secrets are even better! Suzanne’s quote just before the Prologue ‘And the secret garden bloomed and bloomed and every morning revealed new miracles’ from the said classic, sharpens our interest and gets us off to a shining start for we know this story will bear tender fruit of extraordinary wonders and healings. And indeed, we are not disappointed. What it promises, it delivers: spellbinding fiction! We are immediately drawn in by the green leaves of truth that wind their way through this network of characters in this beautiful garden that eventually gives up the secrets it has harboured for many years.

Branching out from WWII to present day, we follow a trail of inviting bread crumbs dipped in mystery that lead us through some shadowy regions. Russian spy Anya and her work partner Nikolai are at the heart of the historical thread. They are on a mission in England for their country. Yet neither one wants to go down this path of deceit but they are both running away from issues in their past. In the chaos of war, though, something beautiful happens. Once forced together, they are drawn into each other’s circle of space. A reluctant romance begins and they eventually blend into one beating heart. Always in each other’s thoughts, their love carries them through some trying times. The garden is their safe place. But then something happens that tears them apart. And it is this garden that holds the message and clues of their direction.

Laura in the modern day thread is on an escape route from a betrayal to work in rural Norfolk to do what she does best: restore beautiful historic gardens of stately homes. This takes her to Hatworth Manor where the real drama begins, when she accidentally finds a small box under a weeping willow tree. She is instantly drawn to its contents and the mystery that it holds and becomes consumed by the need to solve it. Who does it belong to? Of course, this not only takes her on an amazing journey to uncover the story behind the hidden box but also opens her heart to a whole new world of possibilities – including a new relationship.

It is Laura’s mission (she does not realise this at first) to bring the past and present together – to bridge the gap so wounds can be healed. On the surface this restoration of the Hatworth garden is a normal part of her everyday work life but truly it is more than that. It becomes a symbol of something deeper— for the secret at the heart of the garden is its crowning glory. Laura is the one to help bring that about (with some assistance from artist Jamie). For the unexpected love of the WWII couple that started in a fragile state, has continued hardily through the seasons, darkness, loneliness and separation. Laura sees the many different ways of how loss can affect individuals. But she also realises that when the seeds of hope are cultivated— a wondrous beauty can spring forth. Yes, just like a well cared for garden. And even a revitalised one!

It must be stated that the garden at Hatworth Manor, in Norfolk, England where the plot begins is as much a character as the humans. It has an impressive history that started in the 1500s and the author states it has ‘barely changed for centuries.’ This is the sort of thing that inspires me for I love to stand in historical locations and imagine all the lives that have come and gone and wonder of their stories. Of course, impressive Manors always have fascinating gardens that are wonderful for meditation or for recapturing past roots. There is a sense of peace and connection standing in these spaces, even with the ghosts of memories surrounding you.

This novel has made me think of why we love gardens so much. Gardens often evoke our desire to return to innocence, to a natural state, when we were one with nature, before the fall to experience as poet William Blake would say. As artists, we hold on to that wonder and imagination so that we can still see the world in a grain of sand and heaven in a wildflower. The natural world helps with that and Romantic poets knew this: including John Keats who drew great inspiration from nature. For him, it was also a place of refuge from the stresses of life. This stands true for Anya and Nikolai. In fact, for many it is a chance to recapture a sense of beauty, wonder and hope. For Nature, in general, emits such positive effects on the human spirit. It calls to us and resonates deep in our being some amazing spiritual truths. To fall into its arms of beauty, and to commune with it, can not only heal us but provide revelation as Albert Einstein said, ‘Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better’. It takes us back to what is natural and wild, to our spiritual roots (think of the Garden of Eden) and has the power to heal and reset us when we become damaged by the traumas of life.

While on the topic of gardens and nature, I believe a certain tree holds significance in this story. It is doubtful Suzanne randomly chose a willow tree for the hiding place of the box because it suits the story perfectly. Willow trees represent resilience, adaptability, strength, safety, hope and healing. Everything our characters need. Plus, the limbs of willow trees have amazing flexibility. They can bend without breaking; therefore, can be a metaphor for those on a path to recovery (something the Garden of Secrets characters need). This quality remind us to keep moving forward with the changes—to not become brittle and inflexible. Also, another symbol of the ‘weeping’ willow comes to mind. Something hinted in its name: tears. These must surface during grief and loss. For there’s healing in such a release. Tears free our emotions and make way for opportunity to grow and find something new. We witness this in Laura.

In Suzanne Kelman’s novel, this enchanting garden as a character brings four very special people together spanning 75 plus years. This novel is powerful and captivating from the first page to the last, and it deserves more stars than can be rated. I could not put it down and missed a lot of sleep! But even after finishing the story, I have not stopped thinking about it. It is like a seed that has gotten inside my imagination, germinated and bloomed into a towering tree filled with fruits of knowledge and inspiration.

Yes, I truly got pulled into and lost in the fictional worlds of Anya and Nikolai and Laura and Jamie. It’s a totally awe-inspiring story that contained many heart-breaking moments but also offered a positive climax of restoration and healing. Laura is the nurturer and her diligence pays off for she not only brings to life and light a breathtaking garden but also a love that is both magical and moving. And Anya shows us a resilient love can survive the most harrowing circumstances.

I loved, loved, loved the Garden of Secrets. The plot, characters, scenes, dialogue – every aspect of this story flowed like a river of moonlight on a diamond sea: beautiful, haunting and mesmerising. I highly recommend this 5+ star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ masterpiece.

Thanks to Bookouture and Netgalley for a copy to review.

When is it ever too late to fall in love? Garden of Secrets is really a story of two loves: one believed lost and one just in the verge of beginning. It’s also a mystery wrapped up in the past and present. I liked all the clues that Jamie and Laura uncovered, that was my favorite part of the book. I also liked the burgeoning romance part and how the book needed. I wasn’t crazy about the Soviet spy angle, but realize it was an integral part of the story.

Beautiful writing, an endearing story of love that last through out the years until they could be reunited, a garden that kept its secret self until it felt like it was time to be told. And the characters themselves mad you feel everything they felt and went though.

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for this advanced copy of Garden of Secrets!
I enjoyed this story very much! It is told in3 perspectives, Laura in the "now" timeframe and Anya and Nikolai, Russian spies during WW2. Anya and Nikolai, at first strangers to each other, have their own reasons for joining the Russian secret service and reasons for wanting to leave Russia. They are sent to England to be spies for their own country which bonds them together for life.
Laura has her own modern day troubles with her relationship falling apart forcing her to get out of London and take a job restoring a country house's garden. Laura stumbles upon a buried secret which takes her on an investigative trip to find answers of what happened at this country home during WW2.
The story takes you back through time to figure out just what happened to Anya and Nikolai.
This book gave me Kate Morton vibes with the garden restoration project. I really liked Laura and thought her story could be a book of its own. It was interesting to view the war from a different perspective, not many books star Russian spies living in England! 4 star read!

It’s 1940, Russia. Anya lives with her mother and her stepfather. She doesn’t really get on well with her stepfather. So, when her mother dies and her stepfather gives her an ultimation, she fears for her life. So, to escapes his clutches she decides to become a Russian spy working with the Nazi party. She is sent to Norfolk to be a Land Girl and soon makes friends. The only person that she can talk to is Nikolai a fellow informer who she is attracted too. But if word got out who they really are they would be trouble so they devise a plan if anything happens there is a way that they can pass messages to each other.
Present Day Laura is working on a private garden at a stately home in Norfolk. When she finds a cigarette box with a ration card inside and a key under a willow tree. She has recent come from London after her own relationship breakup. She wants to find more about where this box come from and the story behind it. As she is investigating, she meets Jamie and agrees to help her own her quest. She gets more than she bargained for when the friendship she has started between them both seems to deepen between them while investigating the 75-year-old story of the box.
Thank you Bookoutre for a copy of Garden of secrets. This is the 5th book now that I have read by Suzanne Kelman and yet again this is another 5-star read. The is a beautifully written endearing story of love so strong that overcomes all obstacles and it spans over 75 years and right across Europe. You can tell this author loves to write and put her heart and soul in her writing. I loved the storyline especially the way Anya and Nikolai passed messages to each other. Like all Suzanne Kelman books. I highly recommend

I really enjoyed this book it was well written with a good storyline that really portrayed the fear and anxiety of war years, it was palpable on the page and explored the lengths that people would go to survive at any cost. The characters were well developed and realatable for that reason too. I really enjoyed it.