Patti Callahan Henry has a way of making historical fiction come alive, and The Secret of Flora Lea is no exception. The story is told in two time periods in way that made me want to keep reading but wasn’t confusing. Thanks to NetGalley ad the publisher for the ARC.

The author has written many novels, but I believe this one might be her best yet! This WWII book is a excellently researched, and it is clear, as always, that Patti Callahan Henry is a scrupulous historian alongside her authorship. Wonderful, captivating writing and original plot gives this novel the depth and ability to pull in any reader. A wonderful addition to the growing WWII genre, I believe that this one stands out among the rest. I highly recommend this author and all of her other books I have read have been nothing less than fantastic. She is definitely an auto-buy author for me, and I can't wait to own this novel in print.

What a great story that the author weaves. I truly enjoyed the story of the 2 sisters and discovering what had happened between the two time settings of the storylines. I did not anticipate how it all came together, but what a wonderful ending. thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read this early.

4 stars- I wasn't expecting to enjoy this one as much as I did. I look forward to reading more of the author's work. Thank you netgalley & the publisher for the ARC, in exchange for an honest review.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Atria books for my ARC in exchange for my honest review of the book.

I love Hazel's invention of Whisperwood to help keep Flora calm during their escape from Bloomsbury during Operation Pied Piper. I think it would be a cool tie if she, PCH, would write the children's book of Whisperwood as well. My favorite character was Brigette Aberdeen. I would love to be invited to her cottage for a bed and breakfast weekend. I would also love to visit Harry's art studio.

I could not help thinking that PCH's idea for this book came as she research C.S. Lewis and fairy tales. Her description of fairy tales and their place in our lives through both Brigette and Hazel left my speechless. I could not help thinking in these moments it was really PCH's talking.

With all that said, I felt the rest of the book kinda fell flat for me. It just dragged. I get that it is 1960 so there is no googling to help to try to find a lost sister but I guess I wanted a more obsessive, active search for Flora but Hazel just did not give me that. I don't get why she did not talk to her boyfriend more with all she was doing and feeling. She claimed to love him but she kept him in the dark about her search journey. I just kept reading because I wanted to know what happened to Flora and Hazel's 1960 search for her.

Without giving away the ending, I felt some of the characters and their storylines were flat. I wanted to know more. I felt we did not spend enough time in 1939 with the characters we needed to spend time with in order to set up the 1960 climax. For example, the 4 nurse's names that Aiden gives Hazel in 1960. We barely see them in 1939. We do not spend any time with Brigette's neighbor either. I also wanted to spend more time with Hazel at Hogan's. Or at least have the owner reach out to her about the book. I guess I wanted him to be fairy god"father" and/ or the wizen mentor and has the ultimate message or lesson for Hazel to learn and he purposely kicked off the whole story with bringing the book into his bookstore for her to find. He meant for her to "steal" the book so she could go on her 1960 search for Flora Lee. But sadly we never get that scene.

As for the climax, without revealing too much, PCH did surprise me and I did not see it coming so kudos to her for that.

Of the 4 Friends and Fiction authors that I have met in person, she is my favorite. I will read her next book without hesitation. I would give this book an overall grade of a B-.

Loved this book! Patti Callahan Henry combines historical fiction with a fairy tale flair. Twists and turns through out the book kept me guessing. I didn't want the book to end as I loved the characters.

Ms. Henry never fails to supply the reader with an interesting story. Her writing is an easy relaxing read and perfect for a book group discussion.

The Secret Book of Flora Lea was a great read - with some twists, great descriptions and atmosphere, in depth character development, and a little magic. I felt an instant connection with Hazel - especially as a fellow older sister - who felt that responsibility in her bones. She wasn't a picture perfect character, but with human flaws that lent my empathy for her own feelings toward finding out what happened to her sister. I also enjoyed the jumps between eras and characters. Didn't guess the twist at the end - just wait to see who did what - it's worth reading all the way to the end! A solid 4 stars.

The importance of story and the influence fairy tales can have on lives are central ideas that define all of the characters in The Secret Book of Flora Lea. Hazel and Peggy create, Flora imagines, Barnaby resents, Bridie and Harry support.

England is the setting for the two timelines which will collide when a mysterious manuscript arrives at a rare books emporium. Hazel recognizes the work immediately; it is a retelling of a series of stories featuring Whisperwood she shared with her sister during World War II while the two sisters were sent out of London to the countryside as a safety precaution. During the time away from London, Hazel's sister Flora disappears. Hazel never stops blaming herself as she has taken her eyes off young Flora on the banks of the Thames in order to spend a few minutes alone with Harry Aberdeen who with his mother Bridie host the girls while London is bombed.

When Hazel sees the manuscript, her hope is revived that Flora is still alive. She will set on a path to learn the truth that will jeopardize relationships, open new wounds and change the course of so many lives.

Patti Callahan Henry has created a beautiful world from the opening lines to the riveting conclusion and shown readers just how crucial oral and written stories are to human growth and development.

A stunning new novel by Patti Callahan Henry! This author is an amazing storyteller, and the Secret Book of Flora Lea is no exception. I can best describe this book as a historical mythical mystery that will keep you entertained from start to finish. Highly recommended!

I love this book! What a great premise and seriously wonderful characters. The way this mystery is solved is very clever and sweet. Heartwarming.

The concept of the story is strong enough to sustain interest, but the writing, which I found both pedestrian and overly wrought totally detracted from any enjoyment. It was a plodding journey for me, rather than a character and story driven adventure.

I loved everything about this one. First off, the cover art is beautiful! I recommend this and would not be surprised to see it featured in a LOT of book clubs.

Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for this advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review. All opinions expressed here are my own. This review will appear on Goodreads.
A historical fiction with a nod to the magic of Tolkien’s writing and “consolation of a happy ending”, this book is written in a parallel timelines of two young girls sent to the country on orders from the British government during the Blitz, and a grown sister still grieving the loss of her sister Flora. There is historical fiction. There are fairy tales. There is romance and family drama. There is even a mystery. This book bends genres in a delightful way.
I was delighted by the story, the characters and settling that I could see and feel. I was anxious to get to the end to see how all of the different aspects of the story would wrap up. It got slow in the middle, but hang in there. At around 75% someone steps on the gas!
I enjoy Patti Callahans books and choose them for my book clubs. In fact, we are doing Surviving Savannah in December. I will recommend this to all of my patrons who enjoy historical fiction but want something less gritty and more ‘clean’. I enjoyed it to about a 3.5 stars so I will round up for a historical fiction set in WWII that isn’t a holocaust or resistance fighter story. Yay!
4*

The Secret Book of Flora Lea is an exceptional story that will tug at your heart and not leave your thoughts once you have reached the end. Told in two time periods the story focuses on two sisters evacuated from danger during WWII, and the older sister’s 20 year search for what happened when the younger sister disappeared. Patti Callahan Henry is a talented writer who also has delightful fans writing as Patti Callahan. She should be at the top of every book lovers’ must read list! I voluntarily reviewed an advance copy of this book from NetGalley. Most highly recommend.

Hazel and Flora were part of the Pied Piper Children during WWII. That is just the beginning of the story. Their stories continue with the telling of a make-believe land and a lost sister. Hazel is determined to find her sister, while it seems everyone around her would just like her to go on with her life and accept that Flora is gone.

Whisperwood is an amazing place. It is a place that Hazel takes Flora to disappear from the life of living during a war. It gives them a place to escape to, a place to call their own. Whisperwood is what starts the search for Flora again. When an American author writes a book about Whisperwood it leads Hazel on a journey to find the answers she desperately needs. I found Whisperwood an amazing place, it was a place that let children use their imagination, find a safe place in a dangerous world, and a place where they are safe.

The Secret Book of Flora Lee is my favorite Patti Callahan Henry book thus far. I am excited to recommend it to my friends.

I wanted to enjoy this one as it hit all of the buzz keywords that usually sound great in a novel to me, but at the end of the novel it didn't give what I thought it would give.

My favorite Patti C Henry book to date. Sisters 15 yr old Hazel and 5 year old Flora evacuated to Oxford during the war are placed in the loving Aberdeen home with mom, Bridie and son Harry. Their year there is idyllic as Hazel keeps Flora entertained with a magical land they’ve dreamed up together, Whisperwood. It is a secret only the two share until one day Flora goes missing.
For the next twenty years Hazel blames herself, giving up her storytelling and the wonderful family she lived with. In 1960 on her last day working at the rare book shop she discovers a book and illustrations sent from America all about the land she imagined for her sister. But how can this be as they were the only two to know about it? Could Flora still be alive? As Hazel lets nothing stand in her way to find out the truth she is confronted with hard choices, but she can’t give up her quest.
Partly historic, part mystery, partly mythical this is a captivating novel filled with hope and the quest to find out who we really are on the inside. A page turning, intense novel.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for a complementary digital ARC.

I'm a long time fan of Patti Callahan Henry's work, and while i enjoyed this story, i did feel as though it would have been better if shortened.

I absolutely loved, loved, loved this enchanting ode to storytelling, books and love in various forms. In what may well be her best novel yet, master storyteller Patti Callahan Henry has penned with her trademark gorgeous prose a page-turning, immersive, heartfelt historical mystery about two sisters evacuated to the English countryside for safety during World War II’s Operation “Pied Piper.” This tale is chock full of vividly drawn, fascinating characters and set in both World War II and 1960s England, primarily in a charming, picturesque village near Oxford and in Bloomsbury in London, with occasional glimpses of Oxford and of St. Ives, Cornwall. I found myself yearning for a cuppa and visits to an old stone cottage in present day Oxfordshire and to St. Ives in short order! As a bonus, the cover is beautiful and truly captures the mood and essence of this story. Highly recommended! Many thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for a complementary digital ARC. Opinions are my own.