The Widow’s Secret is the fourth novel by Kate Hewitt in this series. I have enjoyed following the families in this series. In this book, we follow the stories of Rachel and Abigail. Though their stories don’t intertwine exactly, there is a link to one another. The stories were full of emotion!

Racheal is sent to research a shipwreck off the Cumbria coast. This leads to the story of Abigail and her slave trader husband. He brings her a small black child whom she on his death adopts as her daughter.

‘The Wife's Secret’ is the fourth and final novel in The Goswell Quartet. It was first published on June 19th, 2020, by Katharine Swartz, the pseudonym used by Kate Hewitt at that time. There are two protagonists, both bold ladies living in a two different time frames.
The story starts in 1766 when Abigail marries James Fenton. They are besotted with each other, so much so that James names his second ship The Fair Lady in her honour. James is a merchant importing and then selling tobacco in Whitehaven in the Lake District. They very much want to settle down and start a family as soon as they can. When James has had good trading results, he loves to spoil his wife with elaborate and expensive presents. He wants to build up his trade now he owns two ships. One day he tries to cheer up Abigail because she has been unwell. He urges her to come to the dock with him and there he presents a very young African child, manacled and barefooted and with filthy and ragged clothing. He tells her she will be Abigail’s slave when she has learned how to behave. That night takes her to the warehouse and insists that she sleep on the cold floor. He argues that she must learn her place and be humble and hardworking. Abigail knows that leaving a small child in a dark room will be frightening and cruel, but James insists she must leave the girl to cry herself asleep. James tells Abigail that he is going to captain The Fair Lady because the captain of the ship has let him down. He is going to sail to Africa to buy slaves and then take them to America and make his fortune by selling them. He will be away for a minimum of a year on this triangular route, but when he arrives back to Whitehaven, he will have made his fortune.
The second story in this novel is set in our modern times. Rachel Gardner, a marine archaeologist, is asked to investigate a shipwreck that has been discovered buried in deep sand along the Cumbrian coastline. She is very keen to take on the work. She loves her job. Her homeland is in a nearby area, and it will give her time to reconnect with her elderly mother as well as complete her investigations. Her husband offers to go with her, but she feels that some time alone is a better prospect. They have a stilted relationship, as does Rachel with her mother. When the ship is closely investigated it soon appears that this is the same ship that was known to have been shipwrecked in the Caribbean. This is of course impossible, but Rachel thinks she is on to something, and she starts another investigation, a phenomenal attempt to find out more about the Captain of The Fair Lady and his wife Abigail. Little does she know this visit to her homeland will help her to move on in more than one way.
This novel was powerful and riveting, but also very sad in places. The storytelling and characterisation were skilled and compassionate. The historical story started off with love and a new marriage but was mainly about the triangular slave trade and its popularity during that time frame. I particularly liked Abigail who, despite her ongoing problems, was conscientious and forward thinking. She was loyal and kind and tried her best to be a good person. She knew slavery was wrong and she called her slave her own daughter. The issues raised in the contemporary story are involving and fragile, including family breakdowns, grief, parenthood and guilt, survival and love. I found this story quite humbling.
I received a complimentary copy of this enjoyable novel from publisher Bookouture through my membership of NetGalley. Thank you for my copy sent in return for an honest and unbiased review. I recommend this as a very good read and my personal thoughts are that this novel is a 4.5* read.

Sad to say, The Widow’s Secret is the final book in The Goswell Quartet series. I thoroughly enjoyed reading the complete series. I highly recommend this series. Definitely would be a great Christmas present to give to your historical book friends.
I always like reading duel timeline books when they are written well. And, Kate Hewitt does a obsoletely wonderful job in The Goswell Quartet. Her writing is both thought provoking and intriguing.
I cannot recommend this series enough. From the first book to the last book, I was completely invested. Each story is emotional, heartbreaking as well as heartwarming.
Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture and the author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

The Widow's Secret is the final instalment of The Goswell Quarter. A wonderful, intertwined storyline about Abigail, who is happily married to James, a merchant and trader. But after a series of devastating losses, she finds herself in turmoil, and an unknown future, until during one of the darkest times in humanity’s history, a terrified girl, brought back to England shows Abigail to reconsider everything she thought she knew.

In the present is Rachel, a marine archaeologist brought to Cumbria, to investigate a shipwreck. Her first thought is that this will be a perfect distraction from her troubled marriage and the memories of her past that she is desperate not to think about, until it becomes clear the wreck is from the 1700s and Rachel begins to wonder if there’s more to this terrible mystery.

The Widow’s Secret is a moving powerful, page turning story of courage, redemption, forgiveness, friendship and compassion I liked how Jane appeared in the books always lending a listening ear and helps Rachel to learn that love isn't easy it’s something that's need continuous work.

The Widow's Secret (The Goswell Quartet Book 4)
Earc:NetGalley
Publisher, : Bookouture
Publication Date: 17 November 2022
Genre : General Fiction, Historical Fiction, Women's Fiction
The series concludes nicely with two stories, an 18th-century setting that follows the life of Abigail Fenton, and a contemporary setting that follows Rachel Gardener. This provocative and inspirational book deals with subjects such as marriage, family relationships and the horrors of the slave trade. It is a story of love, compassion, courage and redemption with a strong Christian message.
Rachel, a marine archaeologist, returns to Cumbria from a lonely childhood after the death of his father to study a shipwreck off the coast of Whitehaven. Not much remains of the ship, but it appears to have been a slave trader when part of the Mirror Oris was found, and Abigail Fenton and her husband's when part of the man's gold watch was found. Leads to interest in James.
I like how Jane Hutton, always fascinated by unraveling mysteries, befriends a lonely and confused Rachel.
The story of Abigail's difficult marriage runs in parallel...
This book is really worth reading and the first three in the series. It is highly recommended to be read in conjunction with the book, but can also stand on its own. A very satisfying end to a great series! This was more spiritual in nature, not as good as others, but as a fan of Christian fiction, I loved it. was fascinating (and heartbreaking about the injustices of the slave trade). Hewitt successfully navigates the timeline of the duel. The modern plot was also heartwarming and engaging. I loved this whole series!!

#NetGalley #bookstagram #bookreview #goodreads @bookouture
The Last book in the series

A very satisfying ending to a fabulous series! This one felt more spiritual in nature, which the others did not have to this degree, but as a fan of Christian fiction, I loved it. Hearing about Wesley and the abolitionist movement was fascinating (and heartbreaking the injustice of the slave trade). Hewitt really does navigate duel timelines well. The modern storyline was also heartfelt and captivating. I simply loved this whole series!! Devoured it in a week!
Thanks to #NetGalley and #Bookouture for the ARC.

This is number four in the Goswell Quartet and was again another good read. This time based in England in 1766 and then as a dual timeline is based in the present as well. The story of a woman, a shipwreck and a child.

This is a very interesting read especially the historical part of the story. But I did find it a little bit lengthy and found that it was really two separate stories that where connected by the shipwreck.

A good read and enjoyable for the most part. There were things I did and didn't like about the story but overall it was an interesting subject and a well written book.

THE WIDOW’S SECRET is the fourth novel in the Goswell Quartet by KATE HEWITT. The series is well finished off with two stories, one in the eighteenth century where we follow the life of Abigail Fenton, and one in the present where we follow Rachel Gardener. The book is exciting and inspirational and deals with subjects such as marriage and family relationships, and the horrors of the slave trade. It is a story about love, compassion, courage and redemption, with a strong Christian message running through it.
Rachel is a marine archeologist who goes back to Cumbria, where she had a lonely childhood after her father died, in order to investigate a ship wreck off Whitehaven. There is not much left of the ship, but when part of a speculum oris is found it seems that it was a slaver, and when part of a man’s gold watch is found it leads to her interest in Abigail Fenton and her husband .James.
I like the way Jane Hatton, who is always fascinated in uncovering a mystery, befriends the lonely and confused Rachel, whose unloving relationship with her mother and hero worship of her father, are having a bad effect on her marriage to the good natured chef, Anthony.
Running parallel is the story of Abigail’s difficult marriage….
It is a really worthwhile read and I highly recommend it, together with the first three books in the series, although it can easily stand alone.
I was given a free copy of the book by NetGalley from Bookouture. The opinions in this review are completely my own.

The last in this series of books based on Goswell, near Whitehaven. The one most disconnected from the other three and the best. This story grew on me as the two main characters in this duel timeline saga blossomed and flourished. The modern heroine was a broken p, frightened person who came to understand love and forgiveness in a much deeper way. The older heroine grew from a timid wife into a courageous abolitionist and member Wesley’s Methodist movement. She ha£ the courage to liberate and adopt a former slave and make her a daughter before the anti slavery movement got going. Inspiring.

I could not really get into this novel. It was a DNF for me. I was optimistic but it just fell flat for me honestly.

England, 1766: Abigail is happily married to James, a tobacco trader turned sea captain, and is looking forward to starting a family and settling down in Whitehaven, deep in the Lake District. But after a series of devastating losses, she finds herself in turmoil, with her future suddenly seeming unknown…

When James announces that he will captain a ship to Africa and then the Americas for a year, it sparks a series of surprising and heartbreaking events – involving some of the darkest evils in humanity’s history, and a tiny, terrified slave girl who’s brought back to England. This helpless child forces Abigail to reconsider everything she thought she knew – and will change her life forever…

Now: When a shipwreck is discovered off the coast of Cumbria, local expert Rachel is brought in to investigate. Her first thought is that this will be a perfect distraction from her troubled marriage and the memories of her past that she is desperate not to think about. But then it becomes clear the wreck is a slaving ship from the 1700s – one that was recorded as sinking in the Caribbean – and Rachel begins to wonder if there’s more to this terrible mystery than meets the eye.

Faced with uncertainty about both the past and present, can Rachel learn from Abigail’s extraordinary story and take the first step towards a brighter future of her own?

I’ve really enjoyed reading this series of four books! This book was sent to me electronically by Netgalley for review. Thanks to the publisher for the copy.

This book was sent to me electronically by Netgalley for review. Thanks to the publisher for the book. Historical fiction…dual timeline that works. Friends and family…love and romance. I liked this book. I really liked this series. The author is talented and gifted at weaving stories that mesh. This is the fourth in the series. Page turners. I could not stop reading…exceptional…I liked the unique concept that in finding one item…one clue…history was discovered. Imagine…a list…a death notice…amazing ideas…I look forward to reading more books from this author. I cannot wait to be transported again. In the meantime, cozy up in a comfy chair with a warm blanket..a cup of steaming herbal tea…a scone…escape and learn…

Hewiit’s Goswell trilogy concludes with the stories of Abigail in 1766 and Rachel in the present. Abigail’s tobacco importer husband, James announces he will be captaining a ship bound for Africa and then on to America. Slavery rears its ugly head and Abigail finds herself caring for a very young slave girl who’s been brought back to England. In the present, Rachel is called in to help investigate the discovery of a shipwreck off Cumbria, a ship that was a notorious slaver that was supposed to have sunk in the Caribbean. Needing a distraction from her failing marriage, Rachel gets caught up in the story and becomes determined to solve the mystery – why is this notorious ship here? Hewitt is a master at making her stories and characters come to life