Kate Furniss, housekeeper at Coldwell Hall, runs a tight ship. Keeping the house running smoothly and keeping a tight reign on her staff and her heart is the way she keeps herself safe and hidden from the life she fled. Jem has spent years searching for answers to his little brother’s disappearance and all avenues have lead to Coldwell Hall. Both Kate and Jem have kept themselves isolated for years, but in each other they see a hope they had long given up. At an isolated estate packed with secrets and lies their story will play out.
This is definitely a slow burn novel, the story plays out over months, but it works well for this book. We also get small snippets of other characters lives and it adds an extra bit of suspense and depth. It’s a little bit mystery, a little bit romance and it is definitely worth keeping an eye out for. Hitting shelves August 13 2024.
Thank you to @ionagrey and @netgalley and @stmartinspress for letting me get into this book early in exchange for a review.
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Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of <i>The Housekeeper's Secret</i> in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

<h4 style="margin-top: 84px;">The Gist</h4>

<i>The Housekeeper's Secret</i> by Iona Grey promised an intriguing premise: a tale of secrets, lies, and the complex dynamics between the classes in post-war England. However, despite its potential, the novel falls short of delivering a satisfying reading experience.

<h4>The Details</h4>

One of the major drawbacks of <i>The Housekeeper's Secret</i> is its lackluster characters. The protagonist comes across as clichéd and one-dimensional, with her inner turmoil feeling forced rather than authentic. Similarly, the other characters fail to leave a lasting impression, lacking depth and complexity.

Furthermore, the plot feels contrived and predictable. The twists and turns that are meant to surprise the reader often feel telegraphed, robbing the narrative of any real tension or suspense. Instead of being drawn into the story, readers may find themselves growing increasingly disengaged as the plot unfolds in a formulaic manner.

Another issue with the novel is its pacing. The story drags on at a sluggish pace, making it difficult for readers to maintain interest. Scenes that should be filled with tension or emotion are instead bogged down by unnecessary detail, resulting in a narrative that feels bloated and unfocused. Also, I ha d a difficult time figuring when and where I am with respect to the timeline of the story. It seemed to be all over the place and jumping quite a bit.

Moreover, the writing style in <i>The Housekeeper's Secret</i> leaves much to be desired. While Grey's prose is serviceable, it lacks the elegance and finesse needed to truly bring the story to life. Dialogue often feels stilted and unnatural, hindering the development of meaningful connections between characters.

<h4>The Verdict</h4>

Overall, <i>The Housekeeper's Secret</i> fails to live up to its potential, offering a lackluster story with forgettable characters and a predictable plot. While it may appeal to fans of light historical fiction, readers seeking a more compelling and thought-provoking read would be better off looking elsewhere.

I couldn't get enough of this book. The Housekeeper's Secret was full of drama and I loved it. It was so well written, and the characters so well developed, it felt like I was right there in Caldwell Hall. I look forward to more books from Iona Grey.

Are you a Downton Abby fan that loved the drama downstairs? You will adore this book!

The Housekeeper’s Secret follows a young housekeeper in Edwardian England hiding from her past in a new life at an estate in the remote countryside. Her secrets prove hard to keep when a new footman arrives, bent on his own quest for revenge and discovering the truth of what happened to his missing brother years before at the decaying estate. Attraction between them is forbidden, not only by social and employment rules, but by what could unravel in their own dark stories if they give into it.

This book kept me on my toes and oh so excited to keep picking up. A woman with a secret past she needs to keep hidden, a man seeking revenge, a British mansion in Edwardian England, a forbidden romance… this has it all.

I enjoyed the romance and the tension, as well as the wonderfully developed characters. I loved the narration that went back and forth between the past at the estate and the present during WWI. You can tell the author did a lot of research for the historical facts as well, and the historical detailing was a delight for historical fiction fans. The suspense as you peeled back the layers of what happened in the past and put together how the story meets back up during the war years was masterfully done.

Overall, this was a wonderful story that I won’t soon forget! I’d highly recommend this book for fans of Kate Morton, Downtown Abby-esque period dramas, and gothic houses.

The perfect historical fiction that I needed in my life. Although the pace was a little too slow and uneventful for me at times, I thought this was such a beautifully written story that I will highly recommend to my audience.

* Full review and link will be updated closer to pub date.

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

"The Housekeeper's Secret" by Iona Grey is a captivating and poignant novel that kept me enthralled from beginning to end. Grey's exquisite storytelling and vivid descriptions transported me to the windswept moors of Northern England, where duty, desire, and deception intertwine to create a mesmerizing tale of love and sacrifice.

What I loved most about this book was its richly drawn characters and intricate plot. Kate Furniss, the housekeeper of Coldwell Hall, is a compelling protagonist whose guarded facade slowly unravels as she navigates the complexities of love and loyalty in the face of societal expectations and personal desires. The forbidden romance between Kate and the mysterious footman, Jem Arden, is both passionate and heartbreaking, and I found myself rooting for their happiness against all odds.

Grey's skillful use of alternating timelines adds depth and suspense to the narrative, as we are transported from the sun-drenched summer of 1911 to the mud-filled trenches of World War I. The contrast between these two periods highlights the enduring power of love and the sacrifices made in the name of duty and honor.

"The Housekeeper's Secret" is a book that kept me up at night, as I eagerly turned the pages to uncover the secrets hidden within Coldwell Hall and the hearts of its inhabitants. The emotional depth of the story stayed with me long after I finished reading, leaving me pondering the complexities of love and the resilience of the human spirit.

Overall, "The Housekeeper's Secret" is a masterpiece of historical fiction that will appeal to fans of romance, drama, and intrigue. Iona Grey has crafted a five-star novel that is sure to captivate readers and linger in their minds for years to come.

I wasn’t sure what to think of this book when I finished. I like that some of the characters had back stories or current situations, but I would have liked to have seen more. There are several characters that are mentioned throughout the whole book but you never learn much about them. There were times when the story would jump to another character’s experience but it wasn’t always clear which character it was at first, which would cause confusion, especially with Jem’s letters. The story didn’t flow very well.

This is a good book for people who enjoy historical fictions! I am having a hard time getting into books that take place years and years ago.

The novel takes place between 1911 and 1919 and melds the worlds between pre and during World War I. Kate has many secrets. She is the lead housekeeper, but has no past employment as a housekeeper, she also holds more secrets that come to light throughout the novel.

Jem is the footman who comes to work in Coldwell Hall, with his own set of secrets that unfold during the story.

I enjoyed the descriptions and setting described by the author, but found myself lost a couple times trying to determine if it was before, during, or at some points, after WWI.

I would recommend this to someone interested in a turn-of-the-century novel for relaxation, not necessarily for the historical accurate fiction.

I was given the opportunity to read this book by NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.

This is a historical fiction set in 1911 about the head Housekeeper. It is slow at the beginning and takes a while to get into in my opinion. If you like Downton Abbey you may also like this book as it does have similar aspects. The ending was good, but I wish the story would have picked up a bit earlier in the book.

The Housekeeper’s Secret by Iona Grey is a romantic historical novel told in dual timelines of the First World War frontlines and a manor named Caldwell Hall in northern England that has seen better days.Kate Forniss is head housekeeper at Caldwell Hall and she has secrets.So does her romantic interest Jen Arden who is the handsome footman.There is an awful villain who is the valet of the errant son of the manor.There are differing points of view and suspense!You will enjoy your time at Caldwell Hall!Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for allowing me to read this ARC!

Tropes:
💫 Forbidden Love
💫 Multiple POV
💫 Dual Timeline
💫 Deception
💫 Mysterious

•In the crumbling manor of Coldwell Hall, Kate finds herself as a housekeeper, holding strong to her professional persona so well that even she starts to believe the character she’s created.

•During this time, a new intriguing man arrives that Kate can’t seem to look away from. And as things start to open up, so do feelings that Kate must fight away.

•Her control seems to be slipping and soon her heart bursts open for a man she shouldn’t be feeling anything for. And all while mystery’s in the secluded manor are emerging. Something sinister is going on…

💬 I had a difficult time concentrating and staying engaged in a big portion of the beginning due to the multiple perspectives and dual timelines. It turned me away several times but I kept pushing on. This is a book out of my general choice so for me I wouldn’t say I really loved it.

I am a historical fiction fan, and even more so if the book has a gothic feel. I went into this book expecting that vibe. There were just too many characters in this. The first 20% or so of the book had my mind so boggled with characters that I felt like I could not continue. I wanted to love this, but didn't.

Loved it!
Wonderfully written story of forbidden love and unknown secrets within Coldwell Hall in Northern England. The characters of Kate and Jem are very well-developed as are the sadistic bad guys. The story held my interest the entire time, and the ending worked perfectly. Thank you, Iona Grey and St. Martin's Press, for the ARC and the chance to give my honest opinion. Highly recommended!

I enjoyed this book. It was a bit slow at times but it did have a good ending and it kept me wanting to read and not put the book down. The setting was great but there was a lot of jumping around between characters and it took away from the main story. But this still was a great mystery romance! Thank you to Netgalley, Iona Grey and St. Martin's Press for an arc of this in exchange for an honest review.

I adore Iona Grey's books, and have been so excited for The Housekeeper's Secret since first hearing about it! Let me tell you, it didn't disappoint. While not quite as wrenching in the way The Glittering Hour was (but really, such a top tier book its hard to beat), I still found myself engrossed and staying up late to finish just that one more chapter. Iona has a beautiful way with words, and sets a scene straight out of a Robert Altman period drama.

Behind the ivy covered walls of elite universities whispers of secret societies pass among the students. In Society of Lies those secret societies are a reality at the esteemed Princeton University and their members don’t know what it means to be told no. The story follows dual timelines of sisters Maya and Naomi, both students at Princeton, both part of the extra elusive Grayscale Society. While the society brings access to opportunities and social connections they could never procure on their own, it also brings the expectation that its members turn a blind eye to the more nefarious ongoings of the group. Both sisters find themselves in a dark web of lies while trying to uncover the depth of the secrets and not everyone will make it out alive.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review. It took a while for this book to pick up steam but the last third captured my attention and I was pleased with the ending that definitely surprised me. At times the dual perspective and changing timeframe was confusing and I had to stop and pay attention to whose narrative it was and the year. I’m not sure how the author could have cleaned it up but I think that would help with some of the pacing challenges. Overall an enjoyably disturbing thriller.

For people who like Upstairs Downstairs and Downton Abbey, this book will probably appeal to you. Set in the time period of WWI, the reader meets the characters of an isolated home in England (both the family and the staff). One of the main characters, the house keeper, harbors a secret about who she really is, the other main character, a recently hired servant, is looking for clues to his brother's disappearance. The book is a really slow read, I struggled with it but eventually finished it. I did find the parts involving the damage inflicted on the soldiers during the war interesting. I will not be recommending this book.

This was a hard book to get through. It was very slow. There were SO many characters, it was hard to keep track of who was who. When the point of view changed, the chapters were not labeled it was very confusing. I muddled through and found it very predictable. I enjoyed the historical fiction throughout the book, but overall, not for me.

I really enjoyed this book. It was different than anything else I've read recently. I couldn't put it down! I will keep an eye out for this author's future work!