I am a sucker for historical romance novels. This particular one was a bit predictable, but the romance was still sweet enough to keep pulling me in.

In The Housekeeper's Secret two servants, both with secret pasts, fall in love in the days before World War I, only to be torn apart by a vindictive villain — I eat that kind of thing up. You know how it ends, because it is a romance novel after all, but you can't help but root for Kate and Jem anyway. I also learned some things about downstairs life in pre-World War I England that I did not pick up on from my brief stint trying to watch Downton Abbey, so that's a bonus.

If you want to settle in with a historical fiction read that feels comforting in its familiarity, this is for you. Groundbreaking it is not, but it's moving nonetheless.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

Iona Grey's "The Housekeeper’s Secret" transports readers to the cusp of WWI in a tale rich with historical romance. The narrative is skillfully crafted, with well-developed characters that make the story resonate deeply. Though the conclusion seemed to arrive swiftly, it was gratifying to witness the resolution of various subplots. Set in the atmospheric Coldwell Manor, which exudes a hauntingly beautiful quality reminiscent of an untended Downton Abbey, the setting is vividly brought to life. The romance between Kate and Jem is compelling, drawing readers in despite the narrative's shifts in perspective and timeline. A blend of romance, mystery, and suspense ensures that this novel keeps you engaged, eager to uncover the fate of its characters.

Downton Abbey fan? Here is a novel for you!
Set in the early 1900's there is a clear split between the upstairs employers and the employees below. There are a lot of characters and dual timelines that confused me at times but I loved the detail and enjoyed learning more about life in that time. Kate, the housekeeper and Jem are the stand out characters as well live through WWI and many of life's moments as a mystery is spun through. It's truly captivating!

#stmartins #thehousekeeperssecret #ionagrey

The Housekeeper's Secret by Iona Grey was a magnificent historical fiction story!
With romance and exciting secrets I was utterly captivated from the very start.
The characters are fully fleshed out and feel so real.
Grey’s writing style was rich in detail, beautifully written and hugely absorbing.

Thank You NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

The Housekeeper's Secret by Iona Grey is a historical novel that covers many years and character perspectives. While it took me a bit to get into the novel I found the mystery very intriguing and it kept my interest. I loved the historical details Grey added and will definitely read more novels for Grey.

Wow! What a great historical romance. You can tell the author did their research for the time period, the amount of detail was incredible and really took me back to that time! The only downside was that there were so many characters and with the point of view switching, it got a bit confusing at times.

I tried reading this while I was sick and unfortunately I couldn’t get into it enough to keep going. I hate not finishing books but I just didn’t find it interesting enough.

I received an advanced copy from netgalley in exchange for a review and opinions are my own.

I enjoyed this book. I found it well written, and I liked the characters. It was a fast and enjoyable read. A must read!

Evocative of the upstairs/downstairs era. Seems like everyone has secrets, not just the housekeeper. Excellent characters, believable plot. Endearing characters too. Highly recommend.

The Housekeeper's Secret is a well written historical drama. Unfortunately it just wasn't quite my cup of tea. I struggled a bit with the changing perspectives, and it took some effort getting into the story at the start.

But the mystery was entertaining and kept me hooked. And the letters between Kate and Jem were well done

Overall, not my preference in style but an enjoyable story

This wasn’t my cup of tea, unfortunately. I really love historical fiction but I struggled to keep up with the changing character perspectives.

Who knew there could be so much drama at a remote Edwardian manor? The Housekeeper’s Secret centers around Kate, the beautiful, young housekeeper of the manor who harbors a huge secret. Her life is unremarkable until the elderly lord dies and his dreadful son becomes lord; introducing his even more evil valet to the manor. Also, a mysterious stranger, Jem, arrives out of nowhere and takes a position as a footman. Jem has a hidden agenda: to find out what happened to his younger brother when his employer was a guest at the manor. The last thing either Kate or Jem need is an illicit romance. However, their attraction cannot be denied.

The author does a terrific job of building suspense and moving the timeline of the story along by using alternating timelines: in letters written by Jem from the trenches along the front in World War I, and as they played out in the real time of the story—the summer of 1911. As the relationship between Kate and Jem developed, and answers to the mystery surrounding the night Jem’s brother went missing seem within reach, the revelations in Jem’s letters have the reader more and more anxious to find out what happened in those last days before Jem abruptly left the manor. And, what has become of Kate?

This is an excellent book. It is absorbing and perfectly paced with a satisfying ending. The insight into the inner workings of an Edwardian manor is interesting and seems very realistic. The majority of the characters are well developed and relatable. However, the evil characters are one dimensional and appear to be just thoroughly horrible people.

Wow! This was a very well-written book! I loved the alternating timelines; that perspective enabled the reader to get a fuller picture of what was happening without spoiling any of either storyline.

The characters were great - Kate and Jem were very well-rounded and realistic characters. Supporting characters of Henderson, Eliza, Susan, Joseph, Miss Dunn, and Mr. & Mrs. Gatley were fleshed out enough that they were "real" without overshadowing the main characters of Kate and Jem.

I found myself very caught up in the story and was invested until the end. This was a beautiful love story with elements that added lots of rich layers to make it a very enjoyable read. This is one that I would definitely enjoy rereading one day in the future; I enjoyed it that much!

I really enjoyed this novel about a woman who has fled from an abusive spouse and has created a new name and place for herself in a remote, quiet manor. But as regime changes take place and new residents open the house to the parties and glamor of the upper class during the run-up to WWI, new people threaten her secret. At the same time, one of these new faces searches for the truth about his brother's death on the same estate. Excellent mysteries expose the horrific hatred and malice of unchecked privilege.

I really loved this romantic historical novel!

It takes place during 1911 1919 on the verge of modernization. If you’re a fan of Downton Abbey, this has similar elements because of the time period and details the norms of both the staff downstairs and their upper class employers which I’ve always found fascinating..

I appreciate the author’s research into everyday life and the tasks required by those in service. Sometimes I’m tempted to romanticize an era but this book realistically portrays many of the difficulties of the time. Prior to indoor plumbing and motorized vehicles, the challenge for servants was brought to light through descriptions of hauling hot water upstairs for baths or reusing another person’s shampoo water. I shivered in sympathy as the frost lined the inside of the mansion’s windows during winter.

I loved how the characters were written and the two main protagonists Jem and Mrs Furtness stayed with me after I finished the book. It was an eclectic cast of many but not too difficult to keep straight including two villains I loved hating.

The one drawback to my reading experience was the constant use of parentheses disrupting the flow of the story and pulling me out of rhythm. I don’t know if the editing process will alter this aspect but I’m mentioning it because it occurred on nearly every page diminishing my experience. Otherwise, I loved the book!

Thank you to St Martin’s Press and NetGalley for my advance review copy. Set to publish August 13, 2024

I was enthralled by this story. It immediately sucked me in. The characters were complex and distinct, several harboring secrets that were revealed just slowly enough. I enjoyed the back and forth storytelling (between the summer of 1911 and WWI in 1916). The writing was beautiful, but not over the top and flowery. If you enjoy Downton Abbey and the like, you will enjoy this book.

Thank you Netgalley & St. Martin’s Press for an eARC ♥️♥️♥️

As a huge historical fiction fan, I was completely swept up in the story from the very first page. The way Iona Grey weaves together the threads of duty, desire, and deception is nothing short of masterful.

I adored Kate, the reserved and proper housekeeper, and my heart ached for her as she struggled to reconcile her feelings with the societal expectations of the time. And Jem, oh Jem! The brooding and mysterious footman who stole her heart. Their forbidden love affair had me on the edge of my seat, wondering if they'd ever find a way to be together.

The historical details were impeccably researched and added such depth to the story. I felt like I was right there in Coldwell Hall, surrounded by the opulence and grandeur of the Edwardian era. And the way the story unfolded, alternating between the past and the trenches of WWI, was simply brilliant.

In short, I'm utterly smitten with this book 🔥👍🏽

The Housekeeper’s Secret by Iona Grey is set in Northern England at an estate called Coldwell Hall. Kate Furniss is the head housekeeper and definitely keeps many secrets from the other servants and confides in a footmen, Jem, who has secrets of his own.

There was some suspense, a bit of romance, and lot of historical drama.
The book wasn’t easy for me to get into, but it was well-written. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The high number of POVs threw me off at first but it really was necessary to get all points of the story. After a certain point I really couldn’t put this down because I wanted to know what HAD happened and what was GOING to happen. It sort of reminded me of a more mysterious Downton Abbey.

As a fan of historical fiction, I was truly intrigued by the description of this book and excited to be given the chance to read the eArc. Unfortunately, this was a DNF for me. There were so many characters and the viewpoints changing throughout chapters, I found it confusing and I often could not follow along.

Thank-you Netgalley for the opportunity to read this eArc.