The Housekeeper's Secret

This uses the historical elements perfectly to use the deception perfectly. I enjoyed how engaging the story was and how the characters interacted with each other and the plot of the book. Iona Grey has a great writing style that I enjoyed going through the book. It had a great romance overall and thought it worked with everything that I wanted.

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

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!

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 🔥👍🏽