A Secret Garden Affair: From the Sunday Times bestselling author comes the most captivating new historical romance and family drama of 2023, perfect for fans of Sally Page!

Product Information

Whilst I enjoyed how the disrupted timeline helped to answer questions raised in the plot, I would have preferred seeing this develop more naturally, rather than jumping around. s!) which is unusual for me as tend to prefer the more historical side but that is where I found myself getting lost. With plenty of well developed characters, excellent storytelling and a few twists to hold your interest, A Secret Garden Affair is a compelling read.

James does a sterling job of dropping little hints about the secrets that Elfirda and Bess have been keeping over the years, but does not reveal the full truth until almost the end of the story. She's just gone through her own heartache so wants to be far away as possible from all the celebrations! At Larkspur House, with its magical garden created by renowned garden designer and one-time socialite Elfrida Ambrose, and its comfortingly familiar kitchen presided over by Libby’s great-aunt Bess, she hopes to find a way to put her life back together. Alice Shoemaker habitually goes to great lengths to avoid telling the truth about herself and her past.I hadn't read any so when the opportunity arose to read this one, I took it, partly through nostalgia, I have to admit. have all been really enjoyable, but I found that this one didn’t capture my heart in quite the same way. The protagonist of this novel is Libby who seeks refuge, after learning that her fiancé has cheated on her, with her elderly relative Bess and Bess’ lifelong friend Elfrida, whence we encounter secrets, deception, heartbreak, loyalty and love.

Written in both the past and the present, which is a departure for James, it tells the stories of Libby, Elfrida and Bess and the intricate nature of their relationship. They say that they will not able to recover from their childhood embarrassments because of the compulsion of their mother.

Ali Anderson is determined to stand on her own two feet -- even if it means spending Christmas alone. It's the summer of 1939, and after touring an unsettled Europe to promote her latest book, Romily Temple ret. The country is working itself into a frenzy in the run-up to the royal wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer, but the last thing Libby wants to think about is weddings. There's a mother who insists her daughter marries a man who has slept with someone else, and the man himself who thinks it's perfectly fine.

As the country prepares to celebrate Prince Charles’ wedding to Lady Diana, Libby wants to be as far away from royal wedding fever as possible after catching her own fiancé in bed with her best friend just weeks before they were due to marry, she’s fled London for the comfort of the Suffolk countryside. Libby heads to Larkspur House looking for stability as a time when she cannot trust her own feelings, but little does she know that former socialite Elfrida and her close friend (and her former lady's maid) Bess have been keeping secrets from her too. After that, she won a lot more success in her career as readers all over the world began noticing her work and reading her novels with more interest.

There's a big old house, left to Elfrida, and there's a Count who provides caviar and a special champagne from his brother's vault, on a boat, during a date. That is why she often indulges in a conversation with unknown people with the hope that she will unearth something useful out of it that can be used in her writing material. A glorious summer story which sizzles with passion: idyllic location, compelling characters and lives so . Libby, a woman whose wedding plans are cancelled when she finds out her fiance is cheating on her, and her great aunt, Bess, who has worked for the third main character, Elfrida, for the best part of her life. The novel then from that point drift back to previous years through both Elfrida and Bess using their memories of events.

Their friendship was so endearing as the devastation both women have experienced even though they were from different walks of life the one thing they could rely on without any hesitation was each other. With a caring husband, David, and two lively children, she took an active part in both family and village life. Mia Channing appears to have an enviable life: a beautiful home, a happy marriage, a job she enjoys and three grown-up children to whom she’s devoted. The storyline moves between the present with Libby healing and learning more about Bess and Elfrida, and to the past which follows the friendship that blossomed between Elfrida who was lady of the house and Bess who was the hired help. The story plays out in the present from the point of view of Libby, Elfrida and Bess, while also delving into the past lives of Elfrida and Bess from the time of their meeting in the 1920s.Elfrida Ambrose has supported heself and the upkeep of Larkspur House designing gardens in England and overseas for many wealthy people , and over the years Bess travelled with her as her ladies maid. You really get a sense with these women that they're having to deal with losing trust in people and are fearful of being deceived again, which makes it very difficult to move on and trust new people that come into their lives. With this engaging story taking place over 60 years, A Secret Garden Affair really deserves the title ‘a sweeping epic’. Charlotte Lawrence is consumed by guilt - after months of agonising she finally asked her workaholic husband for a divorce. The multi-narration works well, and the nod to historical events, such as Charles and Diana's wedding helps to ground the narrative and provide a hook for the reader.