A Secret Woman: A Novel

by Rose Solari

Louise Terry is the quintessential, modern American woman; a successful and independent artist, sexually liberated and head strong, she’s determined to carve out a life for herself where her painting comes first and where she can avoid messy romantic entanglements. But when her estranged mother, Margaret, dies, leaving a box of documents, photos, and journals, Louise discovers in its contents a new and very different woman from the one who raised her. This Margaret was admired by Catholic priests and Wiccan priestesses alike for her spiritual gifts and was working, at the time of her death, on assembling her visions of a 12th-century cross-dressing woman mystic who not only managed to infiltrate the male bastion of Glastonbury Abbey, but who instigated the tragic fire that burned it to the ground in 1184. Determined to pursue the fragments her mother left behind, Louise travels to England where she meets a cast of characters whom she must depend on to find her way. Blurring the boundaries between past and present, between the body and the spirit, between female and male, this page-turning mystery is a sexy romp through time and space, a profound meditation on the mother-daughter connection, and an enlightening exploration of what it means to make love, to make art, and to make a life worth living.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Historical Fiction

320 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2012

Reviews

[Kristen · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. I really enjoyed this one. The plot was interesting - a modern painter learning about her dead mother through a manuscript she bequeathed to her. The visionary Margaret of Evesham was intriguing and I rather wished she had been real. I've always been fascinated by female visionaries and mystics. I liked, too, the connection to goddess worship, another interest I have, even if I think all religion is bull.

Despite an interesting plot, I felt that nearly all the characters lacked any real development, though. Louise was naturally the person we knew the best but her growth was minimal until near the very end, and then it seemed contrived. Brother Paul had awesome potential but then disappeared for the vast majority of the book. Other figures appeared as needed and seemed too convenient for the plot, as was the conclusion.

Even though I felt there were some pretty big flaws, I still really liked this story and would recommend it.

[Sarah Libby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Provocative and evocative. A very good, though dense, read.

[Michelle Deroche · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ok, I have a crazy habit of walking down a library row and just plucking random books off the shelf, sometimes this works in my favor, other times not so much! Well, this time it worked, and then some! I am so glad to have grabbed A Secret Woman by Rose Solari! You won't be disappointed with this book. There is such a mixture of emotions that go along with it. You get to watch a back seat view of a woman go through emotions ranging from anger, forgiveness and finally understanding all in one book!

[Janice]

DNF Mar 20, 2024

[Dee · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'd like to give it 3 1/2 stars, but don't see that option! It took me a bit to get into this book with its separate story lines - and it didn't help that I wasn't too impressed with the main character! But both she and the story(ies) grew on me as I continued reading! In recommending this book, I'd offer the reader the caveat that it does take a bit to "get into" it - and, while I liked the "happy ending" with all the loose ends nicely tied up, I was, at the same time, left a bit dissatisfied. Life just doesn't work that way!!!

[Lianne · Rating 1 out of 5]

The Goodreads description is full of spoilers...any surprises are mentioned there. It's like seeing the best parts of the movie in the trailer. The workmanlike writing doesn't compensate.