Secrets

by Lesley Pearse

Can truth stay hidden for ever?

Set in the 1930's, the classic novel from bestselling author Lesley Pearse tells the story of one girl's struggle against cruelty and, her quest for love.

Twelve-year-old Adele Talbot's unhappy mother Rose succumbs to madness after a family tragedy and Adele is placed in a bleak children's home. But when her trust is betrayed she runs away - hoping to find her grandmother in Sussex.

By the time she does so, Adele is desperately ill and has to be nursed back to health among the beautiful Rye Marshes. And then she meets the wonderful Michael Bailey.

As friendship blossoms into love and they come of age together - Adele becoming a nurse and Michael joining the RAF - she believes she can put her troubled past behind her. But with the outbreak of war and the sudden appearance of Rose, bearing shocking family secrets, suddenly all of Adele's hopes appear impossibly fragile ...

Genres: Romance, Historical Fiction, Fiction, Historical, Drama, Chick Lit, Ebooks

548 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2004

About the author

Lesley Pearse is one of the UK's best-loved novelists with fans across the globe and sales of over 2 million copies of her books to date. A true storyteller and a master of gripping storylines that keep the reader hooked from beginning to end, Pearse introduces you to characters that it is impossible not to care about or forget. There is no formula to her books or easily defined genre. Whether crime as in 'Till We Meet Again', historical adventure like 'Never Look Back', or the passionately emotive 'Trust Me', based on the true-life scandal of British child migrants sent to Australia in the post war period, she engages the reader completely.
Truth is often stranger than fiction and Lesley's life has been as packed with drama as her books. She was three when her mother died under tragic circumstances. Her father was away at sea and it was only when a neighbour saw Lesley and her brother playing outside without coats on that suspicion was aroused - their mother had been dead for some time. With her father in the Royal Marines, Lesley and her older brother spent three years in grim orphanages before her father remarried - a veritable dragon of an ex army nurse - and Lesley and her older brother were brought home again, to be joined by two other children who were later adopted by her father and stepmother, and a continuing stream of foster children. The impact of constant change and uncertainty in Lesley's early years is reflected in one of the recurring themes in her books: what happens to those who are emotionally damaged as children. It was an extraordinary childhood and in all her books, Lesley has skilfully married the pain and unhappiness of her early experiences with a unique gift for storytelling.

Reviews

[Phoenix Perpetuale · Rating 5 out of 5]

Secrets by Lesley Pears was an intriguing read. It was neatly written.
I liked the plot of the book which traditionally was about several generations, of love, sacrifice and bravery. War and how it made different social classes tolerant of each other.

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Honour is my favourite fictional granny!
A bit predictable but enjoyable.

The twelve years old Adele is sent to a caring house after her witnessing the death of her eight years old sister in a car accident, her mother lost control and tried to kill Adele and her father. Her father abandoned them then and Adele went to Mr. Makepeace's house.
Mr.Makepeace tried to rape her, so Adele ran away to her grandmother and lived there. She met that incredible boy Michael Bailey and became friends with him until they fall in love with each other. Her mother returned and the WWII began and things started to change drastically.

I really enjoyed this story and the audiobook and I continued to reading it because it was such an easy read.
I could predict some stuff but others were shocking. Adele was sometimes a little bit annoying.

This novel discuss child rape in foster houses and post-partum depression and the drawbacks of war on people, social classes and economy, so it's a heavy story although being romantic.
I loved it and definitely recommend it.

[Maria João (A Biblioteca da João) · Rating 5 out of 5]

9 de 10*

Opinião:
https://abibliotecadajoao.blogspot.co...

[Lisa Forge · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read the majority of Lesley's books and there isn't one that I don't struggle to put down. This was no exception. I love the way the book takes you through different eras of Adele's life, with so many twists and likeable characters.

[Joshita ❤ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book a while ago and I am rating it on my experience of reading it back then.

For most of the readers, Harry Potter or Percy Jackson books are the ones that introduce them to the reading world. But for me, it was this book! Yup, you read it right, it was this not so popular book.

Back then, I wasn't into reading and wouldn't even go to the 'novels' section of my school library but one day I decided to pick up a random book and force myself to read it.
And the next thing I know is I wanna read more!

This book is about a girl who is faced with a cruel life and destiny at the mere age of 12 that she is sent to a children's home but due to the mishaps that happen there, she runs away.
Ill and lost she knocks on the door of her grandmother that she had never met before for help. And that is when she finds her new home. But life still doesn't get easy for her after all. With war growing overhead and her love for a boy growing even more. Terrible secrets start to come to the surface when the mother who left her as a child comes back into her life carrying secrets that were better kept under the surface.

This book follows our main character adele from the age of 12 till the time she grows into a woman. We see her grow as an individual and we see her journey as she tries to figure out her life in the midst of war. It was such a beautiful story set in the 1900s that I feel in love with at the very first instant.

This book holds such a special place in my heart that with every other bestseller I read I won't forget this random pick that I chose by chance from a library. Which indeed changed my life by introducing me to the reading community.

There is no hesitation when I say people should read this gem. I don't know how I would feel if I read it now but I am sure I would still enjoy it. So believe me when I say you should read it...might become your next favorite!

[Tita · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sou fã dos livros de Lesley Pearse e, por isso, fiquei muito empolgada com este novo livro e, a verdade, é que, uma vez mais, a autora conquistou-me.
A nossa protagonista é Adele, que com 12 anos e após um acontecimento trágico, a mãe é afastada e a jovem é colocada numa instituição. Mas, uma vez mais, Adele fica em perigo e acaba por fugir para tentar chegar a casa da avó.
Que história incrível! Tive tanta mas tanta vontade de proteger Adele e de a abraçar! E, fez-me chorar tantas vezes! 
É impossível não gostar de Adele, que apesar de tão jovem, é tão madura! 
Uma história bem dura mas que aborda tema importantes como abusos a crianças; depressões pós-parto; sequelas da guerra e o seu impacto, não só nos próprios homens que regressam, mas também as suas famílias; e com vários segredos que se vão descobrindo. Mas também uma história de amor e superação.

Vejam a minha opinião mais detalhada em vídeo, AQUI.

[Lisa Guiry · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐️3.5 🌟

[Daniela Maciel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Segredos acaba por ser uma história familiar, uma vez que vamos conhecer partes da história da avó da Adele e da sua mãe.

Opinião completa: https://quandoseabreumlivro.blogspot....

[Tricia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book. It is a bit of romance but I thought it was mostly it was about the strength of women.

[Hemapriya Thoppen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Entertaining read

[DayDreamer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Adele didn't seem to have her own unique voice. Other than her caring nature and her bravery to tell upper-class snobs where to stick it, she didn't really have anything else about her. She wasn't funny, quirky, bossy, weird, talkative, or troublesome. She was made from the same cookie-cutter as Rosie, Hope and the one from Father Unknown; the same kind of girls that don't have many flaws, pet peeves, or anything to distinguish them from one another. For this reason, I was a bit disappointed as I am usually captivated by the author's characters.

After a horrific past, I did not expect Adele to reconcile with a certain family member. It alluded to the fact that if you have a mental illness, then it's okay to treat other people like crap. I understand that it takes strength to forgive, make amends, and move on, but to the point of admitting that she began to like this person and even love her! Although people change - that much is for sure (and it happened during the war, which would be unimaginable to someone like me)- this certain somebody seemed to have changed beyond belief. Maybe I'm just too much of a pessimist to believe that someone could change behaviour, viewpoint and language to the point of being unrecognisable.

The plot was also predictable, and I hated the ending. I most definitely agree that ignorance is bliss, but come on! After all that man had been through, the least he deserved was the truth. And, judging by his caring and accepting nature, I really, really, really doubted he would care that much at all. He wasn't a snob; he treated his servants well; he was the first one to admit his parents faults to Adele, even saying that despite all this money, his family weren't kind and happy people at the best of times. Maybe in a year or so they could reveal it, but it read like they never would! How could you love and marry a man and keep that a secret...I know lies can be merciful, but it would eat me up inside and eventually disrupt the relationship.

[Annie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved this book. It is one of those books where you really care about the characters and what is happening to them. There are some horrible parts in it but they are part of the story so you have to just try and get past it, and they are written in a way that isn't too upsetting for people who have been through the same thing themselves. I have read other Lesley Pearse books and really enjoyed those too so I think I will definitely look out for more of her books to read.

[Paula Mills · Rating 5 out of 5]

I first read this book ten years ago. I picked it up again a couple of days ago and finished it in a few hours. It’s a heart warmer and one of the best granny characters I’ve read. It feels slightly old in style now, but LP prose stands up to the test of time ( as a memorable storyteller can ) and her unforgettable characters outsmart current trends by a long shot. I’m about to jump into ‘Faith’ another LP thick, bath time avec Vino read .

[M João (Livros?gosto) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Opinião em:



https://youtu.be/V6l52uWspac

[Paula Ferreira · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5*

[Dark-Draco · Rating 4 out of 5]

You know what you're going to get with one of Pearse's books - a young woman with a traumatic past, overcoming the odds with pluck and determination, to make it in the world, fall in love and have a happy ending. That's not a bad thing - it's like eating comfort food on a cold and icy winter day!

This one is no different - Adele's mother is cruel and neglectful, lavishing all her attention on her younger sibling. But when the child dies, Adele is blamed and ends up being taken into care when her Mother tries to murder her. But in care, she is abused by one of the home owners and ends up running away to track down a grandmother she only knows about from a single letter she found amongst her mother's stuff.

Making a new life in the country, she falls in love with a son of the local gentry, who seems to return the feelings. Despite the disapproval from his family, they become ever closer - and even when they move away (one to train as a nurse, one joining the RAF), their relationship blossoms.

But both sides of the family hide secrets that threaten their happiness. And as the bombs drop on London and life is made harder, those secrets are forced into the open with the potential to destroy them all.

To be honest, there is nothing very original hear - you can guess where it's going and how the 'happy' ending will eventually come about. But it's thoroughly entertaining getting there. Pearse's characters are always well written and you can't help but feel close to them as they move through life - sometimes liking them, sometimes really not!

I would question the historical accuracy of some it - just occasionally a character would say something about the war that I don't think they'd know about. But it's no problem to gloss over these occasional hiccups when it doesn't feel quite right.

Entertaining, sad in places, overall uplifting - recommended reading.

[Joana Macedo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it!!
One of her best books .

[João Pedro · Rating 5 out of 5]

Uma Lesley sendo Lesley!
Só mesmo as últimas 2 páginas é que deixa um bocadinho a desejar... mas enfim :)

[Sue Hull · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this story, sad but such a lovely ending

[Paula Gomes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Um livro agradável, cheio de acontecimentos e q prende- a avó, uma força da natureza- despertou a vontade de ir conhecer a zona dos pântanos

[Jane Woodcock · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice book. One I would recommend for my granny. An easy read. Set in war time. Make me smile, and also making me want certain things to not happen and to happen.

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easy to read chic-book. A bit predictable but I enjoyed it.

[Menna · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 🌟

[Roberta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bellissimo polpettone romantico, Segreti inizia negli anni Trenta, protagonista Adele Talbot, una ragazzina apparentemente insignificante ma in realtà con un gran cuore. Adele vive in una famiglia che non le dà per nulla amore, la cocca di casa è la sorellina Pamela. Quando Pamela muore in un incidente stradale, la madre, Rose, impazzisce e aggredisce sia il marito che la figlia, incolpando quest'ultima di averle rovinato la vita. Adele scopre in questo frangente di essere il frutto di una relazione precedente il matrimonio della madre. Quando Rose a causa della sua condizione viene ricoverata in ospedale psichiatrico, il marito si rifiuta di occuparsi di Adele, che viene pertanto mandata in una casa famiglia.

Da qui iniziano le vicissitudine di Adele, che cerca di costruirsi una vita con il suo vero amore, ma il segreto della sua nascita illegittima torna a colpire e per anni sembra che ad Adele sia preclusa la vera felicità.

Bellissimo, mi ha coinvolto e affascinato in ogni sua pagina, lo consiglio!

[Laura Redondo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Este livro tem todas as coisas que gosto na escrita de Lesley Pearse. Personagens interessantes e bem construídas; uma história envolvente, e mesmo com os lapsos temporais, não perdemos nenhum detalhe importante; alguns acontecimentos inesperados; temas pouco abordados e uma lição para a vida.

No entanto, em comparação com outros livros, este fica um pouco atrás. Consegui descobrir grande parte dos acontecimentos antes de eles acontecerem e o fim deixou um pouco a desejar.

É um bom livro para quem quer descontrair de uma história mais pesada, e uma ótima maneira para descobrir a escrita de Lesley Pearse, se estão à procura de algo mais leve. Com certeza irei continuar a acompanhar o seu trabalho, sendo uma das minhas escritoras preferidas.

[Caroline · Rating 4 out of 5]

I usually enjoy stories that take us through last century history and involve a generation of a family and this one tells a good story. It opens quite strongly and tells the sad tale of a little girl who seems to be unloved and unwanted. She is sent to a home where inevitably one of the "parents" abuses her so she runs away to her Grandmother's house, someone she's never met and who didn't know of her existence. The story turns a corner and good news starts before winding us into a tale that revolves around the war and days when life was tough. It's a nice, easy read to take on holiday.

[Tracey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another treasure of a book by Lesley Pearse. This story had me gripped from the first page and as the story went on I became quite attached to the main characters.The characters are so well described that I could easily see them in my mind as I read. This book, as with other Lesley Pearse books, deals with several issues, the ones that will remain with me are grief, abuse and barriers of social class. As the title suggests, there are secrets aplenty at the heart of this captivating book.

[Zézinha Rosado · Rating 4 out of 5]

Um livro bem ao estilo que a autora já nos habituou, onde as personagens fortes são sempre mulheres e em que a história está repleta de emoções, segredos e encontros e desencontros amorosos.
Ao fundo temos o cenário de guerra e a consequente destruição que trouxe à vida das personagens.
Uma vez mais a autora consegue descrever perfeitamente cenários, emoções e sentimentos, que nos fazem ganhar verdadeira empatia com as personagens.
Leitura ideal para as tardes de praia...

[raheema · Rating 5 out of 5]

How should I start?
This book is a whirlwind of confusion & love , I haven't read it in so long but what I do remember is the beautiful love shared between Michael & Adele. How I always wished I'd find someone like him :3

[Kiera · Rating 3 out of 5]

went on a lesley pearce binge here, always good author for an easy but exciting read