His Brother's Wife

The Maid's Secret #1

by Val Wood

1860. Harriet Miles is trying to take care of her seriously ill mother, and just when she thinks things couldn’t get any worse she is fired from her job at the hostelry. The last thing she expects after her mother dies is a marriage proposal from a man she barely knows, but her only alternative is the workhouse. And so begins her new life with Noah Tuke. But instead of marital bliss, Harriet finds herself in the cramped farmhouse which Noah calls home, and in this overcrowded and angry household she meets with hostility and bitterness. The only person who offers her friendship is Noah’s brother, Fletcher. Gradually she learns the true reasons behind Noah’s desire to marry her—and realizes that the only person she finds real companionship with is the person she can’t possibly be with…

352 pages, Paperback

First published November 7, 2013

About the author

Valerie Wood

Since winning the Catherine Cookson Prize for Fiction for her first novel, The Hungry Tide, Val Wood has become one of the most popular authors in the UK. Born in the mining town of Castleford, Val came to East Yorkshire as a child and has lived in Hull and rural Holderness where many of her novels are set. She now lives in the market town of Beverley. When she is not writing, Val is busy promoting libraries and supporting many charities. Find out more about Val Wood's novels by visiting her website: www.valeriewood.co.uk

Reviews

[Joan Norris Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

HIGHLY recommend! I actually read this book as an audiobook - the narrator was outstanding, which made the story very authentic to time & place. The storyline grabs you, and the mystery unravels throughout. Toward the end, you really start to feel some empathy toward Noah Tuke and even his father, Nathaniel, as secrets are uncovered. Loved the ending, especially the closing words.

[ReadAlongWithSue recovering from a stroke★⋆. ࿐࿔ · Rating 3 out of 5]

I usually love reading Val Woods books, but whilst reading this, I couldn't get rid of the Déjà vu feeling, a feeling that I have read this book before or something similar.

I can't say I was disappointed exactly, just that there a 'sameness' about it.

[Ann M.]

I enjoyed it but did find it quite predictable.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

i enjoyed this book, but found it to be predictable, maybe im reading too many books that all head for the same outcome..good read all the same..

[Cherrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

From start to finish, His Brother’s Wife is an utterly captivating read—I simply couldn’t put it down. The story draws you in instantly, with immersive characters that keep you engaged throughout.

Unlike some sagas that take time to build momentum, this novel dives straight into the action. The pacing is fast, packed with events and twists that keep the reader hooked. Every character evokes strong emotions, especially Noah—who, despite being unlikeable for much of the book, becomes compelling towards the end.

The plot is filled with unexpected turns, making for a gripping read with just the right chapter lengths to keep the pages turning. This is far from a slow or predictable novel—it keeps you engaged the whole way through.

I couldn’t fault anything in this book, and I’m eagerly anticipating the next instalment featuring Fletcher and Harriet—my favourite characters. I’m looking forward to seeing how their journey unfolds further!

[Shirley Dawson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book I've read by Val Wood. I thoroughly enjoyed the story and the characters were quite believable. I've yet to read a book where I didn't at least partly guess the outcome and this was no different. As an author I know it is extremely difficult to keep the reader in the dark and unsuspecting and I believe very few authors succeed in unpredictability. However, Val Wood's few hidden secrets were released slowly throughout the story which turned it quite successfully into a bit of a page turner. There are a few more comments I would have added, but when writing reviews I never know quite how much to say without spoilers, so I'll let the readers come to their own conclusions.

However, for those who like this kind of genre and reading about the trials and hardship faced by many young people in the late 19th century, I would definitely recommend this one.

[LAURA JONES · Rating 4 out of 5]

its hard to imagine now what life must have been like in the late 1800s early 1900s but reading these books is a real education. a single girl must have been really struggling and must have had to make a lot of desperate choices.
Harriet Miles works in a hostelry and is struggling to look after her dying mother. one of the customers makes her a suggestion that she marry him. its a choice between that and the work house so Harriet agrees to the wedding.
the household she goes to is a place of conflict and anger apart from Fletcher her husbands brother. Harriet wants to be with him but knows she cant.
this is a really good interesting book full of the twists and turns i like plus it lays bare what life was like for people then.

[Eowynselixure_book Love · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Val Wood has a wonderful talent for really setting a scene.

I loved Harriet's character, she's very prosaic and weathered every storm that came her way with calm determination.

I did feel that we never really got to know Fletcher, the love interest very well though.

Her husband and her mother in law we got to know very well, unlikeable characters both although the latter hoodwinked me for awhile.

The plot was interesting and well paced for me although some may find it slow.

Overall I was impressed by how immersive the story was and how much I enjoyed the farm and Harriet's progression.

[nia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great period drama.

Great characters and story line, I couldn't put it down! Lots of emotions reading this book. I Highly recommend if you like a good "love triumphs over all in the end" story.

[Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love a Val Wood book and I wasn't disappointed. This is set in the 1800s and is about the life of a poverty stricken girl called Harriet who marries a virtual stranger called Noah out of desperation.

[Cheryll · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've always loved Catherine Cookson so it's no surprise that I enjoyed this historical novel too. With a strong protagonist and other interesting characters, the story begins in 1860. It follow the ups and downs of Harriet's difficult life. Highly recommended.

[Christina Rochester · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’d say this was your standard summer read, nothing overly special, but a nice flowing story.

I totally worked out the Fletcher twist only a few chapters into the book though.

[Shaista · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this author for the first time and a good story teller she is.

[Julie Middleton · Rating 5 out of 5]

His Brother's Wife

As usual Val Wood brings the county of East Yorkshire to life. I could not stop reading and got lost in the story.

[Natalya · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Days Of Old · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it! I actually read the second book in the series first and loved reading this as a back story.

[Erin ♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book and I enjoy the storyline very much. At first I did not enjoy it much but after a bit I really felt for the characters and enjoyed it a lot.

[Stephanie Lancaster]

Fantastic Val wood is a great author I’ve read a lot of her books