The Secrets Women Keep

by Fanny Blake

Rose waits for her family to arrive at their villa in Tuscany when a casual glance at her husband's phone tips her world upside down. The text reads simply: 'Miss you. Love you. Come back soon.'

Daniel has always been popular with women, she knows that. But until this moment she has had no cause for worry. Has something shifted within their marriage without her realising?

As the family gathers for the summer break, Rose's faith in Daniel is shaken. How well does she really know him? She fears that, after decades of marriage and children, the man who lies beside her at night is lying in other ways too. Then events take a tragic turn.

Wise, wry and richly entertaining, THE SECRETS WOMEN KEEP celebrates the passionate, emotional lives women lead as wives, mothers and grandmothers.

Genres: Chick Lit, Book Club, Fiction

320 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published July 4, 2013

About the author

Fanny Blake was a publisher for many years, editing fiction and general non-fiction before becoming a freelance journalist and writer. She has written several bestsellers and acted as ghost writer for a number of celebrities. She is also Books Editor of womanandhome magazine. Her novels include The Secrets Women Keep (Orion) and With a Friend Like You (Orion).

Reviews

[Shizette · Rating 1 out of 5]

I thought it was a good concept but it dragged on with trivial details for far too long. For this reason alone it was the opposite of a 'page-turner'.

[Silver Thistle · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is probably a good book. It's just not a good book for me.

After a really slow start it just meandered along to the end and never really engaged me or captured my interest. I found it really hard to keep going with this one. I'm still not sure why it's called 'The Secrets Women Keep' it would have made more sense if it was 'The Secrets HUSBAND'S keep'. That was what the whole story revolved around, Rose's husband's secret. I didn't really have any interest in her husband's secret though, to be honest. If it was happening to anyone other than Rose I might have been more drawn in but as it is I just didn't really care much about her problems. I couldn't relate to Rose and her actions and re-actions just got on my nerves for most of the time.

It's a story of flawed characters, dealing with situations that could probably all be sorted out in a few chapters if they'd just talk to each other. Get it out in the open, deal with it and move on. All of them seem to have 'issues' of one description or another and to be frank a lot of it was just tedious and petty.

I think it will appeal to those looking for a contemporary family drama set in a sunny climate but I didn't enjoy it as much as I was expecting to.

Note: I received a free copy of this title from the publisher.

[Beth Cooksey · Rating 1 out of 5]

I found this book boring and the characters basically lacked character and were unlikeable.

[Beverly Payne · Rating 2 out of 5]

What started as a good story then became very slow - took me longer than I thought to finish - wouldn't recommend it and the ending was a bit odd like it wasn't really finished.

[Anne Brooke · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is achingly slow with no strong characters. It could have been cut by at least half, easily. The plot is also full of cliches and highly unrealistic. The two lead women were irritating - to say the least! - and the daughters were horrendously selfish and childish - even though they were adults. The 'solution' at the end made me laugh as it was all so ridiculous. Really, I didn't care enough. The descriptions were nice though!

[Maggie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book. Off to read more of Fanny Blake.

[Carol Peace · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to be given this book pre publication for revising http://www.lovereading.co.uk/

A great book from the 1st line right to the very last. Rose is married to Daniel and they have had a good life together having two daughters and a place in Tuscany and a hotel in Cornwall. The family holiday is the highlight of their year. It means they can all get together alongside Rose's brother Terry and her best friend Eve who just happens to be married to him. This year things turn out rather different when Rose intercepts a text message to Daniel, one in which makes it obvious he has a secret, otherwise why should someone love him and be missing him and end it with S. Before she has time to find out the family arrive and it is left unsaid but the next few hours are very turbulent and what follows is a sad , funny,warm but very honest insight of how a family pull together (or not) in desperate circumstances. Eve says it isnt cheating if it is with and ex huband but Rose is not too sure. Will Jess and Anna ever agree with each other. A really good read and also an easy read but by no means just a romance.

[Felicity Terry · Rating 2 out of 5]

Essentially the story of Rose, her best friend, Eve, who also happens to be her sister-in-law and their spouses. The Secrets Women Keep is a tale of what goes on behind closed doors, the story revolving around relationships full of deceit and half truths. The adage 'Oh what a tangled web we weave when first we practise to deceive' summing it up perfectly.

Though starting out well (I'd even go as far as to say it was quite refreshing to have a novel in which things weren't all hunky-dory, the characters incredibly flawed rather than perfect) after a while the constant deceit and marital melodramas became depressing, the characters, displaying little other than their flaws, one dimensional and tedious.

A novel I simply couldn't immerse myself in other than on the most superficial of level. Given the title of the book I was hoping for at least one strong female character, either main or secondary, instead of which I got a cast of weak and in Anna and Jess, Rose's daughters, spoilt women none of whom came alive for me.

Copyright: Tracy Terry @ Pen and Paper.

[Becca ♡ PrettyLittleMemoirs · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Secrets Women Keep was a breath of fresh air, something lovely to read on a Summer's day or a beach-read. Blake writes with enthralling words that really hold your attention throughout the plot, twisting out of the genres; romance, mystery, sadness and humour.
I felt there was a certain entertaining factor and wise aspect of the novel and was written with something so realistic that it painted a vision for how it would appear, something that helped me sympathise and understand the plot and story more. I felt sympathetic to Rose with all that happened to her during the novel, and how certain people can turn out to be something you didn't think they were, and the struggle with her secrets. It was lovely to see how a family can pull together through everything and remain strong no matter what. The Secrets Women Keep was a five-star read and I absolutely adored it.
Read full at: http://prettylittlememoirs.blogspot.c...

[Heather Hill · Rating 5 out of 5]

It took me two weeks to read The Secret's Women Keep, because I began it during a particularly busy period for myself and it was a very frustrating time - because I was always desperate to get back to it. It is a masterclass in writing a page turner. The Tuscan settings were beautifully described and made me want to go. The writing is delightful, the story and characters very engaging and I felt it was refreshingly lovely to read a story with an older protagonist that very sympathetically approaches the intricacies of modern family relationships and friendships. I highly recommend this if you want a light, entertaining and thoroughly enjoyable read. I really enjoyed it.

[Bookread2day · Rating 5 out of 5]

A family full of troubles while they are on holiday. Rose finds a text message on her husbands phone saying Miss you come back soon. Is her husband dating some one else? is so Who is her husband dating?.Rose's brothers wife Eve gets a phone call while on holiday to say sorry she is retiring. Eve is not retiring from her job. Who put this rumor around the office and why? I love reading fiction novels about trouble within a fictional marriage.

[Marija · Rating 2 out of 5]

It started off so good, and then in the middle it got a bit slow. Somehow it didn't pull me back in. I hoped for something more. Also at times I lost track of who was doing or saying something.
The point of the story was good (marriage; affairs; family relationships..), but it just wasn't that exciting to me, something was missing.

[Claire mcmanus · Rating 5 out of 5]

finished in a day really enjoyed

[Robin Patterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Great mystery story about friendships" is what I wrote in the front.

It's 374, not 384, pages according to Goodreads rules.

Some unusual words, e.g.: solipsism; kameez; scrumpled; 'It don't Mean a Thing' bluesed out of the speakers.

Some notable expressions, e.g.: smoothed in the night cream that cost the equivalent of the national debt and had yet to make any noticeable difference; an earnest middle-aged man with a firm sense-of-humour bypass whom she had been glad to avoid; He resembled the eye of the storm, quite still while everything else was a whirl of activity around him;

Not quite enough commas; and I dislike the use of "I" for "1". Average number of other proofreader quibbles:
p 42 bad word order using "both ... and"
p 47 [Terry and] "her" should be "herself"
p 51 "on principal" should be "on principle"
pp 85, 95, 334 "Having" (2) and "Glancing" are misrelated participles
p 115 "Publicly demonstrative Rose was not." - well, not since page 113 anyway.
p 152 "reticence" should be "reluctance" or "hesitancy" (the reticence of a hug is lifelong, not momentary)
p 239 bad word order using "hadn't ... but"
p 241 "having a fun, and" - delete "a"?
p 331 WHAT did he snatch away?
p 349 "truites bleus" should be "Truites bleues" (or [... ]au bleu or au bleue!)
p 363 "on to" [the terrace] should be "onto"

[Mandy Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

I know this got some low star reviews but I really liked it,I was in the mood for something different and I enjoyed this. At first I thought Daniel had a child he found out about from before him and Anna were married but then the clues and the reveal! I liked that Eve’s marriage was realistic and not all hearts and roses and I did wonder if she would stay with Terry. I liked Simon and was hoping Anna could continue their friendship. I read this when it was hot and I could feel the heat and atmosphere of Italy.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fanny Blake is such a great story teller, I live her books.
Rose has been married to Daniel for many years. During their yearly holiday at their villa in Italy, Daniel receives a text picked up by Rose. Miss you, Love you, come back soon S x.
It didn't take me long to work out who it was.
There are other parts to this. The selfish daughters. Rose's brother Terry and Eve, her best friend.
Loved how it is all woven together.

[Corinne · Rating 1 out of 5]

I read the book very slowly because it could not grab my attention at any time, and still cannot understand the main point of the book. All the main female characters keep secrets (as the title suggests) and the only twist in the book can be seen from a mile away. There are no surprises at the end (that I could think of) and could not believe it when the book ended as it did.

[Nella · Rating 2 out of 5]

One of Lel’s handed over books and thought it would be good for the boat in Seychelles and to a degree it was true but the story and writing is just not great and I knew the husband was gay from the start almost. Finished it because it’s like a bad movie you get sucked into but a waste of my literary time so probably shouldn’t have.

[Lorraine Harris · Rating 3 out of 5]

OK easy read . Rose and Daniel have a house in Italy and on their extended annual family holiday Daniel dies. Before he dies she finds a text on his phone. implying a lover, with just an initial. She discovers his gay lover. Her sis in law is having an affair. It sort of fizzles out.

[June Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting topic, and one which a few women could sympathise with, a page turner.

[Lori · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it🙂

[Mary · Rating 1 out of 5]

Would give it no star if I could. So drawn out and went nowhere.

[Charlie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Little slow but still a nice read

[Sylvia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another easy read to take on holiday

[Rachel Gilbey · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had high hopes for this new book by Fanny Blake, having previously enjoyed 2 of her other books. However I felt that this wasn't quite as good as those, and a bit of a slow burner. Once I was into the story, about half way through, I realised I was enjoying it, and that the first 200 pages were mainly setting everything up.

The Secrets Women Keep features quite a large family, since the main characters Rose and Eve are slightly more mature women. They both have grown up children, and in Rose's case a grandchild already. To start with I was very confused with how the characters were connected, so I'm going to try and simplify it.

Rose is married to Daniel Rose's brother is Terry who is married to Eve. Daniel and Eve have past romantic history. Jess is married to Adam, and they have a child called Dylan. Jess and Anna are Rose and Daniel's children. Eve has children but they aren't key to the plot.

Rose throughout the story is riddled with secrets. Not just her own, but those of Eve, and Terry too. Rose proves herself to be a valuable confidant to her family around her, despite her own life starting to crash around her.

I found at first Anna and Jess to be selfish and not really likeable, but as the story grows, you start to feel a lot more sympathy for them. To be completely honest, I'm not sure how many characters I felt a proper emotional bond with.

The Secrets Women Keep is split into five separate parts to show the passing of time, so you kept getting a new snapshot of how life in the family was progressing.

I really hope that this book was just a blip for Fanny Blake and that her next ones are back to original very high quality.

[Elisabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

At their villa in Tuscany, Rose, who has been married Daniel for many years, accidently looks at his phone she sees a text which will make her question does she really know the man she has been married to all these years? Who was the text from? What did it mean? This chance look at her husband's phone threatens to jeopardise the family gathering at the villa and cracks begin to appear in the family that from the outside appears to be perfect.
However, just round the corner is an event which nobody could have predicted and the lives of all those at the villa are turned upside down.
The book follows the lives of the family for the next 18 months - will the events at the villa reconcile the family or just tear them further apart? As the story develops and moves, it becomes clear that it is not just women keep secrets but men keep secrets which are just as dark and destructible. Will these secrets be revealed and what will the consequences be if they are?
I really enjoyed the book. However, the beginning was rather slow and I was struggling to keep interested. However after a few chapters it picked up speed dramatically and I found that I was engrossed.
I would definitely recommend this latest novel by Fanny Blake.

[Edel Waugh Salisbury · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story is set in the idyllic French countryside at the beginning of a family holiday. The female narrator of the story is called Rose and she is married to Daniel. While preparing for the arrival of some of her guests and family Rose finds out some shocking news that shakes her to her core. The story then takes us on a journey as this woman/wife/mother deals with what has happened. Rose is a very strong character , her family is her life, but until all that came under threat I don't think she realised how strong she was . Her trust is shattered and her ability to forgive is severely tested. Throughout the story we see a lot of changes in Rose , which often made me question if I was put in the same position how would I handle it . This is a story where the surprises just keep coming and throughout the story I was continually awed by this writers ability to keep me gripped and make me care for these characters. This is a story to be gobbled up in one sitting then passed to every single book friend you have for them to read too. Needless to say I adored this!

I received this for a review from the kind folks over at lovereading.co.uk.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first of Fanny Blake's books that I've read. It wont be the last either.
I am definitly not the target demographic for this genre, but I enjoyed it imensely. Fanny has a wonderfully evocative and elegant prose style. When she describes a Tuscan villa garden, you are there, smelling the trees and blossom, and feeling the sun on your back.

The Secrets Women Keep is a story of two women, Rose and Eve, friends and sisters-in-law, their loves and families, both old and new.
The characters are well drawn and believable, as are the problems that beset them, their children and their partners. With settings in Cornwall and Italy, Its a great summer read..

The secrets that women keep are legion - and they will only have more is you go leaving your mobile phone around!! (not a spoiler!)

This went straight into the top three books I have read this year.

[Angie Rhodes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rose by accident, catches a text on her husband Dan's phone, Miss you,, and is left realing, is Dan cheating on her? or is it simply an innocent text,sent to the wrong person? on top of this is her obnoxious daughter,who thinks, "daddy" should just keep giving her money, for one air brained scheme after another, , and then there's Rose brother and sister-in -law, all down to spend a holiday with them. I enjoyed this book,with its many twists and turns,

[Laura Aston · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the description in this novel, it's made me want to book a trip to Italy right now. I enjoy stories surrounding the family so for me this book was an instant winner. Unfortunately I guessed the twist pretty early on in the novel, however I didn't feel as though the story was spoilt. The last section of the novel where it jumps forward dragged a lot, you could almost have removed it from the book and not missed anything.