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Her Secret Promise: A heart-wrenching WWII love story of courage, loss, and a decades-old secret
A sweeping wartime mystery of love, loss, and the secrets that refuse to stay buried
“Beautifully layered, emotional, and utterly gripping.”
“A powerful tale of a mother’s love and a past that won’t let go.”
“Rich with atmosphere — heartbreaking and compulsively readable.”
MALTA 1940
An Irish officer’s wife, Adelle Ottaway, has just given birth to a baby with serious problems. Her husband insists the baby should be left in an institution. Adelle decides otherwise and joins a convoy on a perilous journey home to Ireland. She makes a secret promise to her daughter that she will look after her no matter what it takes. But she didn’t expect to fall for a US Army medic who is stationed in her village.
NORTHERN IRELAND 1987
Adelle’s life is falling apart. A body has been discovered at the seaside cottage she used to spend time in during the war, and her younger daughter has vanished. The more the police investigate, the more the threads of Adelle’s past are pulled apart.
Then one day the phone rings and it’s him. The voice she thought she’d never hear again. The man she never stopped loving.
Is it ever too late to start again?
A moving, atmospheric story of mothers and daughters, forbidden love, impossible choices, and the shadows cast by wartime secrets.
Perfect for readers of Kristin Hannah, Kate Morton, and Martha Hall Kelly.
“Beautifully layered, emotional, and utterly gripping.”
“A powerful tale of a mother’s love and a past that won’t let go.”
“Rich with atmosphere — heartbreaking and compulsively readable.”
MALTA 1940
An Irish officer’s wife, Adelle Ottaway, has just given birth to a baby with serious problems. Her husband insists the baby should be left in an institution. Adelle decides otherwise and joins a convoy on a perilous journey home to Ireland. She makes a secret promise to her daughter that she will look after her no matter what it takes. But she didn’t expect to fall for a US Army medic who is stationed in her village.
NORTHERN IRELAND 1987
Adelle’s life is falling apart. A body has been discovered at the seaside cottage she used to spend time in during the war, and her younger daughter has vanished. The more the police investigate, the more the threads of Adelle’s past are pulled apart.
Then one day the phone rings and it’s him. The voice she thought she’d never hear again. The man she never stopped loving.
Is it ever too late to start again?
A moving, atmospheric story of mothers and daughters, forbidden love, impossible choices, and the shadows cast by wartime secrets.
Perfect for readers of Kristin Hannah, Kate Morton, and Martha Hall Kelly.
- GenresHistorical Fiction
383 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 22, 2026
10 people are currently reading
21 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
March 7, 2026
WWII timeless love and responsibilities make a great story. I enjoyed the few surprises throughout the story. The roller-coaster of love and family.
Thank you to Book Sirens for this ARC book and I am leaving this honest review voluntarily.
Thank you to Book Sirens for this ARC book and I am leaving this honest review voluntarily.
April 11, 2026
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Set across a dual timeline in the 1940s and then 1987, this is both a story of love that perhaps was never truly meant to be, and a love so strong that even time and circumstance could not break the connection that kept them tied together for a lifetime.
This is a beautiful love story centered on a married woman during the war and a soldier who was also a doctor. Adelle is married to Robert, a fellow soldier and a deeply controlling man. When Adelle’s little girl, Gracie, is born with what was cruelly referred to as a “deformity,” Robert wants the baby to remain in the care of the hospital while Adelle and their son Toby move to Ireland for safety. But Adelle refuses to leave her daughter behind, and with the help of her sister Rosemary, they make the move to Ireland together.
During this time, the women rent rooms to Max and eventually Larry, both soldiers and doctors. This is where the story truly begins to deepen, weaving together love, longing, and the emotional weight of impossible choices.
This novel is built on heartbreak, joyful moments, happiness, sadness, real love, a broken marriage, mystery, and above all, the strong will of a woman determined to protect what matters most. I found myself cheering for Adelle and Max to somehow make it through everything and find their way to one another. Their connection felt so strong and enduring.
I cried, laughed, got angry, and felt my heart breaking while reading this story, which is exactly how a book like this should make you feel.
I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical fiction with strong female characters. There have been very few books that I have felt this strongly about. This was an absolute pleasure to read, and I will definitely be looking for more books by Suzie Hull.
A full 5⭐️ read.
Set across a dual timeline in the 1940s and then 1987, this is both a story of love that perhaps was never truly meant to be, and a love so strong that even time and circumstance could not break the connection that kept them tied together for a lifetime.
This is a beautiful love story centered on a married woman during the war and a soldier who was also a doctor. Adelle is married to Robert, a fellow soldier and a deeply controlling man. When Adelle’s little girl, Gracie, is born with what was cruelly referred to as a “deformity,” Robert wants the baby to remain in the care of the hospital while Adelle and their son Toby move to Ireland for safety. But Adelle refuses to leave her daughter behind, and with the help of her sister Rosemary, they make the move to Ireland together.
During this time, the women rent rooms to Max and eventually Larry, both soldiers and doctors. This is where the story truly begins to deepen, weaving together love, longing, and the emotional weight of impossible choices.
This novel is built on heartbreak, joyful moments, happiness, sadness, real love, a broken marriage, mystery, and above all, the strong will of a woman determined to protect what matters most. I found myself cheering for Adelle and Max to somehow make it through everything and find their way to one another. Their connection felt so strong and enduring.
I cried, laughed, got angry, and felt my heart breaking while reading this story, which is exactly how a book like this should make you feel.
I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical fiction with strong female characters. There have been very few books that I have felt this strongly about. This was an absolute pleasure to read, and I will definitely be looking for more books by Suzie Hull.
A full 5⭐️ read.
March 16, 2026
I really liked this book. Such a complicated story.
Adelle had married Robert before the war and was in Malta with Toby their young son when Robert insisted she return to UK for their safety. It wasn't so easy though as she was near the end of her pregnancy and Gracie was born.
Rosemary her stepsister turned up which was a blessing as she joined Adelle and was able to help with the children when they returned to Ireland.
I don't know how Adelle would have managed without Rosemary's support. She was an absolute star.
Everything changed when they offered accommodation to two American doctors who were stationed nearby. It was interesting to read that several Americans were stationed in Ireland during the war which I didn't know.
I loved Adelle's tenacity and perseverance during all that was to follow.
The book covers a long period up to Adelle's older age. I was pleased with the ending and really think Susie is an excellent writer.
I received this Arc for free in exchange for a review.
Thankyou.
Adelle had married Robert before the war and was in Malta with Toby their young son when Robert insisted she return to UK for their safety. It wasn't so easy though as she was near the end of her pregnancy and Gracie was born.
Rosemary her stepsister turned up which was a blessing as she joined Adelle and was able to help with the children when they returned to Ireland.
I don't know how Adelle would have managed without Rosemary's support. She was an absolute star.
Everything changed when they offered accommodation to two American doctors who were stationed nearby. It was interesting to read that several Americans were stationed in Ireland during the war which I didn't know.
I loved Adelle's tenacity and perseverance during all that was to follow.
The book covers a long period up to Adelle's older age. I was pleased with the ending and really think Susie is an excellent writer.
I received this Arc for free in exchange for a review.
Thankyou.
March 2, 2026
War is hard on everybody in one way or another. Adelle's marriage and home life was not the best before the war. It improved in some ways when her husband was away fighting in it. They took in borders during the war and one in particular developed a real and genuine connection with Adella.
This novel had it all: heartbreak, real love, tragedy, mystery, good times and laughter, and strong and well-developed characters that were far from one dimensional.
The storyline that tied psst and present was masterfully done and will hold your interest to the very end even if the reader does figure it out.
Storyline and characters were both believable. Highly recommend this for those looking for a different war story with a happy ending.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This novel had it all: heartbreak, real love, tragedy, mystery, good times and laughter, and strong and well-developed characters that were far from one dimensional.
The storyline that tied psst and present was masterfully done and will hold your interest to the very end even if the reader does figure it out.
Storyline and characters were both believable. Highly recommend this for those looking for a different war story with a happy ending.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
March 1, 2026
This was one of the best books I have read!! Highly recommend!!
March 31, 2026
Her Secret Promise is an emotional, and absorbing historical drama that blends romance, mystery, and family secrets and is set across two timelines: World War II and thw 1980s. The story follows Adelle Ottaway, an Irish officer’s wife. Adelle gives birth to a baby girl with serious health issues., and heartbreakingly, her husband wants to leave the child in an institution. Adelle ademantly refuses, and risks everything to bring her daughter back to Ireland , making a secret promise to always protect her. During this time, she unexpectedly falls in love with a US Army medic, whose support for her sick daughter is beautiful. He is everything that her sullen and abrupt brute of a husband is not.
In the contemporary thread, we catch up with the family in Northern Ireland, in1987.
Decades after the initial timeline, Adelle’s past comes abruptly to the surface when a body is discovered at the seaside cottage linked to her wartime life. Adelle's younger daughter goes missing., and as the investigation developes, secrets emerge brimgimg with them the US soldier she loved so dearly.
You will adore this book if you are a fan of historical fiction with strong female protagonists, and if you enjoy emotional, character-driven stories and books about family drama, hidden pasts and secrecy.
I recommend Suzie Hull, if you enjoy authors like Dinah Jefferies or Lucinda Riley. Suzie Hull is a Northern Irish author, sonit is amazing to support a home grown writer and i love spotting local places and local history in her stories. #hersecretpromise #suziehull
In the contemporary thread, we catch up with the family in Northern Ireland, in1987.
Decades after the initial timeline, Adelle’s past comes abruptly to the surface when a body is discovered at the seaside cottage linked to her wartime life. Adelle's younger daughter goes missing., and as the investigation developes, secrets emerge brimgimg with them the US soldier she loved so dearly.
You will adore this book if you are a fan of historical fiction with strong female protagonists, and if you enjoy emotional, character-driven stories and books about family drama, hidden pasts and secrecy.
I recommend Suzie Hull, if you enjoy authors like Dinah Jefferies or Lucinda Riley. Suzie Hull is a Northern Irish author, sonit is amazing to support a home grown writer and i love spotting local places and local history in her stories. #hersecretpromise #suziehull
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews