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A Season of Secrets
Sweeping from the Great War, through the Jazz Age to the 1940s, this unforgettable tale follows the entwined lives of the Fentons, an aristocratic family from Yorkshire.
Thea, the eldest daughter of Viscount Gilbert Fenton, flouts the unwritten rules of her class by embarking on a love affair with Hal, the fiercely socialist son of one of her father's tenant farmers.
Carrie, her close childhood friend and granddaughter of the Viscount's nanny, has always been expected to marry Hal - but when she goes into service she finds herself longing for the one person she can never hope to marry.
Olivia, the middle Fenton sister, follows a more conventional path, forging friendships with the British royal family and attending a finishing school in Germany. Her relationship with Count von der Schulenburg does not raise eyebrows, but as the mid-1930s approach, she finds herself in a country experiencing rapid, radical and dangerous social change.
Violet, the youngest of the Fenton sisters, is also the most reckless. She dreams of becoming an actress in Hollywood, unaware her life will be filled with more drama than any part she will ever play.
And then there is Rozalind, their American cousin, who is secretly in love with a married U.S. senator. Her ambitions to become a photojournalist will also take her into the heart of Hitler's Germany.
Set against the rich canvas of the first half of the twentieth century, A Season of Secrets is an unforgettable tale of passion and betrayal, love and war from the ever popular Margaret Pemberton.
Thea, the eldest daughter of Viscount Gilbert Fenton, flouts the unwritten rules of her class by embarking on a love affair with Hal, the fiercely socialist son of one of her father's tenant farmers.
Carrie, her close childhood friend and granddaughter of the Viscount's nanny, has always been expected to marry Hal - but when she goes into service she finds herself longing for the one person she can never hope to marry.
Olivia, the middle Fenton sister, follows a more conventional path, forging friendships with the British royal family and attending a finishing school in Germany. Her relationship with Count von der Schulenburg does not raise eyebrows, but as the mid-1930s approach, she finds herself in a country experiencing rapid, radical and dangerous social change.
Violet, the youngest of the Fenton sisters, is also the most reckless. She dreams of becoming an actress in Hollywood, unaware her life will be filled with more drama than any part she will ever play.
And then there is Rozalind, their American cousin, who is secretly in love with a married U.S. senator. Her ambitions to become a photojournalist will also take her into the heart of Hitler's Germany.
Set against the rich canvas of the first half of the twentieth century, A Season of Secrets is an unforgettable tale of passion and betrayal, love and war from the ever popular Margaret Pemberton.
579 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 29, 2015
20 people are currently reading
182 people want to read
About the author
Margaret Pemberton
62 books36 followersMargaret A. Hudson was born on 10 April 1943 in Bradford, Yorkshire, England, UK, of German extraction. She was daughter of Kathleen (Ramsden), an artist, and George Arthur Hudson, an architect. Married with Londoner Mike Pemberton, they have five grown children, today she lives with her husband and four small dogs in Whitstable, Kent. Apart from writing, her passions are tango, travel, English history and the English countryside.
Published since 1975, she is a bestselling romance writer as Margaret Pemberton, and under the pseudonyms Carris Carlisle; Maggie Hudson and Rebecca Dean. Having travelled extensively, her novels are set in different parts of the world. She was the fifteenth elected Chairman of the Romantic Novelists' Association (1989-1991), she has also served on the Crime Writers' Association Committee.
Published since 1975, she is a bestselling romance writer as Margaret Pemberton, and under the pseudonyms Carris Carlisle; Maggie Hudson and Rebecca Dean. Having travelled extensively, her novels are set in different parts of the world. She was the fifteenth elected Chairman of the Romantic Novelists' Association (1989-1991), she has also served on the Crime Writers' Association Committee.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
August 12, 2020
An ok book for a light summer read, although the story was not very credible or realistic. If you like feel-good fairy tales based on real historic events, then this book is for you.
March 12, 2025
A lot of exposition, especially about the historical context, but overall a nice, heart-warming read.
September 11, 2016
Truthfully, I only read this because my boyfriend took the photograph on the front cover of this and it was a big novelty. The story is a Downton-esque saga of 3 sisters of the landed gentry, and their friend who works as a maid. That friendship is unlikely in itself, but can be overlooked. This seemed to want to include as much as it could of everything. Royal Family during the abdication? Check Pre-WW2 Germany? Check. Emergence of the Labour Party? Check. Spanish Revolution? Check.
My main bugbear was that so much happened 'off-stage', so to speak. All the weddings, barring one of a secondary character, were simply reported upon in the next chapter, where 2 characters who had been at the wedding would sit two years later and discuss everything that had happened in some unsatisfying exposition. I was also a bit surprised by some vaguely erotic sex scenes which interrupted the overall quite genteel story; likewise, a random string of swearing which was utterly out of character. Things happened suddenly and swiftly in the end to create a happy(ish) ending for everybody.
Still... isn't the photograph nice?
My main bugbear was that so much happened 'off-stage', so to speak. All the weddings, barring one of a secondary character, were simply reported upon in the next chapter, where 2 characters who had been at the wedding would sit two years later and discuss everything that had happened in some unsatisfying exposition. I was also a bit surprised by some vaguely erotic sex scenes which interrupted the overall quite genteel story; likewise, a random string of swearing which was utterly out of character. Things happened suddenly and swiftly in the end to create a happy(ish) ending for everybody.
Still... isn't the photograph nice?
March 25, 2015
I loved this book, hence the 5*. It is a long, sweeping saga about Viscount Fenton, his wife and three daughters living on their estate in Outhwaite in the Yorkshire Dales and takes us through the main political events of that period as well as the social changes affecting life for the nobility and the villagers. Published this year, so I have now ticked off another one of my 2015 Reading Challenges. Shall look for more books by this author.
July 25, 2016
A very moving sweeping novel, with great characters set before and after the second world war.
February 22, 2015
Really enjoyed the intertwining lifes, and historically interesting.
July 31, 2024
SPOILERS BELOW! YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!
Okay, so I understand that many people rated this book 4-5 stars, so maybe I should give it another chance in the future and then re-rate it, but it became a dnf for me.
Specifically why? Because of one short sentence. And that was "Kiss me Hall!" ( Page 104 I think?)
Like I just couldn't. It felt so awkward and "NOPE!" to me. I shut that book immediately, faster than Sonic the hedgehog could run.
Aside from that, I realized that I haven't even been enjoying the book at all. I think because of the turn, like from Carrie's POV it was fine but then it just switched, and I prefer Carrie tbh. Also BLANCHE'S DEATH!? Like what??? WHY??? If this was one of those attempts to kinda hook the reader and see what happens next, it just lowered my interest more so.
Don't get me wrong, I don't want to sound like a hater, and I mean no disrespect to the author.
Okay, so I understand that many people rated this book 4-5 stars, so maybe I should give it another chance in the future and then re-rate it, but it became a dnf for me.
Specifically why? Because of one short sentence. And that was "Kiss me Hall!" ( Page 104 I think?)
Like I just couldn't. It felt so awkward and "NOPE!" to me. I shut that book immediately, faster than Sonic the hedgehog could run.
Aside from that, I realized that I haven't even been enjoying the book at all. I think because of the turn, like from Carrie's POV it was fine but then it just switched, and I prefer Carrie tbh. Also BLANCHE'S DEATH!? Like what??? WHY??? If this was one of those attempts to kinda hook the reader and see what happens next, it just lowered my interest more so.
Don't get me wrong, I don't want to sound like a hater, and I mean no disrespect to the author.
March 31, 2022
As a Downton fan, I thought I'd love this but sadly, I've had to give up on this one. The book is extremely exposition-y, and a lot of the main action happens 'off-screen', with characters merely stopping to recall what had happened between the numerous time jumps. This could easily be a trilogy (or more!) of books as I liked all the characters, and would have welcomed the chance to get a bit more in-depth. As it is, it feels more like an overview than a story.
June 23, 2017
I picked this book up thinking I needed a "light" read tho it turned out to be a little more than a "light read" because of all the history (especially regarding the build up of Nazi Germany.) It was still very enjoyable, hitting on a lot of my favorite things; an English estate, an interesting time period and a eclectic family.
November 5, 2017
Interesting book, enjoyed it for the information on some of the nobility and some of the workers jobs and lifestyle (as was looking at family history whilst reading the book!), the story itself I didn't really think too much of, long periods of time went by unreported on, things were so glossed over. Think it could've been a really good book, but it wasn't sorry to say.
November 16, 2017
OK but I found the story to have too many gaps. This would have maybe worked better as a trilogy so the characters could have been better developed and we would know what happened in the missing months and years.
December 9, 2020
Good read, all way through. Interesting characters, well developed. Some situations are rather unrealistic, hardly credible. But it is a fiction after all! It is a good quality entertainment, perfect summer read material.
October 29, 2017
Politics, class divides, adultery, intertwine the lives of the characters in this historic saga set pre ww2
February 14, 2018
Ultimately a very disappointing book. Review to follow soon on iwasadisneykid.wordpress.com
March 8, 2018
pending!
February 12, 2020
Interesting book the story was set round a family and their life and the ups and downs they faced Some sad and happy parts there
October 7, 2016
Too emotional to express my feelings
Hopefully a better review will come soon
Hopefully a better review will come soon
June 21, 2016
I really enjoyed this book! It had everything that a sweeping historical saga should have - love, loss, betrayal and more importantly characters that you grow to love. What I particularly enjoyed were the strong female characters who do not conform to stereotypes but stand their own in well portrayed un-cliched ways. For fans of Downton Abbey this is a must read! I will definitely be looking for more books from this author.
January 30, 2017
It is a typical period novel but unique in a way it represents more than one love story to readers. Each story has its own difficulties and none of the relationship made me happy except for Lord Fenton and Carrie. How they end up together is sweet and unexpected; but together they should be. As for other girls, love has different definition for them. I enjoy the inside life of British royalty, and how western deals with WWI and the coming of WWII. A good read during weekend.
May 18, 2015
Another wonderful story by Margaret Pemberton (also known as Rebecca Dean). Felt as if I knew each character personally they were so well developed. A sad time in history, but a happy ending for the Fentons and their family and friends.
June 17, 2016
I began the opening chapter but put the book aside, returning to it some time later. I then became hooked with the characters developing over a long period, and the storyline was compelling.
I didn't want it to end. I hadn't found this author before but will definitely follow her with interest.
I didn't want it to end. I hadn't found this author before but will definitely follow her with interest.
June 6, 2015
I wasn't sure at the beginning, but this did improve greatly after the first 100 or so pages. Very good!
July 28, 2015
Great read
September 18, 2015
A sweeping family saga from 1915 onwards. A big read of war, love and betrayal. I liked all the main characters and everything about this book. Was sorry when it ended and felt I wanted a sequel!
February 7, 2016
I was swept up by this marvellous story. I came to feel deeply for the characters. The ending gave me a heart felt surprise - thankfully.
June 14, 2016
Thoroughly enjoyed this book.
June 27, 2016
Covered the war years, a period in history I love reading about! Carrie was the glue to the family, and the ending was very satisfying, but also kept the reader on their toes!
October 14, 2016
I loved this book - it was a big historical saga with loads of intertwining stories. Each of the Fenton's stories had me gripped, it was a really enjoyable read.
It's a big read but well worth it.
It's a big read but well worth it.
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November 1, 2024I enjoyed this. It's an epic tale across the period 1915 to 1939 and it's a pretty charming family story.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews