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Secrets in the Sky
How far should you go to keep a secret?
No-one ever accused Sophie Campbell of being a coward. From caving trips to rooftop pranks, it appeared nothing could hold her back, especially once she landed a dream job promising travel all over the world.
But Sophie’s jet-setting lifestyle is not what it seems and she’s been spending more time in the quiet English village of Saffron Sweeting than she cares to admit. When her beloved Great Aunt Wol dies suddenly, Sophie loses one of the few people who truly know her. As friends, family and an old flame gather for the funeral, questions soon follow. Worse, Sophie finds herself increasingly attracted to the man most likely to expose her secrets. Can she manage to guard her past, yet finally follow her long-held dream?
Featuring both new and familiar characters, this stand-alone romantic comedy is set two years before Kindle best-seller Saving Saffron Sweeting. With side helpings of British tea, cake and wit, Secrets in the Sky explores how finding the courage to be yourself can be the toughest challenge of all.
342 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 26, 2015
254 people are currently reading
945 people want to read
About the author
Pauline Wiles
7 books85 followersBritish by birth, Pauline Wiles is now a contented resident of California, although she admits to occasional yearnings for afternoon tea and historic homes.
Although she hopes some day to publish more books, at the moment she's having the time of her life creating beautiful, strategic websites for other authors. Visit paulinewiles.com to see examples.
Pauline's debut novel, Saving Saffron Sweeting, reached the quarter final of the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award. Three further romantic comedies set in the same village are also available, along with a free collection of short stories. Pauline has also published Indie With Ease, to help other independent authors conquer stress and boost productivity.
When not writing, Pauline can often be found running, reading, or searching for her next venue to enjoy tea and a slice of cake.
Although she hopes some day to publish more books, at the moment she's having the time of her life creating beautiful, strategic websites for other authors. Visit paulinewiles.com to see examples.
Pauline's debut novel, Saving Saffron Sweeting, reached the quarter final of the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award. Three further romantic comedies set in the same village are also available, along with a free collection of short stories. Pauline has also published Indie With Ease, to help other independent authors conquer stress and boost productivity.
When not writing, Pauline can often be found running, reading, or searching for her next venue to enjoy tea and a slice of cake.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews
April 4, 2018
Dear me. This is what happens when I try to find a nice, easy, undemanding read to lose myself in while accompanying my mum to her hospital appointment, a place where there's no wifi and so no way of downloading an alternative once I realised I'd chosen a dud.
Six hours we were there, with only this tosh to keep me sane. It was supposed to offer me an escape, but instead it aggravated me. Zero chemistry, daft decisions and improbable situations. And as if that wasn't bad enough, there was no smut. None.
Gah.
Complete story, at least it was a freebie.
Six hours we were there, with only this tosh to keep me sane. It was supposed to offer me an escape, but instead it aggravated me. Zero chemistry, daft decisions and improbable situations. And as if that wasn't bad enough, there was no smut. None.
Gah.
Complete story, at least it was a freebie.
May 13, 2015
Yet again, Pauline Wiles has delivered a novel with warm characters in a delightful setting. In a story that begins two years before Pauline's debut novel, Saving Saffron Sweeting, this stand-alone romantic comedy is a showcase of romance, secrets and lies, bravery and courage. For me, the biggest takeaway is the importance of facing your phobias before they wrap around you, smothering your judgment and clouding your world.
I suspect many reviews of this book will focus on the energy between the characters. The cast and crew assembled for this novel is wonderful and they tangle and untangle themselves throughout the story. That said, I'm going to focus primarily on the value of establishing setting, as well as having a smashing great first five paragraphs.
Hands down, one of my favorite aspects of the novel was the chance to delve deeper into the world of Saffron Sweeting, an idyllic village I grew to love when reading Pauline's first book. Since reading Saving Saffron Sweeting in 2013, I've often daydreamed about Saffron Sweeting. I'd like to visit it one day, but shucks, it's a fictional village, so I'll have to travel its streets in the pages of Pauline's books. In keeping with this English setting, both books use British spelling and grammar conventions. (Love that!)
I loved the opening at the church and the use of certain town elements (like the church clock). I enjoyed it when the author planted a sense of color from the setting, fleshing out for me as a reader what living in the village of Saffron Sweeting must feel like to the characters. For example, a simple passage in which Sophie describes the difficulty of getting pizza delivered from Cambridge restaurants:
These details, carefully crafted in something as "everyday" as pizza delivery, really anchored me in the location of story, a location I've craved returning to since reading the first book. I especially enjoyed the turn of events at the river's edge and loved how this scene was first fleshed-out in a bit of setting before everything unraveled in dialogue and action.
I also really loved the opening of the novel as it relates to the rest of the story. Opening with the girls running late for their aunt Wol's funeral service is brilliant for this story.
My closing remarks? Tackle your fears and reveal your truth. An enthusiastic 5-stars for what I know will be another smashing hit in contemporary women's fiction.
Pauline, you go girl. You did it again.
I suspect many reviews of this book will focus on the energy between the characters. The cast and crew assembled for this novel is wonderful and they tangle and untangle themselves throughout the story. That said, I'm going to focus primarily on the value of establishing setting, as well as having a smashing great first five paragraphs.
Hands down, one of my favorite aspects of the novel was the chance to delve deeper into the world of Saffron Sweeting, an idyllic village I grew to love when reading Pauline's first book. Since reading Saving Saffron Sweeting in 2013, I've often daydreamed about Saffron Sweeting. I'd like to visit it one day, but shucks, it's a fictional village, so I'll have to travel its streets in the pages of Pauline's books. In keeping with this English setting, both books use British spelling and grammar conventions. (Love that!)
I loved the opening at the church and the use of certain town elements (like the church clock). I enjoyed it when the author planted a sense of color from the setting, fleshing out for me as a reader what living in the village of Saffron Sweeting must feel like to the characters. For example, a simple passage in which Sophie describes the difficulty of getting pizza delivered from Cambridge restaurants:
. . . Saffron Sweeting is a bit of a trek for the Cambridge pizza restaurants, and they seem to find the village extraordinarily hard to navigate. We’re not so far out of the way their sat nav won’t function, but they act like they’ve had to deliver a Hawaiian to Oahu itself.
These details, carefully crafted in something as "everyday" as pizza delivery, really anchored me in the location of story, a location I've craved returning to since reading the first book. I especially enjoyed the turn of events at the river's edge and loved how this scene was first fleshed-out in a bit of setting before everything unraveled in dialogue and action.
I also really loved the opening of the novel as it relates to the rest of the story. Opening with the girls running late for their aunt Wol's funeral service is brilliant for this story.
CHAPTER ONE
I race up the gravel path towards the village church and skid to an inelegant halt. I’ll be so glad to get these shoes off.
Kit is waiting in the arched doorway, shifting from foot to foot and looking from her watch to the sky. Thunderous clouds have been creeping closer all morning, and now they’re convening right above the steeple.
‘Where the hell’ve you been? They’re starting!’
As she speaks, I hear the solemn notes of the organ and recognise the first bars of ‘All Things Bright and Beautiful’. Beside us, a clump of yellow daffodils nods in time to the hymn.
Wol loved daffodils.
My closing remarks? Tackle your fears and reveal your truth. An enthusiastic 5-stars for what I know will be another smashing hit in contemporary women's fiction.
Pauline, you go girl. You did it again.
March 10, 2016
**I received an ARC from LibraryThing as part of their Members Giveaway program in exchange for an honest review.**
I rated this one 4.5 stars out of 5.
Women’s fiction, affectionately known as “Chick Lit,” often gets a bad wrap. Sure, chick lit novels sometimes aren’t as wordy or ironic as what’s passing for literature these days, but these books are no less fulfilling, emotional, and beautiful reads. Sometimes you need a book with a bubbly protagonist whose own emotional life issues mirror your own, with characters so stereotypical in their supporting roles that you just have to laugh at their ridiculous antics, and with a heartwarming conclusion that sends tingles into your fingers and toes and does in fact warm your heart. And that’s why I devoured this novel like I have my other women’s fiction favorites, wholly and without pause. In fact, I was so concerned about the plight of Sophie Cambell and the village of Saffron Sweeting, I read over 85% of the book in a handful of hours. I just couldn’t put it down.
Sophie Cambell has many secrets, and for awhile, she was comfortable keeping all of them. When a death in the family sets off a chain reaction of events, her whole ability to keep telling the lies protecting these secrets is put into jeopardy. The entire book revolves around the idea of coming home and trying to establish who you are in the face of people who have the wrong idea of who you’ve been. This conflict sets Sophie off on a journey that eventually ends in acceptance, love, and a new found sense of self she was waiting for.
The story itself is a pretty common one in women’s fiction. But what sets Wiles’ novel off from the rest is her biggest supporting character, the village of Saffron Sweeting. Each character Wiles introduces has a role: the town gossip, who also works at the post office; the estate agent who is glamorous, but shows Sophie that the image one portrays isn’t always correct; the pub owner with a heart of gold. And with each character, you welcome yourself into this village. I could almost imagine myself walking down the cobbled streets (I imagine them to be cobbled), and passing the familiar faces in the warm sunshine, while I nibble on a sausage roll from Brian’s bakery. And in their own way, each of these characters play an important role in creating the evolved Sophie Campbell that we meet at the end of the book.
I enjoyed Wiles’ mastery of dialogue, especially the English and Scottish mannerisms and language. It was never too hard to understand the meaning, even if the words weren’t familiar. I also loved the central romance, and was rooting for it until the very end. Many times, as the two lovers tried and failed to get together, I was heartbroken with them as they navigated their way back to each other. Ugh, I get chills just thinking of it!
I would recommend this book in a heartbeat to anyone that enjoys a fun read with a rewarding conclusion. I’ve not read Wiles’ debut novel, Saving Saffron Sweeting, but given my love for the village, I am planning on picking that one up right away!
I rated this one 4.5 stars out of 5.
Women’s fiction, affectionately known as “Chick Lit,” often gets a bad wrap. Sure, chick lit novels sometimes aren’t as wordy or ironic as what’s passing for literature these days, but these books are no less fulfilling, emotional, and beautiful reads. Sometimes you need a book with a bubbly protagonist whose own emotional life issues mirror your own, with characters so stereotypical in their supporting roles that you just have to laugh at their ridiculous antics, and with a heartwarming conclusion that sends tingles into your fingers and toes and does in fact warm your heart. And that’s why I devoured this novel like I have my other women’s fiction favorites, wholly and without pause. In fact, I was so concerned about the plight of Sophie Cambell and the village of Saffron Sweeting, I read over 85% of the book in a handful of hours. I just couldn’t put it down.
Sophie Cambell has many secrets, and for awhile, she was comfortable keeping all of them. When a death in the family sets off a chain reaction of events, her whole ability to keep telling the lies protecting these secrets is put into jeopardy. The entire book revolves around the idea of coming home and trying to establish who you are in the face of people who have the wrong idea of who you’ve been. This conflict sets Sophie off on a journey that eventually ends in acceptance, love, and a new found sense of self she was waiting for.
The story itself is a pretty common one in women’s fiction. But what sets Wiles’ novel off from the rest is her biggest supporting character, the village of Saffron Sweeting. Each character Wiles introduces has a role: the town gossip, who also works at the post office; the estate agent who is glamorous, but shows Sophie that the image one portrays isn’t always correct; the pub owner with a heart of gold. And with each character, you welcome yourself into this village. I could almost imagine myself walking down the cobbled streets (I imagine them to be cobbled), and passing the familiar faces in the warm sunshine, while I nibble on a sausage roll from Brian’s bakery. And in their own way, each of these characters play an important role in creating the evolved Sophie Campbell that we meet at the end of the book.
I enjoyed Wiles’ mastery of dialogue, especially the English and Scottish mannerisms and language. It was never too hard to understand the meaning, even if the words weren’t familiar. I also loved the central romance, and was rooting for it until the very end. Many times, as the two lovers tried and failed to get together, I was heartbroken with them as they navigated their way back to each other. Ugh, I get chills just thinking of it!
I would recommend this book in a heartbeat to anyone that enjoys a fun read with a rewarding conclusion. I’ve not read Wiles’ debut novel, Saving Saffron Sweeting, but given my love for the village, I am planning on picking that one up right away!
March 8, 2015
I became a fan of Pauline Wiles after reading Saving Saffron Sweeting. The author wrote that book with such charm and humor and continued the trend with Secrets in the Sky. Secrets in the Sky takes place two years before Saving Saffron Sweeting and is about Sophie Campbell, a young woman who has been keeping a secret, several secrets actually, and basically living a lie. For reasons kept from the reader throughout most the book, Sophie will do basically anything to protect the secret even if it means facing down her fears and building a future she doesn't even want.
This book was definitely a page turner and there were moments I wanted to scream at Sophie to come clean and to see what was right in front of her, specifically when it came to her two love interests - one of whom I found to be quite irresistible. Sophie was flawed yet very likeable and I applaud the writer for pulling that off. I loved the subtle humor and Sophie's inner thoughts. The secondary characters were adorably quirky.
Another charming read by Pauline Wiles. I can't wait to see what she has in store for us in her third novel.
* I was provided a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
This book was definitely a page turner and there were moments I wanted to scream at Sophie to come clean and to see what was right in front of her, specifically when it came to her two love interests - one of whom I found to be quite irresistible. Sophie was flawed yet very likeable and I applaud the writer for pulling that off. I loved the subtle humor and Sophie's inner thoughts. The secondary characters were adorably quirky.
Another charming read by Pauline Wiles. I can't wait to see what she has in store for us in her third novel.
* I was provided a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
March 29, 2018
First person present tense.
I really struggled with this for the first five or six chapters. Sophie was pleasant enough but I wasn't really sure what she needed out of life. I was tempted to dnf at Chapter 5, but I read on and it was worth it in the end.
I really struggled with this for the first five or six chapters. Sophie was pleasant enough but I wasn't really sure what she needed out of life. I was tempted to dnf at Chapter 5, but I read on and it was worth it in the end.
April 28, 2022
2.5 out of 5 stars
March 1, 2015
In a tarot reading, getting the Death card is not as bad as it seems. It means change, it is telling the person that one aspect of the their life is coming to an end and a new one will begin.
And for Sophie Campbell, that is exactly what happens when her Aunt Wol dies, forcing her to confront her secrets, especially when people from the past and her own mother constantly show up to disrupt the protected life she had under Aunt Wol's roof in the village of Saffron Sweeting.
Sophie's big secret may seem like no big deal at the beginning and then one layer is peeled off and some things make sense, but it still seems too trivial to make such a big case out of it. Then another layer comes off and then another, yet things don't quite make sense. There came a point when I wanted to shake Sophie and tell her "Seriously? you're gonna do THAT to protect your secret? What are you thinking???". And of course, eventually, when it all made sense I thought, "Oops. Sorry for yelling at you Sophie."
And while we learn more about Sophie's secret, we also get the romance part with two very handsome and very different hunks. We have the adorable village, the lovely pub, the busy bodies and my favorite side character Amelia, the local real estate agent and scene stealer extraordinaire. We also get a quick trip to Scotland, which is such a treat for me as the reader, even though Sophie had to confront very painful facts from her past.
Overall, this is a very entertaining story, with memorable characters, real-life situations, lovely settings and once again leaves me sighing for the life in a small village like Saffron Sweeting.
And for Sophie Campbell, that is exactly what happens when her Aunt Wol dies, forcing her to confront her secrets, especially when people from the past and her own mother constantly show up to disrupt the protected life she had under Aunt Wol's roof in the village of Saffron Sweeting.
Sophie's big secret may seem like no big deal at the beginning and then one layer is peeled off and some things make sense, but it still seems too trivial to make such a big case out of it. Then another layer comes off and then another, yet things don't quite make sense. There came a point when I wanted to shake Sophie and tell her "Seriously? you're gonna do THAT to protect your secret? What are you thinking???". And of course, eventually, when it all made sense I thought, "Oops. Sorry for yelling at you Sophie."
And while we learn more about Sophie's secret, we also get the romance part with two very handsome and very different hunks. We have the adorable village, the lovely pub, the busy bodies and my favorite side character Amelia, the local real estate agent and scene stealer extraordinaire. We also get a quick trip to Scotland, which is such a treat for me as the reader, even though Sophie had to confront very painful facts from her past.
Overall, this is a very entertaining story, with memorable characters, real-life situations, lovely settings and once again leaves me sighing for the life in a small village like Saffron Sweeting.
June 21, 2017
Feeling frazzled? Head for Saffron Sweeting! This fictional English village, created by the talented Pauline Wiles, will have you soaking in the bathtub long after the bubbles have disappeared.
As a British expat living in the US, I enjoyed Ms. Wiles’ first novel, Saving Saffron Sweeting, in part a humourous rendition of cultural differences between the US and UK. I wondered if I would enjoy Secrets in the Sky as much. Guess what? I did.
Secrets in the Sky visits Saffron Sweeting again through new eyes, but with the same comfortable vibe Ms. Wiles does so well. Gossip, evenings at the pub, flying phobias, quaint buildings and teashops – it’s all a lovely break from the chaos in today’s headlines. Just when I started to think the tale may be too small-world, I found myself flying – literally – into a tangled web of small lies leading to bigger lies leading to disastrous marriage proposals leading to the sweetest romance. The relationship between Sophie and her leading man is delightfully portrayed – just the right amount of romantic tension. I read the little speech about how one should feel before getting married at least ten times. It could make a fortune on Hallmark cards. Worth the price of the book all by itself! I look forward to visiting Saffron Sweeting again.
As a British expat living in the US, I enjoyed Ms. Wiles’ first novel, Saving Saffron Sweeting, in part a humourous rendition of cultural differences between the US and UK. I wondered if I would enjoy Secrets in the Sky as much. Guess what? I did.
Secrets in the Sky visits Saffron Sweeting again through new eyes, but with the same comfortable vibe Ms. Wiles does so well. Gossip, evenings at the pub, flying phobias, quaint buildings and teashops – it’s all a lovely break from the chaos in today’s headlines. Just when I started to think the tale may be too small-world, I found myself flying – literally – into a tangled web of small lies leading to bigger lies leading to disastrous marriage proposals leading to the sweetest romance. The relationship between Sophie and her leading man is delightfully portrayed – just the right amount of romantic tension. I read the little speech about how one should feel before getting married at least ten times. It could make a fortune on Hallmark cards. Worth the price of the book all by itself! I look forward to visiting Saffron Sweeting again.
March 7, 2021
This is my second "Saffron Sweeting" book. The first made me want to bake something and take up jogging (I did both though one more successfully than the other). This book made me want to visit Scotland.
Wiles would be quick to say her books aren't meant to be deep reads; they are entertaining. And I learned a long time ago, I don't have to like a main character--or agree with every choice she makes--to enjoy the story.
As when I watch a Hallmark movie, I can't help thinking, "What if the woman didn't have another love option? Would we hate a book where a female lead decides to be on her own and is quite happy with that choice?
Wiles would be quick to say her books aren't meant to be deep reads; they are entertaining. And I learned a long time ago, I don't have to like a main character--or agree with every choice she makes--to enjoy the story.
As when I watch a Hallmark movie, I can't help thinking, "What if the woman didn't have another love option? Would we hate a book where a female lead decides to be on her own and is quite happy with that choice?
March 5, 2018
Not a carbon copy!
Lovely story of familial love, loss and secrets kept too long.
Sophie's mother, in fact the entire village, thinks that she's an air hostess. What happens when she admits her fear of flying, and the fact that she isn't is all part of the magic going on in this delightful tale.
Just an aside, it's 'wracking my brain', not 'racking'. One means searching, the other is a place to put things.
☺
Lovely story of familial love, loss and secrets kept too long.
Sophie's mother, in fact the entire village, thinks that she's an air hostess. What happens when she admits her fear of flying, and the fact that she isn't is all part of the magic going on in this delightful tale.
Just an aside, it's 'wracking my brain', not 'racking'. One means searching, the other is a place to put things.
☺
June 6, 2019
This one takes place 2 years before 'Saving Saffron Sweeting'. I think all in this series can stand alone. Almost as sweet as Saving - or maybe I shouldn't have read them back to back? Anyway, sweet story - with a lead character who is once again emotionally a bit younger than her age. Still a pleasant read. Recommended to those who like their love scenes to leave much to the imagination. 3.5 stars.
March 4, 2018
Set in a small English village near to Cambridge this is a well written story.
Sophie has secrets and when her great aunt dies and leaves her some money she struggles to keep up her deceit but she just becomes more and more embroiled in it until things comes to a head.
Good characters, lovely dialogue, well paced and a good read.
Sophie has secrets and when her great aunt dies and leaves her some money she struggles to keep up her deceit but she just becomes more and more embroiled in it until things comes to a head.
Good characters, lovely dialogue, well paced and a good read.
June 22, 2018
Romantic story
A good story about relationships, secrets, fears, and lies to protect it all. The only thing I didn't like was the weakness of the main character. How could she allow herself to be so manipulated? I love when she finally stepped up. Would like to read the next one in the series.
A good story about relationships, secrets, fears, and lies to protect it all. The only thing I didn't like was the weakness of the main character. How could she allow herself to be so manipulated? I love when she finally stepped up. Would like to read the next one in the series.
July 17, 2018
A lovely novel, an easy read but still desciptive enough to let you disappear into the World of Saffron Sweeting.
Makes you question why we think we want others to see our lives as better than they are and beoming caught in our comfort zones.
Makes you question why we think we want others to see our lives as better than they are and beoming caught in our comfort zones.
July 29, 2018
Cute story
This is a cute story about how you can fall into a trap when you start lying and the crazy process to get yourself back to the truth. Sophie was a likable character. And you can't help but fall in love with Tom.
This is a cute story about how you can fall into a trap when you start lying and the crazy process to get yourself back to the truth. Sophie was a likable character. And you can't help but fall in love with Tom.
November 29, 2019
I am really enjoying this series, I love when there are several characters you get to know and they show up in the rest of the books, hope it carries on in the rest 😁 I loved the characters and thought it was a good story, I did feel like it was dragged out a little but it had a lovely ending 😊
March 9, 2018
I liked this book! I got frustrated with the main character's lack of ability to stand up for herself
March 12, 2018
70 pages, out of 325, and I was done. Terrible book, awful characters. Blah!
March 31, 2018
Cute romantic novel
I did enjoy this book. I love a good romantic novel. If you enjoy flying or are scared read this book.
I did enjoy this book. I love a good romantic novel. If you enjoy flying or are scared read this book.
April 18, 2018
A fun read, a likable protagonist and love interest.
Read
April 28, 2018It started with the snail pace... I lost my patience after reading upto 16%...The only salvation was that I downloaded the e-book from amazon free of cost.
June 6, 2018
Although the story line is a bit feeble the characters are great.
July 29, 2019
Easy, interesting read
Good story! The settings popped out with descriptions, the characters easy to picture. This was a great read for a weekend vacation.
Good story! The settings popped out with descriptions, the characters easy to picture. This was a great read for a weekend vacation.
Read
January 5, 2021Good story
I enjoyed this book. Family dynamics can be really toxic in real love rd as they were in this story. The effects can be far reaching.
I enjoyed this book. Family dynamics can be really toxic in real love rd as they were in this story. The effects can be far reaching.
July 6, 2022
I enjoyed the others in this series, but just couldn’t get into this one. DNF.
April 24, 2015
Review originally posted on my blog www.livinglifewithjoy.com
Why I Read This Book: I signed up to participate in the blog tour for Secrets in the Sky through Chick Lit Plus Blog Tours because the story sounded interesting and entertaining.
My Review:
The novel begins with a young woman named Sophie mourning the loss of her beloved Great-Aunt Wol. After Wol dies, Sophie’s life seems to spiral out of control. She’s been living her life in the shadow of a big secret and it’s quickly catching up to her. Will she be able to find her way out of the mess that she’s created for herself? As it begins to get in the way of her friendships and relationships, and a possible new love interest, Sophie realizes that she may need to come clean about some of the secrets she’s been harboring.
It took me a while to get into the story and it was a bit of a slow read for me, but overall, I thoroughly enjoyed the story and wanted to keep reading to find out what would happen next. It was a wonderful novel filled with themes of love, loss, lies and trust. Trusting in yourself to know what you want out of life and love. Allowing yourself to acknowledge when you are afraid of something and having the courage to face and conquer your fears. Being brave and taking the steps to live the life you want. Moving past loss and letting go of secrets, lies and painful memories.
I wasn’t particularly fond of Joey’s character, which I believe was the author’s intention. On paper he seems like he would be a lovely guy, but I hated the way he manipulated Sophie and tried to profit from her inheritance. Unfortunately, I suspect there are quite a few men in this world that aren’t as lovely as they seem and I enjoyed the way his character was portrayed. There were quite a few scenes that had me chuckling to myself and a few scenes that left me with teary eyes. There were interesting characters, but my favorite one was Tom and the way he was developed and written into the story. I loved the friendship that blooms between Sophie and Tom and knew that something wonderful could happen with the two of them. I was anxiously waiting for Sophie to realize the one major truth that she couldn’t seem to admit to herself and I was completely satisfied with the final outcome of the story. I loved the epilogue and where her life ends up taking her after she learns to let go of the secrets and lies that were eating away at her guilty-conscious.
I recommend Secrets in the Sky to anyone looking for a women’s fiction novel filled with real-life situations and issues, with a good dose of romance thrown into the mix that will warm your heart and charm your senses.
My Rating: 4/5 Stars
Memorable Moment:
"Because every moment you’re apart, you think you’ll die from the seconds ticking by until you see them again. Because when they smile at you, you feel like your feet lift off the ground. And when – when you actually get to hold them, it’s not just your feet. Your whole body’s flying."
Why I Read This Book: I signed up to participate in the blog tour for Secrets in the Sky through Chick Lit Plus Blog Tours because the story sounded interesting and entertaining.
My Review:
The novel begins with a young woman named Sophie mourning the loss of her beloved Great-Aunt Wol. After Wol dies, Sophie’s life seems to spiral out of control. She’s been living her life in the shadow of a big secret and it’s quickly catching up to her. Will she be able to find her way out of the mess that she’s created for herself? As it begins to get in the way of her friendships and relationships, and a possible new love interest, Sophie realizes that she may need to come clean about some of the secrets she’s been harboring.
It took me a while to get into the story and it was a bit of a slow read for me, but overall, I thoroughly enjoyed the story and wanted to keep reading to find out what would happen next. It was a wonderful novel filled with themes of love, loss, lies and trust. Trusting in yourself to know what you want out of life and love. Allowing yourself to acknowledge when you are afraid of something and having the courage to face and conquer your fears. Being brave and taking the steps to live the life you want. Moving past loss and letting go of secrets, lies and painful memories.
I wasn’t particularly fond of Joey’s character, which I believe was the author’s intention. On paper he seems like he would be a lovely guy, but I hated the way he manipulated Sophie and tried to profit from her inheritance. Unfortunately, I suspect there are quite a few men in this world that aren’t as lovely as they seem and I enjoyed the way his character was portrayed. There were quite a few scenes that had me chuckling to myself and a few scenes that left me with teary eyes. There were interesting characters, but my favorite one was Tom and the way he was developed and written into the story. I loved the friendship that blooms between Sophie and Tom and knew that something wonderful could happen with the two of them. I was anxiously waiting for Sophie to realize the one major truth that she couldn’t seem to admit to herself and I was completely satisfied with the final outcome of the story. I loved the epilogue and where her life ends up taking her after she learns to let go of the secrets and lies that were eating away at her guilty-conscious.
I recommend Secrets in the Sky to anyone looking for a women’s fiction novel filled with real-life situations and issues, with a good dose of romance thrown into the mix that will warm your heart and charm your senses.
My Rating: 4/5 Stars
Memorable Moment:
"Because every moment you’re apart, you think you’ll die from the seconds ticking by until you see them again. Because when they smile at you, you feel like your feet lift off the ground. And when – when you actually get to hold them, it’s not just your feet. Your whole body’s flying."
April 28, 2015
Sophie Campbell is coping with the death of her beloved Aunt Wol, a retired schoolteacher, with whom she lived. Upon her aunt's death, she is informed by Wol's solicitor that she has been left quite a tidy sum, around 30,000 pounds. But the home she has always known doesn't belong to Wol, and she needs to find another place to live.
Moving in with her best friend from school, Bella, Sophie needs to share the lie everyone thinks is the truth: that she is an air hostess and travels around the world. But she isn't telling anyone why she's told this lie, and why she's sticking with it. Oh, part of the reason is quite apparent: she's terrified to fly. So terrified that she flunked out of stewardess school.
But Bella has a plan: She's connected Sophie with an American who teaches healing classes, and the one she's teaching now is Fear of Flying, and she convinces Sophie to to take the class in order to overcome her fear, and become a hostess in reality. Unwillingly, Sophie agrees, but doesn't realize exactly how much deeper her lying is going to have to be in order to get through the class.
It doesn't help when her ex-boyfriend, Joey, finds out she has money and wants her to be his business partner in a venture, and also assumes they can couple again; nor when the hunky guy she met at the garden center turns out to be a pilot and is co-teaching the class. Nor when her mother is spending more time in Saffron Sweeting and Sophie's lies start crumbling around her.
I really enjoyed the book, although I wasn't as convinced as Sophie that she needed to maintain the charade all this time. In some cases, honesty is the best policy, and I believe it would have saved her a lot of trouble just to have 'come clean' in the beginning.
What I didn't like was the character of Joey. Although he seemed nice enough on the surface, I felt he was a manipulator and couldn't understand why Sophie just didn't tell him to take a hike. I would have probably within a week after spending time with him. But, old habits die hard, as they say. Other than that, I liked most of the characters in the book, and one must do so in order to truly enjoy it.
However, the book, while starting out slow, (at a funeral, and her subsequent need to move) picked up after the first few chapters. I enjoyed Sophie's transformation from complete coward (in more ways than one) to the person she finally became at the end. It was, as they say, a revelation for her, and worth reading the book.
This is a clean romance, which I enjoy, (never having been one for big sex scenes, so that's a plus), a lot of soul-searching, comedy, people just trying to get through life. Recommended.
I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review, but this in no way influenced my decision.
Moving in with her best friend from school, Bella, Sophie needs to share the lie everyone thinks is the truth: that she is an air hostess and travels around the world. But she isn't telling anyone why she's told this lie, and why she's sticking with it. Oh, part of the reason is quite apparent: she's terrified to fly. So terrified that she flunked out of stewardess school.
But Bella has a plan: She's connected Sophie with an American who teaches healing classes, and the one she's teaching now is Fear of Flying, and she convinces Sophie to to take the class in order to overcome her fear, and become a hostess in reality. Unwillingly, Sophie agrees, but doesn't realize exactly how much deeper her lying is going to have to be in order to get through the class.
It doesn't help when her ex-boyfriend, Joey, finds out she has money and wants her to be his business partner in a venture, and also assumes they can couple again; nor when the hunky guy she met at the garden center turns out to be a pilot and is co-teaching the class. Nor when her mother is spending more time in Saffron Sweeting and Sophie's lies start crumbling around her.
I really enjoyed the book, although I wasn't as convinced as Sophie that she needed to maintain the charade all this time. In some cases, honesty is the best policy, and I believe it would have saved her a lot of trouble just to have 'come clean' in the beginning.
What I didn't like was the character of Joey. Although he seemed nice enough on the surface, I felt he was a manipulator and couldn't understand why Sophie just didn't tell him to take a hike. I would have probably within a week after spending time with him. But, old habits die hard, as they say. Other than that, I liked most of the characters in the book, and one must do so in order to truly enjoy it.
However, the book, while starting out slow, (at a funeral, and her subsequent need to move) picked up after the first few chapters. I enjoyed Sophie's transformation from complete coward (in more ways than one) to the person she finally became at the end. It was, as they say, a revelation for her, and worth reading the book.
This is a clean romance, which I enjoy, (never having been one for big sex scenes, so that's a plus), a lot of soul-searching, comedy, people just trying to get through life. Recommended.
I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review, but this in no way influenced my decision.
December 13, 2016
Originally reviewed at Novel Escapes
Secrets in the Sky was a surprise read for me. I wasn’t initially sure what to expect because I didn’t immediately understand the thought process behind the actions of some of the characters. They seemed to be behaving oddly- which makes sense now as many of them are harbouring some secrets from each other. However, I was immediately on Sophie’s side for no other good reason than that I liked her from the get-go. Something about her earnestness made me want her to succeed but she seemed to be having a hard time determining what she wanted her success to be and her insistence about keeping her job a secret from her mother made me a bit crazy.
Pauline Wiles inserted some vastly irritating (but amusing) personalities into the plot of this novel. Namely a rather vocal bird, a rather frustratingly simple ex-boyfriend/current boyfriend and a number of interfering villagers but there were also some steadfast friends. Her roommate was sweet and I liked both the real-estate agent who was on Sophie’s side and the American woman who ran the support groups.
My only hesitancy with my overall feelings was that I felt more warmth could have been made between the sisters. I think there was something missing in their interactions or perhaps it was just their age gap that created this, or their unusual upbringing? But I wished for more closeness there.
The novel was charming and the romantic plot twists were sweet. I wouldn’t hesitate to read another novel about Saffron Sweeting!
Thank you to the author for our review copy. All opinions are our own.
Secrets in the Sky was a surprise read for me. I wasn’t initially sure what to expect because I didn’t immediately understand the thought process behind the actions of some of the characters. They seemed to be behaving oddly- which makes sense now as many of them are harbouring some secrets from each other. However, I was immediately on Sophie’s side for no other good reason than that I liked her from the get-go. Something about her earnestness made me want her to succeed but she seemed to be having a hard time determining what she wanted her success to be and her insistence about keeping her job a secret from her mother made me a bit crazy.
Pauline Wiles inserted some vastly irritating (but amusing) personalities into the plot of this novel. Namely a rather vocal bird, a rather frustratingly simple ex-boyfriend/current boyfriend and a number of interfering villagers but there were also some steadfast friends. Her roommate was sweet and I liked both the real-estate agent who was on Sophie’s side and the American woman who ran the support groups.
My only hesitancy with my overall feelings was that I felt more warmth could have been made between the sisters. I think there was something missing in their interactions or perhaps it was just their age gap that created this, or their unusual upbringing? But I wished for more closeness there.
The novel was charming and the romantic plot twists were sweet. I wouldn’t hesitate to read another novel about Saffron Sweeting!
Thank you to the author for our review copy. All opinions are our own.
April 19, 2018
I have absolutely no respect for this woman. Her weakness and stupidity totally ruined this book for me.
I already struggle with books where the heroines are such silly spineless idiots. I don't understand Sophie's reasoning or mental ability in choosing to live a life of lies for such stupid and inadequate reasons. I really don't enjoy being inside the head of people who are so mentally messed up. Grow up girl, and get a spine and a brain reset!
If I hadn't already enjoyed another book (Saving Saffron Sweeting) by this author, I'd never have made it past the half-way point of this book.
Authors, PSA from me to you:
If your heroine is in her mid- to late 20's, she should have learned some basic adulting skills by now. Up to and including sticking up for yourself, being true to yourself, setting boundaries (particularly with family members), choosing men who aren't users and/or useless, and just being an actual adult who takes responsibility for herself and her life. I'm tired of reading about women who are still in arrested development mode by that age.
Don't get me wrong, self-improvement is something we all should be doing as a continuous process, but seriously, by your mid-20's you should have at least made a start with that!
This heroine was so weak, so much the opposite of someone I could respect, that I came to despise her. I feel sorry for the hero.
I already struggle with books where the heroines are such silly spineless idiots. I don't understand Sophie's reasoning or mental ability in choosing to live a life of lies for such stupid and inadequate reasons. I really don't enjoy being inside the head of people who are so mentally messed up. Grow up girl, and get a spine and a brain reset!
If I hadn't already enjoyed another book (Saving Saffron Sweeting) by this author, I'd never have made it past the half-way point of this book.
Authors, PSA from me to you:
If your heroine is in her mid- to late 20's, she should have learned some basic adulting skills by now. Up to and including sticking up for yourself, being true to yourself, setting boundaries (particularly with family members), choosing men who aren't users and/or useless, and just being an actual adult who takes responsibility for herself and her life. I'm tired of reading about women who are still in arrested development mode by that age.
Don't get me wrong, self-improvement is something we all should be doing as a continuous process, but seriously, by your mid-20's you should have at least made a start with that!
This heroine was so weak, so much the opposite of someone I could respect, that I came to despise her. I feel sorry for the hero.
February 25, 2015
I was given a copy of Secrets in the Sky by Pauline Wiles for a honest review.
I really enjoyed this book I couldn't put it down.
The story takes place in the small village of Saffron Sweeting, where the main character Sophie Campbell lives with her Aunt Wol until Wol passed away and puts a huge kink into Sophie's life. You see Sophie is living a huge lie. Everyone thinks she is a Air Hostess (stewardess), but in actuallity she is terrified of flying. The reason she is lying is to cover a huge secret.
When Wol passes she leaves a nest egg for Sophie and her ex-boyfriend Joey, who is also bests buds with Sophie's mom Erica, comes sniffing around. He wants a photography studio and wants Sophie to fund it and will do whatever it takes to make it happen. This is one guy I would like to kick in the teeth.
Along the way she meets Tom who's family owns garden center's and he's a pilot. He helps her cover the lie even though he has no idea what is going on. He along with others help her overcome her fear of flying, and ends up falling head over heels in love with her.
I'm gonna stop here or there won't be much point of you reading the book, and it was a real page turner for me, I just had to see what Sophie was gonna do next to protect her secrets.
I really enjoyed this book I couldn't put it down.
The story takes place in the small village of Saffron Sweeting, where the main character Sophie Campbell lives with her Aunt Wol until Wol passed away and puts a huge kink into Sophie's life. You see Sophie is living a huge lie. Everyone thinks she is a Air Hostess (stewardess), but in actuallity she is terrified of flying. The reason she is lying is to cover a huge secret.
When Wol passes she leaves a nest egg for Sophie and her ex-boyfriend Joey, who is also bests buds with Sophie's mom Erica, comes sniffing around. He wants a photography studio and wants Sophie to fund it and will do whatever it takes to make it happen. This is one guy I would like to kick in the teeth.
Along the way she meets Tom who's family owns garden center's and he's a pilot. He helps her cover the lie even though he has no idea what is going on. He along with others help her overcome her fear of flying, and ends up falling head over heels in love with her.
I'm gonna stop here or there won't be much point of you reading the book, and it was a real page turner for me, I just had to see what Sophie was gonna do next to protect her secrets.
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