The Windfell Family Secrets

Windfell Manor #2

by Diane Allen

A moving Yorkshire saga, The Windfell Family Secrets is the much anticipated follow up to Diane Allen's The Mistress of Windfell Manor.Twenty-one years have passed since Charlotte Booth fought to keep Ferndale Mill and her home at Windfell Manor following her traumatic first marriage. Now, highly regarded in local society and happily married to her childhood sweetheart, Archie Atkinson, she seeks only the best for their children, Isabelle and Danny. But history has a habit of repeating itself when Danny's head is turned by a local girl of ill repute, despite his promise of marriage to the far more respectable Harriet Armstrong. Meanwhile, the beautiful and secretive Isabelle shares all the traits of her biological father, the notorious Joseph Dawson. And when she announces that she is to marry John Sidgwick, the owner of High Mill in Skipton, her mother quickly warns her against him. An ex-drinking mate of her late father who faces bankruptcy, Charlotte fears his interest in Isabelle is founded more upon self-preservation than any notions of love. What she doesn't realize is how far he's willing to go to protect his future . . .

385 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 19, 2017

About the author

Diane Allen was born in Leeds, but raised at her family’s farm deep in the Yorkshire Dales. After working as a glass engraver, raising a family, and looking after an ill father, she found her true niche in life, joining a large print publishing firm in 1990.

Rising through the firm, she is now the general manager and has recently been made Honorary Vice President of the Romantic Novelists’ Association. She is the author of For a Father’s Pride and The Mistress of Windfell Manor, and its sequel, The Windfell Family Secrets.

Diane and her husband Ronnie live in Long Preston in the Yorkshire Dales, and have two children and four beautiful grandchildren.

Reviews

[Stace]

Book Reviewed by Julie on www.whisperingstories.com

‘The Windfell Family Secrets’ is the sequel to ‘The Mistress of Windfell Manor’ by British author, Diane Allen and is set in the north of Victorian England. We have a bit of backstory in the early part of the book to set the scene for picking up the tale just over twenty years after the original story ended.

The tale is written in the third person and we view the action from multiple perspectives. This approach can work well but head-hopping without a chapter or section break can sometimes cause confusion, as the reader isn’t sure who to connect or sympathise with.

I was at a disadvantage from not having read the first book in the series, where I hope Charlotte’s woes would have drawn me in. She has clearly become a strong and successful businesswoman when we meet her in the sequel. It would seem that after marrying her second husband, she has enjoyed a happy family life and is a fair and benevolent employer.

I found the first quarter of the book rather pedestrian with the characters being a little flat but the story picked up when Danny was led astray by Amy, a local girl who was very generous with her favours. This thread seemed far more plausible than Isabelle’s attraction to an ageing, near bankrupt mill owner who had been a friend of her evil birth-father.

Nevertheless, there were absorbing descriptive passages as well as some interesting social history and I enjoyed the gentle snapshots of rural nineteenth century life.

For me, this book was the proverbial curate’s egg. The plot was at times sluggish and at others, engaging. The pace wasn’t altogether consistent and I’m not convinced it has the ingredients necessary for a stand-alone novel. However, if you enjoyed the first story in the series, you will probably appreciate the sequel and will look forward to the next instalment. It was a wholesome, straightforward read and I award ‘The Windfell Family Secrets’ three-and-a-half stars.

[Natalya]

I found this one only okay (although deserving of more than 2 stars). Upon looking at the last book in the trilogy's blurb, I can see this one was leading up to the next one, but it just didn't seem to have that much storyline to it. Hopefully the next one will be more interesting, as I enjoyed the first one.

[Chery]

I’ve now read 14 books by Diane Allen, with only Village Scandal left on my list — which I will definitely read when i can get my hands on. I can honestly say I have thoroughly enjoyed every single one.
I’ve loved being taken on a journey through different stories and characters, from the 1800s right through to 1938. Diane Allen has a wonderful way of bringing the past to life and making you feel completely immersed in the time period.
If you enjoy historical fiction, strong characters, family stories, hardship, love and life in years gone by, I definitely recommend giving Diane Allen a try.
I’m almost at the end of my Diane Allen journey now… and I’m honestly not sure what I’m going to read next! ❤️📚

[Annemarie Farthing]

Wise words 😻
'You will always look perfect to me, my love.' Archie winked and turned to Danny and Robert. Remember: flattery will get you a long way with your women.'
I liked the 'Rules to be observed by the hands employed in this mill' September 1851. Rule number 18...Any persons found smoking on the premises will be instantly dismissed.

[Julie Haiselden]

I received a free copy of this novel and reviewed it as part of the Whispering Stories team; link below:

https://jhbooksblog.wordpress.com/201...

I awarded The Windfell Family Secrets 3.5 stars.

[Helen Birkbeck]

I like the storyline and characters, though the story was nothing new really, and love the historical and geographical settings, but as an editor I found the spelling errors and anachronistic speech spoiled the book a bit.

[Carol]

When I started this book I hadn’t realised it was book of a trilogy however it didn’t really matter as it was self explanatory. An easy light read with no tension or horror scenarios . Well written

[Robert]

Pleasant undemanding read.

[Vicky Shaw]

I loved it as much as the first one
Can’t wait for the library to open tomorrow to get the 3rd book

[Sue Flirty]

Yet another good read by Diane Allen

[Mystical Garden]

Absolutely brilliant!

[Neen]

I did enjoy this book, I felt like I was stepping back into the time period. I would say that towards the end, the book was a bit slow and felt myself rushing to finish it.

[Cath]

Great book once again Diane Allen.

[Jacqueline Rawlins]

Fans of Catherine Cookson will enjoy this book. Second Part of a trilogy.
A great audio book for bedtime. ..comfort reading .

[Mrs Margaret Maher]

An Excellent Book

This is the second book in the Windfell Manor Trilogy. The first two books in the series have been brilliant. I and now going to the 3book if it is ready.

[Heather Copping]

Really enjoyed this book as much as part one of the windfell series. Really easy to get into and enjoyable to read.