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Da sygeplejersken Anna Trenowyth vender tilbage til England midt under 2. verdenskrig, bliver hun sat til at arbejde på militær hospitalet på Nanreath Hall - i det hus, hvor hun engang boede med sin biologiske mor.
Anna lærte aldrig sin mor, Lady Katherine Trenowyth, at kende inden hun døde, og nu ser hun sin chance til, at komme tættere på den familie, hun ikke har nogen relation til. Men jo mere hun lærer om familien og familiens hemmeligheder at kende, jo tættere kommer hun også på sandheden om sig selv. En sandhed om knuste håb, knuste hjerter og tragedier - en fortid som måske er for farlig at afsløre.
Anna lærte aldrig sin mor, Lady Katherine Trenowyth, at kende inden hun døde, og nu ser hun sin chance til, at komme tættere på den familie, hun ikke har nogen relation til. Men jo mere hun lærer om familien og familiens hemmeligheder at kende, jo tættere kommer hun også på sandheden om sig selv. En sandhed om knuste håb, knuste hjerter og tragedier - en fortid som måske er for farlig at afsløre.
382 pages, Hardcover
First published January 15, 2018
373 people are currently reading
2635 people want to read
About the author
Alix Rickloff
13 books384 followersCritically acclaimed author of historical fiction, Alix Rickloff’s family tree includes a knight who fought during the Wars of the Roses (his brass rubbing hangs in her dining room) and a soldier who sided with Charles I during the English Civil War (hence the family's hasty emigration to America). With inspiration like that, what else could she do but start writing her own stories? She lives in Maryland in a house that’s seen its own share of history so when she’s not writing, she can usually be found trying to keep it from falling down.
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July 28, 2017
“Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards.”
----Søren Kierkegaard
Alix Rickloff, a critically acclaimed author of historical and paranormal romance, has penned a heart touching historical fiction called, Secrets of Nanreath Hall that revolves around two women, in two different timelines, searching for their own identities, one is looking for her biological mother's family and her forgotten background, while the other leaves everything behind for love. Both the stories, narrated in alternative chapters, are not only endearing but are also intriguing enough to keep the readers on their edges.
Synopsis:
This incredible debut historical novel—in the tradition of Beatriz Williams and Jennifer Robson—tells the fascinating story of a young mother who flees her home on the rocky cliffs of Cornwall and the daughter who finds her way back, seeking answers.
Cornwall, 1940. Back in England after the harrowing evacuation at Dunkirk, WWII Red Cross nurse Anna Trenowyth is shocked to learn her adoptive parents Graham and Prue Handley have been killed in an air raid. She desperately needs their advice as she’s been assigned to the military hospital that has set up camp inside her biological mother’s childhood home—Nanreath Hall. Anna was just six years old when her mother, Lady Katherine Trenowyth, died. All she has left are vague memories that tease her with clues she can’t unravel. Anna’s assignment to Nanreath Hall could be the chance for her to finally become acquainted with the family she’s never known—and to unbury the truth and secrets surrounding her past.
Cornwall, 1913. In the luxury of pre-WWI England, Lady Katherine Trenowyth is expected to do nothing more than make a smart marriage and have a respectable life. When Simon Halliday, a bohemian painter, enters her world, Katherine begins to question the future that was so carefully laid out for her. Her choices begin to lead her away from the stability of her home and family toward a wild existence of life, art, and love. But as everything begins to fall apart, Katherine finds herself destitute and alone.
As Anna is drawn into her newfound family’s lives and their tangled loyalties, she discovers herself at the center of old heartbreaks and unbearable tragedies, leaving her to decide if the secrets of the past are too dangerous to unearth…and if the family she’s discovered is one she can keep.
Anna Trenowyth, the Red Cross nurse, serving the wounded soldiers and civilians in England during the WWII, gets an once-in-a-lifetime-opportunity to serve for her country with her new posting at her biological mother's home called, Nanreath Hall. Now Anna has a chance to dig up the buried past and unravel the untold past stories about a mother she barely remember and a father whom she never met. But can Anna accept the brutal honesty of her past as well as its ugly secrets? Most above all, will she be accepted with open arms in a family who never accepted her or her mother after the affair.
Lady Katherine Trenowyth, a young and very beautiful daughter of an Earl, falls for the wrong guy and tragedy happens, when she decides to leave behind the comfort and safety of her home in England during the WWI time to pursue her owns dreams of becoming an artist and living with the man she loves. But then she falls pregnant and is left alone both by her lover as well as by her own family. Can Katherine survive herself and protect her own daughter in the difficult times of war and death?
The debut book of the author will touch the souls of its readers and will also enlighten the minds of its readers about the world war time periods that are penned so strikingly. The back drop of the story line centers around both the world wars, and each timeline has been depicted with honesty. The horrors and the violence, everything have been captured and arrested into this book very vividly. The readers will be able to visualize the scenes and the graphic ferocity while reading this book. And not only that, the societal indifferences and the shortcomings have also been strikingly portrayed through the story line, making it highly realistic. The timeline resonates strongly with the story line. Also Cornwall is vividly portrayed through the pages of this book.
The author's writing style is eloquent and is laced with enough emotions to move the readers deeply. The dialogues are free flowing and will help the readers to contemplate with the story line. And with a smooth pace and enough tension, the readers will be glued to the pages of this book till the very end. The author explores lots of layers about the then history, society, people, lifestyle and many other things magnificently. Although at times, the pace slowed down once in a while, and the story often dragged for a while, otherwise this story is engrossing to its very core.
The characters are well developed and painted them with a realistic demeanor, so that the readers can comprehend with their plight. The first primary character, Anna, is an inspiring young lady, whose soul endearing journey to her roots where the situation is very messy after her birth mother left that home , yet Anna bravely decides to reconnect with her lost relatives. Anna is strong and is very thoughtful and mature. Whereas the second primary character, Katherine, is extremely rebellious yet independent enough to fight for own love and her dreams, even though she is aware that life can be difficult outside the comfort of her palatial home. Both these women are a strong contrast to their diverse personalities, yet their loving heart and their mother-daughter connection, makes them look very interesting in the eyes of the readers. I believe, Katherine's character and her back story could have been explored with much more depth, hence I could not feel any sympathy towards Katherine's troubles.
In a nutshell, this book is enjoyable and a perfect cozy and a poignant read for all those who are looking for a gripping historical fiction.
Verdict: Strongly recommended for historical fiction lovers.
Courtesy: Thanks to the author, Alix Rickloff, for giving me an opportunity to read and review this book.
----Søren Kierkegaard
Alix Rickloff, a critically acclaimed author of historical and paranormal romance, has penned a heart touching historical fiction called, Secrets of Nanreath Hall that revolves around two women, in two different timelines, searching for their own identities, one is looking for her biological mother's family and her forgotten background, while the other leaves everything behind for love. Both the stories, narrated in alternative chapters, are not only endearing but are also intriguing enough to keep the readers on their edges.
Synopsis:
This incredible debut historical novel—in the tradition of Beatriz Williams and Jennifer Robson—tells the fascinating story of a young mother who flees her home on the rocky cliffs of Cornwall and the daughter who finds her way back, seeking answers.
Cornwall, 1940. Back in England after the harrowing evacuation at Dunkirk, WWII Red Cross nurse Anna Trenowyth is shocked to learn her adoptive parents Graham and Prue Handley have been killed in an air raid. She desperately needs their advice as she’s been assigned to the military hospital that has set up camp inside her biological mother’s childhood home—Nanreath Hall. Anna was just six years old when her mother, Lady Katherine Trenowyth, died. All she has left are vague memories that tease her with clues she can’t unravel. Anna’s assignment to Nanreath Hall could be the chance for her to finally become acquainted with the family she’s never known—and to unbury the truth and secrets surrounding her past.
Cornwall, 1913. In the luxury of pre-WWI England, Lady Katherine Trenowyth is expected to do nothing more than make a smart marriage and have a respectable life. When Simon Halliday, a bohemian painter, enters her world, Katherine begins to question the future that was so carefully laid out for her. Her choices begin to lead her away from the stability of her home and family toward a wild existence of life, art, and love. But as everything begins to fall apart, Katherine finds herself destitute and alone.
As Anna is drawn into her newfound family’s lives and their tangled loyalties, she discovers herself at the center of old heartbreaks and unbearable tragedies, leaving her to decide if the secrets of the past are too dangerous to unearth…and if the family she’s discovered is one she can keep.
Anna Trenowyth, the Red Cross nurse, serving the wounded soldiers and civilians in England during the WWII, gets an once-in-a-lifetime-opportunity to serve for her country with her new posting at her biological mother's home called, Nanreath Hall. Now Anna has a chance to dig up the buried past and unravel the untold past stories about a mother she barely remember and a father whom she never met. But can Anna accept the brutal honesty of her past as well as its ugly secrets? Most above all, will she be accepted with open arms in a family who never accepted her or her mother after the affair.
Lady Katherine Trenowyth, a young and very beautiful daughter of an Earl, falls for the wrong guy and tragedy happens, when she decides to leave behind the comfort and safety of her home in England during the WWI time to pursue her owns dreams of becoming an artist and living with the man she loves. But then she falls pregnant and is left alone both by her lover as well as by her own family. Can Katherine survive herself and protect her own daughter in the difficult times of war and death?
The debut book of the author will touch the souls of its readers and will also enlighten the minds of its readers about the world war time periods that are penned so strikingly. The back drop of the story line centers around both the world wars, and each timeline has been depicted with honesty. The horrors and the violence, everything have been captured and arrested into this book very vividly. The readers will be able to visualize the scenes and the graphic ferocity while reading this book. And not only that, the societal indifferences and the shortcomings have also been strikingly portrayed through the story line, making it highly realistic. The timeline resonates strongly with the story line. Also Cornwall is vividly portrayed through the pages of this book.
The author's writing style is eloquent and is laced with enough emotions to move the readers deeply. The dialogues are free flowing and will help the readers to contemplate with the story line. And with a smooth pace and enough tension, the readers will be glued to the pages of this book till the very end. The author explores lots of layers about the then history, society, people, lifestyle and many other things magnificently. Although at times, the pace slowed down once in a while, and the story often dragged for a while, otherwise this story is engrossing to its very core.
The characters are well developed and painted them with a realistic demeanor, so that the readers can comprehend with their plight. The first primary character, Anna, is an inspiring young lady, whose soul endearing journey to her roots where the situation is very messy after her birth mother left that home , yet Anna bravely decides to reconnect with her lost relatives. Anna is strong and is very thoughtful and mature. Whereas the second primary character, Katherine, is extremely rebellious yet independent enough to fight for own love and her dreams, even though she is aware that life can be difficult outside the comfort of her palatial home. Both these women are a strong contrast to their diverse personalities, yet their loving heart and their mother-daughter connection, makes them look very interesting in the eyes of the readers. I believe, Katherine's character and her back story could have been explored with much more depth, hence I could not feel any sympathy towards Katherine's troubles.
In a nutshell, this book is enjoyable and a perfect cozy and a poignant read for all those who are looking for a gripping historical fiction.
Verdict: Strongly recommended for historical fiction lovers.
Courtesy: Thanks to the author, Alix Rickloff, for giving me an opportunity to read and review this book.
October 15, 2016
The Secrets of Nanreath Hall is a pleasant dual timeline story that intrigued me and felt atmospheric. I could visualize the big English manor and the pre-war/war setting. Most of characters are likable and realistic but some are more complicated than others. The author did a great job of evoking sympathy for some of them. Look forward to other books by this author! This is a good weekend read enjoyed with a cup of tea. If you like historical fiction, I think you will enjoy this book.
September 3, 2017
Dual review with Swedish first and then English!
SWEDISH REVIEW
Man ska inte välja en bok pga av dess omslag, men vad kan jag säga; Dimmornas hus omslag tillsammans med dess fängslande handlingsbeskrivning fick mig på fall!
Jag tror inte att jag någonsin kommer att tröttna på att läsa böcker med två tidsperioder. Det är ett koncept som jag verkligen, verkligen älskar att läsa. I Dimmornas hus får vi följa den unga Anna Trenowyth som för första gången besöker Nanreath hall där hennes mor Lady Katherine växte upp. Anna har bara ett vagt minne av sin mor då hon dog när Anna var sex år gammal. Nu får hon chansen att lära känna sin släkt och få reda på vem hennes pappa var.
Parallellt med Annas handling får vi också följa Katherine som under 1910-talet drömmer om att bli konstnär och förlorar sitt hjärta till en ung konstnärsassistent. Katherine kommer att få betala ett dyrt pris för sin starka vilja att vara självständig.
Dimmornas hur är en intressant bok, jag fann dock att Annas berättelse fängslande mig mer än Katherines gjorde. Men så var Annas sökande efter svar och hennes egna erfarenheter av andra världskriget så mycket mer intressant än att följa Katherine som naivt inte såg sanningen förrän det var för sent. Boken är bra, och om man gillar att läsa historiska mysterie böcker i stil med Kate Morton så passar denna alldeles utmärkt.
Tack HarperCollins Nordic för recensionsexemplaret!
ENGLISH REVIEW
One should not choose a book because of its cover, but what can I say; The cover for Secrets of Nanreath Hall together with its captivating description made me quite eager to read this book!
I do not think I'll ever be tired of reading books with dual storylines. It's a concept that I really, really love to read. In Secrets of Nanreath Hall do we get to follow young Anna Trenowyth who for the first time visits Nanreath Hall where her mother, Lady Katherine, grew up. Anna only has a vague memory of her mother because Katherine died when Anna was six years old. Now she gets the chance to get to know her family and find out the identity of her dad.
Parallel with Anna's story do we also follow Katherine who in the 1910s dreams of becoming an artist and who lost her heart to a young artist assistant. Katherine will have to pay a high price for her will to be independent.
Secrets of Nanreath Hall is an interesting book, but I found Anna's story intrigued me more than Katherine's did. Anna's search for answers and her own experience of World War II was so much more interesting than reading about Katherine who naively did not see the truth until it was too late. The book is good, and if you like to read historical mystery books in the style of Kate Morton is this one for you!
Thanks HarperCollins Nordic for the review copy!
SWEDISH REVIEW
Man ska inte välja en bok pga av dess omslag, men vad kan jag säga; Dimmornas hus omslag tillsammans med dess fängslande handlingsbeskrivning fick mig på fall!
Jag tror inte att jag någonsin kommer att tröttna på att läsa böcker med två tidsperioder. Det är ett koncept som jag verkligen, verkligen älskar att läsa. I Dimmornas hus får vi följa den unga Anna Trenowyth som för första gången besöker Nanreath hall där hennes mor Lady Katherine växte upp. Anna har bara ett vagt minne av sin mor då hon dog när Anna var sex år gammal. Nu får hon chansen att lära känna sin släkt och få reda på vem hennes pappa var.
Parallellt med Annas handling får vi också följa Katherine som under 1910-talet drömmer om att bli konstnär och förlorar sitt hjärta till en ung konstnärsassistent. Katherine kommer att få betala ett dyrt pris för sin starka vilja att vara självständig.
Dimmornas hur är en intressant bok, jag fann dock att Annas berättelse fängslande mig mer än Katherines gjorde. Men så var Annas sökande efter svar och hennes egna erfarenheter av andra världskriget så mycket mer intressant än att följa Katherine som naivt inte såg sanningen förrän det var för sent. Boken är bra, och om man gillar att läsa historiska mysterie böcker i stil med Kate Morton så passar denna alldeles utmärkt.
Tack HarperCollins Nordic för recensionsexemplaret!
ENGLISH REVIEW
One should not choose a book because of its cover, but what can I say; The cover for Secrets of Nanreath Hall together with its captivating description made me quite eager to read this book!
I do not think I'll ever be tired of reading books with dual storylines. It's a concept that I really, really love to read. In Secrets of Nanreath Hall do we get to follow young Anna Trenowyth who for the first time visits Nanreath Hall where her mother, Lady Katherine, grew up. Anna only has a vague memory of her mother because Katherine died when Anna was six years old. Now she gets the chance to get to know her family and find out the identity of her dad.
Parallel with Anna's story do we also follow Katherine who in the 1910s dreams of becoming an artist and who lost her heart to a young artist assistant. Katherine will have to pay a high price for her will to be independent.
Secrets of Nanreath Hall is an interesting book, but I found Anna's story intrigued me more than Katherine's did. Anna's search for answers and her own experience of World War II was so much more interesting than reading about Katherine who naively did not see the truth until it was too late. The book is good, and if you like to read historical mystery books in the style of Kate Morton is this one for you!
Thanks HarperCollins Nordic for the review copy!
September 10, 2022
Another one I didn't capture my thoughts down on right after reading it, but it was fabulous. A keeper!
August 9, 2016
Find my full review (and giveaway information) on my blog http://aliteraryvacation.blogspot.com.
I'm a sucker for dual timeline novels! This format has become one of my favorites and, when done right, can immerse me even deeper into the lives and situations presented and, in doing so, make me care for the characters more than I might have expected. Some of my favorite novels are told in this style and I can't get enough of how the separate timelines twist together and reveal secrets about the other. So probably needless to say I was really excited to start reading Secrets of Nanreath Hall. It promised to include so many of the things I love in historical fiction: the dual timelines, both set during the World Wars (which I love reading about), secrets hidden that promise to be revealed, the grit and grime of battle against the fading yet still real glamour and aloofness of a stately English home. So much to love! I'm happy to say that Nanreath Hall lived up to its promises and completely drew me in from the very first page.
Now, whenever I read a dual timeline novel I always seem to enjoy one of the timelines more than the other. The same is true in this case, with me enjoying Anna's story more than Katherine's. This is for a number of reasons, mainly because I absolutely just loved Anna's character and I felt the author spent more time developing her against the backdrop of WWII then Katherine and her timeline. Anna is an amazing character, being determined and strong yet vulnerable and damaged all at the same time, presenting as a multifaceted person I could easily envision and appreciate for the struggles she endured. Anna's timeline also spent more time showing the effects of war - from her cousin, Hugh, losing his leg and trying to come to terms with his disfigurement to Anna's PTSD and struggle to shut off the horrors she's seen so she can just cope day to day to everyone's continued worry and fear that bombs could (and did!) drop down on their heads at any moment - and I for one couldn't get enough of all of these aspects as well as the detail spent on Nanreath Hall as both a hospital and a stately home. The descriptions drew me in and I was easily transported to see, hear, smell, and feel all that these characters did.
This isn't to say that I didn't enjoy Katherine's story, I did. I liked Katharine as a character, she having many of the same attributes I appreciated in Anna, except when it came to one thing: Simon Halliday. The fact that she gave up everything - and I mean everything! - for him without even much of a backward glance just felt strange to me. I could appreciate her wanting to become a painter and have freedom beyond what she would have as the daughter of an Earl, but giving it all up for that combined with this young man who I found to be a total cad just didn't sit well with me. Those who enjoy romance-and-passion-above-all-else sorts of stories with probably love her storyline, but I've never really enjoyed that sort of thing so couldn't love her as much as I loved Anna or what she went through. There wasn't as much attention placed on what was happening during the war Katherine lived through either (WWI), which is part of what I enjoyed so much in the other timeline.
All this being said, I think what I enjoyed the very most is the over-arching theme that family isn't necessarily who you share blood with but who you keep in your heart, and those that keep you in there's. This presents itself at a few different points in the book, and these points really stuck out for me. I also enjoyed the fact that, while many of the "secrets of Nanreath Hall" were somewhat easy to see coming given the hints dropped throughout the story, one secret in particular (namely what ultimately came between Katherine and Simon) actually surprised me and I always enjoy being taken by surprise.
I recommend Secrets of Nanreath Hall to anyone who loves historical fiction, especially that which takes place during the World Wars. There's much to enjoy here, and I'll be thinking about a number of these characters and how their stories might have proceeded after the last page was turned for awhile.
I'm a sucker for dual timeline novels! This format has become one of my favorites and, when done right, can immerse me even deeper into the lives and situations presented and, in doing so, make me care for the characters more than I might have expected. Some of my favorite novels are told in this style and I can't get enough of how the separate timelines twist together and reveal secrets about the other. So probably needless to say I was really excited to start reading Secrets of Nanreath Hall. It promised to include so many of the things I love in historical fiction: the dual timelines, both set during the World Wars (which I love reading about), secrets hidden that promise to be revealed, the grit and grime of battle against the fading yet still real glamour and aloofness of a stately English home. So much to love! I'm happy to say that Nanreath Hall lived up to its promises and completely drew me in from the very first page.
Now, whenever I read a dual timeline novel I always seem to enjoy one of the timelines more than the other. The same is true in this case, with me enjoying Anna's story more than Katherine's. This is for a number of reasons, mainly because I absolutely just loved Anna's character and I felt the author spent more time developing her against the backdrop of WWII then Katherine and her timeline. Anna is an amazing character, being determined and strong yet vulnerable and damaged all at the same time, presenting as a multifaceted person I could easily envision and appreciate for the struggles she endured. Anna's timeline also spent more time showing the effects of war - from her cousin, Hugh, losing his leg and trying to come to terms with his disfigurement to Anna's PTSD and struggle to shut off the horrors she's seen so she can just cope day to day to everyone's continued worry and fear that bombs could (and did!) drop down on their heads at any moment - and I for one couldn't get enough of all of these aspects as well as the detail spent on Nanreath Hall as both a hospital and a stately home. The descriptions drew me in and I was easily transported to see, hear, smell, and feel all that these characters did.
This isn't to say that I didn't enjoy Katherine's story, I did. I liked Katharine as a character, she having many of the same attributes I appreciated in Anna, except when it came to one thing: Simon Halliday. The fact that she gave up everything - and I mean everything! - for him without even much of a backward glance just felt strange to me. I could appreciate her wanting to become a painter and have freedom beyond what she would have as the daughter of an Earl, but giving it all up for that combined with this young man who I found to be a total cad just didn't sit well with me. Those who enjoy romance-and-passion-above-all-else sorts of stories with probably love her storyline, but I've never really enjoyed that sort of thing so couldn't love her as much as I loved Anna or what she went through. There wasn't as much attention placed on what was happening during the war Katherine lived through either (WWI), which is part of what I enjoyed so much in the other timeline.
All this being said, I think what I enjoyed the very most is the over-arching theme that family isn't necessarily who you share blood with but who you keep in your heart, and those that keep you in there's. This presents itself at a few different points in the book, and these points really stuck out for me. I also enjoyed the fact that, while many of the "secrets of Nanreath Hall" were somewhat easy to see coming given the hints dropped throughout the story, one secret in particular (namely what ultimately came between Katherine and Simon) actually surprised me and I always enjoy being taken by surprise.
I recommend Secrets of Nanreath Hall to anyone who loves historical fiction, especially that which takes place during the World Wars. There's much to enjoy here, and I'll be thinking about a number of these characters and how their stories might have proceeded after the last page was turned for awhile.
February 7, 2017
Kitty Trenowyth, the pampered daughter of a wealthy earl, yearns to choose her own future, to explore her artistic talents, to experience more than her sheltered life has so far allowed. When her father commissions an artist to paint her portrait, he brings with him Simon Halliday, a handsome assistant who awakens both physical desire and a desire to prove to herself and her family that she can make it on her own. But life in the real world turns out to be far harder than Kitty ever expected. She valiantly attempts to make the most of it, but with the outbreak of World War One, she suddenly finds herself alone and with child, with nowhere to go.
Twenty-five years later, Kitty's daughter, Anna, is searching for answers. A nurse posted to the Trenowyth family estate at Nanreath Hall, which has been turned into a hospital for soldiers too ill or badly wounded to return to the front, Anna hopes to learn more about the mother she barely remembers and the father she never met. But her arrival is not welcomed by her cold and bitter aunt and her crippled, drunken cousin, who are suspicious of her motivations. And though Anna diligently tends to the wounded, she is nursing wounds of her own, both physical and mental. As the war slogs on, Anna and her newfound family form tenuous bonds under the strain of hardship and suffering, but their descriptions of her parents don't match up with the ideal of them she's carried in her heart. With the help of a dashing airman who refuses to let Anna push him away, she unravels the mystery surrounding her birth, but the truth may be more than she's prepared to handle.
I really enjoyed this book as a whole, but it was Anna and her tale that I was more attached to. Kitty does not seem to be quite as well developed, and I had a harder time connecting to her or feeling that the love between her and Simon was grand enough or deep enough to give up everything for. But I did feel sorry for her when everything (rather predictably) came crashing down around her. I was also expecting the first war to play more of a role in her story, as the second war does in Anna's, but aside from Simon going off to fight, Kitty does not feel the daily effects of the war. Hers is more the story of coming of age and coming to terms with the consequences of choices.
But Anna's story had me hooked from beginning to end, riveted by the depiction of the sacrifices on the British home front, the terror of the blitz, the tending of the convalescent, the developing dynamics of her new family, and her blossoming romance. She is everything I love in a heroine--smart, brave, selfless, compassionate, and achingly vulnerable underneath it all. Through the loss of family and friends and the unspeakable horrors of war, she is determined to keep moving forward and to keep searching for answers. My only complaint is that I would really have liked an epilogue. In war, there is no happily ever after, only fleeting moments of happiness, and I'm the kind of reader that needs a little more closure.
Secrets of Nanreath Hall was a pleasant surprise for me. I've been in a bit of a historical fiction slump lately. Though I was drawn to the description, I had not read Alix Rickloff before, and dual timelines can be tricky to pull off. But I found myself instantly absorbed in the story, and I couldn't put it down. I devoured it in two days. It's beautifully written, transporting, and emotional, and its combination of wartime fiction with mystery, family saga, and romance hits all the right notes. Highly recommended.
Twenty-five years later, Kitty's daughter, Anna, is searching for answers. A nurse posted to the Trenowyth family estate at Nanreath Hall, which has been turned into a hospital for soldiers too ill or badly wounded to return to the front, Anna hopes to learn more about the mother she barely remembers and the father she never met. But her arrival is not welcomed by her cold and bitter aunt and her crippled, drunken cousin, who are suspicious of her motivations. And though Anna diligently tends to the wounded, she is nursing wounds of her own, both physical and mental. As the war slogs on, Anna and her newfound family form tenuous bonds under the strain of hardship and suffering, but their descriptions of her parents don't match up with the ideal of them she's carried in her heart. With the help of a dashing airman who refuses to let Anna push him away, she unravels the mystery surrounding her birth, but the truth may be more than she's prepared to handle.
I really enjoyed this book as a whole, but it was Anna and her tale that I was more attached to. Kitty does not seem to be quite as well developed, and I had a harder time connecting to her or feeling that the love between her and Simon was grand enough or deep enough to give up everything for. But I did feel sorry for her when everything (rather predictably) came crashing down around her. I was also expecting the first war to play more of a role in her story, as the second war does in Anna's, but aside from Simon going off to fight, Kitty does not feel the daily effects of the war. Hers is more the story of coming of age and coming to terms with the consequences of choices.
But Anna's story had me hooked from beginning to end, riveted by the depiction of the sacrifices on the British home front, the terror of the blitz, the tending of the convalescent, the developing dynamics of her new family, and her blossoming romance. She is everything I love in a heroine--smart, brave, selfless, compassionate, and achingly vulnerable underneath it all. Through the loss of family and friends and the unspeakable horrors of war, she is determined to keep moving forward and to keep searching for answers. My only complaint is that I would really have liked an epilogue. In war, there is no happily ever after, only fleeting moments of happiness, and I'm the kind of reader that needs a little more closure.
Secrets of Nanreath Hall was a pleasant surprise for me. I've been in a bit of a historical fiction slump lately. Though I was drawn to the description, I had not read Alix Rickloff before, and dual timelines can be tricky to pull off. But I found myself instantly absorbed in the story, and I couldn't put it down. I devoured it in two days. It's beautifully written, transporting, and emotional, and its combination of wartime fiction with mystery, family saga, and romance hits all the right notes. Highly recommended.
August 12, 2018
A heartbreaking story, told from two different perspectives and timelines. The author captured the devastating losses two World Wars unleashed on the lives of so many.
June 29, 2017
3.5 to 4 stars. Great historical details. A pleasant, easy-paced listening/reading experience. All the characters from the 1914 timeline seemed shallow & caddish---which I guess is what helped the more modern characters learn from their poor life choices. Anna, from 1940, seemed brave, though anst-filled. Not enough of Tony, a favorite character. Glad that Hugh redeemed himself. Satisfying ending.
August 4, 2016
C+ at AAR, so 3.5 stars For the longest time, Susanna Kearsley, Lauren Willig, and Susan Meissner were the only authors I regularly encountered who wrote dual timeline novels. However, they seem to be everywhere all of a sudden. I love this device, so I’m certainly not complaining. In fact, I was quite eager to read Secrets of Nanreath Hall, with its World War I and World War II storylines connecting a mother and daughter. Unfortunately, the execution in this book ended up feeling disjointed and the storylines just didn’t live up to their promise.
In the days leading up to WWI, young Kitty Trenowyth decides she is more suited to art school than to life as a proper debutante and wife. She feels the weight of family expectations and traditional roles closing in on her – until the day a well-regarded artist comes to Nanreath Hall to paint her portrait. The artist brings with him his assistant, Simon Halliday, and that meeting changes the course of Kitty’s life forever. She decides to follow her heart, a choice that separates her from her family and sweeps her into the more bohemian circles of London just as war looms on the horizon.
Years later, Kitty’s daughter, Anna Trenowyth, faces a crossroads of her own. She lost her mother at an early age, and was raised by family friends she regards as her own dearly loved parents. In the early days of World War II, Anna is serving in the Voluntary Aid Detachment (VAD), providing field nursing services. After surviving a traumatic evacuation at Dunkirk, the newly recovered Anna finds herself posted to Nanreath Hall to work in the hospital which has taken over the house. Though she hungers to learn more about her mother’s family, Anna also feels ill at ease taking up a place among the relations who rejected Kitty.
However, Anna does as told and reports to her duty station. What she finds there is a wealth of family secrets, buried memories and all manner of mixed emotions. Along the way, we also see Anna discover new strengths within herself as she learns more about who she is and starts to fall in love. These parts of the story were all big positives for me. I liked Anna as a character, the hopefulness of her story appealed to me, and I found myself intrigued by the details of what life in England was like during the war. Nanreath Hall in the 1940s comes to life in a way that Nanreath in the 1910s didn’t quite manage, and the details of Anna’s job and the people she encounters kept me intrigued.
This is a partial review. The complete text can be found at All About Romance: http://allaboutromance.com/book-revie...
In the days leading up to WWI, young Kitty Trenowyth decides she is more suited to art school than to life as a proper debutante and wife. She feels the weight of family expectations and traditional roles closing in on her – until the day a well-regarded artist comes to Nanreath Hall to paint her portrait. The artist brings with him his assistant, Simon Halliday, and that meeting changes the course of Kitty’s life forever. She decides to follow her heart, a choice that separates her from her family and sweeps her into the more bohemian circles of London just as war looms on the horizon.
Years later, Kitty’s daughter, Anna Trenowyth, faces a crossroads of her own. She lost her mother at an early age, and was raised by family friends she regards as her own dearly loved parents. In the early days of World War II, Anna is serving in the Voluntary Aid Detachment (VAD), providing field nursing services. After surviving a traumatic evacuation at Dunkirk, the newly recovered Anna finds herself posted to Nanreath Hall to work in the hospital which has taken over the house. Though she hungers to learn more about her mother’s family, Anna also feels ill at ease taking up a place among the relations who rejected Kitty.
However, Anna does as told and reports to her duty station. What she finds there is a wealth of family secrets, buried memories and all manner of mixed emotions. Along the way, we also see Anna discover new strengths within herself as she learns more about who she is and starts to fall in love. These parts of the story were all big positives for me. I liked Anna as a character, the hopefulness of her story appealed to me, and I found myself intrigued by the details of what life in England was like during the war. Nanreath Hall in the 1940s comes to life in a way that Nanreath in the 1910s didn’t quite manage, and the details of Anna’s job and the people she encounters kept me intrigued.
This is a partial review. The complete text can be found at All About Romance: http://allaboutromance.com/book-revie...
April 15, 2016
Two women and two wars separated by a generation filled with secrets that kept me turning pages to get to the mysterious truth. At the heart, this is a novel about searching for one’s identity. The vivid writing combined with such an intriguing story make Alix Rickloff an exciting voice in historical fiction.
Add this to your shelf. You can thank me later! :)
Add this to your shelf. You can thank me later! :)
September 17, 2016
Excellent story, rather disconcerting at first with changing from Kitty's story in the early 1900s to Anna's story in the 1940s. Good characters, good plot lines, good period details. Very enjoyable read.
May 17, 2019
En fantastisk historie om kærlighed, familie (både den familie man deler DNA med og den som man ikke er forbundet med via slægtskab), sorg, hemmeligheder og løgne.
Historien bliver fortalt af henholdsvis moren Kitty under 1. Verdenskrig og datteren Anna under 2. Verdenskrig.
Det er på ingen måde svært at regne hemmelighederne ud, men alligevel fangede bogen mig. Personbeskrivelserne er meget detaljerede, så jeg føler nærmest, at jeg kender disse mennesker. Jeg havde fra starten stor sympati for Anna, fantastisk kvinde med ben i næsen. Hun er meget stærkere end hun selv tror. Jeg kan virkelig følge hende på det punkt, hvor hun beskytter sit hjerte og holder folk på afstand, fordi hun allerede har fået sit hjerte knust så mange gange. Hun lukker totalt af for sine følelser - det har jeg selv gjort, men man kan ikke blive ved for evigt.
Hugh var jeg ikke begejstret for i starten, men han er faktisk slet ikke så slem. Han ændrer sig meget i bogen, og det kan han delvist takke Anna for. Desuden siger han nogle virkelige kloge ting indimellem. Men hold nu op, hvor er hans mor dog en strigle - en rigtig overklassebitch af værste skuffe.
Og Tony - han er bare så god en mand.
Kitty er en meget modig og stærk kvinde, men samtidigt synes jeg også, at hun er ufattelig naiv i sit forhold til Simon. Men kærlighed gør jo blind.
Simon er en røv! Så er det sagt.
Historien bliver fortalt af henholdsvis moren Kitty under 1. Verdenskrig og datteren Anna under 2. Verdenskrig.
Det er på ingen måde svært at regne hemmelighederne ud, men alligevel fangede bogen mig. Personbeskrivelserne er meget detaljerede, så jeg føler nærmest, at jeg kender disse mennesker. Jeg havde fra starten stor sympati for Anna, fantastisk kvinde med ben i næsen. Hun er meget stærkere end hun selv tror. Jeg kan virkelig følge hende på det punkt, hvor hun beskytter sit hjerte og holder folk på afstand, fordi hun allerede har fået sit hjerte knust så mange gange. Hun lukker totalt af for sine følelser - det har jeg selv gjort, men man kan ikke blive ved for evigt.
Hugh var jeg ikke begejstret for i starten, men han er faktisk slet ikke så slem. Han ændrer sig meget i bogen, og det kan han delvist takke Anna for. Desuden siger han nogle virkelige kloge ting indimellem. Men hold nu op, hvor er hans mor dog en strigle - en rigtig overklassebitch af værste skuffe.
Og Tony - han er bare så god en mand.
Kitty er en meget modig og stærk kvinde, men samtidigt synes jeg også, at hun er ufattelig naiv i sit forhold til Simon. Men kærlighed gør jo blind.
Simon er en røv! Så er det sagt.
February 6, 2018
Sujuva viihderomaani, joka sopii tietynlaiseen lukuoloon, mutta jo ei voi varauksetta suositella kaikille. Mutta jos brittiläinen kartanomiljöö, taiteilijaelämä, maailmansotien aika ja sukusalaisuudet kiehtovat ja jos antaa joskus kevyen kirjallisuuden viedä, niin saa mukavalla tavalla tunnelmallisen hengähdyshetken arkeensa.
August 8, 2019
This was a nice read with a good ending. I enjoy reading books during two time periods.
August 16, 2016
"Secrets of Nanreath Hall" is a historical fiction tale told in two times. The first time is WWI where Kitty is the spoiled daughter of a titled family who falls in love with the proverbial "guy from the wrong side of the tracks." Her life is upended when she gets pregnant and is practically disowned from her family. The second time is WWII takes up Anna, Kitty's daughter, story. Anna's mother died when she was very young and she was left with a lot of questions. When chance sends her to her mother's family home to work as a nurse, Anna is hopeful that she will begin to unravel the mystery of her family and her origins. I love a good story about family secrets and this book definitely fits the bill.
I loved both Kitty and Anna. Their plights are very different. Although they are mother and daughter, their upbringings were very different. Kitty grew up extremely comfortable and Anna's life was much different. The contrast was really fantastic. Even though they grew up in such different environments, they still have the same ambitious, independent spirit. In books that take place in more than one time, I usually have a favorite. Because these characters are so strong, I enjoyed both parts of the book equally. I especially liked seeing how the author joined these characters together throughout the book.
WWI and WWII are two of my very favorite times to visit through books. I really liked that this book took place in both time periods. It was so interesting to see how Nanreath Hall changes throughout the book. During Kitty's time, it is a glorious house filled with riches that many can only dream of. During Anna's time, it has been turned into a hospital and has lost some of its luster during the war. I thought the author did a great job of showing the differences.
Overall, this book had some good twists and turns that kept me guessing. According to Goodreads, this looks to be Rickloff's first plain ol' historical fiction and I will be on the look out for more. This book will appeal to those who like family secrets and vivid characters.
I loved both Kitty and Anna. Their plights are very different. Although they are mother and daughter, their upbringings were very different. Kitty grew up extremely comfortable and Anna's life was much different. The contrast was really fantastic. Even though they grew up in such different environments, they still have the same ambitious, independent spirit. In books that take place in more than one time, I usually have a favorite. Because these characters are so strong, I enjoyed both parts of the book equally. I especially liked seeing how the author joined these characters together throughout the book.
WWI and WWII are two of my very favorite times to visit through books. I really liked that this book took place in both time periods. It was so interesting to see how Nanreath Hall changes throughout the book. During Kitty's time, it is a glorious house filled with riches that many can only dream of. During Anna's time, it has been turned into a hospital and has lost some of its luster during the war. I thought the author did a great job of showing the differences.
Overall, this book had some good twists and turns that kept me guessing. According to Goodreads, this looks to be Rickloff's first plain ol' historical fiction and I will be on the look out for more. This book will appeal to those who like family secrets and vivid characters.
August 1, 2016
This book follows two times lines of both mother and daughter as they move through life altering events. Each chapter moves back and forth between the mother (Kitty) and daughter (Anna). A nurse serving during WWII Anna has been stationed at Nanreath Hall, her mother's birthplace, which has become a hospital for wounded servicemen. Once she arrives Anna starts digging into her past to discover who her mother and father were as real people, and learns more about her own character in the process as she strives to overcome her own PTSD.
As told with the back drop of WWII, this book a reminder of how turbulent the world was at that time. It is nearly inconceivable now to think of bombs being dropped on to the city of London nightly. As we are nearly a generation removed from WWII it is a reminder of how much we owe to the sacrifices of those who came before us.
I won this book on the goodreads giveaways and it has earned a spot on my bookshelf to be read again.
As told with the back drop of WWII, this book a reminder of how turbulent the world was at that time. It is nearly inconceivable now to think of bombs being dropped on to the city of London nightly. As we are nearly a generation removed from WWII it is a reminder of how much we owe to the sacrifices of those who came before us.
I won this book on the goodreads giveaways and it has earned a spot on my bookshelf to be read again.
July 23, 2016
I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
This historical fiction novel is the story of two women: Lady Katherine Trenowyth, in 1913, who is unhappy with the stifling life that her noble background has given her; and Katherine's daughter Anna, in 1940, who wants to learn more about her mother and the secrets that her family has hidden for a generation. The story is told in alternating chapters set in the two different time periods. Sometimes predictable, it still kept me engaged until the end.
This historical fiction novel is the story of two women: Lady Katherine Trenowyth, in 1913, who is unhappy with the stifling life that her noble background has given her; and Katherine's daughter Anna, in 1940, who wants to learn more about her mother and the secrets that her family has hidden for a generation. The story is told in alternating chapters set in the two different time periods. Sometimes predictable, it still kept me engaged until the end.
August 31, 2016
I've been lucking out on can't-put-down-ers. This one certainly fits the bill. From trying to figure out the secrets of Lady Katherine to trying to figure them out for her daughter and nephew, it's a whirlwind of a war(s) story. Easy, entertaining, and happy read. The ending isn't all wrapped up in a bow, but even I can forgive that after a plot like this!
September 19, 2016
I wanted to like this book more than I did. I found that the dual story line didn't do much for me. It wasn't well enough developed for both characters. It seemed to just get bogged down in itself. It could have just been told through Anna's voice and been as effective. It was an okay read, but not stunning.
September 24, 2016
I found this novel to be extremely well written and the story(ies) held my interest from beginning to end. I love historical novels with two timelines and this author did this one terrifically.
March 1, 2020
Engaging novel that alternates between the mother’s first person narrative in the years leading up to WWI, and the third person story of her daughter in the early years of WWII. The mother had fled a vapid aristocratic existence in an English country house to pursue her dream of being an artist and living with a dashing bohemian who wouldn’t marry her, got her pregnant, and was promptly killed in the war. The mother died when her daughter was six, leaving her to be raised by friends. As an adult nurse assistant seeking information on her parents, she is fortuitously billeted at Nanreath Hall, now occupied as a military hospital. The hall is where what remains of the girl’s family continues to live, and the lady of the house is less than pleased by the presence of the bastard niece. All the family secrets come out, of course. I felt like the book ended a bit prematurely. Seems like there should have been a wrap-up chapter on everyone’s lives.
February 27, 2018
I love novels that rich in historical detail! And this one was one of them! It covers Pre WW 1 in 1913 and goes to WW 11 in 1940, in England! It loved the way Alix would go back and forth in ea time period. It was easy to get up and so easy to follow the characters!
I loved Lady Katherine and her daughter, Anna! I just hate that this story has ended!
I loved Lady Katherine and her daughter, Anna! I just hate that this story has ended!
June 17, 2020
There was a sad part when a much loved walking path was blocked!
February 17, 2022
Aika kevyttä lukemista mutta historia twist ja kaksi aikatasoa tuovat sen verran mielenkiintoista sisältöä että oli mukava kuunnella.
March 7, 2017
I received Secrets of Nanreath Hall via Once Upon a Book Club subscription box.
Secrets of Nanreath Hall is yet another family drama set in Cornwall, England across both world wars. Lady Katherine's story is quite unbelievable: She seems too smart to have fallen for someone like Simon and live in abject poverty when he's unwilling to introduce her to his family. I wanted to like Katherine and Simon since both are artists so I was a little disappointed that I didn't really care. One draw for Katherine's choice in lifestyle is the promise of pursuing an art education, but that doesn't seem to come to fruition. Simon is not worthy of Katherine, and the only reason I won't say that he is a total waste of oxygen on this earth is because of Anna. Anna's storyline, however, is equally tragic, but she's a heroine. I love her character, bravery, and spirit. The family intrigue at her family estate is fantastic and makes the book worthwhile. We get a hint that Anna might have a happy ending, but the book ends even before America becomes involved in the war. Maybe there is a sequel in the works. If you enjoy novels chock full of family secrets with a World War II setting, you will enjoy this book.
I enjoyed the goodies I received with the book. The Once Upon a Book Club selections have post it notes in the book that tell the reader to open a present with the corresponding page number on it. This one was very well done. One thing I loved is that we were given an apron similar to the one Anna wore while nursing the injured soldiers. Later in the book, she reaches in her apron pocket and takes out a photo she filched from her aunt's photo album, and the envelope with the photo in it was in the apron! Too cute!
I am enjoying this book club subscription very, very much. I have been more than pleased with the books, and one of the three best books I read last year came from Once Upon a Book Club. You can see photos from this selections prizes and read more on my blog. Here is the link:
http://www.ricki-treleaven.com/2017/0...
Secrets of Nanreath Hall is yet another family drama set in Cornwall, England across both world wars. Lady Katherine's story is quite unbelievable: She seems too smart to have fallen for someone like Simon and live in abject poverty when he's unwilling to introduce her to his family. I wanted to like Katherine and Simon since both are artists so I was a little disappointed that I didn't really care. One draw for Katherine's choice in lifestyle is the promise of pursuing an art education, but that doesn't seem to come to fruition. Simon is not worthy of Katherine, and the only reason I won't say that he is a total waste of oxygen on this earth is because of Anna. Anna's storyline, however, is equally tragic, but she's a heroine. I love her character, bravery, and spirit. The family intrigue at her family estate is fantastic and makes the book worthwhile. We get a hint that Anna might have a happy ending, but the book ends even before America becomes involved in the war. Maybe there is a sequel in the works. If you enjoy novels chock full of family secrets with a World War II setting, you will enjoy this book.
I enjoyed the goodies I received with the book. The Once Upon a Book Club selections have post it notes in the book that tell the reader to open a present with the corresponding page number on it. This one was very well done. One thing I loved is that we were given an apron similar to the one Anna wore while nursing the injured soldiers. Later in the book, she reaches in her apron pocket and takes out a photo she filched from her aunt's photo album, and the envelope with the photo in it was in the apron! Too cute!
I am enjoying this book club subscription very, very much. I have been more than pleased with the books, and one of the three best books I read last year came from Once Upon a Book Club. You can see photos from this selections prizes and read more on my blog. Here is the link:
http://www.ricki-treleaven.com/2017/0...
Read
August 28, 2020Given to me by a friend. Pretty standard fare. The author writes some paranormal and I was hoping for that to appear. Pandemic read.
January 14, 2023
I got Secrets of Nanreath Hall through the "Once Upon a Book Club" subscription. It was also my last box of the subscription because I liked the books I got through the book subscription, and the premise of the book club is good. The execution of the box was lacking because the gifts were stuff I wouldn't use.
You are here for the book's review, not the review of a subscription box. So, Secrets of Nanreath Hall is a double point of view of a mother-daughter relationship between the World Wars.
Anna Trenowyth is our main character, an orphan from a young age, but she doesn't know her parents and their history.
While Anna is stationed as a nurse in Nanreath Hall, her mother's family estate, she can find out about her past. Through working with the injured soldiers, recuperating from her nightmares of the war, and poking around to find where she is coming from, she discovers her family hides many secrets. Anna discovers the truth, but sometimes secrets should remain hidden for the best of all the characters.
I liked how Anna managed to build back the bridges between her family. Alix Rickloff intertwines the periods in a way that makes you want to continue to find out what will happen or what happened to the characters.
Books set in Cornwell are usually books close to my heart, and I enjoyed Alix Rickloff writing and how the plot line revealed while reading the novel.
You are here for the book's review, not the review of a subscription box. So, Secrets of Nanreath Hall is a double point of view of a mother-daughter relationship between the World Wars.
Anna Trenowyth is our main character, an orphan from a young age, but she doesn't know her parents and their history.
While Anna is stationed as a nurse in Nanreath Hall, her mother's family estate, she can find out about her past. Through working with the injured soldiers, recuperating from her nightmares of the war, and poking around to find where she is coming from, she discovers her family hides many secrets. Anna discovers the truth, but sometimes secrets should remain hidden for the best of all the characters.
I liked how Anna managed to build back the bridges between her family. Alix Rickloff intertwines the periods in a way that makes you want to continue to find out what will happen or what happened to the characters.
Books set in Cornwell are usually books close to my heart, and I enjoyed Alix Rickloff writing and how the plot line revealed while reading the novel.
August 15, 2016
Anna's parentage has never been a secret, but when her new post is to Nanreath Hall - the home where her mother once grew up - she hopes to get her adoptive parents' opinion before deciding. Graham and Prue Handley have something to tell her, but unfortunately before they can reveal what they know they're killed in a London bombing leaving Anna orphaned once again.
When she arrives at Nanreath Hall, Anna finds she has a cousin and aunt in residence. The cousin is curious but her aunt wants nothing to do with her, even offering to use her clout to get Anna a posting as far away as possible. Now Anna has to decide whether to take the opportunity she's so longed for or stay and learn more about the family she's never met.
Alix Rickloff, aka Alexa Egan, tells the story of two women and two wars: Lady Katherine Trenowyth, a fallen heiress who followed her heart in the years up to and following WWI, and her daughter, Anna, orphaned after her mother dies of cancer and working as a nurse for the Red Cross Voluntary Aid Detachment in WWII.
Katherine, who begins our tale in 1923 already dying of cancer, was raised the daughter of an earl. Given everything she could ever dream of, she longed for the one thing she could never have: an education at an art school. And so when an artist catches her eye, even the promise of scandal can't dissuade her.
A generation and a war later, her daughter Anna has only just recovered from a terrible injury courtesy of German bombers. The "incident," as others are fond of calling it, also claimed the life of Anna's friend and left Anna unfit to be sent overseas for duty. But it's still a posting she wants desperately. And so the assignment at Nanreath Hall is something of a disappointment - and a shock considering it's her ancestral home.
At the request of her mother, Graham and Prue Handley have never kept Katherine's story from her daughter. But it's clear there are still secrets. Being the daughter of an unwed mother who fled her own family doesn't really leave much room for being welcomed into the arms of the remaining Trenowyth family, and yet with just two aunts and cousins remaining - one of whom is the current earl and seemingly ok with Anna's presence and acknowledgment -, Anna's reception is more icy than even she'd expected.
The tale unfolds through alternating chapters, giving readers glimpses into Katherine's story as well as that of her immediate family alongside Anna's own journey and eventual discovery of the truth about that generation. Bookended by two massive wars, its a tale that is of course fraught with tragedy but one that is also filled with hope.
And interestingly, the story doesn't end with Secrets of Nanreath Hall. Both timelines mention sister Cynthia and her daughter - Cynthia is the cooperative Trenowyth daughter who lives overseas as Anna's story plays out. Apparently Rickloff has plans to follow up Secrets of Nanreath Hall with Cynthia's daughter's story: "...who has departed Singapore for England under a cloud of scandal on the eve of Pearl Harbor." (According to the interview included in the back of Secrets.) It's a good thing people were so incredibly scandalized so easily during this era - it's great fodder for historical fiction writers for sure!
When she arrives at Nanreath Hall, Anna finds she has a cousin and aunt in residence. The cousin is curious but her aunt wants nothing to do with her, even offering to use her clout to get Anna a posting as far away as possible. Now Anna has to decide whether to take the opportunity she's so longed for or stay and learn more about the family she's never met.
Alix Rickloff, aka Alexa Egan, tells the story of two women and two wars: Lady Katherine Trenowyth, a fallen heiress who followed her heart in the years up to and following WWI, and her daughter, Anna, orphaned after her mother dies of cancer and working as a nurse for the Red Cross Voluntary Aid Detachment in WWII.
Katherine, who begins our tale in 1923 already dying of cancer, was raised the daughter of an earl. Given everything she could ever dream of, she longed for the one thing she could never have: an education at an art school. And so when an artist catches her eye, even the promise of scandal can't dissuade her.
A generation and a war later, her daughter Anna has only just recovered from a terrible injury courtesy of German bombers. The "incident," as others are fond of calling it, also claimed the life of Anna's friend and left Anna unfit to be sent overseas for duty. But it's still a posting she wants desperately. And so the assignment at Nanreath Hall is something of a disappointment - and a shock considering it's her ancestral home.
At the request of her mother, Graham and Prue Handley have never kept Katherine's story from her daughter. But it's clear there are still secrets. Being the daughter of an unwed mother who fled her own family doesn't really leave much room for being welcomed into the arms of the remaining Trenowyth family, and yet with just two aunts and cousins remaining - one of whom is the current earl and seemingly ok with Anna's presence and acknowledgment -, Anna's reception is more icy than even she'd expected.
The tale unfolds through alternating chapters, giving readers glimpses into Katherine's story as well as that of her immediate family alongside Anna's own journey and eventual discovery of the truth about that generation. Bookended by two massive wars, its a tale that is of course fraught with tragedy but one that is also filled with hope.
And interestingly, the story doesn't end with Secrets of Nanreath Hall. Both timelines mention sister Cynthia and her daughter - Cynthia is the cooperative Trenowyth daughter who lives overseas as Anna's story plays out. Apparently Rickloff has plans to follow up Secrets of Nanreath Hall with Cynthia's daughter's story: "...who has departed Singapore for England under a cloud of scandal on the eve of Pearl Harbor." (According to the interview included in the back of Secrets.) It's a good thing people were so incredibly scandalized so easily during this era - it's great fodder for historical fiction writers for sure!
September 11, 2021
This book is my favorite type - historical fiction that teaches me something new but is really about people and their relationships with one another.
February 7, 2017
I just finished this book, and now I'm sitting on my couch, wondering how on earth I am supposed to review a book that has left me feeling so raw and conflicted! So I'm going to start off simply...
First of all, Rickloff's writing style is excellent! This book alternates between Kitty's story (written in first person) and her daughter, Anna's story (written in third person). Not many people could have pulled this off without making the storyline seem jumbled and confusing, but Rickloff pulls it off seemingly effortlessly. "Secrets of Nanreath Hall" is both engaging and emotional, and is perfect for lovers of historical fiction!
If there's anything this book has showed me, it's that life isn't simple or easy to sort out; it is a tangled, crazy, impossible ball of yarn that can be frustrating, mind-numbing, and exhilarating. "Secrets of Nanreath Hall" encompasses those emotions and so much more! So be prepared before you take the plunge.
I guess I expected this to be an easy read, but it definitely was NOT. Perhaps I should have guessed this, seeing as this book covers not only WWI, but also WWII. Wow. Talk about emotional! As if that topic isn't difficult enough, there's plenty of domestic drama within the covers of this book. After finishing reading "Secrets of Nanreath Hall" mere minutes ago (and within the span of about 12 hours), I feel rather as though I've just run up 15 flights of stairs in sandpaper shoes. (Tired, raw, but rather impressed with myself.) Sorry, bad analogy? Did I mention I was tired?
But really, throughout this entire book, I was gripped with the terribly persistent desire to cast judgments. On Kitty's decisions, on Anna's, on Cynthia's, on Williams--the list goes on and on! I mean, this book has some really messed up people in it!! But at the end of it all, how could I judge them? They are human. (Please commence with the good ol' "willing suspension of disbelief" so that this makes sense.) They made mistakes, tried to fix them, and made even bigger mistakes in the process. If you act out of love, how wrong is the action? Where does one draw that line? And when all is said and done and those actions are in the past, how do those who are left cope with the consequences? Did I mention...life is complicated.
If nothing else, this book will make you think long and hard about your life, decisions, and much more than that. If you're ready for an emotional read, this is for you! I personally consider it to have been worth it.
Content (10= extremely high focus; 0=non existent):
Adventure content: 6
Creepiness content: 3
Grief content: 5
Language content: 4
Religion content: 2
Romance content: 4
Sexual content: 5
Violence content: 6
First of all, Rickloff's writing style is excellent! This book alternates between Kitty's story (written in first person) and her daughter, Anna's story (written in third person). Not many people could have pulled this off without making the storyline seem jumbled and confusing, but Rickloff pulls it off seemingly effortlessly. "Secrets of Nanreath Hall" is both engaging and emotional, and is perfect for lovers of historical fiction!
If there's anything this book has showed me, it's that life isn't simple or easy to sort out; it is a tangled, crazy, impossible ball of yarn that can be frustrating, mind-numbing, and exhilarating. "Secrets of Nanreath Hall" encompasses those emotions and so much more! So be prepared before you take the plunge.
I guess I expected this to be an easy read, but it definitely was NOT. Perhaps I should have guessed this, seeing as this book covers not only WWI, but also WWII. Wow. Talk about emotional! As if that topic isn't difficult enough, there's plenty of domestic drama within the covers of this book. After finishing reading "Secrets of Nanreath Hall" mere minutes ago (and within the span of about 12 hours), I feel rather as though I've just run up 15 flights of stairs in sandpaper shoes. (Tired, raw, but rather impressed with myself.) Sorry, bad analogy? Did I mention I was tired?
But really, throughout this entire book, I was gripped with the terribly persistent desire to cast judgments. On Kitty's decisions, on Anna's, on Cynthia's, on Williams--the list goes on and on! I mean, this book has some really messed up people in it!! But at the end of it all, how could I judge them? They are human. (Please commence with the good ol' "willing suspension of disbelief" so that this makes sense.) They made mistakes, tried to fix them, and made even bigger mistakes in the process. If you act out of love, how wrong is the action? Where does one draw that line? And when all is said and done and those actions are in the past, how do those who are left cope with the consequences? Did I mention...life is complicated.
If nothing else, this book will make you think long and hard about your life, decisions, and much more than that. If you're ready for an emotional read, this is for you! I personally consider it to have been worth it.
Content (10= extremely high focus; 0=non existent):
Adventure content: 6
Creepiness content: 3
Grief content: 5
Language content: 4
Religion content: 2
Romance content: 4
Sexual content: 5
Violence content: 6
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