What do you think?
Rate this book
Her Mother's Secret
For many years Colette has avoided returning to her homeland - the magical island of Belle-Île-en-Mer in Southern Brittany - afraid to confront the painful memories she left behind. She is living on the Cornish coast when she hears about her mother Thea's failing health and realises that the time has come for her to go home. But can Colette ever forgive Thea for what she has done?
Despite Colette's wariness, romantic Belle-Île still fascinates her. She takes on the running of her mother's flower shop and makes friends with Élodie from the Old Lighthouse where Thea once worked as a nanny and with the enigmatic Étienne who shares Colette's mixed feelings about the island. As Thea opens up to her for the first time, Colette finds herself softening and being drawn back into the landscape of her past. But can Belle-Île also be a part of her future?
The ghosts of that past still linger. What happened all those years ago and how did it cause the rift between mother and daughter? It becomes clear that the beauty of Belle-Île hides a devastating family secret - one that Colette is determined to unravel at any cost.
436 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 8, 2018
128 people are currently reading
391 people want to read
About the author
Rosanna Ley
19 books222 followersRosanna Ley has worked as a creative writing tutor for over 15 years. Affiliated to several colleges and universities in England, she also runs her own writing courses in the UK and abroad. She has worked with community groups in therapeutic settings and completed an MA in creative writing for personal development in order to support this. Her writing holidays and retreats take place in stunning locations in Italy and Spain and whilst not teaching or writing she mentors and appraises the work of new writers. Rosanna has had numerous articles and short stories published in UK magazines, and 12 novels of contemporary fiction published in the U.K, Germany, Greece and the U.S.A under a pseudonym. Her books are inspired by the culture and landscapes of Italy, Sicily and the Canary Islands and feature strong female voices from the past and present, along with an intense undercurrent of mystery and romance. Rosanna spends some time every year travelling around Europe looking for writing inspiration and more tranquil settings for writing holidays. She loves cliff walking and her favourite writing place is somewhere with a sea view. When she is not travelling, Rosanna lives with her artist husband in a Victorian cottage in West Dorset by the sea.
(From the author's website)
(From the author's website)
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 62 reviews
August 5, 2018
Having never read a Rosanna Ley book, I was thrilled to get a copy of ‘Her mother’s secret’ from Netgalley in exchange for a review.
Collette has a letter from her Mother’s neighbour Francine in France, saying she needs to come home as her Mother has Leukaemia. Collette now lives in Cornwall and hasn’t been home in 15 years!!
This book is so beautifully written, I really do want to visit the Island of Belle Lie en Mer, the descriptions of the sea, food and locals really capture you’re heart.
This amazing story is told through several people’s point of view, they all have secrets and have dealt with tragedies in their lives.
This is a must read book. It will keep you hooked, it’s a compelling read where you come to love the characters, and after reading it and they will stay with you long after completing this book!!
Collette has a letter from her Mother’s neighbour Francine in France, saying she needs to come home as her Mother has Leukaemia. Collette now lives in Cornwall and hasn’t been home in 15 years!!
This book is so beautifully written, I really do want to visit the Island of Belle Lie en Mer, the descriptions of the sea, food and locals really capture you’re heart.
This amazing story is told through several people’s point of view, they all have secrets and have dealt with tragedies in their lives.
This is a must read book. It will keep you hooked, it’s a compelling read where you come to love the characters, and after reading it and they will stay with you long after completing this book!!
October 29, 2018
When she receives word from a neighbour that her mother is seriously ill, Colette returns to the place she abandoned years before and the mother she has been estranged from for so long. As she cares for her mother, issues and secrets from the past emerge. Especially she wonders what happened to mar the friendship between her mother and one time close friend Mathilde.
This is a pleasant enough read. The setting is lovely and the characters well drawn. It did seem to me to drag on a bit at times. But if you are looking for a holiday or beach read this could well fill the bill.
This is a pleasant enough read. The setting is lovely and the characters well drawn. It did seem to me to drag on a bit at times. But if you are looking for a holiday or beach read this could well fill the bill.
June 17, 2018
Her Mother’s Secret is a fantastically atmospheric, summery novel about hidden secrets and discovering yourself.
The descriptions of Belle-Île were wonderful and made me want to visit there immediately so I could visit all the places mentioned in the book for myself. The brightly coloured houses, the light house and the beautiful sea were very vividly described and I felt like I could really imagine the Island in my mind’s eye. The lovely community feel of everyone knowing and looking out for each other helped give the book a cosy, warm feel that helps the reader relax into the story.
The story is told from the point of view of different Island inhabitants which helped add to the story and intrigue as it gives the reader a more holistic view of what happened. I was very interested to find out how the different threads of the story would come together and if the awful events mentioned by the different characters were the same ones.
The reader is aware from the beginning that something dreadful happened on the Island a few years ago though not much is revealed immediately. Instead the author cleverly builds up the reader’s knowledge of the characters and the Island, giving them the chance to make their own assumptions about what happened. This gives the reader a chance to understand the characters and what makes them tick, which means you become more involved in the story and what happens.
The secrets of the Island are gradually revealed as the characters get to know one another and the Island. I had a few ideas about what it could be but was only half right which made for a fantastic end to a fabulous book. The secret aspect of the book wasn’t what made the book for me however, it was the great descriptions of the Island and reading about the characters finding themselves and the gradual healing of their broken relationships which made this such a beautiful book.
Huge thanks to Quercus Publishers and Anne Cater for my copy of this book and for inviting me onto the blog tour. This is definitely the perfect book to read in the sun this summer!
The descriptions of Belle-Île were wonderful and made me want to visit there immediately so I could visit all the places mentioned in the book for myself. The brightly coloured houses, the light house and the beautiful sea were very vividly described and I felt like I could really imagine the Island in my mind’s eye. The lovely community feel of everyone knowing and looking out for each other helped give the book a cosy, warm feel that helps the reader relax into the story.
The story is told from the point of view of different Island inhabitants which helped add to the story and intrigue as it gives the reader a more holistic view of what happened. I was very interested to find out how the different threads of the story would come together and if the awful events mentioned by the different characters were the same ones.
The reader is aware from the beginning that something dreadful happened on the Island a few years ago though not much is revealed immediately. Instead the author cleverly builds up the reader’s knowledge of the characters and the Island, giving them the chance to make their own assumptions about what happened. This gives the reader a chance to understand the characters and what makes them tick, which means you become more involved in the story and what happens.
The secrets of the Island are gradually revealed as the characters get to know one another and the Island. I had a few ideas about what it could be but was only half right which made for a fantastic end to a fabulous book. The secret aspect of the book wasn’t what made the book for me however, it was the great descriptions of the Island and reading about the characters finding themselves and the gradual healing of their broken relationships which made this such a beautiful book.
Huge thanks to Quercus Publishers and Anne Cater for my copy of this book and for inviting me onto the blog tour. This is definitely the perfect book to read in the sun this summer!
June 15, 2018
HER MOTHER'S SECRET by Rosanna Ley is a breathtaking tale of family, secrets, and relationships with the beauty and magnificence of a little French town as a backdrop.
Colette escaped from her homeland, Belle-île, all those years ago and has avoided returning back ever since. It holds hard memories for her ever since her father died and she has never really forgiven her mother for always working in her beloved flower shop and for the argument she overheard when she was a teenager. But now her mother is gravely ill and Colette knows that she must return to do what she can and as she finds herself falling back into the flow of village life and the serenity to be found in running the store, maybe Colette will finally be able to speak to her mother about the past and discover the secrets that have haunted them all.
HER MOTHER'S SECRET by Rosanna Ley is a story that is rich in characters and descriptions and you really can see everything in your mind as you fall deeper into this compelling plotline. Alongside Colette and Thea (her mother), we also get to see into the lives of Étienne, Élodie, and Mathilde, all connected in one way or another, and all bearing secrets that burden them greatly. The complicated relationships are key throughout this tale and it was truly an experience to witness these characters, who I had come to care deeply for, face the past in order to find peace in the future.
HER MOTHER'S SECRET by Rosanna Ley is simply outstanding and I cannot wait to read more from this talented author.
*I voluntarily reviewed this book from the blog tour organiser
Colette escaped from her homeland, Belle-île, all those years ago and has avoided returning back ever since. It holds hard memories for her ever since her father died and she has never really forgiven her mother for always working in her beloved flower shop and for the argument she overheard when she was a teenager. But now her mother is gravely ill and Colette knows that she must return to do what she can and as she finds herself falling back into the flow of village life and the serenity to be found in running the store, maybe Colette will finally be able to speak to her mother about the past and discover the secrets that have haunted them all.
HER MOTHER'S SECRET by Rosanna Ley is a story that is rich in characters and descriptions and you really can see everything in your mind as you fall deeper into this compelling plotline. Alongside Colette and Thea (her mother), we also get to see into the lives of Étienne, Élodie, and Mathilde, all connected in one way or another, and all bearing secrets that burden them greatly. The complicated relationships are key throughout this tale and it was truly an experience to witness these characters, who I had come to care deeply for, face the past in order to find peace in the future.
HER MOTHER'S SECRET by Rosanna Ley is simply outstanding and I cannot wait to read more from this talented author.
*I voluntarily reviewed this book from the blog tour organiser
June 18, 2018
Colette has been estranged from her mother Thea for many years, the reason why becoming clearer as the story goes on. Moving away from Belle-Île-en-Mer some 15 years before, Colette has made a life for herself in Cornwall, she has a flat she loves, a job and a boyfriend. When she receives a letter from her mother’s neighbour in Belle-Île, letting her know that her mother was very ill, Colette feels she has no choice but to go to her.
The story has several narrators, including Colette. Each has their own part in the story, and most are connected in some way to Thea. Thea herself was from Cornwall initially and left home for a job as an au-pair working for Mathilde and her family in Belle-Île.
The main characters are engaging and have distinctive personalities, superbly drawn with each narrator gradually revealing their story and drawing the reader in. There is Colette, at first reluctant to return to her childhood home but rediscovering her love of flowers by taking over her mother’s neglected flower shop whilst trying to make her mother as comfortable as possible. Étienne – a thriller writer but having another story that he wants to tell. He doesn’t want to be there but has to deal with the clearing and the sale of his late mother’s property and feels the weight of the past heavily on his shoulders. Mathilde’s daughter Élodie, who creates beautiful sculptures from driftwood but does not have the courage to follow her dreams and then finally Mathilde, who used to be Thea’s best friend and who has secrets of her own.
Rosanna Ley has written a beautifully descriptive and poignant story and the location is a character in its own right. As soon as I arrived at the setting of Belle-Île, an island in Southern Brittany, I was hooked and now, having Googled it and seen how gorgeous it looks, I want to go there!
Don’t expect a fast read, this is a book that needs to be savoured. This is a very slow paced, character driven story of past secrets, deception and betrayal. There was one point when I thought I had worked out ‘Her Mother’s Secret’ but I was way off beam.
Her Mother’s Secret is a substantial book and one that you can immerse yourself in. The gorgeous cover and setting would make it an ideal holiday read – or actually even an ideal read at any time.
The story has several narrators, including Colette. Each has their own part in the story, and most are connected in some way to Thea. Thea herself was from Cornwall initially and left home for a job as an au-pair working for Mathilde and her family in Belle-Île.
The main characters are engaging and have distinctive personalities, superbly drawn with each narrator gradually revealing their story and drawing the reader in. There is Colette, at first reluctant to return to her childhood home but rediscovering her love of flowers by taking over her mother’s neglected flower shop whilst trying to make her mother as comfortable as possible. Étienne – a thriller writer but having another story that he wants to tell. He doesn’t want to be there but has to deal with the clearing and the sale of his late mother’s property and feels the weight of the past heavily on his shoulders. Mathilde’s daughter Élodie, who creates beautiful sculptures from driftwood but does not have the courage to follow her dreams and then finally Mathilde, who used to be Thea’s best friend and who has secrets of her own.
Rosanna Ley has written a beautifully descriptive and poignant story and the location is a character in its own right. As soon as I arrived at the setting of Belle-Île, an island in Southern Brittany, I was hooked and now, having Googled it and seen how gorgeous it looks, I want to go there!
Don’t expect a fast read, this is a book that needs to be savoured. This is a very slow paced, character driven story of past secrets, deception and betrayal. There was one point when I thought I had worked out ‘Her Mother’s Secret’ but I was way off beam.
Her Mother’s Secret is a substantial book and one that you can immerse yourself in. The gorgeous cover and setting would make it an ideal holiday read – or actually even an ideal read at any time.
April 29, 2018
Visit the locations in the novel
I want to go to the island of Belle Ile en Mer now! If it's half as gorgeous as described in this book, then I'm there.
The story will more than transport you there - the sights, sounds, aromas and glistening waters not to mention the links to Monet and Sarah Bernhardt! The story too is very well done - a secret, well secrets which have been kept for years, threading through more lives than were supposed to, and causing ripples that both leave and return to the island.
Going back to your homeland, where you haven't been before must be hard but Colette is back to look after her mother. There's painful memories to the past and as she explores this new but strange landscape, she finds out devastating truths. She and her past are tied to this land of contrasts in ways she least expected.
No spoilers here - just a recommendation to read a story that captivates as it does delight.The writing is strong and evocative and the story poignant yet hopeful in many ways. I was so sad to leave the island and Colette! Wonderfully textured and you can feel the sea air on your face as you read!
June 8, 2018
Colette’s return to Belle-Île will bring more than just a reconciliation with her mother.
I expected that I would enjoy reading Her Mother’s Secret by Rosanna Ley, but I hadn’t realised just how much of a siren call this book would have. Life interfered so it took me a week to read it, but in between each reading session I found myself wondering how the characters were getting on without me and what was happening in Belle-Île.
The characters in Her Mother’s Secret are so three dimensional and realistic that it is impossible not to feel totally engaged with them. Indeed, although I understood Mark, I would quite happily have punched him quite hard on a couple of occasions and I’d like to have enveloped Étienne in my arms and held him close. Rosanna Ley employs the men partly as effective backdrops to the women in her narrative so that it makes them all much more vivid and human. I found it fascinating how Thea, who actually has little action as she is dying, is the glue that holds the whole story together, giving a coherence and emotion that ripples though every part of the book. What I found so moving is the exploration of how we not only deceive others, but often we delude and deceive ourselves too. There’s such a strong sense that life is for the living and a message that we need to make the most of our lives, to forgive others, and, more importantly, to forgive ourselves.
The plot is a cracker. So much guilt, so many half-truths and secrets swirl and settle, only to be shaken again, that Her Mother’s Secret is hugely entertaining and frequently quite mysterious. I thought the use of ellipsis was inspired as it tantalises the reader and the smatterings of French add authenticity and realism. Reading Rosanna Ley’s writing feels a bit like having silk next to the skin. It’s smooth and luxurious but a change of pace movement can create a gasp too! I also thought reading Her Mother’s Secret is a bit like watching the ocean around Belle-Île. It ebbs and flows like the tide. Occasionally it is calm and unruffled and occasionally stormy and tempestuous. It is ever changing and mesmerising. Her Mother’s Secret has a real ‘lingerability’ (and if you’ve read it you’ll appreciate that word) – through its story, but equally through its setting.
Rosanna Ley really has a skilful ability to transport a reader to another place. Every sense is catered for so that I genuinely felt as if I were in Belle-Île too as I read. The depth of research that has gone into the plant and flower references, the artistic elements and the geography and tradition of the region mean that the reader trusts the author entirely and can luxuriate in fabulous storytelling.
I so enjoyed this story. Her Mother’s Secret led me away from my own life for a while and I was completely absorbed by it. I think it is the perfect summer read because it has depth, emotion, a fabulous sense of place and, above all, wonderful storytelling. Don’t miss it.
I expected that I would enjoy reading Her Mother’s Secret by Rosanna Ley, but I hadn’t realised just how much of a siren call this book would have. Life interfered so it took me a week to read it, but in between each reading session I found myself wondering how the characters were getting on without me and what was happening in Belle-Île.
The characters in Her Mother’s Secret are so three dimensional and realistic that it is impossible not to feel totally engaged with them. Indeed, although I understood Mark, I would quite happily have punched him quite hard on a couple of occasions and I’d like to have enveloped Étienne in my arms and held him close. Rosanna Ley employs the men partly as effective backdrops to the women in her narrative so that it makes them all much more vivid and human. I found it fascinating how Thea, who actually has little action as she is dying, is the glue that holds the whole story together, giving a coherence and emotion that ripples though every part of the book. What I found so moving is the exploration of how we not only deceive others, but often we delude and deceive ourselves too. There’s such a strong sense that life is for the living and a message that we need to make the most of our lives, to forgive others, and, more importantly, to forgive ourselves.
The plot is a cracker. So much guilt, so many half-truths and secrets swirl and settle, only to be shaken again, that Her Mother’s Secret is hugely entertaining and frequently quite mysterious. I thought the use of ellipsis was inspired as it tantalises the reader and the smatterings of French add authenticity and realism. Reading Rosanna Ley’s writing feels a bit like having silk next to the skin. It’s smooth and luxurious but a change of pace movement can create a gasp too! I also thought reading Her Mother’s Secret is a bit like watching the ocean around Belle-Île. It ebbs and flows like the tide. Occasionally it is calm and unruffled and occasionally stormy and tempestuous. It is ever changing and mesmerising. Her Mother’s Secret has a real ‘lingerability’ (and if you’ve read it you’ll appreciate that word) – through its story, but equally through its setting.
Rosanna Ley really has a skilful ability to transport a reader to another place. Every sense is catered for so that I genuinely felt as if I were in Belle-Île too as I read. The depth of research that has gone into the plant and flower references, the artistic elements and the geography and tradition of the region mean that the reader trusts the author entirely and can luxuriate in fabulous storytelling.
I so enjoyed this story. Her Mother’s Secret led me away from my own life for a while and I was completely absorbed by it. I think it is the perfect summer read because it has depth, emotion, a fabulous sense of place and, above all, wonderful storytelling. Don’t miss it.
July 29, 2018
This is another jewel of a read from Rosanna Ley. Her descriptions are always stunning and the images of the sea off the coast of Brittany and the quaint town on the island captivated me from the start. The characters are interesting, real and fascinating. I particularly liked Elodie and want to meet her. I'll look for her, wandering across the beach at low tide, collecting flotsam and sea glass for her driftwood sculptures. And Colette is another woman I want to meet. The image of her working in her mother's flower shop is beautiful. The dilemmas, conflicts, torments, secrets of all Ley's characters are utterly believable and I didn't want this story to end. But, maybe there's a sequel in there? The book ends at the start of another journey. Many thanks, Rosanna Ley, for another heart warming, yet deep and thought provoking read. Congratulations
June 21, 2018
An easy and enjoyable read. I thought there was a good mix of characters and although the ‘secret’ was not that much is a surprise I did like the way that the story panned out.
July 31, 2025
Always a winner, rosanna couldn’t excite my interest in this book…sorry bout that! Xx
June 15, 2018
Rosanna Ley's new novel Her Mother's Secret was an intriguing read right from the opening page and this sense of mystery did not abide until the last few pages. Although I may have been reading this excellent story from the comfort of my own home and not on a sun lounger as I would have liked to, I still felt transported to the island of Belle-Lle-en-Mer in the Brittany region of France. The setting always plays such a pivotal role for me in my overall enjoyment of a book and here the author has got it spot on. The main characters are drawn back to their home place, haunted by the past, yet still unwilling to let go and seek forgiveness, acceptance and understanding. Circumstances have brought them home, reluctantly it must be said and given no choice, and within the confines of the small island community they must slowly start to unravel the knots of tension that have existed for them for so long.
There are one or two key players who have remained on the island not being able to flee like the others and the reasons for everything slowly become apparent and built up to a magnificent finale. I had my suspicions as to what the big secret could be, there were flashes of revelation throughout but I couldn't quite reach that point where everything clicked for me. This was an achievement in itself for the author and I was delighted not to have sussed everything out before the natural point of discovery was reached. Normally, I am quite smug that I have guessed what has tormented the characters but here I was left open mouthed when things came to the surface but in a pleasant way as everything finally made sense.
I have loved Rosanna Ley's writing right from her very first novel -The Villa- and have enjoyed every book published since but Her Mother's Secret really got under my skin thanks to such in-depth, emotive and sensual writing. So many questions arose, suspicions, tension and apprehension pervaded every chapter as each character wrestled with their emotions and whether they should confront what has tormented them for so long? But as Thea who runs the local flower shop lies on her bed waiting for the end to come everything that was kept hidden has to come to the fore. Truths needs to be told with frank honesty in order for those left behind to reconcile and seek forgiveness and move on with their lives once she has gone.
Thea's more or less estranged daughter Colette lives in England and has been there for many years since she fled the island. She receives a letter from her mother's neighbour Francine explaining that her mother is gravely ill. Colette no matter what has occurred in the past needs to come home, both for her mother's sake and her own. There has been a long detatchment with so many things left unsaid but now is the crucial time for the secrets to be exposed and for everyone involved to get what they are feeling off their chest once and for all. Of course Colette loves her mother but there is a stubbornness and reluctance within her to return but she faces up to her duty and comes back to the island. In many ways it has remained unchanged since she left but in others are dramatically different.
I admired Colette for taking that step into the unknown. She had been deeply hurt by an argument she witnessed between her mother and father. Since he is now dead she cannot ask him all the questions that race through her mind but is she willing to take that chance and ask her mother given that there is so little time left? It appeared to me that Colette was at a crossroads in her life. Her relationship with Mark although meandering along nicely was maybe not the spark of long term love she was seeking. Maybe now was the time to return, to go back to the past or else she herself would never be free. It took endless courage and strength to return but maybe she would acquire these qualities when she needed them the most. I enjoyed how the story was told from different perspectives and that each chapter would alternate between the main characters.
Etienne was another character who featured. He is a writer drawn back to the island by the fact he must clean out and sell his family home as his mother had died. He too was tormented even more so I would say than Colette. He was very much an enigma. He never gave anything away, never let people in close enough to express his deepest feelings and the hurt and pain he was experiencing. I had no idea as to what was causing him such suffering and stress. But similar to Colette I sensed there was a reason that at this particular point in time they were called back to the island. In a way I hoped they could help each other through the challenging and emotional times ahead. Their friendship was subtly played and the undercurrents of something more deeper developing were not thrown in the reader's face rather they were explored at a steady pace. I don't think either could contemplate something more until their own personal situations were resolved. But they did become a support and a backbone for each other and this was written in such a beautiful way.
I did for some time question the inclusion of Etienne and perhaps Elodie and Mathelide, the mother and daughter who live in the lighthouse. I think I have done this with several of Rosanna Ley's novels but then it always comes right, that every character deserves their place and they are part of the fabric of the overall story. Each person needs to be there, they hold a piece of the string of the story which the main characters are following and when they reach the end it will all be tied up carefully and satisfyingly.
Elodie and Mathilde had their own secrets to hide. Elodie seemed to be a drifter almost like the pieces of driftwood that wash up on the beach which she uses for her creative sculptures. I loved the development of her character and her family situation was complex and intriguing. I did suspect something different with regards to the storyline with her brother but I turned out to be completely wrong. I think it was more the way that certain sentences were phrased that led me down the wrong path. Mathilde herself was meek and sub servant and hiding something. I felt she needed to find confidence and the strength to meet things head on. The family dynamics here were strange and posed many questions for the reader.
Too little communication coupled with so many secrets made for a wonderful story that I readily lost myself in. If the stunning cover doesn’t make you want to read this book than the subtly of the themes being explored will certainly have you picking up this book. The shadows of the past are far reaching and have many repercussions for those in the present but it is up to Colette and everybody that features to deal with these in the best way possible to soothe their tortured souls, to quench their secret sadness and find peace, comfort, warmth, hope and love. Her Motherr's Secret is a wonderful story and showcases Rosanna Ley at her very best. Definitely one not to be missed this summer.
There are one or two key players who have remained on the island not being able to flee like the others and the reasons for everything slowly become apparent and built up to a magnificent finale. I had my suspicions as to what the big secret could be, there were flashes of revelation throughout but I couldn't quite reach that point where everything clicked for me. This was an achievement in itself for the author and I was delighted not to have sussed everything out before the natural point of discovery was reached. Normally, I am quite smug that I have guessed what has tormented the characters but here I was left open mouthed when things came to the surface but in a pleasant way as everything finally made sense.
I have loved Rosanna Ley's writing right from her very first novel -The Villa- and have enjoyed every book published since but Her Mother's Secret really got under my skin thanks to such in-depth, emotive and sensual writing. So many questions arose, suspicions, tension and apprehension pervaded every chapter as each character wrestled with their emotions and whether they should confront what has tormented them for so long? But as Thea who runs the local flower shop lies on her bed waiting for the end to come everything that was kept hidden has to come to the fore. Truths needs to be told with frank honesty in order for those left behind to reconcile and seek forgiveness and move on with their lives once she has gone.
Thea's more or less estranged daughter Colette lives in England and has been there for many years since she fled the island. She receives a letter from her mother's neighbour Francine explaining that her mother is gravely ill. Colette no matter what has occurred in the past needs to come home, both for her mother's sake and her own. There has been a long detatchment with so many things left unsaid but now is the crucial time for the secrets to be exposed and for everyone involved to get what they are feeling off their chest once and for all. Of course Colette loves her mother but there is a stubbornness and reluctance within her to return but she faces up to her duty and comes back to the island. In many ways it has remained unchanged since she left but in others are dramatically different.
I admired Colette for taking that step into the unknown. She had been deeply hurt by an argument she witnessed between her mother and father. Since he is now dead she cannot ask him all the questions that race through her mind but is she willing to take that chance and ask her mother given that there is so little time left? It appeared to me that Colette was at a crossroads in her life. Her relationship with Mark although meandering along nicely was maybe not the spark of long term love she was seeking. Maybe now was the time to return, to go back to the past or else she herself would never be free. It took endless courage and strength to return but maybe she would acquire these qualities when she needed them the most. I enjoyed how the story was told from different perspectives and that each chapter would alternate between the main characters.
Etienne was another character who featured. He is a writer drawn back to the island by the fact he must clean out and sell his family home as his mother had died. He too was tormented even more so I would say than Colette. He was very much an enigma. He never gave anything away, never let people in close enough to express his deepest feelings and the hurt and pain he was experiencing. I had no idea as to what was causing him such suffering and stress. But similar to Colette I sensed there was a reason that at this particular point in time they were called back to the island. In a way I hoped they could help each other through the challenging and emotional times ahead. Their friendship was subtly played and the undercurrents of something more deeper developing were not thrown in the reader's face rather they were explored at a steady pace. I don't think either could contemplate something more until their own personal situations were resolved. But they did become a support and a backbone for each other and this was written in such a beautiful way.
I did for some time question the inclusion of Etienne and perhaps Elodie and Mathelide, the mother and daughter who live in the lighthouse. I think I have done this with several of Rosanna Ley's novels but then it always comes right, that every character deserves their place and they are part of the fabric of the overall story. Each person needs to be there, they hold a piece of the string of the story which the main characters are following and when they reach the end it will all be tied up carefully and satisfyingly.
Elodie and Mathilde had their own secrets to hide. Elodie seemed to be a drifter almost like the pieces of driftwood that wash up on the beach which she uses for her creative sculptures. I loved the development of her character and her family situation was complex and intriguing. I did suspect something different with regards to the storyline with her brother but I turned out to be completely wrong. I think it was more the way that certain sentences were phrased that led me down the wrong path. Mathilde herself was meek and sub servant and hiding something. I felt she needed to find confidence and the strength to meet things head on. The family dynamics here were strange and posed many questions for the reader.
Too little communication coupled with so many secrets made for a wonderful story that I readily lost myself in. If the stunning cover doesn’t make you want to read this book than the subtly of the themes being explored will certainly have you picking up this book. The shadows of the past are far reaching and have many repercussions for those in the present but it is up to Colette and everybody that features to deal with these in the best way possible to soothe their tortured souls, to quench their secret sadness and find peace, comfort, warmth, hope and love. Her Motherr's Secret is a wonderful story and showcases Rosanna Ley at her very best. Definitely one not to be missed this summer.
June 17, 2018
Rosanna Ley has such a beautiful wrtiting style, that as soon as you open a book you know you are going to be transported into another beautiful world. You will be engrossed with the wonderfully descriptive setting and the intriguing characters and won't want to put the book down until you have discovered more.
Collette has to return home when her mum's health fails and she meets up with people and runs her mum's shop. She has to face up to painful memories from the past and relationships need exploring.
I now want to visit Brittany because I feel that I can picture it in my mind so well. I loved every page of this book.
Collette has to return home when her mum's health fails and she meets up with people and runs her mum's shop. She has to face up to painful memories from the past and relationships need exploring.
I now want to visit Brittany because I feel that I can picture it in my mind so well. I loved every page of this book.
June 10, 2018
I really did escape to sunny France with this book - the descriptions of Belle-Île draw the reader right onto this sunny island and into the return of Colette to see her dying mother, into a past of secrets, tragedy, love and loss
The author draws her characters so well, and I felt totally absorbed in their lives, and really didn't want to put the book down until the secrets had been revealed, reconciliations have been made and new relationships established.
A little slower than some of the author's previous books, but perhaps this is to reflect the pace of life in this lovely part of France.
With thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for a review copy.
The author draws her characters so well, and I felt totally absorbed in their lives, and really didn't want to put the book down until the secrets had been revealed, reconciliations have been made and new relationships established.
A little slower than some of the author's previous books, but perhaps this is to reflect the pace of life in this lovely part of France.
With thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for a review copy.
September 18, 2018
An ok read.
December 29, 2022
Koselig, litt artig twist, ikke kjedelig
Read
September 6, 2018This novel sings from the page; Rosanna Ley captures her setting and her characters and brings them vividly to life. I felt I was on the island, in the flower shop, at Colette's mother's bedside and she weaves the mystery of the secret with deftness and compassion. Each person in this book makes an emotional journey of some sort and I loved sharing their travels with them. Highly recommended.
July 14, 2018
I really enjoyed this & it's made me want to visit Breton!
Good characters & I didn't guess the secret either...
Good characters & I didn't guess the secret either...
June 15, 2021
A simple tale, probably 100 pages longer than it needed to be, set in Cornwall and Brittany. Daughters adrift in life and mothers with secrets are the theme. Relationships come back together when illness strikes and the whole book leaves us guessing, although it was pretty obvious, what the mothers secret was!, until the end. Easy reading and enjoyable just wont be that memorable.
May 29, 2018
This book just didn’t live up to the reputation of the little theatre by the sea. For me I found this book really slow. But the places in the book were once again very beautiful but sadly the storyline just didn’t do it for me.
November 27, 2018
I’m calling it a day at 28% which is about page 150 of almost 550. It has taken me several attempts to get this far and I don’t feel I want to plough on through another 400 pages. I enjoyed her previous books but this one feels interminably slow.
May 9, 2018
I found this book rather slow and insular, perhaps that was intentional. I wanted more action. I did not enjoy it as much as her previous books. However I did not guess the secret.
June 13, 2018
Colette fled Belle-Île-en-Mer many years ago, to live with her grandparents in Cornwall. A generation earlier, her mother, Thea, had also run away, to be an au pair in Belle-Île-en-Mer. Like mother, like daughter? Their relationship had been difficult, almost estranged until Thea's neighbour, Francine, wrote to Colette to tell her that her mother was extremely ill. Colette decided to leave her boyfriend, Mark, behind and return to the place of her birth.
The chapters in this book are told from different characters' viewpoints. Colette is one of them, but we also hear from Thea. Then there's Mathilde and Élodie, the mother and daughter of the family Thea left home to work for. And Étienne, a man also adrift due to tragedy and family issues. I particularly liked hearing from Colette and Étienne who find themselves drawn to each other but all the voices are strong and each character has a part of the jigsaw to slot into place, except for Étienne who is more of a support to Colette.
One thing that I couldn't quite get to grips with was why both Thea and Colette had turned their backs on their family and upbringing quite so easily and with what seemed to me to be little reason for doing so. I guess it's just a case of wanting something different and feeling out of kilter with the life you have.
I loved how the story unfolded. I had no clue as to what 'Her Mother's Secret' was going to be until just before it was revealed. I think it's hard to keep twists and secrets from being too obvious and the author really kept me guessing so she did a great job there.
I loved the sound of Belle-Île-en-Mer. The blurb describes it as magical and it certainly came across that way in the book. The lighthouse where Mathilde lives, Élodie's studio, Thea's flower shop, all sounded simply wonderful. Having since seen some photos of the island online, I can see that Rosanna Ley was writing truthfully about the beauty of the area. Looking at her other books, I can see that location is a huge part of what she writes and I thought her passion for setting was really clear.
Ley's writing is very descriptive and very emotive. If I'm completely honest, I felt like I would have liked the story to have moved a bit faster but that's probably my impatient nature kicking in. I can't deny how beautifully written this book is and how every feeling and emotion is explored.
There's a real gentleness about this book, in the pace, the characterisations (nobody really loses their temper) and the island setting. It will transport you to a small French island with no trouble at all and it felt effortlessly French, if you know what I mean. This is one to take your time with and to savour every word - this story cannot be rushed.
The chapters in this book are told from different characters' viewpoints. Colette is one of them, but we also hear from Thea. Then there's Mathilde and Élodie, the mother and daughter of the family Thea left home to work for. And Étienne, a man also adrift due to tragedy and family issues. I particularly liked hearing from Colette and Étienne who find themselves drawn to each other but all the voices are strong and each character has a part of the jigsaw to slot into place, except for Étienne who is more of a support to Colette.
One thing that I couldn't quite get to grips with was why both Thea and Colette had turned their backs on their family and upbringing quite so easily and with what seemed to me to be little reason for doing so. I guess it's just a case of wanting something different and feeling out of kilter with the life you have.
I loved how the story unfolded. I had no clue as to what 'Her Mother's Secret' was going to be until just before it was revealed. I think it's hard to keep twists and secrets from being too obvious and the author really kept me guessing so she did a great job there.
I loved the sound of Belle-Île-en-Mer. The blurb describes it as magical and it certainly came across that way in the book. The lighthouse where Mathilde lives, Élodie's studio, Thea's flower shop, all sounded simply wonderful. Having since seen some photos of the island online, I can see that Rosanna Ley was writing truthfully about the beauty of the area. Looking at her other books, I can see that location is a huge part of what she writes and I thought her passion for setting was really clear.
Ley's writing is very descriptive and very emotive. If I'm completely honest, I felt like I would have liked the story to have moved a bit faster but that's probably my impatient nature kicking in. I can't deny how beautifully written this book is and how every feeling and emotion is explored.
There's a real gentleness about this book, in the pace, the characterisations (nobody really loses their temper) and the island setting. It will transport you to a small French island with no trouble at all and it felt effortlessly French, if you know what I mean. This is one to take your time with and to savour every word - this story cannot be rushed.
June 11, 2018
Her Mother's Secret is set mainly on the beautiful French Island of Belle-Île-en-Mer in Southern Brittany, and follows Colette as she returns to the Island after sixteen years away to care for her dying mother. Returning home means she has to confront the past and try and forgive her mother and find out what secret her mother was keeping. Whilst there she befriends Ètienne, who has also returned to the Island after the death of his mother to sell her house, and Élodie who Colette's mother, Thea, looked after as a child.
The plot is narrated by Colette, Étienne, Élodie and Mathilde, Élodie's mother who was once close to Colette's mother. There are also sections of Thea's diary from just before her coming to the Island and up to the point where she was asked to leave by Mathilde. What these characters all have in common are secrets, either secrets they have themselves or are affected by a secret kept by others, than have made them, or a member of their family leave the Island. The island seems to have healing properties, the characters grow and as their relationships develop they find they can help each other. All realise that sometimes you have to go back and confront your past before you can move forward with your future. All narrators gradually reveal their stories, and Thea's diary gives an insight into her past, leading up to the secret she has kept that has caused the distance between her and Collette.
I have read a few of Rosanna Ley's other books and I love her writing style. She is a very descriptive writer, she captures the sense of a place; the sights, smells, sounds and tastes of he chosen setting. You can envisage eating fresh fish, surrounded by the pastel coloured houses, with the scent of the salt from the sea, the warmth of the sun on your face and the chatter of the locals around you. Reading one of her books really is a feast for the senses and makes an enjoyable experience. She also writes with a great understanding of people, there feelings, their relationships, how they interact with others; her characters are very real, you feel that you know them and you become part of their journey.
Her Mother's Secret is a wonderful and compelling read, about secrets, lies and their rippling effect on those around them. The characters will captivate you and the setting of Belle-Île-en-Mer is, as it name implies, a beautiful island brought to life through Rosanna Ley's writing. A brilliant book, perfect for your summer holiday.
The plot is narrated by Colette, Étienne, Élodie and Mathilde, Élodie's mother who was once close to Colette's mother. There are also sections of Thea's diary from just before her coming to the Island and up to the point where she was asked to leave by Mathilde. What these characters all have in common are secrets, either secrets they have themselves or are affected by a secret kept by others, than have made them, or a member of their family leave the Island. The island seems to have healing properties, the characters grow and as their relationships develop they find they can help each other. All realise that sometimes you have to go back and confront your past before you can move forward with your future. All narrators gradually reveal their stories, and Thea's diary gives an insight into her past, leading up to the secret she has kept that has caused the distance between her and Collette.
I have read a few of Rosanna Ley's other books and I love her writing style. She is a very descriptive writer, she captures the sense of a place; the sights, smells, sounds and tastes of he chosen setting. You can envisage eating fresh fish, surrounded by the pastel coloured houses, with the scent of the salt from the sea, the warmth of the sun on your face and the chatter of the locals around you. Reading one of her books really is a feast for the senses and makes an enjoyable experience. She also writes with a great understanding of people, there feelings, their relationships, how they interact with others; her characters are very real, you feel that you know them and you become part of their journey.
Her Mother's Secret is a wonderful and compelling read, about secrets, lies and their rippling effect on those around them. The characters will captivate you and the setting of Belle-Île-en-Mer is, as it name implies, a beautiful island brought to life through Rosanna Ley's writing. A brilliant book, perfect for your summer holiday.
June 6, 2018
When I open a Rosanna Ley book I know I am going to be transported to a different place. In the past couple of years I have visited Cuba through Last Dance in Havana and Sardinia in The Little Theatre by the Sea. In this book, the reader is taken to Belle-Île, an small island off the coast of Brittany. I've not been there, but have been to many of the other places on the mainland which were mentioned and feel the author captured the feel of Brittany beautifully.
The story is told through the voices of several characters. Colette has come back to Belle-Île after many years away, returning only because her mother, Thea, is dying. Her father had died in fishing boat accident several years before and it seemed that their marriage had been affected by a secret. As well as coming back to see her mother, Colette returns to find out the truth. Etienne's mother has recently died and he has come back to clear her house. He used to be part of the 'summer gang' who visited the island every year but why has he lost touch with the gang when they were once so close? Elodie is the daughter of Mathilde, who Thea used to work for as an au pair before she left the family suddenly. There is obviously some major rift between these women too which has led to their not speaking, yet Thea never left the island. There are also chapters told from the points of view of Thea and Mathilde
There is an undercurrent of sadness running throughout the book, so many past regrets. Through all the main characters you get a sense that there are many secrets to be uncovered and mysteries to be resolved. This is a book where you gradually get to know the characters and learn of their lives and secrets. The intertwining mysteries affected so many people? When the truth was finally revealed, I was taken by surprise. It wasn't what I had imagined at all and yet the clues were there all along.
I find island settings endlessly fascinating and Rosanna Ley has written beautifully and atmospherically about Belle-Île. For some of her characters it is claustrophobic, a place to escape from but for others it is a place of safety, a sanctuary. The island is very much at the heart of the story with a smattering of French throughout adding to the authenticity of setting.
Her Mother's Secret is compelling and beautifully written, a book to escape into as secrets are gradually revealed and characters look to the future with renewed hopes and fresh dreams.
The story is told through the voices of several characters. Colette has come back to Belle-Île after many years away, returning only because her mother, Thea, is dying. Her father had died in fishing boat accident several years before and it seemed that their marriage had been affected by a secret. As well as coming back to see her mother, Colette returns to find out the truth. Etienne's mother has recently died and he has come back to clear her house. He used to be part of the 'summer gang' who visited the island every year but why has he lost touch with the gang when they were once so close? Elodie is the daughter of Mathilde, who Thea used to work for as an au pair before she left the family suddenly. There is obviously some major rift between these women too which has led to their not speaking, yet Thea never left the island. There are also chapters told from the points of view of Thea and Mathilde
There is an undercurrent of sadness running throughout the book, so many past regrets. Through all the main characters you get a sense that there are many secrets to be uncovered and mysteries to be resolved. This is a book where you gradually get to know the characters and learn of their lives and secrets. The intertwining mysteries affected so many people? When the truth was finally revealed, I was taken by surprise. It wasn't what I had imagined at all and yet the clues were there all along.
I find island settings endlessly fascinating and Rosanna Ley has written beautifully and atmospherically about Belle-Île. For some of her characters it is claustrophobic, a place to escape from but for others it is a place of safety, a sanctuary. The island is very much at the heart of the story with a smattering of French throughout adding to the authenticity of setting.
Her Mother's Secret is compelling and beautifully written, a book to escape into as secrets are gradually revealed and characters look to the future with renewed hopes and fresh dreams.
June 18, 2018
Colette returns to her childhood home on Belle-Île-en-Mer in Southern Brittany, ostensibly, to look after her mother, Thea, who is terminally ill. This long postponed return brings back many memories for both Colette and her mother, as each of them have good reason to be wary of each other. Taking over the organisation of her mother's flower shop was never on Colette's agenda but as her mother starts to deteriorate so the languorous nature of the island begins to work its magic. Colette gets drawn deeper and deeper into a long buried secret which surrounds her mother's time on the island.
The author writes this multi-layered family drama really well and infuses such personality into her characters that you immediately start to care about what happens to them. I loved the gradual way the story unfolded so that when the secret is finally revealed, the characters have become so special that you really want everything to work out well for them all. I particularly looked forward to the different chapters as each was narrated by a different character who each have a very special role to play in the story.
Her Mother's Secret is such a strong character driven novel which really brings the story alive in the imagination and yet, it's not just about devastating family secrets, it's also a stunning tribute to Belle-Île-en-Mer and the people who call the place home. This is such a lovely summer read that I was quite enchanted by the story which is beautifully written by an author who really knows how to hold the reader in the palm of her hand.
The author writes this multi-layered family drama really well and infuses such personality into her characters that you immediately start to care about what happens to them. I loved the gradual way the story unfolded so that when the secret is finally revealed, the characters have become so special that you really want everything to work out well for them all. I particularly looked forward to the different chapters as each was narrated by a different character who each have a very special role to play in the story.
Her Mother's Secret is such a strong character driven novel which really brings the story alive in the imagination and yet, it's not just about devastating family secrets, it's also a stunning tribute to Belle-Île-en-Mer and the people who call the place home. This is such a lovely summer read that I was quite enchanted by the story which is beautifully written by an author who really knows how to hold the reader in the palm of her hand.
June 16, 2018
This is such a beautiful story. Very well-written, with an idyllic setting and likable characters, HER MOTHER’S SECRET is an enjoyable, fresh, and moving novel that I couldn’t put down.
One small island full of secrets. Belle-Île-en-Mer is a small island off the coast of Brittany with a beautiful sea and a characteristic landscape. Colette left the island when she was eighteen years old and she hasn’t been back since then. But when she receives a letter informing her that her mother Thea is dying, Colette forgets everything about her resentement towards her mother and her secrets and goes back to the French island. Étienne, a writer of thrillers, hadn’t been on the island in years, but after his mother’s death he is back to take care of his mother’s house. On the other hand, Élodie is the one who has never left Belle-Île-en-Mer as she is too busy with her sculptures and taking care of her mother, Mathilde. Everyone of these characters has a secret, a secret that ruined the relationships with their loved ones.
I found the characters realistic and likable and I loved seeing them develop and confront their past. The character that I liked most of all is Colette. I found her sensible and real and she didn’t think twice about giving up her life, her job, and her boyfriend to be at her mother’s side in the moment of need. The characters’ stories are very intriguing and absorbing and the tension was high as their secrets are slowly revealed.
What I loved most about this book is the setting. The descriptions of Belle-Île-en-Mer are very detailed and atmospheric and the island is the perfect idyllic place for this beautiful story. HER MOTHER’S SECRET is a gripping and heart-warming summer read and I’d like to thank Anne Cater and Quercus Book for providing me with a copy of the book and for inviting me to take part in the blog tour.
One small island full of secrets. Belle-Île-en-Mer is a small island off the coast of Brittany with a beautiful sea and a characteristic landscape. Colette left the island when she was eighteen years old and she hasn’t been back since then. But when she receives a letter informing her that her mother Thea is dying, Colette forgets everything about her resentement towards her mother and her secrets and goes back to the French island. Étienne, a writer of thrillers, hadn’t been on the island in years, but after his mother’s death he is back to take care of his mother’s house. On the other hand, Élodie is the one who has never left Belle-Île-en-Mer as she is too busy with her sculptures and taking care of her mother, Mathilde. Everyone of these characters has a secret, a secret that ruined the relationships with their loved ones.
I found the characters realistic and likable and I loved seeing them develop and confront their past. The character that I liked most of all is Colette. I found her sensible and real and she didn’t think twice about giving up her life, her job, and her boyfriend to be at her mother’s side in the moment of need. The characters’ stories are very intriguing and absorbing and the tension was high as their secrets are slowly revealed.
What I loved most about this book is the setting. The descriptions of Belle-Île-en-Mer are very detailed and atmospheric and the island is the perfect idyllic place for this beautiful story. HER MOTHER’S SECRET is a gripping and heart-warming summer read and I’d like to thank Anne Cater and Quercus Book for providing me with a copy of the book and for inviting me to take part in the blog tour.
June 12, 2018
This is such a gentle novel that I just became immersed in the story which features such an interesting selection of characters. It moves seamlessly back and forth through the generations and has a satisying explanation to all the mysteries of the past. With its settings in Cornwall and Southern Brittany, it has such a lovely summer feel. Colette and Eloise always seem to be slightly detached from their environment, slightly apart and yet the environments are wonderfully evoked, through the sights, colours, sounds and smells of the coast. All the author's research into these places has repaid her so much.
The secrets of the past, with hints of loss, guilt and betrayal, swirl throughout the story. The relationship between mothers and their offspring are all complicated and I was particularly struck by how Colette feels the pull of that relationship to bring her back to France, despite the emotional distance between them. Rosanna Ley's writing style is particularly suited to the pace of the story, as the characters' feelings ebb and flow and they try to come to terms with forgiving the past and living in the present.
In short: A gorgeous Summer read with mesmerising settings and beautifully crafted characters.
Thanks to the author for a copy of the book.
October 23, 2018
I knew from reading one of Rosanna Ley's earlier books that this would be an intelligent read, a romance, and with some descriptions of place that would make me want to move house or at least visit that location (what this book must have done for tourism and house prices on Belle-Île-en-Mer!). I thoroughly recommend Rosanna's books for the sense of sampling another life (its landscape, culture and food - the smells, the sights, the sounds) from distance.
What I hadn't quite expected, and welcomed, was the serious side: what secrets do to people, how things that happen in the past can affect how they live today, and what can be done about it. This is billed as a good holiday read - it's absorbing yes and you want to know what happens to the romantic connections, but there's complexity here, different points of view handled with great skill, so that it's rich as well as accessible.
What I hadn't quite expected, and welcomed, was the serious side: what secrets do to people, how things that happen in the past can affect how they live today, and what can be done about it. This is billed as a good holiday read - it's absorbing yes and you want to know what happens to the romantic connections, but there's complexity here, different points of view handled with great skill, so that it's rich as well as accessible.
June 28, 2019
I really enjoy Rosanna Ley's novels and this was great. As with all of Rosanna's books, this is beautifully written with vivid descriptions setting the scene. Excellent characterisation and a fantastic location. I loved this book and highly recommend it. A story of family relationships, an emotional journey and a beautiful flower shop.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
March 13, 2021
I normally avoid books which flit from the present to the past and back again, but this book is different. From the beginning I was drawn in by the characters who all had their own problems to deal with. They came alive for me, as did the setting. I read much if it with a lump in my throat, but with the hope that thinks would improve for Elodie and Colette. I will certainly be reading more books by this author.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 62 reviews