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The Sweetheart Locket
What if the key to your present lies in the past?
London, 1939
On the eve of the Second World War, Canadian Maggie Wyndham defies her family and stays in England to do her bit for the war effort. Torn between two countries, two men and living a life of lies working for the Special Operations Executive (SOE), Maggie's RAF sweetheart locket is part of who she is...and who she isn't.
San Francisco, 2019
Over twenty years after Maggie's death, her daughter Millie and granddaughter Willow take a DNA test that's supposed to be a bit of fun but instead yields unexpected results. Willow has always treasured her grandmother's sweetheart locket, both family heirloom and a symbol of her grandparents' love story. But now she doesn't know what to believe. She embarks on a search for the truth, one she doesn't know will reveal far more about herself...
A gripping and heart-breaking dual timeline novel about love, loss and buried secrets, The Sweetheart Locket is perfect for fans of Lorna Cook, Rachel Hore and Suzanne Kelman.
London, 1939
On the eve of the Second World War, Canadian Maggie Wyndham defies her family and stays in England to do her bit for the war effort. Torn between two countries, two men and living a life of lies working for the Special Operations Executive (SOE), Maggie's RAF sweetheart locket is part of who she is...and who she isn't.
San Francisco, 2019
Over twenty years after Maggie's death, her daughter Millie and granddaughter Willow take a DNA test that's supposed to be a bit of fun but instead yields unexpected results. Willow has always treasured her grandmother's sweetheart locket, both family heirloom and a symbol of her grandparents' love story. But now she doesn't know what to believe. She embarks on a search for the truth, one she doesn't know will reveal far more about herself...
A gripping and heart-breaking dual timeline novel about love, loss and buried secrets, The Sweetheart Locket is perfect for fans of Lorna Cook, Rachel Hore and Suzanne Kelman.
358 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 17, 2022
5 people are currently reading
141 people want to read
About the author
Jen Gilroy
35 books377 followersI write sweet romance and uplifting historical women’s fiction—warm, feel-good stories to bring readers’ hearts home.
A Romance Writers of America® Golden Heart® finalist and shortlisted for the Romantic Novelists’ Association Joan Hessayon award, I live in small-town Ontario, Canada with my husband, daughter and floppy-eared rescue hound.
I love reading, ice cream, ballet and paddling my purple kayak.
Visit me online at www.jengilroy.com
A Romance Writers of America® Golden Heart® finalist and shortlisted for the Romantic Novelists’ Association Joan Hessayon award, I live in small-town Ontario, Canada with my husband, daughter and floppy-eared rescue hound.
I love reading, ice cream, ballet and paddling my purple kayak.
Visit me online at www.jengilroy.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
March 20, 2022
Favorite Quotes:
In wartime, life sped up and was lived in snatches and you had to make the most of what you had, when you had it.
My mother says, “experience is what we call the accumulation of our mistakes.”
Her cousin was a young soul. Since childhood, Saffy had darted through life like a dragonfly in a summer meadow, landing in pleasant places and, apart from her parents’ tragic deaths which she’d been too young to remember, her way untouched by shadows.
Something the war had also taught her was that the truth wasn’t always best. Rather, it was elastic and sometimes you had to lie to save yourself and those you cared about.
Family wasn’t always the people you were connected to by blood, but also those who came into your life by chance and stayed by choice.
My Review:
This was an absorbing, heart-rending, and intriguing dual-timeline and multiple POV narratives between family members in WWII England and modern times. The storylines were original, engaging, well contrived, historically and culturally accurate, and laced with modern-day family tensions and 1940's wartime dangers, and a sense of impending peril.
Unexpected revelations, family secrets, cultural concerns, clandestine operations, and identity issues were insightfully and thoughtfully explored in both timelines. I cared about the characters and was riddled with curiosity about what was to become of them.
The writing has emotive, perceptive, easy to fall into, and kept a smooth scroll of sharp visuals sparking across my gray matter. Ms. Gilroy is not only an agile storyteller but a wily one full of surprises.
In wartime, life sped up and was lived in snatches and you had to make the most of what you had, when you had it.
My mother says, “experience is what we call the accumulation of our mistakes.”
Her cousin was a young soul. Since childhood, Saffy had darted through life like a dragonfly in a summer meadow, landing in pleasant places and, apart from her parents’ tragic deaths which she’d been too young to remember, her way untouched by shadows.
Something the war had also taught her was that the truth wasn’t always best. Rather, it was elastic and sometimes you had to lie to save yourself and those you cared about.
Family wasn’t always the people you were connected to by blood, but also those who came into your life by chance and stayed by choice.
My Review:
This was an absorbing, heart-rending, and intriguing dual-timeline and multiple POV narratives between family members in WWII England and modern times. The storylines were original, engaging, well contrived, historically and culturally accurate, and laced with modern-day family tensions and 1940's wartime dangers, and a sense of impending peril.
Unexpected revelations, family secrets, cultural concerns, clandestine operations, and identity issues were insightfully and thoughtfully explored in both timelines. I cared about the characters and was riddled with curiosity about what was to become of them.
The writing has emotive, perceptive, easy to fall into, and kept a smooth scroll of sharp visuals sparking across my gray matter. Ms. Gilroy is not only an agile storyteller but a wily one full of surprises.
June 30, 2022
The book alternates between Maggie’s story starting at the outbreak of the Second World War and Willow’s in the present day (2019) as she searches for information about her grandmother’s life. It’s a search that initially will raise just as many questions as answers but possibly serve to lessen the distance that has developed between Willow and her mother, Camilla.
I found Maggie’s story particularly compelling, especially as it shines a light on the vitally important contribution women made to the war effort both at home and abroad, a contribution that often placed them in great personal danger. Willow’s research into her grandmother’s life allows the author to provide the reader with information about a secret wartime role performed by women not fully known about until recently. Inevitably, because of the book’s structure, the tension surrounding Maggie’s wartime experiences is lessened because we know she will survive the war. However, that’s not the same for other characters, injecting a welcome sense of jeopardy.
I liked the way the author brought out connections between the two women, despite the many decades that divide them. Both Maggie and Willow change over time, becoming more independent and determined to forge their own direction in life, even if that involves making a life in a new country. They become more willing to take risks in other ways too. There is a romantic aspect to both storylines although I thought Maggie’s was more believable, reflecting the fact that in wartime people have to live in the moment and snatch any chance of happiness.
I thought it was clever of the author to reflect the differences between then and now. For us, London at night with a sky bright with stars might be magical but for Maggie and others who lived through the Second World War it meant ‘bombing weather’, something to be feared rather than enjoyed. And for Maggie, clear skies has an additional significance linked to her wartime work.
Those who enjoy a mixture of tears of sadness and of joy in their historical fiction will find themselves well rewarded. There are also poignant, bittersweet moments and a few surprises, some more foreseeable than others, but given the fog of war not completely implausible. And after all, this is fiction. A neat touch is the epilogue which acts as a ‘what happened next’ for many of the secondary characters featured in the book.
The Sweetheart Locket is an absorbing dual timeline novel combining wartime drama, the uncovering of family secrets and new beginnings.
I found Maggie’s story particularly compelling, especially as it shines a light on the vitally important contribution women made to the war effort both at home and abroad, a contribution that often placed them in great personal danger. Willow’s research into her grandmother’s life allows the author to provide the reader with information about a secret wartime role performed by women not fully known about until recently. Inevitably, because of the book’s structure, the tension surrounding Maggie’s wartime experiences is lessened because we know she will survive the war. However, that’s not the same for other characters, injecting a welcome sense of jeopardy.
I liked the way the author brought out connections between the two women, despite the many decades that divide them. Both Maggie and Willow change over time, becoming more independent and determined to forge their own direction in life, even if that involves making a life in a new country. They become more willing to take risks in other ways too. There is a romantic aspect to both storylines although I thought Maggie’s was more believable, reflecting the fact that in wartime people have to live in the moment and snatch any chance of happiness.
I thought it was clever of the author to reflect the differences between then and now. For us, London at night with a sky bright with stars might be magical but for Maggie and others who lived through the Second World War it meant ‘bombing weather’, something to be feared rather than enjoyed. And for Maggie, clear skies has an additional significance linked to her wartime work.
Those who enjoy a mixture of tears of sadness and of joy in their historical fiction will find themselves well rewarded. There are also poignant, bittersweet moments and a few surprises, some more foreseeable than others, but given the fog of war not completely implausible. And after all, this is fiction. A neat touch is the epilogue which acts as a ‘what happened next’ for many of the secondary characters featured in the book.
The Sweetheart Locket is an absorbing dual timeline novel combining wartime drama, the uncovering of family secrets and new beginnings.
May 16, 2022
"That's the thing, isn't it? Women sacrifice but the stories of their sacrifices usually aren't part of the formal historical record. Women's lives might veer off course for a while but then they get back on track and do what's expected of them and, well, it's still not much different, is it?"
After Willow takes a DNA test, she receives some unexpected results. She has always believed that she is mostly English, but the test results have strong French, Jewish and Italian ancestry as well. Willow asks her mom for details, but she is quick to change the subject. Willow takes a trip to England to look into her family history and the heirloom sweetheart locket that she thought represented her grandparents, Maggie and Will's, great love story. In London, Willow begins to learn about her grandmother, Maggie and the many secrets that she kept during World War II.
The Sweetheart Locket is a sweet historical romance with many unexpected twists and secrets revealed. I absolutely love dual time stories, so the two points of view between Maggie in World War II and Willow in the present day worked well for me. At points, it seemed like the points of view switched back and forth too quickly, but I was never confused about who I was reading about. I was drawn into the story immediately as Willow received her unexpected DNA results, I wanted to know what stories were hiding behind the unknown ancestry. I loved learning about Maggie's story. Her strength and fortitude for staying in England to do her bit and her meaningful friendships made her a wonderful character to follow. I was very interested in learning about her time in the Special Operations Executive as many of the stories of those women are lost to time. Willow's story in the present was equally engaging as she researched her family history with help from a new friend and uncovered more secrets than she was looking for. Willow's romance was engrossing to watch form as she figured out who she was and who she could be.
This book was received for free in return for an honest review.
After Willow takes a DNA test, she receives some unexpected results. She has always believed that she is mostly English, but the test results have strong French, Jewish and Italian ancestry as well. Willow asks her mom for details, but she is quick to change the subject. Willow takes a trip to England to look into her family history and the heirloom sweetheart locket that she thought represented her grandparents, Maggie and Will's, great love story. In London, Willow begins to learn about her grandmother, Maggie and the many secrets that she kept during World War II.
The Sweetheart Locket is a sweet historical romance with many unexpected twists and secrets revealed. I absolutely love dual time stories, so the two points of view between Maggie in World War II and Willow in the present day worked well for me. At points, it seemed like the points of view switched back and forth too quickly, but I was never confused about who I was reading about. I was drawn into the story immediately as Willow received her unexpected DNA results, I wanted to know what stories were hiding behind the unknown ancestry. I loved learning about Maggie's story. Her strength and fortitude for staying in England to do her bit and her meaningful friendships made her a wonderful character to follow. I was very interested in learning about her time in the Special Operations Executive as many of the stories of those women are lost to time. Willow's story in the present was equally engaging as she researched her family history with help from a new friend and uncovered more secrets than she was looking for. Willow's romance was engrossing to watch form as she figured out who she was and who she could be.
This book was received for free in return for an honest review.
March 18, 2022
The Sweetheart Locket is a gripping and heartfelt blend of historical fiction and contemporary family drama. The stage is set when Willow and her mother Millie receive surprising results from a DNA test, sending Willow to England to learn more about her grandmother’s past. The story is told in dual timelines, as we are transported to 1939 London, where we meet Maggie, and learn her wartime story of courage, determination, and love. As Willow learns more about their family in England, she uncovers secrets that are both shocking and sad. At the same time, Willow comes to terms with her own choices, and after confronting her past, can she find a way forward with her future? The author really pulled me into the story, with multilayered characters whose lives were forever altered by wartime.
March 10, 2022
I love reading Historical Fiction stories about WW2 England. My relatives won't talk about it so I turn to books. I learn so much from each story, especially when I take the time to research some of what the author has written. The first thing I looked up was "sweetheart locket." I had no idea how amazing and popular they were during the war as a statement from a soldier to his love.
Unlocking the story of the locket was an adventure in reading. I learned more about secret agents, family conflicts, survival and loss than I had ever known before. The author hooked me by allowing me to discover family secrets alongside Willow who had inherited a Sweetheart Locket from her Grandmother, Maggie. Her curiosity, peaked by a DNA test, has her mixing business with pleasure in London. I, as a reader, was Willow's shadow on her road to discovery. What a rush!!
Willow never met her grandmother, only sharing letters sent to California from England. She didn't know Maggie's story. Willow, nor her mother, had any idea of how important her grandmother had been during the war. Jen Gilroy tells a story of World War 2 through their discoveries. I felt the emotions of the characters, the struggles, the heartbreak, the frustrations. As the author points out, Brits in times of struggle, they continue "looking at and being in the world and a way of keeping going through good times and bad." They didn't talk about things, they just moved on. Maggie had to move on from so much. She had to be a very strong character to survive her ordeals.
I have always wondered how the people kept going. Bombs destroyed so much. So many lives were lost, military and civilian. Innocence was lost. The author gave such great insight into how they carried on. "Even in the darkest days of war, if you lost your dreams, you also lost your hope so in away you lost everything."
I hope you read Sweetheart Locket and discover how much was lost. I hope you read Sweetheart Locket and learn how at times the goal was to make it one more minute, one more hour. Maggie had to survive, or everything was for nothing. But when she succeeded she couldn't speak of it. The Official Secrets Act demanded silence.
Through the words of authors, such as Jen Gilroy, the lives of the members of the SOE (Special Operations Executive) are being shared. The past needs to be shared. With knowledge we can make sure that organizations such as the SOE will never be needed again.
Unlocking the story of the locket was an adventure in reading. I learned more about secret agents, family conflicts, survival and loss than I had ever known before. The author hooked me by allowing me to discover family secrets alongside Willow who had inherited a Sweetheart Locket from her Grandmother, Maggie. Her curiosity, peaked by a DNA test, has her mixing business with pleasure in London. I, as a reader, was Willow's shadow on her road to discovery. What a rush!!
Willow never met her grandmother, only sharing letters sent to California from England. She didn't know Maggie's story. Willow, nor her mother, had any idea of how important her grandmother had been during the war. Jen Gilroy tells a story of World War 2 through their discoveries. I felt the emotions of the characters, the struggles, the heartbreak, the frustrations. As the author points out, Brits in times of struggle, they continue "looking at and being in the world and a way of keeping going through good times and bad." They didn't talk about things, they just moved on. Maggie had to move on from so much. She had to be a very strong character to survive her ordeals.
I have always wondered how the people kept going. Bombs destroyed so much. So many lives were lost, military and civilian. Innocence was lost. The author gave such great insight into how they carried on. "Even in the darkest days of war, if you lost your dreams, you also lost your hope so in away you lost everything."
I hope you read Sweetheart Locket and discover how much was lost. I hope you read Sweetheart Locket and learn how at times the goal was to make it one more minute, one more hour. Maggie had to survive, or everything was for nothing. But when she succeeded she couldn't speak of it. The Official Secrets Act demanded silence.
Through the words of authors, such as Jen Gilroy, the lives of the members of the SOE (Special Operations Executive) are being shared. The past needs to be shared. With knowledge we can make sure that organizations such as the SOE will never be needed again.
May 16, 2022
It takes just one decision, one incident for life to completely change. When you think back to what your options were and how different life would have been if you went with another decision, it is a bit scary to know that you probably would not have the people in your life that you do right now. A DNA test is what sets things in motion for Willow and in turn, her mother, Camilla Fox-Willoughby.
"In wartime, life sped up and was lived in snatches and you had to make the most of what you had, when you had it."
On the brink of war, Margaret Wyndham decides to stay back in England instead of going back home to Canada to do her part for the country. While she finds love on the way, the kind of life she had through the war is a secret to the world up until her grand-daughter, Willow, comes looking for family history about seven decades later.
What follows then is the unfurling of a great story of the women in war and their hardships along with how they had to cope with the consequences of war having had to live through it. Beyond languages, countries and religious beliefs, a story that connects generations of women and brings to light their life, The Sweetheart Locket is an amazing story seamlessly integrating fact and fiction. Alternating perspectives of Margaret during the war and Willow in the 21st century lends the best kind of closure that such stories can ever hope for.
Among multiple stark differences between the timelines, one that stood out was this: "The night was chilly and bright with stars. Bombing weather." We are truly lucky to be able to think of a moonlit night as beautiful or romantic as opposed to something destructive.
Thank you @netgalley for a complimentary advance copy. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
"In wartime, life sped up and was lived in snatches and you had to make the most of what you had, when you had it."
On the brink of war, Margaret Wyndham decides to stay back in England instead of going back home to Canada to do her part for the country. While she finds love on the way, the kind of life she had through the war is a secret to the world up until her grand-daughter, Willow, comes looking for family history about seven decades later.
What follows then is the unfurling of a great story of the women in war and their hardships along with how they had to cope with the consequences of war having had to live through it. Beyond languages, countries and religious beliefs, a story that connects generations of women and brings to light their life, The Sweetheart Locket is an amazing story seamlessly integrating fact and fiction. Alternating perspectives of Margaret during the war and Willow in the 21st century lends the best kind of closure that such stories can ever hope for.
Among multiple stark differences between the timelines, one that stood out was this: "The night was chilly and bright with stars. Bombing weather." We are truly lucky to be able to think of a moonlit night as beautiful or romantic as opposed to something destructive.
Thank you @netgalley for a complimentary advance copy. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
June 27, 2022
The Sweetheart Locket is a moving dual timeline story about love,loss and secrets.
I love a good world war II story and this from Jen Gilroy is a cracker.
Both Maggie’s and willow’s stories are ones to admire - such strong women doing what is right for them rather than what is expected. I found Maggie’s story really emotional- the decisions she made about her family and home and then the losses she had to suffer were heartbreaking. I loved the family history mystery that Willow uncovers in the search for the truth and thought the two timelines flowed wonderfully.
I love a good world war II story and this from Jen Gilroy is a cracker.
Both Maggie’s and willow’s stories are ones to admire - such strong women doing what is right for them rather than what is expected. I found Maggie’s story really emotional- the decisions she made about her family and home and then the losses she had to suffer were heartbreaking. I loved the family history mystery that Willow uncovers in the search for the truth and thought the two timelines flowed wonderfully.
March 18, 2022
The Sweetheart Locket is a dual-time story of family and romance, love and loss, loyalty and longing. It is also a story of profound courage. Although the long-ago romance drives the book along, this is much more than a love story. Other relationships are explored in depth and the characters grow and change as events unfold, bringing new challenges. There are two heroines - Maggie in the Second World War and Willow, her granddaughter in the present. A DNA test that starts out as a fun thing to do for family history reasons instead creates a mystery that turns Willow's beliefs about herself upside down.
Other dual-time stories I have read have been distinctly separated into part 1 (the past) and part 2 (the present), but Jen Gilroy has used a different structure and in this book, the chapters alternate between the past and the present, which adds to the warmth and immediacy of the writing and at times cranks up the tension. The author writes with compassion and understanding, allowing her characters to weave their way through their troubles. The various events and unfolding relationships create situations that are emotionally complex and Jen Gilroy dips into the hearts and minds of her characters so that we can share their experiences and live their lives with them. Overall, this is a warm, absorbing, beautifully crafted dual-time story that will linger in your heart long after you finish it.
Other dual-time stories I have read have been distinctly separated into part 1 (the past) and part 2 (the present), but Jen Gilroy has used a different structure and in this book, the chapters alternate between the past and the present, which adds to the warmth and immediacy of the writing and at times cranks up the tension. The author writes with compassion and understanding, allowing her characters to weave their way through their troubles. The various events and unfolding relationships create situations that are emotionally complex and Jen Gilroy dips into the hearts and minds of her characters so that we can share their experiences and live their lives with them. Overall, this is a warm, absorbing, beautifully crafted dual-time story that will linger in your heart long after you finish it.
May 18, 2022
Missing the boat that would return her to Canada, Maggie chooses to remain in England to “do her bit” during the early days of England’s involvement in World War II. Jumping at the chance to become independent, this begins her journey from schoolgirl to WREN to secret agent, and from first love to heartbreak and motherhood.
For Maggie’s granddaughter, having never met her grandmother, the sweetheart locket she inherits symbolizes the devotion between her grandparents. But when a DNA test upends everything Willow thinks she knows about her mother’s family, her mother Millie is shaken as well.
Secrets are slowly uncovered as Willow travels from San Francisco to England and researches her grandmother’s wartime life, while the reader is treated to the actual events as they unfold for Maggie.
Split-time novels often shine brightest in the historical portions, but while it did take a bit to warm up to Willow - and even more to Millie - both timelines held both charm and fascination. Even as Maggie finds that she can love again, Willow finds an unexpected and gentle later in life romance.
With the connecting device of an RAF sweetheart locket, author Jen Gilroy has woven a story of family secrets and legacies, mother and daughter relationships, heartbreak, young love, mature love - frankly, it is surprising how many forms of love this story contains. Whether your preference is contemporary or historical fiction, The Sweetheart Necklace will surprise and delight.
This review refers to an advance digital copy that I voluntarily received and read courtesy of the publisher. A positive review was not required and all opinions expressed are my own. The Sweetheart Locket is a closed door/fade to black romance.
For Maggie’s granddaughter, having never met her grandmother, the sweetheart locket she inherits symbolizes the devotion between her grandparents. But when a DNA test upends everything Willow thinks she knows about her mother’s family, her mother Millie is shaken as well.
Secrets are slowly uncovered as Willow travels from San Francisco to England and researches her grandmother’s wartime life, while the reader is treated to the actual events as they unfold for Maggie.
Split-time novels often shine brightest in the historical portions, but while it did take a bit to warm up to Willow - and even more to Millie - both timelines held both charm and fascination. Even as Maggie finds that she can love again, Willow finds an unexpected and gentle later in life romance.
With the connecting device of an RAF sweetheart locket, author Jen Gilroy has woven a story of family secrets and legacies, mother and daughter relationships, heartbreak, young love, mature love - frankly, it is surprising how many forms of love this story contains. Whether your preference is contemporary or historical fiction, The Sweetheart Necklace will surprise and delight.
This review refers to an advance digital copy that I voluntarily received and read courtesy of the publisher. A positive review was not required and all opinions expressed are my own. The Sweetheart Locket is a closed door/fade to black romance.
March 17, 2022
This is a well written duel timeline storyset between England and California. It's a historical but also a family drama. Willow a ghost writer heading to England to do research. Her mother grew up in England but never shared anything about those times. Willow decides to try and research her Grandmother also while there as only knows her thru the letters they exchanged while she was growing up. So with her letters and Gran's Sweetheart locket she heads out. Beautiful story, I learned alot of interesting history of the women of that time.
Thank you to Publisher,Author, and Net Galley for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
Thank you to Publisher,Author, and Net Galley for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
May 24, 2022
Maggie has slipped her family by staying on the train going to London in 1939. Then she decides to enlist in the war with her friend Evie. Evie's brother Wil means alot to her too. He's going to be a doctor when he's done fighting down enemy pilots for the British. Maggie is just a war secretary who wants to help more.
Willow is concerned about her history when she discovers from a DNA test that her and her mom don't have the same roots she expected. Her mom admits she doesn't know much about her grandmother's past and Willows mom hasn't been back to England in years. Lucky for her she is just about to go to England on a 5 week assignment for a freelance writing position. Willow is excited to maybe be able to find out more about the past she knows nothing about and who her grandmother really was.
I love this book so much. Both women were strong and resilient and knew exactly what they wanted they wanted and went after it with gusto. Both women loved and lost and finally decided to look for what they really deserved. The duo timeline is always a favorite for me but especially when it is done as well as this one is.. I'm very grateful to Amy from historical fiction blog tours for the copy in exchange for an honest review.
Willow is concerned about her history when she discovers from a DNA test that her and her mom don't have the same roots she expected. Her mom admits she doesn't know much about her grandmother's past and Willows mom hasn't been back to England in years. Lucky for her she is just about to go to England on a 5 week assignment for a freelance writing position. Willow is excited to maybe be able to find out more about the past she knows nothing about and who her grandmother really was.
I love this book so much. Both women were strong and resilient and knew exactly what they wanted they wanted and went after it with gusto. Both women loved and lost and finally decided to look for what they really deserved. The duo timeline is always a favorite for me but especially when it is done as well as this one is.. I'm very grateful to Amy from historical fiction blog tours for the copy in exchange for an honest review.
July 1, 2022
I am a big fan of dual timeline stories, so I was instantly intrigued with this one, I loved the sound of it instantly and I adore the concept of two women being connected even though they lived 70 years apart.
I absolutely love that the chain of events in Millie’s life which are connected with that of her grandmother ae set in motion by one of those Ancestry DNA kits, what should have been a bit of fun turns Millie’s life topsy-turvy and then results in the emotional and dramatic ride we follow her on as she discovers truths and uncovers long lost family secrets. What appealed to me so much about Millie’s side of the story is that it could have been anyone’s story, we have all gone down the Ancestry trail and some have done those Ancestry DNA kits (I have yet to do mine) so anyone of could be standing in Millie’s shoes, her story is very real and emotional, there is so much depth which tugs at the heart-strings and keeps you turning the pages wondering where her story will go.
Set partly in London during WW2 and partly In the present day (2019), this tells the two intertwining stories of Maggie a Canadian woman who goes against her parent’s wishes and stays in London to join the war effort and in the present with joining her daughter; Millie and granddaughter; Willow. I have to be honest and say that despite thoroughly enjoying Millie’s journey I definetly preferred Maggie’s, I loved being transported back to 1940’s London, it’s compelling and immersive, Maggie is an incredible character she is brave and courageous, and her story is both insightful and engaging plus a fair few tears were shed in over the course of the book.
The alternating narrative is beautifully written, I never once felt lost or bewildered as to what was happening, I was fully engaged and invested in these two women’s lives. The writing is enthralling, you have swept away as the vivid story is played out before your eyes.
A definite must-read if you love your WW2 historical fiction which makes you think and keeps you guessing then this is the book to read. It’s compelling and heart-breaking!!
I absolutely love that the chain of events in Millie’s life which are connected with that of her grandmother ae set in motion by one of those Ancestry DNA kits, what should have been a bit of fun turns Millie’s life topsy-turvy and then results in the emotional and dramatic ride we follow her on as she discovers truths and uncovers long lost family secrets. What appealed to me so much about Millie’s side of the story is that it could have been anyone’s story, we have all gone down the Ancestry trail and some have done those Ancestry DNA kits (I have yet to do mine) so anyone of could be standing in Millie’s shoes, her story is very real and emotional, there is so much depth which tugs at the heart-strings and keeps you turning the pages wondering where her story will go.
Set partly in London during WW2 and partly In the present day (2019), this tells the two intertwining stories of Maggie a Canadian woman who goes against her parent’s wishes and stays in London to join the war effort and in the present with joining her daughter; Millie and granddaughter; Willow. I have to be honest and say that despite thoroughly enjoying Millie’s journey I definetly preferred Maggie’s, I loved being transported back to 1940’s London, it’s compelling and immersive, Maggie is an incredible character she is brave and courageous, and her story is both insightful and engaging plus a fair few tears were shed in over the course of the book.
The alternating narrative is beautifully written, I never once felt lost or bewildered as to what was happening, I was fully engaged and invested in these two women’s lives. The writing is enthralling, you have swept away as the vivid story is played out before your eyes.
A definite must-read if you love your WW2 historical fiction which makes you think and keeps you guessing then this is the book to read. It’s compelling and heart-breaking!!
July 1, 2022
When Willow and her mother Millie are gifted a DNA test, they think it is a bit of fun, but they know that it is going to say that they are pretty much English through and through. It is therefore a surprise when it shows that they have strong French, Italian and Jewish ancestry.
Millie has no interest in finding out more as she left her past behind years before when she moved from England to America. However, Willow has always felt like she is missing something, a connection, so she decides that she is going to try to find out more, especially about the grandmother she never met and only go to know through letters.
One of the few things that Willow inherited from her grandmother is a sweetheart locket which she treasures. The locket symbolises the great love story between her grandparents Will and Margaret. Will was an airman in WWII and Margaret, the woman who waited for him, then lived in the village, worked for the local church, gardened and generally lived the life of an entitled English lady.
So why is there a ring and a love note hidden in the bottom of the locket box?
When she visits her late grandmother's home village, Willow finds a grave that reveals that it is not only her grandmother who has secrets and she is determined to get to the bottom of all the secrets
This is a dual timeline novel, where we alternative between Willow and her search for truth, and her grandmother's story. Margaret or as she chooses to call herself then, Maggie's story starts in 1939. When we meet her, she is meant to be getting on a train which will take her to the port to get onto a boat to take her home to her family in Canada. Somewhat rashly, Maggie decides to tear up her train ticket and stay in London to 'do her bit' in the upcoming war. Maggie signs up to join the armed forces, and to do whatever she could. Early in the war she meets her friend Evie and her brother Will, and soon they are inseparable.
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Millie has no interest in finding out more as she left her past behind years before when she moved from England to America. However, Willow has always felt like she is missing something, a connection, so she decides that she is going to try to find out more, especially about the grandmother she never met and only go to know through letters.
One of the few things that Willow inherited from her grandmother is a sweetheart locket which she treasures. The locket symbolises the great love story between her grandparents Will and Margaret. Will was an airman in WWII and Margaret, the woman who waited for him, then lived in the village, worked for the local church, gardened and generally lived the life of an entitled English lady.
So why is there a ring and a love note hidden in the bottom of the locket box?
When she visits her late grandmother's home village, Willow finds a grave that reveals that it is not only her grandmother who has secrets and she is determined to get to the bottom of all the secrets
This is a dual timeline novel, where we alternative between Willow and her search for truth, and her grandmother's story. Margaret or as she chooses to call herself then, Maggie's story starts in 1939. When we meet her, she is meant to be getting on a train which will take her to the port to get onto a boat to take her home to her family in Canada. Somewhat rashly, Maggie decides to tear up her train ticket and stay in London to 'do her bit' in the upcoming war. Maggie signs up to join the armed forces, and to do whatever she could. Early in the war she meets her friend Evie and her brother Will, and soon they are inseparable.
Click here to read more
http://www.theintrepidreader.com/2022...
June 29, 2022
The Sweetheart Locket by Jen Gilroy
This is a dual timeline novel, beginning in 1939 and 2019. We first meet Maggie in London, in August 1939. She is Margaret Wyndham, 18 and Canadian, who has been living with her Aunt Elsie. She is supposed to be going back to Canada, but has decided to stay in England to help with the war effort.
We first meet Willow in San Francisco, in June 2019. Willow Munro is 42 and a single mum to her grown up daughter Emily. She is a ghost writer and working on a client’s memoir which involves travelling to England.
Willow wears a locket that came from her English grandma. Her grandad had given the locket to her gran before he went to WWII – a sweetheart locket. After a DNA test bringing about a surprising result, Willow decides that while she is in England for a few weeks, she will try to discover more about her family, especially her grandma who she only knew through letters they wrote to each other.
I really enjoyed the dual timelines, being able to see Maggie’s story developing in the words in front of me, while also being able to jump forward to 2019 and see how Maggie’s life has affected Willow. I also found Maggie’s tale fascinating. Not giving anything away, but it informed me about a side of women’s involvement in WWII that I hadn’t really thought about before, so that was enlightening and really interesting.
It was good to see how both Maggie and Willow changed over time too, becoming stronger and more independent women, despite the hard times they both had to go through.
In Willow’s story, it was good to see the family relationships and how they changed over time, particularly between Willow and her mother. There are so many layers to this novel that I really enjoyed uncovering them and finding out what would happen to the characters and their family dynamic.
The book is really well-written with wonderful characters. As well as Maggie and Willow, I especially loved Evie, Vi, Dermot and Sophie. As I have researched my family tree too, I was interested in the parts about Willow wanting to know more about her ancestors.
Overall, it’s a great book and I would definitely read more from this author.
9 out of 10
This is a dual timeline novel, beginning in 1939 and 2019. We first meet Maggie in London, in August 1939. She is Margaret Wyndham, 18 and Canadian, who has been living with her Aunt Elsie. She is supposed to be going back to Canada, but has decided to stay in England to help with the war effort.
We first meet Willow in San Francisco, in June 2019. Willow Munro is 42 and a single mum to her grown up daughter Emily. She is a ghost writer and working on a client’s memoir which involves travelling to England.
Willow wears a locket that came from her English grandma. Her grandad had given the locket to her gran before he went to WWII – a sweetheart locket. After a DNA test bringing about a surprising result, Willow decides that while she is in England for a few weeks, she will try to discover more about her family, especially her grandma who she only knew through letters they wrote to each other.
I really enjoyed the dual timelines, being able to see Maggie’s story developing in the words in front of me, while also being able to jump forward to 2019 and see how Maggie’s life has affected Willow. I also found Maggie’s tale fascinating. Not giving anything away, but it informed me about a side of women’s involvement in WWII that I hadn’t really thought about before, so that was enlightening and really interesting.
It was good to see how both Maggie and Willow changed over time too, becoming stronger and more independent women, despite the hard times they both had to go through.
In Willow’s story, it was good to see the family relationships and how they changed over time, particularly between Willow and her mother. There are so many layers to this novel that I really enjoyed uncovering them and finding out what would happen to the characters and their family dynamic.
The book is really well-written with wonderful characters. As well as Maggie and Willow, I especially loved Evie, Vi, Dermot and Sophie. As I have researched my family tree too, I was interested in the parts about Willow wanting to know more about her ancestors.
Overall, it’s a great book and I would definitely read more from this author.
9 out of 10
May 12, 2022
In San Francisco in 2019, Willow and her mother Millie take a DNA test that has baffling news. Willow travels to England to learn more about her grandmother's past, and the story of Maggie Wyndham starts to unfold. During World War II, Maggie fell in love with one man, and then another ... and did secret war work that put her life in danger. As Willow unfolds the story of Maggie's life, she finds her own life changing too ... with new purpose, new work, and even a new romance.
I wanted to read The Sweetheart Locket because of the World War II setting. I love novels from this time period.
This is a historical novel with a dual storyline. There is the story of Willow and her mother Millie in 2019, in both San Francisco (their home) and England (where Millie was born). There is also the story of Maggie, Millie's mother, beginning in 1939 in England. It is a complex story with lots of movement back and forth in time. Readers meet the three generations of women in the family and also Maggie's friends, and the men who are central to their lives.
I loved this book from the start -- both Maggie and Willow, the central characters, are so likable and have such interesting lives. Maggie's life is actually extraordinary, with Resistance work and a tangled personal life.
The Sweetheart Locket is an engrossing book - I barely put it down during the time I was reading it, and I planned my time around more reading! I really felt like I got to know the characters because they were so well drawn. The historical details were also beautifully told. I loved the way little haunting details from World War II would show up unexpectedly in present day life as well. Maggie's story - and the secrets of her life - was unveiled slowly through the course of the book.
I cannot recommend this novel highly enough. It is one of my favorite reads this year, and I plan to look for more books by this author.
I wanted to read The Sweetheart Locket because of the World War II setting. I love novels from this time period.
This is a historical novel with a dual storyline. There is the story of Willow and her mother Millie in 2019, in both San Francisco (their home) and England (where Millie was born). There is also the story of Maggie, Millie's mother, beginning in 1939 in England. It is a complex story with lots of movement back and forth in time. Readers meet the three generations of women in the family and also Maggie's friends, and the men who are central to their lives.
I loved this book from the start -- both Maggie and Willow, the central characters, are so likable and have such interesting lives. Maggie's life is actually extraordinary, with Resistance work and a tangled personal life.
The Sweetheart Locket is an engrossing book - I barely put it down during the time I was reading it, and I planned my time around more reading! I really felt like I got to know the characters because they were so well drawn. The historical details were also beautifully told. I loved the way little haunting details from World War II would show up unexpectedly in present day life as well. Maggie's story - and the secrets of her life - was unveiled slowly through the course of the book.
I cannot recommend this novel highly enough. It is one of my favorite reads this year, and I plan to look for more books by this author.
Read
June 28, 2022The Sweetheart Locket is a dual timeline story following the lives of 1939 Maggie in London, and 2019 Willow, her granddaughter, who has made her life in California.
The story of Maggie is intriguing, and covers the years of the Second World War, while Willow's story is mainly told throughout a five-week holiday in London. There are epilogues concluding the stories of all of the cast.
The focus of Maggie's story is not truly on her work during the Second World War, but rather on the men in her life, how the Second World War impacted those relationships, and then how she kept much of this secret from her daughter, who also had her own struggles as a young woman.
Willow's story focuses on her need to understand some DNA results she receives just before travelling to London on a research trip. It is this that drives much of the narrative surrounding Willow, although it is not the only element of the story. Willow too is trying to find true love.
The twin narratives weave together quite well, although Maggie is by far the stronger of the two storylines. It is her story that engrossed me, and although I did work out much of the plot in advance, The Sweetheart Locket is still an entertaining read, especially for those looking for the surety of happy endings. Willow's story is perhaps a little overly complicated, and also too filled with happenstance for my liking. It is Maggie who by far shines as the stronger of the two women, although the juxtaposition between the two characters is quite nicely portrayed.
If you're a fan of dual timeline novels set in both a contemporary and World War 2 setting, and with a strong element of romance, The Sweetheart Locket will be a perfect read.
The story of Maggie is intriguing, and covers the years of the Second World War, while Willow's story is mainly told throughout a five-week holiday in London. There are epilogues concluding the stories of all of the cast.
The focus of Maggie's story is not truly on her work during the Second World War, but rather on the men in her life, how the Second World War impacted those relationships, and then how she kept much of this secret from her daughter, who also had her own struggles as a young woman.
Willow's story focuses on her need to understand some DNA results she receives just before travelling to London on a research trip. It is this that drives much of the narrative surrounding Willow, although it is not the only element of the story. Willow too is trying to find true love.
The twin narratives weave together quite well, although Maggie is by far the stronger of the two storylines. It is her story that engrossed me, and although I did work out much of the plot in advance, The Sweetheart Locket is still an entertaining read, especially for those looking for the surety of happy endings. Willow's story is perhaps a little overly complicated, and also too filled with happenstance for my liking. It is Maggie who by far shines as the stronger of the two women, although the juxtaposition between the two characters is quite nicely portrayed.
If you're a fan of dual timeline novels set in both a contemporary and World War 2 setting, and with a strong element of romance, The Sweetheart Locket will be a perfect read.
April 27, 2022
When World War II breaks out, pampered Canadian girl Maggie stays in London to “do her bit.” In present day, Willow uncovers secrets her grandmother never revealed, and in the process finds new direction for her own life.
This gripping dual-timeline novel traces the emotional trajectory of two women separated by generations. Willow, an American writer and researcher visiting present-day London for work, discovers that her oh-so-proper British grandmother Maggie lived a much more adventuresome life in World War II than her family has ever known. In scenes alternating between Willow “now” and Maggie “then,” the novel shows that living means making choices, and choices may have consequences beyond those anticipated at the time.
The author paints a vivid picture of second-world-war Britain and the ways that war upended longstanding traditions and social expectations of the time. But life in the twenty-first century has its own complications. The novel reaches a satisfying ending but only after tracing the parallel emotional challenges and choices facing these two women.
This gripping dual-timeline novel traces the emotional trajectory of two women separated by generations. Willow, an American writer and researcher visiting present-day London for work, discovers that her oh-so-proper British grandmother Maggie lived a much more adventuresome life in World War II than her family has ever known. In scenes alternating between Willow “now” and Maggie “then,” the novel shows that living means making choices, and choices may have consequences beyond those anticipated at the time.
The author paints a vivid picture of second-world-war Britain and the ways that war upended longstanding traditions and social expectations of the time. But life in the twenty-first century has its own complications. The novel reaches a satisfying ending but only after tracing the parallel emotional challenges and choices facing these two women.
June 5, 2022
THE SWEETHEART LOCKET by author, Jen Gilroy
Ms. Gilroy has brought to her readers a story of family, a story of war~ and with that has spun a charming tale that filled the hours with intriguing facts, creative details, and vivid descriptions that made for a most satisfying read.
With characters rich in personality, they evolve in a most realistic way, and along with their expectations, their choices, and having been written with the dedication to the historical women's fiction and romance genres, this dual timeline entertains from beginning to end.
The whirlwind of love, heartbreak of loss, profound courage, and long-ago buried secrets, led me to the many surprises which added an emotional level to Willow and Maggie's life-story~ a journey I'm grateful for having the opportunity to experience...
I thank the author, and publisher, for my personal copy of THE SWEETHEART LOCKET, a story that's unpredictable, gripping, and beautiful.
#TheSweetheartLocket
#JenGilroy
#OrionDash
Wild Sage Book Blog
Ms. Gilroy has brought to her readers a story of family, a story of war~ and with that has spun a charming tale that filled the hours with intriguing facts, creative details, and vivid descriptions that made for a most satisfying read.
With characters rich in personality, they evolve in a most realistic way, and along with their expectations, their choices, and having been written with the dedication to the historical women's fiction and romance genres, this dual timeline entertains from beginning to end.
The whirlwind of love, heartbreak of loss, profound courage, and long-ago buried secrets, led me to the many surprises which added an emotional level to Willow and Maggie's life-story~ a journey I'm grateful for having the opportunity to experience...
I thank the author, and publisher, for my personal copy of THE SWEETHEART LOCKET, a story that's unpredictable, gripping, and beautiful.
#TheSweetheartLocket
#JenGilroy
#OrionDash
Wild Sage Book Blog
June 14, 2022
This book was well-written. I loved the duel timeline. It made me think of my grandparents during the war and the stories I’ll never know.
Jen does an excellent job at storytelling.
Jen does an excellent job at storytelling.
May 7, 2022
With dual timelines and multiple points of view set in modern and WWII England The Sweetheart Locket is a gripping and intriguing read! The writing and the way the book is laid out, it draws the reader in. The adventure that Willow goes on is really something. And with the glimpses from present to past it amps up the suspense. There were many times I felt like I was there with Willow. The book is full of family's secrets, courage, determination, and love! Overall it was a beautiful written story that I couldn't read fast enough!
Thank you HFVBT and Jen Gilroy for sharing this fantastic story with me!
Thank you HFVBT and Jen Gilroy for sharing this fantastic story with me!
May 13, 2022
A book that I enjoyed and brought tears to my eyes.
April 22, 2022
Delightful
A well-written story with characters drawn so realistically and likeable that it was a pleasure spending time in their company.
A well-written story with characters drawn so realistically and likeable that it was a pleasure spending time in their company.
April 19, 2022
There’s so much to enjoy about this book! It has many of the features that make me warm to a book, including strong female characters, intriguing family secrets and an interesting setting both in time and place. On top of that, it’s beautifully written and has some heartbreaking twists and turns. I loved it!
March 28, 2022
This was a wonder duel timeline book with so much heart and courage!
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March 18, 2022
Full review now up on the blog: https://www.thewritinggreyhound.co.uk...
The Sweetheart Locket is a dual-timeline story about one family's secrets spanning over the decades.
In 2019, San Francisco native Willow takes a DNA test, thinking it will be little more than a fun Christmas gift from her cousin. However, the surprising results of the test throw everything Willow thought she knew about her family into question.
With her mum staying suspiciously silent and her English grandmother long since laid to rest, Willow has a lot of questions but very few answers. Taking matters into her own hands, she plans a trip to England to follow in her grandmother's footsteps in an attempt to uncover the secrets of the past once and for all.
The story changes between Willow's adventures in the present-day, and her grandmother's life during the war. At a time when everyone had to keep secrets just to survive, Maggie thought little of keeping herself to herself - at work, at home, and in her personal life. However, as the war continued on, she would soon be faced with some very difficult decisions...
Both parts of the story were interesting to read about, though Maggie's life in wartime London was rather more engaging than her granddaughter's chapters. The book does not shy away from the horrors of war and even now, decades later, it's hard to imagine just how much real people like Maggie sacrificed for their countries. Above all, The Sweetheart Locket is a heartfelt story of love, family, and determination.
The Sweetheart Locket is a dual-timeline story about one family's secrets spanning over the decades.
In 2019, San Francisco native Willow takes a DNA test, thinking it will be little more than a fun Christmas gift from her cousin. However, the surprising results of the test throw everything Willow thought she knew about her family into question.
With her mum staying suspiciously silent and her English grandmother long since laid to rest, Willow has a lot of questions but very few answers. Taking matters into her own hands, she plans a trip to England to follow in her grandmother's footsteps in an attempt to uncover the secrets of the past once and for all.
The story changes between Willow's adventures in the present-day, and her grandmother's life during the war. At a time when everyone had to keep secrets just to survive, Maggie thought little of keeping herself to herself - at work, at home, and in her personal life. However, as the war continued on, she would soon be faced with some very difficult decisions...
Both parts of the story were interesting to read about, though Maggie's life in wartime London was rather more engaging than her granddaughter's chapters. The book does not shy away from the horrors of war and even now, decades later, it's hard to imagine just how much real people like Maggie sacrificed for their countries. Above all, The Sweetheart Locket is a heartfelt story of love, family, and determination.
July 7, 2022
I love dual timeline historical fiction, and I’ve always been drawn to historical fiction set in wartime. In this we alternate between Maggie during the Second World War, and with her granddaughter Willow in 2019.
I really warmed to Maggie from the outset, when she steadfastly refused to go home to Canada in 1939 to do what she could for the war effort. It was a natural progression for her to join the SOE because of her linguistic skills. I’ve read a few novels featuring female members of the SOE, and I am always in awe of the women who were brave enough to do this. It was easier for women to pass undetected amongst the French during the Nazi occupation, but it was certainly just as risky for women. The women knew that capture would mean either a firing squad or being shipped to a concentration camp, but not before they were tortured for any secrets they might share under duress.
The connections that Maggie had with both Will and Marc were very different, but both heightened by the pressure of wartime.
Willow’s story was very different. A ghost writer, working on a book for a client, who decided to combine her research trip for the book with a search to find out more about her family following a revealing DNA test, and in particular she wanted to find out more about her grandmother Maggie, who had corresponded with her when she was a child, but had not met her before Maggie’s death. My daughter and I have done DNA tests which we found fascinating, albeit slightly boring (almost entirely British with a tiny dose of Scandinavian), but I’ve seen many cases in recent years where DNA tests have revealed shocking family secrets, which made Willow’s search feel very timely.
I loved the setting of the wartime storyline, it felt very authentic and I adored the friendships between Evie, Maggie and Vi. An unlikely combination of three very different women, which just worked perfectly as they experienced very different things during the war.
It was nice to have a second chance at love storyline with Willow and Dermot. She had spent most of her life as a single mother, whereas Dermot was a widower. Both with grown children who no longer lived at home, there was no reason why beginning a relationship would be problematic, apart from the fact that Willow lived in San Francisco, and Dermot lived in London. Would they find a way round their issues, or was a long distance relationship on the cards for them?
This wonderful dual timeline historical fiction was a compelling and heart-breaking story of love, loss and lifelong secrets.
I really warmed to Maggie from the outset, when she steadfastly refused to go home to Canada in 1939 to do what she could for the war effort. It was a natural progression for her to join the SOE because of her linguistic skills. I’ve read a few novels featuring female members of the SOE, and I am always in awe of the women who were brave enough to do this. It was easier for women to pass undetected amongst the French during the Nazi occupation, but it was certainly just as risky for women. The women knew that capture would mean either a firing squad or being shipped to a concentration camp, but not before they were tortured for any secrets they might share under duress.
The connections that Maggie had with both Will and Marc were very different, but both heightened by the pressure of wartime.
Willow’s story was very different. A ghost writer, working on a book for a client, who decided to combine her research trip for the book with a search to find out more about her family following a revealing DNA test, and in particular she wanted to find out more about her grandmother Maggie, who had corresponded with her when she was a child, but had not met her before Maggie’s death. My daughter and I have done DNA tests which we found fascinating, albeit slightly boring (almost entirely British with a tiny dose of Scandinavian), but I’ve seen many cases in recent years where DNA tests have revealed shocking family secrets, which made Willow’s search feel very timely.
I loved the setting of the wartime storyline, it felt very authentic and I adored the friendships between Evie, Maggie and Vi. An unlikely combination of three very different women, which just worked perfectly as they experienced very different things during the war.
It was nice to have a second chance at love storyline with Willow and Dermot. She had spent most of her life as a single mother, whereas Dermot was a widower. Both with grown children who no longer lived at home, there was no reason why beginning a relationship would be problematic, apart from the fact that Willow lived in San Francisco, and Dermot lived in London. Would they find a way round their issues, or was a long distance relationship on the cards for them?
This wonderful dual timeline historical fiction was a compelling and heart-breaking story of love, loss and lifelong secrets.
July 31, 2022
Ms Gilroy’s engaging storytelling style hooked me from the first page where, in 1939, Canadian-born Margaret Wyndham (Maggie) misses her connecting train for the Liverpool boat home to Montreal so that she can stay in London and ‘do her bit’ for the war effort. This deliberate physical inaction defies her family’s expectations, marks the beginnings of her huge mental and emotional shift from finishing-school Society butterfly to WREN to daring SOE operative, and sets in motion events which quietly change the lives of her colleagues, friends, and descendants forever.
I admired Maggie’s courage, willingness to adapt to circumstances, and her resilience in the face of snobbery, danger, and personal tragedy. I found her story compelling, and I cared about what happened to her. Although I guessed some of the twists and turns of her story in advance, I was still hooked and avidly turned the pages to read on. Her love for both the airman, Will, and for the mysterious man who gave her the ring she concealed in the Locket’s box was convincing and credible. My one regret at the end was that her granddaughter, Willow, had never had the chance to meet her.
Although I preferred Maggie’s part of the story to Willow’s, I liked how Willow’s discoveries about the past motivated her to grow as a character and take control of her own life and relationships in the present.
I’d never heard of a ‘Sweetheart Locket’ before reading this book. I loved the way Ms Gilroy used this piece of jewellery to link past and present storylines, as well as a sleight-of-hand device to keep her readers, and Willow, from guessing certain *secrets* too soon.
I liked how the chapters alternated between past and present as this added mystery and poignancy to present-day Willow’s search for the truth behind her unexpected DNA results, and the easy-to-follow format vividly emphasised why Maggie and women like her were willing to put their lives on the line for what they held dear.
Ms Gilroy’s historical research has been excellent, both for bringing wartime Britain to life and, more specifically, for highlighting the little-known, daring actions of covert female agents which they themselves were never allowed to talk about, even to their own families.
If, like me, you enjoy dual timelines; WWII British historical fiction; romances with strong female characters and brave, honourable heroes; appealing side characters; and a satisfying ending, I thoroughly recommend you read ‘The Sweetheart Locket’.
I admired Maggie’s courage, willingness to adapt to circumstances, and her resilience in the face of snobbery, danger, and personal tragedy. I found her story compelling, and I cared about what happened to her. Although I guessed some of the twists and turns of her story in advance, I was still hooked and avidly turned the pages to read on. Her love for both the airman, Will, and for the mysterious man who gave her the ring she concealed in the Locket’s box was convincing and credible. My one regret at the end was that her granddaughter, Willow, had never had the chance to meet her.
Although I preferred Maggie’s part of the story to Willow’s, I liked how Willow’s discoveries about the past motivated her to grow as a character and take control of her own life and relationships in the present.
I’d never heard of a ‘Sweetheart Locket’ before reading this book. I loved the way Ms Gilroy used this piece of jewellery to link past and present storylines, as well as a sleight-of-hand device to keep her readers, and Willow, from guessing certain *secrets* too soon.
I liked how the chapters alternated between past and present as this added mystery and poignancy to present-day Willow’s search for the truth behind her unexpected DNA results, and the easy-to-follow format vividly emphasised why Maggie and women like her were willing to put their lives on the line for what they held dear.
Ms Gilroy’s historical research has been excellent, both for bringing wartime Britain to life and, more specifically, for highlighting the little-known, daring actions of covert female agents which they themselves were never allowed to talk about, even to their own families.
If, like me, you enjoy dual timelines; WWII British historical fiction; romances with strong female characters and brave, honourable heroes; appealing side characters; and a satisfying ending, I thoroughly recommend you read ‘The Sweetheart Locket’.
July 2, 2022
My review of The Sweetheart Locket can be found on my blog...
https://quirkybookreads.wordpress.com...
https://quirkybookreads.wordpress.com...
August 16, 2022
Jen Gilroy’s debut dual timeline novel is a poignant, evocative and emotional tale of love, war and powerful secrets that will hold readers in thrall.
In London 1939, Canadian Maggie Wyndham goes against her family’s wishes and decides to stay in England to do her bit for the war effort. Maggie’s act of bravery is going to change the course of her entire life as she starts working for the Special Operations Executive where her courage will be tested on a daily basis as she finds herself torn between two countries and two men. Maggie clings to the locket given to her by her sweetheart, but will this priceless item of jewellery prove to be her salvation…or her undoing?
Eighty years later in San Francisco, Maggie has been dead for over twenty years and her daughter Millie and granddaughter Willow decide to take a DNA test for a laugh. However, when the results come back both Millie and Willow are shocked to their very core at the unexpected revelations which the DNA test has unwittingly uncovered. Willow has always treasured her grandmother’s sweetheart locket and believed it to be a symbol of her grandparents’ love, but realising that there is far more to Maggie’s story than meets the eye, she decides to delve into the secrets of her family’s past. But is she prepared for what she is about to uncover?
Maggie’s sweetheart locket holds the key to all of her past secrets, but will discovering the truth about her grandmother also help Willow figure out her own future?
Having read Jen Gilroy’s small town romances, I was looking forward to her debut dual timeline novel and I was not disappointed. The Sweetheart Locket is a powerfully told, sensitively written and beautifully evocative tale of past ghosts, long-buried secrets, and devastating discoveries.
An enjoyable and emotional read from a talented writer, Jen Gilroy’s The Sweetheart Locket is a dramatic, compelling and sweeping tale guaranteed to tug at the heartstrings.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
In London 1939, Canadian Maggie Wyndham goes against her family’s wishes and decides to stay in England to do her bit for the war effort. Maggie’s act of bravery is going to change the course of her entire life as she starts working for the Special Operations Executive where her courage will be tested on a daily basis as she finds herself torn between two countries and two men. Maggie clings to the locket given to her by her sweetheart, but will this priceless item of jewellery prove to be her salvation…or her undoing?
Eighty years later in San Francisco, Maggie has been dead for over twenty years and her daughter Millie and granddaughter Willow decide to take a DNA test for a laugh. However, when the results come back both Millie and Willow are shocked to their very core at the unexpected revelations which the DNA test has unwittingly uncovered. Willow has always treasured her grandmother’s sweetheart locket and believed it to be a symbol of her grandparents’ love, but realising that there is far more to Maggie’s story than meets the eye, she decides to delve into the secrets of her family’s past. But is she prepared for what she is about to uncover?
Maggie’s sweetheart locket holds the key to all of her past secrets, but will discovering the truth about her grandmother also help Willow figure out her own future?
Having read Jen Gilroy’s small town romances, I was looking forward to her debut dual timeline novel and I was not disappointed. The Sweetheart Locket is a powerfully told, sensitively written and beautifully evocative tale of past ghosts, long-buried secrets, and devastating discoveries.
An enjoyable and emotional read from a talented writer, Jen Gilroy’s The Sweetheart Locket is a dramatic, compelling and sweeping tale guaranteed to tug at the heartstrings.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
June 30, 2022
An heirloom locket and how gifted DNA throws up questions about your existence. Set in both England and California, we follow one woman’s journey to find the truth. With a dual timeline, and written from multiple points of view, this is a beautifully written story of discovery and buried family secrets.
When the results for her and her mother’s DNA tests are received, Willow is shocked to discover her heritage isn’t what she thought. The fact, her mother, Millie doesn’t want to discuss the findings makes her suspicious and spurs her to find out the truth. Therefore, she decides to use some of her time on a scheduled work trip to London, to find out more about her beloved late grandmother… with surprising results.
This evocative and absorbing novel instantly draws you in. The author has written about strong women and how they have manoeuvred around and overcome obstacles in their lives. Maggie’s story in particular is heart-wrenching, as the author tells us how this young woman defied her family and stayed in England at the beginning of World War Two, to help in the war effort. Full of poignant detail, it highlights the difficult decisions people have dealt with and the sacrifices made. It also sheds light on how these decisions shaped lives and the relationships they formed with their families… and the resulting consequences.
Full of insight, this is a truly delightful story spanning three generations. Grandmother, daughter and granddaughter; all are fascinating characters creating a truly enlightening novel.
***arc generously received courtesy of Orion Dash via NetGalley***
When the results for her and her mother’s DNA tests are received, Willow is shocked to discover her heritage isn’t what she thought. The fact, her mother, Millie doesn’t want to discuss the findings makes her suspicious and spurs her to find out the truth. Therefore, she decides to use some of her time on a scheduled work trip to London, to find out more about her beloved late grandmother… with surprising results.
This evocative and absorbing novel instantly draws you in. The author has written about strong women and how they have manoeuvred around and overcome obstacles in their lives. Maggie’s story in particular is heart-wrenching, as the author tells us how this young woman defied her family and stayed in England at the beginning of World War Two, to help in the war effort. Full of poignant detail, it highlights the difficult decisions people have dealt with and the sacrifices made. It also sheds light on how these decisions shaped lives and the relationships they formed with their families… and the resulting consequences.
Full of insight, this is a truly delightful story spanning three generations. Grandmother, daughter and granddaughter; all are fascinating characters creating a truly enlightening novel.
***arc generously received courtesy of Orion Dash via NetGalley***
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