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Garden of Secrets
1940, England: ‘I promise we will find each other again. I will leave you a message,’ she said, ‘here, in our secret garden.’ But outside the garden walls a war was raging, and it was only a matter of time before they would have to risk everything for love…
Now, England: When Laura moves to Norfolk to restore a beautiful garden in the grounds of a stately home, she sees it as an opportunity for a new start, after her heart was broken by the man she thought she would spend eternity with.
But the garden has secrets within its walls. And when she finds a box buried under the weeping willow tree, she is spellbound by its contents – a key and a cryptic note.
Laura doesn’t yet realise it but, clutched in her hand, she has the first fragment of a love story. A story about a seemingly quiet, beautiful land girl and the man she fell in love with. About a wartime secret that stretched across Europe and has remained hidden until now. And about a love story that two people made the ultimate sacrifice for, which will change Laura’s own life forever.
All she has to do is follow the path…
A heart-breaking, unforgettable and powerful story about love, wartime secrets, and betrayal. Perfect for fans of Rhys Bowen’s The Victory Garden and Kristin Hannah’s The Nightingale.
Now, England: When Laura moves to Norfolk to restore a beautiful garden in the grounds of a stately home, she sees it as an opportunity for a new start, after her heart was broken by the man she thought she would spend eternity with.
But the garden has secrets within its walls. And when she finds a box buried under the weeping willow tree, she is spellbound by its contents – a key and a cryptic note.
Laura doesn’t yet realise it but, clutched in her hand, she has the first fragment of a love story. A story about a seemingly quiet, beautiful land girl and the man she fell in love with. About a wartime secret that stretched across Europe and has remained hidden until now. And about a love story that two people made the ultimate sacrifice for, which will change Laura’s own life forever.
All she has to do is follow the path…
A heart-breaking, unforgettable and powerful story about love, wartime secrets, and betrayal. Perfect for fans of Rhys Bowen’s The Victory Garden and Kristin Hannah’s The Nightingale.
391 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 13, 2022
574 people are currently reading
701 people want to read
About the author
Suzanne Kelman
16 books629 followersSuzanne Kelman is an Amazon international bestselling author in America, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia. Her books have sold over 475,000 copies worldwide and accumulated ten rights deals across eight territories.
Her WW2 historical fiction books are published by Bookouture - an imprint for Hachette U.K.
She is also the author of the bestselling book, "The Rejected Writers' Book Club", published by Lake Union, which is the first book in the Southlea Bay series. Other books in the series include, "Rejected Writers Take the Stage" and "The Rejected Writers' Christmas Wedding".
Kelman is an award-winning writer/screenwriter whose accolades include the Best Comedy Feature Screenplay Award from the L.A. International Film Festival, the Gold Award from the California Film Awards, and the Van Gogh Award from the Amsterdam Film Festival.
In 2015 her script, Held, was recognized by the Academy of Motion Pictures and was shortlisted to the top ten in the Academy Of Motion Pictures Nichols Fellowship competition.
As well as a screenwriter and a published author, Suzanne is also a playwright, and her award-winning comedy play, "Over My Dead Body", had its World Premiere at Outcast Theatre in Washington, Fall 2019.
Born in the United Kingdom, Suzanne now resides in Washington State.
Please sign up for her newsletter to stay in touch - https://www.suzannekelmanauthor.com
Her WW2 historical fiction books are published by Bookouture - an imprint for Hachette U.K.
She is also the author of the bestselling book, "The Rejected Writers' Book Club", published by Lake Union, which is the first book in the Southlea Bay series. Other books in the series include, "Rejected Writers Take the Stage" and "The Rejected Writers' Christmas Wedding".
Kelman is an award-winning writer/screenwriter whose accolades include the Best Comedy Feature Screenplay Award from the L.A. International Film Festival, the Gold Award from the California Film Awards, and the Van Gogh Award from the Amsterdam Film Festival.
In 2015 her script, Held, was recognized by the Academy of Motion Pictures and was shortlisted to the top ten in the Academy Of Motion Pictures Nichols Fellowship competition.
As well as a screenwriter and a published author, Suzanne is also a playwright, and her award-winning comedy play, "Over My Dead Body", had its World Premiere at Outcast Theatre in Washington, Fall 2019.
Born in the United Kingdom, Suzanne now resides in Washington State.
Please sign up for her newsletter to stay in touch - https://www.suzannekelmanauthor.com
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 66 reviews
June 9, 2022
I was taking a break from WWII historical fiction, but well - with Suzanne Kelman’s books I would always make an exception! While all her novels I have read so far had a WWII setting, each has been very different – exploring different places, characters and situations. This is a heart-warming read, though there is not much which you cannot anticipate.
In the present time, Laura is trying to move on from a fractured relationship after she comes to know of her partner’s infidelity. She also has painful memories of a family tragedy. She has taken up the task of restoring a garden in Norfolk for friends. She accidentally discovers a small box with a message and a key under a willow tree. As she pursues this mystery, it leads her to references to Annie - a land girl who worked there and disappeared suddenly. Laura also meets with Jamie and it looks like a new relationship may be blossoming.
The story switches between another timeline during WWII in 1940 starting from the time when Russia & Germany had reached a pact, which was to break-down very soon later. Anya and Nikolai are spies sent to England to pass back information to Russia. They both have personal circumstances which force the choices they make, at least initially, on taking up this assignment.
As with her other books, the character development and writing are excellent. I loved the imagery the writing conjures, and the understated emotional play between the characters. The brief love-at-first-sight sequences between Laura and Jamie come across as contrived and silly though. A set of lovely characters and a story which moves very smoothly.
My rating: 4.5 / 5.
In the present time, Laura is trying to move on from a fractured relationship after she comes to know of her partner’s infidelity. She also has painful memories of a family tragedy. She has taken up the task of restoring a garden in Norfolk for friends. She accidentally discovers a small box with a message and a key under a willow tree. As she pursues this mystery, it leads her to references to Annie - a land girl who worked there and disappeared suddenly. Laura also meets with Jamie and it looks like a new relationship may be blossoming.
The story switches between another timeline during WWII in 1940 starting from the time when Russia & Germany had reached a pact, which was to break-down very soon later. Anya and Nikolai are spies sent to England to pass back information to Russia. They both have personal circumstances which force the choices they make, at least initially, on taking up this assignment.
As with her other books, the character development and writing are excellent. I loved the imagery the writing conjures, and the understated emotional play between the characters. The brief love-at-first-sight sequences between Laura and Jamie come across as contrived and silly though. A set of lovely characters and a story which moves very smoothly.
My rating: 4.5 / 5.
March 31, 2022
4.3 Stars
One Liner: A few misses but a satisfying read.
1940, Russia: Anya is an English-speaking Russian sent to England as a spy. She has to work as a Land Girl in Norfolk and pass on information to the Russian authorities. Nikolai is her partner in crime (or spying). He is an intelligent young man with soulful eyes and secrets of his own. When the war gets complicated, Anya and Nikolai know they have to depend on each other to survive in the enemy country. They devise a plan to find each other if things go terribly wrong. But did they find each other or perish in the war?
Present Day, Norfolk: Laura takes up the job of restoring the old garden in the Norfolk Manor. She is struggling with personal issues and trying to make the right decision. When she comes across a box buried under a willow tree in the secret garden, Laura is determined to get to the root of the mystery. Maybe unraveling the mystery will also help make sense of her life.
What I Liked:
• Both timelines get almost equal importance in the book. In many dual timelines, I find the contemporary track diluted or ineffective. Here, Laura’s track is well-sketched to create a likable heroine.
• The elements of nature weave in and out of the story to create a mystical effect. The garden is also a character in the book.
• The book deals with Russian spies in England during WW II. It felt refreshing to read another perspective.
• Despite dedicating alternate chapters to the past and present, there are no bumps or jerks in the narration. It only adds intrigue to the story.
• The emotions come out strong, especially towards the end of the book. Even though some of it seems a little too neatly tied up, it was satisfying to read the ending.
• The second half gains pace (or maybe I just slow fast-read to finish the book). Though a lot happens, none of it is overwhelming or confusing.
• I wondered why a particular secret was dragged through the first half. It made sense after reading it. The revelation happened just when it should. That’s a very good execution.
•
What Didn’t Work for Me:
• The story starts with long, winded sentences (probably to set the mood) that slowed my reading pace. It didn’t help that I tend to zone out when every alternate sentence is three to four lines long.
• A little more about Jamie’s past/ life would have made things even better. There’s hardly anything we know about him compared to Laura. That dimmed the impact the relationship should have on the reader.
To sum up, Garden of Secrets is a heartwarming and satisfying read, despite the slow start.
Thank you, NetGalley and Bookouture, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
#NetGalley #GardenofSecrets
One Liner: A few misses but a satisfying read.
1940, Russia: Anya is an English-speaking Russian sent to England as a spy. She has to work as a Land Girl in Norfolk and pass on information to the Russian authorities. Nikolai is her partner in crime (or spying). He is an intelligent young man with soulful eyes and secrets of his own. When the war gets complicated, Anya and Nikolai know they have to depend on each other to survive in the enemy country. They devise a plan to find each other if things go terribly wrong. But did they find each other or perish in the war?
Present Day, Norfolk: Laura takes up the job of restoring the old garden in the Norfolk Manor. She is struggling with personal issues and trying to make the right decision. When she comes across a box buried under a willow tree in the secret garden, Laura is determined to get to the root of the mystery. Maybe unraveling the mystery will also help make sense of her life.
What I Liked:
• Both timelines get almost equal importance in the book. In many dual timelines, I find the contemporary track diluted or ineffective. Here, Laura’s track is well-sketched to create a likable heroine.
• The elements of nature weave in and out of the story to create a mystical effect. The garden is also a character in the book.
• The book deals with Russian spies in England during WW II. It felt refreshing to read another perspective.
• Despite dedicating alternate chapters to the past and present, there are no bumps or jerks in the narration. It only adds intrigue to the story.
• The emotions come out strong, especially towards the end of the book. Even though some of it seems a little too neatly tied up, it was satisfying to read the ending.
• The second half gains pace (or maybe I just slow fast-read to finish the book). Though a lot happens, none of it is overwhelming or confusing.
• I wondered why a particular secret was dragged through the first half. It made sense after reading it. The revelation happened just when it should. That’s a very good execution.
•
What Didn’t Work for Me:
• The story starts with long, winded sentences (probably to set the mood) that slowed my reading pace. It didn’t help that I tend to zone out when every alternate sentence is three to four lines long.
• A little more about Jamie’s past/ life would have made things even better. There’s hardly anything we know about him compared to Laura. That dimmed the impact the relationship should have on the reader.
To sum up, Garden of Secrets is a heartwarming and satisfying read, despite the slow start.
Thank you, NetGalley and Bookouture, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
#NetGalley #GardenofSecrets
March 6, 2022
“Under the shade of the weeping willow, she could see a sparkle of silver… She reached out to it and felt a tremor through her body, knowing instantly: this was a secret, and somebody hid it here in this garden…”
First of all, have you ever felt a hug from the pages of a book? I feel it when an author LOVES her story and LOVES writing it. Love was poured into the pages and I sensed it when I read this book. Kelman has a perfect recipe for a beloved historical fiction: Take one wartime secret, mix it together with an impossible mystery and gently fold in an unforgettable love story! Like a trusted recipe that you’ll pull out time after time, this book will be one you’ll want to read over again to recapture what Kelman imprints on your heart.
The author offers us a spectacular time-slip novel centered around a secret walled garden on an estate in England. The garden intrigues two women from different eras; Anya (1940s timeline) has a dangerous secret and Laura (present day timeline) uncovers the secret 75 years later. Readers are pulled into a beautifully written story featuring espionage, betrayal and love.
Kelman’s success here is her descriptive and fluid writing style and her ability to place the reader in the setting. She has crafted ordinary, unnoticed people who had an opportunity to serve and placed them in situations which revealed the hero within. Kelman’s setting is spectacular and contributes to the mystery; a secret walled garden, a character itself, accessible to only those with a key and a Weeping Willow tree whose branches touch the ground providing shelter and cover for secret meetings and messages. Her characters are fascinating; they come alive and take over the narrative! I’m still thinking about Nick and Annie days later. The nail-biting tension was also well developed. Readers really get a feel for what it must be like for spies as they attempt to put the mission above all else in their life, sending secret codes, retrieving messages, and not knowing who to trust. Being well-paced and having a twist I didn’t see coming, also added to the success. It’s not often that I love both timelines equally well but I was as invested in what happened to Nick and Annie as I was with what was developing between Laura and Jamie. What a beautiful historical fiction romance. You will love this wartime love story that spanned 75 years and the garden that protected their secrets within its walls until the right person came along - a garden restorationist who brought the garden back to life.
Kelman is a new-to-me author and after loving this book I Googled her backlist - I was like a kid in a candy store and bought A View Across The Rooftops! Oh, my! Historical fiction lovers, check out this author’s work.
If you love secret gardens, Russian spies in England and wartime fiction, this one’s for you!
I was gifted this advance copy by Suzanne Kelman, Bookouture and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
First of all, have you ever felt a hug from the pages of a book? I feel it when an author LOVES her story and LOVES writing it. Love was poured into the pages and I sensed it when I read this book. Kelman has a perfect recipe for a beloved historical fiction: Take one wartime secret, mix it together with an impossible mystery and gently fold in an unforgettable love story! Like a trusted recipe that you’ll pull out time after time, this book will be one you’ll want to read over again to recapture what Kelman imprints on your heart.
The author offers us a spectacular time-slip novel centered around a secret walled garden on an estate in England. The garden intrigues two women from different eras; Anya (1940s timeline) has a dangerous secret and Laura (present day timeline) uncovers the secret 75 years later. Readers are pulled into a beautifully written story featuring espionage, betrayal and love.
Kelman’s success here is her descriptive and fluid writing style and her ability to place the reader in the setting. She has crafted ordinary, unnoticed people who had an opportunity to serve and placed them in situations which revealed the hero within. Kelman’s setting is spectacular and contributes to the mystery; a secret walled garden, a character itself, accessible to only those with a key and a Weeping Willow tree whose branches touch the ground providing shelter and cover for secret meetings and messages. Her characters are fascinating; they come alive and take over the narrative! I’m still thinking about Nick and Annie days later. The nail-biting tension was also well developed. Readers really get a feel for what it must be like for spies as they attempt to put the mission above all else in their life, sending secret codes, retrieving messages, and not knowing who to trust. Being well-paced and having a twist I didn’t see coming, also added to the success. It’s not often that I love both timelines equally well but I was as invested in what happened to Nick and Annie as I was with what was developing between Laura and Jamie. What a beautiful historical fiction romance. You will love this wartime love story that spanned 75 years and the garden that protected their secrets within its walls until the right person came along - a garden restorationist who brought the garden back to life.
Kelman is a new-to-me author and after loving this book I Googled her backlist - I was like a kid in a candy store and bought A View Across The Rooftops! Oh, my! Historical fiction lovers, check out this author’s work.
If you love secret gardens, Russian spies in England and wartime fiction, this one’s for you!
I was gifted this advance copy by Suzanne Kelman, Bookouture and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
March 16, 2022
It’s 1940, Russia. Anya lives with her mother and her stepfather. She doesn’t really get on well with her stepfather. So, when her mother dies and her stepfather gives her an ultimation, she fears for her life. So, to escapes his clutches she decides to become a Russian spy working with the Nazi party. She is sent to Norfolk to be a Land Girl and soon makes friends. The only person that she can talk to is Nikolai a fellow informer who she is attracted too. But if word got out who they really are they would be trouble so they devise a plan if anything happens there is a way that they can pass messages to each other.
Present Day Laura is working on a private garden at a stately home in Norfolk. When she finds a cigarette box with a ration card inside and a key under a willow tree. She has recent come from London after her own relationship breakup. She wants to find more about where this box come from and the story behind it. As she is investigating, she meets Jamie and agrees to help her own her quest. She gets more than she bargained for when the friendship she has started between them both seems to deepen between them while investigating the 75-year-old story of the box.
Thank you Bookoutre for a copy of Garden of secrets. This is the 5th book now that I have read by Suzanne Kelman and yet again this is another 5-star read. The is a beautifully written endearing story of love so strong that overcomes all obstacles and it spans over 75 years and right across Europe. You can tell this author loves to write and put her heart and soul in her writing. I loved the storyline especially the way Anya and Nikolai passed messages to each other. Like all Suzanne Kelman books. I highly recommend
Present Day Laura is working on a private garden at a stately home in Norfolk. When she finds a cigarette box with a ration card inside and a key under a willow tree. She has recent come from London after her own relationship breakup. She wants to find more about where this box come from and the story behind it. As she is investigating, she meets Jamie and agrees to help her own her quest. She gets more than she bargained for when the friendship she has started between them both seems to deepen between them while investigating the 75-year-old story of the box.
Thank you Bookoutre for a copy of Garden of secrets. This is the 5th book now that I have read by Suzanne Kelman and yet again this is another 5-star read. The is a beautifully written endearing story of love so strong that overcomes all obstacles and it spans over 75 years and right across Europe. You can tell this author loves to write and put her heart and soul in her writing. I loved the storyline especially the way Anya and Nikolai passed messages to each other. Like all Suzanne Kelman books. I highly recommend
June 23, 2024
Helaas vrij oppervlakkig en afstandelijk geschreven. Jammer, had er meer van verwacht/gehoopt!
May 1, 2022
Garden of Secrets
By: Suzanne Kelman
5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Beautiful story with dual time lines. This is my 2nd book by this author and she writes flawlessly.
The garden is full of secrets from the past and present.
1940 England- A simple love story during wartime. A secret was held over the years which changes the future. A note is left under a willow tree in a garden which remains for years.
Present day Laura has had a bad break up and moves to Norfolk to restore a beautiful garden at a estate. She finds a box containing a key and a note.
Read this beautiful novel to find out what happens! How does this garden transform over the years? Whose life does it touch?
Thank you Netgalley, Suzanne Kelman and Bookouture for this novel that will stay with me for years to come. #netgalley, #suzannekelman, #bookouture, #booksconnectus, #bookreview, #bookstagram, #stamperlady50
By: Suzanne Kelman
5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Beautiful story with dual time lines. This is my 2nd book by this author and she writes flawlessly.
The garden is full of secrets from the past and present.
1940 England- A simple love story during wartime. A secret was held over the years which changes the future. A note is left under a willow tree in a garden which remains for years.
Present day Laura has had a bad break up and moves to Norfolk to restore a beautiful garden at a estate. She finds a box containing a key and a note.
Read this beautiful novel to find out what happens! How does this garden transform over the years? Whose life does it touch?
Thank you Netgalley, Suzanne Kelman and Bookouture for this novel that will stay with me for years to come. #netgalley, #suzannekelman, #bookouture, #booksconnectus, #bookreview, #bookstagram, #stamperlady50
May 29, 2023
Wat een prachtig past present verhaal, echt genoten van iedere pagina. Leest supervlot, blijft aangenaam van verhaallijn en een mooi einde.
April 17, 2022
Anya is devastated by the death of her mother, and her cruel stepfather demands she marry someone who will pull their family out of financial straits. She is determined to make her own way. Fleeing her home, Anya ends up being sent to England as she is an English-speaking Russian who becomes a Russian spy working with the Nazis. Anya is not clear on the mistake she made joining this endeavor. She soon meets Nikolai, hired as a footman. Anya makes another friend named Millie, and she begins to understand the depth of the decision she made taking the job she now has.
Her friendship with Nikolai is indeed her saving grace. The two become friends and so much more, thus giving light to Anya as she faces impossible circumstances.
In present day, as this book is delivered in a dual-timeline fashion, we meet Laura. Laura has own own devastation to deal with and that is when she finds out that her other half has been cheating on her. She leaves him and returns home to Norfolk. One day while wandering around a gorgeous garden - when ends up being a significant player in this remarkable story - she finds a cigarette box that contained a ration card and a key. What are these items?
This secret garden contains a huge secret. Anya's curiosity gets the best of her and she embarks on an journey to find out its origin and significance. She is very much drawn to the story behind the items she found. In her search for answers, she soon meets Jamie, and the pair share a strong emotional connection.
What a wonderful story! Full of heartbreak, but then balanced out with a heartwarming ending, Garden of Secrets is another fabulous story written in a compelling manner. I love how the garden itself is the backdrop that ties these women together, even decades apart. Suzanne Kelman is a very dramatic writer, crafting stories and characters that truly pull the reader in. Each book that I have read by her has given me all the feels, and this book does exactly that.
Please also enjoy my YouTube video review -
Her friendship with Nikolai is indeed her saving grace. The two become friends and so much more, thus giving light to Anya as she faces impossible circumstances.
In present day, as this book is delivered in a dual-timeline fashion, we meet Laura. Laura has own own devastation to deal with and that is when she finds out that her other half has been cheating on her. She leaves him and returns home to Norfolk. One day while wandering around a gorgeous garden - when ends up being a significant player in this remarkable story - she finds a cigarette box that contained a ration card and a key. What are these items?
This secret garden contains a huge secret. Anya's curiosity gets the best of her and she embarks on an journey to find out its origin and significance. She is very much drawn to the story behind the items she found. In her search for answers, she soon meets Jamie, and the pair share a strong emotional connection.
What a wonderful story! Full of heartbreak, but then balanced out with a heartwarming ending, Garden of Secrets is another fabulous story written in a compelling manner. I love how the garden itself is the backdrop that ties these women together, even decades apart. Suzanne Kelman is a very dramatic writer, crafting stories and characters that truly pull the reader in. Each book that I have read by her has given me all the feels, and this book does exactly that.
Please also enjoy my YouTube video review -
March 7, 2022
A powerful read that will stay with me for all of the right reasons. A book set in two timelines, this tells the story of Anya and Nikolai during the war and of Laura in present day. Anya and Nikolai are spies and have been sent over posing as workers on the estate in Norfolk. Anya, known as Anna is a land girl and Nikolai, known as Nicholas is to work in the house listening as the master works in the house of commons. Present day and Laura following a traumatic break up with her long term boyfriend has gone over to Norfolk to stay with some friends, one of whom works on the estate. Laura is to work on the walled garden and restore it. When digging she finds a cigarette case containing a note and a ration card which piqued her interest. Who does the case belong to and what does the note mean?
I loved this and found myself racing through the pages- to me the sign of an excellent writer to keep my interest throughout. I liked Laura and the mix of the two timelines works very well for me. Oh wow! The chapter about the water and the wake of a boat, the past, present and future stopped me in my tracks, it was so moving, powerful and evocative. A love story, a war story and so very much more.
I loved this and found myself racing through the pages- to me the sign of an excellent writer to keep my interest throughout. I liked Laura and the mix of the two timelines works very well for me. Oh wow! The chapter about the water and the wake of a boat, the past, present and future stopped me in my tracks, it was so moving, powerful and evocative. A love story, a war story and so very much more.
March 24, 2022
What a powerful, passionate and transformational story! Suzanne Kelman has delivered one of the most beautiful World War two romantic mysteries I have ever read. I connected deeply with its themes, characters and poetic vision. I was truly swept away by its flawless mesmerising execution. The eloquent descriptive writing style in Garden of Secrets suited me perfectly.
You know a story is going to be extra special when you discover that elements of The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett are gently tucked inside its seed of inspiration. Gardens are magical places and ones that hold secrets are even better! Suzanne’s quote just before the Prologue ‘And the secret garden bloomed and bloomed and every morning revealed new miracles’ from the said classic, sharpens our interest and gets us off to a shining start for we know this story will bear tender fruit of extraordinary wonders and healings. And indeed, we are not disappointed. What it promises, it delivers: spellbinding fiction! We are immediately drawn in by the green leaves of truth that wind their way through this network of characters in this beautiful garden that eventually gives up the secrets it has harboured for many years.
Branching out from WWII to present day, we follow a trail of inviting bread crumbs dipped in mystery that lead us through some shadowy regions. Russian spy Anya and her work partner Nikolai are at the heart of the historical thread. They are on a mission in England for their country. Yet neither one wants to go down this path of deceit but they are both running away from issues in their past. In the chaos of war, though, something beautiful happens. Once forced together, they are drawn into each other’s circle of space. A reluctant romance begins and they eventually blend into one beating heart. Always in each other’s thoughts, their love carries them through some trying times. The garden is their safe place. But then something happens that tears them apart. And it is this garden that holds the message and clues of their direction.
Laura in the modern day thread is on an escape route from a betrayal to work in rural Norfolk to do what she does best: restore beautiful historic gardens of stately homes. This takes her to Hatworth Manor where the real drama begins, when she accidentally finds a small box under a weeping willow tree. She is instantly drawn to its contents and the mystery that it holds and becomes consumed by the need to solve it. Who does it belong to? Of course, this not only takes her on an amazing journey to uncover the story behind the hidden box but also opens her heart to a whole new world of possibilities – including a new relationship.
It is Laura’s mission (she does not realise this at first) to bring the past and present together – to bridge the gap so wounds can be healed. On the surface this restoration of the Hatworth garden is a normal part of her everyday work life but truly it is more than that. It becomes a symbol of something deeper— for the secret at the heart of the garden is its crowning glory. Laura is the one to help bring that about (with some assistance from artist Jamie). For the unexpected love of the WWII couple that started in a fragile state, has continued hardily through the seasons, darkness, loneliness and separation. Laura sees the many different ways of how loss can affect individuals. But she also realises that when the seeds of hope are cultivated— a wondrous beauty can spring forth. Yes, just like a well cared for garden. And even a revitalised one!
It must be stated that the garden at Hatworth Manor, in Norfolk, England where the plot begins is as much a character as the humans. It has an impressive history that started in the 1500s and the author states it has ‘barely changed for centuries.’ This is the sort of thing that inspires me for I love to stand in historical locations and imagine all the lives that have come and gone and wonder of their stories. Of course, impressive Manors always have fascinating gardens that are wonderful for meditation or for recapturing past roots. There is a sense of peace and connection standing in these spaces, even with the ghosts of memories surrounding you.
This novel has made me think of why we love gardens so much. Gardens often evoke our desire to return to innocence, to a natural state, when we were one with nature, before the fall to experience as poet William Blake would say. As artists, we hold on to that wonder and imagination so that we can still see the world in a grain of sand and heaven in a wildflower. The natural world helps with that and Romantic poets knew this: including John Keats who drew great inspiration from nature. For him, it was also a place of refuge from the stresses of life. This stands true for Anya and Nikolai. In fact, for many it is a chance to recapture a sense of beauty, wonder and hope. For Nature, in general, emits such positive effects on the human spirit. It calls to us and resonates deep in our being some amazing spiritual truths. To fall into its arms of beauty, and to commune with it, can not only heal us but provide revelation as Albert Einstein said, ‘Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better’. It takes us back to what is natural and wild, to our spiritual roots (think of the Garden of Eden) and has the power to heal and reset us when we become damaged by the traumas of life.
While on the topic of gardens and nature, I believe a certain tree holds significance in this story. It is doubtful Suzanne randomly chose a willow tree for the hiding place of the box because it suits the story perfectly. Willow trees represent resilience, adaptability, strength, safety, hope and healing. Everything our characters need. Plus, the limbs of willow trees have amazing flexibility. They can bend without breaking; therefore, can be a metaphor for those on a path to recovery (something the Garden of Secrets characters need). This quality remind us to keep moving forward with the changes—to not become brittle and inflexible. Also, another symbol of the ‘weeping’ willow comes to mind. Something hinted in its name: tears. These must surface during grief and loss. For there’s healing in such a release. Tears free our emotions and make way for opportunity to grow and find something new. We witness this in Laura.
In Suzanne Kelman’s novel, this enchanting garden as a character brings four very special people together spanning 75 plus years. This novel is powerful and captivating from the first page to the last, and it deserves more stars than can be rated. I could not put it down and missed a lot of sleep! But even after finishing the story, I have not stopped thinking about it. It is like a seed that has gotten inside my imagination, germinated and bloomed into a towering tree filled with fruits of knowledge and inspiration.
Yes, I truly got pulled into and lost in the fictional worlds of Anya and Nikolai and Laura and Jamie. It’s a totally awe-inspiring story that contained many heart-breaking moments but also offered a positive climax of restoration and healing. Laura is the nurturer and her diligence pays off for she not only brings to life and light a breathtaking garden but also a love that is both magical and moving. And Anya shows us a resilient love can survive the most harrowing circumstances.
I loved, loved, loved the Garden of Secrets. The plot, characters, scenes, dialogue – every aspect of this story flowed like a river of moonlight on a diamond sea: beautiful, haunting and mesmerising. I highly recommend this 5+ star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ masterpiece.
Thanks to Bookouture and Netgalley for a copy to review.
You know a story is going to be extra special when you discover that elements of The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett are gently tucked inside its seed of inspiration. Gardens are magical places and ones that hold secrets are even better! Suzanne’s quote just before the Prologue ‘And the secret garden bloomed and bloomed and every morning revealed new miracles’ from the said classic, sharpens our interest and gets us off to a shining start for we know this story will bear tender fruit of extraordinary wonders and healings. And indeed, we are not disappointed. What it promises, it delivers: spellbinding fiction! We are immediately drawn in by the green leaves of truth that wind their way through this network of characters in this beautiful garden that eventually gives up the secrets it has harboured for many years.
Branching out from WWII to present day, we follow a trail of inviting bread crumbs dipped in mystery that lead us through some shadowy regions. Russian spy Anya and her work partner Nikolai are at the heart of the historical thread. They are on a mission in England for their country. Yet neither one wants to go down this path of deceit but they are both running away from issues in their past. In the chaos of war, though, something beautiful happens. Once forced together, they are drawn into each other’s circle of space. A reluctant romance begins and they eventually blend into one beating heart. Always in each other’s thoughts, their love carries them through some trying times. The garden is their safe place. But then something happens that tears them apart. And it is this garden that holds the message and clues of their direction.
Laura in the modern day thread is on an escape route from a betrayal to work in rural Norfolk to do what she does best: restore beautiful historic gardens of stately homes. This takes her to Hatworth Manor where the real drama begins, when she accidentally finds a small box under a weeping willow tree. She is instantly drawn to its contents and the mystery that it holds and becomes consumed by the need to solve it. Who does it belong to? Of course, this not only takes her on an amazing journey to uncover the story behind the hidden box but also opens her heart to a whole new world of possibilities – including a new relationship.
It is Laura’s mission (she does not realise this at first) to bring the past and present together – to bridge the gap so wounds can be healed. On the surface this restoration of the Hatworth garden is a normal part of her everyday work life but truly it is more than that. It becomes a symbol of something deeper— for the secret at the heart of the garden is its crowning glory. Laura is the one to help bring that about (with some assistance from artist Jamie). For the unexpected love of the WWII couple that started in a fragile state, has continued hardily through the seasons, darkness, loneliness and separation. Laura sees the many different ways of how loss can affect individuals. But she also realises that when the seeds of hope are cultivated— a wondrous beauty can spring forth. Yes, just like a well cared for garden. And even a revitalised one!
It must be stated that the garden at Hatworth Manor, in Norfolk, England where the plot begins is as much a character as the humans. It has an impressive history that started in the 1500s and the author states it has ‘barely changed for centuries.’ This is the sort of thing that inspires me for I love to stand in historical locations and imagine all the lives that have come and gone and wonder of their stories. Of course, impressive Manors always have fascinating gardens that are wonderful for meditation or for recapturing past roots. There is a sense of peace and connection standing in these spaces, even with the ghosts of memories surrounding you.
This novel has made me think of why we love gardens so much. Gardens often evoke our desire to return to innocence, to a natural state, when we were one with nature, before the fall to experience as poet William Blake would say. As artists, we hold on to that wonder and imagination so that we can still see the world in a grain of sand and heaven in a wildflower. The natural world helps with that and Romantic poets knew this: including John Keats who drew great inspiration from nature. For him, it was also a place of refuge from the stresses of life. This stands true for Anya and Nikolai. In fact, for many it is a chance to recapture a sense of beauty, wonder and hope. For Nature, in general, emits such positive effects on the human spirit. It calls to us and resonates deep in our being some amazing spiritual truths. To fall into its arms of beauty, and to commune with it, can not only heal us but provide revelation as Albert Einstein said, ‘Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better’. It takes us back to what is natural and wild, to our spiritual roots (think of the Garden of Eden) and has the power to heal and reset us when we become damaged by the traumas of life.
While on the topic of gardens and nature, I believe a certain tree holds significance in this story. It is doubtful Suzanne randomly chose a willow tree for the hiding place of the box because it suits the story perfectly. Willow trees represent resilience, adaptability, strength, safety, hope and healing. Everything our characters need. Plus, the limbs of willow trees have amazing flexibility. They can bend without breaking; therefore, can be a metaphor for those on a path to recovery (something the Garden of Secrets characters need). This quality remind us to keep moving forward with the changes—to not become brittle and inflexible. Also, another symbol of the ‘weeping’ willow comes to mind. Something hinted in its name: tears. These must surface during grief and loss. For there’s healing in such a release. Tears free our emotions and make way for opportunity to grow and find something new. We witness this in Laura.
In Suzanne Kelman’s novel, this enchanting garden as a character brings four very special people together spanning 75 plus years. This novel is powerful and captivating from the first page to the last, and it deserves more stars than can be rated. I could not put it down and missed a lot of sleep! But even after finishing the story, I have not stopped thinking about it. It is like a seed that has gotten inside my imagination, germinated and bloomed into a towering tree filled with fruits of knowledge and inspiration.
Yes, I truly got pulled into and lost in the fictional worlds of Anya and Nikolai and Laura and Jamie. It’s a totally awe-inspiring story that contained many heart-breaking moments but also offered a positive climax of restoration and healing. Laura is the nurturer and her diligence pays off for she not only brings to life and light a breathtaking garden but also a love that is both magical and moving. And Anya shows us a resilient love can survive the most harrowing circumstances.
I loved, loved, loved the Garden of Secrets. The plot, characters, scenes, dialogue – every aspect of this story flowed like a river of moonlight on a diamond sea: beautiful, haunting and mesmerising. I highly recommend this 5+ star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ masterpiece.
Thanks to Bookouture and Netgalley for a copy to review.
June 1, 2022
Wow, what an incredible story!
This incredibly moving dual timeline is two love stories set seventy five years apart.
Effortlessly moving between present day England back to World War 2 in Russia, then moving again to England; this story is full of mystery, suspense, intrigue, heart-break and discovery; I found it impossible to put this book down; and yet I didn't want it to end.
Beautifully penned, this is an extremely emotional read which I cannot recommend highly enough.
This incredibly moving dual timeline is two love stories set seventy five years apart.
Effortlessly moving between present day England back to World War 2 in Russia, then moving again to England; this story is full of mystery, suspense, intrigue, heart-break and discovery; I found it impossible to put this book down; and yet I didn't want it to end.
Beautifully penned, this is an extremely emotional read which I cannot recommend highly enough.
April 15, 2022
Have the tissues handy as this is a very moving dual timeline story from Suzanne Kelman. The two timelines take place during WWII and present day.
This story carries all the immense emotions as most WWII stories do, but there is a beautiful love story told through out. Beautifully written with vivid scenes that you almost feel as if you are there.
Thank you to #netgalley and #bookouture for allowing me to read this eARC. All opinions expressed above are my own.
This story carries all the immense emotions as most WWII stories do, but there is a beautiful love story told through out. Beautifully written with vivid scenes that you almost feel as if you are there.
Thank you to #netgalley and #bookouture for allowing me to read this eARC. All opinions expressed above are my own.
Currently reading
April 24, 2022Bookouture 99
June 2, 2022
4.75 stars rounded up to 5. Review to come!
October 16, 2023
Zeemzoet
July 1, 2022
I love this author generally. Too many details for some things and not enough details for other aspects.
April 5, 2025
Leest heerlijk weg
May 19, 2022
Thank you to the author, I won this in a giveaway. I loved this book. The two different timelines, the two love stories. The mystery that brings them together. And oh, my goodness let me just say, chapter 53, you might need to have some Kleenex ready. This book really needs to be made into a movie.
June 16, 2023
Wat een fijn boek !
Dubbele tijdlijn ,vlot en boeiend geschreven
Dubbele tijdlijn ,vlot en boeiend geschreven
April 11, 2022
I am excited to be taking part in the #BooksOnTour #BlogTour for Suzanne Kelman's heartbreaking dual timeline tale GARDEN OF SECRETS.
“Under the shade of the weeping willow, she could see a sparkle of silver… She reached out to it and felt a tremor through her body, knowing instantly: this was a secret, and somebody hid it here in this garden…”
I have devoured every tale penned by Suzanne Kelman since the equally heartbreaking "A View Across the Rooftops" and each tale is just as heartbreaking, as well as poignant, as the last. GARDEN OF SECRETS tells of a a secret buried in the lush walled garden of Hatworth Manor in Norfolk during the war that wasn't uncovered for another seventy five years...and set the pace for this wonderful dual timeline story that will have you reaching for the tissues.
Russia 1941: Twenty two year old Anya Baranov finds herself left with nothing after the tragic death of her mother and the learing eyes of her step-father who wants to marry her off to someone loyal to Stalin and with enough wealth to keep him in the lap of luxury to which he sees himself. But Anya refuses to be bartered off and when her step-father offers her another alternative, Anya makes her escape in the dead of night and joins the Russian secret service where she meets Nickolai Petroff, a man with his own reasons for aligning himself with the NKVD. They train together as agents for Russia before they are sent to England to spy for the Germans, as they prepare to invade Britain. Neither of them really wants to be a spy but they both have compelling reasons to escape and soon they find themselves in too deep that they see no way out.
Together they are sent to Hatworth Manor in Norfolk where Anya is to work as Land Girl and Nickolai as a footman, although they have had their identities anglicised to Annie Stone and Nicholas Brown. As Anya makes her way to Hatworth to join the Land Girls there, she meets bubbly and vivacious Millie and, despite preferring to keep to herself, soon becomes fast friends with the likeable young woman. When Nickolai arrives at Hatworth some days later, Anya knows they must maintain a level of secrecy by keeping their distance. Each one has a specific role to play but neither one is comfortable with this fact as they become closer and even less so when Anya feels a bond of friendship with her Land Girl comrades. How can she betray them? Her only friends?
Flung together, Anya and Nickolai are drawn to one another and find they cannot fight the attraction they feel for one another. In the chaos of war, a romance blossoms between them and they meet nightly in their secret garden, the walled garden, where they grow together. In the midst of ambiguity when they hear the disturbing news that Germany has invaded Russia, their supposed Allies, Anya and Nickolai wonder what this means for them and their mission? And in the shadow of uncertainty, they make a plan and a promise for the future...should the tendrils of war reach them and they need to flee.
Norfolk, present day: En route from betrayal, Laura has escaped London to work on restoring the beautiful gardens of Hatworth Manor, staying with two old friends - Simon and Alicia - in their cottage on the estate and where Simon is estate manager. Flinging herself into her work to forget the troubles she left behind, Laura uncovers a silver cigarette box containing a small key and a mysterious message beneath an uprooted willow tree in the once beautiful walled garden. Puzzled by her find and wondering what it means, Laura resolves to uncover its mystery.
The cryptic message was written on a torn piece of ration card and alludes to someone called "Grace Mere". The ration card itself would have been a precious commodity during the war so leaving a message on it implies a sense of urgency because no one would tear up something that important unless they had to. And who was Grace Mere? Laura decides to dig into Hatworth's history to see if she can make some sense of the mystery she's uncovered which leads her to Jamie, a handsome artist who lives in a cottage that had somehow played a part in her mystery.
As Laura and Jamie delve into the past, they come up against several obstacles - one of which from Laura's recent past set on reclaiming her - but are both dogged in their determination to uncover the truth. But how can they follow a trail that is seventy five years old? Can they find who the little silver box belongs to? What the key unlocks? Who the cryptic message is for? And will they discover who Annie Stone was and why she fled Hatworth Manor one night and the same night a footman disappeared, never to be seen again?
Although the story was slow to start, it picked up pace about 40% in once Anya and Nickolai's mission was set in motion as I found the foundations laid in Russia to be a little lagging. Up to this point, it was Laura's timeline that interested me the most but soon Anya and Nickolai's overtook hers as the featured story and I found myself enthralled in the trail left behind and the double life the couple were reluctantly living. There is romance in both timelines and both are overshadowed by their past or their present in each respective case.
I loved each of the characters as they were incredibly easy to like. Anya, Nickolai, Laura and Jamie. Even the secondary characters such as Millie in the past and Simon and Alicia in the present were a delight. I didn't much like Liam. He was too arrogant for my liking and the assumption that he continued to make despite Laura spending the past few months telling him otherwise. I would have liked to hear what happened to him, though, in the end and more of Jamie's past would have been welcome as well. Especially considering he told Laura that if they were to have a relationship of any kind that there were to be no secrets and to be up front yet his past was only hinted at and something he never elaborated on whilst Laura poured out her deepest secret at the first opportunity.
The garden at Hatworth is a character in itself, playing such a a major role in both the past and present, that it is only fitting it featured as the title of this timeslip novel. I could really picture myself there with the beautifully scented roses and the willow tree, apple tree, the swing and even the treehouse (although I doubt I could climb up there now...)
Usually in dual timeline tales, the contemporary present day is more diluted and overshadowed by the past story. But in this case it started out the other way around with Laura's story well-crafted and Anya's the more diluted one. However, the roles were reversed soon enough as the past became entwined with the present. I love dual timeline tales and am easily lost to the past and present storylines. The alternating chapters between Laura, Anya and Nickolai are so well written that the reader is so immersed that we feel as if we are watching the entire story play out in real time.
My only complaint is the long winded way in which the story begins, particularly with Anya and Nickolai. I can see why it was told that way but it really slowed the pace down and the only reason I continued was because I am familiar with Ms Kelman's outstanding writing ability that I knew it would get better. By 20% I've usually given up, but Laura thankfully kept me engaged long enough until Anya and Nickolai's story picked up around 45% and took over. I knew I would be rewarded in the end...it was just a slow beginning, in my opinion. And although the ending was satisfying, I found it a little lacking for reasons I can't disclose due to spoilers. It ended with a promise of something when I would have preferred something a little more tangible is all I can say. But it was still a delightful read.
In summing up, GARDEN OF SECRETS is a heartwarming and heartbreaking tale in equal measures despite its slow start. And perfect for fans of Kate Morton, Kathleen McGurl and Lorna Cook. And like all Suzanne Kelman books, I highly recommend.
I would like to thank #SuzanneKelman, #NetGalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #GardenOfSecrets in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
“Under the shade of the weeping willow, she could see a sparkle of silver… She reached out to it and felt a tremor through her body, knowing instantly: this was a secret, and somebody hid it here in this garden…”
I have devoured every tale penned by Suzanne Kelman since the equally heartbreaking "A View Across the Rooftops" and each tale is just as heartbreaking, as well as poignant, as the last. GARDEN OF SECRETS tells of a a secret buried in the lush walled garden of Hatworth Manor in Norfolk during the war that wasn't uncovered for another seventy five years...and set the pace for this wonderful dual timeline story that will have you reaching for the tissues.
Russia 1941: Twenty two year old Anya Baranov finds herself left with nothing after the tragic death of her mother and the learing eyes of her step-father who wants to marry her off to someone loyal to Stalin and with enough wealth to keep him in the lap of luxury to which he sees himself. But Anya refuses to be bartered off and when her step-father offers her another alternative, Anya makes her escape in the dead of night and joins the Russian secret service where she meets Nickolai Petroff, a man with his own reasons for aligning himself with the NKVD. They train together as agents for Russia before they are sent to England to spy for the Germans, as they prepare to invade Britain. Neither of them really wants to be a spy but they both have compelling reasons to escape and soon they find themselves in too deep that they see no way out.
Together they are sent to Hatworth Manor in Norfolk where Anya is to work as Land Girl and Nickolai as a footman, although they have had their identities anglicised to Annie Stone and Nicholas Brown. As Anya makes her way to Hatworth to join the Land Girls there, she meets bubbly and vivacious Millie and, despite preferring to keep to herself, soon becomes fast friends with the likeable young woman. When Nickolai arrives at Hatworth some days later, Anya knows they must maintain a level of secrecy by keeping their distance. Each one has a specific role to play but neither one is comfortable with this fact as they become closer and even less so when Anya feels a bond of friendship with her Land Girl comrades. How can she betray them? Her only friends?
Flung together, Anya and Nickolai are drawn to one another and find they cannot fight the attraction they feel for one another. In the chaos of war, a romance blossoms between them and they meet nightly in their secret garden, the walled garden, where they grow together. In the midst of ambiguity when they hear the disturbing news that Germany has invaded Russia, their supposed Allies, Anya and Nickolai wonder what this means for them and their mission? And in the shadow of uncertainty, they make a plan and a promise for the future...should the tendrils of war reach them and they need to flee.
Norfolk, present day: En route from betrayal, Laura has escaped London to work on restoring the beautiful gardens of Hatworth Manor, staying with two old friends - Simon and Alicia - in their cottage on the estate and where Simon is estate manager. Flinging herself into her work to forget the troubles she left behind, Laura uncovers a silver cigarette box containing a small key and a mysterious message beneath an uprooted willow tree in the once beautiful walled garden. Puzzled by her find and wondering what it means, Laura resolves to uncover its mystery.
The cryptic message was written on a torn piece of ration card and alludes to someone called "Grace Mere". The ration card itself would have been a precious commodity during the war so leaving a message on it implies a sense of urgency because no one would tear up something that important unless they had to. And who was Grace Mere? Laura decides to dig into Hatworth's history to see if she can make some sense of the mystery she's uncovered which leads her to Jamie, a handsome artist who lives in a cottage that had somehow played a part in her mystery.
As Laura and Jamie delve into the past, they come up against several obstacles - one of which from Laura's recent past set on reclaiming her - but are both dogged in their determination to uncover the truth. But how can they follow a trail that is seventy five years old? Can they find who the little silver box belongs to? What the key unlocks? Who the cryptic message is for? And will they discover who Annie Stone was and why she fled Hatworth Manor one night and the same night a footman disappeared, never to be seen again?
Although the story was slow to start, it picked up pace about 40% in once Anya and Nickolai's mission was set in motion as I found the foundations laid in Russia to be a little lagging. Up to this point, it was Laura's timeline that interested me the most but soon Anya and Nickolai's overtook hers as the featured story and I found myself enthralled in the trail left behind and the double life the couple were reluctantly living. There is romance in both timelines and both are overshadowed by their past or their present in each respective case.
I loved each of the characters as they were incredibly easy to like. Anya, Nickolai, Laura and Jamie. Even the secondary characters such as Millie in the past and Simon and Alicia in the present were a delight. I didn't much like Liam. He was too arrogant for my liking and the assumption that he continued to make despite Laura spending the past few months telling him otherwise. I would have liked to hear what happened to him, though, in the end and more of Jamie's past would have been welcome as well. Especially considering he told Laura that if they were to have a relationship of any kind that there were to be no secrets and to be up front yet his past was only hinted at and something he never elaborated on whilst Laura poured out her deepest secret at the first opportunity.
The garden at Hatworth is a character in itself, playing such a a major role in both the past and present, that it is only fitting it featured as the title of this timeslip novel. I could really picture myself there with the beautifully scented roses and the willow tree, apple tree, the swing and even the treehouse (although I doubt I could climb up there now...)
Usually in dual timeline tales, the contemporary present day is more diluted and overshadowed by the past story. But in this case it started out the other way around with Laura's story well-crafted and Anya's the more diluted one. However, the roles were reversed soon enough as the past became entwined with the present. I love dual timeline tales and am easily lost to the past and present storylines. The alternating chapters between Laura, Anya and Nickolai are so well written that the reader is so immersed that we feel as if we are watching the entire story play out in real time.
My only complaint is the long winded way in which the story begins, particularly with Anya and Nickolai. I can see why it was told that way but it really slowed the pace down and the only reason I continued was because I am familiar with Ms Kelman's outstanding writing ability that I knew it would get better. By 20% I've usually given up, but Laura thankfully kept me engaged long enough until Anya and Nickolai's story picked up around 45% and took over. I knew I would be rewarded in the end...it was just a slow beginning, in my opinion. And although the ending was satisfying, I found it a little lacking for reasons I can't disclose due to spoilers. It ended with a promise of something when I would have preferred something a little more tangible is all I can say. But it was still a delightful read.
In summing up, GARDEN OF SECRETS is a heartwarming and heartbreaking tale in equal measures despite its slow start. And perfect for fans of Kate Morton, Kathleen McGurl and Lorna Cook. And like all Suzanne Kelman books, I highly recommend.
I would like to thank #SuzanneKelman, #NetGalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #GardenOfSecrets in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
May 11, 2022
I loved this the twists and turns one of my favourite books ever
April 10, 2022
A dual time book.
In this book the time changed every chapter so I felt I just just getting into the story before being pulled out again. I didn’t need the drama that happened in the current time story. I would have been fine without it, it distracted from the secret Laura was trying to uncover. I would have liked more chapters about the WWII story.
I enjoyed the twist and turns in the end.
In this book the time changed every chapter so I felt I just just getting into the story before being pulled out again. I didn’t need the drama that happened in the current time story. I would have been fine without it, it distracted from the secret Laura was trying to uncover. I would have liked more chapters about the WWII story.
I enjoyed the twist and turns in the end.
April 15, 2023
Ik moest er wel even in komen, maar mooi verhaal!! ❤️
July 8, 2023
I recently read „We fly beneath the stars“ by Suzanne Kelman and loved it, so was very much looking forward to reading another book of hers. However, „Garden of Secrets“ was a bit of a letdown for me. Mainly because it is written just like so many other „heartbreaking WWII novels“.
Two timelines (one set in the 1940s, another on in the present day) - check.
The couple in the past timeline meeting, falling in love, then being separated before finding each other again decades later - check.
The couple in the present time meeting, falling in love, Happy End - check.
Therefore the story was rather predictable and as such disappointing. It would have been so much less of a cliché with this type of book if the couple of the past timeline had a happy ending and the couple of the present timeline would have just ended up being friends.
Also, the past timeline is set in 1941 when Anya is 22. The present timeline is set 75 years later, which makes Anya 97. Both she and Nicholai are still alive at the end of the book. What are the chances of both of them reaching such an old age?
Furthermore, Nicholai losing his memory and forgetting Anya didn‘t really make sense to me. In a chapter set in 1946 he clearly remembers her and is looking for her, then he has an accident and loses his memory. However, the present timeline states a few times that he can‘t remember what happened during his first year in the England (1941-1942). But he clearly remembers working for the Brits after being captured till the end of WWII. So if he can remember the years 1942 to 1946, how come he has forgotten the love of his life? (Yes, one could argue that subconsciously he remembers her as he is painting her, but still it didn‘t sit well with me.)
I also felt very sorry for Anya as she spends her life alone and in love with a man she thinks is dead. Then when she and Nick are reunited, he doesn‘t even remember her. This is sad and gruel.
As for the Laura/Jamie timeline, it was okay. The reader knew where this is heading from the get go. What annoyed me was the whole Liam/Caroline/hospital chapter. Completely unnecessary. Cut it out of the book. No needed. It didn’t add anything substantial to the whole book. Making Laura realise that she is no longer in love with Liam, well, her leaving London in the first place made that pretty clear.
If you‘ve never read a „heartbreaking WWII novel“, then yes, certainly a good read as it fits the bill, but I‘ve read too many of them. If you want to read a Suzanne Kelman book, then read „We fly beneath the stars“. So much better.
2.5 stars
Two timelines (one set in the 1940s, another on in the present day) - check.
The couple in the past timeline meeting, falling in love, then being separated before finding each other again decades later - check.
The couple in the present time meeting, falling in love, Happy End - check.
Therefore the story was rather predictable and as such disappointing. It would have been so much less of a cliché with this type of book if the couple of the past timeline had a happy ending and the couple of the present timeline would have just ended up being friends.
Also, the past timeline is set in 1941 when Anya is 22. The present timeline is set 75 years later, which makes Anya 97. Both she and Nicholai are still alive at the end of the book. What are the chances of both of them reaching such an old age?
Furthermore, Nicholai losing his memory and forgetting Anya didn‘t really make sense to me. In a chapter set in 1946 he clearly remembers her and is looking for her, then he has an accident and loses his memory. However, the present timeline states a few times that he can‘t remember what happened during his first year in the England (1941-1942). But he clearly remembers working for the Brits after being captured till the end of WWII. So if he can remember the years 1942 to 1946, how come he has forgotten the love of his life? (Yes, one could argue that subconsciously he remembers her as he is painting her, but still it didn‘t sit well with me.)
I also felt very sorry for Anya as she spends her life alone and in love with a man she thinks is dead. Then when she and Nick are reunited, he doesn‘t even remember her. This is sad and gruel.
As for the Laura/Jamie timeline, it was okay. The reader knew where this is heading from the get go. What annoyed me was the whole Liam/Caroline/hospital chapter. Completely unnecessary. Cut it out of the book. No needed. It didn’t add anything substantial to the whole book. Making Laura realise that she is no longer in love with Liam, well, her leaving London in the first place made that pretty clear.
If you‘ve never read a „heartbreaking WWII novel“, then yes, certainly a good read as it fits the bill, but I‘ve read too many of them. If you want to read a Suzanne Kelman book, then read „We fly beneath the stars“. So much better.
2.5 stars
April 21, 2022
Garden of Secrets is another wonderfully written story by Suzanne Kelman combining a wartime secret, an impossible mystery and a love story that is hard to leave out of your mind once it slowly begins to unfurl. I have to admit that both the title and the cover are what drew me to this book, there is just something about both that really stands out although I would have read it anyway given I have read all the books that the author has so far published. The title just speaks out that there is a mystery to be solved and I was very eager to see what it was.
The story is told through the dual timeline format which moved seamlessly back and forth between the war years and the present day as a discovery is made which sets in motion a quest for to uncover the mystery behind something buried in a secret walled garden. The two strands of the story work very well together, both being strong and well told. Usually, I prefer the past over the present but here I became quickly enthralled by both elements and that’s thanks to the descriptive writing which lead me on a journey of discovery, hope, bravery, love and devotion. I have found in the past that the author’s books can take some time to get going and I am left longing for the story to get going. Yes,this did again happen here as I found the Nikolai/Anya sections set in Russia were too drawn out but once British soil was reached things intensified much more.
November 1941, Hatworth Manor in Norfolk and Anya is out in the black of night determined not to be discovered. She has a secret tucked under her clothing and hopes the snow will not reveal her tracks or what she is about to do. She hides something in the soil underneath the willow tree which has long stood in the walled garden of the manor. She wants to save the only man she loves but knows that if she is caught her life will be over. Instantly, my interest was piqued, I wanted to know the background to Anya and who exactly is the man she loves? What was she hiding and why did she feel the need to do so especially in the dead of night? What danger surrounds her? Plenty of questions and food for thought were provided in the opening pages but to find out the answers the reader must be patient and enjoy the story as it unfolds for the answers will come to those who wait and what will be uncovered is a love story that will certainly tug at the heart strings.
In the present day, Laura has arrived to work at the manor. She will stay at the cottage of her university friends, Simon, who is the estate manager, and his wife Alicia. Laura has a very interesting job in that she is a garden restorer, bringing run down gardens back to life through redevelopment and replanting but she does so very sensitively focusing on the history of the garden. This new job couldn’t have come at a better time for her as she had desperately needed to get away from London and her now ex-boyfriend Liam. She had done everything in her power to make her eight year relationship work but the straw that broke the camel’s back was Liam cheated on her. Laura is not in a very good place. Her life is shattered and she has a terrible fear of never being loved again. She is very down and at times she is frustrating in that she can’t seem to shake the funk that she is in and this is in total contrast to the way Nikolai and Anya are feeling the more the story progress’.
Seeing the abandoned walled garden gives Laura a ray of hope. It seems to call to her as it does to the other main characters in the book even though they are separated by 75 years. The garden becomes like a character in itself. A place of refuge, hope and love amidst the terrors of the war. It has an unusual aura about it which radiates from the pages and it becomes a special place for Laura as she sets about renovating it and bringing it back to its former glory. It offers her security and a sense of being hidden away from the world and the problems that enshroud her. The garden had lay hidden, overgrown and neglected for so long but now was waiting to spring back into life and as this starts to occur Laura discovers underneath the willow tree a cigarette case with a silver key and a ration card inside with a message saying-Please find me Grace Mere is our only hope. Of course, she can’t but not be fascinated as to what this all means and she feels such an urge to solve the mystery of what has been found.
Later on, we are privy to an even deeper reason as to why Laura feels so called to track down the person who hid this if in fact they are alive. This quote really summed up the journey Laura went on as she attempted to reconcile the past with the present both in terms of her own life and the incredible love story that was waiting patiently to be told. ‘Fate has an unusual way of taking us on paths of discovery that end up leading us back to a new truth for our own lives. It’s all part of the marvellous experience we call life’. I loved the way Laura set about seeking the answers to the mystery. Step by step through subtle clues and meeting people she draws ever closer to the truth and meets Jamie, a painter, along the way. I loved the use of Charles Dickens - The Old Curiosity Shop as a strong link for solving the clues and basically a good old fashioned mystery developed that had you rapidly turning the pages.
The story in the past is told from two perspectives, that of Nikolai and Anya. Their story begins in Russia, Anya is trying to escape her abusive stepfather and feels even more of an urgency when her mother dies suddenly. Nikolai comes from a well to do background but is determined to uncover just what happened to his father when he was taken away and killed. Soon they both come to work for the Russian government and although Nikolai is training against his will when he comes into contact with Anya who is part of his training you can feel a spark between them from the moment they meet. Soon they are both drawn into a web that will be hard to escape from.They find themselves working as Russian spies and are transported secretly to England. They arrive at Hatworth Manor under new names and Anya becomes Annie the Land Girl and Nikolai becomes Nicholas the new footman. They are to report back on the movements of planes at a camp near the manor and to listen to any details being discussed about the war by the lord of the manor.
Their task soon pales into insignificance when they discover the walled garden and like Laura in the present it envelops itself around the couple and the personas they have been forced to adopt can be dropped. I know I should have despised the pair given they were spies and trying to help the Russians in the war but the way the pair were written you just forget all that and appreciate the deep and solid love connection that develops between the pair. You wish their love didn’t exist in times of such trouble and danger and that they could just be free to be together to show their love to the world. Instead they played a very dangerous game yet they never let their ‘characters’ slide and showed such bravery, tenacity and strength for each other. But fate has a way of intervening and their love is torn apart. Anya sets in motion a plan which they had devised in case they were discovered and informed on. Will it work? Can they follow the clues set out for each other? Once separated will they ever reunite? How does this all connect back to Laura in the present and just how crucial a role does the walled garden play? You’ll definitely have to read Garden of Secrets to find out. Despite the slow start it goes on to be a wonderfully told heart-breaking but also heart-warming story.
The story is told through the dual timeline format which moved seamlessly back and forth between the war years and the present day as a discovery is made which sets in motion a quest for to uncover the mystery behind something buried in a secret walled garden. The two strands of the story work very well together, both being strong and well told. Usually, I prefer the past over the present but here I became quickly enthralled by both elements and that’s thanks to the descriptive writing which lead me on a journey of discovery, hope, bravery, love and devotion. I have found in the past that the author’s books can take some time to get going and I am left longing for the story to get going. Yes,this did again happen here as I found the Nikolai/Anya sections set in Russia were too drawn out but once British soil was reached things intensified much more.
November 1941, Hatworth Manor in Norfolk and Anya is out in the black of night determined not to be discovered. She has a secret tucked under her clothing and hopes the snow will not reveal her tracks or what she is about to do. She hides something in the soil underneath the willow tree which has long stood in the walled garden of the manor. She wants to save the only man she loves but knows that if she is caught her life will be over. Instantly, my interest was piqued, I wanted to know the background to Anya and who exactly is the man she loves? What was she hiding and why did she feel the need to do so especially in the dead of night? What danger surrounds her? Plenty of questions and food for thought were provided in the opening pages but to find out the answers the reader must be patient and enjoy the story as it unfolds for the answers will come to those who wait and what will be uncovered is a love story that will certainly tug at the heart strings.
In the present day, Laura has arrived to work at the manor. She will stay at the cottage of her university friends, Simon, who is the estate manager, and his wife Alicia. Laura has a very interesting job in that she is a garden restorer, bringing run down gardens back to life through redevelopment and replanting but she does so very sensitively focusing on the history of the garden. This new job couldn’t have come at a better time for her as she had desperately needed to get away from London and her now ex-boyfriend Liam. She had done everything in her power to make her eight year relationship work but the straw that broke the camel’s back was Liam cheated on her. Laura is not in a very good place. Her life is shattered and she has a terrible fear of never being loved again. She is very down and at times she is frustrating in that she can’t seem to shake the funk that she is in and this is in total contrast to the way Nikolai and Anya are feeling the more the story progress’.
Seeing the abandoned walled garden gives Laura a ray of hope. It seems to call to her as it does to the other main characters in the book even though they are separated by 75 years. The garden becomes like a character in itself. A place of refuge, hope and love amidst the terrors of the war. It has an unusual aura about it which radiates from the pages and it becomes a special place for Laura as she sets about renovating it and bringing it back to its former glory. It offers her security and a sense of being hidden away from the world and the problems that enshroud her. The garden had lay hidden, overgrown and neglected for so long but now was waiting to spring back into life and as this starts to occur Laura discovers underneath the willow tree a cigarette case with a silver key and a ration card inside with a message saying-Please find me Grace Mere is our only hope. Of course, she can’t but not be fascinated as to what this all means and she feels such an urge to solve the mystery of what has been found.
Later on, we are privy to an even deeper reason as to why Laura feels so called to track down the person who hid this if in fact they are alive. This quote really summed up the journey Laura went on as she attempted to reconcile the past with the present both in terms of her own life and the incredible love story that was waiting patiently to be told. ‘Fate has an unusual way of taking us on paths of discovery that end up leading us back to a new truth for our own lives. It’s all part of the marvellous experience we call life’. I loved the way Laura set about seeking the answers to the mystery. Step by step through subtle clues and meeting people she draws ever closer to the truth and meets Jamie, a painter, along the way. I loved the use of Charles Dickens - The Old Curiosity Shop as a strong link for solving the clues and basically a good old fashioned mystery developed that had you rapidly turning the pages.
The story in the past is told from two perspectives, that of Nikolai and Anya. Their story begins in Russia, Anya is trying to escape her abusive stepfather and feels even more of an urgency when her mother dies suddenly. Nikolai comes from a well to do background but is determined to uncover just what happened to his father when he was taken away and killed. Soon they both come to work for the Russian government and although Nikolai is training against his will when he comes into contact with Anya who is part of his training you can feel a spark between them from the moment they meet. Soon they are both drawn into a web that will be hard to escape from.They find themselves working as Russian spies and are transported secretly to England. They arrive at Hatworth Manor under new names and Anya becomes Annie the Land Girl and Nikolai becomes Nicholas the new footman. They are to report back on the movements of planes at a camp near the manor and to listen to any details being discussed about the war by the lord of the manor.
Their task soon pales into insignificance when they discover the walled garden and like Laura in the present it envelops itself around the couple and the personas they have been forced to adopt can be dropped. I know I should have despised the pair given they were spies and trying to help the Russians in the war but the way the pair were written you just forget all that and appreciate the deep and solid love connection that develops between the pair. You wish their love didn’t exist in times of such trouble and danger and that they could just be free to be together to show their love to the world. Instead they played a very dangerous game yet they never let their ‘characters’ slide and showed such bravery, tenacity and strength for each other. But fate has a way of intervening and their love is torn apart. Anya sets in motion a plan which they had devised in case they were discovered and informed on. Will it work? Can they follow the clues set out for each other? Once separated will they ever reunite? How does this all connect back to Laura in the present and just how crucial a role does the walled garden play? You’ll definitely have to read Garden of Secrets to find out. Despite the slow start it goes on to be a wonderfully told heart-breaking but also heart-warming story.
August 6, 2022
Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for this advanced copy of Garden of Secrets!
I enjoyed this story very much! It is told in3 perspectives, Laura in the "now" timeframe and Anya and Nikolai, Russian spies during WW2. Anya and Nikolai, at first strangers to each other, have their own reasons for joining the Russian secret service and reasons for wanting to leave Russia. They are sent to England to be spies for their own country which bonds them together for life.
Laura has her own modern day troubles with her relationship falling apart forcing her to get out of London and take a job restoring a country house's garden. Laura stumbles upon a buried secret which takes her on an investigative trip to find answers of what happened at this country home during WW2.
The story takes you back through time to figure out just what happened to Anya and Nikolai.
This book gave me Kate Morton vibes with the garden restoration project. I really liked Laura and thought her story could be a book of its own. It was interesting to view the war from a different perspective, not many books star Russian spies living in England! 4 star read!
I enjoyed this story very much! It is told in3 perspectives, Laura in the "now" timeframe and Anya and Nikolai, Russian spies during WW2. Anya and Nikolai, at first strangers to each other, have their own reasons for joining the Russian secret service and reasons for wanting to leave Russia. They are sent to England to be spies for their own country which bonds them together for life.
Laura has her own modern day troubles with her relationship falling apart forcing her to get out of London and take a job restoring a country house's garden. Laura stumbles upon a buried secret which takes her on an investigative trip to find answers of what happened at this country home during WW2.
The story takes you back through time to figure out just what happened to Anya and Nikolai.
This book gave me Kate Morton vibes with the garden restoration project. I really liked Laura and thought her story could be a book of its own. It was interesting to view the war from a different perspective, not many books star Russian spies living in England! 4 star read!
April 15, 2022
Enjoyed it, although it wasn't my favorite by the author. I LOVED "A View Across the Rooftops" and "When We Were Brave." There was something missing in this book. I didn't really love any of the characters. So many extra things were thrown into the story. Laura's relationship with Liam and then her friend in the hospital. When Liam suddenly showed up, and was completely rude to Jamie, why didn't Laura speak up? She just stood there. I would have liked to read more about Anya and Nikolai during WWII, than Laura and all the drama that seemed to surround her. The whole idea about Russians spies n England during WWII sounded extremely interesting, plus I haven't read and historical fiction books on that subject. The story was more about Anya and Nikolai's romance than the actual spying. I wasn't surprised about what happened after Anya and her friend were caught in a bomb raid.
Definitely recommend giving the book a try. Look forward to reading more books by the author.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bookouture through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Definitely recommend giving the book a try. Look forward to reading more books by the author.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bookouture through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
June 18, 2022
Nice plot, clunky amateur writing. Easy read for a sick day, liked the characters and the story.
June 2, 2022
Rating: 4.5 Stars
Suzanne Kelman’s Garden of Secrets is a compelling and evocative historical tale that will hold readers spellbound.
It’s 1940 and Anya is relieved to be able to leave the horrors of war-torn Russia behind for rural England. However, Anya cannot shake off this terrifying feeling that leaving Russia behind might have been a mistake of epic proportions. In desperate need of somebody to confide in, but unable to reveal the truth about her secret to anybody, Anya turns to fellow informer Nikolai for help. Anya had been drawn to Nikolai from the moment they had clapped eyes on one another, however, the odds are stacked against them. But could news from home provide them with the hope they had long given up on?
The news that Russia has switched allegiance certainly changes things for Anya and Nikolai. The future is no longer bleak and terrifying yet the weight of their secret history lies heavily on both of their shoulders. With the thought of spending the rest of their lives apart being unbearable, Anya and Nikolai devise a secret plan that will ensure that even if they are torn apart they will manage to find their way back to one another through a series of coded messages and secret clues beginning with a small key leading to the secret garden that means everything to them.
Many decades later, Laura has agreed to restore a beautiful garden in a stately home and she hopes that this new job will be the fresh start she so desperately needs. When she finds a box buried under the weeping willow tree, she finds herself completely captivated by its contents. Intrigued by the story of two wartime lovers, Laura begins to weave together the missing pieces of this puzzle. Yet, little does she realise that this quest will end up changing her life forever…
Suzanne Kelman is an exceptional storyteller who in Garden of Secrets writes so beautifully about love, loss, grief, danger and hope that readers will find themselves completely consumed by this wonderfully written tale. Garden of Secrets is a heart-wrenching, dramatic and nail-biting novel with characters who are so exquisitely drawn, readers will be kept on the edge of their seats eager to find out what will befall these strong, courageous and brave protagonists.
A superb tale readers will find hard to put down, Suzanne Kelman’s Garden of Secrets is another winner from this very gifted writer.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Suzanne Kelman’s Garden of Secrets is a compelling and evocative historical tale that will hold readers spellbound.
It’s 1940 and Anya is relieved to be able to leave the horrors of war-torn Russia behind for rural England. However, Anya cannot shake off this terrifying feeling that leaving Russia behind might have been a mistake of epic proportions. In desperate need of somebody to confide in, but unable to reveal the truth about her secret to anybody, Anya turns to fellow informer Nikolai for help. Anya had been drawn to Nikolai from the moment they had clapped eyes on one another, however, the odds are stacked against them. But could news from home provide them with the hope they had long given up on?
The news that Russia has switched allegiance certainly changes things for Anya and Nikolai. The future is no longer bleak and terrifying yet the weight of their secret history lies heavily on both of their shoulders. With the thought of spending the rest of their lives apart being unbearable, Anya and Nikolai devise a secret plan that will ensure that even if they are torn apart they will manage to find their way back to one another through a series of coded messages and secret clues beginning with a small key leading to the secret garden that means everything to them.
Many decades later, Laura has agreed to restore a beautiful garden in a stately home and she hopes that this new job will be the fresh start she so desperately needs. When she finds a box buried under the weeping willow tree, she finds herself completely captivated by its contents. Intrigued by the story of two wartime lovers, Laura begins to weave together the missing pieces of this puzzle. Yet, little does she realise that this quest will end up changing her life forever…
Suzanne Kelman is an exceptional storyteller who in Garden of Secrets writes so beautifully about love, loss, grief, danger and hope that readers will find themselves completely consumed by this wonderfully written tale. Garden of Secrets is a heart-wrenching, dramatic and nail-biting novel with characters who are so exquisitely drawn, readers will be kept on the edge of their seats eager to find out what will befall these strong, courageous and brave protagonists.
A superb tale readers will find hard to put down, Suzanne Kelman’s Garden of Secrets is another winner from this very gifted writer.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
June 12, 2023
Rusland, 1940
De Russische Anya en Nikolai worden als spion uitgezonden naar het platteland van Engeland. Beide hadden nooit de intentie om spion te worden, maar wilden door omstandigheden hopeloos graag wegvluchten uit Rusland. Hun vaderlandsliefde laat hun dan ook al snel in de steek wanneer ze door een hechte familie opgenomen worden op hun nieuwe werkplaats. Maar de angst om ontdekt te worden door Rusland blijft. Anya en Nikolai vinden bij elkaar de troost en liefde die ze nodig hebben, maar wanneer allerlei geheimen dreigen uit te lekken drijft een speling van het lot hun uit elkaar. Het enige dat hun nu nog verbind ligt in de schaduw van de wilg.
Engeland, heden
Laura verhuisde nog maar net naar een prachtig, oud landhuis met een ommuurde, geheime tuin. Deze tuin in zijn oude glorie herstellen is Laura's project voor de komende tijd. Maar wanneer ze onder de omgewaaide, oude wilg een klein blikken doosje vindt met daarin een sleutel en een korte boodschap, begint ze aan een zoektocht naar de ware eigenaar van deze spullen. Een zoektocht die een onverwerkt jeugdtrauma terug de kop laat opsteken.
Van in het prille begin van In de schaduw van de wilg was ik al verliefd. Suzanne Kelmans beeldende schrijfstijl met een vleugje poëzie kan wel elke lezer zijn hart veroveren. Ze slaagt erin om op zulke manier emoties over te brengen, dat je het werkelijk voelt, de pijn en angst, maar ook de liefde. Beide tijdslijnen zijn gedetailleerd uitgewerkt, evenals de hoofdpersonages Anya, Nikolai en Laura. De oorlog mag dan wel de rode draad zijn doorheen dit verhaal, toch verdwijnt deze wat op de achtergrond en is het vooral het liefdesverhaal dat de bovenhand krijgt. Een tragisch, maar prachtig liefdesverhaal dat mij tijdens het lezen stevig vasthield en niet meer losliet.
In de schaduw van de wilg is een prachtige, meeslepende historische roman over vertrouwen, pijn, angst en hoop. En bovenal, over liefde.
De Russische Anya en Nikolai worden als spion uitgezonden naar het platteland van Engeland. Beide hadden nooit de intentie om spion te worden, maar wilden door omstandigheden hopeloos graag wegvluchten uit Rusland. Hun vaderlandsliefde laat hun dan ook al snel in de steek wanneer ze door een hechte familie opgenomen worden op hun nieuwe werkplaats. Maar de angst om ontdekt te worden door Rusland blijft. Anya en Nikolai vinden bij elkaar de troost en liefde die ze nodig hebben, maar wanneer allerlei geheimen dreigen uit te lekken drijft een speling van het lot hun uit elkaar. Het enige dat hun nu nog verbind ligt in de schaduw van de wilg.
Engeland, heden
Laura verhuisde nog maar net naar een prachtig, oud landhuis met een ommuurde, geheime tuin. Deze tuin in zijn oude glorie herstellen is Laura's project voor de komende tijd. Maar wanneer ze onder de omgewaaide, oude wilg een klein blikken doosje vindt met daarin een sleutel en een korte boodschap, begint ze aan een zoektocht naar de ware eigenaar van deze spullen. Een zoektocht die een onverwerkt jeugdtrauma terug de kop laat opsteken.
Van in het prille begin van In de schaduw van de wilg was ik al verliefd. Suzanne Kelmans beeldende schrijfstijl met een vleugje poëzie kan wel elke lezer zijn hart veroveren. Ze slaagt erin om op zulke manier emoties over te brengen, dat je het werkelijk voelt, de pijn en angst, maar ook de liefde. Beide tijdslijnen zijn gedetailleerd uitgewerkt, evenals de hoofdpersonages Anya, Nikolai en Laura. De oorlog mag dan wel de rode draad zijn doorheen dit verhaal, toch verdwijnt deze wat op de achtergrond en is het vooral het liefdesverhaal dat de bovenhand krijgt. Een tragisch, maar prachtig liefdesverhaal dat mij tijdens het lezen stevig vasthield en niet meer losliet.
In de schaduw van de wilg is een prachtige, meeslepende historische roman over vertrouwen, pijn, angst en hoop. En bovenal, over liefde.
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