Her Daughter's Secret

by Lisa Timoney

Will her daughter’s secret tear her family apart?

When troubled teenager Immy disappears, she leaves her widowed mother Bea completely devastated. Bea pours her love into her six-year-old niece Phoebe, even taking her in when her single father Ewan takes a job abroad.

Then Immy returns, in desperate need of her mother’s help and love. But Ewan is clear: he will never let Bea see Phoebe again if she welcomes her daughter back.

As Bea grapples with this impossible choice between two girls who sorely need her, a long-buried secret comes out that changes everything – and Bea must fight harder for her family than she ever thought she could.

A gripping, heart-wrenching novel about family secrets and the price of love, perfect for fans of S.D. Robertson, Ali Mercer and Kerry Fisher.

Genres: Fiction

352 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 15, 2022

Reviews

[theliterateleprechaun · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Bea didn’t fit in here. For a start, it was a long time since she’d had egg-shaped buttocks like the other mothers in the playground. Hers probably looked like two hot cross buns squashed at the bottom of a carrier bag.”

*SNORT* I've been giggling out loud all day every time I remember this opening!

Although I didn't get the light-humoured read I had anticipated, I got an absolutely wonderful, introspective novel about a mother who was trying to pull it all together for her daughter and her niece despite not having a tight handle on life herself. Bea discovers that in helping others she helps herself, preparing herself for the moment when she’s needed the most. Bea is to be commended. It would have been easier to roll over and wet herself. Instead she rises to the occasion and fills a place of usefulness.

The characterization in this debut novel is fantastic! I’d want Beatrice James on my side if things came to push and shove. Bea, or Aunt Bea, as her six year old niece Phoebe calls her, is pure hearted, selfless and has so much love to share. She gives and gives and Ewan’s rude mother, Joyce, is so mean. We all know people like that, don’t we?!

“Did you come on the bike today, or is that a Kate Bush look gone wrong?”

I cringed as I read Joyce’s negative spew, knowing that Bea would take it graciously. I could learn a lot from Bea - she knew that the cause of Joyce’s rudeness would come to light soon enough and she (Bea) wouldn’t be caught bringing herself down to Joyce’s level. The character growth in this novel is amazing. I was thankful for a front row seat to the transformations.

At the heart of the novel is betrayal and its ripple effect. Timoney explores both sides in an effort to give her readers a little understanding about how and why betrayal happens and how we can help or hinder the situation depending on our response or reaction.

The line that resonated with me the most: “I wish we could go back. I’d do a lot of things differently.” I’m sure we can all relate. I appreciated the warning to live my best life each moment in order to minimize regrets.

This novel also focuses on assumptions….and you know what they say about the word assume?! Right. Years of damage are attributed to wrong assumptions. I loved Bea’s growth regarding assumptions. As I closed the book I was thankful for wisdom; I’m glad it seems to increase as I age!!!

“When I was growing up, I envied people like Ewan, living on roads like The Crescent, with their high paying jobs and fancy cars. I thought because they had everything they needed, they must be happy. Who wouldn’t be happy when they didn’t have to worry about money all the time? Turns out, people are just people, with messy, complicated lives, whatever road they live on. Who knew?”

This is a wonderful book about family dynamics, coming to the aid of family members when they need us and building each other up when the world seeks to tear us down. It’s beautifully told and elicits an emotional response. I’m eager to see what Timoney has in store for us in her second book.

Cheers to the book cover designer. It and the spine are spectacular!

I was gifted this advance copy by Avon Books UK and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.

[Nicola “Shortbookthyme” · Rating 3 out of 5]

Can you put a price on love?
A mystery full of family drama and so many secrets and lies.
Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

[Linda Hill · Rating 5 out of 5]

My full review is on the My Weekly website https://www.myweekly.co.uk/category/f...
However, what I can say here is that Her Daughter’s Secret is a realistic and emotional insight into family relationships and the choices we have to make that I thoroughly enjoyed reading.

[Hayley · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was very different than I was expecting. I thought I was getting a fast paced thriller and what I got was more of a family drama story. Thank goodness I really like those as well. I really liked the main character Bea she was very likeable and I enjoyed seeing how she managed when she was put in some very complicated situations. This book was full of secrets and lies and I loved how they all unfolded. This story was all about family secrets and how they played out. what I loved the most was the characters. I found them all to be very interesting and I couldn't help but root for them all, especially the little girl Phoebe since she had so much bad luck thrown her way. The only thing I didn't like about this book was there were so many characters and secrets going on that it was like a lot of them didn't get the full attention that was needed. I also found it a bit jumpy and hard to follow at points because every time I figured something out there was a point of view change or a time jump and both I'm not a huge fan of. This is one book that I feel needs to be read multiple times to really understand everything that the author is trying to tell you and I can't wait to reread this one after. Pretty good read overall but not my favourite however because of how much I loved the way the characters developed I cannot wait to see what else this author comes up with and I won't hesitate to read more by her in the future.

[Laura A · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks Netgalley for allowing me to read this book. Bea is missing her daughter. When he daughter come home, she is excited. When a secret is revealed it becomes a time for reflection. This book made me think about what family means.

[Sam “My Cosy Book Nook” · Rating 4 out of 5]

As I may have mentioned, I've been on holiday.

More specifically, I spent a week living on a boat in the Egyptian Red Sea, indulging in my other hobby of scuba diving over beautiful coral reefs with the occasional sighting of a shark and the biggest green sea turtle I have ever encountered. And when we - reluctantly - had to come out of the warm water, the boat crew were on hand to wait on us hand and foot with a seemingly endless supply of meals and snacks. I'm told the pay for the chefs is better on boats than in hotels, so the food is always top notch. It was - just in case I haven't already made it clear - a fantastic experience and I loved it.

Being out on a boat in the middle of the ocean meant that there was no phone or internet signal, which was also fantastic. It meant that, during the periods when I was neither diving nor eating (and yes, there were some), the best thing to do was to go for a swim or a snorkel. And after that, to sit, relax and read a good book.

The result was that I got through, on average, about a book every 2 days. Which meant that I arrived home with quite a lot of reviews to catch up on. I therefore have to apologise to Lisa Timoney for my overdue review, but I hope you understand that I have a good excuse ...

And if there's one book I'm glad to have read whilst relaxing in the sunshine, it's this one. It is - and this is absolutely no insult - a perfect holiday read.

The book tells the story of Beatrice (Bea) who is immediately likeable and identifiable. She hasn't been lucky in life and to compound that, she's made a mistake for which she can't - or won't - stop punishing herself. I wanted to grab hold of her and shake her in order to make her see sense and at the same time give her the huge hug that she both needed and deserved.

Bea's niece Phoebe is a delightful little girl who I loved and wanted to indulge just as much as she did. Her mother-in-law Joyce and daugher Immy initially seemed to be very different characters with just the one thing in common: they were every bit as unlikeable as Bea was likeable. However, as the book progresses you realise that actually, they both suffer from the same one fault: they're too proud to admit that they don't know how to ask for the help they need.

'Her Daughter's Secret' is no psychological thriller. The plot is a fairly simple one and it doesn't really contain any dramatic twists. But that's fine; it doesn't need to. As a family drama and a character study into human nature, it works just fine.

I also loved the touches of light humour that crop up throughout the book - just as they do in famiy life. In particular, the line "It was a long time since she'd had egg-shaped buttocks like the other mothers in the playground. Hers probably looked like two hot-crossed buns squashed at the bottom of a carrier bag" on the very first page had me laughing out loud and felt like a line that had been in the author's head, longing to come out in writing, for quite some time.

My one critical comment is that I didn't feel that the male characters were as well-portrayed as the female ones. Evan is simply a nasty piece of work and I have to say that I found social worker Eddie a little bit creepy. Perhaps this is something that was intentionally done to please a readership who will, probably, be mostly female. But if that's the case, it does seem to be something of a pity. A stereotypical middle-aged man such as myself can still enjoy a well-written piece of fiction, and - this one niggle aside - this book is most definitely that.

It therefore remains only for me to congratulate Lisa on a great debut novel. She has just become the latest to join my exponentially-growing list of authors whose works I want to read more of just as soon as they're published.

My thanks to the author and to Netgalley for the digital ARC of this book, which was published on 15th September. I have reviewed the book voluntarily and honestly, and will post my review on Goodreads, Amazon and my personal blog.

[Anita · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did not enjoy this family drama nearly as much as the first book I read by this author, ‘The Memory Library’ written under the name of Kate Storey.
‘Her Daughter’s Secret’ was too full of secrets, lies, and angst for my liking, and I found it hard to empathise with any of the characters in spite of their problems and trauma.
Immy was a precocious, spoilt, entitled brat. Joyce was manipulative and thoroughly unlikeable, and even Bea tended to irritate me with her indecisive actions and her flirtatious behaviour when in the presence of home carer, Eddie. She acted more like a fourteen year old, than the forty year old she was supposed to be. Six year old Phoebe was the only character who elicited my sympathy. She really got a raw deal, with a dead mother, an absent father and an uncaring grandmother. On top of which she struggled with a facial disfigurement and epilepsy. Only Bea appeared to care for her - poor child. (Again just Too Much angst.)
The conclusion of the story seemed to me unlikely and contrived, just to give readers the happy-ever-after ending the author felt they wanted. Story endings are very important in my estimation, but they do not necessarily have to be “and everyone lived happily and all problems were solved by waving a magic wand.” That only happens in children’s’ Fantasy. So 3 stars.

[Emma Robinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heartbreaking and life affirming

This heartbreaking debut novel from Lisa Timoney had me turning the pages late into the night, hoping against hope that everything was going to turn out well for Bea and her daughter.
Bea is such a relatable character – as a mother, an aunt, a friend – that I was rooting for her from the very beginning of the novel. It is clear from the outset that she is not revealing everything, but Timoney manages to keep us hooked as we learn more about Bea, her daughter and the nature of the family she married into.

As the revelations from the past are filtered through to the reader, Bea’s pain and regret are revealed. It is a testament to the author that she manages to take a difficult situation and make us not only believe it, but empathise with the decisions Bea has made.

The cast of supporting characters were also brilliantly drawn: some I wanted to see get their comeuppance and others I just loved (ahem, Eddie). I also hugely enjoyed the humour in the conversations between Bea and her Car Home colleague Jan. (We all need a Jan in our life!)

A fantastic read which I would wholeheartedly recommend!

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a delightful book about family relationships and all of the joys and sorrows that go with loving people that we choose and that we inherit when we marry someone. Bea as the main character of this story struggles with misplaced rejection by her husband's family as she struggles with the loss of both her husband and daughter in very different and yet painful ways. While some of the characters were stereotypes, their place in the story served as touch points to the growth of Bea and other key characters. While this book that dealt with so much sadness and a reality for so many people, it was a joy to read. Even though it was predictable in places, I was grateful to see individuals grow and flourish in the midst of such conflict. Since the setting is in Great Britain, there are some societal situations such as care homes that I did not fully understand as an American until further in the book, but the setting was enjoyable for this American who has traveled to the United Kingdom on more than one occasion.

I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a strong family tale about the power of truth and redemption in healing the human spirit.

[S.E. Lynes · Rating 5 out of 5]

A warm and wise debut from a talented new author, Her Daughter's Secret explores family, parenting, love, extended family, bad behaviour and impossible choices. Whilst the story is character-led, there is a lot of plot, not to mention twists worthy of any thriller. It is hard to believe that Timoney is a debut author, since she plays with our sympathies with an incredibly deft touch, seemingly pushing us to the point of no return, only to change the angle and make us look again, reconsider, even forgive. My favourite authors are those who, like Timoney, distribute the sympathies and scatter doubt throughout. Human beings not only make mistakes but they make the same ones over and over and over again and nowhere is this more apparent than in this heart-wrenching tale about a woman who has lost almost everything, who is clinging on to what little she has left, only to face losing that too. If I'm being vague about the details, it is because I don't like reviews that tell me the story. So I won't. I will just say, if you're a fan of well-written women's contemporary fiction, give this a go. It is gripping, emotional and as satisfying as a roast dinner.

[Kerry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Her Daughter’s Secret is a compelling family drama.
Bea is an easy character to like. She is trying to live a life after unimaginable grief. My heart went out to her. I can’t imagine losing my husband so young, let alone not knowing where my daughter is. She certainly has a lot to contend with.
I loved Bea’s close relationship with her niece, Phoebe (who is just the cutest character). I think her dedication to the child is heart-warming.
I can’t say I warmed to Ewan (her brother-in-law) or his mother. Although the old lady grew on me towards the end.
This book is full of emotion, tension, and suspense. I was intrigued by Immy especially. I knew there must be more to her story. I could understand Ewan’s feelings towards her to some degree, but I can’t imagine asking anyone to choose between her own daughter and the niece she adores. It’s just heart-breaking.
Neither could I have imagined in a million years the direction the story would take!
Such clever writing!
A brilliant end to a brilliant story.
I highly recommend.
**Many thanks to the author and publisher for my review copy via NetGalley**

https://chataboutbooks.blog/2022/09/0...

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m not sure even how I found this author, but I’m so glad I did. Looking forward to reading other books of hers. It is such a sweet, genuine story about relationships, about trust, about mothers and daughters and happiness. It is about how difficult it is sometimes to be a mother-in-law and to Side with your sons and love your daughters-in-law. Joyce was a fantastic character. Hilarious and stubborn. One good son. One selfish son who had to learn some lessons. I loved all of the parts about Bea’s relationship with her daughter and with Joyce‘s granddaughter. The way children treat each other, especially with any kind of physical abnormalities is so sad, but it is a good discussion to have, especially for children and adults who need to be more accepting.
I especially appreciate Bea’s line of work. There are so many people who don’t want to work with senior citizens or in retirement centers because they don’t wanna deal with it, and I know that so many older adults are mistreated. The way she cared for Vera and the others was just beautiful.

[Rachel - reallyslowreader · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you so much to Avon Books UK for the early copy of this one, with no obligation to review.

This was such a beautifully sad book that left me wanting more, even though the ending was perfect for me. I genuinely missed the characters when I finished, like the feeling you get when you come home after a weekend away with friends.

After two tragedies rock the James family, Bea becomes the main carer for her niece Phoebe. Having to deal with issues in work, a difficult mother-in-law and bullies at Phoebe’s school she is then faced with the horrendous decision of picking between her daughter Immy who has been missing for years and her niece. There is a lot going on in the story and tbh when Bea started losing it in the middle I got a bit frustrated but actually looking back I completely empathise with her and why she made certain decisions.

The book isn’t unpredictable but I did question some of the characters actions and involvement, some I was right about and some not, so I loved that there was still an element of surprise for me with the ending. It doesn’t play out like there is going to be a big twist but there is definitely a sense of mystery building throughout the whole book.

This is an amazing debut and I would definitely recommend it for anyone who loves a family drama, I think it would also be a great book club pick as there is a lot to talk about!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Fiona Mitchell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I spent several blissful hours reading Lisa Timoney’s wonderful debut and I have been thoroughly entertained. It is warm-hearted, thoughtful and funny (That Paul Weller reference continues to make me snicker). The novel has a gorgeous character at its centre, Care Support worker Bea whose relationship with her niece Phoebe is really moving. Bea tries to lift the little girl’s spirits every time she is ostracised because of the large birth marks on her face, and the love between auntie and niece fair radiates off the page. The author skilfully unfolds a compelling story about how Phoebe came to lose her mum, Gemma, and the many other cracks that are splitting this fragile family apart. All the themes of this novel appealed to me – motherhood and care work to name but two. The peripheral characters were fabulous — watch out for Vera, Larissa and Jan — who add to the superb humour. This page-turner does delve into loss, but overall it's a feel-good story.

[Bukola Akinyemi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Secrets, all families have them irrespective of class.

In Her Daughter’s Secret, we read about Bea who has lost her husband and sister in law, to top that, her teenage daughter Immy ran away from home.

Her six year old niece Phoebe is a ray of sunshine. Looking after Phoebe makes her happy even though Bea is being used and treated badly by her brother and mother in law.

Guilt has nearly destroyed Bea and Immy’s lives, but why do they feel so guilty? We find out as the secrets unravel.

Lisa has written an intriguing family story with characters that feel so real, I felt that I knew them. The nuanced characters make the reader think about all the events in a new light.

I really enjoyed reading this book, it’s fast paced with short chapters and a plot that’s builds up through the chapters. I’m moving on to the next book, Her Mother’s Lies.

The book cover is beautiful and even more appealing after reading the story.

[Jodi Rilot · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can’t believe this book is a debut novel. Lisa Timoney writes with such conviction and confidence. In Bea, we meet a woman tortured by grief and regrets, who blames herself in the way that only mothers can. We are by her side as she strives to make up for a past that she cannot undo. Bea is warm, and caring towards everyone but to herself and as a reader you long for her to find peace. And there are so many moments of humour, little character details that have you chuckling away. This is a family drama, with parallel threads of workplace drama and hope for romance. It’s a cracking read.

[Maadge · Rating 5 out of 5]

Captivating

A beautifully written debut novel.

It was easy to sympathise with the characters as they were so clearly defined it felt as if I knew them personally. When Bea was affronted, I wanted to get on her case but when she became overprotective I wanted to grab her arm and tell her to hold off. A novel with three generations of strong women, surely securing the best possible outcome, leaving the reader satisfied everything would be fine.

Really looking forward to Lisa Timoney’s next book.

[Rachael Wainwright · Rating 3 out of 5]

An easy read this one, which is what you need sometimes!

Bea has not seen her daughter Immy in years after she went missing. She has lost her husband to cancer and although loves her job as a care assistant, is struggling to make ends meet. She adores her niece Phoebe and is asked if she will take care of her while her father is away on business.

Cue a huge family secret, misunderstandings and some triggering topics of grief and addiction.

Not as gritty as I would usually go for but well written and heartwarming.

[Lorraine Joad · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! This is an emotional read, beautifully written with engaging characters.
Bea is struggling after the death of her husband and losing her daughter in difficult circumstances. She is left to deal with the dreaded in-laws. This is a family drama depicting the up and downs Of relationships. A brilliant debut novel.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC. It was an absolute pleasure.

[Aria Harlow · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fast paced mystery that I read in one sitting. It was well written with a good storyline and well developed characters that were likeable, well some of them, believable and relatable. The story was full of secrets, lies and family dramas. It was heartbreaking and emotive at times as well. A great read.

[Zoe Antoniades · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great story. One of those books where you just have to keep reading because you’ve got to know what’s what and if everyone and everything will be alright. You’re really rooting for the characters and wanting the best for them as they have to endure so many of life’s harrowing struggles and challenges. But at the heart of it there’s always hope.

[Suzy Oldfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this from the moment I read the first few pages. Was totally hooked. Real and believable characters that you find yourself rooting for. Full of unexpected turns and the characters continue to surprise you. A really satisfying ending that doesn't disappoint. The author really knows how to write family drama. Can't wait for the next book to come out.

[Leanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

A novel about secrets, family and the lengths you to for your family. I could not get enough of this outstanding book. The plot is thoughtful and enjoyable and the characters have many layers of lies and deceit that will have you shaking your head. I adored little Phoebe who was the only innocent one in all the family drama. Her struggles broke my heart and made me cry.

[Carole · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an easy read and I enjoyed it.
Following Bea and her life after her husband dies, then her daughter leaving in difficult circumstances . Her misplaced obligation to her ungrateful in laws and trying to do a job she loves.

Thank you to Netgalley for my ARC copy of this novel

[Jeryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a gripping family saga with a lot of surprising twists and turns. Whenever you think you know what is really going on with this family, another revelation is made that changes everything. The story is exciting. The book is full of great characters. All in all, it is a very absorbing book.

[Sheri · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book about family. Loving them and living with them are not always the same thing. This book was different than I expected but I loved it anyway. The story is about family, secrets, and how those secrets can change lives. What a great story!

[Angi Plant · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have only recently found Lisa Timoney’s books. Her writing is engrossing and full of humanity and the twists and turns that are taken in real life. I found myself feeling every feeling possible and I was in tears more than once. Brilliant.

[Joanne Hull · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was an easy read and kept me interested. I was just a wee bit disappointed in the ending. It was easy to work out and didn't surprise me too much. Saying that, I did like the storyline and will give her next book a read.

[Cherie · Rating 1 out of 5]

Awful

Boring, pathetic and whiney. This is the main character, Bea, and the supporting characters are just as bad.
This story reads like something a teenager might attempt as a first writing project.
What a waste of .99 cents. Glad that's all I spent on this idiotic drivel.

[Laurene Kasper · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not Just Her Daugter's

Very emotional ,sometimes a great high and sometimes a great low. Made me want to strangle some characters and meet some others. There is even one incident I never would have guessed correctly the outcome!