The Secrets We Keep

by Theresa Howes

A sweeping historical novel for fans of Suzanne Goldring, Mandy Robotham and Kristin Hannah.

1944, the Cote d’Azur.
Artist Marguerite Segal is recruited by British Intelligence into befriending Etienne Valade, a local priest. Her mission is to persuade him to pass on information from the high-ranking German officers who attend his church: evidence of their war crimes.

Connected by a passion for art, Marguerite and Etienne soon fall in love, but their association increasingly puts her at danger of violent reprisals. With his church frequented by Nazis, Etienne is a suspected collaborator, and distrust is high.

And Marguerite is keeping her own secret too. Like the Jews whose identity cards she forges to hide them from the Third Reich, she is hiding behind a false name, her true identity and past known only to her closest friend.

Marguerite must get hold of the documents that will condemn the German officers but, in a world where everything is at stake, can she truly trust anyone – even the man she loves?

Genres: Historical Fiction, World War II, Audiobook, Fiction, War, Historical

353 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 10, 2022

About the author

Theresa Howes lives in London with her husband and Claude, a larger than average cat. When she isn’t writing or reading, she enjoys seeing how many more plants she can cram into her tiny London garden, walking, and putting the world to rights over a gin and tonic.

Her first two novels, THE SECRETS WE KEEP and THE FRENCH AFFAIR are set in occupied France during WWII. Her third novel, A MATTER OF PERSUASION, is a retelling of Jane Austen’s Persuasion, set in America’s Gilded Age. AN AMERICAN SCANDAL, a reimagining of Jane Austen’s Mansfield Park, will be published in 29 Jan 2026

Reviews

[Karren Sandercock · Rating 4 out of 5]

Marguerite Segal is an artist, she lives in a remote farmhouse with her friend Simone and near Cote d’Azur. First the Italians occupy the French Rivera, they leave and the Germans arrive. Marguerite is recruited by the British Intelligence, they want as much information as they can obtain about German defenses and the officer in charge Otto Schmidt and evidence of the war crimes he’s committed.

The plan is for her to meet a catholic priest Etienne Valade, he’s said to be collaborating with the Germans and Marguerite takes part in a church service. The only people present are German soldiers, the locals refuse to attend and hate anyone who they think is on the Germans side. Father Etienne isn’t what Marguerite is expecting, he’s younger and rather handsome. His family were art dealers before the war in Paris and they share a mutual interest, when Marguerite is seen visiting the priest, the citizens of Cote d’Azur question her loyalty and it puts her life in danger.

Marguerite is not only working for the British, she’s uses her skills as an artist to forge fake documents and she’s the only one able to do this. She and a network of others are protecting Jewish people, enemy aliens who haven’t been able to escape and helping the French resistance.

As the allies get closer, the Germans decide that if they can't keep the Riviera then no one else would have it, they start building anti-tank walls, and digging defense pits around the town and cover the coast in landmines and barbed wire. The people of Cote d’Azur are terrified, they stay off the streets and hide in their cellars.

I received a copy of The Secrets We Keep by Theresa Howes from HQ Digital and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. It’s a story about the challenges and reprisals the people faced in the French Rivera during the Second World War, a place once known for it’s beauty, culture and high life. The narrative is about the cruelties of war, hardship, sacrifice, the risks the main characters took and the secrets they kept to protect their friends and loved ones. Four and a half stars from me and I highly recommend reading this book.

[Alena · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sometimes I have to take what I can get for library digital downloads and in an airport with a long flight ahead I thought WWII female led historic fiction would hit the mark. Not so much.
I was very disappointed in this very long and repetitive borderline romance novel. What saved it from me giving up entirely was a very engaging protagonist, but that was about it for me.

[Lana Kortchik · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this stunning novel of hardship, courage and sacrifice. The Secrets We Keep paints a vivid and heartbreaking picture of the Nazi occupation of Cote d'Azur, the difficult choices faced by the local population and the lengths they would go to to protect their loved ones. It's a story of sorrow, joy, love and hope and it will stay with me for a long time. Highly recommend for anyone who enjoys beautifully written historical fiction.

[Trudy Dowling · Rating 5 out of 5]

I stayed up late into the night to finish The Secrets We Keep. I had tried putting it away earlier, but I couldn't stop thinking about the story. I needed to know. No, I had to know. The ending was worth every minute I was up past my bedtime. Sleep still alluded me. Ideas for review comments kept popping up. Too bad I didn't write them down. This morning, the most important thought on repeat is--You need to read The Secrets We Keep.

You need to read The Secrets We Keep to gain perspective of WW2 occupied France. The author did a brilliant job describing the results of the occupation. The French citizens were starving. The French citizens lived in fear of the Germans. The French citizens lost any sense of freedom. Their town was crumbling all around them and they had few options.

Standing up to the Germans had serious consequences. I had never realized how many challenges they experienced until the author helped me see. The author's words painted a picture of a suffering I could not comprehend. I have always read WW2 books in the safety of my home. Those in occupied France didn't even have the freedom to read what the wanted. So much was done in secret.

The author created a thrilling, exciting story about those that fought the Germans in secret. Page after page, their bravery came through. Page after page the reader is left wondering who to trust, who will help them. There are many heroes and heroines, but as in the war, many will not survive. You might want to have some tissues handy.

The epilogue is absolutely fantastic!!! Just thinking about it brings tears to my eyes. The Americans have arrived. The Germans are leaving. The town is punishing those that were Nazi sympathizers. They are looking for someone to blame, to take out their anger. As the main character, Marguerite, walks out into the sunshine you are left thinking what will happen next. There are so many possibilities, just like there were for the survivors of WW2. All will done with a broken heart after loosing so many that she held dear.

[Lori · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m not sure what to think about this book. It wasn’t nearly as good as I’d hoped and yet there was something about the story that kept me reading. I didn’t find the writing very engaging but the story was good and I definitely wanted to find out how it ended. I was very disappointed with the ending. Not one of my favorites.

[LindyLouMac · Rating 5 out of 5]

Essentially a love story ‘ The Secrets We Keep’ is an exciting debut from Theresa Howes. Her inspiration for this touching story is her love of art combined with visits to the Cote d’Azur. The latter prompting her to imagine what life must have been like under occupation for the locals.

Marguerite, the protagonist is an artist, though English she has moved to France to escape an unhappy past and live quietly in the countryside. The war has meant that she feels honour bound to help in any way she can, in the fight against the enemy. Into her life in an unexpected way comes Etienne, who as a priest finds himself, out of a duty to God, having to be agreeable to the occupying soldiers.

The story is an engaging one and is written in an appealing descriptive style. Recommended to fans of the genre.

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[Sandra K Rice · Rating 5 out of 5]

Memorizing

I can't believe how fast I read this book -- couldn't put it down! The story helped me to remember the wonderful life I have had these 75+ years all because of others who paid a big price for my freedom. This story highlights the suffering that they faced. We all need this reminder of that gift.

[Jill Vaughn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book kept me on the edge of my seat. There were so many layers to this story of resistance in occupied France. I have read numerous books about the French resistance and found this one to not quite be on the same themes. The descriptions of food, clothing and just general living gave a realistic picture of what life really was like. The author does not paint all Germans as hardened leaders intent on inflicting punishment instead we meet some very conflicted souls. I was on the edge of my seat till the end.

[Jo · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's 1944 and artist Marguerite is living under an assumed name on the south coast of Occupied France. British Intelligence has recruited her to get information from a Catholic priest whose church is attended by Nazis but this brings unexpected attention to her household and has repercussions for her friends. This isn't as cosy as I thought it might be; it's heartbreaking in parts but shows what life was like for those caught up in such horrific events. The ending had me welling up.

[Lily Fullford · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was an okay book but it had an ending that left a lot to be desired and I felt like the plot and backstory were somewhat lacking.

[Angie Gajewski · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this for the espionage theme for a book challenge! Really enjoyed it!!!

[Michelle Greiz · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Kathleen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very disappointed. I struggled to finish this. I read a lot of historical fiction, much set during WWII. This isn’t good historical fiction. It is a romance novel, not my cup of tea. The characters are one-dimensional, the plotting very disjointed, and plot twists were very unbelievable.
The main character’s ex, an English ex-con, shows up in occupied France and that doesn’t raise any eyebrows? The American army finally arrives and the local Gestopo chief is still hanging out in his office? I don’t think so. And the character and actions of the French priest stretched credulity.

I can’t believe this author won any of the awards in her bio. I won’t be reading anything else by her.

[Joanne Barton · Rating 5 out of 5]

A heartbreakingly beautiful novel which captures the endurance and strength of ordinary people in the darkest of times, and the courage of one woman who put her life on the line to join the resistance.

It is 1944 and artist Marguerite Segal is recruited by British Intelligence into befriending Etienne Valade, a local priest. Her mission is to persuade him to pass on information from the high-ranking German officers who attend his church: evidence of their war crimes. Connected by a passion for art, Marguerite and Etienne soon fall in love, but their association increasingly puts her at danger of violent reprisals. With his church frequented by Nazis, Etienne is a suspected collaborator, and distrust is high.

For anyone that enjoys stories written about WWII and the French Resistance, this book will not disappoint. Set in the Côte d’Azur, the locals are suffering badly with the cruelty shown by the German occupiers. The story highlights the lengths that the Resistance are prepared to go to to defeat the German occupiers and who can you trust? This is a story of survival, a story of love, a story of joy - a story of of survival!

This is Theresa’s first book and is a page turner that you will not be able to put down! Highly recommended - you will be hooked from the first chapter.

[Michele Losse · Rating 2 out of 5]

I could not finish it. Another heavy romance disguised as 'historical' where the latter is not researched and not believable. The fact that the book is set in the South of France, Nice, attraced me to this book and the synopsis, WW2, Resistance work and a woman attracted to a priest. I thought it could be interesting, especially since I grew up in this part of France. The characters lacked depth for a start, and their actions are completely disjointed, it's like they always acted on the spur of the moment, not planning and not thinking. There was obviously no research done about Nice itself, its geography and setting, it could have been anywhere in France, and it's described more as a small town than he large town it already was; the writer has obviously not done any research about the actual town, either in the 1940s or now. We are told about the sandy beaches, which it doesn't have it's pebbles! Next, the beaches are off limit, because of the barbed wire, true, it happened. Then, the priest goes swimming and of course Marguerite is there to see him coming back in his swimming costume, I think you can guess the rest... then the relationships: Jeanne is meant to be Simone's daughter but further on it's Nicole! The same Jeanne disapears for days arrested by the Gestapo but no one at her home notices until the Gestapo turns up! Marguerite has never met the head of the Gestapo, then further on, she fears he might recognise her from a chance encounter in the park in the dark where he's not mentioned! The Priest isn't believable as a French priest, the people's names not accurate for 1940s French names nor believable (French names were strictly regulated until the 90s) no one would be called 'Biquet' meaning baby goat! After deciding not to finish the book, I went back to look at the date the book is set in: summer 1944: Nice was liberated in August 1944 and it's on Wikipedia!! Give it a miss if you like your HF well researched and believable.

[Shreyash Sill · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Secrets We Keep is a story of challenges, endurance, reprisals and resilience in the French Rivera during World War II in 1944, a place once known for it’s beauty, culture and high life. Intriguing and suspenseful, this stunning narrative paints a vivid and heartbreaking picture of the Nazi occupation of Cote d'Azur - the cruelties of war, hardship, sacrifice, risks faced by the local population and the lengths and bredths of secrets they kept to protect themselves and their loved ones. A skillful cast of characters emerge in this captivating journey of sorrow, joy, courage, love, betrayal, determination and hope.

It is a story about artist Marguerite Segal who leaves a bad domestic situation in England, to go to southern France only to be caught up in a worse situation there under Nazi occupation. She is being recruited by British Intelligence into befriending Etienne Valade, a local priest, with a mission to persuade him to pass on information from the high-ranking German officers who attend his church. Connected by a passion for art, Marguerite & Etienne soon fall in love, but their association increasingly puts her at danger of violent reprisals. With his church frequented by Nazis, she is faced with fear and loss, mistrust and hurt as she strives to complete her assigned mission of defying the enemy and bringing them down from within. And in this process, she loses some of her close loved ones.

She’s hiding behind a false name, her true identity & past known only to her closest friend. Marguerite must get hold of the documents that will condemn the German officers but, in a world where everything is at stake, can she truly trust anyone – even the man she loves?

[SHIRLEY · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novel covers the final days of WWII when Germany occupied France. It takes place in a small village near the Cote D'Azur. The main characters are Marguerite - an artist from the UK who moved there 10 yrs prior to this novel, who is recruited by British Intel to obtain info about the German defenses on the coast and evidence of war crimes. She lives in a farmhouse outside of the village with a friend, Simone, who is also part of the Resistance.
I liked the way the author described the daily life and stresses of the French villagers. She made the food shortages, fear, suspicion, and friendship come to life as they grappled with the realities of war and occupation.
Simone hides another Englishwoman who is a writer, and between her and Marguerite, manage to keep the Germans at bay. Marguerite is supposed to meet with a Catholic priest who the British suspect of collaborating with the Germans, and she unexpectedly, meets him when he has a chance to rescue her from a potentially dangerous situation. However, her visits to his residence arouse suspicion among the villagers and they shun her, limit her ability to purchase food, and generally question her loyalty.
There is a love story but it is not the main focus of the book. This story is about the risks that the characters took, and the secrets they kept to protect them selves and their families. . The plot was well developed, and the characters were believable.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for offering this ARC to me. The opinions are my own.

[Tanya Hunter-Robinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to @HQSTORIES for letting me be a part of this blog tour for Theresa’s latest title. I finished this book yesterday, on the 11th November, Remembrance Day, while sitting in a coffee shop. 10 minutes after I read the final chapter, the whole coffee shop observed a two minute silence to remember the fallen. It was very apt. This book is right up my street being historical fiction, but I do love reading war stories of those that aren’t necessarily on the front lines, but on the home fronts. Marguerite’s town was infiltrated with German soldiers throughout the war and in order to defy the enemy and to bring them down from within, she and other remarkable townspeople risked their lives on a daily basis, and their bravery and contribution to the war effort should never be overlooked. The amount of loss in this book was hard to take, as was reading about some townsfolk turning on those they viewed as collaborators, but I guess it’s so difficult for us to have a view of this now, when we’ve not lived anything like their experiences. All in all, I really enjoyed this story, the short chapters helped me to keep reading and wanting more and if you’re a historical fiction fan like me, you’ll like this one!

[Judith · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Secrets We Keep is a wonderful first novel from Theresa Howes. I couldn’t put it down, the quality of the writing, the realism of the setting in the South of France and the completely immersive story set in the final days of the second World War. Marguerite is an engaging and believable woman who chose to move to the South of France ten years before this story begins. Her back story unfolds gradually but her real role is as a member of the resistance. Howes perfectly captures the tensions of war in those small French villages and we can’t but help to fall in love with Marguerite, her friends and then her priest. The Secrets We Keep combines the ordinary daily struggle of village life with food shortages and suspicion at all levels. With romance and joy as well as a dose of sorrow with the horrors and reality of war. The action is so typical French village , rich with emotions and subterfuge but with the layer of espionage it’s also thrilling and a real page turner. I’m looking forward to Theresa Howes next book. What a writer, Thanks to @netgalley for an advance copy to read and review and to the publisher @harpercollins. The opinions are my own.

[Ronald · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very moving story

The Secrets We Keep is a story of endurance and resilience during World War II. It is a story that follows Marguerite as she leaves a bad domestic situation in England, to go to southern France only to be caught up in a worse situation there under Nazi occupation. She becomes an agent of the British, and along with suffering under the conditions imposed by the Nazis on the population, she is faced with fear and loss, mistrust and hurt as she strives to complete her assigned mission and in the process losing some of those close to her. A priest becomes her focus amidst the ever increasing violence and threats around her and confronting her. This is an extremely good novel, very descriptive of the horrors of war. War is horrible and this novel certainly reflects the realities of war. I highly recommend this book.

[Don · Rating 2 out of 5]

A very interesting topic for a book, but the story just wasn't very convincing for me. I have read many WWII nonfiction and historical fiction novels over the years and looked forward to reading this book. This story was a bit unbelievable to me with some of the characters in this book. What really turned me off on this book was the timeline of the story did not really fit the June 6, 1944 D-Day invasion by the Allies. It just did not seem to me that Theresa Howes had thoroughly researched events of D-Day in France and how she tied them into this story.

[Mary Cutter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazingly Written!

I have read a number of World War II novels and this novel is among the top! Reading this book I could feel the fear and anxiety on all sides of the war. The uncertainty of war time was evident throughout the book. The characters were either likable or unlikable according to their roles. All characters are relatable. This is a book not to be missed!
--Mary C

[GERRY Hermans · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set in the south of France explores the lives of artist Marguerite, asked to use her skills to aid the resistance, & priest Etienne who welcomes Nazi's into his church. A skillful cast of characters emerge in this captivating story of courage, love, betrayal & determination, during the brutal occupation by the Nazis.

[Margaret A. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story, great women

I absolutely couldn't put this book down. Very well written, complex, compelling, both extremely brave and weak characters. French WW2 resistance set on the Riviera. Everything you could want in historical fiction. Hard to believe this is a first novel, can't wait for her 2nd.

[Diane · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book could have been a winner, except for some of the writing. The story was tooo wordy. However the story is intriguing. A woman and a priest meet to help others to escape the Nazi control in their area. An interesting relationship develops. This book presents a side of the resistance that I have read very little about.

[peter walton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyed this WW2 novel & that evil was eventually beaten by goodness. I was made to think that ordinary people suffered & sacrificed both mental & physical hurt/abuse during this terrible period, including love. Theresa Howes always manages to make you understand the feelings that people like you & me have to endure & that WARS are always useless.

[KateP · Rating 3 out of 5]

Set in the south of France during WWII, Marguerite is given a mission to obtain information from the occupying Germans. She needs the help of Etienne, the local priest. An interesting glimpse into life in an ordinary village, where hardship causes some to collaborate, others to denounce their neighbours, and no-one can know who to trust, but ultimately I found the story/plot a little slow. 3.5⭐️

[Amy Greenslade · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5⭐️🎧

A good reminder that in war, there are so many unsung heroes who we will never know about. People who fought undercover and not only had to fight against the Germans but citizens of their own town for thinking they were on the German’s side. Must have been such a terrible, lonely time where you never knew who you could trust.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this telling of occupied France in WWII
A little romance, a little espionage. I feel for Marguerite and what the other characters all go through because of the Nazis.
We’ve just had the Minnesota woman murdered by the ice agent so this felt very timely and very emotional when similar events happen in the book.

[Violet Thetford]

Such an amazing story

From the moment I began reading, I could not put this book down. So many twists and turns, such an explosive ending . this is one book you won't easily forget