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emmacr2024's review against another edition
3.0
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.
nannykaren's review against another edition
5.0
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Unfortunately, I didn’t download my ARC in time so I purchased this book and my gosh, I’m so pleased I did! I read this in one day with the help of the audio while I was cooking! A wonderful WWII love story that is told over two timelines: WWII and the present day. Suzanne describes everything so well that you can feel the fear, the love and the sorrow of the characters - I felt as though I was the proverbial fly on the wall.
piperkitty's review against another edition
4.0
This story includes tackling a WW2 secret whereas depicting the mystery plant as an substance unto itself. As the cultivate gets reestablished, lives get recuperated and the secret unwinds. ReaI was inspired to discover that indeed the two included in spying drew my sensitivity. All the characters are truly well drawn and the story is fulfilling and energizing. I examined it exceptionally rapidly since it fair pulled me in so quick. A must examined.
darladark's review against another edition
1.0
This book is a dual storyline which builds a picture around a secret box found in a garden. The characters are quite flat and the writing is circular, stilted and repetitive. I was given an arc for an honest review.
robinlovesreading's review against another edition
5.0
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 -
srivalli's review against another edition
4.0
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.
•
Spoiler
There’s something highly satisfying when reading about older couples finding their lost love.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
rbharath's review against another edition
5.0
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.
jennmcburney's review against another edition
4.0
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!
hmurff's review against another edition
4.5
This book was fantastic. It was a little slow paced at first, but a lot happens in the last 100 or so pages.
This book is written from 3 different POVs and a couple of different time periods (1940s, 1950s, and present day). It is so much fun seeing the story play out from when it was originally happening and when it is being discovered in present day. Watching the stories intertwine is so fascinating and wonderfully written.
All of the characters are written extremely well, even the ones you only see for a chapter or two. Each character has so much personality and depth to them it feels like you’ve known each of them for years.
There are so many good twists and turns throughout this book. You will also feel every emotion throughout it- anger, sadness, happiness, and love are just a few of them.
This is definitely a story that will stick with you and make you think about life, guilt, friendships, and love in a way you probably haven’t before. Definitely a book everyone should read at some point in time
This book is written from 3 different POVs and a couple of different time periods (1940s, 1950s, and present day). It is so much fun seeing the story play out from when it was originally happening and when it is being discovered in present day. Watching the stories intertwine is so fascinating and wonderfully written.
All of the characters are written extremely well, even the ones you only see for a chapter or two. Each character has so much personality and depth to them it feels like you’ve known each of them for years.
There are so many good twists and turns throughout this book. You will also feel every emotion throughout it- anger, sadness, happiness, and love are just a few of them.
This is definitely a story that will stick with you and make you think about life, guilt, friendships, and love in a way you probably haven’t before. Definitely a book everyone should read at some point in time
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