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Fiona Valpy
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The Skylark's Secret Kindle Edition

by Fiona Valpy (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 39,480 ratings
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Loch Ewe, 1940. When gamekeeper’s daughter Flora’s remote highland village finds itself the base for the Royal Navy’s Arctic convoys, life in her close-knit community changes forever. In defiance of his disapproving father, the laird’s son falls in love with Flora, and as tensions build in their disrupted home, any chance of their happiness seems doomed.

Decades later, Flora’s daughter, singer Lexie Gordon, is forced to return to the village and to the tiny cottage where she grew up. Having long ago escaped to the bright lights of the West End, London still never truly felt like home. Now back, with a daughter of her own, Lexie learns that her mother—and the hostile-seeming village itself—have long been hiding secrets that make her question everything she thought she knew.

As she pieces together the fragments of her parents’ story, Lexie discovers the courageous, devastating sacrifices made in her name. It’s too late to rekindle her relationship with her mother, but can Lexie find it in her heart to forgive the past, to grieve for all that’s lost, and finally find her place in the world?

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  1. Print length
    321 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  4. Publisher
    Lake Union Publishing
  5. Publication date
    September 29, 2020
  6. File size
    4526 KB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
  10. See all details
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Popular Highlights in this book
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  1. They mourned those sons of other mothers and fathers as though they were their own, as they would wish their men to be mourned should they fall in far-off lands: because humanity has no borders.
    Highlighted by 187 Kindle readers
  2. Perhaps that’s the only way to deal with grief. It’s such a heavy load to bear alone – but knowing that there are always others to share it is a help.
    Highlighted by 179 Kindle readers
  3. Everything has changed. And nothing has changed. The truth is a powerful force.
    Highlighted by 124 Kindle readers
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Editorial Reviews

Review

“A wonderfully immersive novel about mothers and daughters, lovers and friends, set against a vivid and beautifully described Scottish setting. I loved it!” —Victoria Connelly, bestselling author of The Rose Girls

“Love, love, loved it. I love Scotland and history so it ticked lots of boxes. Brilliant story, I was completely immersed in it, so moving and touching too. The research needed must have been hard to do but it brought the war and the arctic convoys to life. I felt cold just reading about it.” —Lesley Pearse, author of You’ll Never See Me Again

“A moreish story of love, war, loss, and finding love again, set against an atmospheric Highlands backdrop.” —Gill Paul, author of The Second Marriage

About the Author

Fiona is an acclaimed, number 1 bestselling author, whose books have been translated into more than twenty languages worldwide. She draws inspiration from stories of strong women, especially during the years of World War II. Her meticulous historical research enriches her writing with an evocative sense of time and place.

Fiona spent seven years living in France, having moved there from the UK in 2007, before returning to live in Scotland. Her love for both of these countries, their people and their histories, has found its way into the books she’s written.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B07X3NMHXJ
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Lake Union Publishing (September 29, 2020)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ September 29, 2020
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 4526 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 321 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 39,480 ratings

About the author

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Fiona Valpy

Fiona Valpy

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Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Fiona is an acclaimed number 1 bestselling author, whose books have been translated into more than thirty different languages worldwide.

She draws inspiration from the stories of strong women, especially during the years of World War II. Her meticulous historical research enriches her writing with an evocative sense of time and place.

She spent seven years living in France, having moved there from the UK in 2007, before returning to live in Scotland. Her love for both of these countries, their people and their histories, has found its way into the books she’s written.

Fiona says, "To be the first to hear about my NEW releases, please visit my website at www.fionavalpy.com and subscribe to the mailing list. I promise not to share your e-mail and I'll only contact you when there's news about my books."

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
4.4 out of 5
39,480 global ratings
Couldn’t stop reading
4 Stars
Couldn’t stop reading
This was a very different kind of WW11 story because it mainly focused on a small community in Loch Ewe, Scotland. Loch Ewe is a beautiful north-facing loch that was used as a convoy collecting point during WW11.The novel takes place during that time. Its told in duel timelines that are both heartbreaking. I found myself very upset during most of it and wanted things to go much differently.I know that war is a hard thing and it leaves scars but this story made me very sad. Having said all that I found the writing very good and I couldn’t stop reading. I did gain more insight on this terrible war.One day I hope to visit Scotland and I would very much like to see the northern lights.Thanks Amazon Publishing via NetGalley.
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Top reviews from the United States

jan
5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful story
Reviewed in the United States on March 29, 2024
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And my first book by author Fiona Valpy. Historical fiction brought to life with wonderful characters. Can't wait to read another.
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maidenm
4.0 out of 5 stars This is an enjoyable historical fiction with romance.
Reviewed in the United States on October 12, 2023
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This story was wonderful to listen to through audible. The characters are genuine, loving as well as a few fearful individuals. There is a great sadness that prevails over the main story at the loss of so many young men who served in the war never returned to their lively Scottish homes and families, as well as other nationalities that served alongside the locals of Scotland.

The story itself revolves around a native young woman who leaves her home to make a future of her own but returns to her roots to discover that her return was what she needs to fully heal her own heart.

Sweet story worth revisiting.
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MaryEllen S
5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful, tragic, gripping
Reviewed in the United States on March 7, 2021
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This book pretends to be one thing, but as it draws you in, you slowly start to realize that it has been expanding with every chapter to encompass not just the story of a sleepy Scottish fishing village, but the whole of World War 2.

It is beautifully written, telling the story of a mother and her daughter, in alternating chapters. It is disguised at first as a simple story about choices and opportunities, regrets and reality. It moves along slowly, weaving in and out between the late 1970’s, and the early 1940’s, but it’s humanity is timeless. Though largely fictitious, it rings true in every word and emotion.

The village of Loch Ewe is a real place that we come to discover holds an especially important role in the war against Nazi oppression. It brings together men and women from all over the world, all working toward one goal. The details the author brings to each time period, especially in her descriptions of the events of WW2, place the reader perfectly within the story. We can easily imagine ourselves as these characters, and we are the better for it.

The Skylark’s Secret is a story of love, first and foremost. It is a tale of endurance, sacrifice, tragedy and triumph. It is the story of men and women who overcame.

To be honest, I started this journey not expecting much more than a lusty tale of romance in the Scottish Highlands. I’m not much for romance novels, preferring almost every genre but those. But I’m a sucker for all things Scottish, so I gave it a chance. I owe the author a massive apology for grossly underestimating the scope and breadth of this book. This is NOT a Harlequin romance. There are no bulging bosoms, nor bulging triceps. There are simple people who are so much more than they first appear, as most of us are if we dig deep enough.

Their stories have universal truths of friendship, loyalty, and the love we can share if only we would. I ended this book in tears. I ended it wanting more. I ended it with a desire to study the history of this lovely place caught up in events that changed it forever. I ended up in love.
7 people found this helpful
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DJ Fisher
5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic WW II Scottish Historical story
Reviewed in the United States on April 14, 2024
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Captivating story across generations taking place mostly in small Scottish town based on life during WW II and effects on future generations. Small town on the water with highlands and close knit community. Young love between the Lord of the manor’s son and the daughter of manor’s main resident land manager that is provided with cottage for his family on the property. The two youngings grow up together and story continues and captivates the reader through their life and beyond. Beautiful and informative read.
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Donna
4.0 out of 5 stars Flora & Lexie 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿
Reviewed in the United States on January 21, 2024
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🎤It’s the late 1970’s when single mother and former West End singer Lexie Gordon moves back to the Scottish highlands where she grew up, with her young daughter Daisy.

⚓️During WW2, Flora Gordon’s village is transformed into a naval base. She’s in love with Alec, the laird’s son, but his father doesn’t approve of the relationship with his keeper’s daughter.

❤️Returning home feels oppressive, but slowly Lexie starts to understand how the local community have supported both herself and her mother, holding her mother’s secrets close.

📚I have read several of Fiona Valpy’s stories set in wartime France, and this Scottish one doesn’t disappoint. I was drawn to the dual timeline, the way Lexie and her daughter were welcomed with open arms by her community. It made me realise how short a time there was between the war and the 1970’s, which I struggle to appreciate sometimes. A compelling read ❤️

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My rating 4/5 - ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
2 people found this helpful
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dianecmac
5.0 out of 5 stars A riveting story, so well told and in a historically accurate setting
Reviewed in the United States on February 21, 2021
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Fiona's writing never disappoints, but this book had me spellbound as soon as I knew the setting was Aultbea on Loch Ewe in Scotland's North West Highlands during the days of WWII. In 1944, my dad was 22 and a young seaman on that tiny tug "The Empire Sprite" stationed at Loch Ewe, when on February 26th he and his fellow crewmen spotted the flares from the stricken "SS William H Welch" and rushed through the raging storm to attempt to rescue the crew. Dad was always so emotional when describing the event, and often had nightmares about his inability to save the crew - many just young boys of eighteen. After having to return to port to get a new anchor because their anchor broke away, the tug returned to the scene a few hours later only to find the ship already broken in two and they had no means of rescuing the men.

The author does a wonderful job of bringing the real history of the Arctic Convoys and the shipwreck of the American liberty ship to life while weaving the story of her fictional characters throughout. The descriptions were so vivid, and because I know the history well and have visited the Russian Arctic Convoy Museum, she had me right there in Aultbea with my dad and the characters of this book in WWII

The fictional story is absolutely riveting! You won't want to put this book down!
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Michele
3.0 out of 5 stars Good read
Reviewed in the United States on April 22, 2023
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Not as good as I expected but I enjoyed the book nonetheless. Not her best effort but I enjoyed it.
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Top reviews from other countries

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Von
5.0 out of 5 stars Interesting story following the lives of a mother and a daughter
Reviewed in Canada on October 4, 2021
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Loch Ewe, 1940. When gamekeeper’s daughter Flora’s remote highland village finds itself the base for the Royal Navy’s Arctic convoys, life in her close-knit community changes forever. In defiance of his disapproving father, the laird’s son falls in love with Flora, and as tensions build in their disrupted home, any chance of their happiness seems doomed.
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Charley boy
5.0 out of 5 stars The Skylarks secret.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 15, 2024
Verified Purchase
One of her best novels. A war time novel about the arctic convoys that were based in a loch in north west Scotland. Probably an unsung part of the allies war time effort to feed the Soviet union. Coupled with romance, love , bravery and terror and ultimately sadness. As usual this novel is in two time frames. This is one of those novels that you wish would never end but what an ending.
Spellbinding.
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Paola B.
5.0 out of 5 stars Conoscere la storia per non fare gli stessi errori
Reviewed in Italy on June 24, 2022
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Un libro narrato tra la seconda guerra mondiale e il passato prossimo degli anni '70.
La storia di una madre e una figlia, una storia che si legge volentieri.
Una piacevole scoperta la narrazione dei "Russian Arctic Convoys" , spedizioni dove, durante la II guerra mondiale, persero la vita migliaia di giovani uomini, e decine di navi sparirono nel mare più pericoloso che esista. Non dimentichiamoli
One person found this helpful
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Angela Hazebroek
5.0 out of 5 stars one of the best of Fiona’s books
Reviewed in Australia on October 11, 2023
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Generous and Loving hearts triumph through the darkness where the evil in men’s hearts fuels domestic and global violence. The lasting threads of music and community make this a powerful read.
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Carol Mellon
4.0 out of 5 stars Review of The Skylarks Secret
Reviewed in Canada on March 17, 2021
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This is a good historical novel set in the Northern part of Scotland during WWll The story is set from the young women's perspective who live in the area as they interact with the young seamen who arrive on the British fleet to defend the northern waters of Scotland and the British Iles.. It highlights their struggles loves and lives as well as telling us about life during the war. This is a good story and I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in the history of the war and how the war affected women of that time. Carol Mellon
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