As Lexie pieces together the fragments of her parents’ story, she finds 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? Lexie and her baby daughter return home to Loch Ewe, following the death of her mother, Flora, and an abrupt end to her musical career in London. Alongside, we learn Flora’s story during the war years and leading up to Lexie’s birth, a time when the remote Scottish community was central to the Arctic convoys delivering supplies to Russia. The historical aspect is well researched, descriptive, engaging and informative. The complexities of love, family, and camaraderie are well written.

This is an unusual Homefront story, based around an aspect of the war that I knew little about. It is rooted in fact: the Home Fleet arrived in Loch Ewe in September 1939. Three thousand men lost their lives on the Arctic Convoys. They were fraught with danger and conducted in extreme weather conditions. Fiona Valpy conveys this in Flora’s story alongside the courage of the servicemen and women and the community spirit fostered by the local people whose lives were changed forever by a naval base of 3,000 military personnel and the constant coming and going of naval and merchant ships. Aultbea, a small fishing village on the shores of Loch Ewe on the west coast of Scotland, was transformed during World War Two into a Royal Navy base for the Arctic convoys. Into this true history Fiona Valpy weaves the fictional story of Flora Gordon in The Skylark’s Secret. During the late 70's Lexi Gordon, Flora's daughter has returned to her small village in the highlands after her promising singing career in London is halted by strained vocal cords. She has returned with a young daughter of her own and soon begins to unravel the truths about her past, her mother's past, and the village itself. As she learns more, she begins to remember her mother's songs, she rekindles her own love of singing. In 1939, Flora Gordon lives with her family in the Keeper’s Cottage in Aultbea. Her father is the gamekeeper for the Laird, a surly and imposing man. Aultbea is suddenly tapped as the location for the Royal Navy’s Arctic convoys and is turned into a military base virtually overnight. At the same time, Flora finds herself falling in love with the Laird’s son.Flora's story is told during 1944 and World War II when the little town in Scotland becomes a "hub" for the Royal Navy's arctic convoys. Growing up, Flora and her brother Ruaridh spent a lot of time with Alec - the son of the man that owned a house where Flora's dad was the gamekeeper. Ruaridh and Alec join the war effort and Flora, Bridie and Mairi become WRENs assisting on land. Valpy paints a gorgeous word picture of the beauty of Scotland, both before and after the war, as well as the scars left behind in Loch Ewe when the war is over. I also enjoyed the description of everyday life in a fishing village and how that is suddenly changed by a military presence. The characters are well developed. The love between Flora and her family, and the love Lexie has for her daughter, is palpable. I was often furious at the cruel tactics of the well-crafted and despicable Laird. The town comes alive through its people and their connection to each other. This is a well written novel involving WWII fiction, Scottish history, and family dynamics with a touch of romance. Overall, this book was just what I needed it’s heartwarming, it’s sad, it’s joyous, there are little touches of humour, there’s a wonderful community but most of all the songs and singing. I love the interspersing of traditional folk songs which express so much. Thank you Fiona Valpy for this fantastic and emotional read. I loved this book and am looking forward to reading her previous work, if they are as good as this I have something to really look forward to.

I was surprised how much I loved this book. The description sounded like something I would love with a Scottish setting, WWII and dual timelines but it exceeded my expectations to make this a 5* book.

Advance Praise

The Skylark’s Secret is a dual timeline novel that follows Flora during WWII, and Flora’s daughter, Lexi in the late 70’s. Both storylines are set in what sounds like a remote and beautiful place, Loch Ewe, Scotland. Daisy recalls her life in London and being swept away by the magnanimous Piers the director of the theatre. When Daisy discovers she’s pregnant it enrages the married man who refuses to claim paternity. Although she realizes her dream of being a stage actor will be shattered; she decides to have the baby and raise it alone. She dreaded her return to Artuath even though she was struggling financially. She felt that her home town would gossip about her and see her as a failure. This book was incredibly well researched and immersive. I felt very much a part of the story and the unique life in the highlands on the loch. I enjoyed Fiona’s story and definitely learned some things about history that I didn't know. I found Fiona’s story compelling and really loved Davie’s character.

I’ll be honest, I hesitated to read this book. It seems the market has been saturated with WW2 novels and while I think the attention and remembrance is certainly warranted and necessary, I didn’t want to hear the same story again. But I’m glad I gave this one a shot. Aultbea, a small fishing village on the shores of Loch Ewe on the west coast of Scotland, was transformed during World War Two into a Royal Navy base for the Arctic convoys. Into this true history Fiona Valpy weaves the fictional story of Flora Gordon in ‘The Skylark’s Secret’.

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An amazing element of this story was the scenery. Valpy’s descriptions of the Scottish highlands, landscapes and culture are beautiful. You are drawn into the detailed descriptions and at times feel as though you can even hear the crashing waves or smell the salty air. These parts of the story are slower as the atmosphere and surroundings are described. This author flawlessly took me through two time lines and each time I did not want to leave the present for the past or the past for the present. The writing reminded of the flowing prose in classics like Pride and Prejudice and Little Women. I was in another time and place but it often felt like home. 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.

Lexi's part of the story is how Lexi finds out the truth of what happened prior to her birth & also opens her eyes to the locals who she was unsure of.The writing was acceptable. BUT, I regret spending the time when I could have read a much better book! I could have walked away at any time.