The Secret Diary: Gripping and emotional WW2 historical fiction

· Bookouture
4.8
4 reviews
Ebook
365
Pages

About this ebook

An absolute must read. I devoured this book in its entirety… I am almost speechless a box of Kleenex is mandatory. I absolutely loved this book, historical fiction at its best!... Definitely worth ten stars.’ Page Turners, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐


1945, England: Brave and determined Nancy Jones is fighting for her country as a gunner girl. Each night she scans the skies for enemy planes, feeling both exhilarated and terrified by the responsibility on her young shoulders. And one dark night she’s forced to make a decision that puts her in extreme danger… When VE Day finally comes, Nancy allows herself to be swept up in a whirlwind romance with handsome Joe. They move to an idyllic countryside cottage with roses around the front door and Nancy hopes she can escape her past.


But when the terrible truth about the worst night of her life threatens to resurface will the secret shatter Nancy’s marriage?


2019, England: Devastated by the sudden loss of her husband, Lorna Haynes escapes to the beautiful but crumbling Gamekeeper’s Cottage. When she enters, it’s like going back in time. A soldier’s uniform still hangs on the back of the door and the flowery wallpaper is intact. At the back of the room, Lorna discovers a red, leather-bound diary in a hidden compartment of a desk drawer.

 

As Lorna battles with heartache, she takes comfort in reading the ink-stained words. Turning the pages of the old book, she learns of the incredible bravery of the woman who lived in the house decades before her. And discovers a shocking wartime secret that will change the course of her own life…

 

Fans of The NightingaleThe Alice Network, and Lilac Girls will love this unforgettable, poignant tale of love, loss and courage during the darkest days of war.

 

Readers love The Secret Diary:

 

Whoa! Don’t take those tissues away, I’m not quite cried out just yet! Happy tears, sad tears, who knows where one ends and the other begins!... Beautiful, heart-breaking, heart-warming, uplifting and inspirational.’ Fiction Books, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

 

I literally could not put this book down! From the very beginning I found myself pulled into the storyline… I couldn’t put this book down and I finished it in two sittings.’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

 

Pulled me in from the beginning, and it kept me wanting to keep reading… I loved both of the timelines… a wild heart-warming story of friendship and moving on.’ Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

 

Excellent… fascinating to see the lives of so many brave women... The character cast is excellent, pacing is perfect, and I just loved how it all rolled out… I highly recommend this historical fiction. 5/5 stars.’ @rachel.fox.14224, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

 

Beautifully written story set between World War Two and the present day… intense and heartbreaking… Once you start this book you just can’t put it down! Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐

 

I read this fast as I could not put it down… twists to keep me guessing, I am definitely going to be looking for more from this author, highly recommended.’ Fiction Vixen, ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Ratings and reviews

4.8
4 reviews
DJ Sakata
August 7, 2021
This was dual-timeline and historical fiction done right, and the feminist in me cheered. The storylines were thoughtfully layered and shrewdly paced with family drama, an intriguing mystery, romance, and insightful bits of history while it entertained and hit all the feels. The overall premise was eye-opening, as silly me, I had not stopped to think about the women of WWII this way. The book drove home the realization that the post-WWII era was actually the kick-off of women finding their voice and value outside of domesticity on a larger scale across the globe. While the women may not have been all that interested in taking on the vacant jobs and roles of their men at war, they felt differently about themselves for having stepped up and into the fray, yet the returning men and peacetime societies weren’t receptive to women’s efforts to continue moving forward. While the end of the war was a good thing for the world, the war ending had ignited the beginning of women’s personal battles to get out of the kitchen, stay relevant, and hang on to their jobs and self-worth. Needless to say, this book took me much longer to read as the story threads led me down a rabbit hole of Googling which was ignited by the inspiration of these endearing Ack-Ack characters, with Ack-Ack girls actually being my first inquiry. Anna Stuart was a new name for me when I picked up this book and I now have the deepest respect for her craft and appreciate the lessons learned from her endless hours of research and preparation.
2 people found this review helpful
Nina Norrman
December 6, 2021
quite interesting read!

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