The Forgotten Secret by Kathleen McGurl @KathMcGurl @rararesources #bookreview #theforgottensecret

Happy Monday book lovers!

Excited to share with you today my review for this book that exquisitely weaves together present and past! Huge thank you to Rachel for my invitation and to Kathleen McGurl for her entertaining story!🍀✨

The Forgotten Secret

A country at war

It’s the summer of 1919 and Ellen O’Brien has her whole life ahead of her. Young, in love and leaving home for her first job, the future seems full of shining possibility. But war is brewing and before long Ellen and everyone around her are swept up by it. As Ireland is torn apart by the turmoil, Ellen finds herself facing the ultimate test of love and loyalty.

And a long-buried secret

A hundred years later and Clare Farrell has inherited a dilapidated old farmhouse in County Meath. Seizing the chance to escape her unhappy marriage she strikes out on her own for the first time, hoping the old building might also provide clues to her family’s shadowy history. As she sets out to put the place – and herself – back to rights, she stumbles across a long-forgotten hiding place, with a clue to a secret that has lain buried for decades.

For fans of Kate Morton and Gill Paul comes an unforgettable novel about two women fighting for independence.

My Thoughts

An Absorbine tale that exquisitely weaves together present and past!

Kathleen McGurl has skillfully threaded together an intriguing story that truly captivated me. This book introduced me to a lot of Irish history that I had not previously known. I love when a book educates me about something and how appropriate for me to learn more about Ireland in the month of March. Although I’ve been told st. Patrick’s Day is more of a holiday in the US then in Ireland? Or maybe that Cinco de Mayo? Yes I know they don’t celebrate that in Ireland… all my aimless rambling is to say I really love the historical part of this book, it seemed very well researched and was extremely educational to me.

This book jumps between 1919 and present day. Claire has recently extricated herself from a toxic marriage, it’s the perfect time to inherit an old family farm house. While doing some refurbishing Claire happens across a clue a key to her past. Ellen in 1919 is a upstairs maid in a small Irish town during the resistance. Two strong courageous independent women facing very unique struggles. The way these two stories were woven together was very clever, it made for a highly addictive and enjoyable read.

There really is nothing better than a well constructed tale that both entertains and educates you! Recommend!

*** A big thanks to HQ Digital for my copy ***

Purchase Links

UK – https://www.amazon.co.uk/Forgotten-Secret-heartbreaking-gripping-historical-ebook/dp/B07H2PMPR3

US – https://www.amazon.com/Forgotten-Secret-heartbreaking-gripping-historical-ebook/dp/B07H2PMPR3

Author Bio –

Kathleen McGurl lives near the sea in Bournemouth, UK, with her husband and elderly tabby cat. She has two sons who are now grown-up and have left home. She began her writing career creating short stories, and sold dozens to women’s magazines in the UK and Australia. Then she got side-tracked onto family history research – which led eventually to writing novels with genealogy themes. She has always been fascinated by the past, and the ways in which the past can influence the present, and enjoys exploring these links in her novels.

Social Media Links –

Website: https://kathleenmcgurl.com/

Twitter: @KathMcGurl https://twitter.com/KathMcGurl

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KathleenMcGurl/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kathleenmcgurl/