Secrets We Keep is the second novel from Faith Hogan and although I hadn't read her first I know now I will have to rectify that. This book was wonderfully written evoking such a feeling of time and place that you couldn't but fail to be caught up in the lives of Kate and Iris as they battle with a myriad of emotions and situations placed upon them for various reasons.

The brief prologue shows us Kate as a young girl in Dublin. It is 1988 and her parents are at a crossroads in their marriage. Both her mum and her dad wrestle with their own demons as Kate becomes like an observer in the family rather than a child. She is almost forgotten about. We then move forward to the present day and Kate has become a high flying divorce lawyer. She is very successful in her job and has built up quite a reputation for celebrity divorces and what she can achieve for people. But Kate is restless, there is forever something lingering at the back of her mind and this weight is present for the majority of the book.

As is typical in many women's fiction books Kate needs a change and she needs it now otherwise she may continue to remain the way she feels stuck in this moment forever. A visit at the end of the year to Ballytokeep on the west coast of Ireland helps her firm up her decision as she falls in love with an abandoned bath house owned by her relatives Iris and Archie. This sets in motion a chain of events for all concerned which could be for the good in the long term but at the same time distress may ensue in the present.

The author mentions Ballytokeep as a place to lose yourself in and I would say that is how I felt about this book the more I read. The words just had such a lovely flow to it and seemed to wash over me as I became absorbed in the story. Faith Hogan writes so well of the setting of Ballytokeep nestled on the Irish coastline exposed to all the elements the Atlantic Ocean throws at it yet at the same time small though it may be it is a warm and inviting place. People can be nurtured and protected and cocooned in the special atmosphere that pervaded throughout the story. But it is also a place where things kept hidden and buried for many years must now come into the open now Kate has arrived. With Kate re-opening the bath house after it being under lock and key for sixty years it's not only Kate that will have to confront things she really wants buried away at the back of her mind.

Running concurrently throughout the book are two stories told in the present and in the past and only as we venture towards the end of the book do they begin to link and threads the reader had been grasping at slowly begin to weave themselves together. In the past we learn of Iris's story and I will admit there was a tentative connection I could see merging the past with the present and I was delighted to be proven correct yet in no way did it detract from the overall storyline instead when it was revealed it brought a satisfactory smile to my face. I love books where the past and present collide and alternative chapters are told from two characters viewpoints. In this case it was that of Kate and Iris. Sometimes I find I would be reading along enjoying the more modern aspect of the story and then suddenly we are abruptly jolted back to the past and it leaves me confused and unsettled. Not so in this case I felt everything mixed together seamlessly and both aspects of the storyline were as intriguing and enjoyable as each other.

Iris grew up in a guest house with her sister Pamela and mother Maureen. She is now at the age where she feels will this be all her life has to offer especially as Pamela is about to marry her fiancée Sir Clive. She has her head turned by a William Keynes and irrevocably her life is changed forever. Iris both in the past, and the present where she runs a hotel in BallytoKeep with husband Archie, was just such a wonderful character. I felt she was so wise, loving, caring and astute. She picked up on things others didn't yet never forced her opinions on other people. We do discover quite early on one of the things that is playing on her mind and has been for some time but there were still a few curve balls to be thrown in. I felt so sorry for her with the situation she found herself in but this almost took a back seat as the story of how she and Archie met and came to run the hotel with the mention of another character became so fascinating.

I found myself racing through the modern day sections to uncover the mystery of the past and the rising sense of tension was crafted to perfection as it felt things were building to a dramatic conclusion when revelations would come to the fore. I only wished Iris and I suppose Kate but maybe less so for me would find the peace they were clearly struggling to locate. I say less so Kate because I preferred Iris as a character not that Kate wasn't well written I just identified with Iris more. The relationship between Iris and Archie in the present was loving yet in equal measure heartbreaking to observe at what was sneaking it's way in. It really touched a cord with me and brought a tear to my eye. It was sensitively handled and deftly slipped in at just the right moments with no major issue made of it yet at the same time you knew it was present and making it's slow destructive mark felt.

Normally in a story with a dual timeline I would prefer the past over the present or vice versa but in Secrets We Keep both were as strong as each other even if there were a few characters in the modern day who didn't do much for me at all. I enjoyed reading of how Kate bit by bit slowly began to emerge just that little bit stronger as she brings the bath house back to life with the reopening of the tea rooms. Her new found friend and side kick Rita Delaney was an excellent addition to the story. She provided humour with her sharp witty, dialogue and take on things and I was glad to see her get her own storyline where revenge is a dish best served cold. Kate begins to feel a natural affinity with her new home but her own past does begin to make itself present. I didn't like the character connected to this aspect of her life. I understood the problems said character had but really I found them to be selfish and self absorbed and propped up by too many other people. This person had been causing damage for far too long and really did need a kick to come out from under the dark cloud they enforced around themselves. I can't say I was overly happy with the outcome regarding this situation as I had been hoping for the alternative resolution but that's just my own personal opinion and many other people's views will vary.

Ballytokeep is a place to heal, to forgive and forget, to find resolution and acceptance. None of these things are easy for anyone in any aspect of their lives but within this story Faith Hogan has achieved this through beautiful writing with characters the reader feels a close affinity to which is difficult to achieve the entire way through a novel. Again as with a couple of recent books I have read I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this novel. Behind the beautiful,light,summery cover is story that is much deeper than one would expect. There is much for every reader to take from this story and it demonstrated to me that Faith Hogan is a gifted writer with huge potential I just hope her writing reaches the wide audience it deserves. I look forward to reading more of her work in the future and would highly recommend Secrets We Keep. In the mean time to keep me going I will certainly be searching out her debut My Husband's Wives.

Kate is a divorce lawyer in London but she is dissatisfied with her life and so when she meets her Great Aunt Iris at her Grandmother's funeral and Iris invites her to stay with her in Ireland she jumps at the chance

When she arrives at Ballytokeep she falls in love with the place and the way of life there, Iris and her husband Archie are a great couple and still in love after all those years - they do however have a secret that has been kept for a long time

Kate decides that it is time to leave her old life and start afresh - maybe she can forget being jilted at the altar and find a new love in her new life - and so she buys the old Bath House from Iris and Archie and starts to settle in

A lovely book with great characters, the gradual telling of the secrets from Iris and Archie definitely keep your interest and so do the descriptions of the Irish coast - a book well worth reading and I will be looking for more books by this author

At first I did wonder whether the novel was going to go down the old life = new start route, with the character rejigging their life and having a happy ending. Predictable, so I am sure you can sense my relief when it became clear that the main characters life wasn't that straight forward...in the slightest. Kate Hunt had done a bit of to-ing and fro-ing over the years, but little did she know that she was going to clock up even more miles on her return to Ireland. Heartbroken and emotional, Kate has multiple decisions ahead of her, none of which can be solved over a cup of tea and a jammy dodger. 

I couldn't get enough of this storyline! Yes, I was a bit concerned that it was going to end up predictable, however, 'Secrets We Keep' is a storyline with incredible depth. The highlight for me was the historical influence. Not only did we delve into the characters past, we were also made aware of the history behind certain points in Ireland. Being part Irish myself and having never been, the insight to the history of certain buildings and areas was mind-blowing.

Everything flowed really well overall, although I did find myself becoming a bit impatient when males came on the scene as I wanted to get back to Kate's family history! I sound a geek now eh! 
I really do think that 'Secrets We Keep' is Faith's best novel so far as its shown a different side to her writing  without having to add a severely drastic situation to the overall storyline. It kept me on my toes, had me wondering 'what ifs?' and even had me sitting there with my mouth open trying to catch fish (that's shocked to you and me by the way). There is something incredibly special about 'Secrets We Keep' and I really believe that that special something is the fact it was written from the authors heart.

Gripping, heart warming and positively eye-opening; 'Secrets We Keep' goes above and beyond with such an enchanting and emotional storyline. It is pretty clear that a lot of research went into the novel as well as a lot of effort. Faith Hogan, you've done yourself proud; a truly wonderful read.

Thank you Aria!

Kate is disillusioned by her life as a successful divorce lawyer in London so when she meets her Great Aunt, Iris for the first time at her Grandmother’s funeral she is quick to take her up on the offer of a visit to Ballytokeep in Ireland. Iris runs as hotel with her husband Archie and whilst Kate is staying with them she falls in love with the abandoned Bath House that Iris and Archie closed the doors on for the last time  decades ago. Kate decides that it is time for a huge change as she’s lived in the past for far too long after being jilted at the altar 10 years previously so purchases the Bath House from Iris and Archie, leaves her job and relocates to Ireland where she integrates herself into the community and makes new friends. Sounds perfect….but things are never so easy, there are lots of secrets hidden which start to unravel.

I adored Hogan’s writing style, I was drawn in by the warmth of the characters from the outset. It was wonderful how Iris’ life story, and well-hidden secrets, unravelled  through the use of narrative both in the present and the past. This transition between the two time frames is seamless and adds so much to the story. In addition to Iris, and of course Kate, there are a number of other voices that come through the narrative which provides a well-rounded view on what is happening.

I must also mention Ballytokeep itself, the location is just idyllic and the sort of place that you would want to lose yourself in. The Bath House sounds a fabulous place to relax!

I thoroughly enjoyed this story of love and loss, Hogan’s writing is real, warm and endearing, captivating her readers from the first pages.

When I was asked to be part of the blog tour for Faith's new book, I was so excited having loved her first book with Aria Fiction, this book is just as brilliant as the first one I read. Before I get into my review, I just want to draw attention to the front cover of the book, it is so beautifully done. With the colours and design it is one of the most stunning covers I have even seen. 
Ok, so now on to my review! From the start of the book, I felt for Kate her life seems to be falling apart so when she has the chance to leave that life behind she jumps at the first opportunity. Meeting her Aunt Iris, she doesn't know what to make of the situation especially as they have never met and now at a funeral, it give Kate a different outlook on life and makes her think long and hard about the future. Living in a new place gives Kate the space and freedom she needs but there is always that small part of her that will always be back in her old life. 
Taking on the project that is Bath-House, Kate tries to bring new life into the old features, her life hasn't been the best lately so having something to focus on shows her what life has to show. Making new friends makes Kate feel that this was the right choice, if only she can find a way to forget her past relationship and finally fall in love again knowing that this time it will work.
I loved the small town setting, it makes it more close-knit and being in such a lovely destination in Ireland the story thrives. I loved how the story shows the different love stories, not everyone has the same and reading about each and everyone makes you realise how hard being in love and falling in love with someone is, either because of the timing or because something is standing in their way. 
Secrets We Keep is a beautifully written story about the secrets we keep and the people who keep them from us. It is truly heartwarming to read and I can't wait to read what Faith comes up with next!
Three Words
Heartwarming, Hopeful and Amazing.

I absolutely devoured this book - it's just so good! Highflying Lawyer Kate Hunt comes to Ballytokeep to visit her estranged Aunt Iris whom she met at Kate's grandmother's funeral.

She falls in love with Ballytokeep and her Aunt and Uncle and decides to give up city live and start afresh running the old bathhouse as a cafe with the help her her new friend Rita.  She finally feels happy and that her broken heart can mend.

The story is told in the past and the present and we find out about young Iris, her past, her hopes, dreams and heartache she has suffered. Archie has always loved her despite knowing her secret all these years. Kate is there to help when Archie shows the first signs of dementia.

It's a story of love, loss, friendship, second chances and happiness and I absolutely loved it.

I absolutely loved Secrets We Keep and found myself very emotionally involved with the characters. Secrets We Keep tells the stories of Iris and Kate and the secrets Iris has long held within her heart. Kate is Iris's great niece although they did not meet until Kate's grandmother's funeral, Iris's sister. The two sides of the family had had little to do with each other over the years in order to protect this secret. Kate is a high-flying divorce lawyer in London but, increasingly dissatisfied with her life, she visits her great aunt and uncle in the small seaside town of Ballytokeep on the west coast of Ireland and falls in love with the place. She decides to start a new life in the town bringing the old bath-house back to life. As well as a chance to heal her broken heart after being jilted ten years ago, she finds new friendship and possible new love too.

What Faith Hogan has done so brilliantly in this book is to show all the different relationships in the book from Iris's passionate first loves to the tenderness of the love between the elderly Iris and her husband Archie. Iris's hopes and dreams and disappointments were clear to see and the heavy burden of her secret was sad to read about. Later in the book we discover she was not the only one with knowledge of that secret which was even more heartbreaking. The close bond between Archie and Iris was beautifully drawn and all the more poignant as Archie begins to slip into dementia and Iris fears losing him.

I particularly enjoyed the way Iris's story unfolded, moving effortlessly between the past and the present, revealing just a little at a time and often leaving each time period with a mini cliffhanger.

Kate was a character I really warmed to. I couldn't help but feel for her as she felt unable to put her past behind her. You might think that ten years is long enough for anyone to get over a broken relationship but as you will read, there were reasons which made it very difficult for Kate. What I loved about her was that she was actually such a strong character. She really took a risk leaving her law career behind her and taking on what seemed like a thankless restoring the old bath-house to its former glory. She is a loyal friend to Rita who is in a loveless marriage and really helps her to stand up for herself. She is so loving to the family she had never known and so supportive. As she works away renovating the bath-house she too comes across things which might just unlock more secrets from the past.

I must mention the idyllic sounding setting of Ballytokeep, by the wild sea. Although Ballytokeep with its bathhouse is a fictional place, the author says a similar bathhouse still operates at Enniscrone in County Sligo. I looked it up after I had read the book and have to say it is exactly as I pictured it when reading. Faith Hogan has painted a wonderful picture of the  rugged cliffs, the wild Atlantic sea, the houses nestled round the coast, the beautiful windswept beach and showed the strong sense of community. I could completely understand why Kate felt welcomed and at home there, even though it was so different from her old life in London. As Kate says: "She only had to walk out her front door and she was on permanent summer holidays." There is definitely a nurturing and healing feel to the town which made it sound such a wonderful place to live.

This is a beautifully told story, compelling and full of emotion. It is a hopeful look at love, loss and second chances and I really recommend it.

Faith Hogan's story of a woman who finds peace and happiness in an Irish coastal village is beautifully written. The story is told mainly from the perspective of Kate and Iris, women related through a family secret and both looking for their true path in life. The scene moved between 1957 and present day where the two women have different lives but similar dreams and personal tragedies they have to deal with on the way.  

The atmosphere of the sleepy seaside town in winter came through vividly and I especially liked the author's handling of the character of Archie, whose personality is slowly disappearing due to the cruel disease of Alzheimers. His distress and that of Iris having to watch his deterioration is well handled, and quite poignant, which struck a chord with me having faced this situation myself.

A beautiful story of where your passions can take you if you're willing to take a chance.  A London lawyer finds a family she didn't know she had and she takes chances she didn't know she could.  I highly recommend it!  A cast of characters you will come to love.

Overall, it was a good story, and I enjoyed the descriptions of the area.  
The good part- grandmother reunited with her family and finds her granddaughter.
The not so good part- the girl settles for the wrong guy!

The cover caught my eye straight away, I adored the freshness of it.The story had  me hooked from the very beginning, it had likeable characters and was such an easy read full of secrets and intrigue.”Secrets We Keep” is really well written and I really love the way Faith is  such an accurate writer, with a keen eye for detail. This is a great book to curl up by the fireside with.