Cover Image: The Secret Hours

The Secret Hours

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Member Reviews

Love and anguish for two generations of the Deverills

Santa Montefiore's books are always a treat and this is no exception. The Secret Hours is the third in the Deverill Chronicles, but works well as a stand-alone.

There are two interlocking narratives: aristocratic Arethusa Deverill of Deverill Castle (known as Tussy to her family) in early 20th c Ireland and her American daughter, Faye, in the 1960s.

Tussy is a lively girl with a social conscience, who often dispenses food and comfort to local villagers. She is also free with her favours to Dermot McLoughlin, the local blacksmith's son. She knows her fate is to marry Rupert, from another local Anglo-Irish family, But why does she go to America, never to contact her family again?

Her American daughter, Faye, knows Arethusa only as a cranky, domineering woman until her mother leaves her diary to her in her will. Arethusa also bequeaths a third of her fortune to a mystery person in Ireland. Faye takes a trip to her ancestral home in County Cork to find out more. Discovering that she is the spitting image of her grandmother, she is intrigued, especially as she suffers from recurring dreams in which she has seen her doppelganger in a grand castle. Kitty, her Irish cousin, helps her find out more about the grandmother they were both so fond of. Meanwhile, Faye falls in love not just with Ireland but with someone special there. Will she stay or will the pull of duty and family take her back to America?

A well-plotted historical novel with interesting characters and a strong storyline as always from Santa Montefiore.

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I'm a big fan of Santa Montefiore and of her Deverill Chronicles because I love her descriptions of Ireland and it's countryside. The Secret Hours brings together all of the different things I love about Montefiore's writing. I enjoyed the family drama and Faye's longing to find out the truth about her heritage. If you want to fall in love with the rugged Irish outdoors, this is the book for you.

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Another brilliant read about the Deverill clan. Not essential to have read the others but it does help. Unfortunately I think some families still face the same dilemma so society still is prejudiced. As normal though things get sorted and there is a happy ending. Maybe time to move on now from Ireland.

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I loved this book, the story was captivating and had me hooked the whole way through. I loved the fact that her mother was not who she thought and her back story was really interesting. Would highly recommend this book

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I adore Santa Montefiore’# books. This was yet another brilliant read. Engaging characters, great setting, beautiful plot.

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This is another gripping romance from Santa Montefiore. Her stories are always well developed and her characters engaging. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would highly recommend.

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Santa has done it again. Another perfect summer present. Thank you.

Set in Ireland, in the 1890s and 1960s, a further instalment in the Deverill saga. Twists and turns, up and downs all set in the idyllic setting of County Cork. New characters and those we have met before.

Would thoroughly recommend it.

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This is my first book by this author. I wasn’t sure what to expect but the blurb made it sound eminently readable and it is. It’s quite a gentle pace and flicks between 60s America and sixty odd years ago in Ireland.
Faye is the adult daughter of Arethusa (really don’t like that name and it adds noth8ng to the story) decides, after the death of her mother, to go to Ireland where arethusa was born and spent her life until she was about 19/20 years old. Arethusa left a diary and we get to read excerpts from that awhich make her much more human than Faye describes.
A thoroughly readable and enjoyable book

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