Thank you to NetGalley and HQ for this ARC.

Milly is 35 and divorced after her ex-husband Richard moved out to be with another woman. She manages an exclusive lakeside resort called Forest Nest in the Lake District together with her mother Connie and grandmother Nanna Peg and looks after 13 year old daughter Zoe who wants to become an actress like her mother's best friend Nicole, who is an A-list Hollywood star. Unfortunately 18 months ago, just after Richard moved out, Nicole started ghosting her old friend but when she suddenly calls and desperately asks Milly for a place to stay, Milly says yes.

This multi-generational book is mostly about female friendship and motherhood, with two romances thrown in in a casual way, but it feels right like that. With the help of a moody crime author and a helpful handyman / architect as kind and supportive love interests plus the healing power of nature, the two women start to reconnect and figure out what they really want in life - but then a bombshell gets dropped, secrets get revealed and reconciliation seems further away than ever.

I have been reading books by Sarah Morgan for years and she is an absolutely fabulous storyteller. This is a compelling multi POV story divided between Milly, Nicole and Connie, which works well. The book is so well-written and really draws you into everybody's point of view. I also loved the setting of the beautiful Lake District and the lovely, feel-good happy ending for everyone. It's heartwarming and uplifting and I read it in one go. Heartily recommended as a pick-me-up.

I was completely immersed in this book by the third paragraph! It is a brilliantly written story of friendship over many years, with a beautiful Lakes setting. I loved the descriptions of the lodge park, I’d really like to book a holiday there! Sarah Morgan constructs a great story with realistic characters, and I strongly recommend this book.

Sarah Morgan novels are pure escapism and I really enjoyed A Secret Escape. It’s billed as a feel-good novel friendship, forgiveness and love and I devoured each page. It follows the story of Milly and Nicole. Milly is now a single mum and runs a holiday home business, whilst Nicole is a successful actress living in LA. They lost contact years ago, but when Nicole calls Milly for help, she drops everything giving her a place to hide. Will they be able to reconnect throughout the summer? This is a fabulous novel with endearing characters and a plot that unfolds perfectly. Thank you to NetGalley, HQ and the author for the chance to review.

Two childhood friends renew their friendship. Molly’s friend Nicole has been absent from her life for some years but suddenly asks for her help. She’s a famous actress but needs a place to hide from the media. What better place than a boathouse in Molly’s upmarket holiday park? As they get to know each other again, Molly realises that it’s not all fun and glamour being a star and Nicole realises how much effort Molly puts into her park to make a success of her life as a single parent. A good story that draws you in, as Sarah Morgan’s books always do.

Thank you netgalley and publishers for an advanced copy of this book for my honest opinion. Another fabulous book from Sarah Morgan, I'm not sure if I've read a duff one yet by this author. A beautifuly written story of the bonds of friendship and family. Its heartwarming, emotional, funny but above all quite relatable in parts. A thoroughly enjoyable read that I heartily recommend.

Such a beautiful story from Sarah Morgan.

This is truly a wonderful read centred around family and friendships.

Milly and Nicole have been friends forever, been through thick and thin, but when Nicole suddenly stops contacting Milly, at a time she needs her the most, Milly believes the friendship to be over.

What follows is a story of reconnection, of understanding how someone else might feel when placed in a difficult situation.
The author describes the scenes so well and also develops the characters in a very sensitive way. I really felt I was staying in this beautiful location, surrounded by nature, a fly on the wall to everything going on.

I really liked that the author didn’t complicate this story with lots of romance. The way friendships blossom throughout, with the potential for more was very well written, keeping the focus on our main characters and how they are changing and moving on.

You can really connect with the characters and I think everyone will love Nanna Peg. I can certainly picture her in my minds eye and enjoyed the humour she brought to the story.

How the author portrayed the relationships between mother and daughter throughout this book was wonderful. Whether discussing Nanna Peg and Connie, Connie and Milly or Milly and Zoe, you could feel the resounding love, the care and respect, the difficulty but necessity or letting them live their own lives and help guide them through the tougher times. It shows how you are always a parent, not just when the child is young, but forever.

All in all this book really is A Secret Escape, it lets you escape real life for a while, whilst getting lost in the beautiful Lake District countryside.

A fabulous read that focuses more on friendship, with the addition of relationships. It shows how family and friends can be the most important thing and whilst there are set backs and hard times, the true ones will be there for you no matter the problem. Filled with funny moments, it is a book that will have you smiling every time you pick it up.

I love Sarah Morgan’s books. Sarah’s characters are great they are very interesting and believable. This latest book tells the stories of friendship, family and marriage breakdowns. Milly is heartbroken when her husband leaves her for his much younger fit yoga teacher. Turning to her best friend Nicole she’s gutted when she ghosts her. When Nicole needs a friend she still turns to Milly who of course is there for her. We go through all the ups and downs as they both try to sort out their lives and their friendship. There are some great characters in this especially Nanna Peg. A great summer holiday read

Sarah Morgan is one of my favourite authors for a light-hearted romance, and this one doesn't disappoint. Thank you to Netgalley for my ARC copy (this has not affected my review). Nicole and Milly have always been best friends, their friendship continuing as Nicole becomes an A-list actress and Milly takes over her family business. However, when Milly's life falls apart during a messy divorce, Nicole drops out of contact, before ringing out of the blue, asking for a safe place to stay. A great holiday read, perfect for fans of Heidi Swain and Philippa Ashley.

Sarah Morgan's writing is always like a big cosy hug - and this book is no exception! A Secret Escape looks at two friends who have been out of touch for a few years while they each experience difficulties, in family life and career. I loved the celeb aspect of this in particular, as well as the beautiful setting, it made me wish I could visit Milly's resort!

The only reason my rating isn't higher is because I was a bit unsure about the POVs - I loved the split between Nicole and Milly's points of view but then was a bit thrown off by having Milly's mum's perspective too because it only came up a couple of times and felt like it disrupted the flow slightly.

However in saying that, it was still such a lovely book overall and I really enjoyed it! Absolutely would recommend.

This is a heartwarming story about two old friends, Milly and Nicole, who reconnect after years apart. Nicole, now a famous actress, turns up in Milly’s village needing a place to stay. As they spend time together, they start to rebuild their broken friendship.

This is THE perfect book to relax with this summer 😎

This was another lovely book from one of my favourite authors.
The Secret Escape is primarily the story of two childhood friends, Milly and Nicole. They were once as close as sisters even when Nicole went on to become a Hollywood star. However, when Milly got divorced from her husband, Nicole stopped all contact with her and Milly never understood why. Now, however, Nicole has arrived unexpectedly back in the small village in the Lakes and has asked Milly for help.
I loved the relationship between the two women. Milly has been hurt and finds it hard to trust Nicole but can’t help feeling the pull of their friendship. Gradually, they become close although we are always aware that Nicole has a secret. This novel is really about both of the women discovering who they are and what they really want out of their lives.
Sarah Morgan is brilliant at friendships and family relationships and they are always s huge part of her novels. In this case, as well as the two friends, we have four generations of women who are all strong characters and the family ties between them are unbreakable. All four of the women in Milly’s family are brilliantly written but Nanna Peg is the stand out character being one of the author’s brilliant depictions of an older woman who uses her age as a reason to say exactly what she wants to.
There is romance of course but, in my opinion, the romances were the least interesting part of the novel. I liked Brendan and some of the dialogue made me laugh but I found Joel to be a bit too perfect and it was all a bit predictable. However, that didn’t in any way stop me from enjoying the story.
This was a great read for a Summer’s evening and I am grateful to the publishers and Net Galley for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

I so enjoyed this lovely read. Two best friends, estranged. Lots of life going on with both of them and Sarah Morgan brings all the key characters to life so that you feel you know them. Humour, betrayal, misunderstandings. You can’t help but hope for a happy ending but is it possible? Well it was a delight finding out as the storyline moved along well and the descriptions of the lovely holiday cottages just makes you want to go there. No spoilers. I think It’s Worth the read to find out. Four stars

Milly and Nicole have been friends since they were girls at school, Nicole felt closer to Milly's family especially as her mother had a very cold relationship with her. Which is why Milly was devastated when Nicole ghosted her at the lowest point of her life, she heard nothing from her for months until she got a call late one night asking for her help. Milly thinks she should really refuse but that's not in her personality so she goes to collect her from the last train. a pleasure to watch the unfolding story written in Sarah Morgan's lovely style.

This story has at its centre the friendship between Milly and Nicole. A friendship that has gone badly wrong, causing devastating hurt and how it is mended. With a side helping of friends, family and romance.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I love this authors books so was looking forward to getting stuck into this one and it certainly didn’t disappoint. This was a fabulous read with great characters and set in a beautiful setting.

This was a story about friendships, family and discovering yourself and that it is possible to make a fresh start and have new beginnings. This was a positive and uplifting read about appreciating the e here and now and the little things in life.

I would love a sequel to this to see how the characters lives continue.

you cannot ever ask me if i want to read a Sarah Morgan book without the answer being "yes please now". she truly is one of the my fave authors. im yet to find a word, no letter wrong in her books. she has so much talent and i feel lucky and privileged to have a chance to read her books. i hope these authors know how much their words mean and how much their talented are seen as the exquisite skill they are.

this book was another stunner. i was emotional before id finished the blurb! the friendship of our two main characters felt so real and natural. and real. because love een in friendship form isnt easy. but it doesnt mean that with time, and with talking and true true friendship, that it cant be mended or more beautiful than ever.
in this book we are told the story of Milly and Nicole. they were best friends in childhood, inseparable. but a few years down the line a falling out occurred. but one that let Milly more broken because Nicole just stopped communicating. she didnt understand and that has sat with her since. but Molly settled in her life suddenly feels an upheaval of emotions when out of the blue Nicole- miss big superstar- calls asking for help. she needs a place to stay, or more like hide because the world shes living in is getting too much for her.
Milly doesnt know what to do. she doesnt want to let Nicole in again. but knows despite it all she still loves her friend. or at least knows she must be willing to help. but it wont be the same. she will give her a place to stay that is all. and despite it all she misses her friend so much.
Nicole needs a haven. and she knows with her friend will be just what she needs. and my how she has missed her friend so very much.
as the two come together they begin to reconnect and get to know all the parts of each other again. its not easy but its still there, slowly and sure the opening and blooming of that connection. their true friendship is all still there. and when they revisit old memories and pasts that arent easy to go through again they begin a whole new level of trusting each other. their bond is becoming stronger than ever.
this book holds so much depth and emotional awareness to it. i was bought in to these two womans lives with my whole heart and soul. and it was almost like a romance in itself in the way you simply root for these twos love for eachother to be ok. both together and apart you want them to just be ok.
oh and there is one more character who has one of the surprising staring roles in this book. i love her. ill let her meet and fall in love with her on your own. for you will, you sure will.
i adored this book. from beginning to end. love it.

Another fantastic book from Sarah Morgan. Milly lives with her daughter and runs a site of lodges off the beaten track. The book takes us from being reunited with her childhood friend who is now a Hollywood star to her family antics and mush more besides. A lot of romance and a bit of drama. Thanks to Sarah and her publisher. Thanks also to NetGalley

Not my usual type of boo but I really enjoyed this one and the relationship between two friends, who were back in touch after a kind of estrangement .
The characters were very true to life.
An interesting read

I really loved everything about this book.
As always, Sarah Morgan brings interesting, likeable characters with complex dilemmas in a beautiful backdrop that just all keeps you hooked to read what happens to them.
I think this is a book that works all year round and just immerses you in the woodlands and trails of the Lake District area, and in the sisterhood between Nicole and Milly.