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.

I really enjoyed this one! Having two kind of celebrities in a quiet town and how fame can make you or destroy you it was very interesting to read. For many moments, I was very close to laughing out loud on the bus on my way to work. It is one of those books that will make you forget everything around you. It sucks you in and you get to care for these characters. Another great book by Sarah!!

Sarah Morgan is one of my very favourite authors - her books are always so warm and focus on relationships between family and friends, as well as romantic. This one is right up there as one of my favourites!

The two main characters in this book are Milly and Nicole, childhood best friends, who have gone in different directions in life. While Milly stayed in her small town surrounded by beautiful scenery, ran her holiday rental business, got married, had a child, and got divorced again, Nicole became an international superstar actress. Despite this, they stayed best friends right up until the time of Milly's divorce, when Nicole stopped replying to her.

Then one day out of the blue, Nicole got in touch asking for a place to hide out (the media were hounding her) and despite everything, Milly couldn't say no.

Despite a lot of awkwardness at the start, the two women spent the summer reconnecting, the strong bond between them still there and both of them helping each other. Nicole helped Milly regain her confidence after her divorce, and Milly got a glimpse into Nicole's life and realised it wasn't all glamour, and that Nicole was struggling. However, there was still a secret between them that had the potential to cause another rift in their friendship - is it strong enough to overcome it?

At the same time, both Nicole and Milly find potential romance, Milly with an author staying in one of her rental cabins, and Nicole with one of Milly's best friends. But is Milly ready to move on, and can Nicole really be happy moving back home?

I adored Nicole and Milly's friendship, the bond between them was obvious from the start, even though they hadn't talked in ages. We saw how hurt Milly was, and how much Nicole was struggling, and we saw them deal with it together. We also got cameos from Milly's mother, grandmother, and daughter, who were all great and very interesting characters who's point of view we got too.

This was just such a beautiful book, where the main focus was on friendship. 💕

Thank you so much to Netgalley, HQ, and Sarah Morgan for the opportunity to read this early.

A lovely story of friendships and family relationships.. It's strong women picking themselves up when faced with hard times with the support of those that love them, even if they do have to overcome past hurts and reveal painful secrets along the way.
Set in the Lake District the descriptions made me want to put on my hiking boots and check in to Milly's resort!

I was absolutely hooked from the first chapter and knew straight away this was another book written with Sarah’s magic touch- utterly fabulous. This is full of warmth and a powerful story about family, love and friendships. The characters felt real and easy to connect with as they do in all of Sarah’s books.

I loved hearing about Nicole and Millys lives and loved the female strength shown down Millys family line but that also made Nicole’s relationship with her own mother an obvious contrast.

Overall it was a perfect summer read by Sarah and was perfect escapism. I would recommend this book whether you’re a fan of Sarah’s or not read any of her books yet.