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  • The Skylark's Secret

  • By: Fiona Valpy
  • Narrated by: Mhairi Morrison
  • Length: 9 hrs and 53 mins
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (202 ratings)
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The Skylark's Secret

By: Fiona Valpy
Narrated by: Mhairi Morrison
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Summary

Loch Ewe, 1940. When gamekeeper's daughter Flora's remote highland village finds itself the base for the Royal Navy's Arctic convoys, life in her close-knit community changes forever. In defiance of his disapproving father, the laird's son falls in love with Flora, and as tensions build in their disrupted home, any chance of their happiness seems doomed.

Decades later, Flora's daughter, singer Lexie Gordon, is forced to return to the village and to the tiny cottage where she grew up. Having long ago escaped to the bright lights of the West End, London still never truly felt like home. Now back, with a daughter of her own, Lexie learns that her mother - and the hostile-seeming village itself - have long been hiding secrets that make her question everything she thought she knew.

As she pieces together the fragments of her parents' story, Lexie discovers the courageous, devastating sacrifices made in her name. It's too late to rekindle her relationship with her mother, but can Lexie find it in her heart to forgive the past, to grieve for all that's lost, and finally find her place in the world?

©2020 Fiona Valpy. (P)2020 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

What listeners say about The Skylark's Secret

Average customer ratings
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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

A captivating read

I wasn't sure if I could finish this book but once I gad sorted out the switching of the time line I was hooked. Beautifully written and a pleasing narration. I think I may well read this again and will try more of Fiona Valpy's books.

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4 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Loved this book

This has been one of my favourite books from Audible. I loved the setting for the story, in
Aultbea in the north west highlands. The two stories ran side by side perfectly one set in 1940’s, the other in the 1970’s. Beautifully read by Mhairi Morrison made it perfect and authentic.
It was quite gripping until the end.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Delightful story

Wonderfully told by Mhairi Morrison, although I had to speed it up to 1 as she reads really slowly. Her Scottish lilt blended beautifully with the content and I enjoyed the fact it was based on Churchill’s notes of the time so that the fleet and its war time tragedies were historically true. It’s easy to follow (important when listening I think) as the story is told through the eyes of mother and daughter alternating in their different time periods. Recommend for quiet times and bedtime listening.

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2 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Wonderful

Another‘couldn’t put down’ book by Fiona. From start to finish it makes you feel part of the community.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

Chicklit

If you like a predictable soppy story, you’ll love it. Not for me! The story lacked any depth and the characters irritated me.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Lovely story to listen to.

Loved listening to this whilst working. The story was eye opening of the period but also the area. Looking forward to the Sea of Memories.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

like wrapping a cosy blanket around you!

This simple but beautiful story is like wrapping a cosy blanket around you! It is a constant stream of beautifully crafted words! it is simple yet mesmerising! Her descriptive writing is one of the best! not too wordy just perfect!

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Absorbing listen

A heart warming story with enough local and historical anchorage to absorb the reader

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Lovely story and an easy listen.

Enjoyed this audio book, easy to listen - you don't need to concentrate too much; enjoyed the historical based facts. Ideal for listening while doing something else - in my case sewing.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Enjoyable

A gentle enjoyable story with a lovely atmospheric Scottish setting. Not likely to be realistic.

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1 person found this helpful