The historical fiction novel – The Secret Book of Flora Lea – was a real surprise for me.
The author has been around a long time and this was her 15th novel.
It is a captivating novel which takes readers on a journey into the world of secrets with a touch of enchantment, mystery, and adventure.
This beautiful and atmospheric mystery story is set in war-torn London and the Oxfordshire countryside and told across two timelines.
The main characters are Hazel and Flora Lea and as one of three girls in my family, I understand first-hand the special bond between sisters.
Hazel and Flora are fully-fleshed, complex characters.
You can’t help but be enamoured with Hazel, who has the most creative imagination and brings her stories to life to soothe and help her five-year-old sister get through wartime evacuation.
During World War II as part of Operation Pied Piper, which was a government mission to evacuate children from the cities to keep them safe from bombings, the sisters are sent to the country.
There is just enough reference to other writers to capture the magical whimsy of a good fairy tale.
That does not stop it from being genre-crossing with a plot that is intricately woven with themes of crime and romance while covering some strong historical themes such as grief, war and sacrifice, keeping readers engaged and eagerly turning the pages to uncover the next twist or revelation.
This is the novel’s superpower; its strength is that the author of The Secret Book of Flora Lea has the ability to seamlessly blend all of these elements together.
The characters are well-developed and endearing, making it easy to form an emotional connection with them.
Although Flora does not come back into the story until much later – it is left to Hazel to carry much of the plot.
Although Hazel is now in her 30s it is also in some ways a coming-of-age story; her growth, life and loves have been put on hold for 20 years.
Her guilt and self-blame have stopped her growth.
Additionally, the book explores universal themes such as the importance of courage, the value of friendship and the significance of embracing one’s true self.
These underlying messages add depth to the story, making it not only an entertaining read but also a thought-provoking one.
An added bonus for me was the author’s note at the end; her passion and commitment to this project were tangible and heartfelt.
I highly recommend this book to anyone seeking an escape into an intelligent world of wonder and imagination.
There are so many stories to tell in this book but they are all so intertwined I don’t want to be that person who reveals too much.
For fans of Bridgette Collins, Kate Morton, Belinda Alexandra, Natasha Lester and Kirsty Manning.
Julie Chessman – The Bookshop Umina