Fiona Valpy Talks About Her New Book "The Skylarks Secret"

ann dickinson: As it’s a book, I read it!!!

United Kingdom on Nov 13, 2023

darryl briggs: I've lived all my life in Manchester, but my Mothers side of the family came down from the Highlands around 1950. I've been up past Inverness several times, so this book really appealed to me. The type of rural setting that Flora grew up in is the type of surroundings my gran grew up in. Its an excellent book. My Grandfather also served in the Navy, so I guess I had to read it, and it didn't disappoint. Thanks for giving me a glimpse into the Highland life during the war.

United Kingdom on Oct 30, 2023

EmmaMac: Such a beautiful love story following the lives of mother and daughter during the 1940s and 1970s. Flora finds her life is overturned as their highland village on the banks of Loch Ewe becomes the base for the Arctic Conveys. Fiona Valpy has a beautiful turn of phrases, which really captures the joy and sadness that communities must have felt during those years. Interwoven with Flora's story is her daughter Lexie, who, after becoming a single mother, reluctantly returns home and with the support of her late Mum's friends, discovers secrets from her past. Having read most Fiona Valpy's other novels, particularly those set in France, this is one of my favourites!

United Kingdom on Oct 20, 2023

Teachn88key: This is the second book I’ve read by this author, the first being The Storyteller of Casablanca. Her writing style appeals to me and keeps me involved and interested, eager to get back to reading. I look forward to reading more of her books.

United States on Oct 15, 2023

maidenm: This story was wonderful to listen to through audible. The characters are genuine, loving as well as a few fearful individuals. There is a great sadness that prevails over the main story at the loss of so many young men who served in the war never returned to their lively Scottish homes and families, as well as other nationalities that served alongside the locals of Scotland.

The story itself revolves around a native young woman who leaves her home to make a future of her own but returns to her roots to discover that her return was what she needs to fully heal her own heart.

Sweet story worth revisiting.

United States on Oct 12, 2023

Jennifer Clough: I really enjoyed this scottish highlands story… beautifully written weaving strands of family, history, life, romance and the mystery at the heart.

United States on Oct 10, 2023

Renie: I thank Fiona for writing this book which I really enjoyed . It is the best book I have read for a very long time. Although I was alive during the second world I was too young to understand much of went on. This book has made me feel transported back to that time and to appreciate the sacrifices made by so many particularly in the Loch Ewe area. Both the sadness and happiness of those times.

United Kingdom on Oct 03, 2023

JacqueF: I feel like I have been to a small village in the beautiful highlands of Scotland. I loved climbing in the hills with the music of the skylarks, the fresh sea breeze, the scent of the heather and the warm sun on my skin. I will be reading more from Fiona Valpy

United States on Oct 02, 2023

Janice Hawkins: The author held my attention with her excellent and creative writing. In addition, I learned much about that terrible war from Scotland s perspective. And....I never guessed the surprise ending!!! I plan to start the sequel today.

United States on Sep 16, 2023

Lizanne Lloyd: This dual time novel tells the story of Lexie Gordon returning to Keeper’s Cottage on Loch Ewe in northwest Scotland. Here she grew up with her mother Flora who has recently died. Lexie’s career on the London stage is over and now in 1979 she is a single mother to toddler Daisy. In alternate chapters we meet Flora during World War Two when the Loch became a temporary base for the Royal Navy’s Arctic Convoy taking supplies to Murmansk through treacherous seas. The small village of Aultbea where everyone knows each other is suddenly the centre for sailors from England and America and even Flora and her two friends join the Wrens.
Feeling a failure, Lexie is reluctant to seek out our her former friends so her life is lonely and uneventful apart from the “interference” of her mother’s best friend Bridie. Gradually she rekindles friendships and begins to let music back into her life. The book contains many familiar refrains from Scottish folk songs which I particularly liked.
Flora’s life in the 1940s is full of events, many of them traumatic. Her childhood friendship with Alex the Laird’s son becomes much closer much to the disapproval of his father since she is...

United Kingdom on Mar 30, 2023