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  • The Skylark's Secret

  • Written by: Fiona Valpy
  • Narrated by: Mhairi Morrison
  • Length: 9 hrs and 53 mins
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (4 ratings)

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The Skylark's Secret

Written by: Fiona Valpy
Narrated by: Mhairi Morrison
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Publisher's 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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Profile Image for Floridagurrl
  • Floridagurrl
  • 2020-11-02

Lovely voice

Both the author with her story and the narrator with her reading had a lovely voice. I was introduced to a segment of WW2 history I had no knowledge of, and a place in the world I was equally unaware of. I’ve always rejoiced when I find an author who carefully researched .. it allows me a bit of education while enjoying a flight of fiction. The characters were realistic, the dialogue authentic without overwhelming me, and provided a view into life elsewhere and elsewhen that I completely enjoyed.

14 people found this helpful

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    3 out of 5 stars
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  • KB
  • 2021-05-05

A Lyrical Read

I ordered this book through Audible and listened in the morning as I had coffee and structured my day. It was perfect for that pace. The narrator's lovely, lyrical voice set the mood for my day to come ... and helped me to stop and listen to the soothing sounds of a new day awakening. The characters are well developed. The storyline is straight from pages of history where small inlet communities suffered the plague of war and the renewal of new futures for those generations touched by war's loss.

11 people found this helpful

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  • Colorado Cowgirl
  • 2021-03-22

In the end I loved the story of romance in WWII

When the book started, it seemed to spend a lot of time on small details and Lexi's life in London singing on stage. I loved the narration but I started to wonder where the story was going, especially since it is described as a WWII story in Scotland. Then Lexi moved back home to Scotland with her baby (but not the baby's father), and again it focused on day-to-day life in the current time with flashes of her mother's life during WWII when the Arctic Convey fleet was working in and out of the harbor. It still seemed like a romance with the war in the background. Eventually more details about the war and the fate of the characters who were involved with the convoys came out and then the story became more interesting. Finally I really enjoyed the tale, although it was a tearjerker, as well as Lexi's relationship with Davey who spans both time periods.

11 people found this helpful

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  • Lori May
  • 2021-02-18

Enjoyable story

The story was very enjoyable, the narrator really made the story come alive. I looked forward to driving to work just to listen.

8 people found this helpful

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  • Denise Bradford
  • 2021-02-02

beautiful story

really enjoyed. it was lovely. wonderful to learn so much about an era and a culture.

7 people found this helpful

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  • Kindle Customer
  • 2021-05-20

The Skylarks Secret

Mother and daughter share two similar lives in Scotland, one during the second world war, and th other 40 years later.They live in a very small town with people surrounding and helping them. When the daughter comes back a family secret is revealed. Great audio!

6 people found this helpful

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  • DeePap
  • 2021-01-09

EXCELLENT READ/LISTEN

This was definitely an excellent read. This is the favorite type of read for me; historical fiction based on fact.

6 people found this helpful

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  • Deppie Whitwam
  • 2021-02-24

Excellent

This is a wonderful story with a fabulous near raider. I loved it from beginning to end.

5 people found this helpful

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  • Book Bug!
  • 2021-05-30

Excellent Book

Heartfelt and enlightening, this story speaks of an branch of service men who served during WWII. The more I have read various stories about World War II the more I see just how devastating the losses were and how complex it was from country to country. The losses were horrendous, for those left behind paid. Fiona brings the characters to life. It’s an excellent read with great narration.

4 people found this helpful

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    2 out of 5 stars
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  • Faith D.
  • 2021-05-13

I couldn’t finish it

It was very boring I couldn’t finish it. Not even driving back-and-forth to work

4 people found this helpful