The Art of Inheriting Secrets

A Novel

By: Barbara O'Neal

Narrated by: Stina Nielsen

When Olivia Shaw’s mother dies, the sophisticated food editor is astonished to learn she’s inherited a centuries-old English estate—and a title to go with it. Raw with grief and reeling from the knowledge that her reserved mother hid something so momentous, Olivia leaves San Francisco and crosses the pond to unravel the mystery of a lifetime.

One glance at the breathtaking Rosemere Priory and Olivia understands why the manor, magnificent even in disrepair, was the subject of her mother’s exquisite paintings. What she doesn’t understand is why her mother never mentioned it to her. As Olivia begins digging into her mother’s past, she discovers that the peeling wallpaper, debris-laden halls, and ceiling-high Elizabethan windows covered in lush green vines hide unimaginable secrets.

Although personal problems and her life back home beckon, Olivia finds herself falling for the charming English village and its residents. But before she can decide what Rosemere’s and her own future hold, Olivia must first untangle the secrets of her past.

©2018 by Barbara Samuel. (P)2018 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

A Departure from Recent Work - Good but ...

I have become a big fan of Barbara O'Neal/Barbara Samuel. I thought each book was slightly better than the previous book and I loved her focus on the southwest, food, and friendship. This book was a real switch to me. More gothic, set in England, still with a focus on food but not so much on friendship. It was an enjoyable read but didn't seem nearly as authentic or plausible as her previous books. The reader has to really stretch their ability to accept the unacceptable for this storyline to be remotely plausible. For someone so distressed over her mother's death and who was supposedly quite close to her, the mom seemed to have been very busy behind the daughter's back.

However, although I felt there were some disconnects, some loose ends that were never tied up and the author was clearly outside her element, this was still an enjoyable book.

ended too quickly

great story and easy to listen to reader. was the author in a hurry. did she have a deadline? too many unanswered questions. maybe a sequel.

Wonderful Story!

If you want to get lost in a story with a happy ending, this is the book for you.

Good read!

I loved this story and the way it is told. This is not a very long book and I do wish there was another couple of chapters, but I really did enjoy being swept away into this charming story.

light, easy reading

The story is about a daughter who never knew her mothers background/history and then finds out she inherits a castle in England after her mother's death. By going to England, she uncovers family history and a new romance.