Published By: Lake Union
Pages: 253
Released On: 01/08/2026
In 1941, Violet Rookwood and her mother flee war-torn London for a Cornwall farm owned by their family. There, under the floorboards of her bedroom, Violet finds a journal written by a Catholic woman more than three hundred years ago, confessing to a forbidden love. In 1606, on this very farm, Maria Wolveden sheltered Jago Carlyon, a fugitive priest sought for treason. In a time when all Catholics were suspect, Maria’s protective love for Jago grew stronger, as did the mortal dangers of harboring a wanted man.
Violet knows all about secret passion, having lost her own forbidden love, Taslim, in the London Blitz. Haunted by visions of Taslim and of Maria, Violet soon finds herself at a crossroads that eerily parallels that of Maria’s when she gives refuge to Francesco Marelli, an Italian POW whose life is threatened for collaborating with the enemy.
With her family’s lives at stake, Violet not only comes to understand Maria’s desperation more deeply but feels uncannily connected to her spirit—as if guided on a journey that Maria travelled centuries ago. It’s also giving Violet the hope she needs to see her own secrets through to their courageous end—and, perhaps, to find new love.
*****
Thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union for the advanced copy of this title in return for an honest review.
This is the first of her books I’ve read but I’ll definitely be looking out for her others.
Whilst it’s mainly set in 1941, we do get a sort of dual timeline because we read about the goings on in the 1600s. Both are interesting. Having finished it, I would have liked more of the 1600s scenes. They are few and far between but I think they deserved to be a bit meatier. But I enjoyed what was there.
I was hooked instantly. I can’t quite put my finger on one specific aspect, it just grabbed my attention straight away and I ended up devouring it in one sitting.
It did get a little repetitive at times, just the same day-to-day scenes, so if they had been cut a little or other scenes padded out a bit more it might have felt….not slow, because it isn’t slow. But it does stretch out in parts.
It was interesting to read a book set during the war that didn’t really mention the war. A couple of comments here and there but it would be easy to forget as the rest of the story is so interesting. For me, it’s about family, love, endurance, power, desire, dreams, and grief. It’s such an emotive story with full focus on the characters at the heart of it.
The plot is a little thin but I didn’t mind so much because I really liked the characters. There are some that are definitely less likeable than others, but they’re still well written and important to the overall story.
I don’t know Lindsay’s background but the historical research is clear to see. She’s managed to weave an intricate story with characters from the 1600s and the 1940s and it’s very impressive.
What I particularly enjoyed is her writing of the “underdog” as it were, the character who wouldn’t normally be the star. It asks us not to judge people and to be sympathetic for people’s situations, and asks us what we would do for the people we love.
I know we are like and dislike books that other’s don’t – it would be boring if we felt exactly the same about everything. But I’ve seen a couple of low-starred reviews that really surprised me. There are a few things that I’d iron out to make it top class, but even as it is I felt it was a really well research, well written, emotive story with compelling characters.
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