The Secret Notebook - Julia Wild

 

When Izzie Dean’s beloved nan, Molly Blackshaw, passes away, Izzie returns to the Blackpool bungalow where she grew up, to say goodbye once and for all. When Izzie’s homecoming reunites her with her first love, Justin Swift, every emotion that Izzie has repressed since the day he broke her heart comes rushing to the surface. But then an unexpected discovery changes everything.

Between the pages of the battered secret diary Molly kept during WWII, Izzie discovers a story of love, heartbreak, and the incomparable hardship of life in a world at war. Reading her grandmother’s words soon puts her own story into perspective, and suddenly Izzie realises that the only thing holding her back from happiness, might be herself. Now she just has to convince Justin that they deserve a second chance at forever…

Purchase Link - https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B08RS6JBRJ/

My Review:

A truly lovely, sweet and romantic story with dual timelines – that of Molly finding true, lasting love and Izzie her granddaughter, discovering secrets and healing her own personal wounds.

Upon her beloved grandmothers death, Izzie returns to her bungalow with the intention to clear it out, redecorate and sell up. Discovering an old diary reveals a heart-breaking story that had long been buried; all whilst Izzie is coming to terms with her own loss she must also face up to the future. She runs into long lost love, Justin and is still hurt by what did or did not happen in the past.

As much as I enjoyed Izzie’s story and her reconnecting with Justin, and finding herself again; I was completely swept up in Molly’s story. I could have just read a whole book on her and the Blackshaw twins.. I was hooked.

This book is very well written, so engaging, I liked the characters and didn’t feel anything was overly complicated or distracting. It’s a heartwarming story full of love, loss and truth.

A gorgeous, relaxing read. Highly recommended. 

Author Bio:

Lancashire born, I moved to Bedfordshire in the late seventies, married and started a family. I’m a past Hon Sec of the Romantic Novelists’ Association, have been a member since 1993 when I joined their New Writers’ Scheme as a probationer. That came about after winning a week’s historical writing course on the strength of the first chapter of my third Poldark-era romance. The tutor on the last day loved the story and handed me details of the Romantic Novelists’ Association – she said I absolutely must join as they would be able to help me towards publication.

Some four years later my first published book, Dark Canvas, won the RNA’s New Writer’s Award in 1997, the sixth, Illusions, won the RNA’s Romance Prize in 2003.

After working in the local library service for 18 years, during library cut-backs I took the leap to become self-employed as a writer and worked on releasing my backlist as eBooks for Kindle.

Most recently, I’ve had the pleasure of working with amazing Charlotte Ledger when she pulled me from the writing wilderness and have now signed a three-book deal with One More Chapter.

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