Charlock's Secret

This was an ok book, but a pretty terrible romance. I liked this well enough, but it didn't meet my expectations. This book is more about dealing with grief with a tiny sprinkle of insta-love at the end. To be fair to the author, this, minus the romance, was well-done, but it wasn't what I was looking for. I thought this was a romance book, but the actual romance was rushed and didn't make much sense. The historical sections were a lot of fun though and reminded me how much I enjoy historical fiction from that period.

A time travel romance with a twist. Charlock's Secret follows Kat as she navigates life after tragedy. Taking a chance, and running from heartache, she takes a job in England. Little does she know what awaits. A beautiful story with wonderful characters that invite you in and make you want to stay.

Leah does a great job of creating suspense in this story of love, secrets and time travel. I truly didn't know what was going to happen next and that is the best part of her writing. While I'm not usually a fan of time travel, Leah makes it so believable that I really think everything happened the way it did. The love story was natural and I fell in love with Mr. Gilford myself. The setting was lovely, the characters were charming and the story line believable and easy to follow. Thanks Leah!

This was such a great read! I have read this author's Historical Fiction series, Berlin Butterfly, and enjoyed them so much I decided to read her newest novel. Though historical romance is not my typical genre, I enjoy time travel. I have to say I loved the twist and the characters were so engaging. Well done, Moyes.

This is a beautifully written time travel story with strong characters and an intriguing story line. The author does a fantastic job building the story and in taking Kat back to the year 1878.It's a great time travel with a twist and I loved it!! This is a must read!!<br /><br />I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book. All opinions in this review are my own and freely given.

<strong>Charlock’s Secret </strong><br /><br /><br />This is a wonderful Time Travel book. After Kat goes through a terrible ordeal she leaves the USA to work as a curator in an old mansion in England. Kat is having a lot of trouble as she was angry and in pain and just wanted to get away from her situation in Arizona. what transpires is quite an emotional journey. The author captures the readers attention with the basic normalcy and kindness of Kat until things go awry. Living in 19th century England for a gal from the 21st century from New York is extremely difficult. The author describes the feelings extremely well as Kat is looking for resolutions. Definitely worth the read.

Just finished reading this book by Leah Moyes. It has been a long time since I have read a can’t put down book. From the moment it starts, through the well written plot of time travel to the last page it held me spellbound. Leah Moyes attention to every little detail of both the past and present made me feel like I was right there beside Katherine. Please write the sequel quickly. In the meantime, having read your Berlin Butterfly Series and embarking on your next book, all I can say is thank you so much for sharing these with your audience. I need to put in an order to ship me your books as soon as you release them. <br />

In the prologue, which takes place in March 2009, we literally are given a front row seat to a slice of life that defines the rest of the book. Some prologues work, some are wanting, this book delivers, sprinkling riddles that tempt the reader to find out answers. I was immediately engaged. Another riddle in the prologue was presented as a pithy, albeit lovely, romantic quote, “We have forever, Kat.” This turns out to be false, and sadly ironic. As a reader, I’m suspecting that this character, Kat has lived through a powerful, traumatic event. At Chapter two, I was hooked. I read to find out about Kat. Much of her back story is told through a series of flashbacks. We learn in layers, a little peek at a time. Chapter two brings Kat to Charlock Mansion for the job of curator. Kat is shocked she’s offered the job, because she realizes, as does her closest friends and family that she is far from functioning optimally, but is a grief stricken, jet-lagged, and memories-soaked woman. A woman who is running from her past and not sure she wants or is entitled to a future. <br /> By chapter seven, Pauline the veteran curator of Charlock retires to Scotland and Kat is settling into her new role as curator. She starts to live and breathe the history of the Gilford family. She begins to identify with the Gilford family, but she can’t reconciled the warmth &amp; love she associates with them and the distant machine that is her boss, whom she calls “Mr. Chill,” aka, Trenton Gilford. He seems distant, remote, and mainly focused on making money verses the heritage pasted down from his family. In chapter eight, when asked to produce certain documents for Mr. Chill in a week’s time; she starts working 24/7 in the library to fulfill the unreasonable request. At the end of chapter eight, Kat continues working at a fever-pitch, not sleeping or eating, which alarms some of the staff, but she pushes on as she is almost finished. However, just prior to her victory dance, Kat tumbles into 1878 and becomes Katharine, governess to the Gilford family. <br /><br />What I Liked:<br /> Moyes very deftly had me identifying with her characters, such as Kelly, Pauline, Merrick, Elizabeth, and Mr. Chill/Trenton to name a few. Kat’s roommate, Kelly is a gem of a friend, desperate to reach the grief-drowning Kat. She posts various job ads every day around the apartment, in a type of game to attract Kat, such as a pineapple picker in Hawaii or a bilingual puppet master on another day. She works hard to help Kat re-enter the day-to-day world, which Kat disappeared from in her despair and grief. Her efforts actually induce a laugh from Kat. One ad piqued Kat’s interest, the job of a curator for Charlock mansion, which was Gilford Estate in England. The ad intrigues her enough, she sends off her resume.<br /> During the interview for the Charlock position, Trenton Gilford, III, executor of the estate seems a bit unfocused, but Pauline Campbell is a gem. Kat, in fact thinks that Pauline is like her “crazy Aunt Susan, eccentric and audacious.” Pauline at various points functions like she “knows” what will happen to Kat in the near future. She tell her “a do hope ye consider the position, lassie, ‘tis seems tae fit ye.” What? Why is that? In chapter six, when both Pauline and Kat are waiting out a wedding on the estate grounds to finish, she tells Kat to “Keep a fire roastin’ and bide yer time, twill pass, love.” Kat expresses the idea that Pauline seems to have a strange sixth sense, like she knows more about Kat than she had ever expressed on her resume or in her job interview. I began to think that also, wondering what that something was. Pauline is interesting because she is a phenomenally informed employee, but at the same time, a horrible, disorganized pack-rat. She doesn’t believe in filing anything, nor does she believe a computer could cut down on paperwork! It is this very fact, which is pivotal in sending Kat back into history. <br /> In 1878, Katherine struggles with the requirements of society in regards to how the appropriately dressed woman is to appear. Things that constantly frustrate her were the need for shoes at all times, nylons, and undergarments. A funny comment from Kat came after Elizabeth sent some clothing for her to wear and she notices the undergarments. Her thoughts as she “lifted up a pair of baggy shorts….Knickers” and thinks, these “underwear [are] the size of New Jersey.”<br /> Once Kat has slide into 1878 Charlock, we are introduced to history of the Gilford family in more detail, the estate, various staff, customs and language, and some sterling characters. My favorite historical characters were Elizabeth and Merrick. <br /> I found particularly effective the various hints that foreshadow Kat’s travel to 1878 and even about her future with the current Charlock owner. Pauline hints at how the Charlock job will benefit Charlock as well as Kat. Kat expresses a lack of confidence concerning her ability to do the job at Charlock, as she talked by cell with Kelly. Kelly states, “I believe you’re exactly where you should be right now. You need this.” <br /> Another hint comes after Kat finishes a tour, sits down on the entryway settee and stares at the majestic Gilford portrait, which was finished shortly before Mrs. Gilford’s untimely death. Hennessey, the butler asks her if she is doing well. Kat takes the opportunity to question him about the Gilford family. She then confesses, “Every time I pass this portrait, I feel something strange.” As well she might, as this family and house will become very significant to Kat.<br /> The last reason I found the book satisfying is the real way the author presents grief in its various stages. This was well done and added to your understanding of Kat and to the momentum of the story.<br /><br />Conclusion:<br />Both time periods help build the story of Charlock and the story of Kat or Katharine. We learn about customs of the time, both upstairs and downstairs. Although the challenge for Kat is daunting; Kat is truly transformed into a whole person once again, one who embraces life, her life at Charlock both past and present, and Charlock’s current owner-Trenton. This was a satisfying story, cleverly written without any degrading language or lifestyle issues.<br />

Fleeing from the grief of her deceased fiance, Kat flees the states to take a position in the Gilford estate. She has trouble acclimating at first, but she can’t seem to outrun the painful memories. Waking up from an accident while working, she finds herself thrown back in time to the earlier Gilford family. Hired as a governess for the two daughters, she must acclimate to this new life, while trying to fit in. She might just find herself stuck in 1878 with no way to return to the present. <br /><br />There were a few things that kept me from giving it 5-stars. At times, Pauline’s dialect was too much for me to understand, especially when Kat wasn’t mentally translating what she said. Her dialog was enough that it made it problematic to read, and so I found myself skimming over when she spoke. Also, I understand that Kat’s past is told through her memories, but the number of times she spaced off mid-convo would have had her fired or committed. I feel there must have been a better way for the reader to know her past than having it occur in the middle of a conversation. <br /><br />But when I look past those minor issues, this was a highly enjoyable read, with fun characters and a unique storyline. The history of the Gilford’s was highly imaginative, and the period in time was well-researched. I liked Merritt. He was a good man who did things because they were right and not because someone was watching. A fun read filled with the power of friendship and healing.

Moyes has great descriptions of the past and this book has a really strong storyline/plot. Character development was lacking a bit. Merrit was a bit TOO good and didn’t seem believable. The idea was slavery was very under developed and felt over the top. There could’ve been an enormous amount of content with the past there, but it seemed to be just thrown in to make him a better person.<br /><br />I struggled rating this book. It kept me coming back and I never grew bored, and it actually was not that predictable. For some reason I did not feel very connected to Kat. I guess I felt like I didn’t know her in the 21st century. I really could not become friends with her because I know so little about her life or views, except for her feelings of grief. There were no scenes of her talking to her friends or going out and doing things in the 21st-century, which I feel really would’ve made her much more relatable to the average person. I couldn’t get a feeling for what type of person she was beyond her grief, and I would’ve liked to. Although many people in my family have passed away, I have never experienced the death of a spouse or fiancé, or even a boyfriend, so I really don’t know or understand this all consuming grief. But I do know there is still a woman underneath at all, and I would’ve liked to know her better.