The Art of Inheriting Secrets: one woman's journey into her mother's past

The Art of Inheriting Secrets by Barbara O’Neal is a story of discovery of a loved one’s past holds the key to one’s future. After the sudden death of her mother, Olivia Shaw learns she has inherited an English estate and the title of countess. With grief still raw and her head swimming with so many questions, Olivia leaves her home in San Francisco and heads to England, unsure what she will find but determined to unravel her mother’s secrets. Once in England, Olivia learns that Rosemere Priory, a magnificent estate, is in desperate need of repair and holds the secrets to her mother’s past. With personal issues and a job back home needing her attention, Olivia can’t help but fall in love with the English village, its residents and Rosemere itself. Will she return to San Francisco? Will she stay in England? Will Olivia finally understand why her mother kept it all a secret?

The Art of Inheriting Secrets is a great story of a woman’s discovery of her mother’s past and finding a future she didn’t know she wanted. However, where the story fails is that it leaves too many loose ends. The story builds up to this great mystery as to why her mother left and never told her about her life in England. The author is great with the descriptions and yet poor at unfolding the mystery to a satisfying end. The end felt rushed and left me asking WHAT? As I closed the final chapter. I still had questions. The writing is beautiful. I truly felt as if I could experience the weather of the English countryside. The author’s descriptions of the food truly made me hungry! There is a romance aspect that was beautiful and added to the tension. Overall, I did enjoy the story, despite the unsatisfying ending. I recommend The Art of Inheriting Secrets. 

The Art of Inheriting Secrets is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook