The Art of Inheriting Secrets: A Novel

I hope the story continues. I really enjoy it. The characters are great. The plot is great. I just want to see more.

This is my kind of romance. Slow and simmering, with realistic characters and satisfying people relationships. When you select a book online, you can never tell if the bodice will start ripping at the end of the first chapter, and the so-called plot is just an excuse for steamy sex. This book was so NOT that. There were a few moments when I wanted to shake our heroine, and the dying mother really wouldn't have put her daughter through what ... you'll find out ... what she did. But these minor things can be forgiven in the interest of an enjoyable, thoroughly readable book. IMO!

Read in one day. Didn't stop to eat. Descriptive enough to paint vivid mental images & flavors. An inclusive experience

I read a lot and it’s divine when a book captures my interest and imagination.Bravo!!A delightful read centered around food, flowers and historical presence.

I enjoy the coziness that comes from O’Neal, and this was no different. A gentle mystery, an easy love story, and a happy ending. A perfect read.

From the beginning of this story, to the end I once again am amazed and grateful for the writing of Barbara O’Neal. The book is filled with secrets, and feelings of the highest level. To say that I enjoyed it, would be a drastic understatement.Terrie Moody

First the pros. As others have noted, the descriptions of Rosemere and the countryside are lovely. Absolutely mesmerizing. The writing is wonderful. Detailed descriptions of gardens, colors and food. I loved the way the author lets us see the ruined, but still-beautiful mansion. There is a mystery, or several mysteries, at the heart of the story, but they are almost secondary to Olivia's exploring her sudden inheritance and title.Now the cons. The first issue I had was the fact that everyone seems to fall for Olivia immediately. Pavi, Sam, Lord Barber, Jocasta, all immediately like her and do whatever she asks, provides what she needs no questions asked. Sure she is titled, but these people don't know her, don't know what to expect, yet right away do her bidding. Everyone thinks she is wonderful, adorable, beautiful and special. It didn't make sense to me, I would expect English villagers to be much more standoffish around the new Lady of Rosemere. This is picky, but with all the tasks and things she has to keep straight, she never writes much down. She keeps track of a few things on a white board but hardly references it. Most people would find the number of tasks overwhelming and though Olivia says she is overwhelmed, she finds time to go to luncheons and dinners, walk around somewhat aimlessly, and have wild sex. But my main criticism is about the loose ends. It's as if O'Neal did all the lovely writing, then got to the end and realized she had a plot with a whole bunch of questions still unanswered, so things are wrapped up quickly. However, we never find out who Olivia's father is or what happened to her life in San Francisco when she didn't move back, or why Sam left teaching. We never found out what the paintings and other things she found in the house were worth or even what she did with them. Too many unaswered questions.

Such an incredible book! I hated to see it end! Would love to know what happened to the house, the cat, and the lovers afterward. 💓

Oh God, I love this book. It’s so charming. And remarkably written. Full of admiration for history, art, architecture, nature and food. Barbara O’Neal has my heart captured in every single book of hers.

I just had to keep reading this book. It has believable characters, a good plot and very descriptive landscapes.Will read more by this author.

I.surely recommend it! It is awesome...... Will ontoAwesome!. Will continue resAGreat!loved it! ToReading her work!beautiful ook!

The book starts like a fairy tale. A successful editor of a food magazine living in California, endures 3 life changing events in very quick succession - the death of her beloved mother, a death defying motor vehicle accident and the loss of her 16 year old dog in that accident. She finds herself in England at the request of her mother's lawyer to resolve part of the estate that her mother left her. Imagine her astonishment when she learns that she is a Countess and that she has inherited an English estate that she knew nothing about. The 37 room house built centuries earlier has been abandoned since her mother left suddenly for the States and is in a state of major disrepair. The residents of the village have mixed reactions to her arrival - some resenting her sudden appearance, other who remembered her mother fondly as a child, were more welcoming. The story goes on from there as she attempts to discover why she had no knowledge of this part of her mother's life and what she should do about the state that she finds herself in. It was a fascinating story and I enjoyed it thoroughly.

First time I've read any of this author's novels, but I was totally engrossed in this quite different story. Loved the characters, a good solid believable plot. I am "at home" in anything set in England, I "am there" lost in the setting. I enjoyed this novel so much I have purchased another of her books, that I think is a good sign that Barbara O'Neal is a great storyteller, she kept me entertained which is what reading is all about!