Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book for an honest review.

This book is about two women from the 1700’s and modern day. Abigail is a ship owners wife and Rachel who is a marine archeologist and is is asked to research a wreck off the coast of Whithaven in Cumbria .Is it a slave ship belonging to Abigail’s husband or not ?and what is it doing off the coast of Cumbria. . It’s a story about love and redemption in different centuries of two unhappy women each with their own set of sad circumstances .

The characters were well developed the book well written in an easy style with some interesting if very disturbing historical data.

A curious book in two interleaved parts, one modern and the other set in the 1770s. The parallels between the two parts hinges off the female protagonists and, whilst I am male, I certainly empathised with Abigail in the 1770s as inevitably women were expected to be seen and not heard and all too frequently treated as nothing more than chattels. A "rebel" by "life experience", she manages to eventually forge a path of her own. Much less sympathy for Rachel in the modern day who, whilst also conditioned by her up-bringing, did not cope as well as Abigail - and that seemed to be by choice rather than failed effort.

Worth reading? - I believe so as the counterpoint of these two women, their life parallels and their successes or failures in dealing with themselves make for an interesting read.

Interesting dual story following two lives and two marriages. Set mostly in and around Whitehaven,some new and intriguing facts around the slave industry and the modern problems surrounding dementia. An enjoyable read.

This was an entertaining read about two women from two different periods in history. We have Abigail Fenton from the 1700’s who adopted a black slave girl and was married to a man who procured and sold slaves. Then there is modern day marine archeologist Rachel struggling with her marriage and an ailing mother . The story line has the past meet the present when a shipwreck is discovered and a watch with Abigail’s husband is found. This book deals with loss, slavery, regrets, Christian beliefs and the ability to see the worth of others even though risks and heartaches often result.

An entertaining and well written book. Well crafted plot and characters. I a always enjoy a good time slip plot. I received an arc from the publisher and this is my unbiased review.

The Widow's Secret, Katharine Swartz

Review from Jeannie Zelos book reviews

Genre: General Fiction (adult), Historical fiction

A dual POV novel, in the present Rachel is researching the history of a wreck, a ship she believes to be a slave ship, and then we see the past, where Abigail Fenton is the wife of the ship's owner.

Its an interesting story, Rachel isn't just learning about the ship's history but examining her own. She loves her husband, he loves her, but its a tense relationship, with Rachel not understanding her actions so how on earth can her husband?
I got the feeling this was a tipping point in their marriage, that Rachel had always been a prickly, closed off person, and we see from her relationship with her mother that she doesn't exactly have a loving role model there. It seems to stem from when her adored father died when she was young, but its spilled over and now her marriage is in danger. She doesn't want that but doesn't know how to be the person she wants, open, friendly, loving.
Then back in the past we've Abigail, lovely young lady, adores her husband and he loves her. Typical of the time though they are restricted by society and what's deemed correct. Abigail is unsure of the belief commonly held that slaves are more like animals, her own experiences make her doubt that, putting her in a hard position with her husband and contemporaries. Can she speak out? What about the effect on her family? If she doesn't though what does that make her?

Its a good story, and Rachel is escaping to the past rather than face up to the issues in her present life. It hits back though, events make it so that she needs to take action or lose everything. In a strange parallel Abigail too has to pick a side, contemporaries, friendship, marriage and the accepted view of slaves, or can she voice her opinions, and maybe hope to bring about change in a small way, but risking her marriage and her position in society?

There's a thread of Christianity running through the past, but not in an overbearing way – its something I avoid, but here it fits the story and isn't dominating it. Its was interesting reading about the past, the slaves ( awful trade. One wonders how many really felt as Rachel did inside) and wondering what the future held for the characters involved.
I really felt for James, a good man, but carried along with accepted beliefs until confronted with the harsh truth. For anyone with a conscience that makes things tough, and I felt his struggle. Its easier to think everyone involved in that trade was awful, bigoted, a bully, but James was a gentle man, adored Abigail but initially really didn't see wrong in what he did. Then as facts began to solidify in his mind he was struggling, what to do? Risk everything he had earned? Leave things as they were and live with his conscience? What about Abigail, he can see her actions in a different light now.
Its very complex, being horrified at his actions and then seeing them for his POV.

I loved Antony, Rachel's husband, such an incredibly patient and understanding man and yet eventually he feels he's tried and tried, and needs Rachel to make an effort too. I did feel that for such huge issues as they have, the ending was a little slick, very quickly all those issues were put behind them, when really I felt they would need a huge amount of work. Of course this is bookland, where problems can have quick situations leading to a HEA, but I would have liked a bit more time for them, a little more delving into the issues, and how they were going to get past them. Its simply not possible to have a blinding revelation and say all will be well......

Stars: Four, an interesting read, the abhorrent slave trade looked at through eyes of the time, and of course through Rachel's current day view. I enjoyed the story, just felt the ending was a little too easily fixed and settled.

ARC supplied by Netgalley and publisher

I really really enjoyed reading this book. It had all the elements I like in a novel. It's well-written, with a good detailed plot and deep interesting character development. The author managed a dual plot line wonderfully, juggling the early 1700's with current day seamlessly. In the 1700's we are introduced to a young woman who is married to a man who owns several ships and who deals in slave trade. In the current day we have Rachel, a young marine archaeologist of sorts who is sent to the Cumbria area of the Lake District in the UK to investigate a sunken ship to determine if it holds historical value. Rachel is originally from this area and has a strained relationship from her mother, who is getting along in years, and with whom she has a strained relationship since her father's death some 25 years ago. The story is full of history, friendship, sorrow and love. So interesting and such a wonderful read. I loved it and definitely recommend.

I would like to thank the author, publisher and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.