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About the Book
The Art of Inheriting Secrets;
Barbara O’Neal
Adult; Mystery; 363 Pages
Lake Union Publishing (July 17, 2018)
When Olivia Shaw’s mother dies, the sophisticated food editor is astonished to learn she’s inherited a centuries-old English estate—and a title to go with it. Raw with grief and reeling from the knowledge that her reserved mother hid something so momentous, Olivia leaves San Francisco and crosses the pond to unravel the mystery of a lifetime.
One glance at the breathtaking Rosemere Priory and Olivia understands why the manor, magnificent even in disrepair, was the subject of her mother’s exquisite paintings. What she doesn’t understand is why her mother never mentioned it to her. As Olivia begins digging into her mother’s past, she discovers that the peeling wallpaper, debris-laden halls, and ceiling-high Elizabethan windows covered in lush green vines hide unimaginable secrets.
Although personal problems and her life back home beckon, Olivia finds herself falling for the charming English village and its residents. But before she can decide what Rosemere’s and her own future hold, Olivia must first untangle the secrets of her past.
About the Author

Barbara O’Neal is the author of eleven novels of women’s fiction, including How to Bake a Perfect Life and The Lost Recipe for Happiness. Her award-winning books have been published in more than a dozen countries, including France, England, Poland, Australia, Turkey, Italy, Germany, and Brazil. She lives in the beautiful city of Colorado Springs with her beloved, a British endurance athlete who vows he’ll never lose his accent.
Jenn’s Review
In a life full of books and stories, every once in awhile, a book comes along that pulls you in, makes reality fall away, and haunts you long after you read that final paragraph. The Art of Inheriting Secrets by Barbara O’Neal is one of those rare finds.
Olivia Shaw has had a horrible year. She’s lost so much, and when she discovers letters from a solicitor in England regarding the estate, she discovers a whole other side of her mother, including an English Manor, a title, and a decades-old mystery.
Olivia’s mother has left her a treasure hunt and a mountain of difficult decisions. Her ex-boyfriend has a vendetta, but as she begins to own her title and the responsibility that comes with it, she discovers new friends, support, and love.
Rosemere is a mess and St. Ives Cross is an obstacle course she must manage. Can she save her mother’s legacy and put the ghosts of the past to rest?
This is a slow, deep read, interlaced with love, memories, and challenges. Sympathetic characters and richly imagined landscapes line the pages. Definitely a keeper!

Buy the Book
This book is available in Kindle, Audiobook, paperback and MP3 CD editions here.
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