Bay of Secrets by Rosanna Ley

Hardback: 519 pages
Genre: Contemporary  Fiction
Publisher: Quercus 2013
Source: Tywyn Public Library
First Sentence: The doorbell rang - loud insistent.
Review Quote: 'Explores a sensitive subject in a unique and inspirational style, bringing to light a subject that for many children in Spain is still a harsh reality' Novelicious.
My Opinion: I read this very early on this year whilst on holiday, but somehow never got round to writing my review.  It was for me a perfect holiday read with believable characters and plot with historical background weaved in to the romance. This was the second book I have read by Rosanna Ley and it certainly will not be the last. 


 Bay of Secrets Précis Courtesy of Goodreads

Spain, 1939.

Following the wishes of her parents to keep her safe during the war, a young girl, Julia, enters a convent in Barcelona. Looking for a way to maintain her links to the outside world, she volunteers to help in a maternity clinic. But worrying adoption practices in the clinic force Sister Julia to decide how far she will go to help those placed in her care.

England, 2011.

Six months after her parents' shocking death, 34-year-old journalist and jazz enthusiast Ruby Rae has finally found the strength to pack away their possessions and sell the family home. But as she does so, she unearths a devastating secret her parents, Vivien and Tom, had kept from her all her life.

My review of  The Villa  by Rosanna Ley can be found here. 


Author Profile

Rosanna Ley has worked as a creative writing tutor for over 15 years. Affiliated to several colleges and universities in England, she also runs her own writing courses in the UK and abroad. She has worked with community groups in therapeutic settings and completed an MA in creative writing for personal development in order to support this. Her writing holidays and retreats take place in stunning locations in Italy and Spain and whilst not teaching or writing she mentors and appraises the work of new writers. Rosanna has had numerous articles and short stories published in UK magazines, and 12 novels of contemporary fiction published in the U.K, Germany, Greece and the U.S.A under a pseudonym. Her books are inspired by the culture and landscapes of Italy, Sicily and the Canary Islands and feature strong female voices from the past and present, along with an intense undercurrent of mystery and romance. Rosanna spends some time every year travelling around Europe looking for writing inspiration and more tranquil settings for writing holidays. She loves cliff walking and her favourite writing place is somewhere with a sea view. When she is not travelling, Rosanna lives with her artist husband in a Victorian cottage in West Dorset by the sea.

Photographs and biographical information courtesy of the following sites.
Goodreads - Author Profile    Twitter - Rosanna Ley   Author's Official Website