Ebook: 365 pages
Genre: Historical Fiction
Publisher: Storm Publishing May 2026
Source: NetGalley
First Sentences: The baby was howling again. Her wailing was like a cheese grater dragging across Stella's skin.
Setting: Ceylon in 1908 (now known as Sri Lanka)
Review Quote: “Vivid and atmospheric… full of emotion, secrets, and resilience.” Reader Review,
My Opinion:
The first title in The Ceylon Series 'The Star of Ceylon' was my introduction to the author Clare Flynn. I found her narrative about the British in Ceylon in the early years of the 20C a pleasurable and informative read.
Therefore I was pleased to have the opportunity to read and review 'The Tea Planter's Secret'. The characters were familiar and it was delightful to catch up with the main protagonists, Stella and Norton, Winnie and Paul and Cynthia and Ronald. The relationships are all complex and the narratives in this sequel are strong and emotional. I was once again transported to Colonial Ceylon and immersed in the beauty of the country as well as the social tensions of the country and the protagonists of the novel. Already looking forward to the final book in the series as the ending leaves the reader with hints of changes ahead for Stella, Winnie and Cynthia.
Although it works as a stand alone novel, reading the first in the series beforehand will enhance your understanding of the characters behaviour. Recommended as an atmospheric series for fans of historical fiction.
Thanks to NetGalley, Storm Publishing and the author for the opportunity to read and review.
Précis Courtesy of Goodreads:
Ceylon, 1908: Stella Baxter returns to the island paradise that once promised her everything — haunted by her father’s death and the brutal assault that left her with a baby she cannot love.
Norton is waiting for her in Colombo. He rescued her from scandal, he sees her worth, and his steady presence offers something Stella had given up a chance to heal. At last she can turn to the work that still binds her to her father — preserving his precious academic legacy.
But the arrival of the scandalous Cynthia — abandoned by her lover and desperate to salvage her reputation — ignites forbidden desires within Norton’s own family. As secrets unravel and the respectable façade of British Ceylon begins to crack, the fragile new life Stella has built is caught in the fallout.
Soon the mistakes of the past resurface, and Stella must fight to protect not only her father’s legacy but her own future.
Previous Review: The Star of Ceylon (The Ceylon Series Book 1)
Author Profile:
Photo and Bio Courtesy of Goodreads
Clare Flynn is the author of twenty historical novels and a collection of short stories. She is the 2020 winner of the UK Selfies Adult Fiction prize for her best-selling novel The Pearl of Penang, was shortlisted for the RNA Industry Awards Indie Champion of the Year for 2021 and won the award in 2022.
Clare lives in Eastbourne. on the south coast of the UK. She is a fluent Italian speaker and loves spending time in Italy. In her spare time she likes to quilt, paint and travel often and widely as possible.
Clare Flynn is an active member of The Romantic Novelists Association, The Alliance of Independent Authors and The Society of Authors.
You can read her full and interesting biography on her website
Photographs and Biographical Information courtesy of the following sites:
Clare Flynn - Author Website. Goodreads Profile. Amazon Profile. Instagram Profile