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Introducing my debut novel:
Reticence
Available to buy now.
Get your signed copy.
You can now order a signed copy of Reticence. Click on the link below.
In a time and society where being reserved was considered polite, is it possible to keep secrets without consequences?
1937
It’s the night of Fiona Beaumont’s opulent 21st birthday party at the Savoy Ballroom, London. With her whole life ahead of her, she has it all: wealth, beauty, and effortless elegance. But life isn’t going to go to plan. All the glitz and glamour fade as the world plunges into the depths of war. How will she navigate the heartbreak and loss she is to experience?
2007
Hazel Stevens had been a housemaid to Fiona for nearly 20 years. In the end stages of cancer, she knows that she must tell her story to her daughter Mary before it’s too late. But how will she begin to explain what she should’ve told her?
Two women from starkly different backgrounds would never have imagined how their lives would entwine so intricately. Their reticence creates consequences that will haunt them forever.
What people are saying about Reticence…
“I Loved this book.
It felt like watching a period drama reading this book.
The emotion Melanie brings through her writing meant I was captivated from the first page. It’s both thrilling and deeply romantic, leaving me with poignant images of different moments that I was so immersed in they have stayed with me.
The characters felt like my best friends as the book led me through the unfolding of their story. A beautiful, thought provoking, intimate read.
Melanie, please write a sequel.“
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
— L Porter
Captivating and authentic: a story you won’t want to end!
I really enjoyed this book. The descriptions of the settings and characters were incredibly detailed and precise. It’s the kind of story you never want to end, with every chapter holding your interest. The writing is excellent, and the historical context gives it a strong sense of authenticity, making it feel truly real. I’m definitely looking forward to the next book by this author!
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
— S Anglada
“Against the backdrop of WWll two women from different ends of the social scale are about to share a secret which will have devastating consequences.
Fiona Beaumont has been born into the world of the upper classes, Hazel Stevens in search of a career in service finds herself as housekeeper to Fiona.
With the Second World War looming, circumstances which bring their worlds together will haunt them both forever.
Fear of an unforgiving judgmental society force both women to hold their tongues and keep their secret hidden.
Until 2007 that is.
Hazels’s daughter Mary is about to have her world shaken when her dying Mother reveals the secret she has been keeping for decades.
This was such a thrilling and beautiful read which pulled at the heartstrings and brought me to tears more than once.
Melanie has captured the elegance, spirit and tragedy of a bygone era, it truly is a beautiful debut novel.“
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
— Cheryl
“A read that has you gripped from the beginnning.
This is a great dual time book full of twists and surprises . It is a book you cannot put down as the further you read the more you want to know what happens to the characters and their lives. If you are a fan of this genre it is a MUST READ. Looking forward to the next novel.”
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
— J Leeder
“A story that lingers.
If you look up ‘Reticence’ in Google for a definition you will find as an example the following:
‘The traditional emotional reticence of the British’.
Melanie has used this very British trait to bring the most beautiful story to life. Her characters are so nuanced in a plot that is deliciously twisty and addictive.
It’s a story of love but in so many forms, friendships, lovers, family love, unspoken love, lost love, love of a place and time. I also must mention the love of a dearly loved fur baby, Jasper, who is now forever remembered in the pages of this book đŸ©·.
I had been eagerly waiting the release of this book and it didn’t disappoint. A beautiful read, mixing the complexities of life and the history of the British way of life through the decades, pre World War Two and beyond. “
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
— Gem
“Secrets, lies and consequences.
This is a beautifully crafted novel that explores the emotional complexity of secrets, lies and their far-reaching consequences. Set in Brighton, the story begins just before the outbreak of war and runs parallel to a modern-day timeline. The author skillfully intertwines the lives of those living in the same house – both upstairs and below stairs – bound by hidden secrets. The twists and turns kept me hooked, with each revelation adding depth to the characters’ journeys. As an indie author, the writer has delivered an impressive debut.”
★ ★ ★ ★
— A Osmanoğlu