This book was recommended by mystery author Kate Carlisle, so when I saw it was available for free at Amazon on Prime Reading, I read it, and I’m so glad I did. I had recently finished reading a literary novel with tons of dry narrative, so I was delighted to find a book written by a master storyteller. I was able to relax and immerse myself in the world O’Neal so vividly created. Later I realized that Barbara O’Neal used to write historical romance as Barbara Samuel, whose books I had loved. Why publishers feel they have to hide a writer’s romance roots, I will never understand.
The Art of Inheriting Secrets: A Novel
by Barbara O’Neal
Lake Union Publishing, 2018
When food editor Olivia Shaw’s mother dies, she learns that her mom, who never talked about her background, has left her an estate in England. An honest-to-god landed estate, complete with crumbling manor house, a ruined abbey and a title. Reeling from grief and shock, the new Countess of Rosemere flies to England to assess her inheritance and discovers more secrets.
Olivia doesn’t intend to fall in love with England, not to mention trying to resist the charms of a certain Indian-American author, but lately nothing in her life has gone according to plan. Some of the locals she encounters help her, while others work to actively undermine her. She runs into lots of pitfalls and obstacles, but also finds joy and a sense of belonging.
The book is so well-written, the characters seem real, and the description is wonderful, esp. Olivia’s lyrical descriptions of the food she eats, befitting a food editor.
Highly recommended for fans of women’s fiction, Downton Abbey, or anyone just wanting a feel good read.
Wishing you all a happy and safe holiday season.
Linda McLaughlin
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Anne Louise Bannon has made not one, but two careers out of her passion for storytelling. Both a novelist and a journalist, she has an insatiable curiosity. In addition to her mystery novels, she has written a nonfiction book about poisons, freelanced for such diverse publications as the Los Angeles Times, Ladies’ Home Journal, and Backstage West, and edits the wine blog OddBallGrape.com. On the fiction side, she writes a romantic serial, a spy series, and her Kathy and Freddy 1920s mystery series. Her most recent title is Death of the Chinese Field Hands, set in Los Angeles, 1871. She and her husband live in Southern California with an assortment of critters. Visit her website at 
The daughter of a newspaperman, A.E. Wasserman wrote her first novella at age 14 and never stopped writing. She has received numerous awards, including honors from Writer’s Digest for her work. A.E. Wasserman’s current mystery/thrillers, The Langsford Series, have garnered international attention. After graduating from The Ohio State University, she lived in London, then San Francisco. Currently she resides in Southern California with her family and her muse, a Border Collie named Topper. Visit the author’s web site at 