It Started with a Secret by Jill Mansell is a romantic comedy. It’s a lightweight but entertaining tale set in a small Cornish town seemingly filled by eccentric people.
Lainey and her friend Kit work at a French chateau which is being run as a place for destination weddings and other events. One wedding goes very wrong and the business can no longer continue so Lainey and Kit accept a job offer as a live in couple to look after a household in Cornwall but to do it they have to pose as a couple when, in fact, Kit is gay. The household includes teenagers, a retired but extremely famous actor and a brooding man who is very attractive but doesn’t trust either of the new arrivals.
Most of the characters in this book are keeping secrets or are in difficult situations. As Lainey and Kit work in the house, trying to keep their own secret, the answers will be revealed, problems resolved and couples come together. The elderly actor and the fans who pursue him act as comedic relief while the problems of the household are a little more realistic although, of course, most could be solved by better communication.
I enjoyed this novel. I liked the initial set up and the fact that when secrets are revealed it is accepted and worked through rather than becoming the cause of division and hatred. I enjoyed how the author brought back past events and characters to disrupt lives. Obviously the happy endings are completely unrealistic but they work well within the context of the book and are very satisfying to read.
This book is amusing and entertaining. I found it enjoyable enough and quick to read.
Anne Is Reading 