Sweeping Six-Book Saga, Secret Lives Series By Carole McEntee-Taylor, Reveals The Origins Of Our Modern World

On The Table Read Magazine, “the best entertainment eBook magazine UK“, Carole McEntee-Taylor’s Secret Lives is a gripping six-book saga that weaves the personal struggles of unforgettable heroines with the seismic events of 1913–1918, revealing the origins of our modern world with emotional depth and historical precision.

Secret Lives Series

In Carole McEntee-Taylor’s Secret Lives, a masterful six-book series, the private struggles of unforgettable characters intertwine with the seismic events of 1913–1918, revealing how the chaos of war, revolution, and societal upheaval forged the modern age. Combining emotionally rich storytelling with meticulous historical accuracy, this literary epic immerses readers in a world of suffragette defiance, crumbling empires, and personal sacrifice. Each volume, centered on a single year, delivers a gripping blend of drama and education, making Secret Lives a must-read for fans of family sagas craving depth and authenticity.

Set against the backdrop of World War I, suffragette uprisings, and the rise of new ideologies, Secret Lives follows a diverse cast of fierce and flawed heroines—suffragettes, spies, aristocrats, and artists—whose acts of courage and defiance shape their destinies. From the drawing rooms of England to the war-torn fronts of Europe, McEntee-Taylor crafts a narrative that mirrors the personal cost of political ambition and the resilience of those who dared to challenge their time’s limitations.

Book 1: 1913 – The Spark of Change

The saga begins in 1913, a year of simmering tension. In England, Lady Frances Ashbourne risks everything for women’s suffrage, terrified her parents will discover her activism. Her friend Lettie Hallenby, a staunch suffragette, is horrified when Frances is pressured into an unwanted marriage. Meanwhile, the Hon Edward Pemberton’s reckless decisions lead to a solution that will haunt him. In Austria, Rosa Blum’s love for penniless artist Max Sommer faces parental opposition, while in Italy, Lucrecia Rossi grapples with guilt after a fatal accident. The stage is set for a world on the brink.

Book 2: 1914 – Fractured Bonds

As war erupts in 1914, personal lives unravel. Frances’s marriage becomes a prison, while her brother Thomas’s seemingly perfect union hides dark secrets. His wife, Henrietta, seeks solace in a dangerous affair. In Austria, Rosa prepares to marry Ludwig, but his father’s interference threatens her happiness. In Germany, Max, now with Stefi, can’t forget Rosa, while in Italy, Lucrecia discovers a new talent that opens a perilous path. The war’s shadow looms, testing loyalties and dreams.

Book 3: 1915 – Resilience Amid Ruin

By 1915, the war’s toll deepens. Frances, freed by her husband Eddie’s absence at the front, plans a new future, while Henrietta hides a dangerous truth from Thomas. In Austria, Rosa, devastated by loss, receives a cryptic message at a spiritualist meeting that alters her path. In Germany, Stefi faces food shortages as Max braves the front lines. In Italy, Lucrecia’s newfound talent brings unexpected consequences. Survival demands courage as the world fractures further.

Book 4: 1916 – Turning Points

In 1916, lives shift irrevocably. In England, Thomas seeks sympathy but finds Henrietta missing, while Eddie’s return brings suspicion and violence. In France, Lettie’s life takes an unexpected turn, and in Ireland, Henrietta’s search for Oliver leads to tragedy. In Austria, Rosa deciphers her mysterious message, but her instincts lead to danger. In Germany, Stefi faces worsening conditions, and in Italy, Lucrecia’s husband’s decisions threaten her future. The war’s brutality spares no one.

Book 5: 1917 – Desperate Choices

As 1917 unfolds, desperation drives decisions. In England, Lettie makes a life-altering choice, Frances despairs of happiness, and Henrietta seeks love in an unlikely place. In Austria, Rosa realizes her war-changed fiancé Ludwig is a stranger, and her thoughts turn to another. In Germany, Max, unable to return to the front, finds unexpected fortune in Lille. In Italy, Lucrecia, trapped in a disastrous marriage, meets a stranger who sparks hope. The end of the war feels tantalizingly close, yet danger persists.

Book 6: 1918 – Reckonings and Redemption

The final volume, set in 1918, brings resolution and revelation. In England, Giuseppe reveals Eddie’s truth to Frances, but protecting John remains unresolved. Henrietta’s past ignites explosive consequences, and Lettie risks everything to uncover her fiancé’s fate. In France, Max grapples with Lettie’s identity as a spy. In Italy, Lucrecia finds her dream man but questions his commitment. In Austria, Rosa faces a life-or-death choice to save the man she loves. As the war ends, the characters’ fates reflect the world’s rebirth.

A Saga That Educates and Enthralls

McEntee-Taylor’s Secret Lives is both a sweeping family saga and a vivid history lesson. Each book’s focus on a single year allows readers to witness the incremental impact of global events on personal lives. The series’ heroines, with their courage and flaws, embody the era’s pioneering spirit, from suffragette activism to artistic rebellion. Fans of historical fiction will revel in the meticulous detail and emotional depth, while the promise of The Eagle Quartet, a follow-on series, ensures the saga’s gripping legacy continues.

For readers who crave drama, depth, and historical insight, Secret Lives is an unmissable journey. McEntee-Taylor’s ability to weave real events with intimate stories creates a series that is as enlightening as it is entertaining. Whether you’re drawn to the fight for women’s rights, the intrigue of wartime espionage, or the resilience of the human spirit, this six-book epic will captivate and inspire. Dive into Secret Lives and discover the origins of our modern world through the eyes of those who lived it.

Carole McEntee-Taylor

I write and publish military history, historical fiction and military memoirs and to date have written over 40 books, please see website for more details. I am also a ghost writer of novels, memoirs, spiritual books and various other nonfiction.

My military history books are all published by Pen & Sword. I worked at the Military Corrective Training Centre (MCTC)in Colchester, Essex for nine years but have now moved to the beautiful countryside of North Lincolnshire with my husband David and write full time.

I have quite wide ranging interests and together with my husband David I have also written two spiritual books, The Re-Enlightenment and The Holiday from Hell.

-Carole McEntee-Taylor

Find more from Carole McEntee-Taylor now:

carolemctbooks.info

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