In the Company of Secrets

by Judith McCoy Miller

Book Overview

The truth could cost her everything.... Olivia Mott didn't intend to lie. And wasn't it all Lady Charlotte's fault anyway? Now Olivia's position as assistant chef at Pullman's Hotel Florence is... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0764202766
• ISBN13: 9780764202766
• Release Date: April 2007
• Publisher: Bethany House Publishers
• Length: 384 Pages
• Weight: 0.83 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 6.7" x 8.4"

Customer Reviews

Lost interest

Love the first book. After the first book got bored really quick

Can't Wait to Read the Rest!

Olivia Mott and her employer's daughter, Lady Charlotte, escape to America harboring all sorts of secrets. Olivia has relied on Lady Charlotte to provide her with a recommendation so that she can get a job at the prestigious Hotel Florence when they arrive in Pullman. Unfortunately for Olivia, Lady Charlotte's recommendation is so exaggerated that Olivia wonders how she will live up to her new boss's expectations! Lady Charlotte, meanwhile, must lie and claim to be a widow when she discovers she is pregnant from an affair. Nightly, Olivia and Charlotte literally have to compare notes so that each other knows what lies have been told to cover up previous lies. Olivia also manages to capture the attention of two different men in town. Samuel Howard serves as a town manager of sorts for Mr. Pullman, the founder of the town, and Fred DeVault is a local employee. Mr. Howard would like to have Olivia all to himself at all times, while Olivia is developing a great affection toward Fred. All the while, Olivia feels so guilty for all the lies that she must continue to tell. How can she ever pray to God, much less sit in church, when she knows her life is full of so much deceit? This was my first experience with Judith Miller's writing, and I loved every minute of it. From the very beginning, In the Company of Secrets is filled with beautiful descriptions and a wonderful history of the town of Pullman, Illinois. Just a warning--be prepared to be left hanging because you will have no choice but to read book 2 to know the rest of the story!

An easy, light reading novel!

Reviewed by Kathleen Dowdell for Reader Views (6/07) Author Judith Miller's attempt to provide substantive insight about historical Pullman, Illinois, falls short in this first of three series on Postcards from Pullman. Volumes two and three are due out in the future. As a long-time researcher and writer about historical areas in Chicago, I had hoped by reading this book that I could gain more information about Pullman, but I was disappointed that most of her reference to the area is common knowledge. I don't want to discourage other readers interested in historical fiction from buying this book. Its content is clever in the sense that the genre is about a heroine (Olivia Mott) living in the late 1890's who becomes innocently involved in a twisted chain of events that ultimately finds her working for George M. Pullman. Lies and deceit are the underlying theme represented in this book. The author weaves an occasional reference to religion hoping to connect the lies and deceit to forgiveness coupled with the fear of God. As an assistant chef to the chief chef of the Hotel Florence in Pullman, Olivia becomes acquainted with a number of unique characters that add excitement to her already demanding job. To make matters more complicated, Olivia must look after a friend's baby after her friend's unexpected exit from Pullman. In addition, two suitors vie for her affection making her free time away from her job very stressful. Ultimately, the lies and deception cause the suitor whom she most admires to become alienated and withdrawn while the other suitor becomes bolder in his attempt to gain her affection. Olivia wrestles with her desire to tell the truth and the repercussions if she does disclose the reason behind her lies. I was not familiar with Miller's writing therefore I was surprised how the book ended. Not wanting to disclose that information, I would urge readers to curb their expectations of how they think the book should end. "In the Company of Secrets" is an easy, light reading novel that can be enjoyed in an afternoon.

Great Beginning to a Promising New Series

Opening in 1880 London, young attractive Olivia Mott works in the kitchen of the Earl of Lanshire's estate. Rebuffing sexual advances and threats from his chef she knows that in order to save her virginity she must flee the household. Unfortunately, without a recommendation Olivia would not find work anyplace in England. Fortunately, Lady Charlotte, daughter of the Earl is pregnant and is bound and determined to travel to America to find and marry the father of her unborn child. Since Charlotte will pay for her ticket if she travels as her companion, Olivia is certainly willing to go. Arriving in Pullman, Illinois Charlotte uses her mother's stationary to forge a glowing recommendation so Olivia can procure a job in Pullman's elegant Hotel Florence. Another lie - Olivia is in over head as Charlotte exaggerated Olivia's culinary expertise. Ultimately they discover the father of Charlotte's unborn child is already married with children and the two women find they must concoct lie upon lie to hide their pasts. Olivia is guilt ridden over the lies and secrets she must keep especially when she falls in love with Fred DeVault a worker for the Pullman conglomerate. Adding to her dilemma are the unwanted attentions of the town manager, Samuel Howard who holds both her career and that of Fred in his hands should he discover her duplicity and where her affections truly lay. This was an interesting and lovely historical tale which is the beginning of what promises to be an enjoyable series. It features a fully developed cast of secondary characters whom the reader is sure to embrace especially where the author fully develops their individual personalities in orchestrating their importance of supporting Olivia as she attempts to dig her way out of the mountain of lies. Olivia initially felt all the blame belonged mostly to Charlotte starting with hiding the fact of her unborn child's illegitimacy and from preventing anyone from discovering that Charlotte was from nobility; a class distinction that had little importance in America. From the warm and loving Mrs. DeVault Olivia finds a friend and a guide in discovering Jesus and seeking forgiveness of those she's deceived. Ultimately, Olivia would be extremely disappointed in Charlotte by her betrayal when she's left in a dire predicament by Charlottes's immaturity and selfishness. In the beginning Olivia was at first enchanted with the town of Pullman until with keen observations from Fred she soon begins to see that what she thought as the perfect little town has its flaws and secrets. This first book about the citizens of Pullman is a richly detailed piece of Americana that author Judith Miller has skillfully brought to my attention and has certainly whetted my appetite for more. I am so looking forward to discovering how Olivia fares with the newest changes in her life and only hope Ms. Miller writes real fast. This promises to be a wonderful series that is brilliantly written, researched and

I'm excited about this new series!

Olivia Mott was miserable. She finds a way out, but in the process lies must be told. When she lands in Pullman, Illinois, her job, even her very life, may depend on her keeping the truth from everyone she meets. She devises a way to keep track of her tall-tales, but she's not sure it will be enough to avoid the looming trouble she feels is following her. In the meantime, she catches the eye of two of the town's eligible bachelors. She must learn to manage her lies, her new occupation and her heart. The first in the Postcards From Pullman series, In the Company of Secrets takes readers back to 1892 and gives a grand picture of what life was like then. Olivia struggles to fend for herself and finds herself in over her head on more than one occasion. Readers who enjoy historical Christian fiction will find this book charming. The only frustration I found was the ending, or lack thereof. It's a great lead-in to the next book in the series, but leaves the reader feeling left in the dark. I highly recommend this book, but warn readers to be prepared to buy the next book in the series as well. :)

interesting historical tale

In the 1880s in London, Olivia Mott works in the exclusive Spencer home, but when she rejects the sexual assaults of highly regarded Chef Mallard, she finds herself in jeopardy of losing her position. However, she gets lucky when pregnant single Lady Charlotte Spencer decides to go to America to find the father of her unborn child; she wants Olivia along as her companion. They reach factory town Pullman, Illinois where the prime factory is and those who work for the company of the same name live. Under Charlotte's direction, Olivia hides her past and obtains work as an assistant chef at the Florence. One lie leads to another and soon Olivia feels engulfed in the well meaning Charlotte's web of deceit as she falls in love with sincere town manager Samuel Howard. This is an interesting historical tale that brings to life a company town through the deep support cast and the reactions of the two female English newcomers to Pullman. Olivia is a delightful protagonist who detests the mendacious background that necessity being the mother of invention has forced her and Charlotte to create. Readers will appreciate this Postcards from Pullman tale as Judith Miller vividly brings to life late nineteenth century Americana. Harriet Klausner