Join us for our next USO Colorado Virtual Book Club Series. The book we’ve selected is "The Secrets of Saffron Hall" by Clare Marchant. A synopsis and details about the book are copied below.
This program is open to any currently serving military service members as well as their spouses and partners – active duty, national guard, reservists, and coalition/allied forces are all welcome.
How to Participate:
Complete the Registration for the Program here.
Meeting Dates: (Please plan to attend all 5 meetings)
- Feb. 2nd 2021, 7:30pm
- Feb. 9th 2021, 7:30pm
- Feb. 16th 2021, 7:30pm
- Feb. 23rd 2021, 7:30pm
- Mar. 2nd 2021, 7:30pm
Upon registration you'll receive details for our first Zoom meeting on February 2nd at 7:30pm. Join us as we get to know one another at our first meeting. After attending the first meeting, participants will receive their link to redeem on Kindle, and/or physical copies of the the book depending on their choice in the registration process.
Get Your Book
The USO will provide a Kindle version of the book or a physical copy of the book to everyone who attends our first meeting.
- All ebooks will be sent via email with a unique, free single-use link to download onto any device, including a phone, ipad/table, computer or Kindle. Instructions will be included with the link.
- All physical books will be ordered and shipped directly to the address you provide in your registration.
Join in Our Discussions
We'll divide the book into sections to discuss at each meeting. (The next four Tuesday evenings following the initial meeting) During those meetings, we’ll discuss what's happening in the story, catch up with one another, and touch on other related topics.
Additional details for this session's reading will be provided after the first meeting. Understanding that shipping physical copies may cut into reading time, the first section of reading will intentionally be shorter than the other three.
About the Book
“The Secrets of Saffron Hall” is Clare Marchant's first stand alone novel and was released in the year 2020. Two women that live five centuries apart, and a life-changing secret that’s about to be unearthed.
In the year 1538 and Eleanor, a new bride, impresses her husband by growing some saffron, which is a spice more valuable than gold. His reputation within the court of Henry VIII soars, however fortune and fame come with a price, as the king’s favor is not going to last forever.
In the year 2019, Amber finds an ancient book inside her grandpa’s home at Saffron Hall, the contents reveal quite a dark past from the past. While investigating, she unravels a forgotten tragic story and a truth that is a lot closer to home than she ever imagined. A historical novel about hope and love during dangerous times.
This is a vivid and rich historical story, and one of those rare novels that is entirely engrossing. Clare skillfully entwines present and past in this emotional and gripping debut novel. The sixteenth century comes to life vividly and readers got totally lost in the day to day existence of Eleanor’s household and all her cares and duties. She gives both women a defined and strong character as well as an equally important and satisfying in the two timelines, getting the reader invested in the fates of the two women.
It has such a tender touch and historical depth that provides a real insight into a turbulent time during England’s history. This is a historical time that is rich in excitement and happenings and Clare brilliantly mines them and is able to cleverly provide the tension in this book.