The death of her father in World War II changed eight-year- old Penelope Wallace's life forever. Ten years later, her ancestral home, Milton Magna Hall, once one of the grandest mansions in the countryside near London, is now a cold, decaying tomb for lost dreams, and her beautiful but mercurial mother, at the youthful age of thirty-five, acts as if her spirit is dying along with Magna. But life takes an unexpected turn on the day Penelope meets confident, stylish Charlotte Ferris and her enigmatic cousin Harry. Suddenly, she finds herself pulled out of her sad, lonely existence and into the whirlwind of wealthy London society.

Harry is desperately in love with his ex-girlfriend, a wealthy American named Marina, who is now engaged to someone else. Determined to win her back, he convinces Penelope to pretend to be his girlfriend to make Marina jealous. But pretending is only effective when it's real, and Charlotte insists that Penelope and Harry are actually in love with each other, despite Penelope's protests to the contrary. However, when the ruse works on its intended victim, and Marina calls off the engagement and then shows up at Penelope's front door, demanding to see Harry, Penelope doesn't want to admit it was an act. When Harry comes to collect his prize and Penelope's heart begins to ache, she must ask herself whether it really was just a game; a game she lost.

THE LOST ART OF KEEPING SECRETS is a touching story that explores the challenges facing a generation who grew up in the aftermath of World War II. At the very heart of emerging rock n' roll music and the rise of teenagers as a social unit, the main characters show wonderful passion and depth, as well as moments of self-deprecating humor. Penelope is a delightful guide who speaks from the heart, while Charlotte provides the perfect intellectual counterpoint. What results is a heart-warming tale of love, life, and self-discovery.