A Cornish Legacy by Fern Britton

                                                                              

                                                    

Ebook:  416 pages

Genre: Historical Fiction

Publisher:  Harper Collins June 2025

Source:  NetGalley

First Sentence: Delia squinted through the windscreen, the sun ahead dazzling her. 

Setting: Cornwall

Review Quote: ‘The warmth and empathy that have made Fern Britton such a popular TV presenter are evident in her latest novel’ Woman’s Weekly

My Opinion: 

I know more of Fern Britton from her TV career and this is actually only the second book of hers that I have read. 

In 'A Cornish Legacy' the protagonist is Delia and during the course of the novel we learn about her early life, then her disastrous marriage, followed by her inheriting to her great shock Wilder Hoo, a country house in Cornwall that she has connections to.

A pleasant summer read with wonderful descriptions of Cornwall and I found the house and garden restoration details particularly enjoyable. If Cornwall, Gardening and Country Houses appeal then this is one for you. 

Précis Courtesy of NetGalley:

Escape to Cornwall this summer with the new emotional and uplifting novel from Sunday Times #1 bestselling author Fern Britton

Set by the wild Atlantic coast of Cornwall comes a story about finding home in the most unlikely places. When Cordelia Jago learns she’s been left the crumbling manor house Wilder Hoo, perched high on the Cornish coast, she wonders if it’s one last cruel joke from beyond the grave.

Having already lost her marriage, her best friend and her career, she’s at rock-bottom. Now she’s inherited a house she hates, full of unhappy memories.

But as she fights with its echoing rooms and whispering shadows, the house begins to exert a pull on her. The wild Cornish landscape, the stark beauty of seagrass and yellow gorse against the deep blue sea, begin to awaken a connection she thought she’d buried forever.

 Could she turn around this monstrous wreck of a house – and, along the way, let go of the secrets of the past and heal her heart too?

  

Author Profile                                                                                                    

About Fern Britton and photo from her website Fern Britton - Official Website

Born in London, into a theatrical family, Fern started her professional life as a stage manager. Theatre life was great fun but within three years she graduated to television and became a much-loved presenter obtaining her national treasure status presenting ITV’s This Morning for over a decade.

Having started her TV career in Current Affairs and News, Fern has covered everything from the Queen’s Birthday Celebrations to reporting live from Basra during the Gulf War. Her light entertainment credits include such iconic shows as Ready Steady Cook, All Star Mr and Mrs and Strictly Come Dancing. She presented nine series of Fern Meets where past guests have included Tony Blair, Desmond Tutu, and Dolly Parton.

More recent shows have included two series of The Big Allotment Challenge for BBC2, For What It’s Worth, an antiques-based quiz show for BBC1 and Culinary Genius for ITV. For Channel 5, Fern presented Watercolour Challenge, and two series of Ferns Conrwall. 

Fern has even turned her talents to acting when she starred as Marie in Gary Barlow and Tim Firth’s award-winning musical Calendar Girls.

Fern has twin sons, two daughters and lives in Cornwall in a house full of good food, wine, family, friends, cats and gardening books. She has a motorbike license, a power boat license and makes good roast potatoes.

Previous Review: The Good Servant

Photographs and Biographical Information courtesy of the following sites:

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Secrets of the Bees by Jane Johnson

                                                    

Ebook:   355 pages      

Genre:  Contemporary Fiction                                    

Publisher:   Apollo, 5th June 2025

Source: NetGalley

First Sentences: The old wooden hive stood at the edge of the orchard within sight of the big house. It was unnaturally quiet today, as if the bees had already heard the news, but he had to carry out his duty.

Review Quote: A gloriously rich and layered portrayal of life in Cornwall today, beautifully laced with the glory of the natural world. I adored it.  Liz Fenwick-Author

My Opinion: 

This is the first time I have come across this author and it was the title and the blurb that attracted me.

The story revolves around Trengrose a country estate in Cornwall. Erza Curnow has lived there all his life, when new owners arrive his life becomes a battle to keep his home. There are multiple story lines to enjoy, particularly interesting the ones concerning the bees. Learning about sharing news with the bees is absolutely charming.

A fascinating read as beside the storyline the author's strong feelings for our environment and nature shine through in her writing.

Thank you NetGalley, the author and the publisher Apollo for the opportunity to read and review.

Goodreads Précis: 

Time has forgotten this remote corner of West Cornwall, and left its many secrets undisturbed. Until now... 

Ezra Curnow has lived in the little cottage on the Trengrose estate all his life. He was born there, as was his father, and his grandfather before that. It is his own little paradise. 

Then the mistress of the estate, Eliza Rosevear, dies without leaving a will, and the cottage's ownership is put into question. Trengrose's charm soon attracts London financier Toby and his wife Minty, and Toby immediately sniffs an opportunity to rent out Ezra's cottage to tourists. But Ezra, a wily old chap, is prepared to battle to save his beloved home, and he has a number of secret weapons in his armoury. 

As Toby resorts to more drastic measures, Ezra's case looks increasingly hopeless. But the recently deceased mistress of Trengrose took some secrets to her grave too, and she doesn't intend to rest quietly until they come to light...

                                                         

Author Profile:                

                                                                                                                                                                   

                                          Courtesy of Amazon Profile

Author's own words from Amazon Profile. 

Come find me on Twitter @JaneJohnsonBakr and on Facebook at Jane Johnson (Writer)

My website is www.janejohnsonbooks.com and there you can find an email contact form: do write - I love to hear from my readers and always reply!

I update and blog regularly about writing, publishing and cooking Moroccan food (my husband is a Moroccan chef).

I am from Cornwall and I've worked in the book industry for 30 years as a bookseller, publisher and writer.

In 2005 I was in Morocco researching the story of a family member abducted from a Cornish church in 1625 by Barbary pirates and sold into slavery in North Africa (which formed the basis for THE TENTH GIFT), when a near-fatal climbing incident (which makes an appearance in THE SALT ROAD) made me rethink my future! (The whole story is told on my website.)

I went home, gave up my office job in London, sold my flat and shipped the contents to Morocco. In October of that year I married Abdellatif, my own 'Berber pirate', and now we split our time between Cornwall and a village in the Anti-Atlas Mountains.

I still work, remotely, as Fiction Publishing Director for HarperCollins and am the editor for (among others) George RR Martin (GAME OF THRONES), Dean Koontz, Robin Hobb, Mark Lawrence, SK Tremayne (aka Sean Thomas) and Raymond Feist.

I was responsible for publishing the works of JRR Tolkien during the 1980s and 1990s and worked on Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings movie trilogy, spending many months in New Zealand with cast and crew. I have also written several books for children.

Photographs and Biographical Information courtesy of the following sites:

Amazon Profile  Facebook Profile.  Twitter Profile.  Author Official Website

A Lesson In Cruelty by Harriet Tyce

                                          

Hardback: 358 pages                                                                                       

Genre: Mystery, Suspense, Contemporary Fiction

Publisher: Wildfire, Headline 2024

Source: Tywyn Public Library

Review Quote: 'Tyce's denouement pulls things together skilfully and surprisingly.' Sunday Times

First Sentences: Just one more night. Then it's done. Anna has packed, a clear plastic bin bag that contains all her worldly goods - tracksuits, a few toiletries. A pile of letters tied with string, pushed into the middle of her clothes.

My Opinion:  I have read and enjoyed Harriet Tyce's previous novels, so was keen to read this one. As in her previous novels the suspense is such that I could not put it down, so it was a quick read. 

Three female protagonists, with three separate plots occurring. The novel is so well constructed that the reader is kept guessing as to how and when the stories connect and what then will be the outcome. The women are Anna who is just finishing a prison sentence, Lucy who is studying for a Law Degree at Oxford and finally Marie living in isolation in rural Scotland. The tension builds as the connections between the three women are revealed.

Recommended to anyone that appreciates a well written thriller.

Previous Reviews:  Blood Orange   The Lies You Told.  It Ends At Midnight

Précis Courtesy of Goodreads:

WHAT PRICE WOULD YOU PAY FOR THE PERFECT LIFE?

They say you can't always get what you want. But you can take it.

Anna wants a fresh start. She doesn't believe she deserves it, but after three years behind bars she has finally paid her dues. Most of them, anyway.

Lucy craves the attention of the only man she can't have, her alluring Oxford professor. He's married - not for the first time. Maybe she should be next in line?

Marie the recluse has been locked up for too long. She's not ready to be free, but some rules are meant to be broken.

Everyone wants a perfect life. But not everyone is prepared to take it.

Unless someone decides to teach them a lesson.

Author Profile:

                                                   

Harriet Tyce was born and grew up in Edinburgh. She graduated from Oxford in 1994 with a degree in English Literature before gaining legal qualifications. She worked as a criminal barrister for ten years, leaving after having children. She completed an MA in Creative Writing – Crime Fiction at UEA where she wrote Blood Orange, the Sunday Times bestselling novel. It was followed by The Lies You Told, another Sunday Times bestseller. It Ends At Midnight has just been published to critical acclaim. She lives in north London with her family and two dogs.



Photograph and Biographical Information courtesy of the following sites:

Amazon Author Page     Goodreads - Author Profile  Harriet Tyce - Author Offical Website

Twitter Account - Harriet Tyce.  Instagram - Harriet Tyce

One Summer In Italy by Victoria Springfield

     

Ebook:   320 pages      

Genre:   Contemporary Romantic Fiction                                    

Publisher: Boldwood Books May 14th 2025

Source: NetGalley

First Sentences: Natalie studied the photograph: the prow of a gondola just passing under the Rialto Bridge, golden light bathing the Grand Canal.

Review Quote: 'She has a way of bringing Italy to life that makes your mouth water when you think of the food, your body ache for some sunshine.' Susan Buchanan

My Opinion: 

I had not come across this author before, but when I discovered that she writes contemporary feel good fiction set in Italy, as an Italophile I just had to read 'One Summer in Italy'

Natalie and Cate are the main protagonists of the story. Natalie is sent to Venice for a work project, a city she has unhappy memories of, from a school trip many years ago. Imagine her shock when she finds an ex school friend from the same trip is also in Venice for the same project. forced to confront the past, the story unfolds as Natalie and Cate endeavour to put things right between them.

An escapist read which felt rather predictable. However this is made up for by being set in Venice and the author has shown her love of the city in the details. Recommended to Italophiles.

Thank you NetGalley, Victoria Springfield and Boldwood Books  for the opportunity to read and review.

Goodreads Précis: 

A BRAND NEW beautiful, romantic, getaway read from bestseller Victoria Springfield that you simply won't be able to stop thinking about... A stunning story of secrets and second chances.

A return to Venice. A friendship rekindled. A time for romance.

Natalie’s landed the opportunity of a lifetime hosting television show 'Luxe Life Swap', but she’s dreading going back to Venice, scene of the school trip that changed her life. The beauty of the floating city and handsome watch restorer Eraldo begin to win her over, however. But then glamorous contestant Cate arrives, the girl who was once plain, ordinary Cathy – the ex-best friend Natalie blames for the night that wrecked her life.

Cate’s swapping The Old Vicarage for two weeks in a Venetian palazzo, hoping she might pluck up the courage to go on the quest she’s been putting off for more than twenty years. Forced to spend time with Natalie, Cate hopes to rebuild their friendship – until Natalie makes a shocking accusation against Cate’s husband. Cate needs to find out the truth but how can she expect Phil to be honest when she’s keeping secrets of her own?

Author Profile:                

                                                          

                                                    Courtesy of Amazon Profile

Victoria Springfield writes contemporary women’s fiction immersed in the sights, sounds and flavours of Italy. Her feel-good stories follow unforgettable characters of all ages as they find adventure, friendship and romance.

Victoria grew up in Upminster, Essex. After many years in London, she now lives in Kent with her husband in a house by the river. She likes to write in the garden with a neighbour’s cat by her feet or whilst drinking cappuccino in her favourite café. Then she types up her scribblings in silence whilst her mind drifts away to Italy. Open a Victoria Springfield book and feel the sunshine!

Victoria is a member of the Romantic Novelists’ Association.

Photographs and Biographical Information courtesy of the following sites:

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Finding Belle by Reeta Chakrabarti

                                                

Ebook:   368 pages      

Genre:   Fiction                                    

Publisher: Harper Collins, 8th May 2025

Source: NetGalley

First Sentences: The voices down below began as a distant rumble, like a drum roll of approaching thunder. Mama's voice grew louder and louder and then hit a peak that was shrill and sharp, letting out a stream of curses and insults.

Review Quote: ‘A moving tale of love, loss and identity… a compelling novel about family secrets and the search for belonging’Woman’s Weekly

My Opinion: 

Finding Belle is the debut novel from the BBC journalist Reeta Chakrabarti. It is the scrutinisation of a mixed culture marriage over many decades.

The main protagonist is Mivvi the daughter of Belle, who is Indian but was raised in Kenya and her father Fairfax who is British. It is an emotional story that unfolds as this dysfunctional family cope with Belle's mental health issues, her husband's narcissism and the racism that the family are subjected to.

Though it did give me a lot to think about to be absolutely honest I found this story terribly depressing. Be careful that you are not feeling depressed yourself if and when you choose to read. 

With thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review.

Goodreads Précis: 

Mivvi has two parents. But… sometimes she only has one. Or the other. And sometimes she has none.

Belle and Fairfax have a tempestuous marriage. Wed after a whirlwind romance in Belle’s hometown of Mombasa, they returned to England as man and wife, little anticipating the culture shock Belle would face. Alienated from her peers, far from relatives and friends who would have grounded her, and with a husband who couldn’t – wouldn’t – face her crisis, Belle gradually untethers from the world.

Years later, their only daughter Mivvi must decode her mother’s illnesses and her father’s infidelities, through adolescence and into adulthood, as she tries to shape a future of her own, while uncovering what’s been hidden from her.

Atmospheric and intriguing, this is a powerful story of mothers and daughters, betrayal and madness and a child who must forge her own identity.

Author Profile:                

                                                                                        

                                                          Courtesy of Amazon Profile

Reeta Chakrabarti is a journalist and broadcaster, and presents the news for the BBC. She has also reported extensively for the BBC in the UK and abroad. She was born in London and brought up in Birmingham; she lived in Kolkata, India, as a teenager where she attended Calcutta International School, and then returned to the UK for university. Her degree was in English and French. She began working for the BBC in 1992 and has been there in a variety of roles for over 30 years. She has always been a keen reader, and was previously a judge for the 2021 David Cohen Prize for Literature; chair of the 2021 Costa Book of the Year; and in 2023 chair of the BBC National Short Story Award. She was also a judge for the 2023 Laurel Prize for poetry, and is a trustee of the Keats-Shelley Memorial Association. She lives in London with her husband, and has three children. Finding Belle is her debut novel.

Photographs and Biographical Information courtesy of the following sites:

Amazon Profile.   Twitter Profile

The Lighthouse Keeper of Anglesey by Carline Young (Welcome to Anglesey Series Bk 4)

                                          

Ebook:  320 pages      

Genre: Contemporary Fiction, Romance                                            

Publisher: 2 May 2025 by Storm Publishing

Source:  NetGalley - My Kindle

First Sentence: Lloyd Evans sat alone on the smooth-pebbled beach and gazed out towards the horizon, far beyond the lighthouse.

Review Quote: ‘‘Sweeps the reader away... you will cheer for our main character and love the description of her life in Anglesey... I read it in one sitting.’ Reader Review,

My Opinion: 

Caroline Young writes heart-warming stories about ordinary people and their everyday lives on the beautiful island of Anglesey. Living not very far from here and having visited, it is lovely to be able to visualise the locations that the author describes so well.

In the 4th book of the series 'Welcome to Anglesey' the storyline centres around the main female character Seren. Seren has returned to her roots on the island, leaving behind the stresses and problems of her life in London. She is slowly building a new and better life for herself and her young daughter, but it does not come without its trials and tribulations.

As the author herself says 'Life is often far from easy, but we need to remember what we all share rather than focusing on our differences.' Recommend this gentle story which reminds the reader that to be happy in life we need to feel loved, safe and to love others.

Thanks to Storm Publishing, the author and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review 'The Lighthouse Keeper of Anglesey' 

Previous Review:  Coming Home to the Windmill by the Sea

Précis Courtesy of NetGalley:

A moving story of love, second chances and family from the Amazon bestselling author of The Forgotten Farmhouse by the Sea.

When single mother Seren Evans returns to the Welsh island of Anglesey with her five-year-old daughter Enya, she hopes to finally escape her troubled past in London. Moving into a cottage near the iconic Black Point lighthouse where she spent her early childhood, Seren reunites with her estranged father Lloyd and begins to piece together the mystery of why her mother suddenly abandoned them decades ago.

As Seren adapts to island life and takes a job at a local art gallery, she finds unexpected romance with Jamie, a Scottish journalist seeking solace from his own tragic history. But with the shadows of her past threatening to catch up with her, and with long-buried family secrets coming to light, can Seren find the peaceful life she’s always dreamed of?

Set against the wild beauty of the Welsh coast, this emotional novel explores family secrets, the power of community, and how love can light the way home through life’s darkest storms. Fans of Susanne O’Leary, Amanda Prowse and Sheila O’Flanagan will be swept away by The Lighthouse Keeper of Anglesey.

Author Profile:                    

Caroline Young has always written stories and found inspiration in the world around her, be it a bustling city or a windswept beach. She has worked for many years as a writer of non-fiction books for children, which allows for few adjectives or creative expression, so she keeps these things for her fiction. As the mother of three grown-up daughters, she now has the time to focus on her own writing, and tell the stories she wants to tell. Caroline has a degree in English from Cambridge University where she was exposed to wonderful writers from every age, and she aims to relate just some of their ideas and language to her life and writing. Caroline's idea of paradise is a bright day with a bracing wind and the sea, waiting for her to dive into it (even in January!). She hopes to write stories that the reader can lose themselves in, which take them somewhere different and fill them with joy in the beauty of the natural world, and all the amazing people in it.

            

Amazon Author Page.     Goodreads Profile.   Caroline Young - Storm Publishing

Photos and Biographical information Courtesy of the above links.

A Good Mother by Michelle Dunne

 

                                                 

Ebook:   338 pages      

Genre:  Thriller, Mystery, Fiction                                    

Publisher: Storm Publishing  29th April 2025

Source: NetGalley

First Sentence: The lights from the rescue boats danced across the black water, each sweep bringing Jen Blake closer to the moment her world would end.

Review Quote:  ‘A riveting thriller.’ Reader Review, 

My Opinion: 

Michelle Dunne is an author I discovered thanks to NetGalley and this is the second novel of hers that I have read. 'A Good Mother' is a hard hitting domestic thriller which covers some difficult topics including domestic abuse and bullying carried out by some despicable characters.

Jen Blake and Lia Higgins have known each other for years and were once very close. Their children are still best friends having grown up together, but suddenly it seems something has come between them. Tragedy occurs and as the narrative progresses the tension and anxiety grow.

This is not an easy read but a worthwhile one.  Especially if it does nothing more than make you realise we should make time to listen to the ones we love. With thanks to NetGalley, Storm Publishing and the author.

Previous Review:    The Hotel Maid

Précis Courtesy of Goodreads:

Two mothers. Two daughters. One devastating truth.

Alex Blake was terrified of water, had been since she nearly drowned at age five. So when police find her body in the river and rule it a suicide, her mother Jen knows they’re wrong. But no one will listen to a grieving mother.

The police dismiss her. Her husband thinks she’s in denial. Even their neighbours, the Higgins family, urge her to accept the truth and move on. But something isn’t right. Why was Alex messaging Lia Higgins, Jen’s former best friend, the day she died? And why is Lia now so desperate to shut down Jen’s questions?

The more Jen digs into the perfect family next door, the more she realises Alex was keeping secrets. Dangerous ones. Someone knows what really happened to her daughter. And they’re determined to keep Jen from uncovering the truth.

A breathtaking, stay-up-all-night emotional page-turner about motherhood, friendship and betrayal. Perfect for fans of K.L. Slater, Lisa Jewell and Nicola Sanders.

Author Profile:                

                                         

                                        Courtesy of Goodreads Profile

Michelle Dunne was born in Cork, Ireland, she writes crime and thriller novels. 

This month,  August 2024 The Hotel Maid, will be released as part of a two book contract with Storm Publishing. This follows June Calloway, a maid who finds the body of a murdered woman in her hotel room, just as a child is reported missing on hotel grounds. 

Michelle also wrote While Nobody is Watching and The Invisible, a series of thrillers following former soldier and UN Peacekeeper Lindsey Ryan as she tries to adapt to her new life in the clutches of PTSD. The series is currently in development for television and is inspired by Michelle’s own experiences as an infantry soldier and United Nations Peacekeeper.

Michelle is organiser and programmer of the Spike Island Literary Festival – a crime-themed festival set in Ireland's very own Alcatraz! 

Photographs and Biographical Information courtesy of the following sites:

Goodreads Profile.   Twitter Profile.   Amazon Author Profile