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...
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
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