The Secret Shore by Liz Fenwick

                                           

Hardback:  471 pages

Genre: Historical Fiction

Publisher: Harper Collins 2023

Source:  Tywyn Public Library

First Sentences: Today I couldn't be late. Every minute was needed to review the most recent intelligence photographs before the Combined forces meeting at five this afternoon.

Review Quote: ‘Liz Fenwick weaves intrigue and romance into this profound, luminous novel’ Woman’s Own

My Opinion:  

I have read a few of Liz Fenwick’s previous novels from her debut ‘The Cornish House’ to the more recent ‘ The Returning Tide’ and ‘The River Between Us’, all of which were 5* reads. ‘The Secret Shore’ is no exception as it is a captivating read and cleverly based on real life people and events that took place during WWII.

The female protagonist Dr Meredith Tremayne has been obsessed with maps from a young age. It is no surprise therefore that she has chosen a career path, that finds her lecturing at Oxford University. When war breaks out she finds herself posted to London and then Devon working with specialist units. Her job is to update maps from aerial photographs and provide geographical information to the teams working in the field.

In my summing up I am repeating myself somewhat from an earlier review, but my opinion remains the same.  Recommend highly this author to those that appreciate well written fiction, with settings and characters that come alive on the page and that will take you through a whole range of human emotions whilst reading.

Previous Reviews:  The Cornish House.  The Returning Tide   The River Between Us

Précis Courtesy of Goodreads: 

As one of the Navy’s most skilled mapmakers, Merry knows the very lives of men far away depend on her work in the War Office

But when a family crisis draws her back to her beloved Cornwall, Merry finds herself working alongside an enigmatic American officer on secret operations spanning the rugged coasts of Cornwall and Brittany which she knows so well.

But not everything is as clear as the maps she draws. As rumours and suspicion swirl around her family, Merry is increasingly drawn to Jake, despite the defences she’s built around her heart. It’s a dangerous time to fall in love when there is everything to lose as the tides of war are rising…

Author Profile:

Courtesy of Goodreads 

Liz Fenwick was born in Massachusetts and after nine international moves - the final one lasting eight years in Dubai- she  now lives in Cornwall and London with her husband and two cats. She made her first trip to Cornwall in 1989, bought a home there seven years later. Apparently her heart is now forever in Cornwall, creating new stories.

Liz Fenwick describes herself as Novelist, wife, mother of three, slave to two cats and dreamer turned doer....

Photographs and Biographical Information courtesy of the following sites:

Twitter - Liz Fenwick   Amazon Author Page  Official Author Website - Liz Fenwick 

Facebook Profile   Goodreads Author Profile

The River Between Us by Liz Fenwick

 

Paperback:  502 pages

Genre: Historical Romantic Fiction

Publisher: Harper Collins 2021

Source:  Tywyn Public Library

First Sentence: At the start of her new life, Theo stood alone on a medieval bridge spanning the Tamar, shivering in the mist and murk, neither in Devon nor Cornwall.

Review Quote: ‘I enjoyed sinking into this gloriously rich novel, so laced with secrets. What a vivid cast of characters!’ Rachel Hore

My Opinion:  I devoured ‘The River Between Us’ slowly, allowing me to immerse myself in this intriguing novel. Drawn in from the very first pages as the protagonist Theo moves into a run down cottage on the banks of the River Tamar. Through the dual timelines of 1914 and 2019 we are told a compelling story of family secrets and forbidden love.

A beautifully written novel that due to its length and many characters needs to be read with, for me anyway, with maximum concentration. This meant I was able to fully appreciate the gradual unfolding of the narrative.

Highly recommend to anyone that enjoys being captivated by historical romantic fiction.

Précis Courtesy of Goodreads: 

A forgotten house and a secret hidden for a century…

Following the breakdown of her marriage, Theo has bought a tumbledown cottage on the banks of the river Tamar which divides Cornwall and Devon. The peace and tranquillity of Boatman’s Cottage, nestled by the water, is just what she needs to heal.

Yet soon after her arrival, Theo discovers a stash of hidden letters tied with a ribbon, untouched for more than a century. The letters – sent from the battlefields of France during WW1 – tell of a young servant from the nearby manor house, Abbotswood, and his love for a woman he was destined to lose.

As she begins to bring Boatman’s Cottage and its gardens back to life, Theo pieces together a story of star-crossed lovers played out against the river, while finding her own new path to happiness.

The River Between Us beautifully explores the mystery and secrets of a long-forgotten love affair, and will be loved by fans of Kate Morton.

Author Profile:

Courtesy of Goodreads 

Liz Fenwick was born in Massachusetts and after nine international moves - the final one lasting eight years in Dubai- she  now lives in Cornwall and London with her husband and two cats. She made her first trip to Cornwall in 1989, bought a home there seven years later. Apparently her heart is now forever in Cornwall, creating new stories.

Liz Fenwick describes herself as Novelist, wife, mother of three, slave to two cats and dreamer turned doer....

Photographs and Biographical Information courtesy of the following sites:

Twitter - Liz Fenwick   Amazon Author Page  Official Author Website - Liz Fenwick 

Facebook Profile   Goodreads Author Profile

The Returning Tide by Liz Fenwick

 

Paperback: 377 pages

Genre: Historical/Contemporary Romantic Fiction

Publisher:  Orion 2017

Source: Local Charity Shop Purchase.

First Sentence: The marquee housing the wedding party was small, but it was not needed.

Review Quote: 'Authentic and compelling...I loved it' Rosanna Ley

My Opinion: Back in 2013, Liz Fenwick sent me her first novel The Cornish House to review. I enjoyed it and since then have been following her writing career with interest. I am ashamed to say though that it is only recently that I obtained another of her books to read, this one.

A simply delightful read, this heart breaking novel is set in Cornwall during WWII and more recently 2016. The story of Adele and Amelia, identical twins and the devastating betrayal that divides them is very touching, I found myself with tears welling more than once.

Recommended to those that appreciate well written fiction that bursts with not only settings and characters that come alive on the page, but that will take you through a whole range of human emotion, from love to hate.

Having read this one, I certainly wish to obtain more of Liz Fenwick's novels to read in the future.

Goodreads Precis:

Two sisters and one betrayal that will carry across generations...

In wartime Cornwall, 1943, a story between two sisters begins - the story of Adele and Amelia, and the heart-breaking betrayal that will divide them forever. Decades later, the efforts of one reckless act still echo - but how long will it be until their past returns?

The Returning Tide will sweep you away to the beautiful Cornish coast, full of secrets and mystery, and will be loved by fans of Kate Morton and Rachel Hore.

Author Profile

Liz Fenwick was born in Massachusetts and after nine international moves - the final one lasting eight years in Dubai- I now live in Cornwall and London with my husband and a cat. I made my first trip to Cornwall in 1989, bought my home there seven years later. My heart is forever in Cornwall, creating new stories.

My debut novel THE CORNISH HOUSE was followed by A CORNISH AFFAIR, A CORNISH STRANGER and UNDER A CORNISH SKY, A Cornish Christmas Carol (novella), THE RETURNING TID and ONE CORNISH SUMMER. All published by Orion in English. There are editions in Dutch, German, Portuguese, French, Danish, Swedish, Norwegian, Estonian, Latvian, Turkish, Serbian, Czech and soon Hungarian.

The biographical information and photo used in this post are with thanks to the following websites, where you can also find more information about the author and her writing. 

Goodreads Author Profile    Twitter - Liz Fenwick    Facebook - Liz Fenwick 

 Amazon Author Profile 

  Official Author Website - Liz Fenwick

The Cornish House by Liz Fenwick

Paperback: 341 pages
Genre: Contemporary Romantic Fiction
Publisher:  Orion May 2012
Source: The author in return for an honest and unbiased review.
First Sentence: It was nearly eleven and Maddie had been behind the wheel of the car for over eight hours.
Review Quote:  A heart tugging story of loss and recovery. (Fanny Blake WOMAN & HOME 2012-06-01)
My Opinion: An escapist and emotional read.

What a lovely escapist and emotional read this début from Liz Fenwick is, I will definitely be reading her novels again.  Her second novel A Cornish Affair was published in May of this year and she is already writing a third. Personally I find her writing reminiscent of that of  Rosamunde Pilcher a novelist I was a great fan of until her retirement from writing in 2000.

The novel centres around 'Trevenen' the house of the title, as the novel starts the protagonist Maddie a recently widowed artist, arrives to make a home there with her step daughter. Having inherited the property Maddie is hoping that she and Hannah will be able to make a fresh start here. Neglected and rambling the house very soon gets under her skin and she becomes more and more interested in the past generations that have lived there. Her dream of a new life though is fraught with problems, the costs of repairing the house, her lack of inspiration for her art on which she depends for an income and last but not least her relationship with Hannah, which is far from easy. As Maddie and Hannah unravel the secrets of the house and start to settle it also becomes painfully obvious that they may not be able to afford to make it their home after all and may have to sell up.

Consider when you pick this up to read, which if you are a fan of this genre I can recommend, that this is a début novel, from an author that will continue to entertain us as her confidence grows and she becomes bolder in her writing. This is what I am hoping anyway.

I have included links to two interesting videos, neither of which will spoil the novel for you.

The Cornish House - Book Trailer

Liz Fenwick at London Launch of The Cornish House


Author Profile

Liz Fenwick was born in Massachusetts  Growing up in Boston, she discovered early on that her best friends could be books. While waiting on a place for Harvard, she moved to London to see if life looked different from the other side of the Atlantic. It did and she soon fell in love with an Englishman. After nine international moves she now lives in Dubai with her husband and two mad cats. She made her first trip to Cornwall in 1989, and seven years later purchased property there as although she lives in Dubai, her heart is forever in Cornwall, creating new stories.


The biographical information and photo used in this post are with thanks to the following websites, where you can also find more information about the author and her writing. 

Goodreads Author Profile   Twitter - Liz Fenwick   Facebook - Liz Fenwick Author    YouTube - Book Launch

Liz Fenwick Books - Lovereading   Amazon Author Profile  The Cornish House - Book Trailer

Official Author Website - Liz Fenwick


Linking up today with Literary Friday