Book Review - The Newcomer by Fern Britton

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Amazon UK

Title: The Newcomer

Author: Fern Britton

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Harper Collins

Publication Date: 7th March 2019

Rating: 4 Stars

It’s springtime in the Cornish village of Pendruggan and as the community comes together to say a fond farewell to parish vicar, Simon, and his wife, Penny, a newcomer causes quite a stir…

Reverand Angela Whitehorn came to Cornwall to make a difference. With her husband, Robert, by her side, she sets about making changes – but it seems not everyone is happy for her to shake things up in the small parish, and soon Angela starts to receive anonymous poison pen letters.

Angela has always been one to fight back, and she has already brought a fresh wind into the village, supporting her female parishioners through good times and bad. But as the letters get increasingly more personal, Angela learns that the secrets are closer to home.

With faith and friends by your side, even the most unlikely of new beginnings is possible.

It was lovely to be back in Fern Britton's Cornwall, and more specifically Pendruggan, in amongst some very familiar faces.  

However there is one main difference, Simon and Penny have gone off to Brazil for a year, and so there is a new vicar in the village - Angela and her family. 

Angela brings some fabulous new ideas to the village but not everyone seems as keen to have her there. Plus she has a gorgeous husband and is worried that his eye may be straining. Add in their teenage daughter who has also agreed to support her mum, in her first parish and we have a lovely family.  Plus Auntie Mamie, whose stories about her past are always entertaining.. possibly embellished too but amusing! 

There is plenty of variety with the plot points, and assorted sub plots to get your teeth into, and all manner of fun and antics to be discovered.  I loved reconnecting with familiar faces especially Helen, Piran and Queenie - I just wish that there had been chapters showcasing Simon and Penny's new life if Brazil. 

Although the book predominately features a vicar in the vicarage there really wasn't much religion in this at all which I'm greatly relieved by. What I did notice though was the occasional mention of a hymn, some of which I then had in my head, having recalled either the tune or some of the words from my school days.  These are tunes I've not heard in 17 years or more but yet, seeing the name of some of them, especially "To Be A Pilgrim" brought back memories of assemblies from any years ago. 

I keep mentioning the familiar but I should say this can definitely be read as a standalone, it really is a whole new story, which new characters and focal points. 

I really enjoyed reading The Newcomer, and it was interesting to see how a new family would be received into this normally very welcoming little village.  

I just hope this isn't the last we have seen of Pendruggan as I really am fond of the location. 

Thank you to Netgalley and Harper Collins for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily. 

Book Review - The Postcard by Fern Britton - #HolidayReading Book 30

Book 30 of 30 that I read on my holiday to Fuerteventura in December 2017

Amazon UK

Title: The Postcard

Author: Fern Britton

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Harper

Publication Date: 29th June 2017

Rating: 5 Stars

Secrets. Sisters. The summer that changed everything . . .

Life in the Cornish village of Pendruggan isn’t always picture perfect. Penny Leighton has never told anyone why she’s estranged from her mother and sister. For years she’s kept her family secrets locked away in her heart, but they’ve been quietly eating away at her. When an unwelcome visitor blows in, Penny is brought face to face with the past. And a postcard, tucked away in a long-hidden case, holds the truth that could change everything.

Young Ella has come back to the place where she spent a happy childhood with her grandmother. Now she’s here to search for everything missing in her life. Taken under Penny’s broken wing for the summer, the safe haven of Pendruggan feels like the place for a fresh start. Soon, however, Ella starts to wonder if perhaps her real legacy doesn’t lie in the past at all.

Pendruggan: A Cornish village with secrets at its heart

Wonderful return to Trevay and great to see Penny Leighton again, in this new novel from Fern Britton. 

Thoroughly enjoyed getting to know Penny even more, having already met her in A Seaside Affair, although this is a completely new story and could easily be read as a standalone.  Penny is struggling a bit to juggle work and being a mother, and its starting to get to her a bit. She really isn't herself and the last thing she needs is her estranged sister trying to get in touch with her. 

I loved getting to know Penny and all the other people in Pendruggan, including her new neighbours Adam and Kit. I also really enjoyed Ella's storyline and can't help but think this isn't the last that we have seen of her, at least I hope it isn't. 

Given how much I love books set in Cornwall, this was a really lovely story, that had a great community feel to it, and was just a joy to read.  It was also a relatively quick read for me as I read the whole of it on a plane journey home from the Canary Islands, and it kept me awake, and entertained for the duration of the flight.  

Always love reading Fern Britton's books and can't wait for more by this lovely author. 

Thank you to Harper and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily. 

Book Review - The Great Cornish Getaway by Fern Britton

Amazon UK

Title: The Great Cornish Getaway

Author: Fern Britton

Format reviewed: Paperback

Source: Puchased

Publisher: Harper Collins

Publication Date: 1st February 2018

Rating: 5 Stars

As the sun sits high in the sky over Cornwall, and the sea breeze brings a welcome relief to the residents of the seaside village of Trevay, a stranger arrives in need of a safe haven.

The fact that the stranger is a Hollywood heartthrob makes villagers Penny and Dorrie even more keen to help. They both know what it’s like to feel that you need a break from life, and they bring the village together to keep their stranger’s secret. It’s not long before he’s helping some of the villagers find the answers to their own problems. In return, they find a place for him in their hearts.

Pendruggan: A Cornish village with secrets at its heart

Wow that is certainly one quick read, I couldn't put it down and under an hour after starting it I was finished. If anything I would say the story was too short, as I was enjoying it so much that I didn't want it to end. 

Being a huge fan of Fern Britton and familiar with her Pendruggan setting, meant I was delighted to see a whole bunch of familiar characters. However even if you have never read anything by this author this is 100% a standalone novella, with a lovely storyline and warm writing that draws you in. 

This story features a very famous actor escaping for a few days in Cornwall, while hoping that people can be trusted with the secret that he is there. He just wants a break from his regular start studded life amongst good honest people. 

In just over 100 pages, there are laughs, drama, action, and some truly fabulous scenes in a story that was a joy to read.  This is another excellent book from Fern Britton and has proven to me she is one of the truly talented authors who can tell a great story in either 100 pages, or a full length novel, and still hook the reader in, and that is a skill set that not many have. 

Book Review - Coming Home by Fern Britton - Blog Tour

Amazon UK

Title: Coming Home

Author: Fern Britton

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Harper Collins

Publication Date: 22nd February 2018

Rating: 5 Stars

When the only place you want to be is home…

When Ella’s beloved grandmother dies, she comes back to the beautiful Cornish coast to heal her heart. There she finds her home again and discovers a new life, and new love … But she also opens a treasure trove of secrets.

Sennen left Cornwall a young single mum but unable to cope. She left her children, her family and part of her. She’s spent the years hiding from her past, hiding from herself.

Now it’s time to come back. To Cornwall. To face her mistakes. To pray for forgiveness. To hope for a future with her daughter.

Pendruggan: A Cornish village with secrets at its heart

What a wonderful and moving story, spanning three generations of one family, and I was privileged to learn all of their stories.  I was also delighted to see this book was focused on Ella's story, which I had been wanting to know more about since I finished The Postcard. 

Although this is another book set in Pendruggan, and I did love my return to Trevay, this is definitely a standalone book, and the few recurring characters that were present really were there in a minor way this time around. 

Ella was just a baby, and Henry two years old when their mother, Sennen who was 17 at the time, walked out on her children, leaving them to be brought up by her parents. 

Fast forward to now and Ella and Henry are grown up, and have mixed feelings towards the mum the barely remember or knew. However things are about to come to a head, when she returns to Cornwall. 

Over the course of the book we learn a lot about Adela and William's relationship, and what Sennen was like as a child.  We see what Sennen has been doing from when she ran away, and also what her children are doing in the present. 

The time line floats about between the various elements and after a while I got used to never being quite sure what the next chapter would bring or who the focus would be on.  

I loved hearing about all the various stories involved, although Henry really didn't come off that well, I can understand his anger.  I loved getting to know Ella and Kit a lot better and the situation with Sennen had me gripped at all times. 

This is heart warming, slightly emotional, full of love and family ties, and really is a fabulous book that I adored reading.  Easily one of my favourite Fern Britton books to date. 

Thank you to Netgalley and Harper Collins for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

Please follow along with the rest of the blogs on this blog tour. 

Book Review - A Seaside Affair by Fern Britton - Cornish Week

Amazon UK

Title: A Seaside Affair

Author: Fern Britton

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Purchased 

Publisher: Harper Collins

Publication Date: 26th March 2015

Rating: 5 Stars

When the residents of the Cornish seaside town of Trevay discover that their much-loved theatre is about to be taken over by a coffee chain, they are up in arms. It is up to Penny Leighton, hotshot producer and the vicar’s wife, to come up with a rescue plan. Armed with only her mobile phone, she starts to pull in some serious favours.

The town is soon deluged by actors, all keen to show their support and take part in a charity season at the theatre. One of the arrivals is Jess Tate, girlfriend of TV heartthrob Ryan Hearst. His career is on the rise while her own is in the doldrums. But everything is about to change. Trevay must put on the show of its life – but can the villagers, and Jess, hold on to the thing they love the most?

What a wonderful book, this is the ultimate tale of  a seaside town, banding together to try and save their much-loved, iconic Pavillions theatre, from the grips of a global coffee chain. And the town of Trevay are definitely up to the task.

Although the overall outcome of the book at least in regards to the Pavillions may have been predictable almost from the time the predicament is mentioned, the story surrounding the various people in the town trying to save it, and the outside help they get, is so entertaining and enjoyable, I honestly didn't care. 

There are many main characters to this book, of which I could either sit and wax lyrical about all the different people and their various personalities, and run the risk of confusing you, or I could suggest you take a look at the book yourself, where Fern Britton will introduce you to everyone when they become relevant and keep you updated with all the threads of the story, without it ever becoming confusing. 

There are also loads of famous names mentioned, partly as people donating items to help the cause, but also there is a cameo by an extremely sexy actor right towards the end, although you would probably never guess the reasoning for him being there. 

This is a fabulous book of friendship, camaderie, many romances and ultimately how people can all pitch in when its a cause close to their hearts. 

A Seaside Affair is set in the lovely seaside town of Trevay, and the locals are generally a very friendly bunch of people, and the town itself sounds like a lovely place to visit. But it is the theatre that I fell in love with, the history of the place, and the stories of the actors and actresses roped in to help the fight to save it. 

I loved every second of this book, and felt it really summed up small Cornish town life really well.