Cornish Week Preview & Giveaway

From Monday 17th August until Sunday 23rd August, I am running a Cornish week on Rachel's Random Reads. All the books reviewed during this week are set in the British county of Cornwall, If you, like me are in the UK, you may have noticed that our summer doesn't seem to have really got going. That isn't problem however with these books.

During the next week take a trip to the British seaside, absorb yourself in a variety of fabulous books, enjoy the whole host of guest posts, I have lined up for you, and please do enter my giveaways too. 

I have only been to Cornwall once on holiday, when I was around 8 years old. It was a family holiday, and I remember staying in St. Austell, at the Carlyon Bay Hotel and having a wonderful week. I definitely remember it being a long drive down from London, as the only slight problem with Cornwall, is that it is so far from everywhere, but it was on that holiday that I developed a taste for a Cornish Cream tea, which included scones with clotted cream. 

In the last 12 months or so, I have noticed that more and more of the books that I am reading, or that are being released seem to be set in Cornwall, and since I was building a small stock pile of these on my kindle, I thought I would put together this week as an excuse to read some of them at last.

Previously reviewed on Rachel's Random Reads set in Cornwall are books such as Runaway Summer by Ruth Saberton and Pippa's Cornish Dream by Debbie Johnson.

Whether you have visited Cornwall in real life, or in fiction, or whether you have always wondered what Cornwall is really like, I am hoping that you will enjoy this week as much I have enjoyed putting it together for you.

And as a slight teaser, the lovely and generous Phillipa Ashley, has offered me some of her books to give away to my lucky readers. So over to Philippa.

Phillipa Ashley's Thoughts on Cornwall 

Thanks for letting me take part in the Cornish themed week - so excited!

I love Cornwall and we've been/are going four times this year - next stop is Porthcurno where we're staying near the amazing Minack Theatre (which features in the book I'm giving away.) We will also be close to Porthgwarra Cove which is where Ross goes skinny dipping in Poldark 2015.


In fact, three of my books are set in Cornwall and one of my current works in progress is also set there. Naturally I am also a *massive* Poldark fan - watch this space!

Giveaway to win a paperback copy of It Should Have Been Me (UK Only)

Phillipa is giving UK blog viewers a chance to win a paperback copy of It Should Have Been Me

When Carrie’s fiancé Huw suddenly calls off their wedding, and she finds out he’s marrying another woman, she’s devastated. Desperate to get away, Carrie jumps at her best friend Rowena’s suggestion of a road trip in her VW camper van. But when Rowena has to pull out and Matt Landor, an old friend of Huw's, ends up filling the breach, she's not so sure. Will fate take the pair on an altogether different journey?

Giveaway open to UK, all options are voluntary, but please do what they ask, as I will be verifying the winner. Giveaway closes 23:59 26/8/2015. Winner will be announced on twitter and emailed, and they will need to reply within 7 days, or forfeit the prize, and I will re-draw for a new winner.  Good luck everyone.

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Giveaway to win a e-copy of Miranda's Mount (open internationally)

Phillipa is also giving away an e-copy of Miranda's Mount, which conveniently is also set in Cornwall!

When Miranda finds herself fighting for her home, her job and her heart, sleeping with the enemy may not be the best tactic... 

With no family of her own, Miranda Marshall has developed a healthy respect - some would say obsession - with other people's histories. As property manager of a spectacular island castle in Cornwall, she's made St Merryn's Mount one of the UK's most popular heritage attractions. While she may have the castle running like clockwork, Miranda hasn't bargained on its sexy owner returning to claim his birthright. 

Dark, handsome and with a rakish reputation, Jago St Merryn not only looks like a pirate but is intent on flogging the Mount to a soulless leisure corporation. Miranda faces the battle of her life as she tries to persuade him to face up to his past and continue the St Merryn dynasty. But Jago has his own reasons for jumping ship and when he throws down the gauntlet to Miranda, she's forced to delve into painful memories she'd much rather keep hidden . . . 

Giveaway open to everyone, all options are voluntary, but please do what they ask, as I will be verifying the winner. Giveaway closes 23:59 26/8/2015. Winner will be announced on twitter and emailed, and they will need to reply within 7 days, or forfeit the prize, and I will re-draw for a new winner.  Good luck everyone.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

About Phillipa Ashley

Award-winning British author, Phillipa Ashley, writes lively, sexy, funny romantic fiction for a variety of international publishers including Penguin, Headline and Little Brown. After studying English Language and Literature at Wadham College, Oxford, she worked as a copywriter and journalist.

Her first novel, Decent Exposure- won the Romantic Novelists Association New Writers Award. In 2009, it was filmed as the Lifetime TV movie ‘12 Men of Christmas’ starring Kristin Chenoweth and Josh Hopkins.
Miranda’s Mount – set on a fictional Cornish island castle - won the reader award for Best ebook at the Festival of Romance 2012.

As Pippa Croft, she also writes the Oxford Blue series for Penguin Books.


Phillipa lives Staffordshire village with her husband and daughter and when she’s not writing, she spends her time reading, watching costume drama and comedy, hiking and falling off surf boards.