Member Reviews
This book is first one in the series and I must say that it is a great one. I have never heard of Kitty as an author but I’m glad that I discovered her through this book. This book gave us a great introduction to the Cornish village and it’s people. We get to know them all slowly through the eyes of Rosy Winter who is our main character.
The writing style is beautiful and we get to see different sights of the village but also different portraits of the characters. Somehow, you might think that they are not going well together but they for sure do and each of them is in the book for a reason. We also have dual POV between Rosy and Matt (out male main character), that’s really easy to follow.
Throughout the story we follow Rosy on her adventures trying to save the school from closing down but also her private problems. The romance is there but it is not right in your face. What struck me in this book is the reason why Rosy is not falling right into a relationship with Matt. It is a huge problem in today’s society and that Kitty decided to take it in the book, I think is a great deal. After what’s Rosy been through, a lot of us wouldn’t want to go in a relationship either. Or at least, not right away. I haven’t been through what Rosy went through but I’m sure my reaction would be kinda the same.
On the other hand, the way Matt dealt with everything, is amazing. Not only did he had Rosy but his sister, Angelina, is having problems on her own. You can really feel his care as an older brother towards her. Some might think that what Matt have been through is too much, but I think it helped us see him for who he is. I was so happy that he didn’t push Rosy into a relationship but just waited for him to come to him and didn’t go around to sleep with other women even tho he could have.
I think this book is amazing start in the series and I can’t wait to see more from Kitty’s work and specially how will the series continue. I will for sure write this one down as a series to follow.
What a great beginning to a fun four book series. Set in a beautiful and idyllic Cornish village this book was a joy to read. Love always seems to find you when you're not looking for it and I enjoyed watching this story play out. I would love to read the other books that follow in this series and recommend the first!
A charming light read, this story about a village school head teacher who is NOT looking for romance, ends in ... well I'm sure you can guess! Great characters, in a gorgeous setting, and an undemanding read (meant as a compliment)!
Thanks to the publisher for a review copy.
A charming and beautifully written book that captured my heart instantly.
Rosy Winter moved to Cornwall to start a new life after a disastrous relationship. Rosy has settled into a small village and is the headmistress of the local school. She has a rule never to date anybody from her village and joins a dating site. I was in hysterics over the face licking date!!
When handsome new neighbour Matt moves in, there is an instant attraction but will Rosy break her dating rule? Meanwhile She hears news that the village school may be closing and has a fight on her hands with the help from all the villagers to save it .Matt has offered to help her but he is the last person she would ask.
I loved this book. You made me laugh out loud and you also made me fall in love with the characters and with Cornwall. Maybe I do believe in love at first sight after this delightful story!!
I didn’t realise this is the start of a new series. I couldn’t be happier to learn this!!
Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for a review.
This is one of those easy read/easy listen to books. The Cornish Village School - Breaking the Rules is the story of the small Cornish village of Penmenna that sticks together to prevent a school closing and amalgamation in a large school. It centers around Rosy, the headteacher who has escaped to Penmenna after a disastrous romantic situation. She is aided by the head of the PTA, and her gorgeous neighbour, Matt, a television star of a gardening show, aptly titled, Green-Fingered and Gorgeous (at least that is what they want to call it).
This was a fun story. It has a beautiful setting, a lovable man, a cast of quirky and likeable residents, humour, flirty and fun banter, romance and a main character who is struggling with her feelings towards her new neighbour. Marian, the head of the PTA was hilarious. She used every connection she had to keep the local school open, yet was a bit of a thorn in Rosy's side. The only character that I did not like was Angelina, Matt's sister. She was annoying, self-centered and obnoxious. I didn't like her any more at the end of the story as I was hoping I would. I have the next book in this series to read, so I hope she comes across as a more likeable character. This was an easy poolside story for me and I enjoyed it. Being a retired educator, I enjoyed the story of the school closing, the fight against it and the PTA president. It made me smile. With the romance angle, this made for a fun story that I recommend to lovers of Chick-Lit or fun, light romance.
This is the take of Rosy and Matt. Rosy is the head teacher of the local primary and her new neighbour is a handsome gardener who Rosy finds herself attracted to. Sadly he has Angelina a demanding sister who happens to be very famous living with him on and off and she causes issues. This is such a fee good romantic love story. Although I read the sequel first it was lovely to get the back story to Rosy and Matt that evolves in the second book. Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for this arc in exchange for my honest review.
As I live in Cornwall and work in a school, I could relate to this book and found it to be funny and enjoyable. An entertaining and lighthearted story, with very believable characters. Ideal holiday read or to while away a rainy day.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.
This is a story I found very easy to connect with … not surprising in some ways as I’ve spent over thirty years as a primary school teacher working in village schools! I loved hearing about some of the great characters in the school and community of Penmenna – it brought to mind several that I’ve met over the years and definitely put a smile on my face.
The politics of schools are the driving force in this story as Rosy Winter strives to keep the school she is head of open despite the machinations of a local political leader. As the teachers, parents and school community work together to thwart the closure plans help comes from an unexpected quarter – Rosy’s new neighbour, the handsome gardening show presenter, Matt. Now The Rule that Rosy has – not to date anyone in her village – is in serious danger of being broken as the attraction between Rosy and Matt grows. Can she learn to trust him with her heart? Can they work together to save the school?
This is definitely a fun romance which had me laughing out loud at times. It does hint at the reality of teaching today – especially when Rosy ends up with lots of hearts to cut out! However the imposed stresses of the role are somewhat glossed over, but this is a story and not claiming to be real life so that’s fine. I still thoroughly enjoyed escaping into this delightful community and look forward to reading more stories based in the area and presumably involving some of the same characters again in future.
Many thanks to the publishers for gifting me a copy of this novel, via NetGalley, with no obligation. This is my honest review after choosing to read the book.
And now to another standout book! The blurb tells you everything here-Rosy Winter is a headmistress living in the lovely village of Penmenna. I was taken with Rosy at the start as she sped, without speeding ie trying not to knock anyone down, to get to a meeting. When I say I was taken, the book had me straight away, with a character that seemed to be so in control but so likeable too. And then she went and met another character that screamed ‘I want to get to know him,’ that of Matt, who was introduced to us in a case of mistaken identity.
When a number of schools in the area are tagged to be merged, the people of Penmenna must act to save the school. Cue some excellent characters that at times were completely inappropriate and a group of kids that made me think ‘awwww!’ The settings were gorgeous, the comedy sometimes very understated but extremely well done, the mix-ups smile and nodworthy and romance that I really enjoyed. Highly recommended and I can’t wait to read the next in this series. Thanks sooooooooo (you get it by now I say;)) much to Canelo and Netgalley for this excellent book in return for an honest (and gushy) review.
Rating: 5/5
Lovely little book, it was an easy funny and engaging read with some twists and turns along the way
The characters where fab, I loved Rosy and Matt
I would recommend this book, thank you net galley for allowing me to read this lovely story.
Rosy is the headteacher at Penmenna primary school and is very happy there and determined to stay that way and so makes a rule for herself about getting involved with men.......... can she keep to that though when Matt the gorgeous celebrity gardener moves in next door! Then the school is threatened with closure so will she be able to save it with the help of the local community?
An enjoyable book based in Cornwall my favourite part of the country and although predictable the characters and setting made it a good read....I especial loved Marion....I am sure every PTA has one!
Rosy Winter has only one strict rule in her life, don't mix love with friends or work, never ever! The only problem is that when her handsome neighbour moves to the house next to her, she starts feeling butterflies on her tummy and can not stop thinking about him... She will have to decide what's more important the heart or the conscience, who would win?
This had been a romantic and funny read, but don't underrate this story, it has a love story, yes, but it also talks about serious themes that concern all readers, making it an addictive read.
Rosy is a loving woman but she is a fighter too, she had the sad news that her school will be closed but she is not ready to leave without a fight. Lucky for her, the Penmenna community will help her to. Even the handsome neighbour will try to help them, but Rosy is not ready to accept Matt's help, so she will have to decide what's more important for her; the school or her fears...
Matt seems a very nice guy, sweet and a hard worker; he is a great gardener and soon a tv star, but he has a very special sister; egocentric, diva, jealous... Matt knows how to treat her, the only problem is that it seems that he is the only one who tolerates her behaviour, maybe is time that someone tells her the truth.
I have to say that I loved the main story of the book; but I felt like the other characters had so many interesting stories and some secrets to share with the reader that I hope we will see more about Penmenna in the next book of Kitty Wilson!
Be prepared for a heartwarming read, full of interesting characters and a sweet love story.
Ready for a trip to Penmenna?
An enjoyable read although at first I found Daisy so silly I almost gave up reading. She did grow on me however and I spent a relaxing day in the garden with this gentle romance.
This was such a cute and fluffy read, but then it is summer time, meaning the time for beach reads is upon us! Both Rosy and Matt were fun characters, so nice with just enough saltiness to give them flavour. And they were so perfect together, with light, easy banter mixed with adorable awkwardness here and there. As for the setting, Kitty gave Cornwall an almost magical air, painting a picture of calm beauty. I can understand why people would flock to the area during the holidays if the way Kitty portrayed the area is accurate. I read the whole thing with a smile on my face while plotting my own trip to Cornwall!
I really enjoyed this book. It is a charming, lighthearted fun book. I loved the idea behind the story and liked getting to know the characters. Penwenna sounds like a perfect village to live in with excellent community spirit.
Believable characters, funny easy read, this book is ideal for a summer's afternoon.
Highly recommended. I can't wait to read the next book in the series.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
I loved the setting of this book, I love books set in Cornwall as it's one of my favourite places to visit on holiday. This was really cute and I loved the characters. Everything was so well described that I had no problem imagining everything and the characters were ones I would love to meet. Overall I very much enjoyed this book.
Rosy is a headteacher, she lives in a small Cornwall Village where she runs the village school.
Max is a landscape gardener for want of a better word, very famous and world renowned and he decides to move to Cornwall to do a new tv show based in the local Manor.
Rosy and Max meet and instantly feel a connection, but a woman called Angelina gets in the way of their romance. Unbeknown to Rosy Ange is in fact Max's sister and a famous celebrity, but Rosy thinks she is his girlfriend.
Rosy has demons and i dont know how Max stuck around if i am honest. Rosy treats him appallingly but like a love sick puppy he just puts up with it and goes back for more. I also had some issues with the character Marion and how she thought of Disabled children, but over the course of the book i changed my opinion of her slightly when we meet her husband Richard.
A easy to read book, but rather far fetched.
Awwww. That's what I thought when I finished The Cornish Village School. It's a really sweet read with some lovely characters and a gorgeous setting. Cornwall is a very popular place for authors to write about and I understand why, as it's a beautiful county. The focus in this book isn't so much about the setting though, but about the effects of living in small villages and how, if you're not careful, everybody knows your business.
That's what Rosy Winter is afraid of. She is the headmistress of the delightful-sounding Penwenna Village School and, for reasons that become clear throughout the story, she likes to keep herself to herself. If she goes on a date it's with someone from another county! Then Matt moves in next door and she finds herself contemplating breaking her own rules.
I loved Matt. He's a gardener with an upcoming new gardening TV show. He's just lovely in every way - Mr Perfect in fact! So I did find myself becoming a bit annoyed with Rosy and how she was treating him. I kind of wanted to knock their heads together. But every good fictional romance needs a bit of turbulence before settling down and we certainly have that here.
I did still like Rosy though, even though she's a bit of a tricky customer. She's a good woman, down to earth and a fantastic head. When the school is threatened with closure she fights tooth and nail to stop it happening. Her spark is part of what makes Matt attracted to her.
I must just mention the chair of the PTA, Marion 'Monster' Marksharp. She's a fantastic creation and I can just imagine every school having somebody like her, causing all who meet her to quake in their boots. She was great!
This is a lovely read. It's brimful of romantic tension and there's lots of fun in the story. Kitty Wilson has a light writing style and I think this book is an ideal summer romance read as misunderstanding and conflict lead to love and understanding.
This book was ok for a quick read but having read the back it was easy to see where it was headed so a skim read was all it needed.
The Cornish Village School – Breaking the Rules, was a fun start to what looks like is going to be a fab series set in the most beautiful countryside village, Penmenna.
It isn’t often I come across a book where the main focus is a primary school, so this was a welcome change. The characters were all a delight to get to know and the chemistry between Matt and Rosy was obvious from the beginning. Their banter was perfectly realistic and I was hoping that the two would realise that life’s too short to miss a romantic opportunity like they could have.
I love how the book brings together a whole community and gives them a voice. It was a quick, flawless read and I now can’t wait to see what Ms. Wilson has in store for us with the rest of her series.