This is an interesting book, first in a series apparently. Setting is WWII in Cornwall, England, yet it doesn’t feel as overwhelming and depressing as a lot of war books. I think that’s because of the characters : Vi, Eva and Hazel. They come from different backgrounds but meet in Cornwall and become friends. They are so helpful to each other that you can’t help but like them and be hopeful for their future happiness. I look forward to reading the next one.

A brilliant story that is beautifully written. An excellent page turner which had me gripped from the beginning until the end. I found it incredibly difficult to put down and was disappointed when I finished it and I can't wait for the next book in The Cornish Girls series.

I would definitely recommend this book.

This book appeals on two main things - women during wartime, and getting in on the ground floor of a new series.

Violet has already lost her sister to the war; with their father in the forces she is responsible for the safety of her two nieces and London is not a safe place, so she takes them to stay with family in Cornwall where she meets Eva, former chorus girl, also seeking somewhere safer than the capital city. Hazel is living in Porthcurno, where there is a secret base. With all three women working there, they join together to help the war effort - but will that be enough to keep them all safe?

I've read a lot of World War II domestic fiction, but this one is different in that it's not set in London but rather on the Cornish coast which gives it a whole new feel. There is a lot going on, and it is all rather thrilling! With more to this story than these three women, there is never a dull moment. In addition to the domestic side of things, there is also the constraint of working under the official secrets act and the author produces a beautifully written, gripping novel with a few surprises along the way. Thoroughly enjoyable, and I'm already looking forward to the second book. 4.5* and my recommendation for this one!

My thanks to the publisher for my copy via NetGalley; this is - as always - my honest, original and unbiased review.

1941. Many are fleeing London to escape the Blitz. Three women meet in Cornwall. Each has their own story -- a sister killed in the Blitz, one recovering from bombing injuries, another just trying to survive. They become friends, and end up working at a top secret military installation to help the war effort.

What a lovely story about friendship, bravery, and the strength of women in hard times! I loved all the main characters. They come from very different lives, but become the best of friends....in the worst of times. I liked the fact that this story wasn't just about the war and the secret installation, but also about these three women and their lives.

Great story! This is the first book I've read by this author. She writes under two other pen names...I'm going to check out her other books (she writes thrillers, romance and YA fantasy)! I like her style! Wartime With the Cornish Girls would make an excellent movie or television series. The vibe reminded me a lot of the friendships in The Land Girls or Bomb Girls.

This is a book that definitely warrants a second read. As soon as it comes out, I'm snagging the audio book!

**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book from Avon Books.

Anyone that enjoys historical fiction, set during WWII, will enjoy this one. The first of Betty Walker’s Cornish girls series, this one will have me waiting eagerly for the next.
We learn how another small British town, takes part in the war effort, with their role as information gathering on the location of German war planes, while in an old home, nestled and camouflaged among the rocky coast of the Cornish shore.
It follows the lives of three young women, with nothing in common, but to stay safe, protect their loved ones and do their part for the war effort. I loved the characters, strong, likable young women, with interesting backgrounds and lives. Of course, a little romance thrown in, provides the smiles needed while reading of the suffering and tragedy of war.
My thanks to NetGalley, Betty Walker and Harper Collins Publishers for the ARC. I loved it!

I finished this book and I'm desperate to read the next one in the series. A wonderful story about hope, love and friendship at during the Second World War. My heart broke for the characters who had lost so much. There was great character development and though it did take me a while to warm to Eva, I got there eventually. I really can't wait to see what the follow-up has in store for everybody. A wonderful wartime story for anybody who loves historical fiction.

Perfect for fans of the big WWII novel. I love a book set in Cornwall and this was no exception. Three women, three different personal histories, all come together as friends. Violet never expected to become the guardian for her nieces- teens no less. Eva was a chorus girl happy to be in London until she was injured in the Blitz. Hazel has an abusive husband. All three work at the top secret critical facility run by Eva's father but the work isn't the story here- it's the women and their families. Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. It's a very good read for fans of the genre.

Betty Walker is a new to me author but this definitely won't be the last book I read of hers as I really enjoyed it.

There are various characters in the book all going through their own woes and battles whilst the country is at war with Germany. We have Eva a fun loving chorus girl who's father is in charge of the base. Violet and her two nieces who have escaped London after her sister was killed in the bombings. And local Hazel who lives with her Son Charlie as her drunkard husband is away at war. The ladies become friends work together doing various jobs at a secret military base in Porthcurno.

Although harsh subjects are written about and discussed throughout the book, it is a book about triumphing over adversity and how love of family and friendships can get you through anything. Also of how the women helped with the war effort, fighting at home whilst the men were away fighting. I really enjoyed it.

Thank you to Netgalley and Avon books for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Publication date - 29 Apr 2021

The Cornish Girls #1

1941, The Blitz rages over London - When Violet loses her sister in the Blitz, she must take her nieces to safety in
Cornwall. On the coast, she meets chorus girl Eva, who is also running from the dangers of London. But Porthcurno hides a secret military base and soon Violet and Eva realise there's a battle to fight in Cornwall too. Together with local woman Hazel, who works on the base, they must come together to help the war effort.

This is an intriguing story about a secret communication military outpost in Cornwall during WWII. The story is descriptively written. The characters are well developed, likeable and they all come from different backgrounds. The women all have their own burdens to carry. We also learn different aspects of the war. This is a great start to a new series. I'll be looking out for the second book in this series.

I would like to thank #NetGalley, #AvonBooksUK and the author #BettyWalker for my ARC of #WartimeWithTheCornishGirls in exchange for an honest review.

This is an absolutely delightful story of three very different women who meet and become friends in Cornwall during WWII. Each woman is easily likeable and I could picture them in my mind as friends sitting around chatting over a cup of tea. There is some adorable humour in the book via the nieces from the East End of London which lightens the story. While this is a war story it is full of friendship and love. The author has created a wonderful cast of characters and she treated each of them equally, letting us get to know each of them while weaving their stories together. I felt happy reading this book and that is a sign of an excellent writer. She dealt with the various jobs women took on to support their country during war even in a rural area set in the old ways of doing things are written in stone.

I highly recommend this book and I can’t wait to read the next in the series. This book ended nicely so you don’t feel that you are missing anything if you only read this book but I know I have to read the rest when they are released. Thank you to Avon Books via NetGalley for the opportunity to read this sweet and heartwarming book.

Thank you Netgalley for providing me an ARC copy.

World war is itself a vast subject and when someone took it as the background of their book, they get to play around with so much. Now for this book the author choose three ladies in England and mixed their personal life with wartimes, telling us stories of friendship, supporting each other, trauma, war strategy and so on.

The book has three major female leads. Violat Hopkins started a new life in Cornwell to avoid blitz with her two teen nieces. The blitz has already killed her sister and her brother-in-law is missing in the war, suspected as a german spy. Eva Ryder is a beautiful young woman who dreamt to be a dancer, lost her dream due to bomb raid and came to Cornwell to work as a code sender and receiver in a top secret military base. Hazel Bexter lives in Cornwell with an abusive husband and her son. Her husband went to the war and Hazel took job at the military base with help of her childhood sweetheart. Their life intertwined at this place and the story begins at their worst of times and good of moments.

Wartime with the Cornish Girls is a beautiful example of ' Women supporting women' and I love how the author took some opportunity to use reallife support examples. When Violet's niece got molested by her uncle, violet immediately took action against it and assured her niece that in no ways it is her fault. I really love that part where by reading it, I am sure many young people will learn to stand up and stop accusing themselves in any kind of misfortunes.

The individual story of three women is really fascinating and I do kinda want to read more about them. Hazel's story attracted me the most, I somehow can relate to her dilemmas more. On the other hand, the character Eva got very less light to be shining on the stage in my opinion.

The author showed the vulnerable side of the women but she did not forget to give them chances to flourish and her characters certainly took the chance. It would be great if we can have a bit more view of the natural side of southern England and could see the city girl's perspective more.

I do like it and this is an almost 4-star book for me. there is a sequel coming on and I want to read it to know more about these girls.

Thoroughly enjoyable read, this book is based on life in Cornwall during the Second World War. Plenty of intrigue to keep you turning the pages to discover what will happen next. A book I thoroughly would recommend without hesitation. Looking forward to reading the follow up in this series.
Reviewed in good reads and also a Facebook readers group as above. Sorry, unable to determine how to copy the link in good reads.
https://m.facebook.com/groups/280023530745/permalink/10159480740380746/?ref=content_filter

I loved this! All the girls had a different story to tell. Things were very difficult during wartime even in an idyllic place like Cornwall.

It is a well written, well researched book of the period when bombs and enemy planes were ever present. What a frightening , nerve racking times the girls live through but they all had bravery and tenacity to keep going.

I'm looking forward to reading the next book in the series a Christmas story with the Cornish girls which I'm sure which will be just as interesting.

Thank you netgalley.

This is a pleasure to read. History is best told through the lives of those affected by events and this does exactly that. Violet takes her two nieces whom she cares for to Cornwall after experiencing the devastation of the London blitz . Eva does the same after being injured and losing an American soldier she fancies. Others are there because they work in the secret war bunkers hidden in a Cornwall building. At least there are jobs there to support them in these difficult times. There are several carefully crafted story lines in the book which come together piece by piece. All the characters are credible, the wartime context well constructed and the writing effective in relating the feelings of the characters. It has a rewarding ending too. I recommend it.

Unfortunately this book did not grip me and I could not finish it. I loved everything about the description and was so excited to read about these characters and discover their world. Unfortunately it was not for me. The writing was good but I just didn't connect with the characters and I wasn't invested in their story.

A Great War time book but this time moving away from London or city centres to the quieter region of Cornwall. Following 3 different women .Eva,Violet, Hazel and their families. All the characters were easy to get to know and the chapters were all of reasonable length. The final chapter came to rather an abrupt end so I’m hoping the Christmas book will bring more light to these lovable ladies. Thanks to Betty Walker and NetGalley.

I really enjoyed this book I like historical fiction and this book did not disappoint.

We have Violet with her two nieces Lily & Alice who she looks after they move to Cornwall to be on the safe side from the East End of London where the the bombing is bad.

Then we have Eva who seems a bit a rebel but is a very intelligent girl she comes to live with her Father who is the Colonel on a base in Cornwall.

Then there is Hazel who is married to Bertie and they have Charlie. Life for Hazel is not good but she makes the best of what she has.

The woman all end being friends as they all work on the base at Portucurna.

I look forward to reading the next book in the series.

East London during the Blitz and when Violet loses her sister in the Blitz, she decides to take her nieces to safety on her aunts farm in Cornwall. Once there she meets Hazel, a woman married to a bully of a husband who was recently gone off to fight for his country. Together they meet Eva who is also running from the dangers of London.

The town Porthcurno hides a secret military base, and the three women who all get jobs at the base realise there’s a battle to fight in Cornwall, too. But will their friendship be enough to keep them safe?

I will be honest, initially I wasn’t sure if I was going to like this book, as it is so far away from the type of books I usually read however, it blew me away and I absolutely loved it!!!

The characters are so well written you immediately fall in love with the good ones, and want to boo and hiss at the baddies! I’m also ashamed to say that I never knew that Cornwall was bombed so heavily during the war, or played such an important part, as you only ever really hear about London, or the amazing work that was done at Bletchley.

As the first book in a series, this is setting up the characters, and really draws you into their lives, however, it has twists and tales that will captivate you and you won’t want to put this book down. I can’t recommend it enough and I’m already excited for the next one in the series!!!

Wartime With the Cornish Girls
An interesting story, probably partially true. Good characters, good writing.

Porthcurno, Cornwall England hides an underground World War II military base where numerous military personnel as well as civilian aides are decoding German messages. Violet loses her sister in the London bombings and heads to Cornwall with her 2 nieces. On the way to Cornwall, she meets Eva who is also running from London dangers. Together with Hazel who lives in Porthcurno, the 3 girls band together to help the war effort.

Betty Walker is a new-to-me author, but I thoroughly enjoyed this story of the three young women who banded together to help one another as well as serve the war effort. Her historical research is obvious, and Walker brought the area, life, and times of the military and the civilians into a vivid picture. The novel is filled with history, suspense and romance; and I look forward to reading the next book in this series to see what happens next with the three young women.

**I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions are mine alone. I was not compensated for this review.