Member Reviews
This was a great book about friends! I enjoyed the characters and setting. I would recommend this book to historical fiction fans!
Pick up this gorgeous hug of a book and get transported to a beautiful place wraps itself round you like a cosy blanket. It has warmth, charm, laugh-out-loud moments and a wistful nostalgia. I absolutely loved it.
Very much enjoyed this addition to the Cornish Girls series; it's like a comfort read. Not too heavy but meaningful at the same time. It has been a good ride to be with the characters over time, during the war and after.
This book takes place in Cornwall set in 1946 just after the war when rationing is still at an all time high. In this book of the series, Sylvie's husband has passed away six months ago and she decides to run the corner shop.
Selina goes to help her dying sister with the children in Dartmoor leaving Caroline behind as one of the four original land girls.
Joan meets a soldier back from war who has PTSD although undiagnosed in those days.
This book is about friendships, love moving in mysterious ways and trust and honesty between friends. It shows how the communities worked together to help one another to reach their dreams. It is heartwarming albeit sad in places, especially the way that Arthur, Joan's boyfriend was treated because of his issues with what he saw in France.
Betty Walker is a talented author who can make you feel as if you are in Cornwall living the lives of these girls. I loved the character depth, the scenery and the atmosphere that Walker gives to the book and the reader.
I admit I found this one on Netgalley and haven't read the rest or earlier books in the series, nonetheless you can easily read this as a standalone book. But now I'd like to go back to book1 to catch up.
Definitely a book to cozy up with if you enjoy the era and genre which of course I do.
Kerry Kennedy Author
Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and or the author for giving me the opportunity to read and review A New Hope for the Cornish Girls
This is an unique Historical Fiction and I didn't mind it. It has great plot and characters
Another wonderful book that continues the series of the Cornish Girls and the book is just a brilliant as the other books. Who doesn’t feel every time you know another book is coming from this brilliant author.
Shirley is slowly getting over Arnie’s death and decides to open the shop he runs again. Joan who does not like to cause trouble meets Arthur who she has been warned off as he has come back from the War with shell shock. Selina ends up leaving the Land Girls to help her sister look after her children which we see where Selina seems to have grown up and is no longer as selfish as she was.
I enjoyed the book and thought it was a brilliant way to learn what becomes of them all and the characters seem to get more and more stronger and feel they all work well together and you just want to read on.
I look forward to the next book.
Would recommend this book.
This book is very well written and you can feel the love of all the characters as you turn each page.
There is a lot of sadness but also many happy twists and turns.
This is the seventh book in the Cornish girls series.Sheila has lost her husband Arnie who ran the local shop and is thinking of opening it up again but daughter Violet is against it.Joan is now one is the Land girls working on the farm along with Selina,Caroline and Tilly. Selina is always talking about her wedding when she gets a letter to say he wants to call it all of.Joan meets Arthur who she gets along with well after incident with the soldier which affected her badly.Selina hears from her sister Bells after many years and needs Selina's help,will she go.Even though the war is over people are still finding life hard and Sheila is trying to find out if she can help the poor in anyway.This was another great read from Betty Walker and can't wait for the next one in the series.Thank you to Netgalley and Avon books.
Thank you for the chance to read this ARC in return for my honest opinion
I had read the rest of the series and looked forward to the next instalment.
This follows the immediate post-War years where rationing still led to hardship and people had to do without.
But love also pops up in unexpected places for one of the Land Girls and rekindled for another of the older characters.
This book also explores the aftermath of the sights seen on the battlefield which I suppose we would call PTSD these days though not a term of the times.
A book that is well written, researched and explores themes other authors may skirt round.
I shall look out for more by this author
Thanks to the Publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.
It was great to be back with the Cornish Girls.
Even though the war is over, the girls still have to carry on doing what they do in the hard and trying times.
In this book, we also meet some new characters as well as catch up with our old friends and read about what they’re doing in their lives.
Food is still rationed as the country assesses what it’s lost and many of those that fought are still not home, in some ways, war isn’t over just yet.
The land girls are busy on the farm working the land to give food to the country as well as being up their families and maintain the relationships that are being put to the test.
I highly recommend this book.
Have loved this whole series, and I know in their timeline, the war has now finished, but I hope we get to catch up with them again.
Loved it, it’s like catching up with old friends
The fighting might be over but 1946 sees the women of this series continue to struggle a bit to adjust and cope with the post war Homefront. This is lovely historical fiction which tugs hard at the heart. Those who have read the earlier books will be pleased to spend more time with the characters and will most appreciate the twists and turns of their lives and loves. That said, it will also be enjoyable as a standalone. Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. A good read.
Porthcurno, England. Sheila Newton's husband Arnold died six months ago, she’s been staying at the farm owned by her son-in-law George and daughter Violet. Arnie ran the only shop in the village, Sheila’s considering about re-opening it and Violet thinks it’s a bad idea. George is busy and he and the land girls are still are still playing a vital role in providing much needed food. Violet is juggling chasing a toddler, cleaning and cooking for everyone and she relies on her mum's help. The war might be over, but food, clothing and footwear is still rationed and British people are still having to mend and make do. Sheila discovers many of the villagers are facing hard times, and a war widow’s pension simply isn’t enough to survive on and one family is in dire straits.
Selina is waiting for her fiancé to return home, not all the men serving overseas have been demobbed and she’s devastated when he writes and calls off the wedding. Violet gives Selina some good advice and that’s to reach out to her sister Bella and she hasn’t spoken to her in years. Caroline and Selina are the two of the original workers, they have two new land girls helping on the farm, Joan and Tilly. One day while repairing a fence Joan meets a young man called Arthur Green, she’s wary of men, he doesn’t make her feel uncomfortable and they have similar interests. Both enjoy art and books and Joan uncovers Arthur’s secret and since returning from France he’s suffering from bad dreams and nervous episodes and people don’t understand.
I received a copy of A New Hope for the Cornish Girls from Avon Books UK and NetGalley in exchange for an honest and unbiased review. I have read and enjoyed the previous six books in the wartime series by Betty Walker and this narrative is told from Sheila and Selina’s, Joan and Arthur's points of view.
With a strong emphasis on how the war might be over and everything isn’t going to be back to normal in England for some time and it many never be the same again. Men are struggling to fit back into everyday life, and accepting what they had to do to during combat and to survive. Widows and the elderly are stuck in grim financial situations and sadly so many children have lost parents and are orphans. I enjoy reading engaging and historically accurate fiction, and Ms. Walker achieves this once again and she’s a consistent author.
Full of descriptions of life in post-World War Two England in 1946, and the beautiful scenery in Cornwall, the farm and animals, and Bodmin Moor. I’m looking forward to book eight in The Cornish Girls Series and finding out what happens to the familiar and new characters, the possibility of post war weddings and a baby boom and how they go about helping those in need and five stars from me.
Another new instalment in the Saga of the Cornish Girls.
I love to hear all about the lives of the Cornish girls and it was like visiting some old friends and catching up on all their news ..
It didn't disappoint
. Another good read by Betty Walker.
Returning to the Cornish Girls is like visiting old friends, guaranteed to brighten up your day!
Land girls Joan, Selina , Caroline and Tilly work for the Joe & Violet Postbridge who think of the girls as family. Violet is concerned about her mother Sheila taking on too much so soon after husband Arnie’s death, but Sheila is determined to reopen the village shop which has been a great miss to the village, being the focus of the village makes it easy for unwanted attention! When there is an unexpected visitor it may cause unrest in the family.
It was good to have Arnie’s brought to life through Sheilas reminiscences. I enjoyed the way Selinas character changed when she went to Thornton Hall, seeming to be softer in some respects. My favourite character was Joan, least favourite was the Bournes. I do hope there will be another in the series.
So pleased to be back with the Cornish girls again. I love these books such a pleasure to read about the land girls still working hard even though the war is over. Rationing was still in place for quite a few years after the war which is hard to imagine. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.
Another lovely story in the Saga of the Cornish Girls. It all feels so real and it is easy to feel involved. Really good characters and a story line that drags you in. Can't wait for the next one.
I think this is the 7th book in the Cornish Girls series. I have enjoyed ever one if these books and I'm hoping there will be more to follow.
The war is over but people are still struggling. Food is even harder to find and rations even stricter than during the war.
Women with children have been widowed and have no way of feeding and clothing their family. Many soldiers are still overseas with families having no idea when they'll be home. Without the men, the Women's Land Army are still working the fields and looking after the animals.
Joe has had no men return to the farm yet so the girls are still toiling away wondering when it's their turn to start a new life after the war. For some it comes a lot sooner than they think.
Shelia is still grieving the loss of her husband and throws herself into opening his shop again and helping those in need. And someone from the past is one of the first to ask for her help.
It did take me a while to remember who was who and what had happened before but didn't spoil any enjoyment in the story. I love the characters in this series. I would like to find time to start at number one again and read straight through them all. So if you haven't read any,you are really lucky you will be able to read them this way.
I would love in the next book ( if there is one) to hear more about Selina as her story ended with a bit of a gripe with someone. Also Violet and Joe, I'm sure something wasn't right there, what was it?
Hope I haven't given any spoilers away and wonder if when you read it you have the same questions as I have,
Great read!
Another instalment in the Cornish Girls sage. This one includes all the characters we have met so far in the other books but has more focus on the Land Girls Joan, Lilly Selina and Caroline. A wonderful read as it was so good to catch up with characters that have become friends. Thanks to Betty Walker and her publisher. Thanks also to NetGalley
Loved loved loved catching up with all the characters once again, storyline was fab as usual, couldnt put the book down, a read that gives u all emotions really hope there is another instalment