The Cornish Village School - Second Chances

With thanks to Netgalley and Canelo for this ARC in exchange for an open and honest review.

I was excited to read this after enjoying the first Cornish Village School earlier this year. Although Second chances was focused on Sylvie and Nick I was delighted that Godzilla mum Marion Marksharp and reality star Angelica appeared in this book.

Sylvie was brought up in Penmenna but left to join the Royal National Ballet in London. She decided to return to Penmenna when she found out she was pregnant with her son Sam. Shortly after returning home her mother became ill with Motor Neurone Disease and Sylvie became her carer. When her mother died she was grief stricken but has decided to turn her and Sam`s life around.

War journalist Nick had recently adopted 5 year old Ellie from the Sudan. No longer able to work abroad he went to Penmenna to spend time with his best friend Chase and his girlfriend Angelina.

One day Nick took Ellie to the beach where he met Sylvie and Sam. The children quickly made friends and Nick decided to live on Penmenna so Ellie could settle in a village school.

As the children became closer Nick and Sylvie started to spend time as a family. Nick and Sylvie were attracted to each other but decided to remain friends in case it went wrong and destroyed their modern day family unit. However Marion and the children had other ideas and devised a plan to make them realise how they feel about each other.

Second Chances was a delightful light hearted read. I enjoyed reading about the village and how village life revolves around the Penmenna Village School. I was pleased we still got to see headmistress Rosie Winter when Sylvie got a temporary job teaching PE. The finale of the book was very descriptive and I could imagine a marque in Nick`s garden filled with African delicacies and the kids dancing in traditional dress.

With its funny quirky characters this series is definitely on Par with the books written by Gervase Phinn. I look forward to the next book.

The first book in this series was a 5 star read earlier in the year and this one did not disappoint. It is a heartwarming story filled with romance and relatable characters. The setting is always going to be a favourite of mine as I love Cornwall and this is most definitely a must read series for me.

After reading the first book in this series I said I’d have no qualms in visiting Penmenna again in the future and I’m glad I headed back for Sylvia and Alex’s story.

“...having a best friend again was pretty special. Even though that best friend was the most gorgeous and most off-limits man she had ever met.”

With the romance almost playing second fiddle to the characters friendship The Cornish Village School - Second Chances follows a similar path to its predecessor so didn’t hold any particular surprises, but if a sweet, welcoming story of friendship and finding your place is what you’re after then this is that.

3.5 stars.

Having already read the first of the books in this series, I was a little disappointed that it was the same format as the first book…. Man meets woman, they are attracted to each other but try not to become close, that fails and they end up together. It meant that the plot was too obvious for me from the beginning, but as a stand alone book, it works well and it was still enjoyable to read.
A lighthearted story with likeable characters. As I am Cornish, I enjoyed the addition of some Cornish dialect…..'ansum!

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

This one hit all my sweet spots- starting with the Cornwall setting! Heads up that there is some dialect here which you might want to sound out but it's no impediment to enjoying the book. Sophie, Sam, Alex, and Ellie are all looking for a new beginning, each for their own reasons. Of course things don't always go easily for the adults (or the kids, really). There are some great characters in addition- such as Sophie's uncle Tom. While a little predictable (but don't we need that sometimes?), it's nicely written. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.

A young mother is working on her mother's farm trying to raise her 4 year old son, Sam and recover from the death of her mother. In the summer, the two divide accomplishing chores during the mornings and spending afternoons at the beach near the Celtic Sea. On this particular afternoon she meets up with a gentleman and his 5 year old daughter, Eli. Thus begins the story of friendship, family, and the start of a new school year at the Cornish Village School. The title, Second Chances gives us a clue as to outcomes of the main characters, family and friends. I enjoyed it but I did struggle with paying attention to all of the conversations, past histories and current updates. As the story continued I kept up with most of the Cornish conversations. The dialect was tough to convert at times, although I must admit I enjoyed it.
It is a pleasant read to carry on from the first of the series in the Cornish Village Series but was able to go with the flow of the novel despite not picking up Kitty Wilson's first in the series.

I read the first book in this series and was happy to get this one.
It was good to meet the old characters as well as some new.
This book's heartwarming, makes you feel good, entertaining and it's really enjoyable.
I look forward to reading other books by this author.
Highly recommended!
Many thanks to Canelo and Netgalley for this ARC

After reading the first novel by the same name really looked forward to reading this one and wasn't disappointed with a mix of old and new characters this was a charming novel very easy reading and especially liked the community spirit with the school onse again at the heart of the story excellent read

I love this series!!! Such fun, funny, sweet books :c)

My review has been posted to my blog & Goodreads.

Review has also been tweeted as usual.

Thank you! :c)

This is a really delightful book, laugh out loud and full of autumn. It was lovely to read it at the right time of year, just when the market is full of turkey and tinsel that only the Christmas-obsessed are truly ready for.

Kitty Wilson tells this heart warming story of two single parents of reception class children so well. It's not sugary or schmaltzy but real and funny and I think anyone who's ever fallen in love - or in lust - will recognise Sylvia's feelings.

The Cornish Village School is a brilliant concept and I can see Penmenna becoming as real to readers of romantic fiction as Heidi Swain's Wynbridge. The recurring characters are beautifully drawn - warts and all - and I can't wait to find out what happens next in their lives.

The story of Sylvie and Alex.

A fairly easy read, but quite emotional in places especially when you think about Ellie's past.

Although this is the second book in the series, I don't think it matters if you haven't read the first.