Country Secrets

A story about second chance, finding yourself, learning to navigate life when things go wrong, learning to know who you are and learning to grow. A story about love, friendship, life, and family. Full of drama, laugh out loud moments and a engaging storyline that is easy to get lost in.

A delightful conclusion to the Compton Magna trilogy. I know it was good because I joined the 'bad decisions bookclub' several nights while reading it, staying up far too late on a school night. I've read almost all of Fiona Walker's books, starting out way back with the Tash French books. As a recent transplant to the English countryside myself, she really captures the feel of the places and people. Like all good Fiona Walker fiction, Country Secrets is wonderfully escapist, putting you through the emotional wringer, before racing to a satisfying conclusion - with loads of laughs along the way.

A very horsey four-star read. I had such high hopes for this one, as I have adored this authors work before, but this one fell short of the mark, it just felt like there were too many people and too much thrown in all at once, instead of getting to know the main characters and story and then adding others as they flow naturally it felt like a jumble, and I was left feeling lost and a little lost and didn’t care too much about everyone, until quiet far into the story. It could just be me, as I was coming off a very emotion ringing story as my previous read, but it felt rushed compared to the others I have loved by this author. I will say that once you get into the story, and you know who everyone is and how they link up, and then when the twist drops, you really do feel for everyone and feel like you need to cheer at the end, but until it all clicks it’s a lot to get your head around.

Ah this book takes me back to being a teenager when I first read Kiss Chase which became one of my favourite reads- very Jilly Cooper which was all the rage at boarding school! This is a similar style, really good fun, lots of characters who aren’t always what they seem and a place you’d love to live in with plenty of gossip! This is a great summer holiday read, highly recommended

I have read all the books in this series and this one completes! If you like reading about countryside, people and horses this one is definitely for you. Really enjoyed the read.

I read Fiona Walker's first 10 novels many, many years ago and loved them so much. I still have Lucy Talks and Kiss Chase on my bookshelf although I'm too scared to re-read them in case I don't love them today as much as I did then. So Country Secrets is the first Fiona Walker novel in at least 15 years that I have read and it feels a little like coming home after a long day.

Country Secrets is a part of a series which can be read as a standalone. It takes place in the Cotswolds in the UK, horse centered, with lots of dialogue that is not completely understood to a Canadian like me. But that doesn't take away from the chaos, the characters, and the big heartedness of all the plots and sub plots and sub sub plots. The cast of characters is immense, the town is small enough for everyone to know each other's business, and the humour is divine. I have truely miss reading her books. I was rooting for Mo, wanted Ronnie to be my mum, and would love a turn with Luca!

This is just plain fun, full of heart, and a great escape. It's a reminder not to take life too seriously, live your life, and take chances.

Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this and review this book.

I enjoyed this book, it’s written in a very Jilly Cooper style which isn’t a bad thing. Very entertaining read which kept my interest the whole way through. This is my first read by Fiona Walker and it didn’t disappoint. I liked the horsey element. Would recommend, a good easy relaxing read.

A fun and interesting read based in the country. A little different to what I woukd usually chose but I did enjoy it. Some interesting characters

This book was nostalgia through and through and I absolutely loved it.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of the book in exchange for a review.

So much fun, this series reminds me so much of the Jilly Cooper books I read back in the day. I think I’ve read everything by Fiona Walker and she’s a firm favourite for a good old romp, and this was a corker.
I love catching up with the village, all the gossip and scandal, but also the struggle of surviving the financial crisis that is hitting everyone but especially those in small rural communities. Seeing people come together to save their livelihoods.
A great read.

Thank you, thank you, thank you, I forgot how much I love FIona's books.

Like others, I have read all of Fiona other novels many years ago and loved them so much. I still have the majority of them.

Country Secrets is a part of a series which can be read as a standalone. Plots, sub plots, you don't know whats coming next. The characters is brilliant, everyone knows everyone else's business and the humour is great. This is fun, a great escape and real holiday read (I didn't read it on holiday!)

I really have missed reading Fiona's books so this was such a delight.

I highly recommend this and Fiona's other books too.

Fiona Walker at her absolute best - a gripping, sexy romp of a read filled with friendship, drama, love and laughter. All the best ingredients of a Jilly Cooper novel without the x rated bits! I couldn’t put it down and didn’t want it to end, it’s one to get well and truly lost in its length making it a perfect holiday read. This is the third, and in my opinion the best, book in the Compton Magna series but works equally well as a standalone. As with all her other novels it is beautifully written and the characters and setting positively leap off the page. It is also a rare thing for a book that involves horses to be so factually accurate and a brilliant satire of both Gloucestershire village life and the horsey set.
Expertly weaving together multiple storylines, each filled with their own unique set of challenges and conflicts, Walker keeps the reader hooked and guessing till the last page. The horses are as beautiful and complicated as their owners and riders and her attention to detail and ability to capture the essence of the village add depth and authenticity to the story.
Filled with Walker’s trademark humour the witty dialogue and laughable situations provide moments of levity amidst the plentiful drama.
Overall it is a captivating and entertaining read with compelling characters and engaging plot lines wrapped up in the most dreamy worthy of settings. Fans of Fiona Walker won’t be disappointed and newcomers will be eager to read more. Perfect for those who enjoy Jilly Cooper, Tilly Bagshawe and Jo Carnegie.

Who doesn’t love Fiona Walker? Classic summer light reading, never disappoints and this latest novel is no exception, a great frustration read

This is a very long book but worth it. I've read a lot of Fiona Walker books and they are all lengthy, but they don't drag when you're reading them. In fact I read 90% of this in one day finishing about 1am as I had to finish it!
This picks up from the previous two books in the series. Pax is still fighting Mack for a divorce and custody of Kes. Luca is still as sexy as hell and the sparks between them fly. Ronnie is still trying to save the stud. In the village, Mo is unaware of who the gossips are talking about and is devastated when she finds out. Incomer Kenny is mourning the loss of his ex-wife and trying to hide a life changing problem. Bay is pining after Pax after his marriage breaks down. The Saddlebags are still full of gossip. Lester is still recovering in the main house.
This is a tale of horses, family politics, friendship and lovers. Fiona's books always make me want to head off to the country as they describe it so well.
Very readable, enjoy!

Book three in the Compton Magna series is readable as a standalone. Still, it's a good series; if you enjoy country life with scandal and spice, I recommend reading the other books too. A complex cast of believable characters entertains readers with small-town gossip, politics, humour, and a hint of scandalous goings-on. It's entertaining, escapist storytelling with characters to invest in and elements of poignancy as they try to live their best lives. Horses and all that living with them entails being the centre of the Compton Magna world. The author creates an authentic setting full of detail and sensory imagery, making everything easy to imagine with resonating characters. I have read most of this author's earlier novels, and this book reminds me of them in a positive way. I like this story's characters, humour and absorbing setting. It's a perfect escapist read.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

This book was nostalgia personified, and I enjoyed it immensely. Scandal? Check. Intrigue? Check. Romance? Check. Horses? Check.

With a diverse cast of characters and a through and through theme of growth and finding yourself, Country Secrets was a great conclusion to the Compton Magna trilogy. It had me rooting for success post-plot-twist, and it kept the pages turning for me.

Escape to the country! I'd not read Walker but that didn't matter because she immediately pulled me into this melange of a novel about village politics, romance,and, best of all, horses. There might be one or two more characters than necessary but there's good back story. It's a fast, entertaining read. Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. Fun.

Entertaining, enjoyable and compelling story. It's the perfect read it you want to have fun, read some sexy romance, and escape reality.
Well plotted and likeable characters
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

This is a light-hearted but emotional and perfect seasonal read. With interesting characters and a good storyline. Although it also has some good laugh out loud moments too.

The latest gripping, sexy novel from Fiona Walker set in the Cotswold Village of Compton Magna.
Loved the countryside setting - the gossip and the humour, giving Jilly Cooper vibes.
An entertaining, escapist summer read.
Thanks @fionawalkeruk, @headofzeus & @netgalley for the eARC

Perfection…
A continuation of the Compton Magna series and another aga saga of epic proportions filled with frothy amounts of glorious scandal and populated with an eccentrically entertaining and eclectic cast of wonderful characters. It’s certainly all going on. Happily read as a standalone, this fits nicely with the rest of the series which is equally as joyous. Perfection.

If you love stories about village and countryside life then this is the book for you. Very enjoyable with good characters and storyline. Giving this 5 stars.

Thanks to Netgalley and publisher for this ARC