'The soldiers have got their telescopes trained on us.'
Around us, angry white crests peaked and broke; a fresh burst of spray carried on the wind and Mary clasped her cloak tighter. 'They'll be expecting us. Mr Trevelyan's very particular about letting them know we're coming. They'll recognise our flags. One shows we're from America and one shows we're carrying grain'...
***
In the wake of her mother's death, Pandora Woodville is desperate to escape her domineering father and finally return to Cornwall. Posing as a widow, she safely makes it across the Atlantic, bright with the dream of working at her Aunt Harriet's school for young women. But as Pandora is soon to learn, the school is facing imminent closure after a series of sinister events threatened its reputation.
Acclaimed chemist Benedict Aubyn has also recently returned to Cornwall, to take up a new role as Turnpike Trust Surveyor. Pandora's arrival has been a strange one, so she is grateful when he shows her kindness. As news of the school's ruin spreads around town, everyone seems to be after her aunt's estate. Now, Pandora and Aunt Harriet must do everything in their power to save the school, or risk losing everything.
However, Pandora has another problem. She's falling for Benedict. But can she trust him, or is he simply looking after his own interests?
***
Before I even begin this review I must tell you about the exciting giveaway you can take part in to win a copy of this lovely book, along with a tote bag, bookmark and postcard. How exciting is that? The link is below and I wish you the best of luck. It is only open to UK entrants.
Anyhow, onto the book. This is one of a series of books set in Cornwall by Nicola Pryce. They appear to be standalone novels with the setting being the linking factor. By coincidence, I have read a few books set in Cornwall recently. It is a beautiful county and I will never tire of reading the beautiful descriptions of the environment in any book.
This book offered everything that I like in historical fiction; a strong main character along with an immersion into the time and place in which it is set. The book is set during 1801 and Ms Pryce has researched her period extremely well and reading felt like a participatory event.
The main character, Pandora, was very likeable and easy to engage with. She is a resolute and determined character who faces the challenges in her life with strength and resilience. Along the way she discovers things from her own past and it was interesting to see how she dealt with uncertainty and revelation. When she meets Benedict, the main male character in the story, she is initially very wary of him. He is a surveyor for a Turnpike company who want to build a road going through land owned by Pandora's aunts school, and I will not say whether or not her fears were correct as I would hate to give away the very satisfying ending of this book.
I enjoyed this book very much. A story of courage and resilience all set in a beautiful environment in an interesting period of history. I highly recommend this book and I intend to read more by this author.
Don't forget to scroll down to enter the giveaway to win a copy of this marvellous book along with some book themed goodies.
ISBN: 978 1838959197
Publisher: Corvus
Formats: e-book, audio and paperback
No. of Pages: 480 (paperback)
Purchase Link - Bookshop.org*
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Nicola Pryce trained as a nurse at St Bartholomew's Hospital in London. She has always loved literature and completed an Open University degree in Humanities. She is a qualified adult literacy support volunteer and lives with her husband in the Blackdown Hills in Somerset. Together they sail the south coast of Cornwall in search of adventure.
Giveaway to Win a The Cornish Rebel Tote Bag and Paperback (Open to UK Only)
*Terms and Conditions –UK entries welcome. Please enter using the Rafflecopter box below. The winner will be selected at random via Rafflecopter from all valid entries and will be notified by Twitter and/or email. If no response is received within 7 days then Rachel’s Random Resources reserves the right to select an alternative winner. Open to all entrants aged 18 or over. Any personal data given as part of the competition entry is used for this purpose only and will not be shared with third parties, with the exception of the winners’ information. This will passed to the giveaway organiser and used only for fulfilment of the prize, after which time Rachel’s Random Resources will delete the data. I am not responsible for despatch or delivery of the prize.
(author photo courtesy of Katia Marsh)
(book, giveaway and author info. courtesy of Rachel's Random Resources)
(all opinions are my own)
*Disclosure: I only recommend books I would buy myself and all opinions expressed here are my own. This post contains an affiliate link from which I may earn a small commission.
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