I loved this book it was sweet. I love a Cornish book romp.
The story was gentle and it was a lovely beach read.

4.5 Stars

How refreshing it was to be back amongst friends in Tremarnock. Ever since the first book of this wonderful series I have been hooked.

There are some fabulous new characters introduced into this book, including Caroline and Max, in two very different story lines.

If you haven't read any of this series, besides missing out on great books, not to worry, as this can easily be read as a standalone.

My favourite plot in this book was the fight to save the village playground, and the way the method picked develops. If I didn't know these characters so well, I'd almost think it was unbelievable, but its a great way of peacefully standing ground.

Then there is Esme's friendship with Caroline, which takes a direction that will almost certainly surprise some.

Oh and Rosie finds a message in a bottle that is dated to WW2, and she is determined to find either the write or intended recipient of it.

Meanwhile Lizzie seems to be at her wits end with Robert, while Lowenna is utterly adorable.

I love all of these wonderful characters and being able to find out what they are all up to currently. Its another excellent addition to this much loved series.

Thank you to Netgalley and Head of Zeus for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

An amazing book from beginning to end. I now want to find the other books in the series and read them

Emma Burstall just goes from strength to strength with her Tremarnock series, each book gets better and better and the more I read such a fabulous series, the more I fall deeper in love with the characters and all the various goings on. A Cornish Secret is the fourth in the series but like with most books that form part of a series it is easily read as a standalone. As we meet new faces, and reacquaint ourselves with old favourites, the author slots in a brief little paragraph every now and then explaining said characters back story so you feel story lines are refreshed if there has been a significant gap between you reading the books. This will also help readers new to this special coastal village in Cornwall as you don't feel you have missed out on heaps or are confused by the various story lines.

Tremarnock is a very special place and the author’s love for her characters and Tremarnock itself despite it being a figment of her imagination shine through in the writing. It's so easy to lose yourself in the writing for a couple of hours as you feel you are catching up with old friends and all their news after a brief absence and seeing what has happened and how the different characters are working through the trials and tribulations that life presents themselves with. As for that cover it is just beautiful, so vibrant and colourful and looking at the street that leads down to the sea it's exactly how I picture Tremarnock to be.

Emma Burstall strikes a lovely balance between descriptions of the setting and the numerous ongoing plots. I enjoy the fact the book is not all endlessly character driven instead where they live fuels their actions and in this book more so than ever as the residents gather together to fight as one to save the local playground. Their campaign to stop the council selling the land to make way for a housing estate which will taint the charm of the village is what forms the main plot but as with all the books the author provides the reader with lots of little sub plots which keep our attention. This also allows the story to move along at a lovely pace and before you know it you are over halfway through the book.

Everyone who lives in Tremarnock doesn't want to see the unique atmosphere and small community feeling shattered by the building of vast soulless houses where people may buy them and then only stay during the holidays. With narrow cobbled streets, rocky beaches, cream teas and pasties in cafés, the Winkle in Time restaurant and so much more to offer they feel a new housing estate replacing a community amenity is not what is desired. Joining forces and setting up a live in protest showed such great community spirit and a deep love for their home place. Plus it provided endless scenes of humour which added to the lovely overall tone of the book. The only question remained would any of their actions prove worthwhile or have the council made up their mind and the playground would be no more?

Saving the playground plays a significant part to A Cornish Secret but I was glad to see Esme the local potter now gets a chance to share her story and what an interesting, thought provoking and heartbreaking story it was. She has hovered on the fringes of the previous three books and definitely is an enigma. She does engage within the community to a point but no one really knows her deepest thoughts and where she wants to go with her life. What she reveals is certainly an eye opener and it just blended so well into the overall story. I felt great empathy for the situation she finds herself and could see it had been eating her up for so long with no expected resolution in sight.

It all felt so natural and not out of place and I am so glad authors are starting to include this in their books as the usual plot lines in books in this genre have been done to death. Going away on a walking holiday to a different part of Cornwall connected to the Santiago De Compostela with her old school friend Caroline, who herself is facing turmoil and many decisions, opens up a can of worms for Esme. Everyone sees a different side to her character and as the title suggest will all her secrets be revealed or will she continue to shoulder the burden which she has carried for many years?

Liz is the stalwart of this series, I love how with each book her story line is expanded and we get to delve a little deeper into the goings on of her and her family. Things aren't always plain sailing now that Liz is married to owner of A Winkle in Time, Robert. He works harder than ever and Liz seems to be left to mind their young daughter Lowenna on her own for the most part. Her older daughter Rosie has her own issues to master but she deals well with these and it's great to see the friendship developing between herself and Rafael. When Rosie discovers a message in a bottle on the beach, uncovering who the author of the letter is sets in motion a chain of events that will have far reaching consequences. Testing times are ahead for all involved. Some waver more than others with doing the right thing and there was a certain character who I lost some respect for because of the choice they made. Spur of the moment or not I didn't like what they did even if they felt they needed some form of comfort because things in their everyday life weren't as they wanted them to be.

As the tension grows between Robert and Liz as he goes about setting up another business his time away from the family only increases. I don't think we have really gotten to know Robert yet despite this being book four. He seemed very much on the periphery and I really wanted Liz to sit down with him and just express how she was feeling instead of letting resentment just keep on brewing. His absences, the lack of communication lead to not seeing eye to eye and the fun in their relationship seems to go out the window. I sense their issues are not something that can be quickly resolved. I love Liz as a character and hate to see her struggle be it with Robert or tiffs that occur between herself and Rosie but at all times she puts on a brave front. She is known in the community for being a helper, who will always volunteer or get involved in a cause. She looks out for people in need offering support, comfort and encouragement. She balances her life well for the most part so I desperately hoped this stumbling block with Robert could be overcome.

In times of crisis the people of Tremarnock, too many too mention here but all are such great characters, pull together and this time it proves no different but will they be successful or are the secrets about to be exposed just too devastating to come back from? You'll have to read this gen of a book to discover the answers. Some might view the ending as being very ambiguous if they search for definitive endings with everything neatly tied up. I am normally of this viewpoint but here I didn't mind at all that we were left on a cliffhanger because it confirms there will be more books in the Tremarnock series. It has set us up nicely for future books and really left me wanting more. I'm just disappointed that I'll have to wait another year to see what happens but I know that the wait will be worth it as Emma Burstall has created a brilliant series that I haven't the slightest hesitation in recommending.

This book has three storylines woven together which could mean it doesn't work. However, I'm happy to say that here it does. Loved it because it engages the reader and gets you to care about the characters whose lives you feel so involved in. This is a great summer read.

Not your average book series - all ended in slightly unexpected places, leaving the next book waiting to start. Very enjoyable.

This is part four in the enchanting Tremarnock series.

I absolutely love these books. Emma Burstall is a fabulous writer, she conjures up the setting, the people, and the fascinating stories of their lives so well.

These books can be read as standalone books, but it’s so lovely to read the whole series. It was great to be back with the familiar characters again.

Rosie is now a teenager, and it’s wonderful to see her grow and blossom. The story of Esme and Caroline is so touching.

Like every village and town, there are joys and troubles, and it’s heart-warming to see how the village pulls together at these times.

I really hope there will be more in this series, it was one of those books that I was sorry to finish.

I loved Tremarnock and The Cornish Guest House by Emma Burstall I can’t believe I have missed out Tremarnock Summer I will definitely be on the look out for it on my next bookshop visit. I was a little worried to start reading Emma Burstall’s latest release A Cornish Secret having not read book 3 as I was worried that I may have missed something that would then put me off the storyline of this one but I am pleased to say that this book was easy to read and I didn’t feel at any point that I had missed anything.

Esme and her childhood friend Caroline have always kept in contact but with Caroline living in Paris they haven’t seen each other. They decide to embark on a walking holiday but poor Caroline has an accident so Esme tempts Caroline to stay in the idyllic village of Tremarnock so she can look after her. A secret from their past soon can’t be contained any more.

Rosie finds a bottle washed up by the sea with an old note inside from back in the war. With Liz’s help they try to track down the person who wrote the letter but should somethings be left in the past.

This book can easily be read as a standalone but having read two out of the previous three books it was great to see so many of the characters I loved from those books returning especially my favourite little Rosie and Liz. I wanted to shake Robert so hard in this book though, what is he playing at!

I loved how both Esme and Caroline’s story is weaved around the search for Liz and Rosie’s lost Prisoner of War. I was interested in both storylines and found so much uncertainty for all the characters who are facing troubles. I was shocked by my little Rosie’s actions in this book she is normally the apple of my eye in these books and although I can see her actions were sort of justified I still was disappointed by the way she handled things.

Once again the community support is flowing through the pages of this book which is why I love Tremarnock so much.

I do hope we are treated to another book set in Tremarnock so that Robert has a chance to redeem himself again!

3.5 stars

A Cornish Secret is 'women’s fiction' and book #4 in the Tremarnock series.

Caroline has come to Cornwall to meet Esme, an old school friend. They plan to walk sections of a pilgrim path.

Meanwhile, residents of Esme’s village, Tremarnock, hear that the council plans to sell off the playground to a housing developer. Villagers organise a huge protest which attracts the local media. They set up a camp on the site which replicates other well-known activist groups.

On the beach, teenager Rosie finds a bottle with a note dating back to the war years. Her family and friends are keen to search for the message writer, Franz, who was once a POW living in the area.

This is the first book I’ve read in this series, so I was unfamiliar with the characters and found it hard to remember them all, especially as a great many were introduced early in the story. This is a light read with several storylines vying for attention. For me, this made the book feel crowded and I was less able to become involved. However if you enjoy village saga tales, with a lovely Cornish setting, then this book may be for you. I would advise reading the earlier books in the series first.

Favorite Quotes:

He wasn’t bad-looking, with short black hair, shaved at the sides and longer on top and a sprinkling of designer stubble, but his unusually large ears made him look rather as if he might take off in flight at any moment.

It looked as if Barbara might have got to him with her foot pump, for his short body seemed to be filled with air and his two chins waggled self-importantly.

She glanced up and her smile lit the room, taking Esme’s breath away. It was the sun breaking through clouds, it was Monday made Friday, it was a tidal wave that swallowed up a thousand doubts… and most of all, a curve that made the whole world spin and also set it straight.

He then came up with the idea of having special T-shirts printed with Tremarnock Resists on the front, and the conversation was side-tracked while they discussed colour schemes and matching beanie hats, so they would look as if they meant business.

I can assure you I have many, many faults. Sometimes I even pick my nose.

The older woman’s shoulders drooped and despite her tall, broad stature she looked fragile and shrunken, as if someone had come along, pulled her apart and done a poor job of putting her together again.

My Review:

I am feeling rather indecisive and unsure of how to rate this one. I was new to the author and series and for some reason, I went into this book expecting a romantic comedy, which it wasn’t. There were comedic elements with numerous cleverly amusing descriptions and witty observations and underpinnings, however, the overall tone of the book felt rather melancholy as the majority of the characters were struggling with either personal, vocational, social, or community issues.

Despite the dizzying number of unique and fully fleshed out characters, the writing was easy to follow, effusively descriptive, lusciously detailed, and conjured strong visuals. I enjoyed Ms. Burstall’s smooth and engaging writing style as well as her relevant, thoughtful, and socially diverse storylines. My conflict is with the ending, there wasn’t one; it just stopped with open threads left unknotted… but thankfully, no heinous cliffhanger in sight. I just didn’t expect this was to be an on-going tale. Hence my dilemma.

I do have a few new additions to my Brit Vocabulary list with Rootle (to root or delve), pushchair (a child’s stroller), chocky bickies (chocolate cookies), and I couldn’t help but notice that their use or purpose for an “outhouse” is significantly different from ours in the USA ~ smirk.

A snapshot of life in a Cornish fishing village that captures angst, camaraderie, gossip and scandal against a picturesque coastal background. The fourth in the series about Tremarnock took me awhile to get into this story having not read any of the previous three books. There is little backstory, and so it is hard to empathise with the characters if you aren't familiar with them from reading the previous books. Despite this, I enjoyed my visit to the village and the adventures of its inhabitants.

Esme, an artistic person, is an enigma, no one knows much about her, but she is one of the community stalwarts. Caroline, an old school friend, becomes her holiday companion when the two decide to meet after years apart. Their story's poignancy resonates.

Rosie finds a 'message in a bottle, that has implications both for her family and the village, not all of which are pleasant and make Rosie questions whether she should have read the message at all.

The prospect of an unwanted housing estates draws the village community together and provides some comic moments for the reader. The three subplots are easy to follow and well-drawn together by the end.

The coastal setting is well-described, and the characters have authenticity and depth. Reading this makes me want to read the previous books in the series.

A perfect beach read whether you're visiting Cornwall or not; if you haven't read the previous three books make room for them in your beach bag too and get the best from this series.

I received a copy of this book from Head of Zeus via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

I love Emma Burstall's writing style and her descriptions of Cornish life so I was grateful to recieve an arc to give an honest review. Reading the Tremarnock series is like going on your summer holiday you can visualise being near the sea and visiting the old characters of the Cornish village and meeting new ones. The book focuses on Esme a character I have always loved and her Parisian friend Caroline but you get to catch up on Liz and her family too.
The story did not grab me as much as her others but it is a lovely summer read for new fans and old.

Having not listened to any of Emma Burstall’s books before, I had no backstory for the characters beforehand. I’ve requested quite a few Cornish-themed ARCs and this one was different because of the “message in a bottle” subplot hinted at in the synopsis. That got my attention. There are themes in the story that I immediately latched onto such as the mention of Spain. Any book with any mention of Spain has me requesting it straight away for personal reasons. Being fluent in the language and familiar with the culture, I know that Santiago de Compostela and the “Camino,” (trail) are very prized landmarks of the country. I knew people through family who did the pilgrimage and have heard it is a real accomplishment.

Moving on. The largest take away for me from having listened to this was the inclusion of an MC with physical disability, namely Cerebral Palsy (CP). This touched me deeply and I could sympathise with some of Rosie’s feelings about having CP because I, too, was born with it. I know some people who are affected by CP in the same way as Rosie, and within seconds it was clear to me that the type of CP Emma Burstall describes in Rosie is hemiplegic CP where one arm and leg are mostly affected. This is milder than what I live with, but a huge challenge nonetheless because I could really sympathise when Rosie talked about being in pain or tired upon or after moving. Cerebral Palsy can really take it out of you by the end of the day!

I was impressed by Rosie’s way of living her life and behind her all the way. Huge congratulations to Emma Burstall for creating and bringing Rosie’s character to life. I am all for more books with characters with CP and other disabilites because there aren’t enough.

Tremarnock is a charming seaside village and all the residents are vividly created. The subplots were well weaved together so that the writing literally flowed, never stalling. A Cornish Secret is a delightful book. After this, I definitely want to listen to more by Emma Burstall and am curious to see what went on in the other boooks in the Tremarnock series.

Secrets, vivid landscapes and realistc characters make this a fun book.

Thanks to Emma Burstall and Aria, Head of Zeus for my ARC in exchange for an honest and voluntary review.

2 old school friends decide to recreate a portion of a religious pilgrimidge in cornwall. Emme and Caroline have not seen each other in decades but they always kept in touch. Esme is a sculptor who lives in Cornwall and Caroline is a mum to 2 kids and lives in a flat in Paris.

Along the walks they learn things not only about each others but themselves.

Despite the religious aspects and the fact that it was part of a series i have never read before i quite enjoyed this book.

I have a huge confession to make. Although I have a couple of Emma’s books on my massive ‘To Be Read’ pile, ‘A Cornish Secret’ is the first of hers that I have actually sat and down and read. All I can say now is ‘where have I been all this time?’ I absolutely loved ‘A Cornish Secret’ but more about that in a bit.
There are a few different characters in this book that have their own little storyline. Esme is one such character. She is a woman of a particular age who is in need of a break. She decides to retrace the steps of people from centuries ago. Whilst she is arranging this, her friend Caroline, who lives in France decides that it would be an ideal opportunity to meet up with an old friend and reconnect. At school Esme and Caroline were good friends but at the same time they were competitive with each other- almost as if they were rivals. The two friends meet up but it isn’t long until a particular secret comes tumbling out of the closet, which threatens to unsettle the friendship again and change things for good. I love the character of Rosie. She is a teenage girl with the usual anxieties that teenage girls have. She is a good student and she has a close friendship with Rafael, who is from Brazil. Rosie also has to cope with mild cerebral palsy and she had treatment for a brain tumour a few years previously. She may have a couple of obstacles in her way but she doesn’t let them hold her back and she certainly isn’t deterred by them. Rosie finds a note in a bottle from a German POW (Prisoner Of War) which was put there in 1946. Her discovery intrigues her and she resolves to do what she can to investigate the note, to find out what happened to its writer and hopefully to reunite the note with the person it was intended for.
Oh my this is a really well written. The author captured my attention from the start and before I knew it I was addicted to reading the book. As I was so into the book, the story, the characters and the writing style, I just had to keep reading on and on. The page numbers and the chapters flew past in a blur. Before I knew what was happening I was 25% of the way through the book, which I hadn’t realised until I looked up to check my progress. Reading this book was a bit like being on an emotional rollercoaster ride. The characters are so well developed and I felt myself go through all the feelings that the different characters were going through. I silently cheered for Rosie, as I know what it’s like to have the odds stacked against you as my goddaughter has cerebral palsy and everything that she achieves shows just what can be achieved and that disability doesn’t have to define you.
I loved the way in which the author has perfectly captured the essence of a small village mentality. By that I mean everybody knows everybody else’s business and somehow each villager is either related to each other or knows somebody who is. A quiet and sleepy village can often be a hot bed of gossip, intrigue and scandalous revelations. I know this because I live in a relatively small village.
The author writes such vivid descriptions of the area, the people and the coast that if I closed my eyes I could easily imagine that I was on the beach in Cornwall with the sound of the waves crashing against the shore, I could taste the salt in the air and I could smell the smell of fish and chips frying. This book has also put ideas into my head because it has made me want to visit Cornwall again, it makes me want to eat fish and chips and it makes me want to eat a cream tea.
In short I absolutely loved reading ‘A Cornish Secret’. I can’t wait to see what comes next from Emma Burstall but whilst I wait I will content myself with catching up with the first three books in the Tremarnock series. I would definitely recommend this author and her books to other readers. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a well deserved 4* out of 5*.

I am a huge fan of this little series so it just delighted me when I seen this. This latest instalment did not let me down it had the cosy and familiarity of the little village which made it so easy to read and imagine I was there.

I absolutely adored the character's in this book, they were just so lovely and friendly.

The best thing about this book was all the unexpected twists and turns, they kept me gripped and I couldn't wait to find out what was going to happen next - it was so exciting trying to guess.

Tremarnock is a Cornish village. It is populated as all villages are, with people who know one another, and care for one another or tolerate one another. They are human beings with lives filled with all that life has to offer.

Esme is going on a walking tour with a woman who went to the same boarding school when they were very young. Their past contains a shared secret.

Liz and her daughter Rosie are searching for family of a WWII German prisoner of war who was captured and lived in the village for a time. Rosie found a bottle in the ocean and it contained a letter he had written to a child who had given him a sense of welcome. They become celebrities when the story goes all over Britain and Europe.

The majority of the village are fighting to save a park from a developer who wants to build and eliminate what is important to the village children.

There is a shared history everywhere you look. There are families who are trying to get along. And there are people who need to talk to one another honestly, but seem incapable of listening to one another.

This is the fourth book in a series about Temarnock. At times, I would have appreciated a little bit more back story so I could feel more involved in the action.

Ms Burstall has written a story which is about life with all the ups and downs. She is a talented author who has created a village which draws the reader.

I would have preferred more direct action and less descriptions and inner thoughts. It made me feel distant from the characters.

I received this book from the publisher through NetGalley. I am voluntarily writing this review and all opinions are my own.

I never knew about the Tremarnock series but there's a new fun after this book.
I loved the settings, the characters and their stories. This book has a great plot, with different stories full of humour and tenderness.
I read it in one setting and it left feeling good.
Highly recommended!
Many thanks to Head of Zeus and Netgalley for this ARC

I always look forward to a new release in the Tremarnock series. A new book always seems to coincide with one of my holidays and has now become as much of an integral part of it as a bottle of prosecco and some down time. This instalment brings a new battle for the community of Tremarnock as well as personal trials for some of its residents. Emma Burstall’s new book provides the usual comfortable tale but as always, she adds a breath of fresh air into each new story. We meet all of our favourite residents, which always feel like putting on your favourite jumper, whilst adding new characters which brings a refreshing feel too. A lovely addition to the Tremarnock series which is comfortable and enjoyable, yet refreshing.

Burstall’s latest in the Tremarnock series will charm old fans and a attract new readers. This time out, teenager Rosie finds a real message in a bottle from a German POW and sets out to find out what happened to him. Meanwhile, village fixture, Esme Posorsky is living quietly, throwing pots and spending time with her cat when a friend from her past turns up. There’s also the possibility of a new housing development changing the quiet village forever. This book can be read as a standalone, but the stories are so charming, I’m betting readers will want to consume them all