Having enjoyed the other books set in Cornwall by Fern Britton I was a bit disappointed by this one. Off went the vicar, Simon, and his family to Brazil for a year and in came newly ordained Angela. Her successful political reporter husband, Robert, had taken a year out to be the house husband supporting his wife and looking after their daughter Faith. Although nervous about following in Simon's footsteps Angela had lots of ideas for bringing the village together. Audrey, the village know all, didn't quite achieve her potential for meddling in my opinion although I did laugh at the part relating to the pond digging.

I found the storyline rather boring apart from the antics of Mamie and Queenie, an unlikely friendship that provided laugh out loud moments. The daughter, Faith, wasn't a very likeable character and the storyline about the poison pen letters didn't really add anything to the book. Lots of parts seemed rushed and not explored enough. However, it is an easy read and would be good to take on holiday.

Fern Britton is my go to author for Summer reading and her newest novel doesn't disappoint.
Set in small village, Angela the new Vicar shakes things up and brings the village into the 21st Century.
Unfortunately not everyone is happy with her arrival and horrible letters start to appear.
I did try and work out who was the letter writer but I was wrong!
A must read for a nice holiday by the sea sort of book.

A gentle, rather old fashioned book. I’m afraid I really couldn’t manage to care about the characters though, Angela seemed to be continually fretting and worrying about unimportant things, and I thought the ending was a bit far fetched.

Super characters in a beautiful setting. A lovely can’t put it down read! I was down in Cornwall with the temporary vicar and her family. I didn’t want it to end!

It was lovely to be back in Fern Britton's Cornwall, and more specifically Pendruggan, in amongst some very familiar faces.

However there is one main difference, Simon and Penny have gone off to Brazil for a year, and so there is a new vicar in the village - Angela and her family.

Angela brings some fabulous new ideas to the village but not everyone seems as keen to have her there. Plus she has a gorgeous husband and is worried that his eye may be straining. Add in their teenage daughter who has also agreed to support her mum, in her first parish and we have a lovely family. Plus Auntie Mamie, whose stories about her past are always entertaining.. possibly embellished too but amusing!

There is plenty of variety with the plot points, and assorted sub plots to get your teeth into, and all manner of fun and antics to be discovered. I loved reconnecting with familiar faces especially Helen, Piran and Queenie - I just wish that there had been chapters showcasing Simon and Penny's new life if Brazil.

Although the book predominately features a vicar in the vicarage there really wasn't much religion in this at all which I'm greatly relieved by. What I did notice though was the occasional mention of a hymn, some of which I then had in my head, having recalled either the tune or some of the words from my school days. These are tunes I've not heard in 17 years or more but yet, seeing the name of some of them, especially "To Be A Pilgrim" brought back memories of assemblies from any years ago.

I keep mentioning the familiar but I should say this can definitely be read as a standalone, it really is a whole new story, which new characters and focal points.

I really enjoyed reading The Newcomer, and it was interesting to see how a new family would be received into this normally very welcoming little village.

I just hope this isn't the last we have seen of Pendruggan as I really am fond of the location.

Thank you to Netgalley and Harper Collins for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

Brilliant, easy read book. Was a perfect read for my Easter holiday; a bit of a mystery, lovable characters (well, at least most of them) and set in a lovely little village.

Another page turner from Fern Britton. I loved this book and enjoy her writing and the characterisation as you really care about them and dislike the ones you are supposed to.

A great read and can't wait for the next one.

I didn’t know what to expect from this book but I loved it. You weren’t a newcomer to the village, you are a part of it.

The book coming full circle from the beginning was brilliant.

The pond dig made me laugh and wince.

More please...

The Cornish village of Pendruggan sees a newcomer in its midst in the form of Angela Whitehorn - Reverand Angela Whitehorn. It seems that not all of the inhabitants of Pendruggan are best pleased at her presence. An enjoyable village drama and a gentle, easy going read.

A very easy read this book with nice characters and a storyline that doesn't require too much thinking.

I love Fern's series set in Cornwall, but i didnt enjoy this one so much.

Simon and Penny get the opportunity to move abroad for 12 months. Simon brings in a replacement vicar called Angela. She is married to Robert who is a very famous news reporter.

This details Angela's short, and temporary, move into the village and the things that happen. I didnt like either Angela or her husband, or her daughter who is a giant nasty brat, i found them very annoying to read about, the only character that kept me reading with Cecilia.

I will keep reading ferns series because i love going back to it, but i didnt enjoy this one at all.

Sorry Fern :(

Thank you so much to netgalley and HarperCollins for an electronic arc.
Angela, her husband Robert, and their daughter Faith, along with Aunt Mamie have come to Pendruggan in Cornwall as Angela will be the interim vicar while the resident vicar and his family are doing outreach in Brazil. Having recently been ordained, Angela is looking forward to this new opportunity. She is very enthusiastic and has many ideas for bringing the community together. The characters in the village are an integral part of the story. Cantankerous Queenie who runs the village store becomes great mates with Mamie and they are hilarious, many laugh out loud moments. Descriptions of Audrey, the village battleaxe are priceless. But Angela’s over zealous interest in the community leaves her own family a feeling a little adrift. It seems to be putting someone else’s nose out of joint as well because Angela starts receiving hate mail.

I absolutely adored this book. I had never read anything by Fern Britton and was so pleased to discover what a great story teller she is. I assumed this was a stand-alone book, but skimming some reviews after reading I discovered she has a series set in Pendruggan. I will definitely be reading those soon.

Sadly I didn't enjoy this book as much as the author's other Cornish novels.
I certainly didn't feel any of the storylines had enough about them to keep me that interested..
Not that I expect to be challenged too much by these books, they're a very easy read, but I do expect a little bit more intrigue or passion.
I really didn't believe in Faith's reasons for writing the secret letters or that she should have been the writer at all, it felt a little false for me and all glossed over a little too easily.
There was a lot going on but not much of consequence or substance and I was a little bored.

I like to think of this author as a very very gentle Jilly Cooper but maybe my time in Pendruggen is sadly coming to an end...

We return to the Cornish village of Pendruggan just as a new vicar arrives on the scene. When I say new vicar I mean it in every sense of the word because Reverand Angela Whitehorn is newly ordained and starting a year-long placement in her first ever Parish.

Of course, Angela is nervous about her new placement. She has big shoes to fill, due to the much loved and recently departed vicar. Everyone adores Reverand Simon so Angela is bound to ruffle a few feathers in the close-knit community.

However, Angela has a great support team behind her in the form of husband Robert and daughter Faith. Then there is the wonderful Aunt Mamie and adorable Irish Wolfhound Mr. Worthington.

I read an interview where Fern was asked if Mamie was based on Joanna Lumley. She replied diplomatically that if her characters resembled real people it was never intentional. However, once this was in my head the character Mamie was Joanna Lumley. (Not the lovely actress of course but Patsy the character she played in Absolutely Fabulous). Whoever else would light up a cigarette in church, fall into the freezing sea fully clothed or go on a drug finding mission with a fellow pensioner? I need a Mamie in my life with her amazing anecdotes about meeting famous people, her glamour, her acid tongue, her refusal to grow old and her mahoosive heart!

I love Fern’s depiction of the more mature characters, I think this really makes her books stand out in an overcrowded field. Mamie and Queenie strike up an unlikely friendship and their zest for life and refusal to be invisible is so inspirational. They provide humour and pathos to the storyline and it just wouldn’t be the same without them.

The book is a breath of fresh air. The goings on in a tiny Cornish village will have you gripped from the very first page. The characters just come to life before your eyes, the description of the setting is realistic and beautifully portrayed and the plot is thoroughly entertaining.

Yet again Fern has written another outstanding page-turner.

Another Fern Britton novel set in the same village as a number of her other books, and sharing some of the characters. Cosy and comfortable but not mind-blowing. OK if you want something which is not challenging.

I enjoyed reading this tale and liked the inclusion of characters from previous books. I did not feel it had the depth of the other books and found this a little disappointing. Looking forward to the next book though! Definitely recommended.

I enjoyed this book but was disappointed as well because I didn’t feel it had the depth of a story compared with the last 2 I have read by Fern. This story was pleasant, light but not gripping and covered a range a improbable incidents that held the story together

Absolutely brilliant. My first book by Fern and was presently surprised. It’s always great reading a book based in UK and especially Cornwall. The characters were believable and true to life as a Church Ministers wife!! I loved how all the characters were described even if some were annoying. Although I love a happy ending this book went in a different direction but all the same brilliant. Thanks Fern.

Really enjoyable, easy to read story, parts of this book had me laughing out loud, Mami is such a great character though not the main character in book. Would definitely recommend

This is a delightful take of a village and is characters and how they accept the temporary vicar. It is full of thrills and spills. The characters are brilliant, funny, and mischievous. The story depicts the village wonderfully and really brings to life atmosphere of this lovely place.
Total escapism, full of smiles. .