Cover Image: Daughters of Cornwall

Daughters of Cornwall

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Member Reviews

Really enjoyed this story and where it led to. The characters are a mixed bunch and you have fluctuating emotions about some of their decisions.

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I wouldn't usually read a book about the war but am so glad I did. This book contains everything about love, family and the horrors of war. The secrets that are held close, the lies that are told to keep the secrets safe. A lovely unfolding story across families and generations. All set in beautiful Cornwall.

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Another lovely book by Fern Britton.

Set in Cornwall this is a family drama that spans from World War One into World War Two and now present day.

A well written book that was easy to read.

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Clara, Hannah and Caroline - The Daughters of Cornwall.
Clara boarded a train to Cornwall in 1918 with a secret.
Hannah and her brothers have always been curious about her Mothers past but its now 1939 and they must do their bit in the Second World War..
2020 and Caroline needs to show her daughter, Natalie, just who she is and who her great grandmother and grandmother were and how they shaped the family through the years.

Another well woven story from Fern Britton.

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I enjoyed this book by Fern Britton. Set in Cornwall it traces through the lives of three generations of woman - and touches on a fourth - of the same family, Clara, Hannah and Caroline. The story moves from just before the 1st World War to the present day.
A trunk arrives from Malaysia unexpectedly, the contents lead Caroline further into the life particularly of her grandmother, but also of her own mother. The women are strong and the decidions they make reflect the attitudes of their times. Thee book has secrets and necessary lies, these are gradually untangled as the story progresses.
The changing attitudes of the generations is wound through the story. The book is very readable and believable. I liked the characters who were all very real and solid.
A good read, easy to pick up and lose myself in!

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An enjoyable story through three generations spanning World War 1&2. Set mostly in Cornwall tells the lives of Clara, Hannah and Caroline. I love historical fiction that gives insight into the troubles my Grandparents and parents endured. Well written and a pleasure to read.

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As usual in my reviews, I will not rehash the plot (there are already reviews like that out there if that's what you are looking for).

This is a title that I was invited to read, having enjoyed a previous novel by the author.

I was expecting it to be a light, easy read - a family saga - and to some extent that's what it was. However I wasn't expecting the atmosphere of gloom that underpinned parts of the book. I guess that's understandable as some of it is set during two World Wars, but the lives of the main characters outside of those times are not exactly a bed of roses either. I didn't warm to Clara (the main character), and didn't understand her attitude to Michael, given that his father was the love of her life - maybe I missed something.

I liked the way the book shifted back and forth in time, and was told from different viewpoints.

I would say that overall I enjoyed the book, and the ending was uplifting - if a little sudden.

My thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an ARC. All opinions my own.

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Three generations of strong women in rural Cornwall. In the present day, Caroline has a shock when she receives a large old trunk from Malaysia. Hannah joins the army in the 1939-45 war. Clara's fiance goes off to fight in the first world war, leaving Clara with a problem that necessitates a move to Cornwall. A bit predictable at times but a good story of three loving women who make the most of what life throws at them.

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Once again a beautiful read. Set over different timelines I couldn’t put it down. Would thoroughly recommend this book. Thank you for the ARC.

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I'll begin by saying I enjoyed this book set in WW 1 with different timelines right up until present day. This book is nothing like the previous books that Fern has written. I'm not saying that's a bad thing it's just different. I have read many many books set during both wars as that is my favourite genre and much of the story about the war is as good as most of the ones I've read.
****. *********Spoiler Alert *****
The thing is, I'm left with more questions at the end of this book
. What happened to Clara after she went to visit Bertie's family ?
How did she get from saying she would spend Christmas with them to ending up with his brother in Penang ? Why go there ? She didn't love him or did they fall in love and it wasn't in the story ?
She seemed also to have a personality transplant from a nice woman to a horrible person.
Why did she walk out on Michael ? Did she just not return to Philippa's who she lived with, who had helped her when she had no one else , not collect clothes etc ? Did Berties family not find this strange ?
Bertie's sister went to a convent because she had a breakdown, stayed there and was never spoken of again ...strange.
Why did Hannah's daughter say she wasn't a good mother ?
Clara went from a person trying to better herself to having a cigarette hanging from her mouth covered in bright red lipstick all the time.
The only likeable characters were Hugh, Hannah , David, Shirley and Michael . I would like to have seen more of Michael in the story , what was his life like ? What was he told about his mother ?
Goodness there's another whole book here.
Fern mentions her great uncle Bertie but hasn't mentioned what was him that inspired the story which most authors do ,so I'm curious .

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Another fabulous book from Fern Britton. I enjoyed how this story was told through 3 generations of women from the same family. I flew through this book as I really enjoyed the writing style and just wanted to know what was coming next!

Perfect summery story!

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This book is about 3 women through the decades. Clara, Hannah and Caroline. Caroline is sent an old trunk and starts to discover secrets about her grandmother and then her mother. Another good book by Fern set in Cornwall

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A Family saga spanning a century, starting just before World War One. We meet Clara who has dragged herself up from a life of abject poverty to become a respectable trainee secretary in London. When she bumps into a handsome young man the whole course of her life is changed forever.

A lovely book full of romance and heartache. Perfect escapism for a rainy afternoon.

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Britton’s latest book explores the lives and courage of three Cornish women, all related, but separated by time. Clara, who lives through World War I, Hannah who must survive the horrors of World War II and Caroline, who’s fighting a battle on the home front with her daughter. This is a sweeping Cornish saga about the strength, courage and resilience of women

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This book from Fern Britton is different to others I have read as it is mostly historical, and more of the action than usual is set outside of Cornwall. That said, there are a good variety of characters but, as the title suggests, the main ones are women. This is a readable romp through 20th century history, including the impacts of both world wars.

Thanks to Net Galley and the publishers for the opportunity to review this book.

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Daughters of Cornwall is a time-honoured family saga, telling the stories of a grandmother, mother and daughter in 1918, 1939 and 2020 respectively. I enjoyed it.

This is the first novel that I have read by Fern Britton, so I cannot say how it compares to her other works. The author writes in a light readable style, and the plot features a strong female characters, as well as both sadness and joy. This would make an excellent summer holiday read.

That said the plot of the book does feel that it would have been better served by a longer novel. A number of potentially fruitful story points either occur off page or are dealt with only in passing; some of the characters also felt underexplored.

My thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

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An absolutely excellent read from Fern Britton, I thoroughly enjoyed it and read it in two sittings, always a good sign. An interesting story , well told and with great characters .Highly recommended.

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A book I got drawn into and couldn’t put down. I don’t often read family sagas or books set during war time but I’m so glad I read this one

The description of how the soldiers coped during war time is beautifully written as is Clara’s story. She has known both happiness snd heartbreak and has had to make some difficult decisions to survive.

Would I recommend this book - yes, definitely.

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The story weaves across three generations of one family and concentrates on grandmother, mother and granddaughter, starting at the end of the Great War, through WW2 and the post war era.
I am a huge fan of Fern Britton’s books usually, but I just felt this was not one of her best. This is a different style for the author, and I felt it didn’t quite work. I did not really empathise with the central character, Clara, and found the whole thing a bit disjointed. I am all for a book about strong women but this one had too much in that respect.
Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for an advance review copy.

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Daughters of Cornwall by Fern Britton follows the stories of Clara and her family, particularly the women of that family this was a fairly good and interesting read with some sense of the brutality and aftereffects of war on those who fought in it. Fern depicts strong women who overcome challenges when (spoiler alert) they all seem to get pregnant outside marriage. Kindnesses and family loyalty help them through but strong selfishnesses are portrayed as sensible decisions- Clara’s in particular. The story was good and kept me interested but the book lacked for me a sense of Cornwall or of life lessons and I suspect that may have been one of Fern’s aims. Good enough for three stars

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