The Daughter’s Of Cornwell is an engrossing, multi generational family saga which was hugely enjoyable.

The thing I most enjoyed about this book is the wonderful, strong women characters the author has created. It was very interesting to follow them throughout the story and see the challenges they face. I liked their determination that their children wouldn’t experience the same problems. I might not have always agreed with their decisions, which sometimes had me wishing I could shout at them, but I always wanted to support them.

The story is told from the point of view of multiple narrators over a number of years starting at the beginning of ww1. This may sound confusing but each character is given a different voice so it is easy to differentiate between them. The descriptions in this book were very vivid with the contrast between beautiful Cornwall and the horror of war really helping to bring home what it must have been like. The slow revealing of secrets is cleverly done with some of them being kept until the end which made sure I kept turning the pages.

Huge thanks to Anne Cater for inviting me onto the blog tour and to Harper Collins for my copy of this book via Netgalley. If you like multiple timeline stories or family sagas then you’ll love this book!

This multi-layered time-slip grabbed my interested from the beginning when in the present-day Caroline receives an old trunk sent to her from Penang. As she looks through the personal effects, she slowly discovers the stories behind the women in her family who came before her.
In 1918 we meet Clara, a girl with a less than perfect childhood who is determined to make something of herself when she falls in love with Bertie a man from a loving family in Cornwall during the First World War. Then there’s Hannah, Clara’s daughter who was brought back from her home in Penang with her brother Edward to live with their grandparents in Cornwall. She has her own struggles growing up and as the Second World War begins she has to discover what she wants out of life and how to deal with what’s thrown at her.
Through these interwoven stories secrets and heartbreak are revealed and we discover exactly what did happen to these women and why they made the choices they did. I love historical fiction and was riveted by this beautifully descriptive book.
Thanks to HarperCollins and NetGalley for an ARC copy in return for an honest review.

Thanks Netgalley and the Publisher Another novel set in the lovely area of Cornwall, this novel is set in the past and has great characters and a really good storyline.

Wow what a fabulous read from Fern again. This novel has everything an excellent story which spans three generations, wonderful characters and lots of secrets which make this a thrilling read right from the first page. The first part is set during the war and it's a love story between Clara and Bertie that captures your imagination and makes you fall in love with the characters. Great locations and wonderful story telling can't praise this book enough. A 5 ⭐read Loved it

It’s been a really long time since I have read a book by Fern Britton but her new book Daughters of Cornwall caught my eye for two reasons. I love Cornwall as a setting as it evokes such wonderful imagery that really takes you away from your normal everyday life and secondly this seemed different from what the author has written before in that there was a strong historical element with a dual timeline. I love historical fiction so I was keen to see how this book would develop. The book is split into three parts as we follow three generations of women from the same family. Part one focuses on WW1, part two on WW2 and part three has a mixture of WW2 and the present day. This was quite ambitious as most historical fiction authors choose to set their stories during one war or the author and this made me think had the author spread herself to thin?

As I worked my way through the book it was clear there had been lots of extensive research undertaken and you do really get a good feeling for what life was like for people at whichever point in time you were reading about. I did find part one quite heavy going as the tone of the book was established and the oppressive feeling of uncertainty, pain and anguish really came through. I couldn’t see in what way the plot was going to venture but it’s when I reached part two and a new voice took over that I felt it became easier to read and it felt lighter and not as heavy to get through.

The prologue introduces us to Caroline who lives in Callyzion in Cornwall. She comes from a long line of women who have toughened themselves on the anvil of life due to broken marriages, hearts and lives and who all share a striking connection apart from that of being related. Caroline receives a trunk sent to her from the far east, Penang, Malaya to be specific, and when she opens it, it sets in motion a chain of remembrance and of delving back into the past to help her to understand the contents of the trunk and to help her to come a more appreciative understanding of her own life and her mother’s. Caroline reads a diary which will go on to explain a lot to her and will eventually help her make sense of things and alleviate some of the guilt she feels. The story then moves back to 1918 and we read about Clara but we do get snippets from Caroline dotted throughout the remainder of the book as a means of bridging the past with the present.

In December 1918, the war has been over for a month and Clara Carter is travelling to Cornwall to visit people she has never met before. Her life has always been full of secrets and everything she has said is not the truth. We slowly come to see that she came from nothing and made something of herself but in doing so she had to lie about her origins. She must be careful not to let slip anything that is best kept secret or all her work to get where she is today will be undone. Clara journeys to meet the family of her fiancé Bertie. She met him on one of those memorable nights during the war where work was over for the day and women and soldiers went out to clubs and for meals. From the moment she laid eyes on him and the same could be said for Bertie they were a match made in heaven and had only eyes for each other. Many stolen moments and days were spent together before Bertie was posted to France.

But the realities of life came knocking at her door but before a proper life could be made for the pair of them, Bertie was so cruelly snatched away but Clara knows he was doing his bit for his country and died in an honourable way. As Clara arrives in Cornwall knowing that Bertie never got round to telling his family about her there is a sense of wariness about her and also it felt like she was hiding something. Clara for me wasn’t the most likeable of characters she did show courage and resilience but at the same time she did lie about something very important and I thought she used people too. No doubt the author portrayed very well the love between the pair. There were also chapters told from Bertie’s viewpoint as he battled in the trenches full of mud and danger lurking around every corner, some of the descriptions were horrific and hard to read.

As mentioned above I felt this section of the book was hard going and I did feel like I was plodding through it but when part two began I much preferred reading about Hannah in Cornwall beginning in 1938. Yes there was a significant jump in terms of years between parts one and two and it was initially quite disconcerting to read of a different character and become familiar with them. I was a bit annoyed that we weren’t going to hear Clara’s viewpoint as I thought part one was building up to this. Instead her daughter Hannah takes over but it actually worked even better. She was a fresh new voice and I found myself turning the pages an awful lot more quicker. She is the next generation as mentioned in the title to tell her story and you wonder will history repeat itself? I did enjoy trying to fill in the missing years between sections and I found myself reading much more into things. Hannah and her brother Edward live in the vicarage with their grandparents Hugh and Amy Bolitho, their parents Clara and Ernest are away in Malaya running a rubber plantation. Hannah was a total contrast to Clara as in she was younger when we were reading about her and there were times when I laughed out loud at some of the writing and what herself and Edward say. It felt very conversational in contrast to part one was much darker and at times it felt like facts were just being stated. We got a very good glimpse into Hannah’s life but when war is declared in 1939 things change for the family.

Clara returns home in 1936 and begins to live with the family but I could see where the story was going and despite Hannah and Edward doing their bit for the war, and Clara making a good life for herself in Cornwall, it all just felt a bit too routine and that the chapters were just going through the motions recounting life during the war. I could piece things together far too easily and this big mystery waiting to be uncovered just didn’t materialise. I wanted to be on the edge of my seat guessing what was going to happen next and to come across some twists and turns but unfortunately this just didn’t happen and as I was at the 98% mark there was still so much left unsaid I was thinking to myself how could this be wrapped up with so little remaining in the book? This in turn left to a very rushed ending that left me needing more.

Daughters of Cornwall was a mixed bag for me I much preferred Hannah’s story but the author did show how the affects of war do have long term repercussions and she highlighted how the three generations of women all felt quite apart and distant even though they didn’t realise they shared one thing in common which had it been revealed would have alleviated a lot of guilt. The author has shown lots of promise in this genre. It’s a decent family saga but perhaps not my most memorable of reads this year as the lack of mystery just wasn’t there for me. If you have liked Fern’s previous books you will enjoy this one and I think I would love to see if she continued to write in this genre in what direction and to what point in time she would go to next.

1918 The Great War is over, and Clara Carter has boarded a train bound for Cornwall to meet a family that would once have been hers. But they must never discover her secret.
1939 Hannah has always been curious about her mother’s mysterious past, but the outbreak of the Second World War casts everything in a new light.
2020 Caroline has long been the keeper of her family’s secrets. But now, with her own daughter needing her more than ever, it’s time to tell the truth – to show Natalie that she comes from a long line of women who have weathered the storms of life, as hardy and proud as the rugged Cornish coastline.
I love the author’s books so eagerly awaited this book & thank you to NetGalley & the publisher for the copy. This is another well written & very well researched book that although is still set, mostly, in Cornwall it's very different from the author's other novels. I loved it. Very good characters with plenty of depth, the book was well paced & never lagged. I was drawn in at the start & found myself totally engrossed & actually read it in two sittings as I just couldn’t put it down. An engrossing family saga spanning a century & of course that secret.
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

It's 1918 and the war is over. Clara Carter is on a train to Cornwall to meet the family that she was to marry into. She's harbouring a secret that they must never discover.
Twenty years later, Hannah has always been curious about her mothers past but her mother is adept and subject change and sweeping Hannah's curiosities aside. As the second world war looms, Hannah and her brothers, Edward & David need to play their part.
Present-day Caroline is uncovering her families history, needing to teach her own daughter that she comes from a long line of strong women.
The Daughters of Cornwall is a family saga, with buried secrets, love, loss, heartache and determination. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

The Daughters of Cornwall follows the stories of three generations of women, Clara, Hannah and Caroline, in the Cornish village of Callyzion. When Clara first travels down from her home in Kent to meet the family of her fiancé Bertie, killed in the First World War, she leaves behind a little secret. Many years later, having started a new life with Bertie’s brother Ernest, and with her three children around her, Clara’s happiness is finally complete. But when the secret tries to reconnect with her, will that happiness cope with the revelations it would bring?

The book starts with Caroline receiving a mysterious trunk from Malaysia, and as she examines the contents, she learns the secrets her grandmother and mother kept from her. Beginning shortly after the start of World War I, it tells of how Clara reinvented herself to become involved with the Bolitho family. The story then moves onto Hannah’s life, from growing up in Cornwall, to surviving the Second World War, before finding herself pregnant with Caroline. A gentle enough story, with no glaring issues, although I did find myself confused at times over what lies were being told to whom.

Another enjoyable reads from Fern Britton, set once again amidst the delights of the Cornish countryside.

I enjoyed reading this over the afternoon. Played out over some difficult times with some strong characters across generations. Would recommend this and look forward to her next novel.

A lovely story. Moved back forth over different generations. I enjoyed the story, I would have liked to know how Clara could have left Philippa and Michael and how. Philippa felt. We knew she sent a wedding tira. It was a good read.

A beautiful read about women and wars and about how to keep strong in difficult times.in life. Great read story I look forward to Ferns next novel.

I have read and enjoyed several of Fern Britton's books before and like the others, this is very firmly set in Cornwall (with a diversion to Ealing), but that's where the similarities end. This book is rather different to her other books as it is set over various time periods and has multiple narrators. This change of direction though has worked really well and I enjoyed following all the different yet connected storylines.

Daughters of Cornwall is a multi-generational tale beginning around the time of the First World War with Clara Carter. She has had a difficult childhood but is determined to reinvent and better herself. When she meets soldier Bertie Bolitho, love blossoms between them but the war of course tears them apart. Fast forward to the Second World War and we meet her daughter Hannah, living in the Bolitho family home at Collyzion. Hannah, along with her brothers want to do their bit for their country and all head off to war. In the present day, the third generation of Bolitho women Caroline is beginning to uncover some of the secrets of the previous generations and wants to pass on the knowledge of her heritage to her own daughter.

What I particularly enjoyed about this book was the emphasis on the strength of the women. Every one of the Bolitho women has had challenges to face up to and every one of them has dealt with them in the best way they could. They are all determined that their own children should be protected from their past mistakes and that they should have opportunities to better themselves. I had particular admiration for Clara and all she went through although there was one particular decision of hers I didn't agree with at all. I won't say what it was of course, as it is one of the big secrets of the book, but it was an emotional part of the story when that was resolved.

Daughters of Cornwall is a sweeping story spanning 100 years and taking in significant events not just in the history of Britain but also in the lives of the Bolitho women, all of which combine to make them the strong women they are. If you enjoy historical fiction with family secrets waiting to be uncovered, engaging storylines and spirited characters, then this is a book for you

I love Fern Britton’s books, so I was delighted to begin this one. It is different from her previous books, apart from the Cornish setting in a large part of the story; a multi-generational account of a line of women covering both World Wars. The descriptions of the characters caught up in both wars at home and on the battlefield are sensitively and movingly done and must have needed a great deal of research. I was totally absorbed in the story. The lives of the women show how strong women have to be with so much to overcome. As always the Cornish setting is as glorious as ever. I was sad when it came to the end and will happily recommend it.
Thanks to HarperCollins and NetGalley for the early reading copy.

I really enjoyed this book! It was enjoyable to read through three different eras and follow the lives and stories, a bit different from previous books by Fern but I thoroughly enjoyed this! Will definitely be reccomending this!

The basis of this story is a trunk delivered unexpectedly in the present day to a descendant of the original owner. The story spans both world wars and England and the far east. I found this book good in parts with some excellent characters and descriptive passages, and but other characters were less well drawn and the plot was clumsy in places. Overall, having enjoyed this authors other books, I was disappointed with this one and its sense of being hurriedly written and somehow incomplete.

I enjoyed this book and the way that it played out. The characters were very interesting. I enjoyed finding out the history of all of the daughters from Clara to Caroline, and how they became mothers as well.

I was excited for this one as it ticked all my historical fiction boxes - dual timeline, WWI and WWII.

But it almost seemed like half a book - I wanted to know so much more about the strands to the story which just weren't explained. What was going on with Ernest? How did Clara end up marrying him? What was the story with Michael?

I get that this is about three generations of women, but it seemed odd to introduce these strands and then not continue with them. Just felt like I was waiting for more of an explanation and it fell really flat for me.

In a change from perhaps what I was expecting from Fern Britton, I am transported to Cornwall as is to be expected but I am submerged into the past in this excellent piece of historical fiction. 

Clara is making the journey from London to Cornwall after the Great War to meet the family that she could have been apart of. She is taking with her a secret, one that only one other person knows about. 

Hannah wants to know more about her past but her mother's reluctance makes her even more curious. With the outbreak of the Second World War looming, Hannah and her brothers want to make a difference. They don't think they can from their corner of Cornwall. But Cornwall always calls them back. 

Caroline discovers her families history through a trunk which looks like it has come all the way from Penang. She embarks on a discovery. Caroline wants to show her daughter how a life can be lived and that all it takes is determination and an inner strength that all the women in the family clearly have. 

This story starts like a whisper as all the characters are introduced and you are immediately caught up in love affairs, war, secrets and lies. The book is rich in description at the breathtaking views of Cornwall of the horror of war, of death and birth and shows how strong women can be no matter what the path in life they have chosen to be on. as the secrets come tumbling out or are kept hidden until the end, the story draws you right in. A story that will stay with you long after you have finished reading. 

If you like Fern Britton's previous novels this will be a change - but it is worth every word on the page. 

Great for fans of historical fiction with multiple narratives, a book to get lost in.

A huge thank you to Harper Collins and net galley for allowing me to review this ARC.

Having read all of Fern Brittons books which I absolutely love, I got so excited to read this one. When I read the blurb I was a little unsure, dating back to the war is not something I would usually pick up.

This style is not Fern's usual but boy did Fern put some great effort into researching the war.

I was totally smitten with Clara and Berties love story, which then followed down the line to Hannah and Caroline. What a wonderful family they all are.

Clara went though some deep hard times and sacrificed a lot for her children.

I love that all Fern's books are set in wonderful Cornwall and part set in Ealing an area I know so well.

A truly magical, heartwarming and heartbreaking brilliantly written book which gave me pleasure reading.

Fern delivers as always.

Thank you to Netgalley and Harper Collins for this advanced reader's copy in return for my honest review. I enjoyed this sweeping family saga immensely. Engaging characters and an intriguing story line. Characters that draw you in and make you genuinely care about them.