I really enjoyed listening to this audiobook, it was informative, interesting and exciting. The Cornish landscape was brought to life and the role of geography and mapping in WW2 was brought to life. The authors note at the end was particularly poignant as it revealed that a lot of the characters were named after real life people.

The Secret Shore by Liz Fenwick was an excellent book to listen to. It grabbed my attention at the get-go and kept me interested until the end. The storyline has a few twists and turns that were well woven into the text. This was well worth listening to.

Another winner from Liz Fenwick with this sweeping love story set during WW2. Located mainly between London and Helford in Cornwall, the story tells of the heroic work of the Cornish flotillas in the war effort, and also of the roles played by women that were largely overlooked and quite dismissed after the war ended. The narrator does a sterling job, smoothly guiding us through and deftly tackling all the accents with aplomb. Fenwick’s writing is consistently assured and as a reader I feel completely safe in her story-telling hands, as she takes us on an adventure - this one spanning five years – with love and grief, romance and heartache, bravery and sacrifice. It swept me away.

As one of the Navy’s most skilled mapmakers, Merry knows that lives depend on her work in the War Office. But when a family crisis draws her back to her beloved Cornwall, she finds herself working alongside Jake, an enigmatic American officer, on secret operations spanning the rugged coasts of Cornwall and Brittany which she knows so well.

As rumours and suspicion swirl around her family, Merry is increasingly drawn to Jake, despite the defences she’s built around her heart. It’s a dangerous time to fall in love; the tides of war are rising and there is everything to lose…. My thoughts The novel follows Dr Meredith Tremaine ( Merry) a map reader in world war 2. Set in Cornwall, France, London and America the storyline follows Merry as works to help keep communications open during the war years . Throw a love interest into the mix Jake Russell a war correspondent ! Merry does not want to get involved as they both might die and is happy just to be friends ! The novel also follows the search for her mother who has gone missing and as she is French the rumour is that she has joined the resistance as a spy. Merry
The research in this novel is very good and you are once again told how good we women were in the war and not recognized that we did anything!!! We also get glimpses of Daphne Dumaurier’s Frenchman’s creek which is spoken about with fondness . Great characters and descriptions throughout . I visited Hughenden a national trust place which had uncovered the secret Map rooms code name hillside, last year and it was fascinating to see and to read this book about it.

This was my first book by this author and I learned quite a bit. The story of Merry the Mapmaker and the role she played during WWII was fascinating. I enjoyed all of the characters. The part I objected to was the graphic love scenes. Personally, I prefer not to read books with this content, but was too invested in the story. The author did a great job introducing the characters. I felt at times, I wanted more from a particular time frame in the story. For example, during D Day. The narrators were outstanding. I was blessed with a free ARC, and I’m voluntarily leaving my review. If explicit sexual content isn’t a concern for you, I would definitely recommend this book.

A gorgeous sweeping saga set in Cornwall on audiobook that I thoroughly enjoyed. When Merry’s French mother goes mysteriously missing from their home in Cornwall, Merry is sent from her position as a Cartographer to go and help find her. This novel is set during the war, in 1942, and Merry uses her skills as a mapmaker supporting a team in Cornwall of secret agents in France to help men who are putting their lives on the line. She is a fierce, clever and strong woman and a valuable member of the team. What she doesn’t bank is being attracted to an American Officer. This is an incredible story , set in Cornwall with wonderful descriptions of the coast and area all beautifully written and highlighting the importance of women’s roles in the war effort. The audiobook is performed by Laura Kidman and Dominic Gruenewald and is dazzling! I will be reading more of Liz Fenwicks books for sure. The Secret Shore is available now. Thank you to Harper Collins Audio Uk and Netgalley for my copy.

I thoroughly enjoyed this novel, I must admit I went into it expecting a wartime love story, and I certainly got that, but the research that had clearly gone into the story was pretty mind blowing, I love when I learn through fiction.

Impeccably written, beautifully narrated and stunningly plotted.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins U.K. audio for the opportunity to listen to this audiobook in return for an honest review.