I love the author’s Cornish books. She is so good at describing the countryside in all its moods, bringing it to life.
This is a book of ultimate second chances.Delia has had a difficult life, as we learn, and has lost everything - immediate family, husband, girlfriends and with the strain of it, her job as well. To cap it all, her ex-husband died and left her a crumbling but beautiful Manor house in Cornwall where she was at her unhappiest and she cannot wait to sell it.
It is ,of course, not that simple, too much needs doing before that and it seems the house is a money pit beyond her capabilities. However with local help rallying round she makes headway and falls in love with the house. I love how it comes back to life in the second half of the book. Lovely characters drawn too, a real feel good story as she finds new friends, builders to help with the house, a gardener to recreate the knot garden and a housekeeper who is always there when needed. A lovely absorbing read.

A Cornish Legacy by Fern Britton

A perfect feel-good read.

There’s everything to love in this book: the Cornish setting, the premise that both the crumbling manor house and the main characters need nurturing, together with the premise that, like a garden or rooms that have been left to go to ruin, this healing will bring ever-after happiness.

A book of two distinct halves: the backstories slowly emerge in the first half to be addressed and sorted in the second. A tale of renewal, though, for me, the story did seem to follow a rather well-trodden path.

My thanks to Harper Collins and Netgalley for the chance to read and review this book.

I always look forward to reading Fern's books and always enjoy them. This one was slightly different to her usual but, no less enjoyable. It had a ghostly feel to it and I raced through it. My thanks to netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

Fern Britton just gets better and better. I was totally transported to her beloved Cornwall. Her love of the county is evident in her writing. This book had a bit of everything, in fact it feels as if you get two books for the price of one as the first part of the book would be good enough on its own, then you get part two ! The writing style sucked me in from page one and had me siting down with my kindle at every opportunity to continue , even if only for a few pages. Fern is a great story teller and you can lose time so easily in her books. The house felt like a living, breathing entity. The characters were very well drawn and the relationships portrayed perfectly plus there was a bit of Cornish magic! I would say that the ending was a bit rushed in my opinion in comparison to the rest of the book and I felt that there could have been more added, but I loved it and eagerly await the author’s next piece of Cornwall!

I loved Fern’s early books so much, rugged Cornish Men who you fell in love with. Her later books I seemed to have fallen out of love with so she had gone off my watch list. When I was given a copy of this to read. I thought, what have I got to lose apart from a few hours. How wrong was I. Fern you are back with a loud bang. Loved, loved, loved this book so much. Cordelia Jago returned to her beloved Cornwall from London and learnt to fall in love with it all over again. Beautifully written, gorgeous characters who were brought to life. A handsome gardener, an eligible bachelor, a gay best friend, a beloved Aunt, Cornish scenery and delicious food. What more could you want. Thank you Fern.

Fern Britton’s love of Cornwall shines through in her novels and this one is no exception. We meet Cordelia Jago who has inherited a crumbling Cornish Manor House , Wilder Ho. It holds a lot of unpleasant memories for her and her initial thought is to put it on the market immediately.

Sprucing up the rooms for a resale she finds herself questioning her decision. The old house seems to cast a spell on her. Aided by a wonderful cast of friends she finds peace and love within the walls and a contentment which had previously eluded her.

The wonderful setting and fantastic characters in the book kept me reading. This book is filled with hope, new beginnings, love and friendship. Overall a gentle, heartwarming read .

Wow go Fern Britton . A lovely story set in Cornwall. You really feel for the main character. You have an ace best friend, a magical house keeper, lots of sadness , an ace Aunt and a beautiful old house. You can’t put it down. My review does not do it justice. Read it. You have a real treat a head of you.

Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC. This was a really warm and comforting read, likeable characters and a cosy setting. Great beach read.

If nothing else, Ms Britton knows Cornwall really well! Lovely setting.

An easy read with romance and some history thrown in. Perfect for a holiday read on the sunbed.

Thanks to Net Galley and Harper Collins UK for the chance to read and review.

I’m a big fan of Fern Britten books and was very excited to receive an advance copy of this one. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher.
The story is set in Cornwall and is about an old house, which is in disrepair after having an illustrious past with visits from royalty. The house has feelings and also a magical housekeeper in the form of Mrs Joy who appears when needed and works little miracles. It’s also a love story and has some fabulous characters who the reader really cares about.
It’s lovely to read about the house and gardens being restored to their former glory and our heroine finding love after some difficult times.

This is a lovely story with different elements going on throughout. I really enjoyed it however did feel a little let down by the ending as it could have been a bit more in my opinion.

I’ve just finished this lovely book and am sat here in a flood of happy tears. What a beautiful story with echos of Daphne du Maurier’s Rebecca. The wild Cornwall countryside, a mix of characters, a heartbreak or two, some romance, a wonderful ending and a majestic country mansion in the middle of it all. Just perfect!

Thank you to Netgalley the author and publishers for an arc in exchange for an honest review

Book Review: A Cornish Legacy by Fern Britton
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐ (3/5)

“A Cornish Legacy” by Fern Britton is a heartwarming journey through loss, healing, and self-discovery, set against the rugged beauty of Cornwall. As a long-time fan of historical fiction and stories set in quaint British locales, I was drawn to the promise of a Cornwall escape, and Britton certainly delivers a picturesque setting.

The story follows Cordelia Jago, a woman who has lost everything—her family, her career, her husband, and her sense of trust. The only thing left to her is Wilder Hoo, a decaying manor house on the Cornish coast, which she never wanted but is now her reluctant inheritance. As Cordelia attempts to sell the house and move on from her painful past, the house itself seems to draw her back, revealing memories and stories from happier times.

The Cornwall setting, with its wild Atlantic coast and charming small-town community, is a perfect backdrop for the story. The vivid descriptions of the manor house and the surrounding countryside give the novel a distinct sense of place, and I could easily imagine walking down those cobbled streets, breathing in the sea air, and feeling the windswept beauty of the landscape.

Cordelia, though relatable, wasn’t always an easy character to connect with. Her struggles felt real, but I often found myself frustrated with her reluctance to embrace the potential for healing and growth. The romance that slowly blooms throughout the novel, alongside Cordelia's efforts to restore Wilder Hoo, does bring some light to the story, though I couldn’t shake the feeling that it all unfolded a bit too predictably.

What I appreciated most about this novel was its emphasis on finding home in unexpected places, both physically and emotionally. The journey of restoring a crumbling house paralleled Cordelia’s emotional restoration, and the bonds she forms with the locals helped her rediscover trust and hope. The friendships and community spirit woven throughout the narrative were delightful and added an extra layer of warmth to the story.

However, while the book offers plenty of charm and an uplifting tone, I couldn’t shake the sense that it played it a bit too safe in terms of plot and character development. It’s a pleasant read, but I was hoping for a bit more depth and complexity in the emotional arc.

Final Thoughts:
“A Cornish Legacy” is a gentle, feel-good read perfect for fans of escapist romance with a touch of historical fiction. While the setting and community-driven narrative are engaging, the predictable plot and the sometimes frustrating pacing left me wishing for a bit more spark. Nonetheless, it’s an enjoyable read for anyone looking to escape to Cornwall and immerse themselves in a tale of second chances and healing.

A Cornish Legacy by Fern Britton

Cordelia Jago has lost everything. Her mother, her father, her career, her husband and her best friend, her trust. All she has left is a legacy she never expected – and would never have wanted.

Wilder Hoo – The Wild House – is a crumbling Cornish Manor House which she hates, full of unhappy memories for her. It is falling down to the brink of ruin.

Determined to sell-up and forget the past forever, she begins to spruce up its echoing rooms – but the house seems to speak to her and to pull her back to happier times in Cornwall.

Fern Britton is a brilliant author and writes titles set in her beloved Cornwall like no-one else.
Loved following the life of Cordelia who has gone through a lot and has been left jaded and hating the world and her lot.

However The Wild House has a different path for her , it and the people who help her get it ready for a sale help Cordelia believe she does have a future , a even one in Cornwall .

A fantastic read. Cordelia is at her lowest ebb having lost everything and when her ex husband dies and leaves her the crumbling manor house Wilder Woo which was the main cause of her loss she can't wait to get rid of it but her best friend Sammi and her Aunt Rose have other idea but will Cordelia come round to the idea of restoring the old place and will she find her confidence and finances to make it happen. Set in two parts it's a really interesting story which grips you from the beginning beautiful written and I think it's one of Fern's best books to date 5 big 🌟 from me I loved it

Enjoyed my virtual visit to Cornwall. Was surprised that a couple of the early characters didn’t reappear..
Loved how Mrs Joy kept returning.
Lovely to have a main character called Ray (my dad was a Ray).

A story of restoration of a beautiful old house and grounds in Cornwall and of its initially reluctant owner. Delia inherits the property unexpectedly and it holds only bad memories for her, but ,with the help
and encouragement of a wonderful cast of characters, both she and the property are renewed. Heartwarming stuff, in a beautiful setting and perfect holiday reading.

I’m a sucker for any books that centre around Cornwall, so this book sounded like a perfect read for me.
It’s about Delia - a woman who has lost everything and ends up with a dilapidated Cornish Mansion. We learn about her past and how she looks to fix her life in the future.
This book was a very easy read. Topics of divorce and abuse arise in the text, but I didn’t find it to be disturbing/alarming in any way. I enjoyed the characters Aunt Rose, Sammi and Mrs Joy and enjoyed reading the part of when Delia was actually working on the house (mainly part two).
I think a chunk of the pages/dialogue could’ve been edited out and it still would keep its charm. The beginning really felt like it dragged on or when we would return to the past.
Overall, a good book to pass the time on a Cornish holiday with a cream tea. 3.5 ⭐️
Thank you HarperCollins & NetGalley for this ARC!

Delia is left Wilder Hoo by her exhusband. She hates this house as she has terrible memories. She lost her best friend when she found she was having an affair with her husband. She goes to the house with the intention of selling. Her friend Sammi goes with her. Delia discovers that she needs to do work before she can even think of selling. With the help of locals and her lovely Aunt Rose it starts to look like a home again

A dilapidated Cornish Manor house, a woman who hates this house, she has lost everything and wants to never see this house again until she starts to get it back to a sellable condition. Cordelia realises there is more to this house than unhappiness. The locals all pull together to help Cordelia bring this place to its best but will Cordelia want to sell up after all? Fern is one of my go to authors when I want a comforting and easy read, you can easily get swept away with her stories. This is one I did not want to put down, everything around me stopped just so I could take in this richness and beauty of the stunning Cornwall. It was full of hope and an uplifting read that warmed my cockles. I loved it all.