Fern Britton - Hidden Treasures
Another of Fern Britton's Cornish books, this one hits all the right notes for a good read. Helen has relocated from London to make a new life without her ex-husband, who has hurt her too many times. She sets up home in a charming old cottage near the church, and soon finds herself in the sights of single surfing vicar, Simon, and clashing with attractive local historian Piran. A mystery connected to Helen's cottage intrigues them, but before they can go any deeper, Helen's friend Penny descends on the village with a television crew and actors to film a new cosy crime series. Emotions run high, especially when Helen's grown up son and daughter visit, as well as her ex-husband Gray. Full of the author's trademark charm and warm characters.
Veronica Henry - The Long Weekend
Another book set during a Cornish summer - and it doesn't fail to please! Claire and her partner Luca, a talented chef, run a boutique hotel on the Cornish Riviera, a select destination for those looking for a holiday to remember. As guests arrive for the weekend, Claire is questioning whether she wants to continue in a relationship where she cannot trust the sexy Luca and pander to his selfishness. Their financial partners arrive to seek their agreement on opening a new London hotel, but behind their flashy facade they are concealing a disturbing secret. We are also embroiled in the stories of other guests: a middle aged man meeting his former mistress and their daughter; a young woman looking for her real father; and a stag party whose arrival threatens Claire's world and rocks the foundations of her life. An engrossing read from start to finish.
Jill Mansell - You and Me, Always
Life has had its ups and downs for Lily while growing up in the village of Stanton Langley. Her beloved mother died when she was young, and she never knew her father. But her mother's close friend, Coral, brought her up as her own child, so she has never lacked for love. There's also Patsy, who used to babysit her when she was young, and Patsy's younger brother, Dan. But now she's grown up, Lily has begun to realise that Dan is more than just the boy she used to spar with - he's a devilishly attractive man, but he certainly knows it and is never short of girlfriends. Now Lily works in Coral's antique and bric-a-brac business, but there are things missing from her life that she wants to remedy. Characters from her mother's past enter her life with life-changing consequences for herself and her friends - and there's also a gorgeous Hollywood actor who turns up unexpectedly in the village and has a distinct effect on her. Warm-hearted and intriguing, this book has plenty of twists and turns as the protagonists sort out their tangled emotions.