Liz Fenwick – The Cornish House (Orion, £7.99) ****
Totally absorbing, a delightful debut novel in which artist Maddie inherits Trevenen, a beautiful but neglected house in Cornwall. Still reeling from the death of her husband, she and her wayward step-daughter gradually peel back secrets from past generations of women as they come to terms with the reality of living in the countryside. Broken hearts, friendships, despair and love are played out as the story unfolds in this pleasurable read. The house will not let go, working its healing powers to give a satisfying conclusion to an atmospheric story.
Patricia Roberts, Elland Road, Brighouse
Lilian Harry – Snowfall in Burracombe (Orion, £6.99) **
Seventh in the Burracombe series, Snowfall celebrates the village school’s hilarious Nativity but not the longed-for marriage of its beloved teacher, Stella, who clings to life following a horrific car accident. The women of her fiance’s new parish offer him comfort now it appears that his future is unsettled. Hilary, living at the big house with her cantankerous father, dreams of love snatched with David the doctor, wishing they could slip abroad as he cannot divorce. I struggled to sort out the characters of this book, who no doubt are familiar to those who love this series. Cosy but dull!
Gemma Richards, 34, officer worker, Bingley
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