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Hidden Treasures
Hidden Treasures
Hidden Treasures Britton, Fern
400 pages, Hardcover
First published March 1, 2012
160 people are currently reading
640 people want to read
About the author
Fern Britton
33 books416 followersFern Britton, an English television presenter, was born on 17 July 1957 in Ealing, London. She was educated at Dr Challoner's High School in Little Chalfont and underwent training in stage management at the Central School of Speech and Drama. She is the daughter of the English actor, Tony Britton and Ruth Britton. Fern Britton spent the early days of her life at Buckinghamshire. Her older sister, Cherry Britton, is a script writer and her younger half brother, Jasper Britton, is an actor. She is married to the celebrity chef, Phil Vickery and lives with her family at Holmer Green in Buckinghamshire.
Fern Britton worked with a touring theatre company and in 1979, she started her career with Westward Television in Plymouth. She worked as a newsreader and continuity announcer on Westward Diary, the nightly local bulletin. Later, she switched to present BBC’s Southwest news programme, Spotlight. She became a known as the youngest national news presenter to present News After Noon on BBC1. Fern Britton then moved to work for TVS in Southampton, where she hosted the South edition of the news programme, Coast to Coast, together with Fred Dinenage. She has also presented other programmes, like Coast to Coast People, The Television Show and Magic Moments.
Since then, Fern Britton has hosted several programmes, which include Carlton Television's After Five, BBC's Breakfast Time, London News Network's London Tonight and BBC 1’s Holiday. She also featured in the first two series of The Brian Conley Show and in 1994, Fern Britton went onto present the famous television cookery game show, Ready Steady Cook. She hosted the show for a long span of six years until she was succeeded by chef, Ainsley Harriott. She joined hands with the British television presenter, Phillip Schofield to host the famous television magazine show This Morning. Since 1999, Fern Britton has been hosting the show and the couple was known for their hilarious presentation. The show was a big hit and won the 2003 & 2004 TV Quick Award for the ‘Best Daytime Viewing’. It also clinched the 2004 National Television Award for the ‘Most Popular Daytime Show’.
Fern Britton anchored the Pride of Britain Awards in 2002 and was one among the panellists on the satirical panel show, Have I Got News for You.
In 2006, the song, “The Fern Britton Experience”, which featured in the album, Hang The DJ was named after her by the UK DJ Shitmat. She hosted the reality television show, Soapstar Superstar, and the British Soap Awards 2006. At the Royal Albert Hall, on 31 May 2007, Fern Britton presented the Classical BRIT Awards and also co-presented the British Soap Awards that year.
Fern Britton anchored her own ITV1 Saturday night series, That's What I Call Television in 2007. In December 2007, she went on a secret trip to Basra to broadcast behind-the-scenes footage of the troops. She appeared as a guest presenter for the show, Have I Got News for You on 27 April 2007 and again on 17 October 2008. On 12 January 2008, she was the winner in the first episode of Thank God You're Here, a television comedy series hosted by Paul Merton. In April 2008, Fern Britton together with her colleague, Phillip Schofield was the presenter of the revived 'all star' version of the super hit ITV show, Mr and Mrs. The show was broadcast on Saturday nights as a six-part series.
Apart from television presentations, Fern Britton has also featured in advertisements for Ryvita Minis. She performed the title role in a Cinderella pantomime in 1988. In March 1998, her first book, Fern’s Family Favourites, was released and in October the following year, she launched her second book Winter Treats and Summer Delights. Fern, My Story was published in November 2008 by Michael Joseph and it ranked among the Top Ten Bestseller list by The Sunday Times.
Fern Britton worked with a touring theatre company and in 1979, she started her career with Westward Television in Plymouth. She worked as a newsreader and continuity announcer on Westward Diary, the nightly local bulletin. Later, she switched to present BBC’s Southwest news programme, Spotlight. She became a known as the youngest national news presenter to present News After Noon on BBC1. Fern Britton then moved to work for TVS in Southampton, where she hosted the South edition of the news programme, Coast to Coast, together with Fred Dinenage. She has also presented other programmes, like Coast to Coast People, The Television Show and Magic Moments.
Since then, Fern Britton has hosted several programmes, which include Carlton Television's After Five, BBC's Breakfast Time, London News Network's London Tonight and BBC 1’s Holiday. She also featured in the first two series of The Brian Conley Show and in 1994, Fern Britton went onto present the famous television cookery game show, Ready Steady Cook. She hosted the show for a long span of six years until she was succeeded by chef, Ainsley Harriott. She joined hands with the British television presenter, Phillip Schofield to host the famous television magazine show This Morning. Since 1999, Fern Britton has been hosting the show and the couple was known for their hilarious presentation. The show was a big hit and won the 2003 & 2004 TV Quick Award for the ‘Best Daytime Viewing’. It also clinched the 2004 National Television Award for the ‘Most Popular Daytime Show’.
Fern Britton anchored the Pride of Britain Awards in 2002 and was one among the panellists on the satirical panel show, Have I Got News for You.
In 2006, the song, “The Fern Britton Experience”, which featured in the album, Hang The DJ was named after her by the UK DJ Shitmat. She hosted the reality television show, Soapstar Superstar, and the British Soap Awards 2006. At the Royal Albert Hall, on 31 May 2007, Fern Britton presented the Classical BRIT Awards and also co-presented the British Soap Awards that year.
Fern Britton anchored her own ITV1 Saturday night series, That's What I Call Television in 2007. In December 2007, she went on a secret trip to Basra to broadcast behind-the-scenes footage of the troops. She appeared as a guest presenter for the show, Have I Got News for You on 27 April 2007 and again on 17 October 2008. On 12 January 2008, she was the winner in the first episode of Thank God You're Here, a television comedy series hosted by Paul Merton. In April 2008, Fern Britton together with her colleague, Phillip Schofield was the presenter of the revived 'all star' version of the super hit ITV show, Mr and Mrs. The show was broadcast on Saturday nights as a six-part series.
Apart from television presentations, Fern Britton has also featured in advertisements for Ryvita Minis. She performed the title role in a Cinderella pantomime in 1988. In March 1998, her first book, Fern’s Family Favourites, was released and in October the following year, she launched her second book Winter Treats and Summer Delights. Fern, My Story was published in November 2008 by Michael Joseph and it ranked among the Top Ten Bestseller list by The Sunday Times.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 133 reviews
May 2, 2015
I'm giving this book four stars purely based on parts being silly. This is a great book, it's a light fun read. I honestly never knew Fern Britton wrote books and I won this via a giveaway just before christmas.
Anyways, the story is of Helen, who is going through a divorce, ups and leaves london for the quiet life in cornwall. The start of the story goes on about an old lady who lives in the house Helen buys, we don't hear anything of said lady until probably a few chapters before the end.
There are some lovely cute moments, but some really cringworthy ones too. The start of the book, i really disliked Simon, i thought he was so creapy. He just seemed like one of these guys who had never ever known how to interact or interpret anyones actions. He was so full on. But he was likeable towards the end, although i still think he was a little far fetched.
The cornish village sounded lovely and then suddenly a filming of a TV show appeared and thats when things became a little OTT. I can imagin it happening as i'm sure TV shows do film on location obviously, but how nice everyone was to the locals seemed dramatic.
I think my favourite characters were Chloe who really grew up into someone amazing and also Piran. He was mysterious and a times a little evil but there was something about him that made you want to know more.
I would recommend this book to everyone, like i said its cute, its readable in a day or two. Just ignore some of the over dramatic parts.
Anyways, the story is of Helen, who is going through a divorce, ups and leaves london for the quiet life in cornwall. The start of the story goes on about an old lady who lives in the house Helen buys, we don't hear anything of said lady until probably a few chapters before the end.
There are some lovely cute moments, but some really cringworthy ones too. The start of the book, i really disliked Simon, i thought he was so creapy. He just seemed like one of these guys who had never ever known how to interact or interpret anyones actions. He was so full on. But he was likeable towards the end, although i still think he was a little far fetched.
The cornish village sounded lovely and then suddenly a filming of a TV show appeared and thats when things became a little OTT. I can imagin it happening as i'm sure TV shows do film on location obviously, but how nice everyone was to the locals seemed dramatic.
I think my favourite characters were Chloe who really grew up into someone amazing and also Piran. He was mysterious and a times a little evil but there was something about him that made you want to know more.
I would recommend this book to everyone, like i said its cute, its readable in a day or two. Just ignore some of the over dramatic parts.
May 4, 2012
Perfect for a cold day, a long train trip and a cup of tea. It stirs very strong pastie cravings though....
March 9, 2015
‘Hidden Treasures’, which I downloaded free for my Kindle, starts with an intriguing prologue about an elderly lady. However most of the book is about a middle-aged woman called Helen who has just moved to a small village after leaving her philandering husband. She meets local folk and settles in, then her friend Penny comes for a visit...
There's a lot of potential for a pleasant light village-style book here, but unfortunately, it doesn’t work. After the first chapter, which I enjoyed, the writing meanders into irrelevant and tedious details of day-to-day life, a village talent night, and a long, drawn out description of a TV production which takes place in the village.
By the time I was half-way through the book I was almost ready to give up - except that I had been intrigued by the start, and I was rooting for the nice Vicar character, one of two people who felt real in the early stages of the book. I didn’t much like the outcome or the ending, but I did, at least, keep reading.
My overall feeling is that it's a great pity that this book was not thoroughly edited, as it could have been a great story. There are some interesting and memorable characters, and the hint in the prologue could have been so much more significant than it was.
But clichés abound, viewpoints switch almost at random, and the majority of the book is irrelevant and unnecessary. Cut to about half its length and with some significant editing of the remainder, it could have been so much better.
Not recommended. But at least I didn't pay for it.
There's a lot of potential for a pleasant light village-style book here, but unfortunately, it doesn’t work. After the first chapter, which I enjoyed, the writing meanders into irrelevant and tedious details of day-to-day life, a village talent night, and a long, drawn out description of a TV production which takes place in the village.
By the time I was half-way through the book I was almost ready to give up - except that I had been intrigued by the start, and I was rooting for the nice Vicar character, one of two people who felt real in the early stages of the book. I didn’t much like the outcome or the ending, but I did, at least, keep reading.
My overall feeling is that it's a great pity that this book was not thoroughly edited, as it could have been a great story. There are some interesting and memorable characters, and the hint in the prologue could have been so much more significant than it was.
But clichés abound, viewpoints switch almost at random, and the majority of the book is irrelevant and unnecessary. Cut to about half its length and with some significant editing of the remainder, it could have been so much better.
Not recommended. But at least I didn't pay for it.
May 16, 2012
Newly divorced Helen Merrifield moves from London to Pendruggan in Cornwall she has bought a cottage and is ready to make a new life for herself. Helen soon makes friends with the Villagers. Simon (the local vicar) and Piran (the local Historian) has "the hots" for her however after her Ex Husband Gray Helen is off men or is she? Best Friend and Producer Penny comes down to Pendruggan to film her new Tv Series, Penny's PA has had an accident so Helen is covering for her she has never worked so hard in her life. Gray wants her back home where she belongs but can Helen let the past go? or is she happy with her new life?
This book is told in 2 parts It was brilliant better than the previous book definetely recommend couldn't put it down also very funny.
This book is told in 2 parts It was brilliant better than the previous book definetely recommend couldn't put it down also very funny.
October 25, 2019
How come i've never discovered @Fern_Britton books before??!?!? This book was an absolute joy to read.. I adore Cornwall... I am very much into Family History and i don't mind saying that i love a giggle too.. This book had it all.. I now have another of Ferns books to get my old gnashers into and cannot wait to start
February 14, 2017
This was an excellent book I just wanted to read more to find out what was going to happen next. Helen moves from London to Cornwall for a new start after leaving her husband. Can she find the house of her dreams or can she find a house and settle into work life and find friends and even live life. Highly recommend is book.
May 26, 2012
Loved it. Did get a bit silly in the middle with the film crew etc - but Fern Britton knows what she is writing about - and set in the gorgeous Cornwall - can't wait to head down there in the summer.
April 21, 2025
Really enjoyed this book. The characters are totally brought to life through great writing, the story kept my interest to the last page and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I will certainly read more of Fern's tales, I like her style very much.
June 14, 2019
Nothing eventful really happened
Few grammatical errors and punctuation mistakes.
Same characters from her book called the postcard which I read first and was much more interesting than this.
Enjoyable and easy read just not eventful.
Few grammatical errors and punctuation mistakes.
Same characters from her book called the postcard which I read first and was much more interesting than this.
Enjoyable and easy read just not eventful.
February 2, 2025
Very predictable storyline- an easy Summer read.
June 15, 2012
I read Fern Britton’s New Beginnings last year but I put it down just after half way through as I was finding it a real challenge to carry on as it wasn’t gripping my attention. I decided to give Fern another try and so decided to read Hidden Treasures.
With her children now off hand it is time for Helen to leave her cheating husband and make a new life for herself. Helen is making her new life in a quaint Cornish village of Pendruggan. Before long Helen is making a new set of quirky friends and has also caught the attention of more than one man’s eye!
Thing is romance is not on the top of Helens list as she wants the chance to be free and independent. Helens best friend from London Penny, is soon heading to Penduggan to start shooting a new T.V series which also brings the help of Helen’s ex, who is intent on getting Helen back but will Helen open her heart to any of these men she has caught the attention of?
I was pleasantly surprised how much I enjoyed this book I am glad I gave Fern Britton another try. The book gets off to a great cosy start and introduces us to some typical quirky country folk who were a joy to read. I really loved Simple Tony and I wish he had featured more in this book but maybe in this case less was more.
If you are looking for romance this is a great read for you with a love triangle turning into a steamy love square! The author really kept us guessing when it came to who Helen would end up with, if anyone, but the big shock for me was a relationship which formed between Helen’s best friend Penny and a certain someone!
I really enjoyed this book and found it very hard to put down. I did find the first half of the book was a lot better than the second half because as soon as the whole television slash fame part began in the book my attention started to waiver but it picked up again towards the end. I hope Fern’s next book will leave out any kind of fame/celebrity content as her writing is much more enjoyable when this is not included.
I will be picking up another of Fern Britton’s books in future as I enjoyed this one even though I was a little hesitant to read another one of the author’s books, but this is a pleasant read one that is worth picking up.
With her children now off hand it is time for Helen to leave her cheating husband and make a new life for herself. Helen is making her new life in a quaint Cornish village of Pendruggan. Before long Helen is making a new set of quirky friends and has also caught the attention of more than one man’s eye!
Thing is romance is not on the top of Helens list as she wants the chance to be free and independent. Helens best friend from London Penny, is soon heading to Penduggan to start shooting a new T.V series which also brings the help of Helen’s ex, who is intent on getting Helen back but will Helen open her heart to any of these men she has caught the attention of?
I was pleasantly surprised how much I enjoyed this book I am glad I gave Fern Britton another try. The book gets off to a great cosy start and introduces us to some typical quirky country folk who were a joy to read. I really loved Simple Tony and I wish he had featured more in this book but maybe in this case less was more.
If you are looking for romance this is a great read for you with a love triangle turning into a steamy love square! The author really kept us guessing when it came to who Helen would end up with, if anyone, but the big shock for me was a relationship which formed between Helen’s best friend Penny and a certain someone!
I really enjoyed this book and found it very hard to put down. I did find the first half of the book was a lot better than the second half because as soon as the whole television slash fame part began in the book my attention started to waiver but it picked up again towards the end. I hope Fern’s next book will leave out any kind of fame/celebrity content as her writing is much more enjoyable when this is not included.
I will be picking up another of Fern Britton’s books in future as I enjoyed this one even though I was a little hesitant to read another one of the author’s books, but this is a pleasant read one that is worth picking up.
April 12, 2013
‘Hidden Treasures’ is a second novel by Fern Britton (TV presenter, turned novelist) and tells the story of Helen Merrifield, a forty-something, well-preserved wife and mother who decides to turn her life around when she, inadvertently, discovers another of her husband’s infidelities.
Her intention to leave her disastrous marriage in the new year is superseded when, as a Christmas present, she receives a pair of lacy knickers and a sewing machine from her errant husband instead of the Tiffany bauble she spotted some weeks earlier.
By Boxing Day, her decision has been made public and she has set the ball rolling to start a new life in an area a far cry from her native London roots.
Enter: a quaint cottage in a pretty, little hamlet...(the last two books I have read are both situated in hamlets and focused around a church, but I thought the definition of a hamlet was a smaller village without a church - but what do I know? Anyway, I digress!)...near the Cornish coast. This ‘hamlet’ is packed to the rafters full of friendly villagers who engineer a social life for our heroine that even Kate Moss would struggle to keep up with.
Add to the mix a love-sick vicar and a local historian, who makes Razor Ruddock seem like John Inman, and along with the added complications of an ex-husband, two adult children and TV executive best friend (along with production crew), you are presented with all the ingredients for chick lit at its best.
My only small whinge is that I found the description of ‘chocolate-drop eyes’ alongside almost every introduction to the vicar a little nauseating, and the ending is suitably predictable and crass, yet wonderful.
If you are entertained by this particular genre I guarantee that you will not want to put this book down until you have read it in its entirety. It is the perfect read to snuggle down with before the fire on a winter’s day, or relax into by the pool on your hols. Don’t miss it and enjoy!
Her intention to leave her disastrous marriage in the new year is superseded when, as a Christmas present, she receives a pair of lacy knickers and a sewing machine from her errant husband instead of the Tiffany bauble she spotted some weeks earlier.
By Boxing Day, her decision has been made public and she has set the ball rolling to start a new life in an area a far cry from her native London roots.
Enter: a quaint cottage in a pretty, little hamlet...(the last two books I have read are both situated in hamlets and focused around a church, but I thought the definition of a hamlet was a smaller village without a church - but what do I know? Anyway, I digress!)...near the Cornish coast. This ‘hamlet’ is packed to the rafters full of friendly villagers who engineer a social life for our heroine that even Kate Moss would struggle to keep up with.
Add to the mix a love-sick vicar and a local historian, who makes Razor Ruddock seem like John Inman, and along with the added complications of an ex-husband, two adult children and TV executive best friend (along with production crew), you are presented with all the ingredients for chick lit at its best.
My only small whinge is that I found the description of ‘chocolate-drop eyes’ alongside almost every introduction to the vicar a little nauseating, and the ending is suitably predictable and crass, yet wonderful.
If you are entertained by this particular genre I guarantee that you will not want to put this book down until you have read it in its entirety. It is the perfect read to snuggle down with before the fire on a winter’s day, or relax into by the pool on your hols. Don’t miss it and enjoy!
November 25, 2015
Helen is looking for a "new life" after a split from her husband, the philandering Gray she decides to move to the Cornish village of Pendruggan.
She isn't sure how she will fit into the community at first but she finds the residents, charming and so welcoming and doesn't miss her life in London at all except for her best friend, the feisty Penny who works for the BBC.
When Penny comes to visit she is in love with the village and resolves to set her new period murder mystery there and the villagers are ecstatic.
Penny like Helen seems to be totally accepted in Pendruggan and she adores Helen's new friends, Queenie the local shopkeeper, "Simple" Tony a sweet natured lad, Simon the diffident vicar who ends up catching Penny's eye as more than just a friend, the local publicans and then there is the enigmatic Piran who is Helen's love / hate interest!
But Simon has his eye on Helen!
How will all these tangled love triangles work out and how with the village cope of the stress of all the filming?
Can Helen find long lasting happiness in her new life and will London loving, jet set Penny be taking a leaf out of her book???
A whimsical, happy tale of village life introducing a wonderful set of characters that you meet in Fern's other novels.
Unfortunately I accidentally read them out of order but to be honest it didn't even matter as every story is a slice of domestic drama that is perfectly fine to be read as a stand alone but to read them all enhances the overall story and gets the reader more "into" the lives of the characters.
A wonderful read to curl up with on a cold night.
She isn't sure how she will fit into the community at first but she finds the residents, charming and so welcoming and doesn't miss her life in London at all except for her best friend, the feisty Penny who works for the BBC.
When Penny comes to visit she is in love with the village and resolves to set her new period murder mystery there and the villagers are ecstatic.
Penny like Helen seems to be totally accepted in Pendruggan and she adores Helen's new friends, Queenie the local shopkeeper, "Simple" Tony a sweet natured lad, Simon the diffident vicar who ends up catching Penny's eye as more than just a friend, the local publicans and then there is the enigmatic Piran who is Helen's love / hate interest!
But Simon has his eye on Helen!
How will all these tangled love triangles work out and how with the village cope of the stress of all the filming?
Can Helen find long lasting happiness in her new life and will London loving, jet set Penny be taking a leaf out of her book???
A whimsical, happy tale of village life introducing a wonderful set of characters that you meet in Fern's other novels.
Unfortunately I accidentally read them out of order but to be honest it didn't even matter as every story is a slice of domestic drama that is perfectly fine to be read as a stand alone but to read them all enhances the overall story and gets the reader more "into" the lives of the characters.
A wonderful read to curl up with on a cold night.
September 4, 2013
Hidden Treasures By Fern Britton
Helen Merrifield appears to have had enough of her wayward husband and her life in the city and swops it all for a new life in the Cornish village of Pendruggan
before long she has settled into her new life and has even made friends with Dorrie Queenie and Don
Along the way Helen finds herself with an admirer in the guise of local vicar Simon and local historian Piran
During the story we find out more about an old Edwardian chest and its secrets !
Meanwhile Penny who happens to be a friend of Helen decides Pendruggan would make the perfect setting for a new tv series and descends upon the village ! as if Helen doesn't have her work cut out for her fending off her ex ! never a dull moment !
this book is written in a friendly, warm and chatty way just like your having a natter with friends over a cuppa !
the book is quite fast paced and lots happens quite quickly but all the same an enjoyable read I will give this 5 stars
Helen Merrifield appears to have had enough of her wayward husband and her life in the city and swops it all for a new life in the Cornish village of Pendruggan
before long she has settled into her new life and has even made friends with Dorrie Queenie and Don
Along the way Helen finds herself with an admirer in the guise of local vicar Simon and local historian Piran
During the story we find out more about an old Edwardian chest and its secrets !
Meanwhile Penny who happens to be a friend of Helen decides Pendruggan would make the perfect setting for a new tv series and descends upon the village ! as if Helen doesn't have her work cut out for her fending off her ex ! never a dull moment !
this book is written in a friendly, warm and chatty way just like your having a natter with friends over a cuppa !
the book is quite fast paced and lots happens quite quickly but all the same an enjoyable read I will give this 5 stars
August 26, 2014
A nice little romantic read. After separating from her philandering husband, middle-aged Helen moves to a village in Cornwall where she quickly becomes involved in village life, including the piratical Piran. The hidden treasures of the title are in a box she finds in her garden but, if I'm honest, they didn't seem to contribute much to the plot. The book is populated with likeable and believable characters, including a real sweetie, vicar Simon. When a film crew comes to the village to film a tv show the village is inevitably turned upside down with far-reaching consequences.
There were, for me, one or two little niggles, hence the 3-stars. A pet hate of mine is when the point of view changes in the middle of a chapter. Somewhere else, someone is given a point of view then doesn't have an opinion after that. And NO maiden names are included on any census records as any family historian knows.
There were, for me, one or two little niggles, hence the 3-stars. A pet hate of mine is when the point of view changes in the middle of a chapter. Somewhere else, someone is given a point of view then doesn't have an opinion after that. And NO maiden names are included on any census records as any family historian knows.
July 5, 2015
Helen Merrifield appears to have had enough of her wayward husband and her life in the city and swops it all for a new life in the Cornish village of Pendruggan before long she has settled into her new life and has even made friends with Dorrie Queenie and Don. Along the way Helen finds herself with an admirer in the guise of local vicar Simon and local historian Piran. During the story we find out more about an old Edwardian chest and its secrets! Meanwhile Penny who happens to be a friend of Helen decides Pendruggan would make the perfect setting for a new TV series and descends upon the village! as if Helen doesn't have her work cut out for her fending off her ex! Never a dull moment!
This book is written in a friendly warm and chatty way just like your having a natter with friends over a cuppa. The book is quite fast paced and lots happens quite quickly but all the same an enjoyable read I will give this 5 stars
This book is written in a friendly warm and chatty way just like your having a natter with friends over a cuppa. The book is quite fast paced and lots happens quite quickly but all the same an enjoyable read I will give this 5 stars
December 28, 2016
Lots of stupidity, lots of alcohol, funny characters.
Pros
~ British humour (love it)
~ Quaint little village
~ Winter
~ Light read
~ Endearing vicar
~ Cute cottage, yay!
Cons
~ Very slow paced
~ Not much going on but mundane stuff
~ Way too much brand naming!
it's not a dress, it's a Med Man dress
it's not a shawl, it's a Danna Koran shawl
it's not a cloud of perfume, it's a Thurry Miegler cloud of perfume
and so on and on and on..... I find this very off putting and boring :|
So I definitely set a new skim record right after I wanted to slap the Arther Millerusque glasses of the vicars head in chapter 31 or so.
Pros
~ British humour (love it)
~ Quaint little village
~ Winter
~ Light read
~ Endearing vicar
~ Cute cottage, yay!
Cons
~ Very slow paced
~ Not much going on but mundane stuff
~ Way too much brand naming!
it's not a dress, it's a Med Man dress
it's not a shawl, it's a Danna Koran shawl
it's not a cloud of perfume, it's a Thurry Miegler cloud of perfume
and so on and on and on..... I find this very off putting and boring :|
So I definitely set a new skim record right after I wanted to slap the Arther Millerusque glasses of the vicars head in chapter 31 or so.
July 3, 2013
This book is a perfect lift your spirits kind of book.
Okay, it isn't going to win any literary awards, but it also is not a badly written book; it's totally readable and engaging and the kind of book you can really get into on a holiday etc.
The setting is lovely and it and the local Cornish characters seem real and genuine (I know Fern Britton does live there and you get the impression she has tried to make the detail authentic).
The plot is quite unoriginal in the sense that you can have a good guess at what might be the resolution, but that really doesn't detract from the experience.
Okay, it isn't going to win any literary awards, but it also is not a badly written book; it's totally readable and engaging and the kind of book you can really get into on a holiday etc.
The setting is lovely and it and the local Cornish characters seem real and genuine (I know Fern Britton does live there and you get the impression she has tried to make the detail authentic).
The plot is quite unoriginal in the sense that you can have a good guess at what might be the resolution, but that really doesn't detract from the experience.
February 21, 2015
I'll admit this wasn't the best book I've ever read, but it was exactly what I expected it to be.
Fern Britton has created a beautiful chicklit gem which focuses on Helen as she navigates really living her life for the first time after leaving her cheating love rat husband Gray.
The storyline felt somewhat confused in the middle, and the small storyline with the ashes was a bit of an anticlimax.
However the characters were well written and I loved Gray's ridiculous attempts at getting Helen back.
Fern Britton has created a beautiful chicklit gem which focuses on Helen as she navigates really living her life for the first time after leaving her cheating love rat husband Gray.
The storyline felt somewhat confused in the middle, and the small storyline with the ashes was a bit of an anticlimax.
However the characters were well written and I loved Gray's ridiculous attempts at getting Helen back.
May 6, 2012
I fell in love with the idea of village life in Cornwall. It made me think of Port Isaac whilst Doc Marten is being filmed! Helen makes a new start in a Cornish village, in a little cottage over the wall from the vicarage. She becomes immersed in the people around her. Her best friend uses the village as the setting for her new tv serial and you are introduced to the world of tv filming on location! Add a love interest or two- and it's a perfect book to curl up with over the Bank Holiday.
August 28, 2013
I really enjoyed this. Although this novel is slightly soppy and romantic in its depictions of people as well as unrealistic in its storyline, it's the perfect holiday read. Forget all about your daily troubles and let Fern take you to a place in Cornwall where the vicar is a lovely, kind and slightly awkward naive man, everyone from London is elegant and sophisticated (oh, and rich) and where your heroine is just as lovely, down to earth and just as I'd like to be when I'm 40! I loved it!
August 27, 2013
Have to confess that I didn't finish this - I was expecting it to be chick lit, but was very disappointed when it became evident this was a Mills & Boon by another name. The bloke she hated in the first chapter was the one she ended up with in the final chapter. I had my suspicions from the start, then by the time I was halfway through and still wasn't enjoying it, I flipped to the last chapter and had my suspicions confirmed, so back to the library it went the following morning!
September 7, 2015
You could definitely tell this was Fern's second book, it was a big improvement on her first. It was a much easier read. The story is much more hooking and the short chapters help with this.
The story tells of a recently divorced woman from London and how she starts her new life in a sleepy village in Cornwall. There a few different side stories too, her friends life, the tv show that gets filmed in the village and also her daughters life.
A good quick read.
The story tells of a recently divorced woman from London and how she starts her new life in a sleepy village in Cornwall. There a few different side stories too, her friends life, the tv show that gets filmed in the village and also her daughters life.
A good quick read.
February 27, 2016
Helen has relocated to Cornwall after finally deciding that she needed a divorce from her philandering husband. She buys a small cottage and starts to settle into her new life. She has a couple of men who show an interest in her - although one does it in an odd way. Her best friend, a producer, decides to set her new detective show in the area, and her exhusband keeps thinking he can visit with benefits whenever he wants. A lovely, light but interesting romance
August 19, 2012
oooh I loved this......such a chilled out easy read where you kind of know what is going to happen but you have a blooming good read along the way.I couldn't put it down!Loved the characters and the setting as it is an area of Cornwall I know quite well so found it easy to imagine her being there.Loved it and would like more please!!
February 12, 2015
A light easy read set in lovely Cornwall,which always brings fantastic images .It had highs and lows along the way sometimes getting predictable in story line and the lead chariture being annoying and pathetic at times.I enjoyed the humour and would read another of Ferns books but I would borrow it from the library not buy it,sorry Fern.
August 12, 2012
Fern cleverly brings the characters and alive and makes them seem real. However the plot is lost and there seems too be too many things happening at the time same. No real structure or backbone to the gist of the story.
July 16, 2013
This was a lovely story set in Cornwall about a lady who leaves her unfaithful husband and starts again. It details Cornish Life and we follow her in her new beginnings with plenty of laughs and loves along the way. Easy to read and a pleasure to be part of
November 30, 2014
A little far fetched but hey, it's chick lit. Lots of characters but it was easy to get to know them and they felt like they became part of the family. A great read which made me smile and shed a tear. Lovely book and can't wait to carry on reading about the characters in Ferns other books :)
November 21, 2014
I really enjoy Fern Britton's books, every single one has delivered exactly the right balance of light entertainment - a lovely treat to read, wonderful characters and gentle plot lines. I've been recommending them to customers and have received lots of positive feedback.
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