Secrets in Burracombe

Burracombe Village #6

by Lilian Harry

Come home to Burracombe - the village where life is full of surprises...A seemingly sleepy Devonshire village, Burracombe is in fact full of intrigue and drama. Family secrets, budding romance, cruel twists of fate and amazing friendships all play out against the backdrop of the beautiful countryside.It's autumn 1953. The village is delighted when Joe Tozer - who left Burracombe as a young man in 1919 - returns to visit his family. His life since emigrating to the States has been a world away from rural Devon, but coming home, he falls in love with the place (and one particular person) all over again. With him is his eldest son, Russell. He sets hearts fluttering in the village - but will there be anyone on his arm when he catches the boat back to America?

328 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 18, 2011

About the author

aka Donna Baker, Nicola West

Donna Thomson was born in Gosport, near Portsmouth Harbour, England, UK. Growing up during the terrifying years of the Blitz in a two-up, two-down terraced house, the youngest of four, she aspired to be a writer from an early age.

As a young woman she worked in the Civil Service and moved to Devon to be near her sailor husband. They had a son and a daughter. When the marriage ended, she and her two children moved to the Midlands, where she happily married again to her second husband. After living in the Lake District for twelve years, she finally moved back to Devon, and now lives in a village on the edge of Dartmoor. She lost her son Philip in 2008, and has two grandchildren. A keen walker and animal-lover, she now has a dog and three ginger cats to keep her busy, along with a wide range of hobbies she enjoys.

She started signing her romance novels as Donna Baker and Nicola West, now she also writes as Lilian Harry (inspired by the first names of her grandparents). Among her works are historical novels, romances and even two books giving advice on how to write short stories and novels.

Reviews

[Shirley Revill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant story, talented author. Highly recommended.

[Karen Rufus · Rating 3 out of 5]

An okay book about village life back in the day - the day being the mid 1950's! Interesting and fairly enjoyable with a lot of likeable characters struggling with the way life has changed since the end of WW2. Young women wanting independence from family expectations (shock, horror!), women teachers who had to give up their jobs when they married, women wanting to become less subservient to their husbands and be their own person. A fascinating look into how life was and a reminder how glad we are that life, especially for women, has changed so dramatically in 60 odd years! Being a child of the 50's a lot of it resonated with me.

[Terena · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another visit to Burracombe, although there are some challenges for the villagers in the lead up to Christmas 1954....

[Ruth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice feel-good story. Need to read the next one to see how the lives all pan out.

[AudreyV · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story grew on me as I went along. I had only read a couple of the previous episodes of this saga sometime ago and it took a while to acclimatize. I loved the Devon accents and the way the author was able to bring the various other accents out in her conversations. I am looking forward to another book to find out how everyone carries on with their lives.

[Jane · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good read, bit of a flat ending but the next book will pick up from this.

[Emma McDonnell]

[Carrie Worrall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can't believe where this book ended!!!

[Jo Buckingham · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great book in the series, I can't wait for the next one.

[Fi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading a Lilian Harry book (especially one of the Burracombe series) is like pulling on a favourite old cardigan; this book doesn't disappoint