A Cornish Stranger by Liz Fenwick

 

There's an old Cornish saying: "Save a stranger from the sea, he'll turn your enemy...."

When her reclusive grandmother becomes too frail to live alone, Gabriella Blythe moves into the remote waterside cabin on Frenchman's Creek which has been her grandmother's home for decades. Once a celebrated artist, Jaunty's days are coming to a close, but she is still haunted by events in her past, particularly the sinking of Lancasteria during the war. Everything is fine until a handsome stranger arrives in a storm, seeking help.

Fin has been left a family legacy: a delicate watercolour of a cabin above the creek which leads him to this beautiful stretch of Cornish water. As Fin begins to pick at the clues of the painting, he is drawn into the lives of Gabe and Jaunty, unraveling a remarkable story of identity and betrayal....

A Cornish Stranger by Liz Fenwick has been on my TBR pile for far too long and what better time to make a start than when I am on holiday in Cornwall.

This is a slow burning storyline that does take a while to get into but before long the author lures you in with her details descriptions of the beautiful Cornish setting and starts to pique your interest when it is obvious there are secrets being concealed by both Jaunty and Gabe that has had a dramatic impact on the lives they have lived.

Liz Fenwick writes multi-generational characters with such ease, Jaunty is coming to the end of her years and has the need to tie up loose ends before its too late and as much as she needs help she is still a very determined woman who is set in her ways. Gabe is doing the dutiful thing in coming home to look after Jaunty but I feel like this was the time she needed to heal and to find her way onto the right path with an odd nudge from others to help her on her way.

The arrival of the Cornish Stranger brings a welcome lightness to the storyline even if at times my spider senses were tingling, unsure if he could be trusted or not and unable to make out what his intensions were but on the other hand having the romantic in me hoping for a love story to blossom.

The novel is full of secrets, compassion, heartache and love with characters who you will love and a setting that will stay with you for a long time yet. I enjoyed the authors writing style so much that whilst down here on holiday and finishing this book I decided to go into the local bookshop and buy her new release The Secret Shore!

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