The Path to the Sea by Liz Fenwick

 

Boskenna, the beautiful, imposing house standing on the Cornish cliffs, means something different to each of the Trewin women.

For Joan, as a glamorous young wife in the 1960s, it was a paradise where she and her husband could entertain and escape a world where no one was quite what they seemed – a world that would ultimately cost their marriage and end in tragedy.

Diana, her daughter, still dreams of her childhood there – the endless blue skies and wide lawns, book-filled rooms and parties, the sound of the sea at the end of the coastal path – even though the family she adored was shattered there.

And for the youngest, broken-hearted Lottie, heading home in the August traffic, returning to Boskenna is a welcome escape from a life gone wrong in London, but will mean facing a past she’d hoped to forget.

As the three women gather in Boskenna for a final time, the secrets hidden within the beautiful old house will be revealed in a summer that will leave them changed for ever.

I have had this book sat on my shelf for nearly 6 years which is far too long so what better time to read this Cornish set novel than on my stay-cation to Newquay.

This novel is told by three generations of women and the chapters alternate between not only their POV but also back and forth in time to 1962 which worked perfectly for this book because we get to know each of the characters really well and see why their relationships with each other are so cold and difficult. Diana who was the middle generation I took an instant dislike too but by hearing the backstory through these pages by the end of the book I had done a complete 180 and could really see why she is so closed and prickly after what she has experienced in her life.

The storyline is full of love, loss, betrayal and the damage of hidden secrets which gave an air of mystery that kept me captivated the whole way through.

Liz Fenwick is such an accomplished writer who not only creates the most wonderful believable characters but also has such a beautiful writing style that helps you to really visualise the surrounds in the idyllic settings she sets her novels in.

This has actually turned out to be my favourite of this authors books and to think it has been waiting on my shelf for so long makes me think what other gems I still have waiting for me!

Available to purchase here

The Secret Shore by Liz Fenwick

 

As one of the Navy’s most skilled mapmakers, Merry knows the very lives of men far away depend on her work in the War Office.

But when a family crisis draws her back to her beloved Cornwall, Merry finds herself working alongside an enigmatic American officer on secret operations spanning the rugged coasts of Cornwall and Brittany which she knows so well.

But not everything is as clear as the maps she draws. As rumours and suspicion swirl around her family, Merry is increasingly drawn to Jake, despite the defences she’s built around her heart. It’s a dangerous time to fall in love when there is everything to lose as the tides of war are rising…

Whilst on holiday in Cornwall I found a special signed edition of The Secret Shore by Liz Fenwick and having just finished one of her backlist books I wanted to dive into another Cornish read.

The book is set during the Second World War with our protagonist Doctor Meredith Tremayne or as we come to know her, Merry who is an incredibly intelligent, ambitious and passionate young woman who surprise all who she meets with her beauty and yet she has devoted her life to her work even if it means she has to sacrifice a life of love. Determined to do her bit to help win this war Merry is sent to Cornwall to use her map-making skills but while she is there she also has a family mystery to solve.

I don’t often read books that are set during the war so I found this one rather insightful because it is clear the author has done a lot of research for this novel and it really felt like I was reading a memoire. The author always excels in her descriptive writing bringing all settings to life, especially the Cornish coast but this book goes one step further and her character building was simply exceptional, she has created a character, Merry who I admire and care for and was bewildered that she didn’t get the recognition she deserved after such a sacrifice.

The relationship that builds between Merry and Jake really touched my heart, it was clear that they were perfect for each other and had something special but it also highlighted how different things were back then in that a woman wasn’t able to have a successful career and become a wife and mother too.

The Secret Shore is Liz Fenwick at her best and this book is going to be one that stays with me for a long time yet, I highly recommend it.

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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