The Cornish Rebel (The Cornish Sagas #7) by Nicola Pryce
Genre: Historical fiction, Sagas, Regency
Read: 28th July 2023
Published: 3rd August 2023
★★★ 3 stars
DESCRIPTION:
Cornwall, 1801.
In the wake of her mother's death, Pandora Woodville is desperate to escape her domineering father and finally return to Cornwall. Posing as a widow, she safely makes it across the Atlantic, bright with the dream of working at her Aunt Harriet's school for young women. But as Pandora is soon to learn, the school is facing imminent closure after a series of sinister events threatened its reputation.
Acclaimed chemist Benedict Aubyn has also recently returned to Cornwall, to take up a new role as Turnpike Trust Surveyor. Pandora's arrival has been a strange one, so she is grateful when he shows her kindness. As news of the school's ruin spreads around town, everyone seems to be after her aunt's estate. Now, Pandora and Aunt Harriet must do everything in their power to save the school, or risk losing everything.
However, Pandora has another problem. She's falling for Benedict. But can she trust him, or is he simply looking after his own interests?
MY THOUGHTS:
Can she trust the man she loves...?
The seventh book in the Cornish Saga series, THE CORNISH REBEL is the second one I have read and can be done so as a standalone. If you love Poldark, then you are bound to enjoy this series though it does differ a little it still has that same Cornish feel that Poldark fans would now be missing. Though no one can compare to Aidan Turner as the delectable Ross Poldark.
Cornwall, 1801 is also a time of change as we move into the Regency era and with comes modernisation in the form of turnpike roads and chemical discoveries. But there is still a long way to go in the more forward thinking of a hundred years plus to come and women were still very much second class citizens in what is predominantly a man's world.
This tale is set around a girls school, St Feoca for Young Ladies, and thus bringing forth a wealth of forward thinking women. Something that was almost unheard of at the time. The school is under threat of closure but through the perseverance of one woman and her niece they are determined to keep it open. Believing that education should be available to everyone, not just the rich, so too their desire to help the more poor disadvantaged girls.
But as the story progresses, will Pandora follow her heart or her head? Will she pursue her own dreams or those of others?
I didn't enjoy this one as much as the previous tale. Whether that is because it is part of a series or it just didn't grab me or the unformatted style of the book which did make it hard to follow, I'm not sure. It is still an entertaining read and the setting is atmospheric and stunning in the Cornish landscape. There is plenty of action to keep readers entertained.
I would like to thank #NicolaPryce, #Netgalley, #AtlanticBooks and #RachelsRandomResources for an ARC of #TheCornishRebel in exchange for an honest review.
MEET THE AUTHOR:
Nicola's books are set around 1793-1800 amongst the shipbuilders and merchants living on the south coast of Cornwall. With Britain at war, there is the continual threat of invasion and a constant vigil for French spies. Nicola's first novel was Pengelly's Daughter, followed by The Captain's Girl, The Cornish Dressmaker, The Cornish Lady and A Cornish Betrothal with The Cornish Captive published in January 2022.
Nicola is a member of the Romantic Novelists' Association and The Historical Writers Association.
Social Media links:
No comments:
Post a Comment