The Cornish Lady by Nicola Pryce

The Cornish Lady (Cornish Saga)

by Nicola Pryce

The fourth novel in a stunning series set in eighteenth-century Cornwall, perfect for fans of Poldark.

Educated, beautiful and the daughter of a prosperous merchant, Angelica Lilly has been invited to spend the summer in high society. Her father's wealth is opening doors, and attracting marriage proposals, but Angelica still feels like an imposter among the aristocrats of Cornwall.

When her brother returns home, ill and under the influence of a dangerous man, Angelica's loyalties are tested to the limit. Her one hope lies with coachman Henry Trevelyan, a softly spoken, educated man with kind eyes. But when Henry seemingly betrays Angelica, she has no one to turn to. Who is Henry, and what does he want? And can Angelica save her brother from a terrible plot that threatens to ruin her entire family?

Reviewed by Lynn on

3 of 5 stars

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Set during the late eighteen century, with a stunning Cornish backdrop, The Cornish Saga continues with a spotlight on Angelica Lilly. 

Educated and strong-willed, Angelica has the pick of the available suitors. After all, she is a merchant's daughter and from a wealthy family. However, she's not comfortable socialising with people of high society and feels suffocated by the expectations put on her shoulders. Will she have to accept her lot or will fate step in to change the course of her life? 

I instantly liked Henry Trevelyan with his kind, unassuming demeanour. He's intelligent and courteous and worked as a coach driver. However, all is not as it seems and I enjoyed how he played his role in uncovering the truth surrounding the framing of Angelica's brother. 

Unfamiliar with the author's writing style, I struggled, in the beginning, to get to grips with the narrative. I always find it difficult to cope with keeping focus when dealt with an overload of names to remember. Sometimes it felt overwhelming until some of the details finally sunk in and I could concentrate more on the plot. This is book four of Ms Pryce's Cornish Saga and clearly, I should have read the earlier books in the series to familiarise myself with the characters before embarking on this novel. For those who have previously read and enjoyed other books in the series, they'll appreciate the fun entertaining way this novel has been written. 

Despite my reading troubles, I adored the Cornish setting and historical details. The author also includes a couple of family trees to help readers to familiarise family connections. As I read this novel on my Kindle, it wasn't easy to keep referencing who's who by flicking back and forth, however, for those reading a print version, this will be a welcome addition. 

To sum up, The Cornish Lady and the other Cornish Saga novels will appeal to fans of Poldark. Unlike myself, I suggest starting with the first book to gain the most from the author's enticing writing. 

***arc generously received courtesy of the publisher Corvus***

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Reading updates

  • Started reading
  • 17 March, 2019: Finished reading
  • 17 March, 2019: Reviewed