Synopsis
Can a summer secret from the past allow a new future to bloom?
For two people who run competing arts centres in Cornwall, Sybill Helyer and Coren Penhaligon get on rather well. So well in fact that Sybill often wishes the owner of Pencradoc Arts Centre would look up from his spreadsheets for a minute and notice her. Unfortunately, even that’s too much to ask from workaholic Coren.
However, when the pair join forces to run an exhibition on the wild and wonderful life of Elsie Pencradoc, a talented artist who lived at Coren’s estate in the early twentieth century, they’re in for a surprise. How will a secret sketchbook and an exquisite gothic dress from a long-ago midsummer costume ball lead them to the scandalous truth about Elsie – and perhaps encourage them to reveal a few long-kept secrets of their own?
Book 4 – Cornish Secrets. Book 1 – A Secret Rose. Book 2 – Lily’s Secret. Book 3 – Holly’s Christmas Secret.
Kirsty Ferry
Kirsty Ferry is from the North East of England and lives there with her husband and son. She won the English Heritage/Belsay Hall National Creative Writing competition and has had articles and short stories published in various magazines. Her work also appears in several anthologies, incorporating such diverse themes as vampires, crime, angels and more.
Kirsty loves writing ghostly mysteries and interweaving fact and fiction. The research is almost as much fun as writing the book itself, and if she can add a wonderful setting and a dollop of history, that’s even better.
Her day job involves sharing a building with an eclectic collection of ghosts, which can often prove rather interesting.
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Another jewel in the crown of the queen of time slip stories, and at last, Coren’s story – I seem to have been waiting for it for a long time, though it was worth the wait! I have become very involved with the Pencradoc family over the series, (feeling almost like a member of the family) and Lady Elsie has been a major character nearly from the start – I am really glad she got her own story in the end. As always, Kirsty’s characters have their ups and downs – such a great imagination, leading to a lovely conclusion. I will be sad if this was the last instalment of the saga, but I am very interested to see what comes next from this author’s pen. A great 5 star read.
This is part of a series but stands well on it’s own, but, once you’ve read it you will want to read the others. This is the story of Sybill and Coran, how they get together and their romance. Sounds straightforward but that is far from the book. Coran is a lovely man but troubled by events in his past and Sybill also has her secrets. Combine these with Elsie and her story and you will be totally absorbed in this romance. I read this in 3 long sessions as just wanted to find out what happened next. Enjoy, and join me in hoping that Kirsty writes another in the series very soon.
Fantastic time slip novel set at the Pencradoc estate. It is the fourth book in the series but can be read as a standalone book.
The story flits between the present day and 1911. Sybill runs Wheal Mount Arts Centre and Coren runs the rival Pencradoc Arts Centre. Sybill and Coren like each other but have never been more than friends. They end up joining forces in order to put together an exhibition of Lady Elsie Pencradoc’s paintings. We then go back to 1911 (the date of the paintings) where Elsie and Louis’ relationship is featured (another will they/won’t they).
I love the way Kirsty weaves her literary magic to link the past to the present. She is one of my all-time favourite authors for her ability to take me to another place and forget what is going on in my life.
Lose yourself in a fictional world of past and present.
Kirsty Ferry’s delightful fourth book about Cornwall, this time featuring Coren Penhaligon from Pencradoc Art Centre and Sybill Helyer from Wheal Mount Art Centre.
Although working at separate competing art centres, Coren and Sybill need to combine their efforts for an exhibition about the early life of the bohemian artist Elsie Pencradoc. While there’s a definite attraction between Coren and Sybill, he seems reluctant to further his relationship with her, much to Sybill’s regret. Working closely together for the forthcoming exhibition they are frequently visited by visions of Elsie and her friends from a hundred years ago. Living with the restrictions of her era, much of Elsie’s bohemian life was previously unknown. When the research uncovers a long concealed secret about Elsie, Coren and Sybill wonder if past events in their own lives are hindering their personal relationship.
Here’s hoping there’s a fifth book in the series.