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Burracombe Village #7
Snowfall in Burracombe
In the village of Burracombe, nothing stays secret for long and behind the peaceful, rural charm, there's always a scandal to uncover, a newcomer to the village to set tongues wagging, a happy occasion to celebrate or friends to help their neighbours through the tough times. It's December 1953 and for Stella Simmons, recovering from a car-crash, the winter wedding that she and her sweetheart had planned seems impossible. Elsewhere in the village, Jackie Tozer is dreaming of America and Hilary Napier, who thought the war had robbed her of her chance of happiness, has to ask herself if she could ever imagine leaving her life at the big house for the sake of love and adventure. The darkest time of the year finds everyone asking questions with no easy answer. As snow falls softly on the village, Burracombe proves once again that there's always a surprise just around the corner.
320 pages, Hardcover
First published September 27, 2012
About the author
Lilian Harry
67 books71 followersaka Donna Baker, Nicola West
Donna Thomson was born in Gosport, near Portsmouth Harbour, England, UK. Growing up during the terrifying years of the Blitz in a two-up, two-down terraced house, the youngest of four, she aspired to be a writer from an early age.
As a young woman she worked in the Civil Service and moved to Devon to be near her sailor husband. They had a son and a daughter. When the marriage ended, she and her two children moved to the Midlands, where she happily married again to her second husband. After living in the Lake District for twelve years, she finally moved back to Devon, and now lives in a village on the edge of Dartmoor. She lost her son Philip in 2008, and has two grandchildren. A keen walker and animal-lover, she now has a dog and three ginger cats to keep her busy, along with a wide range of hobbies she enjoys.
She started signing her romance novels as Donna Baker and Nicola West, now she also writes as Lilian Harry (inspired by the first names of her grandparents). Among her works are historical novels, romances and even two books giving advice on how to write short stories and novels.
Donna Thomson was born in Gosport, near Portsmouth Harbour, England, UK. Growing up during the terrifying years of the Blitz in a two-up, two-down terraced house, the youngest of four, she aspired to be a writer from an early age.
As a young woman she worked in the Civil Service and moved to Devon to be near her sailor husband. They had a son and a daughter. When the marriage ended, she and her two children moved to the Midlands, where she happily married again to her second husband. After living in the Lake District for twelve years, she finally moved back to Devon, and now lives in a village on the edge of Dartmoor. She lost her son Philip in 2008, and has two grandchildren. A keen walker and animal-lover, she now has a dog and three ginger cats to keep her busy, along with a wide range of hobbies she enjoys.
She started signing her romance novels as Donna Baker and Nicola West, now she also writes as Lilian Harry (inspired by the first names of her grandparents). Among her works are historical novels, romances and even two books giving advice on how to write short stories and novels.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
December 5, 2020
I thought this was going to be a cute Christmassy read and it wasn't. Regardless, that doesn't change the fact that the story I actually ended up getting wasn't really for me. I gave it a chance and refused to dnf even though i kinda wanted to. The writing itself, not the story, was pretty good. Without that, this probably would've been a one star. I'm definitely not the audience for this book, but someone who IS the audience for this book would enjoy this without a doubt.
November 28, 2017
Absolutely loved this book and I have read it a few times since I bought it.
Recommended.
Recommended.
April 26, 2015
I've liked another of this author's works, but came to this series as a newcomer and the tale does not read well as a standalone. The town on Dartmoor is no doubt well described, and the fifties setting, but we are plunged into the on-going lives of a cast of about thirty characters who are all followed separately.
The main plotlines seemed to be two in number. One young woman was in a car which collided with ponies on a road (I would have liked to know what happened to the ponies but wasn't told) and now she lies in hospital unconscious. When she comes around she has some background memory but amnesia. The rest of the story follows her anxious fiancé as he learns that the planned wedding in one month will have to be postponed, because the lady has spinal nerve damage and how much movement she'll regain is not known. Treatments of the day are described.
Another young woman met a doctor when they served abroad during the war, and has now met him again only to find that he went and married the fiancée after all though they appear never to have loved each other, so I didn't see why. Divorces being so difficult and expensive at the time he wants to keep seeing the other girl on the quiet. However she's also married but falls recklessly in love with him again and the whole story is full of "oh we mustn't" as they dramatise their otherwise quiet lives. This does bring home how old-fashioned the fifties were with regard to personal freedom.
The whole town however is followed as they prepare for Christmas and visit the pub; lovers of country tales who are following the series may love the book but the depressing circumstances and jumble of too many characters meant I did not enjoy the read. American series writers about towns like Whiskey Creek, Fool's Gold and Virgin River tend to bring a new character to town who is followed as he/she interacts with one established character in particular; the rest of the cast are walk-on parts to show us how they are getting on but the main two are the focus. This tends to be a lot easier to follow for a newcomer, who may then read the previous as well as later books.
The main plotlines seemed to be two in number. One young woman was in a car which collided with ponies on a road (I would have liked to know what happened to the ponies but wasn't told) and now she lies in hospital unconscious. When she comes around she has some background memory but amnesia. The rest of the story follows her anxious fiancé as he learns that the planned wedding in one month will have to be postponed, because the lady has spinal nerve damage and how much movement she'll regain is not known. Treatments of the day are described.
Another young woman met a doctor when they served abroad during the war, and has now met him again only to find that he went and married the fiancée after all though they appear never to have loved each other, so I didn't see why. Divorces being so difficult and expensive at the time he wants to keep seeing the other girl on the quiet. However she's also married but falls recklessly in love with him again and the whole story is full of "oh we mustn't" as they dramatise their otherwise quiet lives. This does bring home how old-fashioned the fifties were with regard to personal freedom.
The whole town however is followed as they prepare for Christmas and visit the pub; lovers of country tales who are following the series may love the book but the depressing circumstances and jumble of too many characters meant I did not enjoy the read. American series writers about towns like Whiskey Creek, Fool's Gold and Virgin River tend to bring a new character to town who is followed as he/she interacts with one established character in particular; the rest of the cast are walk-on parts to show us how they are getting on but the main two are the focus. This tends to be a lot easier to follow for a newcomer, who may then read the previous as well as later books.
April 8, 2014
I felt it was a slow progressing book it was quite repetitive with the Stella storyline. With one book currently left after this one I can't see much happening in it.
November 26, 2024
Cozy post-war British PG soap opera with plenty of scones and windswept walks on the moors. In other words, exactly the kind of thing I like to listen to while unloading the dishwasher and folding laundry. Can’t wait to dive into the whole series!
December 25, 2019
Great book!
What a surprise! I enjoyed this book so much. Will get the next one for sure. Don't know his five missed this writer!
What a surprise! I enjoyed this book so much. Will get the next one for sure. Don't know his five missed this writer!
April 6, 2020
Another slice of life with the inhabitants of the idyllic Devonshire village.
April 22, 2020
Enjoyed the story.
September 10, 2020
Loved reading this book, a real feel good story set in the 1950's and full of nostalgia. Perfect!
February 26, 2017
Took longer to read than previous ones in the series as I struggled to get into it, no idea why
August 28, 2013
Another great story about the villagers of Burracombe, can't wait to read the next one!
August 15, 2013
Sometimes it is pleasant to read something relatively ordinary - no murders or betrayals - just village life in the 1950s. It is neatly observed.
February 22, 2013
I love this series and looking forward to the next book.
June 16, 2017
This was my first book in burracombe series,so took time to know the characters. I liked the village setting n characterisation of all in the book..felt the end to be too abrupt. the book made me lil gloomy but I had hope of meeting a magical surprise around Christmas..but it was different n proved to go realistic way well...just seemed to be dull n gloomy most of the time...it made me love dat small rural life whr everyone cares for everyone,n the Nativity play was sooooo cute
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews