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Surprises in Burracombe
Hilary Napier has had enough of secrets. Her engagement party is a chance for her and David to finally celebrate their good news. But with obstacles springing up on all sides, there may be more than the dress and venue to arrange before she can consider walking down the aisle.
Frances and James are doing their best to ignore their feelings for each other as they organise the school play. Can Frances find a way to let herself love again?
Amid all the drama, old friends are always on hand, and when Dottie falls ill, a familiar face comes back to Burracombe to lift her spirits and perhaps change her life.
With surprises around every corner, life is never dull in this beautiful Devonshire village . . .
Frances and James are doing their best to ignore their feelings for each other as they organise the school play. Can Frances find a way to let herself love again?
Amid all the drama, old friends are always on hand, and when Dottie falls ill, a familiar face comes back to Burracombe to lift her spirits and perhaps change her life.
With surprises around every corner, life is never dull in this beautiful Devonshire village . . .
320 pages, Paperback
First published November 1, 2014
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 - 12 of 12 reviews
December 18, 2017
Loved this book. Recommended.
December 29, 2020
Another wonderful book in this series about everyday life in a village in rural Devon. Pure escapism as the author takes us back to a time when life was simpler and people were much happier because of it.
December 5, 2019
I have read all this Burracombe series and enjoyed them, however, I feel that this book needed another chapter! When is Hilary finally going to get married?? I was really hoping that it would be in this novel, presumably there is another in the series.
December 25, 2020
From the very beginning, it was clear that this was the nth book in a series. A bit confusing at first, with the many characters whom I did not know. Also, not much happened despite the promise in the title.
June 7, 2020
Loved it!
I tried to draw this book out as long as possible. It was quite good. This was a great way to found out the series.
I tried to draw this book out as long as possible. It was quite good. This was a great way to found out the series.
September 28, 2020
Loved this book , such a easy comfy book to read , but wish there was another chapter to read , but I do hope there is another book to follow
October 1, 2015
Surprises in Burracombe written by Lilian Harry is another unforgettable visit to Burracombe to visit my favourite villagers and once again Lilian Harry did not let me as a reader down.
Why I loved this book was immediately from the first page we are straight into the lives of the Tozers and Napier’s, not forgetting the wonderful 'Sweet' family and of course the delightful Stella and her lovely husband the minister of Little Burracombe Felix Copley. Each of the families are brought into the story-line and as Hilary and David celebrate their engagement the villagers fully join in with the celebrations.
The year is 1955 and we are first brought back to visit Burracombe as the villagers are preparing for Easter, I loved how the author brought this season and the old-fashioned qualities to the readers and it was so nice to know how the special time of year was celebrated back then. Not only that season as the book progressed we were brought into summer and it was for me a great way to see the village coming alive with nature. Lilian Harry has a wonderful gift of writing and through her writing she brought nature alive and I was able to see the fields and hedges full of flowers etc. progressing through the seasons. Lilian Harry has a brilliant talent for story-telling especially when it comes to the separate characters. I was immediately drawn into the lives of the villagers as they dealt with personal problems, I could relate to them as Lilian Harry she developed them so well I felt I knew each of them personally. Lilian Harry clearly knows and understands village life and how it progressed through the years. I loved the old fashioned caring community Burracombe progressed and even though so many people when they think of village life they think of quietness and boredom. As she cleverly put it that village life is shown as quiet but certainly for Burracombe life was never dull as with each new day the news flowed through the village, as each of them came together to help those who were sick or lonely or simply needed someone to hold their hand. Life was so special back then as people cared for each other and neighbours looked out for each other. Daily life held so many surprises and of course in Burracombe those surprises were plentiful and with each of them there was support and understanding and of course some of them brought happiness yet sadness and fear were never far behind..
As the titles suggest the book is full of surprises, some were expected while others were not so expected but now I am so pleased that Lilian Harry brought them into this very readable book as it made it even more unforgettable for me, the only unfortunate thing is now I have to wait to the next book is published. I have loved this series from book one [[ASIN:B003TSDHZ0 The Bells Of Burracombe (Burracombe Village series Book 1)]] and as far as I am concerned it has got better as the series continued.
Why I loved this book was immediately from the first page we are straight into the lives of the Tozers and Napier’s, not forgetting the wonderful 'Sweet' family and of course the delightful Stella and her lovely husband the minister of Little Burracombe Felix Copley. Each of the families are brought into the story-line and as Hilary and David celebrate their engagement the villagers fully join in with the celebrations.
The year is 1955 and we are first brought back to visit Burracombe as the villagers are preparing for Easter, I loved how the author brought this season and the old-fashioned qualities to the readers and it was so nice to know how the special time of year was celebrated back then. Not only that season as the book progressed we were brought into summer and it was for me a great way to see the village coming alive with nature. Lilian Harry has a wonderful gift of writing and through her writing she brought nature alive and I was able to see the fields and hedges full of flowers etc. progressing through the seasons. Lilian Harry has a brilliant talent for story-telling especially when it comes to the separate characters. I was immediately drawn into the lives of the villagers as they dealt with personal problems, I could relate to them as Lilian Harry she developed them so well I felt I knew each of them personally. Lilian Harry clearly knows and understands village life and how it progressed through the years. I loved the old fashioned caring community Burracombe progressed and even though so many people when they think of village life they think of quietness and boredom. As she cleverly put it that village life is shown as quiet but certainly for Burracombe life was never dull as with each new day the news flowed through the village, as each of them came together to help those who were sick or lonely or simply needed someone to hold their hand. Life was so special back then as people cared for each other and neighbours looked out for each other. Daily life held so many surprises and of course in Burracombe those surprises were plentiful and with each of them there was support and understanding and of course some of them brought happiness yet sadness and fear were never far behind..
As the titles suggest the book is full of surprises, some were expected while others were not so expected but now I am so pleased that Lilian Harry brought them into this very readable book as it made it even more unforgettable for me, the only unfortunate thing is now I have to wait to the next book is published. I have loved this series from book one [[ASIN:B003TSDHZ0 The Bells Of Burracombe (Burracombe Village series Book 1)]] and as far as I am concerned it has got better as the series continued.
March 29, 2016
Another good read
I just love everything Lillian Harry writes .I have read all her earlier books and am enjoying every new issue of the latest stories in Burracombe and the peoples good times and bad
I just love everything Lillian Harry writes .I have read all her earlier books and am enjoying every new issue of the latest stories in Burracombe and the peoples good times and bad
December 10, 2015
Another great book in this series
September 1, 2018
Fabulous
I really loved it didn't want it to end
I really loved it didn't want it to end
June 14, 2016
Another 'comfy cardie' sorta book; the characters are likeable (even the n'er-do-wells!), the geography familiar, and the scenarios believable.
March 3, 2017
Another great book from Lilian Harry, I love this series of books set in Burracombe and can't wait for the next book to come out.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews