A Cornish Gift

by Fern Britton

Add a little magic to your Christmas with this fun, festive collection of warm and witty short stories from Sunday Times bestselling author Fern Britton.Christmas comes to the little village of Pendruggan and Cornwall’s very own Mr Rochester, Piran Ambrose, discovers the true meaning of the festive season when even he can’t resist the village celebrations. Meanwhile, best friends Penny and Helen are embarking on a stolen weekend of blissful indulgence but best laid plans often go awry and the ladies are in for a big surprise. In an idyllic cottage on the Cornish cliffs, the Appleby family and their bearded collie, Molly, are having a holiday to remember. It’s time for a little Cornish escape for all.‘Fern Britton has transferred her fun and friendly charm to the page’ Good Housekeeping‘Incredibly atmospheric’ Sun‘Complicated friendships and tales of a chaotic love life make this a must-read’ Woman

Genres: Christmas, Fiction, Short Stories

352 pages, Paperback

Published November 14, 2019

About the author

Fern Britton, an English television presenter, was born on 17 July 1957 in Ealing, London. She was educated at Dr Challoner's High School in Little Chalfont and underwent training in stage management at the Central School of Speech and Drama. She is the daughter of the English actor, Tony Britton and Ruth Britton. Fern Britton spent the early days of her life at Buckinghamshire. Her older sister, Cherry Britton, is a script writer and her younger half brother, Jasper Britton, is an actor. She is married to the celebrity chef, Phil Vickery and lives with her family at Holmer Green in Buckinghamshire.


Fern Britton worked with a touring theatre company and in 1979, she started her career with Westward Television in Plymouth. She worked as a newsreader and continuity announcer on Westward Diary, the nightly local bulletin. Later, she switched to present BBC’s Southwest news programme, Spotlight. She became a known as the youngest national news presenter to present News After Noon on BBC1. Fern Britton then moved to work for TVS in Southampton, where she hosted the South edition of the news programme, Coast to Coast, together with Fred Dinenage. She has also presented other programmes, like Coast to Coast People, The Television Show and Magic Moments.


Since then, Fern Britton has hosted several programmes, which include Carlton Television's After Five, BBC's Breakfast Time, London News Network's London Tonight and BBC 1’s Holiday. She also featured in the first two series of The Brian Conley Show and in 1994, Fern Britton went onto present the famous television cookery game show, Ready Steady Cook. She hosted the show for a long span of six years until she was succeeded by chef, Ainsley Harriott. She joined hands with the British television presenter, Phillip Schofield to host the famous television magazine show This Morning. Since 1999, Fern Britton has been hosting the show and the couple was known for their hilarious presentation. The show was a big hit and won the 2003 & 2004 TV Quick Award for the ‘Best Daytime Viewing’. It also clinched the 2004 National Television Award for the ‘Most Popular Daytime Show’.


Fern Britton anchored the Pride of Britain Awards in 2002 and was one among the panellists on the satirical panel show, Have I Got News for You.



In 2006, the song, “The Fern Britton Experience”, which featured in the album, Hang The DJ was named after her by the UK DJ Shitmat. She hosted the reality television show, Soapstar Superstar, and the British Soap Awards 2006. At the Royal Albert Hall, on 31 May 2007, Fern Britton presented the Classical BRIT Awards and also co-presented the British Soap Awards that year.


Fern Britton anchored her own ITV1 Saturday night series, That's What I Call Television in 2007. In December 2007, she went on a secret trip to Basra to broadcast behind-the-scenes footage of the troops. She appeared as a guest presenter for the show, Have I Got News for You on 27 April 2007 and again on 17 October 2008. On 12 January 2008, she was the winner in the first episode of Thank God You're Here, a television comedy series hosted by Paul Merton. In April 2008, Fern Britton together with her colleague, Phillip Schofield was the presenter of the revived 'all star' version of the super hit ITV show, Mr and Mrs. The show was broadcast on Saturday nights as a six-part series.


Apart from television presentations, Fern Britton has also featured in advertisements for Ryvita Minis. She performed the title role in a Cinderella pantomime in 1988. In March 1998, her first book, Fern’s Family Favourites, was released and in October the following year, she launched her second book Winter Treats and Summer Delights. Fern, My Story was published in November 2008 by Michael Joseph and it ranked among the Top Ten Bestseller list by The Sunday Times.

Reviews

[Kerry Lloyd · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Cornish Gift is a beautiful, huggable read. Set in Pendruggan, Cornwall.
It is 3 short stories, and each story has a meaning that comes out in the end.

* A Cornish Carol
* The Beach Hut
* The Stolen Weekend

All the stories have some of the same characters in, but at different times during their lives.

The book is a lovely read and its so easy to get lost in the stories and characters. You won't want to put it down.

[Nicola Clough · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although I really enjoyed this book I didn't realise it was the three short ebooks in one book under a different title and I had already read the three short stories. I enjoyed reading them again but already done reviews for each book but enjoy the stories being based in Cornwall and well worth reading as they are very good.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a lovely collection of stories all centred around the fictional village of Pendruggan in Cornwall. There is quite a bit of back story included so even if you haven't read any of the other books, you can still follow the stories. I loved finding out more about some of the characters from 'The Postcard' as well as some of Penny's colleagues. Piran as a modern day Scrooge is also a great twist. This book is great to dip in and out of yet together provides a satisfying completeness as you realise they are not just random stories but add to the Cornish flavour of the last book.

[Alix Morland · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just a wee feel good Christmas book - didn’t love it, didn’t hate it

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did not realise this was a book of short stories. I was looking forward to trying this author but I read the first short story it was okay. But this book is just not for me.

[Nicola Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having read The Postcard a few months ago, I was delighted to be able to read more of Fern Britton's work. She has such a warm writing style and it's lovely to be able to return to Pendruggan and Trevay, the fictional Cornish homes of her characters.

In A Cornish Gift, we are treated to three stories of around 100-130 pages each. The length means that there is plenty to get your teeth into, lots of action to keep the reader interested.

I know that these stories have been published elsewhere before being made into this one book, but I hadn't read any of them. The first is A Cornish Carol which is a story of redemption, of the joy of Christmas overcoming the things in life that might get us down and make us feel miserable. Piran Ambrose is the main player in this one, but his partner, Helen, is also quite prominent. I liked this story because it was ultimately a feel good Christmas read. However, this book is not one to only confine to the Christmas reading pile because (a) it's about the meaning of the story rather than the festive season and (b) the other two stories are not about Christmas at all.

The second story, The Beach Cabin, is about Penny Leighton's location manager, Ed Appleby. Penny Leighton is a TV producer and readers will know her from previous books, including The Postcard. But Ed and his family are the focus here and again it's about turning around your life and looking for the good instead of the bad.

The third story is about A Stolen Weekend away in London for Penny and Helen. What I liked about this one is the message that the grass isn't always greener on the other side but sometimes we need to see the other side to realise it.

A Cornish Gift was a lovely, lovely read. It's charming, heart-warming, easy to read fiction at its best and it's got me really looking forward to reading more books by Fern Britton.

[Millstone · Rating 2 out of 5]

It wasn't ok, to be honest, but I can't give it 1. It wasn't really my choice to read it, but circumstances kind of pushed it into my path and I thought I'd give it a go but I wish they hadn't and I hadn't. I guess Fern actually wrote this herself because the ghost would have been fired if they existed, and it's exactly the sort of book you'd expect someone who is famous for something other than writing books to have written: not very good. Harmless, but not very good. Don't choose it and hope circumstances don't push it into your path.

[Julie Spratt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easy reading for a Sunday morning. i read this book in a couple of hours. It carries on about the village of Pendruggan and the people who live there. Three short stories about the main characters and the lives they live in the village and beyond.

I like Fern Britton's writing as her descriptions help you imagine you are there yourself. She writes book that do no take too much thinking about and can help brighten up a dull winter's day.

[❤Marie Gentilcore · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a warm and wonderful read. It is 3 short stories tied together by the fictional small Cornish town of Pendruggan. The first one, A Cornish Carol, was a splendid holiday read about a curmudgeonly man. The next two were just as enjoyable. The Beach Cabin is about a family on the brink of collapse and The Stolen Weekend is about couples and work and friendship. I plan to read more from Fern Britton.

[Byron Preece · Rating 3 out of 5]

Having read many of the authors books previously I was looking forward to this, but finished disappointed.
It appeared to me that readers would know the characters from earlier books, so let’s give them some nice little adventures. That’s it for me.
Also, the type face is so large that there are only probably 200 pages to read if you compare this to other books that aren’t meant to be large print.

[s brown · Rating 1 out of 5]

I have read. Most of ferns. books. and. this one. was. very. disappointing

It was just a repeat of soon of her other books very disappointing .would not recommended it. Not her normal standard .

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn’t think this was one of fern’s best books as it was all short stories, however it was about previous characters such as Penny, Helen, Simon and Piron so I did enjoy most of it, although a whole new storyline would have been better.

[Jo Hurst · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was probably only really worth 2.5 stars but I rounded up as it’s simplicity and almost pointless story lines was calming when read during lockdown. This has 3 short stories and are about the people of Pendruggan met in previous books.

[Bekha Youmans · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great collection of short Christmas stories set in the same Cornish town depicting the lives and troubles of the select villagers. Lovely to see how people pull together to help each other in times of trouble and show people a true Christmas spirit

[Gary Collins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved the 3 stories in this book I think I’m going to have to get all her other books

[Jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was made up of 3 short stories- Goodreads had said I had already read 2 of them but I re read them - they seemed familiar but not enough to put me off. Love Ferns cosy writing style.

[Jill · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love these books. It was lovely to dip in and out of already established characters lives again. Nice comfort reading with three wonderful stories. A complete pleasure xx

[Elizabeth Dewfall · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don’t normally read short stories and this is why totally predictable and not much substance to the story

[Tracey White · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think Fern Britton is my new favourite author, almost my guilty secret as I usually prefer a bit of blood and gore! The characters are just so real and loveable, love it!

[Margaret · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very light reading.

[Wendy Hill · Rating 3 out of 5]

A light, easy read. Her books always make me smile. 3 short stories

[Kim Wright · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Fern’s stories from Pendruggan. The characters and village life. This is a lovely collection of 3 shorter stories. Easy to read and heart warming. X x x

[Juliet · Rating 5 out of 5]

brilliant. 3 short stories and all brilliant except the beach hut was harder to get into

[Natalie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely collection of short stories!

[Vicsta Dolan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book of three short heartwarming stories about a group of friends and based in Cornwall. Feel good stories

[Michele · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely easy reading short stories full of humour and reflection

[Dawn Humpleby · Rating 1 out of 5]

Very cheesy not my kind of thing

[Mrs Linda Sadler · Rating 5 out of 5]

three very good stories

I thoroughly enjoyed reading these three short stories, catching up with characters from previous books that I have read, I can highly recommend this story

[Meg · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rating clarification: 3.5

[Wendy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyable but not the best book I have ever read.