A Cornish Betrothal

Cornish Saga #5

by Nicola Pryce

Cornwall, 1798. Eighteen months have passed since Midshipman Edmund Melville was declared missing, presumed dead, and Amelia Carew has fallen in love with a young physician, Luke Bohenna. But, on her birthday, Amelia suddenly receives a letter from Edmund announcing his imminent return. When he returns, it is clear that his time away has changed him. Amelia, however, is determined to nurse him back to health and honour his heroic actions in the Navy by renouncing Luke.

Genres: Romance, Historical Fiction

486 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2021

About the author

http://nicolapryce.co.uk

Nicola Pryce is published by Atlantic Books and represented by Teresa Chris. She loves both literature and history, and has an Open University degree in Humanities. She is a qualified adult literacy support volunteer and lives with her husband in the Blackdown Hills in Somerset, UK. She and her husband love sailing and together they sail the south coast of Cornwall in search of adventure.

Pengelly's Daughter is her first novel, then The Captain's Girl, The Cornish Dressmaker, The Cornish Lady, A Cornish Betrothal, The Cornish Captive and The Cornish Rebel.

Nicola is a member of the Romantic Novelists' Association and The Historical Writers Association.

Follow her on :
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Reviews

[Ellie Spencer (catching up from hiatus) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. I am a fan of good historical fiction, and I think this may be my favourite novel of this genre so far.

The book follows Amelia, who has recently fallen in love with Dr Luke Bohenna. She still grieves the loss of her fiancé Edmund, who went missing in the navy (assumed to be dead). But Edmund is alive and returns to her life as a very changed man.

I absolutely loved the relationship between Amelia and Luke. Their love felt so intense and pure. I was rooting for them the whole time, desperately hoping they would get their happy ending together.

As a Cornish girl I felt so attached to a lot of the places mentioned in the book. It was amazing to see them coming to life in front of my eyes, from a historical perspective. It added an extra personal touch for me.

At times I found this book so hard to put down. It was written at a great pace and kept me on my toes. The plot twist was thrilling and had my heart racing. I did not see it coming! I loved the way Nicola Pryce managed to seamlessly weave the story together in the last few chapters. There were no loose ends, creating a satisfying and wonderful ending to the novel. I have never read any of Pryce’s novels before, but I will definitely be getting more now!

I definitely recommend this to anyone who loves historical fiction with romance and mystery intertwined throughout.

[Bookread2day · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first thing I noticed when reading A Cornish Betrothal is how extremely well it has been written. Author Nicola Pryce takes you right there amid the atmosphere.

What's to love is how you can feel you know what their homes are like with rooms like the drawing room, the big Hall, their grand clothes, gowns, and their jewellery with dancing balls, it truly takes you a through a masterpiece story that's been well adapted with a multiple of characters voices .

At the beginning of the book there is an entrance to al the characters of family tree and where they live, including the vibrant people who keep the day to day running of all properties.

My favourite line was Papa put down his glass. He was wearing his adored red felt cap and woollen house-coat. A Cornish Betrothal will appeal to a wide audience that love reading stories with some history involved. My favourite character has to be Amelia Carew, also she is Aunt Amelia, with a birthday with a present from her nephews.

I have tried not to give out any spoilers for those of you who are addicted to reading books by Nicola Pryce, or who would like to start reading them.

I hope you all enjoy reading A Cornish Betrothal like I did!

This just gets better, Nicola Pryce has a set of fiction books out so you might find one that you are passionate about reading.

A Cornish Betrothal
The Cornish Dressmaker ( I'd love to read this one)
The Cornish Lady ( this is another one I want to read)

[Elaine - Splashes Into Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book I didn't want to put down until I'd finished it, an enthralling historical romantic suspense, a story that had me turning the pages, totally engrossed in the whole story. Set in Cornwall in 1798, the author brings the locations and characters vividly to life in the reader's imagination.  Although it is the fifth book the author has set in this era, is works well as a standalone.

Amelia Carew was shocked when her fiancè unexpectedly signed up to join the Navy just months before they were due to marry, without ever explaining to her why. When he was declared missing, presumed dead, she mourns for his absence again. It takes her more than a year to start to live again and the family physician, Luke Bohenna, has won her heart. However, just when she suspects Luke is about to propose, a letter from Edward arrives indicating that he's alive and about to return home. What happened to Edward? Will he still be the same or will his experiences have changed him? Should she choose Edward or Luke?

Get ready for a story packed with intrigue, danger and surprises. Like the only other book in this series that I've read so far, The Cornish Lady, it gives an insight into aspects of life during the time when George III was on the throne and the French revolution was in progress. The conflict between England and France is key to many of the events in the story, including the battle where Edward was supposedly killed. It is a suspense filled story, full of twists and turns to keep you guessing and there are plenty of surprises, especially when everything is finally revealed. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this and have no hesitation in highly recommending it to anyone who enjoys historical romance, mysteries and/or romantic suspense.

Thank you for my copy of this book which I have voluntarily read and honestly reviewed.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to win this book through the readers first draw and I could not be more thankful for the beauty that is this book!

I was so struck by how beautifully written this novel was, the author really took her time to set the tone of the book with the most beautiful descriptions and scenes, making the reader feel fully immersed into the story and feel like they are more than just an onlooker to the plot.

I for one was really appreciative of the family tree included at the beginning of the novel so that if I ever forgot the connections between the characters I could simply flip to the beginning of the book and find out without having to go back through all of the pages, it was such a lovely touch!

The relationship between Amelia and Luke (our main characters) was so pure and as the reader, you couldn't help but want the best for them throughout the novel.

This was a cosy read and a great palette cleanser for those who've hit a book hangover, it was so easy to read, to be absorbed in and to hold each of the characters close to your heart, I would recommend this to readers who are interested in getting into historical fiction, this is a wonderful book and won't let you down!

[Ilenia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked it.
I was not really convinced about this book initially: I thought it was a cliche love story, where the girl juggles her heart in a love triangle between a guy she has known her whole life and a nurturing guy she met, with a lot of drama and unnecessary fights.
However, the book turned out to be more interesting than I initially thought: it has a well-written mystery and the love story is the main plot, yet it does not make the book dreading to read or boring. At points, it can be quite cheesy, but nothing too overwhelming.
The characters are well written, and I like that the protagonist has her own garden and that people consult her for medicines and general health care.

I was not aware nor knew that this is a series and there are more books prior to 'A Cornish Betrothal,' and I have quite enjoyed reading it.
I also quite enjoyed the time and the place the book was set.

[Bee · Rating 3 out of 5]

What a cute book. Like so so so cute! It made me feel such enjoyment and I'm happy and honoured to have had this book as an ARC.

I originally thought I wouldn’t like it when I started reading it, it’s set in 1798 and she needs an *escort* to go ANYWHERE. She’s 25 years old and has to ask her mother’s permission (and get an escort) if she can leave the town they live in. I’m 25 years old and I could up a leave for a week if I wanted to! Granted I would inform the parentals just so they knew I was safe, but that’s more a courtesy!

I do admit though, once the story got going boy did I enjoy this book. The complete sass. For me it’s the way things were worded. They never outright called people out on their shit but they definitely made their point known!

Towards the last chapters I could see where this was heading and I didn’t mind one bit. It ended exactly where I wanted it to.

[Gloria · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really enjoyable story, onto the next in the series!!

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amelia Carew is celebrating her twenty fifth birthday in Cornwall, 1798. She is wondering if her new love, Dr Luke Bohenna, will propose marriage, after some time of courtship. There is one consideration; she was in love with another young man until she was told of his death. This historical romance is steep in the atmosphere of a locality familiar with life at sea, with naval officers, sailors of all sorts, a community involved with the insuring ships, receiving goods and helping with those affected by war. This powerful novel has much to say about the place of women in society and the importance of marriage in their lives, but also depicts some women who are unusual in their interests. Amelia is a woman who is very knowledgeable about the healing power of plants, especially herbs. In that respect this book overlaps with another by Pryce, who has obviously gained a wide knowledge of historic medical uses for plants as well poisonous possibilities. A solid knowledge of the area is eident, as well as the transport favoured by the genteel classes of the times. Not that research ever intrudes on the narrative in a negative way, but Pryce has obviously immersed herself in the small details of life in the late eighteenth century. I was very pleased to have the opportunity to read and review this fascinating book.

Amelia’s life in her happy family has been marked by her long time love for Edmund Melville, a young neighbour from a large house, son of a baronet. She grew up in the area in the company of Edmund and his cousin Francis. They were deeply in love, but for complicated family reasons Edmund joined the navy, and went away to sea . Since then Amelia was told of his death, which was confirmed by her godfather, and for the past eighteen months she has thrown herself into planting and caring for a herb garden. Distributing medicinal herbs and other charitable works has brought her into contact with a local doctor, and they have discovered a mutual attraction. Just at the point when everyone expects a declaration, Amelia receives a letter from Edmund, who has been a prisoner and very ill. In getting the letter translated Amelia makes another contact. Visiting Edmund’s childhood home she discovers that his mother is very ill and his sister Constance is threatened with an arranged marriage. Amelia becomes determined to keep her promises to Edmund and become his wife, but there is something very disturbing about him on his return beyond his scars and symptoms of trauma. As Amelia struggles to decide if she should honour her promises to Edmund, she cannot forget her love for the devoted Luke.

This is a powerful and emotional book which deals with romance in a realistic way as it portrays problems faced when more than one person is attractive. There are some fascinating historical details of naval life in the period, as well as family issues, commercial details and the political realities of French prisoners. The herbal recipes and knowledge are carefully inserted and made relevant as an important part of Amelia’s life. I found this an exciting and fascinating book, full of twists and turns, which kept me guessing throughout. While characters from another book inhabit this story, this is very much Amelia’s narrative as supported by other memorable characters. I recommend this to anyone who is interested in well written historical fiction, especially with the focus on strong women, in an exciting setting.

[Jaffareadstoo · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's always such a pleasure to return to the Cornwall of this author's creative imagination and in A Cornish Betrothal we meet with Amelia Carew just as she has found happiness again after the sad loss of her fiancé, Midshipman Edmund Melville, who was presumed lost abroad. Her new relationship with the handsome physician, Luke Bohenna, is however, sadly uninterrupted when Amelia discovers that Edmund is alive.

The story which follows has all the trials and tribulations we have come to expect from this talented author's writing. Amelia's relationship with the two men in her life is tested to the limit and yet there are many obstacles to overcome before she can find true happiness. There is a special poignancy to the story when we go back in time to read the letters which Amelia exchanged with her fiancé, and we experience all her despair when she realises that he is missing and again witness her natural trepidation when she discovers he is home again.

The author writes historical romantic fiction with a reliable authenticity and the latter part of eighteenth century Cornwall, and Truro in particular, with descriptions of the town and the area around the small estuary port come alive, especially where there was much activity from small boats plying their trade. The Carew family are much loved members of this small community and feature strongly in all aspects of the story. Amelia is a really lovely heroine, her natural beauty, her genuine warmth and compassion and her quite special regard for people from all walks of life comes across in such lovely detail that I could well imagine walking the streets of Truro with her at my side.

There's a delightful sense of historical accuracy in these stories and the author brings extensive research to play particularly with all aspects of seafaring and naval history which she explains with lively interest. Given Amelia’s interest in herbal remedies, I also enjoyed the botanical references, and the tantalising snippets of information from The Lady Herbalist which end each chapter are particularly enlightening.

I've followed this author's skilful writing since the beginning of this wonderful series of Cornish historical novels. A Cornish Betrothal is now the fifth book, but worry not, if you haven't read any before, as they all work as standalone stories, however, it's always such a real treat when the characters from the other novels pop up again, and I was delighted to see the return of a few well-loved characters in this story.

There is no doubt that A Cornish Betrothal is a wonderful continuation of this series. The essence of thwarted love, the dilemma of family secrets and the revelation of shocking truths add a certain piquancy to the story. There is no doubt that in all of these novels the author brings place and people to life in a very special and totally readable way.

[Yvonne · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is so good to pick up a novel by Nicola Pryce and be transported back in time in the county I live in. This is part of a series and as I have read previous books I am obviously going to say they work better when read in order, but, I do think they work as stand-alone.

Set in 1798 in an around Truro with jaunts to Falmouth, Bodmin and Plymouth areas. This is a story of lost love.

Edmund had been lost in the Caribbean, missing and assumed dead. Proof of his death was discovered and this gives his fiance, Amelia, the confirmation she needs that he is gone. She is a young woman who has a love of herbs and their uses in medicine. Dr Luke Bohenna has encouraged her and more importantly has been her friend. Over time their feeling s grow. It is when the future looks certain that the past raises its head and news of Edmund's survival is heard.

How can a woman be in love with two men especially when she thought one of them had died. When he reappears she does expect him to be changed given the hardship he went through, but Amelia still finds it a shock.

I really do enjoy this authors books and I love the almost sereneness as I read. It is a pleasure to be taken back into a simpler time and the pace of life was slower. That doesn't mean it was safer though, people are devious, they are greedy and they are also manipulative. So it does sound quite bizarre for me to mention how serene it felt to read, but that is how it felt for me. The story does have drama and tension and it is a real page-turner,

There are some wonderfully vivid descriptions and this complements and adds to the sense of place. Cornwall has rugged coasts, stretching moors, noisy harbours, and ever-changing weather and this is all brilliantly woven in to create a stunning backdrop to this storyline that has a mysterious and sinister storyline. One of the characters does bring a slightly spooky feel to the story and this I really liked and again it fits in well.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and once again the author has done a wonderful job of capturing the sense of time and place. A brilliant storyline and one that readers of historical fiction, sagas and romance will adore. I would definitely recommend it.

[Joanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another brilliant novel by Nicola Pryce.

Amelia Carew is about to become engaged to the local doctor, Luke. But then her previous fiancé, who has been presumed dead for the last seven years, turns up and she feels honour bound to stick with that original engagement.

There were some things which niggled at me with the novel, but Nicola's writing is so good that I can bypass them;

Everyone was so understanding of Edmund's mental health issues, even though he's widely let it known he was held a slave and tortured. I don't think that many people would have been quite so accommodating. I think Amelia was a little bit too caring- if that's possible. She was all for giving up the chance of a happy life on a promise she made long ago, even when she could see that the current Edmund was going to make her very unhappy. I also think that a parent at the end of the 18th C would have put their foot down and told their daughter she was not going to marry a broken man. Granted, Amelia's parents seem very eccentric for the time, but I don't think they would have allowed her to marry where they knew she would be very unhappy very quickly. I thought Luke should have featured a little more through the middle of the novel. We see him at the beginning and then in the last quarter, but he kind of disappears. If he was so in love with Amelia, and as a doctor could see that Edmund was dangerous, he should have had a bit more of the stage.

The twist at the end...hmm. It was a good twist, and I saw it coming when Nicola put the breadcrumbs in. I think Amelia should have been put in more danger though (rather than Edmund's sister).

Once again, Nicola has proved that a robust plot and characters with depth carry a story so that a historical romance novel doesn't have to rely on smut. Well done!

[LeafPages · Rating 4 out of 5]

Before I begin this review I would like to mention that I haven't read the other books in this series. 

I just want to say that there's a lot of history of the fictional characters mentioned in this book and to prevent you from getting confused, there's a very helpful family tree right at the beginning of the book.


The first thing I noticed while reading this book is that the writing was very emotive. The authors writing style was so descriptive and really invoked empathy within me as a reader towards the characters emotions and situations. 

Here's a quote so you can see what I mean: 

" they are etched on my heart, some days burning so fiercely I can hardly breathe..." 

Pg 1, about letters from Edward 


The historical aspects are very prevalent throughout this book and can be seen through the language, culture, societal roles and norms and the setting itself. So, thankfully, it's not one of those historical romances that focuses more on the romance while forgetting the historical aspects. There, in my opinion, is a nice balance between the romance and historical side. 

I found myself to be completely immersed in this world and even imagined it as a movie. Probably starring Keira Knightly or Saoirse Ronan. 

There is surprisingly a lot of action, with most of it happening on ships. There are plot twists that take your breath away. And most importantly there is a little irony and a little humour. 

This book can be read without reading the other books in the series. 

[Anna Shenton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to win a paperback copy of A Cornish Betrothal by Nicola Pryce. It came beautifully wrapped, tied with pretty ribbon, a lovely hand written card, and the novel signed to me, such a surprise. I pleasingly opened the book to find a detailed Family Tree titled Truro, Town House, High Cross, followed by Lord William Carew b.1735 and Lady Clarissa Godolphin b.1740. A new venture for me to read in this era. The author sets an enchanting opening scene, with beautiful detail and the excitement of Amelia’s birthday. Already, I feel connected to this family in historical times, portrayed in a most realistic way, and can’t wait to follow the story. I can’t imagine how difficult it must have been for Amelia to overcome the suspected death of the love of her life, Edmund. She is a strong character and turns her life around to find a new love with the gorgeous Luke. As the story unfolds everyone is shocked to discover the sudden return of Edmund. Amelia now has to discover what really happened to the changed personality of Edmund. This wonderfully written romantic tale will keep you captivated right to the end. I have enjoyed everything about this wonderfully written book, clearly the author has done much research to write in this most absorbing way. Although part of a series, I found it easy to follow as a standalone. In a word, it is a beautiful story, beautifully written. Loved it.

[Ursula · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this historical adventure. I didn't even realise it's part of a saga until I had almost finished so it makes a good stand-alone read. And now I have the other volumes waiting for me.

There's a superb love triangle and great characters. The historical period (during the Napoleonic wars over two hundred years ago) and the setting in the southwest English county of Cornwall really come to life. You slip right into the story. The more you know of the time and the place then the more appreciative you will be of Nicola Pryce's unforced but very well researched details.

The occupation of our heroine in finding and growing herbs is really interesting. She has developed great knowledge and expertise in using them to make remedies for sickness and injury, as well as demonstrating her skill in producing botanical drawings. It's rather nice to find such a palette of interesting women as Amelia and her friends and family.

I did spot one plot direction in advance and that's not something I do very often. It didn't spoil my enjoyment in the least; I was fascinated as I watched Nicola Pryce gracefully move towards the conclusion with layers of intricacy I hadn't even considered.

[Jennifer Moville · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is set in 1798 in Cornwall. Amelia has turned her life around. The love of her life Edmund Melville, a midshipman in the navy has been declared as missing - she has even been told he may be dead. She is devastated. Now, eighteen months on she has found a new man in her life, Luke Bohenna. But things are about to change. It is her twenty fifth birthday and she is finally happy. But she received a rather unexpected gift. She gets a letter from Edmund. He is alive and is coming home. But where has he been and what has made him be presumed missing for all this time? Amelia doesn't know what to do. She used to love Edmund even though her love for him never truly died, but now she loves Luke. It is unclear at first with her doubts in her mind but she eventually decides to let Luke go. She knows her duty must be to Edmund and she decides to help him get better. But the truth finally rears it's ugly head and Amelia is yet again torn, she has to make the decision- does she let Edmund go for good and get Muke back or does she stay tormented for the rest of her life with a man she finds she really doesn't know. A brilliant book I just couldn't put down.

[Arianna · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a good saga which is part of a series. This is the only book of the series that I have read. I felt in parts that I perhaps could have done with having read the other books in the series before this one.

The love triangle was set up brilliantly from the start of the story and this really hooked me. I really enjoyed the first part of the book but the middle of the story did lose me a little in places.

The last third of the book is absolutely where this story shines. The pace of the story really picks up and there are twists and turns on every page. I couldn't read the last part of the book quick enough as I was so eager to see how everything unfolds.

I found myself willing Amelia and Luke on and I found the ending satisfying. I just wish Amelia had been a bit less indecisive although the love triangle she found herself in was very complicated and it is clear from her character that she wanted to do the right thing even if that was not what she wanted.

All in all I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical fiction. I don't think anyone who is not a fan of this genre would have enough to keep them reading through the middle parts of the book.

[Mgnick González · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although this piece of work is part of a series, it's the only one that I have read and I believe that's why it felt at times that it wasn't complete.

The love triangle is probably the biggest hook for me, already from the very beginning of the story where i found it most enjoyable, but when I got around the middle i felt a little lost at times.

The last third of the book is definitely the best part, the pace picks up and every page is full of twists. I felt thrilled to know what was going to happen and read it all as fast, I coulnd't help myself.

I found myself willing Amelia and Luke on and I found the ending satisfying. I just wish Amelia had been a bit less indecisive even though the love triangle she found herself in was very complicated and it is clear from her character that she wanted to do the right thing even if that was not what she wanted.

All in all I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical fiction. I don't think anyone who is not a fan of this genre would have enough to keep them reading through the middle parts of the book.

[Alice · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's December 1797 in Truro, Cornwall. Amelia Carew has finally found happiness and love again after her childhood sweetheart left her for the navy and then was presumed dead. Although her heart still aches for Edmund she has found happiness in Luke, the local doctor and in making herbal remedies for his patients. But just as they plan to start a life together opening an infirmary a letter arrives from Edmund dating 18 months previously. He's alive after escaping captivity.

On his return she is torn - she cares deeply for Luke but feels obligated to Edmund having promised herself to him in a secret marriage before he departed. However he's not the man she remembers and her heart is having trouble loving him as she once did.

Although I found this to have a slow start once I'd made it into the first hundred pages or so I became caught up in the mystery and intrigue. There's passion, drama and secrets.

Although not my usual go to read I did unexpectedly enjoy this. Well worth a read and I would now look out for more of Nicola Pryce's books.

[Maureen · Rating 5 out of 5]

The fifth novel in this series set in eighteenth-century Cornwall.

I find it helpful to have a list of these stories in order ...they are

1)Pengelly’s Daughter,
2)The Captain’s Girl,
3) The Cornish Dressmaker,
4)The Cornish Lady
5) A Cornish Betrothal.

So much easier to have this info as it can be quite frustrating to try to work out what has happened before although the stories themselves are stand alone its better I find to read them in order.

The books are set in the years 1793-1800 a time that I find fascinating.

I really enjoyed Poldark so I am sure that if you enjoyed either the books or the tv series of that you will really enjoy this too.

Amelia Carew was devastated when she learnt that the love of her life Midshipman Edmund Melville was declared missing, presumed dead, but as we know time is a great healer, and she finds love elsewhere.
Then to suddenly receive a letter from Edmund announcing his imminent return puts the poor girl in a turmoil...what should she do?

Well you will have to read it to find out.

[Jill Lamond · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable historical romp

I haven't read a good escapist historical romance for a long time but this one just hit the spot. I really enjoyed sitting down with this book, a nice cup of tea and a chocolate digestive!

This novel is set in eighteenth century Cornwall. Amelia Carew has recovered from the death of her fiancee and has fallen in love with another man who supports her in her business supplying herbs to various infirmaries and writing and illustrating a herbal. Suddenly all of this is put in jeopardy as her fiancee suddenly returns having managed to escape after being imprisoned for six years. Should Amelia do the right thing and go back to him?

I won't write any spoilers but I guessed the ending fairly early on in the novel but I still enjoyed the twists and turns on the way to the denouement. The Cornish setting seemed realistic and the characters well-drawn. I have not read any of the other books that this author has written but I may look them up as I think I would enjoy them.

[Lucy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Slow to start with

This isn't usually my go to genre for reading and have not read much in the way of historical fiction.
I did enjoy the book in the end, although I did find it a little slow to begin with and took me a while to warm to the story. The middle part of the book also seemed to loose it's way a little. However, the final chapters really sped up the pace and had me racing to the end.

The story starts in 1798 and follows a love triangle between Amelia, Edmund and Luke. This was quite cleverly put together and had all of the complexities and emotions of being in that situation. The book had me wondering all the way through how it would resolve.

This book is also the fifth in a series and is the first one I have read. It would be nice to maybe go back and read the others to fill in some of the gaps.

Overall, I think this is a good read for those who enjoy Poldark and enjoy reading English classics like Jane Austen. The writing style appeared a little old fashioned, however it was easy to read and complemented the setting of the story.

[Jareth Koncsol · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amelia Carew made a promise to Edmund Melville and they were engaged to be married but nearly two years have passed and he still isn't back from the war.
Meanwhile believing her first love lost she has moved on and fallen for the local doctor Luke Bohenna.
At a birthday party she received word Edmund is still alive and returning.
Now Amelia is conflicted, her old love versus her new found beau.
To honour her word and do her duty she returns to Edmund but things aren't the same, she can't find that old spark and feel the same about Edmund, he has changed and its not just the war, he is malicious, has black moods and is not the sweet man she knew, almost as if he is a different person.
But Amelia looks closely and finds something wrong, something evil and Amelia and her family are in terrible danger.
This was amazing, such a twist on an historical novel, more a sinister, intriguing thriller.

[Juliat · Rating 3 out of 5]

Amelia Carew, a herbalist and illustrator, was due to become betrothed to Luke the local doctor on her twenty fifth birthday. But she receives a letter telling her that Edmund her first love, who she had been informed had died in action, is in fact still alive. What is she to do, honour her engagement to him or to her new love Luke.
When Edmund returns his suffering in captivity has changed him from the kind gentle man Amelia used to know.

The plot follows Amelia’s unhappy dilemma and has a few interesting twists in the latter part of the book. The prose is a bit clunky at the beginning but improves as there is more action and less angst. The characters are a little flimsy and I unfortunately wasn’t too worried about what happened to our heroine in this book.

This is part of a series but is quite readable as a standalone. A reasonable but not outstanding book.

I was given this book in return for an honest review.

[Florence Rogers · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was looking forward to reading this book as it sounded like a nice romantic novel with a bit of suspense. I wanted to find out what happened to Edmund and whether Amelia was going to pick Edmund or Luke!

However, this book took me a long time to read and I struggled to get into it. I felt there were too many side characters and it went on for longer than it needed to. Also, there was not much character development, I did not feel invested in any of the characters (I did appreciate Luke's understanding and kind-heartedness though!).

I probably wouldn't recommend this book if you like fast paced books with things happening often as it wasn't until the last 100 or so pages of the book where it got interesting and that I started to enjoy it. Saying that, I'm glad I read it as I'm not a fan of Poldark and this isn't something I would normally pick up in regards to time and setting (18th Century) so it was something new for me.

[Kathryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was delighted to receive a publisher's copy of this spellbinding novel to review, a sweeping saga of mystery and romance set in Cornwall in 1798. As well as a gripping storyline - and plot twists that kept me guessing 'til the end - the author's meticulous research & attention to detail shone from each page. Amelia Carew's finance, Midshipman Edmund Melville joins the navy. Missing, presumed dead at a time of war, she remains loyal & steadfastly awaits his return. Her focus on painting and her herb garden, she fast makes a name for herself with the study of medicinal use of herbs. Four years pass and broken hearts heal. She falls in love again with a young physician, Luke Bohenna. Then, unexpectedly, Edmund returns and Amelia has to make a choice between the two men. Though her first loyalty is to Edmund, she finds him significantly changed. Is it the war, or something more sinister? The final twist at the end took my breath away! I loved this book. A definite 5 star read.

[Martha Westmancott · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book follows the story of Amelia Carew, who has found herself torn between the man she loves, and the man she once committed to.
Overall I found this book quite disappointing. I wasn't particularly enticed by the storyline and I found the characters hard to engage with. The cover was also quite dull and didn't really catch my attention.
That being said, the book wasn't all bad, and i'm glad I read on until the end. The twist was totally unexpected and definitely a redeeming factor! And it's true that whilst I didn't engage with the characters, their relationships with each other were well established, and so others may be able to empathise with them more than I could. There was also a good amount of description so I could paint a clear picture of the story in my head.
Personally, I can't say I would recommend this book to other people, although I can see it's not suited to my tastes and not my usual read, and so it may be a more enjoyable read for someone else.

[Chloe · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Cornish Betrothal by Nicola Pryce is an historical romance/saga set in eighteenth century Cornwall. The main character Amelia faces a difficult decision, choosing between the two men she loves. At it's core it sounds like a classic romantic novel, but there is also a mystery woven into the story which adds extra depth and interest to the book. I haven't previously read any books by Nicola Pryce, and this is the fifth novel in the series. Despite that, I didn't find it was too difficult to become invested in the storyline and the characters - there were no details missing about previous events so nothing was hard to follow or understand, I could pick right up with this book. I found the characters themselves to be relatable, and the book was written beautifully, keeping my attention right to the end. I felt that the book also gave a real insight into what life was like during this time.

[Itsthebooksisters · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked it.
I was not really convinced about this book initially: I thought it was a cliche love story, where the girl juggles her heart in a love triangle between a guy she has known her whole life and a nurturing guy she met, with a lot of drama and unnecessary fights.
However, the book turned out to be more interesting than I initially thought: it has a well-written mystery and the love story is the main plot, yet it does not make the book dreading to read or boring. At points, it can be quite cheesy, but nothing too overwhelming.
The characters are well written, and I like that the protagonist has her own garden and that people consult her for medicines and general health care.

I was not aware nor knew that this is a series and there are more books prior to 'A Cornish Betrothal,' and I have quite enjoyed reading it.
I also quite enjoyed the time and the place the book was set.

[Ria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amelia Carew was engaged to Edmund Melville but eighteen months has passed and he is missing, believed dead.
Amelia has now fallen in love with Luke Bohenna, a doctor.
Yet just on the eve of their engagement she receives a letter on her birthday informing her Edmund is still alive and coming home.
Devastated and confused she tries to stick to her duty and stay with Edmund.
But not all is as it seems, sinister things are starting to happen and Edmund seems like a completely different man and Amelia just can't bring herself to love him like she used to.
Then Amelia learns the truth of what is going on and her life and the lives of those whom she loves could be in danger.
This was brilliant, not just a tender, historical love story.
It had drama, romance, danger, intrigue and even a dash of murder along the way.
A highly enjoyable, suspense filled story perfect for any period fan.

[Kelly Hollingworth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I live on the Cornwall/Devon boarder so to read about local and familiar places in a novel is wonderful for me. Bias declared, I thoroughly enjoyed this plot of Amelia Carew set in the late 18th century. Amelia is torn between a ‘new’ love (Dr. Luke Bohenna) and a promise to a ‘past’ love (Edmund Melville). It is a classic love triangle but encompasses naval history, Cornish locations, herbal remedy references and a Poldarkesque style.

Honour, duty, danger, suspense, twists are all words that come to mind to sum up this historical tale. There is a darkness set against a love story which makes it appealing and interesting.

This is the fifth book in the saga and it has encouraged me to look back to the previous four and look out for the future editions. I was engaged throughout and to the end - who will Amelia choose? Read and enjoy for yourself to find out!