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The Girl with the Silver Clasp
St. Ives, 1916.
Jess Morgan always hoped to become a celebrated silversmith, but when the men return from war she's forced to return to her job as a seamstress. All she can cling to is the memory of that delicate, unique silver clasp she created for a society bride.
Rachel Bellamy served as an ambulance driver on the front line during the Great War but now it's up to her to save the family home and picturesque harbour from her wealthy brother-in-law, before it's too late.
Giselle Harding fought her way up from poverty to become a Hollywood movie star. Yet even the most beautiful jewels she owns will never fill replace the man she lost.
As the lives of the three women collide, will they be able to overcome their differences and fight together for the dreams they once held so close?
Jess Morgan always hoped to become a celebrated silversmith, but when the men return from war she's forced to return to her job as a seamstress. All she can cling to is the memory of that delicate, unique silver clasp she created for a society bride.
Rachel Bellamy served as an ambulance driver on the front line during the Great War but now it's up to her to save the family home and picturesque harbour from her wealthy brother-in-law, before it's too late.
Giselle Harding fought her way up from poverty to become a Hollywood movie star. Yet even the most beautiful jewels she owns will never fill replace the man she lost.
As the lives of the three women collide, will they be able to overcome their differences and fight together for the dreams they once held so close?
336 pages, Paperback
Published July 22, 2021
3 people are currently reading
51 people want to read
About the author
Juliet Greenwood
10 books118 followersJuliet Greenwood is the author of seven historical novels, her latest being with Storm Publishing. She has long been inspired by the histories of the women in her family, and in particular with how strong-minded and independent women have overcome the limitations imposed on them by the constraints of their time, and also with the way generations of women hold families and communities together in times of crisis, including WW2.
After graduating in English from Lancaster University and Kings College, London, Juliet worked on a variety of jobs to support her ambition to be a full-time writer. These ranged from running a craft stall at Covent Garden to collecting oral histories of traditional villages before they are lost forever, and more recently as a freelance editor and proof-reader.
She finally achieved her dream of becoming a published author following a debilitating viral illness, with her first novel being a finalist for The People’s Book Prize and her first two novels reaching #4 and #5 in the UK Kindle store.
Juliet now lives in a traditional quarryman’s cottage in Snowdonia, North Wales, set between the mountains and the sea, with an overgrown garden (good for insects!) and a surprisingly successful grapevine. She can be found dog walking in all weathers, camera to hand.
After graduating in English from Lancaster University and Kings College, London, Juliet worked on a variety of jobs to support her ambition to be a full-time writer. These ranged from running a craft stall at Covent Garden to collecting oral histories of traditional villages before they are lost forever, and more recently as a freelance editor and proof-reader.
She finally achieved her dream of becoming a published author following a debilitating viral illness, with her first novel being a finalist for The People’s Book Prize and her first two novels reaching #4 and #5 in the UK Kindle store.
Juliet now lives in a traditional quarryman’s cottage in Snowdonia, North Wales, set between the mountains and the sea, with an overgrown garden (good for insects!) and a surprisingly successful grapevine. She can be found dog walking in all weathers, camera to hand.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
December 26, 2025
Four and a half stars
It is the story of three women and starts with a prologue from 1909, before moving onto 1916 and the years that follow.
Jess Morgan always wanted to be a silversmith, but after the war she is forced to resume her job as a seamstress. She cherishes the memory of the special silver clasp she created for a society bride.
Rachel Bellamy served as an ambulance driver during the Great War. It changed her life in ways she never expected. Then later she tries to save her family’s home and the picturesque Cornwall harbour businesses from the hand of the wealthy Howell family, when Tobias for his own reasons wants to see the house and harbour businesses closed down.
Giselle Harding has struggled to fight her way up from poverty to become a Hollywood movie star. But no wealth or fame can replace the man she loved and lost because of the war.
These three women, despite their huge differences, are brought together to fight for their dreams.
This was a great book That it took me a few days to read this book is not the book’s fault. I wanted to keep reading but it wasn’t the time of year to enable me to do that.
It is a story of conflict, the price of war, of grief, of expectations of and changes in society, of friendship, family and of course romance. But mostly it is a character driven story of string women who are fight for their dreams and the right to live the lives they desire.
Definitely a recommended read especially for fans of historical fiction, books set in Cornwall and characters that complete the reader to care about them. I loved it.
It is the story of three women and starts with a prologue from 1909, before moving onto 1916 and the years that follow.
Jess Morgan always wanted to be a silversmith, but after the war she is forced to resume her job as a seamstress. She cherishes the memory of the special silver clasp she created for a society bride.
Rachel Bellamy served as an ambulance driver during the Great War. It changed her life in ways she never expected. Then later she tries to save her family’s home and the picturesque Cornwall harbour businesses from the hand of the wealthy Howell family, when Tobias for his own reasons wants to see the house and harbour businesses closed down.
Giselle Harding has struggled to fight her way up from poverty to become a Hollywood movie star. But no wealth or fame can replace the man she loved and lost because of the war.
These three women, despite their huge differences, are brought together to fight for their dreams.
This was a great book That it took me a few days to read this book is not the book’s fault. I wanted to keep reading but it wasn’t the time of year to enable me to do that.
It is a story of conflict, the price of war, of grief, of expectations of and changes in society, of friendship, family and of course romance. But mostly it is a character driven story of string women who are fight for their dreams and the right to live the lives they desire.
Definitely a recommended read especially for fans of historical fiction, books set in Cornwall and characters that complete the reader to care about them. I loved it.
July 21, 2021
“The Girl with the Silver Clasp” is written by author Juliet Greenwood who is known for her sweeping historical dramas, featuring determined young women fighting to make their own futures against the odds. This was my first book I’ve read by this author and as a fan of historical fiction, I was excited by the premise and the characters it contained. Set in St. Ives, Cornwall 1916 (with a prologue set in 1902) three women’s lives collide. Can they overcome their differences and fight together for the dreams they once held so close? Harbourmaster daughter Jess Morgan, always hoped to be a silversmith but is forced to return to being a seamstress when the war ends. Rachel Bellamy, returning from the front lines as an ambulance driver, is obligated into saving her family home and the picturesque harbour from her wealthy brother in law. And Giselle Harding, famous Hollywood rags to riches actress, for who even the most beautiful jewels will not replace the man she lost.
I loved how all three women were so determined and knew their own mind. I endeared to them immediately and along with the atmospheric
Cornish coast and fishing village this made for a wonderfully fulfilling story that I enjoyed from start to finish. Although it doesn’t focus on WW1 per se, this book does highlight the horrors of returning from war, even if they haven’t participated in front line fighting. PTSD, returning to normal life with the guilt of returning at all after witnessing so many horrific deaths and even having to adapt to their old jobs with often life changing injuries, was a strong focus which determined some of the character’s personalities.
What I also found interesting was the detailed making of the jewellery mentioned. Jess had such a desire to make beautiful items with pretty enamelling that was becoming all the rage, enough so to make me research the history of enamelling and its jewellery examples. The intricate process and use of each of the metals and various shades of ground glass was a pleasure to read and not something I’ve come across before.
I’d very much like to see a sequel to this book in the future, to find how each of the women have progressed with their chosen paths in life.
I’ll certainly be reading more by Juliet Greenwood again and highly recommend “The Girl with the Silver Clasp” to historical drama fiction readers of any age.
4 healthy stars
Thank you to Review Spot for my copy of the book received in a Twitter competition.
I loved how all three women were so determined and knew their own mind. I endeared to them immediately and along with the atmospheric
Cornish coast and fishing village this made for a wonderfully fulfilling story that I enjoyed from start to finish. Although it doesn’t focus on WW1 per se, this book does highlight the horrors of returning from war, even if they haven’t participated in front line fighting. PTSD, returning to normal life with the guilt of returning at all after witnessing so many horrific deaths and even having to adapt to their old jobs with often life changing injuries, was a strong focus which determined some of the character’s personalities.
What I also found interesting was the detailed making of the jewellery mentioned. Jess had such a desire to make beautiful items with pretty enamelling that was becoming all the rage, enough so to make me research the history of enamelling and its jewellery examples. The intricate process and use of each of the metals and various shades of ground glass was a pleasure to read and not something I’ve come across before.
I’d very much like to see a sequel to this book in the future, to find how each of the women have progressed with their chosen paths in life.
I’ll certainly be reading more by Juliet Greenwood again and highly recommend “The Girl with the Silver Clasp” to historical drama fiction readers of any age.
4 healthy stars
Thank you to Review Spot for my copy of the book received in a Twitter competition.
July 22, 2021
The Girl With The Silver Clasp is historical fiction set in a small coastal village near St. Ives in Cornwall.
The story begins just before World War One and introduces us firstly to Jess, the daughter of the harbour master, who spends much of her time at the local forge. Here she learns the art of blacksmithing as well as the intricate metalwork skills needed to make and repair jewellery.
Secondly we are introduced to Rachel, who is the daughter of the family who own the harbour; during the war Rachel goes to France to drive an ambulance, but after the war her family’s fortunes change.
In the post-war years, Jess is forced to help her aunt with dressmaking, but it is the metalwork which still calls to her and Jess squeezes in as many hours as she can, creating unique pieces of jewellery.
This is the story of women who embraced the post-war changes in society; they made their own decisions and worked for themselves supporting each other’s efforts. Although this book started slow, once we reached the post war years I became fully engaged with the lives of Jess and Rachel and really enjoyed the remainder of their stories. Some of my favourite parts were reading about life in London as well as the growth of the artists in the St. Ives area.
The story begins just before World War One and introduces us firstly to Jess, the daughter of the harbour master, who spends much of her time at the local forge. Here she learns the art of blacksmithing as well as the intricate metalwork skills needed to make and repair jewellery.
Secondly we are introduced to Rachel, who is the daughter of the family who own the harbour; during the war Rachel goes to France to drive an ambulance, but after the war her family’s fortunes change.
In the post-war years, Jess is forced to help her aunt with dressmaking, but it is the metalwork which still calls to her and Jess squeezes in as many hours as she can, creating unique pieces of jewellery.
This is the story of women who embraced the post-war changes in society; they made their own decisions and worked for themselves supporting each other’s efforts. Although this book started slow, once we reached the post war years I became fully engaged with the lives of Jess and Rachel and really enjoyed the remainder of their stories. Some of my favourite parts were reading about life in London as well as the growth of the artists in the St. Ives area.
January 22, 2022
Such great role models! Its so unusual to find role models and Julie Greenwood ensured the female characters, and Bill, was strong, determined and ambitious. Inspiring!
July 22, 2021
The first thing that drew me into this book was its vividly drawn location – a small community set around a small harbour near St Ives in Cornwall where their livelihoods depend on the family who live in Enys Hall, the large house set on the hillside above. But if the setting drew me in, it was the characters – the wonderfully strong women – who made me entirely love it.
After a prologue to set the scene, we find ourselves in 1916, and with the menfolk away at war harbourmaster’s daughter Jess is working as a blacksmith. But after seeing a piece of fine enamelled jewellery made by her mentor Ben, she yearns for the opportunity to make her own – instead she finds herself forced to become a seamstress to provide a more secure source of income. Rachel is the older daughter of the family who own Enys Hall – her family have seen a downturn in their fortunes with the impact of the war, and the marriage of their younger daughter might be the only way of ensuring their future. But the livelihoods of the small community depend on the family’s patronage, and their futures might be far less secure in the light of the ambitions of others.
The lives of both women drive the story, and the characterisation is quite wonderful. Jess can’t fail to win your heart, as she attempts to follow her dreams – she has a personality and inner strength that sees her clawing her way back after every new setback as she doggedly pursues her ambitions and her vision for the future. Rachel is extraordinarily likeable too – she seems destined for spinsterhood as her more flighty and less serious sister attracts the eye of every suitor, but she kicks back against the conventions of the time and any notion of “a woman’s place”, with a strong sense of right and wrong and a determination to fight against the inevitable. She defies convention when she travels to France as an ambulance driver, experiences a forbidden love affair, and comes up with her own plan to save the hall and the futures of all who depend on it. And that’s when we come across the third woman of the story, Giselle – now a movie star, she has a darker past she’s desperate to keep hidden, but also might have a significant role to play when the fortunes of the community hang in the balance.
Every element of this story is just so perfectly handled. The descriptions of the location really are stunning, brought to life in the homes and businesses on the harbourside, walking on the cliffs above, and on the busier streets of the more thriving town of St Ives. There’s a particular strength in the drawing of the three women, entirely real and believable as they strive for justice and what they believe in – but every single character in this book is fully rounded, springing to life from its pages, however peripheral the part they play. The conventions against which the story is set are wonderfully recreated too – those constraints on women being able to follow their chosen paths, moving you to anger and frustration, making you will them on at every turn.
The depth of the author’s research is amply evident – I particularly enjoyed the detail about the creation of the jewellery, particularly the art of enamelling, and the growing taste for Art Deco – but only used to add depth and richness to the story. This was an era when the world was changing, and it’s quite perfectly recreated along with the real lives of its characters of both social classes. And then there’s the story itself – this is really accomplished storytelling, drawing you into the characters lives from the very beginning, keeping the pages turning with every fresh challenge and setback, making sure you’re entirely consumed by the story to the very end, all with the perfect emotional touch.
I really loved this book – I picked it up to read on a sunny afternoon in the garden and read it in a single sitting, swept away into the world the author created. You really can’t ask for much more from a book than that – this is my new favourite from this very talented author, and I recommend it most highly.
After a prologue to set the scene, we find ourselves in 1916, and with the menfolk away at war harbourmaster’s daughter Jess is working as a blacksmith. But after seeing a piece of fine enamelled jewellery made by her mentor Ben, she yearns for the opportunity to make her own – instead she finds herself forced to become a seamstress to provide a more secure source of income. Rachel is the older daughter of the family who own Enys Hall – her family have seen a downturn in their fortunes with the impact of the war, and the marriage of their younger daughter might be the only way of ensuring their future. But the livelihoods of the small community depend on the family’s patronage, and their futures might be far less secure in the light of the ambitions of others.
The lives of both women drive the story, and the characterisation is quite wonderful. Jess can’t fail to win your heart, as she attempts to follow her dreams – she has a personality and inner strength that sees her clawing her way back after every new setback as she doggedly pursues her ambitions and her vision for the future. Rachel is extraordinarily likeable too – she seems destined for spinsterhood as her more flighty and less serious sister attracts the eye of every suitor, but she kicks back against the conventions of the time and any notion of “a woman’s place”, with a strong sense of right and wrong and a determination to fight against the inevitable. She defies convention when she travels to France as an ambulance driver, experiences a forbidden love affair, and comes up with her own plan to save the hall and the futures of all who depend on it. And that’s when we come across the third woman of the story, Giselle – now a movie star, she has a darker past she’s desperate to keep hidden, but also might have a significant role to play when the fortunes of the community hang in the balance.
Every element of this story is just so perfectly handled. The descriptions of the location really are stunning, brought to life in the homes and businesses on the harbourside, walking on the cliffs above, and on the busier streets of the more thriving town of St Ives. There’s a particular strength in the drawing of the three women, entirely real and believable as they strive for justice and what they believe in – but every single character in this book is fully rounded, springing to life from its pages, however peripheral the part they play. The conventions against which the story is set are wonderfully recreated too – those constraints on women being able to follow their chosen paths, moving you to anger and frustration, making you will them on at every turn.
The depth of the author’s research is amply evident – I particularly enjoyed the detail about the creation of the jewellery, particularly the art of enamelling, and the growing taste for Art Deco – but only used to add depth and richness to the story. This was an era when the world was changing, and it’s quite perfectly recreated along with the real lives of its characters of both social classes. And then there’s the story itself – this is really accomplished storytelling, drawing you into the characters lives from the very beginning, keeping the pages turning with every fresh challenge and setback, making sure you’re entirely consumed by the story to the very end, all with the perfect emotional touch.
I really loved this book – I picked it up to read on a sunny afternoon in the garden and read it in a single sitting, swept away into the world the author created. You really can’t ask for much more from a book than that – this is my new favourite from this very talented author, and I recommend it most highly.
July 18, 2021
1909 Cornwall and Jessica Morgan (Jess), finds working with fine and delicate ornaments and jewellery both fascinating and beautiful to see, but the trouble is she is a girl and although she is as able and talented as any boy, it just is not the done thing. Forward on to 1916 and Jess is now seventeen years old and working at the local blacksmiths forge. What she really loves making is intricate work with colourful pieces and hair clasps that can be worn by women.
Rachel Bellamy is the daughter of the owner of Enys Hall, which sits high up on the cliffs overlooking the harbour. She too has trouble in her home life and with the loss of life in her family during the war, her mother fears that they might have to sell up or have some other means to support not just themselves, but all the villagers in the harbour who rely on the big house for their income. Rachel has an idea but her mother is not very keen and after visiting the town of St. Ives and seeing it more busier than it was before the war and the artists and visitors flocking there, she is sure they can also do something along the same lines, in turning the house into a guest house for women only, especially with so much popularity in walking and artistic holidays. Jess's Aunt Sara is also realising that she must move her needlework business to St. Ives to survive and she would take Jess and Morwenna (who does lovely embroidery work) with her, Jess acknowledges that this would be the opportunity that she has been waiting for, to allow her to follow her dream and work in metals and enamel work again. After meeting up with Miss Diane Catterell at her workshop, Jess realises that she would be able to continue her love of metalwork and she loves being with the other artists and craft workers in the area. Things don't always go to plan, but there is always hope in these dreams that you have yet to meet in life and make all the opportunities come true as Jess was to find out.
Jess and Rachel are drawn together during an unlikely encounter with an American actress, who could bring hope and prosperity to this region of Cornwall, but will it be enough or too late? With Rachel's sister Louisa and her fiance back on the scene things are starting to look very uncertain as he will do all he can to rock the boat and cause unhappiness to everyone.
This book has all the subjects and locations to make it such a desirable read from post WW1 with its sorrow and despair to the glitz and glamour of the art deco scene and its influence on fashion, along with the gorgeous coastline with its picturesque harbours of Cornwall to the hustle and bustle of London.
A truly lovely read.
Rachel Bellamy is the daughter of the owner of Enys Hall, which sits high up on the cliffs overlooking the harbour. She too has trouble in her home life and with the loss of life in her family during the war, her mother fears that they might have to sell up or have some other means to support not just themselves, but all the villagers in the harbour who rely on the big house for their income. Rachel has an idea but her mother is not very keen and after visiting the town of St. Ives and seeing it more busier than it was before the war and the artists and visitors flocking there, she is sure they can also do something along the same lines, in turning the house into a guest house for women only, especially with so much popularity in walking and artistic holidays. Jess's Aunt Sara is also realising that she must move her needlework business to St. Ives to survive and she would take Jess and Morwenna (who does lovely embroidery work) with her, Jess acknowledges that this would be the opportunity that she has been waiting for, to allow her to follow her dream and work in metals and enamel work again. After meeting up with Miss Diane Catterell at her workshop, Jess realises that she would be able to continue her love of metalwork and she loves being with the other artists and craft workers in the area. Things don't always go to plan, but there is always hope in these dreams that you have yet to meet in life and make all the opportunities come true as Jess was to find out.
Jess and Rachel are drawn together during an unlikely encounter with an American actress, who could bring hope and prosperity to this region of Cornwall, but will it be enough or too late? With Rachel's sister Louisa and her fiance back on the scene things are starting to look very uncertain as he will do all he can to rock the boat and cause unhappiness to everyone.
This book has all the subjects and locations to make it such a desirable read from post WW1 with its sorrow and despair to the glitz and glamour of the art deco scene and its influence on fashion, along with the gorgeous coastline with its picturesque harbours of Cornwall to the hustle and bustle of London.
A truly lovely read.
July 28, 2021
Once again, in The Girl with the Silver Clasp, historical novelist, Juliet Greenwood offers us a verbal treat which entices us into the world of three marvellous & ostensibly very different young women, in the aftermath of WW1. A war which changed the lives of a myriad women causing many of them to re-evaluate their position in the world, their worth & ambitions; their potential & intrinsic value as part of the human race.
The differences between these remarkable women are important in that they show us three cleverly & thoughtfully imagined personalities. Jess, working class, quietly dogged, gentle & sweet natured, a skilled jeweller facing the threat of thwarted ambition. Kind, middle-class Rachel, whose wartime experiences as an ambulance driver cause her to rebel against convention & in the process, mark her as an awkward oddity. And Giselle, the rags to riches Hollywood movie star, holding on to a dark secret, afraid of being found out & exposed as ‘scarlet’ woman. What binds these three women is their determination to survive in a world dominated by men. And as their destinies become inextricably linked to the fortunes & misfortunes of a tiny Cornish village, a truly captivating & absorbing story unfolds.
The Girl With the Silver Clasp is top notch historical fiction in the tradition of Eleanor Alice Hibbert (who wrote under a series of pen names including Jean Plaidy & Victoria Holt) & more recently, that of Sarah Waters or Tracey Chevalier. It shifts beautifully between small community life in coastal Cornwall & the extravagance of London. And the processes of Jess’s jewellery-making, her Aunt Sara’s skill as a dressmaker & her friend Morwenna’s prowess as an embroiderer are subtly threaded throughout the narrative, blending beautifully, showing us small glimpses of these wonderful crafts.
Juliet Greenwood has a deft pen & in this book her voice shines with a lightness of style giving life to her characters & her immaculately plotted story. She puts women centre stage without ever making them stereotypes to make a point. Rather, she employs a level of imagination which brings history alive through the endeavours of a group of talented women whose persistence, fortitude & steadfastness remind the reader that the feminist fight for equality is nothing new.
This book is authentic historical fiction; it radiates female power & we need more of it! Highly recommended. Not enough stars.
The differences between these remarkable women are important in that they show us three cleverly & thoughtfully imagined personalities. Jess, working class, quietly dogged, gentle & sweet natured, a skilled jeweller facing the threat of thwarted ambition. Kind, middle-class Rachel, whose wartime experiences as an ambulance driver cause her to rebel against convention & in the process, mark her as an awkward oddity. And Giselle, the rags to riches Hollywood movie star, holding on to a dark secret, afraid of being found out & exposed as ‘scarlet’ woman. What binds these three women is their determination to survive in a world dominated by men. And as their destinies become inextricably linked to the fortunes & misfortunes of a tiny Cornish village, a truly captivating & absorbing story unfolds.
The Girl With the Silver Clasp is top notch historical fiction in the tradition of Eleanor Alice Hibbert (who wrote under a series of pen names including Jean Plaidy & Victoria Holt) & more recently, that of Sarah Waters or Tracey Chevalier. It shifts beautifully between small community life in coastal Cornwall & the extravagance of London. And the processes of Jess’s jewellery-making, her Aunt Sara’s skill as a dressmaker & her friend Morwenna’s prowess as an embroiderer are subtly threaded throughout the narrative, blending beautifully, showing us small glimpses of these wonderful crafts.
Juliet Greenwood has a deft pen & in this book her voice shines with a lightness of style giving life to her characters & her immaculately plotted story. She puts women centre stage without ever making them stereotypes to make a point. Rather, she employs a level of imagination which brings history alive through the endeavours of a group of talented women whose persistence, fortitude & steadfastness remind the reader that the feminist fight for equality is nothing new.
This book is authentic historical fiction; it radiates female power & we need more of it! Highly recommended. Not enough stars.
October 5, 2021
‘The Girl with the Silver Clasp’ is a story of female solidarity and friendship, brilliantly written, as always by this author, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. What I love about Juliet Greenwood’s books is the way her fiction is set in the past yet feels so very contemporary. She creates stories around timeless issues that never fail to strike a chord, and her books quickly draw you in and are really hard to put down.
Jess is at the heart of this story, and there’s a real depth to her character which I loved. She longs to be creative, having discovered her talent for crafting exquisite Art Deco-style jewellery. But living in a harbour town where opportunities are few, and with the harbour itself at risk of being shut down and the residents in constant fear of the workhouse, Jess needs to be extremely enterprising to accomplish what she believes possible.
I loved all the female characters and thoroughly enjoyed the light touches of romance, especially because those moments never overwhelmed the women’s stories. Juliet Greenwood’s novels are a must-read for every lover of historical fiction and I thoroughly recommend ‘The Girl with the Silver Clasp.’
Jess is at the heart of this story, and there’s a real depth to her character which I loved. She longs to be creative, having discovered her talent for crafting exquisite Art Deco-style jewellery. But living in a harbour town where opportunities are few, and with the harbour itself at risk of being shut down and the residents in constant fear of the workhouse, Jess needs to be extremely enterprising to accomplish what she believes possible.
I loved all the female characters and thoroughly enjoyed the light touches of romance, especially because those moments never overwhelmed the women’s stories. Juliet Greenwood’s novels are a must-read for every lover of historical fiction and I thoroughly recommend ‘The Girl with the Silver Clasp.’
August 20, 2021
A moving, evocative historical fiction tale set in beautiful Cornwall where we meet Jess who dreams of becoming a silversmith while working at a blacksmith's forge. Jess's means are limited but she is determined not to follow the way of her peers into domestic service and invisibility. She maintains a strong sense of family as she persuades those near and dear to her that her dream is achievable during a time when the horrors of war are immediate and acute. Meanwhile, Rachel is a young woman of means but cannot escape from the veil of uselessness surrounding her. Can these two women achieve their goal of escaping the limits placed on them? Is it possible to save their once-thriving harbour businesses and livelihoods from the clutches of a rich and powerful family whose history is one of support but whose younger generation put in charge has no moral compass. Join Jess and Rachel as they take on an almost-impossible challenge.
November 10, 2024
This was a wonderful historical read, that follows the story of 3 young women striving to live their lives how they want, but facing restrictions due to the times where women didn't do those kind of things!
Set in Cornwall before and after the First World War, we meet Rachel, Jess and Giselle who each have an extraordinary tale to tell. Rachel and Jess had a taste of a life they wanted to lead during the war, but are now back to women's work and you really sense their frustration at what is expected of them, and what they expect of life. And Giselle seemingly has it all, thanks to her career, but she's mourning the loss of a loved one.
I loved how their stories combined and you really got a sense of the time and the prejudices. The country was going through an awful time, and the community coming together was really inspiring and the determination of the women really shines through. An engrossing read.
Set in Cornwall before and after the First World War, we meet Rachel, Jess and Giselle who each have an extraordinary tale to tell. Rachel and Jess had a taste of a life they wanted to lead during the war, but are now back to women's work and you really sense their frustration at what is expected of them, and what they expect of life. And Giselle seemingly has it all, thanks to her career, but she's mourning the loss of a loved one.
I loved how their stories combined and you really got a sense of the time and the prejudices. The country was going through an awful time, and the community coming together was really inspiring and the determination of the women really shines through. An engrossing read.
July 18, 2021
This is the second book that I’ve read by Juliet, and I’ve loved both books. Set during World War One in Cornwall, it’s the stories of some strong young women, who although from different classes and with different problems they work together in friendship to help each other survive. I love Cornwall and this book is well written and so descriptive that you can imagine yourself there breathing in the lovely fresh sea air. Despite all the problems thrown at these young women they don’t give up to the somewhat rich and arrogant men who are causing trouble in their lives. I highly recommend this book it’s a great read.
October 3, 2024
The Girl with the Silver Clasp by Juliet Greenwood certainly did not disappoint. I loved the story set in Cornwall during the First World War that tells the story of the three main female characters whose lives are unexpectedly brought together. It was an easy-to-read story with strong characters that I enjoyed immensely.
November 30, 2022
I adored this book from Juliet Greenwood, a wonderful heroine, a gorgeous landscape and a plot to carry you away, exactly what you want in a lock down read!
October 24, 2022
This is the first book I have read by Juliet Greenwood and it won't be the last I thorghly enjoyed sinking my teeth into this book and am looking forward to discovering more from this author.
I was instantly drawn to this book firstly by the cover as it's so pretty and eye-catching and secondly by the era, I do love books set in this time and was looking ward to seeing what would happen and I wasn't hugely disappointed. I thought the story started off a little slow and even though it did pick up I thought that there were moments that were a little slower for my liking.
I loved the setting the descriptions of the daily life on the coast the work the hardships the area the sights the smells everything was so clear and richly describes I felt as though I was there.
This book is clever, atmospheric and very enjoyable!
I was instantly drawn to this book firstly by the cover as it's so pretty and eye-catching and secondly by the era, I do love books set in this time and was looking ward to seeing what would happen and I wasn't hugely disappointed. I thought the story started off a little slow and even though it did pick up I thought that there were moments that were a little slower for my liking.
I loved the setting the descriptions of the daily life on the coast the work the hardships the area the sights the smells everything was so clear and richly describes I felt as though I was there.
This book is clever, atmospheric and very enjoyable!
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