Letting in the Light

The Spindrift Trilogy #3

by Charlotte Betts

From the award-winning author of The Apothecary's Daughter comes the next book in the Spindrift Trilogy - a beautifully evocative, family drama, perfect for fans of Santa Montefiore, Lucinda Riley and Elizabeth Jane Howard's Cazalet Chronicles.1914 Spindrift House, CornwallEdith Fairchild's good-for-nothing husband, Benedict, deserted her when their children were babies. Now the children are almost adult, Edith and Pascal, her faithful lover of two decades, are planning to leave their beloved Spindrift artists' community and finally be together.But an explosive encounter between Benedict and Pascal forces old secrets into the light, causing rifts in the happiness and security of the community. Then an assassin's bullet fired in faraway Sarajevo sets in motion a chain of events that changes everything. Under the shadow of war, the community struggles to eke out a living. The younger generation enlist or volunteer to support the war effort, facing dangers that seemed unimaginable in the golden summer of 1914.When it's all over, will the Spindrift community survive an unexpected threat? And will Edith and Pascal ever be able to fulfil their dream?Why do readers love Charlotte Betts?'Romantic, engaging and hugely satisfying' Katie Fforde'A highly-recommended novel of love, tragedy and the power of art' Daily Mail'Beautifully written, engaging and heart-warming' Book Club Mumma'A highly compelling, engrossing read' Discovering Diamonds'Evocative, enthralling and enjoyable' Bookish Jottings'Poignant, compelling and extensively researched . . . I cannot wait to find out what happens next to these characters' Sarah's Vignettes'A delightful historical saga which is so beautifully woven together that from the very start I was enchanted' Jaffa Reads Too'Rich in detail, full of passion this is a delightful and fascinating read' Book Literati

Genres: Historical

383 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 20, 2022

About the author

Charlotte Betts discovered a passion for writing after her five children had grown up and left her in peace. Demanding careers in hotel design and property force her to be inventive in finding time to write but she has achieved seven novels in eight years. One of her short stories was published in Scribble and others short-listed by Writers’ News and Real Writers’. She has won first prize in five short story competitions and wrote a regular column on interior design for The Maidenhead Advertiser for two years. She is a member of WordWatchers http://www.wordwatchers.net/ and the Romantic Novelists’ Association.

Reviews

[Joy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic end to what has been a great trilogy. Absolutely loved it!

[Juliet Bookliterati · Rating 5 out of 5]

Letting in the Light is the eagerly anticipated final book in Charlotte Betts’ brilliant Spindrift Trilogy. This book opens in 1914, just before the Second World War, which has a huge impact on the community that Edith has built on the beautiful Cornish coast. As the War progresses, the men are conscripted to fight and the women volunteer in different ways to do their bit. Edith, Pascal, and the rest of the community must do their part, but are also living under the threat of Edith’s husband, Benedict, who wants to destroy the community and Edith and Pascal.

It was such a joy to back on the Cornish Coast with Edith, her children, Pascal and the rest of the community. Edith is still having to put up with her estranged husband Benedict turning up and causing trouble for her and Pascal, but in true Edith style she handles this with calmness and decorum, trying not to make matters any worse, knowing he could destroy her life and therefore the life of her friends. I think Edith has been my favourite character though this trilogy, from a young woman whose husband and his infidelities leave her bringing up her four childen alone, to the woman she has become, bringing the artists of the Spindrift community together, giving them a home and making money from it. Pascal is still by her side, unable to marry but both find support and solace in each other. From the other characters, Cassandra has to tell Lily a secret that sends her running of to London to be a nurse, Urusula having a German surname is targated in prejudiced attacks, and Edith’s sons both go off to War whilst her daughter Pearl signs up to drive ambulances in London. As well as the old characters there are also some wonderful new ones to get to know.

Charlotte Betts drew me back into 1914, and the lives of the characters from the very first page, it felt like I had never been away. I love that her writing captures the atmosphere of place, whether it be the tranquility of Cornwall or war torn London, and also the time period her books are set in. Obviously World War I is a huge part of this book and Charlotte Betts brilliantly captures the british spirit to come together and help, the horrors of those fighting in France and the atrocities faced by refugees. The stories of Anneliese and her daughter Blanche were heartbreaking to read, the daughter so traumitised she can’t speak. Whilst these are some of the darkest parts of the book, Charlotte also balances it out with plenty of hope, a touch of humour and an apropriate ending for one of the most awful characters.

Letting in the Light is a fitting and wonderful end to this fabulous trilogy. I loved seeing the final development of the characters, who have come so far since the first book, especially as in this book the children are now adults. This book really has it all, romance, betrayal, secrets and most importantly friendship and love. I have to admit I would love this series to continue as I have enjoyed this series so much, but Charlotte Betts has written a heartwarming and uplifiting ending that I thought was perfect. I can’t recommend this series highly enough, these books are captivating, immersive and breathtaking; a teriffic trilogy.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: 4.5 Stars

Award-winning author Charlotte Betts brings her Spindrift trilogy to a close with Letting In The Light, an emotionally satisfying, wonderfully evocative and beautifully written historical novel readers cannot help but fall in love with.

Edith Fairchild’s life had been turned on its head when she had been deserted by her husband Pascal and left to bring up their children on her own. The odds might have been stacked against her, but Edith had persevered and done her utmost not to let Benedict’s betrayal quell her spirit and ruin her life. Although fate had dealt her a bad hand, Benedict’s desertion had enabled her to meet the true love of her life and she has lived happily with her beloved Pascal in the artists’ community of Spindrift for the last two decades.

Now that the children have grown up, Edith can finally look to the future and to being with Pascal. However, an explosive encounter between Benedict and Pascal could end up putting paid to all of Edith’s hopes and dreams as dangerous secrets come to light that could end up jeopardising their beloved Cornish community. Worse, in 1914, the gathering clouds of war are fast approaching causing seismic shifts all around the world.

As the war casts dark shadows over everybody’s lives, the community at Spindrift finds itself struggling and fighting to survive and thrive. As the younger generation goes off to war in order to do its duty for king and country, Edith wonders whether she will ever be able to fulfill her most cherished dream of being with Pascal or whether their love will end up yet another casualty of this cruel war…

Charlotte Betts’ Letting In The Light is a vivid, captivating and enjoyable historical tale of love, loss, courage and sacrifice written straight from the heart that I was completely mesmerized by. Charlotte Betts is a terrific storyteller with a gift for creating stories that immediately capture her readers’ imagination.

Edith is an inspirational heroine who is brave, valiant and intelligent whom I couldn’t help but care for. Her love story with Pascal is one that tugs at the heartstrings and will have readers reaching for the tissues and hoping against hope that a better future beckons for the two of them.

It is impossible not to fall under Charlotte Betts’ spell and with Letting In The Light, this very gifted writer has once again written a first class historical novel that will stay with me for a very long time.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Henriette Gyland · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve read several of Charlotte Betts’s novels before reading this one. Letting in the Light is the 3rd book in the Spindrift trilogy, about an artists’ community in Cornwall, and it made me wish I’d read the other two in the trilogy first. There are a lot of characters in the story, and it would have helped me keep track of who they are, their individual stories and their interrelationships.

Having said that, it works fine as a standalone, and the gap in my reading shouldn’t stop you enjoying it. Quite the opposite, in fact. It’s an absolutely stunning and heart-breaking WWI story, with a focus on the women left behind when their men go off to war, and it moves along at a cracking pace. The author doesn’t shy away from writing about loss and tragedy as well as the horrors the soldiers must have faced in the trenches, and this is powerfully portrayed through the eyes of the women.

The author displays a true talent for giving the readers a real insight into the lives of the many characters, with only a certain number of pages to play around with. None of them are cardboard cut-outs but are all fully developed and three-dimensional – this is an amazing feat!

I would definitely recommend this one, and also that you read the other two as well.

[Helen White · Rating 3 out of 5]

The final book in the trilogy covers the period of the first world war and sees all of the characters find themselves in completely different circumstances from their usual artistic community. Benedict is still the villain and getting more tiresome as he gets older. Thankfully the other characters are more interesting but as the children are now adults there's almost too many people to focus on and occasionally the story feels like rushed melodrama.

[Jenny L · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfect ending to a wonderful trilogy. A style of storytelling I really enjoy - a gently unfolding tale, with great characters and interesting storylines. Loved them all.

[Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

An engrossing read, a great trilogy!

[M C Crabbe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent trilogy. This one, the third and last, tied up everything and brought to a good conclusion. Enjoyed these books immensely.

[Shirley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely end to this series women have come far since the early 1900's

[Helen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pleasant little holiday read. Set in first world War in Cornwall with an artistic family and community and the perils of the war on their home and livelihoods.

[Debs Crelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Epic

I can imagine this as a film. Sensitively written and great characterisation. It really draws you in. A slow burner for me but then it raged.

[Georgina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spindrift House 1914. Cornwall is facing war. The second in the spindrift trilogy. A good family drama. Written beautifully which almost made me feel I was there
Can’t wait for number three.

[Jaffareadstoo · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've thoroughly enjoyed reading this trilogy which follows the fortunes of those who live and work at Spindrift House in Cornwall. In this last book in the series we pick up the community in 1914 when the country is on the cusp of war and great events are about to take place, some of which will change the occupants of Spindrift House forever.

In Letting in the Light we meet the familiar characters who make this lovely corner of Cornwall their home and once again Edith is continuing to support the community at Spindrift however, with rumblings of war, her children feel it is their patriotic duty to protect King and country, something which will bring its share of heartbreak for all of them. Throughout the story there is a great sense of the Spindrift women keeping everything afloat, especially when their wartime experiences start to reveal their personal strengths. Edith's resilience is sorely tested but as always she finds great comfort in her relationship with Pascal especially when old secrets, once again, threaten the stability of all those who love Spindrift House.

As this is the last book in the trilogy there is a sense of the righting of wrongs and there may well be a worthy comeuppance for some, however, with the loose threads woven together so beautifully the whole of the Spindrift canvas finally comes together in a wonderfully depicted snapshot of a bygone era.

[Alva · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a joy to read this third book in The Spindrift Trilogy, following the lives of the children in the previous two books as they grew up to be adults in the Spindrift Community. Wartime and the atrocities that splintered, destroyed so many families, features heavily throughout this third book. The loss of young men to war, the strength of the women who were left behind is beautifully portrayed by Charlotte Betts. Edith is so much my favourite character in this series. She becomes the matriarch to whom all the young people turn while she is tormented by the presence of Benedict. The relationship between Pascal and Jasper is a happiness to behold. I loved this saga series.

[Annarella · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Spindriff Saga was a travel through times and the I was glad to meet again the characters and read about their life in another time.
Benedict is the perfect villain, Edith the strong matriarch. The historical background, the war and the impact on everyone life, the changes and the events in everyone life.
I was glad to read this series and I thoroughly enjoyed it as it's well told and the characters are fleshed out.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

[Tamsin Preece · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was so glad to return to spendthrift and meet my old friends, Edith and Pascal again.

The conclusion of this trilogy doesn’t disappoint. The writing is warm and evocative and you can imagine the beautiful scenery as you read, settling into the family as if you were one of them.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and will look for more of this authors work. Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for my copy of this book.

[Helena · Rating 5 out of 5]

Letting in the Light by Charlotte Betts, the final book of the Spendrift Trilogy, does not disappoint. It continues the story of Edith and the Spindrift artists’ community.
The story is written with sensitivity and addresses some of the horrors of the Great War and how the characters and their relationships are changed by it.
I’m disappointed that I’ve reached the end of the story and look forward to reading more by Charlotte Betts.

[Jane Mowforth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading all of the Spindrift Trilogy. The third book Letting in the Light was well written and a really good read. I really enjoyed the period of history it covered ,World War 1 , with all the difficulties and challenges faced by families . It gives a sensitive invite into the changing roles of women during this period.
I thoroughly recommend it .

[Holly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow … this was the perfect ending to an amazing trilogy.

I have been captivated with these stories from the beginning. To now read the once children as adults feels like I have watched them grow personally.

The ending did not disappoint and left my heart feeling fuzzy!