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Cornish Escapes #1
A Secret Gift
Escape to Cornwall for an enchanting, heartwarming new novel about friendship, hope and second chances…
Three years ago, Joy Pentire lost her firefighter husband and she still hasn’t returned to the woman she once was. But then she meets Hope, one of the residents at the nursing home where she’s a carer.
Hope has a secret gift that she wants to pass on.
And Joy’s life is forever changed.
Surrounded by the community in her Cornish hometown, Joy’s unexpected inheritance soon leads to new opportunities, new friends, new love, and the part of herself she’d thought forever lost … her joy.
A heart-warming, joyful story of the power of personal connection.
Three years ago, Joy Pentire lost her firefighter husband and she still hasn’t returned to the woman she once was. But then she meets Hope, one of the residents at the nursing home where she’s a carer.
Hope has a secret gift that she wants to pass on.
And Joy’s life is forever changed.
Surrounded by the community in her Cornish hometown, Joy’s unexpected inheritance soon leads to new opportunities, new friends, new love, and the part of herself she’d thought forever lost … her joy.
A heart-warming, joyful story of the power of personal connection.
299 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 30, 2021
300 people are currently reading
347 people want to read
About the author
Amanda James
24 books211 followersAmanda James (aka Mandy) was born in Sheffield and now lives in Cornwall with her husband and a cat. In her spare time, she enjoys gardening, singing, and spending lots of time with her grandchildren. She also admits to spending far too much time chatting on Twitter and Facebook! Amanda feels most at home walking on the beach and making plots up in her head. A fair amount of these have made it onto paper, and been turned into books.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 114 reviews
October 23, 2021
This was a very unusual but lovely story. Set in Cornwall near Mawgan Porth, a place I know very well. It dealt with relationships and emotions and turns out to be a very gentle read. The main character was sweet and very likeable. I was so glad that she found happiness and fulfilment in the end after a testing time. I do hope that this author writes more books as I would be eager to read more. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.
October 14, 2021
Joy is trying to get her life back on track after the death of her husband.
She is working in a care home and one day a elderly lady gives her a jar of pebbles and a gift of helping others.
A feel-good story to lift your spirits.
Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins, One More Chapter for my e-copy in exchange for and honest review.
She is working in a care home and one day a elderly lady gives her a jar of pebbles and a gift of helping others.
A feel-good story to lift your spirits.
Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins, One More Chapter for my e-copy in exchange for and honest review.
October 15, 2021
My word this is the first book I’ve read by this author and will not be the last for sure it was simply outstanding and didn’t want to put it down at all. It’s a heartwarming read full of promises hope happiness starting again and friendships with romance in and to and the characters are simply brilliant along with the plot. It’s worth far more than five stars and you will want to keep reading it’s a delightful read.
Joy lost her husband and has for three years trying to get through life she’s worked in a care home and got close to patients there. She’s living in Cornwall by the sea with her cat but life isn’t what it use to be. But when one of the old ladies gives her a jar of pebbles and tells her to continue giving them out to others to spread joy and happiness things start to change. She starts making new friends while giving them out and spreads so much joy to others and their lives change around but can she change hers. She decides to go back to old profession and applies to be a TA in a school. She gets the job and again makes new friends and spreads her joy with many in the school. Problem is she also sees herself falling for the deputy but can she find love when she still loves her husband who died. She tries to fight her feelings but can she beat them and be happy herself after spreading joy to so many others.
A magical perfect read to curl up and enjoy.
Joy lost her husband and has for three years trying to get through life she’s worked in a care home and got close to patients there. She’s living in Cornwall by the sea with her cat but life isn’t what it use to be. But when one of the old ladies gives her a jar of pebbles and tells her to continue giving them out to others to spread joy and happiness things start to change. She starts making new friends while giving them out and spreads so much joy to others and their lives change around but can she change hers. She decides to go back to old profession and applies to be a TA in a school. She gets the job and again makes new friends and spreads her joy with many in the school. Problem is she also sees herself falling for the deputy but can she find love when she still loves her husband who died. She tries to fight her feelings but can she beat them and be happy herself after spreading joy to so many others.
A magical perfect read to curl up and enjoy.
August 25, 2022
A Secret Gift was a nice, inspiring read.
The storyline and the writing was brilliant.
Joy is a young widow who works at a nursing home. A day one of her elderly residents gives het a jar of "magic" pebbles that'll change her life.
Joy was a great characters, her grief feels relatable and I wished the best for her since the beginning. I've enjoyed her adventures with the pebbles and their recipients.
She understood that helping others helped herself to find the right path for her life, to find happiness and to believe she could be happy again and to start to live her life to the fullest.
I'd recommend it, plus it set on the Cornwall coast and I love there.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for kindly giving me an advanced copy of this book to read.
December 6, 2021
What a beautiful read this is and I love the cover!
Joy Pentire is still grieving the loss of her husband, Sean.
Oh she's getting on with life, just.
There isn't a time limit on grief and I think she's doing great but everyone can put on an act.
Working at St Margaret's care home, Joy is fond of the residents, especially Hope Trebarwith.
The two names are light itself, but what follows is a captivating, heartwarming and emotional read that I enjoyed so much and can't recommend enough.
Hope leaves Joy a letter and a jar of pebbles. The two women are connected by much more than their cheerful names.
Joy, understandably, thinks that the nice old dear had maybe lost more of her mind than she thought. But not long after, she is propelled to do as Hope requested.
Again, I can't stress how much I enjoyed this magical story. I loved the relatable characters and it didn't feel too far fetched at all. It was like an adult Fairytale, albeit a believable one!
I loved Joy's parents and a particular scene with her Dad brought a lump to my throat. No matter how old we are, we still need some fun in our lives.
The setting was perfect. I felt that I was sitting looking out over the Atlantic Ocean with Joy and a glass of red wine, with the smell of the Sea and the wind blowing through my hair.
I have read The Feud by this author and I really enjoyed it, and these books show how great a writer she is; to create stories in different genres.
I am certainly looking forward to reading more by Amanda James.
5 Stars isn't enough for this book.
This is my honest and unbiased review.
Joy Pentire is still grieving the loss of her husband, Sean.
Oh she's getting on with life, just.
There isn't a time limit on grief and I think she's doing great but everyone can put on an act.
Working at St Margaret's care home, Joy is fond of the residents, especially Hope Trebarwith.
The two names are light itself, but what follows is a captivating, heartwarming and emotional read that I enjoyed so much and can't recommend enough.
Hope leaves Joy a letter and a jar of pebbles. The two women are connected by much more than their cheerful names.
Joy, understandably, thinks that the nice old dear had maybe lost more of her mind than she thought. But not long after, she is propelled to do as Hope requested.
Again, I can't stress how much I enjoyed this magical story. I loved the relatable characters and it didn't feel too far fetched at all. It was like an adult Fairytale, albeit a believable one!
I loved Joy's parents and a particular scene with her Dad brought a lump to my throat. No matter how old we are, we still need some fun in our lives.
The setting was perfect. I felt that I was sitting looking out over the Atlantic Ocean with Joy and a glass of red wine, with the smell of the Sea and the wind blowing through my hair.
I have read The Feud by this author and I really enjoyed it, and these books show how great a writer she is; to create stories in different genres.
I am certainly looking forward to reading more by Amanda James.
5 Stars isn't enough for this book.
This is my honest and unbiased review.
March 20, 2024
This was a gentle narrative that is all about the healing process… and some magical pebbles too. It was slow and sweet but I did struggle with the fakery of the magic pebbles and the temporary influence they had on all those that Joy encounters.
I was surprised by this magical twist and it definitely made for a more interesting story. As a grieving widow, Joy had changed jobs from the classroom to an elderly care home and it is here that she inherits this skill as being a collector. Joy has the power to see people’s auras: to physically see the emotions that other people are feeling and can collect some of this to pass on to others in need. During the course of the story, Joy encounters strangers from all walks of life with a range of personal problems. She uses her super-powers to improve their lives for the better.
Most of the characters were willing to open up to Joy. I found this unexpected and a bit predictable, the more it happened. Very little encouragement is needed and Joy became more of a counsellor than a friend. As a result, I think it slowed the plot down a fair amount as the detail for each character’s emotions became quite prolonged. Yet, Joy does have their best interests at heart and frequently she puts other people’s happiness before her own. This reaches a climax in the novel where her own heart and love is at risk and I enjoyed seeing how she overcame this dilemma.
Upon receiving the magic pebble full of good emotions, the recipient suddenly feels the impact and Joy watches them become more positive and confident. However, I found this a bit unsettling because it didn’t feel natural to the characters: let’s face it, they are all being influenced by something that is not a reflection of their true personality. The brief confidence, happiness or desire to do better felt artificial and it made me wonder whether Joy would interfere again, the next time the character was feeling a bit low. Surely there needed to be the opportunity for the characters to learn individually, without the influence of magic?
Maybe I have read into this too much, but I couldn’t escape that feeling and it unsettled me a bit. I think because so many of the characters responded positively to Joy’s influence that it didn’t feel realistic (although I did accept you can collect emotions and transfer them to pebbles!). Without this feature, it was still a pleasant story to read and I enjoyed escaping to the Cornish coast, watching the protagonist move on from the loss of her husband and making friends along the way as she returns to the classroom once more.
With thanks to One More Chapter, Harper Collins and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I was surprised by this magical twist and it definitely made for a more interesting story. As a grieving widow, Joy had changed jobs from the classroom to an elderly care home and it is here that she inherits this skill as being a collector. Joy has the power to see people’s auras: to physically see the emotions that other people are feeling and can collect some of this to pass on to others in need. During the course of the story, Joy encounters strangers from all walks of life with a range of personal problems. She uses her super-powers to improve their lives for the better.
Most of the characters were willing to open up to Joy. I found this unexpected and a bit predictable, the more it happened. Very little encouragement is needed and Joy became more of a counsellor than a friend. As a result, I think it slowed the plot down a fair amount as the detail for each character’s emotions became quite prolonged. Yet, Joy does have their best interests at heart and frequently she puts other people’s happiness before her own. This reaches a climax in the novel where her own heart and love is at risk and I enjoyed seeing how she overcame this dilemma.
Upon receiving the magic pebble full of good emotions, the recipient suddenly feels the impact and Joy watches them become more positive and confident. However, I found this a bit unsettling because it didn’t feel natural to the characters: let’s face it, they are all being influenced by something that is not a reflection of their true personality. The brief confidence, happiness or desire to do better felt artificial and it made me wonder whether Joy would interfere again, the next time the character was feeling a bit low. Surely there needed to be the opportunity for the characters to learn individually, without the influence of magic?
Maybe I have read into this too much, but I couldn’t escape that feeling and it unsettled me a bit. I think because so many of the characters responded positively to Joy’s influence that it didn’t feel realistic (although I did accept you can collect emotions and transfer them to pebbles!). Without this feature, it was still a pleasant story to read and I enjoyed escaping to the Cornish coast, watching the protagonist move on from the loss of her husband and making friends along the way as she returns to the classroom once more.
With thanks to One More Chapter, Harper Collins and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
October 20, 2021
There’s definitely a touch of magic mingling with the salty sea air if you care to venture into Joy Pentire’s part of the world. The beautiful coastline of Cornwall is the place to be if you fancy sampling the power of alternative healing. Imagine having the rare ability to help others change certain aspects of their lives, realising ambitions, falling in love, dealing with troublesome relationships simply by changing the colour of their aura, swapping a negative emotion for a more positive one. And wouldn’t it be grand if all this could be achieved by the mere touch or pocketing of an ordinary looking pebble, a pebble that is infused with the right kind of emotion guaranteed to reverse any recipients fortune from bad to good? Well it’s the gift of collecting that has been passed onto Joy by Hope, an elderly resident of the nursing home in which Joy currently works and it’s fair to say inheriting this secret special gift comes as something of a surprise. Will it prove to be a wonderful opportunity for spreading love, joy, kindness and hope, as well as a chance to form new friendships and enhance Joy’s life for the better or will shouldering this responsibility overwhelm this lovely young woman who has lost her sparkle along with the death of her husband?
A Secret Gift is such a sweet charming gentle and inoffensive read with an unusual original premise. This is a paying it forward storyline whose message is simple and straightforward. Treat people with kindness,love and respect and in time you’ll reap the rewards. As Joy completes one good turn after another, it’s amazing how gradually her own life begins to improve in all manner of ways, lighting her up from the inside out so that she sparkles once more. I loved the references to the characters rainbow coloured auras which made me think if this book had an aura of its own it would be glowing golden as it’s bursting with good positive energy, full of compassion and generosity of spirit. I did wonder if I kept it close by at all times somehow all the goodness would seep into my pores and leave me feeling cleansed, refreshed, rejuvenated and a new woman. But sadly it didn’t!
If you’re a natural skeptic like me you may find Joy’s newly acquired skill a bit too ‘out there’ to take seriously. I’ll be honest, if someone approached me with the gift of a pebble that would magically transform my life I’d give them a withering look and decide they were utterly bonkers!! Lovely as the sentiment of this novel is however hard I tried I couldn’t surrender myself to its obvious charm, my cynicism sending my eyes heavenwards at every over simplified resolution to each character’s personal dilemmas. I desperately wanted to be ‘more Joy’ but an aura of disbelief which hovered over me whilst I read from cover to cover, refused to budge. It feels almost cruel to have negative thoughts about the storyline and the characters but for me the characters lack any real depth. With the exception of perhaps one, they are all TOO nice which just isn’t realistic. Joy with her feline friend Seb doesn’t possess a bad bone in her body. Thanks to her secret gift she’s attracting new friends like iron filings to a magnet and she’s a character worthy of a second chance at happiness so why was I not more enamoured with her? My problem was despite her extraordinary power I found her and the rest of the cast bland. I am always drawn towards feel good uplifting fiction but I still expect there to be an element of realism and in my opinion this storyline doesn’t exhibit that. Instead there’s a naïveté to the writing that prevented me from truly connecting with Joy and other characters in this Cornish community, turning it into something akin to a Disney fairytale. I don’t think the author does the setting justice either; I didn’t feel as if I was being treated to the full flavour of Cornwall which was disappointing. As a rule a novel with a Cornish vibe is right up my street!
Overall, this is a pleasant, heartwarming, rather far fetched read but nothing more than that. Although the premise is original the characters aren’t memorable enough to ensure they and the storyline stand out. There really isn’t much in the way of a plot line and what there is is incredibly predictable. I think it’s safe to say this novel wasn’t for me.
My thanks as always to the publisher OMC and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read in exchange for an honest review.
A Secret Gift is such a sweet charming gentle and inoffensive read with an unusual original premise. This is a paying it forward storyline whose message is simple and straightforward. Treat people with kindness,love and respect and in time you’ll reap the rewards. As Joy completes one good turn after another, it’s amazing how gradually her own life begins to improve in all manner of ways, lighting her up from the inside out so that she sparkles once more. I loved the references to the characters rainbow coloured auras which made me think if this book had an aura of its own it would be glowing golden as it’s bursting with good positive energy, full of compassion and generosity of spirit. I did wonder if I kept it close by at all times somehow all the goodness would seep into my pores and leave me feeling cleansed, refreshed, rejuvenated and a new woman. But sadly it didn’t!
If you’re a natural skeptic like me you may find Joy’s newly acquired skill a bit too ‘out there’ to take seriously. I’ll be honest, if someone approached me with the gift of a pebble that would magically transform my life I’d give them a withering look and decide they were utterly bonkers!! Lovely as the sentiment of this novel is however hard I tried I couldn’t surrender myself to its obvious charm, my cynicism sending my eyes heavenwards at every over simplified resolution to each character’s personal dilemmas. I desperately wanted to be ‘more Joy’ but an aura of disbelief which hovered over me whilst I read from cover to cover, refused to budge. It feels almost cruel to have negative thoughts about the storyline and the characters but for me the characters lack any real depth. With the exception of perhaps one, they are all TOO nice which just isn’t realistic. Joy with her feline friend Seb doesn’t possess a bad bone in her body. Thanks to her secret gift she’s attracting new friends like iron filings to a magnet and she’s a character worthy of a second chance at happiness so why was I not more enamoured with her? My problem was despite her extraordinary power I found her and the rest of the cast bland. I am always drawn towards feel good uplifting fiction but I still expect there to be an element of realism and in my opinion this storyline doesn’t exhibit that. Instead there’s a naïveté to the writing that prevented me from truly connecting with Joy and other characters in this Cornish community, turning it into something akin to a Disney fairytale. I don’t think the author does the setting justice either; I didn’t feel as if I was being treated to the full flavour of Cornwall which was disappointing. As a rule a novel with a Cornish vibe is right up my street!
Overall, this is a pleasant, heartwarming, rather far fetched read but nothing more than that. Although the premise is original the characters aren’t memorable enough to ensure they and the storyline stand out. There really isn’t much in the way of a plot line and what there is is incredibly predictable. I think it’s safe to say this novel wasn’t for me.
My thanks as always to the publisher OMC and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read in exchange for an honest review.
June 14, 2022
Years ago Joy lost her husband, then in the course of her job as a caretaker of the elderly, she received the most awesome gift from Hope. The Secret Gift to help all those in need.
A beautiful read that had my heart going squishy as I read through the pages.
With likable characters embedded in the prose filled with emotions, the author has done a wonderful job binding everything in place.
A heartwarming feel-good read was this magical story, filled with happy promises where friendship was the cornerstone of relationships.
A beautiful read that had my heart going squishy as I read through the pages.
With likable characters embedded in the prose filled with emotions, the author has done a wonderful job binding everything in place.
A heartwarming feel-good read was this magical story, filled with happy promises where friendship was the cornerstone of relationships.
November 6, 2021
I was invited to take part in the blog tour for ‘A Secret Gift’. After reading the synopsis of ‘A Secret Gift’, I knew that I had to read this book and I had to take part in the blog tour. I liked the idea of ‘A Secret Gift’ and so I grabbed a cup of tea, grabbed my Kindle and settled down for what proved to be an emotional but ultimately heart warming story. I thoroughly enjoyed reading ‘A Secret Gift’ but more about that in a bit.
I loved the character of Joy Pentire and I warmed to her from the very start. She is a young woman, who has been through the emotional mill somewhat. She lost her husband and soulmate three years prior to this story beginning. She is still at a fairly early stage of grief and goes through the various emotions. I got the impression that Joy doesn’t feel as though she could be happy again. Oy is a natural caring person and it is no surprise that she is highly thought of as a carer. In fact one of the old ladies that she cares for, Hope, resides in the home where Joy works. What starts as a working relationship becomes a firm friendship. Hope knows that she is dying but before she passes, she wants to talk to Joy about something special and important- ‘A Secret Gift’. What follows is one hell of a story and then some.
It took me no time at all to get into ‘A Secret Gift’. In fact as soon as I started reading, I knew that this was a special story and that I would become addicted to reading it. I was spot on too. I found it extremely difficult to put this book to one side for any length of time. I just loved the idea of the story and I had to keep reading to see how the story panned out. My Kindle wasn’t exactly glued to my hand but it might as well have been because it travelled everywhere with me. I just couldn’t bear to miss a single second of this charming story. I was like an addict constantly in need of my next ‘fix’. This was one of those stories that was constantly on my mind. If I wasn’t reading the book, then I was thinking about the book, if I had to put the book to one side for any length of time then I would immediately look forward to being able to pick the book up again. I soon got to the end of ‘A Secret Gift’ and I had to say ‘goodbye’ to Joy. I found ‘A Secret Gift’ to be an emotional but ultimately uplifting and heart warming read. This is a delightful story which will appeal to many.
‘A Secret Gift’ is superbly written and then some. The author certainly knows how to grab your attention and draw you into what proves to be a hell of a read. Amanda has one of those writing styles that is easy to get used to and easy to get along with. In fact reading this book felt more like a chat between friends. Amanda clearly cares about her characters and this shines through in the story and the way in which the characters are described. I love the way in which Amanda makes the reader feel as though they are part of the story themselves and at the heart of the action. That’s how I felt at any rate.
In short, I thoroughly enjoyed reading ‘A Secret Gift’ and I would definitely recommend this book to other readers. I will certainly be reading more of Amanda’s work in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.
I loved the character of Joy Pentire and I warmed to her from the very start. She is a young woman, who has been through the emotional mill somewhat. She lost her husband and soulmate three years prior to this story beginning. She is still at a fairly early stage of grief and goes through the various emotions. I got the impression that Joy doesn’t feel as though she could be happy again. Oy is a natural caring person and it is no surprise that she is highly thought of as a carer. In fact one of the old ladies that she cares for, Hope, resides in the home where Joy works. What starts as a working relationship becomes a firm friendship. Hope knows that she is dying but before she passes, she wants to talk to Joy about something special and important- ‘A Secret Gift’. What follows is one hell of a story and then some.
It took me no time at all to get into ‘A Secret Gift’. In fact as soon as I started reading, I knew that this was a special story and that I would become addicted to reading it. I was spot on too. I found it extremely difficult to put this book to one side for any length of time. I just loved the idea of the story and I had to keep reading to see how the story panned out. My Kindle wasn’t exactly glued to my hand but it might as well have been because it travelled everywhere with me. I just couldn’t bear to miss a single second of this charming story. I was like an addict constantly in need of my next ‘fix’. This was one of those stories that was constantly on my mind. If I wasn’t reading the book, then I was thinking about the book, if I had to put the book to one side for any length of time then I would immediately look forward to being able to pick the book up again. I soon got to the end of ‘A Secret Gift’ and I had to say ‘goodbye’ to Joy. I found ‘A Secret Gift’ to be an emotional but ultimately uplifting and heart warming read. This is a delightful story which will appeal to many.
‘A Secret Gift’ is superbly written and then some. The author certainly knows how to grab your attention and draw you into what proves to be a hell of a read. Amanda has one of those writing styles that is easy to get used to and easy to get along with. In fact reading this book felt more like a chat between friends. Amanda clearly cares about her characters and this shines through in the story and the way in which the characters are described. I love the way in which Amanda makes the reader feel as though they are part of the story themselves and at the heart of the action. That’s how I felt at any rate.
In short, I thoroughly enjoyed reading ‘A Secret Gift’ and I would definitely recommend this book to other readers. I will certainly be reading more of Amanda’s work in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.
November 6, 2021
A SECRET GIFT by Amanda James
Joy Pentire is working at a Care Home in Cornwall, three years after her husband Sean died young. She lives alone with her cat Sebastian and although she loves working with the residents, her life is not as happy or as fulfilling as she would like it to be. But somehow she seems to feel powerless to change it.
Then, one day, one of the elderly residents, Hope, passes on a secret gift – one which will change Joy’s life in all sorts of ways…
I absolutely loved this book. I hadn’t read any of Amanda James’s novels before, but have since bought another one. In A Secret Gift, she weaves a tale which has so much goodness in it, so much heart and warmth, it is a real feel-good story. There are some excellent elderly characters in it too, which was a nice touch.
The novel is uplifting and magical. In places, it seems like a modern-day fairytale, though in the best possible sense. I found the story unusual and original and the characters are believable and wonderful. Who knows, there may even be a Prince Charming in the pages too…
9 out of 10
Joy Pentire is working at a Care Home in Cornwall, three years after her husband Sean died young. She lives alone with her cat Sebastian and although she loves working with the residents, her life is not as happy or as fulfilling as she would like it to be. But somehow she seems to feel powerless to change it.
Then, one day, one of the elderly residents, Hope, passes on a secret gift – one which will change Joy’s life in all sorts of ways…
I absolutely loved this book. I hadn’t read any of Amanda James’s novels before, but have since bought another one. In A Secret Gift, she weaves a tale which has so much goodness in it, so much heart and warmth, it is a real feel-good story. There are some excellent elderly characters in it too, which was a nice touch.
The novel is uplifting and magical. In places, it seems like a modern-day fairytale, though in the best possible sense. I found the story unusual and original and the characters are believable and wonderful. Who knows, there may even be a Prince Charming in the pages too…
9 out of 10
April 3, 2024
New author for me, but after reading this book A Secret Gift, I’ll definitely be looking to read all her other books.
I absolutely loved this book, such a delightful and heartwarming story, with some emotional moments thrown in. The story really was well written and the characters were all so very real, well developed. I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know them all, they were a lively unique bunch for sure.
The story features auras and the collecting of them, a very unique concept for a story I thought, certainly not one that comes up in books on a regular basis. I really liked it. As well as auras, there is plenty more going on in the story, like romance for one.
Anyway I’m already looking forward to reading my next book by this author.
I absolutely loved this book, such a delightful and heartwarming story, with some emotional moments thrown in. The story really was well written and the characters were all so very real, well developed. I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know them all, they were a lively unique bunch for sure.
The story features auras and the collecting of them, a very unique concept for a story I thought, certainly not one that comes up in books on a regular basis. I really liked it. As well as auras, there is plenty more going on in the story, like romance for one.
Anyway I’m already looking forward to reading my next book by this author.
December 14, 2021
I really wanted to enjoy this book but as the time went on I found it left me more frustrated than anything!
I absolutely loved it at the start when Joy was working in the care home and we were introduced to Hope but from then on I was a little peeved!
The gift givers names drove me insane - Hope, Joy, Charity and Grace all a bit twee - questions weren’t answered like why did they get the gift?
The story of Joy and Jowen was lovely on its own but it was a shame that the rest of it was so completely far fetched.
I apologise to the author for this downer of a review - I appreciate the hard work, the blood, sweat and tears that went into writing this story, which I am sure many people will love, but it wasn’t for me
I absolutely loved it at the start when Joy was working in the care home and we were introduced to Hope but from then on I was a little peeved!
The gift givers names drove me insane - Hope, Joy, Charity and Grace all a bit twee - questions weren’t answered like why did they get the gift?
The story of Joy and Jowen was lovely on its own but it was a shame that the rest of it was so completely far fetched.
I apologise to the author for this downer of a review - I appreciate the hard work, the blood, sweat and tears that went into writing this story, which I am sure many people will love, but it wasn’t for me
January 4, 2022
Three years ago Joy Pentire lost her husband and soulmate ..Now 29 , she sees the world in black and white without seeing the beauty of life ..Working in St .Margaret's Residential home she meets Hope, a woman in the twilight years of her life ...and when Hope gives Joy a gift ...it is one that will bring back her joy du vrie...and colour her world once more ..I finished this in the early hours of the morning ..A Beautiful, lifting up magical story that is full of kindness, faith , hope colour and love ...Beautiful writing ...
February 4, 2023
Lovely easy read that makes the heart melt just a lil
November 11, 2021
Boring
Sorry but this book was unbelievable boring ,,I just didn’t see the magic others did ,I fast forward it to the end .
Sorry but this book was unbelievable boring ,,I just didn’t see the magic others did ,I fast forward it to the end .
October 14, 2021
Fantastic unique plot, wonderful memorable characters and a beautiful setting in Cornwall. What more can you ask for, maybe a touch of an unexplainable mystic gift? There is that too!
I cannot find the words to write how much I enjoyed being the world of this book. I wish that this were “real life”. If only there were truly people that had the gift within this book.
This is the first book that I have read by this author. I like to read “new-to-me” authors and sometimes find a gem, as I did this time. I was immediately drawn into the story since I adore older people and think the world of them. It is not common to have a nursing facility in a book portrayed in a positive light. I applaud the author for including older characters and showing them as worthy and cherished beings.
The main character, Joy, is such a lovable person, and I found myself quickly wanting to be her friend and wishing her happiness. The cast of other characters in the book soon wove their way into my heart as well. From the beautiful cat, Sebastian to the older woman that becomes a close friend to Joy, Grace. I miss them now that I have finished the book.
This definitely was a book I did not want to put down, but also I did not want to continue to read, since that would mean it would end. Since I have finished it, I still am thinking about all the lovely people I was lucky enough to have met through this book. I recommend reading The Secret Gift very highly.
I want to thank HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter and NetGalley for giving me the immense pleasure of reading the advance reader copy, with no obligation to write a review. My review is written freely as a hobby, and is totally my own opinion, not influenced by receiving the ARC.
I cannot find the words to write how much I enjoyed being the world of this book. I wish that this were “real life”. If only there were truly people that had the gift within this book.
This is the first book that I have read by this author. I like to read “new-to-me” authors and sometimes find a gem, as I did this time. I was immediately drawn into the story since I adore older people and think the world of them. It is not common to have a nursing facility in a book portrayed in a positive light. I applaud the author for including older characters and showing them as worthy and cherished beings.
The main character, Joy, is such a lovable person, and I found myself quickly wanting to be her friend and wishing her happiness. The cast of other characters in the book soon wove their way into my heart as well. From the beautiful cat, Sebastian to the older woman that becomes a close friend to Joy, Grace. I miss them now that I have finished the book.
This definitely was a book I did not want to put down, but also I did not want to continue to read, since that would mean it would end. Since I have finished it, I still am thinking about all the lovely people I was lucky enough to have met through this book. I recommend reading The Secret Gift very highly.
I want to thank HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter and NetGalley for giving me the immense pleasure of reading the advance reader copy, with no obligation to write a review. My review is written freely as a hobby, and is totally my own opinion, not influenced by receiving the ARC.
October 22, 2021
This beautiful story is set in Cornwall, and as I read it I was transported to the sea and sand .
Joy Pentire is struggling with grief, her husband died three years ago and she now puts her energy into looking after the residents of the care home she works at and although she is happy in her work she feels like something is missing.
One of the residents Hope connects with Joy and their friendship brings them both happiness . With Hope nearing the end of her life she gives Joy a present, a jar full of pebbles and a letter.
The pebbles hold a secret. As the story unfolds we find out about this secret, one that allows Joy to help other people and ultimately herself as well.
With Joy returning to her job as classroom assistant in a local school all the mismatched pieces of her life slowly come together. Her unselfish personality shines throughout the book, offering friendship and support to others which had me rooting for her to have a well deserved happy ending.
I’m not a believer in auras and crystals myself so I didn’t really connect to this aspect of the storyline but I found the book gentle and easy to read, maybe a little predictable but sometimes I quite enjoy that.
Joy Pentire is struggling with grief, her husband died three years ago and she now puts her energy into looking after the residents of the care home she works at and although she is happy in her work she feels like something is missing.
One of the residents Hope connects with Joy and their friendship brings them both happiness . With Hope nearing the end of her life she gives Joy a present, a jar full of pebbles and a letter.
The pebbles hold a secret. As the story unfolds we find out about this secret, one that allows Joy to help other people and ultimately herself as well.
With Joy returning to her job as classroom assistant in a local school all the mismatched pieces of her life slowly come together. Her unselfish personality shines throughout the book, offering friendship and support to others which had me rooting for her to have a well deserved happy ending.
I’m not a believer in auras and crystals myself so I didn’t really connect to this aspect of the storyline but I found the book gentle and easy to read, maybe a little predictable but sometimes I quite enjoy that.
January 4, 2022
If you're looking for a book to raise your spirits and give you a warm, glowy feeling - look no further. This book made me smile throughout and was so uplifting.
Joy is not living up to her name. She is melancholy and grieving the loss of her husband Sean, a fireman killed at work. It's been three years but she misses him every minute of every day.
Working as a carer in a residential home, she is gifted some pebbles and a letter by resident Hope. The letter contains instructions that seem too incredible to be true. Joy has been gifted the ability to see auras, and to borrow some of their power. This power is then transferred to a pebble which is then passed on to someone in need.
To Joy's utter disbelief, it works.
And as she spreads joy and happiness, she finds her heart becoming lighter.
And even open to the possibility of loving again.
Wonderful friendships, new beginnings and gorgeous Cornwall make this a book to curl up with on a dark and dreary night and feel its magic weave its spell on you.
Joy is not living up to her name. She is melancholy and grieving the loss of her husband Sean, a fireman killed at work. It's been three years but she misses him every minute of every day.
Working as a carer in a residential home, she is gifted some pebbles and a letter by resident Hope. The letter contains instructions that seem too incredible to be true. Joy has been gifted the ability to see auras, and to borrow some of their power. This power is then transferred to a pebble which is then passed on to someone in need.
To Joy's utter disbelief, it works.
And as she spreads joy and happiness, she finds her heart becoming lighter.
And even open to the possibility of loving again.
Wonderful friendships, new beginnings and gorgeous Cornwall make this a book to curl up with on a dark and dreary night and feel its magic weave its spell on you.
October 21, 2021
Joy has been suffering the grief of losing her husband for three years now. She is feeling that she may never recover when she is given a secret gift from one of the elderly people she is a caregiver for. Joy now has the ability to help people in an unusual way.
What I liked: uplifting, helpful and loving book
What I didn't like: It seemed a little too easy that Joy could find people who needed help everywhere she went. A bit contrived.
A great story for people who believe in or can see aura's and for people who use pebbles and crystals.
Thanks to netgalley and Sara at One More Chapter for the widget.
What I liked: uplifting, helpful and loving book
What I didn't like: It seemed a little too easy that Joy could find people who needed help everywhere she went. A bit contrived.
A great story for people who believe in or can see aura's and for people who use pebbles and crystals.
Thanks to netgalley and Sara at One More Chapter for the widget.
November 8, 2021
This book was absolutely wonderful, the storyline was unlike any I've read before, it was heartwarming, uplifting, emotional & there was that magical feel to it.
So utterly compelling, I couldn't turn the pages quick enough. The story was captivating, the characters realistic & memorable. The Cornish coastal setting was the perfect backdrop.
Not only does the gift help others, it also helps Joy reclaim her life & take that second chance that's offered her.
Many thanks to Rachel's Random Resources for my tour spot & gifted copy.
𝗜 𝗴𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗮 5 ⭐ 𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴
So utterly compelling, I couldn't turn the pages quick enough. The story was captivating, the characters realistic & memorable. The Cornish coastal setting was the perfect backdrop.
Not only does the gift help others, it also helps Joy reclaim her life & take that second chance that's offered her.
Many thanks to Rachel's Random Resources for my tour spot & gifted copy.
𝗜 𝗴𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗮 5 ⭐ 𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴
January 6, 2025
♥️The cover of A Secret Gift is just beautiful♥️
What a unusual yet compelling story. Grief, loss, friendship and second chances are the key elements in the story. Throw in magic pebbles and you get a very sweet story I loved reading.
The setting is in beautiful Cornwall.
The characters are engaging and interesting.
The story was heartwarming and heartfelt.
Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and author for giving me the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
What a unusual yet compelling story. Grief, loss, friendship and second chances are the key elements in the story. Throw in magic pebbles and you get a very sweet story I loved reading.
The setting is in beautiful Cornwall.
The characters are engaging and interesting.
The story was heartwarming and heartfelt.
Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and author for giving me the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
October 30, 2021
A beautiful book of reflection and restarting your life after bereavement. Thought provoking with interesting well rounded characters, sad in parts but a lovely read.
December 3, 2021
Joy is a widow. Since her husband died she has been unsettled and still grieving. Feeling unable to return to her work as a teaching assistant she has been working in a care home. Joy is a lovely woman and cares for the residents as if they are her friends and family.
One of the residents, Hope is nearing the end of her life and asks to speak to Joy. She gifts her a jar of pebbles and a secret. As Joy promises never to reveal what she has been told she thinks to herself that it is all very strange and writes it off as rambles from an old woman.
What Joy doesn't know is her life is about to change in ways she could never imagine. She will meet new people and experience feelings she has never had and all because of Hope.
As Hope finds her way back to a normal life she meets various people along the way, some who will remain in her life and others who are just passing through. These characters all have a place in the story, they are well written and I empathised with them. As always there are some not so nice people and they also have a story.
What an uplifting read this was. From the beautiful cover that entices you inside to the lovely persona that is Hope. Apart from a first name, Hope is also the mood of the book. Hope that things will improve for all people in all ways. Hope that each day will get better and hope that love will find you.
Amanda James always has a touch of mysticism about her books, maybe it's because they are written in Cornwell which is well known for mystic happenings. Whatever it is I am always open to it and it sets my imagination going. I smiled all the way through this story and it made me feel different about certain things. I always love a touch of magic and find myself to be a true believer in all things that can't be explained.
A truly lovely story that will lighten your heart and make you believe all things are possible. Just what we all need.
One of the residents, Hope is nearing the end of her life and asks to speak to Joy. She gifts her a jar of pebbles and a secret. As Joy promises never to reveal what she has been told she thinks to herself that it is all very strange and writes it off as rambles from an old woman.
What Joy doesn't know is her life is about to change in ways she could never imagine. She will meet new people and experience feelings she has never had and all because of Hope.
As Hope finds her way back to a normal life she meets various people along the way, some who will remain in her life and others who are just passing through. These characters all have a place in the story, they are well written and I empathised with them. As always there are some not so nice people and they also have a story.
What an uplifting read this was. From the beautiful cover that entices you inside to the lovely persona that is Hope. Apart from a first name, Hope is also the mood of the book. Hope that things will improve for all people in all ways. Hope that each day will get better and hope that love will find you.
Amanda James always has a touch of mysticism about her books, maybe it's because they are written in Cornwell which is well known for mystic happenings. Whatever it is I am always open to it and it sets my imagination going. I smiled all the way through this story and it made me feel different about certain things. I always love a touch of magic and find myself to be a true believer in all things that can't be explained.
A truly lovely story that will lighten your heart and make you believe all things are possible. Just what we all need.
November 11, 2021
A Secret Gift is the perfect book to read at the beach, by a winter fire, and anytime in between.
Joy is devastated by the death of her firefighter husband. In the three years since he passed, she has withdrawn into a shell. Hope, a resident in the care home Joy works at, gives her a unique gift before she dies. Joy is uncertain if she believes it or not.
Life blossoms again for Joy when she learns to accept her newfound gift.
It isn’t easy to write much about the book without giving away the magic. But, I can tell you, this tale will touch your soul. It reaches deep in your heart and gives hope and joy. There are those two lovely words that play such an essential role in the book.
While the cover is beautiful, after reading the book, the symbolism is striking. The writing is smooth and well-paced, and the descriptions of Cornwall made me feel I was across the pond enjoying the area myself.
I highly recommend A Secret Gift to anyone that wants to perk up their week, loves a second chance romance, and sees the power of believing in a greater good.
4.5/5
I received a copy of the book for the tour. This review is my honest, unbiased opinion.
Joy is devastated by the death of her firefighter husband. In the three years since he passed, she has withdrawn into a shell. Hope, a resident in the care home Joy works at, gives her a unique gift before she dies. Joy is uncertain if she believes it or not.
Life blossoms again for Joy when she learns to accept her newfound gift.
It isn’t easy to write much about the book without giving away the magic. But, I can tell you, this tale will touch your soul. It reaches deep in your heart and gives hope and joy. There are those two lovely words that play such an essential role in the book.
While the cover is beautiful, after reading the book, the symbolism is striking. The writing is smooth and well-paced, and the descriptions of Cornwall made me feel I was across the pond enjoying the area myself.
I highly recommend A Secret Gift to anyone that wants to perk up their week, loves a second chance romance, and sees the power of believing in a greater good.
4.5/5
I received a copy of the book for the tour. This review is my honest, unbiased opinion.
January 5, 2022
This book came at just the right time for me. I think almost two years of worries about family health and remembering restrictions imposed by the pandemic had begun to wear away at my faith and positivity. This book reminded me that often there seem to be other forces at work in the world providing co-incidences and meant to be meetings that allow new things to happen.
The heroine Joy is easy to relate to and Amanda James' writing is effortless to read as you are drawn along with the magical story of giving hope to others by trying to help them find a boost of the emotion they need to move them forward. Yes, you have to slightly allow yourself to believe something a bit out of the ordinary, but you won't be disappointed if you let yourself relax into the story and enjoy the ride. And who is to say there isn't more magic in the world than we know?
I love Amanda James' books and this one didn't disappoint.
The heroine Joy is easy to relate to and Amanda James' writing is effortless to read as you are drawn along with the magical story of giving hope to others by trying to help them find a boost of the emotion they need to move them forward. Yes, you have to slightly allow yourself to believe something a bit out of the ordinary, but you won't be disappointed if you let yourself relax into the story and enjoy the ride. And who is to say there isn't more magic in the world than we know?
I love Amanda James' books and this one didn't disappoint.
August 19, 2022
What a lovely book, a real feel good read, and don't we all need something positive and good in our lives at the moment.
Joy is a widow at a young age, she used to be a Teaching Assistant but couldn't face it after her husband died so she got a job in a care home. She became close to one of the ladies there, and before she passed away she passed on a gift to Joy, she was to be a Collector.
I don't want to spoil the story so I won't give much more away, except to say it's a really positive book. Full of hope and positivity, giving people what they need, when they need it most.
This is a book I will come back to time after time, and one I'll recommend whole heartedly to my friends.
Joy is a widow at a young age, she used to be a Teaching Assistant but couldn't face it after her husband died so she got a job in a care home. She became close to one of the ladies there, and before she passed away she passed on a gift to Joy, she was to be a Collector.
I don't want to spoil the story so I won't give much more away, except to say it's a really positive book. Full of hope and positivity, giving people what they need, when they need it most.
This is a book I will come back to time after time, and one I'll recommend whole heartedly to my friends.
November 28, 2022
All downhill after the first 2 chapters. The book was about a fairy tale life not supported by reality. I can't understand the number of 4 and 5 star reviews. The book seemed to be a series of depictions of unfortunate individuals who were helped by a magic pebble. There was little depth to the characters and not a lot of connectivity. I don't read books with gratuitous violence or books filled with characters who are nasty for the same reason. I wish "A Secret Gift" had a bit more realism about individuals and the world.
November 29, 2022
Fantastic story!!!
I totally understand the transformation Joy was going through. Sometime when you feel that you are in the bottom of the put, miracles can come to us in unique ways. When Joy learned about collecting and how she might make a difference in helping someone else, her life started to change. She began focusing on what she saw and felt from the auras surrounding another person and figured out that giving them the pebble filled with energy of what they needed just helped them and herself.
I totally understand the transformation Joy was going through. Sometime when you feel that you are in the bottom of the put, miracles can come to us in unique ways. When Joy learned about collecting and how she might make a difference in helping someone else, her life started to change. She began focusing on what she saw and felt from the auras surrounding another person and figured out that giving them the pebble filled with energy of what they needed just helped them and herself.
August 28, 2024
A sweet story of a woman awakening to life again after experiencing the deep grief of losing her husband. I enjoyed the characters, especially the protagonist, although I did guess the immediate next steps in the plot.
I found the idea of collecting "magical" stones to give to people to imbue them with the character trait they carried interesting and thought-provoking, if not part of what I believe (which the author was inspired to through receiving a bag of crystals).
I enjoyed the read overall.
I found the idea of collecting "magical" stones to give to people to imbue them with the character trait they carried interesting and thought-provoking, if not part of what I believe (which the author was inspired to through receiving a bag of crystals).
I enjoyed the read overall.
April 26, 2022
The first book in the Cornish Escapes series, this is a story that once I started reading I was not putting down until I was finished. This story is well written and was well worth reading. I enjoyed seeing Joy Pentire gift of Cornish magic bring so much happiness to her and those who come into her life. I want to read the rest of this series. This is a new Author to me. I received a copy of this book via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review.
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