A Wedding for the Cornish Girls

The Cornish Girls #5

by Betty Walker

The fifth heartwarming instalment in the Cornish Girls series, coming soon – pre-order now!





Can love still thrive in the uncertainty of war?





Summer 1943, Bude, Cornwall



Alice,18, receives a mysterious war work summons to report to a special unit in Bude, a popular seaside resort in North Cornwall, but she’s not allowed to discuss it. Terrified but excited, she launches herself into training for the most important job she’s ever had.


Meanwhile, Penny ‘Pickles’ – a land girl from the farm – also goes to Bude with Alice to work at a dairy. Dreaming of finding love but terminally shy, can Penny pluck up the confidence to speak to a charming local fisherman and possibly find what she’s most looking for?


Evelyn, a young widow who runs the boarding house where Alice and Penny are staying, has her hands full with a small child to care for and a tearaway younger sister. When two American troops are billeted in her house, Evelyn is frustrated and butts heads with one of them, but it isn’t long before sparks begin to fly…


Can love thrive for the Cornish Girls, even amidst the uncertainty of war?



A heart-warming tale of love in wartime, for fans of Nancy Revell and Donna Douglas.



Readers have been swept away by the Cornish Girls:
‘Romance…friendship…orphans…family…women helping in any way they can…Don’t miss this book’ Reader Review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐


‘A lovely historical war story. Can't wait to read what happens next in this saga…’ Reader Review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐


‘How nice it was to catch up with [the Cornish Girls]. I so hope [they] continue with their antics…’ Reader Review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐


‘Plenty of twists and turns, well written, likeable characters and easy to follow. I'm already looking forward to the next in the series…’ Reader Review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐


‘A great read – highly recommended’ Reader Review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐


‘A lovely five star read! I look forward to the next one!’ Reader Review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐


‘Much loved characters that will stay with you, due to their courage, determination and patriotic spirit – five stars from me’ Reader Review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Genres: Fiction, Historical Fiction

410 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 17, 2023

About the author

Born in Ilford, Essex, author Betty Walker lives in Cornwall with her family, where she enjoys gardening and coastal walks. She loves discovering curious historical facts, and devotes much time to investigating her family tree. Her Cornish Girls sagas, set in World War II Cornwall, are now a popular paperback series.

Betty also writes under other names! She writes atmospheric thrillers as Jane Holland, light-hearted romances as Beth Good, and Tudor historicals as Victoria Lamb.

Reviews

[Karren Sandercock · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alice Fischer is now eighteen, she lives with her Uncle Joe and Aunty Violet on their farm in Cornwall and she's approached by George Cotterill from Eastern House. Someone wants her to report to a special unit in Bude, it's a seaside resort in North Cornwall and the whole thing is very hush hush.

Penny Brown is a land girl and Uncle Joe is her boss, the two other girls she works with give her the name ‘Pickles’ she's getting tired of how they have been treating her and it might be time for a change. She contacts her supervisor, Penny can be transferred and someone needs a dairy hand in Bude.

Florence Pritchard lives in Bude, the young widow owns a boarding house and it’s called Ocean View Guest House. Alice and Penny are her new guests and she has a three year old son Billy. Two soldiers from the Second Battalion of the US Rangers arrive, they have been sent to the area to find accommodation for the rest of their unit and Florence panics. Staff Sergeant Miles Miller explains they won’t all be staying at her boarding house, vacant rooms in Bude will be requisitioned by the US army and they will open a “chow house” to feed the hungry men.

Alice is being put through her paces, learning self-defence, map reading and survival tactics and she assumes they are looking for recruits for the Secret Intelligence Service and Alice hopes she passes.

Penny is working for Mrs. Roskilly, her family own a dairy and a grocery shop in Bude. Penny's not a confident person, her boss pounces on any mistake she makes and is a tyrant. Penny meets fisherman John Pascoe, he’s classed as an essential worker and feels like people judge him because he’s not fighting in the war. Penny likes John, he's kind and he wouldn't be interested in dating her?

I received a digital copy of A Wedding for the Cornish Girls by Betty Walker from Avon Books UK and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I have read the previous fours books in the popular Cornish Girls Series, it's wonderful to catch up with familiar personas again and some new ones. The story is told from the three women's points of view, Alice, Penny and Florence and I felt a connection to the characters. Especially Alice, Penny, Florence, Billy, John, Miles, Violet and Sheila.

The narrative is set on the north coast of Cornwall, sharing a border with Devon and so far in 1943 it hasn't been damaged by the war. I had never heard of the Second Battalion of the US Rangers before, they were sent to Bude to train on the beach and rugged cliffs and in preparation for D-Day. The story focuses how you women at the time over the age of eighteen had to do war work, how dangerous and important fishing was to the food supply in England, the impact the American's had when they arrived in a village and people's attitudes towards them, how it was vital to report any suspicious behavior, wartime romances and the lead up to the the big push.

This book and the others in the series are perfect for fans of historical fiction sagas, I loved it and five stars from me.

[Jessika · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is like pulling on your favourite jumper it’s warming, comforting and you don’t want to put it down!
I read this as a stand alone as I haven’t read any of the previous Cornish Girls books and had no issues picking up the story and following the characters.

[Lucy Dunphy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Cornish Girls books are always a joy to read. Betty Walker is such a great storyteller. I was so happy that Alice finally gets her time to shine and I loved Penny and Florence. These brave young women going through the dark days of the war made for great story telling. I hope there is more from this series as I'd love to see how Alice gets on and also get to know Imogen a bit better. I must read for saga lovers.

Thanks to Netgalley and Avon for the opportunity to read this Advance Reader's Copy.

[Teresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series is getting better and better with each book. We begin at Joe's farm again with Vi, Alice and Sheila. There are three Land Girls working there also but Penny is getting bullied by one of the others and is unhappy. Alice, who is now eighteen, gets recruited for secret war work and her life changes completely. She moves to Bude and Penny, having asked for a transfer, goes with her. The main part of the story then takes place in Bude.
Here we meet Florence, a widow, who runs the boarding house where Alice and Penny stay. The US Rangers come to Bude to help with the war effort and two of them are also staying at Flo's, as she's known. Her sister, Imogen, turns up to stay and she's bad news.
We have a real mix of characters, including some downright nasty people. There are love affairs and marriages, some unexpected but welcome ones.
Florence was my favourite character in this story. She's independent, loving and a great friend. She's almost central to this book.
There are a few improbable happenings but it doesn't detract from the story. I'd recommend it to fans of historical fiction. They can be read as stand alone novels but it's far more enjoyable if read in order.

Thanks to Avon Books UK and NetGalley for an early copy of this book to read.

[Annarella · Rating 4 out of 5]

A heartwarming and well plotted series. I like the characters and want to know more about them and their future
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

[Leith Devine · Rating 4 out of 5]

This a the next installment in the charming Cornish Girls series, set in Cornwall during WWII. We’ve gotten to know the characters very well over the previous books, and I liked seeing them get their happiness after the grueling war years. A charming story, 4 stars.

[Nicola Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this series! I’ve been an avid follower of the Cornish girls since the very beginning and I always do an excited little happy dance every time I see a new book release and a new book on the horizon.

They are simply so easy and effortless to read and a chance to catch up with some of my fav characters and meet a host of new ones is wonderful every time around. And don’t think you need to have read any of the other ones to get enjoyment out of this book as it almost works perfectly as a standalone too (with the odd name drop of some old familiar faces which doesn’t take any enjoyment out if you haven’t read earlier on in the series but great if you have!).

The author introduces us to two fab new characters and ones that I absolutely loved from the get go. We have Penny, a land girl who ventures out to a new placement in Bude to escape her unhappy work at the farm. Florence and her little billy, the owner of a guest house who is about to get bombarded by a whole troop of US soldiers, there’s lots for her to content with there not to mention the awkward arrival of her pesky sister…

And finally Alice. Alice!! A character I have loved since the very beginning of the books when we saw her young, bookish and mentioned briefly in passing throughout. The fact that she got the attention of the whole book made me so happy and I absolutely loved getting to know her more and getting to see her character develop. The direction that’s been taken with her was just fab and made for such entertaining reading. I seriously loved it, as I have with all of the other books in this series.

And weddings galore in this one! It was another wonderful addition to the wartime Cornish girls series and they’ve honestly all been a delight to read. I can’t wait for (hopefully) more!

Thank you to the author and publisher for this book on NetGalley in return for my honest thoughts and review.

[Julie Cox · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely fabulous has always. Just love these boojs

[Kerrific Kerr · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm in love! This was a wonderful read about a diverse group of girls that you will feel a part of as you follow them on their journey of love. So wonderful!

[Minnesinger · Rating 4 out of 5]

With “wedding” in the title of the book you might think that’s the main focus, but it isn’t. There is a wedding, but it occurs at the end of the book, and it’s GRAN’s. (Ugh.) Sheila’s wedding, to the old geezer. Who cares! (Am I alone in this?) After five books of Sheila and her lowbrow language and appalling taste, it’s stale, yesterday’s news. One would think that an older woman with such fierce pride in her granddaughters’ intelligence, education and/or professional training would at least TRY to polish up her speech. Sheila reminds me of a typical bird on “East Enders”: appalling taste (in everything), crass, a bit conniving, who still tarts herself up for a man. (Don’t get me started on the ghastly bright yellow, lacey bridesmaid dress she sews for Alice.)

I think this story might have benefited from a different title, because the main character is Alice: this is HER story. She is afraid to leave home & family for the first time to start a new career (following in her father’s footsteps). Despite her anxiety, she gets on the train for Bude, where she is given cryptic instructions to go to a print shop. There she is told to begin romance immediately: it’s all foreign to her, scary, and sometimes brutal, but she meets every challenge, proving her mettle.

Any romance that occurs is between secondary characters such as Land Girl Penny, Alice‘s friend from southern Cornwall. She had requested a new assignment, which wk turned out to be in Bude as well. So she and Alice travel together by train to the north coast of Cornwall and find rooms in the same boarding house. Penny has a difficult time with her new Land Girl job; it’s not a good fit, so she must again look for a job. But the shop was good for one thing: she meets handsome local fisherman John Pascoe who asks her out to the pictures and introduces her to his family.

It’s an exciting time for Bude in September 1943; there is a rumor that American soldiers will soon be “invading” (in preparation for the ‘Big Push’, or the D-Day Invasion). Two American Special Forces (Army Rangers) liaison officers arrive in advance to scout out lodging for the Second Battalion US Rangers scheduled to arrive within the next 1-2 months. When they knock on the door of the Ocean View Boarding House, owner Florence Pritchard is on a ladder, struggling to clean the boarding house sign. Tall, dark, and handsome Staff Sergeant Miles Miller offers to clean it for her then asks if she has two rooms available. As she struggles to prepare the house for more guests and care for her 3-year-old son at the same time, she hesitates to accept the repeated offers of help from Miles, but recognizes that she does need help: there is too much work for a mother of a young child, on her own. Both in their mid-30s, they eventually fall in love. Theirs is a chaste, sweet love story, and are my favorite characters.

When the troopships eventually arrive, the only road to their camp site is through town. The sound of marching wakes the locals who all go outdoors in their pajamas to investigate, then cheer. It’s a touching scene that evoked how I imagine war-weary Britons must have felt when the Yanks really did arrive, all tall and muscular, “well-fed”, looking sharp in their uniforms. The Rangers are in Bude to train for an important mission, and daily exercises include scaling sheer cliff faces with ropes—all of which provides entertainment for the townspeople who have no idea what is to come. Everyone today knows about the historic Normandy invasion, but the plans then were strictly classified, known only to a few.

All the new activity, new faces, new ‘language’ (American English), and new music makes for exciting times. While some locals complained about the loud music blaring from boarding house windows, the swing music of Glen Miller proved too alluring to the young women of Cornwall. Who could blame a girl for accepting an invite to dance with a handsome soldier with a deep, chocolatey-smooth voice?

There is espionage as well to round out the story. Fun, entertaining read.

[Lucy-Bookworm · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Wedding for the Cornish Girls by Betty Walker

Each of the books in the series picks up from where the previous one leaves off, pulling a previously minor character into the spotlight and introducing new ones. This time it is Alice, younger sister of Lily, who is central to the story and we also meet Florence and Penny.
Alice is now 18 yrs old and working in a school. When she receives papers drafting her into war work, she is both excited to be moving away from sleepy Porthcurno to the more bustling Cornish town of Bude and also terrified as the work is top secret intelligence training.
Penny is a land girl looking for a change of role, whilst Florence owns the boarding house where the two girls are staying.
The book focusses on the daily life of a Cornish village during WW2, friendships and the arrival of the American troops into the close-knit community. There is a smattering of romance but actually far less “wedding talk” than I was expecting from the title!
The whole series is easy to read, heartwarming and definitely benefits from reading in sequence as the character develop so well throughout the series. Whilst the storyline is quite gentle and didn’t feel quite as robust as some of the others, this book is still an excellent addition to the Cornish Girls Series and ended with a promise of more to come.
Knowing that Betty Walker draws on facts to frame her stories, I looked into the history of Bude and discovered that in 1943, American troops, particularly the 2nd Battalion Rangers, did indeed descend on Bude where they used the beach & cliffs to train for D-Day.

Disclosure: I received an advance reader copy of this book free via NetGalley. Whilst thanks go to the author & publisher for the opportunity to read it, all opinions are my own & my review is left voluntarily.
The book is due to be published in Aug 2023

[Louise Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Cornish Girls #5

Alice, eighteen, receives a war work summons to report to a special unit in Bude, a popular seaside resort in North Cornwall, but she's not allowed to discuss it. Terrified but excited, she launches herself into training for the most important job she's ever had.

Meanwhile Penny 'Pickles' - a land girl from the farm - also goes to Bude with Alice to work at a dairy. Dreaming of finding love but terminally shy, can Penny pick up the confidence to speak to a charming local fisherman and possibly find what's she's most looking for.

Evelyn, a young widow who runs the boarding house where Alice and Penny are staying, has her hands full with a small child to care for and a tearaway younger sister. When two American troops are billeted in her house, Evelyn is frustrated and butts' heads with one of them, but ir's not long before sparks begin to fly.

Set in Cornwall during WWII, we follow the lives of characters old and new. This story focuses on the arrival of the Americans and Alice's mysterious war work which she wasn't allowed to speak about. And there just might be a wedding or two. This well written book held my attention throughout. The characters are well rounded and likeable.

I would like to thank #NetGalley #AvonBooksUK and the author #BettyWalker for my ARC of #AWeddingForTheCornishGirls in exchange for an honest review.

[Maggie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The latest in the Cornish Girls saga set during WW2 sees the attention switch to Alice, who is now approaching eighteen & although she has been enjoying working in a school she yearns to do something more useful so when she is summoned to Bude for a job- but one she is not able to tell anyone exactly what it involves she is excited. She suspects it has some connection to her father who, although a German has been working undercover for Britain. Penny is a land girl on the farm, but the other two girls have made her life a misery. She opts to ask for a transfer to Bude & they both end up at Florence's guest house. Florence is a widow with a small child. Her quiet guesthouse becomes a lot more lively with the arrival of an American officer. He is the forerunner of an avalanche of Americans who are preparing for the big push.

This is the fifth in the series. I have read & enjoyed a couple so I was somewhat familiar with the background but it could be read as a stand alone. The characters capture the interest & the research into the times make it feel authentic. Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for letting me read & review this book.

[AnnMarie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Wedding for the Cornish Girls is the fifth book in the Cornish Girls series. It can easily be read as a standalone story, but as we catch up with characters from the other books it is especially nice to have read the other books first. Luckily, I have read all the other books and reading this latest instalment was like catching up with family news.

Set in Bude, Cornwall, this book focuses on the lives of Florence, a boarding house owner, Penny, a land girl who has moved there to try her hand at different war work, and Alice who has been requested to take part in 'special' training in Bude. Penny and Alice board at Florence's house.

I don't want to risk giving any spoilers so will just say that reading about the three women, how their lives connect, their work, their romances, and how they cope with the war all made for a captivating read. American army men are also a large part of the story and you just know with Americans on the scene there are going to be some fun and romantic scenes!

I loved this book just as I have loved the entire series and if you enjoy wartime stories then this is a book that I definitely recommend.

[Margaret Richardson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Back in Cornwall where once again we meet the girls. Early on in the story a word was used and it was explained as a local word. The word being 'dreckly' I live in Leicestershire, born and bred. I remember well that my Paternal Grandmother born, 1896 often used this word.

Having read all the books so far, in the series for me this was the best. This story is mainly about Alice and Penny, one if the Land Girls. Alice had been offered job at a printers in Bude. Penny had had an argument with the other 2 Land girls and decides to move to Bude with her.

Alice, her 'printing' job is top secret for the war effort and can not tell anyone. Penny works in a shop that sells the produce grown by the farm she is now attached to. They stay in a boarding house, run buy a war widow. Plenty of action. The Americans arrive, The fishing community, go out in dangerous waters.

Another brilliant read ad I have no hesitation in giving 5*

[Rachael · Rating 5 out of 5]

After reading the previous books in the series, I was so excited to return to the Cornish coast and it was so comforting to catch up with familiar characters. I really liked how we gained insights into the development of previous characters who we have met and I liked how this story focused on Penny & Alice, allowing the reader to get to know them even more.
The story was told from the perspectives of three women, each going through their own trials and tribulations during the troubled times of war. I liked how each of their stories were interwoven and you could feel connections with each of them.
I liked how the book ended for each of these women and you really wanted the best for them. The way in which the story ended left you wanting even more, which is a dedication to Betty's writing and I really hope there is another installment soon to this series.

[Sarahlovesbooks76 · Rating 4 out of 5]

The fifth book in the Cornish Girls series. They do all standalone, but I would advise reading them in order if you can, to see the development of the characters and story.

This book focuses on 18 year old Alice, who has been targeted for specialised war work, and Land Girl Penny, who has had enough of her fellow workers and asks for a transfer. The girls both head off to Bude, a new location for these stories. We also meet new characters, the main one of these being boarding house owner Florence. When US Rangers arrive in the town, how will they affect the lives of the women?

I liked the change in character focus for this book, and the new location was good. The author always manages to set the scene well, and this book was no different.

[Emma Watson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yet another wonder story about the Cornish girls and certainly does not disappoint.

This time the story involves Alice and Penny the land girl along with a new character of Florence who is a widow. Alice ends up in Bude working there and Penny leaves the farm to go with her to work at another place they are staying at Florence’s boarding house. It was interesting to read about Alice working in the intelligence service.

I could not put this book down and the author weaves these stories so well. I liked the characters and they all worked well together.

I would recommend reading the books.

Well done.

[Barbara Deeprose · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Good Read

When Alice receives the chance of doing secret war work, she jumps at the chance but she has to leave the family in Porthcurno and move to Bude. Land girl Penny decides to move with her and they stay in the same boarding house run by Florence, a young widow with a small son. Soon Alice realises she is being trained to be a spy, and herself and the other trainees are sent to follow an American serviceman, but then the unexpected happens. I have loved the whole series and am already looking forward to the next book.

[Sue Rouse · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another fantastic Betty Walker book in the Cornish Girls series. As well as familiar characters like Alice and her family we are introduced to new ones like Florence and Penny plus others. Weddings are mentioned for several characters. You are best to read these books in order as that will help you understand who is who especially with the Fisher family. Set in WW2 this book focuses on the arrival of the Americans. A easy 5⭐️

[Tina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Betty Walker’s Cornish girls are back! This time in A Wedding for the Cornish Girls. The story focuses on three girls: Alice, little sister to Lily from the previous book. But Alice is grown up now. And Penny, one of the land girls out at the farm. And Florence, a widow with another chance at love. All three will discover that life has new adventures for them, if they will just be brave enough to go for it. Lots of fun! I really enjoy these books! Can’t wait for the next.

[Chloe · Rating 4 out of 5]

A heartwarming read and one I found myself really enjoying.
I loved the multiple POVs of all the girls and their different life situations, especially enjoying Alice’s new career ventures and the dramatics of these.
The characters of the girls were well done too, they felt like actual people that I could imagine myself being friends with and I loved that

[Bri C · Rating 4 out of 5]

Once again we meet the Cornish girls making their way through the war. Old fashioned in it's characters ways and thoughts, however it seems to be likely that is appropriate for the time this is set. Love the inclusion of the Intelligence training for Alice, the Secret War was not as well known, so makes these books stand out from the rest.. Rich and warm, like a big hug, another enjoyable read

[Rachel Axford · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a charming and heartwarming story.
Set in Cornwall during WW2 we follow the lives of Alice, Penny and Florence who do what they have to do in terms of war work, but that doesn’t mean that they can’t have fun and find unexpected romance.
A comfy, cozy saga.

[Patricia Moren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great story about the Cornish Girls. so easy to feenl involved in the stories and the ups and downs of the girls lives. The characters are well described and the storyline realistic. I wonder what happens next!

[MRS J P WELSH · Rating 5 out of 5]

The storyline follows on nicely

I've read the books out of sequence but you're cleverly reminded about the characters history. Very enjoyable read and lots of reminders of what a brilliant part females played during the war years

[KateP · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great WWII story about 3 women. Florence runs a boarding house and has some US Rangers stationed with her. Penny moves to Bude to begin a new job and Alice is in training for secret war work. I loved it.

[LittleRead · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adore this series. It’s perfect as the girls continue to grow and become women. If you were wanting more in this series, then your wish has been granted…and you won’t be disappointed.

[Laurie Cashen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great addition to The Cornish Girls! I love how this series talks about young woman in Cornwall, England, during WWII, and what trials and tribulations they faced.

[Pat Langhelt · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great story with Alice and Penny who go to Bude to start new jobs. Florence a young widow is their landlady, who suddenly is told she had to billet American troops in her boarding house.