This warm, insightful and humorous story is such an enjoyable novel and it's clear Fern Britton puts a lot of character into her writing. The central theme of the book is starting over in the country, a well-trodden path for authors, which refreshingly Fern Britton gives a fresh new twist that will speak to women everywhere.
Helen Merrifield has said goodbye to her philandering husband and her swish West London house, to live in an idyllic country cottage in the heart of a postcard-perfect village in Cornwall. Putting the past behind her, Helen throws herself into country life and soon makes a new set of eccentric friends. To her surprise, Helen finds herself the love-interest of two very different men: the kind, gentle, desperate-for-love-and-sex Simon, and the darkly enigmatic local historian Piran. Whilst Helen is getting to grips with her new life, her oldest and dearest friend, Penny, a hot-shot TV Producer, has decided that the village is the perfect setting for her new TV series. When the cast and crew descend, two worlds collide, and Helen is thrown headlong into 5am wake-up calls and temperamental celebrities. In the midst of all this, Helen stumbles across a forgotten old tin chest full of Edwardian treasures. Who do they belong to? Will the unpleasant historian Piran help her to find out or will Simon have the key? As Helen finds herself the focus of Simon and Piran's attentions, it looks like her ex-husband is planning to put in an unscheduled appearance. Will Helen embrace the future, or is it too difficult to let go of the past?
Praise for New Beginnings 'little corker of a book! Heat
'Fern Britton has transferred her fun and friendly charm to the page' Good Housekeeping
'hugely entertaining novel' The Ticket
'A rollicking good read!' Best Praise for Fern: My Story
'Compelling and utterly candid' Daily Mail
'Fern is a survivor' Good Housekeeping
'A must-read! the mother of daytime TV opens up' Heat
'I defy anyone to read this and ultimately not to feel buoyed with optimism in this hugely readable autobiography we are reminded of just why we love her' Sunday Express
Author
About Fern Britton
Fern Britton began her career as a television presenter in 1980 after completing a stage management course at the Central School of Drama. In 1985 Fern became the presenter of the popular Coast to Coast, which lead to presenting roles on prime time television shows, the most iconic of which was on ITV's flagship show This Morning. Fern's warmth, humour, empathy and compassion have made her incredibly popular and she has become a much sought after presenter. In 2008 Fern released her autobiography Fern: My Story, which was a huge bestseller. Fern is deeply committed to a number of charities, in particular those working with and for women, children and childbirth. She lives with her husband Phil Vickery, the well respected chef, and her four children in Buckinghamshire.
