Fiona Walker’s books are always a joy to read, sassy as heck and oh-so entertaining, Country Secrets joins the series set in and around Compton Magna with style. Set in horse country, the centre of this novel revolves around the Stud Farm, owner Ronnie Percy and her daughter Pax. As with the other novels, this is an ensemble piece where you can invest in each and every character. They pop with colour and vitality, even if on the page for a moment. I particularly loved the animals who cause as much mischief as some of the humans. The picture-perfect setting made me smile, the map helps with orientation and I felt right at home as I walked round the fields and into the buildings. The village atmosphere, with its meddlesome gossiping encourages smirks, while the empathy and support also on display is heart-warming. Country Secrets welcomes you in with open arms, to a wonderfully readable and enjoyable treat of read.
When Ronnie Percy's gorgeous on-off lover Blair is forced to deep-freeze their affair for the sake of his sick wife, she's delighted to be distracted by charismatic neighbour, Kit Donne, and - more surprisingly - finds herself drawn into a fight for the future of the village. But then the return of someone from her distant past threatens to expose long-buried secrets.
Meanwhile daughter Pax - already besieged by her controlling estranged husband - has started to suspect that new beau 'the horsemaker' Luca still loves somebody else. The last shoulder on earth she should cry on is Bay Austen's, but his marriage is crumbling and he's lost none of his dangerous charm. Moreover, Bay knows the way to her heart is through her horses...
Old friendships, new loves, jealousies, gossip and beautiful horses - these are the classic ingredients for Fiona Walker's latest gripping, sexy novel, set in the Cotswold village of Compton Magna and laced with her trademark humour.
