I struggled somewhat to get into this story which is unusual for me as I love historical fiction based on the world wars . In the end borrowed the audio version from my library, which helped me finish. Don’t be out off by my lukewarm response though, I see there are many, many positive reviews of it.

A very enjoyable read. Set in Cornwall, but for the most of it it could really have been anywhere.
Great storyline, although at times confusing, and just a few too many characters, and probably more than a novel's fair share of coincidences!
Some great historical content, with some great insights into life in the early twentieth century, but without feeling like you are reading a historical novel.

Theo has gone through a nasty divorce and yearns for a complete change of life. She buys a tumbledown cottage on the banks of the river Tamar which divides Cornwall and Devon. It is peaceful and tranquil sitting on the bank of the river, Boatman’s Cottage will be perfect, eventually!!

While exploring the cottage, Theo discovers a stash of hidden letters tied with a ribbon, Theo places them back in their hiding place to be looked at when the cottage is a little more habitable. When she starts to read the letters, they are love letters from a soldier during WW1

Theo soon makes friends, and gets plenty of help with the history of Boatman's Cottage. The letters tell of a love story between a Lady of the Manor and a servant.

A sad and beautiful love story.

This was a story told in two timelines and it was interesting and I loved the backdrop of Cornwall/Devon it just added an extra character.

It was a pleasant way to relax and escape for an afternoon. This was my first by this author but I will look out for more.

I was given a free copy by the publishers and netgalley but the review is entirely my own.

A nice read. I enjoyed the different time periods and it kept me interested until the end. Recommended.

This was a great story.
I would say the balance of timelines definitely tips towards the majority of the book is set in the past, to give the story of Alice. I was happy with that as I preferred that storyline although it does tie in very well to the present day.
I enjoyed the book, the characters, the plot etc but suddenly around 80% it started getting quite confusing and it felt like the author was either rushing to finish or had to finish within a certain number of words therefore was unable to properly explain events in the fuller way that she did earlier in the book. It started to very much just throw lots of information at the reader in order to tie up loose ends before the end of the book. When it started getting confusing and the writing style changed I actually put the book down for a few weeks and have only now picked it back up to finish. I am glad I did but unfortunately the way the final part of the book came across made me re-evaluate my rating. I would like to give 4 stars for the storyline, characters etc but I need to drop half star for things becoming a little confusing and rushed towards the end so 3.5 overall. I would still recommend this book to people who enjoy historical fiction as they might not get quite as confused as I did with all the tie-in connections at the end!

A nice read, jumping between two periods a century apart (keep your wits about you!) and weaving the two rather nicely. The names were rather muddling at times - I kept forgetting who the 21st century characters were, as I preferred their ancestors!

I was unable to post this to Goodreads as apparently the ISBN given does not exist on that platform!

Theo Pascoe takes on the peaceful Boatman’s cottage on the banks of the River Tamar in Cornwall when her marriage breaks down. She discovers a pile of love letters written during the First World War and the story is then told between two time periods - 1914-1920 and 2019.

The River Between Us is a lovely book for anyone who enjoys books set in Cornwall or Devon, complete with a scattering of Cornish history, intrigue, romance, secrets, love and loss. The characters are well rounded and realistic, the descriptions of the river and the surrounding landscapes and gardens are vivid. It’s a mesmerising read that pulls you in like a magnet and is perfect to while a way a few hours reading sat under the shade of a tree.

I received an advance copy of this book from HQ through NetGalley, however this did not influence my unbiased review of the book.

Newly divorced Theo discovers a ramshackle cottage on the banks of the Tamar and absolutely feels she must have it. She comes across a bundle of old letters and is so intrigued that she has to find out all she can about A and Z. At first when the story went backwards to 1914 I lost interest and skimmed until A and Z met, when it began to be interesting and I started enjoying the book. The descriptions of the Tamar were delightful and vivid. The story was bittersweet with plenty to engage the reader. Not so keen on all the coincidences especially in the modern sections though. I liked the way it was written and the cover was enticing and stood out. Look forward to reading something else by Liz!
3.5 stars

A beautiful story of entwined different generations and status. Love and loss feature as well as the issues of illegitimacy, homosexuality and votes for women pre and post world war 1.
Well told and a pleasure to read

The river between us - liz fenwick

Sorry, I didn’t get to read as it expired there was a fault with my login and I was unable to renew the book.

I love Liz Fenwick, one of my favourite authors who writes about Cornwall, and The River Between Us didn’t disappoint. We are currently looking at houses in Devon and Cornwall, possibly a small renovation project, but nothing quite as big as the one Theo, our protagonist, took on in Boatman’s Cottage on the banks of the Tamar.

Theo is escaping from the breakdown of her marriage and, whilst looking around her new home, she discovers some love letters written during the First World War. The story is then told between the two time periods, 1914-1920 and 2019. We come to learn how and why the letters were written and how Theo and her family fit into the storyline.

The author covers a variety of subjects in the wartime part of the novel, including same-sex relationships, marrying for money and titles, but not for love, and the control parents had over their children. I enjoyed both timelines equally, and it was interesting to see how each was going to play out.

The River Between Us is a title true to its name, as love flourished on either side of the Tamar. I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys reading novels set in Cornwall, with lots of Cornish history throughout.

Thank you to NetGalley and HQ for the opportunity to read and review an ARC of The River Between Us by Liz Fenwick.

I thought I was really going to enjoy this book but I found my interest levels falling as the book wore on. I found it confusing and hard to follow and I just couldnt get on with it.

I ended up reading this over a couple of nights in the end! Enjoyed it was more than I expected to. It's a very "perfect" story, all the coincidences you could imagine, but still had charm and enjoyment despite how unrealistic. Such lovely imagery and well written. Enjoyed all the characters too.

Thanks to NetGalley, HQ and Liz Fenwick for an eArc in exchange for an honest review.

Following the breakdown of her marriage, Theo has bought a tumbledown cottage on the banks of the river Tamar which divides Cornwall and Devon. The peace and tranquillity of Boatman’s Cottage, nestled by the water, is just what she needs to heal.

Yet soon after her arrival, Theo discovers a stash of hidden letters tied with a ribbon, untouched for more than a century. The letters – sent from the battlefields of France during WW1 – tell of a young servant from the nearby manor house, Abbotswood, and his love for a woman he was destined to lose.

Theo moves here as the calm and tranquility of the new house is just what she needs to reset and recharge herself.

This book flowed well and was an enjoyable read. The storytelling invokes the beauty and tranquility of the River Tamar and really makes you feel like you are there.

My goodness this book was really interesting and certainly had a mystery about it.

Theo has bought a cottage in Cornwall and she discovers the history of it which makes interesting reading.

We see what happens in the estate the cottage is in from 1914 to the present and the family that was there.

Alice is 18 when she is presented to the Queen, her Mother & Uncle send her to the house in Cornwall as she is in disgrace we see over the next few years what happens to her.

The book certainly kept me guessing what was going to happen and was very fascinating.

I was given a copy of the river between us by Liz Fenwick by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. The book is set in Cornwall, during 1920 and present day. Theo buys the Boatman's cottage. Theo looks into the history of the cottage. A great historical fiction story, well written.

I love a dual timeline novel and this one was great. Poignant and romantic in the past and hopeful and uplifting in the present.

If you adore a sweeping love story that includes mysteries from the past, then I highly recommend The River Between Us by Liz Fenwick. Having been described as the contemporary Queen of Cornish romance, Fenwick has strayed across the Tamar River into Devon for her latest release, something I’m sure her loyal readership will forgive.

When Theo’s marriage falls apart, she requires space and time to regroup, and the boatman’s cottage, situated on the river where she spent happy summers with her beloved grandmother, offers the perfect escape. But when she discovers a stash of hidden letters, she begins on a journey that weaves back to Lady Alice, who was banished to the countryside for being brave enough to fight for women’s rights.

The River Between Us flows beautifully between the present and past, joined by descriptions of flowers and nature, a historic mansion house and, of course, the Tamar River. With themes of ancestry and affairs of the heart, it might have been useful to have a family tree included in the end pages. However, I understand that this might also have ruined the plot line. One for fans of Kate Morton, The River Between Us is a study in how love, in all its forms, remains constant until the last.

Loved this book and would highly recommend but the dual timeline fiction is a bit hard to follow so make sure theirs no distractions when reading it as its not an easy read due to the hopping back and forth.