At 17 Cassie is involved in a tragic accident which claims the lives of both her parents. Passer by David stays with Cassie, helps with rehab and ten years later have built an amazingly beautiful life together but something is missing and Cassie needs more in her life.

Having applied for a job at the bottom of the country in Cornwall, Cassie packs up and embarks on a new life with the one man she knows she can trust, her horse Caspian.

She has her work cut out for her working for the new family, running errands, cooking, cleaning, looking after the horses, admin for the farm but Cassie has never felt so settled.

She loves riding in the forest with the children and the horses and its somewhere she feels connected, she needs to know what the forest holds, there are shapes, flashing lights and someone living there.

This book had me gripped from the first page and I was really invested in the story. I was desperate to know more. I loved the surroundings, I love anything set in the country. It's my first Kate Ryder book and it wont be my last.
⭐⭐⭐⭐

Just sometimes, it can take me a few chapters to settle into a story – but not this time. I really think the prologue to this book is quite superb – that dream filled with sensory experiences, the recognition, the reassurance, the glow. And then we’re into the real world… Cass’s life with long term partner David, a relationship that stemmed from strange beginnings, an uncomfortable one where one partner has all the power and Cass’ spark has been dimmed by their time together. Finding that he’s involved in a relationship, along with denying her need for motherhood, is the last straw… and Cass makes her bid for freedom, becoming “superwoman” to a family living in an old manor house in Cornwall.

I just loved the way she blossomed – her ongoing relationship with the horses she’s always loved (I’m not remotely “horsey”, but her affinity was so well drawn), her relationship with the family’s children, spreading her wings, discovering there’s a whole new world outside her previous existence. For me, the joy of this book was largely about seeing Cass take control of her life, growing in confidence, moving on – but there’s always that distinct possibility that she might choose the easier path, and your conviction as a reader that she really mustn’t do so.

In some ways this is a love story – her relationship with Luke, married to Amanda (David and her would really have been made for each other) and distinctly out of bounds to her. But he also helps her transition to her new life – and introduces her to a world of knowledge and feeling that she’s never experienced before. At first, I wasn’t entirely sure whether I liked his inclination to educate her with small lectures about history and the natural world – but as the book progressed, I decided I liked that element very much indeed.

I’d perhaps expected more of the paranormal, maybe a little timeslip – that’s not a criticism, just an observation. But the elements that there are are really well done – a ghost here and there, a feeling of foreboding attached to a setting (and particularly chilling), and a touch of “magic” that drives one of the book’s more dramatic moments. I thought it was perfectly judged – a shimmering at the edges, more about the interaction between then and now and the surrounding landscape, less overt and more affecting as a result.

I must mention too the exceptional sense of place throughout this book – first the South Downs, then North Cornwall. The depiction of the scenery and the natural world is particularly vivid – especially the Cornish clifftops and those holloways, the threatening woods – always with that feeling that there’s only the thinnest of veils between the past and present.

I loved this book, and read it in two wonderful sittings – it would have been one, but I sadly had to give in to sleep. The writing is excellent, the story entirely engaging with characters you really care about. The twists and turns, the secrets revealed… I loved it. Do give this one a try – very different, a story so well told, and highly recommended by me.

(Review copied to Amazon UK, but link not yet available)

A beautifully-written novel of self-discovery in one of the most magical settings. The protagonist of the book Cassandra is trapped in an unfulfilling relationship with her arrogantand bossy partner David. once Cassandra discovers David's infidelity, she answers an ad and accepts a job in Cornwall.. There, surrounded by breathtaking scenery and spellbinding legends and stories, Cassandra discovers her ownself-worth and finds love. There is a touch of paranormal, but it is all an integral part of the setting and atmosphere of this evocative story.
This was my first book written by Kate Ryder and it was great to discover what a talented storyteller she is.

This is a beautifully-written, magical book, rich in history and nature, wrapped around a touching story of one woman’s journey to fulfillment. Cassandra is a fascinating character, brilliant and beautiful, warm and open, but lacking in confidence and a clear vision of what her future holds. I loved watching her grow and learn, enriching her life with knowledge and relationships. The setting of Cornwall, with its beauty and mysticism, is an integral part of the story, and the author did an excellent job bringing it to life.

Thank you so much to @rachelrandomresources for a #giftedcopy of this book I really enjoyed it.
We meet cass who doesn't really have any friends and losses her parents at 18 in a car accident but luckily she meets a guy called David who rescues her after the car accident and basically takes her home they are still together after 10 years not married but she wants children and he doesn't.
She realises she is basically like his employee and decides she need a fresh start so moves to Cornwall to help ginny and gyles with there house, looking after there children's and helping to look after there horses. She meets a guy called Luke who is like a local hero and helps her to discover the local history of the area.

Is this the fresh start she needs???

A really enjoyable read with likeable characters.

“Beneath Cornish Skies” brought me to a whole other world. The descriptions of the area in which the story takes place are breath taking through written word bringing me to the jagged cliffs by the sea. The paranormal activity in the book threw me for a bit, but overall I enjoyed this romantic getaway and would recommend it as a lovely escape from the everyday.

This was a great romance with a slight hint of the paranormal. I really enjoyed Luke’s stories about Cornwall and it’s history. Cass’s character was very fragile and the development you saw of her as a person was great to read about. I did feel that the ending was slightly rushed though.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for allowing me to read a preview cop6 of this book.

Atmospheric and magical. Kayte Ryder’s beautifully vivid storytelling swept me away to the Cornish coast. Cassondra is tired of her controlling relationship and finding out her partner is cheating on her is the final straw. she applies for a job as a dog walker/horse wrangler/nanny/house manager for a family in Cornwall and is delighted to get the job. The work is hard but rewarding, different than her pampered past. as Cassondra becomes more and more comfortable with the change of lifestyle she ventures out. when she crosses paths with Luke she is intrigued. She loves his passion for the land and loves learning about the area’s beauty and history.

There was something so elegant about this book. I know that might sound a little strange, but I just found it classy, not even sure how to explain that. In all honesty the Romance part of the Story might have been my least favorite bit. I really liked both Cass and Luke and I definitely wanted them to end up together. But I wish Luke had not been married, that bothered me a little. what really drew me to this story was its sense of place. I seriously felt like I was in Cornwall. I also really appreciated the supernatural elements of the story, I thought that added the perfect touch. A lovely Romance with a lot of heart and a wisp of a ghost.

This book in emojis 🐎 📸 🌊 👻 🐶

*** Big thank you to Aria for my gifted copy of this book. All opinions are my own. ***

This is a lovely little romance with just a touch of paranormal experiences thrown in. I always enjoy books about starting over when life is not meeting your expectations and this story is just that. All in all a very good read and a perfect end to a harrowing year.

Starting your life over is not always easy as Cassandra Shaw is to find out. She had the storybook life where she had no money problems and her boyfriend doted on her , but she didn’t feel like her life had meaning.

So, she closes one chapter of her life and begins a new one as a nanny in the countryside of the ghostly Cornish land! She becomes a lighthearted woman with new life, but things begin to unexplainably happen. Are these ghostly moments or people causing shadowy emotions?

I loved the characters and how the author developed the plot! She made the intrigue believable without being too phony or way out there. I read the book in one sitting because of course you can’t wait to see what happens!

I definitely would recommend this book!

I received an advanced copy from NetGalley and these are my willingly given thoughts and opinions.

I must admit that I agreed to review this book without reading the synopsis; I’m unsure whether I would have accepted it if I had. However, I’m thrilled that I did and thoroughly enjoyed the story.

Our story revolves around Cassandra (Cassie) who escapes an unfulfilling and controlled relationship to become a live-in helper to a family in Cornwall. She’s initially drawn to the position after seeing an advert in The Lady magazine. The cover artwork depicts a Cornish historian and Cassie is intrigued by his tales of an ethereal level of the local countryside.

Cassie’s relationship with her new employers provides a feeling of fulfilment that her former partner didn’t provide and it’s quite clear that her yearning for children of her own is a driving factor in her decision to start again.

As Cassie is a keen horsewoman, it was interesting to learn more about modern techniques including barefoot hooves. It’s some 25 years since I’ve been on a horse and that was definitely new to me.

One trope that I cannot enjoy is infidelity and the fact that Cassie’s drawn to a married man made me wonder if I would enjoy this book, but Kate Ryder managed to write a conclusion which didn’t leave me feeling compromised.

The climax of this story centred around Cassie having to finally choose between the old and the new. I certainly believe that she makes the right choice, for her.

I’m glad that I read this book without knowing the premise, it forced me to take notice of the details and I avoided any preconceptions ruining the story.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.

The book was a engrossing and romantic story, but with a fragile heroine, one who has been dominated by her rich and powerful partner, because of which after years of this can’t see her own worth.

I very much loved to see her blossom, for her confidence to grow as she discovered her true self, of course, with a little help from friends, some ancient magic and spirits in the landscape.

It was set against the backdrop of the north Cornish coast, I long to go there.

Reading the story, I felt the author made you feel as though you are exploring it with her, along with the hero and heroine, as you learn its history and secrets.

Such a lovely and uplifting tale, just perfect for anyone who loves Cornwall.

Recommend it.

Whimsical Romantic Fiction....
What a great story with so many historical facts....so fascinating to imagine the long ago history of Cornwall. There is also the lure of magical happenings and ghosts going on.
The main characters, Cass and Luke, are engaging and likeable. I liked watching Cass mature and grow in her confidence and maturity levels. I did not like the characters David and Amanda. They both were egotistical idiots in my opinion.
If you are a horse lover, there is quite a bit of information about horsemanship that I found very interesting.
I found Beneath Cornish Skies to be a lovely book.
Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest opinion. All opinions expressed are my own.

First book by this author for me love discovering anew author whose books I look forward to reading.Characters who come alive a beautiful setting a story I enjoyed.#netgalley #aria&aries

Know in advance that there is a paranormal element to this lovely romantic novel but that it never overwhelms the story. Cassie has had it with her long time lover David- he's cheated on her and he's firmly against having children. Impulsively, she packs up her horse Caspian and heads off to Cornwall where she's taken a job with the Kinsman family as an all around assistant. She's settling in when she meets Luke, a writer who is unhappily married to Amanda. Luke introduces Cassie to the delights of Cornwall- the flora, the fauna, the stories- and she begins to see the ghosts. These are delightful characters and fans of novels set in Cornwall (I'm one of them) will enjoy learning more about the area. Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. This is not only a romance, it's a novel about learning to love yourself and it's a good read.

Cassandra Shaw’s life is not as it seems. Whilst she has the wealthy, handsome boyfriend, they seem to be drifting apart, with him treating her more like the hired help than someone that he has lived with for ten years. Cassandra decides to turn her life around and answers a job ad as a live-in nanny, dogwalker, cook and all-round 'Superhuman' for a family living in the rugged North Cornish coast. Yet as she begins to settle in, she questions why she was drawn to this part of the country and particularly, to Foxcombe Manor.
This was a fascinating read with hints of mysticism and ghosts, surrounding a possible romance. I found the main characters of Cassandra, Luke and David to be interesting, if not that David was so easily dislikeable. I loved the glimpses of history told by Luke and found Cassandra’s emotional growth throughout the novel, a joy to read about. She starts of quite demoralised and yet, her confidence grows as she spends more time in the country.
The author has definitely described the beautiful countryside of Cornwell, making this story so easy to visualise.
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

A wonderful story with absolutely beautiful scenery! This is a new to me author and I wasn't sure what to expect. What I got was a well written book that was a joy to read. Thank you Aria & Aries via NetGalley for the ARC copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

A first for me by Katie. A great read, beautiful settings and wonderful characters even if a few took time to grow on me.

Beneath the Cornish Skies is a refreshing story with a stunning backdrop and some simple yet powerful characters. I absolutely enjoyed the scenery.

I absolutely loved this book!
Fantastic combination of romance and independence, horses and dogs, countryside and seaside!
Cassandra has it all, the perfect house, man, clothes and jewellery. But...something isn't right, she takes a chance on an advert for family help in Cornwall, and she finds a different way of life on so many levels.
Brilliant characters, and I really enjoyed the descriptions and intelligent writing.
Thank you for the opportunity to read this thoroughly enjoyable book.
Highly recommended as far and wide as I can get too!