full review can be found here

https://nordie.wordpress.com/2016/07/25/quercussummer-bookreview-florence-grace-...

Fijn boek voor een paar mooie dagen lezen in het zonnetje in de tuin. Het boek beschrijft het leven van Florence Buckley, die na het overlijden van haar ouders in Cornwall woont bij haar oma. Als ook die overlijdt ontdekt ze dat ze familie blijkt te zijn van een rijke en beruchte Londense familie.
Die laten haar overkomen als ook Nan overlijdt en Florence ongeveer 14 jaar is.
Florrie is gehecht aan de uitgestrekte heidevelden dicht bij haar huis. Ze kan daar uren blootvoets ronddwalen en verdwaalt er nooit.
Londen is angstaanjagend maar haar grootvader Hawker. Haar twee nichtjes zijn onvriendelijk en ook haar tante vind haar maar een blok aan haar been. En dan zijn er nog de halfbroers Sanderson en Turlington.
Langzaam vindt ze haar plek in de familie, maar er zijn ook daar familiegeheimen. ( )

What a Great Performance & Story! Listened to this on audible audio and the narrator Imogen Church was absolutely fabulous. The story was sort of a rags to riches, coming of age story about a young girl Florrie Buckley who was orphaned and living with her grandmother in Cornwall. When her grandmother was dying she learned from her that her mother, who died when she was an infant, actually was from a very wealthy family in London whom had disinherited her when she fell in love and married Florrie's father. Not only was this a shock but her Wealthy Grandfather Grace wanted her to come to London to live with him and his family. Florrie a very independent precocious young woman did not want to leave her beloved Cornwall and the moors but had no other choice. As we follow Florrie (now known as Florence Grace) to London and her encounters with her aunt, uncle and cousins forcing her to abandon her country ways and accent she is transformed and fit for society. However, never abandoning her beautiful loving nature and desire to return to Cornwall. The story takes us thru her struggles with fitting in, forbidden love, unlikely friendships and heartbreak. This was a real treat! From the author of Amy Snow - this is just as good, leaving your heart warmed and wanting to know the rest of the story and hoping for a sequel! ( )

I enjoyed this delightful and charming family saga set in the Victorian era about fate and secrets, and about how such secrets can affect those around them. The author has a wonderful and evocative way with words. The descriptions of the Cornish countryside transported me to this most beautiful place within the British Isles and I wished I had a magic carpet to whisk me there!

The characters were well drawn, three of whom I will mention. I really liked Florence, or Florrie as she was affectionately known - she was feisty and caring with a sense of humour. I liked Old Rilla, the local wise woman as it were, who gave the tale a touch of magic and had a great influence on Florrie's life. Turlington Grace was a law unto himself, a tortured whirlwind, and I think we all know someone similar. 'Oh, Turlington...' indeed!

There were a couple of interesting twists in the plot which helped to move the story forward towards a satisfying and optimistic conclusion. I found Florence Grace, which will be published on 30 June, an easy, well written and engaging read and I look forward to Tracy Rees' next book.

Reviewed for Lovereading.co.uk. ( )