The Country Girl by Sally Tarpey

Release: 8 March 2023
Format: Ebook
Publisher: JOFFE BOOKS LTD
Source: Zooloos Book Tours
Find it at: Goodreads, Amazon, B&N

An absolutely heartbreaking and uplifting First World War story of hardship and hope.

1912. Fifteen-year-old Kate Truscott waves goodbye to her family and leaves her small Hampshire village to become a nursemaid to five children she’s never met. Her heart full of hope, she’s looking forward to a new adventure.

Life in town with the wealthy Winton family is very different to anything this simple country girl has known before. Mr Winton is strict but his wife is kindly, and Kate soon settles in. She enjoys looking after her mischievous young charges, and becomes firm friends with Clara, the eldest daughter. At the same time, she can’t help but notice that eighteen-year-old Philip, the eldest son, is so very handsome.

Kate knows that society would never accept a match between a wealthy banker’s son and a lowly nursemaid. So when local gardener Archie asks her to walk out with him, Kate agrees — even though her heart belongs to Philip.

Then war breaks out. Both Philip and Archie enlist in the army and head to France, leaving Kate bereft.

When Kate discovers she’s pregnant, she has no one to turn to. Facing the horrors of the workhouse, Kate’s future looks bleak.

What will happen to Kate as a penniless unmarried mother at a time when women are judged harshly and the men are away at war?

The Country Girl is Sally Tarpey’s debut novel, and is inspired by the true story of her grandfather’s first wife.

About the Author:

Sally was born in rural Hampshire and now lives close to the sea in Essex. She began writing short stories when she was a VSO volunteer in Cambodia and hasn’t stopped writing since. A retired teacher, she now volunteers with two community projects, her local community shop and an EAL support group. She is currently working on her second novel. When she’s not writing, she can be found enjoying time with her family, striding out in her walking books, battling with weeds on her allotment or planning her next adventure.

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The Country Girl Review:

“The Country Girl” is a beautiful tale of a strong woman who leaves her country life and witnesses situations that changes her perception of life, and I enjoyed reading it.

What I enjoyed about this tale was there was never a dull moment. The author writes each chapter with good pacing, where you see Kate becoming confident with her life with the Wintons and where it takes her. I liked Kate in the lead and enjoyed how she interacted with the rest of the cast. For instance, Kate’s dialogues with Eliza are fun and light-hearted and take a more serious note when she converses with Clara, and also a romantic turn when it comes to Philip. I enjoyed seeing Kate’s various emotions and felt the author portrayed her well.

Moreover, I enjoyed how the author incorporated the themes of the World War and the Suffrage movement and how she encounters various people for the cause of her fight. Some of my favorite moments were when she first goes to the Suffrage meetings and witnesses how strong women can be or when Archie comes into the picture.

The only criticism I have is that the story got repetitive at times. The author sometimes repeated what Kate felt, and I felt the story would have moved faster if avoided.

Apart from that, I enjoyed reading “The Country Girl” and recommend it if you are in the mood for a dramatic historical novel.