In 2011 Fern Britton would write her first novel, which would be titled ‘New Beginnings,’ and it would be a stand-alone romance novel. The following year in 2012 she would start her ‘Hidden Treasures’ series of romance novels, starting with the book also named ‘Hidden Treasures.’ These titles would fast see her becoming successful, as many would come to appreciate her as a fully fledged author in her own right.

Please make sure you read the afterwords though as ferns notes on writing the book and the questions she raises to the reader add a whole new dimension to this wonderfully constructed book. As dramatic events sweep through the country and change all their lives in an extraordinary way, Marion loyally devotes herself to the family. But when love enters her life, she is faced with an unthinkable choice… I’d heard of Miss Crawford (Crawfie) before but don’t know her full or story or the scandal that happened later on in her life.I knew George was going to be no good for Crawfie when a certain incident happened , it was only a minor detail but it set me thinking about him. She seemed so happy in some aspects of her life but had to give up many dreams of her own, to continue to serve the Royal family. This included her hopes to work with young Scottish children and a lengthy engagement to the man she loved, even though he is depicted as a rather underhand character. (FYI, I really didn't like George and wish she had seen through his awfulness, and heeded the warnings she had been given...) I was utterly engrossed by this semi fictional novel as I’ve said before I’ve always been fond of the Royals especially in the 1930s & 1940s so i really wanted to read this and it didn’t disappoint.And for the most part it is, until she meets George, older than her, but with the ambitions of becoming Marion’s husband much to the delight of Marion’s mother. Marion is loyal and faithful to the household she serves as well as falling in love with George. She has to choose duty and the path she thinks is best. It is not until much later that she chooses a married life. All that time George waited. But is there something bitter from Marion’s dedication to something other than the man she is supposed to love. I was not expecting this ! I’ll be honest I expected a good read but I did not expect to fall in love with this book!! I adored this book, I like anything historical and this of course gives you a glimpse into something we well never really know about unless we are amongst it. Royalty is steeped in mystery no matter how old you are and I think it should be, to know the real truth would somehow ruin that. Fern Britton worked with a touring theatre company and in 1979, she started her career with Westward Television in Plymouth. She worked as a newsreader and continuity announcer on Westward Diary, the nightly local bulletin. Later, she switched to present BBC’s Southwest news programme, Spotlight. She became a known as the youngest national news presenter to present News After Noon on BBC1. Fern Britton then moved to work for TVS in Southampton, where she hosted the South edition of the news programme, Coast to Coast, together with Fred Dinenage. She has also presented other programmes, like Coast to Coast People, The Television Show and Magic Moments. No one will really know the true story but I have to say Fern Britton clearly has researched and gives us a very good fictionalised account of what could have been. What could have happened. I for one, would like to think that Marion was influenced by her husband, the world he existed in was so far removed from Marion’s, there was a sense of jealously. However I also feel that perhaps the palace were at fault for not being clear enough in some of their later intentions when it came to Marion’s writing. Something I think they are still carrying with them to this day and perhaps haven’t learnt from?

Escape this summer with this sweeping love story about family secrets and the heart-breaking decision of choosing between your head and your heart… Reader’s love The Good Servant The characters were well researched, written and developed. And you really get a feel of how Marion lived her life. The situations she found herself in, and the massive part that she played in education, loving and shaping the young princesses throughout childhood and in to adulthood. It's just a shame that she was, in many ways, used and duped by the very people around her who were supposed to love her.This is a fictionalised story based on true events featuring Marion Crawford, Governess to Lilibet and Margaret for many years, who then ended up shunned by the Royal Family upon releasing her memoirs of life in the Royal household post her retirement. I really loved Marian’s story and knowing it was based on a true story made it extra special’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ The Good Servant is an enjoyable and poignant story based on the true story of Marion Crawford, 'Crawfie'. Who was governess to Queen Elizabeth and Princess Margaret in their younger years. Despite being in the historical fiction genre. Fern has interpreted and revitalised actual events based on Marion's own book, The Little Princesses. This is based on a true story, but a lot of it is fictionalised, and what a story, Britton has written. I truly felt for Crawfie.