Review may contain spoilers.

Whenever I'm in a book slump, or simply cannot decide what I feel like reading, I always turn to this series. This is probably the one series I own that I know I will enjoy before I even start reading. Even though I've only read three of these, they are consistently good, and consistently worthy of 5 stars.
It's a little slice of life and the most perfect way to describe it is 'charming.' Utterly charming and endearing.

Characters
Ross and Demelza are still one of my favourite book couples ever. I love how they grow with each other; Demelza especially. I feel like her character gets stronger with each book, as she becomes surer of herself and her position within society. She really gets some balls in this book as she forces herself out into grander circles in a desperate attempt to sway opinions and save Ross's skin. It shows what she's willing to do for him, and I find her generally to be a really underestimated character in the literary world.

Ross is more difficult. He's like an emotional Rubix cube. In this book, as he grows more anxious about the results of his trial, we discover that he will sacrifice his pride for the stability of his wife's future. His innermost thoughts and feelings are revealed as he considers all the things he could have and should have said to Demelza while he had the chance. Yet after the trial, when he now has ample opportunity to air these thoughts, he withdraws within himself; and he knows he does too. He loves and admires her greatly, but sadly, he can't make himself say it out loud.

There is a serious lack of communication between them. Demelza thinks Ross has fallen out of love with her and is seeing Elizabeth, Ross thinks Demelza has lost interest and might be seeing someone else. I just wanted to bang their heads together. Talk to each other, damn it. I like happy Romelza.

We learn a lot more of good old Dr Enys, who also finds love in this book, with the pretentious, upstart Caroline Penvenen, who initially doesn't portray herself in a very affable light. She comes across quite narcissistic and capricious and, though, Enys has fallen hopelessly in love with her, he won't allow himself to fall down the rabbit hole. He won't be used by her, nor charmed. Vying for his attention, she eventually changes her tactics and shows kindness, which he responds to almost immediately. I really enjoyed the Dwight/Caroline romance and look forward to reading more of them.

Francis also proved himself a changed man in this book. After his initial depression, he turned his life around and made a conscious effort to try and fix things, rather than give up on them, and eventually wins the forgiveness of his cousin and makes amends with him. Frances Poldark is proof how money (or the lack of it) changes a person.

Plot
After the events of the last book with the two shipwrecks and the scavenging of all its cargo which Ross encouraged, he's now in big trouble with the law for rioting and even assault of an exciseman. He stands on trial at the Bodmin assizes and argues his case, despite the evidence stacking against him. Naturally, George Warleggan is being his usual dick self and has been paying locals to speak against Ross. But due to the evidence not being quite as sufficient as to be certain, Ross is acquitted and released.

With that issue settled, he now has the issue of his debt to deal with. Ross and Demelza are put under terrible strains as they try and scrape together the money to pay the debts, while also endeavouring to reopen an old mine. But it's a struggle, especially with a baby on the way that she's too scared to tell him about.

Setting
After reading these books and watching the TV series, I really feel a love towards Cornwall. I've never been there, of course, but it all looks and sounds so idyllic with its peaceful expanses of open land and dramatic cliff fronts and quaint little coves. It's a place after my own heart and somewhere I could imagine myself living one day. With so many books in this series, I think by the time I'm done, Cornwall will already feel like home.

Writing Style
Although this is the smallest book in the series, it doesn't lack for drama and interest. Winston Graham has great pacing. The book never feels slow, or even particularly fast for that matter. It's just the natural progression of life. Things happen but life continues, and the lives of others continue. I love how he involves other, more trivial characters and makes their stories feel every bit as important as the protagonists'.

He is also an expert head-hopper. They say writers should never head hop, but Winston Graham has mastered the art and it's never once confusing whose head we're in and whose thoughts we're privy to at any given time. It's just so fluid and so easy to read.

Final Impression
I love these books. I think it's safe to say I will love all of them. Normally I save them to help me out of reading slumps, but as this one was so little, I think I'm going to dive straight into the next one.
Cornwall, here I come.