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					pendragon cove by barbara davies http://www.btinternet.com/~a.e.c/cove1.htm SYNOPSIS: Claudia, talented but filled with sorrow over her brother's recent death, accepts an invitation from an old friend to teach at a musician's seminar in Cornwall. There she meets Bethany, a young girl with dreams but no way to escape her upbringing. Together they help each other rise out of the past. NANCY: Now for something a bit different. Musicians in Cornwall. Makes a change from drug dealers and FBI agents in America. Pity about the name though. Makes it sound like a kids TV show. EWOK: *skimming* It's going to bug me the same way as that other "Faith'n'begorra" story Destined By Gods, if they keep saying "my handsome"... NANCY: It's just one character, Alice, the old cook, who has quite a stable of similar little platitudes. The rest of it is actually quite sweet. excerpt: The Italian master's instrument was in masterly hands, thought Bethany, then she shivered as she wondered what those same hands might expertly coax from her. EWOK: Now *there's* a time-honoured line... NANCY: It's unashamed romanticism! But omigod it is so obviously a Brit, one of my own, that is writing this. excerpt: Reluctantly she crawled out of their warm bed and began looking for her clothes. Her bra, she noticed wryly, had somehow ended up draped over the doorknob, and her knickers were under the bed. Other items, hers and Claudia's, were lying higgledy-piggledy in various parts of the room. Higgledy-piggledy? *grin* I told you this story was adorable. So British! EWOK: Knickers and Cornwall should've given that away... NANCY: I know, it was just an overwhelming confirmation. *laughing* Of course there's nothing in that rumour that Brits are more subtle than other people. excerpt: The worst thing about tenpin bowling, decided Claudia, was the shoes. Was it her imagination, or were hers still warm? She suppressed a shudder and tried not to think about who had worn them last or what state their feet were in. Instead, she focussed on a much more pleasant sight - Bethany's rear. EWOK: I would never think it. NANCY: There is nothing earth shattering here, but I like the fact that the writer doesn't try to do too much. The subplots aren't too overplayed, the melodrama kept in check. The story also evokes a subtle and convincing sense of place. NANCY: 7.5 for cuteness alone. With lots of contemplation, walks along the beach, classical music talk, no graphic sex and only one minimal fight scene, this piece is perhaps a bit *too* cute for some people's tastes, especially those who really love the aforementioned FBI agents and drug dealers. EWOK: 6. And I have this sudden compulsion to go ten-pin bowling.