This is the list of fiction books I read from May to December 1999. For the most recent list, see my book reviews blog

May 1999

Nancy Livingstone - The Far side of the Hill

Two sons of a poor crofter go south to seek their fortunes, encouraged by their strict but caring school teacher. Rather than training for medicine, as their father hoped they would, they start in business. Always trying to please their teacher, John marries a crippled girl who is pregnant. As the brothers work to build a huge business emporium, John finally discovers what Mary means to him. Believable people, with some moving sections of the book.

Constance Heaven - The Fires of Glenlochry

Mrietta travels from France to meet her grandfather, chief in a Highland clan, and falls in love with his steward. She becomes involved in the tension of the house, and discovers some well-kept secrets before finding the person she can trust and love. Very believable, with some frightening parts. Good plot.

Rosamunde Pilcher - Coming Home

Judith's mother and sister go abroad, leaving her in boarding school, in the care of her aunt. Shemakes friends with people from a different sphere, grows up and falls in loev, then does war work and suffers ni many ways before settling down and finally having a place of her own. A wonderful saga with delightful people. I've read this before, but it's well worth re-reading every few years!

June 1999

Charlotte Bingham - To hear a Nightingale

Cassie's childhood is tragically abused as she is brought up by a grandmother who despises her. She finds friends and some self-esteem in a convent school, and eventually falls in love with, and marries, an Irish racehorse trainer. She is blissfully happy until tragedy strikes, but gradually picks up her life and succeeds as a woman in a man's world. Soem very striking moments, unexpected twists to the plot, and a nicely rounded ending.

Jane Aiken Hodge - Strangers in Company

Marian goes to Greece as companion to Stella, but their party is beset with problems and an underlying sense of danger. Exciting and fast-moving, with Marian unsure whom she can trust until the satisfying conclusion. Tense in places but not unpleasantly chilling.

Sheila Jansen - Della Dolan

A Liverpool saga: Della, from a big, happy (although poor) family, starts work, then grows up and falls in love. Her first marriage has unexpected difficulties, and ends in tragedy; then she learns to find love again. The book is set before and during World War II, and gives a good picture of life for ordinary people during raids, with a little of what it felt like to have sons killed in war. Fast-moving plot, and well-written, although the characters are a little flat, and there is not much emotion. Rather explicit in places.

July 1999

Pamela Haines - Men on White Horses

Edwina, rather a misfit in her family in the early 1900s, goes to a convent school and befriends the temperamental Fanny. As she grows up, she develops her gift of playing the piano, falls in love, and uncovers family serets. A bit muddled in places but fast-moving with an unexpected but believable climax.

Adrian Plass - Sacred Diary Trilogy

(Comprising 'The Sacred Diary of Adrian Plass age 37 3/4, The Horizontal Epistles of Andromeda Veal, and The Theatrical Tapes of Leonard Thynn). This is at least the third or fourth time that I've read these books, and they're still brilliantly funny! Adrian pokes gentle fun at himself and the evangelical church, making some profound points with humour and depth. Very clever.

Adrian Plass - Sacred Diary of Adrian Plass, Christian Speaker, age 45

(Sequel to the Sacred Diary Trilogy). More thought-provoking than the earlier 'diary', with some very funny moments nonetheless. It's two years since I first read this, so not quite so hilarious as the first time, but still well worth reading. Ties up a lot of loose ends from the earlier books.

Mary Pearce - The Old House at Railes

A 19th century mini-saga. Martin, the son of a stonemason, hs lessons with an upper class family and gradually becomes friends with them. Circumstances reverse their fortunes, and the family's paths cross again. Fairly pleasant if unexciting.

Pamela Haines - The Kissing Gate

Long family saga, showing the less pleasant sides of village life, though without gratuitous violence. Soem sympathetic characters, but rather complex plots. Kate, an adopted foundling from Ireland, dominates the second half of the book and eventually finds happiness after a lot of tragedy and confusion.

Mary Pearce - Polsinney Harbour

Maggie, after family tragedies, finds a new home in another fishing village, and discovers love. A believable book with warm characters and a dramatic semi-sweet ending.

August 1999

Meg Hudson - Champagne Promises

A slightly longer version of a Mills and Boon style book: a girl getting away from it all meets a handsome guy who once saved her life as a doctor Normal clashes and resolutions peppered with misunderstandings. Slightly more believable characters than is usual for this kidn of book, and a typical happy ending.

Tessa Barclay - A Web of Dreams

A realistic book set in mid-nineteenth century Scotland. Jenny Cornill learns about men, and grows up discovering new emotions. This is with the background of the tartan weaving trade at the time. Many characters based on real people.

Catherine Cookson - The Rag Nymph

The story of Millie, a child whose mother has been forced into prostitution, and is arrested. Millie ends up with Aggie, a large rag trader, and their lives change over the years.

September 1999

Adrian Plass - Stress Family Robinson

The story of a rather chaotic family and their elderly friend Dip, written through Dip's eyes as she gets to know them better and takes part in their struggles and problems. Well-drawn characters with some extremely moving moments.

Adrian Plass - An Alien at St Wilfred's

Unusual story of the little alien Nunc and his effect on four different people in the dying church of St Wilfred's. I'd read this before but it's well worth re-reading, and very thought-provoking in places.

Adrian Plass - Broken Windows, Broken Lives

The story of a young man who wants to help maladjusted children, and his gradual acceptance by them. Many moving moments.

Louise Brindley - Our Summer Faces

Family saga set between the world wars. Charlotte, unconventional and with an illegitimate child, becomes known as a fashion designer. She tries to find love, and eventually does. Rather a confusing book with many minor characters - might be easier to understand if I'd read the book 'Tenquillan', for which this is apparently a sequel.

Pamela Haines - The Diamond Waterfall

Long saga covering three generations, with a necklace (the 'waterfall') playing a part, although not a major one. Some unpleasant scenes, and rather too many characters for easy light reading, made further confusing by a muddled style of writing with unfinished sentences. An unlikely but happy ending.

October 1999

Georgette Heyer - The Convenient Marriage

Young Horry offers to marry the Earl of Rule in place of her sister. The usual Heyer wit and sparkling plot, with a highly satisfactory conclusion. I've read this at least twice before and it was still enjoyable.

Georgette Heyer - False Colours

Kit returns home from abroad to find his identical twin brother missing. He takes his place to save embarassment, and finds himself hving to continue the part. An ingenious and slightly unlikely plot, made believable by the delightful and well-developed characters and conversation, with a charming conclusion. I'd read this before two or three times.

Georgette Heyer - Lady of Quality

The independent Annis meets a runaway girl, and befriends her. She is attracted, against her better judgement, to the girl's guardian, Oliver Carleton. The usual sub-plots and excitement ensure, with a satisfying ending. I had read this several times before.

Georgette Heyer - The Foundling

The Duke of Sale hankers after being an ordinary person, and is pitched into an adventure by his cousin's amorous exploits. How he succeeds, and extricates himself from various problems, provides a fast-moving and exciting (albeit unlikely) story with all the ends neatly tied in Georgette Heyer's inimitable style, and everyone living 'happy ever after'. I had read this at least once before, some years ago.

Clare Darcy - Regina

The competent Reggie agrees to chaperone her cousin's coming-out, and look after her younger cousins, warned against the man who has charmed her cousin. A series of events - including a lost necklace - make for an exciting plot. However although the style is Heyer-esque, and the detail and background realistic, the conversation is somewhat stilted and the characters rather flat. The ending, while happy, seems to be contrived. Perhaps better not to read after several Georgette Heyer novels!

Emma Blair - Flower of Scotland

Saga about the Drummond family. Start well, but there is too much violence and explicit intimacy early on. Prostitution, betrayal, and rather cardboard characters.. eventually I gave up adn read the last few chapters. I gathered what had happened, and decided the middle was unecessary.

Norah Lofts - The Road to Revelation

Another book I started but didn't finish. Several wagon parties start on a new trail across the USA. Hardship was obviously going to be the result. I read the last chapter, which was full of death and destruction, with just a tiny grain of hope. Too depressing to read the rest of the book.

Rosamunde Pilcher - September

A coming-of-age ball is planned in a small Scottish village. The book revolves around the other families as they look forward to the ball, and we are given marvellous insights into relationships, both old and new. Plots and sub-plots are superbly woven together; conversation sparkles, and even the shocking climax is dealt with sensitively coming - as it does - directly after a sigh of relief at a potential disaster which ended happily. Excellent. This is the second time I've read this, and I enjoyed it all the more this time while remembering the outline of the plot.

November 1999

Rosamunde Pilcher - The Shell Seekers

Penelope's family is gradually introduced and woven together cleverly, with the past and the present intertwining. Each chapter leads netly onto the next section, dealing with a different person. There is a surprising climax when the main protagonist dies; yet it is so peaceful (and with many preceding hints) that it is not shocking. The ending is neatly handled, and very satisfying.

Rosamunde Pilcher - Under Gemini

Flora, unemployed and temporarily homeless, arrives in London and meets by chance her identical twin sister Rose. Neither knew previously of the other's existence. Flora takes on a deception for her sister's sake, learns how different they are, meets some delightful people in Scotland, and falls in love. Good characters and conversation although the plot is a little contrived.

December 1999

Jane Aiken Hodge - Savannah Purchase

The exciting story of Juliet who take's her cousin's place as wife to Hyde Purchiss when her cousin, Josephine, tries to rescue Napoleon. Juliet falls in love with Hyde - much excitement ensures, and there is a satisfying conclusion. Enjoyable.

Eileen Campbell - The Company of Strangers

Ellie is sent to live with her bohemian grandmother, despite never having met her, when her mothe rbecomes ill. She gets to know people in the village, and learns a lot about life. Pleasant and interesting though rather slow-moving.

Emma Stirling - Marigold Summers

Kate dreams of being a dress designer but has to work for her impoverished parents. She grows up, matures, and falls in love.

Next (Jan-June 2000)