To the manor born - book 2 (by Peter Spence)

(Amazon UK link)

About a month ago I read the first ‘To the manor born’ book by Peter Spence. It reminded me of how much I enjoyed the television series - one which we must remember to watch again soon, as we have the complete DVD set. Since I had the sequel to the book, simply called ‘To the manor born (book 2)’, I decided to read that over the past couple of days.

It’s essentially more of the same, continuing the ongoing feud between Audrey fforbes-Hamilton and Richard deVere. Richard is now established in what was Audrey’s family home, while she still lives at the lodge. And alongside their feud is an ongoing but largely unacknowledged attraction. 

It’s not a long book. There are just 170 pages in paperback, with seven chapters. I think they were mostly versions of the episodes from series 2 of the television series.  However, the first chapter takes place over Christmas, and research informs me that this was the eighth (and final) episode of series 1. It’s quite amusing, as Audrey and her friend Marjorie attempt to make Nativity characters for the church, while Richard produces a somewhat garish commercial version.

The second chapter is less interesting, concerning rumours about locals who might appear on the New Year’s honours list. Apparently it’s quite late in series 2, but in the book it makes more sense to come directly after the chapter about Christmas. There are arguments about conservation and what changes might be acceptable in Richard’s land, but I skimmed some of that.

Chapter three is about pheasants, poaching and a rather smelly tramp who appears every year. He used to be looked after at the manor, but Richard sends him away so he ends up in Audrey’s kitchen. Her loyal butler and housekeeper Brabinger is less than impressed. There are some amusing conversations in this chapter, but I’m not keen on the idea of hunting. Anecdotes such as these make me realise just how far away this lifestyle is from anything I have ever known. 

Another chapter covers valuable china and vases, alongside the visit of an old school friend who is much slimmer and more attractive than Audrey and Marjorie remember. It’s quite amusing, and I suspect much funnier in the TV show where the humour would be more visual. 

The writing is good, and I found it all very readable, with some insights into the characters which might not be so obvious on the screen.  On the other hand, the actors on the show are excellent, and I recall facial expressions that reveal almost as much as verbal descriptions in the book.

I usually like books better than films or TV shows, but think this is one of the instances where I slightly prefer the TV show. I’m glad I’ve read these books, as they have been sitting on my shelves for at least a couple of years. I found them at a church book sale, so probably only paid a euro for both. I doubt if I’ll read them again, but think they were worth reading once. I liked the first one rather better than the second. I don’t think there’s a third book, to go with series 3 of the television show. 

The author of the books was also one of the scriptwriters for the TV show, which is probably why the book chapters feel so authentic - at least for someone like me who has seen the show in the past.

These books are long out of print and tend to be surprisingly pricey second-hand. But if you find them inexpensively at a charity shop or similar, they are amusing and make a quick, light read. 

Review copyright 2025 Sue's Book Reviews

The cactus stabbers (by Jeff Lucas)

(Amazon UK link)

I’ve collected quite a few books by Jeff Lucas over the years. He was originally British, but worked for many years as a pastor in an American church. He’s now retired. I like his writing very much. He includes anecdotes, many of which show up his faults and weaknesses. But he also includes thought-provoking comments and Bible teaching that’s relevant to 21st century readers.

I first read ‘The cactus stabbers’ in 2016. It’s a short book, and I couldn’t remember anything about it. In particular, I was slightly puzzled by the title, which leads to a bizarre and memorable image on the front cover of the book. So I decided to reread it over the past ten days or so.  I just read two or three chapters each morning, as there are always things to think about. 

The preface explains what the book is about. Jeff Lucas has travelled widely in his many years of ministry. He visited and spent time with people of many different countries, cultures and Christian denominations. He glosses lightly over some rather strange experiences he’s had, because this book is dedicated to a handful of some wonderful folk he was privileged to meet. None of them is famous, nor would they want to be. But each one shows a facet of God’s love, and inspired the author in different ways. 

Chapter one explains the mystery of the book. Lucas mentions how, in his early days as a new convert, his enthusiasm for the gospel was sometimes overwhelming. He tried to talk about his faith everywhere he went, and probably put a lot of people off. Then he meets a couple who are passionate about something they believe in… and he realises that sometimes it’s important to speak up for what we believe in.

The next two chapters are about camping, and the author’s negative experiences with tents. They don’t describe any specific individuals, and I’m not entirely sure why they were included in the book. But they’re quite amusing, and Jeff Lucas points out that his dislike of the open air and putting up tents is rather at odds with Biblical teaching.

Then we meet Isla. It’s a sobering chapter about a lovely lady who lived quite an adventurous life. But she has a terminal diagnosis, and the author visits her in the oncology ward. They know it’s likely the last time they will see each other on earth, and it’s both poignant and encouraging. 

There are 22 chapters in all. Many of them introduce other unassuming people who take just one small step in the right direction to promote peace and healing. Others are more general. Most are not particularly memorable, which is part of the point of the book: these are ordinary people. They live their lives not in extraordinary ways, but taking small actions as followers of Jesus that have a rippling impact on those around them. 

While I have already forgotten much of the detail, I hope that the underlying philosophies and examples are still in my subconscious, reminding me once again what it means to be part of the Kingdom of God on earth.

The writing is somewhat informal, with a relaxed, friendly style which I appreciate. If that appeals to you too, I would recommend this book.

Review copyright 2025 Sue's Book Reviews

Accomplice of love (by Titia Sutherland)

(Amazon UK link)

It’s a long time since I read the novels by Titia Sutherland, which I acquired close to twenty-five years ago. It’s a pity her books were out of print even then, as her writing was excellent. She wrote just six books in all, with interesting, believable characters and a style of expression that reminds me, on occasion, of Susan Howatch. 

It’s over twenty years since I read ‘Accomplice of love’. So, inevitably, I had forgotten everything about it. And it has a slightly unusual format. It begins with the announcement that Claudia died six months earlier. The narrator, an art gallery owner called Leo, says this while driving to stay for the weekend with Claudia’s husband Josh.  

Leo’s daughter Sophie is in the car; she’s 18, and a talented ballet dancer. Leo mentions that she is the most important person in his life, and he sometimes feels over-protective as he lost both Jane, his wife, and Claudia, his lover. He’s dreading this weekend, because he thinks Josh may have guessed that they were having an affair, and Josh is quite a temperamental person. But Josh is also his client; Josh’s artwork has hung and sold in Leo’s gallery, and Leo really doesn’t want to lose their relationship.

I mentioned that the format is unusual, because after a couple of chapters it begins on a flashback, describing Leo’s first visit to Josh’s studio in London. Leo’s wife is alive and well at the time, and when he meets Claudia, he doesn’t find her at particularly attractive; she seems pushy and changeable. He doesn’t want anything other than a professional relationship with Josh, but against his better judgement he and Jane become quite close. 

Claudia and Josh have an eleven-year-old son called Sam, whom I found delightful. His passion is animals, particularly those that need some healing or protection for a while, and he has quite a menagerie. Claudia also has an older teenage son called Marcus who loves to act, and wants to study drama professionally. Josh doesn’t much like Marcus, but then Josh is quite a jealous person, and wants Claudia all to himself.

The story then moves forward in the two time-frames, a couple of years apart. As Leo recalls the past, and the tragedy of losing his wife, he’s brought back to the present with the offer of a drink, or the insistence that he takes a walk. It could have been confusing, but it works very well. I’m not sure why the author let us know right at the beginning that both Jane and Claudia had died, as it means there’s no shock when these events happen in the flashback sections. But I assume it was deliberate.

It’s a character-based novel, so I was pleased that the characters are so three-dimensional. Leo is a quiet, likeable man despite his betrayal of his friend and client. Sophie is a strong person who reminds him very much of her mother. Josh is perhaps a stereotype of a passionate, changeable man who lives in the moment, but he’s also very insecure about his art. I didn’t much like Claudia, but did feel somewhat sorry for her.  

As the flashback sections reach the present, Leo braces himself for a difficult conversation with Josh. He is increasingly convinced that Josh must have found some letters he wrote to Claudia; as the weekend progresses he becomes more and more stressed until the eventual blowup which nearly ends in tragedy. 

There are a lot of side stories going on, which flesh out the characters and add to the flow of the story and make it even more interesting. I wasn’t all that keen on the way Sophie poses for Josh, or the question Leo asks which isn’t really answered until a few months later. But in context, it works. 

All in all, I enjoyed rereading this book very much; once I had started, I could hardly put it down. Definitely recommended if you like this kind of woman’s fiction. 

Review copyright 2025 Sue's Book Reviews

Prince Caspian (by CS Lewis)

(Amazon UK link)

I’m glad I decided to reread the Narnia series by CS Lewis. It was long overdue. Since I’m familiar with the books, I didn’t read them in publication order, which is recommended for the first time of reading. Instead, I’ve been reading them with Narnian chronology in mind. So I reread ‘The magician’s nephew’ in April, ‘The Lion, the witch and the wardrobe’ in May and ‘The horse and his boy’ in June. 

I’m very surprised to find that I hadn’t read the next book in the series, Prince Caspian, for at least twenty-eight years. This is the book that should be read second, if you haven’t previously read the series (or if you’re reading it aloud to a child). It starts with the four Pevensie children: Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy. They are at a railway station, on their way back to their boarding schools after a holiday. It’s been a year since they returned from Narnia, and their experiences as kings and queens is becoming somewhat dreamlike. 

Then suddenly they all experience a sharp tug… and find themselves in a wood.  They quickly realise that they’re in Narnia. But even when they emerge from the trees, they’re not entirely sure where they are. And when they come across a ruined castle that seems somewhat familiar, they become very puzzled until they realise what’s going on. 

All they have to eat is two of the packed lunches they were taking to their schools, and a lot of apples. And then, as they’re exploring, they see a dwarf in a boat with two assassins. They manage to rescue him, and he starts to tell his story.

It’s hard to say much without giving spoilers. The dwarf’s story takes place over several chapters, and is told more as a flashback than a conversation (as the author explains) so that it fills in the story of what has been happening. Narnia was overrun by the men of Telmarine, some of whom were good, and some bad. And at present the heir to the throne - Prince Caspian - is in serious danger. It becomes clear that the four children have been called into Narnia to help him, but they have little idea what they can do…

I had somehow recalled this book as having a lot of battles in it, so was surprised to find that this really isn’t the case. Perhaps I was remembering the film version of Prince Caspian, which had a lot of fighting in it, most of which I found rather tedious. I wasn’t expecting to enjoy the book, and was reading it for the sake of continuity and completion. But I liked it very much. 

There’s a strong sense of good vs evil, as in all the Narnia books. CS Lewis was a Christian, and while these books are not overtly Christian, there are many allegorical elements. Aslan the lion is a figure of Jesus, and the events from ‘The lion, the witch and the wardrobe’ are referred to more than once. But most of the story is about people - whether human, dwarfs, talking animals or other creatures of Narnia - and their choices. 

Caspian is good, and has always been interested in how Narnia used to be. His uncle, Miraz, who calls himself king, is power-hungry, violent and deceitful. Caspian has friends in his palace - first his old nurse, who has told him stories of old Narnia, and then his tutor, Captain Cornelius, who is more circumspect and only discusses these things in secret. Captain Cornelius saves Caspian’s life when he urges him to escape, and sends him off into the unknown. 

It’s not just about good and bad choices, although there are many. It’s also about faith and trust. Some of the dwarfs - including good ones - really don’t believe in Aslan, or in lions at all. And when Lucy sees Aslan and is sure she knows what he’s asking of her, her siblings have to decide whether or not to believe her. 

It’s a children’s book, so inevitably it ends in a positive way, even if the Pevensies end up back at the railway en route to their schools. But there is some violence in it, although nothing gratuitous, but it might be disturbing for a sensitive child. However, to those who like adventures, it’s an excellent story. It’s very well-written and makes a great sequel to ‘The lion, the witch and the wardrobe’. 

Recommended. 

Review copyright 2025 Sue's Book Reviews

Dreaming of flight (by Catherine Ryan Hyde)

(Amazon UK link)

I have liked all the books I’ve read so far by Catherine Ryan Hyde. So from time to time I put a couple more on my wishlist. I was given ‘Dreaming of flight’ for my birthday two years ago, but have a lot of books on my to-be-read shelf. So I’ve only just read it in the past few days.

What an excellent book it is, too. There are two main characters, and the chapters alternate between them. The first one we meet is Stewie. He’s eleven years old when we meet him in the first part of the book, which is labelled ‘late spring, early summer’. We quickly learn that he keeps hens, and sells eggs. He’s quite a perfectionist, and his eggs are always fresh. They are vastly superior to those bought in the supermarket.

When we meet him, he’s just knocked on the door of a house where he hasn’t previously been. It’s opened by a woman with a five-year-old daughter, who says she doesn’t want any eggs. Then she’s interrupted by a rather older woman, who says, somewhat abruptly, that she will have some. Stewie feels a strange sense of recognition; she’s a grandmother, and there’s something about her that reminds him of his own beloved grandmother, who died some months earlier. 

The older woman, Marilyn, is the other main protagonist. She’s a crusty kind of person who speaks her mind, although it’s also quickly clear that she has a secret in her past. She’s terrified that someone is going to come and arrest her; we don’t learn until much later in the book what crime she is supposed to have committed. She’s not related to the younger woman, but lives rent-free in exchange for babysitting while the mother is out at work. 

Unfortunately, Marilyn is getting a bit forgetful. Stewie recognises that as his grandmother had some dementia before she died. And Stewie is observant. He is also very caring, feeling everything much more deeply than most of those around him. He reads faces with ease, and dreads making anyone sad or angry. He also dislikes looks of compassion or pity. He hasn’t spoken much about the loss of his grandmother, which hit him deeply. Stewie was orphaned soon after he was born, and has been brought up by his sister Stacey. 

Stewie and Stacey have another brother, Hughie. Hughie is older than Stewie, and very bright. But he is physically disabled, so he walks with crutches. At the school they go to, Hughie is often verbally bullied. He tries to let it go over his head, but Stewie becomes passionately angry on his brother’s behalf. 

I found myself totally absorbed in these diverse people, living in a small town in the United States. It’s a character-based book, and I found all the main characters believable and three-dimensional. I loved the way that Stewie started to care for Marilyn, even if his family felt that he was taking too much responsibility on his young shoulders. And I also liked the way that he somehow gets through Marilyn’s defences, so much so that she wants to help him with some things he finds difficult. 

There are a lot of interesting topics touched upon in the book. I hadn’t thought about the hidden trauma that goes with being an orphan even when a child is too young to have any memory of his parents. Stewie starts seeing a psychologist who seems to be full of wisdom, even if he can’t actually solve any of Stewie’s issues. And it’s not that being a caring person is a bad thing; Stewie just hasn’t come to terms with the fact that he can’t solve everybody’s problems all the time. 

The book also looks at issues related to housing for the elderly, and who needs to make decisions when someone is unable to look after themselves safely. It’s not a straightforward question, and I thought there was an excellent balance shown between the elderly person’s rights and the opinions and wishes of family members and medical staff. 

And there’s quite a bit about keeping hens, too. Stewie’s hens used to belong to his grandmother, but some of them are getting old and he has to decide what to do. There’s also a brief scene where he tries to encourage one of the hens to fly, although he then realises that it would be cruel to enter her for a competition. His empathy extends to his hens, and he seems to know how they feel, and what their needs are. The title of the book can be seen in more than one way; Stewie dreams about his hen flying, but other characters also dream of flight in a more metaphorical way.

Once I had started, I could barely put this book down. It’s not that there’s much excitement or rapid action; the pace was perfect for my tastes, and Stewie totally got under my skin. The final chapter is perhaps a tad over the top, but from Stewie’s point of view, it more than fulfils something he has lacked all his life. 

Definitely recommended if you like this kind of character-driven women’s fiction.

Review copyright 2025 Sue's Book Reviews

A week in winter (by Maeve Binchy)

(Amazon UK link)

I have thoroughly enjoyed re-reading the late Maeve Binchy’s novels over the past eighteen months or so. And in the past few days I have re-read her last novel, ‘A week in winter’, which I first read in 2015. I had, unsurprisingly, forgotten everything about it.

It’s written, as so many of this author’s books were, as a series of interconnected short stories, each one featuring a different character.  The first person we meet is a young woman known to all as Chicky. She grew up on a farm with five siblings, most of whom left as they grew up, to find good jobs. Chicky isn’t an academic, but found quite a good job in a local knitting factory. Until she met Walter, that is…

Walter is a charming American who persuades her to leave her home and family and follow him to America. Her parents are horrified, particularly as they aren’t planning to get married. And at first Chicky loves the new environment… but she sees it as rather more permanent than Walter does. She has to invent a story for her family to explain why he never visits them, and a more drastic one to stop her niece from visiting her...

Eventually Chicky returns to her home town, and buys a run-down house belonging to an elderly lady, which she transforms into a hotel. The next couple of chapters are about different people who are involved in helping her with building work, with planning, and design. We meet Rigger, the son of one of Chicky’s close friends, who has been in all kinds of trouble. And it’s hoped that, by going to Ireland to work with Chicky, he might reform. And we meet Orla, Chicky’s niece, who has a high-powered job but thinks she might give Chicky a year of her time..

As the hotel approaches completion, the staff think of ways to attract visitors. Orla is good with publicity, and people spread the word. But everyone is quite nervous about the first guests. When they arrive, they’re quite a mixed bunch. Some are happy to socialise, to go on long walks, and to praise the excellent food and ambience. Others are quieter. One is a retired headmistress who doesn’t seem to like anything. One pair of mismatched people are a bitter mother with her future daughter-in-law. And there are two married doctors who have seen some tragedies.

All are at the hotel for different reasons; one couple won second prize in a competition, one person was given a voucher as a retiring present. Some are hoping for beautiful views and relaxation, some want to find their roots… and more. Most of the characters are new to this book, although there are brief references to a few people who appeared in earlier books. But they’re minor characters, and it’s not necessary to have read any of her other novels first. 

A chapter at a time, we get to know most of the guests from the first week. They all have secrets in their past, which are explored in the early parts of their chapters. Maeve Binchy had a talent for creating three-dimensional, believable people. She demonstrates in this book how unhappy experiences in childhood can lead to negative attitudes or problems in adulthood, but also makes it clear that each person is responsible for their own behaviour and actions. 

The pace is gentle, with just the right amount of description for my tastes. There’s no real plot as such, other than the overall one of Chicky renovating and starting her hotel. The title of the book refers to one of the proposed attractions of the hotel - a week to relax in winter - but little is made of this. Most of the characters covered are there for the first week. I didn’t always remember who was whom, but it didn’t really matter.

It’s not for everyone, and it’s not my favourite of Binchy’s novels. But ‘A week in winter’ is warm, and encouraging - rather like Chicky’s hotel - and I very much liked re-reading it. Definitely recommended if you like this kind of character-based novel with interwoven stories rather than any real plot.

Review copyright 2025 Sue's Book Reviews

The very worst missionary (by Jamie Wright)

(Amazon UK link)

Years ago, I used to follow a blog called ‘Jamie: the very worst missionary’. It was honest, refreshing and extremely well-written. About a year ago I realised I had not seen any new posts from it, and discovered that it had been deactivated. But I also discovered that the author, Jamie Wright, had published a book of the same title. So I added it to my wishlist, and was given it for my birthday a few months ago. 

I had seen reviews saying that this book was ruined by foul language, so I was slightly nervous about starting it. I don’t like bad language, and rarely hear any. It’s not as if I’m living amongst extremely pious or holy people. We have a lot of visitors from all around the world, and I don’t recall the last time I heard a strong expletive from any of them. 

However, I was pre-warned, and decided I would read the book anyway. I was immediately hooked! The author opens by saying it’s a terrible book, and also says she’s a compulsive apologiser. I get that. It’s far too easy for me to apologise for things I have done or made, even when there’s nothing wrong with them. It’s perhaps a kind of false humility, but there’s also a sense of feeling somewhat inadequate, and not wanting folk to be disappointed.

So I was already on Jamie Wright’s side, rooting for her, before I had even finished the introduction. She writes in a fluent but informal way; it’s as if she’s chatting, but with every word thought through. And yes, she includes some ‘strong’ language. And yes, at times, it jars. But it was nowhere near as much as I had expected based on the negative reviews.

The book starts by describing the author and her family travelling to Costa Rica as missionaries. Her sons were 13, 9 and 7 and she says that she messed up their lives horribly by taking them abroad. It wasn’t the wonderful cultural experience that others expect. Then she gives an overview of the difficulties acquiring language, and a detailed description of finding a gecko in a place where one really doesn’t want to find a reptile. 

And while the situation for me in Cyprus isn’t exactly the same - and I’ve been here for over twenty-five years now - I could totally relate. 

After this first chapter, the story goes back to the author’s childhood. The subtitle of the book is, 'a memoir or whatever', and that's a good description. It's roughly biographical, including relevant parts of her background. She grew up Jewish, in quite an orthodox environment at first. Then her parents became more liberal, and as a teenager she adopted a leather jacket and a sassy attitude. She was quite promiscuous, and - as she says - about as far from a typical missionary as could be imagined. 

Time moves forward; she’s married to the wonderful Steve who could have had any girl but chose Jamie. And she finds herself a young mother, with unexpected responsibilities and little idea how to cope. And that’s where she meets Christians for the first time, and makes some friends. She acknowledges that meeting other young mothers gave her a lifeline, and that, at first, she was happy to go along with Christian thinking. She modified her language, even picking up some jargon, and found her own relationship with God. 

But she’s always a bit cynical - and, once again, I could relate. She listens, and responds, but has a lot of questions. She wonders why so many people accept the status quo, and follow not just biblical principles but church politics and the demands of the leaders. She challenges someone over a book about submission, and suddenly people see her as rather a rebel.

Nonetheless, after some ‘short-term’ mission trips to Costa Rica, without their sons, she and her husband both believe they are called there as missionaries. They stay for five years, and in that time learn a lot about culture and language; they learn to adapt and adjust, and they make a lot of friends. Her husband slots right in, using his skills and experience to teach and help the locals, while Jamie feels more and more of an outcast. Then she starts writing her blog…

There’s so much in this book, as the author challenges many of the western (and particularly North American) ideas about missionaries. She sees how some of the short-term work is condescending and unhelpful, and how locals will volunteer to be ‘saved’ year after year, to encourage teams to return with more gifts. She realises eventually that her ‘call’ wasn’t so much to evangelise or even just to be hospitable and care for those around, but to point out the flaws in the mission world at the time, and possibly work towards change.

I found it all quite encouraging as well thought-provoking. It was also poignant, as I knew from the perspective of seven years after publication that the author’s marriage - and life - pretty much fell apart in subsequent years. But when she wrote it, she was quite upbeat about her experiences, and the way God can work to bring something positive, even through the worst situations. 

So, while I know some people won’t like this due to the bad language, I would recommend it anyway. I think it’s well worth persevering and seeing beyond the pain, the anger and the feelings of inadequacy. 

Review copyright 2025 Sue's Book Reviews

Indigo's star (by Hilary McKay)

(Amazon UK link)

I do like the books by Hilary McKay! She’s one of only a handful of modern children’s writers whose book I have recommended unreservedly. She writes with humour and poignancy, and creates memorable, realistic and likeable people.

‘Indigo’s Star’ is technically the second in the Casson family series, but third chronologically. I reread ‘Caddy’s world’ (the prequel) in May and ‘Saffy’s angel’ in June, so was looking forward to the next episode in the lives of this chaotic but lovable family. I last read ‘Indigo’s star’ at the end of 2011, so it was well overdue for a reread.

Unsurprisingly, 12-year-old Indigo - the only boy amongst the four children - is the main character in this book. As it opens, he’s recovering from glandular fever. He’s also very much enjoying staying at home, even when he’s on his own. For Indigo loathes school, where he has been bullied and teased by the gang in his class. 

But at last his younger sister - the wise and perceptive eight-year-old Rose - points out that Indigo seems to have recovered. And so his mother, the scatty artist Eve, decides that he must return to school. Rose is the only person who knows that he has been bullied, but their older sister Saffy learns about it, and says that she and her friend Sarah will keep guard. Indigo does not want this, but they are determined…

It’s not just a story about teenage bullies, although they have a significant part to play in this book. Hilary McKay evidently understands well the dynamics that can take place in a classroom. Some children are neutral, but keep out of the bullies’ way as they don’t want to become victims. Some are on the fringe of the bullies, but like to support them verbally. And a few are very unpleasant children. 

Into this mix comes a new boy called Tom. He’s from the United States, staying with his grandmother who is thought to be a witch. Tom doesn’t seem to care about anything much, and he becomes another target for bullying. Tom and Indigo gradually forge a friendship, and we learn about Tom’s home life, which has resulted in him being sent to stay with his grandmother for a while. Tom is a very interesting child, talented in playing the guitar, and eager to become part of the extended Cassion family.

The story is also about the breakdown of family life. Mr Casson works in a studio in London, and in the earliest book he used to come home for weekends.  In ‘Saffy’s angel’, he mostly returned home. Nobody seems to miss him much, other than Rose. She is the one who notices how long it is since he has been part of the family, and writes him increasingly desperate (and sometimes amusing) letters, hoping they will prompt him to return. 

Rose is an artist, too, and has been painting a mural on the kitchen wall. The detail reflects her view of family life; as new people become part of their family, they are included. Caddy, meanwhile, is away at university, trying out a string of boyfriends to see if any of them is as good as Michael, the young man whom she expects to marry. Caddy evidently knows something about her father which her mother does too… it’s fairly obvious to the reader, but a nasty surprise for Rose when the revelation comes.

And it’s a very readable book, with a whole lot more. I found I could hardly put it down once I had started. The pace is excellent, the family dynamics well-written. Eve is perhaps a caricature of a scatty, casually neglectful mother who does love her children and is occasionally brought to earth by some crisis. Caddy and Saffy have less of a role; the book is mostly about Indigo and his life and friendships, but Rose plays a big part too. Indigo’s love for his little sister is a catalyst for some changes that take place, both for him and for Tom.

I would recommend this book highly to anyone who has read ‘Saffy’s angel’, although it stands alone and it’s not necessary to have read it. Perhaps this one might appeal more to boys, since it’s primarily about Indigo, and it could be a good book for a bullied child to read; not that it really answers questions, but it brings the topic more into the open. 

Intended for children of around 8-12, this is the kind of book that can be read by anyone at any age.  I’m already looking forward to reading it again in another decade or so.

Review copyright 2025 Sue's Book Reviews

Devil's cub (by Georgette Heyer)

(Amazon UK link)

Since I recently reread Georgette Heyer’s novel ‘These old shades’, it made sense that I would follow it (a month later) by rereading ‘Devil’s cub’, which I last read in 2018. That’s because it’s a kind of sequel, set over twenty years later. 

The characters in this book are wonderfully created, three-dimensional for the most part, and quite distinct despite a somewhat large number of them. Lord Vidal is the main male character, and we see him first as a hot-tempered, angry and promiscuous young man with no compunction or moral code at all, or so it seems. He loses his temper after an accusation, and fights a duel. His father, the Duke of Avon, is becoming increasingly annoyed with him, and orders Vidal to travel to France for a while. 

In stark contrast are the Challoner family. Mrs Challoner is widowed, and is one of Heyer’s caricatured grasping women. She is remarkably self-centred, and cares what society thinks of her far more than she cares about her two daughters. Her younger, Sophia, is very beautiful, and we learn that Vidal has found her very attractive. Mrs Challoner thinks they might get married, but her older, more sensible daughter Mary knows that won’t happen. And Sophia herself knows that he wants her as his mistress. But she’s too immature to care. 

Mary learns of a planned flight, and decides to do something both courageous and foolish in order to save her sister’s reputation. But she doesn’t take into account Vidal’s bad temper, or his need for revenge. She gives him the wrong impression of who she is, and is in considerable danger… but she’s resourceful, and practical, and quite willing to do something drastic when she has to.

It’s quite an active story, with many different characters chasing each other to France, and then to Dijon. It’s enlivened by Vidal’s cousin Juliana, who is prone to hysterics. She wants to marry a staid young man who adores her, but doesn’t really know how to handle him.

The pace is excellent, the characterisation very well done, and the conversation believable. I love the way that, while Mrs Challoner seems to have no redeeming features, the hot-headed violent Lord Vidal does adore his mother, and respects his father. And he finds himself somewhat at a loss when confronted with Mary’s strong determination and pragmatic nature.

There’s a lot of humour too, in Heyer’s ironic way. Vidal’s uncle Rupert is corpulent and idle, but can’t resist the blandishments of his sister-in-law. So he, too, ends up in France. Rupert has something of a one-track mind, however, and his insistence on dinner and fine wine adds to the humour, as does his lack of comprehension about some of the finer details of the story…

I loved the climactic scene, one which I had quite forgotten until it started. It looks for a while as if all the principal players in the story are going to converge, as happens fairly often in Heyer novels. But Mary is determined not to allow Vidal to do something which, she believes, will cause a family rift for him. She ends up telling her sorry story to an elderly and generous acquaintance. I knew who he was, either from memory or because Heyer makes it obvious to the reader. But Mary has no idea, and this makes for a dialogue that is both poignant and, in places, amusing. 

The ending is less abrupt than in many of Heyer’s romances, and while this isn’t one of my top favourites, I liked it very much. There are a lot of innuendoes and some violence in the early chapters which might put off some readers. Perhaps those are why I didn’t like this so much when I was younger. But if one can get past that, and the rather despicable idea that it’s fine for young noblemen to be promiscuous with young, working girls, it’s a good story.

As with all Heyer's novels, 'devil's cub' remains almost constantly in print, and is now available for the Kindle as well as paperback. These books can often be found inexpensively at second-hand or charity shops too. 

Review copyright 2025 Sue's Book Reviews

The dandelion years (by Erica James)

(Amazon UK link)

It’s over nine years since I acquired and read ‘The dandelion years’ by Erica James. I had no memory of the story at all, or any of the people, so it was definitely time for a re-read. 

The main character is a young woman called Saskia, who is celebrating her 32nd birthday as the book opens. Not that she’s out partying or drinking. She lives at home with her father and two grandfathers, and has done so since her mother and two grandmothers died in a car crash, when she was ten. 

The grief never left her, and for a while she became somewhat reclusive. But her grandfathers educated her at home when she started to hate her school, and she has turned into an intelligent, free-thinking and confident woman. She recently ended a relationship that her grandfathers weren’t too happy about. Not that they are over-protective: they would love her to find someone to love. But he didn’t seem like the right person.

Saskia’s father Ralph owns an antiquarian book shop, and Saskia works in a specially-built studio at home, restoring old books to something like their original splendour. She’s clearly very talented at this, and quite a perfectionist. She sometimes helps in her father’s shop, but her passion is book restoration. And she’s very happy with the status quo. 

Inevitably things change. Ralph is contacted by a woman he used to be in love with, and they agree to resume a friendship… and possibly something more. And Saskia meets a man called Matthew, who has recently lost a dear and elderly friend called Jacob. He has inherited the house, and an extensive - and valuable - book collection. Saskia goes with Ralph to start valuing the books.

Around the same time, Saskia discovers an old hand-written diary tucked inside a large family Bible, amongst some books that have been delivered. She starts reading, and is hooked…

Much of the novel then works in a dual-timeline way, as Saskia struggles through trying to decipher writing that’s hard to read. But the story is so interesting, that she keeps going. It’s written by a shy young man who is chosen to work at Bletchley Park, during World War II, attempting to decipher messages from the German government. It was very secretive work there and nobody was supposed to talk about it or what they did, even amongst themselves. And this shy young man falls in love.

It’s a beautifully written story, clearly well-researched and demonstrating some of the privations of war. The author of the old diary is billetted with a most unpleasant woman who is a terrible cook, and who doesn’t allow her lodgers to heat their rooms or have hot baths. And it’s a gentle love story at the same time, told from the perspective of someone who cannot believe that a beautiful, outgoing girl could ever be interested in him. And unfortunately, her snooty family agree. 

But we only learn what happens to these young people a chapter at a time, as the main story continues. It’s primarily character-based, which is what I like about Erica James’ novels. She brings people to life, and I find I care about them. When tragedies happen - and there are two in the course of the novel, in addition to the ones that took place a couple of decades earlier - I could begin to feel for them, and thought the descriptions of their emotions were sensitively and helpfully written.

Definitely recommended if you like character-based women’s fiction that’s not too predictable, and which has something a bit deeper than some. By the time I was half-way through, I didn’t want to put this down. 

Review copyright 2025 Sue's Book Reviews

Finding God in the fast lane (by Joyce Huggett)

(Amazon UK link)

I like Joyce Huggett’s writing, and realised at the start of the year that it’s a long time since I read her books. I only have three, but liked them all when I first read them. I re-read ‘Listening to others’ in January, and decided at the start of July that it was time to try another one. I last read ‘Finding God in the fast lane’ in 2012, and hadn’t remembered what it was about, though the title certainly gives an overview.

As I started, I was reminded that this book makes a lot of reference to Brother Lawrence’s book ‘The practice of the presence of God’. Inspired by Joyce Huggett’s book I managed to acquire a copy of this series of ‘maxims’ by a 17th century monk, and read it in 2008. But I found it very heavy going and rather too obvious. So I was all the more impressed that Joyce Huggett managed to write about it in contemporary terms (albeit thirty years ago), and produce a thought-provoking, helpful commentary. 

The main theme is about being aware of God all through the day. The author assumes that we’re ultra-busy - she observes people waking early, exercising, getting children ready for school, working for eight hours, then making dinner and perhaps going out again, with barely a moment to themselves. Hence the title including the ‘fast lane’. Since I am not out at work, and no longer have children at home, this phrase doesn’t apply to me at all. But still, much of the content resonated strongly. 

Having said that, I’ve always been aware that I could ‘chat’ with God any time, in any circumstances. I was doing this as a small child, and, at least in theory, never really stopped. But in practice, of course, I often go through my days with little reference to God; I might not be racing around, but I’m still doing many things in the house, and often daydreaming or worrying about something, when I could be offering everything to God. 

The author is very honest about her own life, the ways she falls short. And she quotes Brother Lawrence many times; he worked in a monastery kitchen, and believed himself to be a terrible sinner, albeit saved by Jesus and sustained by his faith. Some of his quotations sound a bit over-exaggerated; it’s hard to believe that someone in an enclosed monastery could possibly commit terrible sins. 

I expect he got irritated sometimes with other monks, or by his restricted life, or bored with chopping vegetables. But since he apparently chatted to God the whole time, and kept going with his chores, it doesn’t seem to me particularly sinful to feel a tinge of boredom or annoyance.

However, modern life has its own ways of intruding; it’s all too easy to get bogged down in social media, or low-key gossipping, or worrying rather than trusting God. It’s a lifelong journey to rest in his arms, no matter what, and I need every reminder I get. 

‘Finding God in the fast lane’ is subtitled ‘and also in life’s lay-bys’ (with a punctuation error on the front cover, but it’s hard to read as it’s black text on a dark image). I found the idea of lay-bys in life quite a useful one: of taking a few moments out of the day, whether hectic or relaxed, to concentrate on God. Not just a set ‘quiet time’, but a couple of minutes now and again. Joyce Huggett recommends certain practices that might seem prescriptive, but for many, a regular reminder or set time each hour can be a useful way of getting started with a new habit. 

The book is very well written, with six chapters all loosely titled with journey/driving metaphors. I thought that was a good way of looking at it. I found it straightforward to read, while thought-provoking and challenging too. I also appreciated the references to living in Cyprus, and to needing time alone as I'm another introvert who lives in Cyprus. 

There are questions at the end of each chapter for extra self-reflection. 

This book is intended for Christian believers, whether or not affiliated with a church. Definitely recommended. It's no longer in print, but often available inexpensively second-hand online. 

Review copyright 2025 Sue's Book Reviews

The stranding (by Kate Sawyer)

(Amazon UK link)

I hadn’t heard of Kate Sawyer, and most likely would not have chosen to read her book ‘The Stranding’, as I’m not a huge fan of dystopian fiction. But it was chosen for this month’s book club read. I downloaded it for my Kindle a few months ago, as it was on special offer, and started reading it a few days ago.

I was hooked almost immediately. There’s a prologue, with two people lying in the sand talking about ‘Before’. It’s not immediately obvious what is going on, and I went back and re-read the prologue after I’d finished the book. It made more sense then. I’m not sure why it was there at all, as it didn’t really add anything; nor did it give much of a hint as to what was coming, since that becomes clear very quickly.

It’s a story with two time-lines. The first one - the ‘now’ story - follows a woman in her thirties called Ruth who spots a beached whale. She’s desperate to try to save it, and can’t understand why nobody else is around. She’s watched by a man called Nik, a photographer, who points out that throwing cupfuls of sea water won’t make any difference; the whale is dying, and she can’t save it.

And anyway, they’re all going to die, before long… 

Then the action moves back a year or so, when Ruth is having an affair with a married man called Alex. She isn’t quite sure why she’s keeping it a secret not just from her parents (who are likeable people, if somewhat over-protective) but from her closest friend Fran. She and Fran have shared everything with each other for years, and Ruth knows that, the longer she puts it off, the harder she’s going to find it. Particularly when Alex decides to leave his wife and move in with Ruth. 

And then we’re back to the beach. Ruth and Nik talk briefly, and are aware that something catastrophic is about to happen. They decide to see if they can take refuge, somehow, inside the dead whale’s mouth, and they make it just in time. It sounds horrendous, but the apocalyptic blast is worse, destroying everything in the open air. 

The action moves to and fro, alternating the past and the present, and although I thought that would be confusing, it really isn’t. Ruth is quite a self-centered person, and somewhat promiscuous too; yet she’s also mostly kind and caring, and passionate about whales. It’s not clear for some time why she’s in New Zealand at the start of the book, nor what happened to her family and friends in the UK…

It’s cleverly done, with powerful, descriptive writing that takes the reader right into the situation. The contrast between the two parts of the story is marked; it’s never made clear why this apocalypse happens, or even what it consists of. But Nik is worried about radioactivity, so it’s evidently some kind of nuclear explosion. The author doesn’t get into politics at all, reflected in Ruth’s determination to avoid news on TV or the Internet for the period when she’s still in the UK. Evidently people are concerned that something terrible is going to happen, but we never learn who the perpetrators are, or what are the reasons for it. 

The scenes as Ruth and Nik try to survive their first months after this holocaust are reminiscent of stone age stories of hunter/gatherers. However the situation is rather different: they can ‘scavenge’ from burned-out supermarkets and elsewhere. But they have to construct shelter, and try to work out how to attract any possible rescue ships or satellites. They develop all kinds of new skills, and their priorities are very different. As they reflect back on their former lives ‘before’, they inevitably have many regrets; they also grow and develop as people.

In one sense there’s not a whole lot of plot, and what there is seems very unlikely. But somehow that doesn’t matter. I liked discovering how Ruth came to be travelling across the world rather than living in the UK, surrounded by friends and an apparently caring man. And I appreciated the way that the ‘past’ story moves forward to the beginning of the ‘present’ one, although there are no real surprises or twists. 

It’s very thought-provoking, making me think about what I take for granted, and how difficult it would be to live in a world with almost nothing. And also a tad worrying, although I think (and hope!) the likelihood of this kind of gradual nuclear destruction is low. I doubt if I’ll read this again, but am very glad it was chosen and look forward to discussing it. 

There’s some ‘adult’ content, though nothing too explicit, and a bit of bad language, but I was able to gloss over it as I was so eager to keep reading.

Recommended if you like this kind of book, or are looking for something very different. It’s a very impressive debut novel. No longer on special offer for the Kindle, so the link above is to the paperback version. 

Review copyright 2025 Sue's Book Reviews

The coming of age of the Chalet School (by Elinor M Brent-Dyer)

(Amazon UK link)

In my slow reread of the Chalet School books by Elinor M Brent-Dyer, I reached the one numbered 39 in the original hardback series published last century. I last read ‘The coming of age of the Chalet School’ towards the end of 2015, but it’s not one that I reread regularly. It was foreshadowed through a lot of the previous book, ‘Excitements at the Chalet School’ which I reread just over a month ago. 

This is the book where the Chalet School celebrates 21 years of existence. It was first published in the late 1950s. The school had come up with some ideas to celebrate, mentioned in ‘Excitements…’, and in this book it all happens. So earlier in the term, albums are made with information from old girls, and everyone is encouraged to avoid fines, so they can contribute to the fund for building two chapels. 

Old girls arrive, too, and stay at St Mildred’s, so the main Chalet School is quite crowded, with the St Mildred’s ‘finishing’ branch included. But we don’t actually see much of most of the old girls; the only ones given much space in the book are Jo Maynard’s three closest friends: Frieda, Simone and Marie. And they only really come to the fore towards the end, when the four travel, with the prefects, to Austria and the original location of the Chalet School.

Earlier in the book are some regular classroom antics; the twins Prudence and Priscilla have, at last, come to the Swiss branch from the UK one, and Prudence doesn’t like the fact that her peers have grown up. She likes to have fun and cause mischief, and she introduces pranks and irritations that get her into trouble - they’re not seen as amusing, in these books, but childish and silly. 

There’s also some discussion about the annual ‘sale’ done in aid of the sanatorium nearby. Everyone works at hobbies to create things to sell, and they hope to make it a record year. As ever, each form suggests a theme, and the prefects vote on it. It’s a tad ironic that the one representative without a form suggestion picks something randomly to propose, and has it accepted. 

So on the whole it’s a run-of-the-mill Chalet School book, one which I find hard to remember in much detail even though I finished it this morning, and read most of it yesterday. The trip to Austria is interesting, and I like the interactions between the four close friends (who have travelled alone, with no children or babies) and the prefects. There’s even an unexpected adventure for Joey and Mary-Lou. 

But there are a lot of details about the sale, which, for all its new theme each year, follows a fairly predictable pattern. There are stalls and competitions, and prizes awarded at the end. Towards the end of the book there’s also a sports day, on the final day of term, where team sports and races, including some ‘silly’ ones, are also explored in some detail. 

There are a couple of poignant scenes. One involves a character who appeared unexpectedly in 'Excitements...' and was apparently dropped. She reappears in this book a few times, and the author manages to make her so unfortunately circumstanced that I almost forgot her extreme unpleasantness much earlier in the series. The other poignant scene involves one of the pupils called home because her step-sister is dying. 

I mostly enjoyed the book while reading it, though it’s not one of my favourites. There’s a short story at the end, picking up on an incident mentioned in the main book but without any descriptions in the usual canonical books. So that was quite interesting, and works well in EBD style. I like the ‘Girls Gone By’ publications; in addition to the full, original text there are brief introductory sections, and an addendum with both corrections made and inconsistencies spotted.  The short story is a bonus in a lot of them.

‘’The coming of age of the Chalet School’ wouldn’t be a good book as an introduction to the series; it references a lot of previous books, with footnotes, and has quite a lot of characters, some of them only mentioned briefly. It’s good for fans like me, who love catching up with these people regularly, so it’s certainly worth having if you’re a fan of the series. But it’s not one I am likely to dip into at random. These were originally written for teenagers, but more likely, now, to be read by adults who remember them from their childhood. 

The original hardbacks of this book tend to be sold for extortionate prices, and the paperbacks are out of print; however both the abridged Armada versions and the full Girls Gone By editions can sometimes be found second-hand at reasonable prices. Apparently there are major cuts in the Armada version, so if you can find a GGB paperback, it's worthwhile doing so. 

Review copyright 2025 Sue's Book Reviews