Book Corner

Summer is here with the temptation to flop in to the garden chair with a wealth of books crowding round shouting “Read me! Read me!” well, perhaps not quite, but sunny days and time off affords an excellent opportunity to dip in to favourite authors or to find new ones.

I opted for the latter and, in doing so, experienced a change of type of story too. The Lady of the Hall is the second book in the Eden Hall series written by Veronica Heley. It is the type of story that has you cheering loudly for the heroine, one Araminta Cardale, and hissing, equally loudly, at several people who are far from supportive. Romantic fiction is not usually my cup of tea, but this is gentle, gripping, intriguing, full of twists and turns. It also proves that it is possible to write a very readable book without bad language or bedroom roulette.

To help set the scene, in the first book, Eden Hall, Araminta (known as ‘Minty’) is summoned to ‘Eden Hall’ by her half-sister to her Father’s bedside. Eden Hall is the home of her ancestors and from which Minty was exiled when she was just four years old. Minty makes a place for herself in the village and starts to learn the truth about her family.

In Lady of the Hall we see Minty in her new role. She struggles hard to keep the Hall open to the public and to introduce fresh ideas. Then there is the charitable foundation that her father established. There is also a wedding to plan - hers!

The Author, Veronica Heley, has published over fifty books, including crime fiction, historical and children’s titles. She is a full-time writer, is married to a London probation officer and has one musician daughter.

A very enjoyable read.

The Lady of the Hall by Veronica Heley. (Zondervan). ISBN 0-310-25079X. £7.99

Happy summer reading everyone!

Lynn Winter