March 1, 2014
More secrets lurk beneath the surface of the sleepy Scottish village of Prior's Ford. Lewis Ralston-Kerr and his fiancee are making vast strides in their efforts to return his home, Linn Hall, to its former glory. Ginny's work on the garden has opened it to the public and even garnered the shy woman a role on a show featuring her restoration of another garden. Unfortunately, Ginny's mother, famous actress Meredith Whitelaw, won't stop interfering in their wedding plans, which she assumes are all about her. The couple is also struggling to get Lewis' former girlfriend Molly to allow their daughter, Rowena Chloe, to live at Linn Hall while Molly makes a new life for herself in Portugal. The town is home to a famous writer--even though only one person knows that Malcolm Finlay, the author of many academic papers, also writes popular chick lit for older women under a nom de plume. Malcolm's blossoming friendship with the local librarian is threatened when her obnoxious half sister suddenly arrives and antagonizes the entire village. Out at Tarbethill Farm, by contrast, things have been looking up ever since Ewan McNair married Alison, who's helped move the farm into the black. Alison's young son, Jamie, is determined to become a farmer, and their bottom line improves even further when they rent a cottage and shed to a Polish glass blower and his horse-crazy daughter. While villagers struggle with individual problems, the whole town is busy planning a summer festival. Fans of the series (Return to Prior's Ford, 2013, etc.), who won't object to the slow pace, will be happy to learn more about the denizens of the seemingly placid village as they sip a cup of tea and enjoy a biscuit while they read.
COPYRIGHT(2014) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
March 15, 2014
In Hood's (Return to Prior's Ford, 2013) latest foray into the lives of those who inhabit the tiny Scottish village of Prior's Ford, a new baby is born (as are lambs and puppies), a foreign glass artist and his young daughter move in, and the librarian's odious half-sister arrives to wreak havoc in the aftermath of her own personal disaster. A convenient list of characters is provided to guide readers new to the series as well as fans looking to refresh their memories. Gardener Ginny's mother, a famous actress, tries to hijack Ginny and Lewis' simple wedding plans, while Lewis tries to obtain custody of his daughter, Rowena Chloe, from his ex-fianc'e, who has moved to Portugal. A sweet friendship and perhaps an unacknowledged romance begins between the retired professor, who has a secret life, and the shy librarian. While her renovations on Linn Hall move slowly forward, Ginny works on a television producer's garden and is pushed reluctantly to have an onscreen presence. Hood's delightful village tale is like a beam of springtime sunshine.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2014, American Library Association.)