The Lavender House

The Lavender House – Hilary Boyd Quercus, £16.99

FEMINISM and education has improved life for women but there are still many who will recognise Nancy, divorced four years ago, caring for her ailing mother, babysitting for her struggling daughter and coping for all four generations.
Life has not put her through a wringer but she is feeling pretty wrung out, nonetheless.
Not the perfect way to get ready for a birthday party, then, especially not when it is her best friend’s 60th birthday and even more so when line dancing is on the menu.
From then you have to hang on to your hats as she meets a singing cowboy, who is not at all what is expected of her. And not at all what her family are expecting of him.
It is refreshing to think of older people being just as tongue-tied in new relationships as young people and refreshing, too, to realise that older people can start new relationships.
But the weight of responsibility has to be borne… and if it is not borne by those responsible then mum (or daughter) must carry the weight. Or not.