Swallows

by Rosamund Ridley

One bright warm day in April, Beatrix found two mud nests in the vicarage porch. New build, no planning permission, messy and ferociously protected... Until the birds have flown, Beatrix, her family and visitors must use the back door. Jeremy’s a celebrity vicar, media star, maybe-Bishop too. Nobody comes to church, but they all want a piece of him. Vicarage daughters, Cassie and Jane want their porch back, perfect hide for observing everything, swallows, stars, scandals...Beatrix is also the mother of Adam. The day she should have married his father, she fled from the register office, pelted down Castle Hill, scattering guests, bikes and tourists. David Rosenbaum chased her through the streets of Cambridge, but the wedding was off. What would be the point? His family didn't want a shiksa daughter in law. Only Nuptial Mass would satisfy her side.The film crew and David move in. And Leah with their lookalike sons, smaller versions of Adam. David arrives to collect the keys to his rented cottage, expecting a vicar’s wife. Instead - Beata Beatrix... The sun shines, no rain falls, the reservoirs run dry. Kitty Bland’s raised thousands to give war-battered Africans a holiday. Experts in drought, the Amalians think standpipes are the last word in luxury, teach squabbling villagers survival skills. Beatrix tries to see herself as a Bishop's wife. How can Jeremy do this to her? Will she elope with David? Will it ever rain again? Enter Maria...

319 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 2, 2011

Reviews

[Enid Beech · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant, I recommend Her books highly, am on my 4th