The Return Journey by Maeve Binchy

This book was a bit of a surprise. I expected it to be one whole story.  Having read what I thought was chapter one, suddenly chapter two had no relevance to it whatsoever! 

This is in fact a collection of 22 short stories.  They are predominately centred around travel in one form or another - actually travelling, planning to travel, or even planning not to.   

There are many different characters which appear in the stories, some of which are very caring and generous people, and others who are very selfish.  The interaction between them is quite interesting and also differs from story to story.   

My favourite stories were probably 'Miss Vogel's Vacation', 'The House Sitter', 'A Villa for Four' and 'A Holiday with Your Father'.  I was able to read a whole story, or more, in one go as none of them are too long.  

I have read a few other Maeve Binchy books, but these were many years ago.  I do remember that I have read at least 'Evening Class', 'Circle of Friends' and 'Silver Wedding'. 

The Winter House by Nicci Gerrard

Having lost touch with her friends Ralph Tinsley and Oliver Fenton, Marnie is surprised when early one morning she receives a phone call from Oliver.  He has booked a seat for her on that afternoon's flight from London to Scotland.  Their friend Ralph is in a remote cottage in the Scottish Highlands, he is very ill and wants to see Marnie again before he dies.  

Marnie catches the plane and is met by a neighbour who takes her the rest of the way to Ralph's cottage.  

Ralph asks Marnie to tell him the story of when they first met.  As Marnie reminisces and tells stories of meeting Ralph and later meeting Oliver it takes them all back in time to when they were young.  Ralph, who doesn't actually speak very much, provides a lot of the text through his own thoughts and memories.  

This is an interesting story of friendships and love.

The author Nicci Gerrard also writes thrillers jointly with her husband Sean French under the name Nicci French.  

Thyme Out by Katie Fforde

Perdita Dylan runs a small salad growing company.  She grows her own salad crops in poly-tunnels in her garden and on the extended land she has been given by her elderly friend Kitty - which is the space between their gardens.  Perdita first met Kitty, who is godmother to Perdita's own mother, when she was 12 years old and went to stay with her during boarding school holidays.  Perdita's own parents travelled a lot and were often out of the country so over the years Perdita regularly stayed with Kitty and their relationship became very close.

One day when delivering her salad crops to Grantly House, a local restaurant, Perdita is shocked to find Lucas Gillespie, her ex-husband, in the kitchen.  He has been employed as the new chef.  Perdita and Lucas had married very young and did not part on good terms.  Lucas had left Perdita for an older woman and Perdita had returned home to Kitty broken hearted.  They had not seen each other since.  

Lucas, who is working very hard to get his first Michelin star, has been asked to take part in a cookery programme.  He is to be the celebrity chef cooking in a real kitchen.  Since arriving at Grantly House he has updated and changed the kitchen so much that the production company find it too sterile and no longer want to use it.  Instead they decide they would like to use Perdita's kitchen as it is in a very picturesque local cottage.  Perdita is not very keen on the idea.  She uses her kitchen as an extension to her business and it is full of seedlings, sprouting peas and compost.  She doesn't usually do any cooking and the facilities in her kitchen are not up to Lucas' standards.  Things will need to be updated and changed before the programme can be filmed.  

When 87 year old Kitty has a stroke Perdita changes some of her working arrangements so that she can be around more and help to look after Kitty.  Lucas is very supportive and spends time visiting with Kitty when he can.  He provides small morsels of tasty food to tempt Kitty's dwindling appetite.  He also leaves meals for Perdita as he knows she is neglecting herself and not eating properly.  Can they become friends again?  

I enjoyed this easy read chick-lit story.  I have read quite a few Katie Fforde books including - The Perfect Match, Wedding Season, Love Letters, Summer of Love, Going Dutch, Practically Perfect, Artistic Licence, Wild Designs, Restoring Grace and Living Dangerously.  Other books by the same author I have waiting on my bookshelf are - A French Affair, Life Skills and Stately Pursuits. 

Tiaras and Tantrums by Roy Adams

This is the true story of Roy Adams who worked at Kedleston Hall in Derby for 25 years. 

Roy applied for the job of houseman and was invited to interview.  He hired a car for the day and set off to Kedleston Hall with his wife Betty.  They imagined that it would be a modest sized Georgian house and were unprepared for the size and grandeur of the hall which they saw on arrival.  Having been met by the estate manager, even before getting out of the car they were told 'this job isn't for you'.  No real explanation was given and having taken the time to travel to the interview Roy insisted on being shown around and told about the job.  The job came with a cottage in the local village and after a discussion with Betty, Roy decided to take the post.  

They packed up their home and moved to Kedleston village.  The small cottage they were given had been left to become almost derelict and was not really in a habitable state.  The estate manager would do nothing about it so it was left to Roy to do all the repairs needed, at his own expense, to make their home and lives more comfortable. Over his years in service at Kedleston Hall Roy and Betty lived in different houses on the estate or in the local villages, none of which had been well maintained. 

After two years working as a houseman Roy was promoted to butler when Mr and Mrs Newton, the previous butler and his wife who was the cook, both retired and left the estate. This was a very quick jump up the hierarchy within service in a private house, but the number of employees were much fewer than really were needed to run a large house. For many years Roy had to undertake numerous roles, often working 14 hours a day and 7 days a week to keep on top of all the jobs expected of him.  Due to the remoteness of the estate, the poor conditions within the house and the huge expectations of the family, they struggled for many years to employ and keep a good cook. Betty would sometimes help out, but refused to take on the job permanently.  On occasions meal preparation also fell to Roy.  

He recounts many interesting tales of the jobs he was required to do and some of the people, including royalty, he met in the course of his time at the hall.  

This is an interesting story of life in service and the incredible expectations of the very few staff in such a large house.  The conditions within some areas of the house and around the estate were really poor, unhygienic and often dangerous.  After 25 years of working at Kedleston Hall, following his retirement, Roy began to write his memoirs which were turned into this book by his wife. 

Four Warned by Jeffrey Archer

This is a World Book Night 2014 Quick Reads book.  It contains four short stories. 

Never Stop on the Motorway (taken from Twelve Red Herrings)

This is a short but very typical story of someone being closely followed along the motorway.  The ending was no surprise!

The Queen's Birthday Telegram (from And Thereby Hangs a Tale and based on a true incident)

This is a very nice story of an elderly couple who in turn reach their 100th birthdays.  Albert Webber is the first to receive his telegram from the Queen and three years later he is upset when his wife Betty doesn't receive one too.  He rings Buckingham Palace to find out why.  

Stuck on You (from And Thereby Hangs a Tale and based on a true incident)

Jeremy can't believe his luck when the wealthy Arabella takes an interest in him and they start to see each other regularly.  They quickly become engaged and Jeremy has to get a very expensive De Beers diamond engagement ring for Arabella.  

Don't Drink the Water (from Cat O' Nine Tales)

This is the longest of the four stories.  Dick Barnsley, a wealthy businessman, travels regularly to Russia on business and is setting up a new, large contract which is to be signed by Government Ministers and witnessed by the President. Dick's wife Maureen accompanies him on this visit and is to attend the signing ceremony.  Dick plots what he believes to be the ideal way to murder his wife.