The Snow Globe by Judith Kinghorn

The Snow Globe by Judith Kinghorn is set in England in 1926-27.  Daisy is the main character - she is 19 and the youngest of three sisters.  One is married, and one is living in London and owns a dress shop there. Her mother and father have been married almost 25 years.  Her father inherited his father's business and stays in London most of the time while her mother stays at Eden Hall, the family home in the country.  Everybody thinks they have the perfect marriage - or at least Daisy does.  Until she overhears the servants talking about 'that other woman' and mentioning a boy and starts  putting together the clues.  She realizes that her father has been having an affair with a woman in London - and that her mother knows about it!  Her hero worship of her father is deflated with a big fat POP!

It is the Christmas season and her family usually has a houseful of guests for Christmas - friends, family - but this year Daisy's mother Mabel has decided to surprise her husband - and has invited his mistress, Margot and her son Valentine and seems interested in Daisy.  Surprise it is and let's say a little awkward.  Rounding out the guests is Reggie, a friend who lives close by and seems to be enamored with Mabel - not that she seems to mind any - and Ben - an employee of her father's who spent part of the summer there and is quite taken with Daisy.  Then there is Stephen Jessop - he is the son of the cook and gardener and has been Daisy's lifelong companion.  The best way to sum up the three young men in Daisy's life is by taking a quote off the back of the book - "As Daisy wrestles with the truth, she blossoms in her own right, receiving a marriage proposal from one man, a declaration of love from another, and her first kiss from a third."

So the story revolves around Daisy, and her search for true love - while also trying to understand her parents relationship and love.  Is there really much difference between young love and old love?  Or can misunderstandings cause trouble  at both ends?

This was my first book by Judith Kinghorn, but I did enjoy reading it.  It is not a big action packed page turner, but the story slowly unfolds and there were times I just wanted to wring everyone's necks and tell them to communicate with each other!  If you are looking for a good old-fashioned romance, then this one is for you!

~I received a complimentary copy of The Snow Globe from Penguin in exchange for my unbiased review.~