Five books for those who are staying at home and leading a more or divorce less prosaic existence, offer excellent between entertainment and an escape from ordinary existence. All these tales centre about romance, they are good understandable love stories with enough dilemmas in their course to, make sure that it is true love after all, In each tale the boy-meets-girl motif is adroitly mingled with sufcient villainies, rivalries, rascalries and cross purposes to arouse sympathy and suspense, but the affections portrayed do not go deep enough io shatter the summer calm and the uglier side of realism is happily left in the background.
"White Elephant" by tawa Whetter (Ward, Lock & Ca) is a delightful story of a group of thoroughly likable youngsters thrown on their own resources at an early age. The embarrassing animal in question was a large freehold house in West London, filled with old-fashioned furniture, more of a Problem than an asset when left to Penelope Drummond. Family co-Operation in a "paying guest" project and the ensuing complications make a story both humourous and appealing, an ideal gift book when a wholesome, entertaining book is desired, Another book by Laura Whetter, "Be Rough With Love," (Ward, Lock Company, Ltd.) is a more sophisticated tale, concerned with Martin, the musician and band leader of the "Hotel Magnifique," the adored of all "women who came within his magnetic sphere of influence. All, that is, except Lyn Dexter, a beauty specialist at the same hotel She resists his attractions for some time and the book has many clashes between these well-matched protagonists. The story is full of fast-moving incidents and interesting characters wittily portrayed.
"Youth Must Choose" by Elizabeth Margetson, (Ward, Lock & Ca., Ltd.) is a novelization of the older-woman-loves-younger-man theme, told from a'different angle and a distinctly modern poínt of view, Readers who follow the rapidly shifting rar} monial"partnerships of the stage will find a timely interest and additional material for the discussions which perennial rage about this subject. The problems of winsome Clodagh Mourne and likable Nicky Armitage make an absorbing plot and the tale is well told.
"In The Flashlight" by Ottwell Binns, (Ward, Lock & Ca. Ltd.) carries one further afield, to East Attica, always a fine field for adventure. It is handed out here in full measure with plot and counter plot. Lost heirs, villains, separated lovers, blackmail and murder—all these elements are skilfully combined so os to make a very exciting narrative, convincing in its thrills and unexpected in its denouement, Mr. Binns has brought it off again.
In "Bridge to the Moon" Sihon Dare tells an engaging story of impulsive youth, the idédlistic young Mandy Lynn, who unwillingly falls in love with Hugo Fairless, who had been for a few hours her mother's [husband and was her own guardian, Her efforts to build a "bridge to the moon," her life in the country with philosophical aunt Lydia and her staunch friend Jason, contrasting glimpses of London life, dramatic situations make à novel of dram suspense, The author's preachments are a little obvious at times, but cannot spoil her story—x".
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.