A Parallel Life

by Ruth Hamilton

Harriet Compton-Milne can't remember a time when she wasn't worried. Just twenty-one, the qualified jeweller feels old before her time. She can match stones, make platinum shine but she can't leave Bolton because her brother Ben, an OCD-riddled genius, wouldn't be able to cope without her. Her eccentric parents aren't much help, but when big trouble arrives, the family-including Hermione, Harriet's acerbic, attic-dwelling grandmother - will have to act as a unit if they are to survive and keep their sanity.

Genres: Fiction

398 pages, Hardcover

First published May 1, 2010

About the author

Ruth Hamilton was one of North West England's most popular writers. She was the bestselling author of twenty-five novels, including Spinning Jenny, The Bells of Scotland Road, Mulligan's Yard, Mersey View and That Liverpool Girl. She was born in Bolton, which is the setting for many of her novels, and spent most of her life in Lancashire.

(source: http://www.panmacmillan.com/author/ru...)

Reviews

[Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. This started out a little slow for me but ended up really good. I'm glad I stuck with it. :)

[Anissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

There was a lot going on in this story.

Hermione as the head of the household, Harriet with her new love and her concern for her brother.

Lisa with her affair, her relationship with her boyfriends wife and her renewal of motherhood.

Gus with his secret child and his detachment from everyone.

I did enjoy the book, but I would have preferred a little less activity and more details on the scenarios left.

[Paula Watson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found that the author spent so much time setting up the characters and story line and then fell short. It just wrapped up too quickly without really giving the reader enough to make the characters and the readers that was deserved

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Entertaining cast of characters in a semi-dysfunctional family trying to do the right thing.

[Dilys Myhill · Rating 2 out of 5]

slow but readable.

[June · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed listening to this in the car, made me laugh