Buttercups In The Basement: Book Two of the Hummingbird House series by Jane Harvey

 Gripping, Heart-Wrenching, Intriguing

Genre: Contemporary Fiction

Buttercups In The Basement: Book Two in the Hummingbird House Series by Jane Harvey - Novelist

Betty Williams, the matriarch and landlady of Hummingbird House very much enjoys the company of the young people who occupy her building, and has taken on a bit of a motherly role in the house. However, as comfortable as she is with her current life, she cannot help but reflect on what has gone before, having occupied Hummingbird House since the start of her married life; the highs and lows of that relationship, past tenants, and recalling how her mother had felt about her purchasing such a large, run down property. Her life had had many twists and turns that had led her to where she was now, and she owed her survival through all of it to one person......

Just as the first book focuses on April, the most recent tenant of Hummingbird House, so this book delves into the life of Betty, the owner of the brightly coloured town house. The narrative runs in two time lines, Betty now and Betty as she was many years previously as a young woman. The time line for the current time does run parallel with book one, just told from another's perspective. I love it when an Author does this, as there may be characters in a previous book that were more involved in a scene, but weren't the focus of the Author at the time, such as the bonfire scenario; Paul and April see it from their perspective, from the inside of his flat window in book one, above the chaos that is unfolding. Whereas Betty, is on the ground with Dai amongst it, and book two allows the reader to eves drop on the verbal exchange between the elderly landlady and her distressed tenant. The Author explores Betty's relationship with her tenants in the present, and how she really wants to do what she can to help Dai. She also has a deep affection for Paul and adores Ben and Jonty. I'm still not convinced that Betty is overwhelmed by April's presence though. I felt that at the end of the first book, and reading this book has gone that bit further to cement that feeling. Although, it is nice that she has encouraged certain bonds, despite possible reservations.

Even loving the feel of the current day storyline as I do, I enjoyed the tales of Betty in her younger days that bit more. I went through all sorts of emotions; envy at Betty having a female friend that was so obviously.devoted to her, to the point that I must admit, I had the same suspicions as William admitted to having. Also, the life changing event that shakes her world, made me feel desperately sad for Betty and mad with William for not being straight with her, and committing to a situation that he hadn't really wanted in the first place..but then I guess that was a sign of the times. The short account of prejudice that is cleverly interwoven with the introduction of the new tenants is shocking but also made me wonder how far we have actually progressed today. It was a pleasant surprise to find such open mindedness amongst this cast. Dorothy is hilarious and gave me many a giggle. Particularly as the Author describes her crashing through the bedroom door in order to get to her daughter! I thought that William and Dorothy's interaction was told so descriptively, it was very amusing. Betty's of-the-time sensibilities versus William's laid back attitude, together with Dorothy's very old fashioned approach that I think gradually softened from her introduction, was fun to mindfully narrate.

Jane's use of breath-taking cliff-hangers at the end of every chapter can keep me reading for hours. I cannot express how much I am hooked on this set of books, and I would love it to continue forever, as Jane's writing makes for such a relaxing, enjoyable read. Her writing is so expressive giving her characters depth, personality and warmth. I'm very much looking forward to the next installment in this uplifting series.