Guest Book Review: Jane Lovering - How I Wonder What You Are

Reviewed by Tanya Phillips

“Maybe he wasn’t here because of the lights – maybe they were here because of him…” 

It’s been over eighteen months since Molly Gilchrist has had a man (as her best friend, Caro, is so fond of reminding her) so when she as good as stumbles upon one, lying comatose, on the moors one bitterly cold morning, it seems like the Universe is having a laugh at her expense. 

But Phinn Baxter (that’s Doctor Phinneas Baxter) is no drunken layabout, as Molly is soon to discover; with a PhD in astrophysics and a tortured past that is a match for Molly’s own disastrous love life. 

Finding mysterious men on the moors isn’t the weirdest thing Molly has to contend with, however. 

There’s also those strange lights she keeps seeing in the sky. The ones she’s only started seeing since meeting Phinn…

Amazon links: Kindle or Paperback

This book is set in the Yorkshire moors in a small isolated village called Riverdale which has limited phone coverage and internet access.  The description of the village sounds idyllic if you like seclusion and long refreshing walks or horse rides.  

The story centres around two characters, Molly who hasn’t had a boyfriend in 18 months and Doctor Phinn Baxter.  Phinn happens to be discovered drunk and naked on the moors by Molly, and her horse, one morning after mysteriously seeing some strange lights in the sky.  Dr Phinn has a PhD in astrophysics and is staying at a derelict house, Howe End, on the outskirts of the village.  The house has no electricity or running hot water and his rich friend Link who comes to check he is ok finds the conditions quite hard to live in. 

Then there are these mysterious lights that seem to dance and swoop around over the moors, they are beautiful and enchanting and capture both Molly and Phinn's eyes and imaginations.  The only problem is it seems to be only them that can see them.  Link denies seeing them even though he is with Phinn the one time that they appear.  Could they be UFOs, could they be earth lights or is there another explanation?  Phinn does not know but he is determined to get to the bottom of the mysterious light and tries to unravel the mystery.  Who will discover their true origin first??

Both the characters of Phinn and Molly come to life during the novel and I found myself sympathising and getting angry with them for various reasons throughout the book. As well as laughing at a few of the antics and descriptions.  I wanted Molly to come out of hiding and show here true talents as for Phinn I wanted him to believe in himself.  You will have to read the book to find out if they do. 

The book is a nice weekend read that you can enjoy without thinking too much.  The chapters are nice and short and you find yourself whizzing through it.  Enjoy.

I'd like to thank Tanya for another fab review and Lusana at Choc Lit for sending us a copy of this eBook to review.