Snow in Winter

The lives of two English female cousins come alive in this poignant tale from Bacon (Other Women). Little Nell Thorp, left with her stern but loving Yorkshire relations due to WWII and her father's alcoholism, grows especially close to her cousin, the nurturing Chrissie Newboul. After an unexpected turn of events, Nell is able to attend boarding school and then university, preparing her for the life of an independent career woman who's not shy about enjoying a few affairs here and there. Chrissie, meanwhile, weds engineer Jack, subjugating her ambitions for a nursing career to family and frequent moves. In time, both cousins come to a watershed: Nell's is a passionate love for an author that makes her reconsider her attitude toward marriage and family. Chrissie's is a hope of realizing her career dream. But devastating events drive each to face her deepest fears, and both women will learn how difficult it is to truly know another person. Terse, effective characterizations mingle with the sounds, smells and feelings of Nell's childhood. Further along, dramatic tension grows flaccid at times, but vibrant secondary characters compensate, enriching a novel that's up to the high storytelling standard Bacon has previously set. (July)