Summer Awakening

In the first book of the Heartlines novels, Lainie, 16, and her family travel from England to Majorca for a two-week stay in an island villa. Her mother alternately hovers over Lainie, her brother Brian and sister Shara, and complains that they take up too much of her time. Jonty and his family have the adjoining villa, but just as Lainie falls hard for him she finds out that he has a girlfriend at home. To Jonty, Lainie is just a summer conquest. Her mother reveals that she had a love affair that led to a pregnancyas a result, she was forced to marry Lainie's father, who loved her even though she was carrying another man's child. She and Lainie reach a new understanding, and Lainie leaves Jontyand the romancebehind. This romance has a striking touch of realism: Lainie's family is in the forefront of the action. They're always around, hindering or unwittingly helping Lainie and Jonty be together. The characterizations have unusual depth and carry the love story beyond the ordinary. (12-up)