Her Own Rules by Barbara Taylor Bradford
I usually find Barbara Taylor Bradford's books soothing, in spite of her heroines having lots of troubles. However, this one was quite harrowing, partly because of the connection with Australia. Bradford's characters were likeable and sympathetic, however, and the descriptions of Yorkshire and Connecticut were evocative and atmospheric.
Meredith is a successful hotel owner with two lovely adult children, but her childhood and her divorce upset her. She had a difficult childhood in Australia, and decided to live in Connecticut when she was very young. When she travels to one of her hotels in Yorkshire, she feels the urge to visit Fountains Abbey nearby, and she feels that something tragic happened to her there. Haunted by strange dreams and a strange illness, she decides to resolve the dark secrets of her past before they start to destroy her health. She is lucky enough to have the support of her new French boyfriend Luc and her friends and children.
I found this psychological story quite hard to put down, and I enjoyed the settings and reading about Meredith's business dealings which were very detailed. I am not sure if I would call it holiday reading, however.
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