A stirring and moving family saga set in the north west of England from one of Britain's best loved authors. Leanne Chalmers has made a career for herself presenting her own style of home decorating and design on the nations screens. That was her past life, at least. For now Leanne has been forced to start again as Lily, leaving her name, job, and marriage behind. No one in the Lancashire village of Eagleton has a clue about Lily, save that shes come up from the southwest with her best friend and a small child. But its hard to lead a solitary existence in a small place, and Lily and Babs are swiftly embraced by some of the local characters: Mike, the Catholic priest, who the girls cant help noticing is easy on the eye; Eve, a Liverpudlian, who has a big mouth but a heart of gold; the hairdressers Paul and Maurice; and Dave and his love, Philly, both shy yet determined not to be cowed by Daves mother, the domineering matriarch of the village. Soon, Lilys new life is full of promise and as she joins Daves reading room, a shop come caf and library, she begins to relax. But then Eve is wounded in a burglary, and suddenly, Lily is afraid that her secret is out: her husband Clive may have discovered where she is, and, having left her for dead before, is now out to kill her. . . Full of Ruth Hamiltons unique warmth and humor, is a rich, compelling novel of love, life, and courage.