Stately ​Pursuits

Katie Fforde - Thyme ​Out
When ​Perdita Dylan delivers her baby vegetables to a local hotel and finds that her unpredictable ex-husband, Lucas, has taken over the kitchen, she is horrified - particularly when she discovers he's being groomed as the latest celebrity chef and needs her picturesque, if primitive cottage, and her, in supporting roles. Her life is further complicated when Kitty, her 87-year-old friend, has a stroke. Perdita needs someone to lean on - and Lucas seems so keen to help that she starts to wonder if he's really such a villain. Can she cope with all this alone? Or should she face up to the fact that 'You can't cuddle lettuces'?

Katie Fforde - Wedding ​Season
Sarah ​is a wedding planner hiding a rather inconvenient truth - she doesn't believe in love. Or not for herself, anyway. But as the confetti flutters away on the June breeze of yet another successful wedding she somehow finds herself agreeing to organise two more, on the same day and only two months away. And whilst her celebrity bride is all sweetness and light, her own sister soon starts driving her mad with her high expectations but very limited budget. Luckily Sara has two tried and tested friends on hand to help her. Elsa, an accomplished dress designer who likes to keep a very low profile, and Bron, a multi-talented hairdresser who lives with her unreconstructed boyfriend and who'd like to go solo in more ways than one. They may be very good at their work but romance doesn't feature very highly in any of their lives. As the big day draws near all three women find that patience is definitely a virtue in the marriage game. And as all their working hours are spent preparing for the wedding of the year plus one they certainly haven't got any time to even think about love . Or have they?

Katie Fforde - The ​Rose Revived
If ​May, Sally and Harriet didn't need the money so badly, they definitely wouldn't be working for Slimeball Slater at Quality Cleaners. So when they discover it's Slimeball taking them to the cleaners, they decide to set up their own business - and that's when things really start to take off. Working for themselves gives them the freedom and independence they've been longing for. May can afford the mooring fees for her beloved narrowboat; Harriet discovers a true gift for painting and Sally's dream of a place of her own is fast becoming reality. But is it too much, having made such a success of their working lives, to expect similar success in their romantic ones?

Katie Fforde - Flora ​választása
Flora ​Stanza hátrahagyva eddigi pörgő londoni életét vidékre tart, hogy átvegye a családi vállalkozást, egy régiségkereskedést. Eddigi tudását az antikvitásokról kizárólag napi tv műsorokból szedte össze, de a hiányzó ismereteket nagy lelkesedéssel pótolja. Flora elbizonytalanodik, amikor nem részesül az elvárt meleg fogadtatásban. Udvariatlan unokatestvére Charles és jegyese Annabelle elszántan küzdenek azért, hogy hazaküldjék Florat és kivásárolják a részét az üzletből. Az ajánlat igen kecsegtető és könnyű megoldás lenne a tapasztalatlan lánynak egészen addig, amíg egy különös jel nem készteti maradásra. Egy vemhes macskával magára hagyva nincs más választása, mint maradni és egyedül megbirkózni az elhagyatott vidéki házzal, kilométerekre a szomszédoktól és a trendi borbártól. A végzetesen jóképű agglegény Henry és a természetbarát William, titkos bérlője mellett Flora hamarosan rájön, hogy a vidéki élet nem is olyan unalmas és lassan felvirágoztatja az omladozó vállalkozást.

Katie Fforde - Paradise ​Fields
It's ​not as if Nel hadn't enough on her plate already: organising a farmers' market in the picturesque Paradise Fields and keeping track of her unnervingly beautiful teenage daughter - plus sorting out a houseful of animals - are quite enough to keep her busy. The last thing she needs is another complication in her life, but when her old friend Sir Gerald dies and his son, Pierce - accompanied by his glamorous American wife - takes possession of The Big House, it seems that preserving the Fields is not on his list of priorities. Nel takes up arms, determined to fight for the meadow and the market she loves. But whom can she trust? She's pretty sure her friends Sacha and Vivian are on her side, but her sensible boyfriend Simon, an estate agent, is less encouraging. And then there's Jake, the exaspering yet attractive stranger who kissed her under the mistletoe. Maybe she's been a not-so-merry widow for far too long.

Katie Fforde - Szerelem ​kétszer
Sian ​Bishop életében csak egyszer nem törődött a következményekkel, és e pillanatnyi meggondolatlanságából született szeretett kisfia, Rory. Bár Sian imádja annak a vad éjszakának a gyümölcsét, azóta mindig a biztosabb utat választotta. Így, amikor a megbízható, odaadó Richard felveti, hogy költözzön vidékre, maga mögött hagyja a londoni nyüzsgést, és szívvel-lélekkel veti bele magát új, falusi élete örömeibe, a kertészkedésbe festői szépségű kis háza körül és bútorrestaurátori vállalkozása felfuttatásába. Mindehhez ráadásul pompás keretet biztosít az angol vidék szépsége... Csakhogy egy varázslatos nyári estén minden jó szándékát megtorpedózza Gus Berresford betoppanása. Az egykori felfedező és főfoglalkozású szívtipró, elbűvölő és magával ragadó férfi, de éppen az ellenkezője annak, akit egy gyermekét egyedül nevelő fiatal anya társként elképzel magának. Gusnak és Siannak azonban nem ez az első találkozása. Most azonban Siannak igazán nem hiányzik egy futó kaland, és nem szerethet bele a legalkalmatlanabb kérőbe, akit csak a sors az útjába sodor, még akkor sem, ha a végzet már kétszer hozta össze őket. De ki tudja, hova vezet egy nyári szerelem? Katie Fforde a romantikus női irodalom egyik csillaga, akinek regényei több országban vezetik a sikerlistákat. A "Szerelmes levelek", a "Hív Amszterdam", a "Száz boldog esküvőm", a "Tökéletes ajánlat" és a "Ház kilátással" írónőjének új könyve garantáltan élvezetes, humoros és romantikus olvasmány.

Katie Fforde - Highland ​Fling
When ​'Virtual Assistant' Jenny Porter's boyfriend accuses her of being impulsive, soft-hearted and unbusinesslike, dashing off to Scotland to sort out a failing mill for one of her clients may not be the best way of proving him wrong. And promising to help run a mobile burger bar before she's even found her feet doesn't help matters. When she finds herself determined to save the mill - whatever her client's wishes - it seems that Henry's accusations may have contained more than a grain of truth. So when Jenny's awkward encounters with the abrasive but disconcertingly attractive Ross Grant develop into something more complicated - just as Henry arrives in Scotland to reclaim her - it's time for Jenny to make some decisions. Should she do the sensible thing and follow Henry back to London? Or is her Highland adventure more than just a fling...?

Katie Fforde - Practically ​Perfect
Anna, ​a newly qualified interior designer, has decided it's time to put her money and her expertise where her mouth is. She's risked everything on buying a tiny but adorable cottage so she can renovate it, sell it on, and prove to her family that she can earn her own living. Outside, the chocolate-box cottage is perfect, but inside all is chaos: with a ladder for a staircase, no downstairs flooring, candles the only form of lighting and a sleeping bag and camping mat for a bed, Anna's soon wondering whether she's bitten off more than she can chew. Her neighbor Chloe comes to the rescue, providing tea, wine and sympathy - and a recently rescued greyhound, Caroline. But just as Anna's starting to believe she's found the perfect idyll, the good-looking yet impossible Rob Hunter arrives on the scene, putting up more obstacles than the Grand National. Can Anna get over all of life's hurdles?

Katie Fforde - Flora's ​Lot
Flora ​Stanza has sub-let her London life in a bid to join the family antiques business. Her knowledge extends only to the information she has crammed from daytime TV, but what she lacks in experience she makes up for in blind enthusiasm. So she is more than a little put out when she doesn't receive the warm country welcome she expected. Her curt cousin Charles and his fiancee Annabelle are determined to send Flora packing, and their offer to buy her out is tempting...until a strange warning makes her think twice. Stuck with a cat about to burst with kittens, Flora has little choice but to accept the offer to stay in an abandoned holiday cottage miles from any neighbors, let alone a trendy wine bar. And between fighting off dinner invitations from the devastatingly handsome Henry, and hiding her secret eco-friendly lodger William, Flora soon discovers country life is far from dull as she sets about rebuilding the crumbling business...

Katie Fforde - Summer ​of Love
Sian ​Bishop has only ever experienced one moment of recklessness – a moment that resulted in her beloved son Rory. It’s not that she doesn’t love the outcome of that wild night, but since then she has always taken the safer route. So when dependable, devoted Richard suggests a move to the beautiful English countryside, she leaves the hustle and bustle of the city behind, and she throws herself into the picture-postcard cottage garden, her furniture restoration business, and a new life in the country. Her good intentions are torpedoed on a glorious summer’s evening with the arrival of Gus Berresford. One-time explorer and full-time heartbreaker, Gus is ridiculously exciting, wonderfully glamorous and a completely inappropriate love interest for a single mum. But Gus and Sian have met before… Sian has no use for a fling, she simply mustn’t fall in love with the most unlikely suitor ever to cross her path – even if he has now crossed her path twice. But who knows what can happen in a summer of love…

Katie Fforde - Living ​Dangerously
Polly ​Cameron is happy being thirty-five and celibate, living in a small Gloucestershire town with a possessive cat for company and a Rayburn for comfort. After all, a relationship would only complicate things... But Polly's life is already complicated. In addition to her job in the Whole Nut cafe and her part in the 'Save Our High Street' campaign, there's her pottery career to get off the ground. Not to mention dodging the efforts of her friends and mother to find her a husband...

Katie Fforde - Wild ​Designs
Althea ​is the mother of three strong-minded children - one of whom is a Buddhist - and owner of a finicky dog named Bozo. Saddled with too large a house (albeit in a beautiful Cotswold village), worrisome mortgage payments, a bossy younger sister and irksome ex-husband, Althea still manages to muddle through life comfortably enough. Until she loses her job. Seeking solace in her borrowed greenhouse, Althea decides to develop her passion for gardening. And when she wins the opportunity to design a garden at the Chelsea Flower Show with the unexpected help of gorgeous architect Patrick Donahugh, it looks as though Althea may have unearthed a new man as well as a new career...

Katie Fforde - Artistic ​Licence
There's ​an art to choosing men... but Thea's just discovering it. Fed up with looking after a houseful of students, Thea Orville throws caution to the winds and takes off to Ireland with Rory, a charming but feckless artist. But Thea's old life isn't so easily cut off. The arrival of Molly, her bossy friend, demanding to see Rory's stunning paintings (and to find out what Thea is up to) is bad enough, but why did she have to bring Petal, Thea's most annoying lodger, along for the ride? And worst of all, Petal is accompanied by her uncle, the enigmatic Ben, a man Thea has sworn never to like. The timing is terrible - Rory's dog is about to have puppies - but even more alarming is that the more Rory pursues Thea, the more maddeningly attractive she finds Ben...

Katie Fforde - A ​Perfect Proposal
Sophie ​Apperly has been supporting herself since she left school, but as far as her academic family are concerned she's never had a 'proper' job. And because she's currently in between work she's despatched to look after Uncle Eric while his housekeeper is away. Here, whilst tidying his papers, she discovers a document relating to family business in America. Driven mad by her family and wanting to prove herself to them and bring in some much-needed income for them all, when her best friend Milly invites her over to New York she jumps at the chance - what's more she's lined up some nannying work for her to pay her way. However, she's hardly been in the country five minutes before disaster strikes. She suddenly finds herself with no work, nowhere to stay and very little money. Luckily Milly has a corner in her tiny apartment she can camp out in. A jaunt to an art gallery opening throws her into the path of Matilda - a grand old lady who is delighted to find someone who comes from the same part of the world as she grew up in. She is very taken with Sophie and invites her to her house in Connecticut for Thanksgiving. But Matilda's grandson Luke is very suspicious of Sophie - what exactly does this English girl want, is she after her grandmother's money? - and he's determined to nip this growing friendship in the bud.

Katie Fforde - Going ​Dutch
Jo ​Edwards never planned to live on a barge. She's not even sure she likes boats. But when her husband trades her in for a younger model, she finds her options alarmingly limited. Dora Hamilton never planned to run out on her own wedding. But as The Big Day approaches, her cold feet show no signs of warming up - and accepting Jo's offer of refuge aboard The Three Sisters seems the only alternative. As Jo and Dora embark on reorganising their muddled lives, they realise they both need a practical way to keep themselves afloat. But, despite their certainty that they've sworn off men for good, they haven't bargained for the persistent intervention of attractive but enigmatic Marcus, and laid-back, charming Tom, who both seem determined to help them whether they like it or not ...

Katie Fforde - Restoring ​Grace
Ellie ​Summers' life is unravelling. Finding herself pregnant - and her sexy but idle boyfriend Rick less than enthusiastic about parenthood - she needs a plan. Fast. Grace Soudley's life is also coming apart at the seams - her only security is the beautiful yet crumbling old house she was left by her godmother. But unless she can find a fortune, Luckenham House will disintegrate around her. When Ellie and Grace meet, the two very different women find they can help each other out. Ellie needs a place to stay; Grace needs a lodger. Both of them need a friend. But then the disconcertingly engaging Flynn Cormack arrives on the scene, apparently determined to help. And when Grace discovers some beautiful painted panels hidden behind the tattered dining-room curtains, the whole business of restoration starts to get serious...

Katie Fforde - Love ​Letters
With ​the bookshop where she works about to close, Laura Horsley, in a moment of uncharacteristic recklessness, finds herself agreeing to help organize a literary festival deep in the heart of the English countryside. But her initial excitement is rapidly followed by a mounting sense of panic when reality sinks in and she realizes just how much work is involved - especially when an innocent mistake leads the festival committee to mistakenly believe that Laura is a personal friend of the author at the top of their wish-list. Laura might have been secretly infatuated with the infamous Dermot Flynn ever since she studied him at university, but traveling to Ireland to persuade the notorious recluse to come out of hiding is another matter. Determined to rise to the challenge she sets off to meet her literary hero. But all too soon she's confronted with more than she bargained for - Dermot the man is maddening, temperamental and up to his ears in a nasty case of writer's block. But he's also infuriatingly attractive - and, apparently, out to add Laura to his list of conquests...

Milly Johnson - Tavaszi ​affér
Amikor ​Lou Winter, hogy a fogorvosi rendelő várójában elviselhetővé tegye a várakozást, felkap egy szamárfüles magazint, és felfedez benne egy tavaszi nagytakarításról szóló cikket, még nem is sejti, hogy az írás gyökeresen megváltoztatja az életét. Az, ami egyszerű és nagyon időszerű rendrakásnak indul, hamarosan mániává duzzad, és kicsúszik a keze közül. Minél több szeméttől szabadítja meg Lou az otthonát, és minél több szekrényt és fiókot rak rendbe, annál több fényhez és levegőhöz jutnak az agyában és szívében szorosan bezárt, rejtett zugok is. Ettől kezdve új megvilágításban kezdi látni önmagát és a környezetét, és képes szembenézni azokkal az érzésekkel, amelyeket a soha meg nem született gyermeke iránti vágyakozás, a férje hűtlensége és a legjobb barátnőjének a hiánya váltott ki belőle. Lázas ténykedése közepette egyre gyakrabban körvonalazódik emlékezetében annak a merész, félelmet nem ismerő lánynak az alakja, aki valaha ő maga volt. Eszébe jutnak a vad álmok, amelyeket a barátnőjével, Debbel szövögetett, és amelyekről a megvalósítás küszöbén kényszerült lemondani hűtlen és képmutató férje, Phil miatt. Azt a Lou Wintert, akivé a házassága alatt vált, nemcsak a férje használja ki gátlástalanul, hanem örökké elégedetlen anyja, extrém kívánságokkal előálló húga és erotikus vágyainak kielégítését hajhászó új barátnője is. Részmunkaidős könyvelői állása sem visz színt az életébe. Gátlástalan, erkölcsi normákat nem ismerő, szakmai hiányosságait mások sárba tiprásával ellensúlyozni akaró, irigy főnöke tovább nehezíti az életét. Bizalmatlanná válik mindenkivel, így nem csoda, ha a nagytakarításhoz konténereket szállító, jóképű és tisztességes Tom Broomnak is csak nagy nehézségek árán sikerül áttörnie a Lou által maga köré emelt, magas és vastag falakon. De lesz-e ereje Lou Winternek ahhoz, hogy addigi élete látszatbiztonságát maga mögött hagyja? El tudja-e hinni, hogy az új tavasz új reményei felpattintják személyisége jelképes fiókjain a zárakat, és némi bátorsággal képes lesz rendet tenni a saját életében is? A kérdésekre még maga Lou sem tudja a választ, mindazonáltal senki sem tarthatja vissza attól, hogy a küldetését teljesítse. "Figyelmeztető jelzést kellene elhelyezni az első oldalon: csak az vegye a kezébe Milly Johnson legújabb regényét, aki megengedheti magának, hogy olvasással töltse a napot. Én ugyanis képtelen voltam letenni, miután belekezdtem, de megérte amikor becsuktam a könyvet, nem éreztem mást, csak nagy-nagy elégedettséget." - (Debby Holt)

Katie Fforde - Hív ​Amszterdam
Mit ​tegyünk, ha a férjünk lecserél egy szexi, fiatal szőkére? Vagy mit tegyünk, ha az álomesküvő előtt eszmélünk rá, hogy a Nagy Ő mégsem az Igazi? Jo Edwards sohasem tervezte, hogy hajón fog élni. Még azt sem tudja biztosan, hogy szereti-e a vizet. De amikor a férje kidobja, mégis egy állóhajóra költözik… Dora Hamilton sohasem tervezte, hogy meglép a tulajdon esküvőjéről. De amikor eljön a várva várt nap, mégis menekülőre fogja – és egyetlen lehetősége, hogy elfogadja Jo ajánlatát, ő is a hajó fedélzetén keres menedéket… A két barátnő elhatározza, hogy örökre lemond a férfiakról, arra viszont nem számítanak, hogy a pasik hamarosan csőstül rajongják körül őket, sőt, miután kihajóznak, életük legnagyobb kalandja veszi kezdetét.

Katie Fforde - Száz ​boldog esküvőm
Sarah ​sok száz boldog és sikeres esküvőn van túl. Egy pici bökkenő van a dologban: egyiken sem ő mondta ki a boldogító igent. Sarah ugyanis profi esküvőszervező, aki mellesleg nem hisz a szerelemben. Egy óvatlan pillanatban két menyegzőt vállal el egy napra; egy bonyodalmakat ígérő sztáresküvőt és egy családi lagzit. Az esküvőbrigád működésbe lép, de valahogy semmi nem akar összejönni. Az évszázad partijának küszöbén a fodrászlány szakít, a varrónő összeomlik, a fotós kiakad, és mindezek tetejébe még Sarah-t is megkörnyékezi a szerelem... pedig még egy esküvőt nem bír el ez a nap. Vagy mégis?