A heart-warming story of one woman's struggle to belong, from a well-loved writer. As a small child, growing up on her parents' flower farm in the West Country, Kate always felt like an outsider. She wanted more from life than her well-meaning parents, Neville and Nora, could offer her. Kate had brains, looks and ambition. She could make something of herself. Years later, Kate is a successful businesswoman, and a well-known name in the town. She has friends in high places ?{ notably Hector Mordaunt, her married lover, and Shirley Pringle, new owner of Melbury Hall ?{ but Kate is lonely, still searching. She will have many battles to fight, and many lessons to learn, before she can come to terms with herself, and recognize the value of family ties and true friendship . . .