Author: Erica

Hidden Talents

Dulcie Ballantyne knows that creative writers' groups attract an unlikely mix of people, so when she starts up Hidden Talents, she is well prepared for the assortment of people she is bringing together:

Beth King is facing empty-nest syndrome as her only son, Nathan, leaves home for university. Jack Solomon, a local estate agent, is having trouble coming to terms with the shock of his wife leaving him for his best friend. Jaz Rafferty is an intensely private seventeen-year-old girl, who writes to escape her large, boisterous family. Victor Blackmore is a know-it-all, who claims to be writing the blockbuster novel every publisher will be clamouring for.

What they all have in common is a need to escape, as well as a desire to keep their lives as private as possible. As they grow more confident in their writing skills, friendships develop, and gradually they come to realise that a little openness isn't necessarily a bad thing.

Published by Orion Books in 2011. View online retailer buying links.

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ISBN: 9780752883496

Precious Time

In order to spend more time with her four-year-old son Ned, Clara Costello trades in her secure, well-paid job and two-seater sports car for a camper van called Winnie, and sets off in search of adventure. Of course, her friends and family think she's gone mad.

But when they arrive in Deaconsbridge, a small market town on the edge of the Peak District, Clara and Ned become drawn into the lives of the locals. Two in particular seem destined to get under Clara's skin: Gabriel Liberty, a cranky widower who terrifies his family; and Archie Merryman, a local dealer in second-hand furniture, who possesses a heart of gold.

Then Clara finds herself having to confront a dilemma much closer to home, and one she had hoped she would never have to face ...

Published by Orion Books in 2011. View online retailer buying links.

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ISBN: 9780752883427

The Holiday

Torn between struggling to live up to the expectations of being a Modern Woman and ridding herself of the effect of a repressed upbringing, Izzy Jordan would be the first to admit that it's time to take stock of her life. She's 31 with a teaching career on the skids – not surprising really, given that she harbours a strong desire to lock her pupils in the art room cupboard and throw away the key.  She also has a manipulative mother and an ex-boyfriend whose parting shot was to tell her she was boring in bed!

So when she's invited to spend the summer on Corfu and is offered the chance of a no-strings holiday romance with the irresistible Theo, what should she do? Go for it, or listen to the voice of Modern Woman and tell him to sling his hook? Just as she thinks she's made up her mind, along comes Mark, whose turbulent past sets in motion a series of dramatic events that will bring near-tragedy, profound change and, finally, happiness for Izzy.

Published by Orion Books in 2014. View online retailer buying links.

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ISBN: 9780752883489

A Sense of Belonging

In the heart of the Cheshire countryside, Cholmford Hall Mews, a converted 18th-century barn, is far more than an exclusive home to its new inhabitants:

For Jessica Lloyd, it is a haven where she can recover from a love affair long past its sell-by date; Amanda Fergusson, whose marriage is one of straightforward convenience, is determined to get the most out of the situation; for Kate Morris it offers a fresh start where her love for newly-divorced Alec can flourish; and for Josh Crawford, his new home offers a sanctuary where he can come to terms with the most devastating news of his life.

In their different ways all the newcomers to Cholmford Hall Mews are searching for something – love, peace, a sense of belonging. But will they find rather more than they bargained for... ?

Published by Orion Books in 2011. View online retailer buying links.

Ask for it at your local bookshop
ISBN: 9780752883434