Itâs been five years, and Lizzie Lambert has decided itâs time to try to make things right with her estranged mother. Sheâs made a success of things in Cannes, sheâs bringing up a lovely little boy on her own, and sheâs ready to put the past behind her.
But it seems Lizzieâs mother has moved on as well. Sheâs moved her toy boy â a muscle-bound vintner named Cal â into the family home, and given him the run of the land that was meant to be Lizzieâs inheritance!
Calâs wine business frequently takes him to France, and suddenly wherever Lizzie goes, heâs already there â meddling, giving unsolicited advice, saving her little boyâs life and stealing her heart. But none of this changes the fact that heâs her motherâs loverâ¦
Copyright
HQ
An imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers Ltd.
1 London Bridge Street
London SE1 9GF
First published in Great Britain by HQ in 2014
Copyright © Karen Aldous 2014
Karen Aldous asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work.
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.
This novel is entirely a work of fiction. The names, characters and incidents portrayed in it are the work of the authorâs imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or localities is entirely coincidental.
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E-book Edition © May 2014 ISBN: 9781472096265
Version date: 2018-09-19
KAREN ALDOUS
Inspired by novelists such as Jilly Cooper and Barbara Taylor-Bradford, many moons ago, Karen never lost her passion for writing. It always got put on the back burner though with stories and articles fuelling the Aga rather than popped in the mail box. Gaining life experience and confidence has been crucial though so, she feels raising her three children along with being in the property and travel industries have not only brought material for her writing but have allowed her to indulge in her favourite pastimes.
Karen currently lives on the edge of the North Downs in Kent and owns a website design business so is able to use her skills and creativity but she craves nothing other than earning a living from writing romance. Her dream! Her friends call it Karenâs world and, why not? Her teachers always said she had an overactive imagination so it makes sense to put it to good use!
She still gets a kick from travelling and seeking that property bargain but her husband and family, particularly, her three grandchildren continue to steal her affections â along with âBertieâ her golden lab. Thereâs barely enough time to go round, she admits, but their love and support never wavers and without them and, that from fellow writers at âThe Write Placeâ and the RNA, her aspirations may never have flourished!
To the MacMillan Cancer Support and all those involved in helping support and fight the disease. And to my Editor Lucy Gilmour and her team at HQ Digital, including Carly Byrne, who all believed in my writing.
To Glyn, Byron, Greg and Gemma... for believing and putting up with me over the years and, to my Mum (Connie) and, Colinâ¦still in all our hearts
Chapter 1
âStop the car!â Lizzieâs heart beat rapidly as heat and perspiration prickled her fair skin sending a trembling through her limbs. A murky sky above gathered dark, heavy clouds.
âWhat? I was gonna drive in the gate Miss.â A rotund figure twisted his neck.
âNo donât go in yet. Give me a minute out here. Please.â Her command was clear if croaky. Impatient eyes rolled as the driver steered his taxi close to the holly hedge.
âWeâre blocking the lane Missâ.
Ignoring him, she inhaled deeply and chanted. âBe strong.â
âMiss, Iâve got another fare. I canât hang around!â
Lizzie continued her chant, âBe strong,â and thumped her knuckles into her chest like it was iron. The driver scowled curiously, his sagging eyes following her from his mirror.
âMiss, how long you gonna be? Itâs gonna cost you more.â