Matt and Hope Parker are enroute from their home in Britain to a storybook cottage in Redlion, Ireland, which has been left to Matt by a deceased uncle. Matt decides to take a year sabbatical from his high-profile job in an effort to try his hand at writing a novel. Hope is leaving behind her own job and her very successful sister, Sam.

Hope is devastated by the shape of the cottage as she tries to settle her young children into their new home. Hope begins to make friends in the small picturesque town with a group of women as Matt tries unsuccessfully to write his novel. When Matt returns to Bath to help out temporarily, Hope is so lonely that she becomes tempted by a very sexy and handsome hotel manager. When Matt returns unexpectedly Hope's world is turned upside down. Shortly after, her life becomes completely hopeless and her closely hidden secret becomes apparent to Matt.

There is so much to this story it's impossible to outline it all. The various branches of the lives of those close to Hope are stories in themselves and very, very interesting. Her sister is a terrifically strong character and a huge part of her life. Other characters are intertwined to make this a lighthearted, amusing and extremely touching story revealing the heartbreak of making the wrong decisions in life and how others can make a vast difference in our lives. I thoroughly enjoyed Cathy Kelly's ingenuous way of creating a wonderful story that you hate to finish.