by Jill Mansell
First published 2005
Nancy discovers a shiny red lawnmower on her lawn, wrapped as her Christmas gift from husband Jonathan. She realizes the jewelry she expected must belong to another woman. Her best friend Carmen feels no shock at Jonathan's betrayal and convinces Nancy to flee Edinburgh for London. Carmen rattles around alone in her spacious flat since rock star husband Spike Todd passed away. Nancy soon encounters Connor O'Shea, her attractive neighbor, while his daughter Mia schemes to replace Connor's demanding girlfriend with someone better. Carmen insists she wants no romantic complications, yet charity worker Joe stirs unexpected feelings when he visits her door. Joe harbors secrets that complicate everything. Nancy must rebuild her shattered trust while Carmen confronts desires she thought were buried with Spike.
Genres: fiction, romance, contemporary-romance, family-drama
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, found-family
Setting: Edinburgh, London
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