Devastated by the breakdown of her marriage, Allie flees to the one place her heart can seek comfort: Cornwall, where she hopes childhood memories of a holiday with her father will sustain her while she sorts out her plans for the future. But fate has other ideas, and she finds herself drawn into an almost obsessive friendship with a band of strange bedfellows led by Marsha, an intense, ageing hippy with a powerful life force that at once comforts, stimulates and infuriates Allie. Her growing attraction to one of the golden group's men, Adam, bewilders her as she discovers that nothing in life is what it seems. Heading back to London, her life-complications only deepen - husband wants her back, father arrives unannounced from France, loopy mother proclaims yet another marriage - and the hardest part is yet to come for them all. Finally, Allie realises that she must confront the secrets and lies of her past - and Marsha's - before she can face her own future."

lie McGowan is an established short story and feature writer for national and international publications, and has won numerous writing competitions over the years. Her writing credits also include educational features, pantomimes, sketches and songs and newspaper columns. Well known in her home town of Usk for her work in the community, Julie runs a theatrical group which performs variety shows and her witty pantomimes to sell-out audiences every year. She also co-runs Is It?, a theatre company which runs young people's drama workshops and tours schools in Wales with productions covering health and social issues. Born in Blaenavon, Julie left Wales for Kent at the age of 12. She trained as a nurse at Guy's Hospital, London, and then as a Health Visitor in Durham, living there for 4 years after her marriage to Peter. The couple now have four adult children and have lived in Surrey, Lincolnshire and Hertfordshire before returning to Wales 19 years ago. Julie has had a variety of jobs including teaching piano and a stint as Town Clerk in Usk.