When Kelly Taylor divorces her husband, she decides to make a new start with her ten-year-old son, Alex, in the tiny hamlet of Labadette in rural France. Alex becomes increasingly close to Jean-Paul Borotra, a shepherd in the Pyrenees, and their closest neighbour. But there is tragedy surrounding the Frenchman and, despite the attraction she feels, Kelly holds back from developing their friendship further. And then, when Alex goes to visit his father in London, events take a frightening turn.

Born in her grandparent's old miner's cottage overlooking the River Tyne, June Gadsby's life has been as interesting as any published saga. Leaving school at fifteen without qualifications of any kind, she pushed herself beyond the expectations of her family. Her teachers realised her talent as an artist, but were surprised when she announced, at the age of eight, that she intended to become an 'author'. More than once she heard the words of her strict, Victorian grandmother: "you'll never make it..." Her mother thought that June's writing was a 'nice, but unsociable little hobby'. But June refused to lose sight of her ambition. On leaving school she started work as an office junior, taught herself shorthand and typing and became a secretary, eventually attaining one of the highest posts as Administrative Assistant [Executive Medical Secretary] at Newcastle University's Medical School. It wasn't until she wrote about her years of rejection for a Writer's magazine that she was noticed by a literary agent.