Nan Asquith

Widowed after only a year of blissfully happy marriage to Alexis, Stacey felt she could never love again. It was for the sake of her small son that she accepted the invitation of her rich father-in-law to visit him at his home, the lovely Greek island of Melaenus. But complications set in once Stacey met Alexis' half-brother Paul. It was clear from the start that they were both attracted to one another - but was Stacey's feeling real? Or was it that she saw Paul only as a reincarnation of her dead husband? And what of Leda, who it had always been assumed would marry Paul herself some day? Could Stacey take her chance of happiness again without hurting a number of people in the process.

It was a shock to Cathie, after years of taking comfortable, prosperous living for granted, when her father died and she found that all the money was gone, but at least she still had the love and support of her fiancé Keith, who insisted that it would make no difference to them. Both of them would have to make sacrifices, but surely they would be worth it? But the news had come as a very unpleasant shock to Keith’s ambitious, domineering mother, and she lost no time in trying to break up the engagement, even to the extent of pointing out to Cathie that, in the glamorous Melanie Seymour, she had a far more suitable candidate for the position of Keith’s wife than Cathie would ever be. Should Cathie take the hint, especially as another equally attractive man was taking an interest in her?

Jane Roper had had a blissful summer in Rome, working as a courier for a travel agency- and falling in love with Gino, a love that she had confidently expected to end in marriage. But it hadn't worked out that way after all - Gino, so he told her, was expected to marry a suitable girl of his family's choosing - and Jane must put up with her heartbreak as best she could. Would it do anything to solve her problem if she were to accept Vance Morley's offer of a holiday in Corfu - with its unusual condition? For, for personal reasons, Vance wanted Jane, just temporarily, to be his fiancée: it was connected in some way with Vance's brother and his beautiful wife Anthea - but in involving herself in the personal affairs of Vance and his family was Jane going to solve her problems, or only add to them?

Setting off on a glamorous Mediterranean cruise as guest of the parents of a charming man who was determined to marry her, Rowan had not a care in the world. But the idyllic prospect was very soon to be shattered by a million-to-one coincidence which turned the cruise into an emotional battleground for Rowan. Of all the men in the world, her former fiance appeared on the scene again -- and how could they possibly avoid one another when they were constantly in the same party. And as time went by, it became increasingly clear to her that Blake's effect on her was as disturbing as ever...

Charlie had spent all her life in Australia, and had only heard stories of Foxhill, her father's old family home in Sussex. Now her father was dead and Charlie was visiting England - and her relatives - for the first time. She realised that she would come as a great surprise to them - they hadn't, after all, known of her existence - but she certainly hadn't expected quite so much hostility and suspicion. Whatever the family quarrel had been about, it was still being carried on with the next generation! The only person who showed her any friendliness was Piers Chastel - and Piers' friend Merle Sheldon soon made up her mind to put a stop to that! Shouldn't Charlie have second thoughts, and go away and leave them all?

After her parents' divorce Emma Conway had seen little of her father, and now that she was going to Switzerland to visit him and his young second wife Hilde it was really only out of a sense of duty. However, Emma settled down reasonably happily at first, and managed to sustain a friendly relationship with her young stepmother. Then Emma met Kurt Alther, Hilde's handsome cousin, and everything changed when she fell wildly in love with him. Only .....did Kurt return her feelings? He paid her a lot of attention, but Emma could not avoid the suspicion that she was only a stopgap, that another woman held a more important place in Kurt's life - and she grew uneasily more certain who that woman was. While all Greg Burnham, who loved her, could do for Emma was to wait until it was time to pick up the pieces.

Dr. Kate Baron announced her engagement to Richard Lovell on the day that Nicholas Mannering came back to Brinden; Nicholas, the man with the shadow in his past, the man whom Kate had once loved. It was a return that was destined to set off a train of unexpected happenings.

Liz deeply loved her work as a vet, and she found it galling to have the most interesting jobs taken away from her by a newcomer to the firm on the grounds that they were "unsuitable for women". All the more trying as she badly needed an absorbing occupation to take her mind off a love affair that wasn't going too well, for her rival was rich and Liz had only her heart to give.

A Canadian release: This tongue in cheek action adventure is a story about victims . . . Amy, an escort girl fleeing from kidnappers takes Harvey Gordon out of his safe and sane life for one suspenseful and action filled thrill ride night of his life. Fleeing from kidnappers Amy involves Gordon who is unaware that he is about to be dragged down into a world of blackmail, deceit and depravity. His involvement sets him up as a pawn in a game of intrigue and throughout the night, as he attempts to unravel the mystery before him. But most of all, the story is about survivors who have to make it Out of the Dark.

Tory's foot slipped and she fell back. For one frightening moment she swayed, held only from falling into the deep, dark waters below by Julian's viselike grip. "Hold on, Tory," he said, stretching his other hand toward her. She managed to clutch it and slowly, achingly, he pulled her to safety. His arms closed tightly around her. Tory leaned against him; struggling to get her breath. "That was a near thing. I'm sorry," he said. I didn't expect you to react quite so violently." She said shakily, "I ... it was my fault, too. I'm sorry." "Shall we seal a pact of mutual forgiveness?" he asked, and slowly bent his head and put his mouth against hers. There was thunder in her ears, her lips opened beneath his, and she was transported. Her arms went around his neck and everything and everyone was forgotten....

Francis Sherwood had loved Dione deeply and unselfishly, content to accept her friendship when she told him she could never love him enough to become his wife. And it was in a spirit of affectionate friendship, and the knowledge that Francis had not long to live, that Dione had gone to Spain with him and been with him when he died there. When, soon afterwards, Dione learned that Francis had left her a villa on the island of Menorca, she was happy and grateful to accept it -- but it was another matter to convince the Sherwood family, and in particular Francis's arrogant cousin Mark, that the circumstances were not as they had imagined; that she had not been a gold-digger who had alienated Francis from his family and the girl they hoped he would marry. But after all, why should she care what Mark Sherwood thought of her?

Penny was in the middle of an important -- and rather painful -- discussion with the man she hoped to marry, when someone came knocking at the door of her father's surgery, and she had to leave Max and turn to the stranger. Was that moment to be symbolic of the events that were to follow?

Stevie Hylton found herself content with life. A congenial job at a riding school on the unspoilt Norfolk coast; a pleasant home for herself and her sister Lisa; the promise of romance for both of them; what could be better? It was a pity, though, that the local Squire was so irritating; handsome, yes, but an idle, worthless, thoughtless playboy. And for two pins she'd tell him so?