Rosamunde Pilcher

The twin sisters Flora and Rose were separated after giving birth. The mother left the father to go to America. At the age of 22, the two girls met again by accident in London. It is a shock for both of them, since they believed until then that they had no siblings.

Lord Ravenhurst, a former British fencing champion, runs his seaside country estate with his devoted junior son, Taylor, who recruits a youth friend, landscape architect Vivian, daughter of loyal steward Desmond, to help with some modernization. She's disappointed to learn to invitation didn't come from his lordship's firstborn, Samuel, her former flame whom she expected to be in charge. In fact he became a London banker and got engaged to tycoon Archie 's daughter Annabel to pay for his gambling debts. The lord's wife Margaret dies unexpectedly, too short after telling Taylor Samuel was adopted but ignores so to change her will, as the estate is her father's heritage. Samuel returns only to claim 'his inheritance' and Vivian, who is starting to fall for Taylor's honest charm.

Emma Waters convinces her friend Julia Adams to have a hen party. When Julia has to auction a kiss, she can't believe who the lucky winner is.

Edward Rosmore, a millionaire suffering from a fatal disease, uses a pretext to bring George Armstrong - the man his beloved wife adored when she was younger - back into her life; he wants to make sure there will be somebody to look after her after his death. But his plan seems to go completely askew when his wife misunderstands his intentions and thinks he is planning a new beginning with his secretary. On top of which her daughter begins to fall in love with George, not realizing he is actually her father. And then, when the misunderstandings and half-truths have completely divided the family, there is a tragic sailing accident. Edward dies - and George comes under suspicion of murder...

The story of two people who want to turn their backs on their past and the story of an old love that is reawakened...