Isla Dewar Knihy

When Iris Chisholm arrives in the tiny Highland community of Green Cairns, she's still in a state of shock - not so much from her husband's untimely death as from the discovery that he'd gambled away all their money and even their home. In addressing the problems of the children at the school where she becomes the only teacher, Iris finds distraction from her worries. Further distractions come in the shape of golden-tongued lawyer Michael and the gentle handyman, Chas. The locals are deliciously outraged at the scandal of a schoolmarm who seems to have a sex life, while so embroiled is Iris that she does not notice what is happening to her own children - who need her just as much as the waifs of Green Cairns...

Po odchodu od manžela hrdinku spojuje s rodinou pouze upřímné pouto s tchyní, moudrou a životaznalou ženou, která chce před svou smrtí snaše pomoci navázat zpřetrhané vztahy. Hrdinka žije sama v Londýně, živí se psaním časopiseckých seriálů a třebaže její život není nijak oslnivý, i po letech ji vrcholně uspokojuje pocit osobní svobody a samostatnosti. Smrt tchyně a setkání s dospělými dětmi ji ale postrčí do nové životní etapy, v níž se snaží dohonit, co ve vzájemných vztazích s dětmi zameškala.

Ellen Quinn kept her sanity in the suffocating Edinburgh suburb where she grew up by imagining it was a hotbed of intrigue. A neglected child, she's still looking for love as an adult; and so she finds herself married to Daniel. How could she know that he would misbehave? Cora O'Brien is the total opposite; outrageous and outspoken, she inspires the children she teaches with her enthusiasm. The city can't soften her Highland lilt but her lifestyle would raise a few eyebrows back home. But her vividness is a most of her secrets she's still keeping to herself. Fast friends from the start, Ellen and Cora may have plenty to learn about life, but they always have vodka and each other to talk to when the unexpected happens!

A woman decides that getting by is no longer enough.

Vicar's daughter Izzy feels hugely guilty that she's having a very good war. But when Izzy finds herself falling for the charms of a dashing American doctor it is to Julia and Clare that she turns for help...

A girl, Nell was convinced, should have a good time at seventeen, have met her true love at eighteen, be engaged at nine, and marry at twenty-one. But Alistair comes from a wealthy family and is studying to be a lawyer, two things that mean that Nell soon has plans to leave her dance hall days far behind her.

To the neighbours who helped raise her, Madeline was a opinionated, disruptive, verbose. They blamed it all on her lack of a mother. But Madeline was her father was parent enough. Till he wasn't there for her any more, and Madeline had to grow up fast. Befriended by Annie, she catches a glimpse of normal family life, and sees Annie glow as she marries her adoring Willie. Madeline has never wanted a regular man in her own life, yet somehow she finds herself living in a rambling Highland mansion with Stuart, loving to the point of exhaustion, and painting her heart out. Until life creeps into the idyll with a vengeance...

You can’t change your past. You can only use the experiences you live through to make your future better, wiser. Anna and her best friend George meet every week to remember, to sigh, to laugh, to reminisce about their moments of glory, guilt and mischief and share their sorrows over a glass or three of wine. The things they’ve done still make them blush. Anna wanted to be a poet – a famous poet. George left home in a childish rage and years later returned with her baby.When Anna is asked to look after the boy across the road for a few hours each week, she isn’t sure. She doesn’t really do children. But she takes the job on and, gradually, a child’s view of her world shows her a different place.George remembers a flat she stayed in when she ran away from home. It had the kitchen of all kitchens and, oh, how she’d love to see it again. Anna sets out to see if it still exists and discovers a cookbook full of recipes, intimates notes and drawings from George’s life.Does all this mark an ending or the beginning of something new and marvellous for Anna and George?

A delicious and unputdownable read from the irresistible Isla Dewar

An exquisite novel about friendship and community