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      First published in Great Britain by Michael Joseph Ltd 1990

      This edition published by Harper 2017

      This collection © Barbara Erskine 1990 and as follows:

      ‘Cabbage a la Carte’ (Woman’s Weekly) 1976; ‘Feline Express’ (New Love as ‘Cupid Was A Kitten’) 1978; The Consolation Prize’ (Women’s World as ‘A Loving Invitation’) 1984; ‘There was a time when I was almost happy …” (Woman’s World) 1979; ‘Summer Treachery’ (Rio) 1981; Trade Reunions’ (Best) 1988; ‘The Bath: A Summer Ghost Story’ (Living) 1987; ‘The Green Leaves of Summer’ (Woman’s Own Summer Stories) 1979; ‘Encounters’ (Woman’s World) 1977; The Touch of Gold’ (The Writer) 1976; The Helpless Heart’ (Woman’s World as ‘Give Me Back My Dreams’) 1978; The Indian Summer of Mary McQueen’ (Secrets) 1980; ‘The Magic of Make Believe’ (Woman’s World) 1984; ‘A Summer Full of Poppies’ (Secret Story, Robinson) 1989; ‘A Face in the Crowd’ (Woman’s World as ‘Forsaking All Others’) 1983; ‘Flowers Shouldn’t Make You Cry’ (Woman’s World) 1979; ‘Someone to Dream About’ (Woman’s World) 1986; ‘Milestones’ (New Idea) 1980; ‘Marcus Nicholls’ (Red Star Weekly as ‘Windows on the Past’) 1980; ‘A Quest For Identity’ (Woman’s World) 1977; The Heart Will Understand’ (Woman’s World) 1980; ‘A Stranger With No Name’ (Woman’s World) 1980; ‘Just An Old-Fashioned Girl’ (Woman’s World as ‘Love Never Changes’) 1981; ‘All This Childish Nonsense’ (Woman’s World as ‘A Promise is Forever’) 1977; ‘A Love Story’ (My Story) 1976; ‘A Promise of Love’ (Woman’s World as ‘Don’t Tread On My Dreams’) 1978.

      Cover layout design © HarperCollinsPublishers Ltd 2017

      Cover images © Shutterstock.com

      Barbara Erskine asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work.

      A catalogue copy of this book is available from the British Library.

      This novel is entirely a work of fiction. The names, characters and incidents portrayed in it are the work of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or localities is entirely coincidental.

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      Source ISBN: 9780008180904

      Ebook Edition © January 2017 ISBN: 9780007466351

      Version: 2017-09-07