One day in May, Hattie's life changes for ever... When Hattie's bumps into Dominic's widow and his gorgeous younger brother, Hal, her world is turned upside down. Though she's still trying to hide from her mistakes, she knows that if she's ever to fall in love again she needs to be honest with others, and herself. Can she admit what really happened with Dominic all those years ago? And, if so, is she ready for the consequences?
Hattie Carrington has good reason to be happy. Her antiques business is flourishing, her teenage son is settled at school and she's enjoying a fling with a sexy, younger man.
But when work takes her back to the village of Little Crandon, heartbreaking memories of her first love surface. It seems that the secret affair with married politician Dominic Forbes, which changed the course of her life, just won't go away.
Catherine Alliott was our Guest Editor in August 2013 - click here - to see the books that inspired her writing.
Catherine Alliott started her first novel under the desk when she worked as an advertising copywriter. She was duly fired. With time on her hands she persevered with the novels, which happily flourished. In the early days she produced a baby with each book, but after three she stuck to writing as it was less painful. She writes with the nearest pen in exercise books, either in the garden or on a sofa. Home is a rural spot in Hertfordshire which she shares with her family and a menagerie of horses, cows, chickens and dogs, which at the last count totalled 34 beating hearts, including her husband.
I first met Catherine because my youngest son was at school with her son. Catherine writes her novels in the first person which immediately makes you feel you know the heroine. I love all her books, including the latest The Secret Life of Evie Hamilton : I usually spot other people's twists but I didn't get this one until it jumped up and hit me off the page.
Q. If you couldn't be a writer, what would you like to be? A. A painter – as in artist, not decorator. Q. When you need to escape from your everyday routine, what do you do? A. Light the fire, watch daytime TV and eat chocolate.
Q. Who is your style icon? A. Wasn't aware I had one but very much admire Kristen Scott Thomas's style. So cool.
Q. What is your favourite food? A. In - macaroni cheese. Out - Dover sole.
Q. What's your favourite movie? A. Truly Madly Deeply.
Q. What's your idea of hell? A. Shopping malls.
Q. When did you last cry and why? A. Two weeks ago, at Badminton Horse Trials, watching a great friend's daughter jump round the cross country course. Amazing. I've known her since she was seven.
Q. What is so your idea of perfect happiness? A. So corny. All my children plus boyfriends, girlfriends, any other friends and of course my husband, eating around the same table. Or actually, a table somewhere hot, on holiday, abroad, i.e. without me having to cook. Oh - and grandparents too.
Q. What is the trait you most deplore in others? A. Deplore. Golly. Quite strong. Well I'm not mad about bad manners which come in many guises.
