Eve Eddison describes her ideal woman to her best friend, Roxanne, over pints in their local pub a few days before she travels to the Scottish Highlands. There she falls head over heels for an enigmatic local, Moira Burns, and the usually reticent Eve wants more than a holiday romance. Forestry officer Moira Burns has no intention of letting go—either of past pain or for present pleasure. If that means she misses out on her chance at happiness, so be it. Convinced Eve is headed for heartbreak, Roxanne advises her to let Moira go…but has Eve found her ideal woman at last?
Publication date: April 2017
ISBN-13 978-1-62639-854-2
Length: 72,000 words / 240 pages Tropes & themes: Holiday romance, Scotland, Small town romance, Second chance at love, Age-gap, Lesbian Series: The Highland Series (Book 1) Awards: GCLS Literary Award Finalist 2016
What Readers and Reviewers Have To Say!
Great lesbian novel – Dawn
A carefully crafted read, taking us through all the twists and turns of relationship drama. Will they? Won’t they? I was compelled to read it inside two days, unusual for me! Not ashamed to admit the pathos made me cry. A story that engages all of the senses, as all stories should.– ACL
An emotion-packed story that will completely absorb you and surprise you with the unexpected turns. Anna Larner is a talented author of original stories and realistic characters that you want to know more about and spend more time with.– Gail
Livre à lire absolument ! – Labarbe
A charming and beautifully written tale in which comedy and seriousness are deftly balanced. If you’re looking for a lesbian romance that is an easy read, touching, amusing and with some memorable scenes of passion, this novel is for you.– suzieQ
“Take a day off, curl up and lose yourself in this lovely lesbian romance by debut novelist Anna Larner. And you’ll adore the gorgeous cover designed by Sheri Halal too!”
It wasn’t that The Brewer’s Arms was the only gay pub in the Midlands, it just seemed to be the place everyone gravitated towards, the familiar life-worn face in a world of strangers. It felt like every important event, each birthday, any cause of celebration in Eve’s life had been marked by a pint in The Brewer’s. And now Eve was older and so was her favourite pub. Eve looked at the carpet, which once had a pattern of sorts and now appeared plain. The uneven walls, once bright white, would likely be described in Farrow & Ball’s paint chart as Tobacco Yellow. Tufts of royal blue velour fabric, sticking out from between seat and arm, merely hinted at the luxurious upholstered seating of the past. And the loos—well, Eve sighed—in many ways it was a shame that the toilet in best repair was the one without the lock. And if it was Saturday night and you had not claimed a seat by nine o’clock, then Eve was all too aware that you’d likely be standing, leaning on something sticky, for the rest of the evening.
She was thankful for Roxanne’s unstinting dedication to drinking and to watching Saturday afternoon sport on the pub’s television, for this meant that more often than not they secured their favourite booth in the bay of the front window.
A slow smile drifted over Eve’s face, as she wondered what she would do without her best mate.
Eve Eddison had first met Roxanne Barns at the age of nine. Roxanne had shown her precisely where she could hang her pump bag, which teacher was nice, and who to avoid. As they grew older, it was Roxanne Eve turned to with her worries—she was her ally against the mad world.
Eve, in turn, had always been there for Roxanne: from homework and job applications; to food and frequent shelter; to gentle words of consolation, many mornings after many misspent nights before. Eve knew they were more than just best friends, they were family.
Eve weaved her way back to her seat, crisp bags dangling from her mouth, her cheeks tingling with the concentration of carrying two overflowing beers.
Eve slid next to Roxanne. “I swear there’s more beer in my shoes than in the glass.”
“Yeah, whatever. We, my lovely, are hatching a plan.”
“Really? That sounds exciting.” Eve was intrigued, if a little nervous as to what exploits she was about to be dragged into.
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