Just be prepared…

Synopsis

United by tragedy, can two broken souls make each other whole?

After the tragic loss of his wife, Helen, Luke Hansard is desperate to keep her memory alive. In an effort to stay close to her, he reaches out to an online friend Helen often mentioned: a reclusive photographer with a curious interest in beautiful but broken objects. But first he must find her—and she doesn’t want to be found.

Orla Kendrick lives alone in the ruins of a remote Suffolk castle, hiding from the haunting past that has left her physically and emotionally scarred. In her fortress, she can keep a safe distance from prying eyes, surrounded by her broken treasures and insulated from the world outside.

When Luke tracks Orla down, he is determined to help her in the way Helen wanted to: by encouraging her out of her isolation and back into the world. But Orla has never seen her refuge as a prison and, when painful secrets and dangerous threats begin to resurface, Luke’s good deed is turned on its head.

As they work through their grief for Helen in very different ways, will these two broken souls be able to heal?

My review

Luke Hansard lost his wife in a terrible accident. Finding it hard to put it all behind him, he does whatever he can to keep feeling her close to him.
So he wants to find her online friend she often mentioned.
But the online does not want to be found…

Orla Kendrick lives alone in a castle she bought, hiding from her past. She doesn’t want anyone around and chases everyone away. Her only passion is collecting broken things and post them online.
When Luke suddenly appears on her doorstep, her initial thought is to send him also away. She changes her mind when she hears the devastating news of Helen…

Luke makes it his mission to help Orla and get her out of her house. Is Orla ready for stepping outside again? And is Luke just pushing his grieve away?

Just terrible, that were my thoughts…

Now, after given the author a heart attack for my statement, let me explain further…

This story was just heart – gripping, tear jerking, “oh my God it’s so sad I cannot read any further but I must”!

The first time I met Luke, I felt so sorry for him. He truly loves Helen and coping with losing her is just something he is not ready to do.
I can only imagine the pain he was going through…
And when he made it his purpose to find Orla, I was partly happy for him to have something again, but also a bit afraid that he would just find ‘an excuse’ for not grieving how it should.

And when Orla comes in the picture, that was even worse! Something terrible happened to her and because of that, she refuses to see anyone, with the exception of her mother once in a while.
when we finally get to know her story, oh my God, it was even worse than I thought!!! And I understood somehow why she closed herself off…

Before you think this story is too depressed, it isn’t…
Luke and Orla slowly start to become friends. And it’s one with many bumps… they both want to help each other, but are not facing their own demons.
But when you see the friendship grow, it’s just beautiful. You can feel the trust growing and how they accept their ‘brokenness’ without judgement.
And when one of them is going through some difficult moments, the other one is there for support.

And that is the message the author is giving, I think.  No matter how broken you are, you are still yourself. Like Orla collecting broken things, it’s not because something is broken, it isn’t beautiful anymore.
When something is broken, it doesn’t mean it has to be thrown away. Being broken but moving on is proof of your strength. And that makes you even more beautiful.
And even if you think you can manage on being on your own, you can always have friends to stick by your side and help processing everything happening to you.

This story broke my heart, made me cry, but also made me smile and showed me that friendships can be found in the strangest places. And that true friends never just give up on you and see you as you really are, no matter how your looks are. But they also can push you to do unthinkable things, but always keep your best interest in mind.

Really, take me on my word, this book is something you MUST read!

How first impressions can be wrong…

Synopsis

Sometimes the one thing you’re looking for is right in front of you…

Stephen is on a very personal mission to find his father as per the wishes in their mother’s will. But he has no idea where to start, not that he’s going to tell anyone that… When Noelle, native New Yorker, daughter of a detective and desperate for a distraction from the novel she’s been struggling to write, offers to help, it feels like the perfect solution.

Except the last time she spoke to Stephen he thought they’d be seeing the New Year in together and instead she stood him up and sold him out! Stephen’s big enough and been around the block enough times to understand that all is fair in love and war, isn’t he? But when Stephen accepts her offer and they begin their search across the city, it soon becomes clear that the weather isn’t the only thing that’s heating up.

A heartwarming summer romance perfect for fans of Heidi Swain, Sarah Morgan and Holly Martin.

My review

Stephen moved temporarily from the U.K. to New York. Apparently only for his work, but he has also a personal mission. He wants to find his father who just left him and his mother so many years ago. Now that his mother passed away and left Stephen’s father some money, Stephen wants to find his father and understand why his mother left the money.

In New York, he meets Noelle. They have some history, but not a good one… last time they saw each other, he was under the impression they would spend the night together but she stood him up without any further explanation.

Noelle is a writer of detective stories but is having a writer’s block at the moment. She is struggling with how her latest should evolve and is nearly desperate.
She decides to help Stephen with his search and hopes to find some inspiration for her novel. Having some history, they settle some rules to keep it all “professional”. But can they both manager to keep it that way, as they get to know each other better and the attraction keeps on growing…

Sometimes all a girl needs, is a 100% feel – good romance. And this is the perfect example!

Noelle and Stephen are not complete strangers to each other, but not exactly friends either. So when they meet again in New York, you can say that the meeting was all but amicable.
But the further the story evolves, the more we understand each character. We get to learn why Stephen and Noelle just didn’t get along. But also the reasons why Stephen did what he did in the past.
Without giving any spoilers, there is just more to it than initially thought!

The length Stephen goes to find his father, to respect his mother’s wishes, shows what a caring man he really is. But also we get to know him as a scared and scarred man, being abandoned by his father. He will do everything to become everything except like his father, meaning he will keep as far away as possible for love.

Noelle is just wonderful. Despite her initial dislike, she realizes how important finding his father is for Stephen. And she does whatever she can to help him, even asking her father for help…

When they are together, the chemistry just sparks all around, and I was nearly yelling at them “JUST KISS EACH OTHER!!!”.
So sometimes I got frustrated because they were so stubborn, but there were also the sweetest moments, like in the Ferris wheel.
And let’s give also a moment for Noelle’s family… they are a big bunch, and maybe sometimes relying too much on Noelle. And also always knowing better and underestimating the work writing a book takes. But at the right times, they are all there for each other, helping out like a real family should!

I loved reading this book, imaging walking next to Noelle and Stephen in New York, and getting to know 2 wonderful people, and having been reminded that there is always more than meets the eye and we should not stick to our first impressions!

How did it all start?

Synopsis

Before Roxy found herself “Single in Buenos Aires,” she was a single girl in London in search of true love. The third installment of The Polo Diaries series takes us back to that time, and we follow Roxy as she hires a love coach to help her navigate the dating scene. But the love coach comes up with an unexpected assignment: reconnect to a long-forgotten passion. For Roxy this means horses. Within weeks, she finds herself playing polo, thanks to a series of unforeseen events.

Torn between her desire to become the best polo player she can be and the dream of falling in love, Roxy steps fully into the exciting and demanding world of polo, where injury and recovery mix with hard training, and where celebrating the victory of a tournament comes at a high price. Will Roxy eventually become the polo player she dreams to be? And with polo being such a demanding sport, can there be any space left for love?

My review

Roxy is looking for love, like everyone else. In London she reconnects with a passion she long lost, horses.
Suddenly she finds herself learning to play polo, and most important of all, she truly enjoys it!
She is training hard, trying to become the best polo player she can be, but does this give her enough space to still find love?

Having read the previous parts the series, I know what Roxy has been through.
But I was always curious about how Roxy actually found her passion for polo and how it all started.

The way Roxy felt before she found her passion for polo, is a feeling many people have. That makes it so recognizable for each and every one of us.
The way her situation is described, could be applied for everyone searching for love.
And when Roxy found polo, I was truly happy for her, as she found something what made her truly happy.

But this story is also about the struggling… it’s not that because you found something you truly love, that that is the end of it.
The trainings show that when you are truly passionate about something, you have to fight and work hard for it. Not everything is handed on a silver platter.
and if you cannot find the courage to work hard, is it then a real passion, or is it only a fling?

Roxana enlightened us again more in the world of polo, the struggles and the work, and also in her world.
But also about the satisfaction in finding something that makes you happy, and that love can be found in several different aspects!

Going back to the place you ran away from.

Synopsis

Welcome to Heritage Cove, the little village by the sea brimming with character, community and friendship, and the perfect place to fall in love this summer…

Melissa rushes back to Heritage Cove when Barney, the man who’s been like a father figure to her since she was a little girl, ends up in hospital. After an absence of five years, her return isn’t going to be easy, especially when she bumps into Harvey, the love of her life and the man she’s never been able to forget.

For reasons he couldn’t explain at the time, Harvey changed his mind about going with Melissa to start afresh as they’d planned, and life moved on for the both of them. But with Melissa back in the village and determined to stick around to help Barney, they can’t avoid each other forever. Melissa knows she let so many people down by staying away for so long, but she and Harvey blame each other for what happened and neither of them is willing to admit to being in the wrong.

When Barney insists on cancelling the Wedding Dress Ball, the charity fundraiser he holds every year in the stunning barn on his property, Melissa and Harvey realise they’re going to have to pull together. Otherwise the man they once knew might be gone forever. And when they unearth a secret Barney has never shared with anyone, they go in search of answers to not only ensure the ball runs this summer, but to bring back the Barney they know and love.

Back in the cove after all this time, Melissa gets to see the life she left behind and it’s time to deal with what it was that drove her away in the first place.

Beneath the summer sunshine in Heritage Cove, the sea sparkles, the heat rises and new love, reconciliations and the answers to an old love story could bring changes for everyone.

My review

Melissa left Heritage Cove five years ago. But when the man who was more a father to her is in the hospital, she rushes back.
Her return is not an easy one, especially when she meets Harvey again. They were a thing all those years ago, but when the moment was there to go away from Heritage Cove, he changed his mind.

When Barney, the father figure, announces he wants to cancel his famous Wedding Dress Ball, both Melissa and Harvey are shocked, as the Ball is a real institution!
They realize they have to work together to make the Ball take place anyway. During the preparations, secrets come out of the closet (literally and figuratively). Will Melissa and Harvey be able to put closure over the past? And will the Ball be a success?

This book made me long for a place like Heritage Cove to live in.
The place is a real community, everybody knows each other and everybody tries to help out in time of need.
I really loved how each person was looking after Barney after his injuries…
It is a place with people everyone should need in their lives, from their neighbours.
Also how the people reacted towards Melissa was proof of the involvement.

Not everybody was happy when Melissa returned, as they felt that she abandoned everyone and everything without looking back.
But of course Melissa had her reasons to go away. The pain she was feeling was just too big and she had to get out to have the opportunity to get the life she wanted.
When I learned her story, I felt so sorry for her. I could understand her motivation of wanting to go away. And having her heart broken by Harvey, it made sense for not ever looking back.

But Harvey is not as cold – hearted as I initially thought… the way he acts towards Barney, the lengths he would go for him, is so sweet.
Harvey did not have the easiest of childhoods, so I assumed he would jump at the opportunity of getting away with Melissa those years ago.
And when it was clear he didn’t do it, I couldn’t match it with the Harvey we got to know. It seemed so out of character.
But when the truth came out, my heart felt his pain…

This story made me feel sad some moments, but my general feeling was one of contentment. The way both Melissa and Harvey do their utterly best for Barney, who is so stubborn it made me laugh, was so sweet. Despite their feelings, they want to have the old barney back, even if it means spending time together. And spending time together means also growing back closer to each other and having an opportunity to come clean about the past.

A beautiful story in a dream place, with amazing people, perfect to sit back and read page after page!

All is going for the best for our girls, isn’t it?

Synopsis

Hard times ahead for the Harpers girls…

It is two years since Harpers opened in Oxford Street and Ben is planning to expand the premises.

Life is good for Sally and Ben as they look forward to their first child and hope for a prosperous future. Beth is settling into married life with Jack, gradually recovering from her aunt’s tragic death, though still unable to conceive a child.

New girls have joined Harpers and Marion, Janice and Becky all become a part of the daily life at the busy store. Rachel is undecided whether to marry a man she isn’t sure she can trust, while Minnie meets an old love.

The sun is shining in English streets but on the horizon dark clouds gather over Europe and war looms
threatening bringing rainy days for the Harpers girls…

My review

It has been already two years since Harpers opened in Oxford Street. And our beloved girls are all looking forward to the future.

Sally and Ben cannot wait for their first child to be born, Beth enjoys being married to Jack. And Minnie is having a second chance at love.

But it’s not all happy moments…

Beth is trying to get pregnant again, and Rachel is doubting if she can marry the man she fancies, having trust issues.

Also working at Harpers is not an easy task, as new girls enter and not all of them are with good intentions.

And let’s not forget that in the background a great fear for war is lurking…

It was so nice to meet the Harpers girls again! It’s always lovely to see how these colleagues transformed into real friends, into a family.

They want each other to find their happiness, and stand by each other during hard times.

The fact that they open their hearts to other girls, shows how selfless they are. And even when someone is doing them wrong, they don’t just go telling around, but are being discreet about it. But of course without being taken advantage of!

These girls are honest, kind, caring, but also with a backbone! You cannot just mess with them.

This third part was also bittersweet… I wished the best for each and everyone of them, but I knew that the war was just around the corner. And despite knowing better, I just somehow hoped that they would be spared of being involved.

But even the war showed how courageous our women are. Of course they are afraid, who wouldn’t be, but they don’t allow fear to take over.

This book can be perfectly read without having read the previous two. But I recommend to read the whole series. So you will understand the dynamics better, and you have all the necessary background information.

I enjoyed reading this third part, but I really hope there will be a sequel, as I am not ready to say goodbye to these amazing women!

Not only children need a time out!

Synopsis

It’s just a phase,’ they said. ‘These are the happiest years of your life,’ they said…

Mother of one and professional writer Saoirse (pronounced Seersha, not Searcy – thanks a bunch Game of Thrones!) is still adjusting to the demands of motherhood, four years after the birth of her daughter, Anna.

Living in the claustrophobic London suburb of Woodvale, and being surrounded by passive-aggressive mum-wars, isn’t helping. Neither is her increasingly pent-up anger at her once-perfect husband. Her only comrade in arms, best friend Bea, is the one thing keeping her sane.

When Saoirse’s agent asks her to pitch for a book, she is horrified to discover the topic is motherhood. How can she possibly write a ‘warts and all’ account of being a mother without giving away what it’s really like?

Laugh-out-loud funny, painfully well-observed, but with an unmistakable warmth and unforgettable characters, this is the perfect antidote to all those parenting bibles that bear absolutely no relation to real life. The novel may or may not have been inspired by real life…

My review

Saoirse is trying to combine her job as (mostly a ghost) writer and motherhood. She finds herself very possessive towards her daughter of 4, Anna.
Also is she surrounded by other mothers, who all know better and dare to scold anyone who does not follow their instructions. Yes, mum – wars really exists!

Saoirse finds herself feeling alone, as her husband is becoming more a frustrating issue rather than being a help around.
Luckily, she can count on her best friend Bea, always being by her side and being a mum herself, having the opportunity to vent about everything and everyone.

But when Saoirse’s agent ask her about writing a book how motherhood REALLY is, she is afraid. Is she really able to write it, the whole truth and nothing but the truth?

So, first things first, I am not a mum myself, so I have absolutely no idea what is really means to be one.  Of course I have a clue about it, but I also know that it’s not all fun and games.
I can only  imagine what parents must go through with a baby/ young child.

This subject is a reality for many people, so it should not be taken lightly. Being a parent is the most important job in the world, and i assume every parent once in a while thinks if they are doing a good job.
And when you have a supporting husband and supporting friends, it can relieve you. But in Saoirse’s case, she is not.
Her husband is cause of many frustrations. And reading on a social media group how know – it – alls can make you mistrust yourself, it not helping.
The fears are real, as nobody wants to be a “victim” of a bunch of perfects mum, all ready to judge every little thing that you do.

But I had so much fun reading it! The way Saoirse is rebelling against the other mums, venting with Bea, it was making me laugh out loud.
And how Saoirse was finding her own way of parenting, not taking in accounts the opinions of the terrible mothers!
She even goes further, offering a helping hand to another mother.

There is no manual for raising a child, answering all your questions. Being a parent is a job you’re learning while you’re at it.
And as each child is different, a different approach is needed.

This  is the purpose of this book. There is no right or wrong way (generally speaking, of course you can be a REAL bad parent, but that’s not what I mean 😁). When you have the right people to rely on, asking for help or even to just vent about without judgements, it’s already a great help.

And just do your utterly best, and love your child, that’s all your child needs! 

Today I am having a Guest Post of author Cecilia Fyre, promoting her book which sounds very promising!

Synopsis

British doctor Lea Holm has come to New York to work in her chosen field of emergency medicine. She loves her new life in this exciting city and can’t wait to get started with her research project. The last thing she needs are distractions.

But then she meets famous actor Ricco Como in her building – a distraction if ever there was one. He’s gorgeous and sweet, and there’s an immediate connection between them. Lea tries to resist temptation, but when he comes to her for help dealing with his steadily worsening migraine she can’t turn away from his plight.

As Ricco’s health takes a turn for the worse, their lives become more and more entwined. But can their growing attraction withstand the strain of his ill health, and can he let Lea be more than just his doctor?

**This novella series contains detailed descriptions of long-term health conditions, cheating and a bereavement.**

The series is set in New York City and was written before COVID-19. It makes no reference to recent events.

Guest Post

Writing celebrity characters

I will make a confession right off the bat: When I first wrote Ricco, his character was a crutch. I wanted to write an “easy” book, something where I wouldn’t have to do too much research but could still expand on a diverse and compelling world. The reason I made Ricco a celebrity was because when you write about someone with money, they can go anywhere and do anything, and they can pay for others to come to them to live their life in luxury. Also, anyone can imagine the celebrity lifestyle – the fans, the money, the beautiful love interests. Parties, interviews, film sets – however we imagine those, it’s kind of hard for anyone else to go “But it’s not like that”, because, let’s face it, none of us live that life.

But once I got into the story, I realised that I had gotten it all wrong. Not so much the money and the parties and the beautiful people, but I realised that it’s not all sunshine and roses when money isn’t an issue. Sure, it was fun to imagine Ricco living the jet set life, and I’d definitely write about a celebrity character again, because the world building is so enjoyable. But there are lots of other things to take into account when your character is famous. What does it mean to have crazy fans? What is it really like to be paid millions, what kinds of sacrifices does one have to make for that money?

And then I wondered, what kinds of things are on the flip side of that life? What can money not buy? And one thing that came to mind quickly was: health. I wanted there to be a dark side to the story, a compelling and realistic reason why Ricco was such a hot mess. And I like making my love interests hurt a little bit, and then make the other MC kiss things better. So, from there I arrived at my duo of a doctor who is caring and kind and this really sweet, famous guy who is a bit of a walking disaster. I love them both to pieces and I hope that my readers will agree that they’re made for each other!

When law and law enforcers cannot bring justice, who you gonna call?

Synopsis

If a tooth costs a tooth and an eye costs an eye

When a man hits his wife, then it’s his turn to die

Furious that the courts and police can’t prevent respected surgeon John Kirby from beating his wife, Sally Mellors steps in to save her. Permanently…

But Grace Kirby isn’t the only one who needs saving and Sally quickly discovers she’s taken on a much bigger job than she’d thought.

With her unique ability to blend justice with fun, Sally sets joyfully about the business of removing the monsters from women’s lives, but is she in danger of becoming a monster herself?

As her friends in the police get ever closer, Sally has some serious questions of her own to answer.

My review

If there is one thing Sally Mellors cannot stand, it’s injustice. So when she realizes John Kirby is abusing his wife, she wants to take justice in her own hands.

But Grace Kirby is not the only woman suffering on the hands of a man, and Sally quickly has more to do than just taking vengeance on 1 man.

While fighting for a right cause, she has to stay out of the hands of the police. And that ‘ay be harder than she thought, as some of her friends are in the police. And also, is she becoming dangerous herself, as she is enjoying a bit too much taking care of monsters?

Too often we read something in the newspapers or see on the television about a woman being a victim of her husband. And every time this happens, we hope the victims are being protected by the law. But sometimes the abusers slip through the mesh and surviving victims are once again fearing for their lives.

This story shows us an alternative, at the moment the victims have no more hope. Of course taking justice in your own hands is not a solution. But imagining someone doing so, is surely fun to read about!

Sally is the anti – heroine in this book. When abused women are standing alone, she steps up, taking revenge on the husbands.

It’s not only just killing them, but killing them in a way reflecting the way they abused their wives.

It’s a dark book, talking about a serious theme. It could have become a book hard to digest, but thanks the dark humour in it, it makes it somehow a lighter story.

It was kind of fun reading how Sally and her accomplice are minutiously planning their act of vengeance.

And the way the police is always was one step behind her, was sometimes hilarious.

Of course I don’t agree with taking justice in your own hands, but I see what is Sally’s motive. And in a way, I was cheering for her, to be successful. And I know I was not the only one, as some persons of the police, are thinking the same way…

The conflicting feelings, the feeling of injustice, but also the bond that is created throughout the story, makes this one heck of an interesting, intruiging book!

Not all demons are pure evil!

Synopsis

Sometimes, a date from hell is just what you need…

When Erin thoughtlessly lays a curse on Mark, her cheating ex-husband, she doesn’t expect a well-dressed Great Earl of Hell to show up in her kitchen to fulfill the curse (and make damn good coffee while he’s at it).

Andromalius specializes in wickedness and revenge. He’s ready, willing, and able to rain down hell on Erin’s ex—but when Mark announces a hasty new marriage, Erin needs more than just revenge.

She needs a date to the wedding.

Fans of Good Omens, Lucifer, and The Good Place will love this wickedly funny paranormal romantic comedy!

My review

Erin’s husband cheated on her and now they are divorced. When Mark (the ex) makes the world move around him, Erin involuntarily curses him.
Little did she know that a demon would appear to help her with her vengeance.
Andromalius (luckily for us shortened to Andy) is an expert in wickedness and revenge and does whatever is in his power to get Erin what she wants.

I had so much fun reading this book!
How often I cursed someone, without actually having a demon appearing out of the blue.
So when it happened it Erin, my mind went in overdrive with imagining all the things that could happen to Mark!
But of course, f it would be only about vengeance, half of the fun of reading this story would disappear…
It’s not always about getting your revenge, but thinking about the things you COULD do, is as good!

While Andy is making his list of possible acts, we get to know him better. And if all demons were like Andy, well I wouldn’t mind to summon a demon myself!
Despite his ‘job’, he is a caring demon, wants to make Erin happy. And yes initially by using his powers to embarrass Mark. But when he realizes Erin needs more, he helps her in every way he can.

When Erin’s friend Raya appears to be a witch and vanquishes Andy, Erin does want him back. Because he was the only ‘person’ who cared about what SHE wanted. and let’s be honest, demon or person, don’t we all want someone who cares about us and want to make us happy?

I had several good laughs while I was reading it, but I was also truly concerned when Andy was just POOF gone. And when Raya the Witch and Phoenix the Demon appear in the story, it made me enjoy this book even more!

It’s an easy read, to enjoy on a nice afternoon. A small warning, don’t overthink it too much, as of course there are some things that are not really possible, right? Or are they? Just sit back, read it, have a laugh and enjoy the sweeter moments between Erin and Andy!

This time I’m going to get you interested by posting a tiny content of this book!

Synopsis

The world’s first earth-orbit passenger plane, the sensational Celeste Three, takes off from its base in Arizona, also the only place where it is designed land. On a routine flight the craft disappears.

On board is Viktor Karenkov, billionaire oil magnate who has used his wealth to evade prosecution for a murder he committed years earlier. Gregory Topozian, the murdered man’s friend, has been waiting for a chance to bring Karenkov to justice. With dogged determination and considerable ingenuity, he conceives an audacious plan.

Getting the craft down in total secrecy is key. And someone has to pay the huge costs involved.

Content

Current timeline. Greg Topozian and his deputy Jack Smith take the Celeste pilot John Sturgess to view the proposed landing site for Celeste on a Greek island. The space plane had been designed to land only at its base in Arizona.

When dealing with the Americans, Gregory had maintained the pretence of being Greg Todd. Now he and Smith were in Xanthos on a hot afternoon with John Sturgess, who was seeing the island for the first time. He was not happy.

“You guys are nuts,” he fumed. “Freaking, off-the-wall crazy.”

The island was not a comfortable place to be at mid-day in summer and Sturgess was hot, sweating and plainly upset. A few minutes earlier the Robinson helicopter had descended in a graceful, sweeping arc before setting down gently on the helipad. The three men had emerged into the shimmering, eye-watering heat and walked the short distance to the top of the road.

Gregory was concerned that the helicopter pilot might be within earshot. He moved close to Sturgess and whispered, “Careful, John,” nodding towards the pilot. “We need to keep it down, don’t want him getting curious.”

Sturgess lowered his voice. “OK, OK.” He put his hand out, pointing down the road.

“Look at it, Greg. It’s a freaking switchback. I’d have problems putting a Cessna down, no way the Celeste’s gonna make it.”

Jack Smith nodded to Gregory and went back to the helicopter. He spoke to the pilot and led him towards the house.

Gregory took off his sunglasses and wiped his brow with a handkerchief.

“The road’s going to be levelled. It’ll be fine, don’t worry.”

“Don’t worry? Don’t worry?” Sturgess spread his hands. “You got no freaking idea what’s involved. I’m telling you, this is impossible.”

“For any other pilot, yes. But for the original Celeste test pilot, no. Difficult, maybe, but not impossible. Not for you, John.”

Sturgess kicked at the tarmac. “God dammit, you’re not listening. That plane lands at a hundred and twenty miles an hour. What you gonna do, put up a tennis net to stop her?”

They were walking slowly down the road, away from the house. Gregory took a baseball cap out of his jacket and pulled it onto his head.

“We have a deal, John. We offered you two million. You pushed us to four, plus our guarantee that nobody will get hurt. So far we’ve kept our word and you got one million up

front. You kept your word getting Bonner to let you fly one more time. We’ve done our homework and we know that you can do this. Everything you say is true, except the bit about it being impossible.”

Sturgess stopped, stared down the road and shook his head slowly. He had calmed down. “It would take a miracle.”

“Just tell us what you need to make it possible.”

Sturgess looked around. “Lemme think about it.”

“Come into the house. It’s air conditioned and there’s cold beer in the fridge.”