Publisher's Synopsis
A tale of love and life from the best-selling author of A Bientot. Spread over three decades, Trois meres tracks the turbulent journey of cousins Rosie and Tina. Set in urban Manchester, leafy Cheshire and the sprawling scenery of rural France, it tells the tale of two young girls as they move from childhood innocence into their rebellious teenage years and onto careers, marriage and motherhood. Rosie and Tina are the only children of two equally inadequate mothers. Despite living miles apart, they are the best of friends and closer than two peas in a pod, which is fortunate as with parents like Doreen and Stella, they need all the love and support they can give each other. Tina lives one step away from poverty on a rundown, crime infested concrete estate with one of the worst reputations in Manchester, followed closely by that of Stella, her feckless, amoral, self centred excuse for a mother. In the quiet suburbs of Cheshire, her cousin Rosie leads a more charmed, middle class existence but is being slowly suffocated by domineering, selfish, cold-hearted Doreen. Although the two sisters have absolutely nothing in common, one gene they do share is the inability to show love and loyalty, or be the guardian and friend that all children deserve. Mother number three is Olivia, cool, aloof and distant. A member of the elite Cheshire set, she resides in the affluent village of Prestbury, rattling around in her sprawling family mansion, attending various worthy charity functions and hosting her infamous bridge nights. Her errant son Marcus lives his life in the fast lane, maximising the perks of working in the family firm and enjoying his jet setting bachelor existence, well away from the watchful eyes of his disapproving mother. As Tina and Rosie grow, they spread their wings and fly as far away as possible from their parents, to follow two entirely different paths. One leads to Marcus where a charmed life of luxury awaits, the other fulfils her dreams of travel, pursuing an exciting career and discovering love in the French Loire countryside. With the bond of a childhood promise tying them together, regardless of romantic liaisons, adversity and heartache, true friendship manages to survive and despite the many miles that always seem to separate them, the two cousins keep in touch. In the nick of time and just when one of them needs it the most, a loyal cousin's unswerving love swoops down to place her friend under her wing, back where she belongs. Packed with the raw, emotional hurdles that only real life can bring, Trois meres chronicles the trials and tribulations of two young women facing poverty head on, battling family foes, making new French friends, experiencing the joys of country living and ultimately the prize of motherhood. There are moments on both sides of the channel where their story will make you cry, or seethe, as you witness cruelty at the hands of others and the heartache of a loveless marriage. Laugh along and be uplifted by French countryside characters and their Gallic ways and allow your heart to be melted a little by the gift of love and kindness that comes from within."
