Alexandra Morton has a reputation round the close-knit Leicester backstreets where she lives for being a bit of a matchmaker, as there's nothing she enjoys more than offering useful advice to courting couples. But when her beloved husband Gil is sacked from work, having been wrongly accused of molesting a female member of staff, her whole world is suddenly turned upside down. For the first time in twenty-five years, Lex needs to get a job in order to make ends meet, so she goes to work in a marriage bureau and puts her skill to good use.

Cabbie Chas Tyme is shy, kind-hearted and always ready to see the best in people. His main concern is for his widowed mother, Iris, and, by working hard at Black's Taxis, he does all he can to provide for her. But Iris just wishes he'd concentrate on finding a nice girl who'd appreciate his worth. If only he had the courage to ask someone out... Meanwhile, in a local firm of solicitors in Leicester, a striking young secretary is realising that her fiance - a handsome junior solicitor - is not the man for her and, sadly, Harrie knows it's time to rethink her life. When she takes a temporary position in the office of Black's Taxis, she soon discovers that there are some people who have little respect for the law nor care who they use to carry out their devious plans...

Kay Clifton has waited five, long, lonely years for her husband Bob to come home from the war. Despite her excitement at his return, their whirlwind romance prior to his departure makes her feel as though she hardly knows him, so it's not surprising that Kay is apprehensive when she meets him at the station. Kay's hopes of starting their blissfully happy marriage are dashed by the presence of Bob's fellow soldier Tony. Bob is indebted to Tony for saving his life and seems hell bent on repaying that debt to the couple's detriment. But as Tony starts acting more and more strangely, Kay worries that something else happened during the war that Bob is keeping secret. And Bob himself isn't behaving like the man whom she waved off so tearfully all those years ago. But with the love and encouragement of her family and friends, Kay is determined that whatever it takes she will bring out the Bob with whom she first fell in love and forge the future that they had envisaged before the war wreaked its havoc.

When Maddie Ashman is tricked into giving up her baby for adoption she is utterly devastated. Her mother has convinced Maddie that she has no choice, as the child is illegitimate and the father has deserted her. But this is the final straw for Maddie and she knows she must leave home. It's now or never. But who can she to turn for help? Catching the train to Leicester, she goes in search of the one person who might take her in - even though she has no idea where they live. And when she gets a job in a funeral parlour she discovers that life is full of surprises - for love and laughter can be found in the most unlikely places!

Set in a holiday camp in the late 1950s, Lynda Page's saga is full of hilarious anecdotes and heartwarming adventures amongst the holidaymakers and staff. Sure to appeal to fans of the hit musical Dreamboats and Petticoats. When Rhonda Fleming runs away from home the last place she expects to end up is at a Jolly's holiday camp. But a chance encounter with a chalet maid at the train station leads Rhonnie to Mablethorpe on a cold winter's day and her life changes for ever. Thrown in at the deep end working for the boss's wife, Rhonnie discovers there's never a dull moment at Jolly's - particularly with staff like Dan around. From the beauty contest by the pool to jiving in the Paradise dance hall and from the rollercoaster at the fair to sitting on a moonlit beach, the holidaymakers are guaranteed to have the time of their lives. But when the boss's son reappears nothing can prepare Rhonnie for what lies ahead...

Since the death of her husband May Jeffries has struggled to provide for her only child, Jenny. Even now that Jenny's working in a Leicester china shop, things are not easy. Jenny thinks that part of the problem could be the good-for-nothing men that her mother can't seem to resist, and she's delighted when May finally sees the true colours of her latest flame and throws him out. But when he turns up at the china shop and loses Jenny her job it seems their troubles are far from over. And when a sudden thunderstorm forces her to take shelter in a furniture warehouse on the way home things seem worse than ever. But good fortune comes when you least expect it...

Jolly's campers are guaranteed to have a holiday to remember, but that's not always easy to achieve thanks to the array of colourful characters who pour through Jolly's gates. Jackie Sims works in the general office and her ambition is one day to be in charge. But she never wanted her lucky break to come about through such tragic circumstances... While Drina Jolly goes away to help her family come to terms with their grief, she puts her faith in Jackie to keep the business running smoothly and Jackie is determined she will do whatever it takes not to let her down. Despite her resilience and resourcefulness, Jackie can't run the camp on her own and the abrupt, unapproachable temporary camp manager, Harold Rose, seems unwilling to help her. But she has an ally in fun-loving, red-headed receptionist Ginger Williams whose support she will need to help her through the turmoil, chaos and heartbreak that is about to come her way. Following on from The Time of our Lives, Lynda Page's nostalgic saga of fun, frolics and mayhem at a seaside holiday camp is sure to delight anyone who has ever enjoyed an English holiday beside the sea.

A riveting, heart-rending tale of betrayal and revenge. Erica and Simon Dunmore have been happily married for fifteen years. The only thing that casts a shadow over Rica's happiness is her failure to have a baby and Simon realises he would do anything to provide her with the child she so desperately craves. Then unexpectedly he brings home a beautiful baby boy whose mother has given him up for adoption and Rica cannot believe her luck - they can be a proper family at last. Little does she realise the horror that lies ahead when her husband and son go missing...

It is meant to be one of the happiest days of Vinnie Deakin's life: her younger daughter's wedding day. But her joy soon evaporates when Vinnie's husband calmly announces that he is leaving her. Vinnie tries to hide the truth from her workmates, convinced that her husband will come back to her, but kind and caring Betty Trubshaw isn't a fool. She's heard the rumours about Tommy Deakin and, when things go from bad to worse, Betty's friendship gives Vinnie the strength to carry on. Betty is not the only person who cares about Vinnie's future - her neighbour, Noreen Adler, though brash and outspoken, surely means well; and her boss, Mr Hamlin, has always had a soft spot for Vinnie, if only he had the courage to let his feelings show. But there are people close to Vinnie who are not what they seem and she must tread carefully if she is ever going to trust again...

With the world at her feet, eighteen-year-old Cam Rogers has every right to feel bitter at the legacy she is left to deal with when a series of traumatic events take place that shapes her destiny for ever. Instead, though, she does her utmost to overcome the challenges that lie ahead and to make the best of what she's got. Rose Rogers is not so forgiving. Consumed with bitterness for the cruel way she feels that life has treated her, she does not care who she hurts or how she uses people, even those closest to her. For she will stop at nothing to get the life she has been denied.

Fifteen years is a long time to wait for a marriage proposal, but it seems that Isobel Jenkin's patience has finally paid off. Lawrence Clayton is getting married but - to Izzie's total devastation - it's not to her but to another woman whom he'd been secretly dating behind her back. When he mindlessly flaunts his new bride, Izzie decides enough is enough. But how can she put his betrayal behind her and start afresh? Izzie could never have predicted that helping an elderly lady find her way back to her residential home would provide the answer. The owner of the home, Mrs Johnson, instantly recognises Izzie's worth and offers her a job. But not everyone in the establishment is what they seem and there are those who are using the atmosphere of openness and trust to their own selfish advantage. Izzie soon finds she's embroiled in devious goings-on she could never have anticipated.

Twenty-four-year-old Lynnie Downs has a lot on her plate. First and foremost are her plans to marry Ozzie Matthews - but the odds are stacked against him ever settling down. Then there's her mother and her younger brothers to worry about. Ray's due out of prison soon, Jimmy and Dec have escaped from Leicester to avoid the police, and Colin is up to no good, as usual. But at work Lynnie can forget all this. For behind the counter at Cigar Sid's betting shop, where hopes are dashed and dreams are made, Lynnie's own fortunes are about to change...

For Kacie Cooper, life in Leicester in 1959 is almost perfect. She is the top stylist in a reputable hair salon, and her husband Dennis is dreaming of the big time with his rock 'n' roll band. Only one thing mars Kacie's happiness: her parents' constant disapproval that she doesn't have a 'proper' job or a more respectable husband, like her sister Caroline. But when Caroline turns up on Kacie's doorstep, asking to stay for a while, the revelation that follows plunges Kacie's own life into chaos and threatens everything that matters...

Francine Champion loves her life working as a mechanic at her uncle's Leicester garage. But when Eddie Taylor starts seeing her best friend, Stella, Frankie can't help feeling uneasy. Eddie's certainly charming, but Frankie can see he's a bad lot. She's shocked, then, when she finds out it's she, Frankie, that Eddie wants. Within days he's broken up her relationship with her steady boyfriend, ruined her friendship with Stella and started pursuing her so relentlessly that before she knows it, Frankie has agreed to marry Eddie. After a year the marriage is going well and Frankie can't think why she had doubts about her husband. But she should have trusted her first instincts, because Eddie is far more dangerous than she ever imagined...

At eleven years of age, Albertina Listerman loses her parents in a terrible accident. At twenty-one, she experiences further tragedy when her half-brother commits suicide, having squandered the family fortune. Robbed of her very last penny, Ally is thrust into a world of hardship for which she is ill-prepared. Her salvation comes in the form of Jack Fossett, a kind lad who takes pity on this beautiful, bedraggled girl, and welcomes Ally into his heart. But Jack's mother Flo is less convinced, and time must pass and secrets must be revealed before Ally and Flo see eye to eye - particularly when they discover that Ally is not as destitute as she thought...

Grace Wilkins and Bessie Rudney have been neighbours for over twenty years but it takes the outbreak of World War Two for them to become friends. The more time Grace spends with Bessie, her six boistrous children and her loving husband Tom, the more she realises what has been missing from her own loveless marriage. As the war takes its toll on Leicester, and one by one the men folk leave to join the fighting, Grace finds comfort in helping others. Each day, as she takes on another new challenge, Grace realises that her daughter might have been right all along - it's time to break out, really make something of her life, and possibly find true love, before it's too late...

An unexpected windfall gives Peggie Cartwright the lucky break she deserves. At last she can save her family from financial ruin. Ever since Cyrus Crabbe stole her father Septimus's brake and claimed it as his own vehicle, Sep has dreamed of the day he would run a bus service for the villagers of Leicester to put the Crabbes out of business once and for all. It now looks like that day is in sight. But Cyrus Crabbe is a dangerous man, determined to stop the Cartwrights from succeeding. A wicked remark from his acid tongue forces Septimus to abandon his beloved brood, and as Sep's absence stretches from weeks to months, Peggie watches her mother sink into a deep decline. Peggie's brothers and sisters are used to heartache but when Billy is beaten black and blue and Cyrus's son Reginald turns his attentions to young Letty it seems that none of the family is to be spared... Peggie knows it's up to her to keep the business afloat and spirits raised. For no matter what obstacles are thrown her way she is determined to fulfil her father's dream.

Evie Grayson has always had a flair for fashion, so when she is promoted to the General Office at Dawson's hosiery factory in Leicester, she rises to the challenge. But then Evie stumbles upon sinister goings-on in the accounts department and, to her surprise and confusion, she realises her spiteful sister Florrie could be involved... Despite her career success, romance has always eluded Evie, and it is not until she meets Edward Bradshaw that she falls deeply in love. But why are their families so opposed to the union? And what is Evie's mother trying to conceal about the past?

When Charlie Higgins is unfairly dismissed from his job in a Leicester shoe factory his family become crippled by poverty. Refusing to surrender to her husband's misfortunes, Annie manages to keep food on the table and faith in their hearts. Until tragedy strikes again. With the threat of the workhouse looming over them, Annie and her young son Georgie seek refuge with their only relatives: the Burbages - a family they have never met and know nothing about. Adapting to farmlife is a gruelling experience for Annie and Georgie, but hard work and cheerfulness earn them respect. But at the back of Annie's mind, she knows that one day she must return to Leicester to confront the memories she has left behind and begin a new life for herself and her son...

Things have never been easy for Dee Kirby. With her looks and personality she never wants for admirers, but as soon as people discover her mother is a prostitute, Dee is treated with disgust and cruelty. And when Dee's mother dies owing a huge amount of money to a local gang, a grieving Dee finds herself face to face with ruthless criminals... Meanwhile, Calum Jackson, convicted of a crime he didn't commit, has just been released from prison and is determined to get a decent job and make a new life for himself. It's not long before Dee crosses his path and he is instantly smitten. But will he be able to protect her, and give her the happiness she deserves?

Kelly McCallan has more than her fair share of worries. Her mother is dying and needs constant care; her father has returned to Leicester from the Second World War but is an emotional wreck; and her brother Mickey has turned to a life of crime that is putting the whole family at risk. Kelly's boyfriend Rodney and his sister Glenda know that she's scared of what Micky might do next. But they turn a blind eye to her fears - with disastrous consequences for them all. When Kelly has lost eveything she holds dear, she and Glenda pick up the pieces and start again. And one man in particular, Alec Alderman, is there when she needs him most. But Alec has problems of his own...

In a run-down cottage, deep in woodland on the outskirts of Leicestershire, sixteen-year-old Tilda Penny lives in fear of her drunken father's violent attacks.. Born with a withered arm, Tilda is branded an outcast in the community and her only comfort is drawn from her friendship with seven-year-old Eustace Sprocket. Suffering from his aunt's intolerable abuse, he too is no stranger to rejection. Entering her cottage one evening, Tilda stumbles apon a young man about to steal her life savings. But instead of throwing Ben McCraven out into the cold night air, she takes pity on him and offers him shelter for the night. Tilda's one simple act of kindness is to have far-reaching consequences...

For Josie Rawlings, caring for her cantankerous old grandmother and running her vegetable stall in Leicester's market square is hard work. But then things get a whole lot worse when Josie's inheritance is stolen and her granddmother's death brings eviction from the only home she's ever known. Determined to rise above these bitter blows, Josie struggles to support herself, and, desperate for affection, stumbles into an ill-fated love affair. But there are those around who do recognise Josie's worth, and, although she is unaware of it, one man in particular is keeping a close eye on her progress...

All Connie Monroe has ever wanted is to be a hotel receptionist. She is overjoyed, therefore, when Captain Fosedyke, the manager of the Connaught where she works as a chambermaid, gives her a lucky break and invites her to prove her worth on the reception desk. Then the inexperienced owner of the hotel, Miss Griffin, arrives to regain control of the neglected business and Connie grabs the opportunity to show how resourceful she can really be. For, despite their different backgrounds, Connie Monroe and Edelina Griffin are about to discover they have a lot in common as they fight for the survival of the hotel. But someone doesn't want them to succeed...