Finding Happiness — Emma Blair

Sandy McLean is training to be a doctor to follow in his father's footsteps - indeed, to surpass his father who is just a general practitioner: Sandy is to become a top surgeon. Or so his father insists. Sandy feels he has no choice, though knows he is not a natural and life is becoming miserable as he struggles through the exams. What he really wants to be is an artist. Every spare moment he paints and is especially good at people. He even gets a commission when a loyal pub bartender is retiring.

And then a French girl, Sophie, offers to pose for him - which leads to his first love affair and the beginning of his rebellion against his father, leading to his running off to Montmartre.

Meanwhile, left behind is his sister Laura. Her father believes she should wait about idly for a potential husband to turn up. But she wants to earn a living. She tells her parents she's working voluntarily for an orphan centre, but really she has a job working at the Marie Stopes Clinic. After a brutal assault leaves her traumatised, she follows in Sandy's footsteps to Montmartre . . .

Praise for Emma Blair:

'An engaging novel and the characters are endearing - a good holiday read' Historical Novels Review

'All the tragedy and passion you could hope for . . . Brilliant' The Bookseller

'Romantic fiction pure and simple and the best sort - direct, warm and hugely readable. Women's fiction at an excellent level' Publishing News

'Emma Blair explores the complex and difficult nature of human emotions in this passionately written novel' Edinburgh Evening News

'Entertaining romantic fiction' Historical Novels Review

'[Emma Blair] is well worth recommending' The Bookseller