Can you trust a boyfriend who can't seem to commit himself? Can you trust your young wife on a beach in sunny Spain? Can you trust your little girl with her grown-up cousin, when they like to go swimming?

Against backgrounds as varied as seaside towns, the South African bush and the Cornish moors, BC Collins weaves stories that centre on the issues of returning and coming home. Some don't make it, like the misguided Piers in the story 'The Unexpected'. Another leaves prison to find personal redemption. Others discover happiness in renewed friendships from long ago.

With their timeless themes and frequently nostalgic flavour, these tales offer a breath of fresh air in their treatment of everyday affairs, with their selfless heroines, romantic rogues and people of all sorts and ages blessed with the gift of contentment.