South of the lights : The story of Evans and Brenda, lovers in a Midlands village, whose happiest hours are spent in the hayloft of the chicken farm on which she works. They have no other roof under which they can be alone together - until the mysterious, romantic Augusta comes to their aid. Evans' desire to possess Brenda results sometimes in passion, sometimes in violence, but Brenda finds sympathy in the company of the fragile and sweet-natured Lark with whom she shares a flat in the local town.

Nowhere girl : Estranged from Jonathon, her second husband, Clare Lyall is less sure than ever about the role men should play in her life. So when she meets Joshua at a party, the offbeat Clare isn't exactly thirsting for love.

Wanting : Harry Antlers, a once successful theatre director, falls obsessively in love with Viola Windrush when she comes to New York for an audition. He immediately sends her a hundred red roses and convinces himself that her lack of response is purely temporary. He is certain that if he makes enough extravagant and expensive gestures she will be his. There follows a wild pursuit, which takes Harry to Viola's beautiful old Norfolk house and to London, where she is decorating a flat for her uncle.