Marcia Willett

When Mattie invites her old friend Tim to stay in one of her family cottages on the edge of Dartmoor, she senses there is something he is not telling her. Having left behind his old life in London in a rush, Tim is unusually quiet, as if he is holding on to a painful secret. But as he gets to know the rest of the warm jumble of family by the moor, Tim discovers that everyone there has their own secrets. As Tim begins to open up, Mattie falls deeper...

For retired actor Mungo, his quiet, home village in Devon provides a perfect setting. Close by are his brother and his wife, and the rural location makes his home the ideal getaway for his dear friends in London. Among those are Kit, who comes to stay one summer, searching for some clarity on a potentially life-changing event in her personal life. They encounter Emma, a military wife renting one of the houses nearby who is also in personal turmoil...

Busy mum of twins Liv is looking forward to summer at the Beach Hut in Devon, even if she feels that she and Matt left things on a strange note. She's sure it's just that he's too busy at work to join them on holiday, not that he wants time alone. Baz loves having his family to stay by the sea, but when an unexpected guest arrives, he finds himself torn between the past and the future. Still reeling from a break-up, all Sofia wants is a quiet seaside...

Can you ever escape your family ties? Siblings Billa and Ed share their beautiful, grand old childhood home in rural Cornwall. Their lives are uncomplicated. With family and friends nearby and their free and easy living arrangements, life seems as content as can be. But when postcards start arriving from a sinister figure they thought belonged well and truly in their pasts, old memories are stirred. Why is he contacting them now? And what has he been...

At the end of the row of fishermen's cottages by the harbour's edge, stands an old granite house. First it belonged to Ned's parents; then Ned dropped anchor here after a life at sea and called it home. His nephew Hugo moved in too, swapping London for the small Cornish fishing village where he'd spent so many happy holidays. It's a refuge - and now other friends and relations are being drawn to the the house by the sea. Among them is Dossie, who's...

Jess is on her way to Devon to receive an award. Hosting her will be Kate and her close unit of family and friends. As they begin reminiscing with Jess, it becomes apparent that her family history may be linked with theirs. Long-buried secrets from past generations begin to be uncovered but at what cost have they been kept hidden?

The Keep - that beautiful, ancient family home where the Chadwick family has lived for generations - is still a haven from the heartbreaks and storms of life. Jolyon takes his new girlfriend home to meet his extended family - and also meet Marie, the mother who deserted him and his father many years ago, but now wants forgiveness.

Claudia and Jeff Maynard seem the perfect couple, but underneath they are both running away from the truth of their marriage. When everything collapses around her, Claudia realises the effects that pretence and denial can bring.

As Christmas approaches, everything seems to be falling into place for Dossie. Her son Clem and his adorable 5-year-old son Jakey have moved to Cornwall to be closer to her. She runs her own successful catering business. All she needs now is for the run of bad luck in her romantic life to end.

Over the years, the Keep has provided a bolt hole for the Chadwick family. The five cousins who grew up there have left home and their grandmother wonders if she will see the arrival of the next generation. The Keep must remain in the family.