An Leave My Heart Alone // An Open Door — Claire Lorrimer

After losing her husband in the war, Susan Parish has, in the succeeding years, managed to find a measure of happiness and contentment in bringing up their young son in the quiet seclusion of the country. Resigned to a tranquil if somewhat shadowy existence as one of so many young widows, she is unaware that fate is poised to take a hand. Far from being allowed to spend the rest of her life alone, without loving or being loved, it is meant that Susan should fall in love again...

The love enters her life a second time. But the man in question is in no position to offer her true happiness. Gareth Everett is married, and his wife is one of Susan's best friends. Worse, her son Teddy has developed a kind of hero-worship for Gareth and their close proximity as next-door neighbours means there is no space to keep them apart. It becomes increasingly difficult for Susan to ignore her feelings, and her position becomes even more untenable when circumstances force Gareth into voicing his hidden love for her. Dare she risk giving her heart to this man when every instinct tells her to let him go?