Long praised for her English romances and story-telling powers, Cookson does not veer from the formula here; she embraces it, offering another young English woman searching for her way and eventually finding happiness with a nice young man. Still, Cookson does separate herself from the pack. She is no Barbara Cartland, churning out books and barely bothering to change the names and plotlines.

Set in the 1970's, the story begins with Jinny Brownloe, a single, orphaned young woman, determined to retain her virginity until marriage. Her decision results in her boyfriend leaving her for her newly impregnated roommate. Before leaving, he fires insults at Jinny, calling her "a cultured handmaiden. So agreeable, so polite, so damned eager to please, you let people wipe their boots on you." And so begins Jinny's battle against her desire to please everyone.

Plucked from the typing pool to assist the boss, Jinny fosters a great rapport with her new boss, rough-spoken Robert Henderson, who makes her his personal assistant and family friend. At the same time, Hal Campbell, a twice-divorced father of three, begins to woo Jinny.

Unfortunately, Jinny's world unravels again due to Campbell's odd sexual proclivities and a terrible car accident that takes the lives of Henderson's wife and daughter-in-law, the mind of his son, Glen, and renders Henderson himself paralyzed. Jinny goes to the house to help him and finds herself attracted to Henderson's formerly estranged younger son, John.

Cookson combines her story with a moralistic edge. Jinny loses her boyfriend at the book's start because she will not have sex before marriage. John Henderson is estranged from his family because he left the family home to live in sin with a woman. When he and Jinny finally acknowledge their attraction to each other, their views on sexual permissiveness stand solidly between them. Because so many of the class issues in the book still feel pertinent, the battle over sexual mores seems strained at times. And indeed, Jinny's various romantic relationships pale next to the relationship she shares with her boss, Robert Henderson.

Cookson mines interesting territory here, setting Henderson up as both a father figure of sorts and a potential suitor. The conversations between Jinny and Henderson are both flirty and paternal, and Jinny has to navigate strange waters, particularly after the death of her boss's wife. Suddenly, all of the gossipy talk surrounding their friendship and her gold-mining has the potential to become true. Jinny could marry the boss, which renders their conversations and any shows of affection potentially dangerous and/or symbolic. The relationship is so compelling that the romance with John feels like an afterthought.

Anyone seeking a relaxing, well-paced story will find a Cookson book a good companion, though at times the writing feels slightly overdone. Do not read her for high romance, it's not a particular strength of this book. However, the creation of strong characters, actively making sense of their lives and their situations, is a Cookson specialty, one that makes her well worth reading.