Snowdrops in Summer

"Whatever happens, we'll always be heart friends." For "heart" friends Angelica, Lisa, and Claire, nothing has ever come easily. With little money and worse luck, they soldier on as best they can in the small village of Newton, edging the South Wales valleys. Angelica has no trouble attracting men, but it's a woman she wants, and she's unlikely to meet her in her job as manager of a café. Lisa and Claire are single mothers. Lisa supports twin teenage daughters and cleans the local police station while carrying on with dishy policeman Niall, chained to a Catholic wife who won't divorce him. Claire's son Justin is a budding hoodlum, one false step away from prison. Sweet but ineffectual Claire is afraid to lay down the law for Justin and too cowed by life to believe any man will ever want her. Then comes the chance they've been waiting for: their well-to-do friend Mags hires them to do a bit of detecting, which leads to more profitable ventures. At first it's all a lark, as they stumble onto the truth, despite their lack of experience. But flying blind is no way to run a business. Be that as it may, in the face of the ultimate challenge, their friendship remains steadfast.