Rumours, by Freya North

It is a relief to find a return to form for North in Rumours. Not that it quite has the sparkling wit and magic of old, but there is a warmth and depth to this tale that has been missing in her last few books. Art historian and single mum Stella Hutton has turned to real estate to recover her finances after her disastrous marriage ends in divorce. Selling the local manor house could make her fortune but an awful lot of locals will be put out, especially eligible bachelor Xander. Sexy and entertaining with appealing and delightfully appalling characters, occasionally silly plot points such as a stray Rembrandt do not detract from a romp of a read.