Joyce Chipperfield

The Strength of a Kiss Joyce Chipperfield

In 1966, in a small fictitious village in the fens of Cambridgeshire, Lauren is only sixteen. She has never been in love, and when the bond she shares with David, a close friend and neighbour, develops into a more meaningful relationship, she is out of her depth. Having known Lauren since she was a baby, David is just as astounded to find he has fallen in love with a girl eight years younger, who has always been like a little sister. Fate takes control, however, when David is trapped into a loveless marriage. Fighting his love for Lauren he tries to make a life with his wife and baby daughter. The marriage does not stand a chance, as David's love for Lauren strengthens, he is forced to admit he has made a mistake. A brutal assault on Lauren by a local man, who has a grudge against the family, brings Lauren and David closer together. Lauren's story is of her journey from adolescence into womanhood; from the intensity of first love to the heartache of a forbidden love and family disapproval. She keeps her love secret from an over protective sister, who brought her and brother Mark up, after losing their parents eleven years ago. Embarking on an all consuming affair with David, she refuses to face reality; when she does it is almost too much to bear.