A follow-up to the first novel The Floristry Commission. This is a story about Rachel, a good friend who is being usurped by the prettier, more outrageous action woman called Marcia. But as her friend's hen-night approaches, and Rachel ends up in the Brecon Beacons with a dangerous wild-cat and a handsome man to protect her, she realises that not even Marcia will top that!

Dilyniant i nofel gyntaf The Floristry Commission. Stori am Rachel, sy'n ffrind dda i'w chyfaill, ond sy'n dechrau byw yng nghysgod Marcia, ffrind newydd ddel a bywiog. Ond ar noson ieir ei ffrind y mae Rachel yn ei chael ei hun ym Mannau Brycheiniog gyda chath wyllt beryglus a Chymro cryf i'w gwarchod - ni allai Marcia gael antur fel hynny hyd yn oed!

Rachel, 30ish and recently moved from London to Cardiff, is facing a “Dull Life Crisis”. Living in a shoe-box flat and working long hours is leaving her little time or opportunity for excitement. Knowing few people in the area, she is devastated when her one friend, Angela, teams up with the sporty, malicious, energetic Marcia and they go off without her on a horse-riding activity holiday in northern Spain.

The ‘one glimmer of hope on the horizon’ is her college friend Louisa’s hen weekend in the Brecon Beacons. It’s held in an isolated old house which has been renovated and the girls plan a busy weekend of outdoor activities and partying. To complicate matters, Louisa’s fiancé is having a stag weekend only a few miles away.

However, when the girls reach their holiday home, they find that the area has been taken over by police, television, helicopters and reporters, all on the look out for a massive black cat-like creature which has been spotted roaming in the area. Their plans to go riding and hiking have to be put on hold and the weekend slips into a series of parties, pub visits and drinking. To lighten the gloom, a very handsome local farmer, Gwyn (thirty something and unmarried) is searching for the cat and comes to the rescue of the girls. So, do they actually get to see the cat? Is it caught? How do they get on with the locals? Does the wedding go ahead? Who gets off with the dishy Welsh farmer?

Claire Peate writes with wit, affectionate humour and insight about the lives and expectations of a group of young women, and the story rattles along apace – to a happy and rather unexpected ending. A very enjoyable read.

Beryl Thomas

It is possible to use this review for promotional purposes, but the following acknowledgment should be included: A review from www.gwales.com, with the permission of the Welsh Books Council.

Gellir defnyddio'r adolygiad hwn at bwrpas hybu, ond gofynnir i chi gynnwys y gydnabyddiaeth ganlynol: Adolygiad oddi ar www.gwales.com, trwy ganiatâd Cyngor Llyfrau Cymru.