Rosamunde Pilcher: WAYS OF THE HEART

Since Jacky’s mother died in a fire many years ago, she feels obliged to carry on her mother’s legacy. But her father Ronald is worried about Jacky, as her whole life revolves around the distillery. When Jacky’s older sister Alice unexpectedly arrives at St. Agnes, the two sisters get into a heated argument in record time. Despite this – or perhaps because of it – Ronald comes up with a very special surprise for his 60th birthday: He wants to jointly sign over the distillery to the sisters while they are still alive. In doing so, he wants to finally give the restless Alice, who has quit her job as a cook, a home and at the same time prevent Jacky from completely wearing herself out in the distillery. But the well-intentioned attempt to bring the family back together only escalates the sisters’ quarrel. What unites the sisters, however, is their childhood memory of the distillery fire that killed their mother. But unlike Alice, who doesn’t want to be reminded of that day, Jacky is constantly haunted by nightmares.

In St Agnes, Alice meets her old school friend Thomas Mills. She quickly discovers that she is developing deep feelings for the young doctor. Nevertheless, she wants to leave her hometown as soon as possible and already has an offer to take over a restaurant in the Caribbean. All she has to do is convince the owner at an audition in St. Agnes. While Ronald seeks advice and comfort from his long-time good friend Eleonore Brixby, Jacky meets the charming surfer Matt Christian by chance. However, he turns out to be the son of a liquor dynasty who wants to buy out the Davies distillery. But against her will, Jacky discovers and allows her feelings for Matt. After an overheard conversation between him and his father, she feels betrayed and never wants to see Matt again. Matt is finally able to convince Jacky that he truly loves her. Reconciliation is in the air, but then Matt presents her with an old children’s necklace. He found it while cleaning out the distillery’s old warehouse. It is Jacky’s necklace, which immediately triggers memories of the fire. How did the necklace get into the room when Alice always claimed to have started the fire? At Alice’s pre-cooking for her dream job, of all places, Jacky confronts her with the truth. Will the sisters succeed in freeing themselves from the lies of the past? Because not only the family harmony is at stake, but also the existence of the family distillery.