Nothing Ventured (ePub)

After the death of her go-getting, charismatic sister, Diana Carlton feels life has passed her by. Surprisingly it's neighbour and single-mum, Lou Turner who comes up with a solution. The two women have never got along but, as Diana creates a bucket list with a difference, it's Lou she turns to for help to cross the items off it.

Rather than a number of adrenalin-filled events, Diana wants the list to help her make permanent changes to her life. For Lou the items are perhaps a little pedestrian but she finds herself gaining more from the experiences than her new friend. It's not Lou after all, who has to sit out the exercise class due to a wardrobe malfunction, nor does she misunderstand the receipe at the baking lesson and gets out a magazine to 'chill for twenty minutes.'

But their differences in upbringing and lifestyle still bubble beneath the surface and threaten to erupt, particularly when Diana starts dating a man who fits in more with her older, more 'socially-acceptable' friends.

Other residents of Ryan Harbour are also exploring opportunities and trying out new experiences. While landlord, Jamie Taylor attempts to create events on the cheap to attract more customers to his ailing pub, Robert Keane tempts his wife into a little sexual experimentation. Then there's Dr Bryant and his infatuation with his new locum. Could an affair be on the cards?

From flashing a group of pensioners at the local regatta, losing a decent pair of undies to a dog wanting to play fetch during some alfresco love-making, onto being responsible for the extinction of an entire insect species, these new ventures might not be turning out quite as planned, but with love and friendship blossoming there's still everything to gain.