Christina Jaffe Book order (chronological)

The narrative intertwines the lives of Sadie, a young widow from Glasgow seeking redemption in Rosehearty, and Alexander Forbes, a historical Jacobite figure. Sadie hopes to escape her troubled past by running a B and B, but fears the isolation of winter. Meanwhile, Forbes, after the failure of the Jacobite rebellion, faces his own struggles for survival in the same coastal village. Both characters share memories of joyful childhood days at the beach, connecting their stories across centuries amidst themes of resilience and the search for belonging.

These stories are an ironical look at a teacher's life and work, showing how educational ideals sometimes have to be abandoned in the interest of real life that keeps butting in. They deal with experiences in Scotland and Germany. The main message is that there is no "us and them" - we are all in the big human soup together. The stories are also a tip of the hat to the folk of the North-East of Scotland and their values.