And For Starters

Iona would be flattered that she's the rock her friends turn to in times of crisis -- if only they weren't so high-maintenance. As it is, she's suffering from chronic compassion fatigue.

Her primary concern is lovely, terminally single Jim; too nice for property developing, and definitely too nice for diffident, tarot-addicted bombshell Tamara. It doesn't help that he lives with Ned, the talented young chef and her oldest mate, who broke Tamara's heart as easily as he breaks eggs. And then there's Marie and self-righteous Chris, whose marital banter Iona knows hides a genuine threat of spouse-poisoning.

Which doesn't leave much time for Iona herself. But what's she got to worry about when she has Angus, her adoring, if bossy, boyfriend.

Tamara's astrologer warns her that something's brewing, and when Jim and Angus announce they've bought the last rundown pub in trendy Ladbroke Grove, Iona thinks it's the answer to all their quarter-life crises. But then Angus decides she must conquer her fear of driving...