Duckling: A gripping, emotional, life-affirming story you’ll want to recommend to a friend

What if your neighbour asked you to watch her seven-year-old daughter for an afternoon, and didn't come back? Lucy's life is small, but safe. Every day she goes to work, checks in on her unstable, alcoholic father, then spends her evenings watching old Columbo reruns, isolating herself away from the rest of the community on her South London estate. Her routine is all that she can handle, given what happened in her past. So when her new neighbour Cassie asks Lucy if she could look after her seven-year-old daughter Rubi, she is reluctant to agree. Then when the hours pass, and then days, and Rubi's Mum doesn't come back, Lucy's worst-case-scenario is now her reality. Lucy is not only responsible for herself anymore. She is responsible for a scared little girl who needs her help. Something has happened to Cassie, and Lucy must find her before it's too late. Duckling is a nickname Lucy has never been able to shake off. And, if she is honest, maybe it suits her. She is not the type to socialise with other people. You might say she is reluctant to leave her nest. Lucy's life is small, but safe. She has a good routine. But all that is about to change. . . When Lucy's neighbour asks her to look after her little girl for a couple of hours - and then does not come back - Lucy is suddenly responsible for someone other than herself. It takes courage to let the outside world in, and Lucy is about to learn there is much more to life - but only if she is brave enough to spread her wings. ________________________________ Praise for Duckling: 'A poignant read' Woman's Own '[I] loved this gorgeous, funny, poignant and very human book' Rowan Coleman 'Underlines the importance of friendship, community and family while maintaining a galloping plot that keeps you hooked until the last page!' Sarah J Harris 'A lovely, heart-warming story about the importance of friendship and family, the power of forgiveness and about learning to love yourself' Clare Swatman ' Duckling is joyous, life-affirming and refreshing' Joanne Harris ' Combines uplifting and poignant moments with a plot that is so gripping it had me feverishly turning the pages' Jessica Ryn 'Charming and compassionate, dark at times yet peppered with joy!' Eleanor Ray Duckling's a nickname Lucy has never been able to shake off. And, if she's honest, maybe it suits her. She just isn't the type to socialise with other people. She likes to keep herself to herself. You might say she's reluctant to leave her nest. Lucy's life is small, but safe. She's got a good routine. But all that's about to change. When Lucy's neighbour asks her to look after her little girl for a couple of hours - and then doesn't come back - Lucy is suddenly responsible for someone other than herself. It takes courage to let the outside world in, and Lucy's about to learn there's much more to life - but only if she's brave enough to spread her wings..