A harrowing tale of abuse, neglect...and hope

At just twenty years old, Claire McMullen is the new owner of the Seabourne Hotel. She's a mystery to everyone around her - and that's how she wants to keep it. Abused as a child and forced to sell her body to survive, Claire has built a barrier around herself that she is sure no one will ever penetrate.

But folks are curious about why such an attractive young woman would move to Blackpool to run a hotel. Where are her friends? Her family? Claire is determined to keep the truth from them all until she attracts the attention of wealthy businessman, Gregory Nightingale, and she finds her past coming back to haunt her...

"Praise for Rosie's first novel, THE BAD APPLE: 'Rosie Goodwin is a born storyteller - she'll make you cry, she'll make you laugh, but most of all you'll care for her characters and lose yourself in her story. An author destined for the top" - Jeannie Johnson, author of THE REST OF OUR DAYS

"Rosie deserves all her success. She is a talented storyteller and will go all the way to the top" - Dee Williams

"The tearjerker of the season...[a] heart-rending tale" - Western Mail

"A promising and well-drawn debut" - Lancashire Evening Post

"A good tearjerker...compelling" - Reading Evening Post

"A gifted writer... Not only is Goodwin's characterisation and dialogue compelling, but her descriptive writing is a joy" - Nottingham Evening Post

"A heart-throbber of a story from Goodwin that puts many other so-called emotional blockbusters in the shade" - Northern Echo

"Goodwin is a fabulous writer...she reels the reader in surprisingly quickly and her style involves lots of twists and turns that are in no way predictable" - Worcester Evening News

"A touching and powerful new novel from a wonderful writer" - Bookseller