Thea, fed up with being mother to a houseful of students, accepts her bossy friend Mollys offer of an art appreciation holiday in Provence. While there, Thea meets the gorgeous Rory, an artist who is as attracted to her as she is to him, in spite of him being several years younger. So when Thea hears that her student lodgers have had a party and her house is a tip, she decides to extend her holiday and accept Rorys invitation to his house in Ireland, where she discovers a studio full of wonderful paintings. But her home life wont leave her alone. Molly, her annoying niece Petal, not to mention their enigmatic cousin Ben and his son Toby, all appear on the doorstep, just as Rorys dog is about to have puppies. And then everyone is roped into helping when Thea decides to open an art gallery to show Rorys work. But will she end up with Rory, who wants her, or with Ben, who, maddeningly, doesnt seem to?