Willa is a polite and respectable young woman, trying to cope with the tedium of her life whilst her husband is away on a year-long cruise with the Navy. Living with a controlling mother-in-law only serves to fuel her sense of claustrophobia. Her only escape is to submerge herself in books, and at her local library she meets Richard, a charming and intelligent young writer who shares her passion for reading. As their relationship blossoms, it begins to change Willa's life. Despite her initial reluctance, she allows herself to enjoy the taste of a different existence, yet all the while struggling with the knowledge that Tommy's steady progress will eventually bring him back home...

JOAN LINGARD was an acclaimed author of over 40 books for both children and adults. She was born in Edinburgh and brought up in Belfast, the inspiration for many of her novels, including the ground-breaking Across the Barricades. She was awarded the MBE in 1998 for Services to Children's Literature. The Kiss was the result of a long-standing personal fascination with the painter Gwen John. Joan Lingard died in July 2022.