Fatma has spent her whole life in the Turkish village of Ortakoy, where she is known for her strong opinions and a habit of flouting tradition. She juggles the challenges of family life with running her business, the Kismet Pension.
Levent spends his life travelling the country in his minibus. When he arrives in Ortakoy, he feels a sense of belonging and decides to stay for a while. Fatma distrusts him, and is dismayed that nobody seems to share her concerns.
Then a greater threat appears, in the form of a company that wants to build a cement factory in the village. The villagers are determined to stop the development but their objections seem to have been ignored when permission is granted and work begins on the site.
The peace is shattered as lorries rumble through the village, and Fatma is worried about both her business and her home. It becomes obvious that the company is bending all the rules but the villagers’ attempts to publicise their story fail and some of them are forced to give up the fight. It is left to Fatma to find a way to save the village, but is she ready to speak out?
This second book in the Kismet Pension series invites readers to spend another summer in Ortakoy, with the spirited Fatma and her colourful neighbours.