Only Young by Beryl Kingston.

Published by Pan as a paperback, £5.99.

IT is frightening to consider how easily fate can change our lives and by what apparently trivial means - a careless remark, a chance meeting, or an idea so green as to be little more than a bud.

It was such simple things that turned the world upside down for Jack Daventry, who called himself the Captain, Miss Adriadne Bradbury, daughter of Sir George and Lady Bradbury, and Suki Brown, wet nurse to the Bradbury infant, William.

It was 1755 and the wealthy Bradbury family had taken a house in the spa town of Bath for the season. Suki Brown was taking care of baby William and her own son, Jack, the result of a springtime romance with Captain Jack, who she searched and yearned for, yet she told everybody she was married with a hubby who had gone away to sea.

Suki's own son is a thriving, healthy baby, in stark contrast to the Bradbury infant, who dies suddenly. In blind terror, and on the spur of the moment, Suki swaps the clothing of her child with that of Willaim, pretending that it is her baby who died. The Bradbury baby is unceremoniously buried, with just Suki in attendance and the wealthy family are none the wiser, Lady Bradbury thinking her son is alive and well.

Suki remains with the family as wet nurse she needs the work and continues her quest to find the handsome Captain.

He, meanwhile, has a mysterious past and baffles all he meets by the fact that he is a highwayman, but talks and acts like one of the gentry. His rocky road lands him on a slave ship which sets sail for the West Indies and the route is anything but smooth.

An evocative 18th Century saga, with passion, intrigue and a thumping good love affair. Beryl Kingston has once again produced a book that proves difficult to put down.

Beverly Abbs