The Lady In The Tree

The Lady in the Tree picks up right where the third book, Maya – Illusion, left off. Lek remains in business with her longtime friend Ayr, and they are serious about it, especially when local rivals attempt to bully them. The two friends devise a bold plan that they can't even share with their friends, family, or husbands. Soom is still studying at university in Bangkok and managing well despite her own challenges, not to mention the upcoming final exams, which could be disrupted by the political turmoil in the capital. Craig continues his writing, but suddenly realizes he faces bigger issues than just finishing and selling his books. An old friend and an elderly lady offer the three women some surprisingly similar and insightful advice, but where will it lead them? The Behind The Smile Series tells the story of Lek, a bar girl in Pattaya, Thailand. Lek was born as the eldest of four in a typical rice farming family in the northern region of Thailand. One day, a disaster struck unexpectedly – her father passed away young, leaving behind substantial debts that the family was unaware of. At just twenty, Lek found herself as the only one able to save the family farm from foreclosure and ensure her younger sister and two brothers could continue their education. The only option she knew was to work in her cousin's bar in Pattaya. Can a Pattaya bar girl ever return to being an ordinary girlfriend or wife? 'Behind The Smile' offers a glimpse into one aspect of Thailand, a nation recognized globally as 'The Land of Smiles'. The Lady in the Tree continues straight on from book three, Maya – Illusion. Lek is still in business with her old friend Ayr and they mean business as well, especially when rivals from nearby try to intimidate them. The two friends come up with a daring solution, which they can't even discuss with their friends, family or husbands. Soom is still at university in Bangkok and doing well in spite of having problems of her own, let alone looming final exams, which political upheaval in the capital threatens to disrupt. Craig continues to write, but he realises all of a sudden that he has bigger problems than finishing and selling his books. An old friend and an old lady give the three women some remarkably similar and accurate advice, but where will it get them? Translator: JOHN ROBERTS PUBLISHER: TEKTIME