THIS is Danielle Steel's 59th novel. It sees 11-year-old Pip spending her summer alone on the beach, until she strikes up a friendship with artist, Matt Bowles, who begins to bring a little joy into the lives of Pip and her lonely, beautiful mother.

Pip Mackenzie's young life has already been touched by tragedy. Nine months before, a terrible accident plunged her mother into inconsolable grief.

But on a chilly July afternoon, Pip meets someone who fills her sad, grey world, beginning a journey of hope will begin.

As their newfound friend works his subtle magic, mother and daughter slowly begin to heal, to laugh again, to rediscover what they have lost.

Danielle Steel fans will need no prompting to add this book to their collection -- it's a novel that really pulls at the heartstrings.

And the good news is that she is probably well on with her 60th story . . .

Safe Harbour by Danielle Steel (published by Bantam Press at £17.99)