SOLVED. Book-main character a girl named "Till" or "Til". [s]

[Bren fall in love with the sea.]

Came out many decades ago. At least 40 years ago maybe more. Two friends. One had the name "Till" at least that is what I think it was. She was beautiful and had many admirers. The other girl may have been named Maggie but not sure on that. SPOILER ALERT:

Till falls for a married man who loves her but only as a friend. I thought this maybe easy to find because Till is not a common name. Any ideas?

[SBC]

Maybe Catherine Cookson's Tilly Trotter?

"Tilly Trotter isn't like the other girls in the villages of County Durham. Tall and coltish, she's not afraid of taking on 'man's work' to help out the grandparents who raised her. There's an unusual beauty to her too - a beauty that's envied by the local women and lusted after by the men.

But for all the attention Tilly only loves one man, farmer Simon Bentwood, and she's heartbroken to discover that he's betrothed to another. But there are even harder times ahead for Tilly. A spurned suitor takes a terrible revenge. Idle gossip brands her a witch. A betrayal forces her into the cruel drudgery of the local mine and puts her life in danger.

But Tilly refuses to let her spirit be broken - determined that all this will serve only to make her stronger..."

[Bren fall in love with the sea.]

This sounds like an excellent book but it isn't the one.

In the book I read the man Till or Tilly falls for is a friend and I think his name is Jim but don't quote me on that. She also dances..ballet if I remember correctly. Her friend is a nice girl but envious of Till because she thinks Till is perfect and is stunned when Till confides her feelings for this man. She confesses she is in love with him and his response is "I love you too" but he means as a friend. Her meaning goes right over his head.

It's a really old book and I think it was pretty short. Hope this helps.

[Kris]

Bren, what's the time period and location of the story?

Is it similar to a Harlequin romance?

[Bren fall in love with the sea.]

It was definetly not Harlequin. I read it when I was a child at least 35 years ago most likely more. I do not remember the time period. If this helps, I found the book at a doctor's office so it would have had to be G-Rated. It was short..I read quickly but I also got permission to take it home and bring it back. That doctor no longer practices. Yes, I thought about calling him!

The whole point of the story was that Till, for all her looks and being envied by so many hardly had it easy. It was a great read.

[Ayshe]

Maybe In a Mirror by Mary Stolz?

[Bren fall in love with the sea.]

That's it! Wow, I never thought I'd see that book again. I tried so many times to find it. Thank you so much. I loved that book as a kid and now am looking forward to rereading it. Amazing. Thanks again.