Rowing In Eden by Annette De Burgh

At twenty-one Jordache Catherine Alexander is unsure of her sexuality. She meets Mell Quinn, a forty-seven year old lesbian. Mell introduces poetry into Jordache's life and also her friends Diana Benton and her partner Sam Stevenson; who help Jordache when Mell dies. At twenty-nine Jordache is beautiful and successful but is bitter and still mourning the death of her lover Mell. She agrees to do to Devon to a small secluded hotel for a poetry and painting course. Also on the course is Frances Ledger, forty-seven, a talented artist and devout Roman Catholic who has had her dreams of fame in London shattered and who has returned to her northern home town. From an abrasive first meeting a tentative friendship develops, but Frances has problems she cannot share.