“You must learn to look beyond the evidence. It shows only what you wish to believe is real, not what you really wish to believe.” Doubt that the sun doth move; Doubt truth to be a liar, But never doubt I love… (Hamlet, Shakespeare) The Circle is in flux. It’s been a hectic six months, and as the friends head into the heat of summer, more trials await that will truly test the bonds of friendship. For whilst a circle may contract and may even at times constrict, it can also expand, accommodate, embrace. And it is always whole. Eternal. Set over a period of six months (July–December), In The Stars Part II continues to explore the day-to-day lives of The Circle—nine friends from high school, now in their late thirties—following them through a year of celebration, loss, illness and life-changing decisions. In The Stars Part II is Season Five in the Hiding Behind The Couch Series. This book is also available as six separate episodes. The story follows chronologically from In The Stars Part I (Season Four) and Breaking Waves (Novella). It continues in A Midnight Clear (Novella), Red Hot Christmas (Novella) and Two By Two (Season Six). For those readers unfamiliar with the series, In The Stars Part I re-introduces the main characters, so you could pick it up from there and perhaps catch up with the previous books later. * * * * * WARNING: this story contains intimate (moderately explicit) scenes between consenting opposite sex (F/M) adults. * * * * * What readers say about the Hiding Behind The Couch Series: “The remarkable characterisation in these novels is what makes them for me.” “This story reminds me of my favorite movies about friendship and relationships.” “Few authors have explored the depths of longtime friends within a group, or ‘circle’ the way Debbie McGowan has!” “The way the author deals with the complexities and issues in these books is delicate and compassionate, but with a matter-of fact-grit that smacks of reality.”