The Stolen Hours

''A dramatic start to a gripping new series . . . meticulously researched and beautifully told by one of our most prolific and talented writers'' - Santa Montefiore on The Last Summer A reluctant bride. A forbidden romance. An island full of secrets . . . It''s the summer of 1929 and Mhairi MacKinnon is in need of a husband. As the eldest girl among nine children, her father has made it clear he can''t support her past the coming winter. On the small, Scottish island of St Kilda, her options are limited. But the MacKinnons'' neighbour, Donald, has a business acquaintance on distant Harris also in need of a spouse. A plan is hatched for Donald to chaperone Mhairi and make the introduction on his final crossing of the year, before the autumn seas close them off to the outside world. Mhairi returns as an engaged woman who has lost her heart - but not to her fiance. In love with the wrong man yet knowing he can never be hers, she awaits the spring with growing dread, for the onset of calm waters will see her sent from home to become a stranger''s wife. . . When word comes that St Kilda is to be evacuated, the lovers are granted a few months'' reprieve, but will a summer of stolen hours together just lead to more heartbreak . . . ? The Stolen Hours is Book Two in Karen Swan''s bestselling Wild Isle Series . Praise for The Last Summer (Book One): ''Powerful writing and a wonderful premise make this a novel you''ll simultaneously want to savour and race through. I loved it and can''t wait for the next in the series!'' - Jill Mansell, author of Promise Me ''The most exciting, enchanting and evocative story of forbidden love I''ve ever read. I truly loved it and am waiting feverishly for the second installment.'' - Cathy Bramley, author of The Sunrise Sisterhood

Auteur

Karen Swan is the Sunday Times top three bestselling author and her novels sell all over the world. She writes two books each year – one for the summer period and one for the Christmas season. Previous summer titles include The Spanish Promise, The Hidden Beach and The Secret Path and for winter, Christmas at Tiffany’s, The Christmas Secret and Together by Christmas.

Her books are known for their evocative locations and Karen sees travel as vital research for each story. She loves to set deep, complicated love stories within twisting plots.

Her historical series called The Wild Isle, is based upon the dramatic evacuation of the Scottish island St Kilda in the summer of 1930.

Texte du rabat

The Stolen Hours is book two in the spellbinding historical Wild Isle series from The Sunday Times bestseller Karen Swan.

Résumé

'A wonderfully satisfying read: love, passion, drama, violence, menace and peril, and characters you fall in love with' Santa Montefiore

An Island full of secrets . . .

Summer, 1929. Mhairi MacKinnon is in need of a husband. As the eldest girl among nine children, her father has made it clear he can't support her past the coming winter. On the small, Scottish island of St Kilda, her options are limited. But the MacKinnons' neighbour, Donald, has a business acquaintance on distant Harris island also in need of a spouse. A plan is hatched for Donald to chaperone Mhairi and make the introduction on his final crossing of the year, before the autumn seas close them off to the outside world.

Mhairi returns as an engaged woman who has lost her heart but not to her fiancé. In love with the wrong man yet knowing he can never be hers, she awaits the spring with growing dread for the onset of calm waters will see her sent from home to become a stranger's wife. . .

When word comes that St Kilda is to be evacuated, the lovers are granted a few months' reprieve. But will a summer of stolen hours together just lead to more heartbreak . . . ?

The Stolen Hours is the second book in Karen Swan's bestselling Wild Isle series, which began with *The Last Summer.*

Praise for The Last Summer

'This sweeping love story gripped us from the start' - Independent

'The most exciting, enchanting and evocative story of forbidden love I've ever read' - Cathy Bramley

'A delicious, romantic tale' - Rachel Hore

'The queen of destination books' - Woman & Home

'Vividly drawn and beautifully atmospheric' - Heat Magazine