When Emily Clairmont’s husband is tragically struck down by typhoid fever after only a few months of blissful domesticity, Emily finds herself heartbroken and completely alone in the world. Having lost her mother in childbirth and her father right before her marriage, she has no choice but to seek a position as a governess. She reaches out to her husband’s family solicitor, Quinn Westbourne, … hoping that he may be able to help her.
Quinn takes one look at the young and beautiful Emily and decides that a job as a governess will not do. He writes instead to the father-in-law she’s never met, and when Leopold Clairmont offers her a place in his home, Quinn agrees to escort Emily to his isolated refuge in St. Kilda. But he did not anticipate how challenging it would be to keep his distance from the grieving widow when all he wants to do is take her in his arms and console her. The two forge a friendship on their journey, and Emily begins to wonder if she could find solace and a live a comfortable life as a widow in her new home.
The tiny island of Hirta in the remote cluster of islands known as St. Kilda off the Scottish coast is wild and beautiful, her father-in-law is warm and welcoming, and her sister-in-law offers her much-needed female companionship, but the island is also full of secrets. When Emily learns things about her husband that he never revealed, she wonders if she ever really knew him at all. Torn between her devotion to her departed husband and her growing feelings for Quinn, Emily must decide whether her heart belongs to the living or the dead and find the courage to act before it’s too late.
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Loved it.
A very interesting plot line. Places that I had never heard of. An enjoyable evening “somewhere else”.
A really great story line with adoptable characters!
Charming story.
This was on the verge of good. The writing style is unrefined and I’m hopeful that the author continues to develop. There was a whole lot of telling but not showing and the characters were shallow, but I didn’t stop reading.
It’s a pretty predictable romantic story but it’s was an enjoyable read
Tragic life story with a wonderful ending.
Not a clean read.
lovely storyline–descriptive and lush language, plus a great read. Loved it!
Dull, boring characters. Not much to recommend this book. I am an easy critic and writing is hard, but this was not a good book.
I loved this book. I would recommend it to anyone. Intresting .and can’t wait to read it all.
good story
Enjoyed it!
Nothing racy here, just a very good story with a bit of a scare, followed by a happy ending. So interesting to consider the hazards of life in those early days.
The drama was enough to keep up interested
boring
The heroine was so meek and mild she was downright boring. Very little dramatic tension even 1/3 of the way into the book, so I abandoned it.
Was partway through before I realized this was one of those unbelievable, Harlequin type romances. Didn’t finish it.
The story line was good, but apparently it did not get much editing. Many words are used repeatedly, such as the word “beauty.” Narrative is repeated as dialogue almost immediately after. Sometimes word for word. I did finished it because I cared to know how the main characters fared at the end. Supportive characters lacked development and some were only referred to as the “maid,” or the “butler,” who was actually only mentioned once and then disappeared from view. I did wonder how the father could seem so jolly right after the death of his son, whom he barely mentions. That said, I would like to read another of this author’s books.
This was very interesting as I could see us having problems with typhoid fever again with all the homeless. Good story, engaging.