Karen Swan

An island full of secrets. A gripping love story . . .her young life Effie Gillies has lived, wild and free, on the remote Scottish island of St Kilda. But when Lord Sholto visits the island, the attraction between them is instant. For one glorious week she guides the handsome young Lord around the isle, and falls in love for the first time. But a storm hits and her world falls apart. Three months later, all the islanders are moved to a better life on the mainland. And Effie is surprised to be offered a job working for Sholto's father. But Sholto and Effie come from two different worlds - can love ever win? The Last Summer is based on the true history of St Kilda and its small island community. Quick Reads are short books from bestselling authors, perfect for a fast and satisfying read – whether you're a regular reader, or just getting started. This edition is an abridged version of Karen Swan's beloved bestseller, The Last Summer.'The most exciting, enchanting story of forbidden love I’ve ever read' – Cathy Bramley, author of The Sunrise Sisterhood'I loved it and can’t wait for the next in the series!' – Jill Mansell, author of Promise Me'Perfect for everyone dreaming of summer' – Rachel Hore, author of The Hidden Years

Karunkaunis skotlantilainen saari, vastentahtoinen morsian, kielletty romanssi. Vangitseva historiallinen kirjasarja jatkuu. Mhairi MacKinnon on vanhin yhdeksästä lapsesta, ja perheen elannon vuoksi hänen on solmittava avioliitto. Sopiva sulhanen löytyy, mutta hänen karkeutensa tulee ilmi liian myöhään. Kihlautunut Mhairi palaa vielä kesän ajaksi kotiin naapurinsa Donaldin saattelemana. Heidän välilleen kasvaa syvä, aito rakkaus, mutta Donald on jo naimisissa. Lisäksi kesällä 1930 St Kildan saarten evakuointi lähenee. Ystävykset Mhairi, Effie ja Flora vetivät yhtä köyttä jo Kesytön saari -sarjan avausosassa. Voivatko ystävät nyt auttaa Mhairia hänen kamppailussaan onnen saavuttamiseksi?

Menestyskirjailijan rosoisen romanttinen historiallinen sarja alkaa kaukaiselta Skotlannin saarelta. Taitava kiipeilijä ja lintujen tuntija Effie Gillies asuu pienessä yhteisössä karunkauniilla St Kildan saarella ja kamppailee nuorena naisena paikastaan miesten maailmassa. Kesällä 1930 saarelaisten elämä on mullistumassa, kun heidät siirretään Skotlannin mantereen puolelle turvallisempiin oloihin. Effien sydän ei kuitenkaan ole turvassa. Kielletyt tunteet yli luokkarajojen heräsivät jo komean lordi Sholton vieraillessa saarella, ja yllättäen he kohtaavat uudelleen täysin erilaisissa oloissa. Voiko rohkean naisen rakkaus voittaa ylivoimaisetkin esteet?

THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER!'There’s nothing quite like a Karen Swan novel to get you in the festive mood - Seasonal escapism at its best' - Woman & HomeSnowed in for the holidays, old truths rise to the surface. Christmas by Candlelight is a cosy Christmas story from Karen Swan, bestselling author of The Stolen Hours. It’s three days before Christmas and starting to snow when high-flier Libby and her new boyfriend reluctantly attend her university reunion. Hosted by Archie Templeton – the heartbreaker of their group – at his grand family estate in Yorkshire, the night is a great success until they go to leave: the road is now blocked with snow. At first, being snowed in together is fun. But as hours pass everyone grows restless. Then the power goes out . . . Hunkered down together by candlelight, they reminisce about old times – and tensions soon start to rise. Secrets from the past begin to unravel and Libby is confronted with a truth she has long tried to deny. Reviews for Christmas By Candlelight:'You know that the festive season is well and truly here when a Karen Swan Christmas cracker appears . . . Sprinkled throughout with Swan’s trademark twists and turns, insight, cosy charm, and eye for comedy, this is the perfect warm-up for the Christmas holiday.' - Yorkshire Post'An author loved for her cosy, escapist, festive fiction' - Prima'With well-drawn characters and plenty of romance and drama, this page-turner will leave you with a warm festive glow.' - The Mirror'Seasonal escapism at its best' - Women's Weekly'A cosy Christmas read with plenty of twists' - Woman's Own'This escapist, uplifting story explores old friends and fractured relationships . . . With relatable characters, plenty of secrets and a sprinkle of feel-good cosiness, this is the perfect winter read.' - My WeeklyWhat readers are saying about Christmas by Candlelight:'a Christmas/Winter read at its best. Dive in and escape any Winter Blues!''Christmas isn't Christmas without a Karen Swan book!''Perfect ingedients for a lovely Christmas read!'

'A wonderfully satisfying read: love, passion, drama, violence, menace and peril, and characters you fall in love with' - Santa MontefioreA 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 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, enjoying a summer of stolen hours together. Only, those last days on St Kilda will also bring trauma and heartache for Mhairi and her friends, Effie and Flora. And when a dead body is later found on the abandoned isle, all three have reason enough to find themselves under the shadow of suspicion . . . 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 Should I Tell You?'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 Lemon Tree Café

'Meticulously researched and beautifully told . . . a wonderfully satisfying read' – Santa MontefioreThe Sunday Times Bestselling Historical FictionSummer on St Kilda – a wild, remote Scottish island. In the 1930s, two strangers from drastically different worlds meet . . . Wild-spirited Effie Gillies has lived all her life on the small island of St Kilda. But when Lord Sholto, heir to the Earl of Dumfries, visits, the attraction between them is instant. For one glorious week she guides the handsome young visitor around the isle, falling in love for the first time – until a storm hits and her world falls apart. Three months later, St Kilda lays silent as the islanders are evacuated for a better life on the mainland. With her friends and family scattered, Effie is surprised to be offered a position working on the Earl’s estate. Sholto is back in her life but their differences now seem insurmountable, even as the simmering tension between them grows . . . Then, when a shocking discovery is made back on St Kilda, all her dreams for this bright new life are threatened by the dark secrets Effie and her friends thought they had left behind. Opposites attract in this epic and spellbinding novel, which transports us from the untamed beauty of St Kilda to the glamour and intrigues of high society in the 1930s. The Last Summer is the first book in the Wild Isle series by Sunday Times bestseller Karen Swan, inspired by the true history of St Kilda and its small island community. It is followed by The Stolen Hours.'The most exciting, enchanting and evocative story of forbidden love I’ve ever read. I truly loved it' – Cathy Bramley'Powerful writing and a wonderful premise make this a novel you’ll simultaneously want to savour and race through. I loved it' – Jill Mansell'A delicious romantic tale of wild 1930s Scotland . . . perfect for everyone dreaming of summer' – Rachel Hore

Set in a chocolate-box village, a woman makes a surprising connection with a pen-pal that will change her life - and warm your heart - in the new novel from Sunday Times bestselling author Karen Swan. 'Karen Swan is the queen of destination fiction' - Woman & Home It had been a make-or-break holiday for their marriage, but Natasha and Rob's rekindled romance is short-lived when their daughter's beloved soft toy disappears on the journey home. As Natasha comforts the distraught child, she turns to social media for help. Miraculously, the toy is found, but it has become the lucky mascot of a man named Duffy, who is thousands of miles away. When Duffy promises to keep Natasha updated with pictures, the pair begin a correspondence that soon becomes more meaningful to both of them. Sometimes, Natasha feels this stranger understands her more than the man lying next to her. But as the weeks pass and Duffy heads deeper into the mountains, Natasha begins to notice a change in him. Then one day, the messages stop. Too late, Natasha wonders why he had ever needed a lucky mascot at all. From the picture-perfect Cotswolds to the majesty of the Himalayan foothills, The Christmas Postcards is a novel about how the closest connections can be the furthest apart. PRAISE FOR KAREN SWAN'Novels to sweep you away . . . expect mystery, romance and scandal' - Woman & Home 'An extravaganza of knickerbocker delights' - Red 'As sassy and glamorous as a champagne cocktail' - Daily Mail 'A charming, well-crafted tale of love, loss and reinvention' - Marie Claire 'Hide indoors with a glass of wine and lose yourself in this' - Heat 'Deliciously glamorous, irresistibly romantic!' - Hello! 'A stunning journey' - Sunday Express'Sheer escapism' - Bella

An epic, sweeping historical novel from &i>Sunday Times &/i>bestseller Karen Swan, &i>The Last Summer&/i> is set on the Scottish island of St Kilda and is the first in a new series. Summer on St Kilda a wild, remote Scottish island. Two strangers from drastically different worlds meet . . . Wild-spirited Effie Gillies has lived all her life on the small island of St Kilda but when Lord Sholto, heir to the Earl of Dumfries, visits, the attraction between them is instant. For one glorious week she guides the handsome young visitor around the isle, falling in love for the first time until a storm hits and her world falls apart. Three months later, St Kilda falls silent as the islanders are evacuated for a better life on the mainland. With her friends and family scattered, Effie is surprised to be offered a position working on the Earls estate. Sholto is back in her life but their differences now seem insurmountable, even as the simmering tension between them grows. And when a shocking discovery is made back on St Kilda, all her dreams for this bright new life are threatened by the dark secrets Effie and her friends thought they had left behind. Opposites attract in this epic and spellbinding novel, which transports us from the untamed beauty of St Kilda to the glamour and intrigues of high society in the 1930s. The Last Summer is the first book in The Wild Isle series by Sunday Times bestseller Karen Swan, inspired by the true history of St Kilda and its small island community. The most exciting, enchanting and evocative story of forbidden love Ive ever read. I truly loved it and am waiting feverishly for the second instalment - Cathy BramleyPowerful writing and a wonderful premise make this a novel youll simultaneously want to savour and race through. I loved it and cant wait for the next in the series! - Jill MansellA delicious romantic tale of wild 1930s Scotland . . . perfect for everyone dreaming of summer - Rachel Hore

Opposites attract in this epic and spellbinding historical novel, which transports us from the untamed beauty of a remote Scottish island to the glamour and intrigues of high society in the 1930s. The Last Summer is the first book in The Wild Isle series by Sunday Times bestseller Karen Swan, inspired by the true history of St Kilda and its small island community.'The Last Summer is beautifully told . . . a wonderfully satisfying read.' - Santa MontefioreSummer on St Kilda – a wild, remote Scottish island. Two strangers from drastically different worlds meet . . . Wild-spirited Effie Gillies has lived all her life on the small island of St Kilda but when Lord Sholto, heir to the Earl of Dumfries, visits, the attraction between them is instant. For one glorious week she guides the handsome young visitor around the isle, falling in love for the first time – until a storm hits and her world falls apart. Three months later, St Kilda falls silent as the islanders are evacuated for a better life on the mainland. With her friends and family scattered, Effie is surprised to be offered a position working on the Earl’s estate. Sholto is back in her life but their differences now seem insurmountable, even as the simmering tension between them grows. And when a shocking discovery is made back on St Kilda, all her dreams for this bright new life are threatened by the dark secrets Effie and her friends thought they had left behind.'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 instalment' - Cathy Bramley, author of The Summer That Changed Us'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 And Now You're Back'A delicious romantic tale of wild 1930s Scotland . . . perfect for everyone dreaming of summer' - Rachel Hore, author of A Beautiful Spy

With stunning locations and page-turning tension, The Paris Secret is an intense and gripping tale from bestselling author Karen Swan, the perfect escapism for fans of Santa Montefiore. Not every door should be opened . . . Somewhere along the cobbled streets of Paris, an apartment lies thick with dust and secrets: full of priceless artworks hidden away for decades. High-flying fine art agent Flora from London, more comfortable with the tension of a million-pound auction than a cosy candlelit dinner for two, is called in to assess these suddenly discovered treasures. As an expert in her field, she must trace the history of each painting and discover who has concealed them for so long. Thrown in amongst the glamorous Vermeil family as they move between Paris and Antibes, Flora begins to discover that things aren’t all that they seem, while back at home her own family is recoiling from a seismic shock. The terse and brooding Xavier Vermeil seems intent on forcing Flora out of his family’s affairs – but just what is he hiding?'The next best thing to jumping on the Eurostar and being there' – Chris Manby, author of Three Days in Florence'Escaping into a world of art, beauty and heartbreaking history, I was caught on page one and didn’t put it down until I finished it' – Liz Fenwick, author of The Cornish HouseEnjoy more of Karen Swan's captivating seasonal novels with The Greek Escape and The Rome Affair.

Uncover secrets amidst the snow-covered peaks of the Austrian Alps in this captivating winter romance from Sunday Times bestselling author Karen Swan. In Midnight in the Snow, award-winning director Clover Phillips is riding high when she encounters Kit Foley, a surfer and snowboarder as well-known for controversy as he is for winning championships. Involved in an accident that had devastating consequences for a bitter rival, Kit has never spoken about what really happened that day. Determined to find out the truth, Clover heads to the snowy wilderness of the Austrian Alps, sharing a romantic winter wonderland with a man who can't stand her. But as she delves deeper, Clover finds herself both drawn to Kit and even more convinced he's hiding something. Is Kit Foley really as cold as he seems? What readers are saying about Midnight in the Snow:'Heartwarming, romantic, uplifting. Great writing that wraps you like a blanket''Real and wonderfully, subtly painted so that, yet again, her novel makes you stay up until silly o'clock''An amazing gift for taking you to fabulous locations & gradually unwrapping secrets about her characters''Glamorous, thrilling and unashamedly romantic'

Taking us deep into the heart of the Costa Rican jungle, Sunday Times bestselling author Karen Swan returns with The Secret Path – complete with her trademark romance, glamour, and jaw-dropping twists.'A glamorous adventure' - Hello!'A twisty, glamorous read, bringing jungles, beaches and ancient towns to life' - My WeeklyAn old flame. A new spark. Love can find you in the most unlikely places . . . At only twenty, Tara Tremain has everything: she’s a trainee doctor, engaged to the man of her dreams – Alex, a passionate American biology student. But just when life seems perfect, Alex betrays her in the worst way possible. Ten years later, she’s moved on – with a successful career, good friends and a man who loves her. But when she’s pulled back into her wealthy family’s orbit for a party in the heart of Costa Rica, she’s flung into a crisis: a child is desperately ill and the only treatment is several days’ trek away, deep in the jungle. There's only one person who can help – but can she trust the man who broke her heart? Your Costa Rican adventure awaits . . . What Karen's readers are saying:'So immersive I could feel the heat, see the dense forest''Pure escapism, action, adventure, romance and intrigue''So detailed and real that I started itching with imaginary insect bites!'

Set in snowy Amsterdam, Together by Christmas is a moving read of secrets, romance and heartbreaking dilemmas by Sunday Times bestseller Karen Swan. 'We couldn't put it down' – Bella magazineWhen Lee first came to Amsterdam, it was with a newborn baby and a secret. Five years later, her life is approaching normal: her career as a celebrity photographer is flourishing, her son Jasper is growing up, and they are enjoying the run-up to Christmas with their tight circle of close friends. But all this changes one morning when Lee finds a book in the basket of her bicycle – and scrawled inside it, a desperate message. Who left it for her, and why? Lee feels compelled to help and tracks down the book’s author, Sam. With an instant, undeniable connection it seems they might have a shot at a real future together. Until her past comes calling. As the snow falls and ice thickens on the city’s canals, the secret Lee has never told resurfaces. Suddenly everything she holds dear hangs in the balance. Christmas is a time for being together – but what if the truth means she ends up alone?'A real treat to get absolutely lost in. Go on - spoil yourself!' - Veronica Henry, bestselling author on The Christmas Party by Karen SwanReal readers love Karen Swan:'Gritty, real and romantic in equal measure' 'Something very special' 'Christmassy, romantic, heartbreaking' 'One of my favourite reads of the year' 'Laughed, cried . . . couldn't put it down'