The Stolen Hours: An epic romantic tale of forbidden love, book two of the Wild Isle Series

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'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 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 that he can't support her past the coming winter. Options are limited on the island of St Kilda, but the MacKinnons' neighbour, Donald, has a business acquaintance on Harris also in need of a spouse and offers to chaperone Mhairi there on his final crossing of the year. She returns an engaged woman, but is in love with the wrong man - one who can never be hers. As she dreads the spring, when she will be sent from home to become a stranger's wife, word arrives that St Kilda is to be evacuated. The lovers are granted a few more stolen hours together, but those last days on St Kilda also bring heartache for Mhairi and her friends. And, when a dead body is discovered on the abandoned isle, they all find themselves under the shadow of suspicion . . . 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 (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 instalment' - Cathy Bramley, author of The Sunrise Sisterhood

Reviews

This sweeping love story gripped us from the start, so we cant wait for the next in the series. Best historical romance of 2022 * Independent *
A dramatic start to a gripping new series set on the Scottish island of St Kilda. The Last Summer is meticulously researched and beautifully told by one of our most prolific and talented writers. It contains all the ingredients of a wonderfully satisfying read: love, passion, drama, violence, menace and peril, and characters you fall in love with - and some you hate! Happily, this is the start of a series so your longing for more will be fulfilled. -- Santa Montefiore
I so enjoyed The Last Summer by Karen Swan, which provides fascinating details about life on St Kilda prior to the evacuation of its inhabitants from the island. Powerful 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 Mansell
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 Bramley
A delicious romantic tale of wild 1930s Scotland . . . perfect for everyone dreaming of summer -- Rachel Hore
The queen of destination books...exciting...beguiling...The first in a new series, we're already looking forward to meeting these characters again . . . * Woman and Home *
A sweeping page-turner with an engrossing love story at its heart, this is an absolute treat for historical fiction fans. Swan is a superb storyteller. I loved it -- Eve Chase, author of The Glass House
Vividly drawn and beautifully atmospheric, this is a book to savour. * Heat Magazine *
Wonderfully romantic and epic in feel, this beautiful historical novel is a fascinating and deliciously escapist read -- Tasmina Perry, author of Guilty Pleasures and Perfect Strangers
What a great adventure! The perfect way to tell the tale of St Kildas population in fiction form. History fans will love the fascinating St Kilda detail woven throughout this thrilling romance. Wonderful! -- Jennifer Ryan, author of The Chilbury Ladies Choir and The Kitchen Front
A promising new series from Swan . . . The vivid beauty and danger of St. Kilda only enhances Swans effortlessly intricate plotting. Toeing the line between romance and historical fiction, this gorgeous story and its unconventional heroine are sure to win hearts. * Publishers Weekly *

Author Bio

Karen Swan is a Sunday Times top three bestselling author of 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 Wild Isle historical series is based upon the dramatic evacuation of Scottish island St Kilda in the summer of 1930.