The Lost Lover

Thanks to Pan MacMillan and Netgalley for a review copy of this novel. Karen Swan adds another wonderful addition to the Wild Isle Series and proves once again her undoubted skill at evoking a true sense of place and time in all her novels that just draw in the reader completely. The story in this offering revolves around Flora, the beauty of St Kilda whose spirit and manner draw in anyone who meets her, much to the disapproval of Mathieson, the factor and the reverend. Still she carries on, enjoying the time with her close friends Mhairi and Effie as they look forward to the opportunity to earn money with the arrival of summer boats and the rich tourists it brings. This particular summer brings two young men, Edward and James. One flamboyant and handsome, the other quiet and taciturn, but with a manner about him that Flora finds irritating at first, but eventually compelling. But Edward sets about wooing her with flare and determination and soon she’s bewitched by his presence and all the glamour he represents and shows her. She has long yearned to escape the dreary life of the island and it’s this yearning that draws her on board Edward’s sailboat and to a decision she knows might change her life. But the night on the boat leads her in an entirely different direction and to James. James becomes more than a hope of escape, he becomes the person she loves most in the world. But there is so much they have to endure before they can be together and their ability to weather the terrible storms that they both face may not be enough.

I’ve loved all of Swan’s novels and each one has its own particular space and idea that drives it with incredible research and detail woven in so seamlessly and beautifully I can only admire and enjoy her talent. This novel possesses all those qualities as does the other two novels in this series. I became completely won over by Flora as I was by Effie and Mhairi in the other two stories and as the threads from the general narrative are woven back into Flora’s story I didn’t feel as though it was a repeated narrative. Small little revelations that each story contains contribute to the overall picture of the key events that occurred during the St Kilda evacuation and will ultimately create a great denouement. I had thought it would occur in this novel so I do have to say I was disappointed to discover that it hadn’t and that it ended on a cliff hanger, but it does give me an opportunity to inhabit this world once again in the next offering in this series. Highly recommended.

Utterly impossible for me to put down. A heartbreaking story… I really haven’t been able to put this one down and found I had devoured the entire book in just one sitting… I have loved this book so much, I wish I could give it five hundred stars. All I can say is "WOW - read it. You won't be disappointed.
I was hooked… I wiped tears away tears… If you love a really good romantic saga, then this is definitely the book for you I absolutely loved this book… A heartbreaking story but one that gets you so engaged in it you cannot put it down…

This is the third booking the series and follows Flora's and James story. Lots of tension near the end and a good contrast of how Flora has to change when she leaves St Kilda. An emotional read which I really enjoyed. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for letting me review this book.

As usual in my reviews, I will not rehash the plot - there are already some reviews like that out there if that's what you are looking for.

This is the third book in this series, again largely set on the beautiful isolated isle of St Kilda, but this time also on the Scottish mainland and Pairs! You'll have to read it to find out how Paris comes into the story...

Having read the first two novels, I was a little surprised when this book included events from the earlier ones - albeit from a different point of view. This means that anyone who has not read the earlier books could read this one as a standalone, as the characters and island way of life are all well described again.

Once again we are left on a cliffhanger finish - so I cannot wait to find out what happens next!

My thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for an ARC. All opinions my own.

Another brilliant story in this series! I’ve read the previous books so was keen to carry on to find out what happened next, there’s no need to read the others as this recaps quite nicely , however from a different persons perspective.

Perfect read at any time of the year and interesting to read about the evacuation of st Kilda in 1930. This book ends on a real cliffhanger with a surprise twist….i really can’t wait for the next book now! There’s certainly lots more to follow to finish off the story of these Scottish lasses!

Thank you to Netgalley the author and publishers for an arc in exchange for an honest review

So pleased to read this instalment, and now cant wait for the next one, having been left with a cliff hanger ending! The descriptions of the island are fascinating, even though some of the story was repeated from the previous book. It makes one realise how little one knows of these wild places where life was so very different and desperately hard. Flora is beginning to emerge and we wait to see what comes next. Thank you for the chance to read and review this book.