A TOTALLY HEARTBREAKING AND UNPUTDOWNABLE WARTIME HISTORICAL ROMANCE.Previously published as The Laird of Lochandee.A heartwarming and moving story about secrets, family and the power of love, set in enchanting Scotland during the Second World War.Scotland, 1940s.Sixteen-year-old Rachel O’Brian is heartbroken and alone. The unexpected death of her beloved father turns her world upside down. She gratefully accepts a home with the Maxwell family, old friends of her father, though she barely knows them.But she is woefully unprepared for the matriarch, Gertrude’s malice; no one understands it.Life is hard for Rachel, toiling on the Maxwell farm under the hateful eye of Gertrude. But the younger Maxwells welcome Rachel with open arms, especially Ross. Slowly, the two fall in love and Rachel once again tentatively allows herself to dream of a future.But tragedy strikes once more when Ross suddenly disappears during a business trip away. Could the war have claimed another victim? Or is this the work of a sinister force closer to home?Without his protection, Gertrude seizes the chance to throw Rachel out. Destitute and heartbroken once more, Rachel must gather her strength and courage to find Ross — both for herself, and her unborn child . . .Set against the looming shadow of the Second World War, this is a sweeping, beautiful story of one woman’s courage against all the odds. Fans of Kate Hewitt, Colleen McCullough, Tamara Alexander and Tania Crosse will fall head over heels for this captivating read.READERS LOVE GWEN KIRKWOOD:????? ‘Without a doubt, one of my favorite sagas I’ve enjoyed on Kindle Unlimited! I loved the characters like family, felt their joy and their pain! It should be a mini series! Wow!’ Linda G.????? ‘A delightful read, loved it from start to finish.’ Booklover Bev????? ‘Can’t get enough of these books . . . they just leave you wanting more.’ D.G. Chance????? ‘A lovely heart-warming tale . . . I found it very touching and loved learning about this period in time — a wonderful story!’ Christina????? A lovely, light and easy read. Truly heart-warming and I highly recommend it.’ Jasmine S.????? ‘Ms. Kirkwood’s story telling ability is amazing . . . Spectacular.’ Melanie A.????? ‘A lovely story, I read it in a day.’ KateALSO BY GWEN KIRKWOODTHE MAXWELL FAMILY QUARTETBook 1: AN ORPHAN OF SCOTLANDBook 2: THE SECRETS THAT BIND USBook 3: DREAMS OF THE VALLEYBook 4: SOMEWHERE TO CALL HOME

A 2022 MARY HIGGINS CLARK AWARD NOMINEEIn Jane Austen’s revered Pride and Prejudice, Mary, the middle sister, is often passed over. Until now…Upon the death of her father, Mary Bennet’s life is thrown into turmoil. With no fortune or marriage prospects, Mary must rely on the kindness of her relatives. When a mysterious late-night visit by an unknown relative—a Lady Trafford from Castle Durrington—leads to an extended stay and the chance for an education, Mary gratefully accepts the opportunity.But even as she arrives at the castle, she’s faced with one mystery after another. Who is Lady Trafford really and what is she hiding? Do her secrets and manipulations place the small seaside community at risk of an invasion by Napoleon Bonaparte? Always curious, Mary sets out to discover the truth. But when she discovers the dead body of a would-be thief she outed prior to her father’s funeral, Mary jeopardizes her position at the castle and her family’s good name in her quest for the truth.Never underestimate the observation skills of a woman who hides in the background.

Every stitch contains a spark of rebellion…Occupied Ukraine, 1940. Zirka and her cousin Perla embroider quietly by candlelight in their old dressmaker’s shop. War is raging: and hidden in the intricate traditional embroidery are secret messages for the resistance. If the two women are caught, or betrayed, it would mean certain death…Lviv, 2022. As Ana gazes around at the peeling wallpaper, she hopes the little shop she was shocked to inherit will bring her closer to the memory of her grandmother Zirka. After Ana’s mother suddenly refused to see or speak to Zirka decades ago, Ana has been desperate to find out what tore them apart.But Ana finds a diary stashed in a long-forgotten kitchen drawer. The pages inside tell of a secret sewing society vital to the war effort, a doomed love affair, and a woman on the run with a newborn.Will Ana ever discover the truth about her family? And now war has come again to this beautiful city, will Ana learn that some wartime secrets are too dangerous to uncover?The Secret Sewing Society is a sweeping, heartbreaking tale about a devastating family mystery, and generations of women coming together against the odds. Fans of Evie Woods, Fiona Valpy and The Keeper of Happy Endings will be utterly swept away.What readers are saying about The Secret Sewing Society:‘WOW!... this novel completely pulled me in… gripping… unforgettable… heartbreaking in the best way… powerful.’ Goodreads reviewer, ?????‘HEARTBREAKING… powerful and emotional…will stay with you long after you finish it… Gripping.’ NetGalley reviewer, ?????‘A WOW book, I couldn’t stop reading! Beautiful… Powerful… Gripping.’ Happeninginlunaland,????‘Fantastic… I loved this book so much… had me hanging on to every word… my favourite read!’ Goodreads reviewer, ?????‘A must-read... I adored this book… gripped… I loved... A wonderful novel. Five stars.’ Betsysbookshops, ?????‘Absolutely loved this!’ Goodreads reviewer, ?????‘I love… hooks you instantly… Left me wanting more… I didn’t want to leave it… the kind of book that reminds you why you read… Completely captivated my heart… Lingers long after the final page.’ rose.reads, ????‘Beautiful… A real page-turner… Phenomenal… Had me completely enthralled… Brilliant… Awe inspiring, heartbreaking and compelling.’ emthebookworm, ????‘Heartstrings are pulled and tissues are needed… an emotional ride… Incredible.’ Inspiredbypmdd, ????‘Utterly captivating… heartbreaking, hopeful… A moving read that lingers… excellent.’ Goodreads reviewer, ????‘Beautiful... I had to keep looking down through tears… I was so moved from this book.’ Goodreads reviewer, ?????‘Loved… both heartbreaking and hopeful… gripping… utterly swept away… Stunning.’ Goodreads reviewer, ?????

“Reading this book was like being transported to Scotland 200 years ago.” - Reader review1820 Scotland. Amidst the smoke-choked alleys of Glasgow and the untamed beauty of the Highlands, a spellbinding tale of love and rebellion unfolds. Jane Stuart has lost everything. Her betrothed, her ancestral castle, and her cherished orchard—her life’s work—have all been ripped away. Now, exiled and adrift in the cold fog of Glasgow, she's numb to the weight of her grief, resigned to a desolate future shrouded in loneliness and grey.But fate has a different plan.Percy Sommerbell is a musician, a free spirit who holds nothing but disdain for his industrialist father. But when familial duty forces Percy to travel to Scotland, he’s confronted with a painful truth—a truth that threatens to unravel the very fabric of his carefree existence. His family’s money, the fortune that funds his hedonistic enjoyment of all life’s pleasures, is generated by the suffering of children in his father's mills.In the midst of Glasgow's smoke and shadows, Percy encounters Jane, a mysterious Highland beauty whose sad eyes and luscious curves promise both distraction from his guilt and inspiration for his music. Against all reason, Jane falls under Percy's spell. But when the mills become the first spark in a violent radical insurgency, their budding connection faces a perilous trial beyond anything they could have imagined.“A beautifully told story that perfectly blends the sweet, tender emotions of love, the tragic pain of loss, and the healing powers of love and acceptance with the realism of the world.” - Reader reviewRoses in Red Wax is the first book in the Darnalay Castle Series, although all of the books in the series can be read as standalones. It contains strong language and several spicy open door scenes.