Showing results by author "Helen Susan Swift" in All Categories

Scotland, 1811. Thrown out of a fashionable ball for a stolen kiss, Alison flees from a riot in the notorious Old Town and ends up staying the night with Willie Kemp, an eccentric boatbuilder. While she falls deeply in love with Mr. Kemp, her aunt wishes her to marry the obnoxious but rich John Forres. Alison takes drastic measures to solve her dilemma, including a long trip through the snow-covered Pentland Hills.

When her betrothed is defeated in single combat, strong-willed Scottish heiress Jeannie Tweedie is kidnapped by a band of marauders and imprisoned deep in the bogs of the Borderland. When she comes face-to-face with fellow prisoner and sworn family rival, Hugh Veitch, Jeannie must decide where her loyalties lie.

Torn between her taciturn longtime sweetheart and a charming, affluent new flame, Scottish mill girl Catriona Easson finds herself struggling to choose between her head and her heart. As new connections bloom and old relationships are threatened, Catriona finds her romantic future foggy as extraordinary escapades force her to navigate through mistakes and misconceptions.

On her 20th birthday, Mary Hepburn - daughter of the local magistrate - learns that she is to marry John Aitken, a much older man. Unhappy with this, Mary walks to the local moor to clear her mind. Instead, she meets and falls in love with the handsome Captain Ferintosh, when he saves her from whiskey smugglers. The situation gets even more complicated when Mary's father arrests Ferintosh.

Edinburgh, 1804. Dorothea Flockhart is hiding her past. A woman alone, she avoids men. Even the personable Captain Rogers fails to stir her heart despite all his efforts. While Napoleon's armies threaten invasion, Scotland's capital still hosts balls, although the atmosphere is hectic, and men don uniforms to meet the impending turmoil.

At 22 years old, Robyn feels she is fast becoming an old maid. There are some eligible men in rural Midlothian, but Robyn has some competition from her particular friend, Amy. Already engaged to a man she no longer loves, Robyn sets out to hunt for a husband in a countryside racked by social unrest. Could her man be the collier hunted by the police - or the tall golfer? And who is the messenger who seems to appear just when he's not wanted?

Within four sections spanning the personalities, ships, places, and pirates of Scotland, you’ll discover an intriguing nautical history nestled among sweeping sea views and lush coastal landscapes. From tales of warrior lords and privateers to the mystery of the Maggie Smith, and the strange legend of the remote island of Rona, you’ll explore the unique seafaring history of Scotland.

Women of Scotland is a thematic time trip through Scottish history, and the important part women have played in its past. From the humble to the great, Scottish women have been at the forefront and background of events. Here are the fisherwomen, the warriors, the great writers, the Jacobites, the martyrs, and the mill girls. Without them, Scotland would not have existed. Join a great journey from the Dark Ages to the 21st century, and learn about the women who have been the driving force behind this small, yet dynamic nation.

Edinburgh, 1820s. On one side is the Old Town; ancient, crumbling, and full of poverty. On the other is the New Town - elegant, refined, and prosperous. When newly qualified Doctor Martin Elliot arrives, he discovers that the duality goes deeper. There is more darkness in the streets than he could have imagined. Ghosts of the long-dead haunt the houses, and nightmares soon fill Martin’s head.

In 19th-century Isle of Wight, Sarah Bembridge sets on a journey of adventure and misadventure. With Napoleon Bonaparte just across the Channel, poised to invade, Sarah has other things on her mind. First, she rescues a shipwrecked sailor, whom she suspects to be French. Soon afterward, she gets engaged with a handsome officer. And when the mysterious Mr. Howard calls at her inn, Sarah’s life becomes even more complicated.

What evil lurks in the depths of the Dark Mountain? In the West Highlands of Scotland, few years after the end of World War One, Brenda and her friends are preparing for an expedition of a lifetime: Climbing An Cailleach, also known as The Witch. But even before they reach the base of the mountain, they realize that something is wrong. Strange apparitions, even stranger locals and ancient superstitions are all signs that they are on a dangerous path. When things take a turn for the worse, will friendship be more important than survival?

When schoolteacher Lorna Buchanan witnesses a strange ceremony on the grounds of St. Anne’s College, she is sacked by the tyrannical headmistress - and becomes entangled in a web of mysticism and murder. Set in a cozy 19th-century English spa town, The Malvern Mystery follows Lorna as she investigates a deadly crime clouded by deception, greed, and ancient rituals.

In 1914, fear and paranoia rule the high seas. Iain Cosgrove sets sail for a research trip aboard the last of Dundee’s once-grand sealing fleet. Fueled by rum and the eerie tales of the crew, they obsess over ancient superstitions, which Iain dismisses as simple lore...until they reach the frigid Arctic seas. Soon, Iain begins to question his beliefs. But none of them are prepared for what they are about face in the frigid, dark waters of the north.