'A wonderfully satisfying read: love, passion, drama, violence, menace and peril, and characters you fall in love with' – Santa Montefiore

An Island full of secrets . . .

Summer, 1929. 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 island 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. But will a summer of stolen hours together just lead to more heartbreak . . . ?

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

'This sweeping love story gripped us from the start' - The Independent

'The most exciting, enchanting and evocative story of forbidden love I've ever read' - Cathy Bramley

'A delicious, romantic tale' - Rachel Hore

'The queen of destination books' - Woman & Home

'Vividly drawn and beautifully atmospheric' - Heat Magazine

This sweeping love story gripped us from the start, so we can’t wait for the next in the series. * The Independent *
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! -- Santa Montefiore, author of An Italian Girl in Brooklyn
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
A delicious romantic tale of wild 1930s Scotland . . . perfect for everyone dreaming of summer -- Rachel Hore, author of The Hidden Years and The Secrets of Dragonfly Lodge
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 *
This second book in the Wild Isles series is beautifully written and has a sweeping love story, making it a wonderful read. * The People's Friend *
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 Kilda’s 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 Swan’s 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 *

Karen Swan is a Sunday Times top three bestselling author and her novels sell all over the world. She writes two books each year, which are published in the summer and at Christmas. Previous summer titles include The Spanish Promise, The Hidden Beach and The Secret Path and for winter Together by Christmas, Midnight in the Snow and The Christmas Postcards.

She lives in Sussex with her husband, three children and two dogs.

The Stolen Hours is the second book in the historical Wild Isle series, based on the dramatic evacuation of Scottish island St Kilda in the summer of 1930.