Call of the Heather

Secrets in the Heather #2

by Gwen Kirkwood

The sequel to Secrets in the Heather - Young Libby Pringle has inherited her parents love of the Scottish glens and through it strikes up a special friendship with Billy Lennox, the Lairds illegitimate grandson. But when tragedy strikes, Billy blames himself, and is assailed by dark moods. He moves to Yorkshire to start a new life, but is forced to ask whether he can stay away from the glens and from the friends of his childhood . . .

248 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2008

About the author

Although I was born on a Yorkshire farm and went to school there I have lived most of my adult life in Scotland, UK. I am a widow now but my husband was a dairy farmer. My son continues farming and my younger daughter has a farm ice cream parlour. They both live near to me so they keep me up to date with life and changing trends and I enjoy my grandchildren’s company.

I did not start writing until my elder daughter went to university. I entered a Woman’s Weekly competition and I was fortunate when Lynda O'Byrne, the fiction editor, wrote to tell me she had liked my entry and suggested I finish it and send it to publisher Robert Hale. It was too long for their Rainbow Romance format but I made the changes suggested and it was published under the name Lynn Granger. Three more followed. I shall always be grateful for the early encouragement and patience I received at that time.

The purchase of an Amstrad computer for the farm accounts was a boon. It had a word processor - a great improvement on my typing and Tippex. This enabled me to write the four longer sagas in the Fairlyden series which starts around 1850 and follows the generations to the end of the First World War. My husband helped with research of farming history for these, delving into his collection of Scottish Farmer Albums going back to 1900. I wish I had listened to more of the stories from my grandparents.

Since winning the RNA Elizabeth Goudge Trophy in 2000 I have written eleven more sagas, all with Scottish settings.

I have recently uploaded my early romances under my own name of Gwen Kirkwood, to Amazon and Smashwords as e-books, also the first two of the Fairlyden series are now available as e-books. http://www.Amazon.com/author/gwenkirk...

I share a blog with four other writers at http://www.novelpointsofview.blogspot...

Occasionally I contribute to the RNA http://www.historicalsaganovels.blogs...

Reviews

[Peggy Darling · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finally Billy accepted who he was

I enjoyex this book as much as the first book. I never like my reviews to divulge the plot but i must say i was on pins and needles at times. The closeness of some of the families made me sad at times because like Charlotte i never had that in my life and found myself being envious of Victoria and Andrew, Willie and Mary. Yet i
could wish nothing less for them. Anyone that has such lkve in their hearts can't help but spread that love to others. This author must have experienced true love or a loving family in their life in order to be so insightful. The characters in the book are so well rounded. I feel like i've known them all and they've brought joy into my lonely life. Thank you. I'm looking forward to the next book. I hope other readers are finding the same warmth and pleasure from reading these books.

[Lydia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love continues

The flow of the stories of Victoria and Andrew is quite enjoyable. The fear of losing loved ones in the war is now translated into fear of the loss of one’s children from polio, tragic farm accidents, etc and the anger that carries over into that loss known as the blame game. Now it’s Billy and Charlotte and how their stories translate into bitterness and gossip and its dangers.

[Mary Payne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Call of the heather.

After reading the first book I couldn't wait to move on to the next. I loved the characters and all the interactions and the descriptions of the lives they live. I look forward to the next in the series