The Last Summer

The fascinating history of the Scottish archipelago of St. Kilda is at the center of this first book in Swan’s (The Paris Secret) “Wild Isle” series. As time on the island ticks away before the remaining inhabitants are evacuated to the mainland in 1930, the tomboyish Effie Gillies feels her first blush of love with Lord Sholto, heir to an earldom. But when she meets Sholto again on the Scottish mainland, their relationship becomes much more complicated, especially when some unfinished St. Kilda business threatens to interfere. Though it includes a sweet love story, the book may disappoint romance readers looking for a more central relationship. However, historical fiction aficionados may very well fall in love with the well-researched setting and Effie’s uncommon story. Be warned that the book ends abruptly, so readers who crave closure should probably wait until the entire series is written.