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The Wild Isle #3
The Lost Lover: The Wild Isle Novel 3
‘A gripping new series . . . beautifully told by one of our most prolific and talented writers’ - Santa Montefiore on The Last Summer
Young Flora MacQueen has always dreamed of more than life on the small Scottish island of St Kilda. And when she catches the eye of visiting adventurer and wealthy businessman James Callaghan her future seems brighter.
Only, as the islanders prepare to leave their homes for the final time, Flora finds her dreams shattered. With her beauty her only currency she must step forward in ways that would have been unthinkable back home in order to support her family. Soon Flora is the toast of glamorous Paris. Fame and fortune are hers for the taking but she knows only too well by now that rich men make empty promises.
But then a secret comes to light that will change everything . . .
The Lost Lover is Book Three in Karen Swan's bestselling Wild Isle Series.
Young Flora MacQueen has always dreamed of more than life on the small Scottish island of St Kilda. And when she catches the eye of visiting adventurer and wealthy businessman James Callaghan her future seems brighter.
Only, as the islanders prepare to leave their homes for the final time, Flora finds her dreams shattered. With her beauty her only currency she must step forward in ways that would have been unthinkable back home in order to support her family. Soon Flora is the toast of glamorous Paris. Fame and fortune are hers for the taking but she knows only too well by now that rich men make empty promises.
But then a secret comes to light that will change everything . . .
The Lost Lover is Book Three in Karen Swan's bestselling Wild Isle Series.
448 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 30, 2024
66 people are currently reading
1254 people want to read
About the author
Karen Swan
61 books2,374 followersKaren Swan began her career in fashion journalism before giving it all up to raise her three children and a puppy, and to pursue her ambition of becoming a writer. She lives in the forest in Sussex, writing her books in a treehouse overlooking the Downs. Her books include Christmas at Tiffany's, Summer at Tiffany's, The Perfect Present, Christmas in the Snow, The Summer Without You, The Paris Secret, and Christmas Under the Stars.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 225 reviews
April 30, 2024
Could my heart be any more shattered!! 💔
If you are following this series you will know each book follows one of the young women on the isle of St Kilda the year before they are evacuated.
Through extremely clever plotting Karen Swan has written three (so far) completely different stories involving the same characters and timeline but through a different point of view.
The Lost Lover, Flora's story, is another epic installment of The Wild Isle series, superbly written and heartbreaking.
We know from previous books Flora's life is set. She has a rich fiancé and when she leaves the island they will be married.
The Lost Lover starts a year earlier than the previous books and we find out how Flora and James met and fell in love. It is not as plain sailing for Flora as we were led to believe.
There was so much in this book the previous books didn't reveal and I was captivated all over again by the harshness and the beauty of St Kilda.
There are brief mentions of events in previous books however Swan is careful not to simply rehash the first two books. The Lost Lover goes further and details Flora's life off the island where her extraordinary beauty sees he welcomed into Paris high society.
The Lost Lover ends on one of Karen Swan's notorious cliff hangers making me eager for book 4.
The Wild Isle series would have to be one of the best Historical Fiction series I have read!
If you are following this series you will know each book follows one of the young women on the isle of St Kilda the year before they are evacuated.
Through extremely clever plotting Karen Swan has written three (so far) completely different stories involving the same characters and timeline but through a different point of view.
The Lost Lover, Flora's story, is another epic installment of The Wild Isle series, superbly written and heartbreaking.
We know from previous books Flora's life is set. She has a rich fiancé and when she leaves the island they will be married.
The Lost Lover starts a year earlier than the previous books and we find out how Flora and James met and fell in love. It is not as plain sailing for Flora as we were led to believe.
There was so much in this book the previous books didn't reveal and I was captivated all over again by the harshness and the beauty of St Kilda.
There are brief mentions of events in previous books however Swan is careful not to simply rehash the first two books. The Lost Lover goes further and details Flora's life off the island where her extraordinary beauty sees he welcomed into Paris high society.
The Lost Lover ends on one of Karen Swan's notorious cliff hangers making me eager for book 4.
The Wild Isle series would have to be one of the best Historical Fiction series I have read!
April 8, 2025
Dar viena puiki knygų serijos „Laukinė sala“ dalis. 😉 Ši kartą apie gražuolę Flora Makvyn. Kuri yra apdovanota įspūdingu balsu ir svajoja apie geresnį gyvenimą. Po evakuacijos, ištikus nelaimei, kad padėtų savo šeimai, jai teks ryžtis tam, kas Sen Kildoje, būtų neįmanoma.
Labai smagiai susiskaitė, lauksim naujos dalies 😉
Labai smagiai susiskaitė, lauksim naujos dalies 😉
April 13, 2024
I couldn't wait to get back to the thrill of the lives of the St Kildans and their epic move. I've been hooked on this series since the first book.
Each book is the story of a different resident on the isle, told in their point of view. This means in many ways, each book can be read as a standalone, but, if you have read the other two, there is a deeper understanding of the relationships of the characters and their emotions.
This time, the story is told from Flora's perspective. Flora is the eye-candy on the isle but pretty much unaffected by it, unless outsiders come to visit, and are stunned by her natural beauty.
A visit from another rich family, spurs on an unlikely romance between her and one of holiday makers, with a promise to return, and make her his own.
But an unexpected surprise, followed by tragedy, and a huge move from the isle to the mainland means that Flora's beautiful future has been snatched from her.
Her looks continue to catch the eyes of all and sundry, leading her to end up in Paris as a star performer in a theatre show, where more secrets are uncovered.
There were highs, then lows, then highs, followed by another cliffhanger, with excitement and frustration in equal parts!
I wanted a happy ending, but equally I am now sure there will be another story to follow, because (please, Karen Swan!) we can't be left not knowing!
I loved this next book. Even though we hear the same story, at the beginning, it is both a refresher for those who have read the first two, and another dimension to add to what we already know.Many thanks to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for an ARC.
Each book is the story of a different resident on the isle, told in their point of view. This means in many ways, each book can be read as a standalone, but, if you have read the other two, there is a deeper understanding of the relationships of the characters and their emotions.
This time, the story is told from Flora's perspective. Flora is the eye-candy on the isle but pretty much unaffected by it, unless outsiders come to visit, and are stunned by her natural beauty.
A visit from another rich family, spurs on an unlikely romance between her and one of holiday makers, with a promise to return, and make her his own.
But an unexpected surprise, followed by tragedy, and a huge move from the isle to the mainland means that Flora's beautiful future has been snatched from her.
Her looks continue to catch the eyes of all and sundry, leading her to end up in Paris as a star performer in a theatre show, where more secrets are uncovered.
There were highs, then lows, then highs, followed by another cliffhanger, with excitement and frustration in equal parts!
I wanted a happy ending, but equally I am now sure there will be another story to follow, because (please, Karen Swan!) we can't be left not knowing!
I loved this next book. Even though we hear the same story, at the beginning, it is both a refresher for those who have read the first two, and another dimension to add to what we already know.Many thanks to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for an ARC.
November 21, 2024
4 1/2 stars
Throughly enjoyed this one. Oh Flora I knew her story was going to be heartbreaking
So much happens right at the end and I need book 4 asap so see how this all goes together and what happens.
I knew I disliked Mary but damn the other person who is revealed to have turned on them-wow I was not expecting that
Throughly enjoyed this one. Oh Flora I knew her story was going to be heartbreaking
So much happens right at the end and I need book 4 asap so see how this all goes together and what happens.
I knew I disliked Mary but damn the other person who is revealed to have turned on them-wow I was not expecting that
March 17, 2024
Another fantastic book set on the beautiful island of St Kilda. Karen Swan is such a talented author who has the ability to captivate readers from the beginning to the end of her stories. What I appreciate about this series is that it is not necessary to read the books in a specific order, as each book focuses on the life of a different woman from St Kilda. I also appreciate the way she includes real-life events in her narratives.
In the third book, we are introduced to Flora, a captivating and beautiful woman with a voice as enchanting as a nightingale. Flora yearns for a better life beyond the confines of the island. Although she has never ventured beyond its shores, she has seen images in magazines of fashionable clothing and alluring red lipsticks that she desires. Her life takes an unexpected turn when she encounters two friends, James and Edward, during their day trip to the island. This meeting presents an opportunity for Flora to escape the island and pursue a life filled with greater possibilities.
Flora's journey takes her through love, engagement, pregnancy, and ultimately heartbreak as she loses the love of her life.
"he walked inside her shadow, leaving footprints on her soul."
Devastated, Flora and her family leave the island when everyone is evacuated to Scotland in search of a better life.
"St Kildans had left behind not just their home but their whole world"
However, a tragic accident leaves her father hospitalized and the family in dire need of financial assistance. It is during this difficult time that Flora meets a theater producer who recognizes her potential for stardom.
This is a classic tale of rags to riches that takes us on a journey from the rugged and isolated st Kilda to the glamour of Paris in 1930.
It is a story filled with friendship, love, and loss. It also poses the thought-provoking question, "Is the grass always greener on the other side?"
The ending is truly remarkable, leaving me eagerly anticipating the next installment of this captivating series!
Although this is book three in the Wild Isle series it can be read as a stand alone.
Thank you to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
In the third book, we are introduced to Flora, a captivating and beautiful woman with a voice as enchanting as a nightingale. Flora yearns for a better life beyond the confines of the island. Although she has never ventured beyond its shores, she has seen images in magazines of fashionable clothing and alluring red lipsticks that she desires. Her life takes an unexpected turn when she encounters two friends, James and Edward, during their day trip to the island. This meeting presents an opportunity for Flora to escape the island and pursue a life filled with greater possibilities.
Flora's journey takes her through love, engagement, pregnancy, and ultimately heartbreak as she loses the love of her life.
"he walked inside her shadow, leaving footprints on her soul."
Devastated, Flora and her family leave the island when everyone is evacuated to Scotland in search of a better life.
"St Kildans had left behind not just their home but their whole world"
However, a tragic accident leaves her father hospitalized and the family in dire need of financial assistance. It is during this difficult time that Flora meets a theater producer who recognizes her potential for stardom.
This is a classic tale of rags to riches that takes us on a journey from the rugged and isolated st Kilda to the glamour of Paris in 1930.
It is a story filled with friendship, love, and loss. It also poses the thought-provoking question, "Is the grass always greener on the other side?"
The ending is truly remarkable, leaving me eagerly anticipating the next installment of this captivating series!
Although this is book three in the Wild Isle series it can be read as a stand alone.
Thank you to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
April 3, 2024
The Lost Lover is the third instalment of Karen Swan’s Wild Isles series. This book is Flora’s story; the eldest girl of one of the larger St Kilda families evacuated to the mainland at their request. The first section is re-told narrative from her perspective, before moving on to her story once she arrives on the mainland - very much a coming of age story.
Although this book could be read as a stand-alone, the threads which are woven through the three books are worth building from book 1. I was expecting this to wrap the storylines up but it ends on another cliffhanger - nevertheless I enjoyed it as much as the others. The complexity is reminiscent of Lucinda Riley’s Seven Sisters series and I now can’t wait to see what comes next!
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this DRC in exchange for an honest review.
Although this book could be read as a stand-alone, the threads which are woven through the three books are worth building from book 1. I was expecting this to wrap the storylines up but it ends on another cliffhanger - nevertheless I enjoyed it as much as the others. The complexity is reminiscent of Lucinda Riley’s Seven Sisters series and I now can’t wait to see what comes next!
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this DRC in exchange for an honest review.
March 19, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for giving me the opportunity to read the third book in this series. I loved the previous two books, especially the parts set on St Kilda and how the islanders lived.
However, as I had read the previous two books, as other readers have noted, there is a fair amount of repetition in this one, and even though the story is told from different points of view, I would have preferred a completely new and original story. Of course, this would have been fine if reading this as a standalone book.
This is the reason that this book gets 4 ⭐️ from me, rather than 5.
However, as I had read the previous two books, as other readers have noted, there is a fair amount of repetition in this one, and even though the story is told from different points of view, I would have preferred a completely new and original story. Of course, this would have been fine if reading this as a standalone book.
This is the reason that this book gets 4 ⭐️ from me, rather than 5.
March 22, 2024
Thanks to Pan MacMillan and Netgalley for a review copy of this novel. Karen Swan adds another wonderful addition to the Wild Isle Series and proves once again her undoubted skill at evoking a true sense of place and time in all her novels that just draw in the reader completely. The story in this offering revolves around Flora, the beauty of St Kilda whose spirit and manner draw in anyone who meets her, much to the disapproval of Mathieson, the factor and the reverend. Still she carries on, enjoying the time with her close friends Mhairi and Effie as they look forward to the opportunity to earn money with the arrival of summer boats and the rich tourists it brings. This particular summer brings two young men, Edward and James. One flamboyant and handsome, the other quiet and taciturn, but with a manner about him that Flora finds irritating at first, but eventually compelling. But Edward sets about wooing her with flare and determination and soon she’s bewitched by his presence and all the glamour he represents and shows her. She has long yearned to escape the dreary life of the island and it’s this yearning that draws her on board Edward’s sailboat and to a decision she knows might change her life. But the night on the boat leads her in an entirely different direction and to James. James becomes more than a hope of escape, he becomes the person she loves most in the world. But there is so much they have to endure before they can be together and their ability to weather the terrible storms that they both face may not be enough.
I’ve loved all of Swan’s novels and each one has its own particular space and idea that drives it with incredible research and detail woven in so seamlessly and beautifully I can only admire and enjoy her talent. This novel possesses all those qualities as does the other two novels in this series. I became completely won over by Flora as I was by Effie and Mhairi in the other two stories and as the threads from the general narrative are woven back into Flora’s story I didn’t feel as though it was a repeated narrative. Small little revelations that each story contains contribute to the overall picture of the key events that occurred during the St Kilda evacuation and will ultimately create a great denouement. I had thought it would occur in this novel so I do have to say I was disappointed to discover that it hadn’t and that it ended on a cliff hanger, but it does give me an opportunity to inhabit this world once again in the next offering in this series. Highly recommended.
I’ve loved all of Swan’s novels and each one has its own particular space and idea that drives it with incredible research and detail woven in so seamlessly and beautifully I can only admire and enjoy her talent. This novel possesses all those qualities as does the other two novels in this series. I became completely won over by Flora as I was by Effie and Mhairi in the other two stories and as the threads from the general narrative are woven back into Flora’s story I didn’t feel as though it was a repeated narrative. Small little revelations that each story contains contribute to the overall picture of the key events that occurred during the St Kilda evacuation and will ultimately create a great denouement. I had thought it would occur in this novel so I do have to say I was disappointed to discover that it hadn’t and that it ended on a cliff hanger, but it does give me an opportunity to inhabit this world once again in the next offering in this series. Highly recommended.
April 2, 2024
OH MY WORD!!!
I had been eagerly waiting for the next installment of the St. Kilda series, and this did not disappoint! I had to abandon the book I was reading so that I could devour this one! This time it was Flora´s story, and it was breathtaking, and the ending........oh! Did not see that ending coming......does this mean there´s another installment to come....I certainly hope so!!!
Utterly captivating, engrossing, gripping your heart and mind throughout. Can´t recommend this series enough!
My thanks to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for giving me the opportunity to read an advanced digital copy in return for an honest review.
I had been eagerly waiting for the next installment of the St. Kilda series, and this did not disappoint! I had to abandon the book I was reading so that I could devour this one! This time it was Flora´s story, and it was breathtaking, and the ending........oh! Did not see that ending coming......does this mean there´s another installment to come....I certainly hope so!!!
Utterly captivating, engrossing, gripping your heart and mind throughout. Can´t recommend this series enough!
My thanks to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for giving me the opportunity to read an advanced digital copy in return for an honest review.
March 31, 2024
What a wonderful story. Having loved the first two books in the series, I couldn’t wait to read this one and it did not disappoint. I found myself exclaiming out loud in parts and imagining the lives of the islanders. This is a fantastic book that tells the drama of the lead up to the evacuation of St Kilda and how the islanders cope on the mainland, along with a massive helping of romantic drama that leaves you desperate for a happy ending.
May 29, 2025
LT / EN
Trečioji, nuostabi ir įtraukianti "laukinė sala" keturlogijos knyga.
Kiekvienoje knygoje, rodos, persipina tų pačių gyventojų gyvenimai ir išgyvenimai, įtraukiamas siužetas prieš išsikėlimą iš salos ir po jo, kur plėtojasi pagrindinių veikėjų tolimesnė egzistencija ir kabinimasis į gyvenimą. Taip pat ir po truputuką atskleidžiama vis daugiau apie paslaptingąją mirtį ir pateikiama gardžių užuominų.
Kiekviena knyga yra prisotinta intrigos, įtampos, skausmo ir meilės ir išlaiko savitumą ir autentiškumą.
Tikras perliukas ♡
__________________________________
The third, wonderful and engaging book in the "Wild Isle" tetralogy.
Each book seems to intertwine the lives of the same St. Kildian's , including the plot before and after leaving the island, where the further, very different, separate and individual development of their lives can be observed.
Each book is saturated with intrigue, tension, pain and love and maintains its uniqueness and authenticity.
A real gem ♡
Trečioji, nuostabi ir įtraukianti "laukinė sala" keturlogijos knyga.
Kiekvienoje knygoje, rodos, persipina tų pačių gyventojų gyvenimai ir išgyvenimai, įtraukiamas siužetas prieš išsikėlimą iš salos ir po jo, kur plėtojasi pagrindinių veikėjų tolimesnė egzistencija ir kabinimasis į gyvenimą. Taip pat ir po truputuką atskleidžiama vis daugiau apie paslaptingąją mirtį ir pateikiama gardžių užuominų.
Kiekviena knyga yra prisotinta intrigos, įtampos, skausmo ir meilės ir išlaiko savitumą ir autentiškumą.
Tikras perliukas ♡
__________________________________
The third, wonderful and engaging book in the "Wild Isle" tetralogy.
Each book seems to intertwine the lives of the same St. Kildian's , including the plot before and after leaving the island, where the further, very different, separate and individual development of their lives can be observed.
Each book is saturated with intrigue, tension, pain and love and maintains its uniqueness and authenticity.
A real gem ♡
July 7, 2024
I loved The Last Summer, and I was really disappointed when I didn’t get on with The Stolen Hours, so I am delighted to say that I really enjoyed The Lost Lover. The mystery of what happened that final night on St Kilda continues to deepen, even as some more secrets are revealed. Like the previous books we get a glimpse of the final year or so on St Kilda, but in this book much of the action moves to Paris. Flora and James make a likeable couple, though the ending felt a little abrupt. I am looking forward to the next book already; I only wish it wouldn’t be such a long wait!
Thank-you very much to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for the opportunity to read this eArc.
Thank-you very much to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for the opportunity to read this eArc.
April 9, 2025
Tai trečia knygos serijos dalis, dalis kurios viduryje, atsiskleidęs įvykis privertė išsižioti, nes perskaičius antrą dalį, turėjau kitą nuomonę, o dabar viskas žlugo, atsiskleidė kita tiesa. Esu sužavėta, kaip susukta istorija tarp visų dalių.
Šiek tiek erzino tas Floros “grožis”, sunku įsivaizduoti moters grožį, kuri visiems tokia graži 😀🤭🤯
Visumoje patiko, pagal viską turi būti dar kita dalis, tad laukiame kaip viskas pasibaigs! 😶🌫️😇😎
Šiek tiek erzino tas Floros “grožis”, sunku įsivaizduoti moters grožį, kuri visiems tokia graži 😀🤭🤯
Visumoje patiko, pagal viską turi būti dar kita dalis, tad laukiame kaip viskas pasibaigs! 😶🌫️😇😎
January 25, 2025
This the 3rd of the wild isle series, I loved reading each of them , how the three main characters, Flora, Effi and Mhairi intertwine in each of the books, what a cliffhanger, now have to wait for the unexpected 4th series
February 26, 2025
Kažkokia nesamonė....nesamonė,kad taip greitai persiskaitė ir kad nutrūko įdomiausioje vietoje🙃🫣😀👍 10 iš 10🫶🏻
July 16, 2025
Excellent book, great storytelling, I loved this book, some great twists too. I really like this author.
November 20, 2024
I’ve been thoroughly captivated by "The Wild Isles" series since the first book. The author has embarked on a unique and intriguing narrative journey, and I am engrossed in it.
One of the fascinating aspects of this series is that all three stories begin similarly, creating a sense of nostalgia as I revisit my favorite story. Yet, with each reading, I discover new layers of information and deeper enjoyment. The narrative revolves around a close-knit group of girls who were raised on a secluded island and are now navigating their new lives on the bustling mainland. Their unique upbringing, steeped in island traditions, is not the only force that binds them; a shared secret keeps their past intertwined.
Central to the story is one significant and mysterious secret that adds an element of suspense and intrigue. Each novel gradually unveils more details about this secret, heightening the tension and drawing me further into the narrative. In this latest installment, we focus on Flora MacQueen, the third friend in the group. Flora’s stunning beauty has not only caught the eye of many visitors to the island but also reveals the challenges she faces as a result of it. Her journey is just as compelling as her friends, and her hidden struggles add a layer of heartbreak to her character.
As I dive deeper into Flora’s story, I’m eager to see how her background and the looming secret will evolve. I can't wait to discover what Karen Swan has in store for us in the next book of "The Wild Isles" series. Each installment leaves me craving more and more!
One of the fascinating aspects of this series is that all three stories begin similarly, creating a sense of nostalgia as I revisit my favorite story. Yet, with each reading, I discover new layers of information and deeper enjoyment. The narrative revolves around a close-knit group of girls who were raised on a secluded island and are now navigating their new lives on the bustling mainland. Their unique upbringing, steeped in island traditions, is not the only force that binds them; a shared secret keeps their past intertwined.
Central to the story is one significant and mysterious secret that adds an element of suspense and intrigue. Each novel gradually unveils more details about this secret, heightening the tension and drawing me further into the narrative. In this latest installment, we focus on Flora MacQueen, the third friend in the group. Flora’s stunning beauty has not only caught the eye of many visitors to the island but also reveals the challenges she faces as a result of it. Her journey is just as compelling as her friends, and her hidden struggles add a layer of heartbreak to her character.
As I dive deeper into Flora’s story, I’m eager to see how her background and the looming secret will evolve. I can't wait to discover what Karen Swan has in store for us in the next book of "The Wild Isles" series. Each installment leaves me craving more and more!
December 8, 2025
Kesytön saari- sarjan kolmas osa, jonka päätähtenä on Flora ja hänen elämänsä. Kerronta kirjassa on mukaansa tempaavaa ja sujuvaa. Pidän kirjan ideasta kirjoittaa ystävyksistä oma kirjansa ja joka alkaa aina samasta kohdin heidän kotisaareltaan ja jatkuu eri suuntiin. Loppu tässä oli yllättävä. Viimeistä osaa odotellessa.
March 6, 2025
Historical fiction 🫱🏻🫲🏼 Me
Really enjoyed reading Flora’s moving story
Really enjoyed reading Flora’s moving story
July 23, 2024
Beguiling, atmospheric, and consuming!
The Lost Lover is a dramatic, passionate tale that takes you back to 1929 and into the life of Flora MacQueen, a St. Kilda beauty who, after falling for a visiting explorer and agreeing to marriage, discovers upon the island’s evacuation that things have not unfolded as initially planned and she will have to make some of the hardest decisions of her life in order to secure a future for her family and herself in a world where money talks and fame and fortune can be alluring yet fleeting.
The writing is vivid and sentimental. The characters are determined, dependable, and selfless. And the plot is a captivating tale of life, loss, friendship, family, intrigue, temptation, responsibilities, attraction, community, sacrifice, romance, and enduring love.
Overall, The Lost Lover is an enchanting, heart-tugging, beautiful tale by Swan that I absolutely adored and which has left me counting down the days until the fourth and final novel in this series becomes available so I can discover how this compelling, must-read, historical saga will finally come to an end.
The Lost Lover is a dramatic, passionate tale that takes you back to 1929 and into the life of Flora MacQueen, a St. Kilda beauty who, after falling for a visiting explorer and agreeing to marriage, discovers upon the island’s evacuation that things have not unfolded as initially planned and she will have to make some of the hardest decisions of her life in order to secure a future for her family and herself in a world where money talks and fame and fortune can be alluring yet fleeting.
The writing is vivid and sentimental. The characters are determined, dependable, and selfless. And the plot is a captivating tale of life, loss, friendship, family, intrigue, temptation, responsibilities, attraction, community, sacrifice, romance, and enduring love.
Overall, The Lost Lover is an enchanting, heart-tugging, beautiful tale by Swan that I absolutely adored and which has left me counting down the days until the fourth and final novel in this series becomes available so I can discover how this compelling, must-read, historical saga will finally come to an end.
May 24, 2025
The plot of the third St. Kilda love story, that of the stunningly beautiful Flora, appears less credible than Effie & Mhairi’s, and seems to me a little corny in parts. To me it would appear inconceivable that two teenage girls could both conceal their pregnancies from their families by tending sheep for several months on the other side of the small island of Hirta. Moreover, that Flora would have so easily believed - based on mere hearsay - that her fiancé had perished and in consequence give away her child, as well as that her lost lover would miraculously reemerge months later in Paris, just in time to “defend her chastity” with a punch to the face of his former best friend seems just a little too far-fetched for my gulability. Still, the book is well written and leaves the door wide open for at least one more sequel.
April 19, 2024
The Lost Lover is the latest in the Wild Isle series and tells the story of Flora - one of the trio of friends who see their lives change dramatically ahead of the evacuation of St Kilda.
Having read the first two in the saga I was keen to pick up the third and hopefully read to a dramatic conclusion - but Karen Swan expertly weaves Flora's tale to keep us guessing.
The first half of the book deals with Flora's version of events the summer before the evacuation as she meets handsome strangers Edward Rushton and James Callaghan and gets caught up in a love triangle. However, the plot thickens as the days of the St Kildans start to countdown to leaving the island and multiple tragedies befall the friends and family around them.
Flora's beauty ensures that once on the mainland she is spotted by a showman and she gets whisked away to the bright lights of the city. Once there she must decide what she really wants and who she really is.
I really enjoyed the story although I must admit it did take me awhile to get into it, probably because I was trying to remember what had happened in the previous two books. As always, Swan's characters seem to jump off the pages and become real and I found myself wondering what was happening when I had finished reading! Looking forward to the next one!
Many thanks to the publishers and Netgalley for an advance release copy in exchange for an honest review.
Having read the first two in the saga I was keen to pick up the third and hopefully read to a dramatic conclusion - but Karen Swan expertly weaves Flora's tale to keep us guessing.
The first half of the book deals with Flora's version of events the summer before the evacuation as she meets handsome strangers Edward Rushton and James Callaghan and gets caught up in a love triangle. However, the plot thickens as the days of the St Kildans start to countdown to leaving the island and multiple tragedies befall the friends and family around them.
Flora's beauty ensures that once on the mainland she is spotted by a showman and she gets whisked away to the bright lights of the city. Once there she must decide what she really wants and who she really is.
I really enjoyed the story although I must admit it did take me awhile to get into it, probably because I was trying to remember what had happened in the previous two books. As always, Swan's characters seem to jump off the pages and become real and I found myself wondering what was happening when I had finished reading! Looking forward to the next one!
Many thanks to the publishers and Netgalley for an advance release copy in exchange for an honest review.
March 28, 2025
Flora’s story is one that’s quite saddening. But I have to say it feels like it took so long to get to the action or excitement of the book. Which was then abruptly slammed into the last 2-3 chapters. Only to leave you with even more questions than answers once again. Don’t get me wrong though I did enjoy the book, however, feeling a little like “get on with it already”.
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September 25, 2025Turiu tęsti seriją, nes domina kuo gi baigsis tie neaiškūs siužeto vingiai. Laukiu kol jie sueis į vieną ir galiausiai paaiškės kas gi nužudė prižiūrėtoją. Šitoj serijoj įsipynė dar daugiau mįslių, bet šiaip jau buvo naivoka. Gal ir visos jos tokios (draugių serijos dalys), bet vis tiek labai įtraukia.
August 26, 2024
The Lost Lover is the third book in Karen Swan’s Wild Isle series. I liked Flora’s story. It helped fill in many of the gaps from Stolen Hours. However, I found some parts redundant because this is the third perspective we are getting about the same events.
May 9, 2024
Can’t wait for the fourth book in the series to come out! I think I’ll read them all again before it’s released!
October 29, 2024
Deel 3 van de reeks Het wilde eiland. Ik vond deze net iets minder dan de vorige 2, maar kijk wel uit naar deel 4 waar hopelijk alle verhaallijnen samen komen en we eindelijk gaan weten wat er op St Kilda is gebeurd net voor de evacuatie.
April 1, 2025
Boek nummer drie met 't zelfde verhaal, maar dan weer vanuit de beleving van een ander. Echt minimale nieuwe verhaallijn, ik vind 't irritant.
Ps. Waarschijnlijk ga ik wel rustig deel 4 ook weer lezen.
Ps. Waarschijnlijk ga ik wel rustig deel 4 ook weer lezen.
June 12, 2025
Heerlijk boek weer! 4,5 ster afgerond naar 4 ⭐️
Zin in het laatste deel, waarin alles duidelijk moet gaan worden!
Zin in het laatste deel, waarin alles duidelijk moet gaan worden!
July 26, 2025
Wow wow wow kokia gera istorinių romanų serija čia užsukta ❤️
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