Where The Heart Beats Strongest

by Angela MacRae Shanks

‘An undercurrent of suspicion already ran deep amongst the fencible men … like touchpaper, a spark would ignite it.’

The north-eastern Highlands, 1769. As a child, Morven MacRae witnesses a boy being taken from his mother and handed to priests in the night—a scene that haunts her, his childhood the price for land and power.

1781. Now married, Morven is a gifted healer, skilled in the use of herbs. She and Jamie strive to make a living on the land he was evicted from as an infant. To her shame, she once doubted him and must never doubt him again. But when he marches away to join the hated redcoat army amidst a swirl of rumours, leaving her pregnant and alone, she struggles to quell her fears. Jamie will fight any injustice threatening what he holds dear—that frightens her.

Morven is Jamie’s whole life. When tricked into taking the king’s shilling, he vows to return to her, yet he fears he and his fellow recruits have been betrayed. He longs to return every pressed man to his family. That feat would make his dead father proud, would be the greatest privilege of his life. But to have any hope of succeeding, must he do the unthinkable? And what might it cost him?

Set in the long shadow of Culloden and rich in historical detail, Where The Heart Beats Strongest is the third book in The Strathavon Saga. A sweeping tale of love, betrayal, sacrifice, and the power of kinship.

All three novels may be read as stand-alones.

312 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 10, 2025

About the author

Angela MacRae Shanks was born in Garmouth, a village near the mouth of the River Spey in northeast Scotland, and still lives near here. Her mother was born in Strathavon, a real place, and this remote glen is very dear to her heart. Here she first heard tales of the dramatic history of the area, its people and their struggles, and became fascinated by it.
Growing up in Moray, a beautiful part of Scotland known as ‘malt whisky country’, an interest in the area's illicit past grew, particularly the smuggling of whisky and the reasons behind it. Her fascination with the natural world and the folklore of the Highlands, combined with her training in natural therapies spawned a need to weave herbal lore into her tales. Those who healed using plants and the wisdom of nature, usually women, were often condemned as witches - she felt the need to explore this injustice. And so The Strathavon Saga was born.

Reviews

[Emily A. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Authentic and respectful historical fiction.

I love this series, especially the interwoven knowledge and tradition of herbal lore and healing. However, what I enjoy and respect most is the unsensational, and I believe, honest, representation of the era. The history is so awful, it does not need embellishment, though it often is. For someone who perhaps has deep Scottish roots but who does not live there, and desires to know how it feels , this series delivers that along with a terrific story.

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very emotional story! This continues the journey with Morven and James. I recommend all the books in the Saga. They give such beautiful , thoughtful descriptions of the Highlands, the land, the culture, religion and history. Angela writes so clearly I felt the emotions of the characters and very much invested in the outcome of the story. Believe me! The rollercoaster ride did not end till the last page.