Ember Island: A Novel
Two women, separated by more than a century, are connected by the secrets they carry with them to Ember Island. After her marriage to a deceitful opportunist is exposed as a sham, Tilly Kirkland accidently starts a fire that kills her unfaithful husband and his lover. Fleeing to a remote island off the coast of Australia, she assumes an alias and accepts a position as governess to Nell Holt, the precocious daughter of the local prison superintendent. Fast-forward more than 100 years and best-selling author Nina Jones, Nell’s great-granddaughter, takes refuge on Ember Island, nursing a broken heart and guarding an emotionally and professionally paralyzing secret. As Tilly and Nina are both drawn tentatively into new beginnings, their alternating stories are linked by their relationships with Nell. Romance, history, and a touch of windblown gothic mystery will appeal to a broad cross section of readers. --Margaret Flanagan