{"product_id":"an-orphans-dream-evelyn-hood-9781806003853","title":"An Orphan's Dream","description":"Discover the emotional historical read from the Queen of Scottish Saga. Perfect for fans of Katie Flynn and Val Wood \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOne woman's determination to triumph against the odds\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGreenock, Scotland, 1916\u003c\/strong\u003e Orphaned Elspeth Bremner longs to become a teacher, but her foster mother, Flora McDonald, decides that Elspeth must begin work when she turns fourteen. Instead, Elspeth's foster sister Mattie is encouraged to stay on at school, whilst her foster brothers are away fighting.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eWishing to improve her future prospects, she attends night school to learn shorthand, typing and book-keeping. When the brothers return home, it's soon clear that the war has changed them forever.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eElspeth begins to date Kenneth Monteith, who is studying to become a doctor, and when Kenneth returns to Glasgow, Mattie also travels there to begin her teacher training, following Elspeth's dreams and now her man.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eMatriarch Flora keeps a tight rein on her grown-up children, forcing them to become even more determined to forge their own paths, even when the consequences are tragic.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eIn defiance of her stepmother, Elspeth begins to build up a business, and when her estranged father returns to Greenock, Elspeth feels pulled between him and her new suitor. But she soon learns that her affections have lain elsewhere all along.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eStorytelling at its best, Evelyn Hood is the original bestselling Scottish saga writer \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePreviously published in paperback as Pebbles on the Beach\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePRAISE FOR EVELYN HOOD\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e'Compelling from the start, heartfelt and beautifully written.' - Rosie Clarke\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e'If you like Catherine Cookson, you'll love Evelyn Hood's books.' - Lizzie Lane\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e'Evelyn Hood's characters step off the page and into your heart.' - Sheila Riley\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e'This is addictive and heartfelt storytelling, with colourful characters you'll never want to say goodbye to.' - Jane Lark\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e'Loved the strong, relatable characters. A lively, refreshing read.' - Kate Eastham\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e'Wonderfully descriptive, with memorable characters and a true sense of place.' - Tracy Baines\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e'Faultless historical detail and emotionally complex characters make these engrossing and intelligent Evelyn Hood sagas deeply satisfying' - Maisie Thomas\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e'Evocative, beautifully rich, brilliantly detailed and meticulously researched - this story transported me and kept me up way past my bedtime - a triumph of a story. I very highly recommend Evelyn Hood' - Renita D'Silva\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e'Scotland's Catherine Cookson' - Scots Magazine\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e'Hood is immaculate in her historical detail' - Scottish Herald\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e'Quite simply, I couldn't put it down. A rich and rewarding read' - Emma Blair\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e'Evelyn Hood has been called Scotland's Catherine Cookson. Unfair. She has her own distinctive voice' - Scots Magazine\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e'Touching, romantic and unforgettable' - Reader Review\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e'Love all her books' - Reader Review\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e'Evelyn Hood produces the best of stories' - Reader Review\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e'I cannot put her books down' - Reader Review\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e'Love everything Evelyn Hood writes' - Reader Review\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e'Evelyn Hood is a fantastic writer, bringing the past to life and drawing you right\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e Evelyn Hood\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-10:\u003c\/b\u003e 1806003856\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-13:\u003c\/b\u003e 9781806003853\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Boldwood Books Ltd\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eLanguage:\u003c\/b\u003e English\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 06\/30\/2026\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 354\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eFormat:\u003c\/b\u003e Hardcover\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 1.32lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 9.00h x 6.00w x 1.00d","brand":"Evelyn Hood","offers":[{"title":"Hardcover","offer_id":48659860750591,"sku":"9781806003853","price":32.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"url":"https:\/\/www.whiterainbookhouse.com\/products\/an-orphans-dream-evelyn-hood-9781806003853","provider":"WR Book House","version":"1.0","type":"link"}