The Rose of Allendale

This richly detailed historical novel follows the remarkable journey of Mary Fraser, a young Scottish nurse who follows her heart-and the Highland doctor she loves-into the crucible of World War II. From Edinburgh's Royal Infirmary to the siege of Tobruk, their love story becomes entwined with the healing arts they practice, the roses they tend, and the music that sustains them. Spanning fifty years and three generations, "The Rose of Allendale" weaves together themes of tradition and change, courage and healing. When their children choose music over medicine, Mary and James watch their legacy blossom in unexpected ways, as the old songs take on new life through the next generation. Inspired by a traditional Scottish ballad and steeped in the culture of the Borders and Highlands, this debut novel explores how love, like certain hardy roses, can flourish even in war's harshest garden. Perfect for readers who loved "Atonement," "The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society," and "The Piano Shop on the Left Bank."