“A glowing story of friendship, growth, and a steadfast first love, as teenage Maisie negotiates the forests of the heart and of World War II Scotland with equal determination.” —Elizabeth Wein, New York Times bestselling author of Code Name Verity
A romantic historical YA novel featuring strong female characters from the acclaimed author of Wait for Me.
It’s 1942, and as the war rages in Europe, Maisie McCall is in the Scottish Highlands swinging an axe for the Women’s Timber Corps. Maisie relishes her newfound independence working alongside other lumberjacks—including the mysterious John Lindsay.
As Maisie and John work side by side felling trees together, Maisie can’t help but feel that their friendship has the spark of something more to it. And yet every time she gets close to him, John pulls away. It’s not until Maisie rescues John from a terrible logging accident that he begins to open up to her about the truth of his past, and the pain he’s been hiding.
Suddenly everything is more complicated than Maisie expected. And as she helps John untangle his shattered history, she must decide if she’s willing to risk her heart to help heal his. But in a world devastated by war, love might be the only thing left that can begin to heal what’s broken.
She came to the Highlands to fight a war. What happens when the biggest battle is for his heart?
- Strong Female Protagonist: Follow Maisie McCall as she trades her old life for an axe and discovers the strength she never knew she had in the demanding Women’s Timber Corps.
- Slow Burn Romance: He’s mysterious and withdrawn, pushing her away at every turn. But a terrible accident forces John Lindsay to reveal the painful past he’s been hiding.
- WWII Scotland Setting: An atmospheric tale set in the rugged Scottish Highlands of 1942, where the home front has its own battles, secrets, and heartbreaks.
- A Story of Healing: In a world torn apart by war, Maisie must decide if love is powerful enough to heal a shattered history and mend a broken heart.
