Hidden Family Secrets

The sweeping, heartbreaking and uplifting start to a Scottish saga series of love, loyalty and long-buried secrets from Sunday Times bestselling author Evelyn Hood - perfect for fans of Catherine Cookson, Rosie Goodwin and Donna Douglas. Can a long-kept secret ruin the future happiness of two families? Paisley, Scotland 1745 Meg and Duncan Montgomery move to the flourishing Scottish town of Paisley to find work in the thriving weaving industry. Soon, Meg is expecting their first child, Margaret. To make ends meet, they live in Peter Todd's household, Duncan's employer and Meg's days are filled with domestic duties. But soon Meg and Duncan find themselves caught up in the intricate lives of the Todd family and when a tragic accident causes further conflict, a decision is made to keep a terrible secret from Meg. As Margaret grows older, she despairs of the town's inequality and becomes an advocate for the poor. While her philanthropic ideals are tolerated, even accepted by her understanding parents, Margaret's affection for her childhood friend William Todd is greeted with disapproval. But Margaret wants more from life than marriage and is overjoyed when she is taken on as a teacher at the local hospital. As a dark secret from the past looms over the lives of both families,threatening to tear apart their futures, the younger Todds and Montgomery's must decide between following in their parents' footsteps or forging their own paths The start of The Paisley Women saga series from Evelyn Hood, the original bestselling Scottish saga writer. Previously published in paperback as The Silken Thread PRAISE FOR EVELYN HOOD 'Compelling from the start, heartfelt and beautifully written.' - Rosie Clarke 'If you like Catherine Cookson, you'll love Evelyn Hood's books.' - Lizzie Lane 'Evelyn Hood's characters step off the page and into your heart.' - Sheila Riley 'This is addictive and heartfelt storytelling, with colourful characters you'll never want to say goodbye to.' - Jane Lark ''Loved the strong, relatable characters. A lively, refreshing read.' - Kate Eastham 'Wonderfully descriptive, with memorable characters and a true sense of place.' - Tracy Baines 'Faultless historical detail and emotionally complex characters makethese engrossing and intelligent Evelyn Hood's sagas deeply satisfying' - Maisie Thomas '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 'Scotland's Catherine Cookson' - Scots Magazine 'Hood is immaculate in her historical detail' - Scottish Herald 'Quite simply, I couldn't put it down. A rich and rewarding read' - Emma Blair 'Evelyn Hood has been called Scotland's Catherine Cookson. Unfair. She has her own distinctive voice' - Scots Magazine 'Touching, romantic and unforgettable' - Reader Review 'Love all her books' - Reader Review 'Evelyn Hood produces the best of stories' - Reader Review 'I cannot put her books down' - Reader Review 'Love everything Evelyn Hood writes' - Reader Review 'Evelyn Hood is a fantastic writer, bringing the past to life and drawing you right into the story' - Reader Review