Amherst Island Books
1904: Ellen Copley is still a child when she leaves behind the sooty rail yards of Glasgow, and crosses the Atlantic Ocean with a heart full of dreams. Yet within weeks of their arrival in America, her father has disappeared—leaving Ellen with resentful relatives, feeling alone and scared for her future. But then her kind Aunt Rose invites Ellen to stay with her large family, in their rambling house on beautiful Amherst Island, which nestles like a jewel in the blue waters of Lake Ontario. There Ellen finally begins to find the love and acceptance she has long been craving – both from Aunt Rose’s boisterous family, and from the boys next door, Jed and Lucas Lyman. It’s Jed she’s drawn to… the one with the twinkling eyes, who teases her, and laughs with her, and soon steals her heart… But does Jed love her back? Because—even though Amherst Island feels like home—Ellen knows she can’t stay there with a broken heart… This is the first book in the unmissable Amherst Island Trilogy that follows the life and love of Ellen Copley from the magic of Lake Ontario to the bloody battlefields of the First World War and beyond. Perfect for fans of The Oceans Between Us, The Orphan Sisters, and My Name is Eva. Previously published as Down Jasper Lane. Readers love Kate Hewitt: “Wow! I’ve read several books by this author but this one was different, the story really came to life and I just couldn’t read it fast enough. This is by far the best she’s ever written, boy I just cried and cried. I can’t wait to read the next two books.” Goodreads Reviewer, 5 stars “So thrilling and gripping. It completely tugs at your heart strings!... It gave me all of the feels… I truly felt that the storytelling was brilliant. This is the kind of book that stays with you.” Goodreads Reviewer, 5 stars “What a wonderful novel. You know it’s a great book when you’re part of the emotions within it. It was a joy to walk with Ellen during her coming of age years. Great job Kate!!” Goodreads Reviewer, 5 stars “It's been a long time since I've been so engaged in a story and the characters. This is one where I couldn't predict what was going to happen, but cared about what did.” Goodreads Reviewer, 5 stars “Epic historical saga… Grab a cuppa before you sit down to immerse yourself in this fantastic book, as you won't be able to put it down until you're done… The writing is breathtaking, catapulting the reader back in time so viscerally that one can truly feel every struggle these daring families endured.” Goodreads Reviewer, 5 stars “Loved this book. Full of love, lies, family, adventure and most of all forgiveness.” Goodreads Reviewer, 5 stars
What would her life look like without her beloved island in it? Where would she go? Ellen had come back here—to the place she felt she belonged—thinking she would stay here. But was it home… or just a place to hide? 1918, Canada : The First World War is over and those who have been fighting in Europe are heading for home, forever changed. Amongst the lost, the damaged and the broken, is former nurse Ellen Copley ; who finds herself returning—not to her house in Glasgow, but to her childhood home on Amherst Island. There, she feels sure, in the warm embrace of the McCafferty family, with her beloved Aunt Rose and her cousins, she will feel safe and loved. She will be able to escape the ghosts of the past and her loss, and find peace. But the island is a changed place too. The war has affected life the world over, and Aunt Rose is struggling to keep their small farmstead going. The family’s only hope is asking their neighbours, the Lymans, to help. But Jed Lyman is a broken man, both physically and emotionally, and his once-adoring brother Lucas is now more distant than ever. And as Ellen fights to save the farm, she has to ask: what makes somewhere a home? And—when help comes from an unexpected place—she wonders, has the man she’s destined to love been waiting for her out there all along? This is the third novel in the unmissable Amherst Island series following the life of Ellen Copley from her humble beginnings in Scotland to the brutal battlefields of the First World War, and ultimately her return to beautiful Amherst Island. Perfect for fans of The Oceans Between Us , The Orphan Sisters , and Rhys Bowen’s The Victory Garden. Readers love Return to the Island : “ Omg … This book was so good. I cried when the family suffered . I laughed with them in good times. I rooted for them through hard times. This book has so much happening, but for me the book was mainly about growing UP and finding out where you belong.” Goodreads Reviewer “I could not wait to read this… and I was not disappointed! … Wonderful .” Goodreads Reviewer, 5 stars “I did not read the first two books… but it didn’t matter a bit, this book is fine to read as a standalone… Brought the time post-war vividly to life . All the physical and psychological issues that people had to deal with… A beautifully crafted book and a real thinker .” Goodreads Reviewer, 5 stars “ Ellen is such a realistic character and the island an arresting setting that you just keep reading… Hewitt brings to life an engaging cast of characters and shows family both as a place of love and conflict.” Goodreads Reviewer “ Wonderful … Everything may not end the way it’s expected but the endings are wonderful.” Goodreads Reviewer, 5 stars “Reading this book brought the time post-war vividly to life… A beautifully crafted book and a real thinker .” NetGalley Reviewer, 5 stars “A brilliant , well told love story.” Karen Loves Reading , 5 stars “I loved it! … Captured my heart.” Goodreads Reviewer, 5 stars “I loved following Ellen’s life… This book is Kate at her best .” Goodreads Reviewer, 5 stars
“I love you. Of course I do. But we haven’t any choice in the matter, do we? If our little boy’s health, even his survival, is at stake, we have to do whatever it takes.” 1928, New York City : Ellen and Lucas Lyman have made a heart-wrenching decision to leave their beloved Amherst Island behind in search of a new life. The island was once the home of their hearts: where they had met as children, become friends, and over time found love. But New York City was calling, and it was everything they’d hoped for and more. With Lucas making money on the stock market, and Ellen finding fulfilment as a mother, at first they are happy raising their family, together, in the most exciting city in the world. Until their beloved son Jamie becomes perilously ill, and Ellen is given an impossible choice. With Lucas unable to leave his job, it is down to her to take Jamie to a place he might recover even if it means making the journey across America without him. Ellen knows what she must do. What every mother would do to save their child. Even if it takes her further away from the man she loves—and every place she has called home‑than ever before. This is the fourth novel in the unmissable Amherst Island series that follows the life and love of a once-orphan girl called Ellen. Set in 1920s New York, California and Canada, it’s an unmissable read, perfect for fans of The Oceans Between Us , The Orphan Sisters , and My Name is Eva. Readers love Kate Hewitt’s Amherst Island series: “ An incredible book … I didn’t want to stop reading … I fell in love with the island and everyone there. It’s been ages since a book spoke to me as much … It reminds me of the Anne of Green Gables books… or Little House on the Prairie . I cried like a baby several times … One of the best stories I have read .” NetGalley reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “Hewitt proves once again that she is the queen of her craft. I am completely and thoroughly floored over how much I adored this book!... Really just pulls you right in and I found myself staying up way late into the evening just to finish … Just completely ripped my heart in two. This is such a heartfelt coming of age story that I completely lost myself in.” Sinfully Wicked Book Reviews ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “ Phenomenal … The author has such talent for making you feel like you are going through Ellen’s life right beside her. The descriptions of the landscape and the island are so real … This inspirational historical fiction is a must read .” NetGalley reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “ A tearjerker! The storytelling is wonderful and draws you in . I cried buckets! ” Karen_loves_reading ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “This book was sad, happy, and so well written . I could picture the beautiful island, I could feel the emotions and yes, at one point I cried . I really enjoyed reading this.” Goodreads reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “ Simply amazing … Hewitt paints such a vivid picture… I found myself reading it slowly so I could savor everything … I didn’t want the story to end.” Sinfully Wicked Book Reviews ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “ Omg I love this series. I seriously inhaled the book.” Goodreads reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “This book had me turning the pages so fast to see what would happen with Ellen and those that she loves so much… I cannot wait until I can read the next book.” Goodreads reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “Amazing… This engrossing page-turner will have you cheering Ellen on and grabbing for the tissues . [She] will feel like a best friend and a sister… This was a great read .” PageTurners Blog ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “I’ve fallen hard for Ellen and her world… I loved every word of this .” The Book Lovers Boudoir ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rosie realised she loved the man standing before her. She wanted to spend the rest of her life with him. And if he were to fall in France, heaven help them both, she knew she would not regret one last night with him… 1941, Canada : When Rosie Lyman and her cousin Violet join the Canadian Women’s Army Corps, Rosie is uncertain about leaving her life in Ontario behind and entering a new and challenging world of duty and service. From the moment Rosie signs up, the intensity of the work pushes all thoughts of home from her mind. And when she is selected for officer training and a placement overseas in London, Rosie finds herself swept up into an exciting world of classified postings she could never have imagined… When she meets handsome Lieutenant Thomas Crewe , with sparkling blue eyes and a smile like a movie star, Rosie soon finds herself falling in love for the very first time. With precious moments together restricted to weekends on leave, the pair try to steal as much time together as they can. But when Rosie hears that Thomas’s division is flying in the D-Day invasion, she feels like her heart might break. Will he survive the battle? And can she find the strength within herself to go on if he doesn’t? The fifth novel in the page-turning Amherst Island series, set during the Second World War in Canada and England, this gripping and truly unmissable read is perfect for fans of The Orphan Sisters and My Name is Eva. Readers are loving An Island Far from Home : “ Heartbreaking … Made me cry … Have some tissues ready .” Goodreads reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “ Beautifully written … finished it in a day … A joy to read .” Netgalley reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “ Sure to bring a tear to your eye … A spellbinding page-turner that will keep you enthralled from beginning to end … Beautifully written … Guaranteed to tug at the heartstrings … Unforgettable .” Bookish Jottings “ An easy 5 stars and another great book from Kate… Sad to finish this .” @rouse_sue ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “ Historical fiction at its best … Charming … Wonderful … Don't miss it.” NetGalley reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “A beautifully written and poignant love story … highly recommend .” Christian Novel Review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “ Brought tears to my eyes … Thoroughly enjoyed it.” NetGalley reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “I laughed and cried reading this… a joy to read .” The Book Lover’s Boudoir ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “A heartbreaking yet heart-warming story .” @shortbookthyme “ Brilliant … My heart ached for Rosie at the end of the story.” Goodreads reviewer
If these children could heal, shouldn’t Rosie be able to as well? What made her grief so strong that it kept her from trying again, from learning to live, to really live, and to love once more? 1945, England : When Rosie Lyman travels to the Lake District as a volunteer to help children rescued from the horror of the concentration camps after the Second World War, she hopes that by caring for the young orphans, she can distract herself from the loss of the man she loves and her beloved daughter. From the moment the children arrive, Rosie is rushed off her feet as she welcomes the new arrivals. But when she notices one particularly quiet girl, who has isolated herself from the other children, Rosie senses a wealth of sadness inside Frieda similar to her own and becomes determined to help her. As she struggles to connect with the young girl, Rosie meets one of the adults traveling with the children, Leon Rosenblat . And although they don’t always see eye to eye, as they begin to care for the orphans, Rosie senses a warmth within him, and soon finds herself thinking about his kind smile, dark hair and glittering brown eyes… But as time passes, Rosie finds her own grief harder to contain. And as she watches Frieda and the other children begin to heal, she realises she must face her own heartbreak and loss. Is Rosie brave enough to share her story? And, if she is, will she finally be able to trust her heart once more? The sixth novel in the unmissable page-turning Amherst Island series, set after the Second World War in England, this unputdownable and truly gripping read is perfect for fans of The Orphan Sisters and My Name is Eva. Readers are loving The Last Orphan : “ Unmissable … Page-turning … It was a case of ‘just one more chapter’ every night .” Goodreads reviewer “I have read the whole series and have enjoyed each book immensely, but this one is my absolute favourite! ... Beautiful … Heart-wrenching … Thought-provoking and inspirational .” Christian Novel Reviews ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “A powerful story … I re-read it multiple times .” Goodreads reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “ Beautiful … Definitely worth the read !” Goodreads reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “This is a series that just keeps giving … Heartbreaking .” Goodreads reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “A lovely moving book … I really enjoyed this book from start to finish.” Wowhats Blog ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “A story of heartbreak and loss… Heartbreaking .” “I was so gripped… I couldn’t put it down and read it in twenty-four hours . This is a wonderful novel.” NetGalley reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐