An Orphan's Dream: A heart-wrenching historical saga of ambition and betrayal from Evelyn Hood

One woman’s determination to triumph against the odds

Greenock, Scotland, 1916 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.

Wishing 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.

Elspeth 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.

Matriarch 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.

In 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.

Storytelling at its best, Evelyn Hood is the original bestselling Scottish saga writer 💫

Previously published in paperback as Pebbles on the Beach

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 make these engrossing and intelligent Evelyn Hood 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