Anne K Hawkinson

Paisley Venne feels adrift and about to founder, like the fishing boats racing for the safety of the harbour near her home in Bonchurch. Her much-anticipated wedding will not come to pass after discovering her fianc 's not-so-discreet indiscretion. Her future is uncertain, like trying to focus through heavy fog. Clarity and purpose arrive in the form of a letter with news that Paisley's mum has inherited Thornberry Manor in central England. Eager to begin restoration, Paisley begins the task of sorting and cleaning. In an antique wardrobe, she discovers a necklace, slips it on, and is transported to the year 1829. When she ventures downstairs, she finds herself in the midst of a gathering where her ancestors and invited guests are celebrating the birth of a son, Henry Hix. Back in the present, the emerald in the necklace has been reduced to grainy crumbs in her pocket. There's no reason to tell anyone; the damaged necklace can't possibly transport her again, and a voice in her head warns her to remain silent. But the secret is too much to hold. Paisley confides in her mum and swears her to secrecy. Paisley finds herself drawn to Finlay Brown, a local handyman helping to restore Thornberry. As their relationship grows, she is tempted to tell him what happened. She resists the impulse and takes the necklace to a jeweler in London, hoping to find a new stone to replace the emerald. Its power to transport may be gone, but it's a family heirloom she wants to keep. After nearly losing the necklace when the jewelry store is robbed, she decides on a new stone - a ruby.

Book Three in the Scotland's Knight Series "The Hand of Fate is a delightful story of hope and heartache, and of the rich world of Brodie Manor and its Scottish people, that readers will love getting lost in." - Writer's Digest "The conflict between the desire for sustaining family unity on one hand and the opposing pull of the knight's duty and loyalty to his king on the other creates a tension that sustains the reader's interest throughout the journey." - Royal Palm Literary Award Judge Sir Lennox Brodie has willingly relegated his life as a powerful knight to the darkest recesses of his past. In turn, he has wholeheartedly embraced the comfortable, peaceful rhythm of life's seasons at Brodie Manor with his wife Maggie, son Kendric, and the wee bairn they thought would never be. When a messenger from Castle Wrought unexpectedly arrives, their tranquil life is thrown into chaos. War has erupted in Ireland, the king has responded to the call for aid, and he orders Lennox back into service. As old feelings resurface, Lennox wrestles with the life he left behind and the one he has come to love. Then fate, a silent and unwelcome visitor, steps in.