Will her devotion to duty stop her from pursuing her dreams?

Paisley, Scotland, 1920

By day young Mirren Jarvis works in the twisting department at Ferguslie Thread Mills and by night she works in a local fried-fish shop. She also cares for her sick mother and forgoes the freedom and luxuries her friends enjoy, dreaming of the day her fiancé, Donald, will send for her to come and live with him in America.

In the aftermath of the Great War, many of the women in Mirren’s life are struggling. Her cousin Grace’s fiancé believes he is no longer fit for marriage due to his war injuries, and her widowed sister-in-law faces stern opposition from Mirren’s mother about her decision to remarry. Meanwhile, Mirren worries about her younger brother Robbie’s involvement in politics, encouraged by his friend Joe Hepburn.

As the day-to-day reality of working two jobs and caring for her sick mother begins to weigh more heavily on Mirren, the promise of a life in America with Donald seems even more unobtainable. But when Mirren finally gets her freedom, her plans for the future begin to unravel and she is forced to confront a seemingly impossible choice about her own future.

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

Previously published in paperback as A Procession of One

PRAISE FOR EVELYN HOOD
'Compelling from the start, heartfelt and beautifully written.' - Rosie Clarke

'An engrossing read, I loved it and am sure you will too' - Fenella J. Miller

'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

'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'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