The Metal Heart

The Metal Heart

The beautiful and atmospheric story of freedom and love that will grip your heart

Summary

The beautifully compelling wartime story of freedom and love set deep in the Scottish islands

'A powerful Second World War love story' THE TIMES

'Deeply evocative of Orkney and its wild beauty. A stunning tale of sisters, salvation and sacrifice' EMMA STONEX
_________

Orkney, 1941.

Five hundred Italian prisoners of war arrive to fortify these wild and desolate islands.

Orphaned sisters Dorothy and Constance volunteer to nurse the wounded. But while beautiful, damaged Constance remains wary of the men, Dot finds herself increasingly drawn to Cesare, a young man fighting on the wrong side and broken by the horrors of battle. Secretly, passionately, they fall in love.

When a tragic mistake from Con's past returns to haunt them, Dot must make a choice:

Protect her sister no matter the costs, or save the man who has captured her heart?
_________

Praise for Caroline Lea:

'Enthralling' Stacey Halls, author of The Familiars and The Foundling

'Fantastic' The Times

'Memorable and compelling' Sarah Moss, author of The Times Book of the Year Ghost Wall

'Intensely written and atmospheric' Daily Mail

'Gripped me in a cold fist. Beautiful' Sara Collins, author of The Confessions of Frannie Langton

'Brilliant' Daily Express

Reviews

  • A tense, passionate and deeply atmospheric novel about a community in wartime - and two defiant hearts. Orkney was so perfectly realised, too, that I almost felt windblown. I loved it all the more so for having read it during lockdown: Caroline's beautiful transported me entirely to another time and land
    Susan Fletcher

About the author

Caroline Lea

Caroline Lea grew up on the island of Jersey. The Glass Woman, her debut, is a gothic thriller set during the Icelandic witch trials. The Metal Heart, a Waterstones Scottish Book of the Month, is an epic Second World War love story; Prize Women reveals a feminist scandal at the heart of the roaring 20s. Her latest novel reimagines Mary Shelley and the writing of Frankenstein.
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