I love World War II stories and add in a second chance at love and I am sold. This was an interesting read but was a little too slow for me to be all in. It did have quite a bit of history that I found interesting.

The Lost Lights of St Kilda by Elizabeth Gifford
Publication date: March 5, 2020

Date read: April 17, 2022



When Fred Lawson takes a research position on the isolated island of St Kilda for the summer of 1927, he doesn’t know that he will be joining the last community to ever live there; the island will be evacuated only three years later. When Fred is later captured by the Germans during the Second World War, he looks back on his time on the island, thinking about the girl he left behind.

I listened to the audiobook, read by Fiona McNeill, Geoffrey Newland, and Diane Brooks.

This story was so sweet. I loved the main characters of Fred and Chrissy and hearing about their lives on the island. I had never heard of St Kilda before reading this, and I really liked the decision to have one main character be an island native and one be an outsider. It gave great perspective to the story.

I also really liked that, while this was a love story between two people, it was even more a story about the place. It read like a love letter to this island and its way of life. The writing was beautiful but not overdone. I’ll definitely be checking out more from this author in the future.

The audiobook was very well put together, and I thought the voice actors did incredible jobs. I really felt like I was there with them.

This is not a plot-heavy book, but if you like learning about a place and people from a historical fiction novel, I highly recommend this one. A beautiful story that made me want to learn more about this island and the people who called it home.

Rating: 4.5/5

Trigger warning: imprisonment, war, torture (mentioned), sexual assault, death, violence

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book

I was excited to listen to this audio as I love war stories and this one sounded fascinating. I found the plot quite slow though. It was difficult to stay engaged in spots where the story seemed to focus more heavily on building the love story. The audio version also wasn't as gripping as I'd hoped.

There was a lot of interesting history. Much of it new for me as I'd never heard of St. Kilda before. I also enjoyed the storyline about the soldiers.

I think if there had been more focus on the war and history and less on the romance it would've been superb.

I received an advanced audio copy in exchange for an honest review.

A beautifully written story of life, loss, and love. The author’s chapter style - moving from past to present and from character to character - worked well to capture each characters’ journey.

This one is tricky to judge. I think I would enjoy it as a book much more. I love audios and the accent—it reminded me of Outlander (which I enjoy), but I watch Outlander with subtitles. There was nothing wrong with the story necessarily, but the audio was just too hard to understand sometimes. I missed parts of the story for that reason.

As I said—that says more about the narration than it does about the content.

Thank you NetGalley, I think the author's writing style was beautiful; there was a lot of showing instead of telling and I just appreciate that so much.

3.5 stars

A second-chance love story set against the backdrop of WWII, with flashbacks to 1927 on the isle of St. Kilda, & the story of the evacuation of its inhabitants in 1930. The prose is nice with stunning setting descriptions, the history is well researched, & the story is touching. I could’ve used some more character development however.

[What I liked:]

•The prose is nice, especially the descriptions. The setting is magical! I really felt how beautiful & rugged St. Kilda was, how much the villagers & also the visitors like Fred loved being there. For me, this is by far the best aspect of the book. I loved the parts of the story set on the island.

•I did like & care about the MC’s, Chrissie & Fred. I was definitely rooting for Fred to make it home from France, & for them to reunite.

•It was really interesting to read about St. Kilda & the unique community & way of life that existed there. I really felt how much the place & the community meant to the villagers, & how hard it was to leave. The book seems well researched. From what I can tell, Archie, Chrissie, & Fred are all fictional characters, but there are mentions of real historical figures including Mary Gillies from the island & Nancy Wake who ran escape networks out of occupied France.

•While the romance is in part disrupted by a “big misunderstanding”, it actually makes sense in the context why the MC’s acted & believed the way they did, & it doesn’t feel contrived. I also appreciated that while Archie does try to make amends, he isn’t portrayed as a squeaky-clean, very happy character in his later life, which I would’ve found hard to believe.


[What I didn’t like as much:]

•Okay, is it believable that Fred & Archie meet again in such circumstances? Not really. Is it believable that just when Chrissie tells Rachel Ann about Fred, he reappears? Not really.

•I know this is historical fiction & not a romance novel, but for an epic love story there wasn’t much love featured in the narrative. Chrissie & Fred don’t exactly have insta-love, because at least on Chrissie’s side it takes time to develop. That said, we don’t get to see them developing those feelings or a relationship; the characters just state, “Oh, suddenly I realized I was in love with them”, & that’s all we get. Actually, Chrissie’s feelings for Archie get way more screen time than do her feelings for Fred.

•I found the structure of the story a bit confusing, especially early on. We have three narrators (Fred, Chrissie, & Rachel Ann), & keep jumping back & forth in time.

•I wanted more character development. From Chrissie we get the most, & I did have a good sense of her personality & goals. I wanted more from Fred, especially what his life was like & what his life goals were between 1927 & 1941. Most of all, I wanted more development of the couple’s relationship, their attachment, why they liked each other, how they planned to make a future together, etc.

•Sorry, but when you dye with indigo (at least fresh leaf) the water doesn’t look blue, it looks green. Bright, livid, witch’s brew green, with green foam on top! When you pull the yarn out of the dye vat it also initially looks green, & starts turning blue only as it is exposed to oxygen. This is a nit picky thing, but since the rest of the descriptions of processing wool (carding, spinning, weaving, etc.) were good, it bothered me!

CW: torture, sexual assault, substance abuse, accidental death, war deaths

[I received an ARC ebook copy from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. Thank you for the book!]

I was listening to the audiobook version of The Lost Lights of St. Kilda by Elisabeth Gifford while driving to and from work. I was absolutely loving the beautiful story and narration. And then it happened: I accidentally deleted my NetGalley app on my phone. I went to download the book again after I re-installed my app , but I couldn't because it had been archived by that time! NOOOOOOOOOOO! I was heartbroken! Did Fred and Chrissie find one another again? I was in tears. I couldn't stand it; within two days I bought the audiobook so I could finish. It was well worth every penny!

In the summer of 1927 Fred Lawson takes a summer break from Cambridge to study and work on his finals with his friend Archie on St. Kilda, an isolated and starkly beautiful Scottish island. Unknown to Fred and everyone else, in three years the fiercely independent St. Kildans would be evacuated from the island due to near starvation. But that summer ​he meets and falls deeply in love with fiesty and beautiful island girl Chrissie Gillies, and the two begin to plan a life together. However, a friend's betrayal tears them apart, and both are left heartbroken. Years later in 1940 World War II is underway, and Fred is captured behind enemy lines in France and becomes a prisoner of war. Tortured and starving, he dreams of that beautiful summer with Chrissie. When he has an opportunity to escape and must make his way across occupied territory, it's thoughts of Chrissie that keep him hanging on.

This was an incredibly beautiful story that kept my attention and didn't let me go. I fell in love with the people of St. Kilda and the beautiful island they called home. I had never heard of St. Kilda before; it sounds like a desolate and wild paradise with self-sufficient and proud islanders who lived there. The description of the physical beauty of the island was done beautifully and was extremely lyrical. You could hear the song of the wind, see the majesty of the cliffs and watch the birds fly above. The love of the people for their home and God was palpable. The evacuation of the last community from this place was an actual event, and I felt the pain and heartache as they were unable to stay at their home any longer. The romance between Fred and Chrissie was heartfelt and lovely, and I knew that surely they would be reunited; they just HAD to be! Fred's escape from France with Chrissie's memory as his beacon was exciting and fraught with danger. It took me a bit to become acquainted with the rhythm of the story, getting used to the nonlinear timeline and the narration by Fred, Chrissie and her daughter Rachel Anne. But once I got into it, it all became clear.

The story was beautifully narrated by Diane Brooks, Fiona McNeill and Geoffrey Newland. The Scottish accents were like music to my ears. "Chrissie" spoke slowly, but it was a joy to listen to her. I could listen to their lovely narration over and over. I was pleased the accents weren't too heavy so I had no trouble understanding. They made me long for Scotland even more than I already did! I cannot recommend this beautiful story enough. Listen and be swept away by the past and the beauty.

I received an ARC of this audiobook courtesy of the publisher and NetGalley. I received no compensation for my review, and all thoughts and opinions expressed are entirely my own.

The Lost Lights of St Kilda
Elisabeth Gifford
The year was 1927 and the location a small, isolated island in the Atlantic. Two students from Cambridge were on the island to do research for their finals. Fred is studying the island’s core rock formations. He falls in love with the island, it’s natural and desolate splendor. They hire nineteen-year-old Chrissie Gillies to cook for them. Fred finds himself in love with her; she is humble and modest and does not think either man would be interested in her. Chrissie finds herself in love with Fred and the two succumb to their passions. Fred is torn when it comes time to leave not wanting to leave the simple life of the island nor his Chrissie.
In 1930 the islanders were evacuated. The people locked the doors of their houses, leaving an open Bible and a handful of oats in each dwelling. Among them was Chrissie and her daughter.
The tale moves to the 1940s. During World War II Fred was serving with the Cameron Highlanders. He was held captive but managed to escape. The journey through France and into Spain was risky and he had help along the way from the underground. During the trek he meets up with Archie once again. Both men had spent years thinking about Chrissie. Thoughts of her kept Fred going through out his horrific journey.
I found this tale mesmerizing. The descriptions of St Killda were impressive. I had never heard of St Killda and was so fascinated that I did a bit of research on it. My heart broke for the islanders. Author Elisabeth Gilfford brings readers a historical love story. This tale is told through two points of view, Chrissie’s and Fred’s. This tale also concerns war and friendship. The narrator has a beautiful lilting voice perfect for this Scottish novel.

The author paints a vivid picture throughout this story, sometimes too vivid! You can feel yourself hunting the puffins and the tourists looking at you pitifully. The decision to leave the island or stick it out will have you torn. Wanting Fred to know the truth will break your heart. When the story comes together, a sigh of relief and a rush of heartbreak over the past.

I had no idea where we were headed, no idea what lay before us. All I knew was I was ready to travel the length and breadth of France if the world would give me one more chance to spend one more hour with you – to say I’m sorry.

In 1927, Cambridge student Fred ends up on the remote Scottish island of St Kilda to study the local rock formations and falls in love with Chrissie, a local woman. Thirteen years later, he is stranded in war-torn France and wondering how that summer romance long ago went so wrong…

I picked up this book because I was rather tired of the glut of World War Two narratives, generally about members of the French Resistance, and this promised something different. And indeed it delivered – most of the story is set on St Kilda, a remote Scottish island of which I had never heard before, but felt quite acquainted with by the time the book ended. The writing is lyrical and brought St Kilda with all its lush sea-swept beauty to vivid life. The parts which incorporate the history of the island were fascinating and really cemented how attached Chrissie was to her home. This made the ensuing evacuation quite emotional.

However, the plot felt somewhat thin. This is the story of how Fred and Chrissie fell in love, and what tore them apart, but we don’t see much of them falling in love and what tears the apart feels almost silly, unfortunately. I was also ambivalent on the character of Archie – I wish we got a better understanding of him, for while his actions are what drive the plot, his decisions seemingly come out of nowhere.

My copy of this book was an audiobook, narrated by Fiona McNeill, Geoffrey Newland, and Diane Brooks, who respectively voice Chrissie, Fred, and Rachel Anne, Chrissie’s daughter. The narration was done in Scottish accents, which for a hapless American like me took a little time to get used to! I thought the narration was well-done, though, and the narrators’ musical voices helped set the stage.

Overall, an interesting and emotional read for those interested in more obscure British historical settings.

In 1927, Fred Lawson takes a summer job on the small beautiful island of St. Kilda. Fred had an incredible summer on the Island with and island woman, Chrissie that he fell in love with. Three years later the island was evacuated when the islanders were near death from starvation. In 1940 Fred becomes a prisoner of war after being captured behind enemy lines in France. While suffering from beatings and exhaustion, he keeps thinking of the woman that he loved on the island. He makes a daring escape from the POW camp and heads home with thoughts of the woman he loved. This is a sweeping love story that crosses decades. I recommend this book.

Here is a book that will stay with me, as books rarely do.
The story is quite a classic - boy meet girl, story ensue, they get separated, etc, BUT the background was a discovery for me.
The archipelago of St. Kilda and its remoteness was completely unknown to me, and I found captivating to be explained the story behind, the political situation, the long term history (I actually went and checked it out - and looked at the photos I could find), in such an unusual, extreme survival situation. Yet the story didn't feel farfetched, but real enough to follow happily until the end.
I opted for the audiobook, and loved the accents, the lively telling, and I am missing the characters now that I have finished.

Thank you Net Galley for an audio copy of this book. This book is basically about a love that stands the test of time. A love that is lost but found again. I enjoyed it but would have liked more story after they became together again.

I received an arc of this title from NetGalley for an honest review. I could not get through this book based on the reader's voice which put me to sleep.

A moving historical fiction romance that spans decades. Sure to delight fans of Susanna Kearsley or Diana Gabaldon. Great on audio with multiple narrators. Much thanks to NetGalley and Dreamscape media for my advance review copy.

The Lost Lights of St Kilda by Elisabeth Gifford didn't grip me and I found it very difficult to focus/follow the story; could have been the narrator or it just wasn't exciting enough out the gate. Though I could tell from the very first sentence that this is a beautifully, poetically written novel.

I cannot thank @netgally and dreamscapemedia enough for the eARC.
I absolutely loved the history this book told. You can tell the author meticulously researched and and artfully crafted this storyline. The narration was spot on as I begin to feel like another character there on the story, walk the wild roads of St. Kilda. I loved Chrissie and her unsure footing of becoming a women, Freds enduring love towards Chrissie, and the simple innocence of the villagers of St. Kilda.
What a fascinating island and history of a people no more.

I adore when an author does a duel perspectives from different timelines. I throughly adored Fred’s voice both in 1927 as a young wanderlust boy and that of the hardened boy surviving WWII.

This one is a must read for historical fiction lovers.

It’s 1927, Fred and Archie, two Cambridge students set out for a summer on St. Kilda to do research for their degrees. This island, technically owned by Archie’s father is one he has visited multiple times, and found rather boring, whereas this is Fred’s first adventure in the farthest reach of the British Isles, and he is enchanted. Fred Lawson quickly realizes these inhabitants are of another time—almost wholly self-sustaining and living off the land. Not only does Fred find himself captivated by the land, but also by young Chrissie, a local 19-year-old tasked to cook for the men during their stay. But their feelings are complicated—he is to finish his studies at Cambridge and she loves her island.

Flash forward several years later and Fred finds himself serving in the Cameron Highlanders during World War II, trying to escape captivity in occupied France. It is his memories of Chrissie and St. Kilda that keep the flame of hope burning when he suffers at the hands of the Nazis as a prisoner of war. Eventually he finds refugee escaping with the French resistance through the Pyrenees into Spain.

Though Chrissie’s daughter has chapters from her more modern perspective, it is Fred and Chrissie’s voices that shine in this story. The tale is long and often full of heartache, but what good love story isn’t. This novel reads like literary fiction, to be taken in slowly. If you are looking for a quick plot-driven tale, this is not the book you need to read right now.

Thank you to Netgalley, Dreamscape Media, and of course Elisabeth Gifford for the advanced copy. All opinions are my own.
It’s 1927, Fred and Archie, two Cambridge students set out for a summer on St. Kilda to do research for their degrees. This island, technically owned by Archie’s father is one he has visited multiple times, and found rather boring, whereas this is Fred’s first adventure in the farthest reach of the British Isles, and he is enchanted. Fred Lawson quickly realizes these inhabitants are of another time—almost wholly self-sustaining and living off the land. Not only does Fred find himself captivated by the land, but also by young Chrissie, a local 19-year-old tasked to cook for the men during their stay. But their feelings are complicated—he is to finish his studies at Cambridge and she loves her island.

Flash forward several years later and Fred finds himself serving in the Cameron Highlanders during World War II, trying to escape captivity in occupied France. It is his memories of Chrissie and St. Kilda that keep the flame of hope burning when he suffers at the hands of the Nazis as a prisoner of war. Eventually he finds refugee escaping with the French resistance through the Pyrenees into Spain.

Though Chrissie’s daughter has chapters from her more modern perspective, it is Fred and Chrissie’s voices that shine in this story. The tale is long and often full of heartache, but what good love story isn’t. This novel reads like literary fiction, to be taken in slowly. If you are looking for a quick plot-driven tale, this is not the book you need to read right now.

Thank you to Netgalley, Dreamscape Media, and of course Elisabeth Gifford for the advanced copy. All opinions are my own.

The Lost Lights Of St Kilda is a dual timeline novel of lost love and quite beauty. The locations are 1940’s France and 1927 St Kilda, a grouping of islands off the west coast of Scotland.
The female protagonist is Chrissie Gillies a young woman born and raised on St. Kilda. Life there is slow and filled with love but the harsh weather and conditions on the island make living there very difficult. Chrissie wishes to never leave.
Fred Lawson is a young man who spends the summer of 1927 on St Kida’s to complete his geology thesis for Cambridge University. Both figure prominently in the 1927 St.Kilda timeline as they meet, and no spoiler here, fall in love. The 1940’s time line centers mainly on Fred. He is a soldier caught by the Germans at the battle for St. Valery where many Scotsmen were killed or captured, as the army retreated. It is his attempt to escape the Germans, flee France and remember his lost love of St Kilda that comprises his 1940’s story. Chrissie in the1940’s is living in Scotland with her teenage daughter. At her daughter Rachel Anne’s insistence she begins too recall life on St Kildas and eventually her lost love.Fred.
This novel is very well written. St Kilda is a small cluster of volcanic islands that are heavily windswept and desolate. Through Ms. Gifford’s lyrical prose I was able to envision the stark, natural, and unspoiled beauty of st. Kilda’s so well that looking at pictures online I found that my visions were accurate. That takes talent on the part of an author! She also demonstrates her talents as she describes the people of St. Kildas. They are a hardy group of strong people who take joy in the simple things and love their island fiercely. Ms. Gifford shows us their quiet courage and dignity. They become another character in the novel. We as readers care about them. We worry about their future as it becomes clear that their numbers are dwindling and there may be too few of them to survive winter.
I loved that the characters become real people. We learn not just their descriptions and actions, but their beliefs, hopes and dreams. We learn the motivations behind their actions. They are allowed to change, grow and mature as the story unfolds. That this is such a rarity in fiction is a shame since it added a very satisfying dimension to the story.
This is an emotional read. Through the authors prose we not only see the calm beauty of first love but also the horror of war. It is this juxtaposition of the two that forms the core of the novel. It is Fred’s frantic attempt at fleeing from France that set’s the pace and tension that leads to the stories climax. Will Fred escape France? Will he and Chrissie ever see each other again? These are questions that you’ll have to read the book to answer!
4 stars! Highly recommended for fans of historical fiction and romance.

I received an ARC of this book from the publisher, Dreamscape Media and NetGalley. This fact in no way influenced my review.