Ceylon

Ceylon, 1906: Stella Polegate steps off the ship in Colombo harbour, her heart beating with contradictory emotions. As her father's unofficial research assistant, she's thrilled to explore this island of ancient temples and verdant tea plantations-yet painfully aware that her brilliant mind will remain uncredited, her academic ambitions dismissed simply because she is a woman. When her father's doctoral student makes unwelcome advances that escalate to violence, Stella's carefully ordered world shatters. With her reputation and future hanging in the balance, she finds an unexpected ally in Norton Baxter, a principled young civil servant whose growing disillusionment with colonial rule mirrors her own questioning of societal constraints. As Stella navigates the suffocating expectations of colonial society, she must make an impossible choice. Should she accept the limitations imposed upon her gender or fight for the academic future she deserves? And can she trust Norton with her damaged heart when every man in her life has sought to control her destiny? From the misty highlands of Kandy to the bustling port of Colombo, Stella's journey becomes a defiant quest not only for love but for something far more elusive-the freedom to become the author of her own story. Readers who love The Tea Planter's Wife and Lucinda Riley will adore this atmospheric novel of forbidden love set in the twilight of the British Raj. Readers are loving The Star of Ceylon: "An absorbing and beautifully written novel that lingers in the mind long after the final page." Reader review, 5 stars "Oh, this book! I sincerely hope there will be a sequel… I loved it." Reader review, 5 stars "I want MORE, MORE, MORE! Sri Lanka is perfectly captured and I was transported to that era. Wonderful." Reader review, 5 stars "I was hooked from the beginning… heartfelt and immersive… perfect for fans of Dinah Jefferies and anyone looking for a romance set against the richly textured backdrop of colonial Sri Lanka." Reader review, 5 stars "I just love Clare Flynn's books. From the very first page you are drawn in and you know you are entranced… you never want them to end, and this book is no exception." 5 stars "A wonderfully evocative novel of old colonial Ceylon. Brilliantly written." Reader review, 5 stars "I felt like I was at once transported back in time." Reader review, 5 stars

Ceylon, 1908: Stella Baxter returns to the island paradise that once promised her everything - haunted by her father's death and the brutal assault that left her with a baby she cannot love. Her husband, Norton, is waiting for her in Colombo. He rescued her from scandal, he sees her worth, and his steady presence offers something Stella had given up on: a chance to heal. At last she can turn to the work that still binds her to her father - preserving his precious academic legacy. But the arrival of the Government Agent's wayward daughter, Cynthia - abandoned by her lover and desperate to salvage her reputation - ignites forbidden desires within Norton's own family. As secrets unravel and the respectable façade of British Ceylon begins to crack, the fragile new life Stella has built is caught in the fallout. Soon the mistakes of the past resurface, and Stella must fight to protect not only her father's legacy but her own future. Set against the lush, oppressive heat of early twentieth-century Ceylon, this unforgettable historical novel is perfect for readers who love Dinah Jefferies, Angela Petch and Rhys Bowen. What readers say about The Tea Planter's Secret: "Fantastic storytelling, interesting history and believable characters – what's not to love?! After the first book I was so invested in the characters, I really couldn't wait for this one to arrive." Reader review, 5 stars "Vivid and atmospheric… full of emotion, secrets, and resilience." Reader review, 5 stars "An amazing, emotional read… the breathtaking beauty of this island cannot completely shadow the fiery, personal war that Stella Baxter is forced to endure." Reader review, 5 stars "Completely transported me back to colonial Ceylon… so immersive and atmospheric that I could vividly picture the tea plantations, the heat, the beauty of the landscape, and the complicated social tensions of the time… A compelling historical saga filled with layered characters, heartbreak, resilience, and hope." Reader review, 5 stars "A Clare Flynn novel is always a treat. Well written, thoroughly researched, and full of atmosphere… The characters were so easy to love. Strong and determined, but with very human frailties that made me feel for them." Reader review, 5 stars "Fabulous, fabulous book… I found myself rooting for each woman… Flynn's descriptions of Ceylon's beauty are rich. She had me wishing that I could apparate into that time." Reader review, 5 stars "I wish I could rate this higher than 5 stars… Clare Flynn's ability to capture Ceylon during those times is remarkable." Reader review, 5 stars