At a glance
September
Family saga
September
Two connected Scottish families prepare for a grand twenty-first-birthday dance that will bring long-separated relatives and old tensions into the same room. Elderly Violet Aird watches her son's marriage strain over their child's future while financial trouble presses on the neighboring Balmerino household. The anticipated return of charismatic Pandora, who fled decades earlier under a cloud of rumor, threatens the careful arrangements everyone has made with the past. Rich and leisurely, this ensemble novel suits readers who enjoy Highland estates, large family casts, homecomings, autumn atmosphere, buried affairs, and domestic dramas whose many private conflicts converge at one glittering social occasion.
Paired for this story
Jump to the pours ↓Campfire Coffee + Ember & Honey Toddy
Choose your bookseller
Find the Book
Print retailers offer a search when an exact edition is unavailable. Kindle links open a specific edition. Audiobook links may open an edition or a search.
Affiliate disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, Book Bartender earns from qualifying purchases. Bookshop.org links also earn us a commission on qualifying purchases. Your price is not affected. Read the full affiliate disclosure.
No surprises at chapter twelve
Content notes
Suicide; terminal illness/cancer; death and grief; infidelity and marital strain; wartime memories; alcohol use; family conflict and secrets.
Alcohol-Free Pour
Campfire Coffee
Fresh coffee and brown sugar are all this fireside cup needs.
What you'll need
As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.How to mix it
- Stir any sweetener, cocoa, or spices into the coffee until dissolved. Add milk or cream if listed and garnish as indicated.
- Garnish: Orange peel if listed; otherwise none.
- Glassware: Mug or highball glass as appropriate.
Shop glassware & tools
We earn a commission from qualifying purchases through these Amazon links, at no extra cost to you.
Highball glass ↗Mug ↗Cocktail Pour · 21+
Ember & Honey Toddy
For adults of legal drinking age. Please drink responsibly.
A warming pour with a sharp edge suits an unhurried afternoon between the pages.
What you'll need
- 1 1/2 oz whiskey
- 1 tbsp honey ↗
- 1/2 oz fresh lemon juice ↗
- 4 oz hot water
Shop the spirits 21+Search Total Wine for Whiskey · 21+ ↗
How to mix it
- Add whiskey, honey, and lemon juice to a warmed mug. Top with hot water and stir until the honey dissolves.
- Garnish: Lemon wheel.
- Glassware: Mug.
Shop glassware & tools
We earn a commission from qualifying purchases through these Amazon links, at no extra cost to you.
Mug ↗Set up the bar cart
Shop the Barware
Find the glasses and tools for your next pour.