Under the Jewelled Sky

London 1957. In a bid to erase her past, Sophie Schofield accepts a wedding proposal from ambitious British diplomat, Lucien Grainger. When he is posted to New Delhi, into the glittering circle of ex-pat society, old wounds begin to break open as Sophie is confronted with the memory of her first, forbidden love and its devastating consequences. This is not the India she fell in love with ten years before in a maharaja's palace, the India that ripped out her heart as Partition tore the country in two.

And so begins the unravelling of an ill-fated marriage, setting in motion a devastating chain of events that will bring her face to face with a past she tried so desperately to forget, and a future she must fight for.

This is a tender story of love, loss of innocence, and the aftermath of a terrible decision no one knew how to avoid.

Short-listed for Romantic Novel of the Year Awards 2015 (UK)

“Under the Jewelled Sky is a truly breathtaking novel. Set in India at the moment of Partition and Independence, a decade unfolds in an amazing Indian Romeo & British Juliet tragic adventure, with evocative elements of The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett and Midnight's Children by Salman Rushdie. Stunning detail and language”

McQueen effortlessly captures India at a crucial turning point in its history - the country is described so vividly that it becomes a character in itself .... with a heartbreaking ending, this is truly a captivating tale - THE LADY

Bursting with the evocative glow of long-forgotten India, UNDER THE JEWELLED SKY lures you into a beautiful story of scandal, of hope, and the kind of love that marks us forever. An unforgettable, irresistible tale that wraps around your heart and won't let go - Kathleen Grissom, New York Times bestselling author of The Kitchen House

From the drama of partition to the remnants of colonial life, Alison McQueen paints a vivid picture of a vast country and its rich culture, and against this exotic, atmospheric backdrop she sets her bittersweet romance - GOOD BOOK GUIDE

McQueen expertly captures the innocence and passion of young love-and how it can so quickly turn into something tragic when politics and the realities of adulthood get in the way. This historical page-turner deals out hope and heartbreak in turn, hurtling the reader toward its devastating denouement - PUBLISHERS WEEKLY

Beautiful and brave and bittersweet -- a moving story of how love in all its forms binds us together and endures, in spite of everything - Susanna Kearsley, New York Times bestselling author of The Firebird and The Winter Sea

McQueen has a fine sense of place and character... A richly imagined story of love, politics and fate - KIRKUS

Rich with history and a candid view of the racism, discrimination, and sexism of the day, McQueen's historical novel provides more than a compelling story set in an exotic locale. Part mystery, part romance, it defines love's bond through time - BOOKLIST

Under the Jewelled Sky is a truly breathtaking novel. Set in India at the moment of Partition and Independence, a decade unfolds in an amazing Indian Romeo & British Juliet tragic adventure, with evocative elements of The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett and Midnight's Children by Salman Rushdie. Stunning detail and language - REBEL HOUSEWIFE

Born to an Indian mother and an English jazz musician father, Alison McQueen grew up in London. After a convent education, Alison worked in advertising for 20 years before retiring to write full time. Her family story is one of the inspirations behind The Secret Children. Alison lives in Northamptonshire with her husband and two daughters.

London 1957. In a bid to erase her past, Sophie Schofield accepts a wedding proposal from ambitious British diplomat, Lucien Grainger. When he is posted to New Delhi, into the glittering circle of ex-pat society, old wounds begin to break open as Sophie is confronted with the memory of her first, forbidden love and its devastating consequences. This is not the India she fell in love with ten years before in a maharaja's palace, the India that ripped out her heart as Partition tore the country in two.And so begins the unravelling of an ill-fated marriage, setting in motion a devastating chain of events that will bring her face to face with a past she tried so desperately to forget, and a future she must fight for.This is a tender story of love, loss of innocence, and the aftermath of a terrible decision no one knew how to avoid.

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