A Heart of Stone

A Heart of Stone is a riveting novel by Jean Webb which tells the compelling story of two people who must overcome challenges and cross the sea to be together. The story first takes place in Scotland. Sean Wicklow arrives at the estate of his sister, Megan, and her husband Angus MacFarland to mend the breach in their relationship that has existed for many years. When Sean arrives, he finds that the MacFarland estate has been raided and devastated by outlaws, who have burned the manor house and town. They have left nothing behind but a small child, named Jane.

Sean asks for the child to be brought to him in hopes of finding information about the outlaws. When the child approaches and looks into the eyes of the huge man, Sean is stunned to be looking into the unusual violet color eyes of his beloved sister. This young girl must be the daughter of Megan. Jane is distraught when she realizes she is now alone in the world, due to the deaths of her parents. Sean assures Jane she is not alone, and he assures Jane she will become the youngest child in his home, and that she will now have two older brothers and a sister a year older than herself.

Sean puts aside his grieving for Megan and her husband, and now concentrates on the care and raising of his young niece. Thus, starts the long journey of Jane MacFarland to her new future. Tension in Scotland is growing, due to the uprising of the American Colonies. The upstarts are seeking independence from British laws and taxes. Britain wants to maintain their control of America, and vows to fight any uprising. Any visiting Colonist are looked at with suspicion.

At this same time, a cousin of the Smithson’s, Jon Stonebrook, who happen to be the Wicklow’s nearest neighbor, arrives from the Colonies to purchase livestock for his father’s farm in America. He is a bookish young man and not very sociable. Just after Jon arrives, a pirate ship starts harassing British ships off the Scottish coast. No matter what is tried, the pirate evades capture. Jane is riding on the beach one day and notices a ship just past the breakwater.

She then notices a man on the beach signaling with a flag whom she recognizes as Jon Stonebrook. He is not the stooped, sickly young man any longer, but the handsome, rogue sea pirate! When Jane is discovered watching Jon’s actions, she is not allowed to return home, but is kidnapped and taken aboard Jon’s ship, Dream Lady, and taken to the American Colonies.

Jane falls in love with this wild, new country and the freedom it offers it citizens. She also falls in love with Jon Stonebrook, and they do in fact marry and leading a wonderful life when she is again kidnapped by a British sea captain and returned to her Uncle Sean’s home. Due to the Revolution, she is unable to return to America for several years. When next she meets Jon, she has a wonderful surprise for him and all the Stonebrooks.

There are many more stories of the Stonebrooks and Wicklows that make you love these people, and make you want the very best for them. Thus, starts the future generations of the Stonebrooks and the new Americans to come. You will live through many of the twists and turns of their lives.

This book is the first of an epic series following the Stonebrook and Wicklow families.