Cherilyn Christen Clough

A Father’s Control. A Forbidden Love. One Woman’s Rebellion.

In this sweeping 19th-century historical romance set in the Swiss Alps, religious tradition and family honor dictate every choice. Amalia Grob is expected to obey her devout father without question, but from childhood she’s learned that deception is safer than confrontation—until small lies spiral into dangerous secrets that threaten her future.

When she meets Peter Britt, a gifted young artist with dreams far beyond his station, their connection blossoms into a slow burn historical romance. Her father dismisses him as “an itinerant portrait painter,” unworthy of his daughter. Yet in Peter’s presence, Amalia glimpses a life of passion and freedom she’s never dared imagine.

But love in the shadow of the Swiss Alps is a dangerous gamble. In a time when a woman’s defiance can ruin her family, Amalia must choose between loyalty to her father and surrendering to a forbidden love that could cost her everything. With scandal looming and the mountains whispering promises of another life, she faces the ultimate choice—follow the rules and lose her heart, or risk it all for the man she loves.

Inspired by the true love story of Southern Oregon pioneers Peter Britt and Amalia Grob. Fans of literary women’s fiction, historical coming-of-age stories, and biographical novels based on true life, will be swept away by The Alpenhaus, Book One of the Where Lost Dreams Awaken series.

What Readers are Saying About the Alpenhaus:

A Charming Read

“In 1840s Glarus, Switzerland, Amalia meets Peter. Even though she is just approaching her teens, she knows she loves him and wants to marry him. Unfortunately, in those days, a young woman had to have her father’s permission to marry. Herr Grob is a stern, devout man who wants his daughter to make the best match possible to secure her future, and Peter is not it. As she matures, Amalia’s love for Peter only grows. When her father learns of their plans to marry, he forbids it, and she ends up marrying her cousin, Karl Grob. Meanwhile, the destructive foehn winds wreak havoc on the livelihoods of many in the local community, prompting some to seek salvation in emigration to America.”

Atmospheric, Beautifully Descriptive, and Well Researched

“The author paints an accurate portrait of those times. As a Swiss descendant with numerous visits to Switzerland, I was impressed by the enduring relevance of many of the traditions depicted in the book. Indeed, I find myself indulging in a slice of birnbrot whenever I return to the country.”

A Heartwarming True-Life Romance

“For a captivating and immersive narrative that delves into the life of the Swiss mountains in the 19th century, accompanied by a heartwarming true-life romance saga, don’t miss this charming read. I look forward to the next installment, eager to read of the remarkable journeys of Amalia Grob and Peter Britt, who went on to become a noted photographer and vintner in Oregon.”

Gripping!

“I love this story! The characters are fascinating, the flow of events and the development of personalities, gripping. I feel as though I have sat with their needlework and baked in their kitchens, hiked the mountain with them, and reveled in their art. I have grieved with Amalia over her father’s rules, and searched with her the secret place behind the loose stone in the wall, for any kind of message from Peter. Oh, I have ached with her so many times!”

The Alpenhaus can be found at:

Amazon (print and ebook)

Barnes and Noble (print and ebook)

Kobo (eBook and audiobook)

Direct from Author (eBook and audiobook)

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