Melina Druga – författare

A nurse. A wife. A war that will test her soul. Henrietta "e;Hettie"e; Steward is not your ordinary bride-to-be. Feisty, educated, and fiercely ambitious, she dreams of continuing her work as a nurse, but society expects her to abandon her career for marriage. When the echoes of the Great War thunder across the world, Hettie's dreams collide with reality. Her husband enlists and persuades Hettie to follow, convinced it's their only opportunity for a honeymoon.  Hettie, stifled by domesticity, happily defies convention and joins the Canadian Army Nursing Service. Leaving the familiarity of Ontario behind for the chaos of battle, Hettie arrives in Europe eager to reclaim her purpose.  But as the war drags on, she finds herself thrust into a world of courage, heartbreak and sacrifice. Soon, Hettie faces an agonizing choice that will determine the course of her life. Will she find the strength to redefine herself and forge a new identity? Angel of Mercy is a poignant WWI historical novel about one woman's strength when duty and love collide. Perfect for fans of early 20th-century women's fiction, be prepared to see the war through a nurse's eyes and enter a world of courage, love and sacrifice.

One woman's journey. A family's beginning. A legacy of strength. In the harsh and unforgiving landscape of 1829 British North America, Claire Appleton has never ventured far beyond the confines of her hometown.  Her life is one of relentless toil and quiet endurance. Harold, her restless husband, envisions a life of adventure, a chance to escape hardship, and proposes an idea that will define generations: a perilous 900-mile journey to Upper Canada.  The thought of leaving behind her New Brunswick home and everyone she knows fills Claire with trepidation. The risks seem immense, the potential for failure overwhelming. But when Claire's drunken father-in-law makes a terrifying threat, the decision is made for her. Escape becomes not just a desire, but a necessity to ensure her family's safety. As the Appletons travel by sleigh and wagon across the wilds of Colonial Canada, the couple endures illness, isolation and loss. Each step along the rugged wilderness reveals new challenges — storms that threaten to tear them apart, treacherous paths that test their resolve, and the constant flicker of hope that propels them forward despite the odds. Will the Appletons' journey of hope lead them to the promised land they seek, or will they succumb to the dangers that await them?  Journey of Hope is a tale of love, perseverance and the enduring strength of the women who built lives on the untamed frontier. Perfect for readers of 19th century historical fiction and pioneer fiction.

The Great War tests not only those who fight, but those left behind. In summer 1914, the Steward family prepares for the joyous union of Hettie Steward and Geoffrey Bartlett, an event that will officially bond together two families that have been interconnected for decades.  Little do they know that the ominous clouds of war will soon shatter the promise of new beginnings. When husbands, brothers and sons march off to war, the women of Canada are left to endure the heartache, uncertainty and transformation that conflict brings. As the Stewards grapple with separation, loss and the unrelenting anxiety of waiting for loved ones to return, they face more than just an external war.  A lifelong friendship faces its toughest test. Two marriages unravel. And the deadly influenza epidemic threatens to consume the community. Told through deeply personal letters, diary entries and powerful moments of everyday life, Those Left Behind brings the Great War to life from a perspective too often forgotten: those on the home front. Rich with historical detail and emotional depth, this powerful women's fiction novel reminds us that war touches everyone, even those far from the front lines.

She's everything a proper woman shouldn't be — and that's exactly how she wants to remain. Lucretia Goodwin is clever, determined, and dangerously outspoken in a world that rewards women for their silence. She's content pursuing her teaching career, nurturing her independence, and ignoring the whispers that she's "e;the unmarriable kind."e; Having witnessed the unhappiness marriage can bring, she's determined to remain independent and unattached.  Her sister's hasty marriage and subsequent relocation only solidified her resolve. And now, she watches with growing concern as her best friend is courted by a man of questionable character. But everything shifts when Benjamin Steward, the new headmaster, arrives at the academy. With visions of reform and a surprising belief in women's rights, he disrupts the foundation of their small academic community. As he campaigns for change in the classroom and begins to see Lucretia as more than just a colleague, he unexpectedly stirs something within her — curiosity, desire, and conflict. As love and principle collide, Lucretia is forced to confront her long-held beliefs and must decide whether she can forge her own path within a society that demands her submission. Can she love freely and remain her own person, or will the cost of independence be a lonely heart? The Unmarriable Kind is a captivating slow burn, historical romance where Victorian societal expectations and personal desires clash. Perfect for lovers of historical fiction that features women who dare to challenge the expectations of their age to live. and love, on their own terms.

When the guns fall silent, hearts must learn to heal. The hopeful cheers of Armistice Day have faded into a quiet, uneasy silence.  Nurse Hettie Taylor returns to Canada married to Alfred — a stranger in many ways — and haunted by the memory of her first husband, Geoffrey, whose death she never fully mourned. Hettie and Alfred return to a world that feels both familiar and foreign, and the life they once imagined no longer fits the people they've become. The Great War is over, but its shadow lingers in every heart, home and memory. Hettie struggles to find her place in a society eager to move on from its pain while Alfred buries himself in work. Their love, once tested by distance and duty, must now survive grief, trauma and healing in a world struggling to find peace. Will the couple confront the challenge of building a future from the ruins of the past, or will the weight of sorrow lead them to divorce? Adjustment Year is a story of a woman's struggle for hope, healing, and the possibility of love in an era tinged with heartache and transformation. Perfect for readers of early 20th-century women's fiction and post–WWI historical fiction.

When conscience calls, one woman must answer. Rose Goodwin, a sharp-witted shopkeeper's wife with a gift for sweet talking, finds herself thrust into an unexpected mission when she's given the assignment to nurse Judith, a gravely ill refugee fleeing to Canada in search of liberty. Initially skeptical and unprepared, Rose must confront her own fears, prejudices and sense of duty. As the women form a fragile bond, Rose learns that true freedom requires not only courage but conscience, and compassion becomes her greatest strength. Will Rose's unwavering commitment to Judith lead her to discover her true self, or will the burden of her assignment cost her everything she holds dear? Rose's Assignment explores the complex realities of life in pre-Confederation Canada, where conviction could change lives. Through Rose's eyes, readers witness the human cost of freedom and the power of doing what is right even when it's not easy. Perfect for readers who believe one person's kindness can change the world.

Three novels. One unforgettable journey through love, loss and courage. Melina Druga's Where Poppies Grow brings together three sweeping novels that trace the emotional and human cost of the Great War through the eyes of those who lived it. From the battlefields of Europe to the quiet streets of wartime Canada, Echoes of the Great War Trilogy follows nurse Hettie Steward and her loved ones as they navigate chaos, heartbreak and hope. Angel of Mercy – Newlywed nurse Hettie Steward defies convention to join the Canadian Army Nursing Service. As war rages across Europe, she learns that courage takes many forms and that love can be both a burden and a balm. Those Left Behind – While Hettie serves overseas, her family fights its own battles on the home front. Letters carry both love and grief across the sea, and the family discovers that resilience and sacrifice are not confined to the battlefield. Adjustment Year –The guns have fallen silent, but peace brings its own trials. As Hettie and her husband return home, they must find the strength to rebuild their lives, and their hearts, in a changed world. Where Poppies Grow is a deeply moving portrait of love, endurance, and the transformative power of hope. Rich with historical detail, heart, and authenticity, this complete collection reveals that even in war's darkest shadow, love endures.

Three generations. Three stories. One unbreakable legacy. Spanning nearly a century of Canadian history, The Trail Blazers tells the stories of three generations of women whose courage, compassion, and endurance shaped the family at the heart of the Echoes of the Great War Trilogy. From the rugged wilds of pioneer Ontario to the dawn of a new nation, these three novellas explore the strength it takes to survive, love, and hope in a changing world. Journey of Hope — 1829: A young couple leaves everything behind to build a new life in a wild and unforgiving land.Rose's Assignment — 1859: A wife's act of compassion for a fugitive woman changes the course of her family's future.The Unmarriable Kind — 1884: A fiercely independent teacher challenges society's definition of womanhood, risking her freedom — and her heart. Told with emotional depth and rich historical detail, these prequels explore the roots of courage and endurance that echo through generations. Perfect for readers who love women's fiction with a strong female protagonist, this collection celebrates the unyielding spirit of women who paved the way for those to come.