Tales of Love and Valor

David Taylor Johannesen was born in Salt Lake City, a fifth-generation Mormon and great-great grandson of Church President John Taylor. Educated in Massachusetts where he discovered his love of sailing and sonnets, Johannesen went on to a career in international banking while continuing his life as a poet and writer of literary fiction. Educated at the University of Pennsylvania, New York University and Trinity College Oxford, Johannesen currently lives in Los Angeles with his wife Linda and border collie Fallon. Previous publications include Falcons and Seagulls A Utah Tale; Last One Close the Gate; and Vespers East & West.

A Wife From ScotlandFiona Stoute Liddell lives a quiet life as a veterinarian in rural Utah far away from her scheming Scottish family until she meets Solomon Fairchild, an American rancher from Boston and rescues him from a life of self exile. Their fateful love takes them to Scotland where they marry in Aberdeen near Fionas clan led by legendary Horse Whisperers all members of the secretive Free Mason Society. Can their carefree love survive these ancient rituals and superstitions?Tooele to ManilaAffable Pete Skip Granger and his fervent wife Madeleine meet and marry in the Philippines at the end of World War Two where he, a colonel under General Douglas MacArthur, and a New England Quaker, develops a highly profitable ship salvage business in Manila Bay; she, a courageous wartime nurse and devout Mormon from Tooele, a small ranching town in Utah. The story follows their courageous but often contentious life together as Madeleine struggles to maintain her faith and identity as they becomes increasingly entangled with Solomon Fairchilds Boston Brahmin family.