A Scottish Island Surprise

by Holly Wyld

♥ Welcome to Primrose Island! If you like heartwarming short stories, laugh-out-loud romantic comedy, characters to fall in love with - and wild, beautiful Scottish settings... you've come to the right place! ♥ A Scottish Island Surprise (Primrose Island Novellas) "Far as I'm aware-" Joe said, dropping his head briefly, the better to compose his features, "-far as I'm aware, Miss, we've no rabies in the Hebrides at the moment." Rose Mackie has inherited a house on a far-flung Scottish island from her curmudgeon of a father who wanted nothing whatsoever to do with her. So she lands on Primrose Island with the intention of packing up the old beach house, selling it to the first person who'll make an offer, and moving firmly on. But Joe Fraser, her late father's neighbour, has some inconvenient news for her on that front. Rose prepares for battle - only to find that the longer she spends on Primrose Island, and the more time she spends around Joe in particular, the more she begins to question everything she thought she knew... ♥ THE PRIMROSE ISLAND NOVELLAS ♥ ✓ Heartwarming, standalone short stories ✓ Laugh-out-loud romantic comedy ✓ Wildly beautiful Scottish settings ✓ Characters to fall in love with Perfect for fans of Scottish Highland romcoms from Jenny Colgan, Rachael Lucas and Julie Shackman.

Genres: Romance, Short Stories, Contemporary, Chick Lit

78 pages, Paperback

Published May 10, 2023

Reviews

[scar! . *. ⋆ (Johnny kavanaghs version) · Rating 4 out of 5]

THIS WAS HELLA CUTE STOP IT RIGHT NOW

[Lisa Mandina · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is part of a series of novellas. It was a very quick read, but I’d call it short and sweet. It had some fun characters in the village, as well as some real background issues that Rose had to deal with. I feel like the author handled it all very well for such a short story. It would have some definite insta-love vibes because of how quickly they do fall for each other, but it isn’t totally awkward like it can be sometimes. It works if you just realize the pace is moving as fast as it is and go along with it. Of course I had to pick this one up with my trip to Scotland this past summer and I enjoyed being back in the country!

Review first posted on Lisa Loves Literature.

[Bookworm86 · Rating 5 out of 5]

BLOG TOUR REVIEW 




Review for 'A Scottish Island Surprise' by Holly Wyld. 




Read and reviewed for Holly Wyld and Rachel's Random Tours. 



Publication date 21st March 2023.



This is the first book I have read by this author. It is also the first book in the 'Primrose Island' series. 



This novel consists of 29 chapters. The chapters are short in length so easy to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!





LOVE, LOVE, LOOVVEEE , LOVED IT!!! A HUGE WELL DONE HOLLY ON AN ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC NOVELLA ♥!!! 



I absolutely adored this short and sweet novella!! It may be the first book I have read by Holly but it most certainly won't be my last. The storyline itself is romantically charged and filled with love, friendship, sweet pets , comedy, romance, fun and absolutely everything you could want in an absolutely adorable book!!! The storyline is unique and I absolutely loved the stunning settings and atmosphere!! Holly's fantastic, vivid and evocative descriptions really make you feel that you have landed on Primrose Island yourself smelling the sea air, feeling the sand on your toes and falling in love with the area and characters!!! It genuinely felt like I had been whisked away on holiday and I was gutted to have to pack my suitcase back up and return to dreary Wales after a beautiful Scottish trip away. This book could have gone on and on as I was completely invested and absorbed in the storyline as well as falling in love with the area and characters. I am absolutely landed that there are more books in what promises to be a stunning series and I cannot wait to get hooked into the next one which is called 'One Spring At Tilladrum' and promises to be just as stunning as this after reading the blurb on Amazon. It is always worrying when starting a new series as you have no idea who the characters are. It is very important for me to bond with not only the lead protagonists but also any characters that may make repeat appearances during the series too. However, there is nothing to worry about when it comes to this book as I quickly fell in love with the characters who made me smile and laugh throughout and I cannot wait to meet them all again in the next book/s!!!  It made me laugh, scream, shout, angry, jump for joy and absolutely fall in love with Primrose Island!! Along the way there are tears, happiness, loss, secrets, romance, friendship and sparks flying everywhere!! Holly's evocative writing skills brings the story life and one minute your chilling at home with the book in your hand and the next you've been sucked straight into the storyline meeting the characters and exploring the Scottish Island. This book had me in stitches on several occasions and at other times left me sitting there shouting at a certain person and getting some very strange looks!! There was plenty going on and I absolutely loved every moment of it. The storyline is unique and I think it is such a fantastic plot I really would love to see this turned into a movie!! I would be the first barging their way in front to get tickets!! There were so many large and unique personalities in this book and thanks to Holly's amazing writing skills each and every one of them came alive. I absolutely LOVED watching all the separate relationships develop and change between the characters and I would love to see where each goes and what they get up to next along with hoping to meet them in the future books in this series! This is a novella so I completely devoured it in a couple of hours and it was a great escape from reality!!! This book was filled with a lovely range of characters and I cannot wait to meet them all again!! Regardless of whether you love or hate the characters they all worked perfectly together to make an absolutely gorgeous storyline so a huge WELL done to Holly for bringing them to life!! I read the blurbs of the future books in this series and I cannot wait to get stuck in to them!!

 


An absolutely stunning read by Holly!! If you are looking for that perfect read to lift your spirits, and keep you hooked then what are you waiting for?? 



Well done Holly on a fun, funny, heart warming and stunning page turning novella!!! I'm looking forward to your next success and getting stuck into the future books in this series!!! Welcome to my favourite authors list ♥ and here's to your next success 🥂



Overall an absolutely gorgeous, fun, feel good, page turning novella filled with friendships, stunning settings, a cute kitten, a mischievous dog and memorable characters that will keep you hooked!!



95 pages.



This book is just £1.99 to purchase on kindle, free with Kindle unlimited and £5.99 in paperback via Amazon which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!! 



Rated 5/5 (I LOVED it ) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Amazon US and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook. 



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[Kirsty · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Scottish Island Surprise by Holly Wyld

I received an advance review copy for free thanks to Rachel's Random Resources and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Blurb

Rose Mackie has inherited a house on a far-flung Scottish island from her curmudgeon of a father who wanted nothing whatsoever to do with her.

So when she lands on Primrose Island with the intention of packing up the old beach house, selling it to the first person who’ll make an offer, and moving firmly on – she’s more than a wee bit put out by her late father’s neighbour, Joe Fraser, and the raft of obstacles he throws up to stop her doing just that.

Rose prepares for battle – only to find that the longer she spends on Primrose Island, and the more time she spends around Joe in particular, the more she begins to question everything she thought she knew...

My Opinion

With less than 100 pages, this book is an ideal quick read. From what I have read, this series has a lot of potential, and this is a great introduction. This is a charming read. I would have loved to spend longer with the characters of Primrose Valley, but that just leaves the door open for me to return in the near future.

Rating: 4/5

[Miranda Beer · Rating 1 out of 5]

Short

This could have been FABULOUS if it hadn't ended so suddenly. So much potential. Why why why was it so short?

[Julie Foster · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this short story about Rose and her finding that her father had always loved her. Her new neighbour Joe wasn’t too bad either. I am looking forward to the next book in the series.

[Joanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think I’m right that this is the first in the Primrose Island series and what a lovely story it is. At under 100 pages it’s a quick read but it didn’t feel lacking in any way although I’d happily have read a longer version of the story.

It’s a classic enemies to lovers story with Rose and Joe hating each other on sight. Rose didn’t want to be on the island at all and I could understand that, given she’d had nothing to do with her late father. It was quite moving to read about how she discovered there was more to that then she realised.

I enjoyed meeting some of the community of Primrose Island, especially Mrs McGillicuddy who has her finger on the pulse of everything which is going on! The island setting sounded lovely, even when the weather was a bit wild. I love a book set on an island so this series certainly appeals. I’d be happy to read more of the books and get to know some more of the islanders. Mrs McGillicuddy advised Rose that there were plenty of eligible bachelors on Primrose Island so plenty of scope for more romance.

Each of the Primrose Island novellas are standalone stories focussing on different characters, although I would imagine there will be some crossover so you’ll get to catch up with some of your favourites. A Scottish Island Surprise was an easy to read, warm and amusing story with a lovely setting and plenty of romance to charm you. I’m happy to recommend it and look forward to returning to Primrose Island on another occasion.

[Kathy Davie · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first novella in the Primrose Island romance series revolving around its inhabitants. The couple focus is on Rose Mackie and Joe Fraser.

My Take
A stone cottage? On the beach? Take me there now! Yeah, it’s old and could do with some work, but oh, Wyld makes it sound so romantic. And even though it's a short story, Wyld does write a complete one.

Busy girl, that Rose. Fifteen cities in the past month alone. Sadly, it sounds as if the photography gig is the best thing ever in Rose’s life. Sad, because her mother and her ex were jerks, that clause in the will about the house, her father’s experiences and memories — we know Rose's thoughts because Wyld uses third person protagonist point-of-view from her perspective.

It’s so sad about Hector, wanting to meet his daughter and never getting the chance. I cried. Although, I gotta wonder that a man can’t organize something in his daughter’s 36 years. That cache Rose found does, sort of, make up for it.

As for Lawrence and his wanting to get back together with her? As if.

That mother of Rose’s! Oy. Wyld never does address why Rose’s mother and family acted as they did. Too bad “mom” never came up against Elspeth, lol. Man, an interrogation before you can even buy groceries!

That was a clever idea, putting in that clause in the will. It’ll force Rose to think. Elspeth has her own ideas — you’ll have to check out her revenge dress.

Every story has some action and “A Scottish Island Surprise” is no different. Most of it is, however, about Rose’s thoughts and feelings as she learns about her father.

The Story
Maybe Rose had never dreamed of owning a house, but she sure won’t be keeping this one! Determined to pack the house up, sell it, and get gone, Rose realizes this may be her only chance to get some idea of who he had been.

The Characters
Rose Mackie is a professional photographer wandering the world from commission to commission. Callie is Rose’s London-based agent. Hector Mackie is the father she never knew. Lawrence is Rose’s ex-husband.

Primrose Island
Joe Fraser is Rose’s neighbor and an old friend of Hector’s. Coll had been Hector’s dog, now he’s Joe’s. Robert and Mary Fraser are Joe’s welcoming parents. Sam is Joe’s godson.

Donal Abernethy had been Hector’s solicitor. Gannet’s Beak is the grocery store owned by Elspeth McGillicuddy — she’s a contender for island matriarch. Angus had been Elspeth’s husband. The Struthers live in Tilladrum House, the big house, where Freya Struther talks about their home and their business.

The eligible bachelors on the island include David Munro, Lockie Anderson, Jasper Struthers, Cameron Fraser, Joe Fraser . . . Potential buyers include Jilly and Gerald Ruskin, Phil and Stan, Eleanor and Patrick . . .

Rolf Van der Mer is a potential, very important client for Rose.

The Cover and Title
The cover is pretty in its soft pastels. The left side is the hilly coastline of a pale, pale lilac hill with a grayish mint hill in front of it before we encounter Rose’s two-storied white cottage with a dark purple roof. A lower and lighter mint green hills follows the house with two bubbles of teal green and with deep fuchsia flowers springing from them in the forefront at the bottom. On the right side is the pale blue ocean with creamy sand separating it from the hills. The series info is at the top in fuchsia. The title, in purple, is below that taking up most of the cover with a white envelope addressed To: Rose below that. At the very bottom is the author’s name in white.

The title, “A Scottish Island Surprise”, is more of a shock.

[Krupa Chirravoori · Rating 1 out of 5]

Heartwarming, cute and feel-good quick reads

I found Holly Wyld's books in a promotional newsletter I am subscribed to, and since I was already a Kindle Unlimited user, I decided to read all of her books in this series. I don't regret that decision.

I loved the cover design for each. I liked Holly's writing style - the use of italics and full stops in order to express the gravity or the surprise of the situation. It made the reading experience enhanced because I could "hear" the thoughts of the characters. It was immersive in that sense.

This particular story is about Rose, whom I could relate to quite well, and Joe, her new neighbour, who will also play a role in Rose's inheritance from her late father.

The story felt believable enough, cute and not overdramatic. The chapters are short and fly fast. The characters are likeable too and keep appearing across the series.

I love the locales mentioned and have now added Scotland to my travel wishlist. Apart from that, the small community feel, the overcoming of personal obstacles in order to be open to a romantic interest and the non-romantic relationships that support the characters were all heartwarming.

This book was worth my time!

[Harpriya Kaur · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️
A Scottish Island Surprise by Holly Wyld

A quick read about a photographer Rose whose only constant in life is living in hotel rooms while traveling for work. So much so that she doesn’t even have a proper home because who needs it when you’re going to be traveling for most of your life 🛫🧳📷 . Rose finds herself on Primrose Island in Scotland in her estranged late father’s cottage trying to make sense of why he left her the house even when they had never spoken or met in her life. A story about trying to accept loss and learning to stop for a minute and appreciate the good things in life.

Things I ❤️ about the book:
👉 The love and connection between Rose’s father, Hector’s dog Coll and Rose. It feels as though Coll understood everything what Rose was going through and he was there to support her.

Things I 🥵 about the book:
👉 Nothing really happened until I’d covered 70% of the book and I wish there were a lot more details about the island and the beauty of the Scottish Island.
👉 I’m still unclear as to what exactly went down between Hector and Rose’s mom and I wish the author would’ve delved a little deeper into that.

[Margaret Amatt · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Scottish Island Surprise by Holly Wyld is a heartwarming novella that will whisk you off to the wild and beautiful Primrose Island. The story follows Rose Mackie, who inherits her father's old beach house and plans to sell it as soon as possible. However, things take an unexpected turn when she meets her father's neighbour, Joe Fraser.
🌸
Holly's writing style is both easy to read and engaging, with characters that you will fall in love with. The story is filled with funny and sweet moments, making it a quick and enjoyable read. The Scottish island setting is beautifully described, making you feel like you are right there alongside the characters, which was perfect for me as I'm a sucker for everything Hebridean!!
🌸
While my only criticism is that the novella is too short and could have been a great full-length novel, it still manages to tell a sweet and gentle story that left me feeling satisfied. Overall, A Scottish Island Surprise is a five-star read for anyone looking for a heartwarming and romantic escape to the stunning Scottish isles.

[Elaine - Splashes Into Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

A delightful novella with plenty of surprises
Set on a Hebridean island where Rose realises
That life isn't always as she had surmised
On Primrose Island where her father resided.

She's inherited his home but there are caveats, too,
Putting restrictions on what she can do.
She'd planned to pack up everything and quickly sell
But nothing is that simple she's soon able to tell.

A story where assumptions prove wrong
And someone discovers where they maybe belong.
From rambling around the whole world all the time
Maybe leaving this place would be a crime?

A lovely novella with characters who
Have opinions to change and things to do.
With Coll to help Rose in what she's going through
To Joe and his family, supporting her too.

A hug in a book best describes this read
So the sequels are now just what I need!
For my complementary copy of this book, I say thank you,
As I share with you this, my honest review.

[Nicola Malloch · Rating 4 out of 5]

📚review📚 131st book finished in 2023

Holly Wyld - A scottish island surprise

Thank you so much Holly Wyld and Rachel’s random resources for gifting me a digital copy of 'A scottish island surprise' in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoy novellas, I find them so refreshing especially between bigger books and this one was great. I have a love for Scotland (from afar) especially the Highlands and this book has the most idyllic setting I wish I could visit. As with most novellas you jump right into the action and meet all the main characters quickly which is great, I enjoyed the back and forth between Rose and Joe. I need to visit Scotland soon especially as my husbands family is descended from there, my inly concern is I won't want to come back.

#gifted #giftedbook #booktour #prbook

[Melissa · Rating 2 out of 5]

Unfortunately felt too insta-love to me (did not realise how short this was going into it!) and so the characters didn't have much depth and I didn't feel their connection.

I picked this up as I loved Scotland when I visited and wanted to be reminded of how wonderful it was there so bonus points for that.

---

"Speak to your solicitor, Rose"

"How about you speak to your solicitor, Joe Fraser"

"How about you speak to your solicitor"

This interaction felt really immature to me and so took me out of the story a bit.

[Damia Dawn · Rating 2 out of 5]

I messed up and read two books from the series before this one, which is the first. Honestly, the first two that I read were way better than this one. It just felt so rushed and incomplete. We didn’t get any bit of the love story, it was just the father and the daughter’s story. there was so much room to work with this to make it great. I just wasn’t there.

[Yaroslava Chernieva · Rating 4 out of 5]

That's the very book people think of when they talk about a romance novel.

Too cute, too sweet and just too perfect If you need a break from all those complicated books with too much drama. Just a short sweet so-called insta love that will left you smiling. Really nice novel, even though there was just a liiittle bit of punctuation errors, it's an easy read

[Jacquie Jerrard · Rating 4 out of 5]

small but great.

I usually read the longer books, but I found this story interesting and the Hebrides seems wonderful. Two mismatch people finally found a reason to unite and fall in love.

[Marloes | Subtlebookish · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Scottish Island Surprise is a charming and heartwarming romance novella that reads super quick. The characters are relatable, and easy to root for. My biggest 'complaint' would be that this story isn't long enough 😅

[Lilia Reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a cute, short novella. I feel like it would’ve been better tho if it was a longer book and there was more to the story. I love the couple in the book. So cute. And I love the mmc he’s so sweet and thoughtful.

[Tomasina Carnival · Rating 4 out of 5]

quite heartbreaking but beautiful

Some heavy themes, abandonment and self discovery all wrapped up in a quick read. I liked how it touched on the themes and resolved them without beating the subject to death. It’s really just the start of their story….

[Johanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this, but wish it had be much longer, I finished it in less than an hour, and just wanted more of the story and the characters.

[Elisa ♡ · Rating 2 out of 5]

if you want something short and with little to no romance, this could be it

[Kelly Jane Motamed · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 rating
Such a cute little story!

[Amy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Bad but short hopefully this ending my little reading slump

[Charmaine Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

such a lovely book to read

So sweet. I wish we could all find that ending peace , love and belonging. It was a beautiful read.

[Diane Jewell · Rating 3 out of 5]

What

What happened to the ending. It just stopped. There is a beginning, a middle, then nothing. An unfinished story. Not even a word about another book or anything.

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excited to read more

Very sweet novella! Fun characters and nice story. Glad I ran across it and can't wait to read more from this author.

[Ellie Marie · Rating 1 out of 5]

That was shitter than expected

⭐️

[Maral · Rating 5 out of 5]

cute

A short story of betrayal and coming to terms with life. The love blooming between Rose and Joe is inspiring.

[Lillee · Rating 1 out of 5]

whole plot could’ve been a chapter, felt like it too
very short book lacked depth sorry