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Because of You
ESCAPE TO THE SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS IN THIS BRAND NEW, MUST-READ, HEARTWARMING ROMANCE.
_______________________
A NEW START IS NOT WHAT SKYE WANTS. BUT IT MIGHT BE JUST WHAT SHE NEEDS . . .
When Skye’s perfect life in London falls apart, she loses her career and her boyfriend in one day. Escaping to the small coastal town of Eastercraig in Scotland, she hopes to find some peace to mend her broken heart.
But as soon as Skye arrives she bumps into a gorgeous, but brooding, stranger. One who does not take kindly to newcomers and he makes sure Skye knows it.
Despite the less than warm welcome, she’s determined to settle into Eastercraig, and soon finds her own close-knit group of friends. But it’s the mysterious man from the beach, Bear, who turns Skye’s head in the small town.
Despite his rough exterior, the more Skye bumps into Bear, the more she notices the way his eyes crinkle when he looks at her, and the way her heart flutters in return.
If she can let go of the past and focus on her future, could Skye have found her second chance at forever . . .
Tropes
• Second-Chances
• Holiday Romance
• Grumpy x Sunshine
_______________________
A NEW START IS NOT WHAT SKYE WANTS. BUT IT MIGHT BE JUST WHAT SHE NEEDS . . .
When Skye’s perfect life in London falls apart, she loses her career and her boyfriend in one day. Escaping to the small coastal town of Eastercraig in Scotland, she hopes to find some peace to mend her broken heart.
But as soon as Skye arrives she bumps into a gorgeous, but brooding, stranger. One who does not take kindly to newcomers and he makes sure Skye knows it.
Despite the less than warm welcome, she’s determined to settle into Eastercraig, and soon finds her own close-knit group of friends. But it’s the mysterious man from the beach, Bear, who turns Skye’s head in the small town.
Despite his rough exterior, the more Skye bumps into Bear, the more she notices the way his eyes crinkle when he looks at her, and the way her heart flutters in return.
If she can let go of the past and focus on her future, could Skye have found her second chance at forever . . .
Tropes
• Second-Chances
• Holiday Romance
• Grumpy x Sunshine
344 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 23, 2024
47 people are currently reading
35 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
September 13, 2024
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Skye thinks she’s got it all: the right career and the right guy. But when she catches her boyfriend cheating on her, everything seems to fall apart. She flees Edinburgh to the one place she’s been able to find peace, in order to put the pieces of her life back together.
While there were charming moments throughout the book, I will say there was a bit of bait and switch between the synopsis of the story and the actual story. I expected to read a small town, grumpy/sunshine story, and while the author did deliver that in someways, in others she fell off the mark. The story not only follows Skye’s storyline, but Paolo’s as well. Now you may be thinking Paolo is the love interest, but he is in fact another character in the novel with his own love story. I feel this was a disservice to both their love stories as we don’t really get to see as much page time between the love interests as I would’ve wanted. I would just as readily read Paolo’s own story, and I’m not sure why the author made this choice. This caused the book to drag significantly. I wish she would have committed to a story line and stuck with it. As if that’s not frustrating enough, there’s a miscommunication trope thrown in which doesn’t do the pacing any favors. There wasn’t much romance and this felt more like a woman’s fiction book, which is fine, just not what I had signed up for.
Also, in the novel Skye mentions she lives in Edinburgh and in the synopsis it says she flees London. A minor quibble, but something the author might want to revise.
There are elements in the story that did work for me. There is a found family element that I very much enjoyed and it was lovely to see Skye so readily welcomed. The parts where we did get to see Skye and Bear interacting were quite lovely. Ms. Turner was able to beautifully convey the Scottish landscape that definitely made me want to visit.
A note about the spicy: it’s nonexistent. We get a kiss on the cheek at the 80% mark and a full kiss at the 94% mark.
Overall it was an okay read.
Skye thinks she’s got it all: the right career and the right guy. But when she catches her boyfriend cheating on her, everything seems to fall apart. She flees Edinburgh to the one place she’s been able to find peace, in order to put the pieces of her life back together.
While there were charming moments throughout the book, I will say there was a bit of bait and switch between the synopsis of the story and the actual story. I expected to read a small town, grumpy/sunshine story, and while the author did deliver that in someways, in others she fell off the mark. The story not only follows Skye’s storyline, but Paolo’s as well. Now you may be thinking Paolo is the love interest, but he is in fact another character in the novel with his own love story. I feel this was a disservice to both their love stories as we don’t really get to see as much page time between the love interests as I would’ve wanted. I would just as readily read Paolo’s own story, and I’m not sure why the author made this choice. This caused the book to drag significantly. I wish she would have committed to a story line and stuck with it. As if that’s not frustrating enough, there’s a miscommunication trope thrown in which doesn’t do the pacing any favors. There wasn’t much romance and this felt more like a woman’s fiction book, which is fine, just not what I had signed up for.
Also, in the novel Skye mentions she lives in Edinburgh and in the synopsis it says she flees London. A minor quibble, but something the author might want to revise.
There are elements in the story that did work for me. There is a found family element that I very much enjoyed and it was lovely to see Skye so readily welcomed. The parts where we did get to see Skye and Bear interacting were quite lovely. Ms. Turner was able to beautifully convey the Scottish landscape that definitely made me want to visit.
A note about the spicy: it’s nonexistent. We get a kiss on the cheek at the 80% mark and a full kiss at the 94% mark.
Overall it was an okay read.
January 19, 2025
Che noia.
September 30, 2024
I really enjoyed this book of how the past can haunt you and how letting it go can provide peace, along with great characters and romance.
Skye has returned to visit her Uncle’s home of Eastercraig, her place of sanctuary when things get tough, the only problem is her Uncle Hugh is on a cruise. Luckily for Skye he owns the vets practice and when Skye goes there to find him Chloe, Holly and Paolo take her under their wing. She also bumps into her old friend Hamish who she used to hang around with when visiting Eastercraig and Bear who is the architect visiting from Edinburgh to overseas work at Chloe’s. Although their first meeting isn’t very friendly Skye is determined to get to know the handsome stranger. The story took me on an adventure of friendships, romance and of letting go of the past and doing what is right for you not for others.
Definitely a 5 star read in my opinion and look forward to reading more by Katy Turner.
Thank you to Joffe Choc Lit books for an advance copy of this book with opinions completely my own.
Skye has returned to visit her Uncle’s home of Eastercraig, her place of sanctuary when things get tough, the only problem is her Uncle Hugh is on a cruise. Luckily for Skye he owns the vets practice and when Skye goes there to find him Chloe, Holly and Paolo take her under their wing. She also bumps into her old friend Hamish who she used to hang around with when visiting Eastercraig and Bear who is the architect visiting from Edinburgh to overseas work at Chloe’s. Although their first meeting isn’t very friendly Skye is determined to get to know the handsome stranger. The story took me on an adventure of friendships, romance and of letting go of the past and doing what is right for you not for others.
Definitely a 5 star read in my opinion and look forward to reading more by Katy Turner.
Thank you to Joffe Choc Lit books for an advance copy of this book with opinions completely my own.
February 9, 2025
I read this as an ARC on Net Galley.
A Scottish romance, sign me up. Unfortunately, this story was not really a romance and more of a fictional women overcoming adversity, finding herself and the place where she feels most at home. Don't get me wrong, the story was still nice but it was not what I was expecting. Skye leaves Edinburgh after being cheated on. and moves to a coastal town in Scotland where she establishes her new life, friend group, and keeps bumping into Bear, the grumpy, broody local who does not like out of towners. Bear and Skye have a very slow burn romance but that specific storyline is secondary to Skye's journey. I did appreciate the nod to some romance tropes and the found family element.
Scottish romances novels are instant reads for me, one of my all-time favorites, but this left me a little disappointed. There was so much potential for this story to be a spicy, Scottish, romcom. Nonetheless, the story was nice but just not what I was hoping for.
Tropes:
Grumpy x Sunshine
Found Family
A Scottish romance, sign me up. Unfortunately, this story was not really a romance and more of a fictional women overcoming adversity, finding herself and the place where she feels most at home. Don't get me wrong, the story was still nice but it was not what I was expecting. Skye leaves Edinburgh after being cheated on. and moves to a coastal town in Scotland where she establishes her new life, friend group, and keeps bumping into Bear, the grumpy, broody local who does not like out of towners. Bear and Skye have a very slow burn romance but that specific storyline is secondary to Skye's journey. I did appreciate the nod to some romance tropes and the found family element.
Scottish romances novels are instant reads for me, one of my all-time favorites, but this left me a little disappointed. There was so much potential for this story to be a spicy, Scottish, romcom. Nonetheless, the story was nice but just not what I was hoping for.
Tropes:
Grumpy x Sunshine
Found Family
September 23, 2024
Sweet romance in a small Scottish town🌊🏘
3-3.5🌟 stars
I was attracted to this book by the small town Scottish setting which gave a nice sense of history and camaraderie. The two romances in Because of You increased possibilities for an enjoyable romantic novel but made it drag on a bit and less focused. I actually became more interested in the MM secondary romance for pining vet tech Paolo. Skye, the lead character, and her love interest Bear both had career woes that were quite similar and their slow build relationship was okay but not wildly enthralling. And I am not a reader who likes too much or too explicit lovemaking in the romance, but here there was almost a total lack of PDA or even private displays of passion or affection. Others may indeed consider this a plus.
Thanks to Joffe and NetGalley for sharing a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest opinion.
3-3.5🌟 stars
I was attracted to this book by the small town Scottish setting which gave a nice sense of history and camaraderie. The two romances in Because of You increased possibilities for an enjoyable romantic novel but made it drag on a bit and less focused. I actually became more interested in the MM secondary romance for pining vet tech Paolo. Skye, the lead character, and her love interest Bear both had career woes that were quite similar and their slow build relationship was okay but not wildly enthralling. And I am not a reader who likes too much or too explicit lovemaking in the romance, but here there was almost a total lack of PDA or even private displays of passion or affection. Others may indeed consider this a plus.
Thanks to Joffe and NetGalley for sharing a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest opinion.
September 15, 2024
Skye takes off to Eastercraig to see her uncle after the worst day ever. She walked out of her law exam after a major panic attack and say her boyfriend, aka senior partner at her firm, macking on another women. Heading to her one safe place, her Uncle’s. Only her Uncle isn’t there. Thankfully his staff of incredibly kind people take pity on her and offer her a place to stay. Skye finds friends and romance away from her bustling city life. But can Skye live in Eastercraig for ever or will city life call her back?
This was an interesting with a heavy emphasis on found family. I truly loved the kindness this group showed Skye in her time of need. All around a very cute story.
Island Adventures
Small town
Found family
Love interest named Bear?!?
Thanks netgalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
This was an interesting with a heavy emphasis on found family. I truly loved the kindness this group showed Skye in her time of need. All around a very cute story.
Island Adventures
Small town
Found family
Love interest named Bear?!?
Thanks netgalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
September 28, 2024
A Good Read
Whenever Skye has a problem she always runs to her uncle Hugh who lives in Eastercraig in Scotland and after finding out her boyfriend was seeing another woman and then suffering a panic attack in the middle of an important exam she certainly needs to escape her job and her life. Trouble is, her uncle has gone away on holiday. Luckily Skye’s friend Hamish offers her a room in the castle while she tries to sort herself out and also meets Bear who is working temporarily in Eastercraig, but will she be able to overcome her problems from the past and face a new future? A good read, although I get a bit cross a few times with Skye and Hamish over their dithering in their respective romances, hence 4 stars.
Whenever Skye has a problem she always runs to her uncle Hugh who lives in Eastercraig in Scotland and after finding out her boyfriend was seeing another woman and then suffering a panic attack in the middle of an important exam she certainly needs to escape her job and her life. Trouble is, her uncle has gone away on holiday. Luckily Skye’s friend Hamish offers her a room in the castle while she tries to sort herself out and also meets Bear who is working temporarily in Eastercraig, but will she be able to overcome her problems from the past and face a new future? A good read, although I get a bit cross a few times with Skye and Hamish over their dithering in their respective romances, hence 4 stars.
October 3, 2024
3* An uncomplicated read
Eastercraig in the Highlands is where Syke runs to after discovering her boyfriend is cheating and her high flying job offers more anxieties than satisfaction. Given a month to make a decision for her future back in Edinburgh, she's welcomed into a circle of friends and meets a local architect Bear. Along with Skye and Bear's slowly developing friendship, the author introduces Paola and his longed for love life. The plot contains very little romance, it's all very chaste, there are shy glances, hand holding, inevitable miscommunications, kisses on cheeks and finally, in the very last chapter, soft kisses on the lips.
I loved that the book was set in the Scottish Highlands (the author even included the fearsome midges) an OK read when you don't want to concentrate too much.
ARC generously supplied by Joffe Books this review is my personal, unbiased opinion.
Eastercraig in the Highlands is where Syke runs to after discovering her boyfriend is cheating and her high flying job offers more anxieties than satisfaction. Given a month to make a decision for her future back in Edinburgh, she's welcomed into a circle of friends and meets a local architect Bear. Along with Skye and Bear's slowly developing friendship, the author introduces Paola and his longed for love life. The plot contains very little romance, it's all very chaste, there are shy glances, hand holding, inevitable miscommunications, kisses on cheeks and finally, in the very last chapter, soft kisses on the lips.
I loved that the book was set in the Scottish Highlands (the author even included the fearsome midges) an OK read when you don't want to concentrate too much.
ARC generously supplied by Joffe Books this review is my personal, unbiased opinion.
September 13, 2024
Thank you for letting me review this as an arc!
As much as I wanted to enjoy this story I found it really hard to get in to and a confusing book. Personally, I was getting really confused who’s part I was reading until I got a few lines into the chapter.
This is very much a non spice romance novel following Skye fleeing her town after her boyfriend cheats… it was a heartwarming, healing romance read which did become fairly predictable. If you are looking for an easy holiday read this would be a great.
As much as I wanted to enjoy this story I found it really hard to get in to and a confusing book. Personally, I was getting really confused who’s part I was reading until I got a few lines into the chapter.
This is very much a non spice romance novel following Skye fleeing her town after her boyfriend cheats… it was a heartwarming, healing romance read which did become fairly predictable. If you are looking for an easy holiday read this would be a great.
September 23, 2024
I really enjoyed this book , especially as I had the previous one in the series, although this works fine as a standalone. It’s a comforting rainy afternoon read, from the minute Skye meets Bear we know there’ll be chemistry between them and a story to be told. We also know it’ll all turn out ok in the end,which sometimes is all you want. Admittedly it’s a little bit formulaic, hence only 4 stars: Scottish laird, beautiful landscapes, a village by the sea, vets and cute animals, disenfranchised city dwellers etc but aren’t these the trappings of this genre?
Read
October 10, 2024Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read this book! Unfortunately it was a DNF for me. I was really excited for this one, especially because of the smalltown Scotland vibes! However, this story took too long for me to get into and I often found myself confused with the POV's and all the side characters.
That being said, if you love Scotland, characters who help each other in their time of need and multiple storylines, you might still enjoy this one!
That being said, if you love Scotland, characters who help each other in their time of need and multiple storylines, you might still enjoy this one!
September 25, 2024
A lovely book about a woman escaping after a shocking discovery leads to a panic attack. She heads to the town her uncle lives in which is where she escaped to during rough teenage years. She finds herself relaxing and making friends and more. I enjoyed the characters and story.
Full disclosure - I received a copy of the book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review
Full disclosure - I received a copy of the book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review
October 4, 2024
I was so happy to re-connect with Holly, Chloe, Paolo, Hamish and the gang at Eastercraig, having loved the first book. I just cannot wait to read the next part of the story, which gets better and better, just loved it - funny and heartwarming!
October 14, 2024
It's a nice cute story, but sometimes the pov changed too quickly. This made the book a less fluent read. Also, the main coming together at the end of the book did not give me the wow factor feeling I was expecting.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 19, 2024
A super cute escapist romance set in a small town in Scotland. Very fun to read. Loved all the side characters and interesting stories. Skye was not your usual flawed lead character and her story was a joy to read.
September 17, 2024
This was a cute, sweet novel about a young woman learning to forgive herself for past misdeeds & learn to follow her heart. I loved the Scottish setting & cast of quirky but loveable characters. Definitely going to look for more from this author!
September 25, 2024
Very easy reading romance. Two romances blossom in this book rather than just the one.
Skye- used to be a rebel in her younger years and believes that everything she touches is destroyed.
Pablo - kind, caring, takes Skye in even though he doesn’t know her.
Hamish - Rich family, lives in a castle. Loves pablo but scared Pablo doesn’t feel the same.
Bear - handsome mysterious stranger who keeps himself to himself until he meets Skye.
Twists in the book which keep everyone apart, jealousy, refusing to admit feelings and accidents to bring people closer together.
Just wish the story didn’t end when it did.
Skye- used to be a rebel in her younger years and believes that everything she touches is destroyed.
Pablo - kind, caring, takes Skye in even though he doesn’t know her.
Hamish - Rich family, lives in a castle. Loves pablo but scared Pablo doesn’t feel the same.
Bear - handsome mysterious stranger who keeps himself to himself until he meets Skye.
Twists in the book which keep everyone apart, jealousy, refusing to admit feelings and accidents to bring people closer together.
Just wish the story didn’t end when it did.
Read
September 22, 2024DNF 23%
December 22, 2024
It was a good book I just really struggled to get into it
February 20, 2025
A lovely Christmas story. Very light, love story about 2 nice people.
September 27, 2024
This novel starts off as a girl trying to escape her day job and associated disasters with her love life and heading away to seek advice and a refuge from her troubles but morphs into a love story.
It is appealing and easy to read with likeable characters. A great holiday read.
It is appealing and easy to read with likeable characters. A great holiday read.
November 7, 2024
This was an engaging tale set in a Scottish seaside village. The plot was captivating, holding my attention throughout. The characters were well-crafted, with their diverse emotions feeling genuine. I appreciated Skye and her blossoming friendship with Bear. Hamish, Skye's longtime friend, seemed larger than life and was a fantastic character. The story reached a satisfying climax that had me turning pages well past the time I should have turned off my bedside light. Overall, it was an immensely enjoyable read.
February 12, 2025
This was a dnf for me at 30% because I just couldn’t get onto the story. I was hoping that I would because it was set in Scotland, and I always enjoy going there.
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