The Secret Castle in the Highlands: Scottish Escapes, Book 11

by Julie Shackman, To Be Announced (Narrator)

‘Julie Shackman knows how to bring the feel-good factor to fiction’ Woman’s Weekly

Prepare to escape to Scotland with a gorgeous feel-good romance this summer… Returning to the Scottish Highlands was never part of Poppy Summers’ plan. But life had other ideas.

With her parents’ cherished holiday cottages losing money, Poppy is determined to carry on their legacy and save the business before they’re forced to sell.

Revamping the cottages is Poppy’s priority until she meets Mason Cooper, a charming historian drawn to the highlands for research. As their newfound friendship grows, is it possible that something more might be enough of a reason to make Poppy stay for good?

Praise for Julie Shackman ‘A fun-filled romance… it’ll take your mind off the winter weather and maybe even inspire you to consider Skye as a summer holiday destination’ My Weekly

‘A true page-turner’ Chat Monthly

‘A wonderfully warm tale’ The Sun

Audible Audio

Expected publication September 10, 2026

Reviews

[Cindy Spear · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved The Secret Castle in the Highlands by Julie Shackman. It is such a special and powerful story. I loved its many plot layers and surprising twists and deeper thoughts behind the events. It contains both a contemporary and historical romance with a riveting Scottish mystery at its core. The tale of the Scarlet Highwayman kept me glued to the pages. There’s great atmosphere, vivid descriptions and charming and feisty characters. And Darwin the dog adds beautiful touches of colour to the relationships, too. I particularly loved the two lead figures who carry on a healthy banter with their clever phrases that often made me smile. The dialogue, gestures, descriptions come across perfectly. There’s plenty of tension, sparkle, mood and movement suitable to the story.

I enjoyed artist Poppy Summers and her determination to help her parents keep their holiday cottages at Port Starr. She returns to her Scottish Highland home from London after a failed marriage. She needs a break but ends up staying when she discovers her parents are going to sell their business because it is not doing well. They also want to travel the world and enjoy their later years. Poppy does not want to lose the home she loves so she offers to take over the business for them and asks for a year to prove she can do it. They agree to her terms. If after this time she has failed, her parents can sell with her blessing. As her parents head off on their world adventures, she stays to get the business back into shape. Poppy is not alone in this endeavour as her sister-in-law and brother will be assisting her.

I loved all the design discussions Poppy has with her sister-in law. What Poppy does to make these cottages special is smart. Her unique design idea is creative but she needs more to keep the holiday guests booking. Port Starr has ample wonderful history to draw upon, including the story behind the Scarlet Highway Man. But she needs to learn more about him and who he was. Fortunately an Australian historian comes to town seeking information. Initially Poppy doesn’t know what to think of him but Mason proves he is knowledgeable and quite gifted. Together they embark on a fascinating journey to learn the truth and that leads them to other people who are good and not so good. A rival family member comes to town carrying threats and this makes both Poppy and Mason wonder what truth he wants to keep hidden.

I loved everything about this story. It kept me glued to the pages. The mystery was fun to unravel and the chemistry between Poppy and Mason comes across genuine. Both have had bad experiences and are hesitant to embark on a relationship but time and events create some positive shifts in attitudes. I loved the little fairy-tale touches like when Mason nicknames Poppy, Rapunzel. And there are times when he tries to play the hero rescuing his maiden in distress.

There is a lot of intriguing drama to work through in uncovering the truth about the Scarlet Highway Man. The McKerron Castle gives up its secrets in time—including a centuries old war between the Summers and Lapleys. I love every step our sleuths take in uncovering the clues. The diary is a great tool for delivery the history and truth and I was so impressed with Julie in how brilliantly she wrote those entries. This is such a cleverly devised mystery that I thoroughly enjoyed from start to finish and for its meaningful depth and mature delivery. As the pieces of the puzzle eventually fell into place, I sighed with satisfaction. A memorable story that stirred my curious mind and heart. 5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thanks to One More Chapter, the Author and Netgalley for the ARC.