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Scottish Escapes #1
A Secret Scottish Escape
When Scotland’s sleepiest hamlet becomes the centre of hot gossip, Layla Devlin finds herself caught in a mystery…
When Layla’s fiancée has an unexpected heart attack and dies – in another woman’s arms, no less – Layla is determined to pack up and leave Loch Harris, the village she’s always called home. But an unexpected inheritance and love for her quiet corner of Scotland send her down a new path.
Now Layla finds herself facing a whole new kind of drama. Rumours swirl that a celebrity has moved into Coorie Cottage and Layla is determined to have him headline her opening night at local music venue The Conch Club. But the reclusive star is equally determined to thwart Layla’s efforts. Rafe Buchanan is in hiding for a reason, and soon his past comes to Loch Harris to haunt him…
When Layla’s fiancée has an unexpected heart attack and dies – in another woman’s arms, no less – Layla is determined to pack up and leave Loch Harris, the village she’s always called home. But an unexpected inheritance and love for her quiet corner of Scotland send her down a new path.
Now Layla finds herself facing a whole new kind of drama. Rumours swirl that a celebrity has moved into Coorie Cottage and Layla is determined to have him headline her opening night at local music venue The Conch Club. But the reclusive star is equally determined to thwart Layla’s efforts. Rafe Buchanan is in hiding for a reason, and soon his past comes to Loch Harris to haunt him…
433 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 21, 2021
1923 people are currently reading
2035 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 325 reviews
February 27, 2023
A cute romance with a touch of mystery. It was a cozy read.
May 27, 2021
A perfect escape to Scotland filled with secrets, Romance, music, and family. Layla is blindsided when she finds out that her fiancé died in the arms of his ex-wife. Devastated and wanting a new start Layla is determined to leave town until she decides that she would love to give back to her community with the money she has inherited from her deadbeat fiancé. Layla has a great relationship with her dad who was in a band in the 70s, in fact Layla is named after the iconic Layla in the Eric Clapton song. Music plays a huge part in this book and Layla is determined to bring music to this sleepy Hamlet and figure out what’s going on with the mysterious new musician in town. The story was a bit of a genre potpourri there is some romance, some mystery, some family drama. Layla was a great character and I really wanted her to find some peace and happiness. The story had a great sense of community I just loved the setting of this small town in Scotland. A great story that gave me all the feels and left me with a smile on my face.
October 23, 2021
I always feel bad when I can't give a book a good review, because I always think it's just my opinion and we all have different tastes. So this one was not for me, but might definitely appeal to someone else.
I enjoyed the first part of the story, in which Layla is struggling to get over the shock of her fiancé's death, and I loved her relationship with her dad. But I struggled with the second part, when Rafe comes into the picture and the whole story seems a bit far fetched and lacking intensity.
I would still like to read other books by this author because the premise of this was promising.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I enjoyed the first part of the story, in which Layla is struggling to get over the shock of her fiancé's death, and I loved her relationship with her dad. But I struggled with the second part, when Rafe comes into the picture and the whole story seems a bit far fetched and lacking intensity.
I would still like to read other books by this author because the premise of this was promising.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
May 26, 2021
5☆ A Captivating and Enthralling Contemporary Romance. A Page Turning Must Read!
A Secret Scottish Escape was an Enthralling Read from start to finish. So much going on, a lil mystery, a lil suspense, a slow burn yet Enchanting relationship, Community Spirit, Family dramas and Music. A Page Turner!
Layla a freelanced writer fell madly in love with an older man.
Engaged and planning to spend the rest of their lives together, she never expected to see policeman on her doorstep.
Telling her that her fiancé Mac has just passed away. Devastated she then learns that he passed away in bed with his ex wife in a hotel room!
Poor Layla's world is crashing down around her and all she can see is the two of them together!
But it's not all bad Mac has left her a fair amount of money and after much deliberation she decides to use that money for good! To turn an old boat house into a live music lounge, to help Loch Harris bring in more Tourists.
I really felt for Layla, she just kept getting more and more secrets thrown at her and none of them were very nice.
But she had so much strength and determination I'm not sure I could of carried on being so strong after everything she uncovers.
A Secret Scottish Escape is a Heart Warming, Compelling and Endearing Contemporary Romance. The location was stunning and very idyllic.
The characters were brilliantly written.
I loved all the juicy twists and Secrets. Oh and I loved the mystery and intrigue that shrouded Mask the elusive and awkward singer.
Oh and that ending wow....I really really hope there is more to come as I was over joyed by the discoveries!
This is my first book by the very talented Julie Shackman, and I'm excited to read more!
Thank you to Rachel Random Resources for this copy which I reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
You can Find this Review and all my Other Reviews on My Blog :-
https://dashfan81.blogspot.com/2021/0...
A Secret Scottish Escape was an Enthralling Read from start to finish. So much going on, a lil mystery, a lil suspense, a slow burn yet Enchanting relationship, Community Spirit, Family dramas and Music. A Page Turner!
Layla a freelanced writer fell madly in love with an older man.
Engaged and planning to spend the rest of their lives together, she never expected to see policeman on her doorstep.
Telling her that her fiancé Mac has just passed away. Devastated she then learns that he passed away in bed with his ex wife in a hotel room!
Poor Layla's world is crashing down around her and all she can see is the two of them together!
But it's not all bad Mac has left her a fair amount of money and after much deliberation she decides to use that money for good! To turn an old boat house into a live music lounge, to help Loch Harris bring in more Tourists.
I really felt for Layla, she just kept getting more and more secrets thrown at her and none of them were very nice.
But she had so much strength and determination I'm not sure I could of carried on being so strong after everything she uncovers.
A Secret Scottish Escape is a Heart Warming, Compelling and Endearing Contemporary Romance. The location was stunning and very idyllic.
The characters were brilliantly written.
I loved all the juicy twists and Secrets. Oh and I loved the mystery and intrigue that shrouded Mask the elusive and awkward singer.
Oh and that ending wow....I really really hope there is more to come as I was over joyed by the discoveries!
This is my first book by the very talented Julie Shackman, and I'm excited to read more!
Thank you to Rachel Random Resources for this copy which I reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
You can Find this Review and all my Other Reviews on My Blog :-
https://dashfan81.blogspot.com/2021/0...
December 27, 2022
I tried my hardest to love this book more than I actually did. I was enticed by the cover and the promise of a Scottish setting and, whilst Loch Harris delivered, I don’t think the plot matched my expectations.
Going into this book, I was anticipating a charming romance read about a girl who is starting over again. This does happen, although the story takes a while to really get going and it took some time before we see Layla grab life by the horns and make a decision to move on from her recent bereavement. However, there was not so much focus on romance and connections, but more of the mystery surrounding a local celebrity that has moved in nearby. Some may consider Layla as looking out for her community, but I grew frustrated by her meddling ways.
Not only does she force herself into Rafe’s life – awkwardly so, I must add – she interferes with her friend’s own love life and there is also a sub-plot about her parentage. I thought there was too much crammed into this narrative that it meant this read more like a cosy mystery, rather than the yearned-for romance. On reflection, there was hardly a love interest in this story and I think this is what made this book so different to what the cover implies. Rather than seeing The Conch Club come together, Layla seems to be more focussed on what everyone else is doing, and this influenced me to like her character less and less.
I enjoyed some of the mystery behind Rafe’s identity but think the writer would have benefitted by simplifying the story – removing some of the smaller subplots (I really could not care about Layla’s true father or what her friend was thinking about a budding relationship) – and spending the time developing the major parts of the story. I wanted to see more of The Conch Club and thought it was a shame that so few pages were devoted to this element of the book – after all, it is what causes Layla to change the direction of her life. Furthermore, whilst the story concludes on its opening night, I thought more could have been done to show the renovations that Layla does and the work she puts in to ensure her music venue is going to be a success.
Yet, I carried on reading this book because I was intrigued by Rafe’s past and how his identity would influence Layla’s actions. I wanted to see her music venue open and be successful, wondering whether Rafe would ever get involved. The writer does leave this a bit open-ended but I do wish the closing Epilogue had not generated a sense of abandonment towards Scotland. True, Shackman details some lovely Scottish countryside but I think this could have been capitalised even further.
This is the beginning of a series and I am curious to see how it will continue. I hope the character development is stronger and the protagonist is more likeable! Returning to The Conch Club will be an added bonus, but I do hope there is more romance and less interfering in the next story.
With thanks to One More Chapter, Harper Collins and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Going into this book, I was anticipating a charming romance read about a girl who is starting over again. This does happen, although the story takes a while to really get going and it took some time before we see Layla grab life by the horns and make a decision to move on from her recent bereavement. However, there was not so much focus on romance and connections, but more of the mystery surrounding a local celebrity that has moved in nearby. Some may consider Layla as looking out for her community, but I grew frustrated by her meddling ways.
Not only does she force herself into Rafe’s life – awkwardly so, I must add – she interferes with her friend’s own love life and there is also a sub-plot about her parentage. I thought there was too much crammed into this narrative that it meant this read more like a cosy mystery, rather than the yearned-for romance. On reflection, there was hardly a love interest in this story and I think this is what made this book so different to what the cover implies. Rather than seeing The Conch Club come together, Layla seems to be more focussed on what everyone else is doing, and this influenced me to like her character less and less.
I enjoyed some of the mystery behind Rafe’s identity but think the writer would have benefitted by simplifying the story – removing some of the smaller subplots (I really could not care about Layla’s true father or what her friend was thinking about a budding relationship) – and spending the time developing the major parts of the story. I wanted to see more of The Conch Club and thought it was a shame that so few pages were devoted to this element of the book – after all, it is what causes Layla to change the direction of her life. Furthermore, whilst the story concludes on its opening night, I thought more could have been done to show the renovations that Layla does and the work she puts in to ensure her music venue is going to be a success.
Yet, I carried on reading this book because I was intrigued by Rafe’s past and how his identity would influence Layla’s actions. I wanted to see her music venue open and be successful, wondering whether Rafe would ever get involved. The writer does leave this a bit open-ended but I do wish the closing Epilogue had not generated a sense of abandonment towards Scotland. True, Shackman details some lovely Scottish countryside but I think this could have been capitalised even further.
This is the beginning of a series and I am curious to see how it will continue. I hope the character development is stronger and the protagonist is more likeable! Returning to The Conch Club will be an added bonus, but I do hope there is more romance and less interfering in the next story.
With thanks to One More Chapter, Harper Collins and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
May 14, 2021
Julie Shackman excels at writing the heart and this book is no exception. An original story with a cast of characters to champion, I thoroughly enjoyed this read. The author waves together the main story with the sub-plots seamlessly and the setting is so well described, I could imagine it clearly.
A lovely, recommended read.
A lovely, recommended read.
March 23, 2021
West Lothian author, Julie Shackman, explores relationships, betrayal, and moving on after grief in her fifth novel, a contemporary romance titled “A Secret Scottish Escape.”
Freelance writer, Layla Devlin, 28, has been dealt a bad hand! Not only is she subject to a flighty mother who abandoned her and now insinuates that Harry might not be Layla’s father, but she’s also just found out that her fiancé, Mac, has been lying to her and has been found dead in the arms of his ex-wife!
Despite the age gap, readers get the feeling that Layla was truly in love with Mac and that his philandering came as a shock. I love that instead of leaving the small Scottish highland village, she remained in Loch Harris and dug in to create a better place for everyone. Her caring nature was well intended even though it came across as downright nosiness at times. She decides to use Mac’s inheritance and build her dream; a live music venue. Layla devotes her energy into turning the old boathouse into a place the locals and tourists could enjoy. When hiring musicians, she meets an elusive Australian who has just moved to the area and bought Coorie Cottage. Aptly named Mask, he shields himself from prying eyes and nosy people by building a protective wall and…. wearing a mask. He’s just what the venue needs; a famous yet mysterious musician.
A unique plot, unique setting and great themes are the strong points of this book. Originally titled “The Garden at Coorie Cottage” this is a light, quick read. Patience is needed to get through the background information as well as dealing with Layla’s mom and Layla’s personality at times. You’ll come away with a fresh appreciation for those who dusted themselves off and continued to work towards a dream despite their circumstances. You’ll also see the need for empathy and understanding as we are all facing demons nobody knows about…and a little kindness goes a long way.
Thank you to Julie Shackman, HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter and NetGalley for the gifted advance digital readers copy. I received it for free and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
Publishes May 21, 2021
Freelance writer, Layla Devlin, 28, has been dealt a bad hand! Not only is she subject to a flighty mother who abandoned her and now insinuates that Harry might not be Layla’s father, but she’s also just found out that her fiancé, Mac, has been lying to her and has been found dead in the arms of his ex-wife!
Despite the age gap, readers get the feeling that Layla was truly in love with Mac and that his philandering came as a shock. I love that instead of leaving the small Scottish highland village, she remained in Loch Harris and dug in to create a better place for everyone. Her caring nature was well intended even though it came across as downright nosiness at times. She decides to use Mac’s inheritance and build her dream; a live music venue. Layla devotes her energy into turning the old boathouse into a place the locals and tourists could enjoy. When hiring musicians, she meets an elusive Australian who has just moved to the area and bought Coorie Cottage. Aptly named Mask, he shields himself from prying eyes and nosy people by building a protective wall and…. wearing a mask. He’s just what the venue needs; a famous yet mysterious musician.
A unique plot, unique setting and great themes are the strong points of this book. Originally titled “The Garden at Coorie Cottage” this is a light, quick read. Patience is needed to get through the background information as well as dealing with Layla’s mom and Layla’s personality at times. You’ll come away with a fresh appreciation for those who dusted themselves off and continued to work towards a dream despite their circumstances. You’ll also see the need for empathy and understanding as we are all facing demons nobody knows about…and a little kindness goes a long way.
Thank you to Julie Shackman, HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter and NetGalley for the gifted advance digital readers copy. I received it for free and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
Publishes May 21, 2021
May 19, 2021
Actual rating 2.5⭐️
Music is the food of love in the new novel from Julie Shackman.
It’s at a low point in Layla Devlin’s life that we first meet this young lady. If the death of her (much older) fiancé Mac isn’t shocking enough the circumstances surrounding his early demise will no doubt raise an eyebrow or two! Distraught, angry and confused, Layla considers leaving her beloved home of Loch Harris for pastures new despite Mac’s very generous bequest. It’s only when she discovers the old boathouse is up for sale that Layla changes her mind; the idea of establishing a music venue to attract more visitors to the area reenergising and motivating her to move on from her grief and the disappointment she now feels towards the man she had hoped to marry. Music is a big theme in this novel with Layla’s dad a former member of a rock band and the appearance of an up and coming talent in the industry who plays an integral role in Layla’s new venture. Why not select your favourite playlist as you lose yourself within the depths of the Scottish Highlands and enjoy Layla’s metamorphosis from unlucky in love to successful business woman.
First of all let me start by saying that all the necessary components that generally constitute a feel good novel are in place; there is a solid and healthy relationship between Layla and her old rocker of a dad, (which provides the heartwarming element), a reliable and loyal friend in the guise of Faith (we all need someone other than immediate family to offer friendship and support!), the opportunity for new beginnings (the Conch club) together with a smattering of mystery and romance set within the idyllic surroundings of Loch Harris, situated somewhere in the Scottish Highlands. What more could anyone ask for?
As someone who reads a great deal of this type of fiction I never expect anything other than a fairly straightforward uncomplicated and predictable storyline. There’s comfort to be found in the familiar and there’s absolutely nothing wrong with knowing within the first few pages how the author is going to take her readers from A to B. Normally it’s the characters who make up for any lack of originality, elevating a novel beyond the mere average into something that lifts your mood and restores your faith in humanity and if there happens to be a handsome, charismatic male to swoon over (in this case the dark, brooding and mysterious Mask) then that’s the icing on the cake! Characterisation is so important in any novel but in this genre I think there’s an expectation that the lead characters will be easy to befriend, to warm to and to even love. I want to care about these individuals troubles as if they are real life friends; I want to empathise and feel invested in their futures; I hope that they will make me laugh as well as possibly make me cry and ultimately I want to finish reading the last sentence feeling uplifted and happy yet at the same time saddened to part company with them all.
So it pains me to write a less than complimentary review when I know the author’s intentions are to deliver all of the above. Unfortunately I couldn’t take these characters to my heart and if I’m brutally honest I found the storyline weak and a little bit dull. It lacks substance and whilst I appreciate the content will echo the usual sentiments of the value of friendship, love and embracing new beginnings, I had hoped for slightly more depth. I recognise the author’s efforts to create mini diversions on Layla’s path to happiness and true love but to me they simply felt contrived and at times verged on the ridiculous. Mountains out of molehills springs to mind! The strange dynamic between Layla, her father and her absent mother Tina which then results in a drama for father and daughter should have provoked some sympathy within me but a swift resolution puts paid to any real concern that may develop. Layla is at times plain irritating although I appreciate she has Faith’s best interests at heart when she meddles in her love life. The same can be said for her gatecrashing the masked singer’s solitude, intent on discovering the mystery surrounding his arrival in this sleepy, remote Scottish village but I found their interactions bizarre. The singer’s backstory and reason for his ‘escape’ is decidedly tenuous. The romance aspect of this novel seems to blossom out of nowhere and ends up feeling rushed but I actually quite liked the sweet ending!
I know why I didn’t enjoy this novel. All the various strands of this storyline could have worked so much better were it not for the author’s overly descriptive writing style. There’s far too much time wasted on unnecessary detail which adds nothing to the plot and only served to distract me, ruining any enjoyment I may have experienced from reading about Layla, her love for Loch Harris and her desire to turn bad fortune into good. Despite all the flowery language, sadly I never felt transported to the Scottish Highlands and this is a place that holds special memories for me. Normally if an author chooses this location as a setting for a novel it’s guaranteed to be a sure fire winner for me as I could wax lyrical about this part of the world forever more.
Whilst it’s fairly evident I didn’t enjoy this novel, it’s definitely not the worst I’ve ever read and I think given a more rigorous edit my overall impression would drastically improve. Reading is of course highly subjective and there’s every chance that your opinions will vastly differ from my own. On this occasion although the premise is good I felt short changed which may say more about my high expectations than anything else! My thanks as always to the publisher and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read in exchange for an honest review.
Music is the food of love in the new novel from Julie Shackman.
It’s at a low point in Layla Devlin’s life that we first meet this young lady. If the death of her (much older) fiancé Mac isn’t shocking enough the circumstances surrounding his early demise will no doubt raise an eyebrow or two! Distraught, angry and confused, Layla considers leaving her beloved home of Loch Harris for pastures new despite Mac’s very generous bequest. It’s only when she discovers the old boathouse is up for sale that Layla changes her mind; the idea of establishing a music venue to attract more visitors to the area reenergising and motivating her to move on from her grief and the disappointment she now feels towards the man she had hoped to marry. Music is a big theme in this novel with Layla’s dad a former member of a rock band and the appearance of an up and coming talent in the industry who plays an integral role in Layla’s new venture. Why not select your favourite playlist as you lose yourself within the depths of the Scottish Highlands and enjoy Layla’s metamorphosis from unlucky in love to successful business woman.
First of all let me start by saying that all the necessary components that generally constitute a feel good novel are in place; there is a solid and healthy relationship between Layla and her old rocker of a dad, (which provides the heartwarming element), a reliable and loyal friend in the guise of Faith (we all need someone other than immediate family to offer friendship and support!), the opportunity for new beginnings (the Conch club) together with a smattering of mystery and romance set within the idyllic surroundings of Loch Harris, situated somewhere in the Scottish Highlands. What more could anyone ask for?
As someone who reads a great deal of this type of fiction I never expect anything other than a fairly straightforward uncomplicated and predictable storyline. There’s comfort to be found in the familiar and there’s absolutely nothing wrong with knowing within the first few pages how the author is going to take her readers from A to B. Normally it’s the characters who make up for any lack of originality, elevating a novel beyond the mere average into something that lifts your mood and restores your faith in humanity and if there happens to be a handsome, charismatic male to swoon over (in this case the dark, brooding and mysterious Mask) then that’s the icing on the cake! Characterisation is so important in any novel but in this genre I think there’s an expectation that the lead characters will be easy to befriend, to warm to and to even love. I want to care about these individuals troubles as if they are real life friends; I want to empathise and feel invested in their futures; I hope that they will make me laugh as well as possibly make me cry and ultimately I want to finish reading the last sentence feeling uplifted and happy yet at the same time saddened to part company with them all.
So it pains me to write a less than complimentary review when I know the author’s intentions are to deliver all of the above. Unfortunately I couldn’t take these characters to my heart and if I’m brutally honest I found the storyline weak and a little bit dull. It lacks substance and whilst I appreciate the content will echo the usual sentiments of the value of friendship, love and embracing new beginnings, I had hoped for slightly more depth. I recognise the author’s efforts to create mini diversions on Layla’s path to happiness and true love but to me they simply felt contrived and at times verged on the ridiculous. Mountains out of molehills springs to mind! The strange dynamic between Layla, her father and her absent mother Tina which then results in a drama for father and daughter should have provoked some sympathy within me but a swift resolution puts paid to any real concern that may develop. Layla is at times plain irritating although I appreciate she has Faith’s best interests at heart when she meddles in her love life. The same can be said for her gatecrashing the masked singer’s solitude, intent on discovering the mystery surrounding his arrival in this sleepy, remote Scottish village but I found their interactions bizarre. The singer’s backstory and reason for his ‘escape’ is decidedly tenuous. The romance aspect of this novel seems to blossom out of nowhere and ends up feeling rushed but I actually quite liked the sweet ending!
I know why I didn’t enjoy this novel. All the various strands of this storyline could have worked so much better were it not for the author’s overly descriptive writing style. There’s far too much time wasted on unnecessary detail which adds nothing to the plot and only served to distract me, ruining any enjoyment I may have experienced from reading about Layla, her love for Loch Harris and her desire to turn bad fortune into good. Despite all the flowery language, sadly I never felt transported to the Scottish Highlands and this is a place that holds special memories for me. Normally if an author chooses this location as a setting for a novel it’s guaranteed to be a sure fire winner for me as I could wax lyrical about this part of the world forever more.
Whilst it’s fairly evident I didn’t enjoy this novel, it’s definitely not the worst I’ve ever read and I think given a more rigorous edit my overall impression would drastically improve. Reading is of course highly subjective and there’s every chance that your opinions will vastly differ from my own. On this occasion although the premise is good I felt short changed which may say more about my high expectations than anything else! My thanks as always to the publisher and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read in exchange for an honest review.
December 5, 2022
⭐️ 1.5 stars
I'm sorry, I really tried to give this one a chance. I did. If you loved this book, I highly recommend skipping my review, because it's not... complimentary.
All of the best ingredients are here - a small Scottish town, a mysterious love interest, a sweet daughter-father relationship. And yet, the characters are dull and the plot is just... a mess. I truly couldn't have cared less about the countless strange subplots, much less the overarching storyline.
And then there's the writing. I don't think I've ever encountered such an overly flowery, unnecessarily descriptive style. If I had to read that Layla "fired her hair" up into a ponytail one more time, I was going to chuck this book across a room.
Speaking of Layla, why is she so nosey?? Her way of handling relationships is just so invasive and immature, and yet, she is positioned as such a kind and caring MC. No me gusta.
Anwayyy. I don't really feel the need to dredge on about this, but I was happy to escape this one once I turned the final page.
I'm sorry, I really tried to give this one a chance. I did. If you loved this book, I highly recommend skipping my review, because it's not... complimentary.
All of the best ingredients are here - a small Scottish town, a mysterious love interest, a sweet daughter-father relationship. And yet, the characters are dull and the plot is just... a mess. I truly couldn't have cared less about the countless strange subplots, much less the overarching storyline.
And then there's the writing. I don't think I've ever encountered such an overly flowery, unnecessarily descriptive style. If I had to read that Layla "fired her hair" up into a ponytail one more time, I was going to chuck this book across a room.
Speaking of Layla, why is she so nosey?? Her way of handling relationships is just so invasive and immature, and yet, she is positioned as such a kind and caring MC. No me gusta.
Anwayyy. I don't really feel the need to dredge on about this, but I was happy to escape this one once I turned the final page.
November 18, 2022
This is a fantastically compelling read. The characters were wonderful and it’s so well written. It’s a fabulous story and that ending , this was a completely heartwarming and endearing read, which I throughly recommend
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion
November 15, 2021
I did enjoy this book, the setting sounded absolutely sublime which was the main attraction for me. A lovely romance with a difficult story. Easy to read at bedtime.
May 26, 2021
This is a fabulous story of a woman trying to overcome a betrayal, an unexpected death, and questionable paternity, all while accepting guilt money to help bring back life to her community. Oh, and let's not forget the mysterious masked man who has captured her attention. There's a lot going on, but it flows together nicely as Layla gets what she deserves.
Speaking of Layla, she's a kind, generous, and passionate person who comes back from a nasty shock by giving back to her community. She has a lot going on with the untimely and uncomfortable death of her fiancé, her mother's flippant and nasty remark about her paternity, her best friend's love life, a mystery to solve, and a new business to get ready. Her idea to create a music venue to help the dwindling tourism in her home of Loch Harris is genius and who better to have for her opening act than her dad's former rock band, Battalion. But first, her dad has to get the retired band members to agree which may be difficult considering an important talk he needs to have with one of them. Her "neighborly" ways are part of her charm, so when Layla asks the mysterious and reclusive singer simply called Mask to perform as well, he shoots her down...until he sends her some tapes with his new songs to play during her grand opening. Can you say whiplash? The guy is rude to her one minute and then engages with her the next. But Layla is a determined gal as she plans to find out who is, what caused the scar on his face, and who the strange woman is who is dead set on ruining him by gossip. Can she finally find happiness in the Highlands?
I have to say, I love Layla's dad, Harry. He's a very caring and cool father with a green thumb who adores his daughter and it's fun to see him find a little happiness himself. Layla's best friend and commitment-phobe, Faith, has her own attraction going on which Layla gives a little push in the right direction. Mask, is a broken man with a truckload of guilt that finds solace in gardening and singing. Until he meets the woman who can save him from himself. Also, it must be my week in reading about evil mothers because Layla's mother, Tina, fits the bill when she abandons her husband and daughter for a more glamourous life only to come back when Layla inherits some money. Don't worry, she gets her just desserts.
This book had me at Scotland and romance. If you enjoy lovely stories filled with heartache, hope, and compelling and engaging characters in a beautiful Scottish setting, give this book a try.
Thank you to Ms. Shackman for giving me the opportunity to read this book with no expectation of a positive review.
Speaking of Layla, she's a kind, generous, and passionate person who comes back from a nasty shock by giving back to her community. She has a lot going on with the untimely and uncomfortable death of her fiancé, her mother's flippant and nasty remark about her paternity, her best friend's love life, a mystery to solve, and a new business to get ready. Her idea to create a music venue to help the dwindling tourism in her home of Loch Harris is genius and who better to have for her opening act than her dad's former rock band, Battalion. But first, her dad has to get the retired band members to agree which may be difficult considering an important talk he needs to have with one of them. Her "neighborly" ways are part of her charm, so when Layla asks the mysterious and reclusive singer simply called Mask to perform as well, he shoots her down...until he sends her some tapes with his new songs to play during her grand opening. Can you say whiplash? The guy is rude to her one minute and then engages with her the next. But Layla is a determined gal as she plans to find out who is, what caused the scar on his face, and who the strange woman is who is dead set on ruining him by gossip. Can she finally find happiness in the Highlands?
I have to say, I love Layla's dad, Harry. He's a very caring and cool father with a green thumb who adores his daughter and it's fun to see him find a little happiness himself. Layla's best friend and commitment-phobe, Faith, has her own attraction going on which Layla gives a little push in the right direction. Mask, is a broken man with a truckload of guilt that finds solace in gardening and singing. Until he meets the woman who can save him from himself. Also, it must be my week in reading about evil mothers because Layla's mother, Tina, fits the bill when she abandons her husband and daughter for a more glamourous life only to come back when Layla inherits some money. Don't worry, she gets her just desserts.
This book had me at Scotland and romance. If you enjoy lovely stories filled with heartache, hope, and compelling and engaging characters in a beautiful Scottish setting, give this book a try.
Thank you to Ms. Shackman for giving me the opportunity to read this book with no expectation of a positive review.
March 1, 2023
This is the first book I’ve read by the author. The description sounded like something I would like, so I decided to give it a try. The fact that there are additional books in the series was an added attraction; I’m a sucker for a series. This did not disappoint.
As the book opens Layla learns that her much older fiancée has died of a heart attack. Making things even worse, she finds out he was having sex with his ex-wife at the time, and apparently had been having an affair for most of the time he and Layla were together. Reeling, from the shock, Layla decides to refuse the huge pot of money her fiancée left her and leave her tiny Scottish village behind. Fortunately, Layla has an epiphany and decides instead to accept the money and use it to help the village by starting a small live music venue to bring in tourists.
There’s a lot going on in this book, from a mystery singer hiding out in the village to the reasons Layla’s father’s rock group broke up years ago to the bombshell her long-estranged mother drops on Layla to her best friend’s troubled romance. Somehow the author managed to weave it all together and kept me interested in every part of the story, and in all of the characters (well, except for Layla’s evil mother).
While Layla eventually gets a love interest, the book is really all about Layla and her journey. There is definitely a happy ending, not just for Layla, but for many of the other key characters. This was such a pleasant surprise. I had a lot of other things to do, but instead spent most of a day just reading this book. I am definitely looking forward to reading more by this author!
As the book opens Layla learns that her much older fiancée has died of a heart attack. Making things even worse, she finds out he was having sex with his ex-wife at the time, and apparently had been having an affair for most of the time he and Layla were together. Reeling, from the shock, Layla decides to refuse the huge pot of money her fiancée left her and leave her tiny Scottish village behind. Fortunately, Layla has an epiphany and decides instead to accept the money and use it to help the village by starting a small live music venue to bring in tourists.
There’s a lot going on in this book, from a mystery singer hiding out in the village to the reasons Layla’s father’s rock group broke up years ago to the bombshell her long-estranged mother drops on Layla to her best friend’s troubled romance. Somehow the author managed to weave it all together and kept me interested in every part of the story, and in all of the characters (well, except for Layla’s evil mother).
While Layla eventually gets a love interest, the book is really all about Layla and her journey. There is definitely a happy ending, not just for Layla, but for many of the other key characters. This was such a pleasant surprise. I had a lot of other things to do, but instead spent most of a day just reading this book. I am definitely looking forward to reading more by this author!
May 25, 2021
This is a heartwarming story about finding your purpose in life. Layla feels heartbroken and betrayed when her fiance dies unexpectedly. His hurtful secrets make her want to run away. Music and helping the community she loves help her heal. She has supportive relationships with the father who raised her and her best friend. Mysterious men with secrets is a recurring theme in this story, and one of them offers a second chance for Layla if she's courageous enough to try again. The setting is well described. This is an uplifting story of love and loss.
I received a copy of this book from One More Chapter via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
August 15, 2022
I love the idea, and the characters in this story, but they actual telling reads more as an outline than a finished story. It was sweet, but left me wanting something more.
April 24, 2023
I wanted to enjoy this book as an easy read. Unfortunately, the author's writing style wasn't for me. I'd have preferred fewer plot points, less description, and more character development. The interactions between some characters felt forced and some situations seemed to come from nowhere. Overall I was left disappointed; the book had a nice concept but could have been executed better.
March 22, 2021
I was looking forward to this story, the synopsis sounded really interesting, though I am not sure it had anything to do with a Scottish escape. The premise is good, Layla has to cope with the death of her fiance and finding out he died in his ex-wife's bed, which is enough to upset anyone's life. I have to say that the beginning of the story kept my interest and I had high hopes for a good read. However, about halfway through it seemed to lose its way, became predictable and lacked drive.
Layla was a good character and I liked her relationship with her Dad. Rafe "Mask" was a typical reclusive musician type, with something to hide. It took a while to like him but I did in the end. Generally, all the characters were well developed and relatable.
I found the writing style mixed, overly descriptive in places, (I really didn't need to know which direction she was indicating every time she was driving) and at others, the story leapt ahead. It is a gentle story, not sure I would actually class it as romance, because there wasn't a lot but I am sure it will appeal to a lot of readers, just not for me.
Layla was a good character and I liked her relationship with her Dad. Rafe "Mask" was a typical reclusive musician type, with something to hide. It took a while to like him but I did in the end. Generally, all the characters were well developed and relatable.
I found the writing style mixed, overly descriptive in places, (I really didn't need to know which direction she was indicating every time she was driving) and at others, the story leapt ahead. It is a gentle story, not sure I would actually class it as romance, because there wasn't a lot but I am sure it will appeal to a lot of readers, just not for me.
June 11, 2021
This was my first book by this author and will not be the last as she is simply brilliant set in beautiful Scotland you feel you are there in the countryside and the characters are brilliant full of heartache romance and mystery as well and starting your life again. Worth far more than five stars.
Layla has lived in Scotland all her life her mother left her when she was young and her father brought her up. She has a boyfriend who is older than him but when he suddenly passes away in the arms of his ex she wonders what they did have. She feels she’s going to move away she’s left plenty of money in his will and suddenly she changes her mind and buys somewhere local to change to a night club as such. Someone moves locally who is trying to get away from his past and he is very keen on Layla popping up to his house can they work through there problems and is their more to the pair than meets the eye. Can he work through his past and let it go and move forward to be happy and will all work out for Layla will she be happy again or not.
Layla has lived in Scotland all her life her mother left her when she was young and her father brought her up. She has a boyfriend who is older than him but when he suddenly passes away in the arms of his ex she wonders what they did have. She feels she’s going to move away she’s left plenty of money in his will and suddenly she changes her mind and buys somewhere local to change to a night club as such. Someone moves locally who is trying to get away from his past and he is very keen on Layla popping up to his house can they work through there problems and is their more to the pair than meets the eye. Can he work through his past and let it go and move forward to be happy and will all work out for Layla will she be happy again or not.
November 28, 2021
Thanks to netgalley for the chance to read this book.
My first book by this author and it didn’t disappoint.
Layla’s fiancé has a heart attack and dies suddenly. She then finds out the whole of their relationship was a lie. She is determined to pack up and leave the village of Loch Harris and restart somewhere else. Then her fiancé’s will is read and she discovers an unexpected inheritance. She decides to use the money to open the conch club a live music venue. She then finds out that a famous music artist has moved into the village and she wants him to headline the open night. Things are not all as they seem and she discovers the music artist is hiding for a reason, will she be able to talk him round or will she get herself involved in something she shouldn’t.
My first book by this author and it didn’t disappoint.
Layla’s fiancé has a heart attack and dies suddenly. She then finds out the whole of their relationship was a lie. She is determined to pack up and leave the village of Loch Harris and restart somewhere else. Then her fiancé’s will is read and she discovers an unexpected inheritance. She decides to use the money to open the conch club a live music venue. She then finds out that a famous music artist has moved into the village and she wants him to headline the open night. Things are not all as they seem and she discovers the music artist is hiding for a reason, will she be able to talk him round or will she get herself involved in something she shouldn’t.
April 6, 2021
When Layla gets the terrible news her fiancé has died her life turns upside down! What she thought was an honest relationship had been built on lies. When she decides to invest in the local village she needs the help of her beloved Dad and her best friend, Faith, and a mysterious musician.
This was genuinely a lovely read. Plenty of giggles and romance and definitely an author I would read more of. Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for this arc in exchange for my honest review.
This was genuinely a lovely read. Plenty of giggles and romance and definitely an author I would read more of. Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for this arc in exchange for my honest review.
July 29, 2022
Disappointing
I kept hoping that it would improve, bit the characters are all two dimensional, especially the unrealistic portrayal of the main character. She was not at all sympathetic, and the so called plot is trite and predictable. I have no idea how the title even relates to the story other than the book is set in Scotland. Don't waste your time with this one
I kept hoping that it would improve, bit the characters are all two dimensional, especially the unrealistic portrayal of the main character. She was not at all sympathetic, and the so called plot is trite and predictable. I have no idea how the title even relates to the story other than the book is set in Scotland. Don't waste your time with this one
August 19, 2021
I was really drawn into this story from the very beginning – Layla’s obviously stricken by grief at the death of her fiancé Mac, but that turns to anger when she finds out that he died in his ex-wife’s bed and that there were layers of secrets that he’d been keeping. She’s so very angry that she initially refuses to accept his generous bequest, and decides that she must leave her home at Loch Harris and start again – but that changes when she discovers that a large boatshed is up for sale, and instead decides to stay, using her inheritance to turn it into a music venue that might change the fortunes of the village she loves.
There’s a lot of music in this book – Layla’s love of cranking up the volume was always a bone of contention between her and Mac. Her father (and they have a really lovely relationship) is an ageing rocker, the band he played with having died some years ago, amid the usual fallings out and recriminations – but they’d be the perfect act for the opening night at The Conch Club, if they could set aside their differences. And then there’s Mask/Rafe – Australian, newly arrived in the area, living as a recluse in a remote cottage with a particularly beautiful garden, making waves with his music but adamant that he won’t reveal himself and wanting nothing to do with the new venue.
The narrative is driven by all the work that’s needed to convert the boatshed into the venue of Layla’s imagination, and I found all the detail quite fascinating – the setting is gorgeous, on the shore of the loch (with some wonderful descriptions), and I loved seeing it taking shape. But the story diverts in a number of different directions before the long-awaited opening night – Layla becomes increasingly intrigued and involved in Mask’s life and his reasons for wanting such an extreme level of privacy, and the reuniting of her father’s band members brings about issues that turn her life upside down. Through it all, she has the support of close friend Faith – and perhaps gets a little more involved that she should in trying to sort out her love life and find her some happiness.
I really did enjoy this book, but will admit that I did sometimes wonder whether there might have been a sub-plot too many – but the threads are very well managed, every one never less than engaging, and certainly make the story considerably more than the “Beauty and the Beast” story I’d been rather expecting. It’s certainly a strong and convincing romance, but there are a number of other elements that take centre stage at times – family drama, mystery, and a few really edge-of-the-seat moments as Layla becomes dangerously embroiled in a few situations she doesn’t fully understand. There’s a strong sense of community about the book – something I always enjoy – and a substantial cast of interesting characters, their interactions sometimes opening up additional threads to the already engaging story.
I enjoyed this one – it kept me on my toes throughout, the story took me in directions I really hadn’t expected, I enjoyed the characters and the surprises, and the author’s story-telling style was a pleasure to read. This is the first time I’ve read one of the author’s books, and I’ll look forward to seeing what she does next.
There’s a lot of music in this book – Layla’s love of cranking up the volume was always a bone of contention between her and Mac. Her father (and they have a really lovely relationship) is an ageing rocker, the band he played with having died some years ago, amid the usual fallings out and recriminations – but they’d be the perfect act for the opening night at The Conch Club, if they could set aside their differences. And then there’s Mask/Rafe – Australian, newly arrived in the area, living as a recluse in a remote cottage with a particularly beautiful garden, making waves with his music but adamant that he won’t reveal himself and wanting nothing to do with the new venue.
The narrative is driven by all the work that’s needed to convert the boatshed into the venue of Layla’s imagination, and I found all the detail quite fascinating – the setting is gorgeous, on the shore of the loch (with some wonderful descriptions), and I loved seeing it taking shape. But the story diverts in a number of different directions before the long-awaited opening night – Layla becomes increasingly intrigued and involved in Mask’s life and his reasons for wanting such an extreme level of privacy, and the reuniting of her father’s band members brings about issues that turn her life upside down. Through it all, she has the support of close friend Faith – and perhaps gets a little more involved that she should in trying to sort out her love life and find her some happiness.
I really did enjoy this book, but will admit that I did sometimes wonder whether there might have been a sub-plot too many – but the threads are very well managed, every one never less than engaging, and certainly make the story considerably more than the “Beauty and the Beast” story I’d been rather expecting. It’s certainly a strong and convincing romance, but there are a number of other elements that take centre stage at times – family drama, mystery, and a few really edge-of-the-seat moments as Layla becomes dangerously embroiled in a few situations she doesn’t fully understand. There’s a strong sense of community about the book – something I always enjoy – and a substantial cast of interesting characters, their interactions sometimes opening up additional threads to the already engaging story.
I enjoyed this one – it kept me on my toes throughout, the story took me in directions I really hadn’t expected, I enjoyed the characters and the surprises, and the author’s story-telling style was a pleasure to read. This is the first time I’ve read one of the author’s books, and I’ll look forward to seeing what she does next.
June 27, 2021
Layla is left hurt and confused after the sudden death of her fiance. With money left to her she initially doesn't want anything to do with it. Then she sees the old fishing shop in the Scottish village of Loch Harris. A small community that is getting quieter as tourists are looking for something different. She decides to open a small live music venue and this is not the only thing to occupy her time or her thoughts as she gets ready for opening night.
This was such a gorgeous story to read on a wet and rather yucky summers day. I was as shocked as Layla after I discovered the secret that her fiance Mac was hiding. I also found myself siding with Layla's dad, Harry, when I heard that she was opening a music venue. I mean a lovely tranquil village with amazing scenery and then add loud music. How the author described Layla's dream soon had me visualising and imagining what this would actually be like and I found myself getting on board with the idea based on the imagery from the author.
The author has squeezed some wonderful threads into this story a mysterious singer, a stranger, some romance, some lies and deceit and also a whole load of wonderful heart waring and lovely moments. While there are a couple of more serious threads there are also some genuinely lovely ones.
I soon fell in love with the setting and the sound of this amazing village. I love the sound of a certain recluses garden and could see myself hiding out there with several good books and maybe the odd large glass of wine!
A story that I found really hard to put down a mix of mystery, romance, family drama and wonderful scenery just make this an adorable book to read and one that left me grinning like a loon. If you like good all-round contemporary fiction and romance novels then you are going to love this one. It is one I would definitely recommend.
This was such a gorgeous story to read on a wet and rather yucky summers day. I was as shocked as Layla after I discovered the secret that her fiance Mac was hiding. I also found myself siding with Layla's dad, Harry, when I heard that she was opening a music venue. I mean a lovely tranquil village with amazing scenery and then add loud music. How the author described Layla's dream soon had me visualising and imagining what this would actually be like and I found myself getting on board with the idea based on the imagery from the author.
The author has squeezed some wonderful threads into this story a mysterious singer, a stranger, some romance, some lies and deceit and also a whole load of wonderful heart waring and lovely moments. While there are a couple of more serious threads there are also some genuinely lovely ones.
I soon fell in love with the setting and the sound of this amazing village. I love the sound of a certain recluses garden and could see myself hiding out there with several good books and maybe the odd large glass of wine!
A story that I found really hard to put down a mix of mystery, romance, family drama and wonderful scenery just make this an adorable book to read and one that left me grinning like a loon. If you like good all-round contemporary fiction and romance novels then you are going to love this one. It is one I would definitely recommend.
September 19, 2022
Feel Good Romance
This is a gentle, easy- going, feel good romance. A sweet relaxing read with a very lovely happily ever after ending for everybody.
This is a gentle, easy- going, feel good romance. A sweet relaxing read with a very lovely happily ever after ending for everybody.
November 1, 2022
Nice easy read that kept you wanting more
January 31, 2023
An easy cheesy holiday read. A sweet Scottish setting and enjoyable (but quite predictable) plot. It did feel a bit repetitive in parts, with similar descriptions used (vanilla as a colour x4, lots of focus on stubble and eyelashes!) But overall a nice read.
March 23, 2023
A quick cozy cute read
January 8, 2023
Layla is shocked when her fiancé dies unexpectedly. In the bed of another woman. As she works through her grief and shock her mother drops a bomb that her father may not be the man she grew up with but one of his band mates. After initially planning to disclaim the significant inheritance her fiancé left her, she decides to use it to open a live music venue in her small Scottish town. Her hope is to help revitalize the tourist economy. Her dad’s band agrees to reunite for the grand opening. She even gets exclusive music from the elusive local music star “Mask.”
The book explores relationships and grief of all kinds with solid side characters. I loved the journey!
I am thankful for the electronic copy of the book that I received from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
October 15, 2024
DNF
Kindle 2⭐️
Could pick this back up but had a really hard time getting into the story and did not find the characters to be very likable.
Kindle 2⭐️
Could pick this back up but had a really hard time getting into the story and did not find the characters to be very likable.
September 13, 2022
I had high hopes for this book due to all the good reviews but was left pretty disappointed. I did decide to up my 2 star rating to a 3 because I did enjoy the first part of the book. It was the last 30-40% that I just kept laughing at the ridiculousness of it all. The romance between Layla and Rafe seems very forced, the dialogue between them was unrealistic and didn’t flow at all, and the last 20% of the book was just too far fetched and reaching. It’s like “oh, let’s just throw this in here to add some extra excitement!” But then the author just kept stacking more and more unrealistic events and it was just too much.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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