What do you think?
Rate this book
Scottish Escapes #3
The Cottage in the Highlands
When Leonie Baxter finds herself out of a job and out of a relationship, she’s at her wits end. Her life has just been turned upside down and she needs a plan, fast.
By chance, on a walk with her rescue puppy, Leonie stumbles across a striking house in the woods; fully furnished but unoccupied. As a journalist, she is determined to find out more, after all, reporting is in her nature.
But her attempts are thwarted by Lily Cruickshank who lives in the cottage next door. Why won’t Lily help Leonie? And who is the mysterious Flynn Talbot, whose letter Leonie finds inside the house?
And in uncovering the secrets of the abandoned house, will Leonie open her own heart and let love back into her life?
By chance, on a walk with her rescue puppy, Leonie stumbles across a striking house in the woods; fully furnished but unoccupied. As a journalist, she is determined to find out more, after all, reporting is in her nature.
But her attempts are thwarted by Lily Cruickshank who lives in the cottage next door. Why won’t Lily help Leonie? And who is the mysterious Flynn Talbot, whose letter Leonie finds inside the house?
And in uncovering the secrets of the abandoned house, will Leonie open her own heart and let love back into her life?
359 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 1, 2022
665 people are currently reading
940 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 168 reviews
February 27, 2023
Another stand-alone read by Shackman in the Highlands series, this book was again quite different from the rest. This novel was more like a cosy mystery with a subtle hint of romance, and I really appreciated how unique it was to my other Shackman reads.
On the other hand, I thought that Shackman could have done more to develop the Scottish setting. For the majority of the book, it could have been set anywhere because there were few definitive references to the Highlands. In previous books, there are some memorable descriptions of the rolling hills, the lakes and, well, the typical weather. But here, despite an abandoned cottage in the forest, there doesn’t seem to be much of Scotland, apart from the odd place name and twisting country road. This was a bit of a disappointment when reading this book because I thought it helped this series stand out from similar stories.
Yet, I still really liked this read because it wasn’t just a girl-meets-boy read. Instead, there are several mysteries that the reader is exploring. From the story behind Merry Cottage to the street artist, Chandler, we also follow protagonist, Leonie, who is in the midst of a job change. There’s a lot of things unsettled in this story and this helped me get swept away with trying to find the answers and, in Leonie’s case, a little bit of happiness.
Leonie’s employment situation sounded horrendous. Her new boss, Athena, is a right dragon and I always cheered when Leonie found it in herself to stand up to Athena’s dictatorial ways. Although Leonie has landed in a new role that is the antithesis of who she is, I admired her determination to make this new opportunity a success – even though it frequently led to her locking horns with her boss. I could not see how this part of the plot would unfold and was intrigued to see whether this would end in a happy new job, or Leonie chucking in the towel and being self-employed.
Meeting Lily Cruickshank, I loved Shackman’s characterisation here. She vividly portrays a grumpy, stubborn lady who has clearly lived independently for a very long time. Her bond with Leonie felt like a new start for Lily; but her reluctance to reveal more about her connection to the nearby abandoned cottage gets Leonie’s ‘spidey senses’ tingling. This added another element to the story and I enjoyed watching how seemingly different parts of the plot gradually became connected.
Merry Cottage sounded so atmospheric and I could totally understand why Leonie felt drawn to it. This was a magical aspect to the story and I think I would have liked to explore more of the premises. It becomes the lynchpin of the plot and I thought this was missing slightly from the book: I wanted to see more of the run-down, sad-looking home – more than what the models see – and found myself urging Leonie to be a bit nosier to satisfy my curiosity. Based on how the gardens were described, I’m sure little Harley, Leonie’s dog, could have taken readers around like an estate agent!
This was a sweet, calming read and I enjoyed that romance was not the forefront of the story. I have to warn readers, it did occur in the lead-up to Christmas, which was completely surprising, but I kind of glossed over this in the end because I enjoyed the plot so much. Therefore, I think this could be read in autumn or winter because of the cosy setting and the warmth that comes from (most of) the characters.
On the other hand, I thought that Shackman could have done more to develop the Scottish setting. For the majority of the book, it could have been set anywhere because there were few definitive references to the Highlands. In previous books, there are some memorable descriptions of the rolling hills, the lakes and, well, the typical weather. But here, despite an abandoned cottage in the forest, there doesn’t seem to be much of Scotland, apart from the odd place name and twisting country road. This was a bit of a disappointment when reading this book because I thought it helped this series stand out from similar stories.
Yet, I still really liked this read because it wasn’t just a girl-meets-boy read. Instead, there are several mysteries that the reader is exploring. From the story behind Merry Cottage to the street artist, Chandler, we also follow protagonist, Leonie, who is in the midst of a job change. There’s a lot of things unsettled in this story and this helped me get swept away with trying to find the answers and, in Leonie’s case, a little bit of happiness.
Leonie’s employment situation sounded horrendous. Her new boss, Athena, is a right dragon and I always cheered when Leonie found it in herself to stand up to Athena’s dictatorial ways. Although Leonie has landed in a new role that is the antithesis of who she is, I admired her determination to make this new opportunity a success – even though it frequently led to her locking horns with her boss. I could not see how this part of the plot would unfold and was intrigued to see whether this would end in a happy new job, or Leonie chucking in the towel and being self-employed.
Meeting Lily Cruickshank, I loved Shackman’s characterisation here. She vividly portrays a grumpy, stubborn lady who has clearly lived independently for a very long time. Her bond with Leonie felt like a new start for Lily; but her reluctance to reveal more about her connection to the nearby abandoned cottage gets Leonie’s ‘spidey senses’ tingling. This added another element to the story and I enjoyed watching how seemingly different parts of the plot gradually became connected.
Merry Cottage sounded so atmospheric and I could totally understand why Leonie felt drawn to it. This was a magical aspect to the story and I think I would have liked to explore more of the premises. It becomes the lynchpin of the plot and I thought this was missing slightly from the book: I wanted to see more of the run-down, sad-looking home – more than what the models see – and found myself urging Leonie to be a bit nosier to satisfy my curiosity. Based on how the gardens were described, I’m sure little Harley, Leonie’s dog, could have taken readers around like an estate agent!
This was a sweet, calming read and I enjoyed that romance was not the forefront of the story. I have to warn readers, it did occur in the lead-up to Christmas, which was completely surprising, but I kind of glossed over this in the end because I enjoyed the plot so much. Therefore, I think this could be read in autumn or winter because of the cosy setting and the warmth that comes from (most of) the characters.
November 3, 2022
Rating: 2.2/5
"The Cottage in the Highlands" is the third book in the so-called "Scottish Escapes" series. That said, this is very much a standalone story that doesn't rely in any way on the reader being familiar with the two previous publications. Disappointingly, in spite of the book's title, there isn't actually that much of a Scottish feel about this. Yes, it is set in a place that, we are informed, is in Scotland - but it could just have easily been set somewhere else without it making the slightest difference to proceedings.
This is a light and quick read that may suit someone who is looking for a straightforward feel-good tale that they don't need to think about too much. The writing is unlikely to win any literary awards, but it flows pretty well and and is pleasant enough. The characters are sufficiently engaging without having any real depth and the various strands of the story keep things ticking along, even if they are unlikely to stand up to close scrutiny.
For the most part "The Cottage in the Highlands" is an agreeable, if somewhat unchallenging feel-good mystery with an ample sprinkling of romance along the way. It does occasionally hint at some weightier and more meaningful social issues, but glosses over them quite quickly. There will be readers out there who will readily lap up this kind of thing, but it is a touch too lightweight and sickly sweet for my taste and won't live long in the memory.
"The Cottage in the Highlands" is the third book in the so-called "Scottish Escapes" series. That said, this is very much a standalone story that doesn't rely in any way on the reader being familiar with the two previous publications. Disappointingly, in spite of the book's title, there isn't actually that much of a Scottish feel about this. Yes, it is set in a place that, we are informed, is in Scotland - but it could just have easily been set somewhere else without it making the slightest difference to proceedings.
This is a light and quick read that may suit someone who is looking for a straightforward feel-good tale that they don't need to think about too much. The writing is unlikely to win any literary awards, but it flows pretty well and and is pleasant enough. The characters are sufficiently engaging without having any real depth and the various strands of the story keep things ticking along, even if they are unlikely to stand up to close scrutiny.
For the most part "The Cottage in the Highlands" is an agreeable, if somewhat unchallenging feel-good mystery with an ample sprinkling of romance along the way. It does occasionally hint at some weightier and more meaningful social issues, but glosses over them quite quickly. There will be readers out there who will readily lap up this kind of thing, but it is a touch too lightweight and sickly sweet for my taste and won't live long in the memory.
May 8, 2024
This is the third in the Scottish Escapes series, but is really a standalone novel, an easy, light read. Not terribly Scottish to be honest, but a nice story with a bit of mystery and a bit of romance.
November 20, 2022
Leonie is a journalist. She had been working at the local newspaper until an unfortunate event led the newspaper to shut down. She lost her job just before Christmas and she was devastated. One day she decided to go for a long walk with her dog, little did she know that this would be the beginning of a new adventure.
She accidentally found an abandoned cottage with a beautiful garden with cherry blossom trees and creamy tea roses. When she went closer to where a window was located, she took a glimpse inside and was surprised by the way it was furnished, the sofas, the carpet the family photographs on the walls. But something else caught her attention, a Christmas present wrapped up in red shinny paper, on a table. And that was the begining of the adventure.. What could have happened? How could this house be abandoned and that present left wrapped on the table?
Leonie was determined to solve that mystery!
I really loved this story. It was intriguing and held my interest till the end. The chapters were short and easy to read, which is something I really like when I read a book. If you want to read a unique, heart-felt story about love, frienship and you love mysteries too then you should defently read this one!!
Thank you NetGalley, Harper Collins UK and One more Chapter for the chance to read this beautiful story!
She accidentally found an abandoned cottage with a beautiful garden with cherry blossom trees and creamy tea roses. When she went closer to where a window was located, she took a glimpse inside and was surprised by the way it was furnished, the sofas, the carpet the family photographs on the walls. But something else caught her attention, a Christmas present wrapped up in red shinny paper, on a table. And that was the begining of the adventure.. What could have happened? How could this house be abandoned and that present left wrapped on the table?
Leonie was determined to solve that mystery!
I really loved this story. It was intriguing and held my interest till the end. The chapters were short and easy to read, which is something I really like when I read a book. If you want to read a unique, heart-felt story about love, frienship and you love mysteries too then you should defently read this one!!
Thank you NetGalley, Harper Collins UK and One more Chapter for the chance to read this beautiful story!
February 12, 2025
This was cute! Was it an unforgettable holiday romance? No lmao
December 14, 2022
“Live for today and let tomorrow take care of itself”
This adorable novel had me wondering “so is she moving in this picture-sque cottage.
Leonine is a journalist who has a passion for what she does. Isn’t that what life is about? Finding a good few hobbies and activities and DOING them. However, the local newspaper is shutting down so she is devastated. After applying for a job she doesn’t expect to get. She kind-of gets it. Anyway, she went from one field to the completely opposite.
When walking her dog in the local Forrest she discovers a beautiful and abandoned cottage which leads to love, anger, truth telling, and a lot of the past brought up for some.
I really enjoyed her down-to-earth character in finding out the truth and trying to help others that were deceived. I will not say too much about it but I will say this: this novel easily captured and held my attention throughout. The chapter lengths was not too short or long (AKA perfect). This was indeed a unique story about friendship, love and a bit of mystery.
I am so happy to have received this in exchange for an honest review. Definitely recommend this one.
Review: https://clife.blog/?p=7037&previe...
This adorable novel had me wondering “so is she moving in this picture-sque cottage.
Leonine is a journalist who has a passion for what she does. Isn’t that what life is about? Finding a good few hobbies and activities and DOING them. However, the local newspaper is shutting down so she is devastated. After applying for a job she doesn’t expect to get. She kind-of gets it. Anyway, she went from one field to the completely opposite.
When walking her dog in the local Forrest she discovers a beautiful and abandoned cottage which leads to love, anger, truth telling, and a lot of the past brought up for some.
I really enjoyed her down-to-earth character in finding out the truth and trying to help others that were deceived. I will not say too much about it but I will say this: this novel easily captured and held my attention throughout. The chapter lengths was not too short or long (AKA perfect). This was indeed a unique story about friendship, love and a bit of mystery.
I am so happy to have received this in exchange for an honest review. Definitely recommend this one.
Review: https://clife.blog/?p=7037&previe...
April 22, 2023
Leonie Baxter had worked for The Silver Ness News as a junior reporter for two years and loved her job, so the news that the paper was being taken over came as a huge blow. The small team, Doug, Frances and Leonie, had worked well together and they were all upset about the amalgamation with a large newspaper group. But the fact remained Leonie was out of a job and she had a mortgage to pay, not to mention her living expenses.
Trawling for jobs was a thankless task and Leonie needed a break. She decided a walk with her 10 month old rescue cockapoo, was in order to try and unwind. Letting Harley off lead didn’t help matters when she didn’t return at Leonie’s whistle and was nowhere to be seen. Chasing after Harley, Leonie finally caught up with her by an abandoned looking house in a wooded area. Despite its air of dilapidation, the house had something about it that drew Leonie’s attention.
Leonie’s journalistic instincts kick in after seeing the house and meeting Lily, and take her in directions she would never have envisaged. All this while trying to settle into her new job, which wasn’t quite what she believed she’d applied for.
The Cottage in the Highlands is an easy, feel good read with interesting, mostly likeable characters and shades of The Devil Wears Prada. I like books set in the Highlands, it’s such a beautiful location, but I didn’t actually get the sense of being there. However, the storyline with its twists and secrets, Leonie’s attempts at solving the mystery and how it connects to the past, plus her struggles in her new job made for an entertaining read.
Trawling for jobs was a thankless task and Leonie needed a break. She decided a walk with her 10 month old rescue cockapoo, was in order to try and unwind. Letting Harley off lead didn’t help matters when she didn’t return at Leonie’s whistle and was nowhere to be seen. Chasing after Harley, Leonie finally caught up with her by an abandoned looking house in a wooded area. Despite its air of dilapidation, the house had something about it that drew Leonie’s attention.
Leonie’s journalistic instincts kick in after seeing the house and meeting Lily, and take her in directions she would never have envisaged. All this while trying to settle into her new job, which wasn’t quite what she believed she’d applied for.
The Cottage in the Highlands is an easy, feel good read with interesting, mostly likeable characters and shades of The Devil Wears Prada. I like books set in the Highlands, it’s such a beautiful location, but I didn’t actually get the sense of being there. However, the storyline with its twists and secrets, Leonie’s attempts at solving the mystery and how it connects to the past, plus her struggles in her new job made for an entertaining read.
December 3, 2022
I do love a book set in Scotland and if it’s the Highlands then even better, so I was excited to jump into another fabulous story by Julie Shackman and couldn’t wait to get some time alone with my feet up.
As always with Julie’s books it’s a lovely, feel good book with lots of humour along the ride, she still amidst the fun manages to touch on difficult issues and handle them with care and sensitivity, it’s such a wonderful talent she has.
Her characters are so relatable, so well-written they are full of so much personality that you’ll even fall in love with the pets. The Cottage in the Highlands” is an adorable, feel-good mystery with plenty of romance for good measure, one that will keep you happy on a cold night tucked up indoors.
Thanks to Julie Shackman and Rachel’s Random Resources for the opportunity to enjoy and take part in the blog tour for this gorgeous story. For full disclosure I was given a free ebook in return for a voluntary and honest review, all opinions are my own and freely given.
As always with Julie’s books it’s a lovely, feel good book with lots of humour along the ride, she still amidst the fun manages to touch on difficult issues and handle them with care and sensitivity, it’s such a wonderful talent she has.
Her characters are so relatable, so well-written they are full of so much personality that you’ll even fall in love with the pets. The Cottage in the Highlands” is an adorable, feel-good mystery with plenty of romance for good measure, one that will keep you happy on a cold night tucked up indoors.
Thanks to Julie Shackman and Rachel’s Random Resources for the opportunity to enjoy and take part in the blog tour for this gorgeous story. For full disclosure I was given a free ebook in return for a voluntary and honest review, all opinions are my own and freely given.
August 16, 2024
Cute read but not a *great* book. Am I upset I read it? No. Would I recommend it? Also probably no.
August 13, 2022
I absolutely adored The Cottage in the Highlands, the latest romantic mystery instalment of the Scottish Escape series from Julie Shackman! I love stories that include lost letters and this novel has a very special one that sets everything in motion—which gives the charming narrative an exceptional edge.
Once I started reading The Cottage in the Highlands, I found it hard to put down. From the first page to the last it held my interest, made me care about the characters and sparked some creative thinking. The pacing was perfect—no lulls or empty spaces or tapping my fingers. Rather, my eyes were glued to the pages as I followed each intriguing character through their tumultuous dramas. The plot was excellent and offered some wonderful twists making the journey even more exciting. Julie’s wit and unique writing style never lets her down and this story is filled with delightful images, clever dialogue and charming scenes. The Scottish Highlands always offer an inspiring setting and the author makes good use of it.
The lead, Leonie Baxter, is a most likeable character. She is a journalist who finds herself soon to be out of work but to no fault of her own. The unexpected changes in her industry leave her in a bad position but she is not one to give up and begins searching for another job and finds one. But this new adventure is full of surprises and not quite what she was expecting. Yet, she appreciates the opportunity and is up for the challenge so makes the best out of a difficult circumstance (making lemonade from lemons so to speak).
The Cottage in the Highlands gives us some very interesting story leads. The inquisitive characteristics of being a journalist, though great for Leonie’s job, finds its way into her personal life and causes havoc in ways she is not anticipating. It all begins on a walk with her dog when she stumbles over an abandoned furnished cottage and a grumpy older lady living next door. This encounter leads to even more surprises and twists as the threads from the past intertwine with the present to create an intriguing future for all involved.
I really did not want to say goodbye to this wonderful cast of characters and this beautiful story filled with secrets, love and second chances. I must add, it also addresses some negative aspects of human nature which I will not reveal as I do not want to give anything away. But it just makes this story even more relevant and how to turn negative experiences into positives. Good hearts triumph and the ending is very satisfying. But I wanted to keep reading because the journey was so enjoyable and uplifting! Please do yourself a favour and get this novel when it comes out in December as there are enchanting touches of Christmas in it, too. I highly recommend The Cottage in the Highlands. It is mesmerising, magical and moving. 5 Glorious Stars!
Many thanks to HarperCollins One More Chapter and Netgalley for a review copy.
Once I started reading The Cottage in the Highlands, I found it hard to put down. From the first page to the last it held my interest, made me care about the characters and sparked some creative thinking. The pacing was perfect—no lulls or empty spaces or tapping my fingers. Rather, my eyes were glued to the pages as I followed each intriguing character through their tumultuous dramas. The plot was excellent and offered some wonderful twists making the journey even more exciting. Julie’s wit and unique writing style never lets her down and this story is filled with delightful images, clever dialogue and charming scenes. The Scottish Highlands always offer an inspiring setting and the author makes good use of it.
The lead, Leonie Baxter, is a most likeable character. She is a journalist who finds herself soon to be out of work but to no fault of her own. The unexpected changes in her industry leave her in a bad position but she is not one to give up and begins searching for another job and finds one. But this new adventure is full of surprises and not quite what she was expecting. Yet, she appreciates the opportunity and is up for the challenge so makes the best out of a difficult circumstance (making lemonade from lemons so to speak).
The Cottage in the Highlands gives us some very interesting story leads. The inquisitive characteristics of being a journalist, though great for Leonie’s job, finds its way into her personal life and causes havoc in ways she is not anticipating. It all begins on a walk with her dog when she stumbles over an abandoned furnished cottage and a grumpy older lady living next door. This encounter leads to even more surprises and twists as the threads from the past intertwine with the present to create an intriguing future for all involved.
I really did not want to say goodbye to this wonderful cast of characters and this beautiful story filled with secrets, love and second chances. I must add, it also addresses some negative aspects of human nature which I will not reveal as I do not want to give anything away. But it just makes this story even more relevant and how to turn negative experiences into positives. Good hearts triumph and the ending is very satisfying. But I wanted to keep reading because the journey was so enjoyable and uplifting! Please do yourself a favour and get this novel when it comes out in December as there are enchanting touches of Christmas in it, too. I highly recommend The Cottage in the Highlands. It is mesmerising, magical and moving. 5 Glorious Stars!
Many thanks to HarperCollins One More Chapter and Netgalley for a review copy.
November 19, 2022
Recently, I have been interested in cosy, feel-good reads. The kind of books with pretty illustrations of countryside houses or colourful gardens. I know what I'm looking for when I see it, and when I saw the cover of this book, the charming illustration with the eye-catching fonts and colours appealed to me.
I thought this book was delightful. I hadn't read any of the other books in the series, but it didn't affect my enjoyment of the book at all. I related to Leonie, and sympathised with her situation. I was looking for a feel-good book, and what I found was that this did make me feel good - it warmed my heart and made me smile, without anything being overly sentimental or sugar-coated. There were a few moments during the story when I found myself chuckling too.
This reminded me a little bit of Milly Johnson's books, which I've also been enjoying recently. It seems like the perfect kind of book to read if you want something that will cheer you up, or just want to relax and escape for a while. I would be interested in reading some more of the books in this series.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for a free copy to read and review.
I thought this book was delightful. I hadn't read any of the other books in the series, but it didn't affect my enjoyment of the book at all. I related to Leonie, and sympathised with her situation. I was looking for a feel-good book, and what I found was that this did make me feel good - it warmed my heart and made me smile, without anything being overly sentimental or sugar-coated. There were a few moments during the story when I found myself chuckling too.
This reminded me a little bit of Milly Johnson's books, which I've also been enjoying recently. It seems like the perfect kind of book to read if you want something that will cheer you up, or just want to relax and escape for a while. I would be interested in reading some more of the books in this series.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for a free copy to read and review.
August 15, 2022
I received an ARC of, The Cottage in the Highlands, by Julie Shackman. Leonie finds an abandoned house on one of her walks, the house interests her, but the cranky neighbor Lily, does not. Leonie finds a note in the house, now she has a mystery to solve. A very good read.
November 26, 2022
This was a very cute and enjoyable read. Long lost loves, a mysterious cottage in the woods, betrayal, and reunions. There wasn’t much romance included but the story worked well.
August 31, 2022
Thank you to Netgalley and One More Chapter publishing for giving me an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Leonie Baxter is a journalist who finds out her beloved local paper is merging into a bigger publication and she is out of a job. On a walk in the woods with her beloved rescue dog, he chases a fox into the grounds of a mysterious house, fully furnished and abandoned. Leonie is determined to find out more about the place. Especially on meeting it's strange and quiet next door neighbour Lily who doesn't seem to want anyone asking questions or poking about. But when Leonie finds a letter addressed to Lily from a long lost love she tried to track down the mysterious suitor and gets more than she bargained for.
This is a really lovely book, about friendship and romance and second chances. I would recommend it for anyone wanting a good book to curl up with.
Leonie Baxter is a journalist who finds out her beloved local paper is merging into a bigger publication and she is out of a job. On a walk in the woods with her beloved rescue dog, he chases a fox into the grounds of a mysterious house, fully furnished and abandoned. Leonie is determined to find out more about the place. Especially on meeting it's strange and quiet next door neighbour Lily who doesn't seem to want anyone asking questions or poking about. But when Leonie finds a letter addressed to Lily from a long lost love she tried to track down the mysterious suitor and gets more than she bargained for.
This is a really lovely book, about friendship and romance and second chances. I would recommend it for anyone wanting a good book to curl up with.
March 27, 2023
This is the third book in the author’s Scottish Escapes series, but it’s a complete standalone. Our heroine is Leonie, who has worked for a small newspaper for two years, but in the opening pages finds herself unemployed. This on top of a recent breakup with her boyfriend has left her reeling. She had loved her job, loved her small community, and needs a job to pay her mortgage.
I liked this book, and liked Leonie. But if you’re looking for a romance this will definitely disappoint. While Leonie gets her HEA in the end, the romance – I almost hesitate to call it that – comes very late in the book and is just peripheral to Leonie’s overall journey. Far more important and central is Leonie’s effort to discover the mystery of an abandoned house deep in the woods and the history of an older woman somehow connected with the house. It’s also very much about Leonie’s struggle to survive in the odd position of beauty/fashion writer at a glossy women’s magazine she somehow ends up at.
I liked this book, and liked Leonie. But if you’re looking for a romance this will definitely disappoint. While Leonie gets her HEA in the end, the romance – I almost hesitate to call it that – comes very late in the book and is just peripheral to Leonie’s overall journey. Far more important and central is Leonie’s effort to discover the mystery of an abandoned house deep in the woods and the history of an older woman somehow connected with the house. It’s also very much about Leonie’s struggle to survive in the odd position of beauty/fashion writer at a glossy women’s magazine she somehow ends up at.
June 20, 2024
Skimmed the last third. Horribly cliched. It was like the author threw every last trendy, sensational thing in that she could. Started out ok, but then after Leonie found the letter, dramatic, very unbelievable things started to happen at every turn. I’m a rom com fan, but this was poorly plotted and executed. I only kept reading because I’m on vacation and out of books.
May 16, 2025
This book is the definition of mid. The plot had a lot of potential but the execution was poor. The writing was repetitive at times and the characters underdeveloped the relationships felt a little out of nowhere and some plot points were just dropped halfway through BUT it did pass the time at least AND it was about the highlands so there’s that.
November 12, 2022
‘Live for today and let tomorrow take care of itself’ - my favourite line of the book! And so true.
I enjoyed this story, it had the right balance of a lighthearted tale of love and second chances, with a little intrigue to keep things interesting. A quick read and highly enjoyable.
I enjoyed this story, it had the right balance of a lighthearted tale of love and second chances, with a little intrigue to keep things interesting. A quick read and highly enjoyable.
December 5, 2022
I would firstly just like to say a big thank you to Rachel’s Random Resources who very kindly forwarded me an arc copy of this book, for my kindle, in return for my honest review.
The Cottage In The Highlands is actually book number 3 in the Scottish Escapes series but can very easily be read as a stand alone too.
I really enjoyed this story and the mystery surrounding the abandoned cottage.
Right from the first page i was very intrigued and it held my attention right through to the very end.
It was a wonderful, heartwarming story, with friendship and love in there too and a little bit of mystery for good measure.
The Scottish Highlands was a wonderful and beautiful setting that i really enjoyed. It also had a beautiful cast of characters too and it all made for a wonderful, enjoyable read…….
The Cottage In The Highlands is actually book number 3 in the Scottish Escapes series but can very easily be read as a stand alone too.
I really enjoyed this story and the mystery surrounding the abandoned cottage.
Right from the first page i was very intrigued and it held my attention right through to the very end.
It was a wonderful, heartwarming story, with friendship and love in there too and a little bit of mystery for good measure.
The Scottish Highlands was a wonderful and beautiful setting that i really enjoyed. It also had a beautiful cast of characters too and it all made for a wonderful, enjoyable read…….
September 17, 2024
A charming cottage read. Exactly what I needed for the current times. Slightly cheesy, but I like cheese.
June 2, 2023
This wasn't the cosy love story I expected. The journalist main character I found a bit annoying, but I did want to find out where all of the stories were going to end.
October 4, 2022
This was a cute and very entertaining mystery with a good dose of romance. Leonie is fresh off a bad break up and finds out her newspaper is closing and she’ll soon be out of a job. As she frantically tries to figure out where her life is headed, she finds a beautiful abandoned cottage. While peeking in the windows and the garden, she runs into a grumpy, tight lipped and overly protective old lady who lives near the cottage. Why is she so protective? What happened to the owners of the cottage? Why did it look like they just left one day and never returned? It is one heck of a mystery that I could not stop thinking about.
The love interest, Flynn, doesn’t come into the book until halfway through. I really enjoyed how much this allowed me to get to know Leonie. I could relate to her so much and really felt all her emotions. I do feel like I didn’t know Flynn very well, and he’s almost more of a secondary character. It works, because the main focus of the book is the mystery, not the romance.
I loved all the side characters including the newspaper staff, the magazine staff, the family members and townsfolk. They were quirky and charming.
My only complaint was that this book wasn’t Scottish enough. It has “highlands” in the title, so I was expecting to really feel like I was there. But beside the town names, this book could have been set anywhere. I wanted more setting description. I wanted some “aye” and other Scottish slang.
Still, I found this book very entertaining. A good read.
Thanks to netgalley and one more chapter for this eARC. All opinions are my own.
The love interest, Flynn, doesn’t come into the book until halfway through. I really enjoyed how much this allowed me to get to know Leonie. I could relate to her so much and really felt all her emotions. I do feel like I didn’t know Flynn very well, and he’s almost more of a secondary character. It works, because the main focus of the book is the mystery, not the romance.
I loved all the side characters including the newspaper staff, the magazine staff, the family members and townsfolk. They were quirky and charming.
My only complaint was that this book wasn’t Scottish enough. It has “highlands” in the title, so I was expecting to really feel like I was there. But beside the town names, this book could have been set anywhere. I wanted more setting description. I wanted some “aye” and other Scottish slang.
Still, I found this book very entertaining. A good read.
Thanks to netgalley and one more chapter for this eARC. All opinions are my own.
December 4, 2022
One cottage, so many questions…
Journalist Leonie Baxter enjoys working for the local newspaper. But with the paper is taken over and will be a joint paper with another town, there is no longer place for Leonie. While walking to clear her mind with her puppy in the woods, she comes across an abandoned yet wonderful cottage. Her journalistic interest is piqued, even if she is chased away by the neighbour next door, Lily Cruickshank. However, when her new, yet not as she expected, job brings her back to the cottage, Leonie finds a letter addressed to Lily, from a Flynn Talbot. Who is Flynn Talbot and why did he write Lily? And why is the cottage in the state it is in? These are just a few questions Leonie asks herself, yet she is determined to get them all answered, while struggling with her new job…
Before I started reading this book, I thought I knew what kind of story this would be: woman finds an empty cottage, is intrigued by it, wants to know more, meanwhile meets a man, falls in love, discovers the mystery and lives happily ever after. There is absolutely nothing wrong with is, as I enjoy reading these kind of stories. And as I know this author, I was ready for being wrapped in a warm blanket filled with love and a tiny mystery. But… the story took me by surprise and even turned out to be better than expected!
I think we all have heard about journalists have no scruples, ready to find a story anywhere. But Leonie was the total opposite. I liked it how she was this caring character, putting importance to each promise she makes. And when her promise gets broken, we can feel her agony of not sticking to her word and having hurt those concerned.
Also the way she is honestly caring about Lily, despite Lily being not the most kind person around, gives us a clear idea of who Leonie truly is. It would be so easy to just walk away and forget about Lily, the cottage and the letter. But that is not who Leonie is. And she does not do it because of the story she could get out of it, but because she truly cares.
But also the things she does to make her new job work, made me like her even more. She has now a job that couldn’t be more far away from the persona she is, and even after discovering who got the job she wanted, didn’t turn her into a resentful person, going babbling about the discovery. On the contrary, she sees the reality and is even offering a helping hand. If that isn’t proof that Leonie is the best kind of person, I don’t know what else you need to see!
And the mystery about the cottage and Flynn Talbot… While Leonie is trying to find Flynn, I kind of knew that it wouldn’t be an easy task and the Flynn she found, wouldn’t be the letter writing Flynn. But that only intrigued me more, as I wanted to discover the truth. I was a bit disappointed in the behaviour of ‘found Flynn’, and the way he treats Leonie. But also, I could understand his reservations and this story wouldn’t be so amazing if opinions would change the more time passed.
For me, the focus of this story wasn’t about Leonie and wherever her relationship with Flynn would go, but it was more about the journey Leonie makes. Because Leonie learns that life doesn’t always go as expected, and we find ourselves in positions we don’t want to be. But it’s important to always, in any circumstance to stay true to ourselves, and not take the easy way out. We see how Leonie shows her kindness towards people, but also holds on to her own beliefs. She would never betray someone’s trust for just a story. But she also believes that love deserves a second chance, no matter how much time has passed.
I loved reading every aspect of this book, the romance bits, the mysteries bits, the even sometimes – grasping – for – air bits. But most of all I loved the characters, as they show us all the possible feelings: love, hope, excitement, eagerness, disappointment, anger for injustice and sense of duty. The author managed to put this all in one wonderful book, that made me feel all mushy on the inside, while also made me put on my own investigating hat, wanting to discover the truth. And even if the importance of the setting being in the Highlands wasn’t that much of an importance, with it being in the Highlands, it added that extra sparkle!
Journalist Leonie Baxter enjoys working for the local newspaper. But with the paper is taken over and will be a joint paper with another town, there is no longer place for Leonie. While walking to clear her mind with her puppy in the woods, she comes across an abandoned yet wonderful cottage. Her journalistic interest is piqued, even if she is chased away by the neighbour next door, Lily Cruickshank. However, when her new, yet not as she expected, job brings her back to the cottage, Leonie finds a letter addressed to Lily, from a Flynn Talbot. Who is Flynn Talbot and why did he write Lily? And why is the cottage in the state it is in? These are just a few questions Leonie asks herself, yet she is determined to get them all answered, while struggling with her new job…
Before I started reading this book, I thought I knew what kind of story this would be: woman finds an empty cottage, is intrigued by it, wants to know more, meanwhile meets a man, falls in love, discovers the mystery and lives happily ever after. There is absolutely nothing wrong with is, as I enjoy reading these kind of stories. And as I know this author, I was ready for being wrapped in a warm blanket filled with love and a tiny mystery. But… the story took me by surprise and even turned out to be better than expected!
I think we all have heard about journalists have no scruples, ready to find a story anywhere. But Leonie was the total opposite. I liked it how she was this caring character, putting importance to each promise she makes. And when her promise gets broken, we can feel her agony of not sticking to her word and having hurt those concerned.
Also the way she is honestly caring about Lily, despite Lily being not the most kind person around, gives us a clear idea of who Leonie truly is. It would be so easy to just walk away and forget about Lily, the cottage and the letter. But that is not who Leonie is. And she does not do it because of the story she could get out of it, but because she truly cares.
But also the things she does to make her new job work, made me like her even more. She has now a job that couldn’t be more far away from the persona she is, and even after discovering who got the job she wanted, didn’t turn her into a resentful person, going babbling about the discovery. On the contrary, she sees the reality and is even offering a helping hand. If that isn’t proof that Leonie is the best kind of person, I don’t know what else you need to see!
And the mystery about the cottage and Flynn Talbot… While Leonie is trying to find Flynn, I kind of knew that it wouldn’t be an easy task and the Flynn she found, wouldn’t be the letter writing Flynn. But that only intrigued me more, as I wanted to discover the truth. I was a bit disappointed in the behaviour of ‘found Flynn’, and the way he treats Leonie. But also, I could understand his reservations and this story wouldn’t be so amazing if opinions would change the more time passed.
For me, the focus of this story wasn’t about Leonie and wherever her relationship with Flynn would go, but it was more about the journey Leonie makes. Because Leonie learns that life doesn’t always go as expected, and we find ourselves in positions we don’t want to be. But it’s important to always, in any circumstance to stay true to ourselves, and not take the easy way out. We see how Leonie shows her kindness towards people, but also holds on to her own beliefs. She would never betray someone’s trust for just a story. But she also believes that love deserves a second chance, no matter how much time has passed.
I loved reading every aspect of this book, the romance bits, the mysteries bits, the even sometimes – grasping – for – air bits. But most of all I loved the characters, as they show us all the possible feelings: love, hope, excitement, eagerness, disappointment, anger for injustice and sense of duty. The author managed to put this all in one wonderful book, that made me feel all mushy on the inside, while also made me put on my own investigating hat, wanting to discover the truth. And even if the importance of the setting being in the Highlands wasn’t that much of an importance, with it being in the Highlands, it added that extra sparkle!
January 6, 2023
The Cottage in the Highlands is a fun and heartwarming love story.
The Cottage in the Highlands completely blew me away. The story went in a direction that I was not expecting. I thought I would read a delightful romance with a cute mystery. What I got was this Devil Wears Prada Scottish Romance that had multiple mysteries and even a bit of criminal activity in it. I loved every bit of this book. This book is the third book in the Scottish Escapes series, but it can be read as a stand-alone. I love Julie’s storytelling abilities, and the other books in this series are amazing. So if you love this book, I highly recommend reading the rest of the series.
This book is busy! A lot is going on; you have the main story, which follows Leonie as she tries to find a new job and figure out who this mysterious Flynn Talbot is. Then you have a bunch of side stories that are just as interesting and engaging as the main plot. These side stories add some really entertaining twists and depth to the story. The mysteries in this book will keep you guessing and make you want to turn the page to see what will happen next.
Let’s talk about the Devil Wears Prada twist to the story. As I said before, I was not expecting this book to go in this direction, and I didn’t know if it would be something I would enjoy. I thought it would take away from the overall charm of the story. I’m happy to say it didn’t; if anything, it makes this book stand out more. Leonie’s new job is at Goddess, a fashion and beauty magazine run by Athena, aka Miranda Priestly. Leonie struggles to work in this ruthless environment, and working for Athena is like working for the Devil. If you liked Devil Wears Prada, you would love this part of the book. It adds so much juicy workplace drama to the overall story. My one worry was that Leonie would try to change herself to fit in this work environment. She is a wonderful character and doesn’t need to change or grow. She is perfect in her way. I’m happy to say that she doesn’t. Leonie stands up for what she believes in and stays true to herself.
The romance in this book doesn’t take centre stage. The main focus is really Leonie’s job and finding Flynn Talbot. I didn’t mind that this book wasn’t overly romancey; it fits the story. There are two love stories in this book. You have the one between Lily and Flynn Talbot Sr. and Leonie and Flynn Talbot Jr. Lily, and Flynn Sr.’s love story is a second chance romance. The story between these two will warm and break your heart. I really loved watching their story unfold as I read this book. There is so much depth and emotion that you root for them as a couple. Leonie and Flynn Jr. don’t meet until halfway through the book. Things are a bit rocky between them at the beginning, but you can see that chemistry and attraction grow as they work together to figure out the history between Lily and Flynn Sr.
The Cottage in the Highlands is a captivating romance mystery that will keep you up into the wee hours of the morning.
Click on the link to read more of our reviews on our blog: https://romancebythebook.com/book-rev...
The Cottage in the Highlands completely blew me away. The story went in a direction that I was not expecting. I thought I would read a delightful romance with a cute mystery. What I got was this Devil Wears Prada Scottish Romance that had multiple mysteries and even a bit of criminal activity in it. I loved every bit of this book. This book is the third book in the Scottish Escapes series, but it can be read as a stand-alone. I love Julie’s storytelling abilities, and the other books in this series are amazing. So if you love this book, I highly recommend reading the rest of the series.
This book is busy! A lot is going on; you have the main story, which follows Leonie as she tries to find a new job and figure out who this mysterious Flynn Talbot is. Then you have a bunch of side stories that are just as interesting and engaging as the main plot. These side stories add some really entertaining twists and depth to the story. The mysteries in this book will keep you guessing and make you want to turn the page to see what will happen next.
Let’s talk about the Devil Wears Prada twist to the story. As I said before, I was not expecting this book to go in this direction, and I didn’t know if it would be something I would enjoy. I thought it would take away from the overall charm of the story. I’m happy to say it didn’t; if anything, it makes this book stand out more. Leonie’s new job is at Goddess, a fashion and beauty magazine run by Athena, aka Miranda Priestly. Leonie struggles to work in this ruthless environment, and working for Athena is like working for the Devil. If you liked Devil Wears Prada, you would love this part of the book. It adds so much juicy workplace drama to the overall story. My one worry was that Leonie would try to change herself to fit in this work environment. She is a wonderful character and doesn’t need to change or grow. She is perfect in her way. I’m happy to say that she doesn’t. Leonie stands up for what she believes in and stays true to herself.
The romance in this book doesn’t take centre stage. The main focus is really Leonie’s job and finding Flynn Talbot. I didn’t mind that this book wasn’t overly romancey; it fits the story. There are two love stories in this book. You have the one between Lily and Flynn Talbot Sr. and Leonie and Flynn Talbot Jr. Lily, and Flynn Sr.’s love story is a second chance romance. The story between these two will warm and break your heart. I really loved watching their story unfold as I read this book. There is so much depth and emotion that you root for them as a couple. Leonie and Flynn Jr. don’t meet until halfway through the book. Things are a bit rocky between them at the beginning, but you can see that chemistry and attraction grow as they work together to figure out the history between Lily and Flynn Sr.
The Cottage in the Highlands is a captivating romance mystery that will keep you up into the wee hours of the morning.
Click on the link to read more of our reviews on our blog: https://romancebythebook.com/book-rev...
August 15, 2024
Julie Shackman's "The Cottage in the Highlands" is a delightful blend of mystery, self-discovery, and potential romance that kept me engrossed from start to finish.
Our protagonist, Leonie Baxter, immediately drew me in with her relatable struggles. Suddenly jobless and newly single, her world has been turned upside down. I found myself rooting for her from page one, and her journey of resilience is both inspiring and heartwarming.
The story takes an intriguing turn when Leonie, on a walk with her adorable rescue puppy (a charming addition to the cast!), stumbles upon a mysterious, fully-furnished yet unoccupied house in the woods. Shackman masterfully builds suspense around this discovery, and I was just as curious as Leonie to uncover its secrets.
The author's background as a journalist shines through in Leonie's determined investigation. Her natural instinct to dig deeper adds an exciting layer to the plot, making the mystery even more compelling. The obstacles Leonie faces, particularly from the enigmatic neighbour Lily Cruickshank, had me turning pages late into the night.
I was fascinated by the character of Flynn Talbot, whose letter Leonie discovers. The questions surrounding his identity and connection to the house kept me guessing throughout the book. Shackman weaves these elements together beautifully, creating a tapestry of intrigue set against the stunning backdrop of the Scottish Highlands.
What truly elevates this book is how Shackman balances the mystery with Leonie's personal growth. As our heroine unravels the secrets of the abandoned house, we see her slowly opening her heart to new possibilities. The parallel between uncovering the house's past and Leonie rediscovering herself is beautifully drawn.
"The Cottage in the Highlands" is more than just a mystery or a romance – it's a story about second chances, facing fears, and finding oneself in unexpected places. Julie Shackman has crafted a warm, engaging tale that will appeal to anyone who loves a good mystery with a hefty dose of heart.
If you're looking for a book that combines the cozy charm of the Scottish Highlands with an intriguing mystery and a journey of self-discovery, look no further. This novel is a perfect escape that will leave you feeling uplifted and maybe even inspired to embark on your own Highland adventure!
Our protagonist, Leonie Baxter, immediately drew me in with her relatable struggles. Suddenly jobless and newly single, her world has been turned upside down. I found myself rooting for her from page one, and her journey of resilience is both inspiring and heartwarming.
The story takes an intriguing turn when Leonie, on a walk with her adorable rescue puppy (a charming addition to the cast!), stumbles upon a mysterious, fully-furnished yet unoccupied house in the woods. Shackman masterfully builds suspense around this discovery, and I was just as curious as Leonie to uncover its secrets.
The author's background as a journalist shines through in Leonie's determined investigation. Her natural instinct to dig deeper adds an exciting layer to the plot, making the mystery even more compelling. The obstacles Leonie faces, particularly from the enigmatic neighbour Lily Cruickshank, had me turning pages late into the night.
I was fascinated by the character of Flynn Talbot, whose letter Leonie discovers. The questions surrounding his identity and connection to the house kept me guessing throughout the book. Shackman weaves these elements together beautifully, creating a tapestry of intrigue set against the stunning backdrop of the Scottish Highlands.
What truly elevates this book is how Shackman balances the mystery with Leonie's personal growth. As our heroine unravels the secrets of the abandoned house, we see her slowly opening her heart to new possibilities. The parallel between uncovering the house's past and Leonie rediscovering herself is beautifully drawn.
"The Cottage in the Highlands" is more than just a mystery or a romance – it's a story about second chances, facing fears, and finding oneself in unexpected places. Julie Shackman has crafted a warm, engaging tale that will appeal to anyone who loves a good mystery with a hefty dose of heart.
If you're looking for a book that combines the cozy charm of the Scottish Highlands with an intriguing mystery and a journey of self-discovery, look no further. This novel is a perfect escape that will leave you feeling uplifted and maybe even inspired to embark on your own Highland adventure!
August 6, 2022
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher Harper Collins One More Chapter
for an ARC of this novel.
The Cottage in the Highlands is a intriguing story of a young journalist’s nose for a good story with a heart. Within a year, investigative journalist, Leonie, has had her heartbroken, moved jobs then been made redundant. Whilst taking her puppy for a walk in the woods she finds a picture book cottage, unkempt but fully furnished. She worries that the owner might be inside ill or even worse dead! She is scared away by a very grumpy old lady who won’t answer any of her questions. Leonie decides to return. She doesn’t get many answers about who owns the cottage, and what happened to them but the old lady, Lily, and her do chat over coffee and form a slight bond. Meanwhile, Leonie has a new job, which leads her to persuading Lily to allow the cottage to be used for publicity shots. That is where the story really begins as Leonie stumbles upon an unsent, love letter from the owner of the cottage to Lily.
I enjoyed reading the story. There were several unexpected twists in the plot, some mild peril, a love interest or two, a scary boss and backstabbing colleague. I feel it took quite a while for the main storyline to appear as Leonie’s life is described in full before she changes jobs. A bond is mentioned between Leonie and Lily but they don’t interact much ditto between Lily and her love interest. The characters are interesting and I like them but aside from Leonie herself all other characters lack depth as we don’t get to know them well. I am glad I persevered with this book, I do love a good mystery and I did relax and enjoy. I would recommend this book as a feel good, contemporary story. It isn’t quite romantic fiction or a dual time line story but has elements of both.
for an ARC of this novel.
The Cottage in the Highlands is a intriguing story of a young journalist’s nose for a good story with a heart. Within a year, investigative journalist, Leonie, has had her heartbroken, moved jobs then been made redundant. Whilst taking her puppy for a walk in the woods she finds a picture book cottage, unkempt but fully furnished. She worries that the owner might be inside ill or even worse dead! She is scared away by a very grumpy old lady who won’t answer any of her questions. Leonie decides to return. She doesn’t get many answers about who owns the cottage, and what happened to them but the old lady, Lily, and her do chat over coffee and form a slight bond. Meanwhile, Leonie has a new job, which leads her to persuading Lily to allow the cottage to be used for publicity shots. That is where the story really begins as Leonie stumbles upon an unsent, love letter from the owner of the cottage to Lily.
I enjoyed reading the story. There were several unexpected twists in the plot, some mild peril, a love interest or two, a scary boss and backstabbing colleague. I feel it took quite a while for the main storyline to appear as Leonie’s life is described in full before she changes jobs. A bond is mentioned between Leonie and Lily but they don’t interact much ditto between Lily and her love interest. The characters are interesting and I like them but aside from Leonie herself all other characters lack depth as we don’t get to know them well. I am glad I persevered with this book, I do love a good mystery and I did relax and enjoy. I would recommend this book as a feel good, contemporary story. It isn’t quite romantic fiction or a dual time line story but has elements of both.
November 27, 2022
Leonie is a terrific character. Loyal, principled, caring, and determined. None of those characteristics managed to save her job at the local newspaper, so she was left with no option other than to accept a role on a team at a glossy magazine. The fact that her role wasn’t the one she applied for is a bitter pill to swallow, especially when it’s flavoured with outright nepotism.
As the synopsis explains, Leonie discovers a seemingly abandoned cottage, whilst walking her rescue dog. The cottage is fully furnished and protected by elderly neighbour, Lily Cruikshank, who offers no answers to Leonie’s questions. As Leonie’s new job brings her back to the cottage, she finds a letter, addressed to Lily, from a man named Flynn Talbot. So, Leonie sets about digging into the cottage’s past and learning more about how it came to be uninhabited.
This is a wonderful story that is full of twists and turns. I just adored Leonie’s character and felt that the author had developed her beautifully. The team at the magazine was exactly how I would expect them to be, though the editor reminded me of Lilith, Frazier Crane’s former sister-in-law, played by Bebe Neuwirth (I hope you get that reference).
Flynn Talbot was a delightful character, once he shook off his cold exterior. I certainly found myself warming to him, as the story unfolded.
The elements of the story that took place around the cottage had me imagining the location; with a Highland backdrop, I would have loved to visit. It was also the perfect alternative to the magazine’s cold, clinical, and unattractive setting.
There’s plenty going on with the story and lots of secrets are revealed as the chance of a happy ending begins to seem likely. This was a wonderful escape and I’m deliberately leaving my review here as I would hate to reveal any spoilers.
As the synopsis explains, Leonie discovers a seemingly abandoned cottage, whilst walking her rescue dog. The cottage is fully furnished and protected by elderly neighbour, Lily Cruikshank, who offers no answers to Leonie’s questions. As Leonie’s new job brings her back to the cottage, she finds a letter, addressed to Lily, from a man named Flynn Talbot. So, Leonie sets about digging into the cottage’s past and learning more about how it came to be uninhabited.
This is a wonderful story that is full of twists and turns. I just adored Leonie’s character and felt that the author had developed her beautifully. The team at the magazine was exactly how I would expect them to be, though the editor reminded me of Lilith, Frazier Crane’s former sister-in-law, played by Bebe Neuwirth (I hope you get that reference).
Flynn Talbot was a delightful character, once he shook off his cold exterior. I certainly found myself warming to him, as the story unfolded.
The elements of the story that took place around the cottage had me imagining the location; with a Highland backdrop, I would have loved to visit. It was also the perfect alternative to the magazine’s cold, clinical, and unattractive setting.
There’s plenty going on with the story and lots of secrets are revealed as the chance of a happy ending begins to seem likely. This was a wonderful escape and I’m deliberately leaving my review here as I would hate to reveal any spoilers.
November 7, 2022
The Cottage in the Highlands by Julie Shackman released 1st of December 2022.
A big thank you to Netgalley, HarperCollins UK and One More Chapter for the opportunity to read this ARC.
This was my first book by Julie Shackman and I really loved it. I will definitely look for her older books.
I think this book has two stories. One is about Leonie Baxter who works at the local newspaper in her town. Sadly the newspaper will be shut down and she finds herself without a job. Leonie sends out some job applications and lands a job at the magazine Goddess and its infamous owner. Here we will read about the struggles she has finding her place at her new workplace. She works as the beauty editor even though she knows nothing about beauty and it wasn’t the job she applied for.
One day when she is feeling very sad she takes her dog for a walk and ends up at an abandoned house with a gorgeous garden, and here is where the second story starts because it’s here we meet Lilly Cruickshank who lives in a small cottage near the house. Leonie wants to know everything she can about the house with the garden but doesn't get much information from Lilly. She starts to investigate and finds out some more and as the story develops we learn more and more about Lilly and the Talbots that are the owners of the abandoned house.
I really loved this book. Leonie was a really likable character and I loved that it was so important to her to keep her promises even though she is a journalist. The book has a lot of twists and turns, some family secrets, love and second chances. There is one person I did not like in the beginning and it was her new colleague Kerry. But as the story went on she won my heart.
A big thank you to Netgalley, HarperCollins UK and One More Chapter for the opportunity to read this ARC.
This was my first book by Julie Shackman and I really loved it. I will definitely look for her older books.
I think this book has two stories. One is about Leonie Baxter who works at the local newspaper in her town. Sadly the newspaper will be shut down and she finds herself without a job. Leonie sends out some job applications and lands a job at the magazine Goddess and its infamous owner. Here we will read about the struggles she has finding her place at her new workplace. She works as the beauty editor even though she knows nothing about beauty and it wasn’t the job she applied for.
One day when she is feeling very sad she takes her dog for a walk and ends up at an abandoned house with a gorgeous garden, and here is where the second story starts because it’s here we meet Lilly Cruickshank who lives in a small cottage near the house. Leonie wants to know everything she can about the house with the garden but doesn't get much information from Lilly. She starts to investigate and finds out some more and as the story develops we learn more and more about Lilly and the Talbots that are the owners of the abandoned house.
I really loved this book. Leonie was a really likable character and I loved that it was so important to her to keep her promises even though she is a journalist. The book has a lot of twists and turns, some family secrets, love and second chances. There is one person I did not like in the beginning and it was her new colleague Kerry. But as the story went on she won my heart.
January 31, 2023
I got this book free as part of Amazon First reads and it seemed a very light read coming up to the holidays so I picked it up. And it was a very enjoyable book.
Leonie is dealing with a job loss and a recent break up when she finds a cottage while out dog-walking. She gets warned off by the elderly neighbour to the house but her curiousity overcomes her. Then she gets a new job and the book takes a turn as she continues to investigate the house and the mystery and her career start to intertwine.
I really enjoyed this. The mystery itself was engaging and well-paced, I liked Leonie trying to succeed in her new job even if it isn't what she really wants to do, and the romance, as well as how everything ties in together was really interesting. The cover makes this book look very light-hearted and sweet, but it's more mysterious and almost prickly at times. It's very much a women's fiction book rather than a romance, in that there is a romance in it but the focus is on Leonie and how she deals with all these changes in her life. Sometimes I wish she would stop investigating the house because it kept getting her into trouble, but I did want to find out the mystery behind it just as much as her.
The conflict at the very end felt a little out of place, considering it had nothing much to do with the house, the family or the romance, but as a whole I did really enjoy the book and would read this author again. I do wish it had a less misleading cover.
4.5 stars!
Leonie is dealing with a job loss and a recent break up when she finds a cottage while out dog-walking. She gets warned off by the elderly neighbour to the house but her curiousity overcomes her. Then she gets a new job and the book takes a turn as she continues to investigate the house and the mystery and her career start to intertwine.
I really enjoyed this. The mystery itself was engaging and well-paced, I liked Leonie trying to succeed in her new job even if it isn't what she really wants to do, and the romance, as well as how everything ties in together was really interesting. The cover makes this book look very light-hearted and sweet, but it's more mysterious and almost prickly at times. It's very much a women's fiction book rather than a romance, in that there is a romance in it but the focus is on Leonie and how she deals with all these changes in her life. Sometimes I wish she would stop investigating the house because it kept getting her into trouble, but I did want to find out the mystery behind it just as much as her.
The conflict at the very end felt a little out of place, considering it had nothing much to do with the house, the family or the romance, but as a whole I did really enjoy the book and would read this author again. I do wish it had a less misleading cover.
4.5 stars!
November 15, 2022
Journalist Leonie is made redundant at the newspaper she loves so she reluctantly seeks and secures a job at another more glamorous one called Goddess, though with a tartar of a boss and a rocky start. She and her boyfriend have also recently parted ways so two life changes cause her to reflect. On a walk with her dog she discovers a hidden cottage with a rather eccentric neighbour. The encounter with Lily is rocky, too. But life is unexpected and Leonie's journalistic tendencies kick in as does her curious nature. There is just something about that cottage and its history she becomes obsessed with. In her search for answers she meets others, including Flynn. We also see glimpses of her parents and a letter sparks further intrigue.
Leonie's deduction skills aren't exactly clever and we don't get to know enough about one of the love interests (yes, there is more than one which is compelling). If only it felt more Scottish...Scotland drips with atmosphere which isn't very evident. However, it is still worth the read, particularly if you are seeking a light romance of sorts with a dollop of mystery to get lost in. Hidden cottages and secrets are always fun draws!
My sincere thank you HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter and NetGalley for providing me with an early digital copy of this charmer.
Leonie's deduction skills aren't exactly clever and we don't get to know enough about one of the love interests (yes, there is more than one which is compelling). If only it felt more Scottish...Scotland drips with atmosphere which isn't very evident. However, it is still worth the read, particularly if you are seeking a light romance of sorts with a dollop of mystery to get lost in. Hidden cottages and secrets are always fun draws!
My sincere thank you HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter and NetGalley for providing me with an early digital copy of this charmer.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 168 reviews