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Secrets of the Italian Guesthouse by Sue Moorcroft #Review #Italian Legacy #Giveaway

  I am delighted to be taking part in the celebrations for the publication of Sue Moorcroft's Secrets of the Italian Guesthouse . This is the first in her Italian Legacy series. It was published by Renegade Books on July 2nd. I also have a great giveaway. Details on how to enter are at the foot of this post.   Two sisters she's never met A first love who's impossible to forget...   For Jade, life in Lake Como is la dolce vita. Until her beloved grandmother passes, leaving Jade not just the family's bustling guesthouse to run, but two life-changing secrets to confront... The pensione hasn't just been left to Jade, it's also been inherited by her sisters - who she had no idea existed. As Erin and Rosalie arrive in Italy, Jade is forced to face the heart-wrenching prospect of sharing her last remaining tie to the woman who raised her.  Jade is desperately trying to hold on to the past, but there's one person she would prefer to leave firmly behind: h...

A Scottish Island Summer by Julie Shackman #Review #ScottishEscapesBook8

 

This is a true escape to the Isle of Skye! A Scottish Summer Summer by Julie Shackman was published on January 30th by One More Chapter.You can read my reviews of others in the Scottish Escapes series here   A Secret Scottish Escape. |  A Scottish Highland Surprise   |  The Cottage in the Highlands | A Scottish Country Escape  |  The Bookshop by the Loch A Scottish Highland Hideaway


When ambitious city girl, Darcie Freeman is sent to the Isle of Skye to conduct research for a travel guide, she’s horrified. The prospect of having to travel to a remote island in the Scottish Highlands leaves her wondering what she’ll do.

Step in Logan Burns. Gorgeous and adventurous, he lives and breathes the island, and along with his sister Iona, who owns a rather haphazard PR company, they’re going to show Darcie everything she needs to know about Skye.

As Darcie swaps her designer shoes for her walking boots and her faux fur jacket for her raincoat, will she learn there’s more to life than the picture-perfect presence she shares on social media, or will it be the case that Skye is the limit…


 My Thoughts

The Isle of Skye is ever-present in the story and the colours and light of the environment adds to the atmosphere, as well as being intrinsic to the story. Darcie arrives on the island with all her city preoccupations and you see her respond to what she sees as she travels around the island. Darcie seems like the complete opposite of Logan when she meets him. He avoids social media and looks down on it as a rather shallow way of life, you sense. 

    Darcie's actions which are all fuelled by her ambitions to compete with other social media influencers, put her at the mercy of others' self -interest. She can be impulsive and envious and speak before she thinks. However, you feel that beneath this veneer, there are different priorities. Some of her actions have been part of her desire to protect herself from heartbreak. She has put on a veneer of ice to stop people getting close. Several of the people Darcie meets on the island can see beneath her act. The mystery at the centre of the story adds interest and shows you how Darcie has reassessed her future and how she wants to live her life. 

In short: escapist romance with a mystery to uncover 

About the Author

Julie Shackman is a former journalist from Scotland, who has always wanted to write feel-good romance.

As well as being an author, Julie also writes verses and captions for greetings card companies. Julie admits to having an obsession with stationery and handbags.

She is married, has two sons and adopted a Romanian rescue puppy, Cooper.

A Scottish Island Summer is Julie's twelfth novel.

 

You can follow Julie here:  Twitter  |  Facebook  |  InstagramWebsite

Book links: Amazon UK  |  Amazon US 


Thanks to Julie Shackman, One More Chapter and Rachel of Random Things Resources for a copy of the book and a place on the tour. 

Check out the rest of the tour!


 

 

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