Willa Jenkins is living in LA as a tv celeb news producer and deeply grieving the loss of her best friend. When the will is read, she finds out that Val’s last wishes was to send Willa on a two week immersive Outlander adventure, which Willa doesn’t understand because she wasn’t a fan of the show or the books, but Val was, so she goes along with it since it was her final wish for her. Along with this, Val’s long lost brother is also gifted the same thing. Willa wonders if Val is trying to set them up from the great beyond, or just trying to give them each someone to comfort the other in their grief. Willa never really knew the whole story as to why Gabe was estranged from Val and the family, but soon learned once they landed in Scotland that his heart already belonged to someone there, from his past.
Willa can’t figure out what’s she’s doing in Scotland but as she’s paired up with hot yet grumpy Finn, the owner of the crumbling castle the experience is taking place at, she can’t help but wonder if Val knew more than she let on. If only Willa would let her guard down and not worry so much about her life in LA and see what’s right in front of her…
Thanks to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for this eArc in exchange for my review.

The untimely death of her best friend leaves Willa reeling
She's struggling to cope with how she's feeling.
However, her friend, Valentina, has arranged a final surprise
As Willa is soon going to realise.

Valentina has arranged for Willa to go stay at Balcraigie Castle
For a couple of weeks full of Outlander, not work hassle.
She's going and Val's brother Gabe is going, too,
Neither are sure what they'll be going through!

Willa didn't anticipate being handfasted to a stranger,
Finn's her fake husband for her stay - surely no danger?
With cows and piglets, a castle ruin and surprises
Could this be more true than she realises?

Then she discovers Finn's family is in dire straits
They need to raise money, the bank won't wait.
Can Willa help them get the aid they need?
She'll help them save the farm if she can only succeed.

A story which starts with grief and stars, too,
And shares what they are all going through,
With laughter and surprises, friendships and more
A beautiful rom com, my delight to explore!

For my complementary copy, I say thank you,
As I share with you this, my honest review.

Outlander experience you say..... Willa's best friend certainly knows how to give her the push she needs, even if she does it from the grave. Willa is reluctant, especially when farm work is mentioned. However, when she realises Finn and his family need help, Willa tries everything she can to help. This was such a cute story and if you love Outlander you will enjoy all the nods.

Scotlander was a fun rom-com that largely takes place during a "Outlander Experience" in Scotland on what turns out to be a failing farm, trying to make enough money to survive. Willa and Gabe are surprised when her best friend and his long-lost sister, Valentina, sends them on a trip together after she dies. Neither of them know why she is sending on an Outlander experience, apart the fact Valentina was a superfan while she was still alive.

The story was sweet and fun, and as an Outlander fan myself, I couldn't help but giggle along at lots of scenes that were connected to Outlander. While the romance was fun there were a few storylines that I wish had played out a little more (learning more about Gabe and his romance, and for sparks to fly between Willa and Finn a bit strong, but it was still a cute read!

A fun romp through the highlands! The story doesn't go exactly as you might think, in a great way. McClure draws a wonderful picture of the quirks and personalities of the supporting cast of characters, drawing you into the world of the novel. You'll root for the romance AND the community around our leads. I had so much fun reading Scotlander!

This was a cute read that I think fans of Outlander will enjoy. The circumstances of Willa and Gabriel meeting and subsequently being sent on an Outlander themed trip to Scotland was interesting especially considering the 2 had not previously met. Valentina, Willa's best friend and Gabriel's estranged sister, has passed away and gifted them this trip in their will. They both agree to go to honor Valentina. Things get off to a rocky start and it soon becomes clear that the vacation that all the guest thought they were getting might not be what it seems.

Thanks to Netgalley and the author for an ARC of this book. I am leaving this review voluntarily everything written here is my own opinion.

The first few chapters were a bit... jarring. I didn't quite understand what was happening -- like what Willa's job was (right away) and I didn't totally understand what was happening (the lawyers and the fajitas confused me), but after the first initial chapters, (then Willa and Gabe decide to take the trip together), the writing just picked up and the story was funny, quirky, and had great pacing. I couldn't stop reading.

Valentina dies and gifts her best friend, Willa, and estranged brother, Gabe, a fully immersive Outlander trip to Scotland. Although this was Valentina's favorite show, neither of them are Outlander fans (or even watch the show) which later adds to the comedy. Finn and his family are hosting the Outlander experience at their family castle, only not is all it seems. They've thrown together this scheme in order to try and save their family farm from financial ruin.

While the premise respectfully pokes fun at show, it's really a heartwarming. It's a story about a community coming together, grieving, healing, self discovery, self acceptance -- and love (obvs). The tension between Finn and Willa (and also Gabe and Willa) is wonderfully crafted and feels genuine. I really enjoyed the writing style of this story and found the characters very relatable and likable. It's a fun sweet story.

I loved this unusual rom com! The writing style was sassy and fresh and really, really funny, and I loved the Outlander theme and the fish-out-of-water storyline. Absolute gem!

I am always a fan of a good rom com set in Scotland. This was not one of them. I was completely lost in the first chapter. The Outlander themed adventure intrigued me but I could not get past how disjointed the first few chapters were and I just didn’t care about going any further. It was very disappointing. I don’t like to review a book if I DNF, but there was no background or set up at the beginning. It was almost all dialogue and it was not helpful, so I feel that I can form an opinion on the book.

Thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for this ARC! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Wanted so much to love this book - the pretty cover had me dying to delve in. Except, this didn't turn out into what the blurb and even the cover tended to promise. 'Hot mess' is how close it came for me during the first 10 percent - felt like the author was trying too hard to make everything stand out and feel unique, but it just turned into way too much. The heroine was having such hots for Gabriel, and the story wanted me to believe she would fall so in love with Finn to want to make their fake marriage real? It was a series of incongruous inconsistencies like this which prevented me from really getting into the tale to actually enjoy it at any point. Sadly, too much of a hot mess in my opinion

Admit it. It's summer, it's time for some cheeky romance, women's chic lit and a bit of camp. This new book has all of that and more! It just might make you want to move to Scotland as well so before warrant. It starts off with what seems to be a typical but the woman out of her norm and see what happens routine, but there's so much humor and relatability that you can't help being hooked from the first chapter. Good luck trying not to finish the book all in one sitting, as you'll be waiting for Fiona and Finn to see the light and work together! This is your perfect beach read so don't forget it when you're packing!

Disclaimer: I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Publication date: June 21, 2023

Scotlander is a rom-com story by Sheila McClure. This is my first book u this author and while the synopsis and premise of the story was so intriguing l, it missed the mark for me.

Willa Jenkins is sent on an Outlander immersive experience by her very best friend Val who recently passed away after being diagnosed with cancer.

Val set Willa and her brother Gabe (who distanced himself from the family years ago) to take this trip of a lifetime together as one last wish from her. What Willa thought was a set up for her and Gabe romantically, she quickly learned Gabe’s heart already belonged to someone in Scotland.

Willa can’t figure out what Val expected of her but as she leans into the Outlander experience, she’s paired up with the grumpy Finn. Part owner of the crumbling castle and farm the experience is taking place on.

As she spends more time with Finn and gets back to her farming roots, Willa wonders if Val just wanted her to figure out what her life should actually be like, and what she needs to do to be happy.

This book had so much promise! I love a good Scottish romance and am a huge fan of Outlander (both the tv series and books) but I just couldn’t buy the relationship with Willa and Finn. They spent more time running away from each other that I couldn’t feel the connection. This was a 3 star read for me!

#NetGalley #Scotlander #sheilamcclure

I won't lie - I requested this title purely because of my love for Outlander. Boy, am I glad I did! This is a wonderful summer read. I really enjoyed this one, it is perfect for rom-com fans. It is funny with a great setting and well-written characters.

I'm classing this as a DNF, but I read to around 60% and then skimmed to the end so I could get the story.

I thought this was going to be a bit of a love-letter to Outlander, but it felt more like a parody.

The writing tone and style didn't sit well with me. It was too modern, had too many pop culture references, and cheesy writing, which is a stark contrast with the way Outlander is written. I feel like this book would have worked better if it wasn't referencing an existing series, but a fake one was created for the purpose of the story.

There were several parts that seemed to mock Outlander fans and the concept of a 'book boyfriend'. We know Jamie isn't real, just let us have our nice fantasies, okay? The 'redemption' for the fans was much like 'They're massive nerds, but they're nice and want to help, so they're actually okay' 🤨

I started skimming after a big plot hole was uncovered: it seemed like Orla set up the Outlander experience on her farm as a one off to help pay for the broken equipment and get assistance with farm chores, but one of the fans had been saving up for a YEAR for this specific trip? And Val had obviously researched, organised, and put it in her will, so it couldn't have been THAT last minute? Did no one do ANY social media searches for it? Considering the end of the book focuses on the power of social media, this was glaring to me.

I really wanted to love this one! The blurb was so promising but unfortunately I struggled to connect with the characters & found the writing style really jarring. This meant I got to 60% and couldn’t bring myself to finish sadly

This romance is definitely a tearjerker so grab your tissues and find yourself on a small farm in Scotland living your best Outlander life. Willa is grieving the death of her best friend and going through the motions at work, without anyone left to share her life in LA with. Valentina is meddling from beyond the grave, though, having left the gift of an immersive Outlander experience in her will for her brother Gabe and Willa - who have only just met. Trying to navigate their grief and embrace the Scottish adventure, the path isn’t smooth and it seems Valentina is trying to tell them both something by flying them across the world and away from their lives in LA.
It’s no surprise that Willa’s grief over the loss of her friend was emotional to witness. She’s lost and confused and incredibly lonely, missing the sister-like bond with her best friend whilst wondering how on earth she ended up pretending to be an Outlander superfan in Scotland. I enjoyed watching her character grow and find purpose, as well as love, being guided by her best friend. There’s a great sense of community in this book and a shared purpose that gives it feel-good vibes. All in all it’s a cosy read with a good mix of characters.

I received a free copy of this book. All views are my own.

I didn’t expect this book to start off with a kick to the chest, since the main character Willa and I have both lost our best friends to cancer. This is the perfect little rom com for the Outlander (and Jamie Fraser) lover in all of us. The way this novel was written, I could picture everything as if it were already a movie. It was a sweet story to read along with.

This book was so fun! This was the first book I've read from this author and I really enjoyed it. The story was different from anything I've read recently and really captured my attention. It was so well written and the characters were fantastic.

Thank you to Netgalley and Amazon Publishing UK, Lake Union Publishing for a ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I really wanted to love this book because I love Scotland... I was reeled in by the description, but the book fell flat for me. I didn't connect with with any of the characters and I couldn't get into the book because of the writing style.

Unfortunately, not a hit for me.

I thought that the concept of this book was fantastic. As a huge fan of the "Outlander" books and tv series, I could not wait to see how the author used the premise of an immersive Jacobean experience as a "meet cute" for the protagonists; it's a unique idea and I was all in for it.

Unfortunately, this story didn't deliver the chemistry I expected the heroine and hero to have with one another. The plot was just okay, the best part being the actual potato farming. I found the name dropping of celebrities unnecessary, and somewhat annoying, and didn't understand how those famous people possibly might have ever been on a first name basis with the heroine, even if her job involved celebrity interviews. It seemed gratuitous.

The HEA was appreciated, as was the epilogue.