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.  

Thank you, HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter, and Rachel Random Resources for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Leonie Baxter is out walking her dog and finds a house called Merry Wood. A woman runs her off the property, but she is interested in it since it's just been abandoned. Her job at the local newspaper is ending and she goes to work for a magazine. She is now trying to find the owner of the home; and ends up finding his grandson. Lily the neighbor next door to the house keeps telling her to stay away from the house; but Leonie wants to solve the mystery of the abandoned house.

When Leonie loses her job her life is turned upside down, but it isn’t long before she stumbles across a house that has secrets she wants to uncover.

This was a really intriguing narrative with great twists. I loved the character of Leonie and felt I could empathise with her in so many ways; she was enjoyable to read.

I found this book very well written and easy to read, the novel flowed easily and it was easy for any reader to get lost in.

This is the third book in the series, you can read it by itself, but if you're like me you will probably go back and read the others. This book was the perfect escape, cosy and beautiful, it was everything I needed in a hectic time of year. The Scottish background was just perfection for me as well.

Set in a quaint little Scottish seaside town, this story ticks all the boxes of classic chick lit - mostly likeable characters including a female local reporter, a dashing hero, a male victim of domestic violence and a cockapoo rescue puppy, romance, family secrets, misunderstandings, interwoven with some action provide light entertainment if you are willing to ignore the 30+ year old heroine thinking and acting like an immature teenager.

Full of secrets and simmering passion, the story captures the darkness of relationships. There is a mystery, there is romance, with lashings of real drama and parallel love affairs through different generations.

#BlogTour with Rachel's Random Resources.

Thanks to the publishers and Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for a review.

Having read the first two books in the series I was delighted to receive this one. Sadly though I didn't enjoy it as much as I did the other two and found it very slow to start and I did persevere but it took me to about 2/3 of the way through the book to enjoy it!

A little romance, a little mystery and some great characters make for a great read. Forced to find a new job, Leonie Baxter thinks she has just found a great new position as an investigative journalist at a well-known magazine, only to find herself sidelined to the beauty page. At the same time, Leonie finds herself trying to discover the history of Merry Wood cottage.

Romance, intrigue, deception, mystery. This is a book full of surprises.. Leonie finds herself out of a job when her local paper closes and amalgamates with another. She happens on a mysterious house in the wood whilst walking her dog, and is also seen off by an equally mysterious woman.. As a reporter she is desperate to find out more. She lands a job with a prestigious magazine....as a beauty editor....all is not what it seems and the tale unravels.
Really enjoyed this one. Couldn't put it down.. Not your ordinary run of the mill romance. Highly recommend

The perfect cosy book to escape into. Easy to read and hard to put down, I found myself swept away in a dream land with these wonderful characters. Warm, charming, funny and full of life. I think the ending is fairly predictable, which isn't a negative, it's still a lovely journey getting there. This is book 3 in a series so I will definitely be catching up with the first two books.

This is a book that takes me so deep into the story I forgot where I was.
Leonie went from having a job she liked doing to being unemployed due to the shutdown of the newspaper she worked for. This gave her lots of time on her hands, and she isn’t sure what she is going to do. All of the changes and just before Christmas.
Little did she know that when she was taking her dog for a walk that she would come upon what appeared to be an abandoned cottage. She peeked through the window to look inside and was surprised what she saw with the wrapped gift just sitting on a table. This gift just sitting on the table makes her want to solve the mystery of why the gift was there.
This book left me filled with comfy cozy feelings as Leonie finds out more about the cottage.
Thank you NetGalley, Julie Shackman and HarperCollins UK for the book The Cottage in the Highlands. This is my personal review.

Leonie finds herself struggling with a new job as a beauty reporter for a magazine. To calm down after a stressful day she takes her dog for a walk in the woods where she discovers an abandoned house. The investigative reporter in her drives her to find out the backstory of the house called Merry Wood. Along the way, she uncovers scandals, secrets, and new friends like Flynn Jr. who captures her heart.

I liked the descriptive writing and all the pop culture references woven throughout the book. I liked the storyline but felt there was too much going on. I would have liked the story to focus on either the humorous story of Leonie struggling with her new job or the serious investigation of Merry Wood. The issue of spousal abuse added quite a twist to the story. I did like the happy ending!

Thank you to NetGalley and One More Chapter for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

What a gorgeous, heartwarming read this proved to be,
Complete with romances and mystery!
It starts with Leonie having life changing news and so
It is off for a walk with her puppy she'll go.

Unfortunately the pup doesn't always respond straight away
She enjoys having fun and going out to play.
This time she helps Leonie to discover
A wonderful house and cottage next door to each other.

Lily Cruickshank lives in the cottage alone
And visitors aren't welcome, they make her moan.
However, Leonie is intrigued - and a journalist, too.
Investigating is what she'll next do!

A story of thwarted romance
That is to be given an unexpected second chance.
Along with other mysteries that start to unfold
To discover the truth, Leonie will need to be bold!

A new job, a fresh start,
Investigations and romance all play a part.
Add in danger and risk and you've got a brill read
Hope it proves to be the book that you also need!

A lovely detailed story with elements of friendship, mystery and romance set in the Scottish Highlands. Leonie, a young journalist, discovers a mysterious house that she has to find out about. The reader learns a lot about the main character Leonie and you are invested in her throughout.

It's an easy-to-read story with believable characters, an exciting plot, and a few twists to keep you guessing.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

For me this book was just ok. I wanted to love it but I found the start of it really slow. To the point where I almost DNF it. I wanted more romance, more banter, more something! It overall wasn’t a bad read though. Just not for me.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.

Leonie has a job working as a journalist, she’s informed that the paper she works for os joining another company to form a bigger publication, and her job is ending.

Whilst she’s walking in the woods, with her rescue dog, who, when let off the lead chases a fox into a garden of a mystery house, which looks abandoned, but has all furniture inside.

Leonie is wanting to find out about the house, more so after she meets Lily, the strange neighbour who lives next door, Lily isn’t wanting anyone looking around the place, and she’s not interested in answering questions.

Leonie comes across a letter which is addressed to Lily, from someone who once loved her, she tracks down the person who wrote the letter, but in the process, finds out more than she wanted to know.

A lovely story of friendship, second chances and romance.

I recommend this book.

🌄🏡It's never too late to set things right?!😊

4.5🌟 stars
First, I adore novels set in Scotland. Despite the book's name, Leonie, the main character, divides her time between Glasgow and the seaside area where she grew up and still resides. A good portion of her story focuses on the ups and downs of her career as a journalist, and the inquisitive nature that drives her to settle a mystery she stumbles upon while walking her dog in the woods. I really liked this character. She has empathy, integrity and a strong drive to do the right thing even when the person she wants to help will have none of it or it draws criticism from her boss..

There are old and new romances, dealings with some manipulative people, including Leonie's high-powered boss, and even some danger and drama related to her work on an explosive story. I found myself captivated by all strands of the plot. And I will admit that Merry Wood's owner had surprises in store that I never would have guessed; their reveal made for that extra touch of closure as sins of the past brought out to air inspired others to speak out.

This was my third time reading one of Julie Shackman's novels and they've all been enjoyable. Recommended.

Thanks to Harper Collins UK/One More Chapter and NetGalley for sharing a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest opinion.

I have to admit that it took me a while to get interested in this book, but at around 33% it picked up and I’m glad I stuck with it.

When Leonie is laid off from her reporting job, she spends a bit of time feeling sorry for herself. During one of those days she and her dog Harley discover an unoccupied house with a magical garden, protected by a surly elderly lady. Lily, the lady, wants nothing to do with Leonie.

Undeterred, Lily keeps poking around and being nosy. She gets a job around the same time, one that she’s totally unsuited for. But, her nosiness pays off in ways she never imagined, and like Pandora’s box, nothing is the same again for several people. I don’t write spoilers so I won’t go into further details. TW: domestic abuse.

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book, but my opinions are my own.

I started this and, although I felt sorry for Leonie, I didn’t warm to her straight away. I’ve read a few books recently that have the same main character that seems to think they have to help everyone and kind of “stick their nose in”, BUT as the book went on, I actually really liked her and what she did.

The other characters we meet along the way, Flynn junior, Kerry, and Lily, are really fab in their own ways. As secrets are revealed and life’s changed, you get dragged in and want the happy ending for all of them - even the Cruella-style boss!!

I’ve read one of Julie’s books before and she’s definitely on my radar for any new books that are released. This is a perfect one for this time of year too, set around November/Christmas. I’d put it on your wish list now.

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.