this is a lovely lighthearted book to read of brid whose mum as been left a cottage on the isle of orkney and as given it over to brid to sort and sell and then buy her luxury apartment back home in york brid is all for this until she sees the cottage and that her mums family belng decendents of witches and this is where the fun starts

It’s always a joy to read the latest book by Jane Lovering, and The Island Cottage does not disappoint. Brid Harcus is sent to Orkney by her mother to clear out Midness Cottage so that it can be put up for sale. It has been empty for a long time, but Brid hopes her trip will be short and lucrative as she has been promised the proceeds to put down a deposit for her own place (she is currently living in a shared house in York). As time goes on, it becomes clear why Brid’s mother had really wanted her to go to Orkney, as she needed to see how narrow and restricted her life had become. There was a whole world out there if only she could be persuaded to join in. The setting is a departure for this author as her books are normally set in Yorkshire, but the descriptions of these fascinating islands were one of the things I liked best. I visited Orkney many years ago, and this story reminded me of happy times there.
The story is told entirely from Brid’s point of view. She seems to be stuck in a bit of a rut, and I found it frustrating how long it took her to realise that as an accountant she could live and work anywhere she chose. The cottage is only accessible through a farm owned by relatives of her mother, and though watertight is not really fit to live in. She has to adjust her expectations, but comes to love the cottage and its situation by the lochside, despite the belief among the locals that as its owner she is the local witch. Marcus is a silversmith and brother of the farm owner – they are slowly getting to know each other, but will Brid be brave enough to hang around and see what develops between them? You’ll just have to read it for yourself to find out. I always enjoy Jane Lovering’s books and look forward to her next one. Thanks to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for a digital copy to review.

Brid gets sent to Orkney to sell her inherited dwelling. She meets distant relatives and some weird locals who think she is a witch.
Strange happenings occur and she begins to realise that her life back in York may not be all it’s cracked up to be.
This was a great little book.
Thank you NetGalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

Brid is on Orkney Island to sell the old cottage, but she has to stay longer as she wants. It is not a cosy cottage like in books. It's just one room and has ducks.
And the legend says that the woman who lives in the cottage is the witch.

cosy romance with finding yourself and let plans go, sometimes the way you planned is not the way to go.

heartwarming.

Have fun reading!

I enjoyed this fun book set in the Orkney Islands of Scotland! A cute, mystical book about Brid finding herself and learning about the Witch of Orkney. Magnus, a local, helps Brid find her way and the dialogue between them is captivating.

Brid arrives in Orkney expecting to quickly sell her great aunt's cottage, but finds it in disrepair and with unexpected occupants, including geese in the pantry. Despite her ties to York and her plans to sell, she begins to feel at home in the community and drawn to the enigmatic Magnus. As she navigates the challenges of selling the cottage and her growing feelings, Brid finds herself embraced by the warmth of Orkney and its magic. With endearing characters, engaging twists, and a touch of witchcraft, this heartfelt story captures the beauty of Orkney and the journey of finding home and love. A must-read for fans of charming romances and picturesque settings.

What I loved about this book was the beautiful setting. However I found this story a little bit slow and didn't find it as enjoyable as I hoped I would. Sorry.

This story is dominated by its beautiful setting of Orkney. Life on the island is hard at times and you can sense the connection the inhabitants have with the environment and expressed through their creative arts, their music, their daily life. Brid arrives from England and soon has to adjust to life on the island. She is taken aback by life in her cottage but also develops a sense of kinship with it, even with its bird visitors.

The romance in the story is a slow burn. Magnus has spent time away from the island and can see how some of its traditions will appear to Brid. There is a great mix of characters. Some are colourful, well meaning and friendly. Others are suspicious or have their own agendas. I enjoyed the tradition of magic which is always there in the background. Brid has a healthy scepticism but is intrigued by her aunt's journal, with its common sense and recipes. This is an enjoyable read with some surprises along the way.

In short:old traditions in a modern world ?

This is a really fantastic read. I loved everything about it and found it to be such an easy read. Will definitely read more from this author.

I fell in love with the witch :) I could understand her struggle in not accepting her role as a witch. I loved the setting and description of the island! Ended up searching on Google - its that good! Will check out other books by this author in the future.

I really enjoyed reading this book, it was very entertaining. I loved the setting of Orkney and this book was very descriptive. It made me feel like I was there. It was a perfect escapism read, funny and lighthearted and uplifting.
Thank you to Netgalley and Boldwood books for my ARC.

I have read a few books by this author but I think this is my favourite because of the unique story. The setting of this book is wonderfully atmospheric and easy to escape into. The characters are so well written, I was drawn into the story and couldn't turn the pages fast enough. I think this a perfect mix of mystery, intrigue and a wonderful dash of romance.

A brilliantly crafted story with beautiful descriptions of the area. Loveable characters and a homely charm. There were parts that made me laugh and I thoroughly enjoyed how the past had an effect on the future. I will definitely be looking up any books from this author as this was my first but won’t be the last.

A fun read, the story of Brid who heads up to a remote island on the understanding their is a cottage there she can do up and sell. Not all is as it seems when she gets there, not least because all the locals think that whoever lives in the cottage is a witch. Will Brid embrace it or run away?

This book was an absolute delight! It takes you to the wilds of Orkney, a place I have always wanted to visit (and had tickets to the ferry for, which unfortunately I had to cancel) and makes you feel like you are THERE.

Brid is an accountant in York and when her mother sends her to Orkney to sort out the cottage that her aunt Jennet left her, to fix up and sell, she discovers that there are a few secrets to the cottage that no-one bothered to tell her about. Like the resident goose, the lack of creature comforts, the lack of access and how very far away it is from her real life. And then there is the witchcraft aspect of it.....

With the sun glinting off the loch and the natives being friendly, some of them SUPER friendly *wink wink*, Brid's ideas about quickly offloading the cottage and going back to her spreadsheets are not really happening the way they were meant to.

I enjoyed the combination of a modern romance set in a place such as Orkney, with its incredible history going back millennia. Obviously, the beautiful, wild landscape also played a part here.

5 stars from me. Loved it!

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books.

Award-winning author Jane Lovering’s The Island Cottage is a beautifully written, wonderfully funny and hugely enjoyable tale of love, hope and healing readers are going to love.

When her mother inherits a cottage in Orkney from her Great Aunt Jennet, Brid is sent to the remote Scottish island to make the derelict cottage habitable and saleable. Brid doesn’t plan on sticking around Orkney for long and is keen to get back to her life as soon as possible, however, she is about to realise that Midness Cottage might have other ideas…

The cottage is in a completely dilapidated state and Brid immediately comes to the conclusion that it’s going to take more than a lick of paint and a couple of new shelves to make Great Aunt Jennet’s house appealing to any prospective buyers. However, as Brid begins to get stuck into the renovations, she is taken aback by local lore about Midness Cottage being the home of the Orkney Witch. Legend says that anyone living in the cottage will have to fulfill that role and while Brid initially dismisses the rumours, she quickly realises that Orkney might have healing powers of its own.

The more time Brid spend in Orkney, the more she begins to wonder whether she has found a place to call home. As she begins to get closer to her handsome neighbour Magnus, has Brid found somewhere she could put down roots? Or will she sell up and head back home to her old life in York?

The always fabulous Jane Lovering has written another winner with The Island Cottage. Emotionally satisfying, laugh out loud funny and full of characters readers cannot help but love and root for, The Island Cottage is an absorbing and heartwarming tale about new beginnings, life’s unexpected surprises and finding somewhere to belong that touches the heart and stirs the soul.

A wonderful tale from a unique and captivating voice in contemporary women’s fiction, Jane Lovering’s The Island Cottage is another superb read from this very talented writer.

The Island Cottage by Jane Lovering

I received an advance review copy for free thanks to Rachel's Random Resources and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Blurb

When Brid Harcus is sent to the Orkney Islands, in the far reaches of Scotland, she has high hopes for her trip being short, straightforward and lucrative.

Her mother has inherited a cottage from her Great Aunt Jennet which has been unlived in and unloved for decades, and the time has come to make it habitable and saleable. Easy, right?

But Midness Cottage has other ideas. For one thing it’s rather more ‘fixer upper’ than Country Living, with a resident goose and her goslings who have made themselves at home. And Brid definitely hadn’t planned for the strongly-held local belief that the cottage is meant to be the home of the Orkney Witch, and whomever lives in it must fulfil this role. Not the best message for the estate agent brochure and of course Brid doesn’t believe in magic, let alone have healing powers.

But Orkney does have healing powers. Its beauty and peace are enchanting, its people welcoming, and Brid’s handsome new friend Magnus is rather charming too. When her life back in York starts calling her home, will Brid sell up and ship out? Or did the last Orkney Witch cast a spell and leave a legacy of love if only Brid believed in magic…

My Opinion

Jane Lovering is one of those authors that I will not hesitate to read, of course it helps that I have heard her talk about how she writes a book. This was such a lovely book to read and at only 254 pages it was a relatively quick book to read. Every other book I have read by Jane has been set in Yorkshire, so this was a pleasant surprise.

I thought that it really showed off Jane's writing style and if you are looking for a quick escape, then look no further. I am already eagerly waiting to see what Jane writes about next.

Rating 4/5

What a brilliant read!
Visiting Orkney is now what I need.
A story with legend, magic and beliefs at its heart
Where Brid visits, expecting soon to depart.

Brid goes to set up the home inherited by her Mum,
Expecting it to be somewhat unloved and glum.
However, family have looked after it for decades
But legends and beliefs about it never fades.

The cottage is supposedly the home of the Orkney Witch
And Brid's arrival has the local beliefs do a switch.
So many seem to believe she's the witch now
And expect her to be able to help them magically somehow!

It is in York where her home, her job and her parents are
Living in Orkney would be too far.
But as events unfold and romance grows, too,
Maybe magic has its own job to do?

Such a great read, with magic and romance
As the island cottage seems to give Brid a chance.
Will she succumb or will she still choose to run away
What will magically happen on her last day?

I really enjoyed escaping into this book
And highly recommend you also give it more than a look.
A fascinating story with family drama and more
With spooky magic and events to adore!

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

Brid is in Orkney to sell Midness Cottage, it's not a holiday and it's definitely not long term. As soon as Brid moves into the one roomed cottage (with vicious goose and goslings), people start calling her the witch and asking for her help. But magic isn't real, is it?

I really enjoyed this book. The wild setting and constant wind were a great background to the conflict of Brid and the expectations in her life. The ending was a surprise twist, I'd love a follow up of Brid and her life in Orkney (and an answer to the final sentence!)

This is the first book I've read by the author and it was a wonderful introduction to her writing. The characters were well written and brought to life in the story. Brid was written to be complex, starting prickly and (nearly) softening by the end.

I'm glad I was reading it on a Kindle as I had to look up a lot of long words, which took me out of the story a bit. Magnus was referred to as her cousin quite a few times (He isn't, the shared relative is a great-great-aunt (I think)) but they are referred to as family, which was a little off-putting.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced ebook copy in exchange for an honest review.

I thoroughly enjoyed this quirky, location-led romance novel by Jane Lovering. If you don’t come away from it with a longing to visit Orkney and make memories with your own Orcadian Viking I’ll be amazed.

Brid leads a fairly sheltered and mundane life in York, trapped by the needs of her parents and her job. You’d think she’d relish the chance of a change of scenery and an adventure in Orkney when she is sent to get her great aunt’s old cottage ready for sale, but not so. It’s a chore she could do without and wants it done quickly. Nothing is that straight forward in Orkney.

The cottage is remote, ramshackle and unloved, the locals are odd and insular and she is distracted by her handsome helpmate, the charming Magnus. She needs to get in and out as fast as possible but the islands have other ideas and seem keen to hang on to her. But what on earth could Orkney have to offer a girl used to life in York?

I defy you not to fall in love with all of the characters in this book, from the gorgeous Magnus to the interfering Innis, fey Kizzie and even the goose family. Well, there might be one character that didn’t really endear themselves to me but I will leave you to work out who that might be when you read the book for yourself.

The main character here, though, is Orkney itself, with its compelling ancient history, unpredictable weather, singular wildlife and a way of life unchanged for decades. I absolutely loved experiencing a glimpse of this beguiling place through the pages of this book and it has certainly risen up the ranks of my bucket list as a result. The writing is charming and engaging and the story is sweet and fun. All in all, a wonderful read.