BOOK: SMOKE ON THE WIND
AUTHOR: KELLI ESTES
PUB DATE: JUNE 2025
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REVIEW- 4.5 stars
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
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This book was a full package, emotional, tear jerking, informational, and just amazing with the storyline, characteristics, author's description, and setting. I've never read a book like this, and I learned a LOT. I learnt about the depravity of the nobility. Of course, it's something I'm aware of, but I've never seen it described in a book like this. The highland clearance was horrific, those poor people wrongly evicted from their houses, their livelihoods, and the people who did it were probably never punished. On a lighter note, I loved the West Highland way hike. The way the author described the setting, it felt like I was on the hike, too, getting tired and viewing all the beautiful scenes.
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Sorcha and her son Aonghas went through a lot, especially Sorcha. The poor woman had lost a lot but still kept going just for her child. Her story is a bit of a tear jerker, and I cried at the end. I can't imagine losing everything and still being wrongly accused of murder and running for my life. But, Sorcha, the strong woman that she was, never gave up despite how tired she was. I loved her love for the highlands and her dead family members. She was an admirable character.
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On the other hand, we have Keaka, ab American mother who followed her son, Colin to Scotland, for his university admission and the seven days hike. The one thing I admired about Keaka was how she was a good mother. She put her son first, hid harmful secrets from him, and went on a strenuous hike. I liked that she admitted how she went wrong in her marriage, BUT it didn't justify her husband cheating. They could have gone for therapy or something. And I liked that she was finally able to let her son go.
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Both women went through struggles of their own, but Sorcha's one was greater, and to be honest, there were no similarities between them. Sometimes, I felt Keaka was too much and too clingy, but she got over it. Another thing was that the time both of them intertwined was less, I thought it would be a greater part of the book, but it felt like a minor theme. I really wanted both of them to actually interact more, but I didn't get it.
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Anyway, this book was amazing, thrilling, and informative. I lived reading it and loved that it had a HEA. I would definitely recommend this.
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I'm very glad to have read and listened to Smoke on the Wind, but I didn't love every moment of it. The descriptions of the Scottish highlands, the immersion into a part of Scottish history (the Highland Clearances of the early 1800s) not many are familiar with, and the truly heart-wrenching story of a mother trying desperately to protect herself and her last living child, were all beautifully rendered. The contemporary part of this dual-time strand novel--the story of a recently widowed mother taking a trip with her son before he starts university--was less appealing. The setting was still engrossing as mother Keaka and son Colin set out on a hike of the "West Highland Way" before Colin begins his first semester in Glasgow. But the emotional baggage Keaka carries is far heavier than her backpack, and as a contemporary mother myself, I found it difficult to relate to her thinking/decisions. She and her husband had agreed to divorce, but they decided to wait until Colin was in school. Her husband died suddenly before either took place, and Colin believes his mother to be grieving for the husband she loved and the idyllic family life now gone. I found the protracted handwringing on Keaka's part tiring and a few scenes along the trip unrealistic. I was also disappointed to learn that a piece of artwork featured prominently in the story is not, in fact, real (at least as far as my research could tell). And although the book version comes with a glossary, I'm ashamed to admit that I found the frequent use of Gaelic exhausting. Without time for study that I doubt many readers have (I DO NOT!), the spelling and pronunciations are essentially incomprehensible. I’m grateful to NetGalley for review copies of both the print and audio versions.

Keaka is struggling with her son Colin leaving home to go to college after losing his father and still grieving. They had planned a trip to hike the West Highand Way and now Keaka steps in to take his place. Soon after the start, she starts having visions of centuries past, of a woman named Sorcha and her son forced from their home and fleeing from false accusations.
This story is told in two separate timelines with the visions connecting the two. It taught me a part of Scottish history I knew little about and I found it emotional and heartbreaking, yet hopeful. The descriptions of the Scottish countryside were beautiful and make me want to visit someday. The story was very well written, the pacing was a little slow, but overall I really enjoyed this book.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Smoke on the Wind
by Kelli Estes

This book presents a complex challenge to rate because, while the story deeply moved me, I struggled with the pacing and comprehension due to the frequent use of the Gaelic language, which made certain passages difficult to follow.

It is an emotional read, artfully told across two timelines that intertwine in unexpected ways. In the present day, we meet Keaka and her son, Colin, as they embark on a hiking adventure along the breathtaking West Highland Way in Scotland. This journey holds significant meaning for them, particularly as it occurs before Colin heads off to university in Glasgow, marking a pivotal transition in both their lives.

Simultaneously, two hundred years earlier, we are introduced to Sorcha Chisholm and her young son, Aonghas. They are desperately fleeing their burning home in the Scottish Highlands, confronting the stark realities of survival as they travel the very same trail. The contrast between the two journeys highlights themes of resilience, loss, and the enduring bond between mother and child, making for a powerful story that captures the spirit of both past and present.

The book transported me back to my unforgettable trip to Scotland last year, igniting vivid memories of its breathtaking landscapes. I can't wait to return to this enchanting country, where rugged mountains rise majestically against the skyline, their peaks often cloaked in a soft mist. The endless lochs, like shimmering blue gems, reflect the dramatic scenery and invite peaceful contemplation. I vividly recall the charm of the moss-covered stone walls that trace the contours of the hills, each telling a story of the land's history. Scattered throughout the landscape are majestic castles, their ancient stones standing guard over the valleys, evoking a sense of wonder and intrigue. I relished every description and detail, each one pulling me deeper into the beauty and spirit of Scotland.

Smoke on the Wind by Kelli Estes is a gripping if unusual read. Two women in different centuries traveling the same path though in opposite directions find glimpses of the other on the way. Both have sons that they fear they are losing but for very different reasons. The mystical part was well written and played out in the book. The Scottish Highlands are a character unto itself, beautiful, rugged and alive. I especially was drawn to Sorcha Chisholm and her son with their desperate need to escape what I thought was an unfair criminal charge. This mother did what she must for her young teenage son which I admire. Keaka Denney seemed much more caught up in her own emotional needs.

What I loved the most and was such a wonderful surprise was the very conclusion of the book. It made the often sad and painful trip with Sorcha and Aonghas worth it all. I also appreciate the final look at the portrait of Sorcha, another redemptive surprise. Their story is a high five while Keaka’s is a four.
4.5 Stars

This book brought me back to one of my favorite places in the world, Scotland. The rugged mountains, the endless lochs, the moss-covered walls, castles dotting the landscape, the heather dancing in the wind. I loved each and every description and detail. Let me talk about the details for a minute, the book is oozing with history. Well thought out and presented in such a way that it will always stick in my mind. The research that Kelli Estes must have put into this book is truly astonishing. I am always fascinated by the history of Scotland. The Highland Clearances is just another horrifying chapter that makes my mind spin. It always leads back to greed, money, and power. Tearing apart the Scots traditions, connections, and roots to the land. I have gotten a little off track. If you break this book down, it is about motherhood. What a mother would do in different situations for their sons. This book made me weep, made my heart soar, and made me hug my son that much tighter.

I love a good dual timeline that weaves together like a well-loved wool sweater. Keaka is in Scotland to drop off her son Colin to Uni. Her husband passed ten months ago, and they are still trying to figure out their new lives. Colin and his father planned on walking the West Highland Way for a week and Keaka has decided to step in and be the best replacement possible. The hike starts off a bit bumpy, with Keaka getting her hiking feet under. She soon forgets the aches and pains and is taken in by the stunning beauty and the visions that she keeps having of another woman. In 1801, Sorcha is in the fields taking in the views of her home. When cries of anguish and the smell of smoke fills her nose. She runs barefoot back to her home to find her son inside their home standing over a dead man. They run for their lives. Trying to make their way to Edinburgh so they can hide amongst the crowd. With men hunting them down and finding them at every turn. They must keep one step ahead or be caught and hanged.

As these two stories intertwine, I was left speechless with how Sorcha was able to overcome every obstacle in her way. Her son is the most important person in the world and the only thing she has left in this life, and she will make sure he survives. Keaka and her son face some hard truths about her marriage and life back in Oregon. Her only concern is to make sure that Colin is on solid ground when she makes the trip back home. Keaka also comes into herself and becomes okay with being on her own. Both women accept their shortcomings and head toward a new life. I have not done this book justice; just know you need to read it. Thank you to Kelli Estes, Lake Union Publishing, Amazon Publishing and Kay Publicity for gifting me one of my favorite reads of the year.

4.5 ⭐️

Now this book really makes me want to go to Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 It's a Historical Fiction story based around true events that I did not know anything about - "The Highland Clearances." It's my first Kelli Estes book and I enjoyed her writing style a lot. She filled the book with beautiful descriptions of the landscape. Cleverly, in some parts of the story she used Scottish Gaelic for names and locations.

It's an emotional and touching read told in a dual timeline. In present day, Keaka and her son Colin are hiking a long-distance trail in Scotland -"The West Highland Way" before he attends university in Glasgow. Two hundred years earlier, Sorcha Chisholm and her son, Aonghas are fleeing their burning home in the highlands and travelling the same trail. They are being pursued by the authorities for murder and Sorcha is desperately trying to get them to safety to Edinburgh. Both timelines meet some interesting and helpful people along the way. Keaka begins to see, "glimpses" into the past involving Sorcha and her son along the trail. It's an interesting take on a "sort of" time travel aspect. Can Keaka help Sorcha?

The main theme of the story is touching - the Mother/Son bond. While Keaka is feeling she is losing her son, Sorcha is trying to hang on to her son. What kept this from being 5 stars? I felt there were "some" parts that weren't needed and didn't add to the story. Still, those were very few. The Epilogue was good and brought tears to my eyes. To read more about the, "Scottish Clearances" make sure to read the Author's Note. Bonus points for the Scottish Gaelic Glossary at the end.

Publishes on June 24, 2025

I'd like to kindly thank NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for granting me access to this Advance Reader's Copy.

5.0 stars
HIGHLY recommend

I have been fortunate to read so many fantastic historical fiction novels lately. This book was no exception.

As a recent learner about my 21% Scottish heritage combined with Highland mysticism, I was quickly sold on this book, and it did not disappoint.

The plot is a dual-plotline in 1801 and the present day, which is woven together beautifully. The four main characters develop both individually and as a mother/son duo. I loved the Gaelic, the descriptions of Scotland, and the beauty of the people.

This is a great historical fiction novel. Read it!

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7634918810 - posted 6/17/2025
The StoryGraph: https://app.thestorygraph.com/reviews/08c34791-e603-4afc-a637-118fd7fb3006?redirect=true - posted 6/17/2025
booksbydorothea Blog: https://booksbydorothea.blogspot.com/2025/06/review-smoke-on-wind-earcebook.html - posted 6/17/2025

4.5 stars
Kelli Estes has such a beautiful, lyrical writing style that elicits strong emotions throughout the book. This historical fiction novel explores the relationship between mother and son in dual timeline (modern Day and early 1800s) as well as self reflection.

Two separate journeys are taking place, each of a mother and son as they bond together after overcoming tragedies.
Each story was easily relatable, as they are well told and quite detailed. As a mother of two grown sons, I could feel the moments of happiness, the moments of fear, the moments of heartbreak.

Many times, dual timelines can be tricky but here the two stories were woven together in a seamless way. The change in dialect helped distinguish between the two timelines even when the stories overlapped.

There’s a bit of a supernatural element in this book, but nothing too over the top and, while I don’t typically read books that contain things like that, I kept an open mind and felt it made things more interesting.

I loved the description of the beautiful landscape of Scotland with its colorful fields and lush countryside brought back memories of my visits to the lovely country. It was fun to once again visit the Scottish highlands as I read this book while learning about a sad piece of Scottish history, the “Scottish Clearances” which I knew nothing about prior to this.

Although I feel there were a few sections that could have been scaled back a bit, those areas were few and far between and I rather enjoyed this book as a whole. I would definitely pick up another book by Kelli Estes in the future.

Thank you to Netgalley and Lake Union Publishers for an ARC of this book. All opinions in this review are my own.

This book honestly felt like a balm for my soul. I didn’t realize just how much I’d been craving a story set deep in the Scottish Highlands until I started reading, and suddenly, I was there. Sweeping landscapes, haunting atmosphere, and two mothers, centuries apart, whose stories somehow feel like they’re part of the same heartbeat.

Keaka’s walk along the West Highland Way with her son is meant to be a bittersweet goodbye before he heads off to university, but it quickly becomes something much stranger and more magical. Her visions are eerie and vivid: fire, sorrow, a woman from another time. That woman is Sorcha, living in 1801, wrongly accused and torn from everything she knows, doing whatever it takes to keep her child safe. The way their lives mirror each other across time, gave me chills!

I loved how this story explored motherhood, not in a sentimental or overdone way, but with rawness and strength. There’s a quiet fierceness to both women, and I found myself deeply moved by the way their stories wove together. The supernatural elements added this dreamlike, almost mythic feeling that lingered with me long after I finished. If I’m being honest, I do wish some of the magical aspects had been fleshed out a little more, but that didn’t take away from the emotional impact.

This book found me at the perfect moment. It’s haunting, tender, and full of heart. I’m so grateful to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the ARC! I’ll be thinking about this one for a while.

The brutality of Highland clearances is laid bare, as we meet Sorcha and her son, evicted and chased from their home, so the wealthy landowners can graze, more profitable, sheep. They are accused of murder and they are running for their lives.
"Smoke on the Wind" is a time slip novel by Kelli Estes. 1801 Sorcha and her son Aonghas walking (as fast as little food and keeping off main roads will allow them) south from the highlands to Glasgow and modern day Keaka and son Colin are walking the West Highland Way, from Glasgow to Fort William. As she walks, Sorcha carves markings into rocks along the way. These marks cross the centuries and remain, being visible to modern day walkers. Keaka has a strong second site into the past....and sees visions of Sorcha and suddenly has the ability to speak Gaelic.
This powerful story reppresents the millions of Scots moved on as part of the clearances. Those with enough money moved to Canada, USA, UK and beyond spreading their Scots heritage worldwide.
"Smoke on the Wind" provides a wonderful first timer experience of Scotland...history, language, landscapes and the taste of IRN-BRU.
Sorcha and Keaka are connected many times in the book.....sometimes when they don't notice, by a common place. The other deeper connection is by the love of their sons, both who are at turning points in their lives, striking out on their own. Both mothers are clinging to their only children. So this is a story of mother-son relationships with all their secrets, protectionism, and teenage moods. Also explored is the concept of what home is; a physical place or people that surround you?
To me the lesson learned is of the need to ground yourself in nature. Walking a lonely path away from other people and distraction. Running away or running too your future.
Thanks to NetGalley, Kelli Estes and Lake Union Publishing for my copy. I eagerly await more riveting reads from Kelli.

This the first book I have read from this author and I loved it, the duel timeline was easy to follow and loved the spooky touches. The book has been researched well and written impeccably, the characters Keaka and Sorcha are so entwined it’s just amazing to read.
My thanks as always to NetGalley and to Publisher Lake Union Publishing the the opportunity to have the early read of this excellent book

Certainly! Here's a more natural and flowing version of the book review:This beautifully written story weaves together two timelines, both centered around a roughly 100-mile trek through the Scottish countryside, leaving a lasting impression. In the historical thread set in 1801, Sorcha and her teenage son, Aonghas, are forced to leave their home after their cottage is burned down. Wealthy landowners, aiming to increase profits from sheep grazing, displaced local residents by setting fire to their villages—destroying entire communities in the Scottish Highlands. With almost nothing and no food, Sorcha and Aonghas faced an uncertain future. In the present day, Keaka and her son Colin from Portland, Oregon, are embarking on a week-long hike through the same region of Scotland. Colin had originally planned this trip with his father, who shared stories about the Highland Clearances. Sadly, his father passed away ten months earlier, and now Keaka is stepping in, carrying her own grief as she prepares her son to leave for the University of Glasgow. The novel beautifully explores the strong bond between mother and son, offering a heartfelt look at their journeys—both physical and emotional. Once again, Estes demonstrates her talent for crafting meaningful stories that bridge different eras, making this a truly memorable read.

This is a very interesting read. I learned a lot about Scotland! (I’d love to visit sometime).
There is a dual timeline. I’m a little confused as to the “time travel” aspect. It fits nicely into the storyline but how is it happening?
Both are mothers “losing” their sons to life and adulthood.
There is a lot of truth spread throughout the storyline.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. My opinions are my own.

Beautifully written, this is a memorable story involving two timelines with a similar 100-mile hike across the Scottish countryside.

In 1801, Sorcha and her teenaged son, Aonghas, were forced out of their community when their cottage was set on fire. The landlords pushed the rent-payers out of the Scottish Highlands by burning the village when they could make more money on the land grazing sheep. Where would they go with no food and only a few coins?

In the present, Keaka and her son, Colin, from Portland, OR were taking a 7-day hike in this same area of Scotland. Colin and his dad had planned this trip filled with history of the Highland Clearances. However, his dad died 10 months ago. Keaka stepped into his role with the sadness that she lost her husband and was about to say goodbye to her son. After the hike, Colin would be entering the University of Glasgow.

When I saw that Kelli Estes wrote another book, I was thrilled as I loved “The Girl Who Wrote in Silk.” Her last story also had two timelines revolving around 1880s with the harsh prejudice against the Chinese in Seattle. Now, Estes enriches us with Scottish history. She shows the effects of a community that is displaced like the Japanese who were forced into US camps during WWII.

This book helps you understand the complex relationship a mother has with her son. She includes Gaelic words and a dialogue that feels genuine. Again, this author highlights history that is often overlooked. It’s similar to a hiker experiencing nature’s wonders for the first time. Scotland is a beautiful setting that makes you want to go there.

In this book, Keaka has some wild dreams that take her back 200 years. Wouldn’t we all like to go into such explorations at night? The book is a mixture of history, adventure and includes all sorts of emotions. It’s also a wish for a better world.

My thanks to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this book with an expected release date of June 24, 2025.

This book was good. I loved the entertwined stories of Sorcha and Keaka. There was much rich history from the time period in Scotland and to learn about what Sorcha and her son endured on their travels away from their home made this book a good historical read.

I enjoy novels that have creative twists on temporal dimensions (Susanna Kearsley and Rebecca Ross both have fantastic tales that exemplify how to develop a creative connection between women in two different time periods) so I was excited to read Smoke on the Wind since the marketing blurb implies that two women on Scottish soil - Keaka and Sorcha - are connected despite living almost 200 hundred years apart.

In modern times, Keakahas committed to a weeklong West Highland Way hike with her son before he enters university in Glasgow. As a recent widow, Keaka is dreading the end of this hike as it signifies the end of this stage of motherhood and a return to a life alone back in the United States.

In the early 1800s, Sorcha and her son are also on a journey but not a leisurely one. Instead readers are given insight into what is now referred to as the "Highland Clearances" in which landowners displaced families from the land on which familial generations had dwelled. These families often gave their lives up in support and protection of these landowners so the forced removal was an intense betrayal. After being forced from their home, Sorcha and her son are perpetually in dire situations and are under constant threat of repeat betrayal.

While I enjoyed both Keaka's and Sorcha's stories and I liked the way Estes connected the two in time, I think Smoke on the Wind has some pacing issues. The beginning starts off with quite a bit of excitement but while there are fearful moments in Sorcha's journey and exciting moments on the long hike for Keaka that naturally propel the plot, we do languish a bit between all of that. We seem to return quite frequently to the frustrations that Keaka had in her marriage - of which her son is unaware - and we are continually aware of the danger that Sorcha is facing.

The ending is incredibly satisfying (especially for Sorcha!) but I wish Estes had created a stronger genealogical connection between Keaka and Sorcha to explain their physical bond.

Thank you to Kelli Estes, Lake Union Publishing, and NetGalley for this e-ARC.

Another winner from Kelli Estes! This one was definitely a page turner for me. The Scottish Highlands were a character unto themselves. This book deals with the bond between mother and son in two different timelines that interconnect. Be swept away...it made me want to walk the West Highland Way myself! Very highly recommended!

Kelli Estes' has done it again. This dual-timeline novel is beautifully researched and written. Trust me when I say, buy it!

Set mostly in Scotland on the West Highland Way during 1801 and the present day.

In 1801 Sorcha Chisolm and her son Aonghas are evicted from their cottage in Srath Ghlais in Scotland. Sorcha and her son travel towards Glasgow trying to find a better life.

In the present day, Keaka and her son Colin, walk along the West Highland Way together. Keaka is feeling very emotional; her son is about to start his studies at a University in Glasgow and she will be flying back to the United States. Originally her son and her husband Adam were going to do the walk from Glasgow to Fort William but when Adam died Keaka decided to do the walk with Colin.

At the beginning of the walk Keaka discovers a carving of a flower on a stone bridge, while having a closer look she becomes very emotional and sad. Keaka keeps noticing the carved flower petal on rocks along their walk.

I loved the descriptions of Sorcha and how she marks her travels with a small carving of a flower petal on rocks, to help mark her return to the Highlands.

This was about families and grief.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher Lake Union Publishing for a chance to review this E-Book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.