Ahhh I absolutely loved this book !! The perfect type of book to lift your spirits...and make you want to be there !

This book features the lovely Yorkshire lass Ruby Locke (even though her and her fiancé at the time had moved to America) , when her life starts to fall apart , her engagement ends , her social media gets hacked , she flees to Sicily (don't we all wish we could do that sometimes!) Everything seems like it is going well, she is settling in , healing from the events and even strikes up a friendship with a handsome man..... but when her house in Sicily is compromised she flees once again and has to try work out who has it in for her? Who wants to destroy her career and life?

Ruby is a character that is very easy to love, she seems so sweet and innocent and Hollywood has swollwed her up. One thing in this book that I feel a lot of people will identify with is how social media can be used in a negative, vile way to destroy people, their lives and their reputations.

The book is extremely well written, beautiful settings , you can practically feel the sun on your skin as you are reading the book. The characters in the book are all well described and very realistic. The story line itself is one that keeps you reading, keeps you wanting to find out who could do this to such a sweet innocent person. I can safely say I will be reading more from this author !

I really enjoyed this book, Ruby was a great character though I did get frustrated with her a few times with her reactions to things, though I did also understand why she reacted the way she did.

We meet Ruby just as things have gone horribly wrong for her. Someone has hacked her social media and said things that have most people turning on her. In trying to set things right she ends up making them worse and this is when she heads to Sicily. We never find out exactly what was put on her social media but there’s enough in the story to give you an idea of what views the messages portrayed. It also gives a very accurate picture of how the public can react to information they get (whether right or wrong) and the consequences that can have. It shows very clearly the power of social media and the fact that in this world, if you’re famous, it’s really hard to disappear completely even for a little while.

I loved the locations and especially the people of Glentorrin. It was such a lovely village and it’s clear, along with everything else that happens, why Ruby starts questioning her life and her future.

This is a lovely read, it’s great watching Ruby develop as a character and see the decisions she makes change as she changes. The dogs are brilliant characters too and almost steal the story. If you want something lovely, with great character development and a bit of a mystery then this is a great choice. I will definitely be reading more from this author.

Stuck at home dreaming of spending your summer on the golden shores of Sicily? Or, perhaps, tucked up in a cozy cottage on Scotland's Isle of Skye? Lisa Hobman's Under a Sicilian Sky takes you to both places from the comfort of your own living room, with vivid descriptions that left me feeling like I was right there with her characters as they explored both Sicily and Skye.

This was my first book by Hobman so I wasn't quite sure what to expect. What I discovered was plenty of adventure, a bit of a mystery, slow-burn romance, friendship, substantial character growth, and emotional depth. It took me a while to warm up to Ruby, which is why the second half of the book (in Scotland) was my favorite. By that point in the story, she'd learned some hard lessons, begun to mature, and was beginning to take control of her own destiny. I very much enjoyed the friendships she made on Skye and the female support she received when things started to go sideways. There's also a surprising, and consistent, source of comfort and support that comes from a small group of individuals back in the U.S. I'm being purposely vague to avoid spoilers but I loved those people. I also enjoyed the mystery that's woven throughout the book and the fact that the author was able to keep me on my toes with twists and turns along the way that held some unexpected surprises.

By the end of the book, I was happy with the person Ruby had become, cheered her choices, was confident in the happy future that awaited her both personally and professionally, and even more eager to visit Scotland.

If you're looking for a summer read that will take you to foreign shores, introduce you to intriguing characters, and enmesh you in a ripped-from-the-headlines mystery that could easily happen to any of us on social media, give Under a Sicilian Sky by Lisa Hobman a try.

*ARC received for fair and unbiased review

Under a Sicilian Sky is a heart-warming story that transports the reader from New York to Sicily to the Isle of Skye. While I love New York and Sicily and have been lucky enough to travel to both, the Isle of Skye was the standout and a place I need to go ASAP.

Ruby Locke, a 30-year-old red-haired actress from Yorkshire has her life turned upside down when her social media accounts are hacked and her career is on the verge of collapsing. She thought she could seek comfort with her fiancé, fellow actor Tyler Harrison, but she was sadly mistaken. With the aid of her agent, Valerie, Ruby is told to lay low away from New York and ends up at a private villa, Vista Mare, in Sicily owned by Mitch, a Scottish developer. Mitch is the friend of Veronica, a journalist who connects Ruby to Mitch’s home. Ruby leaves her life in New York behind to journey to Mitch’s home in Sicily in hopes that her name will be cleared and she can return to New York. After hiding out in Sicily, events force her to change locations that lead her to the Isle of Skye.

“It was the whore’s moans or dolphin hens making me sad.” This line I believe is one of the most humorous that I have ever read as it seemingly comes out of nowhere and made me giggle out loud. There were many moments of humor in this novel and also very sweet moments as the characters get to know each other. There were many characters and dogs that were lovely additions to the story. As Ruby gets to know all of them she begins to figure out who her true friends turn out to be and who is trustworthy. Ruby goes through a lot of emotions in this story and is was fantastic to read about her trials and tribulations as she tries to figure out how to fix her life that was destroyed without her involvement.

Overall, this book was a fun summer read! The characters and setting are lovely and the mystery behind the hacking and if Ruby will recover keep you captivated. This is a story that I devoured in a single sitting as I could not wait to see how everything would come together. Again, Ruby’s journey of self-discovery and how to move ahead was heartwarming and enjoyable. After reading this story, I definitely want to backtrack to read Dreaming Under an Island Skye to experience the full story of Jules and Reid!

**I give a special thank you to Rachel @rararesources and the publisher, Boldwood Books, for the opportunity to participate with this enjoyable novel via Netgalley. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.**

When Ruby Locke becomes the latest target of a social media hacking, her otherwise perfect life begins to fall apart around her at an alarming speed. As people are left reeling following the vile posts shared under her name, Ruby turns to her fiancé – and famous heart-throb Tyler for comfort, so she is obviously shocked to the core when he breaks off their engagement following these posts.

In a desperate attempt to hide away from the ever prying media, and to allow her heart chance to heal, she relocates to Sicily where she is befriended by a handsome neighbour. Unfortunately, this is all short lived when she finds herself having to flee Sicily after news of her whereabouts is leaked to the media.

Unsure of where to venture to next, she finds herself fleeing to the beautiful island of Skye where she is finally able to take a breather whilst she tries to fathom out who so desperately wants to tarnish her reputation and damage her career so deeply.

This was such a feel good, charming read that had me hooked from the start. It showed the flip side to social media – the side where people can use it to cause others harm or distress without sparing a thought for the lasting impact that action causes. Ruby is such a lovely character that you find yourself rooting for from the start. She doesn’t deserve all o the hatred she is receiving following the hacking of her accounts, and she certainly does not deserve the way Tyler treats her throughout this time too.

As the story moves forward, Ruby meets a cast of interesting characters who all play a pivotal role in turning her life around in one way or another, between the friendships, the blossoming romance, and the reassurance that she can in fact make it through these hard times spurs her on to uncovering who has hurt her the most. I loved following her journey as she grew as an individual and realised that there is so much more to her than what people see on a screen, and how she managed to pull her life back together, piece by piece with help from some rather unexpected places.

Add in to this mix the absolutely dreamy settings we find ourselves in throughout this story, places that left me dreaming of packing up my bags and setting off for the gorgeous Sicilian islands, this is undoubtedly being added to my summer must read lists!

Ruby's success is threatened when her social media accounts are hacked. With no effective, quick way to clear her name, she loses more than her reputation. Her career falters, and her relationship folds. Serious threats force her into hiding in Sicily.

Ruby finds friendship and self-realisation and possible romance, but not everyone is what they seem, and she has to run again. In Skye, she finds community support and friendship, and the reader is returned to the setting of the first book in this series. Ruby is likeable, if a little naive, but you empathise with her. The romance is a slow burn but lovely. The community dynamic is authentic, and the story is contemporary and relevant.

This is an entertaining romantic story with a mystery to solve, adventure and beautiful settings that immerse the reader in island life.

I received a copy of this book from Boldwood Books via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

I read this book because I'm a sucker for exotic locations and Sicily sounded the perfect escape. Surprisingly, I enjoyed the description of Skye just as much, which has to be testament to the author's skill.

I felt a part of Ruby's journey as she is forced to hide away, having become a social pariah thanks to internet trolls. This also provides a bit of mystery as she tries to find out who is behind the campaign to discredit her.

I loved the juxtaposition of pertinent social commentary and the light humour when Ruby leaves a note for the owner of the villa, with hilarious consequences.

A romance book with a dollop of mystery and fun yet with a serious message for today.

https://allthingsbookie.blogspot.com/2021/07/under-sicilian-sky.html

In this novel, you are given not one, but two gorgeous settings and in many ways, it feels like the book is split in two between Sicily and the Isle of Skye. I was delighted to return to the Isle of Skye and to meet up with some of the characters who I loved in Dreaming Under an Island Skye. Both the settings offered safe haven to Ruby, with mainly genuine people who she met but in both places, you realise, there were also those who could not be trusted.

Ruby has suffered deceit and treachery and she is having to come to terms with whether she wants her life to continue as it has been. In some ways, she has trusted too easily and now, her defences are up. Nevertheless, her trusting nature leaves her vulnerable. There is a great feeling of friendships being formed as she comes to value what is really important. This novel has romance, great central characters and a feeling of community. I loved it!

Thanks to the publisher for a copy of the book

I loved this book with the story of Rosie's social media being hacked so that she had to flee the limelight in New York York and hide away first in Sicily and then in Scotland. The second part of the book was the best for me when she got to Scotland and gradually started to meet the locals and find that she really fitted in making her look at her life.... and of course Mitch was gorgeous!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

This story was fine, parts I really enjoyed (the scenery, swoon) and others that were just okay. I loved all the characters that Ruby met along with her family and friends.

I think Ruby's naivete and implicit trust felt a little unbelievable at times. At her age and being in her career for almost ten years, I think she would have been a little less trusting than she was.

Although predictable, not just the romance but the larger plot, it was still an enjoyable read. Perfect for a day where you just want to get lost in beautiful settings.

Yorkshire lass Ruby is a star, loved by millions, with the lifestyle of the rich and famous – but everything starts to disintegrate when her social media accounts are hacked, and it seems the whole world is turning against her. Amid media disasters and the mounting threat to her safety, Tyler – the man she rather hoped would be there for her – breaks off their engagement, fearing for the impact on his own career. When the death threats start, she really does need to lie low for a while – and where better than a villa in Sicily, owned by a friend of a friend, where she hopes to be able to disappear from public scrutiny while her agent hopefully puts things right and attempts to restore her reputation.

With guards on the gate – and despite the company of a delightful little Yorkshire terrier called Nero, and the telephone support of steadfast friend Kitty – she begins to feel like a prisoner. But her attempts to spread her wings a little go very wrong, and she’s forced to flee for a second time, this time to Glentorrin on Skye, in the company of something of a knight in shining armour – although she at first thinks Mitch is an Italian builder doing some work on the villa, their early encounters fraught with misunderstandings (and some lovely touches of humour). Skye envelops her in the warm hug she really needs, gives her time to think about her uncertain future, but also delivers a computer nerd who might finally be able to get to the bottom of the hacking issues so that she can restart her life – and things slowly begin to look a little more hopeful.

There was so much I enjoyed about this book. The whole hacking and cyber-bullying scenario was extremely well done, giving the whole story a nice contemporary edge – with some very real insights into the fragility of stardom, when adoration can turn to hatred overnight, and the support network you believe firmly in place falls apart.

I will admit though that – for me – this was rather a book of two halves. While I certainly did enjoy Ruby’s time in Sicily, and the intriguing storyline that developed as she tried to escape her incarceration for a while, I felt the book really took off from the point she arrived in Skye. I so enjoyed the author’s last book, and I was delighted to be back in the warmth of the community in Glentorrin, surrounded by characters (with two legs, and four) that I already knew so well and had taken to my heart. I must say though that if this is your first visit, it really won’t matter at all – it was really good to recognise the background and some of the characters’ stories, but it’s really not essential, just rather a treat for those of us who do.

Ruby herself is a really lovely character, and particularly well drawn – she might be a global superstar, but she’s very real and grounded (after all, she’s a Yorkshire girl at heart). I particularly loved her phone exchanges with heavily pregnant friend Kitty – filled with humour, but it was good to know that she still had someone firmly in her corner. But when in Skye, she becomes surrounded by new friends too – and the way they accept her as one of their own really does your heart good. And then there’s the enigmatic Mitch, who seems determined to remain immune from her charms – but things do gradually warm up a little, a slow-burn romance that I thoroughly enjoyed, but with more than its fair share of obstacles and misunderstandings along the way.

While Ruby and Mitch are always central to the story, all the supporting characters – however peripheral – are excellent too. I especially liked chauffeur Philippe and his lovely family who provide Ruby with a refuge when the story first breaks, an exceptional act of kindness and some much-needed proof that not everyone believes the worst of her. And the whole community in Glentorrin is simply wonderful – all the small acts of kindness, the new friendships being built, their total acceptance that the star in their midst is just a real person who’s hurting and needs to feel safe once more.

There’s a nice edginess from the unfolding mystery of who might be responsible for the social media meltdown, but it’s the developing romance and the warmth of that wonderful community at Glentorrin that gives this book real heart. It’s an excellent story, really well told – and I was really sorry when it ended and I had to leave. I’ll be looking forward to the next book from Lisa Hobman – I thoroughly enjoyed this one.

I loved this one. It was warm and sweet and made me think of hot sunny days. I really enjoyed this story perfect for a beach read. I read it in just over a day. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

I have been a fan of Lisa’s work for a while now. I haven’t caught up with everything that she has written to date, but I am getting there. I read the synopsis for ‘Under A Sicilian Sky’ and it certainly sounded like the sort of story I particularly enjoy. So without further ado, I grabbed a cup of tea, grabbed my Kindle and settled down for what proved to be a fun afternoon of reading. I thoroughly enjoyed reading ‘Under A Sicilian Sky’ but more about that in a bit.
I absolutely loved the character of Ruby Locke and I warmed to her from the very start. It didn’t take very long for me to consider Ruby to a friend of mine and I naturally felt protective of her. Ruby is a world famous actress and her life is pretty good until some vile messages appear via Ruby’s social media channels. Ruby is adamant that she didn’t put them on there and that somebody has framed her. I believe her. Ruby has the rug pulled from under her feet when the messages emerge and her so called boyfriend- well the least said about him the better. Ruby hasn’t done anything wrong and yet she is the one being persecuted. Ruby then leaves to travel to an Italian bolt hole, where she can heal and rebuild her life without being in the public eye as well as try and work out who has hacked her social media accounts. What happens? Well for the answer to that question and so much more you are just going to have to read the book for yourselves to find out as I am not going to tell you.
It didn’t take me long at all to get into ‘Under A Sicilian Sky’. In fact by the time I got to the end of the first chapter, I knew that I was in for a treat and that I would find it increasingly difficult to put this book to one side for any length of time. I would pick the book up only intending to read a couple of chapters but I would become so wrapped up in the story and so completely in love with the descriptions of Sicily, that I would still be sat there reading well over half a dozen chapters and an hour later. I couldn’t turn those pages quick enough and it will come as no surprise to learn that I managed to read the book within the space of an afternoon. I found ‘Under A Sicilian Sky’ to be a delight to read from start to finish and the story held my attention throughout.
‘Under A Sicilian Sky’ is superbly and beautifully written. Lisa certainly knows how to grab a reader’s attention from the start and draw them into what proves to be a compelling story. Lisa has one of those easy going writing styles that reads more like a conversation between friends than reading an actual book. I hope that makes sense. I loved the very vivid and realistic way in which Lisa described Italy. She described it in such a vivid way that I felt as though I was part of the story and had I closed my eyes, it would have been easy to imagine that I was in Italy with the sun beating down on my face.
In short, I thoroughly enjoyed reading ‘Under A Sicilian Sky’ and I would recommend it to other readers. I will certainly be reading more of Lisa’s work in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 5* out of 5*.

🌅Social media nightmare leads Ruby to reevaluate her choices: relevant and romantic😊

4.5🌟 stars
I loved the escape to small-town life on the Scottish Isle of Skye in this book after British actress Ruby finds her life in the U.S. in turmoil due to someone destroying her reputation by hacking her social media with hateful postings. Yes, I said Scotland, which is where the story leads with a major stopover in sunny Sicily enroute. It seems the male lead has homes in both Sicily and Scotland and a mutual acquaintance arranges for Ruby to hide out in Mitch's Sicilian villa where she first meets him and a friendship is born.

The romance builds slowly and includes misunderstandings and friction, especially early on. I found both leads really likable though Ruby allows loyalty and a trusting nature to work against her own best interests a bit too often. Friendship and family are also key to Ruby's and Mitch's character, The romance is not explicit (which suited me just fine).

The Isle of Skye part of the story was the highlight for me. Author Lisa Hobman returns to a community she created in Dreaming Under an Island Skye where the locals are kind, friendly and welcoming to newcomers like Ruby. And I was delighted to note that Hobman gets Ruby on the road and hills to experience some of Skye's beautiful landscape. It's no wonder that Yorkshire-bred Ruby falls for the place and people!

The search for the hacker's identity, a stalker waiting in the wings and the question of where Ruby's career would end up all added a nice bit of suspense.

I really liked the juxtaposition of Ruby's chaotic life as a misunderstood celebrity with the warm embrace of village life, family and friends, old and new. This was a lovely read, start to finish.

Thanks to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for sharing a complimentary advance copy of the book; I liked it so much I purchased a copy.

This is one of those books that reminds me why I love to read. While reading I was whisked from New York to Sicily and then on to Skye and together with Ruby, the star of the story, I met some lovely people and saw some beautiful sites. I was completely absorbed in Ruby’s story. I smiled, I laughed and I got tears in my eyes at other times

The story is about an Yorkshire actress named Ruby Locke living and working in America. At the start of the story her social accounts are hacked and then her fiancé breaks up with her so she flees the limelight and threats of the media and everyone believing the nasty things she supposedly said only. First stop is Sicily and it sounds so pretty and what starts out lovely ends up far from it, so the next stop Glentorrin on the Isle of Skye. Glentorrin has just the loveliest setting and community. Village life at its best!

Will Ruby have to stay in hiding forever or will they ever discover who hacked her and will it be discovered on time to save her career?

Here is what I loved about this book:

✅ A lovely down to earth star with such a good heart.

✅ Ruby absolutely adores dogs and the book features several dogs! You just know the author must be a dog lover!

✅ Kindness costs nothing but can make a world of difference. We meet some truly lovely characters in this story. I hope some of them get a book of their own!

✅ Beautiful settings.

✅ Talk of delicious food and baking.

✅ Romance and friendships.

✅ A reminder to be kind on social media. Online nastiness can really ruin lives!

I would like to thank Lisa Hobman, Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review. I know for sure it will not be the last Lisa Hobman book I read!

Thank you NetGalley, author Lisa Hobman, and Boldwood Books publishing for giving me a free arc copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
4.5 stars
What would you do if a hack on your social media account ends up being a scandal that could possible end your career? Where could you hide?
The story is about the backlash that comes as asocial media hack has on the life and career of actress Ruby Locke. While trying to weather the media storm, Ruby's agent sends her into hiding to a villa in Sicily where she meets a Scottish property mogul Mitch. The story leads the reader on the journey of her fight to clear her name and the consequences of people's jealous . If this catches your interest, read this book!
This book had so many wonderful themes, friendship, loyalty, love, community, home, and the ups and downs of fame. While there was romance between Ruby and Mitch, it was not overwhelming, but more of a secondary plotline. I enjoyed how strong Ruby became as a result of the people that gave her their support in the midst of the scandal. The author used such wonderful descriptive language for the Island, people, and villa. The various of characters added to the enjoyment of the story. All their interactions were meaningful and realistic. The big reveal of the culprit behind the hacks was predictable, but that does not take away from putting all the pieces together to see how it came about for a very satisfying ending! Overall, I could not recommend this book more to those who loved a heartfelt story of friendship and love. I look forward to reading more new releases by author Lisa Hobman in the future.

A fun, quick read: not only a romance, but a mistery, too. The author also deals with other themes such as cyberbullism and misplaced importance given to social media, compared to real life.
Very good story, very well written and very engaging. The settings are beautiful! A perfect summer read!

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review.

The story begins with disguised Ruby Locke on a flight from JFK to Sicily, wondering how she went from being a beloved Hollywood star to the most hated person in US in a span of few days.
After some vile and bigoted content is posted from her social media accounts, Ruby finds herself amidst a raging controversy. To make matters worse, her fiancé dumps her rather publicly.

Following a public outrage, Ruby’s agent, Valerie, suggests that she must say low and hide out the controversy.

Heartbroken and scared, Ruby is flown out to a secluded villa in Sicily. Accompanying her in exile are two bodyguards and an extremely cute Yorkshire terrier. Then there is Mitch, the handsome homeowner.

Soon her cover is blown and as she struggles to get her name cleared, she is again forced to relocate. This time, to a beautiful village in Isle of Sky. As she struggles to get her name cleared and find answers about the mystery hacker whose set to destroy her career, she ponders over her life in limelight and what is it that she truly wants.

I enjoyed this book so much. The writing is funny and fresh. Ruby’s struggle with Italian is hilarious and I was laughing out loud for 10 minutes straight during a particular translation of “hormones” and “endorphins”.

The world building is extremely detailed and vivid. I simply loved the picturesque setting of both Sicily and Isle of Sky. The mystery surrounding the identity of the hacker was intact throughout which made this book into a real page turner.

While mystery kept me hooked, I really enjoyed the slow-burn romance between Ruby and Mitch. All the side characters, including the bodyguards and village locals are extremely well written and I liked each one of them. The cherry on the cake was two paw-dorable furry characters 🐶🐶

Although it’s all light and breezy, it does touch an important topic of cyberbullying. While it’s easy to sit behind a screen and judge someone, especially a celebrity from the comfort of your home, you never know how your words can destroy the other person.

This book made for a perfect summer escape and am definitely looking forward to reading more from author Lisa Hobman.

Lastly, I'd like to thank Boldwood Books and netgalley for providing me an e-Arc of the book in exchange for an honest review.

What a ride! Ruby is a big shining star, and when her social media is hacked, it sends her life and her head into a spin. Stunning locations are the backdrop for Ruby's journey, and the romance is a slow burning delight. I really loved spending time in Ruby's world. The cover of this book draws you in immediately, and if you are feeling cheating out of a holiday this year, this book is the answer! I LOVE the physical and mental journey that Ruby goes through in this book, and with today's perils of social media, this story is a modern and romantic gem. Highly recommended! I will definitely be reading more, and the fact that Ruby is a Yorkshire lass is the Yorkshire pudding on the top of this succulent Sunday roast of a book. More please!

Romance in unexpected places while traveling is always the best summer reading and this does not disappoint. I received this novel as in advanced reader copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.