Love the books by Julie Shackman. Beautiful setting, a community that knows each other. Friendships, romance and a mysterious historical treasure hunt. Ticked all my boxes.

Although part of the Scottish Escapes series, A Scottish Highland Summer can be enjoyed as a standalone novel.

It follows Darcie, a fast-paced city dweller and successful travel blogger, who is reluctantly sent to the Isle of Skye to research an upcoming travel guide.

Initially self-absorbed and difficult to warm to, Darcie embarks on a journey of personal growth, aided by the breathtaking Scottish landscape and the easygoing charm of Logan, a local who becomes both her guide and unexpected companion.

The novel masterfully blends romance with mystery, as Darcie finds herself entangled in the search for the legendary Skye Lovers Cross - an ancient archaeological treasure steeped in folklore.

The Isle of Skye itself becomes a character in its own right, with its rugged cliffs, tranquil lochs, and picturesque villages providing an atmospheric and immersive setting. I felt like I had been transported to Skye thanks to Shackman's storytelling.

While the evolving romance and treasure hunt added intrigue, I found it difficult to connect with Darcie at first.

However, her development throughout the novel made her transformation more rewarding.

Shackman’s writing brings the setting to life, making this an enjoyable read for those who love Scotland, second-chance journeys, and a touch of adventure.

With thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Great setting and original premise. I love Skye and it was so well evoked in this book that I’m sure many more people will want to visit.

However, Darcie simply annoyed me. I found her insufferable and unlikeable for a substantial part of the book and sadly that ruined the romance. I do not understand the whole concept of social influencers; for me they are the negative downside of social media so I totally struggled with Darcie. It’s still an enjoyable read.

Slow to get going story about an influencer who goes to write a review n the isle of Skye. The thought of an influencer in any book filled me with dread even one who changes. Thank you netgalley for the advanced copy

Social media influencing is a trendy timely subject. Over-the-top influencers with their slick videos, perfect trips where nothing goes wrong and lots of product endorsements are everywhere on social media. As fascinating as they are they're also annoying. This brings us to Darcie Freeman.

Darcie has gotten to the point in her "career" where it has gone to her head. She believes that fans are the only people who matter and it's her right to take luxury vacations promoting stuff all on someone else's dime. Having to be video ready perfect has become ingrained and it's like high school where you'll just die if you get a pimple. It's big business and Darcie is slipping down the ranks, panic sets in. She's sent to Scottish Isle of Skye by her pushy agent to write & photograph a travel guidebook, thinking she's being punished and this place is the portal to hades. Unlikable for the first part of the story it turns out she's not empty-headed and cold.

Handsome local Logan is hired to be her guide and he leads Darcie on a three week awakening journey. Logan is a simple guy happy with his life, loving his home and manages to teach her simple doesn't mean dull, he's got a romantic soul. Camping by the beach, picnics, tours of old castles and gardens. I'd never thought a geologist would be handsome, fairly young, interesting and swoon worthy. It was an enjoyable read and I loved the HEA, it's a favorite ending trope of mine.

#NetGalley #AScottishIslandSummer #romance #contemporaryromance #JulieShackman #OneMoreChapter #HarperCollins #treasurehunt #tourScotland #IsleofSkye

Darcie a travel writer is sent to Skye to write about the island. While there she meets Logan and Iona, sibl8ngs who l8ve and breathe the island and serve as her guide. As Darcie explores the island, her outlook to life changes, from being more of a frou-frou influencer, to actually think about a simpler way of living and what truly matters. There's a slow burn romance along with a mystery surrounding a Cross that keeps the story interesting.

#netgalley #AScottishIslandSummer

Darcie Freeman is a travel influencer but currently her biggest competition is getting all the great jobs. So her agent secured her a book deal for a travel guide about the Isle of Skye. Darcie is horrified as this has nothing to do with the great luxury travels she did so far and means not to comfort she is used to.
Her arrival on the island is confirming her biggest fears. The weather is bad as it is cold and raining, she is not in a five start hotel, has no Spa and her contact from the PR company is also not what she is used to. All is getting even worth when she is informed that a local was hired to show her around the island and it turns out to be the brother of the local PR contact. So the time for designer shoes are over as Darcie needs walking boots and a reasonable wardrobe to survive what lays ahead of her as wild camping, a boat trip are only some things waiting for her. As she spends more and more time with Logan and less time on her social media accounts Darcie learns what really matters in live.


A really nice romance! The story is set on the stunning Isle of Skye and for me the feeling of the island and its inhabitants is beautifully conveyed. I had the feeling to be again on the island.
I really love how two so different worlds collide here.

Darcie is a big city girl. After she was cheated on she is fully concentrating on her career as influencer. She wants to get the good advertising deals, TV offers, the mega travel deals, ...
Unfortunately one of her rivals is doing so much better than her, hence she needs to accept the Skye deal. I like that she arrives with high expectations and is faced with another lifestyle on the island. To read how bit by bit she is living less in the social media bubble and instead really arrives on Skye, is learning more about the island and its inhabitants, how she is changing bit by bit is for me very well done here.
Logan is fallowing his dreams on Skye and is a down to earth person.
Right from the start I liked how both of them interact, how their relationship is changing.
Also all the other characters are well written and fit perfectly into this story.

For me the setting is perfect, nice characters, nice love story and a treasure hunt make the perfect combination for this nice romance I enjoyed reading and I can really recommend.

I was really looking forward to reading this as it's set on the beautiful Isle of Skye. Skye is my favourite island and I have a lot of wonderful memories from visiting there over the years. I felt the author's information and descriptions of it were excellent. 

Unfortunately I disliked Darcie at the beginning. She came across as selfish and entitled. However, I am delighted that we see her grow as a character as the book progresses, especially with the help of Logan who I thought was a great character. There was a great mix of other characters, including Iona and the mysterious man!

Darcie certainly changed as she faced the challenges, set by Logan, which were material for her book. I found some of these highly entertaining.

A slow burn romance and a mystery to solve as well made this a lovely lighthearted read which I would recommend.

Thank you Rachel's Random Resources for my gifted copy and spot on the tour.

The eighth in Shackman's 'Scottish Escapes' series and my third of the series, A Scottish Island Summer took me off to the Isle of Skye to meet new faces Darcie and Logan.

Whilst a slow burn romance isn't always to everyones taste, I actually enjoyed it as it gave me some time to appreciate the beauty of the surrounding areas and learn a thing or two about Skye.

They say opposites attract and that couldn't have been more true...Darcie and Logan were like chalk and cheese with absolutely nothing in common, then boom stars collided and they became the perfect match.

Engaging and enjoyable it was the perfect escapism to brighten up a wintery day in January.

A cosy read set in the beautiful Isle of Skye. When Darcie, a successful social media influencer is trying to up her game, her agent sends her to Skye to write a travel guide. It's her worst nightmare, the middle of nowhere, cold and wet and her expected 5 star hotel with a spa turns out to be an old fashioned B&B without a spa in sight. What's worse Darcies rival is posting pictures of her reviews of her time in a luxury hotel in the sun. The great writing but he author really made me laugh out loud reading about Darcie arriving on the Isle and how she has to tackle the lack of the luxury shes used to, the unsuitable designer clothing shes packed and not to mention the shock shes to spend days with Logan, the local Bear Grylls, trying out Island life.
As Darcie is welcomed by the islanders she finds herself swapping her high heels and designer clothes for walking boots and jumpers and begrudgingly getting involved, she can't quit, she needs this travel guide to be a success to boost her online career. When she eventually starts looking around her instead of through a lens on her phone, she realises how beautiful the Isle is and she gets caught up in local life and the search for missing treasure - the Skye lovers cross. Darcie has no idea how her life is about to change for the better and not in the way she thought.

A beautiful read that I couldn't out down. My 1st book by this author and I will definitely be checking out more titles.

Absolutely loved A Scottish island Summer! It was very rewarding to see Darcie change from a character that I didn't care much for to changing for the better as the story progressed.
Some takeaways from the story included being present/not always on our phones, don't try to be someone you're not, and paying attention to and appreciating your own life, as comparison is the thief of joy.
I loved that there was a little bit of mystery included in the plot, so it's not such a formulaic romance. I didn't realize that this is part of a series, so I'll definitely be looking into more of Julie's books.
Thank you so much to NetGalley, Harper Collins UK and the publisher/author/whomever approved me for this ARC.

I’ve enjoyed several books by Julie Shackman before, so I was pleased to be offered a chance to review A Scottish Island Summer.

I have to confess that I didn’t warm to Darcie to start with. She just seemed to complain a lot. However, she soon mellowed a bit and I liked her better. She seems to be a good person at heart, but very controlled by fleeting emotions.

I liked Logan a lot more, though admittedly he seemed a little irritating on the first encounter.

The setting was lovely. Skye comes across as a really beautiful location, even if it does rain a lot. I loved the coral beach especially (though it doesn’t sound comfortable to walk or sit on!).

I liked the plot too, with the treasure hunting and the romance. It felt like a holiday from the here and now.

Overall, this was a really enjoyable romance, with a beautiful location, and a touch of adventure.

I was given a copy of this book, my opinions are my own.

I'm reviewing this via NetGalley, as part of a tour with Rachel's Random Resources. This is part of the Scottish Escapes series, and I've read a few others by this author.

At first, I wasn't sure what to make of the protagonist, Darcie, as she seemed fussy and preoccupied, and not the sort of person that I would click with. This was just a first impression though, and I found that I did connect with her a little bit more, as the story progressed. I enjoyed the cosy, feel-good atmosphere, and the other characters seemed warm and friendly.

I really liked Logan; he was exactly the type of character who made my heart melt. I enjoyed how the author worked with Skye as a setting, bringing it to life for the reader, with beautiful descriptions of the scenery.

This book was full of moments that warmed my heart and made it flutter, and I enjoyed my little escape to Skye.

Thank you to NetGalley, Rachel's Random Resources, and to the author and publisher, for the opportunity to read and review this.

I have only read a couple of Julie Shackman’s books but knew as soon as I saw this book was set on Skye that it was going to be good.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading about city-break & 5 star spa -loving social media influencer, Darcie’s, experience of camping & trekking around the isle of Skye with the rugged, handsome local, Logan, as her guide.
Cue comical exploits involving tents, heels, mud, sideways rain and much more. Given time (and a bit of sunshine), Darcie comes to see the beauty of the island and how special it and its inhabitants are becoming to her. The push-pull of Darcie & Logan’s developing feelings and the unearthing of a hidden secret keeps the reader’s attention from beginning to end.
A great spring or summer read, whatever the weather.

A young and upcoming influencer is sent to Skye to promote the island. A reluctant Darciexsets off on a journey that will change her life’s she falls under the spell of the island and an inhabitant. Romance tinged with unraveling a mystery . Slow to get going but picks up momentum once the hunt is on for the hidden artefact

I was happy to read this for feedback on Netgalley. This is the first book I have read by Julie. I was attracted to it as it is set on Skye and being Scottish I have been to Skye a few times. Darcie is a social media influencer from London who is sent to sky for 3 weeks by her agent. Her popularity is on the wane so she needs to make this a success. Her assignment is to write a travel book on Skye so she is introduced to Logan who is going to be her guide. He owns a shop in Portree selling stones and gems. She is more designer clothes not waterproofs and wellies so she is not equipped for Logan taking her around Skye. Darcie isn’t too keen on Logan but he grows on her but she doesn’t want to be interested in him so tries to ignore his flirting. They meet Campbell who is looking for treasure and has been for many years. The talk is it is just folklore but he believes it is somewhere. There are a few others who come into the book,Iona,Logan’s sister is the first person who meets Darcie, she is starting up a PR business and is the one who asks Logan to help. Robbie is a friend of Logan’s and has always had fancy for Iona but has never had the courage to speak to her. I really enjoyed this book and will look to read more. You must read it and follow Darcie and Logan as they go around Skye taking pictures and feathering information for her book.

A Scottish Island Summer by Julie Shackman

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

Blurb

When ambitious city girl, Darcie Freeman is sent to the Isle of Skye to conduct research for a travel guide, she’s horrified. The prospect of having to travel to a remote island in the Scottish Highlands leaves her wondering what she’ll do.

Step in Logan Burns. Gorgeous and adventurous, he lives and breathes the island, and along with his sister Iona, who owns a rather haphazard PR company, they’re going to show Darcie everything she needs to know about Skye.

As Darcie swaps her designer shoes for her walking boots and her faux fur jacket for her raincoat, will she learn there’s more to life than the picture-perfect presence she shares on social media, or will it be the case that Skye is the limit…

My Opinion

A Scottish Island Summer is part of the Scottish Escapes series. Julie Shackman has written a delightful novel that is easy to read. Darcie isn’t too impressed when she arrives on the Isle of Skye, but can Logan change her mind? An adventure and great character development await the reader of this charming book. What are you waiting for? Pack your bags and join Darcie as she writes her travel guide.

Rating 4/5

BLOG TOUR REVIEW


Review for 'A Scottish Highland Summer' by Julie Shackman.

WOW!!!! What can I say?!?! Yet another absolutely beautiful book that I fell in love with from this absolutely amazing author!!! This book is the eighth book in Julie's 'Scottish Escapes' series but this and all previous books can be read as standalones.

This book is beautifully written with vivid descriptions setting the picture perfectly in the readers mind. The title, description and cover works perfectly with the storyline.

This stunning storyline takes us on a stunning and unforgettable holiday to the gorgeous Highlands where we meet Darcie Freeman who has been sent to the Isle Of Skye by her agent. Darcie is an influencer and is absolutely horrified at the conditions and what she is expected to do. However, she is determined to stick it out especially when she discovers she was only asked to do it as her rival influencer River Banks had already agreed on another promotion. When she arrives she meets Iona Carrington from PR 'Skye's The Limit' who is nothing like what Darcie expected, her brother Logan Burns who is going to act as her guide and take her on some wild trips which she was definitely not expecting and several other members of the community. With Darcie complaining about everything Skye will Logan be able to warm her heart? Well, grab your copy of this absolutely stunning getaway to find out for yourself and I can guarantee you will not regret it! With a storyline filled with gorgeous settings, secrets, romance, heartbreak, adventure, humour, joy, twists, turns and so, so much more this is a must read for anyone looking for a feel good page turner!!! It had me laughing until I had tears streaming down my face, smiling until my face ached and falling in love. I have not been to Scotland since I was a child but Julie whisked me back there at the turn of a page and I did not want to leave. I was devastated when I came to the end and had to "unpack" my suitcase and return to rainy Wales!! Her stunning evocative and emotive writing skills ensured I could feel the fresh Skye air on my face and seeing the stunning scenery as if I was right next to Darcie throughout. I just absolutely love, Love, LOVED this absolutely stunning book so don't even waste your time reading more than this and go and grab your copy now!! I can genuinely guarantee you wont regret it!! This book really is a rollercoaster ride of emotions. I was utterly glued to the pages and I could not bring myself to put it down. I was carrying my kindle around with me every chance that I got as I just could not put it down and ended up devouring it in one sitting then being gutted I had finished it so quickly!! It is is one gorgeous book with a stunning location that I would absolutely love to visit!! Although this is the eighth book in the series I would have had absolutely no problems reading it without any of the others. Any details or events that have previously happened are mentioned in just the right amount of detail to let a new reader know what has happened and yet not too much to bore a previous reader. I cannot wait to go back and read the previous 5 books in this series that I have yet to read. I have already read the sixth book which is called 'The Bookshop By The Loch' and the seventh book 'A Scottish Highland Hideaway' which I completely and utterly fell in love with but haven't managed to get around to reading the ones before that. I would not normally recommend reading books out of order when it comes to a series but there is a silver lining if you have yet to read the previous books. The silver lining is that when you have come to the end of this beauty and have fallen in love with this author and series you can go back and read the previous seven books while you are waiting for the next book to come out!! Book Nine is called ' A Scottish Coastal Escape' and is available to preorder for when it is published on the 30th July 2025 which gives you plenty of time to devour the previous books!!! Another stunning book in this gorgeous series. Well done Julie!!

Clear your schedules and grab the tissues as this is one gorgeous and unputdownable stunner that will keep you hooked and have tears streaming down your face❤️

I absolutely loved getting to know the characters in this book who were all strong, realistic and unique. I became completely invested in each and every one of them. They all had their own problems, secrets, feelings and all had unique personalities and I just absolutely loved getting to know them all. Thanks to Julie's fantastic writing skills she ensured I felt each of their love , friendship, annoyance, heartbreak, happiness, anger, sorrow and so much more. Regardless of if I loved them or not the characters they each played their parts perfectly and it wouldn't have been as amazing a read as it was if I had loved them all!!! Julie does an absolutely amazing job of bringing the story to life and the characters leap out of the pages as your turning them thanks to her evocative writing skills!! Well done Julie!!! I am hoping to meet several of the characters in Julie's previous and future books.

Congratulations Julie on yet another absolutely gorgeous and heart-warming read filled with everything you could ever ask for in a page turner!!! This is the exact reason that you are in my favourite author list and here's to your next success 🥂

Overall an absolutely gorgeous book that will keep you glued to the pages, sweep you away to the Highlands and warm your heart ❤️!!!

#AScottishHighlandSummer #ScottishEscapes #JulieShackman #HarperCollins #HarperCollinsUK #OneMoreChapter #OneMoreChapterPublishing #RachelsRandomResources #rararesources

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A Scottish Island Summer
by Julie Shackman

Darcie, a bustling city girl and accomplished travel blogger, finds herself reluctantly sent to the enchanting Isle of Skye to research an upcoming travel guide. As she navigates the rugged landscapes and picturesque scenery, she meets Logan, a charming and easygoing local who becomes her guide. Initially, Darcie comes off as self-absorbed and difficult to like, but as the story unfolds, she embarks on a journey of personal growth, gradually transforming into a more relatable and endearing character.

The narrative beautifully weaves together elements of romance and mystery as Darcie unexpectedly gets caught up in the quest for the legendary Skye Lovers Cross—an elusive archaeological treasure steeped in centuries-old folklore and local lore.

This is the eighth instalment in the Scottish Escapes series, and I've had the pleasure of reading one other book in the collection. The breathtaking Isle of Skye serves as the perfect backdrop, with its dramatic cliffs, serene lochs, and quaint villages providing a vivid setting that transported me back to my own visit just seven months ago. Despite my fondness for the island’s beauty, I found it challenging to connect with Darcie initially, even as she evolved and matured throughout the story. changed throughout the book.

A fun, flirty and (often) hilarious romance set on the beautiful Isle of Skye. The life of a social influencer is all about staying on top of the game, and Darcie wonders how a travel guide to Skye is going to help her succeed. Romance blooms when island guide Logan takes her on adventures to highlight the special places on Skye.