Blog Archive

Sunday, August 3, 2025

A Scottish Lighthouse Escape by Julie Shackman - Book Review - Blog Tour

Series: Scottish Escapes #9 (standalone)

Publication Date: 30th July 2025

Purchase Link (UK): https://www.amazon.co.uk/Scottish-Lighthouse-Escape-lighthouse-armchair-ebook/dp/B0D9PLQ25Y

Purchase Link (UK): https://www.amazon.com/Scottish-Lighthouse-Escape-lighthouse-armchair-ebook/dp/B0D9PLQ25Y

Goodreads Book Page: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/223145780-a-scottish-lighthouse-escape

Genre: Women’s Fiction, Contemporary Romance

3.5 Stars

One Liner: Hopeful

Book Blurb:

Get ready to fall in love with the brand new romance in the Scottish Escapes series from bestselling author Julie Shackman.

When romance author Rosie Winters’s own fairytale romance ends with a bang, she’s determined to get away from everything. Packing up her belongings, she sets off for the furthest place she can think of: Scotland.

Rosie spent her summers at her late grandmother’s coastal cottage in the Highlands and knows it’ll be the perfect place to wallow for a while. Even better that there’s a gorgeous lighthouse and dolphins in the bay.

What Rosie didn’t expect was to bump into the new lighthouse keeper, Mitch. Despite her recent heartbreak, Rosie finds herself fascinated by the mysterious Mitch. As they spend more time together, is it possible that he needs Rosie every bit as she needs him…

***

My Thoughts:

The story comes in Rosie’s first-person POV.

I wondered why the author’s name sounded familiar until I realized I had read another book from this standalone series. Luckily, I like this a bit more than the other one.

The Scottish setting is beautiful, and the lighthouse has a decent role, so the title suits the book. I love the descriptions of Rowan Bay, the sea, the misty pathways, the unexpected storms, etc.

Bronte and Kane, the two adorable dogs, steal the show in many ways. You can see Brontë running on the cover. Cutie, right?

There’s also a subplot of sorts about the FMC’s late grandmother. It was well done, even if the climax was a bit too saccharine (and that comes from someone who likes HEA). Guess it aligns with the genre’s vibe to an extent.

The book touches upon some triggering topics like infidelity, spousal death, death of parents and loved ones, jealousy, confidence issues, etc.

This is again women’s fiction with a touch of romance, like the previous book I read (#7). However, it worked better since I could see a bit of attraction between the main leads, and it brought everything together.

This may not be an issue for everyone, but there are too many characters whose names start with R – Rosie, Recce, Rhea, Ruth… *eyeroll*

To summarize, A Scottish Lighthouse Escape is a hopeful read despite the predictability and a too-sweet ending. It’s pretty fast-paced and can be completed in a couple of sittings.

Thank you, Rachel's Random Resources and One More Chapter (HarperCollins), for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book. 

#NetGalley

***

About the Author – Julie Shackman

Julie Shackman is a feel-good romance author from Scotland and is published by the HarperCollins imprint One More Chapter. When not writing or reading, Julie loves to take her Romanian rescue pup Cooper for long walks, working out, watching romcoms, and indulging her love of music. A Scottish Lighthouse Escape is her thirteenth novel.

Follow the Author:

Website: Julie Shackman Author

Twitter/ X: (2) Julie Shackman (@G13Julie) / Twitter

Instagram: Julie Georgina Shackman (@juliegeorginashackman) • Instagram photos and videos

Facebook: (5) Julie Georgina Shackman | Facebook

***

This has been a stop on the #AScottishLighthouseEscape blog tour by Rachel's Random Resources (@rararesources). Thanks for stopping by!


No comments:

Post a Comment