An atmospheric, romantic mystery set in the Scottish Highlands with complex characters, mysticism and a vibrant community. Elle, still grieving the death of her parents, wants to keep their legacy alive by reopening their retail business. An unexpected encounter with an infamous writer leads to a surprising connection and a mystery to solve. The setting is well described and immerses the reader in the lives of Elle and the community. There are many strands to the story, which is detailed and gently paced. It's a story to escape with and an enjoyable read.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

I’ve read a couple of books by Julie now and have enjoyed them all, although this seemed to have a lot crammed in!

Elle is trying to get over the sudden loss of her parents a year ago, start a new business, stop developers and not fall in love, all at once! She does remarkably well keeping it all together for most of the book, with plenty of help from her Gran and best friend, Cate, and the story flows really well.

I love the descriptions of the countryside and the quaint little town she lives in, as well as the characters that are introduced throughout - even the grouchy ones 😆

A great easy quick read for cosy weekends on the sofa.

This is the first time I have read this author and I enjoyed the book. The mystery, twists and turns was more like a cosy murder mystery - but without a murder. Elle had moved back to her childhood home, she and her boyfriend had split because he was was all for himself and did not support Elle when she needed help most. Her parents had been killed in a car crash. Ellies Grandmother also lives in her childhood home

Her parents had a Newsagents, which was closed after the accident, it was not doing very well. Elle decides she is going to reopen the shop, but as a stationers, selling upmarket cards, writing paper. Novelty items. The shop is located on a pedestrian road. As she is getting the shop ready, she meets Dexter a famous crime writer who has come to live in the area. Also Linda who is Italian and she too. Dexter sped into the pedestrian area in his flash sports car Ellie saves Linda from being hit.

The story then revolves round Dexter, Linda and the Nature reserve. I will not go into any more as I do not wish to give spoilers.
thanks to netgally and the publishers for the ARC in return for an honest review which I freely give. It is a lovely read and can recommend it

Elle and Dexter don't have the best first meeting. He almost runs her over, and then gets cursed by another local. Can Elle help him lift the curse, and will he break her heart in the process?

This story is about Elle who lives in a wonderful place in Fir Haven in Scotland. A place full of trees and streams flowing between the rocks, colorful flowers and cypress bushes. A dreamy place that everyone would like to live in. However is this place as peaceful as it seems? Or maybe there are secrets hidden that Elle didn't know but she will discover with the help of her wonderful grandmother (whom I adored) and a charming famous crime writer?

I loved it!! I loved the descriptions of the landscapes, Elle's wonderful relationship with her grandmother, her grandmother's wit, the author's writing style and how she combines humor, mystery and romance. Everything was great!! I really enjoyed it and I highly recommend it!

This is the second book by this author that I have read, the first was The Cottage in the Highlands which I also loved. So officially I can say that Julie Shackman is one of my favorite authors!!

Thank you Julie Shackman , HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter and NetGalley for the digital arc!

I am so glad that I got to read this book, it’s a really lovely, warm story. The characters are beautifully developed, and I was able to vividly imagine the views of the Fir Haven nature reserve. Having recently endured a tragic loss, Elle Cassidy is living with her lovely Gran and planning to re-open her parent’s former newsagents shop as a stationer’s. As a popular member of the Fir Haven community, she feels confident that she will be successful.
When the devilishly handsome crime writer, Dexter Grayling renovates and moves into the former council offices, he sets tongues wagging and is soon on the wrong side of many of the residents, particularly the mysterious Linda Carlucci. Convinced that he has been cursed by her, Dexter is desperate to track her down and ask her to reverse the enchantment. He needs Elle’s help; if only he hadn’t been so arrogant when they first met.
This is such a joyful book that kept me turning the pages until the wee small hours. I was desperate to learn how the story would develop and what twists would appear along the way. Despite the lighter, whimsical storyline, the book packs a real punch as secrets are uncovered and truths are finally brought to light.
As leading characters, Elle and Dexter were nigh on perfect. I just loved their on-page chemistry and the way their exchanges hinted at something deeper than a couple of friends helping each other out. With an excellent supporting cast, comprising of some wonderful characters, there’s plenty to maintain the reader’s attention, while not overwhelming the story.
I loved my Escape to the Scottish Countryside and heartily recommend picking up a copy and enjoying a trip to the highlands.

If you are looking for a feel good story where it takes a village and a romance to stop a curse look no further! Elle has moved back to Fir Haven after her ex, well, he's her ex now. Dexter is a crime writer who has a curse on him that's made him unable to write. There are some secrets in this small enchanting village but there's also a good heart. Thanks to Nergalley for the ARC. It's a fun, albeit a bit trope-y read.

I loved the picturesque Scottish countryside and the close-knit community feel of Fir Haven where everyone knows everyone and supports one another. It’s a cosy, funny, entertaining read that keeps you eagerly turning the pages.

Elle is dealing with the grief of losing her parents so suddenly and wants to carry on their legacy. She puts her all into Paper Rose and is determined to make a success of it and I enjoyed seeing her plans take effect and the close bond that she shares with her Gran. She’s been hurt and let down by her ex-boyfriend Lloyd and is not looking for another romantic entanglement anytime soon.

Enter Dexter, a famous crime writer who has moved to the area. On first impressions he comes across as arrogant and self-absorbed but can bring the charm too. They have a bumpy first meeting and he causes quite a stir.

What transpires is an original story cleverly spun to give the reader small snippets of information that leaves us wanting more!

As Dexter loses his writing mojo, he enlists Elle’s help in search of a mysterious local who may be to blame. As they embark on an intriguing journey they discover more than they expect. Through their witty dialogue and teasing they begin to understand each other and support one another. Elle lets down her walls and Dexter shows his true caring and kind nature. As an attraction grows they encounter some obstacles along the way and dig up Fir Haven’s darker past.

I loved spending time with Elle and Dexter as they navigate their feelings and unravel a local mystery. It’s a heartfelt story that looks at grief and how the past can affect the present. It explores forgiveness, redemption and hope and how important it is to enjoy every moment and seize happiness when it’s in your grasp.

A Scottish Country Escape is a delightful read with intrigue and a sweet romance that you root for. I adored Elle and Dexter and didn’t want to put the book down. It’s guaranteed to leave the reader with a warm glow.

With thanks to @OneMoreChapter and NetGalley for the e-ARC.

I found this book slow to start and a little bit tedious, but then it started to come alive and it began to unravel with a more exciting story.
I particularly liked the nature reserve story and how that part unfolded.
I am looking forward to the next chapter in the series.

📝A curse, you say?! 👀
3-3.5🌟stars
This story, set in Scotland, admittedly one of my favorite locations, was one that took a good while to get interesting and then centered on the lead male character's writer's block, supposedly caused by a stranger's curse after he nearly runs her over with his sportscar. I just thought the plot was a bit far-fetched. Julie Shackman's novels in this series usually feature a mystery that gets solved but this one I found hard to get excited about. The romance was really peripheral and muddled and Dexter, the male lead, never really recovered in my estimate from his horrible introduction as he barrels his way into town.

I liked the village atmosphere and the idea of people pulling together to save a nature space so embedded in the good times of their lives. But this part of the plot seemed contrived to cause worry and upheaval and then, bam, a sudden positive turn to give drama.

Also, I was disappointed that Dexter's physical resemblance to a key person from the past was never explained when it could have added another interesting subplot.

I will doubtless continue to look for the author's new Scotland-set releases but I hope they will feature more romance and leave out superstition, omens and curses.

Thanks to Harper Collins UK/One More Chapter and NetGalley for sharing a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest opinion.

Set in beautiful Scotland Elle is still recovering from the death of her parents, but decides to change their struggling newsagents to one selling stationary. She becomes involved with a famous author who has moved into the village when he is subjected to a curse which means he cannot write anymore.
I really became engrossed in this story, with that small community feel, a touch of romance and mystery. There is also a storyline about trying to prevent a local beauty spot being taken over for building holiday homes. It is certainly one of the books that I have enjoyed the most this year to date and can definitely recommend to those who enjoy this style of book.
I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley, however this did not influenced my review of the book.

Couldn't get through this one. I chose it for the Scottish setting but the writing wasn't there for me. I love the premise and someone who normally gravitates to this kind of book will probably love it. It just wasn't for me.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.

This is book four in the series. I read this in one sitting.

It’s set in a small town called ‘Fir Haven’ which was beautifully described.

The story was about love, loss, friendships and families.

The story had different plots that kept you hooked and continue reading to know how they end.

I highly recommend this book.

Really enjoyed the book. Not an escape as such that I could tell but a lovely romance.

I've read all of the authors books now and enjoyed them all. Will wait for the next happily.

I absolutely loved this book. It hooked me and kept me turning pages until I was done. Finished it in two days! The character development was strong, and the premise was unique enough that it didn't feel like anything else I've read.

Elle lives with her grandmother in the small Scottish village of Fir Haven, after the passing of her parents in a car accident. Struggling to cope with their loss, she decides to honour their memory by opening a stationery shop in their old newsagents. When she discovers the local nature reserve that holds lots of memories of her family is being sold off for housing, she is determined to save it. Can she work with the local community and put a stop to the development?

Popular author Dexter has bought a property in Fir Haven, and after a quite wild introduction finds himself having to work with Elle to release himself from a "curse". Can he do this and help save the reserve? Will he and Elle be able to put aside their differences to work together?

A bit of a confusing title, I wasn't sure who was escaping where really. I also thought the author could have made more of the location and scenery, it did feel a bit tangled with lots of stories going on at times. However the main plotline was a sweet story and it was a quick read.

This was an ok read but a bit muddled and the title did not fit at all. Who was escaping to the Scottish country? Not Dexter, he kept threatening to go back to London or anywhere else. Not Elle or the other characters who lived there. The title was just weird. Shelley and Nadia were not needed. There wasn’t much romance at all. Everything just felt a bit forced and strung together.

A Scottish Country Escape the 4th book in “The Scottish Escapes series” by Julie Shackman. What can I say other than I loved it and read in one day.

The setting of a tiny town called Fir Haven in the Scottish Highlands sounded magical and the nature preserve, I could picture myself spending an afternoon walking there. As with the other books in this series, it had everything you could want in a story love, loss, regret, laughter, sadness, forgiveness, friendships and families.

I found the characters to be well developed, and multi-dimensional. There were multiple sub-plots to keep you engaged and interested in the outcome.

I will definitely read other books by this author.

I requested and received an advance reader copy of this book from Harper Collins UK, One More Chapter and Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley, One More Chapter and Julie Shackman for an opportunity to read an ARC of “ A Scottish Country Escape”. This is my honest and unpaid review of the book.
I love books set in Scotland. It’s like getting to take a little trip without having to leave my house. This was a nice, small town kind of story with some fun characters!

I wasn’t aware this book was part of a series, and didn’t feel I had missed out on any backstories of character or place, so this book can be read & enjoyed as a standalone novel, but I’m sure visitors to the Scottish village will enjoy a return. That said, I didn’t feel like I was reading a book set in what I assume are gorgeous Scottish surroundings, including a nature reserve. Although they were mentioned, and the reserve features heavily in a storyline, this book could have been set anywhere as it just didn’t evoke imagery of the setting that is often found in other books in this genre.
I did like the book & read it quickly over a few nights, although I did find the two main storylines (a curse and building on a nature reserve) far too far-fetched to be in anyway believable. I know it’s fiction & there is always some artistic licence taken with reality, but the whole thing just felt too unbelievable for me to buy into.
An ok story which passes the time in an enjoyable way, but sadly I think there are many other books in this genre which are set in Scotland & offer more than this one.