Firstly I would like to thank the author, publisher and Netgalley for my free ARC.

I was totally hooked by the very instance of the meet-cute. What could be better than our tragic heroine Thea happening upon a handsome stranger rescuing a dog! I’m all about the dogs so this reeled me in.

Thea and one of her sisters Ezzie moved together to the Isle of Skye to start new lives at Rothach Hall, whilst their elder sister Valentina was being a lawyer on the mainland. As head gardener Thea was enjoying her little cottage home and simple life and then Deveron (Dev) shows up.

Romance, dogs, gardens, and beautiful Skye, who could want for more. This is a great spring / summer read, perfect for a little escapism.

I recommend Under a summer Skye by Sue Moorcroft as an easy summer read.

I really enjoyed my visit to Skye and meeting Thea and her sisters.

Everything about this story was enjoyable from the cute dog, to Thea's job at the Rothach Hall, to the hunky gardener who isn't who he says he is, and the mystery surrounding Thea's recent past and her childhood.

I experienced all emotions reading this story and shed more than a few tears.

A great read and I can't wait to return and follow the next story of the sister's lives.

This was a simple, fun, easy and quick read. The perfect type of book for your holiday, beach, pool kind of read. This is a first for me by the author and one I enjoyed and I would read more of their work. The book cover is eye-catching and appealing and would spark my interest if in a bookshop. Thank you very much to the author, publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.

3.5/5.

Somehow I had never read a book by Sue Moorcroft despite seeing lots of her books around on social media. But now I’ve finally rectified that and what a gorgeous story this was and I know for certain I’ll go back and take a look at some of her previously published books. Under a Summer Skye is the first in a trilogy following three sisters, Althea, Esmerelda and Valentina. This story focuses on Thea and opens with a brief prologue which gives the reader a glimpse into Thea’s life. An incident with a cyclist which wasn’t her fault leaves Thea’s world altered and her tv series, Garden Gladiators comes to an end as does her relationship with camera operator Ivan. Fast forward nine years and Thea is in a very different place. She now calls the remote isle of Skye home and is head gardener at Rothach Hall where her sister Ezzie also works. Here she has found comfort, sanctuary and security but the past is about to come back and bite her and despite her best efforts to avoid it it’s time to face the realities of that incident all those years ago.

Right from the outset there is a lovely feeling surrounding the story. It has such a nice, relaxed pace but yet there is a lot happening, but never did it feel like it was being rushed or situations and details were being glossed over. Both the character and plot development were excellent and you certainly get a lot more than you bargained for with some serious issues being dealt with but in a way that fitted perfectly with the overall tone and feel of the book. The theme of the family unit, the question of identity and how the cult of social media and its vultures can disrupt the life of someone are all explored here and things are slowly revealed at just the right times.

The setting is what makes this book as well as having a well-structured and thought out plot not to mention the brilliant diverse characters. The setting of the isle of Skye and specifically the hall and the surrounding small village was absolutely superb. Everything was so vivid with such evocative and detailed descriptions.Those that are fans of gardening and flowers will love how Thea’s job is described and even I did and considering gardening wouldn’t be my thing that’s saying something. I built up such a wonderful and beautiful picture of the gardens and hall in my head which really helped with my overall enjoyment of the story.

Lately, it’s taken me awhile to settle into books or for the book to find its rhythm and settle down. But right from chapter one I was drawn straight into Theas story as she is forced to jump into the burn (a stream) to rescue a stray dog who is in distress. Through this event she meets newcomer to the island Deveron (Dev) and from this moment the peace and serenity that she has craved and is enjoying is shattered. Dev is handsome and there is a connection there that over the course of the book develops into something more but it’s not without its complications which become more apparent the further you read. She had been expecting a different man to interview for a summer job in the gardens and Dev bends the truth a little bit as to how he came to be there and with very little gardening experience he gets the job. The rescued dog whom Thea names Daisy goes on to be a star of the book and Thea’s love and enthusiasm for the little bundle of fluff becomes infectious. Little Daisy brings Thea new life and excitement and you become eager to see her escapades.

Dev came to the island with one goal in mind. Everything has gone wrong for him. His business, marriage and home are all gone and he is burnt out thanks to the actions of others. He is a journalist specialising in sport but desperate times call for desperate measures and he is forced to write for a seedy celeb website in order to earn some cash. The owner of said website wants an article on Thea who has done her best to stay out of the spotlight and would hate for everything that she has established on Skye to ripped from under her. Dev is torn. On the one hand he needs the money but morally after to getting to know Thea and working in the gardens and seeing the new life that she has created for herself he just can’t do it. I thought OK here is a man with a conscience and for once he is deciding to do the right thing and he is thinking of others and not just of himself. He fell into the job and in doing so met Thea who was getting back to herself after such a tricky time. Who was he to come and disrupt all that?

I was so glad he chose to do the right thing but that didn’t mean his boss was happy nor was the person who wanted the article written. I’m being evasive here because the article forms a big part of the overall plot and to say much more would ruin the story. Suffice to say, I had great respect for Dev because of the decision he took but I just had the feeling whilst reading that said decision would come back to bite him and keeping secrets from Thea perhaps wasn’t the best course of action. But on the other hand did he really have any other choice? Once he arrived and he couldn’t explain the exact truth as to how he came to be there he got in too deep and couldn’t back out without destroying what he had with Thea or ruining the lovely working experience he was having and the new life he was establishing albeit on a temporary basis for the summer months.

The plot could have solely focused on Thea and the article and the story would have been good but instead the author branched out introduced the question of family and this really upped things another gear. This could have come out of nowhere and been very implausible but thanks to wonderful writing that had the reader really caring for the characters and what happened to them this didn’t become the case. My enjoyment of the story only grew and grew when we are told that all three sisters had been adopted by their musician parents. Valentina, who lives and works on the mainland and is a super serious lawyer, meets an old family friend who reveals some startling information about Thea’s birth mother. What Thea learns is very upsetting for her and it sends her off on a whole other trajectory and bang the book takes a different turn and boy was I there for it all. Again this could have dominated the plot and already there was a lot going on but the deft touch of Sue Moorcroft meant everything melded together so well and I loved seeing Thea discover more and battle with her emotions with what she learns.

Thea was a fabulous female heroine. I loved that she didn’t take any messing around from anyone when it came to her job and the love and devotion she had for it was evident for all to see. But on the other hand there was a vulnerability about her that she tried to hide from people and it was clear she had been deeply affected from the events of nine years ago that unless she truly confronted them then she could never move on. I loved how this aspect of the story was there was quite a surprising twist to it and I was kicking myself that I hadn’t seen it coming. It showed how selfless Thea was to still be living with the fallout. At times I thought she was a bit immature in some of her actions and that she over reacted but that showed that she wasn’t all perfect and did have flaws. The troubles that Thea fled from come knocking at her door but will she open it and confront them? You definitely have to read this fantastic book to find out.

Under a Summer Skye was a fabulous and thoroughly enjoyable read and it’s brilliant to know that there is more to come. I’m already looking forward to reading Ezzie and Valentina’s stories and can’t wait for the publication of A Skye Full of Stars. This book is the perfect escapist summer read full of raw emotions, hidden secrets and twists and turns which all made for a great read

Loved it. Such a great story and I could not put it down. Thanks to the publisher for a review copy, all opinions are my own.

Another fabulous read from Sue Moorcroft, she transports you to the location. Feel as if I knew the isle of skye from her descriptive writing. Cant wait to read the rest of the trilogy.

I’ve read a few of Sue Moorcroft’s books over the years and always enjoyed them. Under a summer Skye follows the story of Thea as she deals with themes of adoption, new beginnings, betrayal, social media issues and sisterly bonds. This is the 1st in a 3 book series and I’m looking forward to continuing the story of the Wynter sisters.

I have enjoyed many of Sue Moorcroft’s books over the years, so did not hesitate to choose Under a Summer Skye, the first in a trilogy featuring sisters with the delightful names of Altheadora, Esmeralda and Valentina. This book features Thea who is head gardener at Rothach Hall on the island of Skye. Many years before, she had moved there to get away from a traumatic incident, but the past catches up with her, mainly due to the insidious nature of social media.
Deveron Dowie makes a dramatic entrance rescuing a small fluffy dog from drowning in the burn. He is there hoping to interview Thea for a trashy celebrity website, but when she assumes he is there for a seasonal gardener’s vacancy, he goes along with it – he does need a job, after all. He has some experience of gardening and finds he enjoys working there, but all the while is painfully aware of the need to come clean, especially as he and Thea develop feelings for one another.
As always in Sue Moorcroft’s books, there are serious issues in the mix, but they are balanced out with beautiful descriptions of the scenery on Skye and the healing power of nature. Here they include adoption, the search for your birth mother, the destructive power of social media, and the pain resulting from betrayal of all kinds. The characters are well drawn but they are flawed – everyone makes mistakes, does things they regret, but it’s what they do next that counts.
I am not really a dog person, but Daisy is one of my favourite things about this story. The world building is excellent – I have lived on an estate like this and she has captured it perfectly. It will be good to see what happens next as Thea’s sister, Ezzie, also works at Rothach Hall and is the subject of the next book A Skye Full of Stars. Thanks to Avon Books and NetGalley for a digital copy to review.

Sues books are always lovely and really easy to read. This one is simply no exception. Perfect for chick lit and romance fans.

Would definately recommend! I couldn't put this book down - a fantastic summer read which was a true page turner.
Lovely characters with warm and friendly narrative I was drawn in to the story of Thea hiding out in Skye as a gardener after needing to escape her previous role as a TV personality.

This is the first book in the Skye Sisters Trilogy and tells the story of Thea who moved to the Isle of Skye with her sister Ezzie eight years ago. They have made a new life for themselves there on the quiet island where Thea works as head gardener but it’s not quiet for long when handsome stranger Dev arrives.

I enjoyed Thea’s story with her growing attraction to Dev and her strong sisterly bond with Ezzie.

Having just been to Skye this book whisked me back there and I am looking forward to book 2 in this series.

Over the past few months I seem to have read quite a few books in this genre that have been set in Skye. The author gives wonderful descriptions of the scenery that the reader can fully imagine the setting the characters are in. It is done in such a way that you can feel the characters’ affection and awe for the island they live on.
Fully-formed and believable characters and a really interesting storyline, with a variety of twists, turns & emotional ups & downs for the reader which held my interest from beginning to end.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book.

This book is a lovely escape. The setting is beautiful on the Isle of Skye, the characters are mostly likeable and a lovely easy read.

I absolutely loved this book! Having read a few of Sue Moorcroft’s Christmas books I was keen to read one of her non-Christmas ones! I wasn’t disappointed. Having Scottish ancestry made it appeal even more to me especially as I found that the main character looks into her own family history. Romance, history and mystery all rolled into one as Thea struggles to come to terms with her ancestry, deals with a ghost from the past and tries not to fall for the new gardener who turns up unexpectedly and who actually in the beginning has a completely different motive and story as to why he is on the Isle of Skye and wants a job. A perfect summer read which will keep you hooked from the beginning to the end. I look forward to the next in the series!

A great read.This was the first book in a trilogy about the Skye sisters and what a brilliant first novel I loved it and cant wait for the next book. This story focuses on Thea who after a few bad decisions and struggles in her life decides to relocate to Skye as head gardener at Rothach Hall but when handsome Deveron starts as a seasonal worker her past starts to come to the fore once again. As the story unfolds there are lots of secrets that come out involving Thea's family which makes this a real page Turner with good plots and interesting characters.

My year of reading usually includes a Sue Moorcroft or two. I love her Christmas books but have recently picked up some summer ones too. Under A Summer Skye was a perfectly timed read. There is the location, Skye, in all its glory and huge skies. There are the characters which are always on point, in the first of a new trilogy we meet the Wynter sisters; Thea, Ezzie and Valentina. This book focuses on Thea, the youngest and we discover some of their history as adopted children. Thea discovers an inner strength that she didn’t know she had, love, family and the big dollop of romance is welcome.

I loved this and look forward to reading the rest of the trilogy.

Sue Moorcroft’s books are something of a treat for me, in that they’re simple yet entertaining. This one fit pretty well into that mold.

This book started out a wee bit slow for me–it took a minute for me to really become invested in the characters and the story as a whole.

One of my favorite aspects of this book was the setting. I really enjoy stories that take place in Scotland. If the author is capable, I feel transported to place that I can only dream of visiting. Moorcroft does a splendid job at this. Her settings are one of the things I love about her writing.

The romance was so sweet and the couple deserved their ending. I’m so glad I was able to read and escape into this sweet, transporting story!

Thank you to Avon Books UK and Sue Moorcroft for the chance to receive a NetGalley ARC of Under A Summer Skye in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Under a Summer Skye is a perfect escapist romance read for the summer set on the gorgeous Isle of Skye. Sue Moorcroft’s writing is beautiful and full of evocative descriptions of Skye. It paints a vivid picture in your mind (which hits the nail on the head for the majestic beauty I have seen in person on my trips to these stunning islands). I love the sense of community centred around the gorgeous fictional Rothach Hall on the Isle of Skye. I wanted to climb in the pages to explore the gardens and meet the cohort of Thea’s friendly, quirky work colleagues.

The plot of Under A Summer Skye is uplifting, heartwarming, and full of important messages on the themes of self-discovery, learning from your mistakes, and a reminder to live life kindly – staged against the everchanging moody landscapes of the Isle of Skye. I felt the story took on a life of its own as the shadows and secrets stitched into Thea and Dev’s lives were revealed. Diving deeply into the rich range of human emotions – Sue Moorcroft has a magical touch of invoking many different, broad-ranging emotional experiences in her storytelling. I laughed, wanted to cry, and was enraged that I tried to box a specific character’s ears for not getting the hint and accepting NO means NO.

The characters are a fantastic community full of complex relationships - every character is well-developed, colourful, and unique. A large loveable cast will stick in your mind after you close the last page – Daisy, the dog, steals the show with her cutesy ‘Arf’ barks.
The main characters, Thea and Dev, have a connection and sizzle from the moment they meet. You can’t help liking them and coming to root for them, falling in love as two broken-hearted souls who need cherishing. Thea’s transformation is captivating as she conquers her vulnerabilities and wariness to allow Dev into her heart and grant him a second chance after his terrible blunder.

A heart-warming romance full of secrets, gorgeous scenery, and a story that makes you believe in the good inside humans, even though we can be awful to each other. I loved that Sue Moorcroft wasn’t afraid to show that sometimes, our best efforts to do the right thing can fall short and blow up in your face. I’ll catch the following two books in this series to see where life takes Thea’s two sisters, Ezzy and Valentina, with fingers crossed for lots more romance on the magical Isle of Skye.

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I have long dreamed of visiting the Isle of Skye so when I saw this book advertised I knew it would be right up my street. And the beutiful descriptions through the book have just made me want to visit more.

Escaping her life in Suffolk, Thea Wynter moves to Skye to become head gardener at Rothach Hall. She so loves her job looking after the glorious clifftop garden. But whilst she has tried to distance herself her past she realises that it can quickly catch up with you when you lease expect it.

I really enjoyed this book from the opening pages when Thea bumps into a stranger rescuing a dog, I knew this would be a great book. The characters are likeable and Daisy the Dog is adorable. This is the first book in the Sisters of Skye series, I look forwards to reading th other books in the series.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is the first novel of a trilogy. This was a very addictive read. An absolute delight to read. Sue Moorcroft never disappoints her readers.

The characters are well presented and very easy to fall in love with al the characters. However there wasl one of the characters I wanted to scream and shout at. He is an unpleasant human being, from Theas past, the main character.

The descriptive writing of Skye has made me want to visit it. As I read it, it was easy to imagine being in the gardens of this books setting, even though the rain in England is horrendous for June. Easy to imagine the smell of the grass and flowers. Delicious.

A brilliant holiday read and like me clamouring for October and the next chapter.

Thank you Sue Moorcroft for wring such a beautiful and well written novel.