Another perfect summer. This book kept me hooked from start to finish and I loved everything about it.
The story is about Thea who has left Suffolk and her old life behind for a job as head gardener at Rothach Hall on the Isle of Skye, Scotland.
I am so pleased that this is the first of a trilogy.
I cannot wait for the next instalment.

Under a Summer Skye is the first of a trilogy featuring sisters Thea, the youngest, Ezzie and Valentina. The sisters are all adopted and this thread plays out as the story unfolds. Nine years ago, a shocking incident involving the police changed the course of Thea’s life. She upped sticks, left her successful TV gardening show and moved to the Isle of Skye along with Ezzie. They both now work at the beautifully described Rothach Hall, Thea as head gardener and Ezzie as assistant manager. Valentina, the eldest sister, is a lawyer. She and her family live on the Scottish mainland.

Thea loves her job, the peace and serenity she finds living on Skye, and especially the healing properties of nature. The first sign of change came in the form of Deveron (Dev) Dowie as he raced across the grounds one day on a rescue mission. He didn’t stop at Thea’s shout so she followed.

'As she approached, the man’s head lifted, his jaw dark with stubble. “Slow down, don’t frighten her,’ he called in a soft Scottish accent. On the ground before him, like a mop the cleaners hadn’t wrung out, lay a small dog, her bedraggled fur plastered with weed.'

As it happened, Dev, following a change in his circumstances, was there to see Thea about the seasonal gardener’s job he’d applied for. Although he was actually in need of a job he couldn’t quite escape the initial reason for his appearance on Skye. That reason brings into play the worst aspects of social media which disrupt the life and solitude that was so important to Thea. The fall out could crush the budding relationship between himself and Thea as they began to bond over the plight of the little dog.

Several themes are explored during the course of the story, among which are adoption, relationships, trust, being truthful and the pitfalls of social media and one of the ways it can encroach on someone’s life in a distressing way. Apart from all that, Thea has another surprise issue to deal with. And although there is a romance it doesn’t overwhelm the storyline.

Wonderfully devised and fully formed characters, plus beautifully vivid descriptions of the Isle of Skye, made this a joy to read.

Under a Summer Skye is the first book in the Skye Sisters trilogy by Sue Moorcroft. This story follows the youngest of the Wynter sisters, Thea, who was a former tv gardener who left her old life behind and moved to the Isle of Skye with middle sister Ezzie to begin a new life as a Head Gardener at Rothach Hall.

Having been happily avoiding the spotlight, Thea finds herself thrust into the spotlight, as issues from her past are brought to the fore again. Throw in sexy Deveron Dowie, a temporary gardener who is not who he seems, and things are going to get tricky. From the outset the reader is aware of who Dev is, and I found the tension amplifying as it was clear that at some point Thea would find out who he was, and feel a tremendous sense of betrayal.

I loved the dynamic between the three adopted Wynter sisters, Ezzie and Thea being close both emotionally and physically as they both worked at the Hall, but they were also close to their older sister Valentina who worked as a lawyer in Edinburgh. They were close enough to be able to call out behaviour, as well as being incredibly supportive.

The descriptions of Skye transported me there, and made me want to book my next holiday in Skye. Although Rothach is fictional, I could picture exactly what the area looked like, which is a skill that Sue Moorcroft is quite exceptional at capturing.

I loved the romance between Thea and Dev, as 40-somethings needing a fresh start both in life and love. It was gentle and slow, and Dev was completely in tune with going at the pace that Thea set. Throw in a gorgeous little dog, Daisy, who brought them together at the start of the story, and I was sold. Dogs always make stories better in my opinion.

For Thea, in addition to being thrust into unwanted publicity, she also had new beginnings with her family as family secrets were unveiled that made her question everything she had ever known.

Under a Summer Skye is the perfect summer read, with romance, tension, family dramas and a cute ‘wee doggie’ too!

Oh my goodness, what a wonderfully warm and gorgeously written summer read this is! Under a Summer Skye by Sue Moorcroft is the first book in the Skye Sisters Trilogy. It tells the story of Thea Wynter, youngest of the three Skye sisters, whose life changes the instant she sets foot on the Isle of Skye.

Escaping a succession of wrong turns, Thea comes to the island in search of some peace and happiness. And as head gardener at Rothach Hall she appears to have found it. But then a chance encounter with a stranger turns everything on its head – and she is left wondering: is he a friend… or an enemy? And, with the shadows from the past closing in on her, is the happiness she’s longed for about to be stolen away before she’s even had the chance to enjoy it?

With an eclectic cast of characters and a storyline that will leave you with a warm glow in your heart, Under a Summer Skye is exactly the kind of book I love. With a touch of romance, a warm sense of community and a story that will steal a piece of your heart, what more could you possibly need from the first book in a brand new series?

I devoured this book in one sitting, barely even coming up for air as I found myself drawn into Thea’s story. Sue Moorcroft’s writing is as warm and full of humour as always, her characters well rounded and brought so vividly to life you almost feel as though you know them.

Under a Summer Skye is a gorgeous summer read that had me enthralled from beginning to end. Sue Moorcroft has written a lovely story that I would recommend to anyone who is looking for the perfect read to escape with this summer. I loved it and can’t wait to see where the Skye Sisters Trilogy is going to take us next!

We meet three Sisters in this book however the main focus is on Thea who worked on a gardening show on TV. Following an accident whereby the headlines were all about her crashing into a cyclist she decided, along with her Sister Ezzie to move to the Isle of Skye where Thea is head gardener and Ezzie is Assistant Manager. Expecting someone to attend an interview she meets Dev when he rescues a dog who has got into difficulty in water and assumes he is the person who has come along for the interview. Although Dev does have some gardening experience he is actually a journalist who was on his way to stay at his Mums following the break up of his marriage.
Thea and Dev grow closer but Dev is hiding the fact that he has interviewed the person Thea crashed into and he had been hired to do a ‘where are they know’ section. Meanwhile Thea (who along with her Sisters were adopted) finds out that she was not adopted as a baby as she previously thought and decides to find out more about her birth parents.
Sue Moorcroft always has a mixture of characters in her books, some you empathise with and others you detest but always, in my opinion, characters you can visualise and are believable.
This does have emotional moments but also humour, especially with Daisy the dog in the picture.
I would highly recommend this book as Sue Moorcroft always produces quality stories.
Thank you to Avon books and Netgalley for the advance copy of this book, with opinions all my own.

Thea has moved from Suffolk to the Isle of Skye, after being involved in a road traffic accident involving a cyclist many years ago. She is now living in a cottage called Thistle Dome ( which is actually a take on "this will do me", which I love). Thea's gardening job is keeping her busy in the grounds of Rothach Hall, but after rescuing a young dog she meets a newcomer to the area, she gets a job at the Hall for him, but is he covering up a secret? Thea and her sisters are all from an adoptive background and when she gets a call from Valentina to say she's calling round to talk about something, Thea wonders what it is, especially as she's coming without her husband and son. Valentina works as a lawyer for a big retailer and like their parents she's ambitious. But this is not just a social visit, she has travelled to warn Thea that someone has recognised her from the accident in Suffolk. Also she drops another bombshell on Thea, one about her actual birth mother, Thea is devastated and finds it hard to take all this in, but Dev is there for her (or is he?). Thea is now also determined to find out more about her birth mother and with the help of her siblings does just that.
I loved the setting for this book on the lovely island of Skye, with its pretty scenery and white painted houses. Thea is such a determined person who holds her sisters dear and would do anything for them. I found it very easy to get into the storyline and found the characters to be likeable too. A very good story with an excellent ending. A well deserved five star read from me.

I would firstly just like to say a big thank you to Rachel’s Random Resources who very kindly forwarded me an arc copy of this book, for my kindle, in return for my honest review.

Under A Summer Skye is actually book number one from The Skye Sisters Trilogy and after reading this book I really cannot wait for the rest of them now!

Right from the very beginning i got pulled in to this story and i couldn’t wait to keep reading more, until, before i knew it I had happily come to the end…

I loved Thea and really enjoyed getting to know her and as her story unfolded i liked her more and more!

I absolutely fell in love with the location of this book and it made for a perfect few days of armchair travel.

This was a wonderful book that was full of drama and romance and kept me engrossed right until the very end…..

Set on the beautiful and scenic Isle of Skye you are transported to one of Scotland’s most beautiful islands and having been to Skye myself, I loved that I knew the area that Thea was in and the places that were mentioned.

Thea Wynter is running from her old life, Once the presenter on a popular gardening TV show she now finds herself as head gardner at Rothach Hall on the aforementioned beautiful Isle of Skye.

Deveron (Dev) is on the island looking for a story, and Thea is the one in his sights only, when they meet it’s a case of mistaken identity and he inadvertently ends up getting a seasonal job as a gardener at the Hall!

Secrets from Thea’s past are coming to light and can Dev do the right thing for a journalist whose profession he has kept secret from Thea.

I loved the characters, the sense of family between Thea and her adoptive sisters Ezzie and Valentina - both of whom I can’t wait to read stories for! And of course I loved the blossoming romance sprinkled throughout between Dev and Thea.

5 stars

Every summer, I can count on Sue Moorcroft to take me on another summer vacation through the pages of her books. This time, it's to Scotland's Isle of Skye. If I hadn't already wanted to visit, this book would have sealed the deal. Is it any wonder that Thea Wynter escaped there when her life fell apart or that Dev found purpose there after his life did the same?
I enjoy how Moorcroft immerses me into the fabric of her settings, bringing both the surrounding areas as well as the people living there to life. I feel as if I'm part of the community, part of the lives of her characters, and thus invested in their well being and happiness, whether they be two-legged or four-legged.
Her characters always feel fully rounded, with relatable flaws, challenges, and fears. This was especially true with Thea. She's a complex woman who found her life thrown off kilter, in more ways than one. I enjoyed her layers and appreciated the time Moorcroft took exploring them, as Thea evolved and grew emotionally in the process. Same with Dev. There were several times I wondered how the author was going to get him out of the situations he had created. Both he and Thea had flaws but, together, I couldn't help but feel they brought out the best in one another. I was pulling hard for them to find their happy ending.
I'm fascinated by the dynamic among sisters (having none of my own) and enjoyed the relationships among Thea, Ezzie, and Valentina. I'll be looking forward to learning more about them as the series progresses and, hopefully, catching up with Thea, Dev, and Daisy (Thea's rescue pup) as well.
Feel like taking a trip to Scotland this summer from the comfort of your favorite reading spot? Pick up a copy of Under a Summer Skye and let yourself be carried away.

4.5 stars
ARC received from publisher. Fair and unbiased review.

Life hasn’t always been easy for Thea Wynter but for the last nine years she has managed to make a comfortable life for herself as head gardener at the Rothach estate on the beautiful Isle of Skye. When a handsome stranger turns up looking for seasonal work, Thea is little prepared for the effect Deveron Downie’s arrival will have on her life going forward which will see Thea having to make some life changing decisions. Under A Summer Skye is such a wonderful story that I was quite entranced by Rothach Hall, which is described so beautifully, and in such glorious detail, by the characters who really come alive and shine on the page, and by the way the story wrapped itself around me like a comfort blanket.

As this is the first book in a trilogy there’s a definite sense of more to come and I especially enjoyed meeting Thea’s two sisters especially Ezzie who I hope we’ll get to know better next time and also Valentina who seems the more serious of the sisters. The story touches on some sensitive issues, namely the rise of social media influencers and their often malign contributions to society and also the emotional minefield of adoption. There’s also, at its heart, a beautiful love story which made turning the pages an absolute pleasure, a delightful dog called Daisy and the stunning Isle of Skye which is described in glorious detail.

I can’t wait to meet up again with the Skye Sisters in the near future.

Sue Moorcroft's latest novel, Under a Summer Skye, marks the beginning of a new trilogy for her.

For the past 8 years, Thea has found solace and contentment as the head gardener at Rothach Hall, believing she had left her past behind. However, her peaceful existence is disrupted when a stranger appears, prompting Thea to question his identity. Unwittingly, her past resurfaces, revealing new family connections.

Sue's vivid writing style immerses readers in her relatable characters and picturesque settings. Under a Summer Skye offers a delightful escape to the enchanting Highlands of Scotland. I'm sure you'll enjoy it as much as I have.

Thanks to the publishers and Netgalley for copy of this book in exchange for a review.

This is the first in a new series set on Skye and a nice summer read.

I really struggled for this to hold my attention.

I have awarded it 3 stars though as it’s likely as much my fault for not being in the right mood to read this kind of book so it would be unfair to give it a low score

Under a Summer Skye is an uplifting and enjoyable story of secrets and lies, family loyalty and betrayal. Sue Moorcroft blends authentic location detail with emotional drama and plenty of light-hearted notes.

A lovely diversion for a holiday afternoon.

Full review is part of the blog tour with Rachel's Random Resources.

What a delightful escape! The beautiful landscape, workplace and home were painted with words providing the perfect backdrop for this heart-felt romance. I instantly connected with both Thea and Deveron making me invested in not only their fledgling relationship but their lives. I had to bite my lip at some of the decisions made as I didn't want their relationship affected by poor decisions. I thought I knew where the book was leading but I was wrong. As Thea's life became more complex the desired happy ever after became more elusive so I kept turning the page to see how it could be resolved.
Daisy the dog was adorable and played her part well.
This has to be my favourite Sue Moorcroft book to date and can't wait to read more from this series

I was so excited to jump into this book, I’m a huge fan of anything Sue Moorcroft writes and there’s extra this time too, it’s set in Skye! I love Scotland, I’ve travelled over quite a lot of it because I love it so much and the Isle of Skye is a personal favourite. I can hand on heart say that Sue’s vivid descriptions do full justice to Skye, I wanted to be back there as I was reading.

Under a Summer Skye is the first book in a planned series, which after reading this I’m hoping that all of them are based in Skye, or at least feature it once or twice. But even if they don’t I will still really be looking forward to them based on reading this wonderful story. There are so many wonderful characters in this book, Thea, Dev, Ezzie and you can’t forget Daisy !

This is an emotional story, people’s hearts being in the right place despite their actions or intentions, the way social media can affect lives and not necessarily in a good way, I love the focus on family and what makes a family ? This is a wonderful read whilst full of love, family and humour, it also deals with complex issues so sensitively such as adoption, drink driving and internet trolls. I can honestly and wholeheartedly recommend this book.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Sue Moorcroft is an autobuy author for me and I’m always excited when I see that she’s got a new book coming out. This is the first book in a brand new trilogy featuring The Skye Sisters which means that we’re guaranteed more of this gorgeous location and fab characters.

We meet all three sisters in this book but the main focus is on Thea, after being the driver in a car accident years ago she left Suffolk to the Isle of Skye with one of her elder sisters, Ezzie, who she now works alongside at Rothach Hall. Thea comes across as a really strong character but the past seems to be back to bite her and you can really sympathise with her - there’s definitely quite a few moral dilemmas that crop up in this and it does make you think what you’d do in the situation or situations to be honest!

I really enjoyed going on this journey with Thea, especially her relationship with Daisy - who is just THE cutest wee little doggie 🐶🐾 and of course I couldn’t leave out Dev… although you can sense trouble happening at some point from the very first time we meet him!

This was a lovely summer read that deals with some pretty tough and emotional scenes but leaves you with a smile on your face and looking forward to the next instalment - or it did for me anyway!

A gorgeous escapist summer read.
Thea works at Rothach Hall on the Isle of Skye, as head gardener, where her sister also works. The sisters ave left their old life behind, harbouring a big secret. Dev arrives, a former journalist,rescues a little dog from drowning and meets Thea who is expecting a new gardener and mistakenly thinks it is Dev. He takes on the job and a romance develops between them. There are ups and downs along the way. Thea's old life eventually catches up with her and her peaceful life is shattered. Dev comes to the rescue.
The setting on the Isle of Skye is simply idyllic and the author obviously loves the Isle.
A happy must read.

I received a free copy of, Under a Summer Skye, by Sue Moorcroft, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This is book one of The Skye Sisters Trilogy. Thea Wynter escaped to the Isle of Skye. Thea learns you cannot always escape or run from your past. it has a habit of catching up with you. The Isle of Skye sounds beautiful, an idyllic place to visit or live. This is a good beach read book, I liked it.

Thea Wynter and her sister Ezzie live a quiet life working at a big house on the Isle of Skye. Thea used to be a bit of a celebrity, appearing on TV in a popular gardening show. Now, she has been very happy to leave that world behind. She loves being a gardener and chooses to not have any social media at all.

Dev Dowie makes his way to Skye to try and find Thea. His business and marriage have both gone bust and he has been reduced to writing tawdry Where Are They Now type articles. He meets Thea when she comes up across him rescuing a puppy. He very quickly decides that he does not want to write the story so does what he can to get out of it.

Thea and her sisters are all adopted and a chance meeting changes everything that she thought she knew about her story. The question is does she want to find the truth now or is it safer to leave sleeping dogs lie. And does she want to take a chance with Dev? And can you really leave the past behind, especially when someone else has a different agenda?

I have read a few Sue Moorcroft books over the last year or so and she is now on my radar for every new release. And when I found out that her latest book was going to be set on the Isle of Skye there was no doubt that I wanted to read it, and not just because we are going to be visiting the island on our Scottish tour in a couple of months time.

I enjoyed the island setting of this book, as well as side trip to Brittany!

This is the first book in a trilogy, which presumably will focus on each of the three sisters. Interestingly, this is the second book about adopted women finding their true identity I have read in a row!

Thanks to the publisher, Netgalley and Rachel's Random Resources for the review copy. I am sharing this review with the New Release Challenge hosted at The Chocolate Lady's Book Review blog.

Rating 4/5