Family drama, investigative journalism, identity and reputation are just a few of the themes in this story set in an idyllic village in the Scottish Highlands; Bailey has reinvented herself to cope with a personal tragedy that has destroyed her trust. When Zach, an investigative journalist, arrives following a scandalous story, she is fearful her real identity will be discovered and force her to move on. It explores contemporary issues and relationships and has several mysteries to solve. There is a good balance of humour, poignancy, and gentle romance. It is an enjoyable read. I like the characters, the contemporary themes and the contrast with the idyllic setting.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

I received a free copy of, A Scottish Highland Hideaway, by Julie Shackman, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This is book seven of eight in The Scottish Escapes Series. Bailey MacArthur has her own florist shop, Flower Power, in Heather Moore, in Scotland. When a celebrity comes to town she tries to keep a horrible person I mean a journalist who wants to oust the celebrity in town. This was a nice engaging read. I loved the town, and Bailey.

After being jilted at the altar, Bailey moves to a small town in Scotland to open a flower shop and escape her old life as an heiress. There she runs into a movie star, who is also trying to flee after writing a tell-all book. Hot on his heels is a reporter trying to find him and he starts butting heads with Bailey trying to find answers.


This was a light, fun, interesting read. I liked Bailey as a main character and was rooting for her to find happiness in her new life. Zach was a bit annoying at first with his pushiness as he tried to get his story. I liked Ezra and loved her friendship with him as they both tried to find a new place in their life.
I’m looking forward to reading more by this author.


Thanks to @harpercollinsuk, @onemorechapter @rachelsrandomresources, @netgalley and the author for this ARC.

Thank you Net Galley for the eARC! It’s always a wonderful opportunity.

Overall this book was okay. There wasn’t anything that stuck out about this story to engage me with the plot and characters. On a positive note, I did love the setting. The author did a wonderful job at descriptions and setting the scene. The beginning felt more immersive and as the story went on it fell a bit flat for me. I didn’t entirely connect with Bailey and Zach and I think that’s primarily where it lost me.

This book was gripping and hard to put down. It didn't feel like everything else you see out there, it felt very fresh. I really enjoyed this book!

I love Julie's books because I'm often surprised by the direction in which she takes her stories. I know I am going to get a charming and heartwarming story, but she always throws in a twist that I was never expecting. I love being surprised. I really enjoyed this book. I'm a sucker for a small-town romance set in Scotland, and Julie did a fabulous job at capturing that small-town charm. The prologue is absolutely perfection in that Julie hooks her readers in and leaves them needing to know what will happen next.
The overall story has a steady pace that is bound to keep its readers entertained. This book has plenty of drama, mystery, and the beginning of a charming romance. Bailey has moved to Heather Moore, hoping to have a fresh start and leave all the glitz and glam behind her. She has worked really hard to hide her true identity from the small community of Heather Moores. She owns a small florist shop, where she meets Ezra King. Ezra is a big celebrity who is also looking to escape the limelight. Bailey has agreed to help keep Ezra's identity a secret. But of course, things become rather complicated when Zach, who is a journalist, starts asking questions about Ezra. There is this whole mystery around why Zach is so keen on interviewing Ezra; he mentions something shocking from Ezra's past, and as the book goes on, other mini-mysteries start cropping up around Ezra. The mystery elements in this story made it quite an addictive read. I wanted to unravel all these mysteries around Ezra. It was really well done. There is also a lot of drama in this book. There is the drama surrounding Ezra, and then there is the family drama that comes from Bailey's family. I enjoy a book that is bursting with drama, so this was right up my alley.
I liked all the characters. Bailey is instantly likeable, and I couldn't help but root for her. She truly wants to leave her old life behind her. She loves what she has created in Heather Moores. But there is this almost constant fear that someone will recognize her and everything she has built will come crashing down upon her. Zach is a prickly character and also a bit of a mystery. We really have to peel back those layers to understand what is going on underneath that gruff exterior. Bailey and Zach don't get along at first. Zach thinks Bailey is heading information about Ezra, and Bailey thinks Zach has no moral scruples because he is determined to thrust Ezra back into the limelight. The banter between these two is sharp, and I devoured the war of wills that was going on between them. There is definitely a slow-burn feel to their relationship. Those frosty feelings between Bailey and Zach do take a bit to thaw. But that slow-burn feel to their relationship helped to make it feel more real. I loved Zach and Bailey so much that I wished they were together on the main more often. I understood why they weren't, but that greedy romantic part of me couldn't get enough of these two.
A Scottish Highland Hideaway is another stunning and heartwarming love story by the very talent Julie Shackman.

In this story, we find Bailey starting afresh with a new commercial venture, a florist and seemingly, trying to keep as low a profile as possible. There is obviously more to her story than she lets the public see. From early one, we know who she really is and why she is living in the sleepy town of Heather Moore. Unfortunately for her, she is not the only person trying to hide themselves away and before long the charismatic journalist, Zach is asking all sorts of questions.

Bailey comes over as a determined character but she cannot help wanting to make sure that others' privacy is maintained. As her friendship with Zach develops, you realise that there is more to Zach than meets the eye. There is something about him that does not add up. There are some colourful characters living in Heather Moore and Bailey's own family seem assured and larger than life. You see Bailey's caring side in her reaction to her broken-hearted brother, not to mention the over-the-top Ezra. She also comes to appreciate what is important to her for the future. The Highlands provides a stunning setting, as usual and this is a heartwarming story with romance and a touch of humour.

In short: New starts

A Scottish Highland Hideaway 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

A brand new autumnal story of love, believing in yourself and starting over set in the Scottish Highlands. For Bailey McArthur, her family and job mean everything. She runs her own floristry shop and loves spending time in nature in the pretty town of Heather Moore, whilst desperately trying to forget about being jilted on her wedding day.

When journalist Zach Stern arrives in town asking questions about a famous actor, Bailey decides to throw him off the trail of the superstar hiding out in the Scottish Highlands.

But despite Bailey’s efforts to thwart Zach's investigation she finds herself falling for him. It’s just a shame she can’t be honest with him. But then, Bailey might not be the only one with a secret to hide…

My Opinion

I am really enjoying reading the Scottish Escapes series by Julie Shackman, and each book can be read as a standalone so it is never too late to start. I read this book in one sitting as it was just such a lovely book and the town of Heather Moore simply sounds delightful. With a fast pace and well-written characters this was a welcome escape. For me A Scottish Highland Hideaway was a great, heart-warming read. Set in Autumn and the run up to Christmas this is going to make for a great read as the weather starts to turn.

Rating 4/5

Hiding is a key theme in A Scottish Highland Hideaway, whichis set mainly in the Highland village of Heather Moore. Lady Anastasia McLaren Kerr is front and centre in the first pages as we learn that her fiancé has dumped her at the alter and swindled her out of a sizeable sum of money. As a celebrity florist and born into landed gentry, Anastasia has had to face humiliating press coverage in the aftermath of her wedding fiasco. Reinvent as Bailey McArthur and with her new shop, Flower Power, she is determined to make a success of her business. The arrival of heavily disguised award-winning actor Ezra King in her shop leads Bailey to helping him preserve his privacy in the face of local curiosity and the arrival of journalist Zach Stern, who is keep to write a story about Ezra. Zach is a bit of a conundrum; he works for a gossip magazine but he also presents as a principled and ethical man. Added to that, he is stunningly good looking and Bailey can’t help but feel a strong attraction to him. These three are the main characters in this story, though they are well supported by strong secondary characters, particularly Bailey’s brother Marcus. This story immersed me in the setting thanks to some beautiful imagery. Bailey’s magical Christmas floral creations sounded just stunning. I really enjoyed reading this book though I thought there was a tad too much introspection and a slightly unconvincing twist at the end.

A Scottish Highland Hideaway is a charming autumnal escape to the Scottish countryside following Bailey and Zach in a cute enemies-to-lovers story.

Bailey hides her famous identity and party-girl persona by relocating to a quaint little town to reinvent herself after the heartbreaking experience of being left at the altar. She isn't the only famous person hiding out in the area, prompting Zach, the inquisitive journalist to set up camp and ferret out everyone's secrets.

What follows is romantic comedy gold as Bailey and her brother try to put Zach off the scent. Bailey and Zach can't help their attraction though gradually becoming friends with their frequent interactions.

I loved all the mystery and intrigue surrounding the famous actor, Ezra King and I enjoyed all of Bailey's attempts to help him whether they were received well or not.

There is also more to Zach than meets the eye. He has his own secrets and agenda at play. Zach is a very likeable character so I had a good feeling about him and I wanted Bailey to open up and trust him with her story.

The pacing in the story is quick and there's never a dull moment. The characters are all very relatable. Even Bailey's mother turned out to be quite funny and endearing.

A Scottish Highland Hideaway is a lovely heartwarming and entertaining story.

A huge thanks to netgalley, publishers and Julie Shackman for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book in return of an honest review. I was totally absorbed in this book and struggled when I had to put it down. There is a touch of almost everything within this story, family dynamics, friendships new and old, love,betrayal,and a little mystery. All in all, a super story, well written and an absolute page turner. An absolute must read.

I'm reviewing this via NetGalley, as part of a tour with Rachel's Random Resources.

This lovely book is part of the Scottish Escapes series. When I first started reading, I wanted to know more about the protagonist, Bailey, and her situation. I was whisked away to the Scottish Highlands, as the story began to come to life in my mind, and it brought a smile to my face. I felt that Zach was a charismatic character, and I wanted to know more about him. I think my favourite character, and the one I found the most endearing, was Marcus.

I've read some of this series before, and I always enjoy them. They're delightfully cosy, feel-good reads. I think if you haven't read the previous books, each book works well as a standalone too.

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

"I peered at my laptop screen, fighting to process the fact that this young woman and I were one and the same."

I've said it before and I'll say it again, Julie Shackman is one of my favorite authors and not by chance! I love the way she combines mystery with humor, joy with sadness and how her stories always manage to make me feel good and leave me with a beautiful memory and a smile!

You really must read this story and get to know the Heather Moore in Scottish Highlands where a kind and secretive florist, a mysterious famous actor and an eager journalist meet and their lives become entangled in a beautiful and strange way. You will definitely be filled with emotions and you will definitely have a good time!

Scotland in autumn, is there anything more beautiful? Reading this book reminded me how much I miss visiting, it’s been less than 12 months since I was last there, but that’s not the point it’s always gorgeous but if you can’t be there then you can’t get better than reading a a book set in the Highlands by Julie Shackman.
I loved Bailey from the start, was such a fantastic character and I connected with her completely, I liked Zach as well, they made a great pair but Bailey definitely stole my heart that little bit more. This was such a lovely and uplifting read, can’t help but feel drawn in by the story and Julie‘s wonderful writing and tale spinning skills. The way she describes the high ones makes me feel like I could just close my eyes and when I open them I’d be there, such beautiful descriptions.
This is one of the best examples of a heartwarming feel good romance, it has everything you could want, great characters, secrets, a little bit of drama and tension. This is definitely a boook you are going to want to cosy up with.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

What a treat to return to the Highlands and meet Bailey and Zach. Two perfectly imagined characters that I immediately took to, despite the clear animosity between them. If you like enemies to lovers stories, this is an absolute belter.
There’s a fair amount to unpick as I try to provide a review without revealing any spoilers, but I can promise that there are plenty of wonderful characters, and that includes a semi-reclusive Luvvy. As Bailey is hiding secrets about her own identity, she immediately steps in to ensure that Zach doesn’t get near to the actor hiding out in Heather Moore.
This story was a real treat. It captured my attention with its many twists and turns as the desperate measures to protect the secrets became harder to manage. Julie’s storytelling is even more impressive once you read the acknowledgements and discover that this book was written during a most challenging period in her life.
There is a real warmth within the pages, and I loved getting to know this fabulous group of characters. The community of Heather Moore boasts the kind of members who I have come to expect from Julie’s terrific writing. I do hope that you enjoy this lovely escape to the Scottish Highlands.

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

I loved reading this book.

On the day of her wedding, Bailey is left at the alter as her groom is a no show.

She leaves everything behind and goes to Scotland. There she opens a florist and is happy living her life and leaving her past behind her.

That is until a journalist called Zack comes to her shop. He wants to find out what she knows about a well known actor, that he’s been informed, is now living in the area.

Bailey is worried that he may recognise her and does her best to ensure he doesn’t.

I loved the setting of Heather Moore and the way it was described.

The book had other side stories relating to the characters which kept you turning the pages. It had moments that made you laugh, sad and was about families, friendships and regrets. As well as starting again.

I recommend this book.

This was a lovely sweet read with family problems, relationships and friendships.

Bailey was jilted at the alter, so she’s ran off to a small village in Scotland. She’s set up a florist and is content with life, until Zack a journalist turns up. He’s after some info on an actor that was spotted nearby. Bailey is hoping she doesn’t recognize her.

An easy read, that’s full of wonderful characters that were interesting to read about. Highly recommend.

A sunny 4.5 star read.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for a copy.

A Scottish Highland Hideaway the 7th book in “The Scottish Escapes series” by Julie Shackman. What can I say other than I loved it and read in one day. An autumnal story of love, believing in yourself and starting over set in the Scottish Highlands

The setting of a tiny town called Heather Moore in the Scottish Highlands sounded magical and irresistible for spending leisurely weekends walking the high street or the woods.

As with the other books in this series, it had everything you could want in a story love, 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.

Jilted at the alter, Bailey busies herself with her flourishing business until a knock on her door from a reporter threatens to unravel everything.

It was a perfect summer escape book around the picturesque country of Scotland as the backdrop.

Bailey has a new life and business she’s proud of. She’s finally able to move on. Then one day a reporter comes knocking on her door. Is her life about to unravel again?
This was a fast moving book. It sucked me in from page one and kept me there til the end. It has some surprises and secrets along the way. It’s a good story to escape into, a perfect beach read.