I'm thankful to NetGalley and Joffe Books for the ARC

Rating: 2/5 stars

I tried my best to get through A Desirable Arrangement, but it simply wasn’t for me. While Gwen Kirkwood’s intention to capture rural life in 1977 Scotland is commendable, the execution left much to be desired.

The book opens with an overwhelming amount of exposition, making it difficult to get invested in the story or characters. The dialogue is particularly grating—no one realistically talks the way these characters do. Additionally, the inconsistent degree of formality in conversations made interactions feel unnatural and disjointed.

The setting, supposedly 1977 Scotland, didn’t feel grounded in its era. Instead, the writing seemed more like a caricature, amplified by the exaggerated written accents and jarring character names. Kirkwood’s choice to include a graphic description of a cow giving birth was unexpected and felt more like a farming guide than a novel.

The protagonist’s flustered reaction to being smarter than a man raised eyebrows, clashing with any semblance of modern sensibility. Moreover, the book struggled to balance its plot with its heavy-handed portrayal of rural life, which often read as instructional rather than narrative.

This book may appeal to readers over 55 who are nostalgic for a highly idealized and over-explained version of rural Scotland, but it wasn’t for me. Between the clunky dialogue, lack of authenticity, and unengaging prose, I simply couldn’t finish it.

An enjoyable read with interesting characters. I enjoyed the Scottish setting and the farming background. Some parts were a little predictable but overall it was well written and I enjoyed reading the novel.

What a lovely, relaxing story. It was such a an easy read and I read it one day. I loved reading about the animals and the farm as well as the romance between Kim and Daniel. Looking forward to more from this author. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

This is a well written, heartwarming, and emotional love story. The characters were delightful and interesting, and their chemistry was lovely. I enjoyed that despite many unanticipated obstacles, it ended happily. I highly recommend reading!

A wonderful story in a wonderful location. Kim McLaren moves back to her family farm but will she be bale to hang onto it after her father is not able to look after it anymore. This is a story of family, a saga, an book full of emotional times but also a book of love. I enjoyed following along and feeling a part of this story.

The setting and characters are a perfect match, the story held my interest and I had no problems reading it in a couple o sittings. I loved the community, the premise of the book and story and the writing made it so easy to read. A book I enjoyed and would recommend.

Thank you NetGalley and Joffe Books for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

Kim McLaren is a doctor who has studied animal breeding and genetics. She's an independent woman who deeply values her family and their history at Rowandene, a farm that has been in the family for generations. Her father suffers an injury and Kim rushes to his side. While caring for her injured father, she finds out that Rowandene has been sold and she prepares to meet with the new landlord. Enter Daniel, the new owner who's more interested in being a vet than a landlord.

I loved the focus on family and community in this story. It was really heartwarming to read about how much everyone took care of each other. One thing that randomly stood out to me - I kept forgetting this is set in the late 1970s. It was a bit jarring when I encountered a modern reference.

Heartwarming without being cloying and thoroughly entertaining story.

This was a compelling family saga which kept my interest throughout. It was really well written and had well drawn characters. The story remained intriguing all the way through which made for an enjoyable read.

What a welcome treat! Easy flowing to keep you reading.

Rowandene means as much to Kim McLaren as her nearest and dearest. When she returns home due to her father having an accident on the farm it’s looking like they will have to move on as the new estate owner isn’t willing to have Kim named in the agreement for the farm. This angers Kim as she thinks it due to her being female, could this be the reason, or is Kim just listening to village gossip which local neighbours the Nairn family aren’t averse too . Meanwhile Kim is being sought out by her old colleague professor Bradley, are his reasons honourable?

I loved many things about this book, the selection of characters, I thought Stella and Kelvin were well suited as a pair. Evie & Jenny sounded like cute kids. My favourite one was Ross and least favourite was Kelvin. I enjoyed the start in Aberdeenshire as I live there. Could picture the family gatherings . Roll on the next book.

I just started this arc, and I would love to thank Netgalley and the publisher for my copy of this arc. It is a good book so far, and I can’t wait to listen to more of this arc. Pub date is on November 14,2024 and full review to follow!

A Desirable Arrangement by Gwen Kirkwood captured my full attention from page one. Definitely kept me turning pages until finished. A unique plot, strong characters, a Scottish setting, romance....what more is needed?

Releases Nov. 14th. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.