Friday, April 22, 2022

Review: A Scottish Highland Surprise

Title: A Scottish Highland Surprise

Author: Julie Shackman

Publisher: 22nd April 2022 by HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter

Pages: 357 pages

How I Read It: ARC book

Genre: women’s fiction, contemporary, romance

My Rating: 4 cups


Synopsis:


Discover the secrets and surprises that the scenic Scottish town of Briar Glen has to offer…


When wedding planner Sophie Harkness refuses to move a friend’s wedding to accommodate a spoilt bridezilla, she finds herself out of a job. That is until she discovers her late grandma has purchased a local shop for her in the pretty Scottish town of Briar Glen.


Surprised and delighted, Sophie opens her own porcelain shop in honour of her grandmother. But when an unusual tea set is left with Sophie, along with a mysterious letter, she can’t help but be intrigued by the story behind the antique.


And when the handsome but aloof art critic Xander North comes knocking on her door, Sophie is about to find out the true colourful past of her latest treasure.


My Thoughts


A Scottish Highland Surprise is a great read with varying layers that made it the perfect uplifting story for a weekend read. The mystery surrounding a tea set certainly grabbed our attention here at Great Reads & Tea Leaves as it is just so unique. So add into that mix the beautiful Scottish Highlands with a sprinkling of romance and it proved a most enjoyable read. 


‘Grandma had taught me from an early age about the delicate beauty of crockery, its often fascinating history and the sheer delight of indulging in a cup of tea from a dainty cup and saucer.’


It is always appreciated when authors add in layers to the prescript formula for this genre, it helps provide more depth. Yes, there is a love triangle and some romance; yet it was the other elements that lifted this novel and is sure to engage readers. The relationship between Sophie and her grandmother was heartwarming, especially with their shared love of tea sets. The story really revolves around the mystery surrounding the unusual tea set and accompanying letter with flashbacks to the past. The way Julie weaved all the elements together was well done. 


This was a sweet story and I loved the many facets - mystery, intrigue, locale, romance and not forgetting the exquisite tea sets. All you need to do now is make yourself some tea and enjoy the story.


“Right. That’s a plan then. Anybody for a cuppa?”







This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.

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