A Scottish Highland Surprise
- Julie Shackman
- Northam, WA
- April 17, 2022
Goodreads Book Blurb:
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.
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.
Genres:
My Review:
***Thanks to NetGalley and One More Chapter for an eARC of this book. The following review is my honest reflection on the text provided.
average:
☆☆☆☆☆ 3/5
A Scottish Highland Surprise is basically a Pride and Prejudice retelling, but with lots of teacups and a little cozy mystery mixed in.
Sophie’s unwillingness to give up her terrible job to pursue her dream job would’ve been more believable if she wasn’t totally financially stable, didn’t have a supportive family, and had no store already purchased for her. She gets to take her time, doesn’t have to worry about money, and is never in a rush to set up her dream store. There’s no sense of urgency or concern in this arena, so her hesitation was a hurdle to understand.
The chapters are short, and each one ends with a cliffhanger or some form of ‘what will happen next?‘ so most of the book feels like a preview followed by a recap before getting to the point. The artificial highs made the story feel less important, not more – like watching a cheesy reality tv show.
The entire story is predictable and, besides the Pride and Prejudice romantic drama, everyone gets along incredibly well. If every small town were this idyllic, no one would ever leave. Having said that, I read A Scottish Highland Surprise in one sitting and found it incredibly easy to read. So if you’re looking for a beach read or palate cleanser, you’ve come to the right place.
Sophie’s unwillingness to give up her terrible job to pursue her dream job would’ve been more believable if she wasn’t totally financially stable, didn’t have a supportive family, and had no store already purchased for her. She gets to take her time, doesn’t have to worry about money, and is never in a rush to set up her dream store. There’s no sense of urgency or concern in this arena, so her hesitation was a hurdle to understand.
The chapters are short, and each one ends with a cliffhanger or some form of ‘what will happen next?‘ so most of the book feels like a preview followed by a recap before getting to the point. The artificial highs made the story feel less important, not more – like watching a cheesy reality tv show.
The entire story is predictable and, besides the Pride and Prejudice romantic drama, everyone gets along incredibly well. If every small town were this idyllic, no one would ever leave. Having said that, I read A Scottish Highland Surprise in one sitting and found it incredibly easy to read. So if you’re looking for a beach read or palate cleanser, you’ve come to the right place.
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