Layla has spent her whole life in Loch Harris. The idea of leaving the place she calls home has never once crossed her mind, that is until her husband dies suddenly of a heart attack, and to make an already heartbreaking situation worse, he died with his ex-wife in his arms. This betrayal, alongside the heart ache of losing her husband has Layal in turmoil as she struggles to deal with her conflicting emotions. She is seriously contemplating leaving the town she loves so much as she cannot bear the thought of living in the cottage she had shared with her husband, but she is far from eager to leave.

That is when she notices an opening for a live music venue within the town, and decides that rather than leaving the place she loves the most and running away, she will stay within Loch Harris, and hopefully encourage others to visit the place that she holds close to her heart.

As Layla begins setting up The Conch Club, rumours start circulating around the town that the famous, and reclusive singer ‘Mask’ is now living in Coorie Cottage, and this sparks another idea for Layla to make her new venture a success. She sets her sights on recruiting this mysterious singer to perform on her opening night, but can she convince him to help her out?.

Of course, things are far from smooth sailing for Layla as she adjusts to her new life as a widow, alongside trying to solve the mystery as to why Mask is so reclusive, and some added family drama that her mother has decided to finally share with her. And then an Australian woman appears out of the blue, carrying with her some rather strong accusations about Mask, but are they true?

I loved losing myself in Loch Harris in this gorgeous story. Although the story centres around a lot of betrayal and heart ache, there is a true sense of hope and friendship that shines through and certainly guides Layla through some of the most challenging times of her life. The characters were all realistic, and often relatable in many ways. None of them are perfect, but that makes them all the more human, as – if we are being brutally honest, we all have flaws don’t we?.

The storyline flowed wonderfully from beginning to end, with a plot that is full of drama and mystery, and of course a helping of romance thrown in there too – this is one of those books you find yourself excited to dive back in to at any given opportunity.

Infidelity, heartbreak and trying to move on are the themes for the story. Despite wanting to run away Layla manages to stick it out in Loch Harris and turn her life around. An easy meaningful read.

A perfect escape to Scotland filled with secrets, Romance, music, and family. Layla is blindsided when she finds out that her fiancé died in the arms of his ex-wife. Devastated and wanting a new start Layla is determined to leave town until she decides that she would love to give back to her community with the money she has inherited from her deadbeat fiancé. Layla has a great relationship with her dad who was in a band in the 70s, in fact Layla is named after the iconic Layla in the Eric Clapton song. Music plays a huge part in this book and Layla is determined to bring music to this sleepy Hamlet and figure out what’s going on with the mysterious new musician in town. The story was a bit of a genre potpourri there is some romance, some mystery, some family drama. Layla was a great character and I really wanted her to find some peace and happiness. The story had a great sense of community I just loved the setting of this small town in Scotland. A great story that gave me all the feels and left me with a smile on my face.

5☆ A Captivating and Enthralling Contemporary Romance. A Page Turning Must Read!

A Secret Scottish Escape was an Enthralling Read from start to finish. So much going on, a lil mystery, a lil suspense, a slow burn yet Enchanting relationship, Community Spirit, Family dramas and Music. A Page Turner!

Layla a freelanced writer fell madly in love with an older man.
Engaged and planning to spend the rest of their lives together, she never expected to see policeman on her doorstep.

Telling her that her fiancé Mac has just passed away. Devastated she then learns that he passed away in bed with his ex wife in a hotel room!
Poor Layla's world is crashing down around her and all she can see is the two of them together!

But it's not all bad Mac has left her a fair amount of money and after much deliberation she decides to use that money for good! To turn an old boat house into a live music lounge, to help Loch Harris bring in more Tourists.

I really felt for Layla, she just kept getting more and more secrets thrown at her and none of them were very nice.
But she had so much strength and determination I'm not sure I could of carried on being so strong after everything she uncovers.

A Secret Scottish Escape is a Heart Warming, Compelling and Endearing Contemporary Romance. The location was stunning and very idyllic.
The characters were brilliantly written.
I loved all the juicy twists and Secrets. Oh and I loved the mystery and intrigue that shrouded Mask the elusive and awkward singer.
Oh and that ending wow....I really really hope there is more to come as I was over joyed by the discoveries!
This is my first book by the very talented Julie Shackman, and I'm excited to read more!

This is a contemporary romance which takes you through the full gamut of emotions but leaves you with a huge smile on your face. It starts with betrayal and grief when police arrive to inform Layla Devlin that her fiancé has died whilst in bed with his ex-wife. Following this traumatic revelation and the funeral, Layla is determined to make a fresh start miles away from Loch Harris, the Scottish hamlet she’s grown up in. However, dramatic revelations and surprises conspire to inspire her to stay to help revive the tourist trade on which the hamlet community rely. She’s going to open a music venue but who should the opening acts be? Can she get her Dad and his old group to play together again? There are rumours, too, about a secretive singer/songwriter having moved into a local cottage – can she get him to perform on opening night, too?

With mysteries and secrets galore, this is filled with family dramas, music, friendships and several romances, too. There are plenty of characters who are easy to relate to, one or two who you’d rather have nothing to do with and lots of surprises, too. It is a story with a small community at its heart, one where love will find a way, sometimes in an unexpected manner! It truly is a heartwarming story and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it.

Thank you to One More Chapter and NetGalley for my copy of this book which I have voluntarily read and honestly reviewed.

This is a heartwarming story about finding your purpose in life. Layla feels heartbroken and betrayed when her fiance dies unexpectedly. His hurtful secrets make her want to run away. Music and helping the community she loves help her heal. She has supportive relationships with the father who raised her and her best friend. Mysterious men with secrets is a recurring theme in this story, and one of them offers a second chance for Layla if she's courageous enough to try again. The setting is well described. This is an uplifting story of love and loss.

I received a copy of this book from One More Chapter via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

I would just like to say a very big thank you to Rachel’s Random Resources for very kindly forwarding me a copy of this book, for my kindle, in return for an honest review.
This book was a wonderful aread with a great set of down to earth engaging characters, who I really got to know and love.
It all takes place in a little sleepy seaside village in Scotland and was a beautiful backdrop for Layla’s story.
A Secret Scottish Escape is a lovely romantic mystery that keeps you intrigued in the story all the way through and I loved how it all ended. It also has the added bonus of an epilogue set a little bit in the future which adds to this feel good story!

4/5 💫 Thanks to Netgalley and One More Chapter for the digital review copy.

The cover was screaming with themes of escapism ~ and that's exactly what the book gave me! I've always been obsessed with books set against the backdrop of the Scottish Highlands, so naturally, I was interested in reading A Secret Scottish Escape. ❤️ This book was the perfect blend of romance, cozy setting, mystery (which I didn't expect at all), love and family.

Even though romance was the pivotal point of the book, I equally enjoyed the sub-plots of A Secret Scottish Escape. The father-daughter dynamic between Layla and her father was so perfectly written! I loved seeing their affectionate relationship. Music is one of my favourite things in the world, so I loved how music was a important part of this book! 💞

Definitely recommend if you're looking for an escape in book form.

Layla Devlin is living her life as a freelance writer who is engaged to an author Mac in a sleepy hamlet of Loch Harris in Scotland. Layla is devastated when she learns Mac has died of a heart attack and instead of being with his agent he was in bed with his ex-wife. Layla is shattered. She wants to move out of the cottage they shared and leave town but then she would be leaving her Father (who is a former member of a 70’s band and named her after the Eric Clapton song) and her best friend Faith. Mac has left Layla enough funds to start over but as she is getting ready to leave she decides to open a music venue in the hopes of increasing tourism in her town and keep the village the same. When she tries to persuade her Father to get his old band together he is resistant which is not like him and then her Mother who is not in her life drops a bombshell. Add in a mysterious musician who is setting the internet on fire and who she is trying to get to sing at her venue when it opens. Layla cares about everyone in town and is trying to welcome this man to town but he is resistant to any help. This was a charming romance which has side stories for her Father and best friend Faith along with a mystery from Rafe’s (The mask) past.

The most striking part of this story is its setting. Located in the Scottish Highlands, it is full of the Scottish landscape and a community which looks out for its own. The romance seems to be in the background for most of the novel. Centre stage is Layla, who has a mystery to unravel and a family crisis to work through. She has a warm relationship with her father who has raised her, not so much with the mother who has been absent.

Layla is one of those characters who you take to. Loyal to her friends, she cannot resist getting involved in their lives. She just has to try to smooth the way for them and get involved. The mysterious inhabitant of Coorie Cottage definitely has a mystery for her to solve. You first meet Layla when her life has fallen apart but you soon realise that she has a resilient side and loves a challenge. If you are looking for a gentle read with a touch of romance and mystery, look no further.

Thanks to the publisher for a copy of the book

A sweet and cosy story I thoroughly enjoyed.
Good characters, a tightly knitted plot and lovely setting.
It's engrossing and entertaining.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

A Secret Scottish Escape is one of those novels that you know you will love before you read the first page. When I read the synopsis, I knew that this would be a great book, and I wasn’t wrong. Julie Shackman writes some creative characters that make you either love them or hate them at first glance.

Layla is a freelance writer who receives some terrible news that leaves her broken and angry. But, with a bit of ingenuity, she comes up with a clever plan for the old bait shop. Her little town is losing its tourist attraction status. So Layla’s plan would not only help her but also help the whole community. She goes through some bumps and bruises to get to the end of her project but has lots of opportunities as well. Just wait until you meet her love interest. He is mysterious and dreamy.

However, Layla’s love story is not the only one in these pages. Layla’s dad and her best friend both find love in this novel. While those aren’t the central storyline, they are still sweet and touching. These little extras contribute to the gloriousness that is A Secret Scottish Escape. But, you know we can’t have all love and no friction, so Shackman gives us several characters to hate. I love how well-balanced this novel is regarding the characters.

I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the Scottish setting. Layla and company live in a little village in Scotland. The old bait shop sits right out on the loch. You can sit and listen to the water rush by and see its mirrored reflection while relaxing on the jetty. Though that isn’t all, there is a great waterfall as well as plenty of wooded areas. The placement of the homes allows you to walk anywhere you want to go. Layla often walks to her dad’s house down the lane, as well as the town proper. It is an idyllic setting that I wish I could join.

My only complaint is that every man over the age of 40 is balding. I’m not sure why all the men have to be balding but repeats often enough that it stuck out in my mind. It is the silliest thing to notice, but I did.

Thus, it is with great delight that I award A Secret Scottish Escape 4 out of 5 stars. For all my romance-loving readers, this is a good one to pick up. It is fun, creative, and all-around brilliant.

There have been so many elements to this book that I have enjoyed.

There are some great characters, but I especially felt a connection with Layla and Harry. Layla is a salt-of-the-earth, rare diamond who is selfless, honest and caring. However, her life is far from perfect and she realises that she has a lot of learning and growing to do to get to where she wants to be.

There is romance everywhere, and rather than focus solely on Layla, it actually involves the reader in 3 possibly romantic situations, which has kept my interest.

However, my favourite element was definitely the mystery and secrecy surrounding the “Mask” character. He was immediately a character I wanted to know more about, as I couldn’t figure out his motives or role in the story. Everything is slowly revealed and the narrative at this point maximises the drama of the situation in a really clever way that is also easy to follow.

Overall, this has been an intriguing and uplifting story with a heart-warming message about family, fresh starts and not judging a book by its cover. I would definitely recommend this book & author to fans of Samantha Tonge and Jennifer Bohnet.

We meet main character Layla Devlin at a low point in her life - her older fiancé Mac has just died in circumstances that cause Layla more distress. she just wants to run away and forget about the whole thing. However at the last minute she changes her mind and stays put in the idyllic Scottish village by Loch Harris where she grew up. Her beloved dad Harry lives minutes away and best friend Faith runs the local tourist information office. More secrets emerge that threaten Layla's life as she knows it, and the presence in the village of the mysterious singer, Mask, does not help matters. Layla cannot stop herself helping people. This book paints such a lovely picture of rural life in a small community. It was like reading. full length People's Friend story and I loved it. #netgalley #asecretscottishescape

This book struggled with an identity crisis. It couldn't decide if it wanted to be a romance or a mystery. I think it tried to be both but failed. I was able to finish it which is why I gave it three stars. But I will not choose to read anything else by the author. The character development was non-existent. For example, we learn that Faith is afraid of commitment but not why. This book suffers from a massive condition of telling without showing. I would not recommend.

A Secret Scottish Escape is a detailed and emotional story that became a light and good book to escape into as Shackman transported the reader to the Scottish Loch...
I like how Shackman has created a great bond between Layla and her dad, and the description of Scotland is good. There were a good amount of build up to keep the reader interested!
The character development of A Secret Scottish Escape is ok. The characters are likeable and relatable. I truly sympathise with Laya's character, to after finding out about Mac's deceit she has Moreno on her at his funeral a week later...
I would recommend reading A Secret Scottish Escape to lovers of Contemporary Romance, as it is a heart wrenching tale of a surprising betral, a great paternal relationship and embracing new beginnings...

A story about a girl whose life suddenly take an unexpecting turn, where you realise you may not know people as well as you thought and how to handle your life not going in the direction you thought. Starting fresh at almost thirty years old and try to discover what else is out there. I thought the writing was very well done. She really made me feel for the main character and I really wanted to just strangle her ex. It was both a sweet and a bit heavier story that delt with a lot of different heavier topics in life. I quickly became hooked and read the entire book in just two days.

I do have to say I unfortunately say I thought the romance was a bit underdeveloped. I liked it but I thought the romance development was a bit better done. Even if the romance were not the main focus of the story, I still thought It could have been a better romantic development. Right now, it felt a bit forced that they suddenly fell in love. And that made this a four-star read for me instead of a five-star read. I am very exited to read more from this author in the future because I liked the story and the writing. The only thing with the writing I thought was slightly annoying was that the main character “zoomed” out a lot in conversations.

If you like feelgood book and especially feelgood books set in Scotland that is not heavy on the romance, I can really recommend this book.

I really enjoy a formulaic chick lit with a twist...and that's exactly what this is!
It's an easy but captivating read, with enough twists and turns to keep you going and enough of a 'happy ending' to really satisfy your soul. The characters are heartwarming and easy to relate to, it makes you want to visit Scotland and I just generally really enjoyed it. It's about overcoming difficulties and tragedies, features the importance of having your own 'tribe' and 'community' and is generally a mood-boosting read.
I particularly enjoy that, for this genre, it's a longer story and still housed surprises within the plot.
A feel-good read!

Layla doesn't have the best of starts in the novel, and my heart went out to her for the pain she suffered. However, this book is heralded as feel good cosy romance so life didn't remain so awful for her, especially when she embarks on a business venture that will benefit the whole community and finds new love along the way.

I loved the relationship between Layla and her father, and the way their love of music was something they could enjoy together. In fact, music is a thread that runs through the whole story and is as much of a setting as Loch Harris is.

The value of friends features heavily in this book - not so much family, as Layla's mother is a nightmare, and Mac, who was set to shortly become her family, proves to be a total cad. There are several dramas for good measure and a great deal of soul searching. The main theme, aside from the romance, could be said as never giving up, because it's Layla's tenacity which brings about the hoped-for ending.

A Secret Scottish Escape by Julie Shackman was riveting. Imagine opening the door to police officer you know (small town), only to be told your fiancé was dead. Not only that but he died somewhere he didn't belong, in bed with his ex-wife. Imagine being told it had been happening for 18 months. Imagine. Layla Devlin couldn't and yet, here it was happening to her. She was in a cloud of grief, but more in betrayal when she found out he had a heart condition and he hadn't told her. Their whole relationship had been a lie. Then to add insult to injury, he left her all his royalties, a not inconsiderable sum: guilt money. She refused it . . . until an idea came to her. She could revive her village . . . she could open a music venue with his money. He's always hated her type of music. Then things started really happening.

This was kind of a different concept for a book until it wasn't. Part romance, part mystery. Lots of diversions taking the story down a different pathway. It was charming. A little of this, a little of that. Layla was a strong woman. Whatever life threw at her, she fought back, for herself and for others. Most of the situations found here are everyday things, but presented a little differently, until we get to the singer/composer hiding in her village. That, she couldn't let go. He was intriguing, and very hot. It was a fun read. I enjoyed every minute of Layla's rebirth after devastation. I recommend it. HEA

I was invited to read a free e-ARC of A Secret Scottish Escape by Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #netgalley #asecretscottishescape