4.5 stars
Kelli Estes has such a beautiful, lyrical writing style that elicits strong emotions throughout the book. This historical fiction novel explores the relationship between mother and son in dual timeline (modern Day and early 1800s) as well as self reflection.

Two separate journeys are taking place, each of a mother and son as they bond together after overcoming tragedies.
Each story was easily relatable, as they are well told and quite detailed. As a mother of two grown sons, I could feel the moments of happiness, the moments of fear, the moments of heartbreak.

Many times, dual timelines can be tricky but here the two stories were woven together in a seamless way. The change in dialect helped distinguish between the two timelines even when the stories overlapped.

There’s a bit of a supernatural element in this book, but nothing too over the top and, while I don’t typically read books that contain things like that, I kept an open mind and felt it made things more interesting.

I loved the description of the beautiful landscape of Scotland with its colorful fields and lush countryside brought back memories of my visits to the lovely country. It was fun to once again visit the Scottish highlands as I read this book while learning about a sad piece of Scottish history, the “Scottish Clearances” which I knew nothing about prior to this.

Although I feel there were a few sections that could have been scaled back a bit, those areas were few and far between and I rather enjoyed this book as a whole. I would definitely pick up another book by Kelli Estes in the future.

Thank you to Netgalley and Lake Union Publishers for an ARC of this book. All opinions in this review are my own.

This book honestly felt like a balm for my soul. I didn’t realize just how much I’d been craving a story set deep in the Scottish Highlands until I started reading, and suddenly, I was there. Sweeping landscapes, haunting atmosphere, and two mothers, centuries apart, whose stories somehow feel like they’re part of the same heartbeat.

Keaka’s walk along the West Highland Way with her son is meant to be a bittersweet goodbye before he heads off to university, but it quickly becomes something much stranger and more magical. Her visions are eerie and vivid: fire, sorrow, a woman from another time. That woman is Sorcha, living in 1801, wrongly accused and torn from everything she knows, doing whatever it takes to keep her child safe. The way their lives mirror each other across time, gave me chills!

I loved how this story explored motherhood, not in a sentimental or overdone way, but with rawness and strength. There’s a quiet fierceness to both women, and I found myself deeply moved by the way their stories wove together. The supernatural elements added this dreamlike, almost mythic feeling that lingered with me long after I finished. If I’m being honest, I do wish some of the magical aspects had been fleshed out a little more, but that didn’t take away from the emotional impact.

This book found me at the perfect moment. It’s haunting, tender, and full of heart. I’m so grateful to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the ARC! I’ll be thinking about this one for a while.

The brutality of Highland clearances is laid bare, as we meet Sorcha and her son, evicted and chased from their home, so the wealthy landowners can graze, more profitable, sheep. They are accused of murder and they are running for their lives.
"Smoke on the Wind" is a time slip novel by Kelli Estes. 1801 Sorcha and her son Aonghas walking (as fast as little food and keeping off main roads will allow them) south from the highlands to Glasgow and modern day Keaka and son Colin are walking the West Highland Way, from Glasgow to Fort William. As she walks, Sorcha carves markings into rocks along the way. These marks cross the centuries and remain, being visible to modern day walkers. Keaka has a strong second site into the past....and sees visions of Sorcha and suddenly has the ability to speak Gaelic.
This powerful story reppresents the millions of Scots moved on as part of the clearances. Those with enough money moved to Canada, USA, UK and beyond spreading their Scots heritage worldwide.
"Smoke on the Wind" provides a wonderful first timer experience of Scotland...history, language, landscapes and the taste of IRN-BRU.
Sorcha and Keaka are connected many times in the book.....sometimes when they don't notice, by a common place. The other deeper connection is by the love of their sons, both who are at turning points in their lives, striking out on their own. Both mothers are clinging to their only children. So this is a story of mother-son relationships with all their secrets, protectionism, and teenage moods. Also explored is the concept of what home is; a physical place or people that surround you?
To me the lesson learned is of the need to ground yourself in nature. Walking a lonely path away from other people and distraction. Running away or running too your future.
Thanks to NetGalley, Kelli Estes and Lake Union Publishing for my copy. I eagerly await more riveting reads from Kelli.

This the first book I have read from this author and I loved it, the duel timeline was easy to follow and loved the spooky touches. The book has been researched well and written impeccably, the characters Keaka and Sorcha are so entwined it’s just amazing to read.
My thanks as always to NetGalley and to Publisher Lake Union Publishing the the opportunity to have the early read of this excellent book

Certainly! Here's a more natural and flowing version of the book review:This beautifully written story weaves together two timelines, both centered around a roughly 100-mile trek through the Scottish countryside, leaving a lasting impression. In the historical thread set in 1801, Sorcha and her teenage son, Aonghas, are forced to leave their home after their cottage is burned down. Wealthy landowners, aiming to increase profits from sheep grazing, displaced local residents by setting fire to their villages—destroying entire communities in the Scottish Highlands. With almost nothing and no food, Sorcha and Aonghas faced an uncertain future. In the present day, Keaka and her son Colin from Portland, Oregon, are embarking on a week-long hike through the same region of Scotland. Colin had originally planned this trip with his father, who shared stories about the Highland Clearances. Sadly, his father passed away ten months earlier, and now Keaka is stepping in, carrying her own grief as she prepares her son to leave for the University of Glasgow. The novel beautifully explores the strong bond between mother and son, offering a heartfelt look at their journeys—both physical and emotional. Once again, Estes demonstrates her talent for crafting meaningful stories that bridge different eras, making this a truly memorable read.

This is a very interesting read. I learned a lot about Scotland! (I’d love to visit sometime).
There is a dual timeline. I’m a little confused as to the “time travel” aspect. It fits nicely into the storyline but how is it happening?
Both are mothers “losing” their sons to life and adulthood.
There is a lot of truth spread throughout the storyline.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. My opinions are my own.

Beautifully written, this is a memorable story involving two timelines with a similar 100-mile hike across the Scottish countryside.

In 1801, Sorcha and her teenaged son, Aonghas, were forced out of their community when their cottage was set on fire. The landlords pushed the rent-payers out of the Scottish Highlands by burning the village when they could make more money on the land grazing sheep. Where would they go with no food and only a few coins?

In the present, Keaka and her son, Colin, from Portland, OR were taking a 7-day hike in this same area of Scotland. Colin and his dad had planned this trip filled with history of the Highland Clearances. However, his dad died 10 months ago. Keaka stepped into his role with the sadness that she lost her husband and was about to say goodbye to her son. After the hike, Colin would be entering the University of Glasgow.

When I saw that Kelli Estes wrote another book, I was thrilled as I loved “The Girl Who Wrote in Silk.” Her last story also had two timelines revolving around 1880s with the harsh prejudice against the Chinese in Seattle. Now, Estes enriches us with Scottish history. She shows the effects of a community that is displaced like the Japanese who were forced into US camps during WWII.

This book helps you understand the complex relationship a mother has with her son. She includes Gaelic words and a dialogue that feels genuine. Again, this author highlights history that is often overlooked. It’s similar to a hiker experiencing nature’s wonders for the first time. Scotland is a beautiful setting that makes you want to go there.

In this book, Keaka has some wild dreams that take her back 200 years. Wouldn’t we all like to go into such explorations at night? The book is a mixture of history, adventure and includes all sorts of emotions. It’s also a wish for a better world.

My thanks to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this book with an expected release date of June 24, 2025.

This book was good. I loved the entertwined stories of Sorcha and Keaka. There was much rich history from the time period in Scotland and to learn about what Sorcha and her son endured on their travels away from their home made this book a good historical read.

I enjoy novels that have creative twists on temporal dimensions (Susanna Kearsley and Rebecca Ross both have fantastic tales that exemplify how to develop a creative connection between women in two different time periods) so I was excited to read Smoke on the Wind since the marketing blurb implies that two women on Scottish soil - Keaka and Sorcha - are connected despite living almost 200 hundred years apart.

In modern times, Keakahas committed to a weeklong West Highland Way hike with her son before he enters university in Glasgow. As a recent widow, Keaka is dreading the end of this hike as it signifies the end of this stage of motherhood and a return to a life alone back in the United States.

In the early 1800s, Sorcha and her son are also on a journey but not a leisurely one. Instead readers are given insight into what is now referred to as the "Highland Clearances" in which landowners displaced families from the land on which familial generations had dwelled. These families often gave their lives up in support and protection of these landowners so the forced removal was an intense betrayal. After being forced from their home, Sorcha and her son are perpetually in dire situations and are under constant threat of repeat betrayal.

While I enjoyed both Keaka's and Sorcha's stories and I liked the way Estes connected the two in time, I think Smoke on the Wind has some pacing issues. The beginning starts off with quite a bit of excitement but while there are fearful moments in Sorcha's journey and exciting moments on the long hike for Keaka that naturally propel the plot, we do languish a bit between all of that. We seem to return quite frequently to the frustrations that Keaka had in her marriage - of which her son is unaware - and we are continually aware of the danger that Sorcha is facing.

The ending is incredibly satisfying (especially for Sorcha!) but I wish Estes had created a stronger genealogical connection between Keaka and Sorcha to explain their physical bond.

Thank you to Kelli Estes, Lake Union Publishing, and NetGalley for this e-ARC.

Another winner from Kelli Estes! This one was definitely a page turner for me. The Scottish Highlands were a character unto themselves. This book deals with the bond between mother and son in two different timelines that interconnect. Be swept away...it made me want to walk the West Highland Way myself! Very highly recommended!

Kelli Estes' has done it again. This dual-timeline novel is beautifully researched and written. Trust me when I say, buy it!

Set mostly in Scotland on the West Highland Way during 1801 and the present day.

In 1801 Sorcha Chisolm and her son Aonghas are evicted from their cottage in Srath Ghlais in Scotland. Sorcha and her son travel towards Glasgow trying to find a better life.

In the present day, Keaka and her son Colin, walk along the West Highland Way together. Keaka is feeling very emotional; her son is about to start his studies at a University in Glasgow and she will be flying back to the United States. Originally her son and her husband Adam were going to do the walk from Glasgow to Fort William but when Adam died Keaka decided to do the walk with Colin.

At the beginning of the walk Keaka discovers a carving of a flower on a stone bridge, while having a closer look she becomes very emotional and sad. Keaka keeps noticing the carved flower petal on rocks along their walk.

I loved the descriptions of Sorcha and how she marks her travels with a small carving of a flower petal on rocks, to help mark her return to the Highlands.

This was about families and grief.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher Lake Union Publishing for a chance to review this E-Book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

*Scottish setting
*dual timeline
*mothers love
*mother son relationships
*very descriptive

Beautifully and masterfully written, this is raw, emotional, and poignant in its descriptions of the love a mother holds for their child and the impossible choices mothers can face in trying and frightening times.

I didn’t find this the easiest read but it was incredible and is a story that will stick with me.



Thank you to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for the DRC

3.5 stars, but I'm rounding up for the absolutely stunning Scottish countryside setting. In this time-travel-ish novel, a 17th century Scottish mother and her son are on the run while a 21st century American mother and her teenage son are on a hiking trip in the same area of Scotland. The story is told from the POVs of both mothers, showing how their very different lives intersect. The story is engaging, but I docked half a star because of sheer overuse of the "mother's love" trope.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Kelli Estes's novel, 'Smoke on the Wind,' takes readers on a journey that intertwines dual timelines with the deep emotional bonds of family. The story revolves around two mothers, Keaka Denney and Sorcha Chisholm, navigating the complexities of loss and identity across different timelines.

As the story weaves between the present and the past, readers experience Scotland's beautiful landscape while being thrust into the emotional journeys of both women, though I especially enjoyed and was drawn into Sorcha's timeline and story. Although, I also wish I was on the walking trip with Keaka in her timeline (sounds the an amazing experience).

Sorcha's storyline immerses readers in historical Scotland, depicting landscapes, traditions, and societal norms that resonate even today. Estes describes the beauty of the Scottish Highlands with stunning detail and evokes the struggles women faced during that period, worsened by the unimaginable struggles of losing everything and having to find the strength to start over again.

While some transitions between the two timelines were a little more difficult to follow (may have been more me than the writing), this format allows readers to draw connections between the two women. The mild violence content is appropriate within the historical context.

The author's writing style truly immerses the reader into the story with great pacing, fascinating research, well-timed tension, and heart-wrenching emotion.

And I love the cover! It's what drew me in before the description.

Smoke on the Wind by Kelli Estes was a difficult read for me. I didn't know there was a glossary of Scottish words until I finished the book. If I had know that it would have been easier to understand the Scottish vocabulary. Also, with the story being of two time periods it make it more difficult. I would recommend to the publisher that the glossary of Scottish vocabulary be in the beginning of the book. The book does a good job with dealing with mother/son relationships. I am a fan of historical fiction but found it confusing. Thank you to the publisher for allowing me to read this novel prior to its publication.

I enjoyed this second chance historical fiction with a small bit of romance. Even I'm normally not a fan of Scottish hero's. But I think that type of hero is growing on me and I'm here for it.

Smoke on the Wind kicks off with Sorcha desperately trying to save her son, Aonghas, from attackers—after already losing her husband and first son. From page one, I knew I’d love this book, and it did not disappoint. The high-stakes conflict had me holding my breath, afraid for Sorcha and her son. I also loved how Kelli first told us about Sorcha’s previous losses, making this moment hit even harder. Who wouldn’t want to keep reading after that?

Then we meet Keaka, who sets off on a hiking adventure with her son, Colin. Her journey is bittersweet—she’s soaking up precious time with him while dreading the day they’ll be apart.

This book beautifully captures the fierce, undying love of a mother. Kelli did an incredible job bringing the emotions to life. I felt the pain, the loss, the fear—and the triumphs—right along with these women, especially Sorcha. Both embark on hikes with their sons—Keaka’s for leisure and exploration, Sorcha’s for sheer survival. It felt like I was running with Sorcha and hiking with Keaka. I wanted to be right there, trekking through Scotland, soaking in the scenery. And yes, I’m absolutely the bed-and-breakfast type. Who’s with me? Let’s go!

This book was masterfully written. The pacing was spot-on, the descriptions vivid, and the tension kept me hooked. Honestly, I struggled to find anything to critique. The only thing I would have loved is a deeper exploration of what truly connects Sorcha and Keaka.

This isn’t just a great read—it’s an experience. One of the best books I’ve ever read. Pick it up. You won’t regret it!

Thank you to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for the complimentary copy. All opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Kelli Estes does a fantastic job in writing this book, it had that had that historical fiction element that I was looking for and enjoyed the overall feel of this. The characters had that element that I was looking for in this time-period, they felt like they were supposed to and worked with the overall feel of this.

The Scottish Highlands is my dream. I loved having this as the setting for this novel. The author's writing was beautiful and so was the story. Its a heartwarming emotional read. I look forward to more by this author.