♡ Thank you for the free book + audiobook, TLC Book Tours, Thomas Nelson, NetGalley and author Pepper Basham.
Synopsis
Katie Campbell has traveled her entire life. As the daughter of an army chaplain, changing homes–or even countries–was commonplace, so when her wild childhood storytelling turned into a lucrative career as a travel writer, she thought she’d found her perfect match. But as she’s nearly thirty with no real place to settle down, she’s starting to wonder where “home” actually is. Her own family hadn’t felt like home since her sister’s death left them all limping through life.
When a lengthy project in Scotland promises to not only give her travel fodder for months but also a shot at a coveted editing position, she accepts and is sent to spend three weeks in the newly created Craighill House, a Scottish home redesigned to offer guests an Edwardian experience. But her entrance to Craighill introduces her to a quirky group of characters and a surly Scot who is helping refurbish the magnificent woodwork of the estate house.
As Katie attempts to live “Edwardian,” she learns that all that glitters does not a comfortable lifestyle make . . . and surly Scots may turn out to be dashing and creative uncles raising their orphaned nephews. When a few escapades from the Downton era lead Katie on hunts for mermaids and dragons or to a fireside chat with a family who has grown stronger through tragedy, Katie begins to wonder if “home” looks a whole lot like rolling green hills, magnificent braighs, and a few extra “ayes” thrown in for good measure. But can her world-traveling lifestyle fit in with a Scot whose heart is double-knotted to home?
Thoughts
I enjoyed this sweet romance story set in beautiful Scotland. I absolutely love a book that takes me to Europe, and the author did just that with her immersive writing. I also appreciate a little reprieve from the gratuitous spice taking over contemporary romance, and this book ticked that box. This was a slow burn romance with fun characters in a beautiful location. Our FMC is a Christian, so she did mention God a few times, which I thought was lovely. The cute cover is the cherry on top.
★★★★☆
☊ Listening to this story via audiobook was wonderful. Narrators Joshua Manning and Stina Nielsen did an excellent job!