I am delighted to share my review today for Dreaming under an Island Skye by Lisa Hobman. My huge thanks to Rachel at Rachel’s Random Resources for my spot on the Blog Tour and for my e-copy of this gorgeous book.

Is there really such a thing as a second shot at true love?

After three wonderful years of marriage, librarian Juliette Fairhurst’s heart is shattered when her husband, Laurie, is taken from her much too soon.
Devasted, Juliette decides to take a sabbatical and reconnect with her mother’s birthplace, the village of Glentorrin on the picturesque Isle of Skye.
Welcomed by most of the villagers, Juliette throws herself into an idyllic community life, taking on the role of temporary summer guardian at The Lifeboat House Museum; a role that offers her the perfect escape from the tragedy of her real life.
During her time on the island, Juliette clashes with brooding single dad and artist, Reid Mackinnon and is befriended by his son Evin and dog Chewie. It’s clear that divorced Reid is struggling and scarred by his own painful experiences.
Can these two lost souls find a lifeline to rescue each other?
Or will their pasts scupper their second chance at real happiness?

Purchase Link – HERE

My Review…

When I read the synopsis for this book I knew it was one that I definitely wanted to read. I wanted a book that would whisk me away and give me a good story with a sense of place. This book definitely did that!

This is the first time I have read anything by this author and I absolutely fell in love with her descriptions of Skye. It is a place that is on my list of places to visit one day. Her descriptions are gorgeous not just of the island but also of the community that she has created, warming, welcoming and one that sounds idyllic, well for the most part. As with any community, there is always the odd soul who likes to put a dampener on things.

Juliette finally realises that she needs a break from her life and those around her. She has been going through the motions of living after the death of her husband and while people have been supported she feels the time is right to take time out for something different. Skye is very different from her life in the Cotswold’s where she is a librarian.

A few months will give her a chance to be herself, to be in a place where no one knows that she is still grieving and where people feel lost for words when they meet her. She makes arrangements to visit and it not just a random visit as she does have family connections to the island from years ago.

It is often mentioned that when you have been at your lowest, you are more likely to see the signs of it in others. This is the case for Juliette when she actually looks at Reid for the first time. Well, I say the first time, but it wasn’t. They didn’t exactly hit it off the first time! But she can recognise the signs of someone who is struggling and so as is her nature she tries to reach out to him.

A story of friendship and understanding, as well as misunderstanding, follows. A story of hard choices and heartbreak gives a wonderful story to escape into. The characters that the author has created sound, on the whole, to be a wonderful lot and I could see myself really enjoying the odd night at the pub with them!

This is such a wonderful book that delivered so many good things and also had such a wonderful sense of understanding to it. Dealing with loneliness, guilt, apprehension and loss and yet at the same time having a sense of wanting to move forward. Given what could have been a hard storyline for a reader, the author has taken it in a more positive way making it an uplifting read. I adored this book and if you love your contemporary romance then this one should be right up your street. It is one I would definitely recommend.

About the Author…

Lisa Hobman has written many brilliantly reviewed women’s fiction titles – the first of which was shortlisted by the RNA for their debut novel award. In 2012 Lisa relocated her family from Yorkshire to a village in Scotland and this beautiful  backdrop now inspires her uplifting and romantic stories.

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Many thanks for reading my review, a like or share would be amazing 🙂 xx