Who doesn’t want to read book where one of the main characters is a cute cat? As a mother of three cats, I couldn’t refuse. Something fishy is going on around a mysterious island located just off the mainland of Scotland and a widowed mother of two might be the cause for all the shenanigans. Check out my review for Kilts and Catnip by Zoe Tasia.
This is the first book in a series that follows Becca Shaw, a widow, who relocated to Scotland after her husband died in a fatal car accident. She lives on the mainland but has rented a cottage on an island that’s just a ferry ride away for the summer. Her two daughters, Jessica the teen, and Tate the youngest, accompany her on adventures exploring the mysterious land and meet some quirky residents along the way.
It’s a fun and fast-paced story filled with interesting people and secrets, most of which are based on Scottish and Irish folklore. Becca is a sweet character who seems to want peace for herself and her daughters. Of course, there’s something more to her than meets the eye and, in fact, catches the eye of the forest hermit, Greg Gillie.
Greg is a local resident who tends to shy away from the other townsfolk. He looks after the forest but appears whenever Becca or her girls are in trouble. Who doesn’t swoon for a man in a kilt who’s always rescuing you? But being a mother, Becca has to make sure that any new feelings she has for another man are given a green light by her girls, especially the teen.
There’s always something going on in every chapter. Becca and her family are magnets for strange events in the town making it quite obvious that they have some sort of magic or power that they don’t understand. Her children are seeing strange creatures in the forest and Becca catches glimpses of them as well. This shocks her new friends and leads them to divulge some of their secrets as they slowly start to trust that Becca and her family have the Sight and the makings of powerful witches. Perhaps, the island’s newest residents can help them with their magical problems.
Without giving too many spoilers, the plot is a little predictable. However, I enjoy this kind of story because to me, it means the author did a good job with leaving hints and clues throughout the book to help glean the correct outcome. For those who don’t like that, you may find the story to be a little frustrating as it takes the main character some time to figure out what’s going on on the island.
While I had a blast with all the interesting creatures from Scottish folklore and learning about them, I felt that the actual ending of the story was rushed. There was a lot of buildup to an ending that seemed abrupt. Let’s just say, there was big decision that needed to be made, but not a lot of time to make it. As a mother of two girls, the decision was life-changing and probably should’ve taken more time to make even with the dire circumstances. It also seemed like a smooth out, but perhaps, the consequences of this decision will be more revealed in the next book of the series.
Overall, the plot held my interest, the author had great dialogue that was relatable, and it was a fun ride through magical place. I can’t wait to see the relationships of the characters grow stronger in the series.
If you’re into dark creatures, the Fae, and anything to do with European folklore, I’d recommend checking this out for yourself. The sweet romance was a plus! Happy reading!
Author Lauren Eason 
It appears to be an interesting read a summer read with all the hopes of Spring and new beginnings.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It really was interesting! I felt like I learned quite a bit about Scottish folklore. The author did a great job with making it a fun and fresh story.
LikeLike