Blog Tour Review with Giveaway (UK only): Scotlander by Sheila McClure

I received this book for free from Rachel's Random Resources in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Scotlander by Sheila McClure
Published by Lake Union Publishing on June 21, 2023
Genres: Adult Contemporary Romance, Adult Romantic Comedy
Pages: 368
Source: Rachel's Random Resources
Format: E-galley
My Rating:
Goodreads

Blurb:

When the Big C takes her best friend too soon, Willa Jenkins struggles to recapture the joy in her life, and all she wants is to get away from LA’s glitzy party circuit. But superfan Valentina had other plans. For her final, wickedly funny act, she’s packing her bestie off on a two-week Outlander-themed experience at Balcraigie Castle, Scotland.

Expecting a couple of weeks with Valentina’s hot brother Gabe, Willa gets more than she bargained for when she’s put to work doing actual, real-life farm work. Not only that, but to get the ‘full’ experience, she’s paired up with the irritating—and irritatingly sexy—Finn, with whom she will pose as fake husband and wife for the next two weeks.

Willa despairs of Valentina’s terrible trick. But then she makes a discovery. Finn’s family might just lose the castle if they can’t make the experience worthwhile for the other attendees. The stakes are high, but as the days pass and the fake marriage she signed up for starts to feel all too real, could Willa be in for a prize of a different kind…love?

Purchase Links

AMAZON: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Scotlander-Sheila-McClure-ebook/dp/B0BBXQ9RP9

https://www.amazon.com/Scotlander-Sheila-McClure-ebook/dp/B0BBXQ9RP9

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/scotlander-sheila-mcclure/1142119516?ean=9781662505324

My Review

Okay, so when I first read the synopsis for this book, I knew I had to read it since I am going on my Outlander tour in July. Nothing quite so immersive as this one, I mean I won’t be wearing the costumes, just normal clothing, but still, this book was the perfect read as I prepared to go on my trip. And by the end I really was even more excited for my trip!

It was fun to see Willa’s life before she headed to Scotland, all the little celebrity interviews and such were funny. The other characters in her life, and those she met along the way in this story were great. First there was Gabe, her best friend’s brother, who was also being sent on the Outlander experience. The reason that she ends up more into Finn, the hot Scot, was a bit of a surprise, but one that played out well in the storyline.

Then there were all the other people who had signed up for the experience. Their love of the tv show was perfect, and seeing how Wilma had to try to know what she was talking about was fun. In all honesty, I’m not sure I’d sign up for what they ended up doing, I mean, they were basically running a farm, something that would be pretty close to what the people did day to day in the show, well, not all of them, but through some of the seasons and some of the people. Now there was one part where one of the characters mentioned that she was looking for her own Jamie, had even kind of run off from her fiance for this trip because she wasn’t sure if he was perfect enough for her. And the way the other characters explained to her that Jamie wasn’t real, he was fiction, there was no perfect man like that, love was more than just the perfection of that character. That was great.

Throughout the story there was a lot of miscommunication between Finn and Willa, and at times it was a bit frustrating. Especially when there were so many times that the two of them seemed to know just how to connect with the other one, saving the farm, relating to family issues, etc. And the story did seem a little long at times, like maybe some things could have been left out, or not gone on for as long. But the way the story ended, with the grand gesture, and Willa figuring out what she really wanted, with a little help from The Rock, was perfect. And I loved all the extra at the end, as well as the epilogue. I also really liked the author’s note at the end, definitely a lot of fun.

And even with the little discussion about how there is no real Jamie Fraser, I still wish I could meet my own Scottish hero in a kilt when I go on my Outlander tour in a few weeks.

About the Author

Sheila McClure lives in the English countryside with her Scottish husband, their dogs, Harris and Skye, and a small herd of delightfully striped Belted Galloway cattle. Prior to rural life in the UK, she was a camerawoman and news producer for Associated Press Television. As she’s originally from Seattle, she began her working life as a barista. She has also written books as Annie O’Neil and Daisy Tate. She will never refuse a quality dill pickle.

Social Media Links –

Twitter: https://twitter.com/McBookieMonster @McBookieMonster

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mcbookiemonster/ @mcbookiemonster

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SheilaMcClureMcBookieMonster or just search Sheila McClure

Giveaway (UK only)

Win a paperback copy of Scotlander  plus a packet of Tunnocks Teacakes (Open to UK only)

*Terms and Conditions –UK entries welcome.  Please enter using the Rafflecopter box below.  The winner will be selected at random via Rafflecopter from all valid entries and will be notified by Twitter and/or email. If no response is received within 7 days then Rachel’s Random Resources reserves the right to select an alternative winner. Open to all entrants aged 18 or over.  Any personal data given as part of the competition entry is used for this purpose only and will not be shared with third parties, with the exception of the winners’ information. This will passed to the giveaway organiser and used only for fulfilment of the prize, after which time Rachel’s Random Resources will delete the data.  I am not responsible for despatch or delivery of the prize.

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