“And then, at the same moment, we both leaned in and kissed. Again there was that citrusy smell that I’d noticed around him before, like lemons and limes being detonated just under his skin, a fresh and clean aroma that tickled my nose but brought me in closer.”
The Island Cottage is a magical, charming romance and I adored everything about it.
When Brid Harcus is sent to the Orkney Islands, in the far reaches of Scotland, she has high hopes for her trip being short, straightforward and lucrative.
Her mother has inherited a cottage from her Great Aunt Jennet which has been unlived in and unloved for decades, and the time has come to make it habitable and saleable. Easy, right?
But Midness Cottage has other ideas. For one thing it’s rather more ‘fixer upper’ than Country Living, with a resident goose and her goslings who have made themselves at home. And Brid definitely hadn’t planned for the strongly-held local belief that the cottage is meant to be the home of the Orkney Witch, and whomever lives in it must fulfil this role. Not the best message for the estate agent brochure and of course Brid doesn’t believe in magic, let alone have healing powers.
But Orkney does have healing powers. Its beauty and peace are enchanting, its people welcoming, and Brid’s handsome new friend Magnus is rather charming too. When her life back in York starts calling her home, will Brid sell up and ship out? Or did the last Orkney Witch cast a spell and leave a legacy of love if only Brid believed in magic…
This book was exactly what I needed to read on a snowy winter’s day. Jane is a master at creating books that just make the world disappear around you. I adored everything about this book and was sad that I had read it so quickly because I didn’t want to leave the world that Jane created. The Island Cottage is a heartfelt, magical romance with this wonderful soft pacing. It’s a nice, easy read you can sit down and enjoy while having a cuppa tea. I always love how thoughtful Jane is when creating her stories. She knows how to include just the right amount of detail, emotion, and drama to make a fabulous and entertaining story that is hard to put down.
I loved the setting in this book. The little island of Orkney comes to life through Jane’s writing. She weaves that small-town charm with this magical folklore that makes the legend of the Orkney witch feel real. I just devoured all the folklore bits in this book; it was so interesting and captivating. Jane made sure that magical folklore had a human element to it. Many of the locals believe that Brid is the new island’s witch. This belief often leads to bizarre and sometimes comical interactions that are entertaining to read. But I loved watching those who might have been skeptical in their belief (mainly Brid, who thinks everyone is a bit nuts) start to realize that something magical might be happening on this island.
Brid is an interesting and different kind of heroine. She is more prickly, and social interactions don’t often come naturally to her. But underneath that slightly prickly exterior is a kind-hearted woman hiding from the world. Caring for others, whether her clients at work or her parents, consumes her life. She doesn’t set aside any time to have fun with friends. I loved watching her grow and open up in this book. Magnus, who is the gorgeous hero in this book, surprised me. I had imagined that he would be this grouchy and broody Highlander, but he was this sweet cinnamon roll of a man with an accent that had me melting the entire time. Magnus was perfect for this book and for Brid. He complimented her prickly nature and helped her come out of her shell. They just clicked.
The Island Cottage is a unique love story that is filled with oodles of charm and heart.
Thank you, Rachel Random Resources and Boldwood Books, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
