Series Name: Scottish Escapes, # 6
I took in the unmistakable scent of print and paper. I could see my teenage self as though it were yesterday, in my trainers and tight jeans, tugging out the steps and clambering up them to fetch novels from the higher shelves. I had plaits and my feet felt like they were too big for the rest of my body. Working here during the school holidays, had been my idea of heaven.
The Bookshop by the Loch is another breathtaking installment in the Scottish Escapes series.
Lexie Dunbar is a book lover. And her favourite place in the world is her local bookstore, Book Ends. So when she hears that it’s going to be sold, Lexie decides she needs to do something to help.
Lexie’s plan to save the ailing shop is fully underway until gorgeous-but-grouchy artist Tobias Black arrives on the scene determined to turn the bookstore into an art gallery. Lexie is horrified, the last thing the quaint town of Bracken Way needs is a pretentious artist, even if he does seem to charm everyone but her.
Tensions continue to rise until Tobias discovers a shocking secret that shows they might have more in common than they realise. As sparks fly, can Lexie and Tobias work together, or will opposing ideas get in the way of them finding their very own happy ever after…
This is the sixth book in the Scottish Escapes series, but it can be read as a stand-alone. I highly recommend reading the other books if you are looking for clean and charming escapist romances. I have been enjoying this series. It continues to capture my attention and heart. There is a lot of beautiful depth to this story. When you first start reading this book, it gives off those charming romantic vibes, but as the story progresses, you realize there is so much more to it. There are so many layers that exist within this book. This book deals with complex and messy family relationships, friendships, health issues, and how people deal with life’s crises. There are moments that will tug at those heartstrings, and you will love it. All the characters feel real and relatable. I loved being with every character in this book. They are all dealing with something, and watching as they wade through those life troubles, you can’t help but build those connections with those characters.
I am a fan of small-town romances and loved this book’s small-town charm. The added bonus is that we get to spend time in a bookshop. I am a sucker for those romances that take a struggling business and breathe new life into it. That transformation is pure catnip for me. This is a clean, slow-burn romance. There are some fabulous scenes with these two together that will warm your heart. I love a good enemies-to-lovers romance, and Julie did a great job incorporating this trope into her story. The romance between Lexie and Tobias is not always the story’s main focus. Their growing relationship is woven throughout all of these secondary stories that are happening at the same time. I enjoyed how the romance was structured in this book, and it fits well with the overall vibe of the story.
The Bookshop by the Loch is another heartfelt and gorgeous romance by Julie Shackman.
Thank you, One More Chapter and Rachel Random Resources, for sending us an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
