Secrets to hide, secrets to be revealed…

Synopsis

A brand new autumnal story of love, believing in yourself and starting over set in the Scottish Highlands

For Bailey McArthur, her family and job mean everything. She runs her own floristry shop and loves spending time in nature in the pretty town of Heather Moore, whilst desperately trying to forget about being jilted on her wedding day.

When journalist Zach Stern arrives in town asking questions about a famous actor, Bailey decides to throw him off the trail of the superstar hiding out in the Scottish Highlands.

But despite Bailey’s efforts to thwart Zach’s investigation, she finds herself falling for him. It’s just a shame she can’t be honest with him. But then, Bailey might not be the only one with a secret to hide…

My review

After being jilted at the altar and learn about her fiancé’s true colours, Bailey McArthur has started all over again as a florist in Heather Moore. Nobody knows about her past here, or about her background, and Bailey is perfectly fine with it! So when she meets retired yet still famous actor Ezra King, she understand better than anyone why he seeks the anonymity of the Scottish Highlands. With a new and sweet friendship being formed, Bailey sees it as her duty to protect Ezra from vultures as paparazzi have heard that the mighty King may be residing in Heather Moore. And no matter how much journalist Zach Stern claims to have good intentions and wants to write a right story, Bailey does not give in. Because no matter how much she tries to get rid of Zach, she also cannot stop falling for the guy… But with her own secrets to keep, and more secrets from others are being revealed, is honesty going to make or break everything?

What a delight it was to read a new chapter in the Scottish Escapes series of this wonderful author! I was totally ready to find myself drawn into another great story, knowing I would love every bit of it!

Initially, I pitied Bailey. Is there anything worse for someone to not only being jilted at the altar, but also learn that the person you love, as just been playing you before disappearing? I don’t so…

But I quickly also had to admit that what Bailey does after that horrible lesson that she learned, was courageous and made me feel even a little bit in awe of her.

It’s not for anyone to pick up the pieces of her life again like that, pack up and start a brand new business!

I was a bit curious to get to know Bailey better, as it’s clear that she hiding her real identity at Heather Moore. But I could also understand why she keeps that a secret, even for her own employees and the people living in the Highlands.

Because unfortunately, we all are still being condemned in a way for the actions of our past, and not seen for the person we have become and are now.

And florist Bailey is just a wonderful person! it would have been so easy for her to get in a downward spiral, yet she turned a terrible experience into the chance to start over again, and pursue her dreams and passions!

Despite her fear of being discovered who she really is, she enjoys her new life and she is truly happy with what she has achieved in a short timespan and is confident that this life in the Scottish Highlands is meant what she has always been supposed to do.

Even if her life completely changed, she is also the kind of person that understands why someone needs to get out of the spotlight and needs to be anonymous. I found the tender friendship between Bailey and (even if just fictional) the great Ezra King truly sweet to read.

She just gets Ezra and wants to protect his privacy at any cost, even if that means playing a ruse when journalist Zach Stern arrives.

Just like Bailey, I was very wary of Zach. Not only because he was a bit too persistent to my liking, but because he also seems to be keeping a few skeletons of his own in his closet…

But on the other hand, I also understood Bailey’s attraction towards him. That same annoying persistence is also very attractive. And I could absolutely believe how Bailey cannot resist his gaze. And at the same time, ‘despite’ his job, he emanates trustworthiness.

Now, there are many secrets in this book, and for your own pleasure, I won’t go into them here. But just like it always is with secrets and revelations, everyone acts differently when the truth comes out. And sometimes it may be the right directions, but sometimes – and most of the times – it’s the wrong reaction. Which is in a way understandable with the shock of learning that truth, but it is what we do with it after digestion.

The choices we make, the secrets we keep, the revelations we make, they can all take our lives in an unexpected direction. But it’s up to us to make the best of that new direction. Because of our past, we may have new and significant encounters, understand ourselves better and understand what matters in life.

Julie Shackman wrote another great new chapter in an amazing series, showing us the warmth of the Scottish Highlands, but also the resilience of people, the heart of people. And it doesn’t matter who you were in the past, but who you are now and what you do in the present. And also that forgiveness can take you far in life and in love…