When a summer of research turns into another direction…

Synopsis

When ambitious city girl, Darcie Freeman is sent to the Isle of Skye to conduct research for a travel guide, she’s horrified. The prospect of having to travel to a remote island in the Scottish Highlands leaves her wondering what she’ll do.

Step in Logan Burns. Gorgeous and adventurous, he lives and breathes the island, and along with his sister Iona, who owns a rather haphazard PR company, they’re going to show Darcie everything she needs to know about Skye.

As Darcie swaps her designer shoes for her walking boots and her faux fur jacket for her raincoat, will she learn there’s more to life than the picture-perfect presence she shares on social media, or will it be the case that Skye is the limit…

My review

Before Darcie Freeman even realized, she became an influencer. Now she has a name for herself online, but there is a lot of competition to gain the best deal from sponsors. She finally has the prospect of landing a deal on writing a travel guide, yet once arrived on the Isle of Skye, Darcie is shocked. Not only did she expect a more exotic location, but also the job she has to do, is not what she was thinking it was. With a lot of miscommunications beforehand, and lots of cold weather, Darcie isn’t exactly thrilled by the thought of spending her summer on Skye. And the presence of Logan Burns doesn’t help either, as he is everything Darcie is not. Because Logan lives for the island, and couldn’t be more into nature and more adventurous, while Darcie cannot imagine of being offline for even just a moment. However, the more Darcie spends on Skye, the more she sees a different lifestyle. And then she learns about a legend, a myth, one that Logan always intrigued, and when there is an actual chance of getting to the bottom of it, the two most opposites people join their forces. But where will that leave them at the end of the summer?

A story set on the Isle of Skye AND written by Julie Shackman? That is just the perfect combo, isn’t it?

Darcie is the kind of person that is perhaps most recognizable for the youngest generation. She is an influencer, trying to gain as much as possible viewers and trying to have the best deal with sponsors. She is the kind of person that many young people, teenagers and young adults could look up to, as she is truly living the life, or at least so it seems.

But there are several aspects that make Darcie different than other influencers. Well, not that I actually know that many influencers, or that I am such up to date with everything, as yes, I am getting older too… 😊

Perhaps it’s that same age of mine, that I am wary and not that sure that being an influencer is a real and satisfying career. Yes, it can get you famous and immediate satisfaction, but as quickly as your popularity came, it can disappear just as quickly.

And Darcie’s path to become Insta – famous, is not what she wanted from the start, yet it is something that somehow happened to her. And I felt sorry for her, as she for sure feels the constant pressure to deliver and in a sad way, also not having anyone in her corner, fighting her battles, or at least those that matter, together with her.

But beside Darcie being an influencer, she is also the perfect example of a real city – girl. And I don’t mean to say that in a bad way, but she is accustomed to be living in a place that always feels alive, with a loud of noise and constant rush of people. And thus, her arriving on the Isle of Skye, the shock is obviously understandable! While for many Skye would be like a breath of fresh air, Darcie is in for a real culture shock!

The contrast couldn’t be any bigger than with Logan. I found it hilarious how Darcie isn’t ready for the Skye – life and yes, it was funny to see how she is struggling with just everything on the Isle. From the clothes she (didn’t) bring, to the way things are just done. It felt to me that Darcie truly had to switch a button, to make her appreciate Skye, and also to appreciate Logan.

Logan… what a man, what a man, what a man… Initially he may not seem an easy man, as he for sure has his thoughts about Darcie and isn’t afraid to speak them out. But we also quickly see that he is a great and caring brother, and even if he sometimes can be pig – headed especially when it concerns running his business, he has a passion about it that he can make even a layman like me interested in everything he is telling about fossils, nature and the past.

And the myth living on the Isle for sure is something that speaks to one’s imagination, and also mine. For me it felt like this side – story was a nice addition to the bigger picture, and it allows the entrance of characters to the story, but it also adds an extra way of letting Darcie and Logan getting closer.

But what I liked the most, beside the funny bits, the mysterious bits, was seeing the change taking place within Darcie. There is a palpable evolution, as we see Darcie actual change from this actual city – girl to a woman that sees and appreciates even the smaller things in the world and in life. She sees the Skye – way of life, the genuineness of such a life, the easier pace of life. And she sees things through her own eyes again, and no longer through a lens.

And perhaps that is something we all need to learn to do again. Not everything needs to be seen by everyone, not everything we do needs the seal of approval by others, even strangers. We need to appreciate life, nature and those around us without filter, to just enjoy what’s around us.

Julie Shackman wrote once again a wonderful story, with great characters and character development. This is a great story about two completely different people, meeting in the most peculiar and funny way. This is a great story about a character learning again what matters in life. And all of this, in a setting that will sweep you of your feet!