Can a childhood home make you feel like being at home again?

Synopsis

Will she give everything up for love?

Freya Sinclair has it all. An exciting life in London, a successful career as a ceramicist and a handsome boyfriend. But when she receives a call that her elderly father is in hospital, she drops everything to support his recovery in Skye.

Back on the island, Freya finds a new lease on life – Coorie Castle’s craft centre is firing her creativity and she’s glad to be back with her dad again. Being so close to her schoolgirl crush, Mackenzie Burns, is an added bonus. The two share an instant connection and Freya misses her old life less and less.

But Freya has a boyfriend at home and now a dazzling job offer in New York. She must figure out what she truly wants, before anyone gets hurt.

A heartwarming, feel-good cosy romance perfect for fans of Sarah Morgan, Julie Shackman and Sue Moorcroft.

My review

Freya Sinclair is slowly growing her career in London as a ceramicist. As her boyfriend is also in the artistic world, it for sure seems a match made in heaven. However, when Freya receives a call that her father has had a fall and needs to recover, she doesn’t hesitate to go back to the Isle of Skye, to help her father. Even if her father is testing everyone’s patience, Freya is just as stubborn, and doesn’t relent. The more time she spends on Skye, the more inspiration Freya seems to find, especially when she visits the Coorie Castle’s craft centre. And she even has an instant connection with her former crush, Mackenzie Burns. Mack feels that same connection, even if he has never been looking for love and has a certain reputation concerning relationships. But no matter what either of them are feeling, or starting to feel, Freya is still in a relationship with Hadrian, and as a job proposition in New York. And she is just in Skye to help her father, so what when he has recovered and Freya is no longer needed?

I am a home – person, meaning that even if I moved out, I still live nearby the place I grew up. So for me it is a bit difficult to understand how it is to live so far from not only the place you grew up, but also so far from your family and friends.

And perhaps it is because I don’t know how it feels, that I enjoy reading such stories, where the main characters left their homebase, built a life somewhere else and for some reason, return to the place they escaped from.

I am not an artistic person myself, but I do appreciate art, whether it is a painting, a building, of even some pottery. If I like something, I like it and appreciate the work and effort the artist put in it. And ceramic for sure intrigues me, how something beautiful can be created from just a piece of clay…

So in that aspect, I admired Freya and I was even proud of her, seeing as she is getting the recognition of what she creates. And I can imagine it is not easy to  be successful in such a niche branch, so I was extra proud of her of what she achieves!

Of course I was also intrigued in getting to why she has left her home in Skye, and while I understood her, as her grief was too big, it also saddened me.

Even if Skye reminds her of the loss of her mother, she doesn’t hesitate when she hears about the accident her father had. And she doesn’t return out of duty, because it is expected from her, as a daughter, but because she wants to.

And that shows us the kind of person Freya is. She drops everything in London, to assist the father that has given her so much while growing up. She wants to help her father while he is in need, and even if he for sure is testing her patience (and not only Freya’s to be honest), she doesn’t give up, but stands her ground when needed, but also lets things pass when they are irrelevant.

Seeing Freya back home, somehow was more Freya to me than when Freya was in London. London is an exciting city, a fancy city. And without any disrespect, I felt right from the start that that isn’t just Freya. Freya is just a comfy girl, give her her Doc Martens above fancy high heels, a comfy sweater above a tight dress. In fact, that made me relate to Freya much more and easier, because I am just alike!

It was lovely to see Freya rediscovering her home again, to see how she gets inspiration from bits she appears to have forgotten, those tiny details that make a whole difference. And being back home makes her realize that Skye has a lot to offer, even things that she could never find or see in London.

And it warmed my heart to see how everyone welcomes Freya back home. And that for sure can make a difference, because without that warm embrace, it would make a complete different story. Not only is Freya now reconnecting with old friends, but also with an old crush, being Mackenzie Burns.

Mack… we all know the kind of men that aren’t looking for a steady relationship, but are enjoying life and encounters for just the night. And I am not judging Mack, if that is what works for him, and he isn’t intentionally hurting anyone, why shouldn’t he?

But when he meets Freya again, there is something that changes in him. Not that he suddenly becomes the perfect partner – material. But for a reason he cannot fantom himself, he just cannot get Freya out of his mind.

Mack is obviously a good guy, he is a great brother, a great son, an amazing uncle and even if he finds it difficult to let go the reins, a great and understanding boss. He is also a person that understands boundaries, because from the moment he learns that Freya isn’t available, he tries to stay away from her, making sure that no lines are being crossed.

And that is something thar I truly appreciated in this book, that even if the attraction keeps on growing, sparks keep on flying, there is always the respect that Freya is together with Hadrian. Even if Hadrian is someone I truly didn’t like. Him as a boyfriend leaves much to be desired. He doesn’t appear a lot in the book, but when he does, I wished him away as soon as possible…

There are many moments where Freya and Mack are spending time together. But while things evolve between them, this book is definitely about Freya’s journey. A journey where Freya has to make decisions and choices. Not only about what home is, but also what to do with her career. And in fact, what is the right thing to do, to follow your passions and dreams, or put everything on hold for the people you love the most? And is the relationship you are in at

the moment, the right kind of relationship?

I absolutely devoured this emotional rollercoaster that Lilac Mills wrote. She took us not only on a real journey to Skye, but also on this emotional journey, about rediscovering your home again, about self – discovery and about finding those emotions that were missing…. What a delight!