Winter in the Scottish Highlands

by Elise Darcy

One winter. One wish. One chance to change everything. Every Christmas, Eleanor Campbell-Ross escapes with her family to their holiday home in the snowy Scottish Highlands. It should be magical – a cosy fireside, festive decorations, and precious time spent with a husband who adores her.

But Eleanor feels increasingly trapped in a life that doesn't feel her own. All she wants is to be ordinary. To walk through the village without being recognised. To breathe.

When a chance encounter and a silly prank go disastrously wrong, Eleanor suddenly finds herself separated from her family and forced to rely on the kindness of strangers. As the Highlands weaves its spell, she experiences a simpler, quieter way of living; one that feels dangerously like freedom.

Eleanor begins to wonder – what if losing everything she thought she wanted is the key to finding where she truly belongs?
Now she must choose between the life of privilege she's always known and the life she's only just discovered.

Book 1 in The Scottish Highlands Series

Genres: Christmas, Fiction

349 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 30, 2024

About the author

Elise Darcy grew up in North London in the 1970's, the daughter of two baby boomer school teachers. Her love of books began at an early age when trips to Regent's Park always culminated in a visit to Foyles, the legendary independent bookstore in Charing Cross Road. She has fond memories of exploring a veritable Aladdin’s cave of books; a magical place with winding staircases, old creaking lifts, and cosy corners in which to settle down and lose herself in a good book.

After university Elise Darcy worked in London before embarking on her writing career. She now lives in an apartment in a picturesque market town in Suffolk where she writes her novels.

Find out more at www.elisedarcy.com

Reviews

[Lisa Carp · Rating 3 out of 5]

Maybe 3.5 stars. This could have been so much better, but the writing is horrible. Very repetitive. Felt like the author was just trying to make the chapter longer. And I’m not a fan of the miscommunication trope. But I like the concept of the book. There’s a huge, life altering mystery, that I’d like to see through. So I’ll give book 2 a chance.

[Rosa · Rating 1 out of 5]

Disjointed

Sorry, but I really didn't enjoy this book, really disjointed and hard to get into.
Felt more like a psychological thriller. I felt like Gayle was going to knock Robyn over the head at any chance she got.
I was expecting a winter romance, but it really didn't work for me....sorry!

[Annie · Rating 1 out of 5]

I really tried to enjoy this book, as I have read and enjoyed others by this author but, this one was very difficult. The plot was there and it could be a good one but, the edit resulted in the story being plodding, disjointed, not very well signposted and very predictable. I'm not one for leaving a series but I feel that the synopsis tells you all you need to know. I'd give this series a miss and try another of her series like the Sunset Cove Series.

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a book club pick and to be honest I did not finish this book in time for the review. When it was discussed I learned that there is not a resolution to this book and it leaves you hanging. One of our members is on book 3 and still doesn't know who is who. I do not care for books like this and therefore I do not see the point in finishing it.

[Becky]

Hard pass

I got through 50% and quit. It starts off with a main character, full of angst. Then she makes a new friend. Then there is a car crash and also a tragic skiing accident. And the book switches to all about the new friend. Or does it? Takes six books to sort it all out. No thank you.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Memories maybe!

Robyn is involved in a motor accident and loses her memory. While in hospital she makes friends with Gayle who is visiting her father.
So begins her new life struggling with her lack of memory.
Lovely story - enjoyed Looking forward to Book 2. Highly recommend.

[Pat Langhelt · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fantastic book loved it just downloaded part two

[Julie Foster · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book and I cannot wait for the next book in this series.

[June Selby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it and have gone straight to book 2 - one of my favourite authors and it doesn’t disappoint

[Ashley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute enough. Setting aside all the errors, the main character was a stunted,whiny, annoying child. Hope she improves.

[Sarah McQueen]

DNF around 15%. I agree with other reviews that say the story feels disjointed and the main characters are whiny.

[Nan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I got caught up in this story…so I read the second book. What should have been an easy conclusion did not come. Book 3 is out there but I’m done. It says it’s a series of 6 books. I have no interest in reading 6 books for a story that could have been finished in 2 books. Same storylines and character actions rehashed again and again. Just warning anyone questioning the first book in a long drawn out series.

[Patty · Rating 3 out of 5]

I just don't know what to make of this book, it has left me shaking my head and saying wow!