Over the Sea to Skye is the third book in the Skye Sisters trilogy by Sue Moorcroft. This time, the focus is on Valentina, who has been a bit in the background in the previous books mainly because, unlike her sisters Ezzie and Thea, Valentina lives in Inverness rather than on the Isle of Skye.
However, Valentina has now bought and renovated a cottage right on the shore and she is bringing her young son Barnaby with her to spend the summer. This has come at a good time for her given that her life is in turmoil. Her marriage has broken down and she has been made redundant so spending time on the island with the people she loves will help heal her hurts.
On the train, she meets an American tourist named Xander Courage and his nephew who are Britsburghers which mean that they're descended from British people but live in Pittsburgh. Xander is heading to the island for a few weeks to explore his Scottish history and he has bought Macdonald with him to get him away from some trouble at home. Even though there is a 10 year age gap between Macdonald and Barnaby they bond over games.
Valentina has a lot going on in her world. She is navigating her separation from her husband Gary following his affair. She also has to deal with Barnaby's feelings as he misses his dad. She is also attracted to Xander. And then there is the random email she has just received from someone saying he is her brother. All three girls were adopted by loving parents, and in each of their books we got to meet their birth families, and this time it is Valentina's turn.
There is a British show called Lost Families which I often watch when I am home alone so no one can see my cry in just about every episode. It features families who have been separated and then reunited. Whilst I love the ones where relationships are repaired and loving bonds formed, it doesn't always work out that well, and I was interested to see which way this would go in Valentina's story.
I really enjoyed Xander as a character. He has come to find his family history, and take a break from his stressful job, but I think he probably didn't really know what he was taking on when he suggested bringing Macdonald with him. There isn't a lot for a lonely, hurt teenager to do on the island so it wasn't a surprise when there was a bit of trouble. Xander felt like a fundamentally decent guy trying to do the right thing by everyone, even when it backfired on him. He was able to support Valentina admirably when she had to deal with yet another crisis and her ex's family (ugh!).
Oh, and a special shout out to the VW camper van named Miley! Such a fun inclusion
Once again the Isle of Skye stars as the location for this book. As I mentioned in my review for the last book, we spent a couple of hours on Skye when we were in Scotland last year. It was nowhere near enough and the author makes me want to drop anything and go back now to spend more time exploring the island!
It's always a bit bittersweet when you come to the end of a trilogy that you have enjoyed. You know how the story is playing out for all the characters but you aren't quite ready to let them go just yet. It was lovely to see how Ezzie and Thea's lives now.
Here are my review for the first two books in the trilogy
I am sharing this review with the New Release Challenge hosted at The Chocolate Lady's Book Reviews. Be sure to check out other stops on the tour shown below. Thanks to the publisher, Netgalley and Rachel's Random Resources for the review copy. Also, if you are in the UK, check out the giveaway at the bottom of this post
Rating 4/5
Over the Sea to Skye
One summer on a beautiful island could change everything…
Valentina Taylor's life has been upended. With her marriage over, and unsure of what her future holds, she heads to the Isle of Skye for the summer with her young son, Barnaby.
But the journey there sets her on a new path, when she meets Xander Courage on the train – a charming American, running from problems of his own. After sparks fly, they go their separate ways. But on this small island, they’re never far from one another…
Skye offers Valentina the refuge she needs as she whiles away the long summer days at her beachside cottage, enjoying visits from her sisters, Thea and Ezzie. But when bad news from home throws her Scottish idyll into turmoil, Valentina finds herself pulled away from the place – and people – that she loves.
Valentina knows she must confront her heart’s desires – but can she let go of the past and embrace the future she deserves?
Lose yourself in a heartfelt story of second chances, love, and self-discovery, set against the breathtaking backdrop of the Isle of Skye. Perfect for fans of Sarah Morgan and Karen Swan.
Purchase Links
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Over-Sea-Skye-million-copy-bestseller-ebook/dp/B0DLRBCYXY/
https://www.amazon.com/Over-Sea-Skye-million-copy-bestseller-ebook/dp/B0DLRBCYXY/
https://books.apple.com/gb/book/over-the-sea-to-skye/id6737715920
https://www.kobo.com/gb/en/ebook/over-the-sea-to-skye-the-skye-sisters-trilogy-book-3-3
https://www.waterstones.com/book/over-the-sea-to-skye/sue-moorcroft/9780008740559
https://www.whsmith.co.uk/Product/Sue-Moorcroft/Over-the-Sea-to-Skye/15469811
https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/over-the-sea-to-skye-sue-moorcroft/7722336
Sue Moorcroft is a Sunday Times bestselling author. Her novels have been #1 on Kindle UK and Top 100 on Kindle US, Canada, Germany and Italy. She’s won the Goldsboro Books Contemporary Novel of the Year, Readers’ Best Romantic Novel award, two HOLT Medallions and the Katie Fforde Bursary. She’s the president of the Romantic Novelists’ Association.
Her novels, short stories, serials, columns, writing ‘how to’ and courses have appeared around the world.
Social Media Links –
Amazon page: Sue Moorcroft
Audible page: Sue Moorcroft
Website: www.suemoorcroft.com
Facebook author page SueMoorcroftAuthor
Twitter: @SueMoorcroft
Instagram: @SueMoorcroftAuthor
Linked in: Sue Moorcroft
Link Tree: linktr.ee/SueMoorcroft
Bookbub: SueMoorcroft1
Giveaway to Win a signed copy of Over The Sea to Skye, bookmark and pen (Open to UK Only)
*Terms and Conditions –UK entries welcome. Please enter using the Rafflecopter box below. The winner will be selected at random via Rafflecopter from all valid entries and will be notified by Twitter and/or email. If no response is received within 7 days then Rachel’s Random Resources reserves the right to select an alternative winner. Open to all entrants aged 18 or over. Any personal data given as part of the competition entry is used for this purpose only and will not be shared with third parties, with the exception of the winners’ information. This will passed to the giveaway organiser and used only for fulfilment of the prize, after which time Rachel’s Random Resources will delete the data. I am not responsible for despatch or delivery of the prize.
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Thanks so much for this lovely review! I’m missing the sisters (and Skye) too. Valentina did surprise me, so I’m glad readers are enjoying her book. ❤️
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