Tour Review - - Over the Sea to Skye

Over the Sea to Skye

by Sue Moorcroft

The Skye Sisters Trilogy - Book 3

Publisher: Avon

Release Date: June 5, 2025

Reviewed by PJ

 

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?

PJ's Thoughts:

I have thoroughly enjoyed all three books in Sue Moorcroft's The Skye Sisters Trilogy. Moorcroft has done a superb job of immersing me not only into the lives of Thea, Ezzie, and Valentina but also the beautiful Isle of Skye. As with books one and two, the first thing I wanted to do upon turning the final page of Valentina's book was book a flight to Scotland. This author always manages to do that to me, wherever her books are set. 

Moorcroft kept me on my toes with this story. With more than a few twists, I wasn't sure how it would all work out but was happy with the way it did. I enjoyed the multiple relationships explored throughout the story - from Xander's relationship with his teenage nephew to the familial relationships among Valentina, her sisters and their partners, to the fraught one between Valentina and her soon to be ex-husband, not to mention his family and girlfriend. Then there is the simmering romantic potential between Valentina and Xander. With her in Scotland and Xander from the U.S., can it ever be more than just a summer romance? There's also awkwardness and second thoughts between adopted Valentina and the biological family member she's just discovered. I appreciated the author's skill in seamlessly weaving them all together organically while keeping the progression realistic and relatable. 

Over the Sea to Skye is a humorous, heart-tugging, emotional journey from heartbreak to happiness that brings Sue Moorcroft's The Skye Sisters Trilogy to a satisfying conclusion. It can be read as a standalone but, for me, was much more enjoyable for having read the three books in order. 

Tour Review - - A Skye Full of Stars

A Skye Full of Stars

by Sue Moorcroft

The Skye Sisters Trilogy - Book 2

Publisher: Avon

Release Date: November 7, 2024

Reviewed by PJ

 

Under the winter stars, anything is possible…

Ezzie Wynter can’t wait for Christmas on the beautiful Isle of Skye. Her island home sparkles at this time of year thanks to the snow-capped mountains and frosty winter walks, topped off with family gatherings with those she loves the most.

But her peaceful Christmas idyll is upended when she hears that the Larson family – the owners of Rothach Hall – are flying in from Sweden for the festivities. As Manager of their grand Scottish manor house, Ezzie suddenly has decorations to hang, food to source and itineraries to organise.

Life only becomes more difficult when Mats Larson turns up. The owners’ handsome, self-assured son is used to doing things his own way – and he is only another headache to add to her overflowing list.

Yet when unexpected visitors arrive looking for Ezzie, nothing else matters as she is left questioning everything she ever knew about herself. But amidst the Christmas chaos, she might also discover that, when all is lost, it’s sometimes those we least expect who come to our aid…

PJ's Thoughts:

Sue Moorcroft takes readers back to Rothach Hall on the Isle of Skye for another heart-tugging, contemporary novel. This one features middle Wynter sister Ezzie, now manager of the Scottish manor owned by an absent Swedish family. When the Larsons begin arriving for their winter holiday sojurn, with divorced son, Mats and his children leading the way - it signals the beginning of many changes in Ezzie's life - changes that throw a wrench into her relationship with one of her sisters and just may undo all the hard-won happiness she's found on Skye.

I'm really enjoying this new series of Moorcroft's. She's assembled an intriguing cast of characters, centered by the three adopted Wynter sisters. Their journeys are a satisfying blend of women's fiction and romance, with explorations of relatable issues, personal growth, family, and love. I like their flaws, that they've made questionable decisions in the past, the hard work they've put in to atone for those decisions and create good lives, and the obstacles sometimes thrown into their paths. I'm especially enjoying the adoption storyline, the chaos it throws into the lives of the sisters but also the opportunity it affords to open their hearts and redefine what "family" means to each of them. 

Meeting the Larson family in this book is fun. They bring laughter, wisdom, a bit of angst, and a whole lot of heart to Ezzie's story. I especially enjoyed Mats' children and the relationship they form with Ezzie. I had no idea how Moorcroft planned to give Ezzie a happy romantic ending but she pulled it off in a realistic manner that fit the characters well. 

Ezzie and her sisters bring a rich, complex, and relatable sibling dynamic to each of the books. I really enjoy their interactions, disagreements, and strong, loving bonds that may be stretched but never break.

You don't have to read book one, Under a Summer Skye (Thea's story) to enjoy A Skye Full of Stars but I had a better understanding of the characters and enjoyed Ezzie's book more for having read them in order. I'm now looking forward to the third book in the trilogy and curious to discover what Moorcroft has in store for final sister, Valentina. She's in a troubled marriage and I'm eager to find out what direction it's going to take. 

Tour Review - - Under a Summer Skye

Under a Summer Skye

by Sue Moorcroft

The Skye Sisters Trilogy - Book 1

Publisher: Avon

Release Date: May 9, 2024

Reviewed by PJ

 

A chance encounter is about to change everything for Thea Wynter.

The moment she arrived on the Isle of Skye, life changed for Thea. Running from a succession of wrong turns, she comes to the island in search of blue sea, endless skies, and mountains that make the heart soar. Here, she feels at peace.

As head gardener at Rothach Hall, life is exactly how she wants it, with her days spent working in the glorious clifftop garden and her evenings in the cosy local village.

But an encounter with a stranger from the mainland brings with it an unexpected turn – and only time will tell if he is friend or foe.

It seems that even on Skye, life can catch up with you, and Thea is soon faced with the past she left behind – and with it, the family she’s never met…

PJ's Thoughts:

Every summer, I can count on Sue Moorcroft to take me on another summer vacation through the pages of her books. This time, it's to Scotland's Isle of Skye. If I hadn't already wanted to visit, this book would have sealed the deal. Is it any wonder that Thea Wynter escaped there when her life fell apart or that Dev found purpose there after his life did the same?

I enjoy how Moorcroft immerses me into the fabric of her settings, bringing both the surrounding areas as well as the people living there to life. I feel as if I'm part of the community, part of the lives of her characters, and thus invested in their well being and happiness, whether they be two-legged or four-legged. 

Her characters always feel fully rounded, with relatable flaws, challenges, and fears. This was especially true with Thea. She's a complex woman who found her life thrown off kilter, in more ways than one. I enjoyed her layers and appreciated the time Moorcroft took exploring them, as Thea evolved and grew emotionally in the process. Same with Dev. There were several times I wondered how the author was going to get him out of the situations he had created. Both he and Thea had flaws but, together, I couldn't help but feel they brought out the best in one another. I was pulling hard for them to find their happy ending. 

I'm fascinated by the dynamic among sisters (having none of my own) and enjoyed the relationships among Thea, Ezzie, and Valentina. I'll be looking forward to learning more about them as the series progresses and, hopefully, catching up with Thea, Dev, and Daisy (Thea's rescue pup) as well.

Feel like taking a trip to Scotland this summer from the comfort of your favorite reading spot? Pick up a copy of Under a Summer Skye and let yourself be carried away. 

Tour Review - - Under the Italian Sun

Under the Italian Sun

by Sue Moorcroft

Publisher: Avon

Release Date: May 13, 2021 (e-book)

Release Date: July 13, 2021 (Paperback)

Reviewed by PJ

A sun-baked terrace. The rustle of vines. And the clink of wine glasses as the first cork of the evening is popped…

Welcome to Italy. A place that holds the answer to Zia-Lucia Costa Chalmers’ many questions. Not least, how she ended up with such a mouthful of a name.

When revelations close to home turn Zia’s world upside down,she realises the time has come to search out the Italian family she’s never known.

But as she looks for answers, she can’t help but notice Piero, the vineyard owner next door – a distraction who may prove difficult to ignore…

This summer, join Zia as she sets out to uncover her past. But can she find the future she’s always dreamed of along the way?

PJ's Thoughts: 

If you're missing travel as much as I am, this book will transport you to the Italian countryside, filling your senses and your heart. 

Under the Italian Sun was my first book by Sue Moorcroft. I can guarantee it will not be my last. This talented story teller not only brought her complex characters to life but also the lovely Umbria region of Italy in this emotional feast for the senses that is a heart-tugging blend of women's fiction and romance.

I felt an emotional attachment to Zia from the first, my heart going out to her as she discovered that everything she had known about her birth and life was based on lies. Her journey to discover her roots was an immersive experience that elicited laughter, tears, unexpected truths, difficult decisions, and new connections. It also brought romance, deeper insight into who she is as a person and what she wants for her future. Zia, and her supporting cast, are well-developed characters who elicited strong emotions, both among one another and within me, the reader. I felt as if I knew each of them, understood them, cared about them (well, the good ones - there are a few not so good) and would recognize them instantly should I encounter them in their bucolic corner of Italy. Much like Zia, I fell in love with the people, their beautiful little corner of paradise, the wine, the food, and the handsome vineyard owner next door. 

I enthusiastically recommend adding Under the Italian Sun by Sue Moorcroft to your summer reading list, accompanied by a glass of wine, a sunny terrace, and your favorite Italian cuisine. Sexy Italian vineyard owner, optional. 

~~~~~~

Sue Moorcroft is a Sunday Times bestselling author and has reached the #1 spot on Kindle UK. She’s won the Goldsboro Books Contemporary Romantic Novel Award, Readers' Best Romantic Novel award and the Katie Fforde Bursary. Published by HarperCollins in the UK, US and Canada and by other publishers around the world.

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