This post was originally published at Novelicious.com and is now at WritingTipsOasis.com. WritingTipsOasis.com acquired Novelicious.com in June 2022.
Reviewed by Susan Lobban
Whilst at her best friend’s wedding, Kate should be slow dancing with her boyfriend, but instead she has been dumped! However, Kate is not all that bothered as she was considering dumping boring and predictable Ian anyway.
She may not be heartbroken, but she is now homeless. When she spots a job advert looking for a Girl-Friday on a remote Scottish island, Kate jumps at the chance to get away from the norm and re-evaluate her life. From the moment she steps on Auchenmor, she lands head first (literally) into island life and is welcomed by all the islanders with open arms.
Her boss Roddy is not quite the stuck up old Laird she imagined. Instead he is young and attractive, which doesn’t make working for him any easier. In between his mixed signals and the arrival of his ex girlfriend, Kate is better to keep her head down and get on with the job in hand.
I must be honest I was not particularly looking forward to reading this book, only because I have recently read numerous books with animals mentioned in the synopsis and they have taken over the whole story – often to the books’ detriment. However, this offering was a pleasant surprise in that the seals which inhabit Auchenmor are a lovable addition, only serving to add to the island’s charms.
Kate is bored rigid with Ian, her long term boyfriend, and thankfully – rather than bore us with her relationships woes – Ian takes matters into his own hands and jumps before he is pushed. Kate does not let the grass grow beneath her feet and decides that island life may be just what she is looking for. Her mother and friends think she is mad and that she will be back in no time, but Kate proves them wrong and immerses herself in the island community straight away. The descriptive writing conjures images of a blissful and comforting place, where the locals treat Kate as one of their own from the moment she steps off the ferry.Sealed with a Kiss is a charming tale which warms your heart like a hot toddy when you have come in from the cold. If you are a fan of Trisha Ashley or Carole Matthews, then you will enjoy this book. As this is Rachael Lucas’s first book, I definitely look forward to more novels from here.
9/10