Secret Things and Highland Flings
By Tracy Corbett
Rated: 5 Stars *****
About the Author
Tracy Corbett lives with her partner Simon in Surrey and works part-time for a local charity. Tracy has been writing for a number of years and has had a few short stories published in My Weekly magazine. As well as belonging to a local writing group, she enjoys amateur dramatics and can regularly be found dressing up in strange costumes and prancing about the stage pretending to be all manner of odd characters. Secret Flings and Highland Flings is Tracy’s fourth novel.
Blurb
Will a trip to the Highlands bring a new beginning?
When Lexi’s ex runs off to Spain with his PA, she’s left to clean up the financial mess he leaves behind. She’ll do anything to keep her beloved art gallery afloat, but a surprise discovery makes things even more complicated…
On the surface, Olly seems to have it all: a carefree life travelling the world. But he’s running from something in his past. And when his father dies, Olly’s life is suddenly turned upside down as he inherits his family’s crumbling estate in the Scottish Highlands.
When their worlds collide, Lexi and Ollie are instantly drawn to one another. But can love ever work if they both have secrets to hide.
Review
Firstly check out that cover design that has romance and fun combined within it and then continue into the book.
Enter the charm and delightful romance of the book of relationships, art, but also the tangled web that is weaved in the art world and who exactly is Dazed and Confused?
The book opens up to rather unfortunate events for Lexi Ryan, that in someways is actually quite humourous. Things do however take a darker turn as her art gallery – The Munch Museum is being investigated by HMRC. I wanted to read on to see what the involvement of Marcus is as the book started to reel me in.
The first encounter with Oliver Wentworth (Olly) doesn’t exactly go to plan as Lexi tries to deliver a painting and with Lexi in a tiz over the painting, Olly trying to convince her he is genuine and Louisa’s baby on its way, it is all happening at Rubha Castle.
The scenery is depicted very well and captures the picturesque beauty of it very well. The book takes readers to Shieldaig in the Wester-Ross region of Scotland, 68 miles west of Inverness. There are of course the castles (as there are in many parts of Scotland). The castle here is Rubha Castle and I like that there is a real sense of the up-keep of such a castle is not easy at all. The contrast between the idyllic, beautiful scenery and a conversation and the emotions works so well as does the disclosure of secrets that are discovered bit by bit.
I must add that I enjoyed that there was such a good combination of art, auction house, scenery, architecture, love life, family life and that not everything is quite as it first appears to be.
This was a delightful read as I sat in the garden with the hot sun beating down (yes, it can even get hot in Scotland) as the story glided from page to page in a relaxing manner. This is a romance, but it also has substance and a good plot. It really is a great heartwarming book to chill out with.
Please note that this is a stand-alone book and at the back of the book there is a note from the author and details of other books.
I give thanks to Avon Books who have kindly given me a free paperback book of Secret Things and Highland Flings.
Please find links below
Links:
Avon Books Website
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Title: Secret Things and Highland Flings
Author: Tracy Corbett
Publisher: Avon Books
Pages: 322
ISBN: 978-0-00-829950-7
Bookmarks and Stages by Lou 