Reviewed by Emma Crowley
The most romantic of the Balhennie sisters, Heather is totally wrapped up in her whirlwind romance with handsome and kind Matthew Campbell, planning a beautiful festive wedding. Strewn with glittering Christmas lights, tartan ribbon and mistletoe, Balhennie Castle is ready for the wedding of the year. That is, until the groom’s family arrive…
Heather always knew Matthew wasn’t close with his family and was looking forward to welcoming him wholeheartedly into her own. But now she knows he never told her the whole truth. Matthew is the youngest son of the richest and most powerful family in Scotland. And his mother Elizabeth is absolutely opposed to their wedding, forbidding it from going ahead.
The well-to-do Campbells are the total opposite to Heather’s warm, tight-knit clan and tensions between the families turn icy. With just seven days to save their relationship, will a sprinkling of Christmas magic help Heather and Matthew find their way back to each other?
Many thanks to Bookouture via NetGalley for my copy of The Scottish Island Wedding to review and to Sharon for having my review on the blog.
The Scottish Island Wedding is the second book in Kennedy Kerr’s Sottish Island series set on the island of Skye which follows the Ballentine sisters. This time around Heather (Violet’s twin) is the focus of the story in the two weeks leading up to her Christmas Day wedding to Matthew (Matty) Campbell. I usually wouldn’t read a Christmas book this early but having read this one I feel it can be read several months in advance of the festive season. Yes, it’s set around the Christmas period but the event itself is not the sole focus of the book. I would say it’s not the most Christmassy book that I have ever read and that’s no bad thing because instead attention can focus on Heather and Matty and the trials and tribulations they endure in the run up to their big day. That’s even if their big day can ever happen considering Heather discovers that Matty has being keeping secrets from her. Don’t get me wrong there is plenty of mentions of snow and Christmas food and decorations which will get most readers in an anticipatory frame of mind, but my interest lay in discovering what exactly was going on with Matty and could a satisfactory resolution for all involved be found?
Heather is a vivid dreamer, someone who is grounded in her feelings and is very intuitive. She relies on her instincts and claims she can see glowing lights around people and can therefore connect into their feelings. She has long dreamt of a happily ever after with a big white wedding and that aspiration is very near to becoming a reality. Her family, parents-Angus and Catriona along with her sisters, Violet, Bluebell, Blossom, Primrose and Sorrel may feel she met Matty (whilst on a hike) and fell in love very quickly but if they have any doubts about the rapidness of their union they keep it to themselves. It’s full steam ahead for the wedding of the year which will be held in the Balhennie Castle where her Uncle James is the Laird. Which is quite gracious of James considering Angus (who runs the Balhennie family inn) has always felt he should have been the family laird, an issue which goes back several generations. The sisters feature very much on the periphery here. Yes, we read of conversations between them and they give support when needed but this is Heather’s story and I know each of the others will get a chance to share their lives with us in future books.
Matty has been acting strangely and quite distant as preparations for the wedding ramp up a gear. There is an anxiousness, oddness and secrecy surrounding him with his phone constantly in his hand checking something. Heather, begins to fret and feels that he is having second thoughts or something even worse could have happened that he is unwilling to share. Was her mother right when she urged caution that Heather doesn’t know her fiancée well enough? Alarm bells start ringing loudly for Heather and she questions whether she can trust her own judgement or is she about to walk into something she will deeply regret?
Heather is a very emotional person, someone who is very much in touch with her feelings and when Matty’s secret regarding his family is revealed (which I won’t divulge)she wonders why on earth did he hide things from her and why when everything is exposed does he turn tail and run saying he has work to do? Left facing Matty’s family as they arrive at the castle and discovering just who they are leaves Heather in a quandary but it seems Elizabeth, Matty’s mother has arrived and she is determined to take over. All the while Heather is thinking sure there mightn’t even be a wedding in the first place.
Heather’s carefully thought out plans for the wedding are steamrolled over by Elizabeth and her two daughter in laws. I felt anything Heather said or did was going to be dismissed and at times she was far too nice about things. Elizabeth was an awful person. Rude comments and snide remarks were said to Heather. Such unreasonable demands were made with scant regard to Heather’s wishes or all the work she had done for months. There was definitely something suspicious about Elizabeth and from one particular clue I guessed what it was but it didn’t detract from my enjoyment of the story despite identifying it so early on. In fact I was eager to see how it would be revealed. The main conflict in the story is that the Campbell’s and Balhennies could not be more different and what’s wonderful is how the plot develops. It shows how Heathers family are warm and affectionate where loyalty and relationships are extremely important.
Matthews family are colder and more controlling but Heather has to navigate this is she wishes to marry Matty and to be honest I thought Matty had to grow a bit of back bone and support Heather and show her just how much he loved her and wanted to spend the rest of his life with her. At times I felt Heather was being a bit of a pushover in relation to things that Elizabeth was saying or doing. I wanted her to speak out and be firm but that wasn’t always in her nature. Wrench back control of your wedding and get things back on track with Matthew. Forget the overbearing and forceful Elizabeth and put your own needs and dreams first.
Family secrets, complicated relationships and tensions arise when two very different families are brought together and it’s how Heather navigates this is at the forefront of the story. Matthew’s family background changes Heather’s understanding of the relationship, while the opposition to the wedding raises the stakes as the big day approaches. With only seven days to save their relationship this gives the book a strong sense of urgency. As all the traditional events surrounding the lead up to a wedding occur Heather has to decide is she prepared to stand up for her relationship or else does she continue to let Matty’s influence and exert control over everything? Can two families unite given everything that comes out into the open? Is Heather certain she wants to spend the rest of her life with Matty? All these questions and many more will be answered if you decide to give this heartwarming and atmospheric romance with plenty of family drama a go.
Despite this only being book two in the series, I love the setting, the characters and the events that occur and the fact there is no messing around. That within the first few chapters we are straight to the crux of the story and therefore there is more than ample time for good plot development and space to find a resolution. Overall, this is a good choice for those readers who enjoy cosy Christmas romances, Scottish settings, family secrets, strong family bonds and stories where love has to overcome considerable obstacles. The Scottish Island Secret will be the next book in the series and I can’t wait to uncover Blossom’s story details of which have already been subtly supplied to readers.
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