The Bookshop by the Loch by Julie Shackman

"As I sat there and reflected, I realised that I woke up every morning and looked forward to heading into Book Ends. Whether that had something to do with a tall, dark and brooding portrait painter was another thing".

"Families. Parents. What a painful, emotional mess they could make of things, when they put their minds to it". 

Blurb:

Lexie Dunbar is a book lover. And her favourite place in the world is her local bookstore, Book Ends. So when she hears that it's going to be sold, Lexie decides she needs to do something to help. 

Lexie's plan to save the ailing shop is fully underway until gorgeous-but-grouchy artist Tobias Black arrives on the scene determined to turn the bookstore into an art gallery. Lexie is horrified, the last thing the quaint town of Bracken Way needs is a pretentious artist, even if he does seem to charm everyone but her. 

Tensions continue to rise until Tobias discovers a shocking secret that shows they might have more in common than they realise. 

As sparks fly, can Lexie and Tobias work together, or will opposing ideas get in the way of them finding their very own happy ever after.

The Bookshop by the Loch by Julie Shackman (One More Chapter, published on 31 January 2024) is a cosy escapist romance set in Scotland. This is the 6th book in the Scottish Escapes series. The book reads as a standalone, and is not connected to the previous instalments, except by the general theme (romance set against the Scottish background).

Lexie is an ambitious young woman who works as a junior editor at Literati Publishing and loves her job. When she is looked over for an anticipated job promotion in favour of someone with a more impressive name, Lexie decides to take a leave of absence for three months and return to the place of her childhood, Bracken Way, to rethink what she actually wants to do with her life.

She stays with her Mum and grandfather, both of whom welcome her with open arms. 

While staying at home, Lexie discovers that her favourite bookshop, Book Ends, is going to be closed down. The owner of the shop, Trevor, plans to retire. He believes that he cannot compete with online shopping. After a pep talk by Lexie on what she would do to save business, Trevor comes up with an idea of "giving his store a new lease of life and purpose, dragging it kicking and screaming into the modern day". Lexie is startled when Trevor offers her to manage the book shop for him. "Come and turn Book Ends around".

"He was asking me to take over the revamp of Book Ends? Manage the shop? A place that had been part of Bracken Way for thirty years? This was crazy".

Crazy or not, Lexie agrees to manage the full overhaul of the shop. They agree to give this arrangement a year, and if things won't work out as planned, then so be it. Lexie is free to move on, and the shop will be closed down for good.

Lexie is full of ideas, and decides to make a real go of this. However, she is stumped, when a newcomer challenges her plans. Trevor's nephew Tobias Black, a temperamental artist, arrives to the store with a vision of turning it into an art gallery. And Trevor cannot say No to his family.

Bookshops and art galleries have been known to share premises, but it would need a careful planning, and an amicable agreement between the managers, and they seem to be at loggerheads.

On top of the struggles of overturning the fortunes of the ailing book shop and establishing a successful business, Lexie has to deal with a strange request from a random visitor to the book shop. 

Maeve Marshall comes to Book Ends with a story about her elderly mother Celeste, who has a bucket list of things to be done before she dies. Lexie and Tobias get involved and dedicate a huge amount of time on helping someone they don't know.

Lexie's life is further troubled by someone from her past coming back with a shocking revelation. Tobias has devastating news of his own to deal with. Confiding in each other, they find comfort and mutual support. And their initial hostility is disappearing to give way to new feelings.

This is the third book in the series that I've read, and there is clearly a recurring theme, and the enemies-to-lovers trope. There is a determined female protagonist at her career and personal life crossroads who starts a new venue/business, and meets a tall, dark and brooding man, usually with a creative profession. At first he appears as a totally self-absorbed egoist, but gradually he reveals his vulnerable side and is actually a real softie and darling.

There was a lot drama going on in everyone's lives. On top of the developing business and budding romance plotline, there are family dramas in the main protagonists' lives, plus we get an elderly lady with a life-limiting illness, who has a tragic secret of her own. 

I thought the book that Lexie was helping to edit and publish was rather Mills and Boon, and the ending was truly cheesy.

The Bookshop by the Loch will appeal to readers of sweet/clean romance, where a happy ending is assured, and to those who love books about books. This is an entertaining and charming tale of family bonds, love and forgiveness.

For me, the more enjoyable parts were related to the book store, and how Lexie helped to spruce it up. The scenic Scottish location creates a lovely setting for the story.

Thank you to Julie Shackman and NetGalley for my e-copy of the book!