3-3.5 Stars, but 5 Stars for the setting, location descriptions, and beautiful cover art!
This novel is part of a series, but I read as a stand-alone. I strongly suggest reading the series in order to get the back stories on all of the characters. Although there were many elements of the story I enjoyed, I think I would have spent less time finding my bearings if I had done that (although a humorous intro is at the beginning explaining the basics).

Pros: small-town Scottish island atmosphere and most of the characters; the author managed to successfully include a diverse cast of characters.

Cons: some characters did not really develop well or their relationships felt stagnant and I wasn't a big fan of the ending; I hoped for a HEA for the characters but perhaps it was a little too realistic for my current reading mood.

Overall, I'd definitely give this author and possibly this series another try.

GoodReads FirstReads Giveaway ( )

Great to see Flora finally gaining confidence with Agot, Jacinth, and Joel -
sure hope the interminably depressing bully Jan is next.

Still, it would be good to know how Jan, Charlie, and Joel actually get
the new groups of boys to bond so well in only 5 days.

The only missing link in the plot is why Said doesn't just wait.
Instead he takes a chance on again losing his sons or having them eventually conscripted
into yet another Syrian war. Where is his "duty" to protect them.

As well, wouldn't Neda have been able to update him on the dangers of returning.

It would help to better understand if history, both recent and ancient, of Syria,
was woven in. Lorna and Mure are going to have a lot of background to catch up on!

A map of Mure would be welcome, as would Lorna having Twin "Saif-es!" ( )

I really enjoyed Jenny Colgan's Mure Island series. I listened to most of them and looked forward to the time I spent on a northern Scottish island. Colgan has created a diverse, complex community of human beings who live and love alongside the natural world. Whales, in particular, play a role in several of the books. One of the main characters, Flora, is considered by some to be a selkie, a seal woman, who has come from the sea. Her story forms the core of the books but her family and friends are woven in as well and the series ends with a heart wrenching ending for her best friend. ( )

Oh, Jenny Colgan can't write fast enough for me! She is hands down one of my favorite authors. Her latest is An Island Wedding.

When I start the newest book, I feel like I'm settling in to catch up with old friends. As well as making some new ones as new characters are introduced with each new entry. Some who may have been in a supporting role in previous tales now take a larger role. But, each and every one of them has a part to play in the tapestry that is the life of Mure. I have my favorite characters - and those who are not. (I'm looking at you Jan)

Colgan keeps her various series moving forward. This time, we return to the wee Scottish island of Mure and the main character Flora. Flora and her fiancé Joel are going to tie the knot at last - on summer solstice. But when a past resident of the island wants to book the hotel on the same weekend, plans change. But are they for the better?

Colgan does a bang up job with the interactions, complications, emotions and feelings of her characters. They ring true. Everyday life, love lost, love found, friendship, family rifts, family uniting and community are the driving forces behind Colgan's plotting.

There's a satisfying ending for this book, but the door has been left open for the next tale. And this listener can't wait!

I chose to listen to this latest. The reader was Eilidh Beaton and she did a fantastic job interpreting and bringing Colgan's characters and setting to life. She has the loveliest Scottish brogue that is easily understood and pleasant to listen to. But honestly, you'd think there was more than one reader presenting the book. Beaton provides so many different voices for the population of Mure. Old, young, male, female and easily identifying the characters. She easily presents the emotions and situations of the Colgan's work.

An easy five stars for the book and for the audio performance. I can't wait for the next Jenny Colgan book! ( )