Portobello Book Blog

Fulfilment is the final book in Anne Stormont’s Skye series and a very satisfying conclusion it is. If you haven’t read the first two, you could easily read this as a standalone as the author includes enough information for you to get the gist of the main circumstances which have shaped her characters beforehand. However, I would recommend you do read the other books as they are well worth your time.

I’ll be chatting with Anne about her books on Friday 2nd October as part of the online Portobello Book Festival so pop over to the website at 8pm if you fancy watching the session. It’s free and you can catch up anytime afterwards if that time doesn’t suit. Just head to the website tomorrow to watch the event. It’s portobellobookfestival.com

In brief summary, Rachel and Jack are characters in their middle years who are together but it’s fair to say they both bring a lot of emotional baggage to their relationship. Although they are clearly very much in love with each other, they seem to find it almost impossible to make that final step and commit fully to each other. This is something almost everyone else in their lives can see would ultimately make them very happy and can’t understand why they seem to find it so difficult to simply trust each other. The are both fiercely independent and reluctant to let the other person into their lives.

Both characters are very introspective and with the chapters being told mostly alternately from their first person points of view, the author makes sure you really know exactly what’s going on inside their heads. And sometimes I wanted to knock their heads together! (Not really, I’m not a violent person.) It was frustrating how they so often didn’t communicate with each other but instead tried to second guess what the other was thinking – or decide what was best for the other without discussing it. Talking frankly with each other would have helped then both immensely.

Anne Stormont writes so insightfully about the relationships between Rachel and Jack and those they love. She also sensitively brings grief, PTSD and the difficult situation in Israel and Palestine into the story. There are some very moving scenes which I admit brought a lump to my throat. Whether you have followed Rachel and Jack’s story from the beginning or whether this is your first time meeting them, I think you will find this book provides a fulfilling conclusion to their story.

My thanks to Kelly at Love Books Tours for arranging a review copy of the book and inviting me to take part in the tour. Fulfilment is available now in paperback and ebook formats. You can order a copy online here: Fulfilment

From the back of the book

The path of true love rarely runs smoothly…

When former Edinburgh police detective Jack Baxter met local author and crofter Rachel Campbell on the Scottish island of Skye, they fell in love. It was a second chance at happiness for both of them.

They both had emotional baggage. Jack helped Rachel cope with unimaginable grief after the death in combat of her soldier son, and Rachel was there for Jack after a criminal with a grudge almost ended his life. There were many bumps along the road but they believed they’d worked through and settled their differences.

However, Jack is struggling. Still suffering from post-traumatic stress, haunted by his past, and taunted by the demons of self-doubt, he feels Rachel deserves better.

Meanwhile, Rachel is busy preparing for the launch of her latest book – a book in honour of her son and aimed at promoting peace. So at first, she fails to notice just how troubled Jack is.

Can Jack overcome his demons?

Can Rachel convince Jack he deserves to be loved?

Can they finally resolve their differences and fulfil their dreams together?

Fulfilment is the third and final part in Rachel & Jack: The Skye series.

It follows on from Displacement (book 1) and Settlement (book 2).

If you like mature, emotional and thought-provoking contemporary romance in a dramatic setting, then this is a book for you.

About the author

Anne Stormont was born in Scotland and although she has travelled all over the world – including a teaching exchange to South Africa, four trips to Australia and several visits to the Middle East – it’s where she still lives.

She began making up stories as a child in order to entertain her four wee sisters. But as an adult, being busy with motherhood and working as a teacher, it took a long time and a mortality wake-up call for her to get that first book written.

She’s a compulsive crossworder, yoga practitioner, avid reader, keen walker and enthusiastic gardener. She can be a bit of a subversive old bat, but she tries to maintain a kind heart. She also loves tea, penguins and being with her grandchildren.

Fulfilment is the third of the 3 books in the Rachel & Jack: Skye Series. Anne’s books are all set in Scotland and are contemporary romances where the main characters may be slightly older but are not necessarily wiser.

You can find out more about Anne and her books at her website anne-stormont.com