I enjoyed this series very much and especially the last part of this book. Parts of the beginning of this book were repetitious of the previous books, especially the romance of Emily and Logan, but more in detail here. I guess in retrospect it was intentional and worked in the story best that way.
I may read more of this author's books and series. For now, I'll add the Shetland Islands to my bucket list. ( )

Saturday, September 2, 2017
The Legacy by Michael Phillips, © 2017
Secrets of the Shetlands, Book 3

a long anticipated read of ~ The Legacy ~ the third and final book in the series

My Review:

Over the years Ernest would discover that the hunger to write one's inner biography on the hidden tablets of the heart was rare even among Christians.
At length he became more circumspect in sharing his journey with others. He realized that the hunger he felt could not be transmitted by enthusiasm or even by example. It must be birthed from within. Why such hunger had come alive in his heart in the years of his youth, when most young men were chasing much different dreams, was a mystery he had still not successfully answered. Whence came the hunger to know God?
--The Legacy, 154

This tale is so riveting, so introspective as to take it on as your own discovery of intent of the heart. I love the history recounted as it was made, the current flow of life amid the Shetlands, and the people becoming so dear. This is the third book in the series and begins with discovering the previous generations and their longings. It flawlessly brings you up-to-date with the happenings of the first two books, without interrupting the current story needlessly. For those new to the series, as well as those continuing on, there are hints to dreams of the lasting remnants the Shetland area of Whales Reef has left with them.

I am fascinated with the village life ~ the cottage shops, with the women selling their wares from their homes; the fish and chips ~fried potatoes~ served inside newspaper; the ways and livelihood continuing from generations before them, and most definitely the roles of the laird and chief handed down.

I loved the women from nowaday's Loni and the telling of her great-grandmother, Emily, as each arrival from the United States is a reckoning to the older and younger inhabitants of Whales Reef who mainly have not been away from their beloved homeland. I especially liked the meeting between Emily and the Herb Woman who includes her in a special way by inviting her into her home.

I thoroughly enjoyed the history and personage of these people from a land I will but read of in books. Very enJ*O*Yable. The painted word picture of their daily lives came alive on the page. As you may sense, I loved this series!

***Thank you, author Michael Phillips and to Bethany House Publishers for my review copy of The Legacy, Book 3 in the Secrets of the Shetlands series. This review was written in my own words. No other compensation was received.*** ( )

I understand this is the third book in a series. I have not read to the first two books and I feel like I missed a great deal. I don’t feel like it can be read and truly enjoyed as a standalone.
Scotland is some place I would love to visit. The author captured the beauty of the landscape, the historical background, and the heart of the people that live there. While I enjoyed his attention to detail in all aspects, at times it made the reading rather slow and cumbersome. There were points I had to push to get keep going as my interest waned.
Loni unexpectedly inherits a small island in the Shetlands. The Scots strongly steeped in tradition and family ties were not happy with an outsider suddenly being thrust upon them in a position of leadership. The resident’s rejection makes Loni’s adjustment even more difficult, causing her to question what path to take. As a unique twist to the story she finds herself falling for the local chieftain, David Tulloch whom the islanders believe to be the true heir.
The story switches back and forth between Loni and David’s present day romance and that of her great-grandparents through old journals written by her great-grandmother. I especially liked the latter parts. They were relevant to me for a couple of reasons. I have a diary kept by my uncle that describes my father’s and his life growing up. Also I have a friend doing a genealogy search for me on my family history. There is something special about knowing where you came from and who your past family was. It gives you grounding and a feeling of belonging. I see this in Loni as she reads the journals. The most important thing is finding strength and inspiration from your spiritual heritage. Over all I had trouble sticking to the story, maybe because I hadn’t read the first two books.
I received this book from Bethany House Publishers. The opinions I stated are my own. ( )

"The Legacy" is a heartfelt story of faith and family. I love anything to do with Scotland, so I was eager to pick this book up. I've also read some of Michael Phillips's other books and have enjoyed them immensely, especially the classic "Stonewycke" series. I'm very glad I did read "The Legacy", even though I haven't yet read the first two books in this series!

"The Legacy" by Michael Phillips is the third book in the "Secrets of the Shetlands" series. The beginning of the book summarizes the plot from the first two books well. The narrative does of course refer to events in the other books of the series as it is the continuation of Loni and David's story (the characters living in present day), but instead of focusing on Loni and David, "The Legacy" also tells the story of their ancestors. We also get to see the conclusion of Loni and David's story, and while it's this portion of the book that had me wishing I had read the prior books, it isn't too confusing to read on its own.

The physical book itself is beautiful and has a map of the island in the Shetlands where much of the story takes place, as well as a family tree. Even though it is a longer book, it's written in short chapters, which makes for a fast-paced read. The story shifts between 2006 and 1924 and is told from multiple characters’ points of view. Some of the characters in the book are of the Quaker faith, which I found interesting to read and learn more about.

There is a theme of family heritage woven throughout the whole story. The setting in the Shetland Islands is breathtaking and evocative. The descriptions are so well written that I felt like I was transported to these islands. The reader is introduced to a slower paced life and the story is also told in a slower way, making the reader slow down and think. You really settle in and immerse yourself in the island and that culture. There is also a deep spiritual and theological element. I know Michael Phillips loves George MacDonald and draws a lot of inspiration from this writer (MacDonald is even mentioned in the book).

My only critiques are that this book isn't really a stand-alone, although I was still able to understand and enjoy the story. It is also told at a slower pace (I did enjoy that, but some may find it slower than they would like). There are also many characters and several concurrent plots, which can get confusing.

Overall I really enjoyed this story and would especially recommend it to fans of Michael Phillips or George MacDonald and those who love Scotland.

Content, Rating and Genre: This is a clean read. I give this book 4.5 stars. This is Christian Fiction (with a dual timeline—historical and contemporary).

I want to thank Michael Phillips and Bethany House Publishers for the complimentary copy of this book for review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I express in this review are my own. This is in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s CFR 16, Part 255 ( )