Jenny Colgan comes through again with her new novel, MEET ME AT THE SEASIDE COTTAGES. Her books need a genre of their own. I suggest “travel-rom,” because they are equal parts romance and detailed descriptions of lovely places that make them seem irresistible.

While the Scottish isles might be frigid in winter, it's spring now. Colgan masterfully describes the joy of living at the top of the world, where the North Sea meets the Atlantic. “The sky is huge, a bright clear blue with wispy white clouds, and they are cresting the moor road...the huge gullies and cliffs of the very last of the Highlands; kestrels circling in the drafts; newly planted fields full of yellow rape; baby ducks in duck ponds; lambs waking up, hopping joyously on the sides of the mountains, cast into shadow or sun as they flit past.” We can almost feel and smell the cool salty sea air.

"You'll play vicariously with adorably homely puppies and covet a small, picturesque cottage right by the sea with a welcoming view and stone walls. You’ll be delighted by this charming novel while taking an exhilarating journey to the north."

Janey Carter and her daughter, Essie, have had an estranged relationship as Essie blames Janey for the bitter divorce. Janey stayed married until Essie was old enough to go to university. Now she has had to move out of her house and is living alone in a tiny, ancient cottage by the sea. In between the row of small cottages and the coast are huge Victorian homes that were built and then abandoned when visiting became impractical, as did the upkeep. Janey's house is the only inhabitable one on the row; the others are dilapidated and in dire need of work.

Essie has moved to Edinburgh and is thrilled to be away from Carso, the tiny town on the very northern edge of Scotland. She was sick of everyone knowing everyone else's business. When the company she works for closes and moves their offices to Switzerland, Essie is not invited along. She is unemployed and can't afford the rent on her tiny apartment. Her boyfriend, Connor, hasn't invited her to live with him and his best friends in their posh apartment. Her only option is to return home while reassessing her future.

Janey is finally enjoying life on her own. She loves her job as an audiologist at the local hospital, helping the young and old with hearing problems. But she's a bit lonely. Her ex-husband is remarried with a six-year-old son. So when Essie moves back, she's hoping that this will enable a reconciliation between them.

There's a lot going on, including a guy whom Essie and others find comical. Dwight is short and wears cowboy boots, a Stetson hat and tight jeans. But sometimes appearances are deceiving, and people are more than they seem to be. Dwight has saved the money he made on the oil rigs and is willing to invest in the cottages on Seagate, where Janey lives. Essie might be just the right person to help him with the finances and budgeting of the project. But when Dwight unknowingly trusts the wrong people, will Essie be able to help?

In the meantime, Janey meets Lowell, whose daughter, Verity, is deaf. Lowell is an architect who is divorced and living in the renovated old schoolhouse. His former wife is bitter and tries her best to poison Verity against him. He’s heartbroken that he's not closer to his daughter. He also has a dog whose pregnancy has a huge impact on the story. Who can resist puppies?

Be prepared to look up a few unfamiliar words. Faff, swot, debag and others might need explaining, while some like jumper and trainers will be known to anyone who read the Harry Potter books. As with all of Colgan's novels, you will be immersed in this Scottish setting, enjoy meeting the raft of quirky characters, and feel emotional as connections are made and hearts are touched.

There also is the very real worldwide problem that Colgan points out wherein wealthy investors buy up housing and then use it for short-term rentals and weekend stays for those who live out of town. This strategy results in people who live and work in that area not being able to afford housing. In the U.S., legislation is in the works to try to alleviate this pressing issue. In Hawaii, it has resulted in the indigenous people being unable to afford to live in their own communities. In Mexico, residents complain that tourists and immigrants gentrify areas, rendering them unaffordable. Apparently, the same problem has arisen in Scotland.

You'll root for the good guys and get angry at the bad ones. You'll know that love will win out and that truth and justice will prevail. At the same time, you'll feel the cool summer breezes and breathe the fresh country sea air. You'll play vicariously with adorably homely puppies and covet a small, picturesque cottage right by the sea with a welcoming view and stone walls. You’ll be delighted by this charming novel while taking an exhilarating journey to the north.