Christmas in the Scottish Highlands

4/5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley for giving me a copy of Christmas in the Scottish Highlands in exchange for a review!

This book was perfectly sweet with not one thing being disappointing or too sweet to ingest. It follows the story of 30-year-old Belle, a local primary school teacher residing in Christmas Village during the Christmas season. After a tragic accident in her childhood, leaving her and her father without her mother, she’s sent to live with her godmother while her father volunteers in Kenya. Belle has grown up needing to feel needed, often taking on too much for her to handle, but it makes her feel useful and needed.

So when she knocks over elderly Edina with her bike and fractures her ankle, she jumps at the opportunity to do multiple good deeds at once. Including taking care of Edina at her castle home. The more time Belle spends with Edina, the more she realizes how both need each other, for the comfort, for the love.

But insert grumpy, closed off from everyone, hot shot lawyer from the city Jack, and you have the perfect mix of a Christmas romance.

Belle spends her winter leading up to Christmas helping Edina cross off everything from her list that was supposed to be burned after writing, planning the nativity for the school, and falling in love with Jack, who very much does not trust her, a random woman from town who is a little too nice and a little too helpful, and is very, very irresistible for the man who has never truly loved anyone.

The writing of this book was well done, the pacing was great, it felt realistic and not quite like a tacky Hallmark book. I’ve had issues with recent seasonal-themed books that I’ve read in the last little bit and was worried that this one would be the same, but this was a nice surprise.

I loved reading it, I didn’t feel like I was missing something from it. It was perfectly wintery and Christmasy. There is nothing that I would have changed other than how Jack and his mother went about their relationship – which happened very quickly and felt slightly off after the general pacing of the rest of the book.

Most of it was predictable but in a nice way. You could see what’s coming from a mile away, but it was one of the reasons this book felt so cozy and familiar.

Christmas in the Scottish Highlands was perfectly themed, well-paced, had extremely enjoyable characters, and was the perfect read to get into an early Christmas Spi

Christmas in the Scottish Highlands is the perfect holiday read full of lovable characters, laughter, a hilarious donkey and a town you will fall in love with. Belle is a teacher who puts not only her students but everyone first. When she accidentally hits Edina with her bike, she agrees to stay with the older woman while she heals. Enter Edina's grandson who has differing ideas and opinions about what is best for her. Sparks fly between Belle and Jack but will they set their differences aside to help make this Christmas special.

I adored this book so much! Some of the side plots were a bit distracting but overall I loved the characters and I loved getting to see so many relationships in one book. I highly recommend this book if you are looking for a quick, cute and mildly steamy Christmas book.

This is a sweet, if predictable, holiday family story. The characters are wonderful, and the love and friendship they show is believable.
When Belle accidentally runs over an elderly neighbor, Edina, with her bike, she steps up to help care for her when she realizes there is no one else to do it. Moving into the castle to help Edina is easy, and it allows Belle to turn around and help others at the same time. Having company after so many years of isolation is a wonderful treat for Edina, who soon thrives on being included and having a purpose in her life. That is until her grandson, Jack, finds out that Belle is staying with his grandmother, and comes to make sure she isn't taking advantage of her. He also feels Edina should be living in an assisted living place. Can the town come together to show Jack that love, family, and friendship are the key to a happy life. and Edina has all the support she needs right there in town?
Love a great Christmas story, and this one will warm your heart.
I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This is the perfect cozy read for fall and winter. You'll get vivid images of the picturesque Christmas Village in the Highlands of Scotland, complete with a charming cast of characters who inhabit the little town. This is an endearing tale of community and love and fighting for what you want in this life. Adored this read!

4 Stars

Bella lives in a picturesque Scottish village and works as a kindergarten teacher. She’s the heart of the village, always helping someone, even if it means she has to spread herself thin. Being alone on Christmas doesn’t sound that good, but Bella is pretty much used to it.
When she crashes into an elderly lady, Edina, who lives in the castle nearby, and injures her foot, Bella offers to stay and help her. Bella realizes how lonely Edina feels and tries to bring cheer to her life and the castle.
Enters, Jack, Edina’s grandson, a hotshot lawyer in London. He seems arrogant, judgmental, and pessimistic about most things in life. Yet, Bella and Jack work together on Bella’s projects and learn that there’s more to the other person than first impressions.
The Christmas Spirit is all around them, and attraction blooms between the lead couple. But with both of them having a few past issues they don’t want to deal with, will there be a future with happy ever after?
This is a sweet, cute, cozy, and heartwarming Christmas romance with likable characters. The best part about such books is that the side characters would be endearing and lovable. This book is no exception. Be it Edina, Tavish, Kenzy, Logan, or the little munchkins from Bella’s class, everyone has a personality and potential for a short story or a novella of their own.
Christmas in the Scottish Highlands has more than one couple finding love, and I enjoyed their stories equally. The writing flows, nice, warm and familiar with descriptions of the setting and easy conversation between the characters.
The main reason I pick small town/ village-based romances is the familiarity of the setting and the assurance of the ending. We know how the book will end, and that’s the kind of comfort I need at times. It’s much like eating a slice of favorite cake (the book has a good number of them too) and enjoying its taste as always.
The characters have their flaws, and the writer keeps things believable most of the time. Since the book is just 200+ pages, nothing gets dragged beyond the breaking point.
To sum up, Christmas in the Scottish Highlands is much like eating your favorite chocolate cake and sipping hot chocolate on autumn noon.
Thank you, NetGalley and Bookouture, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

*****
P.S: It’s not naan bread. It is naan; no suffix needed. Calling it naan bread is like saying bun bread or pizza bread.

This is tha perfect book to remind you of the real spirit of Christmas. It’s set in a beautiful location in the Scottish highlands and the characters are quirky and likeable. I would recommend this to anyone looking for a bit of escapism over the festive period.

With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early copy in return for an honest review.

An enjoyable Christmas read, made even better because it is set in a small village in Scotland. Edina was absolutely delightful and it made me wish I could teach at a small village school like Belle. If you are looking for a fun Christmas read, this is a great choice.

Sigh. Christmas, Scotland, enemies to lovers, Donna Ashcroft- all the elements for a fun read. Belle and Edina meet by accident (literally) but discover that despite their age difference, they've got a lot in common. Their friendship expands but then Jack, Edina's grandson arrives at her castle (yes, castle) and is skeptical. He's determined to find out what Belle's game is. You know there isn't one and that these two will eventually band together. All delightful (if a tad trope-y) characters, as are the others (Kenzy and Logan). And you gotta love a novel where Bob the donkey has a big role. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A good read.

Thanks to Bookouture and Netgalley for an advance copy of this book in exchange for a review.

Really enjoyed being back in Christmas Village and reading the story of Belle who lives to put others first. However, it's not just about Belle, there are so many other things going on.

Hugely enjoyable.

This book had everything I want in a book - hell, it even has it in the title. Christmas + Scotland. What more do you need? As you’ve probably figured out by now, I adore Christmas and really do wish it was Christmas everyday. I’m the person who starts their shopping in June, it’s my happy time. And Scotland I absolutely adore! I have never been to Scotland in the winter though and I feel I’m missing out on something. I have been for New Year, but I didn’t get the full snowy experience, so I must schedule that in.

There is nothing that isn’t calming and warming and loveable about this book. Okay, yes, there is one subplot that is less than perfect (no spoilers here), but even that feels comforting in the big hug that is this novel.

Belle is a 30 year old primary school teacher who says yes to helping just about everyone, even if that means forgetting herself in the meantime. I can identify with that; I’m always the one volunteering to bake for the bake sale, or take people for appointments, or to help with this and that or the other, especially during the festivities. After a slight accident, she meets the elderly Edina who lives alone in a castle on the outskirts of….oh yeah…Christmas Village! I mean, come on now! Through the month of December, she gets to know more of her little community, whilst planning the school nativity show, as well as sticking many fingers in many pies. And then Edina’s long-lost grandson Jack enters the picture, and throws Belle’s life into disarray.

As I’ve said before, these happily-ever-after festive books are quite simple in their plot, and I think anyone who reads them can normally figure out the ending before they get there. But I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, this is not a bad thing. It allows you to fully immerse yourself in the fairytale Scottish landscape, and the magic to that the festivities can often bring. This, along with a hot cup of tea and a Christmas music CD (yes kids, I still use CDs), and you’re all set to ward of a cold winter’s evening.

Christmas in the Scottish Highlands was such a cute book! You can never go wrong with a good christmasy rom-com, and this one is just that, cute, fun and sexy.
Let’s be honest, you gotta love the grumpy love interest and sunshine main character trope, the way they fought and made up made my heart ache in a good way. This couple and this book in general made me laugh and made me cry.

The topics portrayed by Donna Ashcroft in this book were incredible, helping each other, listening to both sides of every story, family, friendship. Something everyone can enjoy.

The way the places were written was also really good, it made me feel like I was the one living in a Scottish village in Christmas time.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the digital copy of this ARC.

I love a good Christmas novel, especially one that is set in Scotland, with lots snow and unexpected love. Just like this one! Belle Albany lives in Christmas Village, a small Scottish community. She teaches at the elementary school, but not much seems to change for her. When she accidentally hits Edina who is riding her bicycle in the middle of a snow storm, Belle's life begins to change. She temporarily moves into Edina's castle to help care for her and begins a busy Christmas season. Edina's handsome grandson, Jack, arrives and Edina's long-lost daughter shows up, too. Jack agrees to help Belle with the children's nativity pagent and village folks get involved with making this a wonderful Christmas for Edina. It's a warm and romantic book. A short read, but what a charming one. The setting is perfect for love at Christmas! Thank you Bookouture and Net Galley for the opportunity to read the ARC. Planned publication date is October, 11, 2021. I recommend it :)

What a sweet little feel good romance! I adored reading this book. It’s the perfect little escape for someone who wants love, light drama, people helping each other and a heap of Christmas spirit!

I loved the Scottish atmosphere in this book! I was kind of expecting a love story to be center fold, however that took a back seat. The focus shifted and it wasn’t my cup of tea at the end I’m afraid.

Thanks Netgalley and the Publisher. Too early for Xmas for me but saying that I really really enjoyed this book, great characters, great location and best of all a good storyline.

Belle is always looking to help people, so when she crashes into an elderly lady she offers to stay with her while she recuperates. Jack, the cynical lawyer grandson of the elderly lady, comes out to stay with his grandmother to make sure Belle isn’t trying to take advantage of his grandmother. Belle learns that sometimes she must come first. Jack learns that you can trust a woman as nice as Belle. I received an ARC from NetGalley and Bookouture for my honest review.

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for a copy of "Christmas in the Scottish Highlands" in exchange for my honest review.

This is the story of Belle Albany who is always doing good deeds and helping others. One day she happens to knock over Edina Lachlan while on her bike. This meeting changes her life forever. She moves into Evergreen Castle to help Edina. She lives alone in the castle since her curmudgeon of a husband passed away. Her long-lost grandson Jack Hamilton-Kirk arrives thinking that he can move her grandmother into a home because he feels the castle is too much for her. The townspeople - with Belle leading the charge show him that there are plenty of people of care about Edina. Letters to Santa feature prominently in the story - with Belle wanting to make all of Edina's wishes come true.

One character that was a highlight for me was Bob the donkey! He is priceless with his honking. This is a wonderful feel good Christmas story about how great it is when people come together to help someone.

I enjoyed this heart-warming Christmas romance!

I really liked many of the themes in this book like helping others, friendship, and listening to all sides of the story.

Helping grant Edina's Christmas wishes brought not only Belle and Jack together, but the whole town together. The children's Christmas Nativity play also added some extra cute kids fun.

I really liked the characters in this book, especially Edina being her fun old lady self. The character interactions made their world feel like home.

The only thing I didn't like was that the ending was a bit cheesy and predictable, but it didn't take away too much from liking the overall plot and characters.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me a digital copy of this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This was a nice quick story certain to put you in the holiday spirit. It was descriptive, you could feel the snow and cold.
There was some romantic tension and some old family hurts to explore. It was a nice romantic story which I enjoyed. Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the early copy

Oh, this book had all the Christmas feels and I cried happy tears when I finished it, a wonderful atmospheric read and lovely characters drawn together in love and community