Another well-written escapist story from Julie Caplin.
Julie is now an instant buy author. I love how she writes her characters but I love even more how I feel like I am in the environment of the story. In this case, snuggling up against the cold.

Amazon review submitted.

Izzy comes home to the castle in the Highlands she’s inherited from her great-uncle, only to find a strange man making himself at home in the – her – kitchen. She discovers her scatty, loud mum has already started renting out rooms (they know they will need to run the castle as a hotel to keep it going) and is in fact doing a lovely job doing up the place. And that’s because she’s also booked in guests over Christmas – for huge amounts of money. But Izzy only did the cookery course to be able to make hearty food for jolly guests, not cordon bleu fancy business, and they need to patch the roof more than they need expensive wallpaper.

What follows is a heart-warming novel of community and pulling together. Izzy is kind to some wild campers and has her kindness returned many times over, the mysterious man turns out helpful, too, and Izzy also gets some strength back after a failed relationship with a man who could never quite commit, her best scenes coming when she realises that. I also liked that she’s a tall and curvy women with no one trying to force her to diet or change.

It’s a nice cosy romance rather than a raunchy one, and the reader is let into hints that make them feel clever when various plot twists come along; although it doesn’t have the diversity of the light novel reads I like best, it’s really nicely done, a kind book with plenty of details on how they do everything – and some fabulous Christmas food descriptions.

Cozy holiday romance, just perfect to get into the Christmas mood!
I really liked the characters and theit development!
Hope to read other books by this author very soon.

Thank you Netgalley and Harper Collins UK for the ARC.

If you’re looking for another Hallmark-type holiday romance with a really cool setting, this is the one for you.

I think I really need to go to Scotland because every time I read a book that takes place there, I really enjoy it. This was such a cute read with a ton of lovely characters.

I really liked Izzy and Ross, but I did find Xanthe to be a bit annoying. The castle seemed really cool and I loved the small village.

Another excellent read from Ms Caplin this book did not disappoint. It’s the perfect book to read as the dark nights settle in and Christmas is fast approaching.

Izzy inherits a castle in Scotland which she plans to turn into a boutique hotel in the future. However, she returns from a cooking course in Ireland to find that in her absence her mother has taken a paying guest (the brooding Ross) AND taken a large booking for Christmas. No pressure then.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced read copy of this book in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

I am NEVER disappointed with what Julie Caplin writes and this book is certainly no exception! I loved everything about it and found myself looking forward to what would happen next as I got to know every character in this book. It was light, funny, endearing and interesting! It warmed my heart and entertained me as well as put me in the Christmas Spirit! I cannot recommend it enough!

Thank you Netgalley and HarperCollins UK for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

This story follows Izzy, who has just inherited a castle in Scotland, from her great uncle. With help from her eccentric mom and some staff, Izzy dreams of turning this rundown castle into a bed and breakfast. After her mom unexpectedly starts renting out rooms, Izzy must hurry to get things done before Christmas.

I really enjoyed this book. The writing was wonderful, the setting was amazing, and the characters were great. Julie does a great job at transporting you to where ever she is writing about and you feel completely engulfed in the story and the people. The only off putting thing for me was Izzy's mom and her relationship with her. I was waiting for Izzy to put her foot down and stand up for herself. It wasn't until the very end that I started to like her mom.

All in all, I really enjoyed this book, and I can't wait to see where Julie will be taking me next.

If you are looking for an enjoyable rom com in different settings Julie Caplin is the authorto go to. This time its in Scotland. A wonderful Christmassy read, engaging and enjoyable. Well written book with great characters and a feel good story

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for an ARC

Yes - read it.

Read the whole series to match up with what's going on in your life - they are fantastic!!

The story just seemed to convey a sense of what Christmas should feel like. It's kind of hard to describe because on one level it's superficial but on the others it is about family, joy, caring for your fellow man and celebrating the birth of Christ.

It was a GREAT Christmas read. Put me in a frame of mind that it's going to be a great holiday. And it was!.

I received an ARC from Netgalley to help me prepare my honest review.

Honestly, I hope that Julie never stops writing books for this series because I just love them! This one was no exception. I also love that each book is a standalone, yet is based around a character from the previous books - it just nicely ties them all together. Great characters, great location, great storyline. Loved it! The only thing that through me off was the epilogue, as it didn’t follow on with the actual book, but a good lead into the one nevertheless.

Julie Caplin has become a go to author for me when I’m looking for a good romance that takes me to a specific location, in this instance it’s Scotland. This holiday novel was a light read that I enjoyed and needed right before the holidays.
I always love learning about the region her books take place, they are a great escape!

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced reader copy of this holiday novel by Julie Caplin.

zzy comes home to the castle in the Highlands she's inherited from her great-uncle, only to find a strange man making himself at home in the - her - kitchen. She discovers her scatty, loud mum has already started renting out rooms (they know they will need to run the castle as a hotel to keep it going) and is in fact doing a lovely job doing up the place. And that's because she's also booked in guests over Christmas - for huge amounts of money. But Izzy only did the cookery course to be able to make hearty food for jolly guests, not cordon bleu fancy business, and they need to patch the roof more than they need expensive wallpaper.

What follows is a heart-warming novel of community and pulling together. Izzy is kind to some wild campers and has her kindness returned many times over, the mysterious man turns out helpful, too, and Izzy also gets some strength back after a failed relationship with a man who could never quite commit, her best scenes coming when she realises that. I also liked that she's a tall and curvy women with no one trying to force her to diet or change.

It's a nice cosy romance rather than a raunchy one, and the reader is let into hints that make them feel clever when various plot twists come along; although it doesn't have the diversity of the light novel reads I like best, it's really nicely done, a kind book with plenty of details on how they do everything - and some fabulous Christmas food descriptions.

My online blog review https://librofulltime.wordpress.com/2022/12/24/book-review-julie-caplin-the-christmas-castle-in-scotland/

Hands down LOVED this book! A solid 5 stars from me. Everything from the setting to the likeable characters to the plot had me loving this book from beginning to end. I appreciate Caplin keeping this romance very closed doors. What a fun and sweet Christmas book!

Another brilliant book by Julie Caplin. Fast becoming my favourite author and can’t wait for the next book to come out.

I found this an entertaining and heart-warming read from Caplin and I enjoyed every minute of it. I love how characters from the previous book make an appearance, stitching two stories together, but it is not at all essential for the series to be read in order. Indeed, seeing how the novel finished, I will be keen to see what happens in Caplin’s release next year.

Plots (and covers) seem remarkably similar between books by Caplin however, as long as you space them out enough then I don’t think it should bother you – it certainly didn’t me! In this story, Izzy finds herself living in the Scottish Highlands, having inherited a castle from her uncle. Sounds idyllic, right? Not at all. Quickly, Izzy learns that this castle is run-down and its upkeep is proving to be increasingly costly. As a way of saving the castle, Izzy decides to turn it into a hotel, banking on the beautiful location and castle surroundings to appeal to many.

With the help of Izzy’s beloved mother, Xanthe, the castle soon sees its very own transformation. I could not help but love Xanthe’s irresponsible character and felt sorry for Izzy as a consequence. From inviting the first guest without Izzy’s permission – and charging extortionate rates on top of that – the residents of the castle just seem to grow and grow. Izzy is frustrated by the lack of thinking from Xanthe but grudgingly admits that this is the income she badly needs if she wants to make a success of the castle – and renovate it properly. However, it feels like every few chapters, the guest list for Christmas at the castle seems to grow and I could not help but laugh at the comedy of the situation. One minute Izzy feels like she has a handle on things and then is seems like she has a few more extra rooms to prepare for the additional heads. I could feel her despair!

Coupled with the entertaining character of Xanthe, I fell in love with the beautiful castle and setting itself. I loved the sub-plot of hidden treasure in the castle and was relieved it wasn’t a sub-plot focussing on ghosts instead – this would have been too obvious. Although the lost sapphires don’t dominate the narrative, it is a stark reminder of how precarious Izzy’s situation is and how much she is relying on her guests to enjoy their stay to make a living out of the castle.

With snow, Christmas decorations and plenty of food, this had me filled up from head to toe. I enjoyed seeing the different festive traditions, made further magical by the castle itself. Based on the atmosphere that Caplin creates, I felt like I was sharing the season with Izzy and her guests, sitting at the table with them and enjoying endless drinks and mince pies. It truly made this such a heart-warming story.

With thanks to Harper Collins, One More Chapter and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Such a fun Christmas read to enjoy while snuggled up with a warm drink. Absolutely recommend for the holiday season.

What a special Christmas spent in Scotland! I felt like I spent my holiday alongside Izzy and her band of misfits at her Scottish castle. 

The scenery was described beautifully and my imagination was running overtime. Izzy was a wonderful lead character, Ross was the perfect mix of grumpy but delightful and Xanthe was frustrating but full of laughable moments. I adored the side characters, especially the appearance of Jason and Fliss!!

Izzy's cookery course paid off because her guests were satisfied and her meals had my stomach growling. I loved reading about her getting the castle ready for holiday guests, her budding romance with Ross (omg the ceilidh was so lively and fun!) and the hunt for the sapphires. 

Such a fun, holiday read that will make you want to bundle up in front of the fireplace as you transport yourself to The Highlands!

Inheriting a castle was the last thing that Izzy ever expected to happen. Nevertheless here she is, in the run up to christmas, trying to repair a rundown glen in Scotland.

When Her Mum rents out a room without her knowledge, the fun and games begin and it becomes a race to get the castle ready before the other guests, that her mum has organised, start arriving.

I always love Julie Caplin novels and this was no exception. A great warm hearted read.

This is such a fun, Christmas romance, which I really enjoyed, after I was drawn in by the beautiful cover.

Izzy is the main character in this cosy, feel-good story. She has inherited a castle in bonny Scotland, from her great uncle, and when she goes to the castle, she isn't expecting to find a gorgeous, hunky man there, but that is what she finds. At first, she is annoyed that he is there, then she finds out that her Mum has let him live there temporarily. She eventually warms to him, and they become friends.

The other characters in this story are lovely, and I enjoyed reading about them, as well as the gorgeous scenery, the castle, and all the yummy food and Christmas delights.

I also listened to some of this book by audiobook, and I enjoyed the Scottish accents. I am Scottish myself, so it was easier for me to listen to the Scottish accents.

I highly recommend this book, and the audiobook, which are both amazing, and I look forward to reading more books by this author!

Many thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for a copy of this book.

This book felt like a hug. It was filled with delightful descriptions and I could not get enough. I absolutely felt transported to the castle and really enjoyed this cute cozy story.