I have absolutely loved the other books in the Scottish Escapes series by Julie Shackman. This is the fifth book in the series and works perfectly as a standalone. It is the perfect festive read and is a gorgeous enemies to lovers romance in a stunning Highland location that made me desperately want to spend Christmas in a lodge in the Highlands.

The main characters were wonderful. If Christmas could be perfectly encapsulated in a person, it would be Lottie, who adores everything about Christmas. Blake is the antithesis to Lottie, bearing more than a passing resemblance to a young, attractive Ebenezer Scrooge type character, crossed with Bear Grylls. Due to their love/hatred of Christmas, they form very rigid ideas about one another, but before long their feelings change significantly. I adored Lottie’s patience, in identifying that there was something Blake was hiding from her, but being patient enough to wait for him to reveal what it was.

In addition to the usual festivities such as Christmas lights switch on, and Christmas markets, there were also some tense moments which required the entire town to rally round. I loved the town, but the location of the lodges was simply idyllic and I could picture the decorations, and the themes of the individual lodges so vividly.

This festive romance will make you want to curl up in front of a log burner, surrounded by cosy furnishings and twinkly lights as you read.

This was a wonderful escape to the Scottish Highlands and to Craig Brae. Lottie was a wonderful, warm, and determined protagonist and I loved reading her story. Her heartbreak at losing her chance to take over Christmas Crackers, the shop where she works was palpable, and I really felt her disappointment.
Of course, as the synopsis explains, she is soon met with another opportunity and she snatches it with both hands, sadly, it comes with the decidedly unenthusiastic, Blake Dempster. On paper, he’s the perfect man; fit, strong, and devilishly handsome, what a shame he has such an ice-bath personality.
There is a wonderful supporting cast made from the various villagers and Lottie’s mum. Their relationship was really rather special and especially heartwarming. The idea of the cabins captured my imagination, and I would love nothing more than a couple of nights staying in their luxurious surroundings.
I thoroughly enjoyed this fabulous, festive treat and in particular, the exchanges between Lottie and Blake. There were no holds barred in their unfriendly banter and it led to some incredibly funny moments.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was a cozy, heartwarming, fun book!

This is #5 book but you can read it as a standalone which is great. I’d be interested in reading the other books too now. I loved the story and I could really picture all the scenery too. Lovely winters read.

A heart-warming and cosy seasonal read. Very engrossing and was hard to put down. There is something magical about festive books and this one is no exception.

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Such a feel good Christmas story! Lottie learns that she is losing the Christmas shop that was meant to be hers! Her talents are realised by a local couple who offer her a job to manage a new group of lodges on their estate. Blake is a moody rambler who is also working with the lodges to bring new trade to the area, but he doesn’t like Christmas at all. This is an enemies to lovers story that will have you hooked.. and possibly make you want to book yourself into a lodge for Christmas 🤍

Immersed in the pages of this engaging story, the vivid settings and well-developed characters left a lasting impression. The enchanting portrayal of Scotland, with its allure, has sparked a genuine desire to witness its beauty during the winter months.

One of the strengths of the narrative lies in its characters, each carefully crafted to add depth to the storytelling. Their authenticity resonates, making it easy to connect with their individual journeys and experiences.

The choice of the "enemies to lovers" theme in the romance subplot adds a captivating layer to the narrative. Skillfully integrated, this theme creates a sense of tension and anticipation, enhancing the overall reading experience. As a fan of this particular romance dynamic, I appreciated how it was woven into the story with finesse.

While the review expresses positive sentiments, providing specific examples or highlighting key moments from the book would offer potential readers a more nuanced understanding of what makes this story a compelling and enjoyable read.

This was a cute Christmas read and I loved that it was set in Scotland. It was an enemies to friends then lovers romance which I loved
I did find it a bit slow to start with but it did pick up especially as the romance between Lottie and Blake progressed.
Thanks to Julie Shackman and Net Galley for an ARC copy.

This book has such beautiful, festive descriptions of this small Scottish town and I loved that. I did feel like this was a book of two halves - the first part is Lottie working in a Christmas shop that she hopes to buy soon. The shop sounded lovely and I really enjoyed reading about it. Later things haven't gone to plan and Lottie is working as a designer of holiday cottages and this is where she meets the love interest. I found this less enjoyable as it felt rushed and there was a bit too much added right at the end. Overall this was an enjoyable read.

The Highland Lodge Getaway was a lovely wintery read with relatable, likable characters and a beautifully described setting. So much so that I'd quite like to visit one of those lodges!

This is an emotional story set in beautiful Scotland. It is full of wonderful characters, mostly enjoying a sparkling run up to Christmas
and adapting to change. I enjoyed reading this heartwarming book immensely.

Lotties biggest dream is to take over the christmas shop in her hometown. She is really a christmas fairy but then all plans had to change from one second to another but it is a big chance for her.
So she started planning the lodges with a christmas theme but there is a Grinch in the team who hates everthing with christmas.

Is it possible to change somebodys mind?

Very cute for cold winter evenings and afternoons.
It was a quick read for me but I had some really good hours with this book

Have fun reading!

What a delightful Christmas holiday read. I love this time of year and I love reading a good holiday story and this one didn't disappoint. Love Lottie Grant, love the setting and location and found this such a warm and cosy read.

Enter Blake Dempster, he doesn't like Christmas so how will these two very different people be able to work together and get along. What will become of them both? This is such a cute, fun and entertaining read, it has all the holiday feel goods you would expect but the story is great too. Well written, wonderful characters and an oh so perfect Christmas setting.

Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

Lottie is the queen of Christmas. It's in her bones. She's due to take over the Christmas shop she manages but her dream is swept away when the lease isn't renewed.
Blake is Mr. Anti-Christmas for reasons unknown.
And they are expected to work together on a new venture in the village.

This sunny X grumpy Christmas romp is a quick read filled with snow & tinsel & festive goodness. I do love a good snowy Scottish village. I enjoyed it and read it in a day but I'm only giving three stars as the last few chapters were rushed. They went from amicable to buying each other expensive Xmas presents literally overnight.

It's definitely a lovely quick & cosy Xmas read though.

An enchanting journey through vividly imagined worlds and compelling characters. This fiction gem weaves a tapestry of emotions, adventure, and unexpected twists that kept me eagerly turning the pages. The author's masterful storytelling evokes a powerful connection, making this book an absolute delight to read. Highly recommended for anyone seeking a captivating escape into a richly crafted story!

Lottie Grant loves her hometown of Craig Brae and all things Christmas and is eagerly awaiting the start of the New Year when the owner of Christmas Crackers is planning to retire and pass the reigns over to her until she hears the devastating news—the lease is not up for renewal but instead the building has been sold.

Still reeling from the news, a couple unexpectedly comes into the shop to offer her a job. It sounds too good to be true—managing luxury cabins in the woods, having input on the décor and double the salary she’s currently making. The only problem is Blake Dempster, who has been hired to look after the adventure side (hikes, walks, etc.) but who also has a dislike for the holiday season.

Will Lottie be able to get Blake to see the positive in joining in the holiday festivities?

This was a great Christmas read but also allows readers to see that the holiday season may not be joyous for everyone, but that it is possible to have nay-sayers cross over to the other side.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK and One More Chapter for allowing me to read an ARC of this novel. #NetGalley #TheHighlandLodgeGetaway

Loved this book and it’s storyline about the festive cabins. I knew that Lottie and Blake were going to be together but still enjoyed reading more about their relationship!

Setting was idyllic, loved the descriptions about Christmas. Would recommend

A cute and cosy festive read. It has your typical enemies to lovers trope with a few predictable incidents, but also one towards the end which I was pleasantly surprised by. The epilogue was again predictable but also exactly what you would want in a happily-ever-after festive read.

There’s so much of everything in this book besides Christmas, hard work and determination, love and heartbreak, fun and laughter. And Christmas of course. As usual, Julie’s writing is so easy to read - telling the story in such a way that you breeze through it in no time and finish before you realise. I’ve read a few now by Julie and will read more I’m sure.

This is a very cute Christmas story: thank you for the opportunity NetGalley!
Lottie is a christmas obsessed, christmas shop employee thrust into the unknown when she finds out the shop she had big dreams for is going to be sold. It's as cozy, making spirits bright cheery as it sounds. Lottie and Blake are believable as an enemies-to-lovers couple, although the burn is very very slow. I loved that her small town played almost as a greek chorus: the town/townfolk became a really sound character, and I really enjoyed that.
The one thing I'll say: this is just nice. It is cute and fun and christmasy, but not deep in any way.