Sweet Home Highland Christmas is a perfect addition to the Pennington Family series. I loved this heart-warming read. McGoldrick draws a wonderful picture of the holidays in the Scottish highlands.

Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

This is a delightful story just in time for Christmas in the summer. From the moment Ella walks up to Gregory Pennington in an inn and asks about his marital status she'll capture readers heart and have you all rooting for a romance between Gregory and Freya so Ella can have a stable home for the future.

Gregory Pennington is bored with his life and considering moving to America to find adventure and excitement when a chance encounter with a delightful waif changes the course of his life. Precocious Ella escapes from her nursemaid in search of a husband for her aunty Freya who's the only mother she's known. Gregory rises to the occasion in more ways than one seeking to bed and woo Freya even as she's determined to marry the heir to her father's lands.
I am so enjoying this historical journey with the various members of the Pennington family and keep wanting more and more.

Another excellent foray into the Highlands from this imaginative author, I was whisked away into an adventure along with Penn and Freya, this was unputdownable, i loved it from the first page.

I received a copy from Netgalley and I am voluntarily leaving my own honest opinion.

Captain Gregory Pennington is hoping to soon retire from the army, but first has been asked by his brother to escort 4 adults and 1 child to a bordering estate for Christmas on his way home. He encounters Freya Sutherland who’s desperately trying to keep custody of her precocious young niece, Ella. Freya has been responsible for six year old Ella whole life, recently her father was killed and Freya wants sole custody of her niece, but her Grandmother the Duchess has other ideas. When Freya and Penn meet their chemistry is instant and poor Freya is growing discontent with her upcoming marriage to her cousin.
Gregory is a sweetheart he takes excellent care of them all, he plans have never included a wife and family and now he finds himself falling under their spell and reconsidering his future with them. Ela is quite the inquisitive little minx, she adds tons of humor to the story. Even though this a novella it’s a complete story with plenty of romance, adventure, humor and a HEA!!! This is my honest opinions after I voluntarily read a copy of this book that was provided to me with no requirements for a review.

A delightful story of an aunt who takes care of her niece ,after her mom dies. They loved each other very much. Then we have Captain Gregory Pennington who is an officer in the Royal Engineers, building roads and bridges.
The aunt is Freya Sunderland who's father is a Baron and a grandfather to little Ella who is her niece. She is one precocious and loving little girl.. The characters help enact the story with joy and love of life.. The descriptions are wonderful and vivid. The plot has a few surprises in it. I think the authors have done a great job. It is well written, keeps your attention and is worth the time to reads.

I received this ARC from Net Galley and voluntarily reviewed it.

previously released in a highland christmas anthology, sweet home highland christmas is a sweet novella that continues the pennington family story. captain gregory pennington has been commissioned by his brother to accompany family friends back home. penn doesn't know who to expect, but a little sprite named ella and her guardian freya sutherland isn't quite it.

because meeting freya and her young charge changes everything. freya is set to meet with ella's grandmother and has to prove that she has the stability and the means to provide for her. to that end she's convinced that she must marry her cousin in a marriage of convenience that she dreads. that everyone dreads for her, because her cousin isn't a good man.

penn realizes quickly that he needs to make things right for freya. and while he does swoop in and fix everything, he does so without expectations. but his kindness, his friendship, his ability to see the freya before all the responsibility she bears makes him irresistible to her.

this sweet story is a feel-good holiday tale, and releases just in time for christmas in july.

**sweet home highland christmas will publish on july 3, 2018. i received an advance reader copy courtesy of netgalley/st. martin's press (swerve) in exchange for my honest review.

A very pleasant,easy to read book ,right for a summer read or just relaxing.A pleasant plot,and good description of characters,you can almost feel that you are there with the description of skating,and the journey.

Prepare to be delighted in the Christmas novella set in the Highlands. Having taken care of her niece Freya, since Freya's parents had passed away, Ella is desperate to keep custody of her. When Freya's late fathers family begin to make demands to take her, Ella decides the only solution would be for her to marry her cousin. Captain Gregory Pennington, recently retired from the military is tasked by his brother to escort a family to their neighboring estate before he makes in home. Not expecting beautiful Ella, he and she are both instantly attracted to each other. Throw in five year old Freya and the adventure begins! The only problem is Pennington has plans of his own and a wife and child are not part of it. But as fate often does, it is the holidays and sometimes magic happens.
Loved this story and cannot wait to read more by this author!

Please note this story was in the previously released collection, Christmas in Kilts. I really liked this historical read. Ella is such a great character and Gregory and Freya have wonderful chemistry. This fast-paced read holds your interest throughout. I liked it.

Sweet Home Highland Christmas by May McGoldrick
The Pennington Family 1.5

As I began to read I realized I had read this delightful novella in the anthology Christmas in Kilts. What a delightful story of an aunt doing all that she can to retain guardianship of her niece…the little girl she has taken care of since her sister’s death…the little girl who starts the story playing matchmaker. I truly enjoyed this the first time I read it and equally so this second time around.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press – Swerve for the ARC – This is my honest review.

4.5 Stars

Sweet Home Highland Christmas by May McGoldrick is book 1.5 in The Pennington Family series. This is the story of Freya Sutherland and Captain Gregory Pennington.
Freya is has custody of her Niece Ella, but Ella's grandmother is questioning Freya's care. Freya is a single women but to keep her niece Freya will marry to do so. But when she meets Penn there is a immediate attraction but she knows that Penn hasn't any plans to marry nor have a child. So trying to stick to her plan to keep her niece and fight the attraction she has for Penn. But little Ella has her own ideas and still the show...but she does help with a happy ending!
A very sweet romance for Christmas or just any time really....loved it!

Sweet Home Highland Christmas (The Pennington Family, #1.5)
by May McGoldrick

Another buy buy buy novella...
One of the things I love the most reading through this novel, It captures, it titillates as well as being entertaining. What a super addition to the Pennington Family series. This author impresses me every single time I open a book from her. I am engrossed all the way through. I am entertained and I just keep wanting more and more of the stories. What a superb writer she really is. One thing I absolutely hated about this novella.. .it was too short! I just want more right now. So if you want a very quick super read, buy the book sit and enjoy and go back for more! I was given this arc via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own and done willingly and voluntarily. Regards, Anna Swedenmom

Here's the funny thing about my reviewing this book - I didn't even realize I had read it already! I just saw the name May McGoldrick and automatically went "Hell yes, where do I sign up?" I love this author's books, not only because the writing is amazing but also because she includes so much history in her books. I love learning more about the time period, the wars going on, how marriages were made - it's all so interesting to me! May introduces some great historical events that tie really well with the plot and doesn't make it super complicated. That is a great storyteller!

The last person Gregory Pennington is expecting to escort to his family home for the holidays is a precocious 5-year-old who looks like a child but speaks with more wisdom than most adults. Let alone her aunt, Freya Sutherland, who takes his breath away the moment he sees her. Expecting to marry her cousin in order to gain custody of her orphaned niece, Freya is at the end of her rope. Willing to sacrifice whatever is necessary, she now finds herself torn between the life, and the man, she wants and securing her niece's future. If only there were a way for her to have both love and security...

I have said this before and I will say it again - when the child in the story grabs my heart, you know it's a good book. Because typically, I feel children can put a damper on the romance, and I stay far, far away. But in this case, she really was the cherry on top of this delicious treat of a story. Her humorous dialogue with both Gregory and Freya was hysterical, and I wanted to read more about her. I loved Freya and Gregory, of course, as their characters had instant chemistry. Both had such kind hearts, and you could tell that they were drawn to each other from the start. The fact that Freya was willing to do anything for her niece provided just the right amount of conflict, and Gregory worked hard to help her achieve everything she wanted, including love.

As always, May McGoldrick impresses with a delightfully charming story full of history. I can't wait to read what's next for the Pennington family!

**I received a free copy via NetGalley and this is my honest review**

Captain Gregory Pennington is going home for Christmas and is newly retired from the Navy as an engineer. His older brother, Hugh, asked him to escort 4 adults and a child who were traveling to a neighbors for Christmas. Waiting for the party to arrive and an inn he's approached by the most engaging child, Ella. He soon finds Ellis is the child he's to escort along with her aunt and guardian Freya, and her nurse & husband. Colonel Richard Dunbar, the fourth hasn't arrived yet and they expect he'll join them further down the road. Freya's father has no son's and his Earldom will pass to Colonel Dunbar. He is not a nice man. Ella's grandmother is demanding Freya marry to secure Ella's care and support. Freya has raised Ella since she was born as Freya's sister died in childbirth and her father died in the war.

I have to say Ella stole the book. Sometimes an author does such a wonderful job of writing a child into the story it,s delightful. Gregory finds himself drawn to Ella. In that way he's drawn to the mother-guardian, Freya and her predicament. He's horrified that Freya is being forced to marry a man she doesn't want. Being an engineer he's skilled at problem solving. Along the way he finds himself falling in love with her. Freya knows there's no other option than Colonel Dunbar and desperately tries not to fall for Gregory.

Thank you May McGoldrick for this delightful story and thank you St Martin's Press for the NetGalley ARC for my honest review.

Publisher's Description:

A 2018 RITA® finalist for Romance Novellas!

Freya Sutherland is a desperate aunt trying to keep custody of her precocious young niece, Ella. After the death of her father, Freya is willing to do anything to prove she's capable of being Ella's guardian, even if if means marrying for security instead of love.

Recently retired from the military, Captain Gregory Pennington wants nothing more than to make it home in time for Christmas. When his brother hears of his plans to return to the family estate for the holidays, he asks Penn to escort some travelers to the bordering estate.

When Freya and Penn meet their chemistry is instant. Once they realize he's their escort for the journey, there's no escaping their attraction. But Penn has plans that do not include a wife and child. And Freya has responsibilities as Ella's guardian, no matter her growing discontent with her upcoming marriage. With Ella conspiring to get them together, Penn and Freya might just experience a little magic during the holidays.

My Thoughts:

This was my favorite story in the previously released anthology, Christmas in Kilts. With a desperate heroine who needs a way to keep custody of her precocious niece who really made this story delightful, I loved it so much I had no problem rereading it now.
I easily see why this book received a RITA award nomination. This novella is easily one of the best I have read in the last two years.

I gave this story 4.75 of 5.0 stars for storyline and characterization.

Will our hero be the answer to our heroines prayers? Will this pair find love or will both of them resign themselves to a marriage of convenience?

I gave this story a sensual rating of 4.25 of 5.0 flames. It was one of the more sensual novellas in the collection it originally appeared in.
I received a complimentary digital copy of this novella to read and review. This in no way affected my opinion of this title which I read and reviewed voluntarily.

I loved this novella, it was an enjoyable and fun read. The characters are well developed, I loved Ella, and it communicates a lot of emotions, from sadness to happiness.
I will look for other books by this writer.
Recommended.
Many thanks to St Martin's Press and Netgalley for this ARC

Freya Sutherland has been mother to her niece Ella since Freya's sister died in childbirth and her brother-in law was killed in the wars. Problem is that Freya's aunt is insisting that she marry her cousin or, Freya will be taken away from her. She is traveling with Ella to meet her cousin when she meets Captain Gregory Pennington, who is supposed to escort her the rest of the trip. Ella feels an immediate affinity for Gregory and, decides that Freya needs to marry him instead of "that other man!"
This is another absolutely charming, steamy addition to the Pennington family saga and, I couldn't put it down!
Be warned that you will fall in love the Elsa just as much as Freya and Gregory!!!

How exciting! Christmas and a Christmas Ball at Baronsford in the Scottish Highlands! Captain Gregory "Penn" Pennington is asked by his brother to escort a party of 4 adults and a child to his childhood home for the Christmas holidays. Penn meets up with three of the adults and the charming, precicious child, Ella. Thus Penn and Freya Sutherland meet each other. Freya must marry to retain custody of her niece, Ella and has made an accommodation with her cousin, Colonel Richard Dunbar for a marriage of convenience. Dunbar is a gambler and womanizer, Freya knows this. But she has no other choice. Or does she?

May McGoldrick tells a delightful tale where girl meets boy and they fall in love with the help of young Ella. I totally enjoyed this charming tale and look forward to more stories in The Pennington Family Series.

Sweet Home Highland Christmas was a delightful read and a wonderful addition to The Pennington Family series.

Freya’s entire world for the past five years has been about taking care of Ella, the daughter of her older sister who passed away a week after Ella’s birth. When Ella’s father’s family suddenly becomes interested in her welfare, Freya must do whatever she can in order to secure Ella’s guardianship. Set to travel to their estate, Freya and Ella are joined by Captain Gregory Pennington who has been asked to escort them on their journey. But when Freya and Gregory meet, their attraction is immediate throwing their plans into chaos.

Freya has essentially become a mother to Ella in the five years she’s been caring for her and she loves her as if she were her own. Freya is willing to do anything to keep Ella and is even willing to go so far as marry someone she doesn't love to provide a secure future for her. Freya is an incredibly kind and caring person and I admired how far she was willing to go for someone she loved. Her relationship with Ella is very sweet and I found myself enjoying Ella even when I don’t usually like kids in my romance novels.

As a second son, Gregory knew he needed to forge his own path so he became an engineer in the military. With the war with France now over, Gregory is trying to find his place in the world and is considering giving up his position to move to America to design it’s cities. I connected a lot with Gregory in regards to his difficulty knowing where he belonged in the world. I enjoyed watching him discover what he truly wanted out of life and was happy to see him get it.

Freya and Gregory’s attraction to one another is immediate although neither of them knows what to do about it at first. With plans for the future that would take them in different directions, their relationship starts off a bit slowly but they come to trust one another fairly quickly after spending more time together. I found their relationship to be very sweet and I enjoyed watching them fall in love while getting to know each other. The physical chemistry between them is off the charts and I very much enjoyed the scenes where they found time to be alone.

Despite its short length, Sweet Home Highland Christmas packs a lot into 100 pages and was a fun read from start to finish. I highly recommend The Pennington Family series to anyone looking for a historical romance series to read that’s set in the highlands.

Capt. Gregory Pennington was tasked with escorting 4 adults and a child on his way home by his brother.
Freya Sutherland, her niece Ella and two servants were his to escort to Baronsford. The fourth, Freya's intended, was not in the party.
Ella's a charming imp and is trying to matchmake the pair, much to his amusement. Over the length of the journey, they formed a familial unit and he sought a way to become one in actuality.
A short sweet tale written with a bit of angst ( the former betrothed), much humor and romance.
I requested ans received a NetGalley copy to peruse..