What a cute, entertaining book this was. Take 2 Scottish men, add a very Southern mother and daughter, a Highlands Event taking place in Highlands, Ga, run by said Mother and daughter, and you have a wonderful rom con. I thoroughly enjoyed each of these four main characters, but in particular Izzy, the daughter, who was smart, awkward, and lacked a verbal filter. She was a treat to read as was the entire book. It seems to me the last chapter gives us a peak at the next book. I’m so looking forward to that!

My first read from this author but I'm really looking forward to a return trip to Highland, GA. When Izzy's mother comes home with a Scottish Highlander, she is rightfully wary. Something is off and she need to protect her mother and her heritage, home and property at all costs. Alasdair comes in wanting to do the same thing for his uncle Gareth. Soon though, in an effort to protect becomes a disaster in the making and keep secrets even more so. I enjoyed the chemistry between these two and truly enjoyed the history and descriptions of both Highlands that are included in the story line (Scotland AND GA -- not the two hotties lol). Can forgiveness be given when you feel like trust is gone?

I could not resist the title of this book. Setting me up for a story and a punch line, this tale, filled with humor and romance did not disappoint.

There is nothing in this book that is not fun! Just like the blurb says, there as never been a place as friendly as Highland, Georgia. So when Uncle Gareth and Nephew Alasdair arrive in Highland, they are not treated as the strangers they are but as the friends they may become. I know, a bit unrealistic, but really nice. In Highland, everyone is a friend. Even the banker, believe it or not, is a good guy!

A Highlander Walks into a Bar does have a few suspicious characters. Pretty much all characters are imagined has having ulterior motives at one time or another. Discovering the truths behind the suspicions is entertaining. The Highland Games becomes the climatic scene where all good things lead to the Happily Ever After. So super sugary – yes. But sometimes sweet is just what a reader wants.

Through Netgalley, the publisher provided a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Lies, deceit, love, and respect all play a part in this book. When Isobel's mom comes home from a vacation, she brings a surprise home; Gareth. It has been years since her mom has had a man in her life and she isn't happy about the man being in their house. She doesn't know him or trust him. But, her mom is happy. When another Highlander walks in, she is drawn to him, even though she doesn't want to be. She doesn't trust him either, but her mom welcomes him into their home as well.
Alisdair is in the states to bring his uncle home, but doesn't realize the backstory his uncle has given. The lies weren't meant to hurt, but Gareth wanted the chance to be with a woman without her wanting him for his title and what he can do for her. Alisdair agrees to keep the secret, but finds it harder and harder the more he gets to know Isobel. To make matters worse, he inadvertently sets in motion a takeover of her family's land.
I really liked the banter between Alisdair and Isobel. The relationship between the two grew organically, albeit, fast. They both knew there was a deadline to them being together, even though neither wanted to end things. The solution they come up with for both couples was great. I look forward to reading more in this series.
I received an ARC in exchange for n honest, voluntary review.

A Highlander Walks into a Bar by Lauren Trentham takes you to small town Georgia and the makings of a Scottish Festival.

The story opens when our heroine, Isabel, is struck speechless by the return of her mom from vacation with an interesting souvenir. The living, breathing, Scottish man kind of souvenir. Alasdair Blackmoor isn't sure what his uncle is thinking following an American back to her hometown of Highland, Georgia. But once Isabel and Alasdair meet all bets are off. Mistrust and sparks fly.

I really enjoyed the storytelling. The author showcased how it can be growing up in a small town where everyone knows your most embarrassing moments and can't look past who you were as an awkward teenager. The role of family expectations took me by surprise and really had me thinking about how many people explore careers in fields that they have no interest in because of their parent's influence. All set against the backdrop of planning and executing an annual Scottish Festival. Men in kilts. Lots of men in kilts.

Fun. Enjoyable. Humorous. I recommend this book for a fun romantic comedy to put you in a good mood.

⭐⭐⭐⭐

One of my favorite things about Ms Trentham‘ work (at least the books I’ve read) is her ability to make the setting of the story as much a part of things as the characters. This is true with A Highlander Walks Into a Bar.



Set in Highland, GA - two real highlanders show up and set in motion events that change the lives of at least 2 couples. Alisdair and his uncle Gareth are the heartbreaking Highlanders matched up with Isabelle and her mother, Rose. While the focus of the story is on the younger couple, the older pair are definitely part of the action.



I found all of the characters likeable and the situations around them engaging and interesting. Ms Trentham pulled me in and had me invested in them finding resolutions to see if a happily ever after was possible.



I am curious to see what is in store for the good people of Highland in the future!

A Highlander Walks into a Bar is a thoroughly entertaining, low-angst romance that’s bursting at the seams with warmth, humor and tenderness. When Izzy’s mother returns home from vacation with a Scottish boyfriend, she’s downright flabbergasted. And when mom’s new boyfriend’s nephew, Alasdair, shows up and decides to stick around to lend his expertise to their small town’s Highlander Festival, which she and her mom host on their estate, she feels as though her world is turning upside down. Although Izzy doesn’t trust either man, she is surprised when she strikes up a friendship and finds herself attracted to Alasdair. Their connection deepens as they work together, and theirs is a heady, emotional slow-burn love story. A Highlander Walks into a Bar is wonderfully quirky, utterly charming and perfectly romantic.

This was a sweet and fun romance. The Buchanan’s have been hosting the Highland Fair every summer on their property, Stonehaven in Highland Georgia as long as Isabel could remember. Since her father’s death it was her mother and Isabel’s duty to organize it. So when her mother Rose travelled to Scotland to get ideas for the fair, Isabel never imagined that she would return home with a six foot highlander, Gareth Connors.

Alastair Blackmoor, was on his way to check up on his Uncle Gareth, on his Mum’s request. She was worried that an American was trying to take advantage of him and cheat Alastair out of his birthright. But what Alastair found instead was that the woman Gareth came home with, didn’t even know he was an Earl. So Alastair stays in town and looks into the Buchanan’s finances under the pretense of helping Isabel with the Highland Fair. But he soon finds that he is becoming quite taken by the beautiful, sassy and quirky Isabel.

So grab a copy and read this double romance. Full of kilt wearing men, sexy accents and romance that will linger forever in your heart.

I voluntarily read and reviewed a free copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

Most Highlander stories are historical romances set in Scotland. While there are tartans aplenty in this book, this is a modern-day story of Scottish Highlanders unfolding in America.

Alasdair and Isabel’s relationship is charming. While steadily growing attraction simmers between them, what brings Alasdair and Isabel together is their love of nature. It is in their blood from running wild during their childhood through fields of wild flowers, among cool glens and forests, and getting wet and muddy from streams. Their carefree childhood is given free rein when they are together. This freedom is exactly what they need to look at their life anew. Are they happy? And if not, what is it they need to do to be so?

While Isabel and Alasdair’s relationship is the primary focus of the book, Rose and Gareth’s relationship is the impetus that brings them together and you see both relationships unfold in the course of the book. Now, you have two estates: Stonehaven and Cairndow. Which couple is going to live where? And how are they going to reconcile their widely divergent lives to come together in happiness and love?

A Highlander Walks in a Bar is a fun, light-hearted story with two warm, tender romances and is a perfect beach read.

https://frolic.media/the-heart-of-a-story-a-highlander-walks-into-a-bar-by-laura-trentham/

Wow, a Southern area where the people are more obsessed with all things Scottish than those in the NC mountains (Grandfather Mountain) where the Highland Games are played every summer. Only Laura Trentham could give us such a place and boy, does she ever with A Highlander Walks into a Bar. Highland, Georgia is the perfect place for these games.

It is a well-written story with charming but secretive men and smart, sassy women. So it is no surprise when the romances go downhill when the secrets are revealed, charming can only go so far. However, true love and forgiveness with a bit of groveling helps too.

At the beginning is amusing how Isabel and Alasdair have the same reservations except it is Isabel doubting Alasdair’s uncle and Alasdair being suspicious of Isabel’s mother. Still this is what brings them together. Then there are the games, the secrets, the building of relationships that make this an entertaining read. The cute conclusion hints at perhaps another Scots man finding his HEA Highland, Georgia in the future.

Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) provided by the Author and Publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an fair and honest review.

An older Highlander follows a woman from Scotland to small town Georgia. Highland, Georgia, to be exact. He is then followed by his very hot nephew and the fun begins. I love these hot, handsome Highlanders in Historical Romance. Reading a contemporary romance with Highlander heroes is sooooooo fun! Hot, handsome, intriguing Highlander Alasdair and sweet, steady, pretty Isabel meet under interesting circumstances in this delightful tale of how fate can work everything out.

Isabel Buchanan' mom, Rose, comes home from her trip to Scotland with a very interesting and unique keepsake - an actual Highlander! Gareth and Rose spent a lot of time together in Scotland and were not quite ready for it to end. With the annual Highland Games Festival looming, Rose thought Gareth could lend some authenticity to the event that keeps both the town of Highland and the Buchanan family afloat. But it turns out that momma Rose is more interested in Highlander Gareth than in planning the Highland Games. Izzy is at a loss as to what Gareth is after.

When Gareth's hot, young nephew comes looking for his uncle there is more than a little intrigue going on. Alasdair Blackmore is totally taken with the small town and is immediately smitten by the lovely Isabel. She has a few reservations about both Alasdair and his uncle and well she should since the two don't want their family relationship known. He helps Izzy with the festival all the time knowing that after the Games, he and Gareth must return to Scotland. As the time approaches Alasdair has some life altering decisions to make and, hopefully, his little omissions won't get in the way of his spending the rest of his life with Isabel.

I read this book in a few sittings which means it's a good romance.

I really like that it was set in a small town with Scottish flavors. I loved Izzy point of view as she sees her mom fall in love and for her to fall in love herself with Alasdair.

This was a fun small town romance.

Isabel Buchanan is shocked when her mother, Rose, returns to their Georgia home from a trip to Scotland with a man in tow. Rose is so lovestruck, Izzy is left to plan their family's annual Highland games alone. That is, alone until the arrival of Gareth the Highlander's handsome young nephew looking for his uncle.

Alasdair Blackmoor won't stand by and see his uncle taken advantage of for his title as an earl, despite the estrangement that has developed between them. but when he finds Gareth enjoying himself, Alasdair decides to stay for awhile as well and try to repair their relationship, along with making sure Gareth doesn't wind up getting hurt. Izzy remains suspicious of both Scotsmen, but can't deny her immediate connection with Alasdair. If only their lives weren't oceans apart.

It's charming and all but some of the "southernisms" in this one were a bit much and over-exaggerated to me. (Although, I'm from NC, so maybe it's different in the deeper south.) Izzy was annoyingly immature and childish and what's worse is that she acknowledged this on multiple occasions but didn't change her behavior. Alasdair, on the other hand, was surprisingly deeper than even he realized. I enjoyed this development, but be warned this is a bit of a slow burn; not that it takes out characters long to connect, just a few days, but this covers over half the book. They have great chemistry when they finally do get it together and despite its annoyances and over the top attempts at comedy, I did enjoy the story itself and will probably check out other installments of the series.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

A Highlander Walks Into a Bar is the first in author Laura Trentham’s new Highland, Georgia series and it is fantastic. Other stories like this, contemporary romance, rom-coms, two opposites, sexy foreigner, etc. yell at you. Wave frantically to get your attention and get you laughing and sighing. Laura Trentham’s stories whisper to you, softly, subtly, starting with the very beginning of the story, sneaking up on you until you are so invested and drawn in that you can’t stop turning the pages. The buildup is so quiet and almost secret, just rolling along until it’s like you’re caught in a spider’s web. You are hooked and so are the main characters.

Izzy is a bit – well, a lot - suspicious of this charming gentleman her mom brought home from Scotland. Looks like she’s just about invited him to move in for good. And Izzy’s even more suspicious when Alasdair shows up a couple of days later looking for his uncle Gareth. What do these two smooth guys want? But hold on – the outside temperature in Highland, Georgia isn’t the only thing that’s hot. Alasdair is so charming, so handsome, so sexy – she can barely speak when she is around him.

Izzy is marvelous She’s protective of her mother and loyal to her town with its Scottish roots and annual Scottish festival. She’s different from the usual Southern Belle – no artifice, no wiles, speaks her mind, and she’s also often unintentionally hilarious. Clumsy, awkward, tongue-tied when she’s not blurting out something totally inappropriate, laugh out loud funny. Alasdair is suave and smooth but that kind of goes out the window when he’s around Izzy. And he does not like Holt – the alfalfa, turnip, gentleman, squash, eggplant, actually soybean and pig – farmer who seems to think he and Izzy belong together.

A Highlander Walks Into a Bar is charming from start to finish. Of course there are some secrets and some bumps on the road to true love, but this story is full of characters you will love and want to know for a long time. Author Trentham does an excellent job of keeping you hanging both in Georgia and Scotland, wondering how things can be resolved without too much heartache, provides a very satisfying ending, and a delightful teaser for the second book in the series.

Thanks to St. Martin’s Press via NetGalley for the ARC of A Highlander Walks Into a Bar in exchange for my honest review. I loved it and recommend it without hesitation, as well as anything else written by Laura Trentham.

Such a fun romance!!! Izzy and her mom Rose live in Highland GA - a town known for its Scottish influences and especially the annual Scotland Games. Izzy and her mom put on the major festival every year on their property and it’s a major source of revenue for the entire town from the tourists it draws.

Just a month before this year’s festival - Izzy goes to the airport to pick up her mom and finds she brought one heck of a souvenir back - in the form of Gareth, a Scot her mom is smitten with. While Izzy is a bit wary of his motivation - Gareth’s family also has concerns about the whirlwind romance. His nephew Alasdair is sent to retrieve his uncle.

I really enjoyed this read - one of my favorite things in a romance is an awkward heroine who tends to speak her mind a little too freely. I also really appreciated the way the central conflict was resolved - particularly a discussion between Izzy and her mom. If you love a small town romance, if you love a Scottish accent, if you’re looking for a fun read that will have you smiling - pick up this book!!

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for my advance reading copy.

I enjoyed this book. It was entertaining and it was a quick read. I liked the characters.

would this be one I wouldn't read again but I do recommend this one.

WOW!!! I LOVED reading Izzy and Alasdair’s love story in A Highlander Walks into a Bar by Laura Trentham, book one in her Highland, Georgia series. Imagine picking up your mother from the airport, after her trip to Scotland, to find she brought home a six-foot tall, handsome souvenir. Oh my!! Izzy’s mother is so into this man that Izzy finds herself planning their annual Highland Games by herself. At least until the Highlander’s young nephew arrives, looking for his uncle. Izzy is far from a quiet, shy, young lass; she’s funny, imaginative, fiery, and determined. These Scottish men have thrown her for a loop. Alasdair has traveled far and wide as part of his job but never has visited as friendly a town or met a young woman as smart and attractive as Izzy. Alasdair decides he’d rather help Izzy with preparing for the event than save his uncle, who is immensely enjoying himself. In fact, Izzy’s mother and Alasdair’s uncle appear to falling in love. While working together on the games, Izzy and Alasdair appear to have fallen under the spell of some fairies from the woods and cannot stop wanting to be together fueling their magnetic attraction and sparking the electricity between them. However, there are a few problems on the horizon. Alasdair and his uncle are each hiding a secret and then there’s figuring out what is going to happen with these two couples after the games are over. Warning: this story has dancing like a Highland, drinking like a Highlander, and falling in love with a Highland.

Ms. Trentham wrote a wonderfully funny and sexy story that is not to be missed. She provided a tale rich with sexual chemistry, amusing banter, jealousy, hot Highlanders, and other endearing characters giving Izzy and Alasdair, along with her mother and his uncle, a chance for happiness, love and a future together. I highly recommend A Highlander Walks into a Bar to other readers and I for one am looking forward to another book in this series..

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.

Sunday, July 28, 2019
SUNDAY SPOTLIGHT






carpe librum

seize the book - what a perfect thought!

welcome book lovers


each Sunday myself and my BFF Ann from Romancing the Readers (RTR)
will be featuring /shining the spotlight on a book or book related themes. maybe it's a book we read and loved or maybe it's something we can't wait to read or a burning question we have...well you get the idea!

we also blog together on Book Club Thursdays (aka BCT) and on fridays (various features).




today my feature is:

i'm featuring two books (i was lucky enough to have read the ARC's) that are both out this Tuesday (even more lucky for you)



Isabel Buchanan is fiery, funny, and never at a loss for words. But she is struck speechless when her mother returns from a trip to Scotland with a six-foot-tall, very handsome souvenir. Izzy’s mother is so infatuated by the fellow that Izzy has to plan their annual Highland Games all by herself. Well, not completely by herself. The Highlander’s strapping young nephew has come looking for his uncle…

Alasdair Blackmoor has never seen a place as friendly as this small Georgia town—or a girl as brilliant and beguiling as Izzy. Instead of saving his uncle, who seems to be having a lovely time, Alasdair decides he’d rather help Izzy with the Highland Games. Show her how to dance like a Highlander. Drink like a Highlander. And maybe, just maybe, fall in love with a Highlander. But when the games are over, where do they go from here?

indiebound


oh, this book...

yeah, i freely admit i pretty much have stopped reading romance novels on a regular basis for a handful of reasons

i LOVED this book and for me- just saying- if more romances were like this one, i'd be reading much more of them!

it was just sexy enough and funny-plus Highlander(s)/Scotsmen!
i enjoyed both Izzy and Alasdair both together and as individuals.and i really enjoyed the love they have for their family.

i also enjoyed the tease of what's to come at the end of the book - i will be reading on

Izzy's mother Rose brings home a human souvenir from her trip to Scotland. Being as Rose hasn't had interest in dating since her husband died, this is quite a surprise for Izzy. Izzy and Rose live in a Scotland inspired home/castle in a town that pays homage to Scotland with their family property/annual festival being the center of it all. The Scottish souvenir, Gareth, has a nephew Alasdair, who comes to look for his uncle. Of course, Izzy and Alasdair fall for each other. This was a good story. Will look forward to reading the next in the series.

Isabel Buchanan is fiery, funny, and never at a loss for words until her mother Rose returns from a trip to Scotland with a six-foot-tall, very handsome souvenir Gareth. Alasdair Blackmoor has never seen a place as friendly as this small Georgia town—or a girl as brilliant and beguiling as Izzy. Instead of saving his uncle, who seems to be having a lovely time, Alasdair decides he’d rather help Izzy with the Highland Games.
A fun read that left me with a warm fuzzy feeling. Well written with well portrayed characters that were very likeable. Whilst I was caught up in the book I did feel the pace did lag a little at times. I also felt that I didn’t get to know Alasdair very well & would have liked to have known more of his background & relationship with his parents. That said I would recommend this as a light fun read
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read