I debated whether I should read a Christmas book in the dead of summer, but figured what the heck!! This is my first read from this author, and even though this is the third book in the series I was able to comfortably read it as a standalone.
A contemporary romance that was a sweet, light-hearted, romantic comedy set in a small town that was light on the drama which I enjoyed. Wonderful characters with a happy ending.

“Coming out of your shell is not the same as facing your problems.”
Started off slow for me, but I’m glad I stuck with it. It soon took my notice and had me turning the pages. Characters are well written. Their relationship grew slowly. I liked the town dynamics and how Claire was soon entwined with town though she tried to hid. Both main characters needed to come to terms as to where they really belonged. Interesting secondary characters, especially Ms. Meadows. A bit of Scottish and southern charm and a “Christmas miracle”.
Reviewed by Comfy Chair Books/Lisa Reigel (September 5, 2020)
ARC provided by Publisher via Netgalley

Honestly. Meh. Loved the others I read from this series but this had none of the previous magic. Or steam for that matter.

This contemporary romance stars Claire Smythe and Holt Pierson.

Claire is in hiding and trying to decide about her future. When she turns 25 right after Christmas she will inherit shares in her family's company which is a whiskey distillery. Doing so will force her to return to Scotland and her parents and will put her right in the middle between her father and her cousin's goals for the company. She is a poor little rich girl who was raised more by the family lawyer than by her parents.

Holt Pierson is a lifelong resident of Highland, Georgia. He is an only child and works at his family farm. He likes his life but is now feeling lonely since his parents have semi-retired and taken off in an RV to travel. Holt is feeling lonely and a bit envious of his friends who are finding love and marriage.

Claire is working for an elderly woman and living in her house after spending some time as the lead singer of a Scottish rock band. Claire keeps running into Holt, usually when she is having problems, and Holt becomes fascinated with her.

This was a nice, fast-paced story with engaging characters.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for letting me read this book.
I found it hard to like Claire, the main female character. She was a bit contradictory, having travelled in a band, and yet, on the run and hiding, whilst being somewhat proper.
Holt was lovely, and the side characters, Mrs Meadows and the townspeople were fun to read about.
In the end, it all worked out, although I was a bit saddened with the family and business situation.
Holt and Claire were happy which made it worthwhile.

Having read Laura Trentham's other two Highland Georgia stories (A Highlander walks into a Bar and A Highlander in a Pickup), I was very happy to receive this arc. In the first two parts we had already met Holt Pierson, the lonely friend of Anna. In this part we get an insight into Holt's family and his younger years. When he meets Claire Smythe, he feels an instant attraction to the defensive, spitfire lass who doesn't want help from anybody.
Living with the grumpy widow Ms. Meadows seemed like the perfect hide-out from her family to Claire. But the always chipper and cheerful Holt keeps popping up as Claire's Knight in Shining Armor. Claire isn't used to people just being nice for no apparent reason. So Holt is really getting on her nerves. In a wonderful story Laura shows us how the Christmas time in Highland and the funny inhabitants (including Anna and Iain) chip away at Claire's walls around her heart.
Even in sunny summer, a great Christmas read. Five of out five stars from me and a special thank you to Netgalley for providing the arc.

This is my first book in this trilogy and I didn’t even know it was the last book of three until after I finished the book. This shows you don’t have to read the other two to enjoy this one. An easy read that I couldn’t put down. I loved the characters and the author’s writing style. I will be looking for the other two in this trilogy.

Synopsis from Goodreads:

The third book in the Highland, Georgia romantic comedy series from Laura Trentham, A Highlander is Coming to Town, full of love, laughs...and highlanders!

You better watch out. . .

Holt Pierson is dreading Christmas. His parents absconded to Florida for the season and left him to handle the family farm which will be his one day―whether he wants it or not. Driven by duty, Holt has always followed the path expected of him. But lately, he’s been questioning what he wants and where he belongs. Will assuming the responsibility of the Pierson farm make him happy or is there something―or someone―else out in the wider world calling to him?

To Claire Smythe, the Scottish lead singer of a touring band, Highland, Georgia, is the perfect place to hide . . .until a very handsome and deeply curious Holt begins to ask all the questions Claire doesn’t want to answer. As Holt draws Claire out from under and into the fabric of small-town life, can Claire put the past behind her and embrace the unexpected gifts of the season―including the new and lasting love?

My notes:

This story reminds me in some ways of the Roman Holiday because Claire is from a wealthy Scottish family. The family name is the same name as the whiskey, Smythe is not Claire's real name. She used the fake name as a singer with a Scottish Rock Band. After leaving the band, Claire gets a job as a caregiver to Mrs. Meadows, an elderly lady who needs help. Claire is in Highland, a town in the state of Georgia in the USA. Holt's father has an ongoing feud with Mrs. Meadows who would not give his farm access to her land. Holt gets to know Mrs. Meadows and likes her. He scolds his father for the way he treated Mrs. Meadows.

Highly recommended for fans of Southern contemporary romance who loves romance.

For me, this novel raised more Questions than answers. If the romance reader does not mind unanswered questions,.

When Mrs. Meadows decides to move into an assisted living residence at the edge of the town, she explains to Claire that she cannot afford to move into the nice place unless she gets a good price for her house. Holt explained to Claire that even in a good year, his farm has a slight margin of profit. Claire has NO money. To my surprise, Holt finds the money to buy Mrs. Meadows' house.



I received a free digital copy of A Highlander is Coming to Town from Net Galley in exchange for a honest review.

The third book in the Highland, Georgia romantic comedy series from Laura Trentham, A Highlander is Coming to Town, full of love, laughs...and highlanders!
A comical romance with highlanders.

I was invited by St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley to read the ARC of A Highlander Is Coming to Town, by Laura Trentham, in exchange for an honest review. This is the third book in the Highland, Georgia, romantic comedy series, but is the only one I have read. I definitely want to read the others.

The book is well-written with only minimal errors, that will probably be corrected for the published copies. This book is a quick, easy, read with well-developed characters. If your brain is tired from reading “dark or heavy stuff” A Highlander Is Coming to Town, will give you the respite you need. It even gave me a bit of Christmas spirit in the heat of summer.

Claire Smythe has dropped out as the Scottish lead singer of a touring band, and believes the lovely small town of Highland, Georgia, will be the perfect place to hide from her overbearing family. No one here needs to know she is the heiress of a famous brand of Scotch whiskey.

Holt Pierson's parents decided to abandon him for the warm Florida weather, and left him to care for the family farm that he will someday inherit. He is dreading being alone at Christmas. Holt isn't sure he wants to follow in his parents' footsteps. Will he be happy running a farm?

Soon Holt meets the secretive Claire, but he soon recognizes her from the band. Even though she dodges his questions, Holt is able to draw her out of her shell, and into the Christmas-y season of Highland. Before we know it, they could be falling in love.

What made The Grumpy Book Reviewer grumpy?
Not much: a few typos, a couple of missing commas, a period at the end of a question, 3 instances of Incorrect verb tense. Any of these things can happen when sentences or phrases are moved or cut and pasted. That's what good proofreaders are for.

This was such a fun read and although there were some moments of angst, the humour and the delightful season of Christmas balanced it out.

I adored Holt's character, such a warm hearted man and he's exactly what Claire needs!! Claire has a secret and a decision she needs to make which will affect her whole life. The storyline pretty much deals with that and it all takes place amidst the Christmas season in Highland, Georgia. I loved the small town feeling, the people, the traditions, etc.

I received an ARC of this book via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

3.5 star Review of A Highlander Is Coming To Town by Laura Trentham

Laura Trentham is a new author to me. I love books that centre around; it's the most magical time of the year and also happens to be my most favourite holiday. It’s a time for family and friends to get together and celebrate life.

This is Holt Pierson and Claire Smythe’s story and it was an enjoyable read. Holt is at a crossroads, torn between his duty to his family and their farm and wanting to spread his wings and leave Highland, Georgia. Claire is a Scottish singer, touring with her band and wants to get away from it all.

When Holt and Claire meet, he is drawn to the mysterious woman who doesn't want to answer his questions. As their relationship develops, will Claire be happy to settle in a small town? What will happen when her secrets are revealed?
This was a sweet, cute story with some romance, but not a lot of the holiday season which is what I expected when I chose this book.

I received a copy of this book, through the publisher via NetGalley

A really heartwarming romance with the added sparkle of the holidays. Two lonely souls (make that three) make a connection and their lives open up to all the possibilities. The close knit community of Highland is charming, the characters are all engaging and touch upon each other’s lives. I didn’t want this story to end, I wanted to stay with this town and it’s inhabitants just a little longer! The author has a great way of getting her readers invested in the story and it’s characters.

This was a sweet fun romance. Even though its the third in the series, I dont think my enjoyment unduly suffered from not having read them first.
This is a rich girl falls for the small town boy trope and I have to say I lapped it up! Holt was adorably sweet just what prickly Claire needed to draw her out of her shell. Even though I read it out of season this little christmas romance didnt seem out of place, It was a warmhearted light read. And I loved it.

I never read any from this author great book. I can't wait to read more from this author. I liked the cover it's what attracted me to the book to want to read it

Thank you to St. Martin’s and NetGalley for the advance reader copy of A Highlander is Coming to Town, part of the Highland, Georgia series which releases September 29th!

I was approached by St. Martin’s via NetGalley to read and review this Christmas themed story. I opted into the opportunity because who does not love Scots and Christmas, at any time of the year.

Characters: Holt and Claire are the main characters of this story. Claire is hiding out in the town, running from her past and her future. This town represents a chance to lay low, keep her head down but her character is too interesting for that. Holt sees that, and he brings it out of her. Holt is the small-town farm boy who takes a chance with the elusive Claire.

Setting: The story is set in Highland, Georgia which is a lovely small town. The whole town has a Scottish vibe, from the festivals, bars, and parties they have. To all the former Scots, turned Americans loitering around the town. Such a nice atmosphere, I wanted to stay in this setting for a long time.

Romance: Claire and Holt were made for each other. The vast majority of this story was reading as Claire decided to put her own happiness ahead of the expectations of her family. To allow herself to love openly and honestly. Not just Holt but the entire town of Highland, Georgia.

Received in exchange for a honest review.

So I liked and didn’t like. Overall I found this fun and entertaining. I love Holt. He showed us there is more than meets the eye. He was sweet, fun, kind, gentle and giving. He didn’t really know much about his neighbor but that is due to a dispute his dad had with her. He didn’t begrudge her though and was nice to her. He is taking care of the family farm as his parents are away and won’t be back for the holidays and this has him dreading them. But he does get a silver lining. And that was Claire.

It was Claire that I didn’t like. I couldn’t really warm up to her. She was prickly at first. Very secretive and just not to friendly. Well except to the woman she was staying with. So when HOlt comes into her world she wasn’t exactly thrilled. The chemistry really wasn’t there for me when it came to Claire and her feelings for Holt. YOu could see how Holt felt and how it turned him upside down at times. She had him out of his comfort zone and seeing beyond the farm and feuds with people. She did help him see beyond what he knew and got him to show more compassion than before. Don’t get me wrong he was a caring man but his compassion towards his neighbor wasn’t always seen until Claire. Holt got Claire to see the world in a different light as well. Showed her she couldn’t run and hide for ever and that love and support helps you heal and find your way. As Holt wears Claire down you do start to thaw from her prickly attitude and start to like her. It just takes awhile and kind of has the romance aspect seem flat on her side. It was Holt that made this book. His way with others and how he helped them out. His kindness and fun personality and how he found ways to help others even when it seemed impossible. How he grew and found love and how you couldn’t help but cheer him on in this whole adventure of his. So Overall like the book but didn’t relate much to Claire. Related a to Holt and loved him and his story in finding love with Claire.

Thank you to @stmartinspress @netgalley and author @lauratrentham for the 3rd book in the Highland Georgia series, A Highlander is Coming To Town!

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Synopsis from the publisher: Holt Pierson is dreading Christmas. His parents absconded to Florida for the season and left him to handle the family farm which will be his one day―whether he wants it or not. Driven by duty, Holt has always followed the path expected of him. But lately, he’s been questioning what he wants and where he belongs. Will assuming the responsibility of the Pierson farm make him happy or is there something―or someone―else out in the wider world calling to him?

To Claire Smythe, the Scottish lead singer of a touring band, Highland, Georgia, is the perfect place to hide …until a very handsome and deeply curious Holt begins to ask all the questions Claire doesn’t want to answer. As Holt draws Claire out from under and into the fabric of small-town life, can Claire put the past behind her and embrace the unexpected gifts of the season―including the new and lasting love?

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I have absolutely loved each of the books in this series, and loved that the latest is also a Christmas story! This book was perfect amounts or sweet, funny, and heartwarming. Claire is such a strong and spunky female lead, which made the dynamic between her and Holt so fun to watch unfold.This can definitely be read as a stand alone, but you will have a better feel for the characters in the book if you read the previous two. I loved the friendship between Claire and Ms. Meadows as much as I loved the romance between Claire and Holt. If you are looking for a book that has all the warm fuzzy feels of a Hallmark Christmas movie then definitely pick this one up. Out on September 29th 2020. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

My thanks to NetGalley for making an eARC copy of this book available to me.

Just kind of average and fairly predictable.

I have enjoyed the previous stories in this Highland, Georgia series, and I was really looking forward to this Christmas time jaunt back to the town and it's citizens.

Whilst I liked it, I wasn't as enamoured with it as I was the first two books.

And I think for the most part, the problem for me was Claire. I liked her for the most part, but I did get sick of her "poor little rich girl" attitude for so much of the story. I got it, I know why she hid who she was from people. I am sure I would too to some extent.

But ugh it ended up grating on me. This could just be me though. I wanted to shake some sense into her at times.

Holt was just all swoon in a kilt. Get out of the way Claire, I will take him off your hands!

I loved seeing more of the couples from the previous books, I loved seeing their relationships growing, I loved the banter between everyone.

So whilst this one fell a little flat for me, I hope we get more visits to Highland in the future.

3.5 stars