From the beginning readers learn Claire Smythe is not the protagonist's real name. She has a reason for hiding her identity and has taken refuge in Highland, Georgia. Out of financial necessity she has taken a position as a caretaker to an elderly woman. The more she tries to remain anonymous, the harder it becomes. Especially after she catches the eye of Holt Pierson. She knows she has decisions to make about her future and that she can't stay in Highland much longer. However, Holt is difficult to resist.
Claire is an intriguing character in that she is trying not to let her past shape her future. The strain of keeping secrets and isolating herself from others takes its toll Despite herself, she does become emotionally invested in the community and with the people of this small Georgia town. Can it be that she has found a place to call home?
This is a beautifully written story that is poignant and meaningful. Highly recommended.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from St. Martin's through NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.

This was such a fun, light hearted romance. I enjoyed the character development and found reading it highly enjoyable. This was my first book by this author and I cant wait to read more! Highly recommend!

I apologize, I am unable to provide feedback on this book because, despite repeated attempts to work with Netgalley to fix it, they are unable to successfully send a book to my kindle.

Contrary to what the book-blurb says, Holt likes being a farmer. He is dutiful but likes Highland, Georgia. That he wants something more in his life does not mean he wishes he wasn't a farmer. Claire is waiting out a few weeks before her 25th birthday when she is due to reap an inheritance that she is not sure she wants but feels obligated to accept. Finding an attraction to local farmer Holt was not in her plans, neither was her growing fondness for Ms. Meadows the elderly lady she is caretaking.

I enjoyed this warm and fuzzy read. There are delightful characters who add to the feeling of community. There is enough angst to keep me turning pages to find out what will become of these delightful people. The Christmas holidays are intricate throughout the story.

I did not realize this was part of a series, and am delighted to know there are other books set in this interesting little town. A Highlander is Coming to Town reads as a stand alone book, and is quite a fun twist with Claire Smythe, being the transplant from Scotland to a small town in Georgia. Though the local hunk, Holt, looks quite dashing in a kilt, indeed. Entertaining and emotional, Claire has decision deadlines fast approached for her 25th birthday. What has she kept hidden from her employer and Holt? Does she stay in Highland or go back to Scotland where her parents and ancestry demand?

A HIGHLANDER IS COMING TO TOWN is the third book in Laura Trentham’s “Highland, Georgia” contemporary romance series. This book is probably my favorite in this series – largely because of the hero. The story is told is alternating perspectives, which is good for readers, since the heroine keeps a lot hidden from the other characters. Claire Smythe was, up until very recently, the Scottish lead singer of a rock band. Now she is a companion/housekeeper for the elderly yet feisty Ms. Meadows. Holt Pierson is a local country lad and resident hottie who is bewitched by Claire. Holt’s interest doesn’t work for Claire since she’s trying to keep a low profile in town. Her reasons for hiding are gradually revealed over the course of the story.

I generally prefer characters who are straightforward and open, so I was slow to warm to Claire with all her secrets. Eventually she grew on me as more of her personality and motivations are revealed. I adored Holt instantly. Holt is charming without seeming obnoxious or too aggressive. Although he gets a bad rap from Ms. Meadows because of his dad’s dealings with her, he soon proves to her and to Claire that what a good guy he is and how handy he is to have in a tight spot. I’m glad Laura Trentham doesn’t have the cliché huge betrayal scene that would normally pop up because of Claire’s secrets. Holt and Claire have vastly different backgrounds, but they find that they are equally lonely. The more time she spends in Highland, and in Holt’s intoxicating company, Claire begins to open herself up to different options for her life. Holt slowly earns her trust as he earns her love. The chemistry between these two characters, and the sexual tension, is amazeballs and makes the evolving romance so much richer.

A HIGHLANDER IS COMING TO TOWN is a charming love story with a skittish Scottish lass and a charismatic country lad. The townspeople made interesting supporting characters and unexpected friends for Claire. There is a happily ever after at the end of A HIGHLANDER IS COMING TO TOWN, but the author and the characters will surprise you – in a good way. I wouldn’t mind reading about Claire’s cousin in a future book. I look forward to reading Laura Trentham’s next book.

I received an eARC of A Highlander is Coming to Town by Laura Trentham from St. Martin's Press and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
4 Stars! This was a light, fun rom-com. Add this to your Christmas TBR list!

Title: A Highlander is Coming to Town
Author: Laura Trentham
Genre: Romance
Rating: 4 out of 5

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?

I’ve really enjoyed the books in the Highland, Georgia series, and this one did not disappoint. I liked the switch to the female lead being from Scotland, not the male. Claire’s scattered issues with the differences between American slang and Scottish were amusing, too.

This is another in the list of books I’ve read recently that make small-town life sound appealing. Highland, Georgia sounds like a charming—almost magical—place, and it truly comes to life on the pages of these novels. Claire and Holt are both flawed characters, but their imperfections make them relatable, and their chemistry is believable and compelling.

Laura Trentham was born in Tennessee. A Highlander is Coming to Town is her newest novel.

(Galley courtesy of St. Martin’s Press in exchange for an honest review.)

A Highlander is Coming to Town was such a delightful read. I loved it and could not put it down. I am giving it four and a half stars.

I loved this book set in Highland, Georgia. Claire is hiding out there after leaving a Scottish band. She takes a position as a caregiver to cranky Ms. Meadows. While bicycling back from town with her groceries, she gets a flat tire. Holt, who lives in the neighborhood stops to help her out. It seems he is always around when she’s having a problem, much to the dismay of Ms. Meadows. She has had issues over her land with Holt’s father. Claire and Holt become closer, but she is keeping a secret about her identity. This was a charming book, made more entertaining by the Scottish phrases spoken by some of the characters.

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Love this series! I enjoyed reading Claire and Holts love story and what's going on in the town. The writing is good and pulls you into the story. This is is one series where you wish you lived there and I'm hoping for another in the series.

Thank you for allowing me to check out this title. The overall story did not hold my attention. I will not be giving this a review.

Laura Trentham delivers another happily ever after that features the quirky town of Highlands, Georgia and a romance between a real Highlander and a local that brings heart and some heat, all wrapped up in a Christmas bow!

Holt Pierson is about as steady as they come. He’s everyone’s friend and always reliable. The only thing missing for him is finding the right person to spend the rest of his life with. Claire Smythe has been running from her family obligations. She’s traveled with her band and never put down any roots. She’s at a crossroads and knows it’s time to make some decisions, but what she didn’t count on was Holt being part of the equation. The romance between these two was a bit of a slow-burn. Holt was all-in, and it was easy to see why Claire ended up not being able to resist getting involved with him - even though the arrangement was temporary. It was clear that Claire’s family life was a bit dysfunctional, but I really wanted her to confide in Holt. Her behavior at times was a bit frustrating, but then again, after meeting her family it really wasn’t a surprise that she avoided trusting people and getting involved with anyone.

I absolutely loved Ms. Meadows and don’t think this book would have been half as good without her! She was such a hoot and she played the role of the crochety old woman so well…but underneath that was such a caring woman who has suffered some real tragedy. I loved the way she looked after Claire - even though it was Claire that was supposed to be looking after Ms. Meadows, and I loved her spirit.

It was great to catch up with other characters from the previous books. I loved spending more time with Iain and Anna and getting to see how their lives were playing out. Just like the previous books, each supporting character really helped shape Holt and Claire’s story and added such color to the town of Highlands.

This is the third book in the series but can easily be read as a standalone. It was an easy read that had a good balance between the humor, the heart, and the heat, all while keeping the angst to a minimum. This is one for the TBR!

A Highlander is Coming to Town is the third book in Laura Trentham’s Highland, Georgia series. I was born and raised in Georgia, so this book seemed intriguing. The blurb had me curious, and the cover caught my eye. I’ve enjoyed the handful of books by this author that I’ve read so far, so I thought I’d see what this one was all about. It is part of a series but this book can be read as a standalone. I believe the other books in the series are written this way, as well. I didn’t feel like I was missing any backstory at all, so I can honestly tell you that it’s okay to jump in with any book.

NICUnurse’s Rating: As I said before, I’ve truly enjoyed this author’s writing in the few other books of hers that I’ve had the pleasure of reading. I went into this story with really high hopes and expectations. It really pains me to say it, but I didn’t love this book. It took me until about a quarter of the way through it before I really felt like the story became interesting, and I didn’t really connect with the main characters until about halfway through the story, either. I know Laura Trentham is a talented author, and I know I won’t always like every book I read. But I always hate it when I don’t love an author’s work when I’ve loved previous works. I did, however, love how the story ended. I thought it stayed true to who the main characters really were, and left me feeling good about where all of the characters ended up. Regardless of the fact that I didn’t fall in love with this book, I’m not giving up on this author’s work, so look for more reviews of her books in the future!

I give A Highlander is Coming to Town 3.5 out of 5 stars.

Claire is hiding from her family. She does not want to go back to Scotland. She has made her a little spot in Georgia taking care of a sweet, older lady. But, life has a way of showing you who is boss!

I was not the least bit in the mood for a romance when I started this book. But, these characters had me hooked from the start. Claire is a character I adored. I related to her quirkiness. She truly wants to hide and stay hidden but she loves with all her heart.

Then there is Holt. Holt is down to earth and just wants to get through the holidays as quickly as possible. But, when he runs into Claire…his mind changes and he wants to make the best of the holiday season while he can.

This is a perfect Christmas romance to get you in the mood for the season. Grab your copy today.

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.

I enjoyed every minute of this delightful and charming read that immediately captivated me and kept me totally involved in all that was happening in Highland, Georgia from start to finish. I loved Holt Pierson and enjoyed his dynamic with the other characters especially his attraction and undeniable chemistry with Claire Smythe, former Scottish lead singer of a touring band who thinks Highland is the perfect place to hide and becomes live-in helper to Ms. Meadows, a home bound elderly widow. This is the perfect read for this time of year and for anyone who enjoys novels that will have you laughing out loud, leave a smile on your face and joy in your heart. I received an advance reader copy of "A Highlander Is Coming to Town" from the publisher via Netgalley and am voluntarily leaving my review.

Ms Trentham gives us a pre holiday treat with this third installment of the Highland, GA series. Featuring Holt, a secondary character in the first two books, and a Scottish lass trying to find her place in life.

This is an excellent story about finding a “landing place”, family being what you make of it, and making sure you look around sometimes to see what you are missing.

As main characters, I really liked both Holt and Claire. Their evolving friendship/romance was a sweet story blended into several subplots that helped move the whole town forward. The towns people of Highland, as well as the town itself were excellent secondary characters.

I was thrilled to come back to see how everyone is fairing and was pleased to see updates on previous main characters. I’m definitely looking forward to what Ms Trentham has coming next.

This book was meh. The story bored me . Maybe I just need a break from these kinds of romance for a while

Yes I know it’s barely fall and I should be gearing up for all the spooky and mystery reads (don’t worry I am!) right now, but yes this is a Christmas book that you see here today!

Every year I always say to myself ‘I am going to wait until Nov 1 before reading any Christmas books’ and every year I manage to squeeze one or two in before all the horror and ghost stories.

This book sounded like it would be a quick, easy, and festive read that I could burn through in a day or two and it was exactly that and I finished it feeling satisfied and ready for the holiday season to kick off!

Summary
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? (summary from Goodreads)

Review
This book is part of a series, though I was assured that I wouldn’t need to read the others in the series before this one and I would agree. New readers could easily pick this one up and not feel lost or anything as the story is uniquely it’ own. Having not read any of the other books before this one, I was relieved I wouldn’t need to go back and read the others before this one.

I read this one quickly (2 sittings) and found that it was easy and light reading and the story was full of a sweet holiday romance with a little bit of sizzle but I would say the romance is more of the sweet variety with a splash of hot sauce to surprise readers.

I don’t know that I loved Claire. She was a little too poor me and stand offish to really get a feel for, but what made this story for me was Holt. I really liked his consistency, charm, and ‘Mr Nice Guy’ attitude. I thought as a couple their romance was believable and I felt invested enough in both of them to keep reading but there were times when I was frustrated by Claire individually. She had a lot of issues that I just couldn’t relate to so I admittedly struggled with her. But I did think that her and Holt complimented one another and I enjoyed watching them come together and work out their ‘issues’.

I know that a lot of people feel that romances typically have a formula and thus are boring. While yes romances often rely on tried and true formulas within the genre, I have zero objections to that. I love romances and adding a little holiday spin on things helps to spice things up for me. I never tire of love and I especially love when couples overcome their issues together in the story which is one of the things I enjoyed about this one. This author is a new to me author and I am looking forward to more books by her especially if they involve Christmas, hot Highlanders, and small town charm just like this one!

Book Info and Rating
Mass Market Paperback, 304 pages
Expected publication: September 29th 2020 by St. Martin’s Press
ISBN 1250315050 (ISBN13: 9781250315052)
Free review copy provided by publisher, St Martin’s Press, in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and in no way influenced.
Rating: 3 star
Genre: holiday romance, romance, contempo romance

This author always seems to do such a wonderful job with her series. This was the case here with this book. This book is a fun Christmas romance read full of humor but also with substance. I read the previous two books and this one did not disappoint. Still great! Looking forward to more from this author!