Thanks go to the publisher and Net-Galley for the complimentary copy of A Highlander is Coming to Town by Laura Trentham for the purpose of reading and reviewing prior to publication. My opinions are my own, and no one has influenced them.

A Highlander is Coming to Town is a well written contemporary romance with engaging characters and a heartwarming Christmas plot. The pacing pulled me in from the first page to the last. The writing flows well and gave me a strong sense of the small town, Highland, Georgia.

Claire Smythe’s character appealed to me from the beginning and only grew stronger as the story progresses. She is hiding in the small town of Highland, Georgia, avoiding her obligations to her family in Scotland. Her personal desires don’t match what her family expects of her. The relationship with the sweet elderly woman she is living with in the story is touching, and she’s a wonderful caregiver for the lonely woman. The attraction to hero sets the pace for this romantic tale.

Holt Pierson is a yummy hero, and I could understand Claire’s attraction to him. It’s easy to see why he wants her and why she wants him. He’s a farmer and an easy-going guy who has plenty of friends since he’s such a likable person. I fell in love with him from the start!

The romance between Claire and Holt is combustible from their first meeting and only grows stronger as the story develops. They make a great couple, and I truly wanted them to figure out a way for them to have a life long relationship.

If you enjoy contemporary romances with a Christmas theme and endearing characters, then you will love A Highlander is Coming to Town as much as I did. This is the first novel I’ve read by Ms. Trentham, and this the third novel is part of her Highland, Georgia series, and I plan to read the other books. Happy reading!

I was pleasantly surprised by the smooth reading of this story. Filled with perfect descriptions, you can picture in your mind, the city of Highland, the people who fill it, Ms. Meadow’s place and the Pierson’s farm. And most of all the temperature of the confused Claire and her turmoiled attraction to the sexy, muscular neighbor man next store. Set in Highland, GA, a town with a Scottish ancestry located in the Blue Ridge mountains, we meet Claire Symthe, a former singer of the Scottish band Scunners, who is laying low from her Scotland family, until she can decide her future. While doing an errand for her knew employer, Ms. Meadow, her toe catches a crack and the grocery bag she is carrying rips open, spilling a few of the items. A male voice ask if he can help. (Enter Holt Pierson, the sexy, muscular neighbor) “He looked familiar, but she found it impossible to place his face. Her gaze trailed lower, taking in broad shoulders and a frame that made her heart kick, not from fear but from awareness. His jeans fit snug and emphasized his muscular legs. An image tickled the edge of her memories. She stripped his pants off—mentally, not physically, unfortunately—and superimposed a kilt. He was the man who had won Laird of the Games at the Highland festival over the summer. And the adventure begins.
I did not realize, as I received this book, as an arc from NetGalley, it is the third book in a series called Highland Georgia Novel.

This book gave me very nostalgic feelings, and it was wonderful. As someone who lived in a small town and now is learning how to have a corporate job in a big city, I really connected with Claire. She's only ever known high society, and she feels like it isn't meant for her. When she shows up in Highland, Claire finds more than she ever expected. There's Ms. Meadows who is a "frail" woman that has lived alone for many years after her husband passed. Anna and Iain who seem like the perfect and friendly couple. Then there's Holt. Holt is one of a kind and a beautiful soul. While Claire is down on her luck, she finds her place with these wonderful people. Unfortunately it leaves her with a tough decision to make regarding her own family.

Claire is very relatable. She is anxious and independent. She is scared to let people too close because she has no idea what her future holds. She only signed up to take care of Ms. Meadows because she needed a place to stay and Highland looked as good a place as any. As the holidays approach however, this town becomes so much more! By the time the festivities started, I was fully invested in Claire's life and ready for Christmas. This is a sweet book that will immediately put you in the mood for the holidays! I really enjoyed it.

Very good book. I enjoyed my return trip to Highland, Georgia, and the chance to see Holt get his happy ever after. I felt bad for him in the first book, A Highlander Walks Into a Bar, when he lost Izzy to Alasdair. In that book, and the following one, A Highlander in a Pickup, he exhibits some restlessness, wondering if there is more to life. At the beginning of this story, Holt runs the family farm on his own while his parents travel the country in an RV. On a trip into town, Holt meets the prickly Claire when he rescues her groceries from a broken bag. A short time later, he comes to the rescue again when her bike has a flat. He is intrigued by the contrasts he sees in her - a bit of mystery, a crusty attitude, and hints of fun and flirtation.

Claire made her first appearance in the last book as the singer for the band The Scunners at the Highland Games. She traveled with them for several years but parted ways at the end of the games. Since then, she has worked as a caregiver for an elderly lady, Ms. Meadows. In the few months that Claire has been there, she has done her best to avoid spending much time in town. She has a pretty big secret, and she doesn't want to take a chance on revealing it. Claire has some big decisions to make about her future before going home to Scotland after Christmas. The last thing she needs is to get involved with a good-looking farmer.

I enjoyed seeing the relationship develop between Claire and Holt. They don't seem like much of a match at first. Claire is aloof, sometimes rude, but hides a good heart. Holt is handsome, charming, and seemingly unflappable. From the moment he met her, Holt was determined to get to know Claire better. In their first encounters, he is intrigued by the fun side that pokes through her prickly crust. He takes every opportunity to spend time with her until he breaks down her walls entirely. Claire doesn't know quite what to make of Holt at first. No matter how rude she is to him, it just rolls off his back. It isn't long before she enjoys his company.

The sparks of attraction that were there from the start soon burst into flame. The more time they spend together, the closer they get. It is soon apparent that both of them have been lonely and that being together makes a big difference in their lives. But Claire has been clear from the beginning that she has to go back to Scotland, which is warring with her growing feelings for Holt. An unexpected arrival in Highland accelerates decision time for Claire. I enjoyed this part so much because the growth in confidence and maturity that Claire has experienced surfaces in a very satisfying way. I wasn't surprised by her decision and loved how easy it was for her to do. I loved the follow-on of her visit to Holt and the happiness that resulted. The epilogue was excellent, with a few more surprises and a great deal of fun.

I love the small town of Highland. It was heartwarming to see how Claire was eased into the fabric of the town's life. She never stood a chance of staying aloof once she started hanging out with Holt. I had to laugh at her encounter with Anna in the drugstore, which was an unusual way to begin a friendship. I liked how Iain and the band helped Claire get back into her music. But my favorite resident was Ms. Meadows. Under that crusty exterior was a heart of gold, and I loved that she took care of Claire just as much as Claire did of her. I had to laugh at her protectiveness when Holt first showed up, and how his charm even worked on her. There were some wonderfully heartwarming scenes between Ms. Meadows and Claire.

This is the first book that I have read in the Highland, Georgia, series by Ms. Trentham but it can be read as a stand-alone. I did not feel lost in any way or that I was missing out, but I will be going back and reading the other two books. Claire is hiding from big responsibilities, those that she has not told anyone since arriving in this small Georgia town where everyone knows everyone. She works, and lives, taking care of an elderly woman, riding her bike on errands, and basically just laying low. Holt has been working the family farm after his parents decided they were going to spend some time traveling in their RV. He has been thinking about his life, what he is doing, what should he be doing. That is until the day he met Claire. With Christmas drawing near, as well as Claire's birthday, decisions have to be made. As Claire becomes more comfortable with the life she is currently living, will her responsibilities draw her away from this sleepy little town that has woven a way into her heart, and possibly the love of her lifetime. Thank you to Ms. Trentham, St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

A Highlander is Coming to Town by Laura Trentham
A Highland Georgia Novel #3

Heartwarming holiday stories at this time of year might be a dime a dozen but some are that little bit extra and this is one of them. This story has all that a small-town romance should include with friendships old and new, romance for more than one, relationships to create and some to fix, and troubles to overcome before a HEA can occur.

What I liked:
* Clair: dealing with a big decision that will determine her future. Will she be able to find her way to the HEA she deserves or will duty and family stand in thew ay
* Holt: a wonderful man that is just what Clair needs but will he be able to woo and win her or…perhaps not
* Ms. Meadows: an older woman that Clair is living with and caring for. She is a delightful woman and just the balancing force Clair needed at this point in her life
* The smiles and chuckles that occurred from time to time while reading
* Catching up with Iain and Annie – good people and so deserving of one another
* The community, location and their Scots leanings
* The holiday parts of the story
* The issues facing Clair and how she handled them
* The relationship between Clair and Ms. Meadows
* The idea of family and how it plays a part in our development
* So much…can’t list all of them here

What I didn’t like:
* The way Clair was raised

Did I like this book? Yes
Would I read more in this series? Definitely

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

5 Stars

A Highlander is Coming to Town A Highland by Laura Trentham is book Three in the Highland, Georgia Series. This is the story of Claire Smythe and Holt Pierson. I have read the previous book but felt this can be a standalone book. Claire was a lead singer in a Scottish Band but has stepped away from that to become a caretaker in Highland Georgia. This will allow her down time and to get herself back on track. Holt is left to care for the family farm and is at a crossroads in his life of continuing or looking for something or someone more. This is when a chance meeting happens between Clair and Holt opening them up to something new. Enjoyed this easy read book and will be looking for more books from this author.

This story was a bit iffy for me. I had trouble connecting to the characters, Claire in particular. I like a good, snarky hero or heroine, but she was a bit too Whitney and her sarcasm as was often mean-spirited and not endearing. And frankly, her reasons for hiding from her family were not that big a deal.
Holt was more interesting and the fact that he still liked Claire was a plus to him. I had not read the first two books in the series...didn’t realize it was from one...so I might have gotten more connected to him if I’d seen him as a secondary character first.
Hone, I skimmed a lot of the book. It was nicely written in tone, dialogue and style, but since it didn’t hold my interest, it took a long time to finish.

I loved this holiday themed story. There was just the right amount of Christmas in it, but not so much that it made reading an early copy feel strange. This was a fun lighthearted, flirty and humorous story and a great addition to the series.
I loved Claire and Holt. It seemed like Claire was always in a pickle and she was always wanting to refuse help. She's really trying to stay away from people because she is hiding something. The people of the little town don't cooperate in helping her keep her distance. They are warm and welcoming and Claire actually has friends before she knows it--and one friend with benefits!
Holt was a great hero. I want him in my life. I want his abs in my life. I want his kilt in my life...
I was given a complimentary copy of this book via NetGalley. All thoughts are my own.

This is the third book in the Highland, GA, series, but can be read as a stand-alone. The Highlander in this book is Claire Smythe, formerly a singer with the Scunners. She originally came to Highland, GA, to sing at the Highland Games (an annual festival). Holt Pierson is a handsome local boy who is taking care of the family farm because his parents have gone to Florida. Both seem destined to spend Christmas alone. Claire is taking care of Mrs. Meadows, an older resident of Highland. Holt meets her when he comes to Mrs. Meadows to resolve a feud with his family. They spend time together and come to like each other, but Claire resists developing a deeper relationship because she plans to go back to Scotland. Can Holt convince her to stay?

This is a lighthearted fun story that you feel a part of. Highland is a small town full of delightfully engaging characters, the kind of people you want to get to know. Claire has some secrets and at first is standoffish and shy. When she becomes comfortable with Holt and Mrs. Meadows, that begins to change. Holt seems tough, stern, but he is a good, kind person who takes care of the people in his life. There is chemistry between these two, and they are good for each other. This entertaining story reads like “a day in the life…” with a hitch or two. There is a dispute to resolve, and there are some secrets and surprises. Some unexpected visitors make it to town for Christmas, and Anna Maitland has a special announcement. A Highlander is Coming to town is a lovely way to end the series and a treat that says “Welcome back to Highland, GA, and Merry Christmas!”

I received an ARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. My review is voluntary.

Although this is the third book in this series about Highland, Georgia, a town that celebrates all things Scottish, each book is a standalone and can easily be read without reading the others. A cute, small town romance, I thoroughly enjoyed all the characters from the small town, and in particular loved both the H/h in this story. Claire is a mystery, a young Scottish woman who sings in a band, but decides to leave music and “hideout” in Highland. Holt has lived in Highland his whole life, but runs into Claire who is working at his neighbors house as a companion to an elderly woman. There are sparks, but Claire tries desperately not to let those sparks happen. I had no problem getting into this story. It flowed easily for me, and was a quick read, but it had some depth to the plot. I enjoyed how the events unfolded in a timely matter, and loved this small town and the celebration of the Christmas holiday there.

This is a good book, but the first was better. Now, it's beautifully written. The descriptions the author uses are wonderful and really let you see the scenery in your head. Claire is hiding from her family, so she found a job in Highland, GA taking care of Ms. . She keeps running into Holt Pierson, who we first saw in the first book. Okay, I really did like this book, but I'm going to bring things up that bothered me. I'm still glad I read the book, but... I didn't care for Holt in the 1st book, but liked him in this one except for one thing. The author gave us little hints as to what he looked like, leaving it up to us to picture him. But I couldn't. At all. I think it was because we didn't get enough personal information about him. Yes, we learned things, but he wasn't fleshed out (unlike the settings) to me leaving him a faceless character in my mind (but I did like what we were given). Claire annoyed me with her waffling of decisions. I get not knowing what to do, but she didn't even think about it all, just ignored it. She had a crappy childhood, but come on, she survived on her wits and very little money for five years. That's not someone who just shoves a huge problem to the side and completely ignores it (and leaves the readers in the dark - way too long). Just be warned although it's an enjoyable read it had a couple of problems for me.

Loved this sweet, funny & angsty story by author Laura Trentham. This story of finding one’s self amid secrets weighing her down although angsty was very sweet. I enjoyed the relationships that Claire formed with the people of Highland, Georgia, As a true Scot hiding away to try to figure out her future, she was pulled into friendships & it scarred but warmed her. . I loved the grumpy Ms. Meadows who Claire found employment with, her bluster was all for show to cover her loneliness. Holt was a great character to match Claire with, his honesty & humour were wonderful, as was his quick fall for Claire. The up & down nature of their relationship was fun to watch as Claire grew in a personal way. I came into this series a few books in & will definitely be looking for the ones before it. Definitely recommend this sweet book.I really enjoyed this book & series.

Do you like men in kilts? From the reactions in this story, they must look pretty darn good. What a fun place Highland, GA must be. It would be fun to visit there during the “games” and celebration each year. Stonehaven sounds like a neat place. I wouldn’t mind staying there awhile. This story is about first chances, second chances, and learning to trust. And stepping out of your comfort zone. Keeping secrets can be a very bad thing, even if they are kept for a good reason. How many of us feel we aren’t quite good enough in one thing or another? Sometimes you just have to take a leap of faith and trust that it will all be okay. I enjoyed the story of Rosie, Izzy, Gareth, and Alasdair. I hope you will too. I received this book from NetGalley, but my opinion is my own.

a fun highlander christmas! who doesn't love a surprise meeting of a handsome man to fall in love with during the holidays.

This is a new story by one of my favorite authors and it is fantastic! Book 3 continues with another brother in Highland, GA and its a wonderful addition to the series.

A Highlander is Coming to Town was an enjoyable read. I really liked Holt, Claire and Ms. Meadows. I look forward to the next book in this series!

Claire Smythe has a secret and that is why she is hiding in small town Highland, Georgia. She is working as a live-in aide to an elderly woman, Ms. Meadows while trying to figure out what she should do with her life. Should she return to Scotland and her family or should she try to build a life in Highland.

Holt Pierson has lived in Highland his whole life and runs his family farm. His parents have taken a long vacation traveling, so he is feeling quite lonely. When he runs into a beautiful Scottish lass named Claire, he is thinking he might not be lonely for long, except she tells him she will not be in town for long. Can Holt convince Claire to give him and his small town a chance?

Holt and Claire’s friendship gets off to a rocky start. She does not want friends, she just wants to be left alone, yet Holt seems to be there every time she turns around offering his help. Claire starts to wonder if it would not hurt to have a new friend and maybe even a fling before she leaves. What she does not count on, is that she will start having feelings for not only Holt, but all the charming residents of this small town. Soon things take a turn and Claire must make a life altering decision.

This was such a sweet small-town romance. I loved all the characters and Laura Trentham’s brilliant writing style. I have read the previous books in the series and was excited to continue with Holt’s journey. This could be read as a stand a lone novel, but this series is so fabulous, you will want to read them all. Thank you so much to the author Laura Trentham, St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for an advanced copy of the book to review. It was fabulous! All opinions expressed for this review are unbiased and entirely my own.

I absolutely could not wait for this story! We finally get to see the lovable Holt get his miracle! And that miracle is a Scottish lass named Claire.

This series is amazing and the richness of detail of the town of Highland that Ms. Trentham describes puts the reader right on main street.  Seeing the town people come alive off the pages is beautiful and shows the talent of the author.

I really enjoy the flow and sweetness that Ms. Trentham has to her stories, you get heat and some serious swoony moments, but you get a ton of heart and togetherness that some romances lack.  Her stories are like a palate cleanser for life and all the dark and dreary that surrounds you sometimes.

I admired the honesty that both Holt and Claire had to each other, and I also wanted to shake Claire for the secrets she held back, but could understand it.  She was trying to find her place in the world, what she really wanted and not what was expected of her.

I also swooned over Holt's determination to love Claire the way that she needed and also what he needed. I fell in love with him in the very first story of this series.

This story of Holt and Claire is perfect.

This was a sweet light romantic comedy book. A small town with interesting and quirky characters. Holt and Claire are pretty much opposites. Claire is hiding out from her real life as Scottish band lead singer. She gets a job helping out old Mrs. Meadows. She was a hoot and really made me giggle. Holt is a really nice guy! He is really drawn to Claire and just wants to help her. But Claire has some secrets and decisions to make. Claire was a little hard to love. But she did grow on me. I feel the decision Claire had to make happened suddenly when she was indecisive all through the book. This kinda was of a let down.
All in all I did enjoy the book. 3 1/2 stars.