Six novellas connected by a small inn with a "room of sorrows" paying respect to those lost to a recent horrible battle nearby, where weary travelers seek refuge from snow storms and also find unexpected love (and in the case of several stories, magic of another kind). As will all novellas, there are story limitations (ie: the need for the romance to move quickly, in some cases the h/h meet & are in love by nights end), all 6 authors are talented enough to still provide a story that is entertaining and complete and an nice opportunity to perhaps read some new (to you) along with favored authors. while a some of the stories appear to be loosely connected to series, they all stand alone and the reader will have no issues (the connection is more a bonus for fans of the author). If looking for some short and easy general holiday historical reads to enjoy to break up the busy of your holiday season, this book would be one to look at picking up.

The Earl in Winter,

by Kathryn Le Veque.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐


Please get a box of tissues ready before you start this story.

James De Lohr has traveled to the Scottish highlands to try and find news of his big brother who, he has been told, perished in the battle of Culloden. Our hero lived in the shadow of his brother. Loving him but resenting him at the same time.

Gaira Dunmore is working at a small inn near the battlefield. The daughter of the innkeeper is protecting keepsakes from the fallen. One such keepsake Gaira has kept to cherish herself. Our heroine is more than she first appears.

A fellow traveler plays a special part in the Christmas miracle that will heal a broken heart.

Beautiful but a real tear jerker.

****************************************

The Earl of Christmas Past.

By Kerrigan Byrne.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Miss Vanessa Latimer is on a journey of adventure. After her disgrace her parents allow her the freedom to do what she wants, just so she stays away and brings no more shame on them. So she is in the Highlands to try and photograph the Loch Ness monster.

Johnathan De Lohr has been stuck in this bleak Scottish inn for a hundred and fifty years. The only pleasure he gets is scaring people with his ghostly temper tantrums.

This is very sexy for a ghostly historical romance. There is a mystery to solve and a love story that can only end in pain.

Very good fun.

****************************************Fiona and the Three Wise Highlanders.

By Jennifer Ashley.

Fiona MacDonald. Stuart Cameron.

⭐⭐⭐⭐

After the battle of Culloden Scotland was a land divided. Some of the families had sworn themselves to the English king, others were in hiding from persecution.

Fiona MacDonald was doing what she could to help the displaced Highlanders even though her brother disagreed.

Stuart Cameron is a rebel and has escaped from the Crown. He is determined to return to his lands and the love of his life.

A freezing trek through the Highlands at Christmas time is not for the faint hearted. The wise men traveling with them will make all the difference to the outcome.

Our lovely characters have a very interesting tale to tell.

****************************************

One Knight Stand

By Tanya Anne Crosby.

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Lady Elizabeth Wolfe has agreed to help a highland family by marrying the young man who is left to inherit after the Scottish Laird was executed. Her uncle is part of the English conquerers but wants to help those who lost their lands to the Crown .

After the man tasked with executing him allowed him to escape, Callum MacKinnon is making his way home. Only to discover a surprise along the way.

Once again we are in the very magical inn that seems to work miracles around Christmas time. Who is working behind the scenes to matchmake between our unlikely characters???

An interesting story.

****************************************

The Legend of a Rogue,

by Darcy Burke.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Elspeth Marshal is a story teller. She learns all the myths she can and writes them down so others can enjoy them.

Tavis Crawford lost a family heirloom in the battle at Culloden. When he hears a story about a similar item he can't resist sharing what he knows. Unfortunately unscrupulous people are also searching for his property. He must find it himself before it falls into the wrong hands and he must stop too many people from hearing about it.

This is a very exciting treasure hunt with a love story. The characters are fabulous.

I loved it.

***************************************

The Highlander Who Stole Christmas,

By Eliza Knight.

Thane Shaw, Lady Sarah Campbell.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Thane Shaw wants to take revenge for his twin sister's death from the Clan that abandoned her. A sister for a sister, but he's not evil enough to kill her.

Lady Sarah Campbell hates what her brothers are doing to the Clan since they took over. Now it seems they have plans for her that she will never let happen.

Both our characters have their own agenda, and want the best for all around them. Escape turns into a journey of discovery.

This is the last of this anthology based around an inn and it's Chamber of Sorrows.

I have thoroughly enjoyed every one of them.

Great fun.

An amazing collection that will be happiness, tears and stories by some of my very favorite authors!

The Earl in Winter Pt 1, Brothers de Lohr,by Kathryn Le Veque
I just finished the last word of this story and I am crying. Yes crying. Such a touching story that brought out all of the emotions, with a brother going to find the body of his older brother who was lost at the Battle of Culloden. But with the loss so much was found.
James de Lohr stops at Balthazar Tavern to ask questions about what might have happened to his older brother Johnathan's body after the battle. His mother wants his body brought home and he is determined to find out what he can. He comes away with so many blessings, letters from his brother and a guardian angel in the amazing writing of Kathryn that makes this story one I will remember for a long time.....

The Earl of Christmas Past Pt2, Brothers de Lohr, by Kerrigan Byrne
"He'd only had to die and wait a century and a half to meet her. It had been worth it." Yowza. As potent as Kathryn's story is, this was bringing James and Johnathan's story full circle.
146 years later, Vanessa Latimer was stranded at the Balthazar Tavern due to the weather. She felt to be the most unlucky person due to happenstance, but this time, everything would change. She is put into the Chamber of Sorrows room that was said to be haunted and that was fine with her... She meets none other than Johnathan de Lohr's ghost.. No, she isn't scared but fascinated and the adventure and love begin! I loved this story and Kerrigan made it all so real and won my heart!!! Not to be missed. Sigh....

Fiona and the Three Wise Highlanders by Jennifer Ashley
A great story of the Mackenzies and Macbrides and their past. Culloden affected everyone and left tales of heroes and sadness. Ian Mackenzie tells a story of some of their ancestors, Fiona MacDonald and Stuart Cameron and what a tale it is!!

One Knight Stand by Tanya Ann Crosby
An unexpected meeting at the Balthazar Inn has two people who were meant to be together collide. Englishwoman, Elizabeth was traveling to wed a young Mackinnon, in order to appease her cousin, who had released his older brother at Culloden and took the life of his father. She and her chaperone have to stop at the Inn due to the weather and none other than the older Mackinnon, Callum, he had released comes into the same inn. The betrothed changes to the older son since he is alive.! I loved this story so much and it was so touching. It stole my heart!

Legend of a Rogue by Darcy Burke
A prelude to the Legendary Rogue series, this adventure begins with Elspeth, a storyteller, who gathers every story she can and comes upon one about legendary sword, lost at Culloden. She meets Tavish who is connected to that sword and they find an attraction. But it is a couple of years before they meet again at a Tavern when stranded and Tavish is trying to go under another name, as he is still searching for that sword.
Simply wonderful story with some humor but also danger and of course romance!! Loved it!

The Highlander Who Stole Christmas by Eliza Knight
An eye for an eye. Yes, Laird Thane Shaw would avenge the death of his twin, Thea, who had married a Campbell. .. they had left her unguarded to go off to fight at Culloden. He would take Lady Sarah Campbell as revenge and at their hugh celebration of the Christmas Feast. What he did not know was that Sarah was planning an escape because her brothers were going to sell her off to the highest bidder! Thane does make off with Lady Sarah, she does not hesitate to go with him and they stop at Balthazar's Tavern.
I loved this story so much and could not wait to see what would happen!!

Wow this book was just so good and so easy to get lost in. I thoroughly enjoyed myself and I just didn't want it to end. I just couldn't get enough of these wonderful characters and I just loved getting to see their journey. I will most definitely be reading more stories from these wonderful authors.

Delightful and Heartwarming

From this box set, I read “Earl in Winter” by Kathryn Le Veque and “Earl of Christmas Past” by Kerrigan Byrne.

“Earl of Winter” is a lovely, heartwarming, emotional read. It is about miracles and guardian angels. James lost his brother at the Battle of Culloden, and he wants to bring him home. When he goes on a quest to find his brother, James finds a guardian angel. War might have brought him sorrow, but what he finds at that crowded tavern on a blustery night brings him peace, love, and redemption. You might want to keep that box of tissues handy.

“Earl of Christmas Past” is about a woman who finds herself sharing a room at a crowded inn with a ghost. She is a photographer, looking for excitement. What she finds is beyond what she thought possible. This is a paranormal, touching story about a ghost and a lonely woman looking for excitement and finding a treasure unlike any other.

I loved the two stories I read so far, and I look forward to reading the rest of these delightful tales. I have previously read books by all the authors in this box set and enjoyed their stories.

This is a really nice Christmas Anthology for those who love Scotland and its history.
There are 6 stories. I really like some of them. My favorite was the one written by Kerrigan Byrne. That story is one of the most beautiful novellas I have ever read.
All of them are short but emotional and well written. I really enjoy the characters and their adventures.

I love anthologies, particularly holiday ones. There is nothing more satisfying during these crazy times than being able to read a complete story in one sitting. This book is sure to please you. Six stories revolving around an inn - Balthazar's Inn and the people that find their way there - both past and present and create a connection. Poignant, heartwarming and tragic (the tough times during the battle of Culloden and it's aftermath) these stories give you a bit of history, a lot of romance, and individual satisfying reads that you know you'll revisit in the future. A sign of a good anthology is that you will likely read it again in seasons in the future - this one is one of those for me. Enjoy!

I enjoyed reading the six novellas inside of A Very Highland Holiday. I recommend all readers of romance to get this set as it is very entertaining and worth it.

I enjoy collections like this, where the short stories relate to each other in some way. I also love historical Scottish stories, so that part was great. Christmas is sort of in the background of most of these stories. I love when stories incorporate the traditions of the time period, and we saw a little of that, but it wasn’t really the focus for most of them. The setting of the tavern didn’t seem entirely consistent to me, particularly with the last story, The Highlander Who Stole Christmas. It described the tavern as being really gross and I didn’t remember getting anything like that out of the previous stories. It would have been fun to have hints of the stories overlapped or characters playing cameos throughout all the stories rather than just a few.

I loved The Earl in Winter and The Earl of Christmas Past, particularly the latter. What a fun ghost story! Fiona and the Three Wise Highlanders was also great. All the stories were entertaining, but those were my favorites.

Book: A Very Highland Holiday
By Tanya Anne Crosby, Kerrigan Byrne, Jennifer Ashley, Eliza Knight, Kathryn Le Veque and Darcy Burke

Release Date: 27/Oct./2020

Reviewed by: Barb Massabrook (of)
1)Tartan Book Reviews
2)Purple Tulip Book Reviews
3)Celtic World of Historical Book Reviews
4)Celtic Barb’s Kilted Book Review Blog

Heat Rating: 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

Book Rating: 5/5 Stars/Kilts

Each story shows the aftermath of the Rising, the catastrophic Culloden Battle nine months later and is a definitely a heartstring puller. The reader will see how life has changed and how people are coping after the devastating battle at Culloden Moor-especially during the holiday season. Readers will see a connection to a place called Balthazar Inn and the Chamber of Sorrows in each story, including the owner ofthe inn, Balthazar and his daughter Carrie. Carrie created the room Chamber of Sorrows at the Balthazar Inn to honor all the fallen warriors from the dead of both Scottish and English warriors. This was done so thieves and scavengers can’t strip them of their belongings . A shrine for the brave fallen warriors of Culloden. Also a place families are welcome to mourn and the pick up some remembrance of their loved ones too. Some followers of these extraordinary authors might recognize a family or clan name or specific characters in the stories previously and from other solo books of these authors too.



One Knights Stand
by Tanya Anne Crosby

“If you’ll do me the honor of becoming my bride, I shall promise to provide for you to the best of my ability and I will honor and cherish you as a man should honor and cherish his wife”...Callum MacKinnon’s handfasting proposal!


31 December 1746, Scotland

Lady Elizabeth Louise Wolfe, is a twenty-three year old, English woman, that the Scottish people would call a Sassenach, which is an English outsider. She is traveling from England to Scotland to marry a traitor to the crown, hoping it will prevent her cousin’s execution. Elizabeth is being used as a pawn to perform a type of alliance to get her boy groom to side with the English. The only family member that cares about Elizabeth is her cousin James Wolfe, though at this moment she is seriously now rethinking this!

As Elizabeth is being forced to marry a fifteen year old boy, Lachlan Mackinnon, who is supposedly from a family of Scottish traitors according to the crown. No, Elizabeth does not think of Scotland this way, she understands they were only protecting their lands and country from being stolen! Of course her black guard Uncle feels they can control and turn this young Lachlan Mackinnon to their English way of thinking. Basically so they have a spy or someone on their side in the North. It was all a dirty business, as Elizabeth is shaking her head no! She does not believe family loyalty can be switched or coerced so easily. Especially after his loved ones were basically slaughtered by their English executioners!

However, Elizabeth heard young Lachlan’s senior male Mackinnon relatives were executed nine months ago in Culloden Moor. She also assumes that the family home and lands have been confiscated, which is not uncommon for executed traitors. This of course leaves the women, children, elderly, sick, servants and everyone else remaining in the residence in dire straits for survival. In addition both of the elder MacKinnon’s were father and son, both were executed at Culloden Moor by her cousin, Major James Wolfe as he had been commanded by his superior, General Harley. Elizabeth wonders if this makes her a traitor and could she eventually be executed too? As she is marrying into the Mackinnon family although Lachlan is an innocent child of fourteen and had so much to think about while traveling by carriage, except the carriage came to a sudden halt! Elizabeth finds out it could not move on, due to the snow which brings her to Balthazar Inn to get a room.

This is where things get very interesting, as another wounded man is also arriving at The Balthazar Inn. Not only that, but claiming to be the eldest son of Angus Mackinnon and eldest brother of Lachlan! If he does not want death it looks like he has a new sassenach wife too! Yet can he marry the cousin of his father’s executioner? Now Elizabeth was very relieved, not being forced to marry a child who her Uncle just wants to use. He would never have a chance with this brave and honorable man, for this she was sure. It was her future she was not certain of, but she knows her cousin in some small way planned this for both she and Callum. Another reason she was very grateful, but will Callum Mackinnon ever truly desire her for the rest of their lives? Will Elizabeth have the marriage with love and fidelity she always dreamed about? Read and find out if dreams really do come true?

The Earl in Winter
by Kathryn Le Veque

17 December 1746
Calvine, Scotland

This story center on James de Lohr, Earl of Worcester, Viscount Leominster, Warden of the South Marches, Lord Pembridge and Marston. He is looking for his brother John’s body. However plus also look for a signet , a special family heirloom ring that had been in his family for generations passed down from each Earl. It also show’s how his deceased brother who was the Earl resented his brother for his freedom and from all the responsibilities he did not have. Yes Now James was angry it all falls on him with his death as he now is the new Earl. James also has a studder another reason he hates he is in this position. All his life people to cure even by brutally by his former school masters. He and his brother fought often and did not have a good relationship but his mother wanted her sons body back for burial. Plus as much as they had issues he hopped he was not stripped of his belongings on the battlefield.

Gaira’s family had been of nobility now she and her mother were servants. Gaira had the letters James had written to his brother which she had for years. As she found them when Carrie first created the chamber of sorrows room. She has fallen in love with James with just his beautiful words before she had ever seen him face to face! Now she also has some information to give him peace too. Will she do it and how will James react? Will he be grateful or resentful? Will this give Gaira joy or heartbreak! Plus it is the holidays which is always filled with a bit of magic!

A wonderful magical read from start to finish. I found this story the most emotional. So readers bring your Kleenex as I definitely found this lovely story extremely emotional too! I absolutely loved this fabulous story from start to finish. It is also interconnected with Kerrigan Byrnes story as both which was brilliantly done.

*The Earl of Christmas Past
by Kerrigan Byrne

Winter Solstice, 1891

Vanessa Latimer is a photographer who is living an independent life due to living in exile because of evil nobleman ruined her reputation. A man who broke their engagement for a woman with a larger dowry. He also publicly scandalized her and ruined her. So society firmly shut its door firmly on Vanessa as she has been living her life away in exile ever since.

Vanessa Latimer always considered herself unlucky in life, but did not realize her broken carriage needing repair was going to change her life forever. For good or bad that remains to be seen, but ends up staying in Balthazar’s Inn. The only room available on this snowy solstice night is a room believed to be haunted and the name is Carrie, th original Inn’s daughter who took belongings dead soldiers at Culloden Moor to save for family members to collect in remembrance of loved warriors.

It is believed during Solstice it is when the veil is thin and the dead can visit the human world. They can be heard making sounds, singing, speaking, or performing tasks, like moving humans possessions and objects. On a very rare occurrence these apparitions can even be seen in their former human body! Some can even touch another human for a couple seconds. This is the only time the dead can visit the living. Some believe it is to torment the dead souls to show them the life they are missing.

Vanessa has come to Scotland to see if she can can get a glimpse of Nessie, the LochNess Monster. So she is a believer of the supernatural, ghosts, fairies, angels and all magical beings. So when she meets this ghost who is not a woman at all, but John de Lohr, Earl of Hereford. She is immediately drawn to his intelligence and kind heart but also feels remorse for his regrets not to mention he is absolutely gorgeous from head to toe. In under 24 hours she is madly in love and for John it is even worse. Plus he doesn’t have the heart to tell her this is a bit like a fairy tale. As once the Solstice ends he will be gone too. How will Vanessa cope after that?

As always Kerrigan wrote another phenomenal story that I absolutely loved! She is always one of my go to author’s. I absolutely fell in love with this beautiful story! Again another brilliant read!

Fiona and the Three Wise Highlanders
Mackenzies/McBrides
by Jennifer Ashley

Kilmorgan Castle 1892

This story start with this reviewer’s favorite chatacter Ian of her MacKenzie series. I have been reading the MacKenzie series since the beginning, which I have loved each and every book so much! Shout out to the author Jennifer Ashley for doing this! So the story starts with Ian Mackenzie basically being this story’s narrator. As he is telling the family history story to his shy,ten year old daughter, Megan. Yet starting the story in Megan’s very special way during the holidays. The hero of this story is Stuart MacKenzie-who is the best friend of Ian’s ancestor, Will Mackenzie. As Will and his brother Alec help many after the Battle of Culloden. They were true Jacobite heroes!

1746 Scotland (eight months after battle of Culloden)

This story centers around the hero, Stuart Cameron, and heroine, Fiona MacDonald, a year after the battle of Culloden. So much has changed and so many traitors Scots betraying their own countrymen. This is something Fiona MacDonald can’t stand yet her own brother Broc is one of those people! So she had left home especially how he threatened Stuart. Plus,she was doing what she could for rebels who had nothing and were hiding in places like caves, with very little food or clothing! Especially since Cumberland had ordered execution for all Jacobite rebels! She was now their “angel of mercy,” providing with what she could and putting her very life in danger too. The truth was the dragoon’s and redcoats paid little attention to the Scottish women, but if caught helping Jacobite rebels she would most likely be executed herself.

Back before the devastation at Culloden Moor, under Prince William Augustus, Duke of Cumberland. It was actually the last battle fought on British soil. Back then, Stuart Cameron had done what he thought which was right. This was by joining Bonny Prince Teárlach’s Jacobite army, to put the rightful Stuart’s on the throne and kick the Sassenach’s out of Scotland! Unfortunately the English slaughtered the Jacobite army by such overwhelming odds not only that but Fiona believed her true love was dead as it had been close to a year. She had no idea he was being tortured in an English prison. She had no idea that Alec and Will MacKenzie had rescued him, so he could escape from that English torture chamber called prison!

Now Fiona is the first to see three filthy men come into Balthazar’s Inn in disguise. She recognized one, a well known thief Gair Murray, and his only friend, the one eyed Padruig. He was more of a partner in crime than any true friend. It was the third man she questioned, he was a huge man but she realized he was hiding his true red hair color under soot, and walking bent over not revealing his true height and acting like a servant. Yet once their eyes locked and it revealed the man she thought had been executed by the English was very much alive! Praise God!

Stuart had disappeared for close to a year and she had assumed the English had murdered him by now. So it was quite a shock to see Stuart alive, as he is furious she has not gone to safety in Frances where it is safe for her. Especially with the English going after anyone they thought were jacobite sympathizers. They both were worried for each other, but he too as Laird needed to check on his home, his people, to see if they were safe. Now his life was complicated running with smugglers but he needed to go in disguise to travel across Scotland. It also seemed they blacked mailed him a bit too, plus Padruig wants this mysterious sgian dubh, so until he finds it they pretty much own him.

As for, Fiona now her brother was ill from an injury from Falkirk, that he still blames on Stuart. The only man Fiona wants her brother hates! As for Fiona and Stuart their love just seems to grow even more powerful. Yet they do not even have a chance with blackmailing smugglers, English and Black Watch searching for Scottish rebels? They will hunt Stuart forever as long as he is on the most wanted list! With so much against this couple do they even have a chance? Read and find out.

Jennifer Ashley is a favorite author of mine and never disappoints. I absolutely loved this story. Even though it was only eight chapters. I still got swept away by this amazing story which I absolutely loved!

The Highlander Who Stole Christmas
by Eliza Knight

December 1746
The Scottish Highlands

Laird Thane Shaw was furious for surviving while half his warriors lay dead. All because of the Duke of Cumberland’s machinations and after he won the battle on Culloden Moor! He had annihilated so many Scotsman on the battlefield, yet he ordered every Jacobite rebel executed! They destroyed their harvest or gave their lands away to dragoon’s! People were starving and leaving Alba to the colonies or other nearby countries. As for his twin sister Thea’s death, he blames The Campbell’s and wants revenge! Though they did not kill her directly as it was the English Sassenach who did the deed. He still blames the Campbell’s as the Laird had married her and being one of the strongest clans in the highlands and did not protect her from harm, her precious life.

So since they took his sister Laird Thane Shaw would take theirs and see how they like it. Yes he knew Lady Sarah was an innocent and didn’t deserve this but it couldn’t be helped. An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth and sister for her. Plus the money they Campbell’s would pay for their precious sister to be returned would help pay for provisions for his suffering clan.

Meanwhile he only planned to ask for a ransom and not be responsible for another mouth to feed. Except if he was honest she was a lass he dreamed about. What he wasn’t expecting was Lady Sarah to have a bag packed ready to go. Plus he had to remind her he was abducting her and not helping her escape! As she had overheard her brothers were planning on selling her to the highest bidder. Plus to the bloody English so her family had broken her heart and Thane Shaw was her escape! Then due to bad weather they stop at Balthazar Inn and hear about his daughter Carrie’s room and her chamber of secrets. Yet he was already protecting Lady Sarah so he wanted them to pretend to be husband and wife’s names under traitors to the Jacobites. As the clans who came here were the ones that were supporting the bloody Sassenach and betrayed their own people.

Plus the attraction between Lady Sarah and Laird Thane grows what will the end result be? Will her brothers kill Thane or be understanding? Can these star crossed lovers have a happily every after or a shattered heart? Plus will Thane Shaw know the true meaning of Christmas meaning love and forgiveness not hatred and revenge? Read and find out more!

As always another exhilarating Eliza Knight story. I have been reading her stories for over ten years for a reason. As I am alway swept away in her wonderful Scottish adventures with strong female characters, swoon worthy Scots and usually a canine creature or two I just want to cuddle with and love!


The Legend of the Rogue
By Darcy Burke

August 1744-1746
Scotland

The year of Our Lord is one thousand seven hundred and forty-four, in the summer season at the Lammas Fair. This is where Travis Crow, Lord of Sttathclyde, under the name Roy Williams, first notices storyteller, Elspeth Marshall. She is totally mesmerized and instantly attracted to this swoon worthy stranger. He tells her this unique tale of the Sword of Lann Dhearg that is allegedly the identical sword given to one of King Authors knight’s of Camelot and this sword’s name was Dyrnwyn. He enchants her from that start, sweeping her off her feet quickly, as she falls for this swoon worthy man sharing a passionate kiss. They had family duties to fulfill he gave his word he would return but he never did which shattered young Elspeth’s heart. It would be another two years before she saw this man again!

15 December 1746
Scotland

The year of Our Lord is one thousand seven hundred and forty-six In December. In the Culloden battle where his people were crushed, Tavish Crawford, has now lost his beloved families sword called Lann Dhearg. In addition to this problem his heart nearly pops out of his chest when he sees Elspeth Marshall at Balthazar’s Inn. Hoping she won’t remember him as he is now a wanted criminal to the English, a Jacobite sympathizer and rebel, a wanted man! If she says anything he might be taken into custody for execution!

Unfortunately, she does remember him and he gives her her another false name, this time John MacLean. This man denied knowing her showing no recognition, plus he behaved like she was irritating him. So Elspeth felt like an old rag-just used and worthless not worth remembering! Of course Tavish remembered her, but had to behave as an uncaring, cold and callous rogue. As it could mean the end of his life!

He does eventually find Elspeths to apologize and explains his names, how he’s a a Jacobite sympathizer, helping the other hidden surviving rebels. She forgives him, but of course this is after she punched him in the gut! Soon he explains looking for his lost sword. Not realizing both his sword and the woman who now owns his heart are in jeopardy from a secret and dangerous organization also seeking his sword! As this secret organization wants his sword believing it is the thirteenth treasure. His other problem is Elspeth the story teller and writer wants to tell his families history to the world. Something he wants kept private no matter what but he also knows Elspeth life would be forfeit if this organization discovered Elspeth’s story, as this sword could be very dangerous in the wrong hands. To Elspeth so much of this feels like a sting of Tavish’s betrayal more than once he hasn’t been honest with her. Can she ever trust him and give her heart again? Will he ever be to convince the woman he loves he only wants to protect her? Read and find out more in this wonderful story.

My first Darcy Burke that I really enjoyed. It is is filled with adventure, folklore, magic, danger, mystery and love. Another story I highly recommend.




I felt Kathryn Le Veque and Kerrigan Byrne stories were two beautiful stories that are the most interconnected of the analogy, thought I love Crosby, Ashley Knights stories too. Their stories just had a bigger connection besides the Balthazar Inn and the Chamber of Sorrows. I wish there had been a love story for Carrie, as it was my only disappointment. I felt she being the creator of the Chamber of Sorrows deserved a happily ever after too in my opinion. All in all I loved this analogy as each story was brilliantly done! Bravo! Happy Holidays!

I received an advance readers copy from the publisher. I voluntarily agreed to do a fair review and blog through netgalley. All thoughts, ideas and words are my own.

Buy Links:

https://m.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-very-highland-holiday-kathryn-le-veque/1137767750

https://books.apple.com/us/book/a-very-highland-holiday/id1525881697

https://www.amazon.com/Very-Highland-Holiday-collection-enchanting/dp/B08KPWWS8S/ref=nodl_

https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/a-very-highland-holiday

https://celticbarb.tumblr.com/post/632802785407205376/book-a-very-highland-holiday

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/54765906

A Very Highland Holiday is a somewhat different historical holiday anthology. Instead of focusing on Christmas, it focuses on the Scottish holiday of Hogmanay, a celebration of the New Year, and it also chooses as its focus the aftermath of the 1745 Jacobite Rebellion (think Outlander), so it’s hardly another cozy, lighthearted read, at least not all the way through. But the authors involved clearly have a lot of enthusiasm for the history, as well as the varied possibilities of their setting, given some of the directions they’ve chosen to go. And even in the midst of the darkness, there is room for light and love.

“The Earl in Winter” by Kathryn Le Veque

2 stars

I really didn’t care for this one. I liked the historical context of the story, although I just didn’t really care for the characters.

“The Earl of Christmas Past” by Kerrigan Byrne

4 stars

Considering all the baggage I have with Byrne, which came to a head with her latest novel, I was uncertain in my approach to this one…until I heard what it was about. And it’s a lot more fun than a lot of Byrne’s more recent fare (and that’s saying something), while still having her signature broody hero (this one thankfully isn’t a jerk) and strong heroine. I also love the tie-in with the prior story that the hero is the brother to Le Veque’s hero, and we get to explore whether an HEA can happen if one of the leads is a ghost. It’s definitely been done before, but I love that Byrne give it her own flair.

“Fiona and the Three Wise Highlanders” by Jennifer Ashley

3 stars

I liked this one. I admit I stopped keeping track of the Mackenzies and McBrides, so the focus on the ancestors did leave me feeling a bit out of my depth. However, I like the connection established between the Victorian and Jacobite Mackenzies, and seeing Ian as a father at the beginning was so cute. I also really liked how it felt atmospheric without being bogged down by the minute details.

“One Knight’s Stand” by Tanya Anne Crosby

3 stars

This one was pretty good. I love how this one in particular captures the political atmosphere, while also playing into the more magical elements of the inn. I didn’t love the romance in this one, but it’s still a solid story.

“The Legend of a Rogue” by Darcy Burke

4 stars

I loved the vibes of this one, as it not only was playing with the slightly magical vibes emanating through the stories in the collection with the shared inn setting, but also Burke’s own mystical elements with the magic sword from a prior series I’m now desperate to read. Elspeth and Tavish are also just wonderful characters.

“The Highlander Who Stole Christmas” by Eliza Knight

4 stars

I don’t love revenge plots, but I was charmed by this one, especially since this one cut out a lot of the drama and angst I don’t like and made it so the primary focus was on Thane’s change of perspective as he fell for Sarah.

***

While some of the stories are better than others, this is a solid collection that I really enjoyed, providing a lot of historical and cultural context about a Scottish holiday I didn’t know a ton about before, along with swoonworthy romance. If you love historical romance, especially Highlanders, you’ll enjoy this one.

A little something for everyone...

Especially if you like the Highlands.
In this highland-centric, holiday themed collection of novellas. A bit of history (Culloden) a bit of a brogue.
Two books in particular are connected by brothers and about a hundred fifty years (he's a ghost, just go with it).
Enjoyed and recommend.

So I started this book for Kerrigan but I'm a sucker for any anthology and read all of them. And I was blown away.

I felt like I gained history with each book I read but the stories went well with each other and each author did an excellent job.

I won't do any spoilers but these are must reads for this holiday season!

The Earl in Winter by Katherine Le Veque
James I found endearing from the very beginning, he has a speech impediment and his relationship with Gaira is quick and sweet. Gaira had fallen for James through letters she found that he had wrote to his brother over many years. Almost like modern day dating, fall before you meet the person.
3.5 Stars

The Earl of Christmas Past by Kerrigan Bryne
Christmas ghost love story, count me in! Vanessa is an adventurer who takes photographs of her travels. Johnathan is the ghost who is haunting her room in the Inn. The chemistry between the two was great and my heart broke towards the end. Must read!
4.5 Stars because I honestly wanted more story between the two characters.

Fiona and the Three Wise Highlanders by Jennifer Ashley
Fiona has found her love who she presumed dead and now she's off on an adventure with Stuart and his smugglers. It was the strongest novella for me overall the back story was rich and the plot has substance. All of the characters are fleshed out well and the relationships are believable. 5 Stars

One Knight's Stand by Tanya Anne Crosby
The premise of the story was good but I didn't connect with the characters and the plot didn't really go anywhere which is a peeve of mine in novellas. 3 Stars

The Legend of a Rogue by Darcy Burke
The main characters in this one had me smiling while reading and the chemistry was palpable. The plot moved at a fast enough pace that I kept invested in what was happening. 4.5 Stars

The Highlander who Nearly Stole Christmas by Eliza Knight
This was my least favourite out of the six novellas which is a shame because it was the last in this anthology. 2.8 Stars

I received a free copy of this book VIA netgalley and am voluntarily leaving a review.

THE EARL IN WINTER is the story of James de Lohr’s chance at love. When he rescues two ladies in the Inn, he doesn’t realize that one is his true love. Traveling to Scotland to locate his brother’s body and return with it to be interred with all of the de Lohr ancestors, James finds Giara, a lady whose family fell from the King’s grace and in finding her, he receives his brother’s forgiveness (in a very interesting manner) and introduces us to Carrie’s room of Treasures.
THE EARL OF CHRISTMAS PAST is the story of James’ twin, Johnathan de Lohr. This story is a delightful one with a bit of redemption, a bit of mischief and a lot of paranormal shenanigans! Vanessa is on a mission-to photograph the Loch Ness Monster. What she doesn’t anticipate is meeting the ghost of Balthazar’s Inn.
There are more stories, all centered around the magical Balthazar Inn to put you in the mood for the holiday and for love.

I suggest not reading each story one right after the other. Each was good by themselves, with Kathryn’s and Kerrigan’s being my favorites. But there is a sameness with the back story of Balthazar’s Inn for reading each story.

I received an ARC of this book to read through NetGalley. All opinions are my own. A Very Highland Holiday is an anthology of six novellas by Kathryn Le Veque, Jennifer Ashley, Tanya Anne Crosby, Kerrigan Byrne, Eliza Knight and Darcy Burke. All of the stories except for one take place in 1746, eight months after Culloden, and all are centred at Balthazar’s Inn, which, although not close to the battlefield, has become a repository for weapons and personal items that were left on the site of the battle. If you are expecting heartwarming Christmas stories this is not your book, as firstly Christmas was not being openly celebrated in Scotland at the time, British Soldiers were still hunting down and executing suspected Jacobite sympathizers, and times were hard, families torn apart, loved ones lost. It does have stories with a Guardian Angel, a hot ghost, a Mackenzie family story, an arranged marriage, a legendary magical treasure, and a revenge plot that turns into an HEA. I enjoyed reading the stories but as is often the case found that the novella format was too short to really explore the stories being told.
Steam Level: Medium. Publishing Date: October 27, 2020. #AVeryHighlandHoliday #KathrynLeVeque, #JenniferAshley #TanyaAnneCrosby #KerriganByrne #ElizaKnight #DarcyBurke #HistoricalRomance #RomanceAnthology #RomanceNovellas #DragonBladePublishing #NetGzalley

The six novellas in ‘A very highland Christmas’ centre around the events after the battle of Culloden in 1747. It is Christmas Eve and the village of Calvine, north of Tay Forest, along a road that leads straight into Inverness, the tavern called Balthazar’s Inn is filled with travellers.
The first novella The Knight of Christmas Future by Kathryn Le Veque sees James de Lohr trying to bring his brother’s remains back from the battle. Not only does he face the reality of his relationship with his brother, he also meets a young woman who he believes is his own ‘guardian angel’. This was a sweet start to the book and set the premise for the next story. It connected to the book that I found to be my favourite The Earl of Christmas Past by Kerrigan Byrne. Vanessa Latimer, a photographer who has been scorned by society, finds herself sharing a room with the ghost of a soldier. Whilst I was uncertain how a romance was to be established between the couple; Byrne does an amazing job of pulling this beautiful romance together. Definitely one to savour.
Fiona and the Three Wise Highlanders by Jennifer Ashley sees Fiona McDonald thrilled to see Stuart Cameron again, who she thought had died. However, the debt he must repay for his survival, comes at a cost. I have enjoyed the story of the Mackenzies, and this was a clever connection to the family, without the need to understand the many stories that have been told in the past.

Whilst I enjoyed One Knight’s Stand by Tanya Anne Crosby, which sees Lady Elizabeth Wolfe, the niece of an English lord, marrying the MacKinnon laird. However, the MacKinnon who she thought she would marry, soon becomes the ‘prodigal son’, who all had thought had died. The romance is a bit too quick, even for a novella, and so it wasn’t quite up to ‘The Earl of Christmas Past’.
Darcy Burke’s book ‘The legend of a rogue’ it is well written novella. It is fast paced with great characters, Elspeth Marshall a treasure hunter searching for the mystical sword, belonging to Tavish Crawford. Their romance is intense and when you throw in a mysterious element with plenty of action, you have another great addition to this set of stories.

The Highlander Who Nearly Stole Christmas by Eliza Knight – Thane Menzies has been waiting to gain his revenge against the Campbells, which involves stealing their most precious treasure, Lady Sarah. However, events don’t go to plan. An enjoyable read, and an interesting way to finish the set.
Altogether, these books make for a great read, and will provide a different take on the traditional Christmas romances. However, I must admit that Kerrigan Byrne’s novella stands out (five stars) with Darcy Burke’s book, a close second.
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

A Very Highland Holiday is a compendium of novella or excerpts of books by Kathryn LeVeque, Jennifer Ashley, Tanya Anne Crosby, Kerrigan Byrne, Darcy Burke, and Eliza Knight. They are mostly unrelated but all include an inn run by a man called Balthazar. How this inn was several hundred years old and always run by a man called Balthazar not matter what his birth name was. Much of it revolved around a Chamber of Sorrows (some called it Chamber of Horrors), in which Carrie, daughter of one of the many Balthazars, had collected items from the Battle at Culloden. Some she had rescued herself, some others had brought to her. It was meant to keep scavengers from taking things, and was filled with items belong to the warriors, both English and Scottish. She hoped to answer questions from families missing a loved one.

A Very Highland Holiday is a mixture of great stories including ghosts, angels, storytelling, and so much more. May of the characters are well-known from other works: De Lohr and Ian MacKenzie, for example. Since these are some of my favorite authors, I was predisposed to love this book and live it I did. All the stories of full of history and of romance. All are well written with wonderful, heart warming characters and maybe just a little bit of magic. Fans will love it. People who are not yet fans will be soon. I recommend it.

I was invited to read A Very Highland Holiday by Dragonblade, through Netgalley. All opinions and interpretations contained herein are solely my own. #netgalley #averyhighlandholiday

Look at the authors and weep--for joy!

What a stunning array of authors in one beguilingly gift wrapped cover.
Some of my favs entertaining with Christmas surprises of the past, of the unknown.
All stories are set in the Calvine Village in the Scottish Highlands. Balthazar’s Tavern on the road to Inverness is the focal point for the stories. Culloden is nearby and the tavern owner's daughter Carrie has setup a secret room of artifacts from the battle, from both sides of the conflict. Some Carrie has collected, some have been brought to her. She calls the room 'the Chamber of Sorrows. That’s what it is, ye know… a place full of sorrow. But it’s also a shrine tae the brave dead.”'

The Earl in Winter by Kathryn Le Veque is set just months after the Culloden War. (1746) A Sassenach, the new Earl James de Lohr, has come looking for his older brother's body and family heirlooms. There are some moments that drew me to tears particularly around the letters between the brothers. James finds romance in an unexpected place.

The Earl of Christmas Past by Kerrigan Byrne
'Calvine Village, Highlands, Scotland –1891 Winter Solstice
Victorian photographer, Vanessa Latimer, to a crowded Highland Inn'
I loved this, a super sequel to James' story set over 100 years later. Ghosts of Christmas' past indeed!

Fiona and the Three Wise Highlanders by Jennifer Ashley
A look back into the Mackenzie's and MacBride's past. Culloden has left in its wake disasters and acts of bravery. Once again the Balthazer plays a part. Ian Mackenzie (one of my all time loves) retells his children a story of their ancestors, Stuart Cameron and Fiona MacDonald.

One Nights Stand by Tanya Anne Crosby
A young woman on her way to her betrothal finds herself stranded at an inn, and hand fasted to an entirely different person. There's a mystery about Lady Elizabeth Louise Wolfe. Exactly why she's been deserted by her father and commandeered into marriage to an unknown highland family, especially after Culloden is puzzling.

Legend of a Rogue by Darcy Burke
1744-46. A storyteller, an enchanted sword lost at Culloden, dark enemies, and a handsome stranger. All converge at Balthazar's Inn where truths are uncovered and love wins. A story related to Burke's wonderful Legendary Rogues series.

The Highlander Who Stole Christmas by Eliza Knight
Thane Shaw is burning up with the need for revenge. His twin sister and her husband died during Culloden and he suspects this was deliberate. He is going to make the Campbell's pay. He will steal their jewel, the beautiful Sarah. He just didn't count on meeting Sarah as she flees her family lands.

A Dragonblade ARC via NetGalley
Please note: Quotes taken from an advanced reading copy maybe subject to change
(Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.)