"Christmas Secrets in the Scottish Highlands" by Donna Ashcroft is a delightful and heartwarming Christmas romance that captures the magic of the holiday season amidst a charming Scottish setting.
Although I’m not typically a fan of Christmas settings stories , the allure of the picturesque winter scenery and engaging storyline pulled me in.
The characters are so relatable and while some may seem unlikeable at time, I’ve learned that they did grow up on me throughout the story. Holliday’s resilience and determination to save the cherished Christmas Resort are admirable, and her interactions with the enigmatic businessman Damon add a layer of intrigue and romance to the plot.
The author paints a vivid picture of the enchanting Christmas Resort, making it easy to immerse oneself in the festive ambiance. The story is sprinkled with humor and heartwarming moments, reminiscent of Hallmark movies, striking a perfect balance between heartbreaking past and making you root for their future.

The author has created a perfectly balanced read with heartbreak, hilarious moments and a cast of characters that will make you laugh and cheer for them.
Perfect for a cold fall/winter evening read with a hot chocolate cup.

I do love a Christmas read and this was my first one of the year. The main plot is one I have seen around a few times, a Christmas village looking for a new buyer willing to invest in the site rather than knock it down. The characters and their background stories are what make this a heart warming read though. It is well written and so descriptive that I could picture this magically place perfectly.

Thank you Netgalley and Bookouture for the ARC.

Publication Date - 29th September 23

Thanks to the Publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.

Christmas Resorts has been sold, the new owner is Damon. But when Holliday finds out that he wants to change it completely. She decided to prove to him that nothing needs to be changed, the place is perfect as is.

Holliday has been through a loss in her life, and Christmas Resort has been her safe place, the place where she can heal.

But Damon, the place holds nothing but bad memories, that he’d much rather forget. It’s a place where he visited with his ex-wife, who was cheating on him.

Will Holliday be able to change Damon’s mind?

I highly recommend this book.

Another sweet Christmas story in the Christmas Village in the Scottish Highlands. Holliday is hiding out from her past heartaches by working at the Christmas Resort. She loves her job and the friendships she has made, but can’t let go of her deceased fiancé memories.
Damon is the opposite of Holliday. He is determined to destroy anything and everything that holds memories of his cheating ex wife, including the Christmas Resort. He checks into the resort to finalize his plans to purchase the place. Then bulldoze it down to build a new and better resort and finally replace the bad memories of Willow. Only the staff gets wind of his plans and set in motion a scheme to have Damon fall under the magical spell of the Christmas Resort and Holliday.
Another good story with a lesson interwoven throughout about letting go of the past and moving on to grab on to the present. Thank you NetGalley for this eARC. I am voluntarily posting an honest review after reading an Advance Reader Copy of this story. #NetGalley #ChristmasSecretsintheScottishHighlands #Bookouture

What a delightfully festive read! Where else could be more festive than the Christmas Resort in the Scottish Highlands! If you've read any of this author's previous books then you may remember visiting the little village of Christmas already, and you'll be re-introduced to some of its residents again! The Christmas Resort is Christmas all year round, and whilst to some it may sound way too early, you can't help but be drawn into the festive spirit. One person who hasn't been bitten by the Christmas bug however is Damon MacAndrew who is visiting with a view to buying the Christmas Resort!

This was a wonderful read and I really enjoyed returning to Christmas! I loved meeting Holliday Harrison who works at the resort and really liked her storyline. Damon MacAndrew is behaving very bah-humbug and carrying round some serious issues regarding his ex-wife but I found myself willing him to leave his baggage at the door and enter into the spirit of things. I loved the storyline where the staff are trying to show him what how special the Christmas Resort is, but if you think it's too early to even be thinking about Christmas, you'll think it was already here by the time you've finished reading this book it's that festive!

The storyline was lovely and flowed along at a great pace. I was well and truly hooked into Holliday and Damon's storylines only a few chapters in and I flew through the book faster than Ruldoph pulling Santa's sleigh! Whilst this story is Christmas wrapped up in a book, it can be read at any time and I've happily read it without a Christmas tree in sight! Filled with likeable and fun characters and more snow that you can shake a candy cane at, this was a fabulous read which I would definitely recommend!

Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for sending me an ARC in exchange for an my review. I'm a big fan of Ashcroft's writing, so I was thrilled for the opportunity to read this ARC!

Holliday works and lives at The Christmas Resort -- which is as the name implies, is a resort that celebrates Christmas all year round. Damon is a London investor who is looking to purchase the resort and build a new, modern hotel in its' place. Both are running from their pasts.

This is a funny, sweet story about healing from grief and ultimately facing your pain without allowing it to define you. Although, these characters' backstories are sad, the story itself is fun (I mean as I stated, the main character is named Holliday and lives in a perpetual Christmas resort where they eat mince pies and hot chocolate everyday). The cast of secondary characters are a wonderful addition to the plot. It hit all of the "Hallmark-y" holiday checklist must haves a good Christmas romance should.

I only gave this 4 stars b/c it a short read and the tension and sparks between the characters could have been a bit steamier, but overall, it was a fun read. Perfect for the holiday season.

This book could easily be a hallmark movie. A divorced man ,who is trying to get rid of all memories of his ex wife, comes to Christmas Resort buy it , tear it down and rebuild a fancy hotel. The employees find out his plans and come up with idea for home to change his mind. This was a cute Xmas read.

Nothing like a holiday themed lodge to get into the spirit of the season. This is a light and cozy romance that follows an enemy to lovers type theme.

Holliday has been working at the lodge since her fiancee passed away 2 years previous and has been avoiding confronting the pain. Damon arrives wanting to buy the lodge and turn it into a fancy hotel because of his bad memories with his ex-wife. Can everyone convince him to keep the lodge as is? Holliday and the lodge start to grow on him.

I really liked the atmosphere of this book and all of the cute quirks from pom-poms to reindeer decorations. I think the surroundings were key for the budding romance between Holliday and Damon.

This book isn't all Christmas trees and candy canes, but digs into overcoming hurt and past relationships. I think the magic of the season helped bring out the past memories, but that made our characters have to confront them.

This is a sweet warm romance that is a good read to enjoy with a blanket and a cup of hot chocolate.

Thank you to Bookouture and Netgalley for providing me a copy of this ARC for my honest review.

Set in Christmas Resort in Christmas Village an all year round Christmas setting. Holliday is events manager and Damon is deciding to buy the resort but the employees don't know that he hates Christmas and is going to buy but turn it into a hotel complex

This book was the perfect blend of interesting plot and slow-burn romance that didn’t take away from the story as a whole! I loved the dual POV aspect, getting to know Damon from his side was so important and allowed me to connect with him and understand his feelings about the resort. The warm, friendly characters who run the resort were absolutely perfect, so supportive and generous. Holliday in particular was a great character, strong female lead, creative and caring to all of those who crossed her path. It was great to see the main characters grow together from each POV. This book also discusses important topics of grief in a realistic way, with each character experiencing it in a different way, but the overall lesson stuck with them all.

This book felt warm and cosy, it was the perfect book to kick of my Christmas reading this year!

A wonderfully festive book that had me craving for mince pies and mulled wine. I loved the ‘enemies to friends’ journey of Holliday and Damon, the gorgeous setting and the wonderful cast of characters. It’s Christmas every day at the Christmas Resort and this book is full of loveliness and good cheer. But, despite their attraction to each other, Holliday and Damon have a shedload of heartache to get over and are both finding it difficult to move on from the past. Can Holliday show Damon some Christmas magic or will he go ahead with his plans for the Christmas Resort and break Holliday’s heart in the process?

Christmas Secrets in the Scottish Highlands is a fun, heart touching story of two characters with opposite feelings towards Christmas. If only the Christmas Resort was not at the middle of this stand-off which could very well affect the employees, the resort and the many people who go there to experience Christmas all year long.

Donna Ashcroft knows exactly how to write to grab not only your attention but also your heart. Knowing Holliday’s past and continued healing is only overshadowed by the heartache that you begin to sense that Damon also has. His is not so openly expressed, neither is what he plans to do with the resort if he does indeed purchase it. Hence Holliday begins to campaign to influence Damon and any decisions that he makes. All does not go as she plans, making this an entertaining read from beginning to end. Are you like Damon, in the slumps about Christmas, then read Christmas Secrets in the Scottish Highlands. It will surely lift your spirits. If like Holliday you love Christmas, then this will simply validate all those cozy feeling. Either way it is one enjoyable read.

An ARC of the book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley which I voluntarily chose to read and review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I loved the setting in Christmas Secrets in the Scottish Highlands. Everything about it from the Village, the scenery to the Resort was perfect. What a beautiful, heartwarming place that I would love to go visit. Who wouldn’t love a all year round Christmas resort in Scotland!
Main characters, Holiday and Damon, their personalities are very quirky in many ways. Both have troubled past that they need to overcome which can only be done at their own pace and in their own time.
A cute, cozy, slow burn romance that is perfect for sitting by the fire on a cold evening to read.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Bookouture and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

When Christmas Resort is sold to a new owner, Holliday Harrison must persuade the handsome but serious Damon MacAndrew that the year-round holiday resort is perfect without the drastic changes he wants to make. Holliday has been through a lot of loss in her life and Christmas Resort is a refuge and place of healing for her after the loss of her fiancé. It was sweet seeing how caring she was and how much she loved the resort.

Damon on the other hand sees Christmas Resort as a place full of bad memories, where he spent time with his cheating ex-wife and he is bound and determined to erase the place and build a hotel. Can Holliday change his mind and warm up his cold heart? When she tries to convince him not to make changes the romance starts to sizzle.

This is a sweet Christmas grumpy/sunshine romance. I thought the romance was super cute and I did really like Holliday and Damon together. They helped bring out the best in each other and helped one another move on from their pasts. This is a quick read and I thought it was adorable! This is a great book to read at Christmastime, curled up with a mug of hot cocoa.

Thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture for providing the arc of this wonderful Donna Ashcroft book.
Holliday loves being at The Christmas village in The Highlands but is there for a reason having lost her partner two years ago.
The village is about to be purchased by Damon who it seems may have alterior motives.
Another wonderful, funny and charming book by Donna Ashcroft that gives you perfect cosy, Christmas vibes. I'm a huge fan of Donna Ashcroft and her books never let you down.
I love that she brings in characters from your favourite books and the way her romances unfold.
This book is a slow burn, enemies to lovers + grumpy xsunshine trope. Perfect.
I read this as an arc e format and will definitely buy the physical book when it's available.
Kerry Kennedy Author

🎄Romance with all the holiday trappings🍪☕

3.5-4🌟stars
I grabbed this novel because of the Scottish Highland setting and the author. I've read several books by Ashcroft and enjoyed them all. For me, this was good at evoking the joys of the holiday but not one of Donna Ashcroft's better works.

I never got too attached to the romantic leads, resort worker Holliday (what an appropriate name) and potential purchaser Damon, both living with at least one foot in their past for a good chunk of the story. Holliday can't get on after losing her last partner and Damon is bent on wiping all memories of his bad marriage out, to the extent that he is forgetting to live his present. Their setting in a Christmas resort in the Highlands could have been a perfect backdrop but...

Despite endless holiday snacks, cheerful resort employees and the good-intentioned idea behind The Christmas Resort, where you can find Christmas all year round, I felt the author made the resort seem a bit sad and past it with constant glitches keeping the maintenance guys busy overtime. The sad state of the infrastructure came up too frequently and was a sticking point for me.

Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for sharing a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest opinion.

It was a cute, quick read. I thought that character development was fantastic. felt similar to Damon while reading the book. I wouldn't choose to stay at a Christmas themed inn but I know others who love that type of thing. but in the end it was a fun read - I recommend giving it a try!

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for giving me a copy of this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This story is a very festive and heartfelt read. It isn't Christmas just yet, but while reading this I truly felt like it was. The Christmas Resort sounds like the perfect cozy location that I would love to take a vacation to. There is an enemies-to-lovers aspect between Holliday and Damon. Holliday loves Christmas with all of the aspects that come with it, but when Damon arrives it's almost as if he dreads all of it. While they have to work together, the chemistry between them comes to life and can't be ignored. Holliday and Damon both are troubled by their past and will have to work through it. The Christmas Secrets in the Scottish Highlands is a fast-paced 200 page read. The perfect story for a cozy winter night to transport you away.

A beautiful story of a magical Christmas place in Scotland. You want to go. You had snow, yummy mince pies, Christmas biscuits, a cute cat, lovely Christmas crafts. You had a person who had lost the love of her life and a very bitter man over his x wife and you end up with a beautiful Christmas love story and other little stories in the book you also follow . I loved it.

It is isn’t Christmas without a Donna Ashcroft novel to indulge in, bring in the festive cheer and remind us of the beauty of the season, the wonder of friendship, the meaning of family (that often goes beyond blood relations) and the transforming power of love.

Christmas Secrets in the Scottish Highlands is a wonderful romp through a stunning landscape that can never be underestimated for its ability to change hearts and bring into focus what is important in life. It can offer healing, too. How many of us can say that we have stood in breath-taking scenery and felt lifted, elated even by the wonder and beauty of nature? And with the amazing views and cosiness of the Christmas Resort in the Scottish Highlands, a lot can happen and does! The premises is under threat. It is being sold to a man who has questionable motives. The employees, especially Holliday, are hoping to discourage him from making the purchase. Little does she know how much he plans to change the place or why. So with the help of her friends, she uses various negative tactics to dissuade him but he recognises the plot. So the approach is changed. They all want him to see the beauty and value of the resort—enough not to destroy it—and hope he will rather put some money into fixing it up, while keeping the spirit and history of the place in mind.

But, of course, history is the problem in this story. Two individuals at odds – one with great memories and the other with negative ones at Christmas Resort. Our female lead character has a festive name: Holliday that really reflects her interests and personality. Damon, on the other hand, is quite the opposite. And although his name means ‘one who tames or subdues’ it seems Holliday is the one to tame or subdue this grumpy anti-holiday character. Instead of processing his grief and humiliation from the past, he just ploughs over it or tries to remove everything connected to his bad experience. His sister tries hard to make him see his lack of emotional progress and that he really needs to move on. But he is adamant. And for a while measures everything in his life by the one horrible event he had.

Damon has suffered embarrassment and hurt from the hands of his ex-wife and is not giving up his mission to remove everything that reminds him of the experience—including Christmas Resort. Of course, Holliday must tame ‘Demon’ as she calls him and make him see the beauty and importance of this special place. A place that holds heart- warming memories. But also, some sad ones. But while Damon is trying to kill his romantic connections, Holliday is trying to keep hers alive. Each of these characters requires some emotional growth and to process the pain attached to this location. On their journey through the minefield, they draw comfort and fresh vision from their stunning Scottish surroundings and each other. It is a beautiful story of second chances, restoration and self- discovery. And the power of unexpected love.

I love that past characters from the series sweep in and add their humour and helpfulness and there are lovely animals dotted throughout the story. The cat plays a devilish role in Holliday’s attempt at saving Christmas Resort but is innocent of acts of malice! There’s a healthy dose of light-hearted humour in this rescue mission tale but underneath lies some serious wonderful wisdom. Donna’s creative craftmanship just keeps getting greater and greater for this story is polished and glistening!

This fun, heart-warming, festive and fiery Christmas tale brimming with community spirit is a perfect read for the cold snowy winter nights of the north or the hot lazy summer days of the south. It reminds us of the importance of processing grief so that it does not turn into something ugly. Forgiveness brings healing and allows true growth. It offers us freedom to run carefree on the beach or dance in the snowflakes! This enemies to lovers’ romance will lift your heart and make you soar! I absolutely adored Christmas Secrets in the Scottish Highlands and highly recommend it. 5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Many thanks to Bookouture and Netgalley for a review copy.