4.5 ⭐

I've found my romance niche. I LOVED THIS!!!! I just wish it was longer!!

I adored the characters, loved all the cheesy puns, the Scottish slang and the romance. It was emotional and so sweet, I liked the aspect of grief and how it was handled.

I will 100% be reading more of Tricia's books.

the narrators were both fantastic!

thank you so much Netgalley, Tricia O'Malley as well as Lovewrite publishing for the audiobook in exchange for an honest review!

This was a cute grumpy/sunshine novella. I loved it. So heartwarming and a very easy and quick read. I loved the love story and the pub sounds amazing! The Book Bitches are great also lol

I actually listened to this one twice because it was so cute and I wanted to catch some of the details I missed the first time through! It was a little shorter than other books/series I normally read, and a true breath of fresh air with the writing and story.

I immediately fell in love with the main character and loved the playful banter throughout the whole book. I do hope to read more from this author since I enjoyed this story so much!

Recommend for a vacation read!

Thanks NetGalley for an early copy in exchange for an honest review.

This book was ok. I liked the Scottish setting and overall plot. However, I never connected with the characters. I felt they were very stiff.

He tasted like sin and sweetness,"

When Harper, an American, sets her heart on a new adventure abroad in Scotland, she expects to be sharing the fun with her friend, but a pregnancy announcement sees her setting off alone. Arriving tired and jetlagged, she arrives at her apartment to be confronted by a half-naked, grumpy Scotsmen called Reid. There is instant tension, and their forced proximity soon causes sparks. This is a sweet and feisty audiobook with a sprinkle of the supernatural and a dash of spice. As a novella, it makes for a quick listen. The Christmas setting adds an extra layer of magic. I love the dual narration, with both Reid and Harper giving their POVs. Well narrated with respective American and Scottish accents. Definitely a listen to add to your pre-Christmas list - guaranteed sparkle, romance, and sparks. #startingoverscottish #triciaomalley #novella #audiobook #netgalley #romance #supernatural #Christmas #spice

This is a novella so the audiobook is pretty short which made it a nice quick listen before work for me. It’s got small town romance, grumpy x sunshine and local business vibes.

After a series of failed temp jobs, Harper is looking for a change and what better way to shake things up than by traveling to Scotland over the holidays for a work-for-hire Scottish Pub Experience?! What she doesn’t expect is to find a naked Scotsman in the apartment she’s rented, which turns out to actually be HIS apartment. With nowhere else to go and refusing to give up her place and once-in-a-lifetime experience, Harper stands her ground and the two become reluctant roomies while she’s there. Now all that’s left to do is clean up the pub, oh and save it from developers! She may even fall in love while she’s at it!

I like that there are two narrators for the dual POV. It’s always nice to differentiate between the characters and really feel like you’re getting a peak inside their heads. The narrators did a great job with this one! They spoke clearly and really drew the listener in. Personally I like to listen to a book when there are characters with accents because I can never get it right in my head.

The story flowed well and the characters were fun and likable. It was a little surface level but I’m cool with that for a cute novella, so it still hit its mark with me. If you like stories where the MC is looking for something new/finding themself plus some travel, romance, small town dynamics, forced proximity and the saving the local business plot line, then this is a great fit!

I didn’t realize this when I requested this audiobook but it’s another holiday romance which I have read/listened to many of recently, so this is a great addition!

Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape Select, Lovewrite Publishing for the ARC! All thoughts and opinions are my own. This review is posted on Goodreads and Instagram.

"Starting Over Scottish" by Tricia O'Malley offers a standard small-town romance narrative that, while cute and featuring some amusing moments, falls short of delivering a fresh and engaging story.

The story introduces Harper Scott, an American looking for a fresh start, and a grumpy Scottish man who is returning to rediscover his roots. Their initial encounter in a shared apartment sets the stage for a holiday-themed clash of personalities.

One of the main drawbacks of the novella is the character development, particularly that of the female lead, Harper. Her portrayal as a dull and volatile character hinders the reader's ability to connect with her or become fully invested in her journey.

While the novella is undeniably cute and carries the promise of a holiday romance, it doesn't bring much new or unique to the table. It follows the typical small-town romance formula without offering fresh twists or standout elements.

The ending and the playful teasing about "war kittens" do add some charm to the narrative, providing moments that can make the reader smile. However, these highlights are not quite enough to elevate the overall reading experience.

In summary, "Starting Over Scottish" is a standard small-town romance with a holiday twist. While it has its cute moments and a few amusing elements, it struggles to set itself apart from the genre's conventions and offers a story that, unfortunately, doesn't leave a lasting impression.

This is a cute Holiday Novella.

Harper Scott is an American Woman looking to make a change in her life. She signs up with a friend to go to Scotland for a few weeks to 'work for hire" in a Scottish Pub. Her friend has to back out of the trip but Harper decides to go anyway.

She arrives at the apartment that she booked for three weeks to find the owner still living there. Both Harper and Reed (the grumpy Scotsman) are too stubborn to leave the apartment so they both stay and form an unlikely living arrangement for the 3 weeks that Harper is going to be in Scotland.

Their attraction is mutual but Harper must find what makes her happy and Reed definitely has some demons of his own to overcome.

It was a fun quck audio book. I loved the Scottish accent for Reed and the romance was intense. A nice holiday story and I'm glad I found it on Netgalley.. I love Audio books and will be looking for more by this author.

This is a cute story about an American woman trying to reopen a Scottish pub. The characters and setting were enjoyable, and there is a touch of supernatural to help things along. I loved the humor most of all, especially the war kitten.
Will Watt is one of my favorite narrators, and he did a great job with Reed's humor and struggles. Amy Landon is new to me, and I enjoyed her vivacity as Harper while she tried to adjust to her new surroundings.

I had so much fun listening to this audiobook. It was the perfect short, Christmas story to get you excited for all things holiday. It took me a minute to get used to Read's Scottish accent, but once I caught on I LOVEEEDDD it. It made me want to book a trip to Scotland immediately.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
❤️ on the steam meter (a couple steamy scenes)

Summary: Harper is feeling lost in her current life so, in hopes of a fresh start, she books a holiday trip to Scotland that requires her to work in a pub in exchange for her room. Upon arrival, she walks in on a very Scottish, very naked man. Read has spent his life running from loss, but after the passing of his beloved Grandfather he is forced to come home and work through his life. The two of them decide to work together to save Read's family pub and navigate the town of eager residents ready to help.

My Thoughts: This was like a hallmark Christmas movie but add a little spice and a hot Scottish accent. There were so many cute and funny moments. (War Kitten!) The story was heartfelt and the characters felt genuine. They fell a little fast for me, but with a short story that is the way it goes! I definitely recommend that you add this to your holiday TBR this year.

I received this ACL from Netgalley and Tricia O'Malley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you so much!

Great addition to your Christmas Season TBR.
Taking off to a faraway land looking for adventure and change. She found it and him. The grumpy Scott that she would have to deal with on a daily basis. Original story idea. Great characters and a charming location. A thoughtful story with all the feels.

This Novella was the perfect amount of sweet, sarcastic, & spicy! I LOVE a forced proximity storyline. Both main characters are on a search to find themselves or basically get out of their own way. I received this as a audiobook through netgalley. I thought the narrators did an incredible job. I found myself laughing throughout the whole book. Loved it! I definitely recommend giving it a listen.

Short & sweet holiday romance! Lets go run a pub in Scotland for a week for funzies!

Harper Scott is starting over. She’s signed up for a work-for-hire Scottish Pub Experience only to discover a half-naked and irritatingly handsome Scotsman in the apartment she’s rented. It’s Christmas season, there’s no room at the inn, and the two are both stubborn enough to refuse to give up the rental.

Now, with the pub being threatened by developers, and Harper’s fresh new start tainted by a decidedly grumpy Scotsman determined to make her leave, Harper must decide what’s more important—beating the Scotsman at his own game or saving the pub in time for Christmas. Let the (Highland) games begin.

Starting Over Scottish
By: Tricia O'Malley
Narrated by: Amy Landon, Will Watt
Publisher: Lovewrite Publishing

Starting over Scottish is an entertaining novella. Loved the narrators. Who can resist a good Scottish brogue? Not me. This charming story of happy & cheerful American meets grumpy (but sexy) Scottish gentleman is the perfect fun Christmas tale.

Thanks NetGalley and publisher for the early listen. All opinions are my own.

What a cute little novella. It moved very quickly. Love the narration and the Scottish tie in!

Harper Scott is starting over. She’s signed up for a work-for-hire Scottish Pub Experience only to discover a half-naked and irritatingly handsome Scotsman in the apartment she’s rented. It’s Christmas season, there’s no room at the inn, and the two are both stubborn enough to refuse to give up the rental.

Now, with the pub being threatened by developers, and Harper’s fresh new start tainted by a decidedly grumpy Scotsman determined to make her leave, Harper must decide what’s more important – beating the Scotsman at his own game or saving the pub in time for Christmas. Let the (Highland) games begin.

Harper is ready for a change. In an attempt to shake things up, she books a Scottish Pub Experience in a small Scottish town over Christmas. Her rental will be subsidized in exchange for her working at a pub. It turns out, though, that the experience does not go as expected. She goes to Scotland alone; the pub is in desperate need of TLC; and there is a hot, Scottish man in her apartment. A hot, Scottish man who refuses to leave. 



Reed is going through some things of his own, and the unexpected arrival of an American woman who declines to vacate his home is not helping his mood.

As these things go, though, perhaps they are exactly what each other needs.

It did take me a little bit to warm up to Harper. At the beginning of the novella, she is fed up with many things, and her tone and mood go right along with that.

I did love how Harper embraces the pub and the town, the many personalities in the book club, and Reed as an MMC.

I listened to this one on audiobook, and it was a quick and enjoyable read. I especially enjoyed Will Watt’s accent for the chapters as Reed and how he dialed up the Scottish brogue as indicated by the text. I appreciated how Amy Landon’s narration reflects the changes seen in Harper the longer she stayed in Scotland.

I received an advance copy of the book from Dreamscape Select and NetGalley. All review opinions are my own.

It’s November 1st which means it’s time to to start finding all the perfect festive reads for Christmas.

This was a cute and quick read about Harper who goes to Scotland for a bartender experience but when she arrived, there was a grumpy Scottish man in the apartment she was supposed to stay in and the pub was derelict.

It’s hard to rate this novella very high because there’s very little room for any character or romantic development, so I found it really difficult to route for the characters. I feel like this could have made a great novel because it has so much potential. But despite that, this really was a fun read which definitely got me in the festive spirit!

I enjoyed the small town vibes and there was lots of fun side characters, including a ghost!

I received this audiobook free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Cute book about finding purpose and love in Scotland. Excellent narrators that really made the story come to life. Harper is trying to find a place to belong, and travels to Scotland to try her hand at bartending and running a local pub. But when she arrives, she finds Reid in her apartment. The friendship and eventually love that develops between them is hilarious and sweet. Fun characters and an easy read.

3.25/5 stars

This was a cute holiday novella. The ending was a little boring though.

I listened to the audiobook and I really enjoyed the narration.

Starting Over Scottish was a fun, tropey, Christmas romcom. It's only novella length, so you're not going to get the development of a longer romance, but since it follows a lot of normal romance conventions it was still sweet and easy to read. Recommended if you're looking for a quick holiday romance.

Thanks to Netgalley, Dreamscape Select, and Lovewrite Publishing for an audioARC in exchange for an honest review.