Book Review: Winter Wishes in the Scottish Highlands by Donna Ashcroft

From the moment I picked up Winter Wishes in the Scottish Highlands, I was transported to a cozy, snow-covered resort that felt like a winter wonderland. The story follows Ivy Heart, a driven city girl with a five-year plan, who embarks on a journey to retrieve the estranged grandson of her boss just before Christmas. I immediately related to Ivy's ambition, but it was her heartwarming transformation that truly captivated me.

Ashcroft paints the Scottish Highlands with such vivid imagery that I could almost feel the chill in the air and the warmth of the roaring fire. The setting becomes a character in its own right, inviting Ivy—and us readers—to slow down and embrace the magic of the season.

When Ivy meets Ross Ballentine, I was struck by their instant chemistry. Ross is a rugged, free-spirited man who challenges Ivy's meticulously planned life. Their interactions are both amusing and poignant, showcasing a delightful contrast between Ivy's structured world and Ross's laid-back lifestyle. As Ivy spends more time in his rustic cabin, I found myself rooting for her to let go of her defenses and truly embrace the joy of Christmas.

The romance unfolds beautifully against a backdrop of reindeer spotting and snowy adventures. I loved how Ivy's initial mission transformed into a deeper connection with Ross, making her question what she truly wants in life. The balance of tension and warmth kept me turning pages late into the night.

By the end, I was left with a sense of hope and joy that only a well-crafted holiday romance can provide. Ashcroft’s ability to weave together themes of love, ambition, and the spirit of Christmas made this a truly enchanting read. If you're looking for a cozy escape filled with festive charm, Winter Wishes in the Scottish Highlands is the perfect book to curl up with this holiday season!

Great story with a beautiful cover. I hadn’t realised that this was part of a series but I understood it as a stand alone. Essies story was great and the theme of adoption handled well. Can’t wait to catch up with the rest of the series.

Another must read by the incredible Sue Moorcroft. I adore this series of the three Wynter sisters – Thea, Ezzie and Valentina - set on the gorgeous Isle of Skye. Each book is centred around one of the sisters adoptive story and the theme of adoption is very skilfully handled with credible and realistic reactions. The first story was Thea’s, this one is Ezzie's, the stories are all entwined, and follow on seamlessly but can be read as a stand-alone. The setting is described so well you feel that you’re actually there and the characters are so relatable. Ezzie’s story is heartwarming and realistic, I like the slow burning romance between her and Mats, the gorgeous details of a Swedish Christmas and Matt’s two children are adorable. I can’t wait for the final one in the series.

A lovely follow-up read for the second instalment in the series. I actually struggled with the first book but I much preferred Ezzie’s story and character arc, I also really enjoyed the descriptions of Skye over Christmas time, and Mats’s storyline. At times, I’ve found these books a little bit ‘twee’ for my liking, but these are such cosy reads and I’ll definitely read number 3!

I loved this 2nd instalment of the Skye sisters trilogy, although it is perfect as a standalone, you would be missing out on the lives of Ezzie, Valentina and Thea and their connection with Rochach Hall on the Isle of Skye.
This book centres on Ezzie Wynters life where she has just been promoted to Manager of the Hall, which is owned by a Swedish family who arrive to spend a traditional Scottish Christmas. Ezzie feels the pressure that the family bring, along with the day-to-day running of the Hall. She is thrown a curve ball when her birth parents pay a surprise visit disrupting her life. A secret from long ago, hidden from her eldest sister Valentina, resurfaces and is revealed but not taken well.
This story is packed with emotion. I was caught up with the gorgeous scenery and the magic of Christmas as the Swedish family’s children delight and excitement shone every day.
My thanks to Net Galley and Avon for the digital advanced copy. I can’t wait for the next and final instalment which will be Valentina’s story.

The 2nd installment in the Skye Sisters trilogy. In this novel we meet Ezzie again and follow her story. Newly promoted to managing Rothach Hall for the Larsson family, she is preparing for winter and Christmas when the whole family are coming to stay. Early arrivals Grete and her son Mats with his children are welcome faces especially the delightful Alvin and Astrid. But dark clouds are on the horizon as the past rears its ugly head and Ezzie has to confront things she'd rather not think about.
I loved this second book, it was lovely returning to Skye. I was pleased that Thea, Dev and Valentina were still involved in the storyline with their own tales to tell too. I thought it was fascinating that Sue Moorcroft also linked 2 countries Christmas traditions. I found it an easy read.

A lovely uplifting successor to the first book in the series although this can easily be read as a standalone novel. The 2nd sister in the series is going through an emotional roller coaster with job, families, love life and the book flows from one to the other seamlessly with great understanding of human nature and emotions. Carefully crafted, very Christmassy with some interesting facts about Swedish folklore and language - just perfect!

Thank you to Netgalley the author and publishers for an arc in exchange for an honest review

Having read book one of the Skye Sisters trilogy I was excited to read the next book in the series, A Skye Full of Stars (love the play on words). I was not disappointed, this is a delightful read continuing the story of the three Wynter sisters on Skye.

This is Ezzie's story, I really like Ezzie she is organised and efficient and loves her job at Rothach Hall. When the part of the Larson family arrives early for their Christmas break Ezzie has everything organised but she isn't expecting Mats Larson to come with his two adorable children. This story is all about families of different dynamics and Ezzie is in a whirlwind of emotions over her family(s). The characters are well developed and I became involved in their stories quickly.

Set on the island of Skye this delightful story is full of emotion, poignant moments and festive sparkle. I can't wait for the third book to be released.

I’ve just binge read this book as it was so enjoyable. Having read the first in the series, I met some old friends in this part and quickly became ‘involved’ in the lives of these characters. The description of the setting and the storyline itself are very good and the range of characters is wide. The slow burning romance between the main characters is enthralling. I eagerly await the next part of the trilogy.

A lovely follow up read. I enjoyed catching up with Thea, Ezzie and Valentina and seeing how their lives have progressed since the first book. Well-written with great characters and lovely descriptions of Skye. Recommended.

A wonderful book with a great wintery island setting and very believable characters. Best to read the books in order as Ezz is the second of the three adopted sisters to tell her story. Lots of heartwarming moments and a lovely ending. Roll on book 3.

This is brilliant .A second in the series but can read alone. A great great read. The Skye descriptions were lovely. You follow Ezz story. You never think there are two sides to each child being given up for adoption. Made you think. Could not work out the ending but I loved it. Can not wait for book 3. A must must read.

I really enjoyed the first book in the series and the second continues the trend. We are following Ezzie, one of three adopted sisters (having followed Thea last time). The adoption storyline is a big part of this book and Ezzie has some complicated feelings towards her birth parents that are explored.
The romantic relationship aspect with Mats works well and I like the setting at Rothach Hall.
I’m looking forward to reading the next book.

The second in a series that I am really enjoying, The same three sisters and their life on the Isle of Skye. This time it is the uptight sister, Ezzie who holds her emotions in, who can’t open up and who is still holding onto guilt from a lie a long time ago. The island life is explored, the house owners come back to the island to live in the big house that Ezzie is managing. The life of the three adopted sisters is also looked at and the emotions that go with being adopted, with having a family that gave you up. This is quite tender and the fiery sisters really do share everything quite beautifully.

Thank you to Avon Books UK and Sue Moorcroft for the chance to receive a NetGalley ARC of A Skye Full of Stars in exchange for a fair and honest review. I loved how Sue Moorcroft spins the most romantic, uplifting stories that melt hearts – especially her Christmas-based ones.

A Skye Full of Stars is a heartwarming, festive read set in the imaginary snowy winter wonderland of the Isle of Skye at Christmas time. The writing is heartwarming, captivating, and full of evocative descriptions of Skye’s sparking frost-kissed landscape and snow-capped mountain peaks. The storytelling is a poignant romance story exploring deep and sensitive themes about family relationships, adoption, alcoholism, loneliness, and fear.

Sue Moorcroft has a talent for crafting balanced characters who are humanly flawed but also deep, rich, and warm. She perfectly creates a caring community full of loveable characters around Rothach hall, who are all well-developed, likable, and relatable personalities surround the backdrop for the romance between Ezzie and her employer’s eldest son, Mats Larson, who disturbs her peaceful world by arriving early for Christmas with his mum and two children at Rothach Hall.

Their relationship might have ups and downs, but these two are perfect for each other, with a dynamic that is so tender, caring, and supportive. You know they will move mountains together without demanding each other make sacrifices for the relationship, but they will find ways to compromise and work together between their lives in Skye and Sweden.

Sue Moorcroft comes up with some cracking dialogue and hilarious scenes in A Skye Full of Stars, as Ezzie and Mats wind each other up. I crackled like a witch when Mats got on the wrong side of the Wynter sisters, which led to him getting into hot water with his mother. Did I love a grown 40s-something man getting told off by his mummy? You bet! I loved we got the chance to see more of Thea and Dev from Book 1 in their happily-ever-after lives.

An uplifting, family-centric festive romance that brings to life the magic and love we all deserve to feel at Christmastime. You genuinely feel like all is well and at peace after getting snowed in her fictional worlds. I can’t wait to see how the foreshadowing of our find Wynter sister, Valentina, plays out in book 3 – who will be lucky man number 3?

Absolutely amazing. Loved every minute of reading this. It's a heartwarming tale of family, love and Christmas. I love the way Sue has combined the Christmas traditions of 2 countries into one.


Thank you so much Sue Moorcroft, Avon book and NetGalley for this fantastic ARC

It's the second book of the series, of which I hadn't read the first previously , so for me this was a stand alone read. Although I will still read the first, I do feel that I knew the origins of the first story and the history of the characters as they are frequently referred to in detail. This one is centred around Ezzie, one of three closely bonded, adopted sisters, as she navigates her life through the festivities as Manager of Rothache Hall, when the family owners come to stay from Sweden for a Scottish Christmas.

Loved the setting of Skye, and I really loved all the references to Swedish Christmas traditions too. I now look forward to reading Valentina's story also.

A cozy, Christmas read full of family secrets, discovery, bonds and love.

Super second book of a trilogy based around the Skye Sisters Valentina, Esmerelda and Thea on the magestical Isle of Skye.

This follows Esmerelda (Essie's) journey of finding family in all its different dynamics and love most unexpectedly with Matts but it's not all plain sailing.

It was great catching up with the other sisters and how they had developed but what I loved was being transported to the magical Isle of Skye again, in all it's glory and festivities. Such a wonderful read, roll on book 3 ♡

I thoroughly enjoyed slipping back into the lives of adopted sisters Ezzie, Thea and Valentina and the lovely setting of the Isle of Skye. This book focusses on Ezzie’s (Esmerelda Wynter) story and her role as manager of Rothach Hall which is open to the public. The family who own the hall arrive for Christmas and this adds to the preparations for the Christmas season for Ezzie and the complications of the story, especially when sparks begin to fly between Ezzie and the owner’s son Mats, a divorced dad of two young children.

It is difficult to review this title without giving too much away, but suffice it to say that readers are treated to a rollercoaster of emotions about relationships and adoption with added Christmas flourishes.

I am really loving this series set on the Isle of Skye and already looking forward to book three about Valentina.

This is the second in a series of books set in Skye following three adopted sisters - Thea , Ezzie and Valentina. This book follows the story of Ezzie who is the estate manger for Rothach Hall (a very grand estate which has been renovated by the Larson family from Sweden). Ezzie absolutely loves her job. She has been recently been promoted to manager from assistant and is looking forward to the challenges she will face when the Larsons' bring their children and grandchildren to the hall for a traditional Scottish Christmas. However, when some of the guests decide to arrive three weeks early she has far more to do than she originally expected. Add to this secrets and surprises from her past which can only complicate matters further.
As both her sisters are also dealing with lots unexpected twists and turns she feels she has nobody to talk to and is very much alone. Swamped with work, family issues and everything else help appears from a very unexpected source - someone who she may even have feelings for!
The story made me laugh and cry , the setting is beautiful and the characters complex and interesting. I really hope that there will be a third book to showcase Valentina and allow us to catch up with everyone.