This was a good festive read, but it did take a while for me to get into, which I was a little disappointed about as I have read many books by this author.

The storyline did pick up and I was glad that I persevered, however I feel that it took a while to get to the point. I found it a bit difficult to relate to the characters, however I obviously liked that it was Xmas themed.

Olivia gets ghosted by a seemingly perfect Scottish chef online after she thought things were going so well. Deciding to take a chance, she travels to the hotel where Fraser works to confront him but he appears to have no idea who she is…

So cute and well written, I loved this one so much! All of the characters were very likeable and it was the perfect cosy Christmas read with a lot of laugh out loud moments and a lot of heart.

Plus there's a highland cow calf that thinks it's a dog. Enough said 🎄🎉

This was a nice cozy Christmas read which I loved reading in December.
I enjoyed the story but I did feel I got a little lost in the story too with the flow
It was a perfect read for the Christmas season

5/5⭐️ or 2/5⭐️
Ok, so I absolutely love this book, when I think about it as a Christmas in the Highlands story - 5/5⭐️! I really enjoyed watching Liv’s character growth (be the person you want to be) and her learning to stand up for herself. I loved the sweet innocence of Effie and her and Liv’s friendship was so beautiful. It felt like I was in Scotland at the Loch Lochy hotel, and I was not mad about it one bit. The hotel was so beautifully described, I could picture the gorgeous old Victorian and the grounds on the Loch so vividly.
Now, if I think of this book as a romance, it’s 2/5⭐️. Fraser was just so grumpy all the time. And I couldn’t ever figure out why. I never really found a reason to like him. I didn’t really see any sparks growing between them. I couldn’t understand why Liv liked him (except for the fact he was tall, beefy and gorgeous…. but really there has to be more than physical attraction… right?).

Thank you NetGalley for a copy of this book for my honest review 😊

Alas, I ended up DNFing the book as it didn't hold my attention. I found it predictable and lacking tension and chemistry.
I hope others enjoy the book; it's simply personal preference that I didn't enjoy it.

Unfortunately, this book didn’t work for me. The main character, Liv, came across as self-centered and often played the victim without taking responsibility for her actions. Fraser, the love interest, was grouchy and, aside from one sweet kiss, lacked any standout qualities. Liv’s comments about him rarely felt positive, which made their connection hard to believe. The quirky supporting cast felt too exaggerated to be enjoyable, and their antics often overshadowed the main story.

The pacing was slow, with Effie and Robbie’s subplot feeling more like the central romance than Liv and Fraser’s. The ghosting plotline didn’t engage me, and chaotic scenes with unclear relevance made the story feel disjointed. The dialogue often dragged on, losing focus and requiring re-reading to follow.

Additionally, the setting lacked depth. While the castle hotel offered potential, it was described vaguely, leaving little sense of place. Overall, this book fell flat for me and didn’t meet my expectations.

I think that this is an excellent, heart-warming romance novel.

It follows Olivia, who travels to the Scottish Highlands when she decides to confront a man who seems to have catfished her. Throw in a mischievous Highland cow who needs a radio playing music to sleep, a grumpy inn owner who is set on disliking Olivia, some holiday charm, and a crew of determined seniors from the local village, and you're met with this sweet book.

Once I got into the novel, it was quite a quick read. I thought it was entertaining and so full of love. It was like a big hug and left me with a smile. I think I will re-read it in the future.

I think I only gave it four stars over five because it did not have that little oomph I like. Regardless, this is the perfect holiday romance for someone wanting a light read.

I absolutely adored this cosy Christmassy romance!

Set in the Scottish Highlands it is a cozy, quick read perfect for the Christmas season!

Unfortunately, Mistletoe Magic in the Highlands fell flat for me and left me feeling disappointed. I struggled to connect with the plot and characters, which made it hard to fully immerse myself in the story.

To me, the book felt messy and lacked cohesion. It seemed as though Bella Osborne was experimenting with a new direction, but unfortunately, it didn’t quite hit the mark. The repeated attempts at humor came across as awkward and overly predictable, making it feel more like watching a slapstick comedy than reading a heartwarming romance. The plot itself felt scattered, with a mix of romance, ghostly hauntings, mysteries, and a collection of quirky characters thrown together in a run-down hotel at Loch Lochy. It was all a bit too much.

The characters were another point of struggle for me. I found it hard to connect with the protagonist, Liv, and her love interest, Fraser. Their relationship didn’t feel fully fleshed out, and I couldn’t really understand Liv’s attraction to someone so grumpy and unappealing. Oddly enough, I found Effie, one of the secondary characters, to be the most engaging. Her friendship with Robbie Williams (the cow's name was a fun touch!) and her personal growth made her far more interesting than the leads.

While I appreciate the snowy and cozy Scottish Highlands setting and some festive cheer sprinkled throughout, the story didn’t deliver the Christmas magic I was hoping for. Liv and Fraser’s romance felt overshadowed by too many competing storylines, and Liv’s memory loss subplot felt forgotten almost as quickly as it was introduced.

There were moments I enjoyed, like the snowy atmosphere and Ginger the cow’s amusing antics, but overall, the story didn’t live up to its potential. Despite my disappointment, I can see how some readers might enjoy the unique setting and quirky cast.

Thank you to Aria and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Mistletoe Magic was a delightful Christmas story with lots of things that I enjoy. Olivia Bingham has been trying to meet someone using dating sites. She has been chatting with Fraser Douglas, a Scottish chef working at a hotel in the Highlands. She wants to go and meet him, that is until she is ghosted once again. Frustrated and angry she discusses the situation with her mother and sister. They encourage her to go to his hotel and confront him. For some reason, Olivia agrees. When she arrives at the hotel he works at, things are not what she had expected.

Mistletoe Magic in the HIghlands had a plot that was different from other books I have read. I will say that I thought Olivia was crazy heading off to confront the man who ghosted her, but she has spunk. Of course, she isn't sure how to meet him and in the process has an accident which results in her staying in the hotel. She is surprised that Fraser doesn't recognize her name or seem to know who she is. Fraser is gruff and bit mean to Olivia, but his family and friends take to her immediately. There is a lot of fun banter, as well as some curious actions that had me scratching my head as to what was really going on. I realized what had happened to Fraser's profile early on, but the who and the why stumped me. I liked Effie, Fraser's sister, and wanted to reach into the book and give her a big hug. She has her own story within this book. I enjoyed this contemporary Christmas story with it's clean romance. Of course the Scottish setting at Christmas time is very inviting and adds to the ambiance of this story.

DNF

Wish this book worked for me, but unfortunately, the writing style put me off. Narrator kept over explaining things, plus it felt repetitive. I also didn't feel like reading about a bunch of Scottish tropes thrown together.

This was a fun holiday romcom!

The premise behind this book is so dumb: girl gets ghosted on a dating app and feels like it’s the last straw in a string of bad luck with men and decides to go to Scotland (she’s in England…anywhere else in the world and that would be even crazier) to confront the guy and the book is about what happens when the FMC gets to Scotland.
Really dumb premise but I give Holiday rom-coms a pass on that because part of their novelty is the cheesy-unbelievable stories. So I let it slide, other books I would have DNF but it’s partially why it’s only a 3 star read for me.

However, despite the ridiculous premise it is a funny, cute holiday romance. There’s no spice (which is my preference). There’s some funny banter between the FMC and the MMC but honestly my favorite relationship in the book is between Liv and Effie and their BFF relationship that develops.

It’s Christmasy, has snow, takes place in Scotland, includes bits of Scottish history and culture, a cheeky highland cow (🥰), and is a rom-com with enemies to lovers. If any of those are elements you enjoy, I think you should consider picking this up when you need a lighthearted holiday read.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this eARC!

This was a fun holiday romance. I enjoyed the characters and the story. I am a sucker for Scottish romance stories and this hit all the marks for me.

This book was cute and I really grew to love the characters and their little quirks. It was a great cozy, winter book to curl up with by the fire!

Loved this story of Liv who did what many woman would love to and set off to Scotland to give Fraser a piece of her mind for ghosting her. Not all was as it seemed when she got there and not all went to plan. A really lovely story which will keep you wondering but also keep you wanting to read more. Snow, lochs, laughter, strangers, friends, love and a ginger cow

I was confused as to why the book kept switching POVs from Olivia and then to Fraser's sister Effie. It wasn't necessary to me and it didn't make much sense or add to the story. The book felt a bit messy, as did the characters, and I had trouble connecting and believe in the romance aspect between Olivia and Frasier. Overall, my favorite character in this novel was the little highland cow Ginger.

Thank you to the publisher and Net Galley for the advanced reader's copy in exchange for an honest review!

The premise of this one was very cute! Unfortunately, I struggled to get into it. It was too dialogue heavy, and it felt like everything was quite low stakes and juvenile. Just not for me

My last holiday read for 2024! A fun, rom-comy, mix-up set in Scotland.

Enjoyed the interaction between Liv and Fraser, and all the Scottish side characters - even Ginger, the Highland cow who thinks she's a dog.

A perfect way to send-off the holidays and get back to regular life.

*A sincere thank you to Bella Osborne, Aria & Aries | Aria, and NetGalley for an ARC to read and review independently.* #MistletoeMagicInTheHighlands #NetGalley

I really like the premise of this novel and could already see it as a film in my head, but unfortunately it was a bit of a let down. The plot felt very messy and tried so hard to be funny but did not succeed. The memory loss plot felt like a bad choice and was a bit cringe.
The novel has a great setting but I couldn’t make myself care for the romance which is a shame.

What a cozy holiday read with a magical setting. I really enjoyed the cast of characters all with their own defined personalities and quirks. This includes the fabled hotel ghost and the adorable young highland cow. I'm grinning again - such a heartwarming read.

The romance was sweet with the happily ever after expected for a holiday romcom. I was laughing throughout the whole book - so many great comical moments. The sprinkling of Scottish lore and phrases was the cherry on top. I really enjoyed this one and will gladly read more from Bella Osborne.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the Aria & Aries imprint of Head of Zeus publisher for my digital copy.