A very wholesome funny hallmark type of Christmas romcom set in snowy Scotland with a whole host of characters (including one cheeky highland cow!).

Very easy to read which was needed over the past few busy days!

Loved this rom com. Christmas, Scotland, friendships and misunderstandings. Up to date with the use of dating apps and online scams but friendships and relationships make this an enjoyable read. Touching moments and comedic moments .l just what I wanted in this book.

This is a fun, cosy read which is easy to get into and enjoy.

When Olivia is fed up of being ghosted, she decides to confront Fraser herself...
She turns up at his huge hotel in the middle of nowhere in Scotland and soon finds herself stranded there...

We get to meet various characters. It's a bit silly, a bit fun. I enjoyed reading it.

My expectations were low going in because so many of the holiday books are a disappointment, but Mistletoe Magic in the Highlands was a wonderful holiday read! Loved the snappy dialogue and sweet characters. Great holiday read!

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC for an honest review.

#mistletoemagicinthehigjlands by # BellaOsbourne is a cute story about Mr grumpy meeting Ms sunshine. It all happens in Scotland during a snowstorm. This book has a humorous romantic story that absolutely loved and will definitely telling my friends and family about. I know a certain friend who will be getting this book as a Christmas present. She’s going to love it as much as o did. Thanks #netgalley for giving me the chance to read this terrific book.

Amazing! As a huge fan of Bella’s already, I couldn’t wait for this festive offering.
What a great bunch of characters, quirky, funny, even those who start out grumpy change their ways! If ever a trip could go wrong it’s Christmas time but as this story progresses more comes to light and misunderstandings are cleared up. Romance, comedy with a touch of drama. Wonderful!

The Highlands, Christmas, and things not as they seem. This was such a cute Rom Com and even had me laughing out loud in certain parts. I enjoyed the Scottish banter and the quirky characters. Such a fun, easy, holiday read. I had trouble getting into the story in certain parts. It sometimes was slow and hard to root for some of the characters. But once Liv and Fraser started showing signs of interest in each other despite the bickering, I totally got into it. Thank you to NetGalley for the digital ARC.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for my copy of this e-arc!

I really loved this book a lot. It was different to what I was expecting. I went in totally blind and I was blown away. I loved the Scottish dialect and how it seemed so real.

The main characters were written and developed effortlessly! A cute, cosy, mysterious Christmas read!

An intriguing tale which poses that question, what happens when something seems too good to be true and isn't, and you actually decide to do something about it...which brings the question, should you!
I've been a fan of this author since her first book came out and the quality of her writing had never slipped. Sit down, turn off the phone and enjoy!
My thanks to Netgalley and Aria for the reading copy.

Sadly this was a rough read for me. 1.25 out of 5 stars, I wanted to love it but I couldn’t. Full review on Medium that goes in depth with my issues with this book.

https://medium.com/@briannashrout/mistletoe-magic-in-the-highlands-earc-review-8ff902c20cc4

I want to start by thanking Netgalley, Bella Osborne, and Aria & Aries for a copy of Mistletoe Magic In The Highlands in exchange for an honest review. Reader, I want it to be known that I am a Christmas enthusiast through and through, and when I got approved for this book, I was beside myself. I mean, just look at that cover. What isn't to love? It is a Christmas romance that takes place in Scotland and has a cow named Ginger. I was sold. If you can not tell by my ramblings, Reader, I will say it here: I loved this story.

In this story, we follow Liv, an English woman who is consistently ghosted by the men that she meets. Fraser is the latest to ghost her, and this time, Liv has had enough. Liv is talking it over with her mother and sister one night and decides enough is enough; she is going to find out why this man has ghosted her. So, like any frustrated and infuriated woman, she hops into her sister's car and heads for Scotland in search of Fraser. All she knows about this man are the few things she has learned about him through a dating app and a few weeks worth of communication. The rest she found out through the internet. Liv knows that he is a chef and works in a hotel kitchen, so she sets off for the hotel. Along the way, she ran into a bit of trouble at a gas station, which had me cracking up. I was laughing so hard that I even read it out loud to my husband, which got him laughing as well. When Liv finally arrives at her destination, things do not go as smoothly as she was hoping. Aside from her accident, when she arrives, Fraser has absolutely no idea who she is, or so it seems. This, needless to say, is a bit confusing and puts a major damper on her confronting him. Then, because of Liv's accident and some unforeseen circumstances that arise, Liv finds herself stuck in the Highlands.

I loved watching how Liv handled being stuck in an unfamiliar place with people she had never met. I enjoyed the friendship that developed with Effie throughout the story. I thought Liv was a real friend to her, and seeing how close they became was sweet. Liv was patient with Effie even when Effie was struggling. I also got a kick out of some of the grandmother's friends and the antics they got up to. I do not want to forget to mention the banter between Fraser and Liv, which I found to be rather entertaining. Their dynamic is the typical grumpy sunshine trope, which I thought was handled very well. One thing I appreciated about this story is that there was no spice because I am not a big spice reader.

If you are looking for a cozy, romance-type Christmas story for the season that will give you all the Hallmark feels, then I think this would be a great read for you. There are some heavier topics to be aware of in this story, but for me, I thought it really added a little something to it, and they were handled well. I very much enjoyed this story and will be revisiting it next Christmas season. This is the only book I have read by Bella Osborne, but it won't be my last. I look forward to reading more by this author.

Trigger Warnings:
- Mentions of Parental Death
- Mentions of Car Accidents
- Mentions of Infidelity

“Mistletoe Magic in the Highlands” is a super cute read and great for this time of year. I cringed with how the story started but grew to love the main FMC. She definitely is a heart on her sleeve character and definitely felt a little early 2000's vibe romcom movie quirky girl so it took me a while to get used to that.. I love the setting and hearing about how the grumpy character had a soft spot for his friends and very defensive for them.

I think Ginger was adorable (the highland cow) that caused a bit of mischief for the FMC.


ARC provided by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

Olivia, was getting to know an online date called Fraser, then one day he disappears and no longer can be found online. Olivia fed up with being ghosted, decides to take matters into her own hands. She tracks down Fraser to have it out with him.

However upon arriving, snow hampers the journey and she trudges to the only nearest at this run down hotel in Scotland’s Highlands to seek refuge. To be greeted by a grumpy chef called Fraser and a eclectic mix of family members. Stuck there Olivia finds herself becoming attached to the place and the residents.

A passable distraction from everyday life, but not the best of the festive books around.

Thank you to Aria & Aries | Aria and NetGalley for the gifted copy in exchanged for honest review. This is the funniest slow burn, enemies to lovers I’ve ever read! I normally avoid slow burns because they just get super annoying but this one doesn’t!! This book has so many loveable characters, hilarious jokes, and a twist I did not see coming in the end!!!!

My thoughts



Narrative and Plot


Mistle Magic in the Highlands had all those human elements that make a Bella Osborne novel special. I've read her previous works like The Library and The Promise of Summer. Both of them had this theme of two odd characters finding a connection that they were desperately missing in their lives. The beauty of it is that it doesn't always have to be a romantic connection, as we see in The Library.

In this story, however, I didn't find that insurmountable urge to root for the connection between Effie and Liv. The story was enjoyable, but it didn't move me the way I expected it to, nor did it immerse me in that holiday atmosphere.




Characters and Conflicts


Liv was ghosted by Fraser, or at least that’s what it appears to be. The whole reason Liv goes out there is to confront Fraser. However, the story takes a different direction and feels like it is all over the place.

There are a lot of new characters who didn’t serve much of a purpose in the general context of the story. Some of the conflicts that were introduced much later into the story resolved magically on their own.

Liv's reason for prolonging her stay in the Scottish Highlands and her voluntary involvement in their lives wasn’t convincing enough. It took me out of the story at times, wondering why she was doing it in the first place.



Conclusion




Overall, I enjoyed this little adventure in the Scottish Highlands. It has that small-town charm and innocence. However, it could have been more put together. This was a one-time read for me, even though I enjoyed the experience.

I'll be honest and admit I picked this book based on the Highland cow on the cover. Obsessed! Fortunately, this story was just as funny and cute as my beloved hairy coos. Olivia heads to the Highlands to confront the Scottish chef who ghosted her on a dating app. Then there's fake amnesia, a snowstorm and a house full of quirky guests and family and spirited septuagenarians. This book was a ton of fun. I'd love to read another book with these characters to see how things are going with the hotel.

Thank you to Aria & Aries | Aria and NetGalley for the advance reader copy. I am required by law to disclose this.

Am absolutely adorable atmospheric wintry read. I loved the setting so much, it was perfectly cozy for this time of year.

Mistletoe Magic in the Highlands by Bella Osborne had a promising premise and a picturesque setting that initially drew me in. The idea of a holiday romance unfolding amidst the stunning backdrop of the Scottish Highlands seemed like the perfect recipe for a heartwarming tale. However, the execution left much to be desired. The chemistry between the two main characters, which is crucial for any romance novel, was notably absent. Their interactions felt forced and lacked the spark needed to make their relationship believable and engaging. The narrative seemed to meander without a clear direction, failing to deliver the emotional depth that one would expect from a love story set against such a magical setting.

Moreover, I struggled to connect with either of the protagonists. Their character development felt superficial, and their motivations were often unclear or inconsistent. Without a strong emotional anchor, it was difficult to become invested in their journey or root for their eventual happiness. The dialogue, which should have been a source of charm and wit, often fell flat, further diminishing the overall impact of the story. While Mistletoe Magic in the Highlands had the potential to be a delightful holiday read, it ultimately did not come together in a way that resonated with me, leaving it as a rather forgettable entry in the romance genre.

Thank you to Netgalley and Publishers for giving me a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Christmas in the highlands would be beautiful, and I loved the clever back and forth between the main characters. Faking amnesia was a little tiresome. I did mostly enjoy the story. Thanks #NetGalley

Ooh I really enjoyed this book.

It's fairly funny at times, it's definitely entertaining and omg Ginger has to be one of my favourite pets I have read this year. She is a rather mischievous highland cow, that thinks she is a dog, and leads of Liv having to stay up in Scotland for longer than she intended.

After all Liv had only travelled up to the Highlands to give Fraser a piece of her mind, after he had ghosted her online, but although she recognises him, he shows no recognition of her, and then there is snow and car issues and she is stranded up at his not exactly open, potentially haunted hotel!

Fraser not only gives Liv a room when it is realised she can't go anywhere but is persuaded to take in a few other stranded people too, which made the dynamics between everyone really interesting.

Effie is a really sweet natured if perhaps a tad naive girl who is related to Fraser and makes fast friends with Liv. There are quite a few small mysteries to be solved throughout the story which Robbie Williams, the local friendly policeman, may or may not have been useful in!

All set in the run up to Christmas, this was a charming and really entertaining story that I totally adored. I devoured it, and thoroughly enjoyed every word.

Thank you to Aria and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.