Don’t you just love it when you find a book that you love from page one? No reading a few chapters ‘to get into it.’
That’s how I felt with this one. It was beautifully written, had great characters (especially Ginger!), a fantastic storyline and humour, oh and snow and Christmas! What’s not to love.

All the characters grow on you throughout the book as Liv heads off on a mission to right a wrong in Scotland! Being brave and standing up for herself, she finds everything may not be as clear cut as she thought.

You will laugh, you will fall in love, both with the characters and the setting and want to read it within one sitting (while also not wanting to as you won’t want it to end).

An absolute gem. I love to hear more from these characters.

Book Review: Mistletoe Magic in the Highlands

I recently dove into Mistletoe Magic in the Highlands by Bella Osborne, and it was the perfect festive escape! From the start, Olivia Bingham's struggles with love felt all too relatable. Ghosted more times than she can count, Olivia’s journey to find true connection struck a chord with me, especially during the holidays when the pressure to find love can feel overwhelming.

When she meets Fraser Douglas, a charming Scottish chef, I was immediately swept up in their budding romance—until everything takes a turn. The twist of Olivia discovering Fraser’s online profile has vanished was both frustrating and intriguing. I found myself rooting for her as she boldly decided to confront him in Scotland, a move that takes a lot of courage.

Upon her arrival, the story takes an unexpected and humorous turn when Fraser seems clueless about who she is. This moment was both heart-wrenching and hilarious, highlighting the complexities of modern dating. I enjoyed how Osborne balanced the tension with humor, making me chuckle while simultaneously feeling Olivia's anxiety.

The Scottish Highlands served as a stunning backdrop, and I could almost feel the chilly air and the warmth of the cozy hotel. The setting added a magical layer to the story, making it feel like a true winter wonderland.

Osborne's writing is engaging and heartfelt, beautifully capturing the ups and downs of relationships. The supporting characters added depth to the story, and I loved how the themes of love, friendship, and self-discovery intertwined.

Overall, Mistletoe Magic in the Highlands is a delightful read that blends humor and romance perfectly. It's a reminder that love can be both complicated and magical, especially during the festive season. I can't recommend this book enough for anyone looking for a heartwarming holiday story!

I really wanted to love this book and enjoy it, but this one wasn’t for me.

This had the potential to be an utterly cute christmassy highland romance and yet it fell flat, whilst at the same time having sooooo much going on. The numerous different subplots at times where overwhelming and confusing... 'the arrest'. I especially found the story slow in regards to the 'ghosting' the entire premise of the book and it just seemed to disappear at the start and then reappear at the end which made no sense.

However, I did love Ginger the coo, Jock'o and the main character.

Olivia Bingham has had her fair share of disappointments with men, enduring more ghosting incidents than she cares to remember. Against the odds, she finally meets someone who seems truly special – Fraser Douglas, a charismatic Scottish chef plying his trade at a picturesque hotel in the Highlands. Fraser is not only sweet and sensitive but also thoughtful and funny, and Olivia feels like she's hit the jackpot.

Just when things seem to be falling into place, Fraser's dating profile mysteriously disappears, sparking fear and uncertainty in Olivia's heart. Determined to get to the bottom of things, she embarks on a journey to Loch Lochy Hotel in Scotland to confront Fraser.

However, Olivia's hopes are tarnished when she arrives in Scotland amidst a relentless winter snowstorm, only to find that Fraser is behaving as if she is a complete stranger.

The engaging banter and the vividly drawn characters in this romantic comedy, set in the breathtaking landscapes of Scotland, made it a captivating read for me.

I loved this book. It’s crammed full of feel good loveliness and cosy chaos. If you are looking for Sottish set warm hearted romance this book is for you. The characters are fabulous and plenty of laugh out loud moments. This is such a fresh read. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Christmas magic at its best.

Thank you Netgalley.

Really sweet story with characters you fall in love with almost instantly. Picturesque setting and interwoven stories that make you want to keep reading. Thoroughly enjoyed this book!

This could have been a cute, highland romance BUT there was so much going on it was hard to keep up. So many different plot threads, and it was just one thing after another until it was over. Dead dads, lost dads, reappearing dads, infidelity, crazy girlfriends, a random 30 pages about vandalism. It was all too much.
I didn't dislike this book, overall it was okay. I was mostly overwhelmed.

What a charming Christmas story, funny, with great characters in a snowy Scottish setting. A little bit quirky and lots of fun. Thank you netgalley for the advance copy

I loved this book: it’s warm, Christmassy and laugh out loud funny. Good from the start but it really gets going about a quarter of the way through, the plot and humour both increase. Effie a such a quirky character, I loved her! The descriptions of the old hotel, the Christmas decorations , the Highland setting and the food are all brilliant. I definitely recommend this festive read.

I was initially drawn to the book because of the highland cow on the cover because CUTE then I read the blurb and knew I would love it, and I wasn't wrong. Heartwarming and wholesome, I would highly recommend

Loved this book it was so funny in places. Liv was talking to someone on a dating app and the he just disappeared. His profile said he was a chef in the Highlands. She decides to go and challenge but when arrives in a snowstorm and then discovers that he says he doesn't know her. All the characters are brilliant

This charming and easy-to-read Christmas story is set in a cosy, snow-covered Highlands hotel, offering a delightful escape into the festive season. The book is filled with humour, making it a light and enjoyable read, perfect for curling up with on a cold winter's night. While the plot may not be particularly gripping or unforgettable, the warm, comedic moments and vivid holiday atmosphere more than make up for it. Though it won't be one of those "unputdownable" reads, it still delivers enough charm and entertainment to be worth your time this festive season.

3.5/5 star holiday romance.

While this one definitely is heavy on the fluff, isn't that what a cozy holiday romance should be about?! I thoroughly enjoyed this and it did make me wish I was in the Scottish Highlands desperately! Overall, just a very cute read.

Almost DNF'd this book. I didn't feel it was the usual standard from this author. However, I persevered and ended up actually quite liking it. I really liked Liv and I think that's what saved the book for me.

This seemed like a cute contemporary romance, but I just felt like it was too slow for me. It didn't really go in the direction I thought it would and I was left feeling a little disappointed. I also couldn't connect with any of the characters if I'm being completely honest.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc!!

Thank you Netgalley and Aria and Aries for my ARC copy.

I absolutely loved this it was such a fun quick read. It had fantastic characters I really loved Liv and Effie, but I especially lived Ginfer the Highland cow. I would highly recommend giving this a read this festive season .

Olivia Bingham thinks she may have found her special someone, finally. Fraser is a chef at a hotel in the Scottish highlands, and though they have only communicated via a dating app, Olivia is smitten.
Unfortunately, when Olivia decides to show his picture to her friends she finds that his profile has disappeared. It seems Olivia has been ghosted, again.
Angry and embarrassed, Olivia sets off to Scotland to confront Fraser. When she reaches the hotel, it’s nothing like she imagined, and Fraser shows no sign of recognising her.
A freak accident and a snowstorm mean Olivia is going to have to stay for a few days.
Can she get to the bottom of things before she has to leave?
This is a story with family, friendship and love at its heart. Olivia is a funny, feisty character who you will be rooting for from the start. Another great read from Bella Osborne.

This is a cute, holiday romance. Very quick to read and engaging throughout. The characters were fun, the plot moved seamlessly from scene to scene. My only hold up to giving it 5 starts is I wanted more romance. It felt more like an enemies to friends, but overall recommend.
I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Unfortunately this book wasn’t my cuppa right from the start and didn’t change. I dnf’d 15% in.

Thank you NetGalley for sending this book for review consideration.

When Liz is ghosted by a man she connected with on an app, she sets off before the holidays to find him and ask why. A winter weather accident finds her in the home of the 'ghosted' but he seems to have no idea who she is. This was a fun holiday novel with a great family of characters and neighbors.

I received this ARC via NetGalley.