Winter Wishes in the Scottish Highlands is a cozy romance set against the enchanting backdrop of a Christmas farm in Scotland. The author beautifully captures the magic of the Highlands during the holiday season, complete with twinkling lights, snowy landscapes, and the warmth of family traditions. It’s the perfect setting for a heartwarming love story.

The book is fairly well written, with a delightful sense of place and atmosphere that makes it easy to get lost in the charm of the Scottish countryside. The characters are endearing, and the romance is sweet, making it an ideal comfort read during the winter months.

However, while the setting and tone are perfect for a cozy holiday romance, the story does fall into predictable territory. The plot follows familiar tropes, and there are few surprises along the way. That said, if you’re looking for a comforting and festive escape with a touch of romance, Winter Wishes in the Scottish Highlands delivers exactly that—it’s a cozy, feel-good read that’s easy to enjoy, even if you can see what’s coming.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I have read, and enjoyed, quite a few books by this author. So far, I have not read one yet that I didn't enjoy. This book was no exception. I loved it!

If you need a beautiful heart warming story set at Christmastime, look no further than Winter Wishes in the Scottish Highlands. This story really makes you rethink what the word family means to you.

Told through the eyes of both of the main characters, Ivy has got to persuade the grandson of her iron-fisted employer to come back to his estranged family. She needs to find her place and where she belongs too, and follow her own path, not the path of well meaning family members. Ivy is a kind and generous soul who truly finds herself in the couple of weeks in which this book is set.
Ross has a lot of trauma in his childhood and more recent past and finds that the best way to deal with it is to secret himself away from the majority of others, despite how lonely it leaves him. He finds that facing up to some truths are very hard and overcoming fears are even harder. Ross has a lovely spirit of generosity and wholesome back-to-nature ideas.

Being that this is the fourth book in the series, we do see a return of past characters who we know and love. It can absolutely be a stand alone book though.
I love the sense of community that this book shares, including a tiara wearing old dear who has a character of a donkey, the local beautician with a sparkling gleam for match making in her eye, an irritable old man who won't face up to the fact that he cares more than he wants to, and of course who could forget Ross' beautiful pets, Moose and Snowball!

A lovely read before the festive period. My thanks to Netgalley, Bookouture and Donna Ashcroft for an advanced copy to read. All opinions expressed are my own.

Ivy meets Ross when she is tracking him down, as her bosses grandson. A great festive romance, and some great characters.

This was a sweet, charming piece of writing and just what I needed. The characters are well drawn so that you can easily relate both in the positive and negative. Their errors and I should have, would have, meant to, are mistakes most of us have made at one time - once you put aside that shoulders up to your ears cringe - well you know when you have done exactly that stupid thing without thinking. What is it that is said - it isn’t about the mistake but the recovery?

Loving Scotland, its cities, islands, the Lowlands and especially the Highlands, this book had me at Castle and Laird. A believable story with interesting and fairly well developed characters, familial obligations, disappointments, humor and romance there is something on each page and chapter which held my interest and my heart.

Thanks to Bookoutre and NetGalley for a copy

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for a review.

I was so excited to read this because i love Christmas time. It was really cute and i loved the vibes of it. My only complaint is that it felt short, i'd like more.

A funny and wise tale of two people with family baggage.
Just before Christmas, the festive atmosphere takes over. This is a lovely seasonal story, warm and charming. It was a pleasure to read.

I read this as an ARC on NetGalley. Such a fun read! I loved every part of it. Redemption, forgiveness and of course HVE!

I loved this story of a Christmas romance set in the Scottish Highlands. quick read, good characters, and setting

Such an addictive and heartwarming read. This book has all the feels of a Christmastime romance. It could easily be turned into a seasonal Hallmark movie. Honestly I have a soft spot for the most magical time of the year and spending hours in the Scottish highlands with Ivy and Ross was a delightful investment of time. I can recommend this one!

Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley for the advanced reading copy.

As someone who adores Christmas and holiday romance, I was excited to dive into "Winter Wishes in the Scottish Highlands" by Donna Ashford.

While I enjoyed the Christmas vibes, and the breathtaking backdrop of the Scottish Highlands, the pacing felt a bit slow at times, and the characters were not as engaging as I would have hoped.

Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of this ARC in return for my honest review.

Ivy Heart has to make a list for everything. It’s the only way she can keep her life straight and never miss a task. With no time for romance in her life, her only focus is her five-year plan. As the clock ticks away, so is her life. She is the personal assistant to Lady Miriam Ballentine, and she has been assigned the daunting task of bringing home Lady Miriam’s estranged grandson for Christmas. It’s the only way that Ivy can get a decent reference for her dream job. Ivy has no choice but to complete her assignment. So she packs her bags and heads to the Scottish Highlands in search of Ross Ballentine.

Winter Wishes in the Scottish Highlands, written by author Donna Ashcroft is a magical story of family and true love. Ivy and Ross were such great characters and I couldn’t help but be inspired by them. I love how Ashcroft never wastes any time pulling the reader into her stories. She describes the Scottish Highlands in such a way that you actually feel like you are right there. This story played like a movie in my mind’s eye and I loved every bit of it. I could feel the snowflakes on my eyelashes and the brisk cool air made this a magical and inspiring story with the perfect amount of romance. I highly recommend this festive read.

🌟🌟🌟🌟
Thank you Bookouture for inviting me to be part of the Books on Tour for “Winter Wishes in the Scottish Highlands” by Donna Ashcroft. This is a lovely book that will get you in the holiday spirit. Grab some hot cocoa and cuddle up.
Ivy is working as a PA and it is her job to bring Ross back home to his grandmother. I loved watching their relationship unfold. This is a heartwarming story and I am looking forward to the rest of the books in the series. Many thanks to the author, Bookouture and NetGalley for a complimentary copy of the book. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
#WinterWishesInTheScottishHighlands #DonnaAshcroft #NetGalley #Bookouture #BooksOnTour #BookLove #Bookstagram #NewBook #ILoveBooks #BooksSetInScotland

A lovely feel good Christmas read. Both Ross and Ivy have interesting back story, and they are both very touching. Both characters are easily relatable, Ross more so after we see how his grandmother treated him as a child.

I loved the slow burn with Ivy and Ross, no matter how hard they tried they kept being drawn to each other. The descriptions of the outdoors, including descriptions of the smells of the trees helps give a fully immersive experience.

Grizzle was a fantastic character, and every new parcel he opened I giggled as the glasses got more and more outrageous.

A lovely read that really helps you get in the Christmas spirit, really how could you not in a place called Christmas Resort?!

Winter Wishes in the Scottish Highlands by Donna Ashcroft.
I loved the cover of this book. Gorgeous. I got into it straight away. I did like Ivy and Mirium. I liked Ross. I did like how Ross and Ivy were together. I did love the motivational quotes each day. I loved Grizzle and Mairi. I did love the ending.

Winter Wishes in the Scottish Highlands is the perfect cozy, charming, festive holiday romance and the Scottish setting is just gorgeous with the snow capped highlands creating the perfect backdrop.

The Christmas Resort where Ross works as a groundskeeper is so cute & adorable with the author's wonderful descriptive writing transporting you right to the snow covered cabins and reindeer rides.

I loved the characters of Ivy & Ross and seeing their connection grow & flourish while bringing out the best in each other and reminding the other that your happiness is important and your own dreams are worth fighting for.

This is the perfect feel good book to curl up with under a blanket on a rainy Sunday afternoon.

Winter Wishes in the Scottish Highlands is a touching Christmas romance that explores themes of family, love, and finding peace in nature. The story centers on a grandmother who wishes to spend the holidays with her grandson, emphasizing the importance of cherishing each day doing what you love.

The characters are relatable and well-developed. Ross, though imperfect, has a refreshing outlook on life, while his grandmother’s stubbornness adds depth to their relationship. Ivy, too, evolves beautifully throughout the story, growing into her feelings for Ross. This delightful tale is perfect for getting into the holiday spirit and enjoying a bit of seasonal magic.

This was a thoroughly enjoyable Christmas Romance, perfect for reading snuggled up whilst nursing an awful cough and cold. It's book 5 in an series, but worked perfectly as a standalone. There's always an element of predictability with this genre of book. Beautiful young woman, handsome but grumpy man. But that's not a bad thing.

I've been told before that I'm like the Grinch and that I hate Christmas, which isn't actually true. I love the season, I hate the consumerism and pressure to make it perfect. And yet I find myself wanting to move to Christmas Village so that it can be Christmas all year round.

I loved the dual POV telling of this story, andc really felt that I could get to know Ivy and Ross. I identified with Ivy in a lot of ways, I'm also a chronic list maker, although my 5 year plan fell apart years ago! I feel like both Ivy and Ross went on a journey of self discovery and healing throughout the course of the book, whilst learning from each other at the same time.

Overall this was a lovely heart-warming read, perfect for the chilly winter nights.

Book Review: A Skye Full of Stars by Sue Moorcroft

As I dove into A Skye Full of Stars, I felt an immediate connection to the enchanting setting of the Isle of Skye during the holiday season. Ezzie Wynter’s excitement for Christmas, with its snow-capped mountains and festive gatherings, swept me into a cozy atmosphere that I couldn't resist.

Ezzie's life takes an unexpected turn when the Larson family arrives from Sweden, and her role as the manager of Rothach Hall suddenly becomes a whirlwind of preparations. The stress of organizing everything while trying to keep her own emotions in check is both relatable and engaging. I found myself sympathizing with her struggles, especially when the handsome Mats Larson enters the picture. His confident demeanor adds a delightful tension that keeps the pages turning.

What truly captivated me were the layers of Ezzie’s journey. Just when I thought I had a handle on her story, unexpected visitors force her to confront truths about her past and identity. Moorcroft skillfully intertwines themes of family, self-discovery, and the magic of the holiday season, making each twist feel impactful.

The romance blossoms amid the chaos, and I loved watching Ezzie navigate her feelings for Mats while grappling with her own uncertainties. The setting becomes almost a character in itself, with the picturesque winter landscape enhancing the emotional depth of the story.

Overall, A Skye Full of Stars is a beautifully crafted tale that left me feeling warm and hopeful. Moorcroft has a gift for creating relatable characters and an immersive atmosphere. If you’re looking for an escape this winter, this book is a perfect choice to curl up with by the fire. I can’t wait to see where the next installment of The Skye Sisters Trilogy will take us!

I just loved this book and I couldn’t put it down once I started reading. It’s just such a beautiful and heartwarming book, that has amazing characters who you can’t wait to meet and wish you could in real life.

I would highly recommend reading this book as it’s just amazing and so heartwarming.

I would like to thank Bookouture and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book early.