Mistletoe Magic in the Highlands

I loved this book and will reread it at Christmas! The Scottish Highlands, an unlucky-in-love FMC, a gorgeous male chef at a gorgeous hotel, and of course, that stunning cover! Romance fans will love it as much as I did. Enjoy!

Such a cute love story and extra perks that it is in Scottland! I like the chemistry of the characters. The story still could use some fluff removal but overall still a cute book

Liv is the main character and she has a dating profile and was matched with this guy they hit it off then his profile disappears and he is nowhere to be found and she thinks she is ghosted AGAIN!! so she wants to go to the highlands to confront him, so she does. She ends up seeing him but he doesn't know who she is and doesn't know of any profile he is the head chef at the highlands and liv ends up hurting her foot and having to stay at the hotel through the storm. I loved the characters and I thought it was a really fun romance story.

A funny and sweet story . Liv is texting with a great guy who has matched on a dating app and suddenly his profile is deleted .She thought they had something special . Now with all the information she has she will travel to Scotland to find him and receive an explaination . When she arrives at Frazer's hotel where he is the chef she has an accident and get het ankle and head hit . It also snows and the roads close so she has to stay until they are open . Frazer doesn't seem to know her and whe she tells his about the profile he doesn't believe her . Will they find who set the profile and will they give themselves a chance to love ?
I received this book from netgalley , the author and the publicer as an ARC . Thank you . All thoughts and opinions are my own .

“Mistletoe Magic in the Highlands” is such a cute and fun read. It has a great Christmas vibe. I liked the main characters, Liv and Fraser, and I thought they had great chemistry. I thought the Scottish setting was perfect. I also really enjoyed the author’s writing style. I cannot wait to reread this book at Christmastime. I would definitely recommend this book.

I loved this book and will reread it at Christmas! The Scottish Highlands, an unlucky-in-love FMC, a gorgeous male chef at a gorgeous hotel, and of course, that stunning cover! Romance fans will love as much as I did. Enjoy!

A fun Christmas story about a woman who goes to confront the man who ghosted her, only to find it isn't quite as she thinks. The setting of the rundown hotel in Scotland was fabulous and the characters fun. I really enjoyed it!

⭐⭐⭐⭐

I enjoyed this book, it was an easy read.

It was a cosy romance in the Highlands. Liv is furious that she has been ghosted again, so she heads up to Scotland to confront him.

Effie (sidekick) is my favourite character and she brings a fun element to the read.

I would have liked a quicker pace and maybe have spent more time with the main couple enjoying each other's company. It was slightly frustrating how Liv did everything she could to help but was still treated as disposable by Fraser.

It wasn't the way I thought the story was going to go from the blurb but it's a perfect Christmas read!

It was a light hearted and enjoyable read.

✨🔥RELEASED 10th OCTOBER 2024🔥✨

I received this book in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

My review will be posted in the following location on the 6th August.

https://www.instagram.com/hf.payne/

There are a few things this romance reader loves:

Scottish Men
Highlands
CHRISTMAS

This book had them all! It was such an amazing break from my Dark Romance tendencies; it had me chuckling, smirking and swooning constantly.

If you love a bit of the online dating trope, a little mystery and a fmc who is very unlucky in love; his book is for you!!!!

Thank you NetGalley for gifting me a copy of this book.

The story follows our main character Olivia-Liv. After being ghosted another time by a guy named Fraser, she decides to confront him and goes to his restaurant, but a couple of events will prevent Liv to confront him and she will be stuck with him...

It was a fun, cosy and light read. I had a hard time reading it at first as I was uncomfortable with Liv not being upfront at first and lying, but the book would have been 50 pages so I understand. And I ended up not minding as much after the 25% mark.

I think my favourite character was probably Effie. She has such a unique, sparkling personality. When you see her name on the page, you know you will either smile, laugh or want to hug her. The plot twist at the end with her was so nice and sweet.

The multiple point of views of the book were quite nice, as we could follow the thoughts of several characters.

I love a festive book & books set in Scotland so this was right up my street!
Thoroughly enjoyed it.
Another fab book by Bella Osbourne.

a sweet Christmas story set in the Scottish Highlands, good characters. I read it in one afternoon. I loved reading a Christmas story in July.

Mistletoe Magic In The Highlands is a cute and cosy festive novel by Bella Osbourne.
This was such a cute read. It's the perfect book to curl up with over the festive season. It was easy to follow and had a great cast of characters. Overall a brilliant novel that I would recommend to other readers.
💝 Thank you to netgalley, the author and publisher for my arc ebook copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

A different story about Christmas but I loved it. I learnt new tech terms. Loved Ginger the cow. Bitter x’s are cruel. Just a lovely happy laugh out loud at times Christmas read. Bella Osborne never disappoints .

Liv has been online datinig and has just been ghosted for the second time.
She thought they were getting on great as they messaged each other regularly and liked the same things.
She decides to go and have it out with him as she has enough information to hopefully find him so sets off to scotland.
After getting there in horendous weather she ends up walking the last bit due to a pucture.
She finds the hotel that he works at run down and closed all but one light on.
Yet again a lovley book from Bella Osbourne with a twist about online dating and scams

This was a cute and fun book. It was very fast paced, and had some funny moments in it. The ending wasn't quite what I was expecting, and there is a lot or plot that goes on for just a week of story. This is a great holiday read and isn't too long either. Read if you enjoy: banter, grumpy X sunshine, personable characters and holiday stories.

What a delight this wonderful Christmas read is.

We start off meeting Liv who has been ghosted by Frazer and takes it upon herself to go find him in the Highlands.

Full of humor as always with A Bella Osbourne read, Ginger the cow, warmth and love this is one book you do not want to miss out on.

Thank you for the ARC

Mistletoe Magic in the Highlands is a wonderful Christmas gift to all of Bella Osborne's readers, and there's no need to wait for the holidays to open it!
This delightful book has everything you could want in a rom-com - a female lead who just can't get a break in her search for a significant other, an antagonistic yet oddly loveable, foreign male lead, a snowstorm that brings together a wide variety of stranded and local characters, and misunderstandings at every turn. It even has a moody cow. Osborne weaves it all together skillfully to produce a feel good page-turner that is fun to read and leaves you feeling good afterwards.
I'm so happy to have received an ARC of #MistletoeMagicInTheHighlands from #NetGalley and highly recommend this book.

This is a heartwarming romance set in one of my favourite places: Scotland. I loved the main characters who tried to hate each other, but failed miserably. I really enjoyed their banters. There is a colourful cast of supporting characters who are just as loveable as the main protagonists, including a Scottie dog with a penchant for socks and a classical music loving Highland coo... :D
Bella Osborne is one of the authors whose novels are always a fun read. I look forward to the next one.
A word of warning though. The book fleetingly touches some online relationship issues like ghosting and conmen, which might be triggers to some readers.

I really enjoyed reading this book. I loved the cover and the setting, and the overall plotline of the book. The story is about Liv, who seems to have met a great guy on a dating site, until his profile is suddenly deleted. She decides to pursue him where he works in the Scottish Highlands, but it seems that he does not know what she speaks about in regard to his dating profile or who she even is. This takes place during the Christmastime, so it has all the perfect vibes, and I think I will read this again during that season to really get into the feel of things. An overall enjoyable and light read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Aria & Aries for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you Netgallery.

Olivia and online dating fails, except this time she won’t let him get away. An unfortunate turn of events however stop her from ‘finding him’ or did it?

This was a cute, sweet and fluffy read that I will absolutely be rereading nearer to Christmas.

Cannot wait for more to come from this authors.

3.65*

Are you ready for your next country side holiday romance? Mistletoe Magic in the Highlands should be your next read.

I absolutely Love this contemporary Christmas rom-com. There is no “spice” but the banter, characters, and story are 100%. This is definitely for anyone that loves feel good romance.

# Mistletoe Magic in the Highlands
# 8/7/2024 ~ 8/18/2024
# 5.0 / 5.0

This was such an adorable love story and in the most perfect setting! Get yourself comfy, and get ready for an adorable story at wintertime.

Thank you to NetGalley and Aria & Aries for this ARC.

Liv is absolutely livid. Another guy has ghosted her on an online dating website. Just deleted his entire profile! She had such high hopes for kind Fraser - he was easy on the eye and shared her interests of reading and Mariah Carey songs. This time she is not taking it lying down! He is a chef in the Scottish Highlands and as soon as she has Googled the address she is off in her sister's car, to tell him personally what a cockwomble he is (yes, the word is used). Of course, nothing goes to plan. She drives the car into a snowy ditch in increasingly bad weather, just as she is metres from the hotel/restaurant, has a pratfall, hurts both her ankle and her head and originally pretends to have amnesia when asked her name.

Fraser is gorgeous yet grumpy and not very happy about the sudden guest but doesn't seem to recognise her. His young cousin Effie is ecstatic however, and she and her grandmother Dolly warmly welcome her and give her a bed for the night in the run-down, not open for business hotel, that offers stag heads on walls and bats in a wardrobe as fancy extras. There are also enthusiastic rumours of a ghost called Janet. Then the snowstorm gets worse and a newly-wed couple and a snotty influencer need to be given refuge too. Liv gets so swept up with everything that she never finds the time to confront Fraser about his apparent ghosting of her.

I loved all the quirky supporting characters - bubbly Effie and feisty Dolly are a hoot, then there are elderly well-intentioned Minnie and arrest-happy Robbie Williams - the police officer, not the other one! The menagerie is completed by sock-loving Jock'O the dog and music-loving Ginger the cow whose independent streak is strong. In other words, she likes to escape!

This book covers the week before Christmas and gets a lot of story in. We learn of Effie's and Fraser's respective heartbreaks and get a restaurant off the ground. Effie also has a love interest who isn't all he seems. There is a mountain of snow, mistletoe, comforting log fires, a toppling Christmas tree and all the other trimmings.

I absolutely loved this book. It's ruined me for alI other Christmas books. This had it all - banter, shenanigans, graffiti, awful exes and two slowly developing romances.

I had every intention of stopping my reading once it got to midnight but the chapters are so nice and short that I suffered a bout of "just one more chapter"-itis until - whoops - I had finished it! What a great, fun holiday read. It will make you laugh and warm the cockles of your heart at the same time.

I enjoyed the latest offering from Bella who is becoming an must read author. This is a cute, fluffy Christmas romance set in the Scottish Highlands which are always a wonderful place to read about in the run up to Christmas. Olivia story is one that many people can connect with especially with online dating such a thing these days. I love Bella has used something that is so modern but turned into Christmas magic.

This book was gripping and hard to put down. It didn't feel like everything else you see out there, it felt very fresh. I really enjoyed this book!

Imagine being ghosted not once but twice! That is the reality for poor Liv! Well, she's through; she's had enough! It is time to confront Fraiser (the latest ghost) and demand to know why! Of course, she had never met Fraiser; they only ever communicated via a dating app, but still, she had feelings, dang it! So, like any sensible woman, she loads up her car and drives 6 hours to give him a tongue lashing and find out what exactly is wrong with her! Upon her arrival at the hotel/restaurant Fraiser's family owns, there are a few missteps, including a winter blizzard that snows them all in. What is more perplexing is Fraiser is acting like he doesn't even know her. Indeed, the man is insufferable, grumpy, and demanding.

This was the perfect clean romantic romcom! I loved all the characters, especially young and innocent Effie. The book talks about ghosting, online catfishing, and helping your fellow man in times of trouble. At its heart, though, this novel is simply a romantic romcom about what can happen if you open your heart.

This book is the perfect festive read, all the cozy fibes and winter magic.
A classic Christmas romance, with well rounded characters and full of Scottish charm,

Liv is unlucky in love and when she matches with Frazer the "outlander" man of her dreams its all seems too good to be true,
which it ends up being, which leads her racing up to Scotland to give him a piece of her mind!
full of ups and downs, loved it. it you like Sarah Morgan, Laurie Gilmores, and Karen Swam you will like Bella Osborne.

I really loved reading this book. I live in the highlands of Scotland so I enjoyed the local areas within the book. I really liked the pace of the story and how you learn about each character and their connections to each other. I loved the relationships within the book and how liv finds herself again.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this ARC!!

I really enjoyed this book!! It was so cute!! I enjoyed the setting and all of the characters! I loved the story! Such good writing style!!

I really enjoyed this sweet read. This is a grumpy-sunshine romance, but also has a lot of funny parts and quirky characters which makes is such a fun read. The story is set in the Scottish Highlands and our heroine Olivia has terrible luck with men. She thinks she's found a winner in Fraser Douglas, a Scottish chef, but then he ghosts her a well. Olivia is fed up and decides to drive from her home in England to Scotland to give Fraser a piece of her mind.

That's when things go sideways. She is close to the restaurant/inn where Fraser works when she gets a flat tire and ends up on the side of the road. Then, she encounters a friendly Highland cow, and she has a fall which knocks her out. She is able to briefly play off some amnesia and gets welcomed into the dilapidated inn by Fraser's cousin Effie. When Olivia "Liv" encounters Fraser, he does not seem to recognize her and so she continues the charade of amnesia. A blizzard arrives, bringing with it a car of strangers who need lodging for the night.

This book was funny and sweet. There was no spice in the romance but that was fine, as the setting and the characters more than make up for that. I would recommend this to anyone who loves stories set in the Highlands, especially romances.

A cute, easy Christmas read. Lovely characters, especially Ginger! The main characters didn't have a great deal of chemistry but it was a bit more about the whole family dynamic.

Charming holiday novel! I thought there’d be more romance, but it was still a fun escape read and Scotland always has my heart.

What a cute holiday read ! This is a perfect quick read to cozy up with on a snowy night drinking hot tea. I finished this one in a day, it really sucked me into the story and setting. I love all books set in Scotland and if you throw in an adorable highland cow then I am sold. I liked the concept of the online dating apps and being ghosted. All the characters were very quirky and likable. I was sad to see it end. I recommend this for anyone who likes a holiday romantic comedy.

Thank you Netgalley and Aria and Aries for the digital arc in exchange for my honest review.

Mistletoe Magic in the Highlands is a really cute holiday romance, with a lot of fun and humour. Firstly, the premise is could have gone badly wrong. Liv thinks she's been ghosted by the guy she's been falling in love with online and ends up driving up to Scottland to confront him only to get trapped in a snowstorm discover he doesn't seem to know who she is. Things could have been done badly, but I thought the resolution was really well managed, maintaining some elements to the connection Liv had without her being in love with a fake person.

There's a strong sense of chaos throughout the story that keeps you turning to page to find out what on earth will happen next. I loved the freidnship between Effie and Liv, and also the dynamic with Liv ending up helping to deal with the other guests. There was such a great cast of characters, and she integrated multiple character backstories seamlessless, which really added to the reading experience.
The only thing I didn't love was how seriously she took the 'not liking English people' thing, it ruined the vibe and was such a dumb thing to be offended.
Overall definitely an enjoyable read.

I think this book was a fun read. I loved the banter between the leads because that’s something I usually enjoy reading. I also loved the kindness showed by Fraser’s granny and cousin to Liv. The friendship between Liv and Effie was actually very heartwarming to read. It just goes to show that sometimes being kind is the right thing to do.

However I wish there were more romance between the main characters. I felt like the enemies element was very strong but the love part came out very quickly. I do get why Fraser was so cold to Liv in the beginning because of his trauma from the past relationship. Even though it’s a cliche we’ve seen a lot in movies, but I truly hope people in real life don’t go through that because it can really mess a person big time. They had a few cute moments but I was just wanting more.

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.

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.

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

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 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.

Very cute and clean Christmas/holiday story set in Scotland. There's a quirky cast of characters and some sweet romances while they are all snowed in at an old inn in a small town. There is food, friendship, drama from unwanted guests and just an overall fun book to read around the Christmas season. Even a few small mysteries. Lots of action packed into this book.

The story is somewhat predictable and definitely has Hallmark vibes. And who doesn't love a highland cow as a character in a book and on the cover? The cow on the cover definitely grabbed my attention and was probably what hooked me onto reading this book.

Thank you to the publisher for an opportunity to read an ARC of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

I really enjoyed this book. Some of the characters were a little over the top and the plot was a bit predictable but I absolutely adored it! I found Fraser a little bit grumpy but by the end I’d come round to him. The hotel in Scotland was a perfect setting and there were some really Christmassy scenes that I loved. I found there was quite a bit of comedy in this book too and a few laugh out loud moments. Just a perfect, light hearted festive story. I was sad to finish it.

Olivia is fed up of being ghosted so she decides to go and find the latest guy and ends up in an unexpected situation where many things go wrong in the lead up to Christmas. This is a feel good seasonal read and must be the first book I have reviewed with a slightly mad cow in it. Glorious.

This is one of my favourite romance authors, so was very pleased to see a new story from her! We head up to the Scottish Highlands with Olivia Bingham. She is off to find Fraser Douglas, a Scottish chef who she has been getting on very well with after meeting him on a dating site. She thought he may have been "The One", until one day his profile disappears and she stops hearing from him. Confused, and not very happy about it, she heads to Scotland to confront him, but when she gets there he has no idea who she is!

This was a lovely read! I love this author as no matter what, she can always make me laugh! Olivia, or Liv as she likes to be known, is a great character! She may be slightly crazy with her plan to head to Scotland to find a man she's never met, but her comedic timing and banter with the other characters was absolutely perfect! She is such a likeable character, and you have to feel sorry for her just a little bit when everything that could go wrong does go wrong! Fraser Douglas, on the other hand, is a surly, grumpy man who seems to have an instant dislike to anyone (particularly if they are English!). Whilst he's not the happiest of people, and certainly not in the Christmas spirit, every now and then the real Fraser pops out, and I have to admit that I was won over with his smiles, winks and of course his food!

The storyline flows along well and is accompanied by a magnificent backdrop of snow covered Scottish Highlands scenery. The images that are put into your mind as you read will definitely get you in the mood for Christmas even if we are still a few months away! The other characters within the story are lovely - I particularly like Effie, and Robbie Williams certainly made me chuckle! Of course Ginger the Highland cow gets my vote for favourite non-human, and if I had the room I'd be wanting her to come and live with me!

This was a wonderfully light-hearted and entertaining Christmas read! It's ideal for settling down, under a blanket with a warming drink to while away a few winter hours! Filled with lots of fun and laughs, this story will warm your hearts right through to the last page! Would recommend!

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!

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.

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!

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

This book was such a delight to read! It is full of laugh out loud moments that had me chuckling so much. I love the quirky characters so much! Bella Osborne has created a beautifully unique world that I was thrilled to live in for a while.

I especially love a book with an older person as a main character and there is a gem in this story. Also, there is a highland cow that thinks it is a dog. That is a fun thing to have within the pages. Lots of snow, that made me cold just reading about it! It has a bit of a mystery, strong family unity, and how stepping out of your comfort zone can bring great rewards.

The book came into my real-life for a bit. One of the characters seems to keep falling, most times not due to her own fault. I cannot even remember when I last fell, but yesterday when gardening, and stepped on an uneven surface, I fell. Thank goodness I was not hurt badly, and I just laid there in the mud thinking of Liv from the book. I laughed at her falling so much, and here I was in the same situation!

I recommend this book highly and hope that all readers enjoy it as much as I have and don’t have any ‘real-life’ incidents as I did.

I want to thank Aria & Aries and NetGalley for giving me the pleasure of reading the advance reader copy, with no obligation to write a review. My review is written freely as a hobby, and is totally my own opinion, not influenced by receiving the ARC.

Such a fun read! Highly recommend.

Many thanks to Netgalley, the author, and the publisher for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

This story was absolutley adorable! This is a cute rom-com with no spice that takes place during Christmas in Scotland. The banter is top notch and I laughed so much.

Olivia “Liv” has had bad luck with finding the right man. She was previously ghosted and tried dating online. Only when she went to tell her friend and sister about it the man’s profile was deleted. She was ghosted again!

After moping around her mother mentioned finding the man. So she decided to go to the restaurant he worked at and call him out on his behavior. Only when she got there he didn’t recognize her.

Things fall apart and she is forced to stay there much longer than anticipated.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review.
Loved this easy to read Christmas tale, lovely characters, beautiful setting. Will look out for more from this author

A light rom com set in Scotland with two delightful characters in Liv and Fraser. Liv thinks Fraser ghosted her and she's determined to find out why (it's a little stalker-y to be sure) so she heads to the hotel and discovers that she's a surprise to him. An accident leaves her more or less stranded and so they begin a relationship in real life. It made me smile. Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. A good read.

This was a great read, had me laughing and turning pages. The banter between Liv and Fraser was great, and Effie was an amazing character, her strait laced humour and literal understanding of things was funny and you could see her heart was so huge. Robbie was a great addition too, a policeman who gets stuck in his own handcuffs! Hilarious!

The setting was beautiful and I could really imagine I was there. Some hard hitting topics handled also, which made it interesting as there was also love and humour mixed in which was lovely. And let’s not forget Ginger the highland cow!

An easy read that flowed really well and very hard to put down. A great Christmas read.

Via a dating app, Olivia Bingham (Liv to her friends) thinks she’s found the perfect man in Fraser Douglas. They share witty repartee, long online conversations, and a mutual love of Mariah Carey. But when he ghosts her, she decides to drive the six hours from England to track him down in person at the Highlands hotel where he works as a chef. But two events complicate her investigation: an epic snowstorm, and more worryingly, that Fraser has no idea what she’s talking about, as he’s never used the app.

Mistletoe Magic in the Highlands by Bella Osborne offers up everything a good Christmas romance should—stunning scenery, a gruff romantic interest, a colourful cast of supporting characters, Christmas traditions and snow, snow, snow.

Liv’s quest begins a few days before Christmas, but she is undeterred by either the calendar or the Scottish winter weather, which provides a number of funny situations in this romantic comedy. The colourful cast of supporting characters, including Robbie Williams (no, not that one), cousin Effie, grandma Dolly, and computer whizz Winnie. As a bonus, there’s also Ginger, a Highland cow with a penchant for classical music and Jock’O, the dog whose first love is socks.

Comedy aside, Osborne also tackles real problems created by the Internet, including catfishing, mistaken identity and ghosting.

This is a festive Christmas romance as comforting as a mug of mulled wine.

The cover promised a cozy and sweet romance book. It did not disappoint.
Olivia has had some tough luck finding love. When she finally feels a strong connection with a man, he ghosts her. Taking her faith in her own hands, she decides to go find him. After an unpleasant meeting with an animal, an injury, and losing her phone, she discovers that the man of her dreams has no idea who she is.
The setting in the Scottish Highlands gives this book a magic Holiday feeling. The author's ability to create a sense of place and community is one of the book’s strongest features.
Her descriptions of the snow-covered hills, cozy cottages, and festive atmosphere transport you to a magical world.
While Mistletoe Magic in the Highlands has a lot to offer, some parts may be a little predictable. As with many holiday romances, the plot follows a familiar formula, which might be a downside for readers looking for more twists and surprises. The pacing, particularly in the middle, can be slow, as certain scenes seem to drag without adding significant development to the story or characters.
I would recommend it as a comfort read and a light holiday romance. Thank you, Netgalley, for the advance reader's copy.

I loved this book. It was a cozy Christmas read that I couldn't get enough of. All of the characters were well done. I loved being in Scotland with this story, also with the sprinkling in of Scottish traditions and lore. I'd definitely read more stories involving these characters.
Definitely recommend!

This book is a lighthearted and fun romantic comedy set in the scenic Scottish Highlands. As an American, I was captivated and very entertained with the different dialects! The story follows Olivia, who hasn't had the best time in relationships, including being ghosted twice. Frustrated, she decides to go confront Fraser Douglas, the latest man to ghost her after connecting on a dating app. She drives six hours to his family’s inn and restaurant (YUP 6 hours for a man you've never met!!), only to be met with a grumpy Fraser who doesn't recognize her.

The book features a delightful cast of quirky characters, including Effie, Fraser’s cousin, and even a cute Highland cow. Though the romance between Olivia and Fraser is a slow burn with no spicy scenes, the story’s charm lies in its witty banter, the grumpy-sunshine dynamic, and the cozy, snowed-in setting. Themes of online dating mishaps, ghosting, and self-discovery are woven into this feel-good romance. It's an entertaining holiday read filled with humor, warmth, and a touch of romance.

A cozy book in the highlands, what could possibly be more adorable? Add a hotel, a chef and the fun romance and it can't possibly get even better! Loved it!

I absolutely loved this book!! The characters were fun and so easy to love, especially Ginger the Highland Cow. The setting sounded gorgeous and there were parts of the book that were laugh- out- loud funny. Gentle romance, personal growth and wonderful family and friendships. I will most definitely recommend this book to my library customers! I want to re-read it already. Such a fun, lovely book!

I just loved this book so much so that I read it in a couple of hours it was just an amazing book that made me wish I could join them all. It has amazing characters in it and some were just adorable that I just wished I could meet and hug them. It is such a heartwarming and beautiful book that I just couldn’t stop reading it.

I would highly recommend reading this book if you love a Christmas book set in Scotland with an amazingly heartwarming story with amazing characters that you just wish were real and could meet.

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

Cute holiday story featuring a heroine who is insecure in her worth and a curmudgeon fellow that are brought together by circumstances of bad weather in isolated Scotland when Liv is caught in a snowstorm and takes refuge at a broken down inn. Both have been burnt by lost loves, but both are in need of being loved genuinely. I love how Liv decides to take charge of her life and stand up for herself. Secondary characters are delightful and quirky, including more as the story goes on as the storm rages and roads close. And then there is the Scotland shaggy cow. Delightful. This is a fun read, perfect for the holidays. Many thanks to #netgalley #mistletoemagicinthehighlands #bellaosborne for the opportunity to read and review this book. 3.5 rounded to a 4.

Congratulations to Bella Osborne for another fantastic read.
This book has everything you need for pure escapism. Set in Scotland with a great storyline which had me hooked from start to finish with wonderful characters in a fun romantic Christmas hug of a book.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in return for an honest review.

Mistletoe Magic in the Highlands isn’t just mistletoe magic, it is a perfect seasonal read, a magical setting, quirky but lovable characters, a mystery to solve plus a castle ghost 👻 to boot. I was completely absorbed in the book, enjoying the Highland hospitality of Fraser and his quirky family. Thank you to the publishers Aria Fiction for a Netgalley Arc of this book.

Thank you Net Gallery for allowing me to Read and review.

I also look forward to. Bella Osborne book, I can honestly say I wasn't disappointed.

Liv is on a mission to find the man behind a Dating profile which has been removed after a few messages between herself and him.

This Story was a really enjoyed cosy Christmas read, with all the drama of a family Christmas.

I would love to revisit the Hotel in the future to see how the story develops.

Thanks to the Publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.

Olivia is feeling down, she’s been ghosted a few times now. Recently, the person who she thought had things in common with her has now done the same, and she’s had enough.

She decides to travel to Scotland and let him know exactly what she thinks of him, come home and move on.

But when she arrives at his place that he said he lives at, she surprised to discover that it’s not as she expected it would be.

I loved the setting, the scenery with all the snowy landscapes. The characters were lovely and relatable.

The story will relate to a lot of people. It was fun, festive and had laughable moments.

I highly recommend this book.

What a fabulous festive read! Funny, warm, a great setting and great chemistry. A cast of likeable, quirky characters, lots of snow and a highland cow - couldn’t ask for more!

What a lovely Christmassy story. I loved meeting the characters and watching them all develop. Funny in places, made me angry in places too. Overall I’d definitely recommend this book if you’d like a nice easy read for Christmas

Heartwarming Christmas romcom set in the Scottish Highlands, what's not to love?

Once I heard the premise of this book I knew I needed to read it. I think it delivered on what was promised. It was a cute holiday romcom with great banter, enemies to lovers and beautiful Scotland. It was funny, cute and gave me the holiday vibes I wanted.

If you love holiday romances, I would recommend this one.

Olivia or Liv as she goes by has been ghosted one too many times. She's not going to take it anymore and goes to Scotland to confront him at his restaurant.
The setting was incredible, lots of snow making for a breathtaking scenery, an undeniably handsome guy and the witty banner between Liv and Fraser had me chucking out loud. This author is one I always go to for a feel good, laugh out loud read.
I think with the popularity of online dating a lot of people will connect with this story.
Cute, festively fun story with some quirky moments make for a story you'll want to read more than once. The story brought a smile to my face, and I know it will with you also.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

What a totally delightful read – ok, a word I’m perhaps overusing these days, but this really was a totally delicious and immensely enjoyable Christmassy read with a bit of everything I most enjoy.

Liv is understandably hurt when ghosted on-line by Fraser, who really did seem like the man she’d been searching for – but she’s also rather angry about it, tracks him down (with a little help from her support network), and decides to travel to the Highlands from her home in Blackburn, just before Christmas, to both find out why he did it and tell him what she thinks of him. On arrival, the hotel where he works proves not to be quite what she’s expecting, instead rather a work in progress – and instead of saying her bit and leaving again, the car she’s driving isn’t going anywhere very soon, she’s sustained some unfortunate injuries, and has decided it might just be better if she’s unable to remember her name for a while. The hotel is a long way from being ready for guests, but they find her a room and, in return, she finds herself helping the team prepare for the opening night of Fraser’s restaurant – dogged by disaster, and the plotting of a former girlfriend.

And I think that’s enough of the story – there are far more twists and turns before Liv’s mission is accomplished (well, if she still wants or needs to…) and she’s able to head for home again – and I’ll focus instead on why I enjoyed it so much. I was laughing from the opening pages, and the smile never left my face through all Liv’s many trials and tribulations – the author definitely turned up the comedy dial for this one, and I thought every single moment was perfectly judged. But there’s plenty of poignancy too – the supporting cast, that team I mentioned (using the term particularly loosely…) are quite wonderfully drawn, and from across the generations, and I did particularly love Liv’s friendship with Effie (and I just know everyone else will love her every bit as much as I did). There are a few intriguing subplots, one nicely echoing Liv’s experience of the perils of on-line relationships. And as Liv and Fraser’s romance, very steadily and with a lot of grumpy/sunshine, begins to look like an outside possibility again, there’s the mystery of what exactly happened when his online profile suddenly disappeared, and why her real name doesn’t seem to mean anything to him.

Add in Liv’s unusual travel companion, a Highland “coo” with a bit of an attitude and a penchant for classical music, an unexpectedly heavy snowfall, an off-duty policeman only too happy to whip out his bagpipes when the occasion demands it, all those wonderful Christmassy touches, a shared love of Mariah Carey, a dog who steals socks and a gang of pensioners who hope to help save the day – yes, I still have that smile on my face a few weeks after reading, and this was a book I absolutely loved. And as for that romance that could have been over before it really started – particularly slow-burn, but honestly everything I’d hoped it might be. As I said, totally delightful, and most definitely one of my Christmas books of the year – you will add it to your reading pile too, won’t you?

(Review will be copied to Amazon UK on publication day)

If you are looking for a book that will give you so much pleasure, then this is the book for you to grab and read. Mistletoe Magic in the Highlands by Bella Osborne is a fun one to read. The author knows how to give her readers the right combination of so much to enjoy.
The characters are a mix of just the right personalities to make the book relatable.
Thank you NetGalley, Bella Osborne and Aria & Aries for the copy of Mistletoe Magic in the Highlands. This is my personal review.

Another adorable read from this author who
Has me smiling and laughing, whilst reading her stories, all the way through.
This is a story involving someone who has been ghosted one time too many
This time she's off to discover why and their excuses, if they've any!

Fired up by the comments of her sister and Mum, too,
Olivia Bingham is certain just what she should do.
She travels up to the Highlands to meet the man face to face
And make him aware his behaviour is a disgrace!

What she didn't anticipate is snow and a puncture, too,
Making it difficult to make her journey through.
Get ready for laughter as she meets with a highland cow
And falls in so many ways - oww!!

A rescue, injury, a hotel that isn't open and surprises galore
Make this the kind of read that I truly adore.
The locals are such a delightful mix
But there are so many things that they need to fix!

This is a story that had me smiling all the way through
I hope you'll read it and enjoy it, too!
For my copy of this book I say a huge thank you
As I share with you this, my honest review!

What a delight this book was! Every Bella Osborne book I read has such a distinctive voice to it, she is a contemporary author who skillfully writes books that you don't get confused between.

This is a book full of heart and humour. I found myself laughing out loud throughout and falling in love with each and every character.
I'm not always a fan of the grumpy x sunshine trope but this love story was a blast. I was rooting for those two right from the get go!

Set in December, it's a Christmas book that doesn't shove Christmas down your throat. There's enough festive cheer for the Christmas lovers but not too much for the Scrooges amongst us.

I'd recommend this to anyone looking for a festive romance and a bit of funny escapism.

This was a nice winter/Christmas story set in the highlands. I loved Ginger the highland cow as a side character. Sometimes it was slightly difficult to warm up to Liv as a female main character, but I liked Effie and Fraser on the other hand. The main plot takes a while to kick off but then it’s a cute read and I enjoyed the dynamics in the book. Effie in particular seemed to be a very special person and I loved that the other characters accepted her for who she is and that she is a bit different. I think that gave the story a nice message in addition to the romance. In my view this is a nice book and something different from other winter books I’ve read so far. If you love books set in the highlands, this one might be a nice one for you!

What a gorgeous read; cute, cosy and charming. I have really enjoyed this.

Poor unlucky-in-love Liv is devastated when yet another attempt at a relationship ends in her being ghosted. But this time she won’t take it lying down and pops off to Scotland to track down the elusive Fraser and find out what was such a turn off for him. Of course, nothing is quite what it seems.

An easy festive read, perfect to start getting into the Christmas mood.

Thank you for my ARC.

Such a good read! it was a quick easy read, a romantic comedy between olivia Bingham and Fraser Douglas. Cutesy Christmas romance with twists, turns, and bumps in the road. It is a forced proximity, enemies to lovers, and grumpy/sunshine. Really loved the ending!!<3

It's a Bella Osborne book, so obviously it's going to be a five fat stars review! I have adored every, single book she's written that I've read so far.

I have spent so much time in the Scottish Highlands of late - purely for bookish reasons - and it's fast become my favourite place for festive fiction. The snow and the promise of a Highland cow or two was a winner too!

It's a gorgeous Christmas read that follows Olivia and Fraser on their journey to romance. It's heartwarming feel good fiction at its finest. The characters are cute and the story was an absolute joy to read.

Ah I've loved my stay in Scotland. It's been magical, beautiful and so funny. I've loved Liv's character and the chemistry and spark between her and Fraser was just wonderful.
The book started slowly building the story and once you reached 40% it picked up pace and took you on another journey. A wonderful read by Bella Osborne.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This is the first book that I've read by this author and I'm happy that I did it! Mistletoe Magic in the Highlands has a bit of romance, many hillarious situations and lovable characters, and two very special characters - Liv and Effie - that support each other and make the best of each one to be exposed. It's a story that can be read just as an entertaining rom-com or it could also be seen as a story that makes one think about human behavior and the importance to fight to be heard and have space.
I thank Ms. Osborne, her publisher, and NetGalley for this ARC.

Mistletoe Magic in the Highlands by Bella Osborne

I received an advance review copy for free thanks to Rachel's Random Resources and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Blurb

Olivia Bingham has bad luck with men.

She's been ghosted more times than she can count, but this Christmas she's finally met someone really special Fraser Douglas, a Scottish chef working at an idyllic hotel in the Highlands. He's sweet and sensitive, thoughtful and funny – not to mention incredibly good looking.

Just when she thinks things couldn't be going any better, Fraser's dating profile vanishes, and Olivia fears the worst. Frustrated and wounded, Olivia decides she's going to drive all the way out to Loch Lochy Hotel and confront Fraser.

But when she arrives, things don't go exactly as she hoped. Worse still, Fraser doesn't seem to have any idea who she is...

My Opinion

Bella Osborne has written another delightful book. I read this in one sitting as I couldn’t bring myself to put the book down. Olivia has once again been ghosted but this time she is going to do something about it. Her trip doesn’t go entirely as she has planned, but it definitely had a few entertaining moments. A magical wintery trip to the Scottish Highlands. This book does get off to a slow start but personally I think that the rest of the book makes up for it.

Rating 4/5

Bella Osborne has always been a go-to for holiday reads because she always incorporates Christmas, romance and a destination I want to be in. This time it was the Scottish Highlands, and once again it was a treat.
Olivia has had a run of bad luck with men so when she meets Fraser on a dating app, she thinks things are finally changing for the better. Then he suddenly ghosts her and she has no clue why. She decides to find him and face him to figure out what went wrong so she heads off to the Scottish Highlands, only when she gets there, Fraser seems to have no idea who she is. She has an accident when she gets there and needs to rest for a couple of days, but Liv is a fixer at heart, so even though she can’t understand what’s happening with Fraser, his business (a struggling hotel with a restaurant in it) needs help, so while she is there, she agrees to help him out, thinking that the time spent with him will help her get to the bottom of the whole ghosting situation.
There were a couple of extra subplots that were maybe unnecessary, but one that was not was Effie and Lviv’s new friendship. I loved seeing that developing and how she was so protective of Fraser.
If you’re a fan of the grumpy/sunshine trope like I am, you’ll enjoy this story.
Thanks to Aria Books and NetGalley for this eArc in exchange for my review.

Mistletoe Magic in the Highlands is a fun, almost comedy-of-errors Christmas romance. Liv finds she is ghosted on a dating app and travels to Scotland to track down the offender. Hijinks ensue, and romance follows. Overall, a very fun, sweet read.

This festive romantic comedy has all the best ingredients. Liv always seems to pick the wrong man, and when she is ghosted for the second time, she decides to confront the man even though he lives in the highlands of Scotland. The journey has plenty of misadventures and comic moments. When Liv arrives, there is more trouble, and suddenly, she is face to face with the man she wants to confront, but he doesn't seem to know her. The humour is plentiful, and it's easy to imagine the comic scenes. The chemistry between Liv and Fraser is evident from the start, and when they are forced together, there is an entertaining mix of romance, humour and confusion. It's the picturesque Scottish Highlands and snowing, so the Christmassy feel is vibrant. It is a cosy, fun read with lovely festive vibes and a vivacious cast of multi-generational characters that I appreciated.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

I have enjoyed every Bella Osborne book that I have read and I couldn’t resist a Christmassy one, especially when there’s a picture of a highland cow on the front.

Olivia doesn’t have much luck with men, she has been ghosted a lot. Then she meets Fraser on a dating app and thinks she has finally found the one, that is until his profile disappears and she is ghosted once again. The last straw for Olivia she decides to head to the Scottish highlands and track Fraser down. Once in Scotland things don’t turn out as she expects and worse still is that Fraser has no idea who she is.

I really enjoyed this book. I loved unlucky-in-love Olivia and her determination to get to the bottom of this latest dating disaster. When in Scotland we see a lovely character with a caring nature. It is interesting to see the story unfold once she meets Fraser and gets to the bottom of what has happened. We see their relationship grow throughout the book.

Set in the build up to Christmas, it isn’t a full-on Christmas story, but has all the makings of Christmassy romance in the beautiful setting of the Scottish highlands.

If you are looking for a book this Christmastime it definitely ticks the box, but without being full on Christmas. One for you to curl up with a hot chocolate and enjoy.

A total treat of a read. What more do you need to kickstart the festive season than a highland Christmas?
Can I start by saying I totally adored Olivia and her feisty character! She really takes the bull by the horns and confronts Fraser after he ghosts her on a dating app. I Ioved the original plot line and I think we can all sometimes wish we had a little of Olivia's courage. You root for the characters from the very first few pages, making this a totally engrossing festive read. I'll be buying friends and family copies as Christmas presents as this really was a charming read!

I first want to thank the author Bella Osborne, @headofzeus and @netgalley for allowing me to read an arc of this book. Bella is yet another new author to me, but, oh my life, this certainly won't be the last of her books that I read. What a rollercoaster this story is!!!

So, it starts with the main character, Liv, and her car crash of a love life which really reaches its low point when 'plastic Stan' comes on the scene. Thankfully, she has her lovely sister to buoy her spirits with comments like "Worse things happen in Wetherspoons", I mean, what more support could a heart broken woman need. Honestly, by this point I was belly laughing.

From there we move swiftly on to where she meets a highland cow called Ginger, need I say more. But the hilarity continues with conversations like, Liv ... "Could we not carry her or something?" Fergus ... "What, in a backpack like Yodo?" Honestly, I'm not making this up. It's just so funny.

It's all going swimmingly now, I've sussed out the HEA. Boom!!! Oh no I haven't. I'm in tears. Actually streaming with tears. Thankfully, that didn't last long and we are back to laughter with, 'He held her tight and her jumper burst into song'. I said it was a rollercoaster!!!

#arc #bellaosborneauthor #MistletoeMagicintheHighlands #ebook #headofzeus #bloomsburypublishingplc

This was a cute and cozy read, perfect for cozying up by the fireplace and a cup of tea around the holidays 🥰 I loved all of the characters and their dynamics especially the pure friendship that develops between Effie and Liv. I’d say this reads more like women’s fiction than romance as the romance doesn’t really pick up until the last 10%. Other than that it’s very slow burn to the point where you’re not sure if they’ll even get together. This was more of a story of a woman stepping out of her comfort zone and coming into her own. It was heartwarming, funny, Hallmark movie vibes with a perfect winter setting. I couldn’t ask for much more except a tiny bit more romance!

"A ghost of a Christmas to remember!"


Olivia Bingham has always had rotten luck with her choice of men, unlike her perfect sister, Charlotte. An avid user of dating sites, Oliva has been 'ghosted' more times than she can count, but rather than give up, she persists and finally seems to have met her perfect match. Although she and Fraser only ever chat online and never in person, they get on like the proverbial house on fire. There is just one problem, he lives in a remote part of the Scottish Highlands, where he is a chef in what sounds like an idyllic but unlikely named exclusive hotel, called Loch Lochy.

When suddenly Fraser's profile disappears without trace, leaving her unable to contact him, Olivia is aghast and apoplectic with rage that she seems to have been ghosted yet again. Against all remonstrations by her friends and family, Olivia decides that with Christmas fast approaching, she is going to travel the length of the country to confront Fraser and vent her anger and frustration on him for his cowardly behaviour.

Being a confirmed 'townie' the scene which confronts her as she nears her destination, throws Olivia into a complete spin, not made any easier when she manages to damage her car in the deep snow and has to complete her journey on foot. A remote and derelict hotel badly in need of repair, a truly disparate mix of live-in family members, a chef called Fraser who claims to have no idea who she is, has never used a dating site and doesn't seem to even like her, and a blizzard which leaves her stranded and at the mercy of both the elements and her strange hosts and you can probably imagine how much Olivia is looking forward to her enforced alternative Christmas celebrations.

As Olivia begins to unravel the family connections and the reasons for their straightened circumstances, she realises that she might have been a little harsh in her initial assessment of the situation, although that doesn't completely explain away Fraser's reaction to her story, so is he simply lying to avoid having to confront the truth of his actions, or are there other forces at work?

...


Romantic comedy is definitely not a genre I read from too often, although one look at that crazy, happy cover left me in no doubt what I was letting myself in for - or did it? Even I was surprised at how much I enjoyed this quirky storyline and eclectic mix of characters. As well as some laugh-out-loud one liners, there was a serious side of caution to the tale and even a hint of mystery, which didn't get resolved until almost the last minute and as I had no idea who the culprit of all the trouble was - boy was I surprised!

I have to admit that I have no idea about dating sites, or what to expect from them, so when Olivia first referred to 'ghosting', I had to take a few moments to work out exactly what was happening to her! Angry though I would have been to have faced the undignified prospect of being cast aside yet again, I don't think it would have been in my psyche to have made such an arduous and lengthy journey, in order to confront the person. I am obviously not quite as dogmatic as Olivia, who isn't prepared to give up on what seems to be a futile way of trying to meet the man of her dreams and move on to try a new way to attract that perfect partner.

Be prepared to suspend belief as soon as you open the first page of this well crafted, fast-paced storyline, which is written in short punchy chapters and all in the present time, so events are happening real-time and are easy to follow. Olivia's 'townie' upbringing is hilariously laid bare, as are her reactions to the scenes which greet her the further north she travels. When she finally reaches her destination, she is left completely traumatised after having been rammed by a very feisty, fussy and extremely pampered baby bull and from there on out, things are only going to get worse and more bizarre for her.

At first I couldn't quite understand Olivia's erratic character, but the more I got to know her, the more respect I came to have for her, as she tried so hard to make the best of a bad situation and have as enjoyable a festive season as possible. She decides not to let on to Fraser exactly why she is there, at least not until she finds out the mystery surrounding her date site ghosting. Author Bella Osborne has drawn and developed an excellent cast of larger than life characters, who star alongside Olivia and complement her wonderfully. They all play off one another famously, although the star of the show for me was undoubtedly the erstwhile Effie, whilst the stuffy and rather morose Fraser certainly didn't match Olivia's preconceptions of what he would be like in person and he really began to wind me up a couple of times. However, as the circumstances the family find themselves having to deal with unravel the deeper Olivia digs, the amount of stress they are all having to endure might explain some of their eccentric demeanour and behaviour. Help finally comes from a totally unexpected source, which left me agape and bemused all over again. However, solving the mystery of the online 'ghosting' was the icing on top of the cake for me - and did I finally see the hint of a smile from the harassed Fraser, which might even allow Olivia to have a bash at melting his heart?

Whilst there is no real Loch Lochy hotel, the name does refer to an actual Scottish Highlands loch of the same name, set in some amazing countryside and replete with several excellent sounding hotels, to cater for any ardent visitor to the area. Whilst the focus of this storyline is quite narrow and based mostly around the confines of the hotel and its immediate surrounding grounds, the author drops in some lovely descriptive passages, full of detail, which definitely gives a feel for the winter remoteness and beauty of the area, more than adequate for any 'armchair traveller' like myself.

A wonderful feel good festive read just perfect to cuddle up with on an autumn day in the lead up to Christmas!
The perfect glorious wintry setting in Scotland, fabulous diverse eccentric characters, and a slow burning convoluted emerging love story.
Liv and Fraser so totally different in character and the banter between them was hilarious,Livs sunny disposition and Frasers grumpiness put together made for a great storyline that kept me entranced page after page I really didn’t want the book to end!
Add in eccentric Effie and the most lovable highland cow Ginger,snow,Christmas cheer and a slow burning romance you have the perfect recipe for a fantastic five star read!
Thank you NetGalley for this early read

I absolutely loved this book and couldn't put it down, even in the silly hours of the morning. A fabulous festive feeling read set in the snowy Scottish Highlands. Full of humour and laugh out loud moments, likeable characters and a cute cow called Ginger. A must read.

This was such a cute and light-hearted festive romance that I ended up reading in one sitting! I've only read one other Bella Osborne book but now I want to read the rest of her backlog, especially her ones set around Christmas! I'm an absolute sucker for a festive romance!

I really liked the premise of this one and loved how chaotic but funny it was! The banter was on point and I really liked these characters, who all came with their own unique personalities and flaws which made them more realistic to me.

While I would have loved more romance, I really liked the dynamic between Olivia and Fraser who were very much the epitome of the sunshine x grumpy trope. I loved seeing their relationship develop as they got to know each other. I also really liked Olivia's friendship with Effie who was one of my favourite characters in the book. Their friendship just felt so wholesome and I loved it!

Overall a fun, quick and cute Christmas romance that I definitely recommend picking up!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I have been obsessed with Scotland lately so as soon as I saw the title for this book, I knew I had to read it ASAP. The book covers the week before Christmas and is a story a lot of people can relate to in this day in age of dating! This book is a cute, easy Christmas read. I loved all the characters, especially Ginger the cow! Perfect book to curl up by the fire with this holiday season.

PS I love the cover.

Thank you, Net Galley, the author, and the publisher, for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely loved this book, it was just what I needed - funny, warm, easy to read and Christmassy without being overpowering.
I've heard a lot about Bella Osborne books, but this is the first one I've read and I'm not really sure why?!.
It was laugh out loud funny. The story was a bit never going to really happen, but that's the beauty of books.
I liked all of the characters, they were all different and brought a lot to the book.
Definitely a great, light hearted Christmas read, not to be missed!
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.