I didn't get very far into this book before I gave up on it. I usually love Donna Kauffman's books, but found the Scottish dialect in this one a bit too tedious and distracting from the story. I also thought the story seemed a bit too obvious, with too much angst in the male protagonist.. It didn't draw me in, like her other books have done.

If you like Hallmark Christmas movies, Santa in a Kilt is a sweet, funny, rom-com for you!

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

Santa in a Kilt by Donna Kauffman is a wonderful holiday story about love, life, and not being afraid to reach for your own true happiness.

Even though divorce lawyer Shay Callaghan witnessed the "glorious best" of marriage with his friends' relationships in Kinloch, dealing with his clients made him decide marriage wasn't for him. His longstanding attraction to Kira MacLeod rocks his convictions.

"Kira MacLeod was absolutely a forever and always kind of woman. She deserved no less..and so very much more."

Kira had dealt with the aftermath of her divorce and is done standing on the sidelines. She's ready to go after the man she wants, and Shay doesn't stand a chance.

"She wove her fingers into his hair and turned his mouth back to hers...and never once, in his entire life, had he had such a pure sense of what is was to finally come home."

The story is heartfelt and filled with steamy romance, and you will love how Shay sends a liveried servant to Kira with a special invitation to his home and his life. Another great read from Donna Kauffman!

Shay Callaghan has had feelings for Kira MacLeod for a long time. Unfortunately, one of his best friends was interested. Kira MacLeod is leary of loving someone again after her divorce. When the obstacle is removed and the holiday season is upon them. Will she get her Santa in a Kilt?

After their friends wedding Kira asks Shay for a favor to do with her business. Shay thought his feelings for Kira weren't noticeable until his friends and their wives start making sure they're put in close proximity to each other during a wedding reception. Kira is attracted to him and can't figure out why he keeps avoiding her and it hurts her feelings. The morning after the wedding he shows up at her house to talk about what advice she wanted to come see him about. Kira confronts Shay about how he acted the night before. Sparks fly and they end up having sex together and spending time sorting out their feelings. As the days progress and they get closer and share more of themselves they begin to realize that they love each other. Kira asks to come to Shay's house for a visit, but he's not ready. Shay makes a grand gesture when he's ready for Kira to come to his home on the island, she brings him a gift. He shares a special Christmas memory with her. She shares about her former relationship with him. They are asked to come visit the city and friends for the holiday. Kira wants to see where Shay works and lives in the city. Shay has been leary of relationships because of his work as a divorce lawyer, but Kira changes his mind. A proposal is made and a ring accepted. They go to the city for the holidays with friends. They all receive a surprise when a friend looking into a rival for the leader of the clan on the island comes home with someone.

Donna Kauffman continuation of the Kinloch Island series with the novella Santa in a Kilt and she brings together in a steamy story of love and how it changes a life. Kira MacLeod and Shay Callaghan come together to find true love during the Christmas season. Steamy love scenes and frank conversations have these two realizing that they were meant to be together.

This was a fun story about Shay who is a divorce attorney and opposed to marriage because he has seen the devastation it can cause to one's heart. Kira has been divorced but isn't about to give up on the possibility of true love. They both live on the island of Kinloch and have mutual friends who are happily married. Immediately after the wedding of two of those friends, Shay and Kira take a chance on each other. They both agree to nothing serious, just fun but as time goes on is that distance even possible because the heart has a mind of its own?

This story was a quick read and I liked the story very much but didn't enjoy reading the detailed sex scenes. I don't care to know the details of one's sex life.

I was given an arc copy of this book and I willingly offer my honest review.

Santa in a Kilt is part of the Hot Scot Trilogy. It is a sweet short story about a divorcee who finds love again with a divorce attorney. It is set on a Scottish island guided by a modern-day clan chief. There is enough information about the prior books that you don’t feel lost in the story without having read them first. But you wind up wanting to read them, too!

I am thankful for the electronic copy of this book I received from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.

Santa in A Kilt is a holiday romance novella by Donna Kauffman - and while it has some characters from her Hot Scot triology, it works as a stand alone story as well. It may open up another series for you to read! This novella is about Kira and Shay and what happens after they attend the wedding of friends. Shay is a divorce attorney so his view on marriage and HEA is not so good! Kira came back to the island after her divorce and has had time to think about what might happen next - and Shay is a person of interest! I enjoyed the novella and did add the other books of the series to my TBR stack.

This review is in exchange for an honest review for an ARC of Santa in a Kilt from Donna Kauffman and NetGalley.

Santa in a Kilt is book 2.5 of the Hot Scot Trilogy by Donna Kauffman, I had not read the previous books so it can be read as a stand alone. I do recommend you read in order in order to get the most out of the story.

On the wild dunes of a Scottish Isle, mistletoe and mischief are the best way to heat up a holiday best shared by two . . .

The wind-whipped December sea air of the isle of Kinloch invigorates Kira MacLeod as she sets out to tame rugged Shay Callaghan. The Scottish bachelor may be as wary of a wedding ring as a snowman is of the hot sun, but it’s no secret how he looks at her—as if she were the only woman in the world. Now, with the encouragement of the canny islanders, and watching two of their best friends tie the knot in a romantic winter wedding, Kira will ignite Shay’s heart—and weave the perfect Celtic Christmas to say aye do . . .

Originally published in Unwrapped

I enjoyed the setting of the Scottish isle of Kinloch, along with the descriptions of clan life, traditional basketweaving, and the friendships of the people. The characters in the story were engaging and I was drawn in enough to want to purchase the previous 2 books.
I loved that Kira hangs in there and makes the most out of her life after her divorce. Plus that she decides to explore her old feelings toward Shay.

Great holiday novella!

I requested and received an Advanced Readers Copy from the publisher and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Another great book!!! I love anything Donna Kauffman writes! She never disappoints me. Her storytelling astounds me!! Can't wait for her next book!!

Shay doesn't believe in happily ever after.and intends to remain a bachelor forever. The weird thing is he came from a town where no one ever gets divorced and marriage is a blissful state to behold. Kira wants the right man in her life and after her last experience with a man she plans on find the perfect one for her this time. When the two run into each other at a friend's wedding sparks fly and the two can't seem to walk away from each other. Shay soon learns that he can't turn off his feelings, he doesn't want to hurt Kira but he also isn't sure he can be happy in a relationship. Kira knows that Shay is the man for her but can she show him that it's okay to fall in love and be in a partnership. Follow along as the two work at finding where they each for into one another's lives and whether they can make it work. This was a great holiday read that will get you in the mood for romance and the coming holiday season!

A very quick yet highly entertaining holiday adventure filled with interesting charters, witty dialog and undeniable passion..... a great read!

Another grab based on title alone and the promise of Christmas in Scotland, of course. I enjoyed a few of the author’s earlier holiday stories so was happy to pick this one up.
Review

Santa in a Kilt is book 2.5 of the Hot Scot Trilogy and, while I read this as standalone and it worked, it also tied strongly to the earlier two stories so that I knew I would have gotten more out of it if I’d read in order.

So, this seemed to be a romance for side characters in the series about people from a pair of clans living on an island in the Hebrides islands. It begins with the wedding of Roan and Tessa from Off Kilter. Shay Callaghan stands up with his friend and can’t take his eyes off the bridesmaid that has filled his thoughts for a while. He could approach her now that the friend code is lifted when Roan chose Tessa, but between his parents’ broken marriage that he survived with his cold, emotionless father and his work as a divorce attorney, he’s pretty sure that true, lasting love isn’t in the cards for him and Kira Macleod is the forever love sort even if she came home after her ex did a number on her. He’ll look from a far and keep his hands to himself. Or so he planned…

Kira doesn’t know what has been holding Shay back with the way he looks at her, but for the first times since her ex, she wants a man. She has stayed holed up in her cottage with her basketweaving, licking her wounds, and hiding from life. That has to change and she is determined that handsome, sexy Shay is the man who will help her with this goal. Now, if only she can untie her tongue long enough to put it to him and persuade him that there are no guarantees about love, but it’s worth the gamble.

The setting of an island in the Scottish Hebrides with a small village and people still very much bound by old tradition was perfect for a holiday read. Christmas is approaching, but it was background to the recent wedding, the new project of the artisan basketweaving school and business that was the island’s biggest draw and income, and, of course the romance.

I enjoyed the descriptions of island clan life and the traditional basketweaving, the friendships of the people, and also the hints of the cosmopolitan life of Edinburgh close by. The characters in the story were engaging and I wanted to go back and read the earlier stories as a result.

As I said, this one was a side story in a series. It was sexy and I enjoyed seeing this hurting pair find happiness in each other. However, I had mixed feelings about the romance itself. It was somewhat under-developed and rushed forward as novellas will do sometimes. They only know each other slightly because of their friends getting involved in their own romance and from living on a small island much of their lives. This was the crux of the matter for me because Shay was really struggling to overcome his childhood abandonment issues and his cynicism about lasting relationships while Kira was full-steam ahead toward long-term and love. She’s on a different page from him. She said they would take their time and see where starting a relationship would go while he got used to the idea and worked through is issues, but not even a few weeks’ later with days’ absences between when Shay was working on cases in Edinburgh, she’s inviting herself over and even using long-lasting relationship words and the ‘L’ word while he was still not even sure he wanted her in his cottage or to treat it as anything more than a friends with benies. He does a quick about face from full on caution to grand gestures not long after her pushing. I didn’t dislike her or him for this about face from the first few chapters of wariness, but it kept me from buying into their romance completely. I get it. The story needs a resolution and to be fair I thought he was getting in his own way since he was obviously attracted to her.

In the end, I shrugged and let the warm fuzzies of the story and the setting with the holidays smooth out the romance for me so that I can say that I moderately enjoyed this toasty hot Scot holiday romance. I would definitely recommend reading the series in order and recommend it to those who want some sizzling romance in a remote Scottish island and village.

I rec’d this book from Net Galley to read in exchange for an honest review.

There is nothing I dislike about this book. I love the setting, I love the characters, I love the secondary characters who help to make the story what it is. I love the writing. I love the burn or slow burn between Kira and Shay, but I think what I like most about the book, other than sexy Shay, is Kira and her independence. I love that she hangs in there and makes so much out of her life after her divorce. I love that she decides to explore who old feelings toward Shay. I even like that this is a shorter story.

Normally I love Donna's stories and this one wasn't bad but it just didn't grab my interest. I found the whole thing rather bland. I wouldn't recommend this nor would I buy the book myself. Overall a disappointment after reading and enjoying other books by Donna.

Kilts at Christmas time. Yes, I know I have a love for highlanders and I tend to review my fair share of books about them. I’m of Scottish decent myself and I love to see how Scottish people are portrayed in romance novels as well as other genres. Donna Kauffman’s Hot Scot series is a guilty pleasure of mine and “Santa in a Kilt,” is a perfect quick read for the busy holiday season.

What I liked:

As I’ve mentioned before, novellas are often short and sweet. “Santa in a Kilt,” is certainly that. This is a previously released novella that originally appeared in a collection of stories called Unwrapped. So, if it seems familiar that may be why. I did not read it the first time it came out so it was new and fresh for me. It was a great chance to see where some characters from the previous books in the series were now along with meeting a new leading couple.

Kira is a strong independent woman. She has returned to the island of Kinloch after a messy divorce. Her basket weaving business is finally doing well and she’s ready to explore a crush she has on Shay. Shay is a jaded divorce attorney that doesn’t see much use for marriage, but he is attracted to Kira. This novella explores what happens who two broken people come together and take a chance at love. I loved their connection, their chemistry and their playful attitude with each other. Kauffman packs a lot into this story and readers will love every second.

The Christmas setting for this one was perfect. I loved Roan’s winter wedding. It was just gorgeous and how could it not provide a great backdrop to Kira and Shay’s love story. It was nice to see Graham again also. You can’t have a Scottish book set in present day and not have a visit from the laird, now can you. This was a great mix of previous characters and new ones. It was definitely time for the last of the boys to find love.

What I didn’t:

I didn’t mind the Scottish brogue of the characters in this book because That’s part of what I enjoy about any book set in Scotland. But I am sure there will be some readers who find it tedious. Keep it in mind but you still gotta read it.

A novella is never quite long enough to satisfy the voracious readers among us but this one is definitely worth the trade off.

Bottom Line:

I recommend you give this one a try. It’s a sweet quick read that will leave you smiling. Great lead couple. Lots of fun banter and steamy moments and of course a wonderful happy ever after.

Santa in a Kilt by Donna Kauffman

Big smile...yep...this story put a smile on my face just like it put one on the characters in this book! Shay Callaghan, divorce attorney, is a bit leery of happily ever afters due to his mother leaving when he was small and also due to what he has seen while helping clients dissolve marriages. That doesn’t stop him from gazing on lovely Kira MacLeod in a way that has his mates knowing, perhaps before he does, that he is soon going to be hitched like they are if he ever steps up and does more than gaze at the woman who holds his interest. Kira, a weaver, has had a rough divorce to contend with but is ready to embrace life and hopes that life will also embrace Shay. My, this was a delight to read in oh so many ways! I loved Kira’s openness and warm spirit. I loved Shay and found him quite the book boyfriend. Sure, he was worried about breakups before really even in a relationship but boy oh boy was he sizzling male! The two of them together were perfect! I don’t believe I read the first two books in this series but that made no difference at all in being able to thoroughly enjoying this story!

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for the ARC – this is my honest review.

5 Stars

This is a very cute and short story that will leave you smiling! I found these characters to be so enjoyable, relatable and realistic.
If you love stories about two characters who have trouble pasts and need each other to break down the walls they worked so hard to build, this is definitely the story for you!

Santa in a Kilt has this sweet feel-good vibe to it. I loved the characters, who were well developed and an added bonus was the Scottish setting.

I didn't realize that this was part of a series when I requested it, but the other couples' backstories didn't really matter that much to understanding this novella. I liked the setting and the characters were a little bit flat, but readable. With a title like that, I thought this was going to be a bit more Christmas-y, but I enjoyed it.

Shay Callaghan has no interest in ever getting married. Being a divorce lawyer he sees too many marriages end in bad blood. The problem is is that he cannot quit thinking about Kira MacLeod. Shay always thought his friend, Roan had his eyes on Kira but when his friend gets married he realizes that he may need to make his move on Kira.

Kira has always been attracted to Shay and now that she is divorced and back in town, she has decided that she is setting her sights on Shay and Roan's wedding might be the best place to start.

As these two spend more time together they quickly realize that these lost souls belong together and before you know it, they are getting their happy ending. This was a fun, quick novella that takes place during the Christmas season with wonderful characters and a fun story line.