2.5 stars - The second installment of the Highland, Georgia romance series features a few returning characters from the first book. Since Izzy and her highlander moved back to Scotland, Izzy's friend Anna is left in charge of the annual Highland Festival. The last thing she needs is the help of Iain, Izzy and Alasdair's friend from Scotland. She puts him in charge of a few animals to keep him out of the way. But even with all the distractions, she can't deny she wants to see him more than she should.

I realized fairly quickly that these books aren't my cup of tea. They are very typical romance novels where the budding relationship is pretty much the only focus. At least in the second book, I enjoyed the main characters personalities and they're attraction to each other more. Anna is a spirited dance instructor who's independent and passionate, while Iain is reserved but dedicated and helpful.

The outcome is predictable as expected, but if you know what you're getting in to you'll enjoy reading this book.

Anna is left in charge to put on her towns Highland festival this year. Although her friends sent Iain to help her with putting the event together she resent his help. It’s fun to watch as the banter and their chemistry leads to so much more then they ever expected.

"A kilt on a weekday, huh? You take being Scottish seriously." "A rainbow tutu on a weekday, huh? You take being a fairy sprite seriously."

Return to Highland, Georgia for another season of games, dancing, and romance!

With her best friend, Izzy, in Scotland preparing for the birth of her first child, Anna Maitland is in charge of the annual Highland Games. Armed with Rose and Izzy's notes from years of festival planning, Anna is confident in her abilities and determined to prove to Highland that she is capable at running the Games--enough so to potentially run the whole town as Mayor. She doesn't need help; she's done well on her own so far, and in running her dance studio. She especially does not need a man. After all, men always leave, just like her dad did. No, she's better off doing everything on her own.

Iain Connors grew up in the Scottish Highlands surrounding Carindow Castle as the son of the groundskeeper, and served many years in Her Majesty's Armed Forces. He is more capable of taking care of himself and others, and getting done what needs to be done. Iain arrives in Highland as a favor to Alasdair, to come and help Anna prepare for the Highland Games. Big, burly, Burns-quoting, kilt-wearing Iain has never had much luck with the fairer sex... and Anna is no different. She's stubborn, determined to run the Games on her own, and tries to keep Iain away from the planning. Better yet, she'd like to see him back to Scotland.

Despite their initial clash of wills and ill-fated first meeting (blame the sheep), neither Anna nor Iain can deny the attraction they feel. They know it could never work out between them, be nothing serious. Or can it?

Will Anna and Iain be able to work together? Will the Highland Games be a success without Rose and Izzy? Will Iain and Anna ever move past the pining and denial? And what, exactly, does a Scotsman have under his kilt?

A second wonderful novel in the Highland, Georgia series, Trentham blends Southern Attitude with Highland Pride and dazzles with a perfect blend of romantic tension and romantic fluff. A delightful romantic comedy that will make Southerners and Scotland-lovers laugh, with references to Nessie, Highlander movies, and the most cutting three-word phrase known to man: "Bless your heart". A fantastic follow-up to "A Highlander Walks Into a Bar", "A Highlander in a Pickup" is definitely one to "pick up" as soon as possible!

Eagerly anticipating the next book, which looks like Holt will finally find someone for him and, best of all, we'll see Highland at Christmas!

Continuing this great series, Anna is coordinating the big Highland festival since her best friend, Izzy, now lives in Scotland with Alastair (book 1 of the series) and Izzy’s mom has gone over to be there for the birth of their child. I return, Iain comes over from Scotland to help out. He is restless at Cairndow even though it’s expected he’ll take over from his dad as groundskeeper, but he ends up finding a place and love in Georgia.

Anna and Iain are a good couple and the romance here was a slow burn. Anna has some insecurities and resists his help, but eventually sparks take over.

I enjoyed this story and am really intrigued by the epilogue that sets up Holt’s book next. Can’t wait to read that one...even if our hero most likely won’t wear a kilt :-)

Thanks to the publisher for a review copy via NetGalley.

This cute series starts with a Scot Walks Into a Bar. This story shares the setting of Highland, Georgia, where the rolling green hill are supposed resemble the ouch terrain of the real Highlands in Scotland. Izzy and Alisdair are off in Scotland having a baby, so the annual Highland games festival falls into the hands of Izzy’s bff, Anna. Anna is a control freak who does not appreciate that Izzy sent Iain Connors to “help” with the planning and running of the festival. She will not have it, because she is perfectly capable to head up and run the best festival EVER all by herself. But we know better. Will everything work out, or will Iain get more than he was assigned to do to support the Blackmore family and his own obligations and duty? These characters are light, funny, and lovable. A very enjoyable read!

3.5 Stars!

A Highlander in a Pickup is the second book in the Highland Georgia Series and it follows the story of Iain & Anna. When Anna's best friend Isabel is unable to run the Highland Games this year, Anna steps up to the challenge. However, Anna quickly discovers that she might just be in over her head. And when Iain shows up to give her hand, he knocks her world off its axis.....

Overall, I thought this book was a quick and easy read. I had a fun time returning to the Highland Georgia Series and couldn't wait to see what was in store for us this time. Anna is a strong and independent woman. You can count on her to help a friend who is need. And Iain is the strong, silent type. He's very loyal and takes his duties seriously. Together these two are very similar and can't help but butt heads. And the sizzling sexual tension doesn't help the situation either. I loved watching these two butt heads and deny the feelings they had for one another. I knew it would lead to something pretty special and couldn't wait to see how it would all play out.

A Highlander in a Pickup is a fun and entertaining read. You can easily finish it in a single sitting. The characters are fun and easy to connect with. The story was easy to read and written well. It had good humor, light angst and steamy moments. All in all, a nice read to spend your day getting swept up in.

I thought this was such a cute idea - a Southern American “sister city” to Scotland, complete with a summer festival and a themed downtown! I enjoyed reading this, as it is part of a series, but it was not necessary for me to have read the first to be able to know what was going on. And now that I have read and enjoyed ‘A Highlander In A Pickup”, I look forward to reading the others in the series.

Anna is in charge of the highland festival for the first time ever while her best friend, who is usually the one who puts everything together, is off in Scotland about to give birth. Iain is sent from Scotland to help but Anna feels that letting him would be tantamount to admitting she isn’t capable managing a large scale project on her own. However the longer Iain stays in Highland the more she cannot ignore him.

I liked this book much more than the first in the series(although this can be read as a stand-alone). Iain is such a sweet hero, all kind and unsure of himself. Anna was strong and I loved how much she cares for her dance students. I had a difficult time with her refusal to let Iain help her when she was running herself into the ground. Her sheer stubbornness was not admirable. I also really hated the ending that was just a setup for the next book in the series. Still this was a very sweet read and I am glad I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest opinion.

Anna lives i a small charming town called Highland, Georgia. Every year the town has a festival called
the "Highland Games" which is Scottish themed, including competitions, animals food, etc. Usually Anna's friend co-ordinates the games but is unable to this years, so Anna is filling in for her. Anna's friend did send someone to help her though,straight from Scotland, his name is Iain and he's brought along his kilts as well.

Anna grew up in Highland. She is a dance teacher with a successful business and lives in a small apartment above her studio. She works hard but is lonely.

Iain grew up on an estate in Scotland, where his father is a caretaker. He spent much of his time alone and is a loner. He is a smart, well read man and does great woodwork and handyman type work.

Anna doesn't feel like she really needs Iain's help but gives him small jobs to do and they do get off
on the wrong foot with misunderstandings. There is an attraction between them though but neither are sure how to handle it. They do begin a physical relationship though but figure it is just a fling as Iain will be returning to Scotland after the festival is over. Iain is supposed to be taking over his father's job upon his retirement and Anna has her studio and wants to run for mayor.

Will the Highland Games be a success? What will the future hold for this couple?

The tide really turns for them when Anna gets very ill for a few days and Iain takes over her responsibilities for the festival, not wanting anything in return. Anna and Iain are pretty insecure
when it comes to personal relationships but they come to know so much about one another in such a short amount of time and the respect they have for one another grows and grows. Iain is quickly finding in place in town, as well as Anna's life and Anna puts in her paperwork to run for Mayor!

They finally both admit they want to be together but how?

Did I mention how HOT Iain looks in a kilt??

Ugh -- Just could NOT finish this book! I've been trying for WEEKS! Iain is GREAT -- funny, hardworking, etc. I love him and his work kilts! Anna is just unlikable in my opinion. She's flighty, insecure, and just plain annoying.

I think Anna is the reason I cannot finish this book. I want to gloss over every page she appears (that's pretty much the book). So frustrating. The inability to finish a book has only happened a couple of times!

Not worth your time!

This romance/ romantic comedy featuring a Scotsman that find himself in the American south and meets a southern belle. A sweet comedic story follows. To me it was a fairly quick read.

So, this book started out like the author dropped Jamie Fraser into a 21st century high school in Georgia. Dude can't figure out the TV and girl is super immature. Luckily, I powered through all that and got to the good stuff. By the end I was totally rooting for them and enjoying their relationship. Can't say that I'd track down anything by this author, but if I stumbled upon it, I'd grab it.

Another novel set in the charming small town of Highland, Georgia. Centering around the annual Highland Games, this book introduces you to more great characters, both residents of Highland and another a new handsome Scotsman in a kilt.

Ms. Trentham weaves a wonderful story mingling Scottish tradition and small town charm. Of course, there is a romance brewing.

Anna Maitland is content with her life as a dance teacher in Highland. Her dream was to make it big as a professional dancer in New York, but she was not happy there and she returned home to Highland. Now she enjoys spending her days teaching girls from toddlers to teens the art of dance.

Anna has agreed to take on the job of planning the annual Highland Games in the absence of her friends, Isabel and Alasdair Blackmoor who have returned to Alasdair’s home in Scotland to await the birth of their first child. Anna is confident that she can handle the job, but Isabel and Alasdair send help in the form of handsome Scotsman, Iain Connors. The meeting between Anna and Iain had me laughing out loud.

I really enjoyed this visit to Highland, Georgia and look forward to the next one.

This was book 2 in the Highlander series. I enjoyed this story just as much as the first. Iain and Anna are both stubborn and unsure of themselves. The story was a little slow to begin, but picked up and I really enjoyed the rest.

I'm liking this Highlander Series. Something about imagining a Scot in a kilt, who oozes strength and sexiness is simply delicious. While Anna didn't want him around at first, she soon found that Iain was everything she wanted, and wanted a forever with. The festival was a success, and Iain had to go back to Scotland.
This was a bit anticipated and the journey, while good, wasn't grand. There was nothing to make it stand out or wow me. A nice, smalltown romance, with heat and humor, that had me chuckling at times, and frustrated at others, light entertainment! I received an early review copy thru Netgalley and am giving my honest opinion

If you like hunky Scots in kilts, you’ll enjoy this book. Iain is simply a great, gentle giant. He’s rather shy, especially around women, but he’s instantly attracted to Anna when he comes to her small Georgia town to help her organize a Highland festival. Anna is a dance teacher who’s taken on the job of organizing the festival for her friend who is on bedrest for her pregnancy over in Scotland.

The only problem is that Anna wants to do everything herself so she can prove herself to the town. She starts off not wanting Iain to do more than take care of the ‘beasties’ that will be participating in the festival. But his patient decency soon wins her over. Now the only problem is how to build a forever romance when he has to go back to Scotland and she has her own business and life in Georgia.

I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book that I received from Netgalley; however, the opinions are my own and I did not receive any compensation for my review.

It was such a joy to return to Highland, Georgia. I really liked the first book and the second book did not disappoint. Iain was a gruff but caring man in a kilt and while Anna felt she had everything to prove she really hid a tender heart. These characters were very well written and I enjoyed their story arc’s. I do feel like you really need to read the first book to understand the secondary characters and their relationship to the story though.

From the epilogue it didn't really grab me to read the next story but I do plan on giving it a shot since I’ve enjoyed the authors writing so much for the first two books.

Anna is taking over the organizing of the annual Scottish festival somewhat ironically placed in Highland, Georgia, U.S.A. She volunteered for the task because her best friend Izzy is seven months pregnant and on bed rest across the ocean living in the actual Scottish Highlands with her new husband. Anna is determined to prove that she can do it all by herself except that Izzy has sent over a reinforcements from Scotland. He is dark, scarred , brooding and Scottish and wickedly good with his hands. She doesn’t want his help or for his sexy self to dominate her every thought but she may be fighting a losing battle.

This book was so good. The love story really took time to build past just the initial attraction that the two felt for each other. Who wouldn’t love a beautiful beast of a man like Ian? This is the second book in a wonderful series by Laura Trentham and I recommend it.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martens Press for providing an advance copy in return for a honest review

I am loving Highland, GA and the wonderful Scottish men that are showing up there. Laura Trentham has me totally hooked on this series and I can't wait until she releases another. The stories are fun and funny and just plain wonderful to read.
Ian and Anna were hysterical. Anna is uptight … Iain is the strong and silent type. Together they bring sexual tension to a whole new level. And, when they finally act on it, there's an explosion. And then another, and then another … well, you get the picture.
Anna is in charge of the Highland games … or so she thinks. Iain is in charge of the Highland Games … or so he thinks. They have to learn to work together. He refuses to just be a caretaker for the animals and she refuses to listen to anything he has to say. But, when she finds out all that he's helped with and the ideas he has for future celebrations, she starts taking some of his advice. She soon finds out that together, they just may put on Highland Games that will rival Isabel's and her mom's. But, all good things must come to end. And, it does, abruptly. Anna is left with a broken heart and Iain is back in Scotland miserable. What can they do but be miserable. There is nothing either of them can do. He has commitments in Scotland he doesn't want to keep and she has aspirations of her own in Highland, GA. But, will the birth of a sweet little baby bring them together and will their true feelings finally be known.
Like I said, Highland, GA stole my heart. The characters, the stories and the love. Laura Trentham has brought both Georgia and Scotland alive in this series. You could hear the Scottish brogue and feel the heat of Georgia with every turn of the pages. And, she's really trying to answer the age-old question of what's work beneath the kilt. I guess you'll have to read the story to find out just what Iain has hidden there. If you love funny, quirky characters and a story to go with them, you'll enjoy the Highland, Georgia novels.

The small town of Highland, Georgia was going down hill. Then a brilliant citizen started the Highland Festival. Highland now promotes the town as a little bit of Scottish heaven in the Blue Ridge Mountains. For years, the festival has been run by Isabel and her mother. Now, Izzie is on bed rest in Scotland, about to have her first baby and living with her husband Alasdair.

Izzie has asked her best friend, Anna, to take charge of the festival. To help Anna, Izzie and Alasdair have sent Iain to become her partner in producing the festival.

Anna runs the only dance school in town and she has decided to run for mayor. She believes that she has modern ideas which can make Highland even better and more successful.

Anna is a young woman who is a very strong personality. She appreciates the confidence and belief in her. She plans to make this festival absolutely perfect. In fact, she is obsessive about making everything in her life absolutely perfect.

Iain is simply going to interfere with her plans and she is not going to permit that to happen.

Iain is a shy loner who has little confidence in his relationships. His father has planned his future and that future is for him to return to the estate in Scotland and take over his father's duties. But, Iain is not exactly certain that is what he would choose for himself.

He is a talented carpenter, musician and he is willing to offer help to anyone in need. He also looks really terrific in a kilt. And he wears kilts a lot.

I fell in love with Iain. He has been a brave soldier, a devoted son and friend as well as a conscientious shepherd. He is smart and funny but needs to believe in his personal charm.

Anna was abrasive and snarky to Iain. She did not allow him to tell her what he could do to help, she automatically told him he could be a “pooper scooper” and nothing more.

I understood her desire to do a good job. But, she lived in a small town where she is admired, supported and popular. It is rather disappointing that she would not even give Iain a chance. And since her best friend sent him to help, surely she could believe he would be a help.

I loved the fact that Iain moved along in life with or without Anna's help. And everyone he met liked him and appreciated him.

Although this is the second book in a series, the reader can easily follow along and understand the characters and events. I loved the first book in this series. And I look forward to reading the next book in the series. This one simply did not blow me away like the first one. I would have liked Anna to be a little kinder and less rude.

I received this book from the publisher through NetGalley. I am voluntarily writing this review and all opinions are completely my own.