A castle to fix up, a handsome but grumpy author, and Christmas mischief are all in the cards for Izzy McBride. Izzy just inherited a castle in the Scottish Highlands from her uncle, but when she arrives to start fixing it up she finds that her mother has already rented out a room for an enigmatic thriller author who is seriously grumpy. Izzy isn’t prepared for this and she definitely isn’t prepared for her mother spending more money on decor than needed or renting out the castle for the holiday season without telling her. Now Izzy has her hands full trying to prep the castle to be ready to become a hotel but it doesn’t help that her mom keeps inviting more and more people and that Izzy has begun to have a crush on Ross, the writer, despite him constantly being hot and cold with her. One minute their kissing, the next he is ignoring her for days.... and then she suddenly runs into her ex, the one who made her realize that she shouldn’t have to keep putting herself down and keep trying to excuse the behavior of someone who doesn’t treat her right... yet her heart want Ross despite how he treats her. I have to say this had all the makings to be a cute holiday read but honestly I found myself constantly getting annoyed by Izzy letting her mom walk all over her and by her constantly telling herself she wont let Ross treat her like that but then immediately caving and honestly Ross was just not likable at all. He and Izzy had no chemistry and I do agree with Izzy, she deserves someone better. The romance resolution to their big fight was meh at best and I just didn’t see them as a couple. Honestly I would have rather the story focused on Izzy’s relationship with the people living in her castle and her finally growing a spine and talking it out with her mom. Overall, this just didn’t work for me as a cute Christmas rom com which sucks, but maybe it’ll work for you instead. Definitely give it a go this holiday season.

*Thanks Netgalley and HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter, One More Chapter for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

This is an outstanding book from the first page you get hooked you feel as if you are there in Scotland yourself with the lovely castle and the characters are brilliant and full of romance and Christmas.
Izzy inherited a castle in Scotland and dreams of running it as a bed and breakfast but when she arrives her mum is already there ms has rented a room out to a writer and he wants peace and quiet to finish his book and she didn’t realise how run down the castle is so will she be able to afford to put it right. Her mum has great ideas but she’s got a family coming for Christmas and they want the best of everything so she’s hoping to pull it off. She finds a young couple camping on her grounds and when they have a bad storm they ask to stay in the castle for the night and they end up doing jobs and staying to help out. Ross the writer starts talking with Izzy and they can both feel a spark and trying not to act on it as both have had bad break ups. Will Izzy be able to get everything ready for Christmas and will the snow effect things and will there be romance in the air or not.
Well worth more than five stars.

Can you make a castle into a viable working option? Can she house guests? Well with the help of her mum and Ross it's all systems go. Full of romance and friendship, this is a lovely read. Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for letting me review this book.

Thank you One More Chapter for a digital review copy via NetGalley to read and review. I’ve enjoyed discovering this series of books by Julie Caplin, and you can read my last review at https://mentoringmumof2bookreviews.home.blog/2021/10/10/the-cosy-cottage-in-ireland-by-julie-caplin/

Although I met Izzy in the last book in this series as she studied at the cookery school in Ireland, I could easily have read this book without having read the previous book. I’m pleased to see that Izzy has been given her own book, so that we can find out more about the castle she has inherited in the Highlands of Scotland.

This book is a fabulous festive read, full of romance, friendship, food and secrets. Izzy is trying to get the castle ready for the first formal guests, whilst dealing with her flamboyant mum, a grumpy professor and leaky roof. I enjoyed curling up with this on my kindle and read it in two sittings (had to get some sleep in the middle or I would probably have read it in one!)

I look forward to reading more in the series in the future.

This is a delightful cozy romance set in a castle. The main character is quirky and fun. The other people around her add to the story in a positive way. This would make a great movie. This book was sent to me electronically by Netgalley for review. Thanks to the publisher. I liked this book. Curl up with a cozy blanket and a cup of steaming herbal tea…be transported.enjoy.

This series of Julie Caplin's is such a pleasure to read!

The books can be read as stand-alones. Our main character in this book is a supporting character in the last one (The Cosy Cottage In Ireland). You don't need to read it to enjoy this book but I would recommend you do b/c it's such a great story.

I didn't love this one as I was quite annoyed with our hero on a number of occasions and I really didn't like Izzy's mom but even with those complaints it was still a fun and enjoyable read. Scotland at Christmas is a dream of mine.

I'm very much looking forward to the next book in this series!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from HarperCollins UK | One More Chapter through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you, HarperCollins UK | One More Chapter.

Julie Caplin is one of my newest favourite authors and I have adored this whole series (although you can read each book on its own).

We first met the protagonist Izzy in the previous book at the cooking school in Ireland so I was glad to see her in her own book. She's inherited a castle in Scotland and has returned to live there with her mother with a dream to turn it into a hotel. While Izzy was away though, her mother rented out a room to a history professor without her knowing... for 3 months!

Julie Caplin has such a wonderful way of describing the different settings in her books and this Scottish castle was no different. I loved the descriptions of the castle itself, the grounds and for Izzy, the use of Scottish ingredients for her dishes.

I really enjoyed the romance of this book, the slow burning and will they won't they throughout. Ross was a great love interest, with his own secrets and things to get to know.

I'm already looking forward to new characters in this book popping up again!

Loved it!! It was nice to see Izzy from The Cosy Cottage in Ireland, and of course, Fliss and Jason make an appearance. The biggest surprise is that Izzy didn't strangle her mom. I would have left her out in the middle of the woods and then quickly changed all the castle door locks. Now I want to live in a Scottish castle (with a hunky Ross) and run it as a hotel. All the rooms sounded beautiful after Xanthe decorated them. How could they not, since Xanthe spent money like it was going out of style. I'm surprised Izzy isn't bankrupt from her mother. It's understandable why Bill left Izzy the castle instead of Xanthe. Xanthe kept inviting people to stay at the castle for FREE, never considering how many people Izzy had to cook for. The Carter-Jones were incredibly rude, did they not consider what everyone had to do for their arrival?

Definitely recommend the book. This was a fun read and perfect for the holidays. Loved the story, characters and writing style. Can't wait for the next book in the Romantic Escape Series. Look forward to reading more books by the author.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Well my wishes have been answered (albeit I forgot that I made the wish but never mind). Izzy, a side character in The Cosy Cottage in Ireland gets her own book.

Izzy McBride has inherited a castle in Scotland from her great uncle, she returns to the castle after having taken a cookery course at the famous Killorgally Cookery School in Ireland, determined to make the castle a going concern by offering B&B. Izzy's mother Xanthe is a 'free spirit', dramatic, selfish, a spendthrift, lover of big ideas. While Izzy has been in Ireland Xanthe has rented out one of their rooms to a history professor, Ross Strathallan, for an exorbitant amount of money without consulting Izzy, moreover she has also agreed to host an American couple and their family for Christmas, despite the castle not being fit for guests.

Whilst trying to keep her mother's wilder excesses under control, rescuing a young couple who are wild camping in the castle's grounds, supporting local food producers, and frantically renovating rooms for their guests in the lead up to Christmas, Izzy manages to feed the inhabitants, dance at a ceilidh, and decorate three Christmas trees. Oh, and did I mention the rumours that there is a fortune in sapphires hidden somewhere in the castle?

Little does Izzy know that the grumpy history professor is also Ross Adair the writer of a a series of thrillers which she adores.

This is only the second Julie Caplin book I have read but I think the titles and covers give you a good indication of the content. It's full of snow, whisky, sumptuous food, Christmas stockings hung by the fire, dour but lovable family retainers, and a big old dollop of romance. Think Katie Fforde without the virginal female lead and taciturn male lead. Its cute, cosy, funny, and heart-warming - just what you want from a holiday romance.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

This was another great romantic escape read, this time featuring Izzy who has returned to her recently inherited Scottish castle fresh from her cookery course in Ireland to find her whirlwind mum Xanthe has taken a booking for guests over Christmas when she’s nowhere near ready launching the castle as a hotel. Throw in an unexpected lodger who wants peace and quiet which is far from ideal when you need to hastily renovate rooms and it’s the start of a wonderful mix of people in a beautiful location. This is, as you would expect, a warm and uplifting read with plenty of festive cheer and a great addition to the series.

Ring in Christmas at McBride's Scottish castle. When Izzy inherits her uncle's castle, she enlists a surprising cast of characters to run the hotel. Fresh from cookery school, Izzy's skills are put to test with unexpected guests and her mom's over-the-top antics.

Feeling flustered and frustrated with her author-in residence, Izzy feels her temperature rising in and out of the kitchen. Thank you to #NetGalley and the publisher for an early edition of the 'The Christmas Castle in Scotland' in exchange for an honest review.

From the moment readers commence the first chapter, they'll be immersed in Caplin's romantic escape read. Fancying a wee trip to the Highlands; the setting will set your season ablaze. Will McBride and Ross find romance or is the allure of the fairytale too good to be true?

This book has every component you could possibly want in a Christmas story: romance, intrigue, a castle setting and lots of snow. I really enjoyed it and I'll definitely be recommending it!

Julie Caplin is amazing at writing romance, her writing a perfect mix of love, laughter, character and setting.
The writing was engaging and I found it hard to put down. 
I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know Izzy and Ross as much as the beautiful Scottish Highlands.
I just found the whole book really interesting and charming. 
The combination of lovely characters, the beautiful setting of Scotland.
A charming and truly wonderful story.
Highly recommended.

“I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.”

One More Chapter,
Thank You for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!
I will post my review to my blog, platforms, BookBub, B&N, Kobo and Waterstone closer to pub date.

Absolutely loved this. The castle sounded amazing and all the food descriptions . The two mothers were fantastic characters. Made you laugh. You had snow, love and beautiful descriptions of Scotland . I wanted to go Christmas shopping in Edinburgh. Just an ace read . Can not recommend it enough