The Christmas Castle in Scotland by Julie Caplin was a joy to read. A wonderful holiday story of life, love; family (found and real). I've read this author before and she always finds a way to make you feel like you are in the setting of the book. While reading, I felt like I was in a castle in Scotland. It was beautifully written with great humor and romance. I would definitely recommend for a holiday read!

Who wouldn't want to spend Christmas in a Scottish castle? Readers will get to when they read this lovely book about a woman who inherits a castle in Scotland and decides to turn it into a hotel in order to have money to maintain it. Her mother has rented out a long term room to a history professor writing a book. He only wants peace and quiet. There's such a joy of friendship, family, acceptance and love written deliciously into every page.

An entertaining, fun, and sweet Christmas romance set in a castle in Scotland, sounds idyllic yes? Well maybe for some but for our heroine its make or break as she tries to take the castle she inherited that is in disarray and disrepair and turn it into a luxury hotel. I loved this story, this woman’s journey into changing her life and learning to let go, trust others and live.
Izzy never expected to inherit her uncle’s castle but she did much to her mother’s consternation but has hopes of turning it into a hotel/bed and breakfast with her mother’s help. Returning from a cookery class so she’ll be able to feed her guests she finds her mother has rented out a room to a history professor for 3 months while he writes a book and has booked the place out to a family for Christmas just two months away. With very little budget and so much that needs to be done, Izzy digs in and begins to not only work on the castle but on her menu for the week her guests will be in residence.
I loved the mish-mash of characters, the uptight history professor Ross who is keeping secrets, Izzy’s vivacious and verbose mother, Xanthe, the long time estate manager Duncan, and the young couple, Jim and Jeanette, who were squatting on her land (totally legal in Scotland) until an awful storm has them seeking refuge and Izzy brings them in where they agree to help with the work. Through it all is Izzy taking charge and helping everyone as she works towards the Christmas week giving them all a sense of family they didn’t even know they desired.
The Christmas Castle in Scotland was a joy to read and a wonderful holiday story of life, love; family (found and real) and I thoroughly enjoyed the walk down memory lane of my time spent in Scotland over the summer.

A CASTLE! Izzy inherited a castle and, after cooking school in Ireland, she's determined to turn it into a B&B. Unfortunately, her mother Xanthe (a hoot) has gotten a bit ahead of her by renting out rooms before Izzy's had a chance to renovate,. And she rented one of them to Ross, a history professor who has a secret identity as a thriller writer. Hijinks ensue as Izzy tries to get things under control, people come to stay and so on -= and it's the holiday season. This is the sort of novel you want for a relaxing read. It might be trope-y in spots and it's not deep but it's good hearted and will make you smile if not laugh out loud. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A good read.

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

Izzy is looked forward to moving into and beginning refurbishing a castle, that she’s inherited.

She wants to make it into a bed and breakfast so that she can cook and show what she’s learnt. But when she arrives, she finds a guest already living there, who her Mom invited, as well as her plans for more people at Christmas.

Izzy is busy, getting the castle ready for the coming guests and working out Ross.

I loved the setting of the castle, the story had mystery and romance.

I recommend this book.

The Christmas Castle in Scotland is absolutely the cutest romance I’ve read i. Forever!
Izzy has inherited her uncles Castle in Scotland after his death. Her mother Xanthe has always wanted to live/own this castle so Izzy has allowed her to stay there.

She find out the hard way that her mother has taken over running her new venture without her knowledge when she runs into Rosa their new tenant in the kitchen and he mistakes her for the help.

Their is high jinx and hilarity in this book along with romance that their party seems to want
I definitely recommend!

Thanks Netgalley and the Publisher. Although I am not a Xmas person at all I actually really enjoyed this book. I liked the characters and the storyline.

The Christmas Castle in Scotland by Julie Caplin will fill you with the holiday spirit and, if you are anything like me, leave you longing to spend Christmas in the Highlands.

Izzy has inherited a castle from a great uncle, and as Christmas quickly approaches she wonders how she will find the funds to transform it into a luxurious and welcoming bed and breakfast. Thanks to her eccentric and impulsive mother, Izzy discovers that the castle already has its first paying guest in reclusive novelist Ross Adair. As other 'guests' begin to arrive at the property, Izzy takes it upon herself to ensure that she does all she can to make it a Christmas to remember.

A Julie Caplin novel is always like a pleasant mini break, rich in atmospheric detail and full of delectable food and drink, and this latest hits the mark.

Many thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter for an ARC.

This is my third book I have read out of the Romantic Escapes Series by Julie Caplin and this one was definitely my favorite! Maybe because I got a thing for Jamie Fraser like the lead does, but wow, so good! I love romantic reads set in interesting settings so the Romantic Escapes Series is absolutely my cup of tea. A castle in Scotland during the Christmas season sets up the ideal holiday escape read! Cozy, warm hearted, family centric, this one hit all the holiday feels.
Thanks Net Galley and HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter for the ARC.

Such a cozy and cute Christmas tale. Loved all of the side characters as much as the main characters. Jeanette and Jim deserve their own book. Xanthe was exasperating but hilarious with her antics. Izzy’s friends were kind and thoughtful to her. Ross and Izzy were adorable together. Can’t really ask for much more from a book.

This is such a great festive story. I loved the characters and the descriptions of food throughout the book It really leaves me wishing I could visit Scotland this Christmas!

Highly recommend if you are looking for a fun and festive story this Christmas!

I read and reviewed an ARC of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I've read a few of Julie Caplin's books and enjoyed them. The scenery is always lovely, as are the food and drink descriptions. There was a comforting sense of Christmas and family in this book.
I liked Izzy and found her to be a great leading character. Patient, understanding, and grew as a person during the book. Ross, well, I can't say that he redeemed himself all that much.
3.5 stars

This was a lovely story about family and friends spending Christmas together.. Some really great characters, several storylines running through. and it a unique setting of a Scottish Castle. Lots of challenges, inspirations, discovery and romance. What more could you want from a Christmas story. Wonderful!

This book was a delightful read. Izzy inherits a very run down castle in the Scottish highlands from her uncle. She decides to slowly fix it up and open it up as a hotel. Her mom stays to over see things while she attends cookery school. When she returns, she finds her mom has rented a room for 3 months to a history professor on sabbatical (who paid handsomely for peace and quiet) and she’s booked a family in for Christmas. With only a few months to go, can they turn the crumbling castle into a stunning hotel?

This book was fantastic. The setting was amazingly described. I could see and feel the highlands. The old castle, the lochs, the hills, the mountains, the rain, the snow and the sun. Chefs kiss. There was just enough mystery, secrets and castle disasters to keep things interesting. The side characters were wonderful additions. From the old caretaker to the gossipy post lady and beyond. There wasn’t a character in this book I didn’t adore. And the chemistry! Ross and Izzy were a grumpy/ sunshine, opposites attract, firework show. I couldn’t get enough of them.

Brilliant, just one word for this lovely book. This is one to curl up with at any time but it is a beautiful Christmas story. Well worth 5 stars and I recommend it to you.

Thanks to Netgalley and publisher for this ARC

I am going to start this review, by quoting myself “If you want romance, food and travel then any of this series of books will tick all those boxes. I can’t wait to go travelling again.” And so I have travelled not very far this time, to Scotland. Ironically a place I have never been. One day that will be rectified, but in the meantime.

I go vicariously to a Castle and get to spend Christmas there. Izzy has inherited a castle from her Uncle and has ideas of transforming it into a place for people to come for the best boutique bed and breakfast experience with some glorious food thrown in for good measure. In the run up to Christmas it seems to be a lot to take on.

Especially when you get there and find that Xanthe has already rented a room out to Ross, a moody history professor moonlighting as a thriller writer. As well as start to decorate the rooms in her own eccentric bohemian style. Oh and booked the castle out for Christmas to bring in some much needed funds. There is not much Izzy can do and smile sweetly at Xanthe, as she is her mother after all.

As time marches on and a storm whips up some problems for the castle roof. Izzy collects some waifs and strays camping in the forest who prove valuable in the odd jobs they can do whilst being provided with bed and board. As Christmas gets nearer, Izzy keeps cooking to make sure everyone is fed. As the castle seems to be collecting more people, when Ross parents turn up, Izzy’s friends all before the paying guests arrive. But then it snows…….

Will all their hard work pay off? Will the guests arrive? Will their be enough food if they are snowed in? Will it be a Christmas for them all to remember?

This book is full of laugh out loud moments and delicious sounding food to make your mouth water. A few dollops of romance makes it a warm and cosy read and perfect for Christmas escapism.

If there’s two things Julie excels at, it’s travel and food! There are very few authors who can make me actually taste food from reading words on the page, or feel like I’ve spent a lifetime in a place I’ve never actually visited.

The Christmas Castle in Scotland is bursting to the brim with beautiful settings, slow burn romance, gorgeous food and a fantastic set of characters who are all equally important to the plot and felt like old friends. Thoroughly enjoyed Xanthe and Alicia’s kinship - two strong, loud and bold women - loved them!!

Izzy and Ross’ slow burn relationship is palpable and kept me on the edge of my seat.

And let’s not forget the glorious winter setting, I could just picture the castle grounds covered in fresh snow. Made me feel so Christmassy!

A really well written and enjoyable book.

In this book the main character is Izzy, we already got to know her in the previous part 'The Cozy Cottage in Ireland', she was one of the fellow students of the cooking class that Hannah in that book went to. Izzy has inherited a castle in Scotland from her great-uncle Bill. She has decided to turn it into a boutique bed and breakfast, a small luxury hotel, and together with her mother they are renovating all the rooms. Her mother is quite eccentric, and when Izzy was still on the cooking course, she already took guests and bookings while the castle is not even ready, but they can use the money from the bookings because Izzy only inherited the castle, no money at all.

Izzy gets to know the castle and its surroundings and is busy putting together a nice menu for Christmas. For this she asks for help from her fellow students of the cooking course, but also Ross, the guest who has already rented a room via her mother, offers his help for the wine list.

It is a cozy and sweet story in the run-up to Christmas and of course Izzy finds love, how could it be otherwise.

The last chapter is a 'six months later' and I expected to read how well the castle ran, but no that was kind of a prologue to the next part in the series that is coming! With one of the guests from the castle in the lead role. I can't wait to read that part too!

Characters 8| Atmosphere 8 | Writing style 8 | Plot 7| Intrigue 7| Logic 6| Enjoyment 8 | Score 7.43 = 4 stars

I love this series of books. By Julie Caplin. I've read all of them. As an author she transports you to another place with the descriptive writing.
This book is set in Scotland and couldn't be more idyllic . If you need a pick me up or just want a feel good Christmas read that's full of romance and humour then I thoroughly recommend this . I loved it

I picked this book on NetGalley because I wanted to read something Christmassy and set in Scotland.

The pros:
The book does deliver on both fronts - I enjoyed the descriptions and setting, quite vivid and compelling, of the castle by the loch in the Highlands and other parts of Scotland.
The Christmas feel-good, snowy feelings are definitely here too.
Izzy was an interesting character, well fleshed out.
There are a few social commentaries especially about land ownership and such which were interesting, and it was really a dive into the amount of work and dedication (and luck ;)) needed to run a luxury hotel.

The cons:
I was a bit thrown off by the lack of representation and by a few portrayals - for example a character seems stereotypically neuro-divergent, but while neurodiversity is never mentioned, she is made fun of/shamed a few times.
The storyline is very heteronormative/stereotypical and made me roll my eyes a few times. I found the addition of Jim and Jeanette a bit cringe-y as well at times.
My pet peeve - For all the talk of "being sustainable" by Izzie buying local, a lot of meat and dairy is being consumed in this book (eating plant-based is generally more meaningful in terms of low emissions than eating local, by the way) and it wasn't very pleasant to read for me.

I want to thank HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter and NetGalley for gifting me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.