★ ★ ★ ★ ★ //5

Highlands Christmas
by: Amy Quick Parrish

THOUGHTS:

I want to thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for giving me the opportunity to read this e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

Do you love a book that:

-Christmas & Snowy Vibes (it’s a holiday book)
-Scotland Setting
-RomCom
-Found Family
-There’s PUPPIES!

This will be for you and it has even more within!

I fell in love with this book. I love a very cute feel good holiday romance and this delivered all of that. This book was a very quick and fast paced read and I enjoyed every single page of it. I LOVE LOVE that the setting of the story takes place in Scotland and those vibes I was absolutely here for!! I loved watching Melissa and Colin through this book grow and their relationship develop into what I describe as warming. They are one of my favorite book couples for the holiday. I adored this book straight to the ending and I cannot wait to read more!!! I will be patiently waiting for the next. I love the authors writing style so much I will read anything she publishes!

Highlands Christmas - Wishes Come True by Amy Quick Parrish. A really quick readChristmas story. This story has it all romance, coincidences, love and finding a life after divorce.

This book was a very cute read for the holiday season! Melissa has an unexpected holiday surprise that sends her to Scotland for the holiday season for a new beginning. While there, she meets some wonderful Scottish people in the town that she is in. The author was very descriptive in her writing, really making the reader feel like they were in the story, and experiencing the Christmas season in Scotland. If you are going through a break-up, or looking for a quick holiday read, or just looking for a fun book, I recommend it. I am looking forward to reading the sequel when it is released to find out what happens next in the story! Since it is short, it can easily be read in one sitting.

Highlands Christmas - Wishes Come True by Amy Quick Parrish
Contemporary holiday romance novella.
Melissa finds out her husband wants a divorce and in a seemingly fortuitous timing, receives a letter that she has inherited an old house in Scotland and to please forward banking details so that the real estate company can sell the house and forward the proceeds. Melissa decides to move to Edinburgh. At the airport she meets a charming Scottish-American lawyer. Then she runs into him again on the train and in her new small hometown. Fate? Coincidence?

Cute. I enjoyed the story for what it is - a holiday, feel good romance. I liked how everyone that Melissa interacted with in her new home town was so much to her. There are a couple of highly unlikely events but it was cute, nonetheless.

I received a copy of this from NetGalley.

Highlands Christmas is the first in a two part-novella about Melissa MacKenzie’s romantic adventures in Inverness, Scotland. When her cheating husband asks Melissa for a divorce on Thanksgiving evening, she flees America to Scotland where she has recently inherited family property. Her husband’s lawyer, Colin MacGregor, happens to be taking the same flight and train back home to Scotland for the holidays, and a bubbling romance ensues. Colin and his welcoming family help Melissa sample Scottish food and learn the local customs as she redesigns the crumbling interior of the home she has inherited.

This short novella is a quick read, and though the characters and plot are far from complex, it provides readers with a lovely holiday escape into a beautiful Scottish environment. Melissa’s new home is located on the shores of Loch Ness, bagpipers play in the streets, and men wear kilts to advertise their clans. Melissa attends the Highland Games, takes place in gingerbread baking competitions, samples Scottish cuisine, and prepares for Hogmanay (New Year’s Eve) celebrations. I thoroughly enjoyed the descriptions of the Scottish countryside and nod to local customs. As the book explains, “when a handsome man in a kilt beckons, you follow,” and I had fun following along on Melissa and Colin’s adventures!

Like a light-hearted holiday romance movie, this book allows readers an escape from the everyday world. The sequel promises more romance to come! If you enjoy Christmas stories with a touch of happily-ever-after and a strong Scottish flavor, you will enjoy Highlands Christmas: Wishes Come True.

Thank you to NetGalley for a free copy of the book in exchange for a fair review.

At times boring and lacks depth. I didn't love the characters and not enough was happening. There was potential with the setting and relationship it just wasn't developed enough.

This was a fun cute holiday read. I was looking for some short holiday romances in between some heavier fantasy books I’ve been reading. I felt the premise and storyline were good but I was not a big fan of the pacing. I do feel like we jumped through things very fast and everything was very surface level.

A fun, cute holiday novella that weaves folklore into a story of second chances, new beginnings, and love.
I wish there were a few more pages as the pacing felt a bit fast but otherwise a nice read.

When Melissa discovers her husband wants a divorce she's forced to leave her home and make a fresh start. It's time to make a change and when a letter arrives telling her she's now inherited a home in Scotland the timing couldn't be better.

One leap of faith turns into a story of potential scam into one of hope and acceptance. Is it possible to find someone who will appreciate her? A sweet and light story during the holiday season with sprinkles of tartan plaid, gingerbread, whisky, and a wishing well. What will you wish for this holiday season?

I was looking for something easy to read, having just read a couple of long, serious, books. It was time for a bit of brain candy. It’s also November and time to turn thoughts toward the Holidays. So, when I found Highland Christmas on my NetGalley shelf, I was delighted. Even though the book has been out for a year (Published October 25,2022) and has a sequel coming out next year (October 12,2024), it seemed to be just what I needed.
It was fine. The story of Melissa Mackenzie, whose philandering husband Dave (no last name…which is a detail I wanted) had thrown her out of her home after Thanksgiving dinner, so he can snuggle in with her brother’s ex, Samantha, after a quick Christmas trip to Barbados. Melissa is blindsided, but there doesn’t seem to be any grief, especially when the Prince of Nairobi…oh wait, it’s a long-lost uncle in Scotland who has left her a house in Inverness.
So, our Melissa drops everything, packs a bag, and books a flight.
The story goes on with Melissa makes the flight meets all sorts of wonderful, picturesque Scottish, people, finds the house she’s inherited, and not only moves in, renovates it, adopts a dog, and attends all the lovely celebrations of the village. All before Christmas.
While it is a sweet story, almost a fairy tale, the complete lack of detail about characters and complications frustrated me. I almost put it down, but realized there wasn’t that much left to read, as the book is only 128 pages long. I wish she’d had an editor to tell her that people want to know more about the characters … I originally thought Melissa was in her fifties or better, but later it seems she may be in her twenties. And while we got lots of local color, with descriptions of everything from the highland games to the taste of Haggis, we don’t really know much about how our characters feel. Shouldn’t Melissa be angry? Or sad?
I got what I was looking for though, a bit of literary candy. Just remember that candy isn’t very nourishing.
This was a NetGalley advanced reader copy. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, Flying Cactus Publishing, for allowing me to read in exchange for this review.

This was a cute read to start my holiday reads but I feel like there was so much going on that they had to fit all the things in and therefore it lacked depth in character development. I still could not figure out who Melissa was at all. I really wish there was not so much detail about the house and more about the actual characters. Cute though, just probably wouldn’t read it again.

This was a typical Christmas read. I enjoyed the story and the setting.

I expected Melissa to struggle more with the bombshell Dave dropped on her, but I enjoyed the goal of a sweet, short Christmas story.

**I would like to thank NetGalley, Flying Cactus, and Amy Quick Parrish for an ARC of this book! This is available as of 10/25/22.**

Melissa is a happy interior designer who loves the holiday, until her husband springs it upon her that he wants a divorce and has been cheating on her. Left reeling, she is excited to see that a distant relative has passed and she as inherited their house (more like castle). Immediately packing her bags, she sets off for Scotland. She runs into her husband's divorce lawyer multiple times, finding out that they're actually traveling to the same village, and did we mention that he is totally handsome?

This book wasn't great, but it was only 122 pages. I love holiday novellas so I thought I'd give it a try. You're better off skipping this one.

This was a short novella - which appealed to me. However it left me with a lot of loose ends. Possibly to lead into a new novel next year...? It was a fun 'Hallmark' Christmas movie-inspired book set in Scotland - what is not to love. The characters were a hoot - but it just left me wanting more.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

Highlands Christmas - Wishes Come True was a sweet little Christmas romance. This novella was a short read. At 162 pages, I read it in one sitting. It was very entertaining and had all the Hallmark movie vibes.

Melissa MacKenzie's husband announces he wants a divorce immediately after they have finished entertaining for Thanksgiving, and he wants her out of the house. Reeling and with no where to go, Melissa gets a mysterious letter telling her she's inherited a house in Scotland. Melissa immediately packs up and books a flight to Scotland and on the way she ends up traveling with her husband's divorce lawyer!

A mysterious letter, an impromptu trip, and bumping into your husband's divorce lawyer doesn't at all set this book up for some misadventures. As is expected with a Hallmark movie story vibe, there are some aspects of the story which seem a little unrealistic. But, if you go into this story looking for a fun adventure / romance, then you will definitely fall for this book.

I am looking forward to reading book 2 - Highlands New Year.

I received an advance copy of this book for free, and I'm leaving this review voluntarily.

Highlands Christmas - Wishes Come True is the book version of a steaming cup of peppermint hot chocolate. It's sweet, warm, and has just the right amount of Christmas spirit. I loved the Highland setting, the Scottish brogue, and the sense of family traditions. Bring on the New Year's Eve celebrations!

I received a free copy of this book thanks to Netgalley and Amy Quick Parrish. I love to read Christmas themed books at this time of year, and this was a cute and quick read. I found a lot of things to be a bit far fetched, but the book was too enjoyable to dwell on them. It painted a wonderful picture of a beautiful Scottish Christmas and it took me straight to a snowy night on Loch Ness. I would suggest anyone read this if they're looking for a quick and enjoyable read that will transport you elsewhere for the holiday, even if only for an afternoon!

Many thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Unfortunately, this didn’t work for me. It’s a short story, but not enough time was devoted to details that would strengthen the plot. Major components were missing, the characters were flat, and there was no chemistry. This could definitely use strong editing and a good polish.

Highlands Christmas - Wishes Come True, by Amy Quick Parrish, is a heartwarming Christmas tale set in the Scottish Highlands told in the form of a novella. It just didn't seem long enough and there are several loose ends left, leaving openings for her next novel, one that I will be looking forward to! We all need a little more Colin. Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher, for the ARC ebook I read to complete this review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I really loved this novella - my only caveat is that it felt incomplete; There are so many loose ends - even for a short story. But the characters were great. I was rooting for everyone (except the ex husband, obviously). And I loved the escapism of watching someone live my dream - running away to Scotland at Christmas and falling in love with a hot, nice guy.

Melissa MacKenzie, an interior designer, thought she had the perfect marriage until her husband, Dave, cheated on her and asked for a divorce. However, Melissa's life takes an unexpected turn when she receives a letter informing her that she has inherited a Scottish home. She decides to fly to Scotland to start a new chapter in her life. But, what could possibly go wrong with this idea? As fate would have it, she unexpectedly bumps into Colin McGregor, who happens to be her ex-husband's divorce lawyer. They see each other many times before Melissa finds herself in Inverness.

I had a few issues with "Highlands Christmas" by Amy Quick Parrish. The story ended just when it was getting more interesting, and I have to wait for the next book to find out what happens next. The book was too short and lacked emotion and depth, but the Scottish element of the story and the hope for romance between the two characters kept me reading. I couldn't help but wonder how Melissa expressed so little about the ending of her marriage that she thought was going so well.