Highland Holiday: A Scottish Christmas Romcom

ABOUT THE BOOK

One rejected kiss. Two clashing personalities. And a snowstorm that traps them in an isolated cottage.

Callie Winter is the kind of person who holds everything together—for her family, her friends, her coworkers. But this Christmas, she’s hoping to catch her breath in the Scottish Highlands and maybe rediscover a little joy along the way. A kiss with a charming stranger in a pub? The perfect holiday distraction.

Until he rejects her.

Gavin Mackenzie doesn’t do flings, especially not with tourists who’ll be gone before the snow melts. He’s got enough on his plate—keeping the old family cottage running, managing the quiet that sometimes feels like loneliness, and pretending he’s just fine, thank you very much. The last thing he needs is a whirlwind American trying to kiss him in a pub… or move into his personal space.

But when a snowstorm leaves them stranded together, Callie’s forced to stay with the last man she wants to face. She’s prickly and wounded. He’s charming but distant. And neither of them are prepared for the slow burn that starts to crack their walls.

In between the cocoa and the Christmas tree, they’ll both have to face what they’re really afraid of: asking for what they need… and trusting someone else to give it.

A grumpy-sunshine, snowed-in holiday romance about messy feelings, unexpected healing, and the kind of love that doesn’t need fixing—just the courage to claim it.


ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kasey Stockton is an Amazon bestselling author, Whitney Award finalist, and winner of the Swoony Award Book of the Year. She publishes both contemporary and historical novels, and all of her titles fall under clean romance. She loves reading, chocolate, and period dramas, but nothing tops exploring new places with her very own prince charming and their three children.


AUTHOR INTERVIEW

Life Is What It's Called - What inspired Highland Holiday?

Kasey Stockton - When I visited the Highlands a few years ago, I was struck by the rugged beauty, but also by some of the one-track roads and how remote it felt. Shortly afterward, I saw a photo of the Highlands during winter, and all the snow gave me the thought that being snowed in would actually be feasible in a place like that. I've always known I wanted to write Luna's sister's story and that it would take place in Scotland, so I set up a character in Cotswolds Holiday who has family in Scotland in order to give me a reason to write a book there. And then it all came together!

Life Is What It's Called - What is your favorite sentence in this book and why?

Kasey Stockton - I’ve never had a hug make my knees weak. Probably because it highlights the beauty of slow burn romance and how underrated a good hug can be.

Life Is What It's Called -What do you think readers will like most about this book?

Kasey Stockton - The Christmas vibes and hot Highlander, Gavin MacKenzie, of course!

Life Is What It's Called - If this book was a food, what would it be and why?

Kasey Stockton - A cup of hot chocolate by the fire, sweet and it warms you inside.

Life Is What It's Called - What do you want your readers to know about you?

Kasey Stockton - I write both modern romcoms and Regency historical romance! And this is my tenth Christmas book, so if holiday stories are your thing, I have you covered across both modern and historical genres.

BOOK REVIEW

In Highland Holiday: A Scottish Christmas Romcom, Callie Winter comes to Scotland to enjoy the Holiday season. After being rejected for a kiss and snowed in away from family, Callie learns to make the best of it by getting to know her host, Gavin McKenzie.

This romance is a fun one to read. The plot moves forward steadily with a few reveals. The characters are memorable and interesting. Callie is a relatable and engaging character. I enjoyed the asides that Callie has in her thought processes. They're hilarious. The hero, Gavin McKenzie is well-rounded with his own troubles. This story deals with mental health issues, family drama, and work troubles in a relatable helpful manner. There are some awkward moments, fun scenes, and a slow build up that makes this book a truly enjoyable read. To learn more, click here. 

Fans of Curtis Sittenfield, Sarah Adams, and Julie Wright will love this book.

Please note that I received a free ebook to read, however, this is my honest opinion. This post contains Amazon affiliate links. 

A Season of Wishes Book Review

ABOUT THE BOOK

This Christmas, the best wishes aren't found on a list.

The Trouble with Wishes by Julie Daines
Catherine Haywood is desperate to claim the affection of her long-time friend Frederick Milton, but Frederick only seems interested in courting the new young lady in town. Catherine makes a series of wishes, thinking that is the safer route rather than openly putting her heart on the line. But as each wish is fulfilled, she realizes getting what she wished for is not the same as getting what she wants.

We Wish You a Miserable Christmas by Samantha Hastings
Two secret pen fellows meet only to learn that they already know one another in this Christmas comedy of errors! Miserable Margaret resents Mr. Frank Warner and truthfully, he is a little afraid of her. They are thrown together in a Christmas house party in London and spend the season skating, decorating, going to the theaters, and even dancing. Margaret discovers that she isn't miserable after all. And Frank, with her help, finds the courage to believe in himself and work for his own happily-ever-after.

Pranks and Wishes by Rachel Kelley Stones
Elizabeth Quincy will do anything it takes to stop her childhood friend, Thomas Westin, from proposing marriage to her younger sister this Christmas. Thomas Westin has a plan. He’s determined to convince Lizzy to be his bride. Only, she keeps avoiding any conversation related to love. In this friends-to-lovers novella, Lizzy and Thomas must learn to trust themselves and each other to see if their feelings will be reciprocated.

BOOK REVIEW

These fun, festive stories will help set the mood for the Holiday season. These stories are entertaining, quick, and relaxing reads. The characters and plots in these stories are memorable and interesting. I really enjoyed these wholesome, clean regency romances. My favorite story was Pranks and Wishes. It was hilarious and several twists. To learn more about this seasonal collection, click here.

Please note I received a free ebook to review, however, this is my honest opinion. This post contains affiliate links. 

Who Are the Women in the Bible? Book Review

ABOUT THE BOOK

Who was the first woman of earth? Who trusted God and cared for others? In this delightful and easy-to-read book, you’ll meet the strong and faithful women of the Bible—Eve, Ruth, Hannah, Esther, Elizabeth, Mary, and Martha.

Each story is told in simple, rhyming verses that help children understand the courage and love these women showed as they followed God.

Perfect for families, this book helps children see the powerful role of women in God’s plan and how their examples can inspire us all today.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Molly has been writing stories since she learned to read them. Born in upstate New York, she has lived in two countries and six US states. She earned her BA in English at Brigham Young University. She loves reading, writing, traveling, being outside and exploring new places with her favorite people. She is the author of middle grade books BEFORE and I'M STILL ELODY ELIZABETH, and several picture books including NOT SHEEP!, WAIT FOR ME, and THE LITTLE GREEN PUMPKIN. She has also had her poetry published in On Course Magazine. She currently lives in Arizona with her husband and three children.

AUTHOR INTERVIEW

Life Is What It's Called - What inspired you to write this book?

Molly McNamara Carter - This book is super special to me. I wrote it because I saw a very specific need. I wanted my daughter to have examples of righteous women and be more familiar with the stories of women in the Bible. The problem is there just weren’t that many picture books that were simple enough for young readers, yet ignited interest in the stories of these incredible women, so I decided to write one.

Life Is What It's Called - How is this book different from other books on the market?

Molly McNamara Carter - Like I said, there really aren’t that many picture books about women from the Bible. I hope this book actually inspires more PB writers to recognize the need and add their own work. Each of these incredible women deserve to have their story told, and our children, especially our daughters, need to know that these righteous women have played an important role in history.

Life Is What It's Called - Why do you think it's important to recognize women in the bible?

Molly McNamara Carter - I think by knowing these stories, not only do girls have an example of righteous women to be inspired by, it can also help them see the importance of their own role in building God’s kingdom. They too, have important work to do and important stories to tell. God loves and needs his daughters!

Life Is What It's Called - What do you hope the reader will learn from this book?

Molly McNamara Carter - I hope this will ignite all readers, young and old, or want to know more about women in the Bible. These women are so cool! And they did really brave things. They are people I want to know more about and people I want my kids to know more about.

Life Is What It's Called - How is this book similar to your other books?

Molly McNamara Carter - This book is written in the same question/answer rhyme style as two of my other books, Guess WHO’s in the Book of Mormon and Guess Who’s the Latter Day Prophet, all very child friendly, with bright bold colors that are attractive to young listeners. It’s really fun to have this one to add to the collection.

Life Is What It's Called - How is this book different from your other books?

Molly McNamara Carter - Most of my books are not Christian-based, but this one is unique in that it is based on the Bible. It also crosses a lot of lines and has a broader audience than my books that are specific to a Latter-day Saint audience, so it kind of has a cool audience base. I’m excited to share this with all Christian readers.

Life Is What It's Called - What do you want people to know about you as an author?

Molly McNamara Carter - Gosh, a hard question. But my goal with my writing is to share light. I once heard Lois Lowry talk about writing. She said the only way to fight against the darkness in the world is to bring in more light. I believe that. There are a lot of dark things in the world I cannot change, but I hope this book, and all my books, bring more light into the world.

BOOK REVIEW

Who are the Women in the Bible? highlights women from the Bible. The illustrations are eye-catching, beautiful, and fun. Children will enjoy this lyrical picture book. The pictures and text are engaging and memorable. The text is easy-to-read. This picture book includes women from both the Old and New Testaments. Learn more about Who are the Women in the Bible? here.

Please note that I received an advanced reader pdf copy to review, however, this is my honest opinion. This post contains affiliate links.