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novelesque_life's review against another edition
3.0
RATING: 3 STARS
2019; St. Martin's Paperbacks/St. Martin's Press
This was a cute story of a woman meeting a man in Scotland while she is on vacation, brings him home to America, and her daughter is suspicious of his intentions. A boy comes from London to America to check out his uncle's new love interest's intentions. While the woman and man flirt their butts off, the boy and girl try to uncover why these two are even together...and oh, there are big sparks between the boy and girl...so now what?
Unfortunately, I did not feel those sparks between any of them. They were cute together but I wasn't feeling the chemistry. I was reading for the sake of reading, not because I was connected with the characters or story. I am a bit picky with romances so this could just be me.
***I received an eARC from the PUBLISHER via NETGALLEY***
My Novelesque Blog
2019; St. Martin's Paperbacks/St. Martin's Press
This was a cute story of a woman meeting a man in Scotland while she is on vacation, brings him home to America, and her daughter is suspicious of his intentions. A boy comes from London to America to check out his uncle's new love interest's intentions. While the woman and man flirt their butts off, the boy and girl try to uncover why these two are even together...and oh, there are big sparks between the boy and girl...so now what?
Unfortunately, I did not feel those sparks between any of them. They were cute together but I wasn't feeling the chemistry. I was reading for the sake of reading, not because I was connected with the characters or story. I am a bit picky with romances so this could just be me.
***I received an eARC from the PUBLISHER via NETGALLEY***
My Novelesque Blog
katekate_reads_'s review against another edition
4.0
Such a fun romance!!! Izzy and her mom Rose live in Highland GA - a town known for its Scottish influences and especially the annual Scotland Games. Izzy and her mom put on the major festival every year on their property and it’s a major source of revenue for the entire town from the tourists it draws.
Just a month before this year’s festival - Izzy goes to the airport to pick up her mom and finds she brought one heck of a souvenir back - in the form of Gareth, a Scot her mom is smitten with. While Izzy is a bit wary of his motivation - Gareth’s family also has concerns about the whirlwind romance. His nephew Alasdair is sent to retrieve his uncle.
I really enjoyed this read - one of my favorite things in a romance is an awkward heroine who tends to speak her mind a little too freely. I also really appreciated the way the central conflict was resolved - particularly a discussion between Izzy and her mom. If you love a small town romance, if you love a Scottish accent, if you’re looking for a fun read that will have you smiling - pick up this book!!
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for my advance reading copy.
Just a month before this year’s festival - Izzy goes to the airport to pick up her mom and finds she brought one heck of a souvenir back - in the form of Gareth, a Scot her mom is smitten with. While Izzy is a bit wary of his motivation - Gareth’s family also has concerns about the whirlwind romance. His nephew Alasdair is sent to retrieve his uncle.
I really enjoyed this read - one of my favorite things in a romance is an awkward heroine who tends to speak her mind a little too freely. I also really appreciated the way the central conflict was resolved - particularly a discussion between Izzy and her mom. If you love a small town romance, if you love a Scottish accent, if you’re looking for a fun read that will have you smiling - pick up this book!!
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for my advance reading copy.
kbranfield's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 stars.
A Highlander Walks into a Bar by Laura Trentham is a cute romance that is also quite humorous.
Isabel "Izzy" Buchanan lives with her widowed mother, Rose, at their family home in Highland, Georgia. Izzy is stunned when her mom returns from a trip to Scotland with a very handsome Scotsman, Gareth Connors. She is a bit uneasy and worried about their burgeoning romance but with little she can do about the situation, so Izzy forges ahead with planning their annual Highland Games. A bit frazzled since Rose is pre-occupied with Gareth, the last thing Izzy needs is another complication in her life. When Alasdair Blackmoor unexpectedly arrives to check on Gareth, Izzy is both attracted to and suspicious of the sexy Scotsman. Will Izzy be able to figure out what Gareth and Alasdair want from her and Rose? And will she be able to resist giving in to her desire for the oh so charming Alasdair?
Izzy is an accountant by day and aspiring author in her spare time. She has a wonderful sense of humor and a penchant for spouting obscure facts when nervous. Due to a couple of embarrassing incidents, Izzy lacks confidence and she does not like to be in the limelight.
Although Alasdair is slightly estranged from Gareth, he loves him and wants to make sure he is not being taken advantage of. He is charmed by the small town and he is also quite drawn to Izzy. Despite his qualms, Alasdair finds his time in Highland to be just what he needs to make some decisions about his career and his relationships with his family.
Despite liking Izzy, Alasdair still has doubts about her and Rose's intentions towards Gareth. Trying to protect Gareth, Alasdair impetuously sets something in motion that immediately spirals out of his control. As he and Izzy get to know one another, he keeps quiet about what is going on behind the scenes. But will Alasdair find a way to fix his mistake before it is too late?
A Highlander Walks into a Bar is a light-hearted romance that is fast-paced and engaging. Izzy and Alasdair are endearing characters who are vibrantly developed and easy to like. Their romance is sweet with just a hint of steam. The conflict that arises between them is easy to predict but quickly resolved. Laura Trentham neatly sets up the next installment in the delightful Highland, Georgia series with a lovely epilogue. I absolutely loved and highly recommend this laugh out loud romance!
A Highlander Walks into a Bar by Laura Trentham is a cute romance that is also quite humorous.
Isabel "Izzy" Buchanan lives with her widowed mother, Rose, at their family home in Highland, Georgia. Izzy is stunned when her mom returns from a trip to Scotland with a very handsome Scotsman, Gareth Connors. She is a bit uneasy and worried about their burgeoning romance but with little she can do about the situation, so Izzy forges ahead with planning their annual Highland Games. A bit frazzled since Rose is pre-occupied with Gareth, the last thing Izzy needs is another complication in her life. When Alasdair Blackmoor unexpectedly arrives to check on Gareth, Izzy is both attracted to and suspicious of the sexy Scotsman. Will Izzy be able to figure out what Gareth and Alasdair want from her and Rose? And will she be able to resist giving in to her desire for the oh so charming Alasdair?
Izzy is an accountant by day and aspiring author in her spare time. She has a wonderful sense of humor and a penchant for spouting obscure facts when nervous. Due to a couple of embarrassing incidents, Izzy lacks confidence and she does not like to be in the limelight.
Although Alasdair is slightly estranged from Gareth, he loves him and wants to make sure he is not being taken advantage of. He is charmed by the small town and he is also quite drawn to Izzy. Despite his qualms, Alasdair finds his time in Highland to be just what he needs to make some decisions about his career and his relationships with his family.
Despite liking Izzy, Alasdair still has doubts about her and Rose's intentions towards Gareth. Trying to protect Gareth, Alasdair impetuously sets something in motion that immediately spirals out of his control. As he and Izzy get to know one another, he keeps quiet about what is going on behind the scenes. But will Alasdair find a way to fix his mistake before it is too late?
A Highlander Walks into a Bar is a light-hearted romance that is fast-paced and engaging. Izzy and Alasdair are endearing characters who are vibrantly developed and easy to like. Their romance is sweet with just a hint of steam. The conflict that arises between them is easy to predict but quickly resolved. Laura Trentham neatly sets up the next installment in the delightful Highland, Georgia series with a lovely epilogue. I absolutely loved and highly recommend this laugh out loud romance!
iggyebab's review against another edition
3.0
**I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.**
Although I really liked the premise of this book, it was not what I’d hoped. The characters felt half developed and the plot sort of drug along. It was not a terrible book but, after having finished the book last night, I can’t remember all of the names or plot points.
Although I really liked the premise of this book, it was not what I’d hoped. The characters felt half developed and the plot sort of drug along. It was not a terrible book but, after having finished the book last night, I can’t remember all of the names or plot points.
remusreads's review against another edition
2.0
This unfortunately wasn’t for me. It’s definitely a case of “it’s not you, it’s me”. I honestly just couldn’t get to grips with these characters and found myself disliking Alisdair, even though there were definitely parts about him that I really liked. I also didn’t much care for Isabel — all in all, the whole spectrum of characters just fell really flat for me and I’m immensely sad about it.
I do love the addition of Scottish heritage and little Scottish elements here and there - I really loved that about this book! That was definitely a lot of fun.
I found that the plot was intricate and interesting enough to keep me hooked which is also a winner. I finished this book relatively quickly because the plot was tugging me in and refusing to release me. It was a captivating plot and really fascinating to read — it was just the characters that missed the mark unfortunately!
Some more points:
— the writing was great. Not too descriptive or flowery, but not too basic. Definitely didn’t suffer with short sentence syndrome.
— interesting mother daughter dynamic
— fantastic setting!
— brilliant pacing; definitely kept the story moving quickly
— amazingly funny, these two characters get themselves in some fabulous situations and some of the things that happen are laugh out loud worthy!
Overall this was a good read — the writing was great, the plot was good, but the characters were what sank this for me!
I would definitely read something else from this author in the future though and definitely think it’s worth a go. I really do believe that the characters are a personal preference and that others will like them! I feel like I’m missing out on the party but I’m glad to have read this book.
I do love the addition of Scottish heritage and little Scottish elements here and there - I really loved that about this book! That was definitely a lot of fun.
I found that the plot was intricate and interesting enough to keep me hooked which is also a winner. I finished this book relatively quickly because the plot was tugging me in and refusing to release me. It was a captivating plot and really fascinating to read — it was just the characters that missed the mark unfortunately!
Some more points:
— the writing was great. Not too descriptive or flowery, but not too basic. Definitely didn’t suffer with short sentence syndrome.
— interesting mother daughter dynamic
— fantastic setting!
— brilliant pacing; definitely kept the story moving quickly
— amazingly funny, these two characters get themselves in some fabulous situations and some of the things that happen are laugh out loud worthy!
Overall this was a good read — the writing was great, the plot was good, but the characters were what sank this for me!
I would definitely read something else from this author in the future though and definitely think it’s worth a go. I really do believe that the characters are a personal preference and that others will like them! I feel like I’m missing out on the party but I’m glad to have read this book.
maggie_reads's review
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
kle105's review against another edition
4.0
This was a super cute book, with a clash of the accents. You have the Scottish brogue of Alasdair who has come to Georgia to find out if his Uncle is being swindled. He doesn't expect to find his so happy, and falling in love, yet she isn't aware of his title and is asked to keep the secret.
Izzy is the daughter to the woman who has his Uncle smitten. She is also trying to out together the Highland games, a tradition that she has run to build up the town and keep her estate going. Alasdair and Izzy start out hating each other but as they get thrown together find out they have serious chemistry.
I received a free copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Izzy is the daughter to the woman who has his Uncle smitten. She is also trying to out together the Highland games, a tradition that she has run to build up the town and keep her estate going. Alasdair and Izzy start out hating each other but as they get thrown together find out they have serious chemistry.
I received a free copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
wildflowerz76's review against another edition
4.0
Izzy lives with her mom in Highland, Georgia where every summer they have a Scottish festival and games that has revitalized the town and allowed them to raise money to keep up their house. But when Rose comes home from a trip to Scotland with a brawny Highlander, Izzy is concerned that he's trying to take advantage of Rose. The Highlander, Gareth, has family who is also concerned about Rose, so they send his nephew Alasdair to check on them.
This was a fun, sweet romance. I enjoyed the clumsy, outspoken heroine in Izzy and the many descriptions of Scots in kilts.
I do have a few nitpicks: the Highlander never actually walked into a bar until near the end and it was hardly a major plot point. Also, this could have done with a much better proofreader before going to press, as there were MANY errors. And also, from my experience, younger generations of Southerners don't talk like this, unless it's ironically.
This was a fun, sweet romance. I enjoyed the clumsy, outspoken heroine in Izzy and the many descriptions of Scots in kilts.
I do have a few nitpicks: the Highlander never actually walked into a bar until near the end and it was hardly a major plot point. Also, this could have done with a much better proofreader before going to press, as there were MANY errors. And also, from my experience, younger generations of Southerners don't talk like this, unless it's ironically.
whiskeyinthejar's review against another edition
3.0
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Izzy and Alasdair both lost their fathers at a young age but while Izzy adored her father, Alasdair didn't have the best relationship with his. Now the uncle Alasdair adored but let anger keep him away, has run off to America with a woman he barely knows and Alasdair wants to make sure he's not being taken advantage of.
Izzy has been her mother's companion and partner in keeping their family tradition alive ever since her father died and she can't believe her mom is bringing a stranger into the mix.
Izzy and Alasdair both want to protect the ones they love but are also learning they might need to live their own lives and take a chance on secretly held dreams.
Lord have mercy, her mother had brought back a six-foot, two-hundred-pound-plus souvenir from Scotland.
First in the Highland, Georgia series, I was entertained with how the author shook things up a bit with transporting the Highlands to Georgia, USA. Izzy and her mother organize the Highland Games every year for their Scottish obsessed town and consider it their honor and Izzy's birthright as it has been passed down through her father's family. I liked how the author showed how even though Izzy considered it her birthright, she also lost a bit of herself when she gave up certain dreams to help her mom and began to ignore her own wants and needs. I think this helped to explain why she was so wary of the man her mother brought home; the pain of thinking of her dad replaced but also her spot in her mother's life.
Alasdair had a whole slew of background baggage to unpack, the secrets about his dad he was still keeping from his mother, trying to live the life he thought his mother wanted for him to makeup for any pain she experienced in her marriage, and the guilt of not still having a relationship with his uncle. Since he traveled to America to keep track of his uncle, this was dealt with and worked through while I felt the issues with his mom needed more flushing out, it kind of gets rushed through at the end.
Alasdair and Izzy had an instant physical attraction that was followed with some cute moments brought on by Izzy's clumsiness and Alasdair's teasing. Their emotional connection wasn't as deep and strong as I typically like but they were flirty cute and transitioned well enough to sexy hot. Alasdair was put in a position by his uncle to omit some truths from Izzy which I thought was mild enough to not be too emotionally damaging but added angst to the storyline. The added plot of his work going behind his back, therefore making it seem like he was going behind Izzy's back, wasn't given enough pressure to add too much of an impact. The development, hiding, finding out by Izzy, and then resolution all happened in the background enough and was wrapped up quick enough to feel more like it clogged the story with unnecessary filler than add any hefty angst.
I thought the town and some it's characters could have actually been fleshed out more, I'm not sure I did feel the spirit of the town but I did think I understood our main characters enough, if not their friends. A Highlander Walks Into a Bar had cute moments and a pinch of angst, it works as an afternoon read but probably won't be a particularly memorable one. The epilogue hints at another highlander venturing into this southern Scottish town and I have a feeling Izzy's free spirit friend Anna is up next for some Scottish loving.
Izzy and Alasdair both lost their fathers at a young age but while Izzy adored her father, Alasdair didn't have the best relationship with his. Now the uncle Alasdair adored but let anger keep him away, has run off to America with a woman he barely knows and Alasdair wants to make sure he's not being taken advantage of.
Izzy has been her mother's companion and partner in keeping their family tradition alive ever since her father died and she can't believe her mom is bringing a stranger into the mix.
Izzy and Alasdair both want to protect the ones they love but are also learning they might need to live their own lives and take a chance on secretly held dreams.
Lord have mercy, her mother had brought back a six-foot, two-hundred-pound-plus souvenir from Scotland.
First in the Highland, Georgia series, I was entertained with how the author shook things up a bit with transporting the Highlands to Georgia, USA. Izzy and her mother organize the Highland Games every year for their Scottish obsessed town and consider it their honor and Izzy's birthright as it has been passed down through her father's family. I liked how the author showed how even though Izzy considered it her birthright, she also lost a bit of herself when she gave up certain dreams to help her mom and began to ignore her own wants and needs. I think this helped to explain why she was so wary of the man her mother brought home; the pain of thinking of her dad replaced but also her spot in her mother's life.
Alasdair had a whole slew of background baggage to unpack, the secrets about his dad he was still keeping from his mother, trying to live the life he thought his mother wanted for him to makeup for any pain she experienced in her marriage, and the guilt of not still having a relationship with his uncle. Since he traveled to America to keep track of his uncle, this was dealt with and worked through while I felt the issues with his mom needed more flushing out, it kind of gets rushed through at the end.
Alasdair and Izzy had an instant physical attraction that was followed with some cute moments brought on by Izzy's clumsiness and Alasdair's teasing. Their emotional connection wasn't as deep and strong as I typically like but they were flirty cute and transitioned well enough to sexy hot. Alasdair was put in a position by his uncle to omit some truths from Izzy which I thought was mild enough to not be too emotionally damaging but added angst to the storyline. The added plot of his work going behind his back, therefore making it seem like he was going behind Izzy's back, wasn't given enough pressure to add too much of an impact. The development, hiding, finding out by Izzy, and then resolution all happened in the background enough and was wrapped up quick enough to feel more like it clogged the story with unnecessary filler than add any hefty angst.
I thought the town and some it's characters could have actually been fleshed out more, I'm not sure I did feel the spirit of the town but I did think I understood our main characters enough, if not their friends. A Highlander Walks Into a Bar had cute moments and a pinch of angst, it works as an afternoon read but probably won't be a particularly memorable one. The epilogue hints at another highlander venturing into this southern Scottish town and I have a feeling Izzy's free spirit friend Anna is up next for some Scottish loving.
megs2kool's review against another edition
5.0
A funny and adorable story! I love all things Scottish, so this book was right up my alley. I kept imagining the Gaelic accent every time the main male character spoke, which was delightful. A fun and light hearted summery read. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.