A review by laura_cs
A Highlander Walks Into a Bar: A Highland, Georgia Novel by Laura Trentham

5.0

I received an ARC of this title from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

"Lord have mercy, her mother had brought back a six-foot, two-hundred-pound-plus souvenir from Scotland."

Isabel Buchanan does not like surprises. And yet, that is what her mother brings home in the form of Gareth, a Scotsman with a brogue as thick as his arms. Izzy has enough problems: they are in crunch mode to prepare for the annual Highland festival, her childhood home is in desperate need of repairs (and a loan to make it possible), her lack of coordination reminds herself (and everyone else) constantly why her school nickname was Dizzy Izzy, and her old schoolmate does not understand that he has been friendzoned. This isn't the time for her mother to be canoodling with her new Scottish beau. After all, the Highland Festival was designed to revive the small town of Highland, Georgia, and has kept the town afloat every year since. Izzy is constantly setting aside her own wants and needs to make sure that happens. That includes: sticking with the accountant job she doesn't love, having time to write her novel, and don't get her started on her dating life. Or lack thereof. Because you can't exactly bring men home when you live with your mom.

"Highland was more Scottish than any village in Scotland."

This is Alasdair Blackmoor's first opinion of the small town he has entered in the goal of finding his uncle Gareth, determined to protect him from the American tart who may or may not be trying to swindle the Ninth Earl of Blackmoor out of his fortune. But when he comes face to face with Izzy--the American tart in question's daughter--he starts to think of a few more reasons to stick around in Highland. Those include: avoid his mother, avoid his boss, and come to terms with the crossroads he is now at with his career. Helping out Izzy with festival preparations is much more enjoyable than he thought it would be. But, then again, that may be because of the company he now keeps.

As sparks fly and romance soars in the air, there become more and more secrets that could tear these two pairs of lovers apart if unearthed. And there is now more riding on the success of the festival than ever before.

Can the combined magics of the Scottish Highlands and Highland, Georgia be enough to save the day?

A fantastic first in this series, I loved every bit of it! Izzy is a fantastic "clumsy heroine" because she is so real and relatable. Gareth and Rose are adorable. Anna is awesome. And Alasdair is too good to be true. (Especially when he's wearing his kilt.) I'm eagerly awaiting the sequel and to get to know more of the new character/victim of the South's infamous summer heat!

Great for fans of Alyssa Cole's "Reluctant Royals" series and "Outlander"!