If only Izzy could find the fabled family sapphires everyone seems to think might be hidden somewhere really obvious – instead, she’s wondering where on earth she’s going to find the money to repair the roof and carry on upgrading the rooms so that she can turn Kinlochleven Castle into the boutique hotel of her dreams. But while she’s been brushing up her cooking skills on a course in Ireland, her mother Xanthe has been rather busy – she returns home to find a (rather attractive…) professor heating up baked beans in her kitchen, having handed over rather a lot of money for some solitude and peace and quiet while he works.

But that’s not all her mother’s been up to – the Carter-Jones family are ready to pay £25,000 if they can all visit for a few days of luxury over Christmas, which is only a few weeks away, and that’s the kind of money that they just can’t turn down. While Xanthe has a good eye for interior design (as well as spending money faster than they can make it), she’s never particularly hands-on when there’s work to be done, but there’s help at hand from a young couple Izzy offers a refuge, from Duncan (the not-quite-retired former estate manager), and Ross (the professor – who turns out to have a few secrets of his own, and a quite different reason for wanting solitude) proves more than happy to leave his room from time to time and lend some muscle.

The characters in this book are just wonderful – Izzy herself is entirely lovable, making friends wherever she goes, so determined to turn things around as the days tick down to Christmas. Her mother, to quote Izzy, is totally bonkers – their interactions constantly made me laugh, and you could feel the real affection between them. There’s the loveliest spark of attraction between Izzy and Ross – it slowly fans into a bit more of a flame, but they’ve both been disappointed in love in the past, and the obstacles at times look rather insurmountable. And there’s a fantastic wider supporting cast – some with an edge of eccentricity that’s more than a match for Xanthe – and a few significant challenges for them all along the way.

The snow falls, the weather closes in – hopefully Izzy can source all the food and drink she needs, finalise her ambitious menu (I’d really have liked to taste one of her mouthwatering special mince pies – and that venison en croute!), the rooms might just be ready in the nick of time, and Xanthe’s insta-worthy and Christmassy interiors will be spectacular. If they achieve everything they set out to do, they should exceed the Carter-Jones’ increasingly exacting requirements – but there are still a few more surprises to come.

This is a book that’s sheer enjoyment from beginning to end – the perfect escape with its wonderful Highland setting, full of individuals you really care about, a nice focus on family and friendship, plenty of gentle humour, a few perfect emotional touches, a touch of mystery, the race to the finish line, and the loveliest slow burn romance. All that, and a Christmas to remember – a definite 10/10 for me, and what more could you possibly ask for? Very highly recommended – I loved it.

I first met Izzy while reading about the Cosy Cottage in Ireland. She was learning to cook and formed part of the tight knit group of friends who made that such a wonderful, memorable story. But don’t worry if you’ve not read it, this is definitely enjoyable as a standalone story.

As Izzy returns from Ireland, she arrives at the Scottish castle that she’s inherited from her great uncle. It’s run down and in desperate need of repair, but funds are limited to the point of non-existence and her flamboyant mother, Xanthe, has rented out a room to a visiting professor who requires complete peace.

The roof is leaking and the estimate for repair is eye-wateringly high, so it’s a light at the end of a very dark tunnel when Izzy discovers that Xanthe has rented out the entire castle, full board, for Christmas week. Using the professor’s payment and the deposit paid by the party staying at Christmas, it’s all hands on the proverbial deck to try and get the house ready to welcome guests.

Those hands come in the shape of the not-properly retired estate manager, the seemingly moody professor, Ross Adair, and a couple of wild campers whom Izzy rescues from a storm. Thank goodness that Xanthe has a keen eye for interior design which is matched by Izzy’s newly learned skills in the kitchen.

This is a beautifully imagined book that made me feel warm and happy. It’s a Christmas story that embraces all the joys of the festive period as strangers become friends and goodwill is the order of the day. There are mentions and cameos from characters at the cookery school, but they are introduced in such a way that it really doesn’t matter if you’ve read that book or not.

I can highly recommend this Christmas escape to the Scottish Highlands where there’s more than a little romance in the air.

Oh man, I loved this one so much! I buddy read it with a friend and our chats about it were so much fun because we were on the same page the whole way through.
The characters are honestly the best lol. Oh man, Xanthe and Alicia are just too much (and add a humorous component to the story), Duncan is so sweet, and of course our main male and female are wonderful.
While it takes place at Christmas it’s not a HUGE Christmas story, just in case that is what you are looking for. It was fun seeing some of the things this “family” did together and some traditions they started (or continued.)
I do wish there was a bit more of a follow-up at the end. I would have liked to know more about what certain characters were up to, but overall it was funny, fun, sweet, and an adventure!
Thank you to One More Chapter, Julie Caplin, and NetGalley for a gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.

You may remember Izzy McBride from Romantic Escapes 8: The cosy cottage in Ireland. This was the story of Hannah and Connor, but Izzy took that same cooking course at the world-renowned Killorgally Cookery school in county Kerry. She inherited her great uncle Bill's castle in the Scottish Highlands and intends to turn it into a boutique bed and breakfast. As she returns home from the cooking course, she finds out her eccentric mother Xanthe has already rented a room to a very handsome but mysterious writer. To make things worse, she has also accepted a high-end booking for Christmas from very demanding guests, and the castle is nowhere near ready! It will be a race against the clock to get everything done. As Izzy tries her very best to ready the castle and prepare for the festivities, she and Ross grow closer. There's a risk everybody is going to be snowed in for Christmas, and it's not yet determined if that is a blessing or a curse.

Julie Caplin knows how to tell a beautiful story. All the ingredients for a seasonal feel-good romance are here. The beautiful castle, the mysterious Highlands and the picturesque village paint a gorgeous picture, especially in wintertime. Everywhere Izzy goes, we see the surroundings through her eyes and we can dream away. The atmosphere is romantic and cosy and all the characters you meet are heartwarming and funny. Izzy is the sweetest young woman, always wanting to take care of everyone and her mother Xanthe is a force to be reckoned with. Scenes with her are hilarious. She is made for drama but somehow she steals your heart anyway because she is loud but also kind and generous.
The romance between Izzy and Ross is slowly building up. You get to know them well as you read along and find out what their obstacles are. The story works towards the grand finale, Christmas. Will the castle be ready? Do Izzy and Ross get together? Will the guests be happy with everything?
The plot is a classic, although there are some original twists that are quite nice. The story has a relaxed pace, due to the attention that is paid to the surroundings, the food and lovingly written emotions. That slow pace is not irritating, in this story it's rather pleasant. I was not in a rush to say goodbye to all the lovely characters. The end was exactly what I was hoping for and it suits the storyline.
All and all not a complicated story but 100% feel-good. Written with a lot of TLC.

The Christmas castle in Scotland is the 9th book in the Romantic Escapes series. Like the previous books it can be read as a standalone, but since the main character, Izzy McBride, was already introduced in the previous story (Romantic Escapes book 8: The cosy cottage in Ireland), it's more fun if you read the books in the right order. Romantic escapes book 10: The French champagne chateau will be published June 6th, 2023. This will be the story of Hattie and Luc. You meet Hattie in the Christmas castle in Scotland. She arrives as a guest at the castle. The last chapter, called '6 months later', is a preview to Hattie's story in book 10 and it makes me want to read that one too, for sure!

Julie Caplin is an international bestselling author who has sold over a million copies of her books worldwide. She wrote 20 books and is best known for her Romantic escapes series, these uplifting romantic comedies are set in beautiful destinations all over the world, giving us readers a fantastic vacation through a story, they truely are romantic escapes!
As a former PR director, she used to travel all over Europe with writers that specialised in food and drinks. These trips inspired her to write the Romantic Escapes. Her knowledge about the continent and good food are very visible in the stories, taking them to the next level. You really experience what she saw and tasted. It is a very large part of what makes the stories so special and very enjoyable!

Review also published on Hebban:
https://www.hebban.nl/recensie/mariejosejansen-over-the-christmas-castle-in-scotland?share=1

Goodreads uses a different ISBN, so I can't insert my review there in here, but I did post my review there as well. You can find it if you visit my account Marie-José Jansen

I thought this was a cute read. It had me laughing and rooting for certain people. I loved the characters and watching them grow and work through things. I loved the chemistry between the love interests! I felt myself very invested in their story. And most of all I loved the entire Christmas theme! A very cute festive read.

‘They want a traditional Christmas in a Scottish castle with all the trimmings’

I have read and enjoyed some of Julie’s previous ‘Romantic Escapes’ (this one is #9) as they offer great escapism to some wonderful world locations. Each of these novels are stand-alones (although there are characters from previous novels that may make appearances) and I was excited to spend Christmas in Scotland with her latest offering.

‘Around her the trees were silent and still and she felt as if she were the only person around for miles. Izzy took in a deep breath. Much as she’d enjoyed living in Edinburgh, she loved this intense quietness and the sense of peace and being at one with the world.’

As I have come to expect from the previous ‘escapes’, Julie offers a story filled to the brim - this is certainly no one dimensional chick lit tale. Yes, there is the requisite romance but Julie always provides a cast of characters and locales that guarantee to add real depth to the story. On this occasion Julie takes us to Christmas in Scotland. With the exception of a few days shopping in Edinburgh, the bulk of the tale is set in the Highlands and she immerses you in all things Scottish - yes even haggis! What’s not to love? If you are a foodie you are sure to lick your lips with all the scrumptious food and baking on offer. I also enjoyed all the traditions and might even adopt a few myself. All up, who would not want to inherit, renovate and live in a Scottish castle (vicariously of course!) and have family and friends, love and laughter, wine and whiskey? Maybe even a little Jamie Fraser 🤣 …

‘Secretly, she’d had more than her fair share of hot fantasies about Jamie Fraser from Outlander’

The Christmas Castle in Scotland is the perfect recipe for light escapism. I like how Julie’s heroines tend to be at the crossroads of both career and love life, attempting to be bold enough to take strong steps to live their best. So, wait no more ... grab a wee dram and snuggle up in your favourite reading spot to spend a few hours up in the Scottish Highlands with this comfort read. If you are looking for the ultimate Christmas experience be sure to grab Julie’s latest romantic escape book.

‘It’s a super tree and it’s the heart of our Christmas castle. May all who stay here be merry and bright, enjoying health and happiness for the whole of the festive season.’










This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.

"I don't want someone who's scared of love, who's going to back off whenever the feelings threaten to overwhelm them or they think they're being manipulated into something. I want someone who's all in. Not someone who thinks they might be in love."
Izzy McBride never expected to inherit an actual castle from her great uncle, but here she was; granted it was in need of some serious TLC if she was going to accomplish her dream of turning it into a bed and breakfast. When Izzy's eccentric mother rents a room to an enigmatic author, Ross, and the Scottish snow starts to settle in it becomes a race against time to get the castle ready in time for Christmas.
Izzy is very determined to make the castle into something new, but a lack of funds are problematic, along with her mother's habit of making plans without telling her. The dynamic between the two leads to some funny situations throughout. The relationship between Izzy and her mother is interesting and one can see quickly her mother is eccentric. Izzy and Ross have a lot of awful encounters in the beginning, where neither seems to like the other. As time goes on the two become friends, but the closer they get the more Ross pulls away.
The story is a great cozy Christmas time read with fun and diverse characters. The romance is a little light in the novel in my opinion as most of it discusses the work on the castle. It is much more a story of the love of friends and family as they all bond and work together to prepare the castle. I didn't really feel like the romance element came into the narrative until the last few chapters. But, I think it is a lovely and fun holiday read to help get you in the spirit of Christmas time.

Delightful!

When Izzy inherits a dilapidated Scottish castle she sets about transforming it into a hotel with help from her flamboyant extrovert mother.

Funny, sweet and dramatic with some beautiful descriptions of food and furnishings, and of course, some Christmassy romance

Well this book was a bit of a romantic rollercoaster! There was a constant will they won’t they vibe going on with Ross and Izzy and it felt more and more likely that it was going to head to the friendship side of things rather than a romance. Especially with the Christmas chaos that soon ensued!

As with Julie’s previous book this has left me feeling very hungry and fancying a day in the kitchen - I’m looking forward to making my first batch of mince pies for the year as they definitely do taste so much better warm!

Xanthe was such a loud and extroverted character but her talent shone through and I could just envisage walking into the fresh rooms that she created with that warming sense of home and luxury. Especially when she started hosting her pre-dinner drinks as they sound so luxurious and have given me a few ideas for some Christmas tipples this year!

There were a few rather tense moments in this book which had me gasping but throughout I had the sense of needing to know what was going to happen next and didn’t want to put the book down (I buddy read this and it was tough to limit myself to the set number of chapters a day)

I did guess the sapphire fact but it didn’t spoil it for me even though I did think it could lead to trouble. My favourite part of the book was the sense of everyone being welcome at the castle, Izzy really did welcome everyone with open arms even if she’d not planned for their arrival at all and the atmosphere as we progressed just kept getting better and better

Overall this was a lovely book as always by Julie and I can’t wait to see what happens next with Hattie and Luc!!!

I could sing the praises of the ninth instalment of the Romantic Escape series by saying it is ‘a hug in mug, cosy festive read’, which it absolutely is, but I’d rather say pure and simple that The Christmas Castle in Scotland is a fantastic read.
If I could rate it more that 5 stars I would and more importantly, it is a book that I will return to time and time again, which is high praise for someone who reads as much as I do.
I cannot recommend more highly; it is as described a romantic escape.

As always, my thanks to Netgalley, One More Chapter and the author Julie Caplin for allowing me to read and review The Christmas Castle in Scotland.

Purchase Links:

Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B09NZ5BRP9/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_JV6FC706AKR616B996SA

Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09NZ5BRP9/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_JV6FC706AKR616B996SA

Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-christmas-castle-in-scotland-julie-caplin/1140808371?ean=9780008431259

Waterstones: https://www.waterstones.com/book/the-christmas-castle-in-scotland/julie-caplin/9780008431266

Check out my latest book review of The Christmas Castle in Scotland by Julie Caplin.
@ https://sloantate-mckate.blogspot.com/2022/11/the-christmas-castle-in-scotland-by.html

Julie Caplin is a new author to me but one that I enjoyed reading. The book is fast paced and straight away I was invested in the story and characters.

I love festive and Christmas stories so this was a really enjoyable one for me.

If you enjoy romantic festive reads I'm sure you will love this one too.

So who doesn't wish they would inherit a castle?? Like honestly, sign me right up, especially if it is in Scotland! This is such a cosy feel good book and I was so happy to get to read this one. You don't need to have read the previous books (which I have not), but I will be adding them to my tbr as I want more of these feelings.

Such a lovely cosy festive book!
I adore stories where the characters are taking on a challenge to create a business from scratch, it’s exciting to see them flourish and to watch them grow in character too.
Izzy is a fabulous character, her mother is also a pretty awesome character, her eccentric ways really help bring the castle to life.
Ross is as mysterious as his books and added some conflict and interest to Izzy’s plans to revamp the castle. It was lovely to see them eventually connect and to see Ross blossom within the confines of the castle.
A perfect Christmas read that is fun to read and full of good cheer.

Looking for a feel good christmassy novel that will distract you from reality?? Look no further! I’m going through a terrible time right now but this book felt like a warm hug from start to finish, I cannot recommend it more!

I am completely biased in this review, because I love Julie Chaplin’s books, her writing, just everything, so there will be lots of gushing and raving about how much I love etc, I’m just preparing you , so you can’t say you weren’t warned.

The Christmas Castle in Scotland is book 9 in the Romantic Escapes series, these are all stand-alone books, you might get the odd character from the past popping in, but you won’t be lost or confused like you’re missing something. Although I do guarantee once you read one of these you’ll go back and want to read them all.

I love Scotland, I’ve visited quite a lot of it and go almost yearly, so when I saw the title of this I may have got a tad excited, I mean I love these books anyway but set a book in Scotland or Cornwall and you’ve stolen my heart. If you’ve never been Julie’s descriptions will make you feel like you are there and you’ll want to visit.

I loved the characters so much, Izzy is a great lead, she’s adorable, her mum Xanthe is a bit harder to take at times, she’s quite self involved and annoying at times, but she does set the scene for our leading man Ross, so we can forgive her a bit of living in her own bubble. Ross is a great leading man, broody, moody and our hero, but you’ll have toreador meet him and see why.

Overall this is another fantastic addition to the series, full of festive delights, snowy Castles, shimmering lochs and of course heartwarming, melting romance. If you’re looking for the perfect seasonal read full of heart, look no further.

Thanks to Julie Caplin, netgalley, Harpercollins uk and Rachel’s Random Resources for the opportunity to enjoy and take part in the blog tour for this gorgeous story. For full disclosure I was given a free ebook in return for a voluntary and honest review, all opinions are my own and freely given.

The Christmas Castle in Scotland by Julie Caplin (Romantic Escapes Book 9)
Unwrap this gorgeous gift of a book for an escape to the snow-peaked caps of the Scottish Highlands and a romance that will melt your heart.
Izzy McBride had never expected to inherit an actual castle from her great uncle Bill, a very rundown glen needing a lot of attention. She dreams of turning the castle into a hotel.
But when Izzy's mother rents a room to Ross Adair and the Scottish snow starts to settle like the frosting on a Christmas cake, it's a race to get the castle ready for guests before they're all snowed in for the holidays.
Julie Caplin has added this charming, cosy Christmas story to the Romantic Escapes collection.
It was lovely to start at the front door of Kinlochleven Castle, to feel the energy of Issy's excitement as she returned from her cooking course, and to share her thoughts and plans for the estate's future. With the help of Xanthe, who is equivalent to a whirling, crazy fairy godmother, they breathe life and laughter into the ancient castle.
The supporting cast plays their influential parts and are all wonderful, well-drawn characters.
New friendships, beautiful scenery, good food, Christmas cheer and romance nothing is left out of this enchanting story.
I want to thank publisher One More Chapter, author Julie Caplin and Rachels Random Resources for a copy to read and review.

When Izzy McBride inherits an actual castle in the Scottish highlands she realizes the only way to keep it in the family is to turn it into a bed and breakfast. The falling down old castle is going to need a lot of work however before she can accept guests. Much to her surprise, she realizes that her eccentric mother has rented out a room to an introverted, elusive author for a few months. All he wants is peace and quiet, but as more people show up and join the effort to remodel the place in anticipation of their first Christmas guests, he joins in more and more. There a spark of attraction between Izzy and Ross, but every time they become close, he backs off, avoiding her for days. Izzy just got out of an on again/off again relationship and doesn't want to go through the pain again. Is it too much to ask for a man to put her first for once?
I swear Izzy must have the patience of a saint for putting up with her mother's ridiculous behavior. Only a few chapters in and I wanted to shake her! But the remodel and prepping for Christmas were fun and the budding relationship between the two kept me reading. The inevitable breakup before the makeup was a little weak and left me shaking my head at Ross's reasoning but I was happy with their HEA.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I would just like to say a big thank you to NetGalley, who very kindly forwarded me an arc copy of this book, for my Kindle, in return for my honest review.

This is book number nine from the ‘Romantic Escapes’ series of books but can also be very easily read as a stand alone with no problems at all.
What more could I ask for in a book - it’s set in a castle in the snowy Scottish Highlands, it’s Christmassy, it’s heartwarming and it is so well written that I could honestly imagine being there, surrounded with all the snow and romance!
This was a wonderful, addictive story and I loved everything about it. It was a beautiful, cosy, heartwarming, romantic read…..

4.25 stars out of 5 stars

If you're looking for a cute, cozy book this is the book for you.

This book was quite a joy to read, very enjoyable. I hadn't read any of the previous books in the serie yet but it really wasn't necessary to do so which is great. It really makes the book enjoyable for more people.
I especially enjoyed the vibes of cozyness the book gave, the feeling of fixing up a castle, falling in love, Christmas. It had it all. The book really transports you to Scotland, makes you feel you're there. I love that some characters spoke in the more traditional Scottisch way while still making what the character is saying understandable to those that don't know that way of speaking.

I've just returned from a holiday in Scotland to celebrate by hubby's 40th birthday and had been saving this one for the trip.

It was an amazing story that jumped off of the pages as we explored Edinburgh and then upto Inverness and Fort William.

The characters became friends quickly and I soon felt like I'd known Izzy forever. Such a wonderful story full of love and kindness, which we really need more of in the world right now.

An absolute winner for me by an author who always knows how to hit the sweet spot with her wonderful imagination.