Thanks to NetGalley, I was able to get into the Christmas spirit a bit early this year with a review copy of Sariah Wilson's Almost Like Being in Love. This novella was a sweet way to think about the meaning of family (born and chosen), the meaning of the holidays, the value of love and relationships, and how somethings don't need an explanation to happen or be the right choice. Sometimes life doesn't give you easy choices, but what matters is choosing what's right. I managed to laugh and cry and want to decorate for the holidays, so I count all that as a win for a book.

Highglen is the new Brigadoon and I loved this Christmas time travel romance set in the highlands of Scotland. I especially love that this book title is also the title of a song from that musical–how fun is that?

🪄Maren is such a solid character and I loved the quest she went on for her dying mother to find a long lost brother.
🪄The way Maren and her bestie, Penny, stumbled upon Duncan, a Scottish laird, and his clan in the 1600s is so surprising and sweet.
🪄The whole cast of SEVEN sisters, each so different and full of life and personality, is the icing on the cake.
🪄Swoony deliciousness manifests under the mistletoe, in closets, and in many other places and Sariah Wilson sure knows how to write those scenes!
🪄Traditions and customs are so endearing and I loved watching them mesh worlds.
🪄An impossible ending is such a perfect concoction of emotions, ideas, and heart-melting scenes.

I loved this darling little novella and its unique mashup of so many beloved things.

Content: mild+ romance (swoony kissing, make outs, light innuendo); death of parent

I’m sure there is a market for this book but it was not for me.

I had heard good things about this author so I thought a cute holiday story would be a great place to start. Unfortunately, it just was not my cup of tea. I found it so sickeningly sweet and the most insta-love-y insta-love I’ve ever encountered.

If you love Hallmark movies, insta-love is your jam & you live for a time travel/sexy historical man trope then this is for you! You’ll love it.

Thank you to NetGalley & Montlake for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Sariah Wilson's romances are my kind of comfort read. I always know going in to them that I will love them. This book is probably my least favourite by her, only because I am not a big fan of magical realism and struggle to believe the storyline at times. Instant love is not a trope I tend to enjoy either and I understand with this being a novella, it was likely the easiest approach. I am still glad I read it though and I know there will be a heap of you out there who will love it more than I did.

This is one of my favorite authors because she writes fun, clean romances and this time she didn’t disappoint. I never read the description of a book before I request it, if it is written by an author I enjoy reading. When I realized that this story seems to take place in 2 separate centuries, I almost gave up on it because I don’t like fantasy-type stories. But, I soldiered on in the name of romance and ended up truly enjoying the connection between Maren and Duncan. The village of Highglen is pretty magical!

Cute Christmas novella with magical time travel, friendship and romance.

Maren and her best friend Penny get stuck in a snowstorm in the Scottish Highlands and are saved by a very attractive Scotsman, Duncan, who is from 1647. They instantly hit it off, and develop their love. Maren is forced to choose to stay with Duncan or go back to care for her sick mother.

This was a fun Christmas novella with a time twist that I truly enjoyed. I loved all of the characters, Maren and Duncan's story and how it showcased not only Maren and Duncan's relationship but the relationship with her mother, her best friend and Duncan's family.

Overall, really enjoyed this novella and was not able to put it down.

Thank you Sariah Wilson and NetGalley for my e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you Netgalley and Montlake for the ARC in return for an honest review.

I am not going to lie. I started this and thought "what the heck am I reading?"

Our main female lead, Maren, is driving to the Scottish highlands with her bff, gets caught in a storm, her car dies, and she ends up in the seventeenth century.

The thing is... no one that meets them bats an eye or questions what is happening.

Once you kind of get over all of that (time loops, time travelling, missing relatives that disappeared who reappear) and just let yourself enjoy our main lady meet her soulmate and fall in love ... then the story just becomes a lovely little comfort read. Nothing serious. Nothing scandalous. It's like drinking a warm cup of cocoa with loads of marshmallows and knowing that the storm outside is going to pass and everything is going to be ok.

Maren and Duncan are adorable together. He is what Scottish Laird book boyfriends are made up of -- kind to the Clan, indulgent older brother and 100% head over heels in love with Maren. And he isn't afraid to say it or show it. He is LOVELY.

This is a sweet little story that will fill you with holiday cheer.

Totally recommended read -- UNLESS the following: if magic and time travel/ time loops aren't your thing - this really isn't the story for you. BUT if you can just set it all aside, I think you'll love Maren and Duncan and Highglen's Christmas magic.

Almost Like Being In Love was such an enjoyable read. It was unique, while hitting all of the tropes you would hope for in a Christmas story, happy, cozy, sweet, and full of holiday cheer.
Maren and her friend Penny stumble upon a unique village that is centuries behind their own time. It quickly becomes home for Maren when she forms an instant connection with Duncan. But her ties at home leave them with only a week together before the village disappears again with no knowing how long it will be until it’s back.
Their story is sweet, funny, and full of hope. I loved how Maren and Duncan’s characters fit so nicely together. It was so fun reading a story set in such a unique place and watching the differences between time periods. The characters within the village added such a homey feel to the story along with all the traditions that were shared that week.
This might just become a Christmas time reread for me this year and many more to come.

Thank you to NetGalley, Montlake and Sariah Wilson for an arc of Almost like Being in Love in exchange for an honest review.

Synopsis quote & review below.

"Maren Kelly and her friend Penny may be lost in the Scottish Highlands, yes. They may be caught in the blizzard of the century, sure. But despite their dire straits, Maren is going to honor her ailing mother’s wish for them to experience all the magic, mystery, and whimsy Scotland has to offer, even if she freezes to death trying. When they’re rescued by the dashing Duncan Campbell, who seems like he walked straight out of the seventeenth century, Maren is more than a wee bit bewildered.

Their shelter is Duncan’s castle in Highglen, a captivating village that feels somehow familiar…as does the laird himself. Brimming with holiday cheer and friendly, boisterous family members, Highglen is a safe haven in the frigid winter storm. Maybe it’s the carolers and the warm hearth—or Duncan’s comforting brogue and stolen kisses—but Maren feels as though she’s come home. And in Duncan, she may have found her long-awaited soulmate.

But is this a miracle that could last a lifetime?"

I really enjoy most novels by Sariah Wilson and will ALWAYS read them. For me they are light, quick and feel-good stories that are perfect for when I need exactly that type of novel.

This was a perfect Christmas novella. I absolutely love stories that involve magic and fantasy, which this story definitely covered. I'm not really a believer in insta-love, but that is ok! This story was super charming and I love the Scots!

I would definitely recommend for anyone who would love a quick little story full of depth, emotion, charm and love!

Maren Kelly and her best friend are traveling through the Scottish highlands at Christmas time when they're trapped in a blizzard. Who saves them but a big beautiful burly highlander, from 400 years in the past! Duncan and Maren fall HARD for each other right away. We've got a soulmate situation going on! Duncan is the PERFECT cinnamon roll hero. He and Maren try their hardest to keep their all-consuming chemistry in check, but when they can't it's the perfect blend of spicy and sweet. She can't stay. He can't go. And at the end of the Christmas season, Duncan's village will disappear into the highland mists. Their fairy tale can't possibly have a happily ever after. Or can it?!?

This is basically a Christmas novella based on the 50s classic musical "Brigadoon," and I was here for it!! The title is taken from the song Gene Kelly sings in said musical, and plenty of Easter eggs are hidden throughout the story. I've read a lot of romance recently, but they've all missed the tender bone-deep sweetness that this story contains. This is a closed-door romance, but that's not to say that there wasn't the swoony, sweet scenes I didn't fall head-over-heels for! I fell deeply in love with Duncan. What a caring, honorable, patient, charismatic, gorgeous man! (I could go on, LOL.). I couldn't wait to read to the end and see how the story would resolve itself. So much fun!

I enjoyed this SOO much. I cried happy tears. I also cried sad tears. Maren's backstory is sad. (See trigger warnings at the end of this review for more.) Maren's situation does weave a bit of sadness into the story. Their impending separation also creates some angst, but, since we know this is a romance, it'll turn out well in the end! (Thank goodness for this genre.)

I'd like to thank Montlake and Netgalley for the e-ARC of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

Trigger warnings: terminal cancer, death of a parent

Maren and her best friend Penny are on a trip in Scotland when the entire occasion is derailed by a huge snowstorm. Maren's thoughts are full of her dying mother and how she is trying to squeeze every bit of joy and opportunity from this trip, when they end up stranded in the middle of the storm. Duncan Campbell stumbles across them straight out of the 17th century and Maren is naturally confused by all of this.

They end up finding refuge in Duncan's castle and Maren and Duncan grow closer, but there are responsibilities calling to Maren from her time and she wonders how this could love last.

This was an adorable novella, it is quick - paced and yes the characters fall instantly for each other. It makes sense because this is a time-travel novella! They have no time to waste, and honestly it suits the story. It's a great choice for a Christmas read, perfect for fans of novellas, insta-love and Scotland.

*I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

Sariah Wilson can be a hit or miss author for me but this latest holiday novella was a total win. Perfect for Outlander fans, this story features Maren, whose dying mother urges her to take a trip to Scotland that they had been planning to go on together.

Travelling with her cousin Penny, Maren finds herself stranded in a snowstorm and transported back in time to a castle stuck in 1647 where she meets Chief Duncan Campbell and falls instantly in love. Only able to stay for a week or forever, Maren is forced to choose between love or returning to her time and saying goodbye to her mother.

Heartbreakingly beautiful and super swoony, this novella packs a big punch and is full of all kinds of holiday feels. I couldn't read this fast enough and absolutely loved it! Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review!

Steam level: kissing only

Maren Kelly and her friend Penny get stranded in the Scottish highlands during a winter storm only to find themselves taking shelter in a gorgeous castle... in the seventeenth century. Their rescuer is the laird Duncan Campbell, who Maren feels an immediate familiarity with. But will their connection stand the test of time, or are they running out of time?

This story was a wild ride, and I enjoyed it. Yes, it is unrealistic and ridiculous, but it's done in a delightfully escapist kind of way. Most romance books are instalove, and this takes that to the extreme, which I found nearly more unrealistic than the time travel component. The Christmas setting added a really charming and cozy element to the novella. Cheesiness aside, this is a really quick, fun read that's perfect for the winter season.

Thank you to Montlake for gifting me with an ARC to review. All opinions are my own. I enjoyed it!

I only wish it was longer!

I enjoyed this story so much!! I have really liked the other Sariah Wilson novels I’ve read, but this one is just really special. I wasn’t too sure towards the beginning when it starts into a time travel plot, leaning towards Outlander (and the characters even make mention of that), but she just writes so darn well and the whole storyline and characters - it was so darn good - and for me to love a clean (kissing only) romance this much is really saying something!

It’s a novella so I can’t mention much more without spoilers, but I loved the historical context, the Scottish highlands setting, the bit of modern tech and knowledge that was involved with the time travel aspect, the mystery surrounding the town, and that it was a Christmas story, too. Every piece of it was just perfect. Highly recommend adding this one to your holiday TBR!

I received an advance copy from NetGalley and Montlake, and this is my honest feedback.

Prior to reading this book by Wilson, I had no preconceived expectations. However, I was pleasantly surprised by how cosy and heartwarming the story was. Although it was a bit predictable, it was still perfect to boost one's mood, especially given the short length. The time-travelling aspect was executed well, and the main characters were well-crafted.

Overall, it's a quick and enjoyable festive read, which serves as an excellent introduction to this author's work. I will certainly be on the lookout for more books by this author in the future!

Well, the book was good, but not for me. The first thing I didn't like was the insta love and all those cheesy lines. I was enjoying it until then. And how the two girls were so chill about the time travel? Specially the FMC. I mean they were literally at a place where they didn't know anyone. There was not even internet connection. It could be dangerous. It's ok to freak out a little!

Another thing, the author mentioned they stayed there for a week, in the present FMC's mother also said it was one week there too. Then how the second time it was one year in the present but 5 days in highland? It's confusing.

I feel the book needed more time and pages. It was too short for this kind of complex stories.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange of an honest review.

I usually love Wilson’s stories, but this one fell a little short for me. I liked the plot, however I found the romance in the book to be slightly creepy, not magical like the author intended.

My thanks for the ARC goes to NetGalley and Montlake. I'm voluntarily leaving a review without compensation.

Genre: Romance, Time Travel Romance, Scottish Romance
Spice Level: Sweet romance with kissing and longing for more
Tropes: Insta-love, cosmically separated lovers, fish out of water, soulmates

I've enjoyed many of Sariah Wilson's books, and this one is fun too.

Honestly, I didn't even read the blurb when requesting this ARC. So the cover's castle is a little misleading because it looks like a castle in Austria (at least to me). But there is a castle and all the expected people who go with it, but in Scotland.

I didn't know this was a time-traveling romance, and it is with a Brigadoon-like twist. Super fun! Insta-love isn't my usual cup of tea, but again, Wilson pulls this out of her magic hat, and it works for me. Partly, it works because her mom had a similar experience of falling in love in a moment, so it makes it more believable for Maren's world.

Maren is a fun woman to walk through the 1600s with because she loved the renaissance fairs back home—she sees all the positive things about this place and century. Her friend Penny is good for a week but anxious to get home. And Duncan is a lovely man with masculine strength and tenderness—a perfect book boyfriend. I loved the dilemma of why neither one could leave their century.

Yes! I recommend this book for a fun and light read. It's got a Christmas theme, but I think you can read it any time of the year.

Happy (swooning) reading!

🌬❄Lovely fantasy in the magic wilds of Scotland🏞🏰

A meeting of two times and love at first sight? It's not a unique concept but author Sariah Wilson really took the idea and made it sing. I loved her writing style for this sweet romance set in Scotland between modern Maren, an American woman vet-in-training, and Duncan, a 17th century Scottish chief, brought together by a winter storm. There's a persistent cloud hanging over the couple to make their time together quite poignant, especially as Hogmanay (Scottish New Years) approaches. I found Duncan a really appealing hero; he's devoted to the community he leads and knows how to woo Maren with his sincere silver tongue and honeyed words.

In addition to the main romantic plot, the story weaves in lots of information about traditional winter festivities as the castle prepares to feast, dance, wassail and just kick up their heels to drive out the dark winter. And the ending gave me a nice surprise related to heroine Maren's best friend Penny and the passage of time.

I enjoyed it cover to cover.

Thanks to Montlake and NetGalley for sharing a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest opinion.

3.5 stars

This was such a great read to start the holiday season 👏
I love the magical setting and moments and the romance, albeit instalove-y tho not really 😉 , it was throughly enjoyable.
I like that the magical village and the side characters were amazing too.
The story was sweet and charming with some emotional moments too.
Overall this was a very lovely story, perfect for the holiday season.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.