I found myself struggling abit with this book. I didn’t feel attached to any characters and found it hard to enjoy at times. Christmas is throughout the book with the added typical plots of money issues etc.

Jess grew up as foster kid till she found her “aunt” Vivi. It might be due to her past in the system that she is used to travel around and not staying in one place for a long time. She wanted to be a singer but had to accept that she couldn´t make a living with it hence now she ended up working for Vivi and being the temporary housekeeper in a Scottish castle to spend Christmas and New Year there.
She arrives shortly after the former Earl died and his son Sebastian had to return home into the Highlands to take over the family castle and giving up his dream to become a professional violist.
Soon Jess learns that nothing is what it seems to be in this fantastic castle and that each family member has own problems and that the financial side is also not what you would expect from such an impressive castle with its grounds and a village which belong yet to the new Earl.

For me this is not really a Christmas novel as the Christmas feeling is missing here for me and all it does is playing during the Christmas time. Instead I would say this is mainly a family story including love stories.
The story is nice and I like the setting in this special town. The story is being told from different point of views. We have Jess who comes as employee to the castle, Sebastian who struggles to take over the new role he inherited and from his mother Dee.
Not all characters here were really nice at the beginning, I would say they were rude and more than unfriendly in the way they treated an employee and others, but they changed during the story line.
Sebastian who has to give up a dream to return to a castle he doesn´t really want and has to learn what else his father did is a good character and I liked him. His older sister I could not really stand even so she is changing at the end of the book. His mother Dee is quite a complex character considering what she had to endure all these years and I liked how she is learning to live like she wants to yet.
Jess, well I can´t say that I really liked her. Some of her actions I did not like but all in all and it was OK for me to read her story.
Why some villagers did not like Sebastian and made him responsible for the neglected state of the town was not clear to me as this was his father´s doing and Sebastian left years ago.
So all in all a nice ready but I can´t recommend it as Christmas novel as I am expecting more Christmas atmosphere and feelings in such a novels and this is lacking in this one for me.

This is an amazing romance, with Christmas sprinkled at the end. The new earl has to sort out the mess his father left while his mother is trying to do the same for her own life. Insert a new housekeeper and obviously romance ensues. This book was a lot of fun, but Christmas is not as the forefront which is not what I was expected from a book with Christmas in the title.

For me this was a disappointing read. I was expecting this book to be mainly set at Christmas time and include lots of romance. The book is set in Scotland but you wouldn’t know that unless you read the plot as nothing in this book indicates that it’s set in Scotland. I found the story to be boring and nothing much happened, it felt way too long.
I wouldn’t recommend this book as there’s soo many other books that are worth reading instead of this one.
Thank you netgalley for an advanced copy of this book, all opinions expressed are my own.

Christmas at Highland Castle is a no go for me because of the very annoying and unlikable main character. How many people feel free to yell at their employers within the first 24 hours? and bring along their horribly behaved dog?

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC for an honest review.

Sebastin has inherited a castle in Scotland, Jess is sent to be the housekeeper. Sabastin wants nothing to do with the castle or the title that comes with it. Jess works to make him see the value of family.

Christmas at a Highland Castle is written in three points of views: Sebastian, Jess and Dee. Sebastian has inherited his father's castle and the castle's debts too. Jess has been sent to Scotland as a temporary housekeeper but the new Earl, Sebastian, has made her feel quite unwelcome. Dee, Sebastian's mother, is trying to get her leife together after the discgraceful death of her husband, the previous Earl.

It took me a while to get used to the writing style as it got quite confusing with the different points of views. I also wanted the Christmas theme to have been throughout the book but got it eventually at the end. I enjoyed both romances too.

I am beginning to be a bit disillusioned by books with Christmas in the title that treat the holiday as an afterthought to their primary theme. In this case, the trope of “aristocrat and commoner fall in love after a rocky start” consumes 80 percent of the book before Christmas arrives. It is a pleasant enough read with a charming housekeeper, an overwhelmed, handsome earl, and a neglected castle plagued by debt. The feel-good outcomes are predictable for all involved, but there is plenty of drama in arriving there. Overall, it was a solid escapist read.

My thanks to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for the privilege of reviewing this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This review is being posted immediately to my GoodReads account and will be posted on Amazon upon publication.

Family, fun, Christmas, animals and plenty of love. This was a wonderful read set in a fabulous setting. It shows us that what you want may not be always what you need and that finding your place in life is like coming home.

This was a great read to add to my Christmas reads for the season! (Christmas is my favourite time of year).

I love a good Christmas romance, I love that this story focused on two family members and their quest for love. Jess and Seb are just gorgeous, I loved that they could bring out the best for each other even though he really didn’t want her on the estate at the beginning. Sebs mum and her quest also was cute, finding love after so many years with a nasty man. I love that Jess found her family not just with her aunt but also seb and his family.

"Christmas At A Highland Castle" is a heartwarming story set in the picturesque Scottish Highlands during Christmas. The story follows Sebastian, a young man who becomes the new Earl after the death of his father, Henry. Returning to his ancestral home, Sebastian is quickly confronted with the grim reality that the family estate is drowning in debt. Cue Jess, the temporary housekeeper who helps Sebastian save the estate while also making him fall in love with her.

In contrast, we have Sebastian’s mother, Dee, who is slowly rediscovering herself and sorting out her feelings for the estate’s gamekeeper. Exploring themes of second chances and the complexities of love in later life, this subplot adds emotional depth to the story. Her relationship with the gamekeeper is tender and touching, offering a contrast to the more youthful romance blossoming between Sebastian and the housekeeper, Jess.

While the plot focuses on financial challenges and personal growth, the spirit of Christmas is woven throughout. The holiday season brings a sense of togetherness, with moments of charity, celebration, and reflection. The villagers rally around the estate, reminding readers of the importance of community in times of hardship. There is an underlying message of hope and redemption, fitting for a Christmas novel.

The novel beautifully combines elements of romance, family dynamics, and the challenges of legacy, all against the backdrop of snow-covered mountains and a crumbling castle full of history. It’s a perfect read for the holiday season, offering a cozy escape into a world where love and determination have the power to overcome even the most daunting obstacles. If you're a fan of heartwarming Christmas stories with enough romance, you'll love this book.

Thanks to the Publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.

I enjoyed this cosy Christmas read.

The characters were lovely and the setting was perfect for the story.

It was well-written, fun and I read it in one sitting.

I recommend this book.

I want to start by thanking the publisher and author for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book. I liked this book, but it wasn’t my favorite of the year.

I love a Christmas book, whatever month of the year we are in and one set in the Highlands is even better in my opinion. Who doesn't want to spend Christmas in a Scottish castle. I have to start by saying that only the last 10% of the book actually takes place at Christmas so the title is a little misleading.

Jess works as a housekeeper and is sent to the castle by her employer her Aunt Vivi to help the family out as their housekeeper has left under interesting circumstances. The disgraced Earl has recently died leaving his son Sebastian in charge. Feeling the weight of the world and his new title on his shoulders, Sebastian is not looking forwards to life at the castle. As his Fathers bad management of the estate comes into light he longs to return to his life in London. The whole family works together to right the wrongs their father has done to the estate and its tenants and try to make it prosperous again. Jess finds herself really enjoying castle life and the company of Sebastian they are worlds apart but still have a love of music in common.

I did enjoy the book and with the introduction to Digby the dog and Aunty Vivi the book kept my interest. The characters were likeable enough and there was that bit of comedy general from Digby to keep me laughing along. It is the first book I have read by Rachel Barnett but I would definitely look out for other books by the author.

Thank you to NetGalley and Embla Books for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for a honest review.

The new Christmas book by Rachel promises to be a great start but I felt like the characters were too pitty me. Jess is a girl who cannot keep jobs, is a drama queen who says the wrong thing at the wrong time. Can she keep this job and maybe a long the way find love.

Then there's self centrered Olivia, poor me dowager countess Dee and then there's Sebastian. At times it felt like Dee storyline wasn't needed and it's extremely slow burning book. Chapter 12 and your no further forward in the tale.

Sorry but I hated it. I feel Rachel done some amazing work but this was a let down.

I love when all the Christmas books come out at this time of year.
I really enjoyed this book.
Will recommend to others

Very nearly dnf'd this book. I found it quite dull to begin with and wasn't enjoying it. It also seemed very similar to another book I'd read recently. It ended OK. It wasn't awful but I didn't love it.

Thanks to Embla Books and NetGalley for the digital copy of this book; I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Unfortunately, I ended up DNF this book at about 60%. It took me over a week to get that far and just wasn't connecting with the book. I much preferred the relationship of D and R to the main romantic entanglements of J & S. I thought the writing was okay, but a little disjointed.

I think part of my reason for the DNF was the fact that while this involved a Scottish castle, it was on that was in disrepair and not one ready to be decked out for the holidays. And there wasn't even a mention of Christmas in the part I read, and that was over half the book. I was looking for some holiday-themed books, maybe with some light romance, with a real feel for Scotland, and I really didn't feel I got that in the 60% I read.

Not sure I enjoyed the story. Felt like the story was in old times the way it was written, but then at times a current cell phone or comment brought it to current times. Soo much background to set up the story was not needed. Got bored. In the end it was a typical love story involving a castle between royalty and a commoner. It would be ok for a book club, but for me it was boring and not enough Christmas.

I received a free copy of, Christmas at a Highland Castle, by Rachel Barnett, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Jess gets to work at a castle for Christmas, yes it needs a lot of work, and yes her boss, does not want her, the castle, or his title. Jess has a lot of work to do this Christmas season. This was a nice Christmas read.