The Christmas Castle in Scotland

Ring in Christmas at McBride's Scottish castle. When Izzy inherits her uncle's castle, she enlists a surprising cast of characters to run the hotel. Fresh from cookery school, Izzy's skills are put to test with unexpected guests and her mom's over-the-top antics.

Feeling flustered and frustrated with her author-in residence, Izzy feels her temperature rising in and out of the kitchen. Thank you to #NetGalley and the publisher for an early edition of the 'The Christmas Castle in Scotland' in exchange for an honest review.

From the moment readers commence the first chapter, they'll be immersed in Caplin's romantic escape read. Fancying a wee trip to the Highlands; the setting will set your season ablaze. Will McBride and Ross find romance or is the allure of the fairytale too good to be true?

Julie Caplin is amazing at writing romance, her writing a perfect mix of love, laughter, character and setting.
The writing was engaging and I found it hard to put down. 
I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know Izzy and Ross as much as the beautiful Scottish Highlands.
I just found the whole book really interesting and charming. 
The combination of lovely characters, the beautiful setting of Scotland.
A charming and truly wonderful story.
Highly recommended.

“I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.”

One More Chapter,
Thank You for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!
I will post my review to my blog, platforms, BookBub, B&N, Kobo and Waterstone closer to pub date.

Absolutely loved this. The castle sounded amazing and all the food descriptions . The two mothers were fantastic characters. Made you laugh. You had snow, love and beautiful descriptions of Scotland . I wanted to go Christmas shopping in Edinburgh. Just an ace read . Can not recommend it enough

Julie Caplin is one of my newest favourite authors and I have adored this whole series (although you can read each book on its own).

We first met the protagonist Izzy in the previous book at the cooking school in Ireland so I was glad to see her in her own book. She's inherited a castle in Scotland and has returned to live there with her mother with a dream to turn it into a hotel. While Izzy was away though, her mother rented out a room to a history professor without her knowing... for 3 months!

Julie Caplin has such a wonderful way of describing the different settings in her books and this Scottish castle was no different. I loved the descriptions of the castle itself, the grounds and for Izzy, the use of Scottish ingredients for her dishes.

I really enjoyed the romance of this book, the slow burning and will they won't they throughout. Ross was a great love interest, with his own secrets and things to get to know.

I'm already looking forward to new characters in this book popping up again!

Well my wishes have been answered (albeit I forgot that I made the wish but never mind). Izzy, a side character in The Cosy Cottage in Ireland gets her own book.

Izzy McBride has inherited a castle in Scotland from her great uncle, she returns to the castle after having taken a cookery course at the famous Killorgally Cookery School in Ireland, determined to make the castle a going concern by offering B&B. Izzy's mother Xanthe is a 'free spirit', dramatic, selfish, a spendthrift, lover of big ideas. While Izzy has been in Ireland Xanthe has rented out one of their rooms to a history professor, Ross Strathallan, for an exorbitant amount of money without consulting Izzy, moreover she has also agreed to host an American couple and their family for Christmas, despite the castle not being fit for guests.

Whilst trying to keep her mother's wilder excesses under control, rescuing a young couple who are wild camping in the castle's grounds, supporting local food producers, and frantically renovating rooms for their guests in the lead up to Christmas, Izzy manages to feed the inhabitants, dance at a ceilidh, and decorate three Christmas trees. Oh, and did I mention the rumours that there is a fortune in sapphires hidden somewhere in the castle?

Little does Izzy know that the grumpy history professor is also Ross Adair the writer of a a series of thrillers which she adores.

This is only the second Julie Caplin book I have read but I think the titles and covers give you a good indication of the content. It's full of snow, whisky, sumptuous food, Christmas stockings hung by the fire, dour but lovable family retainers, and a big old dollop of romance. Think Katie Fforde without the virginal female lead and taciturn male lead. Its cute, cosy, funny, and heart-warming - just what you want from a holiday romance.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

This book has every component you could possibly want in a Christmas story: romance, intrigue, a castle setting and lots of snow. I really enjoyed it and I'll definitely be recommending it!

Thank you One More Chapter for a digital review copy via NetGalley to read and review. I’ve enjoyed discovering this series of books by Julie Caplin, and you can read my last review at https://mentoringmumof2bookreviews.home.blog/2021/10/10/the-cosy-cottage-in-ireland-by-julie-caplin/

Although I met Izzy in the last book in this series as she studied at the cookery school in Ireland, I could easily have read this book without having read the previous book. I’m pleased to see that Izzy has been given her own book, so that we can find out more about the castle she has inherited in the Highlands of Scotland.

This book is a fabulous festive read, full of romance, friendship, food and secrets. Izzy is trying to get the castle ready for the first formal guests, whilst dealing with her flamboyant mum, a grumpy professor and leaky roof. I enjoyed curling up with this on my kindle and read it in two sittings (had to get some sleep in the middle or I would probably have read it in one!)

I look forward to reading more in the series in the future.

This is a delightful cozy romance set in a castle. The main character is quirky and fun. The other people around her add to the story in a positive way. This would make a great movie. This book was sent to me electronically by Netgalley for review. Thanks to the publisher. I liked this book. Curl up with a cozy blanket and a cup of steaming herbal tea…be transported.enjoy.