Christmas at a Highland Castle

by Rachel Barnett

'Tis the season to find your heart's true home

Jess has spent most of her life taking care of herself, no stranger to odd jobs here and there. And given the choice between spending another Christmas alone or spending it in Scotland as the Earl of Kirkshield's housekeeper, her choice is a no-brainer.

Stepping into the castle's grounds is like something out of a fairytale, and Jess can't believe her luck. But a cold blast of reality hits when she meets the new earl and realises she's not exactly welcome...

When Sebastian makes it clear he wants nothing to do with the crumbling estate or title, Jess takes it upon herself to give him a reason to stay and save her job in the meantime. As they work together to bring the castle back to life, she finds herself growing closer to the brooding earl. Much to her surprise, she's starting to think she actually likes the guy. But they come from different worlds, and she doesn't know the first thing about putting down roots.

Could the magic of Christmas be enough to spark romance and make the castle a home?

Escape to the Scottish Highlands this Christmas with a cosy and heartwarming romance full of drama and forbidden love! Perfect for fans of Sarah Morgan, Lucy Coleman and Downtown Abbey.

What readers are saying about Rachel

'Gorgeous comfort reading at its best!! ... Great writing, great personalities, festive reality on a different sphere!!' Reader review, 5 stars

'The perfect escapism that will take you away and get you in the Christmas spirit ... perfect blend of magic and the characters are appealing and the plot is tantalising' Reader review, 5 stars

'Loved the characters and their individual stories and the scenery sounded lovely and so inviting and makes you feel all festive. Would recommend to anyone who likes a good Christmas story with intrigue thrown in' Reader review, 5 stars

'Absolutely loved it! A cosy page-turner and a perfect read for the run-up to Christmas!!' Reader review, 5 stars

Genres: Christmas, Romance

352 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 15, 2024

Reviews

[Sheila · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.

[Fictionophile · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jess grew up in the foster system, never really putting down any roots, until she met her foster mother whom she calls Aunt Vivi. Vivi owns an agency that places housekeeping staff with employers. Though Jess has aspirations to be a singer, singing gigs are hard to come by, so she takes a placement as a housekeeper at a castle in Scotland over the Christmas season. Because Aunt Vivi, who is elderly, has just broken her hip, Jess takes Vivi's little cockapoo dog with her to the castle. Digby-Dog is adorable, but has breathing problems, terrible halitosis, and generally causes trouble for his carers.

The owner of the castle has recently passed away, leaving his family not only grieving, but facing the scandal surrounding his death. Now, the son of the family, Sebastian, has had to uproot his life in London and return to his ancestral home to fulfill his legacy of Earl of Kirkshield. As he had just attained the position of first violin at the London Philharmonic, the move is not one he wanted...  His return to Scotland means he has to relinquish his dreams, and become confronted with a grim reality. The castle has been neglected dreadfully, as have the village buildings. Some cash is badly needed or the castle, which has been in the family for nearly a thousand years, will have to be sold to cover the myriad outstanding debts.

Dee, the matriarch of the castle is reeling from the scandal surrounding her late husband's death. She endured her marriage for three decades, and now, age 49, feels as if she has just found some longed for freedom. She is a diminutive woman with little in the way of self-esteem after the many years of her husband's belittling her.

There are three main narrators in this novel. Jess, the housekeeper ; Dee the matriarch of the family, and Sebastian, the new Earl.

Themes of starting over, sibling rivalry, male primogeniture, and the strength of community provide added elements of interest to this holiday romance. There were the requisite misunderstandings, miscommunications, and self-doubt inherent with the romance genre.

"Christmas at a Highland Castle" was a holiday novel permeated with a vibe of hopefulness and the importance of community. The setting was almost fairy-tale perfect and very picturesque.

Though I didn't connect with Jess instantly, I warmed to her as the book progressed. I did really enjoy the story overall. Recommended to those who enjoy holiday romances with beautiful settings. A fun escapist read with touches of humour and romance. Perfect reading for your Christmas 'down-time'. A nice way to relax...

[Bargain Sleuth Book Reviews]

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.

[Ingrid · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nägin raamatut ja mõtlesin, et oo, Šoti mägismaa, aga jõulud, aga romantiline romaan? No ei läinud viit minutitki, kui veensin ennast ära, et tuleb lugeda erinevaid asju (ja millal ma viimati üldse romantilist teost lugesin ah?) ja kui hull see ikka olla saab.

No otseselt hull ei olnud, aga lihtsalt mõnevõrra.... igav. Sellisele raamatule ei tasu ette heita, et oi klišeed, sest no neid võib ju eeldada, aga võiks siis olla ka hoogu, intriigi mingit vürtsi, kasvõi situatsioonikoomikat, aga seal oli kõik väga vanilje. Autor seletas lihtsate kaasatundvate sõnadega lahti kõik, mis tegelaste hinges toimus, mille peale suutsid tegelased ise ka kohe ennast kokku võtta ja öelda ja teha seda, mis viis neid soovitud tulemusteni. Negatiivseid kangelasi (enam elus) ei olnud ja kõik läks tõusvas joones õdususe suunas. Seda kõike oli piisavalt, et raamat kiirelt lõpuni lugeda ja edaspidi selle autori raamatutest hoiduda.

[Carla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jess grew up in the foster system, never belonging anywhere, until she met her foster mother whom she calls Aunt Vivi. Vivi owns an agency that places housekeeping staff with employers, and after giving up her music/singing career, she began working for her. The most recent job she is doing is working as a housekeeper at Kirkshield castle. Aunt Vivi recently broke her hip, so Jess is also looking after Digby-Dog, Aunt Vivi's cockapoo. He might be cute, but he has breathing problems, terrible halitosis, and is always getting into trouble. The Earl of Kirkshield has recently died, so his son, Sebastian has reluctantly come home from London to become the new earl and take over the crumbling castle and estate. When he finds out that they are severely in debt, he is not sure what to do next. With no money, should he let Jess go? When they spend time together and open up to one another while walking to and from the village, they begin to develop feelings for one another. Can an earl find love with an orphan who cleans houses for a living?

Christmas at a Highland Castle is told from 3 POVs. Jess, the housekeeper; Dee the matriarch of the family who is not upset that her philandering husband is dead, but embarrassed about the circumstances, and Sebastian, the new Earl, who would rather be in London playing violin with the philharmonic. Not only is he dealing with concerns of where he will get the money for repairs to the castle and the tenant's property, but dealing with his older sister who is not happy about him coming home and taking over. There is also Robbie, the gameskeeper, who has carried a torch for Dee for years and it seems that just maybe, this might be his time. I really enjoyed this story with themes of grief, family estrangement, infidelity, following dreams, romance, caste structure and community. As Jess tries to help Sebastian sort out what he is going to do with Kirkshield, they become closer and closer. She is smart, organized, outspoken and caring and I was thrilled to see her get a Happily Ever After. Of course we have to work through miscommunication, self-esteem issues and perceptions of others to get there.

[Posy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley and Embla Books for sending me an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

"Christmas At A Highland Castle" is a heartwarming story set in the picturesque Scottish Highlands at Kirkshire Castle 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.

[Jade aka MrsTosh · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.

[Get Your Tinsel in a Tangle · Rating 4 out of 5]

A crumbling Scottish castle, a brooding earl, and a determined housekeeper—sounds like the perfect setup for a Christmas romance, right? Christmas at a Highland Castle follows Jess, a woman who's spent her life bouncing between jobs and is now taking a seasonal gig as the housekeeper for the Earl of Kirkshield. The catch? The castle is falling apart, the earl (Sebastian) would rather be anywhere else, and the whole situation is one power outage away from being a holiday survival challenge. But Jess isn’t the type to back down from a fixer-upper—whether it’s a centuries-old estate or the grumpy aristocrat who owns it.

Between castle renovations, simmering romantic tension, and a very mischievous dog named Digby, the story weaves in plenty of festive charm. The cast of characters—especially Dee, the earl’s mother, who is navigating her own fresh start—add layers to the story beyond just the romance. While the book leans into classic tropes (grumpy/sunshine, forced proximity, and a heavy dose of “we’re from different worlds!” angst), it does so in a way that feels comforting rather than cliché. It’s the kind of story where you just know someone will have an emotional breakthrough by a roaring fire, and honestly, that’s part of the fun.

I’m giving this one 3.5 out of 5 stars. It’s a cozy, feel-good holiday escape, even if it takes a little while to get going. The romance is sweet, the setting is peak winter fairytale, and if you’ve ever dreamed of fixing up a castle with a reluctant-but-dashing earl, this one will be right up your alley.

[Kaitlin · Rating 3 out of 5]

While it did start out interesting and the characters were mostly likable, it started to falter about half way through. I do want to mention first off that if you were going into this looking for a full Christmas theme, it isn't even mentioned until the last 20% of the book so I wouldn't recommend it to get into the Christmas spirit. Even after it was mentioned, there was really nothing to do with Christmas so I wouldn't really have even put Christmas in the title. I also felt that the last 20% was very rushed and there was no real resolution to any issues in the story other than who was in love with who. I didn't really feel that any of the characters that were supposed to have chemistry actually did so it wasn't a particularly good love story either. I'm really not sure what the plot was about but it wasn't bad. I did appreciate reading a story about a castle in the current age instead of the early 1900's though, that was the highlight of the entire thing for me.

Thank you to Netgalley and Embla Books for this eARC.

[Kushnuma · Rating 3 out of 5]

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you to NetGalley, Rachel Barnett and Embla Books for this ARC.

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.

[Martha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rachel Barnett’s “Christmas at a Highland Castle” is the book you need if you’re looking for a cozy winter romance. It took me a chapter or two to get into the book, but once I did, I throughly enjoyed watching Jess and Sebastian fall in love. Additionally it was nice to see a few of the supporting characters also find their happy endings. I only wish we could’ve seen a little more of Vivi at the end and another scene in the epilogue with Jess and Sebastian. But it didn’t take away from the sweetness of the story.

4.5/5 stars

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Embla Books for allowing me to enjoy an ARC of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Dha loves books · Rating 4 out of 5]

Genre - Christmas
Emotional rating - 🥰🥰🥰
Speed and ease to read - 🏃🏾‍♀️🏃🏾‍♀️🏃🏾‍♀️🏃🏾‍♀️
Number of pages - 320
Publication Year - 2024
Makes you think about a bigger topic -  No
Recommend the book - ✔️

▪️Synopsis

Jess has spent most of her life taking care of herself, no stranger to odd jobs here and there. And given the choice between spending another Christmas alone or spending it in Scotland as the Earl of Kirkshield's housekeeper, her choice is a no-brainer.

Stepping into the castle's grounds is like something out of a fairytale, and Jess can't believe her luck. But a cold blast of reality hits when she meets the new earl and realises she's not exactly welcome...

When Sebastian makes it clear he wants nothing to do with the crumbling estate or his title, Jess takes it upon herself to give him a reason to stay and save her job in the meantime. As they work together to bring the castle back to life, she finds herself growing closer to the brooding earl. Much to her surprise, she's starting to think she actually likes the guy. But they come from different worlds, and she doesn't know the first thing about putting down roots.

Could the magic of Christmas be enough to spark romance and make the castle a home?

▪️ How I found the book

I enjoyed this book set in a Highland castle. The main story revolves around Jess, the new housekeper, and Dee, Sebastian's mother who has lived in the castle since she was married to the Earl of Kirkshield. The Earl has passed away and Sebastian has returned reluctantly to take over the castle.

There are a lot of 'love' storylines in this book - Jess - new love, Dee - lost love and the village - community love. The characters were nice enough and I didn't particularly love or hate anyone. The story was engaging and a nice escapism novel. @rachelbarnett author is new to me but I will now look at reading some of her other books.

A lovely Christmas novel I'd recommend.

[Dawn Probert · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this. It took me a few chapters to get into it but then I loved it. The tartan, the fairy lights and snow all had me hooked. I really liked Jess and Sebastian lots. They were gently written and thoughtful. I struggled with Dee a lot and although I could see why she had been written like this I still wanted to shake her a bit. The auntie characters and the dog were particularly funny.
Overall a great book with a captivating storyline. Thank you NetGalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

[Casey-Leigh · Rating 4 out of 5]

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 was able to find a family with Sebastian.
I hope Jess and Seb will have more adventures!

[Julie Foster · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a lovely story

This is the first book I have read by this author and I have thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. Your life is mapped out for you if you are from aristocracy but it isn't necessarily what you want. I couldn't put this book down with the two love stories and happy ending.

[Freda Hatherall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Scotland memories.

Brilliant loved this book and the story line it conveyed. The tug of Scotland was intensive. I myself was brought back to being born in Scotland. On the !i'll of Kintyre. Happy memories and historic. Memories.

[Laura Curtis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Feel-good read

This was a really nice, feel-good read, perfect for just before Christmas. The two parallel love stories added a charming touch, making it even more enjoyable. A heartwarming holiday book to cozy up with!

[Taylor · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF

It's the most boring book I have ever read. I got 21% into it on my kindle and I just couldn't get on board.

[Victoria · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not enough Christmas vibes. Did not finish

[Caroline Rowan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A thoroughly enjoyable holiday romance with more depth and thoughtfulness than you might expect from a Christmas book. Looking forward to reading more by this author.

[Denise Bonham · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a lovely emotional romantic book.
Set in a beautiful Scottish Castle. Great story and characters. Loved it.

[Andra Kapule · Rating 5 out of 5]

good Christmas romance

I liked this one! It’s like a hallmark movie but with a bit more steam!! Exactly what I was looking for although I do wish it was written in first person.

[Jen Kittleson ND · Rating 2 out of 5]

Got the chance to read this book early thanks to NetGalley. Not sure I enjoyed the story. Felt like the story was in old times the way it was written and set up, but then at times a cell phone entered the picture or a comment made to make it confusing. Soo much background to set up the story was not needed. Got bored through it. In the end it was a typical love story with a castle between royalty and a commoner falling in love. And just not enough Christmas in the story.

[Karen Axnick · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.

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