A Highland Christmas: Plus Bonus Material

The Highlands #3.5

by Samantha Young

Single dad Dr. Haydyn Barr will do anything for his son, Michael. Having raised him alone since he was a baby, every decision he’s made has been for his child. So when Michael decides Kenna Smith is the perfect new nanny for him, Haydyn finds he can’t object, even though he’d decided to reject her application as soon as they met. After all, being undeniably attracted to his kid’s nanny isn’t the temptation he needs in his life.

After a traumatic year, Kenna Smith is looking for a safe place to land, and no place feels safer than with Haydyn and his son. Michael is affectionate and easy-going, and Haydyn is the kind of father she wishes every child had. However, Haydyn also seems determined to keep some distance between them. She knows it’s because he’s afraid of their chemistry. Kenna just doesn’t know if it’s because attraction is all he feels, or if, like her, it’s turned into something much more complicated than desire.

However, when Haydyn allows Michael to spend his first Christmas with the mother that’s newly re-entered his life, he finds himself all alone. Upon discovering Kenna is also going to be lonely in a cold rental during a snowstorm, he insists she stay with him.

Snowed-in together on Christmas Eve, the temptation is just too much and they give in to what’s been sparking between them for months. But come morning, they’ll have to decide if what they have is just for Christmas… or forever.

Genres: Romance, Contemporary Romance, Novella, Christmas, Contemporary, Holiday, Small Town Romance

202 pages, Paperback

First published January 2, 2024

About the author

Samantha is a New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author and a Goodreads Choice Awards Nominee. Samantha has written over 60 books and is published in 31 countries. She writes emotional and angsty romance, often set where she resides—in her beloved home country Scotland. Samantha splits her time between her family, writing and chasing after two very mischievous cavapoos.

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Reviews

[Lilyya ♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

cute

[Rachel L · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cute little holiday novella that I would have rated higher if not for the mom-shaming.

[Christi (christireadsalot) · Rating 2 out of 5]

I loved the two books in this series already so I was expecting to love this novella, and I just didn’t sadly. This had so much potential: Scottish Highlands setting (like the entire series), single dad hero + nanny heroine, snowed in/forced proximity.

I’m someone who loves novellas, but this just wasn’t it. This is 70 pages and it just fell super flat. We get a lot of telling instead of showing for the couple, so I didn’t believe/feel their connection or chemistry. And then the time hops, jumping three months in the past and then ahead to present day, just didn’t do the story any favors either. The story just felt disjointed because of the hops around. I wasn’t a fan of how the drama unfolds with his ex/the mother of his son either. Meh, this just wasn’t for me, but at least the main books in the series have worked I guess.

[Milica's Bookshelf · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this novella so much. It's so sweet and romantic, that I'm now puddle on the floor, literally.

[AJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is such a gorgeous story! Set in the world of Samantha Young’s Adair Family and Highlands series, it’s a sweet, sexy and heartfelt romance for Haydyn (who was unsuccessful at winning two of the heroine in those series). Even with that tie-in, you can read this one as a standalone.

Haydyn is a single father who is completely devoted to his ten year old son, Michael. When Kenna comes to interview for the position of nanny, he almost immediately dismisses her due to his attraction, not wanting to be the cliched father who falls for his nanny. But Michael is instantly in love, and Kenna gets the job. She effortlessly fits into their lives, but sparks are flying everywhere, and after some close calls, a snowy Christmas brings them together.

“All I could think about was you. And all the ways I wanted to make you mine.”

Even in such a short story, Young manages to bring the feels with this one, giving us a complete story with characters that I loved, and a romance that is sweet, passionate and beautifully swoony. This was a really gorgeous read, and I loved it.

[Esra Nazenin Özdemir · Rating 5 out of 5]

4,5/5

[alittlebitbooked || Jess · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short.
Sweet.
Sexy.
To the point.
70 pages, will take you 45mins.

I definitely recommend reading after Beyond The Thistles.

I CANNOT WAIT FOR BOOK 3! 😭

[Tilly · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Stars

I loved this! For a novella, it really captured my heart and I loved the characters. I wish it had been a full book but I understand why it probably wasn't because there was a nanny/single dad in the Adair series. Still, it was sweet and sexy and a fun read.
I really hope we get a series in the future of all their kids as grown ups as I think that would be interesting and this novella seemed to hint that we might.

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Highland Christmas is a beautifully written novella in the Highlands series. This is such a sweet romance between Kenna and Haydyn. I loved them together, they were so precious and Kenna's relationship with Michael was so sweet and also Haydyn was such a great dad!

[Euge · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful novella in such a beautiful universe. I just love them!.

[Marcy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing story!

I loved this story so much! Hayden and Kenna were fabulous together. I really enjoyed how their story played out.

[Booksfoodanddrinks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shirt, emotional, fun, hot 🥵

[Monique · Rating 3 out of 5]

Small Town Romance

2.5 🌟

This one didn’t grab me as much as I thought it would after reading the blurb. It’s a single dad trope, who falls for the nanny. It’s set over Christmas and has some flashback moments of when they first met. It’s not deep or intense but there is a little sadness from Kenna’s past. They make a cute couple and the epilogue was sweet.

[Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5⭐

A Highland Christmas is a standalone christmas novella in the Highlands Series. This is a nanny, single parent romance and could be read at any moment within the series because the characters never make an appearance again in the other books.

I honestly can't remember much about this one but it was only 70 pages. It was just a let down for me. There was a lot of time jumps which I feel made the story a bit overwhelming for me. But yeah, It would definitely skip this one. I was just meh.

[Renee (aredheadwithbedhead) · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cute Christmas novella about one of our favourite secondary characters, Dr. Haydyn Barr, who’s been down on his luck finding love. That is, until he falls for his son’s beautiful and charming nanny, Kenna. This short story was really too brief to thoroughly develop these characters, but the storyline was still romantic and spicy enough for an entertaining read!
⭐️⭐️⭐️.75/5 🌶️🌶️/5

[jakira · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 🌟's

eh it was alr

[Ruth · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Little Christmas Joy always makes me smile 🥰

[Hannah Seiler · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wish it was longer. Quick read

[danielle · Rating 3 out of 5]

just a cute little nanny x single dad novella

[Allison Thommen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Haydyn and Kenna are a fun, spicy read perfect to get you into the holiday spirit. I loved glimmers of Haydyn in the first book in the Highland series and seeing him happy made me happy.

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

This short story managed to bring out all the feels. It was cute, steamy, and had a few small heartbreaking moments.

[Suze Prescot · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Attractive Nanny

Needing a new nanny for his son, Haydyn is not going to employ the young attractive Kenna, until his son chooses her. A sudden snow storm leaves them together at Christmas, and their relationship changes.
Delightful characters and a selfish mother, makes this a Christmas to remember. Lovely short story, steamy and enjoyable.

[Cristina · Rating 3 out of 5]

3’5✨

[Sofia · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet meant-to-be Christmas love story set in the Scottish highlands with poignant moments. The type of novella that is perfect as it is yet you're still greedy for more because of the loveable characters.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it!!

[Jenna · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cute short read! I really liked Haydyn when he appeared in Sloan’s installment so glad we got a glimpse of his story. Kenna was the perfect addition to the Barr family.

[Jess - Reader of Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Highland Christmas by Samantha Young 💜
The Highlands, Book 3.5
Interconnected Standalone Novella

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Adult • Romance
KU review
70 pages

💜holiday novella
💜single dad/nanny
💜close proximity
💜small town

📍 “That if I don’t have you in every way a man can have a woman, I’ll never be truly happy again.”

I had completely forgotten about him. But in my defense it’s been a while since Beyond the Thistles 🫣 No problem there though, he was not meant for Sloan. He was meant for our dear Kenna 🥹🥹🥹

First let me tell you how good it was to be back in this small town Scotland. I was already missing all these vibes immensely. Second, Callie and Lewis were 10. I adore them in every age 😭😭😭

And lastly, Samantha Young got me really hooked right from the start and I would’ve read 700 pages of this 🫶🏼

[Julie (lalunebookcorner) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one was just short and sweet. Kind of wish Hayden had gotten his own full length novel!

[MJLovestoRead · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Highland Christmas is the sweet little bonus for all of us Highlands and Adair Family series fans. Samantha Young gives her all, as usual, as Dr. Haydyn Barr and Kenna Smith become each other's forever when the esteemed professor and his nanny should have probably stayed boss and employee. But Haydyn knew right from the start that Kenna would capture his heart and that of his 10-year-old son, Michael. Although he resisted Kenna and couldn't quite forget a botched Halloween night, Christmas had a way of showing him that this woman was exactly what he deserved.

Haydyn and Kenna are truly wonderful together and apart but their sizzling pairing was incredibly sexy with that right touch of heart. Combine that with a beautiful epilogue and this reader was beyond happy. I was so glad that Haydyn finally found someone to love since his chances with both Regan Adair and Sloane Ironside, were clearly not meant to be. But Kenna matches his spirit, his giving nature and his big heart perfectly and I'm thrilled they found each other.

I do wonder, though, if Young will be writing the kids' stories at some point since Michael definitely had some girl issues and could be part of a messy triangle in the not-so-distant future. But in the meantime, grab this well-written and lovely novella. It's a perfect way to get to know some of the residents of Ardnoch that I have come to adore so much.

4 big stars!

[Amy's reading again · Rating 4 out of 5]

🌟 4☆     🌶🌶
📚 24/09/24  - 26/09/24
꧁𝑻𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒔𝒉𝒐𝒓𝒕 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒔𝒘𝒆𝒆𝒕. 𝑨𝒔 𝒊𝒕 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒂 𝒏𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒍𝒍𝒂 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒘𝒂𝒔𝒏'𝒕 𝒎𝒖𝒄𝒉 𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒈𝒆𝒕 𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒚, 𝒃𝒖𝒕 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒓𝒖𝒆 𝑺𝒂𝒎𝒂𝒏𝒕𝒉𝒂 𝒇𝒂𝒔𝒉𝒊𝒐𝒏, 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆, 𝒔𝒑𝒊𝒄𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒂 𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒑𝒚 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒂𝒇𝒕𝒆𝒓.꧂

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ᴋᴇɴɴᴀ ɪꜱ ꜱᴛɪʟʟ ɢʀɪᴇᴠɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴇ ʟᴏꜱꜱ ᴏꜰ ʜᴇʀ ᴘᴀʀᴇɴᴛꜱ ᴀɴᴅ ʜᴀꜱ ᴄᴏᴍᴇ ᴛᴏ ꜱᴄᴏᴛʟᴀɴᴅ ᴀꜰᴛᴇʀ ɴᴇᴇᴅɪɴɢ ᴀ ᴄʜᴀɴɢᴇ ꜰʀᴏᴍ ʜᴇʀ ʟᴀꜱᴛ ᴇᴍᴘʟᴏʏᴍᴇɴᴛ.  ʜᴀYᴅᴇɴ ʜᴀꜱ ʀᴀɪꜱᴇᴅ ʜɪꜱ ꜱᴏɴ ᴀʟᴏɴᴇ ꜰᴏʀ ᴛʜᴇ ʟᴀꜱᴛ 10 ʏᴇᴀʀꜱ, ᴀɴᴅ ɴᴇᴇᴅꜱ ᴀ ɴᴇᴡ ɴᴀɴɴʏ.  ʙᴜᴛ ᴡʜᴇɴ ᴋᴇɴɴᴀ ᴀᴘᴘʟɪᴇꜱ ꜰᴏʀ ᴛʜᴇ ᴊᴏʙ, ʜᴇ ᴋɴᴏᴡꜱ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ʜᴇ ᴄᴀɴ'ᴛ ʜɪʀᴇ ʜᴇʀ ᴀꜱ ʜᴇ ɪꜱ ᴛᴏᴏ ᴀᴛᴛʀᴀᴄᴛᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ʜᴇʀ.  ʙᴜᴛ ʜɪꜱ ꜱᴏɴ ʜᴀꜱ ᴏᴛʜᴇʀ ɪᴅᴇᴀꜱ ᴀɴᴅ ʜɪʀᴇꜱ ʜᴇʀ ʜɪᴍꜱᴇʟꜰ. ᴀꜰᴛᴇʀ ᴀ ʜᴀʟʟᴏᴡᴇᴇɴ ɴɪɢʜᴛ ᴛᴜʀɴᴇᴅ ʜᴏᴛ ᴀɴᴅ ʜᴇᴀᴠʏ, ʜᴀʏᴅᴇɴ ᴛʀɪᴇꜱ ᴛᴏ ᴅɪꜱᴛᴀɴᴄᴇ ʜɪᴍꜱᴇʟꜰ, ᴀʟᴛʜᴏᴜɢʜ ʜᴇ ʜᴀꜱ ᴛᴏᴛᴀʟʟʏ ꜰᴀʟʟᴇɴ ꜰᴏʀ ᴋᴇɴɴᴀ.  ʜᴇ ᴋɴᴏᴡꜱ ꜱʜᴇ ɪꜱ ꜱᴛɪʟʟ ɢʀɪᴇᴠɪɴɢ ᴀɴᴅ ᴅᴏᴇꜱɴ'ᴛ ᴡᴀɴᴛ ᴛᴏ ᴛᴀᴋᴇ ᴀᴅᴠᴀɴᴛᴀɢᴇ.  ʙᴜᴛ ᴡʜᴇɴ ʜᴇ ʀᴇᴀʟɪꜱᴇꜱ ꜱʜᴇ ᴡɪʟʟ ʙᴇ ꜱᴘᴇɴᴅɪɴɢ ᴄʜʀɪꜱᴛᴍᴀꜱ ᴀʟᴏɴᴇ ɪɴ ᴀ ꜰʀᴇᴇᴢɪɴɢ ᴄᴀʀᴀᴠᴀɴ, ʜᴇ ᴛᴀᴋᴇꜱ ʜᴇʀ ʙᴀᴄᴋ ᴛᴏ ʜɪꜱ ʜᴏᴜꜱᴇ, ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇʏ ꜰᴀʟʟ ʙᴏᴛʜ ɪɴᴛᴏ ʙᴇᴅ ᴀɴᴅ ɪɴᴛᴏ ʟᴏᴠᴇ.
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𝑻𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒊𝒔 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒚 𝒔𝒉𝒐𝒓𝒕, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑰 𝒋𝒖𝒔𝒕 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒎𝒐𝒓𝒆.  𝑴𝒐𝒓𝒆 𝒄𝒉𝒆𝒎𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒚, 𝒎𝒐𝒓𝒆 𝒃𝒂𝒄𝒌𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒚, 𝒎𝒐𝒓𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒔𝒕.  𝑩𝒖𝒕, 𝒂𝒔 𝒂 𝒔𝒉𝒐𝒓𝒕, 𝒔𝒘𝒆𝒆𝒕 𝑪𝒉𝒓𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒎𝒂𝒔 𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒚, 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒅𝒊𝒅 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒌.  𝑰 𝒋𝒖𝒔𝒕 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒔𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒍𝒅 𝑺𝒂𝒎𝒂𝒏𝒕𝒉𝒂 𝒀𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒈 𝒉𝒂𝒔 𝒄𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒅, 𝒂𝒔 𝒘𝒆𝒍𝒍 𝒂𝒔 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒔, 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝑰 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒔𝒂𝒅 𝒊𝒕 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒔𝒐 𝒒𝒖𝒊𝒄𝒌𝒍𝒚