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The Highlands #5
Snowy Surprises in the Highlands: A feel-good, festive romantic read from Lisa Hobman
A BRAND NEW magical, snowy instalment in Lisa Hobman's beautiful, romantic Scottish Highlands series ✨☃️ Perfect for the fans of Alison Sherlock, Jessica Redland and Fay Keenan! Magic happens when you least expect it…
Bella Douglas is living her dream life on the Isle of Skye but misses her friends at Drumblair Castle. She has the love of her life by her side, Granny Isla just up the road and has landed a big job to renovate the interior of a gorgeous Victorian hotel for an American client. What could possibly go wrong?
When Bella's new client sends their son to project manage the hotel renovation, things take an unexpected turn for the worse. Ex-model Carlton Somers has set his sights on Bella and doesn’t seem to understand the word ‘no’. But her relationship with Harris is rock solid; nothing can break that foundation … can it?
Meanwhile Granny Isla’s ‘friendship’ with her neighbour Tam Guthrie is going from strength to strength but when drama hits Pabay View Residential Home Bella’s life is quickly sent into a tailspin.
What will it take to get her life back on track?
And can she ever find time to focus on her own happiness and future?
Praise for Lisa
'Involving and intriguing!' - Sue Moorcroft
'Heart-warming and sometimes heart-wrenching journey of discovery' - Heidi Swain
'I love it! - A feel-good, uplifting story of lost love and second chances...' - Holly Martin
'I loved the book. It’s a captivating story with a relatable heroine and beautifully vivid settings. A perfect holiday read!' - Darcie Boleyn
'Simply gorgeous’ - Jessica Redland
'A really uplifting, feel-good read about hope and love that really did warm my heart.' - Kim Nash
'A gorgeous, heart-warming romantic journey, reminds us to never give up on love...' - Lucy Coleman
'You will fall in love with this story of fresh starts and mending broken hearts' - Mandy Baggot
'Be prepared to fall in love over and over again.' - Nancy Barone
'What a beautiful read' - Sarah Bennett
Bella Douglas is living her dream life on the Isle of Skye but misses her friends at Drumblair Castle. She has the love of her life by her side, Granny Isla just up the road and has landed a big job to renovate the interior of a gorgeous Victorian hotel for an American client. What could possibly go wrong?
When Bella's new client sends their son to project manage the hotel renovation, things take an unexpected turn for the worse. Ex-model Carlton Somers has set his sights on Bella and doesn’t seem to understand the word ‘no’. But her relationship with Harris is rock solid; nothing can break that foundation … can it?
Meanwhile Granny Isla’s ‘friendship’ with her neighbour Tam Guthrie is going from strength to strength but when drama hits Pabay View Residential Home Bella’s life is quickly sent into a tailspin.
What will it take to get her life back on track?
And can she ever find time to focus on her own happiness and future?
Praise for Lisa
'Involving and intriguing!' - Sue Moorcroft
'Heart-warming and sometimes heart-wrenching journey of discovery' - Heidi Swain
'I love it! - A feel-good, uplifting story of lost love and second chances...' - Holly Martin
'I loved the book. It’s a captivating story with a relatable heroine and beautifully vivid settings. A perfect holiday read!' - Darcie Boleyn
'Simply gorgeous’ - Jessica Redland
'A really uplifting, feel-good read about hope and love that really did warm my heart.' - Kim Nash
'A gorgeous, heart-warming romantic journey, reminds us to never give up on love...' - Lucy Coleman
'You will fall in love with this story of fresh starts and mending broken hearts' - Mandy Baggot
'Be prepared to fall in love over and over again.' - Nancy Barone
'What a beautiful read' - Sarah Bennett
290 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 5, 2025
536 people are currently reading
148 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 70 reviews
August 31, 2025
I adore Lisa Hobman’s writing, and this series has been such a comfort read for me. It was lovely to be back with Bella, Harris, and (my favourite!) Granny Isla at Christmastime on Skye. The festive vibes, the Highland charm, and Granny Isla’s mischief were all spot on.
But this book did feel a little heavier than the others in the series. Bella dealing with continual sexual harassment from a client was tough to read and not something I really want in a holiday romance — it definitely pulled me out of the cosy mood at times.
That said, I still enjoyed seeing Bella and Harris’s journey come full circle, and the ending delivered the warmth and reassurance I was hoping for. Not my favourite of the series, but a heartfelt, wintry addition that fans of these characters will still appreciate.
But this book did feel a little heavier than the others in the series. Bella dealing with continual sexual harassment from a client was tough to read and not something I really want in a holiday romance — it definitely pulled me out of the cosy mood at times.
That said, I still enjoyed seeing Bella and Harris’s journey come full circle, and the ending delivered the warmth and reassurance I was hoping for. Not my favourite of the series, but a heartfelt, wintry addition that fans of these characters will still appreciate.
January 2, 2026
**review to come**
September 10, 2025
This was a definite hug in a book, from the romance between Bella and Harris, as they planned their dream wedding, to more adventures with Bella’s Granny Isla as she disappears from Pabay View, along with another couple of residents.
Firstly, we follow Bella and Harris, and the romance is practically leaping from the pages. They are both fully committed to each other and have no interest in finding anyone else. This is perhaps as well, seeing as Bella’s resolve is about to be tested by a new client’s son, Carlton Somers. Despite his continued flirtations, Bella is insistent on her happiness with Harris. Can she hold her nerve and avoid his determined attempts to woo her?
Caught in the tailspin of her grandmother’s disappearance, Bella is shaken to discover that her granny’s friend, Tam Guthrie, is also missing, so she becomes more and more concerned about whether she will manage to make it to her big day and marry Harris at their planned nuptials.
This gorgeous book has plenty going on, but it never felt as though it was too much to follow. Lisa Hobman has introduced some wonderful characters, all memorable, and sprinkled the pages with comedic moments that will stay with me, such as Granny Isla’s inability to use the right words and the hilarious results of her malapropisms.
It was lovely to return to Drumblair House and to meet so many of the previous characters, including Bella’s former crush. I hope we’ll return soon, or discover a new set of characters to entertain at every turn.
It remains challenging to choose a favourite character, but that’s a testament to Lisa’s writing style. Her ability to plunge them into danger as quickly as they can rise triumphantly is a fundamental skill. Follow these characters across their adventures in the Highlands, and you will find yourself laughing at their escapades.
Firstly, we follow Bella and Harris, and the romance is practically leaping from the pages. They are both fully committed to each other and have no interest in finding anyone else. This is perhaps as well, seeing as Bella’s resolve is about to be tested by a new client’s son, Carlton Somers. Despite his continued flirtations, Bella is insistent on her happiness with Harris. Can she hold her nerve and avoid his determined attempts to woo her?
Caught in the tailspin of her grandmother’s disappearance, Bella is shaken to discover that her granny’s friend, Tam Guthrie, is also missing, so she becomes more and more concerned about whether she will manage to make it to her big day and marry Harris at their planned nuptials.
This gorgeous book has plenty going on, but it never felt as though it was too much to follow. Lisa Hobman has introduced some wonderful characters, all memorable, and sprinkled the pages with comedic moments that will stay with me, such as Granny Isla’s inability to use the right words and the hilarious results of her malapropisms.
It was lovely to return to Drumblair House and to meet so many of the previous characters, including Bella’s former crush. I hope we’ll return soon, or discover a new set of characters to entertain at every turn.
It remains challenging to choose a favourite character, but that’s a testament to Lisa’s writing style. Her ability to plunge them into danger as quickly as they can rise triumphantly is a fundamental skill. Follow these characters across their adventures in the Highlands, and you will find yourself laughing at their escapades.
September 5, 2025
Even though I hadn't read any of the other books in the series I soon understood what was going on and I enjoyed the story. It's the perfect book to curl up with over the festive season. I loved the characters and the place settings in the book and I found the pacing just right. I highly recommend it and I look forward to reading more by the author.
🩷 Thank you to Netgalley, the author and publisher for my arc ebook copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
🩷 Thank you to Netgalley, the author and publisher for my arc ebook copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
December 8, 2025
I read Christmas books to escape the dark side of the festive season, so I wasn't expecting to read about sexual harassment that escalates, worse still the blurb made it sound like there was mutual attraction. The only saving grace in the book was Bella's gran Isla, she is a great character and brings the joy and feel good to this book.
With thanks to Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
With thanks to Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
December 18, 2025
I picked this one up in the library, I liked the blurb. However I wasn’t a fan, it was an easy read but I just wasn’t a fan of the main characters. Thinking of annoyed me through out which was annoying because I wanted to really like them as I did at the start. I enjoyed getting to know all the other characters, just the main characters weren’t for me which was a shame. I also didn’t know this was a series but I managed to pick it up quickly.
September 17, 2025
A big thank you to Lisa Hobman and NetGalley for choosing me as an arc reader for this book!
This book put me through a lot emotionally! But it was worth it in the end. What a wonderful mmc! And I love the message in the book that SA is NOT okay, no matter what!!
Granny Isla was my favorite character, she’s just the best 😂♥️
This book put me through a lot emotionally! But it was worth it in the end. What a wonderful mmc! And I love the message in the book that SA is NOT okay, no matter what!!
Granny Isla was my favorite character, she’s just the best 😂♥️
October 15, 2025
Although this book is not listed as being in a series, there are 4 books set in the Highlands, this one on the Isle of Skye. Each book builds upon the one before it, so although I was able to follow the story, there was a lot of character building and relationship building that I missed out on. I will try and read the 2 previous books that I missed along the way. In this book, Bella and Harris are engaged and planning a Christmas Eve wedding. Bella has a job renovating a gorgeous Victorian hotel for an American client, but when the son of the clients gets involved, things become awkward for Bella. Granny Isla causes some mischief that has Isla, Harris and her parents in a panic. Will the wedding go off without a hitch, or will Harris's ex cause a rift between them?
I did enjoy this story, but probably would have liked it even more if I had read all the previous books. It was a lighthearted romance with some heavy issues within. Bella is a victim of sexual harrassment from the son of her clients. She tries to laugh it off, but I loved how she finally stood up for herself. There was a bit of humour in that scene, so it made it easier to deal with. Granny Isla falls in love with her neighbour, Tam Guthrie and when she, Harris's mother and Tam disappear, they call out the police to find them. More humour here. Although there is plenty of drama, some involving an ex, Bella and Harris have a strong relationship that they are sure will weather anything. Although much of this book is set at Christmas time, there isn't a lot of festive activities, but it was still a good story.
I did enjoy this story, but probably would have liked it even more if I had read all the previous books. It was a lighthearted romance with some heavy issues within. Bella is a victim of sexual harrassment from the son of her clients. She tries to laugh it off, but I loved how she finally stood up for herself. There was a bit of humour in that scene, so it made it easier to deal with. Granny Isla falls in love with her neighbour, Tam Guthrie and when she, Harris's mother and Tam disappear, they call out the police to find them. More humour here. Although there is plenty of drama, some involving an ex, Bella and Harris have a strong relationship that they are sure will weather anything. Although much of this book is set at Christmas time, there isn't a lot of festive activities, but it was still a good story.
November 30, 2025
Free Courtesy of Netgalley
This is the first Lisa Hobman book I have read, and it was enjoyable but not all consuming for me.
Bella is an interior designer and has moved to the Isle of Skye with her Boyfriend, who is a police Inspector.
She lives close by her Granny Isla, who is the funniest character in the whole book, and some of the lines she comes out with had me giggling too, but she does miss her friends who remain in the place she moved from but are only a few hours away.
When she lands a new job with renovating a new hotel, working with an American family that purchased the property. They have sent their youngest son Carlton to oversee the project and become the manager of the hotel. As a former model, Carlton thinks that any woman he chooses will fall at his feet, but he crosses the line with Bella.
With her granny playing her up, trying to deal with Carlton and her new job and trying to get her own love life in order, will Bella make it to her big day ?
I thought the book was well written, and the characters felt authentic. I especially loved Isla and I wanted to slap Carlton. I would recommend this book as it was a nice read.
This is the first Lisa Hobman book I have read, and it was enjoyable but not all consuming for me.
Bella is an interior designer and has moved to the Isle of Skye with her Boyfriend, who is a police Inspector.
She lives close by her Granny Isla, who is the funniest character in the whole book, and some of the lines she comes out with had me giggling too, but she does miss her friends who remain in the place she moved from but are only a few hours away.
When she lands a new job with renovating a new hotel, working with an American family that purchased the property. They have sent their youngest son Carlton to oversee the project and become the manager of the hotel. As a former model, Carlton thinks that any woman he chooses will fall at his feet, but he crosses the line with Bella.
With her granny playing her up, trying to deal with Carlton and her new job and trying to get her own love life in order, will Bella make it to her big day ?
I thought the book was well written, and the characters felt authentic. I especially loved Isla and I wanted to slap Carlton. I would recommend this book as it was a nice read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 1, 2025
This is a cute and easy-to-read romance set on the Isle of Skye. It is the 5th book in the Scottish Highlands series. I have read a few of the books, although not in order. While they are part of a series, they can be read as standalone novels.
Bella and her boyfriend, Harris, have moved to Skye. She is an interior designer who works with her Granny Isla; she is living her dream. When they get a job to renovate a Victoria hotel for an American client. The said client takes a shine to Bella and won't seem to take no as an answer.
I like the way Lisa Hoban writes; her characters are always likeable and have some great banter. I enjoyed this book, and it was nice to catch up with the characters.
Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Bella and her boyfriend, Harris, have moved to Skye. She is an interior designer who works with her Granny Isla; she is living her dream. When they get a job to renovate a Victoria hotel for an American client. The said client takes a shine to Bella and won't seem to take no as an answer.
I like the way Lisa Hoban writes; her characters are always likeable and have some great banter. I enjoyed this book, and it was nice to catch up with the characters.
Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
October 1, 2025
I think this series has gotten a bit too twee for me. It’s just not fun to read anymore. This book basically had no plot other than junk that happens before a wedding. Lots of meandering thoughts and no substance or character building.
August 31, 2025
I picked this book up thinking, “Ah yes, cozy Highlands romance, probably some tartan, definitely some snogging near a snow-covered window,” and instead I got: missing grandparents, sexual harassment, one extremely smug ex-model named Carlton, and more interior decorating commentary than an entire season of Fixer Upper. It’s chaos wrapped in a tartan bow, and yes, I did enjoy it, despite stumbling in like a confused raccoon halfway through the series.
Let’s start with Bella, our heroine, who is clearly just trying to live her quiet cottagecore dream on the Isle of Skye. She’s got the perfect fiancé (Harris, a cinnamon roll disguised as a police inspector), a thriving interior design business, and a meddling but iconic Granny Isla living nearby. And then Carlton Somers shows up with his smarmy grin and “I’m-too-pretty-to-hear-no” energy, sent by his American parents to micromanage Bella’s hotel renovation project. The man is walking HR liability in a cashmere coat (if he could keep it on), and every scene with him made me want to throw a decorative pillow across the room.
Carlton’s relentless creepiness is a real plot point here, and shoutout to Bella for shutting it down with grace and steel spine energy. But I won’t lie, it added a jarring tone to a book that also wants to be warm and festive. I mean, how am I supposed to sip mulled wine and feel fuzzy inside when I’m also wondering if this man is going to escalate his harassment of Bella?
Meanwhile, Harris, sweet, slightly distracted, good-at-everything Harris, is over here being suspiciously secretive in the run-up to their wedding. And listen, we KNOW it’s probably just miscommunication and surprise romantic gestures, because this is a Highlands Christmas romance, not Gone Girl. But still. The man had me side-eyeing him like he forgot her birthday and tried to blame the sheep.
Also, let’s talk about Granny Isla. This woman is the soul of the book. She’s chaos incarnate with the comedic timing of a sitcom legend. Every malapropism? Gold. Every plan to escape the residential home like she’s in The Great Escape? Icon behavior. She’s the type of character who shows up in a hand-knit cardigan with a spiked thermos and a plan that may or may not involve breaking federal laws. I want to be her when I grow up.
The book swings between heartwarming and hectic like a Christmas ornament in a gale-force wind. One minute Bella is worried about paint swatches and centerpiece placement, the next she’s having a full-blown existential crisis because someone’s gone missing, someone else is being shady, and someone ELSE (Carlton, again) is still being the human embodiment of unsolicited DMs.
The romance is sweet but not the main dish here. Bella and Harris are already established, so this is more about what happens after the fade-to-black, when real life, secrets, and slightly possessed grandmothers start stress-testing your happily ever after. There’s a lot of “can love survive logistics and mild trauma” energy, which honestly, feels realer than mistletoe kisses and spontaneous horse-drawn sleigh rides.
I did feel mildly assaulted by the level of decor detail. Yes, I know Bella’s an interior designer, but I don’t need a breakdown of every throw pillow like I’m prepping for an HGTV segment. I’m here for emotional mess and flirty banter, not floor plan schematics. But hey, it adds flavor… just maybe too much cumin.
Despite the chaos (and my accidental mid-series drop-in), it mostly works. There’s emotional payoff, some solid found family warmth, and a wedding that, while slightly unhinged, gave me enough joy to forgive the Carlton of it all.
Final vibe? It’s like watching Call the Midwife while slightly tipsy on eggnog and also trying to stop your gran from eloping with a man named Tam.
3.5 stars. I had to mentally translate five books’ worth of character relationships like I was decoding a telenovela, but still a charming, snowy slice of Scottish chaos.
Merry Mayhem Prize: For Packing a Whole Year of Shenanigans Into One Renovation and a Wedding
Big thanks to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the ARC. I came for the cozy vibes, stayed for the chaos, and now I want Granny Isla to legally adopt me.
Let’s start with Bella, our heroine, who is clearly just trying to live her quiet cottagecore dream on the Isle of Skye. She’s got the perfect fiancé (Harris, a cinnamon roll disguised as a police inspector), a thriving interior design business, and a meddling but iconic Granny Isla living nearby. And then Carlton Somers shows up with his smarmy grin and “I’m-too-pretty-to-hear-no” energy, sent by his American parents to micromanage Bella’s hotel renovation project. The man is walking HR liability in a cashmere coat (if he could keep it on), and every scene with him made me want to throw a decorative pillow across the room.
Carlton’s relentless creepiness is a real plot point here, and shoutout to Bella for shutting it down with grace and steel spine energy. But I won’t lie, it added a jarring tone to a book that also wants to be warm and festive. I mean, how am I supposed to sip mulled wine and feel fuzzy inside when I’m also wondering if this man is going to escalate his harassment of Bella?
Meanwhile, Harris, sweet, slightly distracted, good-at-everything Harris, is over here being suspiciously secretive in the run-up to their wedding. And listen, we KNOW it’s probably just miscommunication and surprise romantic gestures, because this is a Highlands Christmas romance, not Gone Girl. But still. The man had me side-eyeing him like he forgot her birthday and tried to blame the sheep.
Also, let’s talk about Granny Isla. This woman is the soul of the book. She’s chaos incarnate with the comedic timing of a sitcom legend. Every malapropism? Gold. Every plan to escape the residential home like she’s in The Great Escape? Icon behavior. She’s the type of character who shows up in a hand-knit cardigan with a spiked thermos and a plan that may or may not involve breaking federal laws. I want to be her when I grow up.
The book swings between heartwarming and hectic like a Christmas ornament in a gale-force wind. One minute Bella is worried about paint swatches and centerpiece placement, the next she’s having a full-blown existential crisis because someone’s gone missing, someone else is being shady, and someone ELSE (Carlton, again) is still being the human embodiment of unsolicited DMs.
The romance is sweet but not the main dish here. Bella and Harris are already established, so this is more about what happens after the fade-to-black, when real life, secrets, and slightly possessed grandmothers start stress-testing your happily ever after. There’s a lot of “can love survive logistics and mild trauma” energy, which honestly, feels realer than mistletoe kisses and spontaneous horse-drawn sleigh rides.
I did feel mildly assaulted by the level of decor detail. Yes, I know Bella’s an interior designer, but I don’t need a breakdown of every throw pillow like I’m prepping for an HGTV segment. I’m here for emotional mess and flirty banter, not floor plan schematics. But hey, it adds flavor… just maybe too much cumin.
Despite the chaos (and my accidental mid-series drop-in), it mostly works. There’s emotional payoff, some solid found family warmth, and a wedding that, while slightly unhinged, gave me enough joy to forgive the Carlton of it all.
Final vibe? It’s like watching Call the Midwife while slightly tipsy on eggnog and also trying to stop your gran from eloping with a man named Tam.
3.5 stars. I had to mentally translate five books’ worth of character relationships like I was decoding a telenovela, but still a charming, snowy slice of Scottish chaos.
Merry Mayhem Prize: For Packing a Whole Year of Shenanigans Into One Renovation and a Wedding
Big thanks to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for the ARC. I came for the cozy vibes, stayed for the chaos, and now I want Granny Isla to legally adopt me.
December 5, 2025
3.75 stars, so I have rounded up.
Snowy Surprises in the Highlands brings Bella Douglas back into the spotlight, and it has all the things I enjoy in a feel-good Highlands story. Lisa Hobman mixes romance, chaos, and community in a way that feels warm and familiar, and this instalment definitely delivers on that front.
Bella is juggling a lot. She has a wedding to plan, a massive design project on her hands, and the constant worry that comes with loving people who don’t always make the safest choices. Her relationship with Harris stays the steady centre of the book, but the real spark for me came from everything swirling around them.
Granny Isla turned out to be my favourite part of the book. She’s the kind of character who walks into a scene and instantly lifts it. Her mix-ups and one-liners had me grinning, and at a couple of points, I actually laughed out loud. I’ve been enjoying books with older characters more and more, and Isla is a big reason why. She’s lively, a bit unpredictable, and just fun to read.
The story itself moves between light moments and a few heavier ones. Bella and Harris hit some bumps, especially when old feelings and guilt start creeping back in. Then there’s the worry around Bella’s gran and future mother-in-law going missing, which adds a bit of tension without changing the cozy feel of the book. What steadies everything is the community around Drumblair and Skye. Friends step up, people rally, and it reminds you how comforting a small town setting can be in a story like this.
Hobman also gives Bella plenty of room to grow. Her work with the Victorian hotel renovation and her clashes with Carlton Somers show both her resilience and her boundaries. It’s satisfying to watch her stand firm, especially when he tries to push past what’s acceptable.
Overall, this is a comforting, snowy read with heart, humour, and just enough drama to keep the pages turning. If you love Jessica Redland’s books or you’re simply in the mood for a warm Highlands story with great characters and plenty of charm, this is an easy recommendation.
Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Snowy Surprises in the Highlands brings Bella Douglas back into the spotlight, and it has all the things I enjoy in a feel-good Highlands story. Lisa Hobman mixes romance, chaos, and community in a way that feels warm and familiar, and this instalment definitely delivers on that front.
Bella is juggling a lot. She has a wedding to plan, a massive design project on her hands, and the constant worry that comes with loving people who don’t always make the safest choices. Her relationship with Harris stays the steady centre of the book, but the real spark for me came from everything swirling around them.
Granny Isla turned out to be my favourite part of the book. She’s the kind of character who walks into a scene and instantly lifts it. Her mix-ups and one-liners had me grinning, and at a couple of points, I actually laughed out loud. I’ve been enjoying books with older characters more and more, and Isla is a big reason why. She’s lively, a bit unpredictable, and just fun to read.
The story itself moves between light moments and a few heavier ones. Bella and Harris hit some bumps, especially when old feelings and guilt start creeping back in. Then there’s the worry around Bella’s gran and future mother-in-law going missing, which adds a bit of tension without changing the cozy feel of the book. What steadies everything is the community around Drumblair and Skye. Friends step up, people rally, and it reminds you how comforting a small town setting can be in a story like this.
Hobman also gives Bella plenty of room to grow. Her work with the Victorian hotel renovation and her clashes with Carlton Somers show both her resilience and her boundaries. It’s satisfying to watch her stand firm, especially when he tries to push past what’s acceptable.
Overall, this is a comforting, snowy read with heart, humour, and just enough drama to keep the pages turning. If you love Jessica Redland’s books or you’re simply in the mood for a warm Highlands story with great characters and plenty of charm, this is an easy recommendation.
Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.
August 30, 2025
Redecorating while sweet love is in the air👰👮👵
Romance, nuptials, senior citizen antics, family coming together, distillery dreams brought to life and undesirable behavior on the part of the Texan manager of a hotel Bella is redoing all come together in this cozy and sweet Highland romance set on the Isle of Skye and at a castle near Inverness. Bella, the interior designer, was a good main character and Harris, her police inspector boyfriend turned fiance, is all good things hoped for in a solid romantic connection, but they often get upstaged by Bella's grannie Isla with all her energy and oddly endearing malapropisms. Imagine mistaking Ed Sheeran for Head Shearer! Grannie Isla is the life of the party and she knows it.
Good, solid friendships and loving couples dominate this feel good story which builds from one set of winter celebrations to a year later and revolves around small town life, growing families and community spirit. The author includes many characters from her earlier novels about romance at Drumblair castle and Glentorrin, a small coastal community on Skye. I recognized them from earlier novels but this story can be read as a standalone.
At times there was a bit too much descriptive detail on the room furnishings, decor, etc. for my taste, but then this is a story focused on an interior designer so an eye for such details is part and parcel of her life!
Thanks to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for sharing a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest opinion.
Romance, nuptials, senior citizen antics, family coming together, distillery dreams brought to life and undesirable behavior on the part of the Texan manager of a hotel Bella is redoing all come together in this cozy and sweet Highland romance set on the Isle of Skye and at a castle near Inverness. Bella, the interior designer, was a good main character and Harris, her police inspector boyfriend turned fiance, is all good things hoped for in a solid romantic connection, but they often get upstaged by Bella's grannie Isla with all her energy and oddly endearing malapropisms. Imagine mistaking Ed Sheeran for Head Shearer! Grannie Isla is the life of the party and she knows it.
Good, solid friendships and loving couples dominate this feel good story which builds from one set of winter celebrations to a year later and revolves around small town life, growing families and community spirit. The author includes many characters from her earlier novels about romance at Drumblair castle and Glentorrin, a small coastal community on Skye. I recognized them from earlier novels but this story can be read as a standalone.
At times there was a bit too much descriptive detail on the room furnishings, decor, etc. for my taste, but then this is a story focused on an interior designer so an eye for such details is part and parcel of her life!
Thanks to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for sharing a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest opinion.
September 4, 2025
Snowy Surprises in the Highlands by Lisa Hobman
I received an advance review copy for free thanks to Rachel's Random Resources and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Blurb
Magic happens when you least expect it…
Bella Douglas is living her dream life on the Isle of Skye but misses her friends at Drumblair Castle. She has the love of her life by her side, Granny Isla just up the road and has landed a big job to renovate the interior of a gorgeous Victorian hotel for an American client. What could possibly go wrong?
When Bella's new client sends their son to project manage the hotel renovation, things take an unexpected turn for the worse. Ex-model Carlton Somers has set his sights on Bella and doesn’t seem to understand the word ‘no’. But her relationship with Harris is rock solid; nothing can break that foundation … can it?
Meanwhile Granny Isla’s ‘friendship’ with her neighbour Tam Guthrie is going from strength to strength but when drama hits Pabay View Residential Home Bella’s life is quickly sent into a tailspin.
What will it take to get her life back on track?
And can she ever find time to focus on her own happiness and future?
My Opinion
I am really enjoying this series by Lisa Hobman and Snowy Surprises in the Highlands was a great addition. I would highly recommend reading the series in the correct order. A sweet story with a few twists. This is a great book to read during the festive season. It was lovely to catch up with some familiar characters.
Rating 4/5
I received an advance review copy for free thanks to Rachel's Random Resources and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Blurb
Magic happens when you least expect it…
Bella Douglas is living her dream life on the Isle of Skye but misses her friends at Drumblair Castle. She has the love of her life by her side, Granny Isla just up the road and has landed a big job to renovate the interior of a gorgeous Victorian hotel for an American client. What could possibly go wrong?
When Bella's new client sends their son to project manage the hotel renovation, things take an unexpected turn for the worse. Ex-model Carlton Somers has set his sights on Bella and doesn’t seem to understand the word ‘no’. But her relationship with Harris is rock solid; nothing can break that foundation … can it?
Meanwhile Granny Isla’s ‘friendship’ with her neighbour Tam Guthrie is going from strength to strength but when drama hits Pabay View Residential Home Bella’s life is quickly sent into a tailspin.
What will it take to get her life back on track?
And can she ever find time to focus on her own happiness and future?
My Opinion
I am really enjoying this series by Lisa Hobman and Snowy Surprises in the Highlands was a great addition. I would highly recommend reading the series in the correct order. A sweet story with a few twists. This is a great book to read during the festive season. It was lovely to catch up with some familiar characters.
Rating 4/5
September 6, 2025
Bella Douglas used to work at Drumblair Castle’s plant and tree nursery. Today, she lives on the island of Skye with her boyfriend, Harris Donaldson, a police inspector. Bella is a successful interior decorator. She had done some decorating for the Castle as well and misses her friends there. However, she is close to her grandmother and Harris’s grandmother who live together at a local nursing home.
At Christmas, Harris gives her a golden retriever puppy and proposes on one knee with a beautiful diamond ring. Of course, she accepts. Their friend, Lady Olivia of Drumblair Castle, insists on hosting them for their wedding at the castle to be held Christmas Eve. She is thrilled.
Now, Bella has a job to do the interior design of an older hotel that had been closed and has now been purchased by a wealthy Texas couple. Their son, Carlton, will be running the hotel and Bella has to work with him to share her thoughts on the designs. Turns out, he’s a bit of an arrogant jerk. But she finally shows him the error of his ways and handles him on her own.
I’ve read quite a number of books by this author and I always enjoy the closeness of family and the descriptions of the scenery there. Grandma Isla is a total hoot and will keep readers laughing with her destruction of the England language. The buildup to the wedding is not without worries but only adds to the excitement. I’m sure readers will love this book just as I did.
Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
At Christmas, Harris gives her a golden retriever puppy and proposes on one knee with a beautiful diamond ring. Of course, she accepts. Their friend, Lady Olivia of Drumblair Castle, insists on hosting them for their wedding at the castle to be held Christmas Eve. She is thrilled.
Now, Bella has a job to do the interior design of an older hotel that had been closed and has now been purchased by a wealthy Texas couple. Their son, Carlton, will be running the hotel and Bella has to work with him to share her thoughts on the designs. Turns out, he’s a bit of an arrogant jerk. But she finally shows him the error of his ways and handles him on her own.
I’ve read quite a number of books by this author and I always enjoy the closeness of family and the descriptions of the scenery there. Grandma Isla is a total hoot and will keep readers laughing with her destruction of the England language. The buildup to the wedding is not without worries but only adds to the excitement. I’m sure readers will love this book just as I did.
Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
December 24, 2025
In this charming instalment in the Scottish Highlands series, readers follow Bella Douglas and her dream life on the Isle of Skye. Missing her friends at Drumblair Castle, Bella is surrounded by her loved ones, including her grandmother Isla, and has taken on a new job renovating a Victorian hotel for an American client, Carlton Somers, who doesn’t want to take no for an answer when it comes to Bella. When drama comes to the Pabay View Residential Home and Skye, Bella and her loved ones must band together to get her life on track and get her happy ending. Cozy, charming, and romantic, readers will love the new challenges ahead of Bella and her family in this new novel. The characters continue to shine throughout the book, and the various relationships really bring them to life and pull readers into the story. The other characters are complicated and relatable, and their emotional journeys over the course of the book are rewarding and fun to follow. Packed with details and just a bit of drama, readers will love the feel-good and cozy nature of this latest instalment of the Scottish Highland series and the updates in Bella Douglas’s life from Lisa Hobman.
Thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the advance copy.
Thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the advance copy.
August 7, 2025
3.5 stars
Thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood for the advanced copy of this title in return for an honest review.
A new Lisa Hobman book, and it's a Christmas one - that is automatically a winner for me.
Yes it is part of the Highlands series, and so I think you'd probably get more out of it if you read it in order, but it's equally as enjoyable as a standalone.
I love the sense of family and love and friendship and community and togetherness that is visible on every page.
I loved the characters - even the "baddies". They were so well written, so layered, and just leapt off the page. They felt recognisable and so real, like you could know them in real life.
It is a sweet book, sometimes quite sickly sweet, but for a rom-com book that is very heavily geared towards the love, there wasn't much romance. It seemed just a bit surface-level.
It wasn't my favourite of her books, which surprised me, because I love Christmas and I love love but it was just missing something. Don't get me wrong, I still really enjoyed it and I loved what was there, but it kept feeling like something was missing. Even though it does touch on some difficult topics, they were only really touched on, and never had much depth. Even the Christmas elements, there's a bit at the start and a bit at the end, but for a book that highlights it being a Christmas book, I wanted her to make more of that.
There's a few twists and turns, but not too many as it's not a thriller, but overall it's a pleasant, cosy, warming way to spend a few hours, but it didn't hit the heights of her previous ones.
Thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood for the advanced copy of this title in return for an honest review.
A new Lisa Hobman book, and it's a Christmas one - that is automatically a winner for me.
Yes it is part of the Highlands series, and so I think you'd probably get more out of it if you read it in order, but it's equally as enjoyable as a standalone.
I love the sense of family and love and friendship and community and togetherness that is visible on every page.
I loved the characters - even the "baddies". They were so well written, so layered, and just leapt off the page. They felt recognisable and so real, like you could know them in real life.
It is a sweet book, sometimes quite sickly sweet, but for a rom-com book that is very heavily geared towards the love, there wasn't much romance. It seemed just a bit surface-level.
It wasn't my favourite of her books, which surprised me, because I love Christmas and I love love but it was just missing something. Don't get me wrong, I still really enjoyed it and I loved what was there, but it kept feeling like something was missing. Even though it does touch on some difficult topics, they were only really touched on, and never had much depth. Even the Christmas elements, there's a bit at the start and a bit at the end, but for a book that highlights it being a Christmas book, I wanted her to make more of that.
There's a few twists and turns, but not too many as it's not a thriller, but overall it's a pleasant, cosy, warming way to spend a few hours, but it didn't hit the heights of her previous ones.
September 9, 2025
Lisa Hobman returns to the Scottish Highlands with a story as cosy and sparkling as a snow-dusted windowpane. Snowy Surprises in the Highlands is a festive escape filled with friendship, romance, and just the right amount of drama to keep the pages turning.
Bella Douglas is living her dream on the Isle of Skye, surrounded by love, laughter, and the occasional renovation mishap. But when an unwelcome distraction arrives in the form of a charming but persistent ex-model, her picture-perfect life begins to wobble. Hobman handles the tension with a light touch, balancing emotional depth with seasonal whimsy.
Granny Isla and Tam Guthrie add a delightful subplot, proving that love and companionship aren’t bound by age. And as the drama unfolds at Pabay View Residential Home, Hobman gently reminds us that happiness often lies in the unexpected.
With vivid settings, relatable characters, and a heartwarming message about resilience and joy, this is a perfect read for fans of Alison Sherlock and Jessica Redland. Pour a mug of something warm, settle in, and let the Highlands work their magic.
With thanks to Lisa Hobman, the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.
Bella Douglas is living her dream on the Isle of Skye, surrounded by love, laughter, and the occasional renovation mishap. But when an unwelcome distraction arrives in the form of a charming but persistent ex-model, her picture-perfect life begins to wobble. Hobman handles the tension with a light touch, balancing emotional depth with seasonal whimsy.
Granny Isla and Tam Guthrie add a delightful subplot, proving that love and companionship aren’t bound by age. And as the drama unfolds at Pabay View Residential Home, Hobman gently reminds us that happiness often lies in the unexpected.
With vivid settings, relatable characters, and a heartwarming message about resilience and joy, this is a perfect read for fans of Alison Sherlock and Jessica Redland. Pour a mug of something warm, settle in, and let the Highlands work their magic.
With thanks to Lisa Hobman, the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.
December 6, 2025
This was such a beautiful, cosy Highland romance and I loved every moment of it. The descriptions were so vivid that I could visualise every location perfectly. It genuinely felt like I’d stepped into the snowy Highlands myself.
Granny Isla was one of my absolute favourite parts of the book. Her personality, her little antics, and the warmth she brought to every scene made the story feel even more special. On the opposite end, I could not stand the man who refused to take no for an answer, but the karma he got in the lift was incredibly satisfying.
I also loved how much heart there was in the character development. I really felt for them, especially as the story unfolded, and the cheeky nod to a Yorkshire accent made me smile straight away. The interior design element was wonderful too and I could clearly picture every one of her creations coming to life.
The romance itself was beautiful from start to finish, full of warmth, emotion, and that cosy magic that Lisa Hobman clearly does so well. It felt like being wrapped in a blanket with a hot drink while watching everything quietly fall into place. A gorgeous story that stays with you long after you finish reading.
Granny Isla was one of my absolute favourite parts of the book. Her personality, her little antics, and the warmth she brought to every scene made the story feel even more special. On the opposite end, I could not stand the man who refused to take no for an answer, but the karma he got in the lift was incredibly satisfying.
I also loved how much heart there was in the character development. I really felt for them, especially as the story unfolded, and the cheeky nod to a Yorkshire accent made me smile straight away. The interior design element was wonderful too and I could clearly picture every one of her creations coming to life.
The romance itself was beautiful from start to finish, full of warmth, emotion, and that cosy magic that Lisa Hobman clearly does so well. It felt like being wrapped in a blanket with a hot drink while watching everything quietly fall into place. A gorgeous story that stays with you long after you finish reading.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 6, 2025
This book circles back to prominent secondary characters from an earlier book in Hobman's The Scottish Highland series, taking them through a series of ups and downs from committed couple to marriage. In addition to Bella and Harris, we also see a lot of Bella's Granny Isla and Harris's mother, two senior citizens who are still living life to the fullest and getting into mischief at every opportunity. The book also spotlights several characters from Hobman's earlier books, including both her Scottish Highland and her The Skye Collection series.
I enjoy Hobman's writing and I enjoy her characters (it was fun to catch up with everyone) but I had trouble staying engaged with the main couple in this book. It was much too easy to set the book aside. I think I would have been more invested had this been a shorter story - a novella, perhaps - with fewer (or at least more condensed) side journeys (such as the hotel renovation and the accompanying issues) along the way.
3.5 stars
ARC received from publisher via NetGalley
Fair and unbiased review
I enjoy Hobman's writing and I enjoy her characters (it was fun to catch up with everyone) but I had trouble staying engaged with the main couple in this book. It was much too easy to set the book aside. I think I would have been more invested had this been a shorter story - a novella, perhaps - with fewer (or at least more condensed) side journeys (such as the hotel renovation and the accompanying issues) along the way.
3.5 stars
ARC received from publisher via NetGalley
Fair and unbiased review
August 24, 2025
This is the latest installment in the Scottish Highlands series. It works well as a standalone, but I would advise reading the previous books to get an understanding of the characters, relationships and locations.
This time, the story revisits Bella and Harris, who we see get together in an earlier book. They have moved to Skye with Harris' Mum and Bella's gran, and are settled with their lives. The book follows Bella taking on a large hotel renovation and dealing a difficult client, whilst organising the life she lives with Harris.
Lisa Hobman is a must read author for me, so I was keen to read this one. However, I didn't feel like it fit as well into the series as the other books - whether this was because the main location was different I am not sure, but the story didn't feel as strong to me. I loved Bella and Harris' first book, so had high hopes for this one, that were not quite met. I really enjoyed seeing favourite characters again however - Isla is a hoot!
Easy to read, I love Lisa Hobman's style, but this one was not one of my favourites unfortunately.
This time, the story revisits Bella and Harris, who we see get together in an earlier book. They have moved to Skye with Harris' Mum and Bella's gran, and are settled with their lives. The book follows Bella taking on a large hotel renovation and dealing a difficult client, whilst organising the life she lives with Harris.
Lisa Hobman is a must read author for me, so I was keen to read this one. However, I didn't feel like it fit as well into the series as the other books - whether this was because the main location was different I am not sure, but the story didn't feel as strong to me. I loved Bella and Harris' first book, so had high hopes for this one, that were not quite met. I really enjoyed seeing favourite characters again however - Isla is a hoot!
Easy to read, I love Lisa Hobman's style, but this one was not one of my favourites unfortunately.
September 7, 2025
Snowy Surprises in the Highlands is a charming story taking place on the Isle of Skye. Bella has a lot going on in her life. The author takes Bella through some heavy situations. The story ebbs and flows between heartwarming and heartbreaking. There is chaos that has Bella questioning the current renovation she is overseeing, navigating her relationship with Harris after a blast from his past returns, and dealing with the revelation of secrets and antics of family members.
I really enjoy the author's writing style and how everything came together by the end of the story. The synopsis pulled me into the story from the beginning and the characters, events, and themes kept thoroughly engaged. The characters are well-written, 3-dimensional, and complex. The author wove a masterpiece together, filled with romance, love, anxious moments, tenderness, frustration, and disbelief. I was captivated by this wonderful story.
I really enjoy the author's writing style and how everything came together by the end of the story. The synopsis pulled me into the story from the beginning and the characters, events, and themes kept thoroughly engaged. The characters are well-written, 3-dimensional, and complex. The author wove a masterpiece together, filled with romance, love, anxious moments, tenderness, frustration, and disbelief. I was captivated by this wonderful story.
September 7, 2025
This story blends together life at Drumblair Castle with that of the characters who have left to go to live on Skye. I enjoyed meeting them all. Bella is settling into life on Skye and her grandmother is as unpredictable and amusing as ever. Bella is establishing her new business as an interior designer which brings her into contact with some difficult clients and one in particular who stretches her patience as he ignores the boundaries she is trying to put in place. Her work also takes her back to Drumblair Castle.
Romance is in the air and not just for Bella which brings Drumblair Castle onto full stage in her life. Her friendships are as strong as ever and important to her and this continues the uplifting feel that the stories have , full of family and friends. The Scottish Highlands provide a great setting for the stories. The series as a whole repays a read and set in the Winter months has a slight festive twist.
In short: uplifting seasonal read
Thanks to the publisher
Romance is in the air and not just for Bella which brings Drumblair Castle onto full stage in her life. Her friendships are as strong as ever and important to her and this continues the uplifting feel that the stories have , full of family and friends. The Scottish Highlands provide a great setting for the stories. The series as a whole repays a read and set in the Winter months has a slight festive twist.
In short: uplifting seasonal read
Thanks to the publisher
August 14, 2025
What an absolutely delightful addition to this series that is set in the Highlands with the focus this time round being on Bella and Harris. Bella undertakes the work of redesigning the interior of a hotel that is very much stuck in the 1970s. What she hadn’t counted on was her American clients sending their ex model son Carlton to oversee the renovation on their behalf. Although very good looking Carlton is arrogant, very sure of himself and doesn’t seem to understand the word no. Whilst all this is going on Bella starts to question how strong her relationship with Harris is when he starts to become very secretive plus Granny Isla causes plenty of drama and sends everyone into a tailspin. Beautiful settings, an engaging storyline that flows well and fabulous characters I thoroughly enjoyed this. I really like how the different parts of the story entwined with each other and how the characters interactions are written
September 5, 2025
This is the first book in this series that I've read, although book 1 is languishing in my TBR list. Although it can readily be read as a standalone I feel that I would have enjoyed it more if I'd read some of the previous books to give more background to the character's stories. Bella's interior design business is going from strength to strength, her latest project is for a hotel renovation, complete with a manager trying to tempt her away from Harris. I love Bella's grandmother Isla , always misusing words, although it's never clear whether she does this on purpose, she is also the source of a drama at her residential home. Add in the wonderful Scottish landscape and Bella's supportive friends and the result is a book that I enjoyed.
I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley, however this did not influence my review of the book.
I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley, however this did not influence my review of the book.
September 7, 2025
I have enjoyed the previous books in this series so was delighted to have the opportunity to read this one as well.
Having met Bella and Harris previously it was good to find out how things were on the beautiful Isle of Skye. Bella's business is going from strength to strength and a wedding being planned.
I absolutely adore the characters in this series and one of my favourites is Granny Isla with her malapropisms. She is definitely the star of the show.
I thought this would be a lighthearted read and it was, however, there was some drama from two slightly more serious topics.
As with the previous books, the author's descriptions of the area are amazing.
I do hope there is more to come in this series.
Thank you Rachel's Random Resources, Boldwood Books and the author for my gifted copy and spot on the tour.
Having met Bella and Harris previously it was good to find out how things were on the beautiful Isle of Skye. Bella's business is going from strength to strength and a wedding being planned.
I absolutely adore the characters in this series and one of my favourites is Granny Isla with her malapropisms. She is definitely the star of the show.
I thought this would be a lighthearted read and it was, however, there was some drama from two slightly more serious topics.
As with the previous books, the author's descriptions of the area are amazing.
I do hope there is more to come in this series.
Thank you Rachel's Random Resources, Boldwood Books and the author for my gifted copy and spot on the tour.
October 28, 2025
Snowy Surprises in the Highlands, by Lisa Hobson, is the story of Bella Douglas, up and coming interior designer, and Inspector Harris Donaldson, in charge of the police station in Glentorrin on the Isle of Skye, beginning the prior Christmas when Bella excitedly says yes to Harris’s proposal together with the golden retriever puppy, Bertie, who Carrie’s the ring on his collar.
Through the coming year, the couple deals with many upsets including Bella’s on the job harassment, disappearance of her Granny Isla and his mother Maeve from their senior living home, and obstacles that seek to prevent Harris making it to their wedding on time.
This is a story of good friends, loving family, and how having them behind you makes navigating life so much easier. With wonderful characters, great settings, and a well woven plot, I very much enjoyed this book and I do recommend it!
Through the coming year, the couple deals with many upsets including Bella’s on the job harassment, disappearance of her Granny Isla and his mother Maeve from their senior living home, and obstacles that seek to prevent Harris making it to their wedding on time.
This is a story of good friends, loving family, and how having them behind you makes navigating life so much easier. With wonderful characters, great settings, and a well woven plot, I very much enjoyed this book and I do recommend it!
August 20, 2025
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I love this fifth book in Lisa Hobman's Scottish Highland series. I had Hallmark Christmas movie vibes throughout and pictured myself in a Scottish castle surrounded by beautiful scenery.
Bella and Harris story shows how relationships grow and change over time and what is really important. Hobman's characters are loveable and relatable. readers will want to cozy up with their favorite Christmas blanket and be whisked away to Scotland for a cozy Christmas romance!!
Simba gives this book 3 paws! A special thanks to the publisher Baldwin Books and NetGalley for the ARC to read and give an honest review. All opinions are my own.
I love this fifth book in Lisa Hobman's Scottish Highland series. I had Hallmark Christmas movie vibes throughout and pictured myself in a Scottish castle surrounded by beautiful scenery.
Bella and Harris story shows how relationships grow and change over time and what is really important. Hobman's characters are loveable and relatable. readers will want to cozy up with their favorite Christmas blanket and be whisked away to Scotland for a cozy Christmas romance!!
Simba gives this book 3 paws! A special thanks to the publisher Baldwin Books and NetGalley for the ARC to read and give an honest review. All opinions are my own.
August 30, 2025
Harris and Bella are so cute together. I loved how they kept communicating and sharing their worries. They had a lot thrown at them in the run up to their wedding and throughout it all their live never faded.
Granny Isla is a hoot, I love all her wrong sayings, and I loved her little adventure with Tam and Maeve.
Some very relevant issues raised with Carlton and his behaviour toward women, but Bella is a strong women and stood up for herself.
Some lovely snowy images and of course the last minute disaster before the wedding, but I loved how everyone pulled together.
A great addition to the series. And a mention should also go to the beautiful cover design. I love the couple embracing looking into the distance.
Granny Isla is a hoot, I love all her wrong sayings, and I loved her little adventure with Tam and Maeve.
Some very relevant issues raised with Carlton and his behaviour toward women, but Bella is a strong women and stood up for herself.
Some lovely snowy images and of course the last minute disaster before the wedding, but I loved how everyone pulled together.
A great addition to the series. And a mention should also go to the beautiful cover design. I love the couple embracing looking into the distance.
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