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Scottish Highlands #3
Vánoce na Skotské vysočině
Zimní příběh plný humoru, emocí a vánoční pohody – ideální čtení s hrnkem horké čokolády. Zasněžená skotská vesnička slibuje Merry oddech a únik před zlomeným srdcem. Jenže místo poklidných zimních večerů v chalupě tety Avy nastane chaos – vypadne elektřina, zvířata se vymknou kontrole a na scéně se objeví neodolatelný veterinář Theo. Ačkoli Merry na lásku rezignovala, společné chvíle s Theem postupně boří zdi, které si kolem sebe vybudovala. Jenže pak vyjde najevo, že Theo něco skrývá… Dokáže přesvědčit Merry, aby mu dala druhou šanci?
272 pages, Paperback
Published January 1, 2025
1131 people are currently reading
756 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 184 reviews
September 27, 2022
This was such a delightful, heartwarming, and lovely book! I fell in love with the characters and animals in this book. If you are looking for a book that warms your soul look no further! Grab some mulled wine, a cozy reading spot, this book and settle in for Christmas in the Highlands!
Merry agrees to come to Chestnut Cottage to care for her aunt Ava's many pets while her aunt is out of town. It sounds like the prefect getaway where she can mourn the death of her father and to prove to herself and her brothers that she can take care of herself (plus all the animals). Once at the cottage, she learns of a tradition that has been going on for a very long time. Merry will be taking part of in a secret Santa festival where deserving characters in this book get a gift.
Theo has recently moved to the village in the Highlands from London to heal from a bruised ego and broken heart. He is the town's veterinarian and comes to Merry's aid when she believes an animal in her care needs help.
Sparks fly and attraction blooms as Theo keeps coming up with ways to visit Merry to help with the animals. Merry keeps trying to prove she can make it on her own while feeling a mounting attraction to the handsome Veterinarian.
These two characters warmed my heart. They were both so likeable. Speaking of likeable, the entire village put a smile on my face. They did their best to include both Merry and Theo in village life and help them settle in. Plus, many of the characters needed a little help, nudge, advice as well.
This is a wonderful Christmas romance which was the perfect Secret Santa book for me. It hit all the bells and whistles - characters to root for, cute animals, a cantankerous turkey, lovely villagers, and romance. I did not want this book to end!
If you are looking for the perfect holiday read, look no further!
Delightful, heartwarming, and hard to put down!
Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
Merry agrees to come to Chestnut Cottage to care for her aunt Ava's many pets while her aunt is out of town. It sounds like the prefect getaway where she can mourn the death of her father and to prove to herself and her brothers that she can take care of herself (plus all the animals). Once at the cottage, she learns of a tradition that has been going on for a very long time. Merry will be taking part of in a secret Santa festival where deserving characters in this book get a gift.
Theo has recently moved to the village in the Highlands from London to heal from a bruised ego and broken heart. He is the town's veterinarian and comes to Merry's aid when she believes an animal in her care needs help.
Sparks fly and attraction blooms as Theo keeps coming up with ways to visit Merry to help with the animals. Merry keeps trying to prove she can make it on her own while feeling a mounting attraction to the handsome Veterinarian.
These two characters warmed my heart. They were both so likeable. Speaking of likeable, the entire village put a smile on my face. They did their best to include both Merry and Theo in village life and help them settle in. Plus, many of the characters needed a little help, nudge, advice as well.
This is a wonderful Christmas romance which was the perfect Secret Santa book for me. It hit all the bells and whistles - characters to root for, cute animals, a cantankerous turkey, lovely villagers, and romance. I did not want this book to end!
If you are looking for the perfect holiday read, look no further!
Delightful, heartwarming, and hard to put down!
Thank you to Bookouture and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
September 23, 2022
The long and often delayed journey to Christmas village in the Scottish Highlands was finally over for twenty-five-year-old Merry McKenzie, but she was too late to see her Aunt Ava before she left on her journey. The many notes and instructions meant Merry would be able to settle into Chestnut Cottage for the following month as she cared for Aunt Ava's many animals - Simba the cat and Chewy the rabbit inside, with chickens, a turkey, pigs and more outside. Merry was a little scared, a little frightened, but she was determined to find her independence and manage by herself, without her three brothers interferring.
Merry had been in a car accident two years prior and had been in a coma for three months - hence her brothers couldn't help themselves in checking she was okay. Merry had had enough, but when she opened the door to a knock, the man standing there startled her. But it was the local vet, Theo Ellis-Lee, who'd arrived to check on Chewy. Gradually Merry relaxed in Theo's company, while working out the mystery of the Secret Santa gifts that Aunt Ava had set her to solve by Christmas Eve...
Snowflakes & Secrets in the Scottish Highlands by Donna Ashcroft is a sweet Christmas story which I enjoyed. An unusual plot which worked well, with the multitude of animals including a turkey who hated men, but loved cranberries, and a rabbit who lived up to his name of Chewy! The village folks were kind-hearted and friendly and made the shy and tentative Merry welcome. Highly recommended.
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
Merry had been in a car accident two years prior and had been in a coma for three months - hence her brothers couldn't help themselves in checking she was okay. Merry had had enough, but when she opened the door to a knock, the man standing there startled her. But it was the local vet, Theo Ellis-Lee, who'd arrived to check on Chewy. Gradually Merry relaxed in Theo's company, while working out the mystery of the Secret Santa gifts that Aunt Ava had set her to solve by Christmas Eve...
Snowflakes & Secrets in the Scottish Highlands by Donna Ashcroft is a sweet Christmas story which I enjoyed. An unusual plot which worked well, with the multitude of animals including a turkey who hated men, but loved cranberries, and a rabbit who lived up to his name of Chewy! The village folks were kind-hearted and friendly and made the shy and tentative Merry welcome. Highly recommended.
With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
September 17, 2022
Review coming soon.
October 10, 2022
There isn't a specific way to spend the Christmas season, but author Donna Ashcroft might have found one of the most charming. Her newest main character, the seasonally named Merry, escapes her overbearing family for a stint in the Scottish Highlands. Her month-long task seems simple enough: take care of the menagerie of animals that call her travelling aunt's Chestnut Cottage home. After a late arrival, however, she barely has time to read her aunt's instructions—which also inform Merry of her village-wide Secret Santa hosting duties—before an overzealous rabbit destroys them. Thankfully, the local veterinarian, Theo, might be able to help with more than just animal tips.
Externally, Merry is a bit like a Christmas present—pleasant enough but with no real indication of her internal complexity. In the opening chapters, she's anxious and a bit worried, but she masks it from the people around her because of previous trauma. Her family's worried to let her out of the house unless she's bubble-wrapped, and this results in Merry struggling to admit how she really feels. Still, she puts on a brave face, takes the risk of taking over her aunt's cottage, and it's genuinely enjoyable watching her slowly peel away all the wrapping paper and letting the outside world get to know her over the course of the book.
Of course, this being a romance, the main person wanting to know her is Theo. What starts as an unfortunately necessary visit quickly morphs into an unsteady pairing, as the two have an obvious attraction to one another—whether they want to admit it or not. And it's not like Theo doesn't have a natural excuse to keep dropping by: the animals, including an attack-ready turkey need help, even if it comes with some bended truth. However, Theo has his own past and heartbreak that keeps the tinsel from glinting between them too brightly too fast.
While these two make a compelling book on their own, Ashcroft expertly populating the local village with a host of well-rounded personalities is what truly gives this book its cozy feel. Romance can take a person so far, but it's the moments where Merry lets down her guard while investigating the Secret Santa gift list that she becomes more realized, confident, and ultimately a character you need to see have a happy ending. As she becomes part of the tight-knit community around her, Snowflakes and Secrets in the Scottish Highlands sings louder and clearer than any Christmas carol.
Note: I received an ARC of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.
Review also available at https://pluckedfromthestacks.wordpres...
Externally, Merry is a bit like a Christmas present—pleasant enough but with no real indication of her internal complexity. In the opening chapters, she's anxious and a bit worried, but she masks it from the people around her because of previous trauma. Her family's worried to let her out of the house unless she's bubble-wrapped, and this results in Merry struggling to admit how she really feels. Still, she puts on a brave face, takes the risk of taking over her aunt's cottage, and it's genuinely enjoyable watching her slowly peel away all the wrapping paper and letting the outside world get to know her over the course of the book.
Of course, this being a romance, the main person wanting to know her is Theo. What starts as an unfortunately necessary visit quickly morphs into an unsteady pairing, as the two have an obvious attraction to one another—whether they want to admit it or not. And it's not like Theo doesn't have a natural excuse to keep dropping by: the animals, including an attack-ready turkey need help, even if it comes with some bended truth. However, Theo has his own past and heartbreak that keeps the tinsel from glinting between them too brightly too fast.
While these two make a compelling book on their own, Ashcroft expertly populating the local village with a host of well-rounded personalities is what truly gives this book its cozy feel. Romance can take a person so far, but it's the moments where Merry lets down her guard while investigating the Secret Santa gift list that she becomes more realized, confident, and ultimately a character you need to see have a happy ending. As she becomes part of the tight-knit community around her, Snowflakes and Secrets in the Scottish Highlands sings louder and clearer than any Christmas carol.
Note: I received an ARC of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.
Review also available at https://pluckedfromthestacks.wordpres...
April 13, 2023
This was my first Christmas read of the year, and what a book to start with! We head to the Scottish Village of Christmas, and of course it’s set on the run up to Christmas too! Whilst it’s not technically part of a series, we do meet some characters from other books by this author and it was nice to be reintroduced to them! Merry is coming to Christmas to look after her aunt’s home and animals whilst she is away. Merry is a lovely character who has been through a lot, and this is her chance to get away from her over-caring big brothers and gain her independence again.
I absolutely loved this book! It was lovely to be transported back to the Scottish Highlands and the Christmas theme with plenty of snow and ice was a perfect backdrop during this heatwave! I loved Merry’s character, although I must admit I did feel a bit like her brothers and want to cover her in cotton wool as she initially seemed so small and meek! Another village newcomer, vet Theo, is a very welcome distraction though! Big, strong and handsome, him and Merry don’t get off to the best starts, but that all changes as the book moves on! He does sound perfect in every way though, and I loved their friendship together!
The storyline flowed along at a lovely pace, capturing all Merry’s fears and negative emotions and turning them into positives! The village tradition of a Secret Santa was a great addition to the story, and I even found myself playing detective trying to work out who the presents might belong to! I became very quickly hooked into this book and once started I couldn’t put it down, finishing it in less than a day! It was wonderful to see some of the other villagers again, and I loved having the animals in the storyline also, particularly man-hating Henry the Turkey whose scenes didn’t fail to raise a smile!
This was such a lovely read; I was quite sad for it to finish! Filled with lots of love, family and friends, this was the perfect escapism for a hot and lazy day! Heart-warming, entertaining and wonderfully written, I sincerely hope there is another trip planned to the Scottish Highlands! Would recommend!
I absolutely loved this book! It was lovely to be transported back to the Scottish Highlands and the Christmas theme with plenty of snow and ice was a perfect backdrop during this heatwave! I loved Merry’s character, although I must admit I did feel a bit like her brothers and want to cover her in cotton wool as she initially seemed so small and meek! Another village newcomer, vet Theo, is a very welcome distraction though! Big, strong and handsome, him and Merry don’t get off to the best starts, but that all changes as the book moves on! He does sound perfect in every way though, and I loved their friendship together!
The storyline flowed along at a lovely pace, capturing all Merry’s fears and negative emotions and turning them into positives! The village tradition of a Secret Santa was a great addition to the story, and I even found myself playing detective trying to work out who the presents might belong to! I became very quickly hooked into this book and once started I couldn’t put it down, finishing it in less than a day! It was wonderful to see some of the other villagers again, and I loved having the animals in the storyline also, particularly man-hating Henry the Turkey whose scenes didn’t fail to raise a smile!
This was such a lovely read; I was quite sad for it to finish! Filled with lots of love, family and friends, this was the perfect escapism for a hot and lazy day! Heart-warming, entertaining and wonderfully written, I sincerely hope there is another trip planned to the Scottish Highlands! Would recommend!
September 27, 2022
Snowflakes and Secrets in the Scottish Highlands is a heartwarming romance. Merry and Theo are an endearing couple, who must work through some things before they can be together, and it was so much fun to watch it all unfold. The setting is snowy and perfect for a Christmas book, and the people who live in this Scottish village are all delightful! This is the perfect book to read during the holidays!
September 2, 2022
Merry McKenzie is visiting her Aunt Ava’s cottage —Chestnut Cottage—in the Scottish highlands for the first time. She’s staying here for a month to take care of her aunt’s animals while her aunt is away in India.
She was here to finish her novel and finally send it off to a publisher.
Her brothers, Noah McKenzie – her eldest brother and a policeman; Liam, a pathologist, and Ollie McKenzie, a fireman are all worried about her considering she was in a coma for three months after a car accident. That was two years ago when she used to manage a clothes shop.
Theo Ellis-Lee works as a vet in Furry Friends veterinary surgery with his new partner Jared Dunbar. Two months earlier he escaped his life in London for a remote life in the wilderness.
When one of Merry’s aunt’s animals chews up the instructions her aunt left her, she has no clue how to manage the pets. By chance, she meets Theo and enlists his help.
This heartwarming story is a fresh mix of romance, friendship, love, and family. Overall a good read.
Thank you to Donna Ashcroft, NetGalley, and Bookouture for the arc of this book.
September 17, 2022
Such a feel good Christmas romance! The secret Santa mission was a fun one for Merry to do when pet sitting for her Aunt, but it got complicated trying to match up who was supposed to get each present.
I really like all the animal focus in this book, especially since they brought Theo and Merry together(even Henry the turkey). This book is all about overcoming obstacles and learning when it's ok to help without being to suffocating.
This is just a perfect book to curl up with by the fire, just like the book's setting. Snippets of Merry's book throughout was a nice added touch as well. Maybe it would make for a nice independent novella.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me a copy of this ARC for my honest review.
I really like all the animal focus in this book, especially since they brought Theo and Merry together(even Henry the turkey). This book is all about overcoming obstacles and learning when it's ok to help without being to suffocating.
This is just a perfect book to curl up with by the fire, just like the book's setting. Snippets of Merry's book throughout was a nice added touch as well. Maybe it would make for a nice independent novella.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me a copy of this ARC for my honest review.
December 12, 2022
Really Was a Dud
This story was so ridiculous, I don't know how it got published. The main character, Merry, was beyond believable as a wounded and unsure woman. Are we supposed to really believe Merry could ever get her book published? Theo was way too harsh up front to be considered a nice man. His demeanor was not wounded so much as angry! Aunt Ava was really going to stay gone another year? The entire book was hoaky! I didn't believe a word of it could even be remotely real. Don't waste your time. It feels like an elementary student wrote this one.
This story was so ridiculous, I don't know how it got published. The main character, Merry, was beyond believable as a wounded and unsure woman. Are we supposed to really believe Merry could ever get her book published? Theo was way too harsh up front to be considered a nice man. His demeanor was not wounded so much as angry! Aunt Ava was really going to stay gone another year? The entire book was hoaky! I didn't believe a word of it could even be remotely real. Don't waste your time. It feels like an elementary student wrote this one.
November 18, 2022
I finished this book but found it predictable, saccharine sweet and not a
particularly interesting read. Apart from the Secret Santa aspect it wasn't Christmassy and certainly not Scottish!
Oh, I paid for my copy.
particularly interesting read. Apart from the Secret Santa aspect it wasn't Christmassy and certainly not Scottish!
Oh, I paid for my copy.
December 3, 2022
This is a really good Christmas story. Merry is a wonderful character, though it says she is 31 on the outside of the book, and 25 inside the book.
September 14, 2022
Ahhhh here’s the Christmas book that I was looking forward to! I mean, were set in Christmas Village, the main character is called Merry and we have a Secret Santa… oh plus all the snow, cold weather, presents, cosy nights at the pub and mince pies…
This is definitely a mini Christmas bomb and I loved to be a part of it, I can’t wait for those crisp mornings where you can go out in the crunchy snow for a little walk - I’m definitely one of those who wants to be outside when the snow starts falling!
I absolutely loved this book, seeing how Merry grew during her time at Christmas Village, she definitely coped better than I would have done without those notes, although she does have a rather charming helper! Even the animals had characters and you could just picture them clearly in your head, especially Chewy and Henry, little trouble makers that they are!
While reading this you can spot the moment where things are going to go wrong - it was one of those where I read it and was like ‘no…. Don’t do that, it’s going to come across so wrong and you’ll fall out’. You want to just shake the character a little but I also had faith that the author was going to take me onto much happier pastures.
The final scenes around the Christmas Tree were lovely and it’s given me a proper festive buzz - and a desire to find a mince pie or two asap!!!
This is definitely a mini Christmas bomb and I loved to be a part of it, I can’t wait for those crisp mornings where you can go out in the crunchy snow for a little walk - I’m definitely one of those who wants to be outside when the snow starts falling!
I absolutely loved this book, seeing how Merry grew during her time at Christmas Village, she definitely coped better than I would have done without those notes, although she does have a rather charming helper! Even the animals had characters and you could just picture them clearly in your head, especially Chewy and Henry, little trouble makers that they are!
While reading this you can spot the moment where things are going to go wrong - it was one of those where I read it and was like ‘no…. Don’t do that, it’s going to come across so wrong and you’ll fall out’. You want to just shake the character a little but I also had faith that the author was going to take me onto much happier pastures.
The final scenes around the Christmas Tree were lovely and it’s given me a proper festive buzz - and a desire to find a mince pie or two asap!!!
December 27, 2022
Heartwarming, cosy feel good factor read
This was my second book by Donna Ashcroft.
I loved Christmas in the Scottish Highlands so much, I had to buy another book by this author.
I especially loved that many characters from the first book reappear in this book.
Ask
Ashcroft writes an incredibly romantic and cosy Christmas book, that leaves you feeling content and utterly happy.
After reading her books I know I will be reading all of them.
Kerry Kennedy Author
This was my second book by Donna Ashcroft.
I loved Christmas in the Scottish Highlands so much, I had to buy another book by this author.
I especially loved that many characters from the first book reappear in this book.
Ask
Ashcroft writes an incredibly romantic and cosy Christmas book, that leaves you feeling content and utterly happy.
After reading her books I know I will be reading all of them.
Kerry Kennedy Author
December 17, 2022
I'm not sure how this got such high reviews... I guess because it is loosely Christmas themed people are a little more lenient? The only reason I gave it two was because of the animals... and that's not saying much. It was a cute idea but has zero to do with Scotland and barely anything to do with Christmas and is poorly written.
I guess I may be part of the problem because after chapter 2(?) where our 'main man' can't help his body reacting to the beautiful woman in front of him... I knew what I was getting myself into and since I am trying to read as many Christmas books as I can before 12/25, I was determined to finish despite my head telling me to stop.
I guess read it if you're not too picky, but honestly if you are wiser than I you will find a better way to spend a couple of hours.
I guess I may be part of the problem because after chapter 2(?) where our 'main man' can't help his body reacting to the beautiful woman in front of him... I knew what I was getting myself into and since I am trying to read as many Christmas books as I can before 12/25, I was determined to finish despite my head telling me to stop.
I guess read it if you're not too picky, but honestly if you are wiser than I you will find a better way to spend a couple of hours.
March 19, 2024
Cute but very long for what is and I couldn‘t 100% feel the chemistry between the two love interests.
January 9, 2025
I listened to the audio book at work and every time I had to pause it, the Hoopla app would skip my story forward and it would take the rest of the day to find my spot. Not all my bookmarks saved. Therefore, I had a hard time getting into the story. I hadn't read any other books set in Christmas Village so I couldn't always keep track of the villagers. By the end when the Secret Santa gifts are wrapped and labeled, I knew who was who and had figured out which gift was for which person before Merry did.
The romance was nice enough but the misunderstanding was silly and it got NSFW in the middle and I had to shut it off and listen later at home. There was one more NSFW scene at the end, less not safe than the first one. Other than that, it's a slow burn. Merry is still growing, figuring out her life after a devastating car accident left her in a coma for months. Her older brothers won't let her be an adult. They treat her like a toddler learning to walk. Merry escaped to Christmas Village not just to pet sit for her aunt but to escape her brothers' smothering. They still can't let go and call constantly and threaten to come there and pretty much take over. How can she recover with all that smothering? Because of her brothers' smothering, she's wary of allowing another man into her life and having him take over. She wants to be independent, needs to be independent, to get her adult life back after the accident. Merry also wants to finish the novel she's writing and this visit to Christmas Village is supposed to embolden her to feel more like her heroine, Carmella.
Theo is a kind, caring vet. He loves animals and is good with them but not as good with people. At first he comes across as harsh and abrupt, then controlling and finally, incredibly sweet. Theo was burned in love. His ex Miranda was a whiny probably rich witch and a taker. She doesn't seem to have given anything to the relationship and when Theo finally realized that and tried to say no to her demands, she dumped him. Yikes! He's better off without her. His meet cute with Merry does not get off to a great start yet he's attracted to her and vice versa. This IS a real romance novel and that took me by surprise. I expected something a little more romcom/ "women's fiction". All along Theo feels the need to rescue her. Yet, he doesn't. He helps her, guides her and listens to her when she talks about her novel and her accident and how she wants to change her life. He never tries to take over for her, just helps. If Merry could have spent as much time in the village/with the villagers as Theo, she wouldn't have needed his help. It was nice seeing them work together to rescue the one-eyed cat though and an example of what they should be doing in everything.
I found the villagers very charming. I especially liked Ace, the school boy who thinks every book should contain a car chase LOL! His mum, Hannah, is twice burned in love and reluctant to try again in spite of some romantic overtures from her first love, Sam. Sam seems like a hardworking, decent fellow but I have qualms about an old lover from youth coming back again. Hannah has Ace now and I'm sure she's changed a lot since she dated Sam. Jared, the elderly vet, needs some lessons in love. He likes Kerstine, the vet assistant, and she likes him but he's too obtuse to understand her feelings or know what to do. Of course he's laid up with an injury for most of the book and more used to animals than people. Other villagers need a little help too. I found it weird that Merry would go to a school (elementary age?) and talk about her romance novel and the kids would love it. Sure the girls maybe but the boys? No way! Ace wants car chases because he's a young boy and that's more interesting than romance. I don't buy Merry's fears that the kids will hate it and therefore she's washed up as a writer. YES the kids will hate it! Eww kissing! Ewww! Boys have cooties! Don't you know anything, Merry?
I loved the animals and wanted more of them. Chewy the rabbit's name should have been Merry's first clue about his personality. He's only doing what rabbits do. She fell asleep and Chewy went to work and that kicked off the entire romance plotline. Repeat just before it gets steamy. There are ornery hens who don't always like to lay their eggs, a man-hating Turkey, a sweet cat and a stray one-eyed cat to round out the menagerie. I was hoping for MORE animal content though and didn't feel like we got to know the animals very well or learn why Aunt Ava has all these creatures at her house.
I wanted more Christmas too. Even though the village is named Christmas Village, there's only Christmas at the end when the town has a tree and Secret Santa. There's mention of the baker making mince pies and that's about it for Christmas.
The romance was nice enough but the misunderstanding was silly and it got NSFW in the middle and I had to shut it off and listen later at home. There was one more NSFW scene at the end, less not safe than the first one. Other than that, it's a slow burn. Merry is still growing, figuring out her life after a devastating car accident left her in a coma for months. Her older brothers won't let her be an adult. They treat her like a toddler learning to walk. Merry escaped to Christmas Village not just to pet sit for her aunt but to escape her brothers' smothering. They still can't let go and call constantly and threaten to come there and pretty much take over. How can she recover with all that smothering? Because of her brothers' smothering, she's wary of allowing another man into her life and having him take over. She wants to be independent, needs to be independent, to get her adult life back after the accident. Merry also wants to finish the novel she's writing and this visit to Christmas Village is supposed to embolden her to feel more like her heroine, Carmella.
Theo is a kind, caring vet. He loves animals and is good with them but not as good with people. At first he comes across as harsh and abrupt, then controlling and finally, incredibly sweet. Theo was burned in love. His ex Miranda was a whiny probably rich witch and a taker. She doesn't seem to have given anything to the relationship and when Theo finally realized that and tried to say no to her demands, she dumped him. Yikes! He's better off without her. His meet cute with Merry does not get off to a great start yet he's attracted to her and vice versa. This IS a real romance novel and that took me by surprise. I expected something a little more romcom/ "women's fiction". All along Theo feels the need to rescue her. Yet, he doesn't. He helps her, guides her and listens to her when she talks about her novel and her accident and how she wants to change her life. He never tries to take over for her, just helps. If Merry could have spent as much time in the village/with the villagers as Theo, she wouldn't have needed his help. It was nice seeing them work together to rescue the one-eyed cat though and an example of what they should be doing in everything.
I found the villagers very charming. I especially liked Ace, the school boy who thinks every book should contain a car chase LOL! His mum, Hannah, is twice burned in love and reluctant to try again in spite of some romantic overtures from her first love, Sam. Sam seems like a hardworking, decent fellow but I have qualms about an old lover from youth coming back again. Hannah has Ace now and I'm sure she's changed a lot since she dated Sam. Jared, the elderly vet, needs some lessons in love. He likes Kerstine, the vet assistant, and she likes him but he's too obtuse to understand her feelings or know what to do. Of course he's laid up with an injury for most of the book and more used to animals than people. Other villagers need a little help too. I found it weird that Merry would go to a school (elementary age?) and talk about her romance novel and the kids would love it. Sure the girls maybe but the boys? No way! Ace wants car chases because he's a young boy and that's more interesting than romance. I don't buy Merry's fears that the kids will hate it and therefore she's washed up as a writer. YES the kids will hate it! Eww kissing! Ewww! Boys have cooties! Don't you know anything, Merry?
I loved the animals and wanted more of them. Chewy the rabbit's name should have been Merry's first clue about his personality. He's only doing what rabbits do. She fell asleep and Chewy went to work and that kicked off the entire romance plotline. Repeat just before it gets steamy. There are ornery hens who don't always like to lay their eggs, a man-hating Turkey, a sweet cat and a stray one-eyed cat to round out the menagerie. I was hoping for MORE animal content though and didn't feel like we got to know the animals very well or learn why Aunt Ava has all these creatures at her house.
I wanted more Christmas too. Even though the village is named Christmas Village, there's only Christmas at the end when the town has a tree and Secret Santa. There's mention of the baker making mince pies and that's about it for Christmas.
November 23, 2022
Merry goes to the Highlands to care for her aunt’s animals while her aunt is away for Christmas. Her aunt also asks her to take on the job as the village Secret Santa. Her family has helped for years and no one has ever known who does it so she asks her to keep it a complete secret. But the first night there the pet rabbit eats all the instructions on how to take care of the house, the animals, and who the Secret Santa gifts are for. The aunt is in a remote village in another country and can’t be reached so Merry has to figure out everything on her own. She is terrified. She was in a car accident a few years ago and in a coma for three months. Since then her three brothers have kept her at home and taken care of her and she’s not been allowed to do much so her self confidence is low. She’s taken on this job to prove to herself she can get on with her life with less help from her brothers.
So the whole idea of a grown woman who’s recovered fully from an accident, no matter how bad, not getting back out in the world with a job and a fairly regular life seems far fetched to me. This girl’s barely left her house since recovering from the accident and it was years ago. And, she is basically afraid of her own shadow. It was a little annoying that she hadn’t tried to move forward. And don’t get me started on the three brothers who kept her almost a prisoner to “protect” her. All four of them needed some therapy in my opinion.
So back to the story. Enter the grumpy but handsome village vet who comes to check on the pet rabbit who’s eaten all the instructions. He’s instantly attracted to Merry but has just gotten out of a relationship with a girl who wanted him to do nothing but take care of her. He’s not wanting to get involved but if he was he wants a strong, independent woman. But he keeps trying to help Merry in spite of himself and she DOES NOT want help. She is determined to be independent.
On to the Secret Santa part of the story. Merry is supposed to keep it a complete secret as it has been kept for generations. Yet she leaves all the gifts out in the kitchen and is mad when she realizes the grumpy, but sweet, vet is secretly helping her to figure out which villager gets what. Well, she left the gifts in plain sight and since she doesn’t know the villagers it seems like that should be helpful. And, really, if something has been an important secret for years wouldn’t you think she would have hidden those gifts better? And, she somehow thinks he won’t figure out her aunt is the Secret Santa in spite of seeing the gifts…
It turns out Merry has been trying to write a romance novel but since her first book was rejected by a publisher her brothers have discouraged this so she won’t be upset again. Somehow a teacher at the village school hears about Merry’s writing and invites her to speak every week about writing to her class of 11 year olds. Merry is terrified (again) but tells them all about her book and its main characters, Dan and Carmel. Carmel is Merry’s alter ego who is everything Merry wants to be and Dan is the man of her dreams who lets Carmel do all the brave, independent things she wants. Except Dan keeps morphing into the helpful vet… Anyway, once again weird that she’s telling a class of 11 year olds about her romance novel and they love it.
The other thing that bothered me is that Donna Ashcroft kept using the words “tracking” and “wandering” for any kind of movement. “She tracked across the room” or “he wandered through town.” They were used so often I kept wanting her to just say “she walked across the room” or “he strolled through town.” Anything but tracked or wandered!
Ok. Enough of what I didn’t like. I gave it three stars because even though Merry was afraid of literally everything but not wanting anyone to offer even a little help, I liked that she learned that everybody needs help sometimes. I also liked that she stood up to her brothers and stopped letting them control her life.
I liked the vet and he learned some boundaries about over-helping. I also liked the village characters and it was cute how some of their side stories played out. So overall three stars. I liked it enough to finish it and thought the vet was a good romantic interest. And, any book with lots of Christmas is fun!
So the whole idea of a grown woman who’s recovered fully from an accident, no matter how bad, not getting back out in the world with a job and a fairly regular life seems far fetched to me. This girl’s barely left her house since recovering from the accident and it was years ago. And, she is basically afraid of her own shadow. It was a little annoying that she hadn’t tried to move forward. And don’t get me started on the three brothers who kept her almost a prisoner to “protect” her. All four of them needed some therapy in my opinion.
So back to the story. Enter the grumpy but handsome village vet who comes to check on the pet rabbit who’s eaten all the instructions. He’s instantly attracted to Merry but has just gotten out of a relationship with a girl who wanted him to do nothing but take care of her. He’s not wanting to get involved but if he was he wants a strong, independent woman. But he keeps trying to help Merry in spite of himself and she DOES NOT want help. She is determined to be independent.
On to the Secret Santa part of the story. Merry is supposed to keep it a complete secret as it has been kept for generations. Yet she leaves all the gifts out in the kitchen and is mad when she realizes the grumpy, but sweet, vet is secretly helping her to figure out which villager gets what. Well, she left the gifts in plain sight and since she doesn’t know the villagers it seems like that should be helpful. And, really, if something has been an important secret for years wouldn’t you think she would have hidden those gifts better? And, she somehow thinks he won’t figure out her aunt is the Secret Santa in spite of seeing the gifts…
It turns out Merry has been trying to write a romance novel but since her first book was rejected by a publisher her brothers have discouraged this so she won’t be upset again. Somehow a teacher at the village school hears about Merry’s writing and invites her to speak every week about writing to her class of 11 year olds. Merry is terrified (again) but tells them all about her book and its main characters, Dan and Carmel. Carmel is Merry’s alter ego who is everything Merry wants to be and Dan is the man of her dreams who lets Carmel do all the brave, independent things she wants. Except Dan keeps morphing into the helpful vet… Anyway, once again weird that she’s telling a class of 11 year olds about her romance novel and they love it.
The other thing that bothered me is that Donna Ashcroft kept using the words “tracking” and “wandering” for any kind of movement. “She tracked across the room” or “he wandered through town.” They were used so often I kept wanting her to just say “she walked across the room” or “he strolled through town.” Anything but tracked or wandered!
Ok. Enough of what I didn’t like. I gave it three stars because even though Merry was afraid of literally everything but not wanting anyone to offer even a little help, I liked that she learned that everybody needs help sometimes. I also liked that she stood up to her brothers and stopped letting them control her life.
I liked the vet and he learned some boundaries about over-helping. I also liked the village characters and it was cute how some of their side stories played out. So overall three stars. I liked it enough to finish it and thought the vet was a good romantic interest. And, any book with lots of Christmas is fun!
September 5, 2022
Snowflakes and Secrets in the Scottish Highlands by Donna Ashcroft
I was instantly drawn to this book by the festive cover, which invites you into a winter wonderland. I liked the flow of writing by author, Donna Ashcroft and really enjoyed the story.
Twenty five year old budding author, Merry McKenzie from Hertfordshire, wants to reclaim her life back. She realises that she has relied on her three brothers for too long, it’s time to stand on her own two feet and get on with life.
Her Aunt Ava, who lives in “Christmas Village”, asks Merry to house sit and look after her many animals while she is abroad. Merry takes this as the opportunity to move on with her life plan.
On arrival Merry scans the many notes on animal care, detailing a secret festive mission she would like Merry to take care of for her. Unfortunately, the house rabbit has other ideas, destroying the notes and leaving Merry to work out the mission details for herself with the help and knowledge of the local vet called Theo.
I was instantly drawn to this book by the festive cover, which invites you into a winter wonderland. I liked the flow of writing by author, Donna Ashcroft and really enjoyed the story.
Twenty five year old budding author, Merry McKenzie from Hertfordshire, wants to reclaim her life back. She realises that she has relied on her three brothers for too long, it’s time to stand on her own two feet and get on with life.
Her Aunt Ava, who lives in “Christmas Village”, asks Merry to house sit and look after her many animals while she is abroad. Merry takes this as the opportunity to move on with her life plan.
On arrival Merry scans the many notes on animal care, detailing a secret festive mission she would like Merry to take care of for her. Unfortunately, the house rabbit has other ideas, destroying the notes and leaving Merry to work out the mission details for herself with the help and knowledge of the local vet called Theo.
November 5, 2023
Immer noch Herbst und ich habe schon das zweite Weihnachtsbuch hintereinander gelesen.
Dabei weiß jeder, der mich kennt, dass ich kein besonderer Freund vom Weihnachtsfest bin.
Die Weihnachtsromane von Donna Ashcroft sind jedoch unterhaltsam, gemütlich und irgendwie auch besinnlich. Eigentlich so, wie Weihnachten sein sollte...
Die 30-jährige Merry geht nach Schottland, um sich von ihren überbehütenden Brüdern zu emanzipieren. Dort soll sie sich um die Tiere ihrer Tante kümmern, doch durch ein blödes Missgeschick verliert sie die Pflegeanweisungen.
Zum Glück gibt es den Tierarzt Theo, der Merry aus der Patsche helfen kann. Und wie sich herausstellt, tut er das dann auch sehr gern, denn Merry kann seiner Hilfe gut gebrauchen.
Die weihnachtlichen schottischen Highlands haben es mir tatsächlich angetan. Dieses Buch hat mir einige vergnügliche Lesestunden beschert.
Nur eine Sache hat mich arg gestört: das alleine im Haus lebende Kaninchen. 🐰🐇Kaninchen sollten IMMER mit einem passenden Artgenossen gehalten werden. Alles andere bringt die Menschen nur auf dumme Gedanken, selbst in fiktionalen Geschichten.
So sehr ich diese Lovestory auch mochte, das hat mich beim Lesen echt gewurmt. Aber auch Chewy hat seine eigene kleine Lovestory verdient 🐰
Dabei weiß jeder, der mich kennt, dass ich kein besonderer Freund vom Weihnachtsfest bin.
Die Weihnachtsromane von Donna Ashcroft sind jedoch unterhaltsam, gemütlich und irgendwie auch besinnlich. Eigentlich so, wie Weihnachten sein sollte...
Die 30-jährige Merry geht nach Schottland, um sich von ihren überbehütenden Brüdern zu emanzipieren. Dort soll sie sich um die Tiere ihrer Tante kümmern, doch durch ein blödes Missgeschick verliert sie die Pflegeanweisungen.
Zum Glück gibt es den Tierarzt Theo, der Merry aus der Patsche helfen kann. Und wie sich herausstellt, tut er das dann auch sehr gern, denn Merry kann seiner Hilfe gut gebrauchen.
Die weihnachtlichen schottischen Highlands haben es mir tatsächlich angetan. Dieses Buch hat mir einige vergnügliche Lesestunden beschert.
Nur eine Sache hat mich arg gestört: das alleine im Haus lebende Kaninchen. 🐰🐇Kaninchen sollten IMMER mit einem passenden Artgenossen gehalten werden. Alles andere bringt die Menschen nur auf dumme Gedanken, selbst in fiktionalen Geschichten.
So sehr ich diese Lovestory auch mochte, das hat mich beim Lesen echt gewurmt. Aber auch Chewy hat seine eigene kleine Lovestory verdient 🐰
November 21, 2022
Merry McKenzie needs some time alone while grieving the death of her father. She heads to the Scottish Highlands for Christmas, staying in her Aunt Ava's cottage to look after her animals while she travels. She is expecting a quiet, relaxing stay, but was in for the unexpected. It all starts with the list of instructions left by her aunt about the care of her menagerie, but also directions about Secret Santa gifts. When her aunt's rabbit eats the list, she has no idea what pets she is to care for, how to take care of them or who gets what gift. Calling for emergency veterinary care, she meets the handsome local vet Theo Ellis-Lee, who quickly becomes her saviour, as well as her friend.
I really enjoyed this fun, quirky story. The animals in this book were hilarious. We meet a rabbit who plays dead, a turkey who hates men and will attack, a wandering donkey and more. Theo was so patient with Merry teaching her how to care for the animals, but as they became friends he helped her sort out the Secret Santa list without letting her know he knew about it. I loved that subtlety. Theo was also new to the village, so they learned together and quickly became a couple in many eyes. Merry also has two meddling brothers who keep calling and trying to get her to come home. I enjoyed seeing Merry grow and open up. She was initially closed off, anxious and not looking for friendship or love, but by the end, she is part of the village life and enjoying all the festivities as well as Theo's company. Theo also has some baggage that he must get over, so it is fun seeing Merry break through the barriers he has set up, even though she doesn't realize she is doing it. The village is full of great characters, with some quirky ones to round it out. I loved the Secret Santa theme! It adds that bit of Christmas Magic as well as the true meaning of Christmas. This was a delightful Christmas read and one I highly recommend.
I really enjoyed this fun, quirky story. The animals in this book were hilarious. We meet a rabbit who plays dead, a turkey who hates men and will attack, a wandering donkey and more. Theo was so patient with Merry teaching her how to care for the animals, but as they became friends he helped her sort out the Secret Santa list without letting her know he knew about it. I loved that subtlety. Theo was also new to the village, so they learned together and quickly became a couple in many eyes. Merry also has two meddling brothers who keep calling and trying to get her to come home. I enjoyed seeing Merry grow and open up. She was initially closed off, anxious and not looking for friendship or love, but by the end, she is part of the village life and enjoying all the festivities as well as Theo's company. Theo also has some baggage that he must get over, so it is fun seeing Merry break through the barriers he has set up, even though she doesn't realize she is doing it. The village is full of great characters, with some quirky ones to round it out. I loved the Secret Santa theme! It adds that bit of Christmas Magic as well as the true meaning of Christmas. This was a delightful Christmas read and one I highly recommend.
December 26, 2024
Unfortunately, this was not a good Christmas finale for me. The characters were a bit annoying and there was a lot of repetition in there. Besides: how annoying is it that 3 brothers call every day (!) and check how their 25-year-old sister is doing? Too bad this had to be emphasised so much.
Maybe it's also because of the "they had sex together for the first time, she stays over and the next morning she stumbles upon something in his house that makes her angry/sad/disappointed and leaves" storyline, which reappears in every book these days?
Maybe it's also because of the "they had sex together for the first time, she stays over and the next morning she stumbles upon something in his house that makes her angry/sad/disappointed and leaves" storyline, which reappears in every book these days?
January 21, 2023
Loved this feel good story where Merry finally learned to be Merry, without constant suffocation!
March 5, 2023
Chick Lit in the Snow
Girl Mets boy but doesn’t want to fall in love. Boy meets girl and the same.
A few adventures on the way
Surprisingly they do fall in love and …
Three stars
Girl Mets boy but doesn’t want to fall in love. Boy meets girl and the same.
A few adventures on the way
Surprisingly they do fall in love and …
Three stars
September 30, 2022
Merry McKenzie finds herself busier than she expected to be while vacationing in the Scottish Highlands. She is at her Aunt Ava's cottage and working through the grief of losing her father, Healing comes along with a bit of a different agenda than she imagined. She discovers instructions written in her aunt's hand that require Merry to become the organizer of the annual Secret Santa drive. A previous accident, one that left her in a coma, had left her life in turmoil.
With a bevy of animals, incoming gifts to be distributed, and a long list of instructions, Merry is about to be very busy. However, most of the destructions were destroyed by Chewy the rabbit, Merry knew that starting over would be full of challenges, and things just got much more difficult. Fortunately, she finds that she just might accept local vet Theo's help. It doesn't hurt that he is easy on the eyes and that the two seem to have a connection from the very stat.
As if she doesn't have enough to do during the season she accepts the challenge of teaching a writing class to children as they write their Christmas stories. Especially due to her previous accident, Merry always felt she had been in a position to be saved. Now that she is in Christmas Village, she intends on taking control of her life, no matter how tempting it is to want to trust Theo to help her out with the presents.
What a lovely story by Donna Ashcroft. Merry is a delightful character, the Secret Santa drive is so touching, and the relationship she forms with Theo is so very sweet. Oh, all of the animals were a treat as well!
Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
With a bevy of animals, incoming gifts to be distributed, and a long list of instructions, Merry is about to be very busy. However, most of the destructions were destroyed by Chewy the rabbit, Merry knew that starting over would be full of challenges, and things just got much more difficult. Fortunately, she finds that she just might accept local vet Theo's help. It doesn't hurt that he is easy on the eyes and that the two seem to have a connection from the very stat.
As if she doesn't have enough to do during the season she accepts the challenge of teaching a writing class to children as they write their Christmas stories. Especially due to her previous accident, Merry always felt she had been in a position to be saved. Now that she is in Christmas Village, she intends on taking control of her life, no matter how tempting it is to want to trust Theo to help her out with the presents.
What a lovely story by Donna Ashcroft. Merry is a delightful character, the Secret Santa drive is so touching, and the relationship she forms with Theo is so very sweet. Oh, all of the animals were a treat as well!
Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
September 27, 2022
I'm thoroughly getting into the Christmas spirit early this year with all this festive fiction I'm reading of late!
This was a delightful, feel-good Christmassy romance that I thoroughly enjoyed losing myself in.
Not only is it set in the picture perfect Scottish Highlands, the village is called Christmas Village...when can I move there?
Merry was recovering from an accident and her trip to Scotland to look after her aunts animals was also the opportunity for her to rediscover herself and let go of her past. The idea of a Secret Santa bringing her together with Theo was cute.
Highly enjoyable and definitely recommendable.
Many thanks to Bookouture for my tour spot.
Rating ⭐⭐⭐⭐
This was a delightful, feel-good Christmassy romance that I thoroughly enjoyed losing myself in.
Not only is it set in the picture perfect Scottish Highlands, the village is called Christmas Village...when can I move there?
Merry was recovering from an accident and her trip to Scotland to look after her aunts animals was also the opportunity for her to rediscover herself and let go of her past. The idea of a Secret Santa bringing her together with Theo was cute.
Highly enjoyable and definitely recommendable.
Many thanks to Bookouture for my tour spot.
Rating ⭐⭐⭐⭐
December 2, 2022
A sweet holiday story with a slow moving pace. Jenny Colgan vibes.
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December 9, 2024I really liked this book so much! It's very cute
December 24, 2024
3,5 stars rounded up. I enjoyed the book, even though I liked it less than the first book of the series. The story was just a bit too slow for my taste. The brothers of the main character were quite annoying imo. I did like the main characters though. It was a typical romantic story, but I still liked it. The best part about the book were the secret santa, all the animals and Mary finding her courage/strength.
October 21, 2025
Cute and wholesome Christmas story!
December 25, 2023
3,5 - neither awesome, neither bad
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