The Christmas Getaway

by Debbie Mason

USA Today bestselling author Debbie Mason delights with this charming holiday romantic comedy about an American celebrating Christmas in Scotland with a dashing Highlander.Librarian Charlotte Webb has always enjoyed escaping into a good story instead of dealing with reality, especially after her last year. But when her ex struts back into town and invites her to his Christmas wedding, Charlotte has to convince everyone, including herself, that she's moved on. Deciding an adventure far from home with her perfect―albeit fake―Scottish boyfriend is just what she needs to complete her act, Charlotte boards the plane from New York to Edinburgh, where she bonds with her seat mate, a twelve-year-old girl who is leaving everything she loves in America behind to live abroad with her single father―Ewan, an extremely handsome duke with zero sense of humor. But when Ewan agrees to keep up Charlotte's boyfriend ruse, sparks begin to fly, and it’s not long before Charlotte’s wondering if her make-believe boyfriend is the real deal.

Genres: Christmas, Holiday, Romance, Scotland, Fiction, Audiobook, Fake Dating

368 pages, Paperback

Expected publication October 13, 2026

About the author

Debbie Mason is the USA Today and Publishers Weekly bestselling author of the Christmas, Colorado series and the Harmony Harbor series. The first book in her Christmas, Colorado series, “The Trouble with Christmas,” was the inspiration for Hallmark’s “Welcome to Christmas.” Her books have been praised by RT Book Reviews for their “likable characters, clever dialogue, and juicy plots.” When Debbie isn’t writing, she enjoys spending time with her family in Ottawa, Canada.

Reviews

[Alya]

✨️ ARC REVIEW ✨️
The Christmas Getaway by Debbie Mason
Publication date: October 13th 2026

Thoughts
This was such a fun read perfect for your Christmas TBR! I loved the characters in this book and found myself rooting for the FMC and of course the Scottish boyfriend! This was my first reading experience with this author but not the last. The fake dating trope is one of my favourites and when done right I'm easily sold and having a whale of a time lol and Debbie didn't disappoint. Also another aspect I loved about this read is the setting it was nothing short of magical with the perfect amount of holiday romance!

Plot Summary
Librarian Charlotte heads to Edinburgh for Christmas with a fake Scottish boyfriend to prove she’s moved on from her ex. On the flight, she meets a young girl and her handsome father, a duke who agrees to play along with her charade. But as they spend more time together, Charlotte begins to wonder if their pretend romance could turn into something real.

Many thanks to NetGalley and publishers for the ALC

My Bookstagram

[Rebecca]

I received this book as an audio ARC from NetGalley. Thank you to all involved.

I rated this book 3.5/5 stars (rounded up to 4)

This book was narrated by Stewart Crank and Alex Raby. I really loved both of them in each role. Both voices were really nice to listen to and I think they gave really great performances!

Things I liked about this book:
❄️ I like the dual POVs between charlotte and Ewan. It’s kind of a grumpy/sunshine which I like. They are both fun characters who I really wanted to get together .
❄️I liked all the characters. Charlottes close knit friend group/ the villagers/ all of Ewan’s family and his daughter. They really make this a fun story
❄️ Christmas in Scotland in a castle= MAGIC. I mean do I need to say more?

This is a sweet story and I would recommend it for your Christmas reading.

[Ashley]

The Christmas Getaway by Debbie Mason is such a sweet, low stakes Christmas romance! When Charlotte’s ex moves back to town engaged and completely convinced that Charlotte is still in love with him, she panics and tells him he’s wrong. She has moved on and is actually spending the holidays in Scotland with her hot Highlander boyfriend. The only problem? He doesn’t exist… yet.

Enter a hot, uptight Highlander named Ewan, who just happens to be a duke. Charlotte finds herself spending Christmas in a Scottish castle with him, his spitfire daughter Matilda, and his not so pleasant mother as part of a fake dating arrangement. Things only escalate from there.

Narrated by Stewart Crank and Alex Raby, I really enjoyed both narrators and thought they did an excellent job at bringing the characters to life. Even with the Scottish accent, I had no problem following along, and they really made listening such an enjoyable experience.

This was such a fun and easy listen with some of my favorite tropes. I truly enjoyed Charlotte and Ewan’s characters, and of course, Matilda. I have to say I think her and the Highland calf, Pearl, stole the show a little bit. All in all, this is exactly the kind of cozy, festive romance that makes for a great holiday listen!

Thank you to Hachette Audio and NetGalley for the ALC. All opinions in this review are my own.

[Kacey Rayburn]

The Christmas Getaway features some of my favorite tropes - fake dating, Scottish castles, and fairy tale endings. It was a truly feel-good, heartwarming, cozy romance with a beautiful storyline of found family and healing from grief. A lovely Christmas read to warm your heart! Thanks at Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[vlm]

The Christmas Getaway is exactly the kind of holiday romance I love to curl up with during the Christmas season. It has humor, heart, plenty of festive charm, and just the right amount of romance to leave you smiling.

Charlotte Webb is an easy heroine to root for. After a difficult year and the surprise invitation to her ex's wedding, her decision to travel to Scotland with a fake boyfriend story feels both understandable and entertaining. The fake dating trope is always one of my favorites, and Debbie Mason gives it a fresh twist by pairing Charlotte with Ewan, a handsome Scottish duke who initially seems far too serious for all of Charlotte's warmth and spontaneity.

Their chemistry develops naturally, and watching Ewan slowly let down his guard was one of the highlights of the book. I also loved the relationship Charlotte forms with Ewan's daughter. Their bond added so much warmth and emotional depth to the story and made the romance feel even more meaningful.

The Scottish setting is absolutely magical. Between the snow-covered scenery, holiday traditions, and cozy atmosphere, I felt completely transported. It was impossible not to wish I could spend Christmas there myself.

While the story follows some familiar holiday romance beats, the engaging characters, witty dialogue, and emotional moments kept it feeling fresh and enjoyable from beginning to end. This is a feel-good romance filled with hope, healing, laughter, and the reminder that sometimes the best love stories begin when you least expect them.

If you're looking for a cozy Christmas romance featuring fake dating, a swoony Scottish duke, memorable characters, and plenty of holiday magic, The Christmas Getaway is a wonderful choice.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advance reader copy. All opinions are my own.

[Madison Warner Fairbanks]

The Christmas Getaway by Debbie Mason
Contemporary holiday romance.
Charlotte Webb prefers books and reading more than almost everything else. Sadly, the library where she works permanently closes the day before Thanksgiving giving Charlie time off until after the new year.
The same day the library closes, her former boyfriend shows up at the local restaurant with his fiancee and the whole town is involved in their wedding prep. Not wanting people feeling sorry for her, Charlotte makes up a boyfriend in Scotland and tells everyone she’s going there for the next month.
The very next day, Charlotte finds herself at the airport on the way to Edinburgh. She terrified of flying! What is she doing? She runs into a handsome man named Ewan and his daughter Matilda and she’s impulsively sending a photo of him to her friend group saying it’s her boyfriend and he’s a Scottish Duke.
Can fairytales come true? He really is a Scottish Duke and has a gorgeous library in a castle, and a daughter that needs some cheering up this holiday season. Stay at the castle for the next few weeks? Yes please. Maybe a kiss or two in a photo for her friends back home?

🎧 I alternated between an ebook and an audiobook. The narration is performed by Stewart Crank and Alex Ruby in alternating POV chapters in a dual format. Both create distinct voices for Charlotte, Ewan, and twelve year-old Matilda, with Stewart’s voice in a Scottish accent. The audiobook is filled with the emotional roller coaster of feelings the two adults have from impatience to worry, fear, joy and all the in-between. It’s an engaging performance and I found myself listening closely as the romance and friendships progressed.

Charlie is feeling a little lost. But she’s also incredibly brave traveling alone. It takes a lot of confidence to get on a plane by yourself and travel to a different country. Fortunately she likes talking to people and is friendly. The friends she makes on the bus are adorable, keeping in touch and helping to find a beau for her.
Matilda is twelve going on 30 on the outside but a scared little girl on the inside. Charlie is able to easily connect with her which is super sweet. And of course, his dragon mother and her uppity attitude.

It’s a wonderful holiday romance with fairytale hallmarks from Scotland and back home reconnecting with her father.
I love a feel-good romance and the tears of happiness came easily to me with the wrap up ending.
I absolutely adored this happy, feel good fairytale romance. Improbable? Of course. Do I care? Not at all. 🥰❤️

I received a copy of this from NetGalley and Hachette Audio

[Shannon]

I enjoyed this grumpy x sunshine holiday getaway romance between Ewan, a Scottish Duke single dad and Charlotte, a small town children's librarian escaping from her ex who is about to get married. The two meet on the same flight to the Highlands and don't exactly hit it off. After getting robbed, Charlotte finds herself in need of a place to stay and a fake Scottish boyfriend and Ewan needs help reconnecting with his 12 year old daughter, Matilda, who is still grieving the loss of her dead mother.

Full of Highland hijinks, a baby Highland coo, an adorable grumpy daughter and lots of Downton Abbey vibes, this was a spicy, slow burn love story that warmed my heart in ALL the best ways. I was sad for it to end and fell in love with the setting, the characters and all of the heartwarming moments. Highly recommend for a Hallmark after dark style Christmas love story sure to deliver all the feels. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital and audio copy in exchange for my honest review.

[Herbibliomaniac]

4 🌟

A cozy Scottish Christmas romance done well.
I absolutely loved this book!

Charlotte is over her ex, but in an attempt to get her friends off her back she made up a story of having a boyfriend from Scotland. And not just any guy, but someone of nobility. Next thing she knows, she is on a plane to Scotland and just happens to manifest her own story into fruition when she meets Ewan and his daughter Matilda.

Ewan is the grumpy to Charlotte's sunshine. He is overwhelmed trying to be a good dad and build his relationship with his daughter. Charlotte is just what he needs even if he doesn't realize it.

~♡ What I loved ♡~
The romance was swoon worthy, but honestly the best part was the relationship between Charlotte and Matilda. I loved that Matilda was such a large part of this story, it gave so much more to their relationship.

There is a little bit of Charlotte in all of us readers. She is a librarian and obviously loves to read and make books apart of her life. Aside from finding Scottish nobility, the only thing unrealistic was the amount of time off work she was able to take, I wish!

The location! A Scottish castle with a library comparable to Belle's!! Yes!!!!!

~♡ The Audio itself ♡~
The audio itself was great! Both narrators brought so much life to these characters. I definitely recommend listening or immersion reading. I'm not Scottish so I can't say if the accent was accurate, but it sounded good to me and was easy to understand. I listen at high speeds and had no problems keeping up with this book at all.

My only grief with the book was the line that said something along the lines of family and friends only ever get her book themed gifts because she is a librarian like it was a bad thing. Ms. Debbie Mason, that is my dream. I wish everyone got me book themed gifts. I actually scoffed at that.

But seriously, for all the cozy Christmas book lovers who want to skip over to Scotland and fall love, this was a great read and I highly recommend it!! I'll be adding to my Christmas rereads list (everyone has seasonal reread lists right?).

Thanks to Hachette Audio, Debbie Mason, and NetGalley for sending for me an Alc to review.
Narrated by Alex Raby and Stewart Crank

[Reed's Magical Books ♡]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an audio ARC in exchange for my honest review.

The Christmas Getaway was such a sweet, cozy holiday romance! I listened to the audiobook, and it was a really enjoyable way to experience this story. It had that warm, festive feeling I want from a Christmas romance, and the overall tone was light, comforting, and easy to get swept up in.

I really enjoyed the story itself. There was a nice balance of romance, family, holiday atmosphere, and those little emotional moments that make a Christmas book feel special. I liked watching everything unfold between the characters, and there were plenty of cute moments that made me smile. It’s definitely the kind of book that gives you that cozy, curl-up-under-a-blanket feeling.

The characters were probably my favorite part. They were all so sweet and easy to like, and I appreciated how much heart they brought to the story. There was a warmth to the relationships that made the book feel genuine, especially when it came to the emotional and family dynamics. I found myself invested in what was going on and rooting for things to work out.

That said, I did struggle a little with the MMC. He was perfectly nice, but I found him somewhat dull compared to the other characters. I wanted a little more personality, depth, or spark from him, especially when it came to the romance. The chemistry was there, but I think I would have enjoyed the story even more if he had stood out a bit more.

Overall, though, I had a really lovely time with this one. It was sweet, festive, romantic, and just an easy, feel-good listen. Sometimes you’re in the mood for a complicated, angsty romance, and sometimes you just want a cozy Christmas story with lovable characters—and this definitely delivered the latter. 🎄❤️

[Suzanne]

This was the first Debbie Mason book I remember seeing an F-bomb being dropped and I’m beyond disappointed!! That and the Lord’s name being taken in vain are so frequent these days and I HATE it! As soon as I read those words or hear them on tv I’m done reading or watching whatever they’ve been used on! There’s absolutely no reason for language like that and I don’t want that language in my life!

[Terri]

I did a combination digital and audio for this book. The narrations by Stewart Crank and Alex Raby were really outstanding. If you have a chance to listen to the audiobook, I highly recommend it. The Scottish brogue was outstanding for Ewan and I really loved the crispness of the voice for Charlotte. The pacing was perfect as well as the editing. I really loved that the volume was pretty even throughout, so there was no need to constantly adjust my earbuds.

This Christmas story was about as perfect as you can get for a Christmas romcom. It is a fake relationship trope, with wonderful characters, including a cute little Scotland "coo". It took me forever to figure out that that is actually a cow. With the brogue, I really didn't care what it was. Ewan (who is actually Royalty) was often clueless as to what was going on with his teenage daughter and Charlotte had to explain things to him--so adorable. Charlotte was just a lovely young woman who only wanted the best for everyone and didn't mind interceding to make sure that happened. There was lots of family thrown into the mix to make the whole story delightful.

If you're only going to read one Christmas romance this season, do yourself a favor and read The Christmas Getaway by Debbie Mason. I just may have to listen to this again next year...and the next.

Thanks to Forever (Grand Central Pub and Hachette Audio for the copies. All thoughts are my own.

[April Brown]

The Christmas Getaway is a charming Scottish Christmas Romance Read by Debbi Mason! It really puts you in the mood for the holidays.

Charlotte (Charlie) Webb is a children's librarian who has great friends and a job she loves. Her ex has come back to town and is engaged. Charlie doesn't want him to think she is still carrying a torch for him so she creates a hot highlander boyfriend that she is going to spend the holidays in Scotland. Unfortunately, she really does not have this and is now committed to flying to Scotland where she knows no one. On the flight she meets Ewan and his teenage daughter Matilda who becomes her fake boyfriend in exchange for spending time with Matilda.

I loved the characters in this book. There is a comedy, family, festive environment and a feeling of getting a warm hug from this s tory. I also really love Pearl, the Highland Cow, that Matilda and Charlie adopt as a pet. This has the fake boyfriend, grumpy x sunshine and just leave you with a cozy holiday feeling. I am still thinking about this story. A perfect read to get into the holiday spirit.

Thank you NetGalley and Fortune Publishing for a chance to read this story and give my opinion.

[Kathleen Gray]

I thoroughly enjoyed this. Yes it's trope-y, what with a grumpy sunshine Scotland Duke single dad thing but wow it's a fun one. Charlie's ex has just announced his engagement and the library where she worked and which was named for her mother is about to be torn down and so she ends up on a plane to Scotland. Well, before she gets on the plane, she meets Ewan and his bereft daughter Matilda. And we'e off on an unlikely journey for all three after Charlie is robbed and Ewen invites her home to his castle. Yep, his castle. Where his mother the Ice Queen rules (even though he is, after all, the Duke). It's a romp as Charlie helps Matilda and Ewan begins to fall for Charlie. They both tell the story (I liked the dual narration.).There aren't any real surprises to be honest but this has wonderful characters and a few little twists. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. It's a great read that made me smile more than once.

[Hannah Burke]

Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette Audio for an ALC of this book!

This is a PSA for all holiday books being released in 2026: I love them all, including this one! Ah, I loved this story line! This was the perfect holiday romance with some heavy themes, fake dating, grumpy x sunshine, single dad, and some royal family drama! Stewart Crank and Alex Raby were phenomenal narrators for this book and I loved the Scottish and American accidents and how easily they went back and forth with the characters. I loved the author poking fun at the Scottish MMC’s ability to ‘make a lot of money narrating books’. Especially while listening to it, such a light and easy read for the holidays. The writing in this book was so enticing and made the descriptions feel extremely real as well as the landscapes during the holiday season in this dreamy Scottish highland!

[Barbara]

When Charlotte’s ex comes back to town for his wedding, and invites her, she decides she’s had enough, invents a fake Scottish boyfriend and decides to take a little vacation to Scotland. Things don’t go quite as planned, though, and she ends up having more than her fair share of mishaps starting at the airport before she even leaves the country. She also meets a real, and very handsome, duke and his 12-year-old daughter, Matilda. Are there some sparks flying between Duke Ewan and Charlotte?

A fun, heartwarming, holiday story! Loved it!

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

[Taylor Mae]

"The Christmas Getaway" feels just like a Hallmark movie, it would be the perfect movie. I have always loved royalty/nobility books and movies so of course I adored this story!

Charlotte is a librarian who has been feeling stuck in her life and craves an adventure like the ones she reads about. Once her ex moves to town with his fiancée, she must convince everyone she has moved on, so she tells everyone about her Scottish boyfriend.

The only problem is he doesn't exist. Charlotte decides to take a trip to Edinburgh instead of staying in her small town, where everyone thinks she's lying.

Ewan is a duke and a single father to Matilda, who is moving from America to live with him after her mother passed away. Matilda ends up sitting next to Charlotte, and they bond because Charlotte has also lost her mother and understands how she's feeling.

I loved the playful relationship between Ewan and Charlotte. He is a handsome, grumpy duke, and she is a happy, semi-gullible librarian. They are opposites in every way, but Ewan agrees to be her fake boyfriend as long as she helps give Charlotte the best Christmas!

It's such a cute romance, with found family, grief, and beautiful relationships!

[Mercedez G.]

Such great Christmas story! Charlotte had a small lie in saying she had a boyfriend and he lived in Scotland only to actually get one. Ewan and Matilda had such a personality. I could not stop laughing when they met Charlotte at the airport. I loved Charlotte's relationship with her friends. Everyone who met Charlotte loved her and who knew that one lie could turn into something magical for Charlotte.

[Joanna Korolis]

Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette Audio for the ALC of The Christmas Getaway by Debbie Mason! All opinions are my own!

This was a great escape from reality! I am a sucker for a Scottish accent! This was a cute holiday read, perfect setting at a Scottish castle! I could see it as a Hallmark movie at some point!

Thank you again!

[Nic]

RTC

[Get Your Tinsel in a Tangle]

Charlotte Webb invents a hot, titled Highlander boyfriend to prove she is absolutely thriving, flies to Scotland to support the lie, and then accidentally runs into an ACTUAL DUKE who eventually agrees to play the boyfriend. Charlotte. That is not moving on. That is lying with such commitment that the universe finally says, “Fine, you know what? Here’s your duke.”

And she desperately needs the win because her life back home has become a group project in making Charlotte miserable. The library where she grew up, worked, and still feels closest to her late mother is closing in its old location. Her dad has remarried and is spending Christmas with his new wife’s family. Her ex Andrew is back with a pregnant fiancée and a Christmas wedding invitation, because apparently returning quietly was unavailable. Even Charlotte’s friends are way too involved in her business. By the time she announces this fictional Scottish boyfriend and books the trip, I wasn’t asking whether this was a sensible decision. I was helping her pack.

Then at the airport she meets Matilda, who is thirteen, grieving her mother, furious about leaving New York, and heading to Scotland to live with her father Ewan. Ewan is handsome, humorless, deeply suspicious of Charlotte, and, because apparently her fake-boyfriend manifestation board had excellent reception, A DUKE. Charlotte basically ordered “hot Highland aristocrat” from the universe and the universe sent express shipping. Unfortunately he arrives with a teenage daughter who does not want to move, a complicated family situation, and enough emotional restraint to power half the Highlands.

The Charlotte and Matilda relationship got me first. Charlotte understands what it is to lose your mother young, and she never treats Matilda like a problem Ewan needs to solve. She talks to her. She listens. She lets her be angry and sad and thirteen, sometimes simultaneously, which feels correct because thirteen is already an unreasonable emotional assignment before somebody adds bereavement and international relocation. Ewan loves his daughter desperately, but he keeps trying to parent from inside his own grief, and Charlotte can see the giant flashing sign over Matilda that says SHE NEEDS YOU TO MEET HER WHERE SHE IS.

Meanwhile Charlotte arrives in Scotland and promptly gets robbed of her wallet and passport. Of course she does. This woman crossed an ocean with an imaginary boyfriend and apparently reality decided she had not yet demonstrated enough vulnerability. Ewan and Matilda find out, and suddenly Charlotte is spending Christmas with them at their actual Scottish castle. I need everyone back home to understand how catastrophically their intervention has failed. You tried to make your lonely friend face reality and she accidentally upgraded herself to Christmas at a castle with a duke.

Ewan agreeing to become the fake boyfriend is where things get particularly ridiculous because this man has the personality of a locked filing cabinet until Charlotte gets near him. She is warm, anxious, impulsive, and capable of befriending people Ewan has apparently accepted as permanently unreachable. He keeps behaving like inviting her further into his life is purely practical because she’s helping Matilda, while also becoming increasingly interested in Charlotte herself. Sir, you can call this a parenting strategy as many times as you want. Your face has filed contradictory paperwork.

And then there is Ewan’s mother, the Dowager Duchess, because obviously the castle came with a final boss. She is not exactly standing at the gates waving an American flag for Charlotte’s arrival. Yet Charlotte, who is already carrying enough rejection from home to make another person hide under the nearest tartan blanket, keeps showing up as herself. That mattered to me more than whether she could charm a duchess. Charlotte has spent so much time being the person who cheers everyone else up while quietly falling apart that watching her start to understand she is allowed to want things for herself felt like somebody finally turning the lights on.

That grief running underneath all the castle-and-duke nonsense is what kept sneaking up on me. Charlotte misses her mother. Matilda misses hers. Ewan is trying to reconnect with a daughter whose life has been ripped apart. Nobody needs Christmas magic to erase any of that. They need somewhere safe to put it. Charlotte and Matilda finding each other when they do is genuinely lovely because neither one fixes the other. They just recognize the same missing piece.

By the end, I was fully invested in Charlotte’s completely irresponsible decision to invent a Scottish boyfriend because, against every reasonable expectation, it turns out lying about a Highlander and fleeing the country was one of the healthier choices she made all year. The Christmas Getaway gets 4 stars from me. Give me Scotland, fake dating, a grumpy duke, a grieving teenager who deserves to be heard, a castle full of family complications, and one librarian whose breakdown somehow becomes an international romantic upgrade, and yes, apparently I will follow her directly onto the plane.

Merry Mayhem Prize: For Inventing a Fake Highland Boyfriend and Then Having the Audacity to Accidentally Acquire the Deluxe Real-Life Duke Package

Huge thanks to Forever, Grand Central Publishing, and NetGalley for the ARC of The Christmas Getaway and for confirming that when life collapses, the appropriate response may in fact be to fly to Scotland and see whether there are any emotionally constipated dukes available. I have updated my emergency contacts accordingly.

[Rie]

Thank you to NetGalley and Debbie Mason for the opportunity to listen to an audiobook ARC of The Christmas Getaway. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

That was cute. That was pretty much my immediate reaction when I finished The Christmas Getaway, and honestly, I think “cozy” is probably the best word for the whole experience.

I love a good Christmas romance, and the idea of one set in the Scottish Highlands sounded especially fun. I went in expecting a Christmas meet-cute, and while I wouldn’t say the book surprised me, it definitely gave me the kind of cute, feel-good romance I was hoping for.

It did take me a little while to get into the story, but I think that was more of a me thing than anything wrong with the book. Once I really settled in, I found myself enjoying it more and more, especially as Charlotte’s story started unfolding. I loved watching her slowly win people over, and there was something really charming about the way one little lie managed to turn into a truth by the end. Will anyone ever know exactly how that happened? Who knows.

Charlotte was easily one of my favorite parts of the book. I loved that she was a writer and a librarian, obviously loved books, and had such a big heart for Matilda. Ewan, Matilda, and the Dowager Duchess all brought something different to the story, too, and I genuinely enjoyed all of their relationships. Even when the Dowager Duchess frustrated me a little, we worked through it.

And then there’s the romance. I love a good fake-dating story, and this one absolutely delivered. The chemistry between Charlotte and Ewan was there even when Ewan was doing his best to fight it, and their banter was probably one of my favorite parts. Add in grumpy/sunshine and single dad, and you have a combination that was very easy for me to enjoy.

There was one point where I initially thought, “Isn’t this a little soon?” But then I remembered these are grown adults with functioning eyeballs. They’re allowed to find each other attractive without that immediately turning into some huge declaration of love. The relationship itself developed naturally, and I thought the amount of romance was just right for the story.

The Scottish Highlands setting also added something really fun to the experience. I’ve never been there, so I can’t exactly say whether the descriptions were perfectly accurate, but I definitely got that feeling of being somewhere completely different and discovering all the little things that make the place special. Sheep in the road. A castle. An actual castle. Where I live, we don’t exactly have those sitting around, so I was very much along for the ride.

I also caught a few little Beauty and the Beast nods sprinkled throughout the story, beyond the obvious home library connection. I wouldn’t call this a retelling at all, but I thought those little touches were really cute.

The audiobook was another definite win. Stewart Crank and Alex Raby did a fantastic job bringing the characters to life, and once I was invested in the story, they made it very easy to stay immersed. There were plenty of moments that made me laugh and swoon, including one particular ghost-in-Charlotte’s-bedroom situation that I found absolutely hilarious.

My one real complaint is that I wanted MORE CHRISTMAS. There were certainly Christmas moments, and I knew I was reading a Christmas romance, but I never quite reached that full-on Christmas feeling I was hoping for. I wanted bells jingling. I wanted to be completely drowning in Christmas spirit. I wanted to feel like I needed a blanket, a Christmas tree, and a warm fire while listening to it. Instead, I got a cozy romance that happened to take place around Christmas. And that’s not necessarily a bad thing. It just kept me from giving this the extra push into five-star territory.

Overall, The Christmas Getaway was a fun, cozy romance with characters I genuinely enjoyed, a fake-dating setup that made me smile, a charming Scottish Highlands backdrop, and enough romance to keep me happily invested. It didn’t quite give me the Christmas immersion I was craving, but it still left me with exactly the feeling I wanted from a cozy holiday read: happy, warm, and content.

[Ashleigh Brown]

Christmas in a Scottish Castle with a handsome highlander? Sign me up!

The Christmas Getaway is going to find it's way into my top 10 Christmas stories for 2026. I thoroughly enjoyed all aspects of this story. The opening to the ending were delightful. If you are only going to pick up a handful of Christmas stories, then make sure this one is on your list.

The readers meet Charlotte "Charlie" as she is wallowing over the loss of her beloved small town library. And rightly so. I felt so bad for Charlotte the moment I met her. You could feel the grief and despair radiating off of her as she navigated losing her mother's namesake library. It broke my heart. And knowing how so many people in her life kept secrets, made me want to pull my hair out. Charlotte finding all of this out and being able to manage it, was impressive. But if anyone deserved a Scottish Christmas holiday, it is absolutely Charlotte. Which is what she decides to do when she finds out her Dad (and only parent) is going to Arizona for Thanksgiving through Christmas to visit his new wife's children/grandchildren. And rudely, Charlotte was not invited. Charlotte decides on a whim to get away to Scotland. But there is a minor problem - Charlotte doesn't like to fly.

And from there the story just becomes this beautifully wholesome story. Charlotte makes friends wherever she goes. She helps wherever she can. Flying was no different. Though it starts off poorly after bumping into the handsome highlander, Ewan and his precocious teenage daughter. The flight had me rolling. Charlotte is such a funny character. And the perfect foil to Ewan's stoic nature. It is the perfect blend of opposites attract.

Ewan, is a duke, and is returning home with his teenage daughter after the death of her mother. Their relationship is absolutely rocky because she didn't want to come home to Scotland. It's not where her mother is buried and none of her memories with her mom are there. I loved watching this relationship unfold. To watch as Ewan began to understand what his daughter needed and how his daughter began to understand his role as a duke. It never felt rushed. There was something so beautiful about both of them exploring the grief of what they lost and how to navigate moving forward in this new dynamic. The compromise that came with that understanding.

And you add in Charlotte with her warm heart and sunny disposition, you knew she was going to mend their hearts. And make Ewan fall in love with her. Even though Charlotte was adamant that it couldn't or perhaps shouldn't happen. I loved watching Charlotte figure out who she was and how her greatest gift is seeing people. She is capable of seeing beyond the walls that people build up and finding their true soul. I loved this about Charlotte. She managed to find her voice and a purpose and love in Scotland.

The Christmas Getaway had it all. Love. Shenanigans. Misunderstandings. Laugh out loud moments. And everything in between. It is wholesome and whimsy. And who doesn't want a handsome highlander inviting you to stay at a Scottish castle for Christmas. This is a must read for Christmas story fans!

Thank you to NetGalley and Forever for this early digital ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Deidre]

Scotland + fake dating + family therapy + minimal spice + Christmas

Charlotte is an American librarian who's been clinging to the memory of her late mother. She's still living above her dad's garage, working at the same library as her mother, and trying to convince herself she's doing just fine. Then everything falls apart at once: the library closes, her mother's legacy is dismantled, her ex-boyfriend strolls back into town with his pregnant fiancée, and to top it all off, her dad and evil stepmother Nicole ditch her to spend Christmas with the stepfamily...without even inviting her. Nicole is public enemy #1.

Charlotte's shady friends are a close #2. They treat her like a child and hide important info from her. They pull some uncool and untrustworthy stunts but determined to prove to her friends that she's totally thriving, Charlotte invents a hot Highland boyfriend. And because she's committed to the bit, she books a solo trip to Scotland to make the lie feel a little more believable.

Instead of owning her truth, my girl goes on vacation to cheer herself up and lie to her friends. Honestly? Best. Decision. Ever.

On the flight she meets Matilda and her ridiculously handsome father, Ewan (a Duke who's heading home to Scotland with his daughter after the recent death of his ex-wife, Matilda's mother.) Their relationship is strained, grief hangs over everything, and helping Charlotte survive the flight (she's quirky, anxious, and very well acquainted with marijuana gummies) starts breaking down some of those walls.

Then Charlotte immediately gets robbed, loses her passport and all her money, because holiday rom-coms are gonna holiday rom-com. Ewan and Matilda swoop in, rescue Charlotte, and whisk her away to stay in their actual Scottish castle. Fake boyfriend? Check. Brooding duke? Check. Castle at Christmas? CHECK.

Charlotte becomes the emotional support American for this entire aristocratic family, helping Ewan, Matilda, and his icy mother reconnect while she slowly chips away at the Duke's carefully buttoned-up exterior. It's sweet, cozy, unabashedly Hallmark, and exactly the kind of "grumpy duke learns to love again" Christmas comfort read you'd expect.

I really enjoyed this as a Christmas in July pick, but I wanted the romance to take center stage a little more. Give me more banter, more stolen moments between Charlotte and Ewan, and yes... crack the door a bit more in the bedroom scenes. They were too short or glossed over. The family healing arc was heartwarming, but I finished wishing the romance had gotten just as much attention as everyone else's emotional baggage.

[Justina R]

3 stars
The Christmas Getaway by Debbie Mason follows librarian Charlotte Webb as she heads to Scotland for the holidays in search of her dream “hot Highlander.” On the plane, she meets Ewan, Duke of Avonmore, and his daughter Matilda, and quickly makes a big impression on both of them.
As an enjoyer of historical romance, I really liked the modern spin on the aristocracy. Ewan is a Duke in 2026, and while the rules obviously aren’t as rigid as they would have been historically, they’re still there, and everyone is very concerned with being “proper.”
I haven’t read a lot of holiday books, but this was really cute! The characters were easy to root for, and the story had a very Hallmark feel to it. Honestly, the main conflict is basically Charlotte trying to win over the Dowager Duchess, Ewan’s mother, which is exactly the kind of low-stakes holiday drama I was expecting.
I did enjoy most of this book, but there were definitely some things that didn’t work for me. I know this is a holiday romance and not an erotic romance, BUT HEAR ME OUT: I really think this book would have benefited from being open door. 😂 They fade to black a few times, and then the next morning we get these conversations about how much the other person “blew their mind.” It felt so surface-level and a little cringe, and the way they talked about it felt unnatural to me.
Even just having Charlotte think about some part of the night before would have helped. I needed a crumb. Just a little something to make the romance feel more fully realized.
There’s literally a part where she says something along the lines of, “he shows me how much he missed me, and I show him how much I love and miss him.”
Debbie Mason, please show me. DON’T TELL ME. 😭
That said, I really liked the themes of Charlotte taking control of her life instead of just coasting along and waiting for something to happen. I also LOVED the gal-pal friendship between Charlotte and Matilda. Even the dowager duchess grew on me! Ewan and Charlotte were really cute together, and I love that he didnt want to change her to fit the proper duchess role.
Overall, this was a cute, cozy, very Hallmark-y Christmas romance that I mostly enjoyed. I just desperately wanted that open-door scene. 😂
Thank you to NetGalley and Forever Publishing for providing me with this ARC. All opinions are my own. The Christmas Getaway is out October 13th!

[Sheryl_Has_A_Reading_Problem]

Thank you to NetGallery, Hachette Audio and Debbie Mason for an advance listerner copy of The Christmas Getaway.

First, let me say that I loved this book so much that I immediately started a second listen when I was finished with the first.

Charlotte, a librarian at a library named after her deceased mother, finds out that her ex-boyfriend is moving back to town and bringing a fiancé in tow. Her friends, as wonderful as they may be, have hidden this and many other facts from her in an attempt to shield her from heartache. Charlotte's father and his new wife are heading to Arizona to spend the holidays with the stepmother's family leaving Charlotte alone for the first time since her mother's death. When confronted with the ex-boyfriend (who believes that she hasn't gotten over him), Charlotte spins a tale of heading to Scotland to spend the holidays with her boyfriend who happens to a member of the aristocracy so they've had to keep things hush hush. Of course word spreads like wildfire in her tiny New York town and soon Charlotte realizes that she can't avoid actually flying to Scotland. At the airport she is confronted by a grumpy Scot and his adorable pre-teen daughter who happen to be flying on the same flight. (Of course they will end up sitting next to one another! And he just happens to also be a Scottish lord! Can Charlotte manifest her own destiny or what???)

As I mentioned before, I loved this book. Debbie Mason tells a great story!! I loved all of the main characters, but I was a little perturbed by Charlotte's best friends. (How could her best friends really keep her in the dark about so many things just to "keep her from getting hurt". I'd think that it would be her best friends that would actually be honest with her and help her through tough times.) Charlotte is ...so likeable. Ewan is ...grumpy in every good way. Matilda is ... just so adorable that I want to hug her! The narrators, Stewart Crank and Alex Raby did an amazing job bringing these characters to life! What a fantastic listen!

Cozy Christmas story ✔️
Fake dating ✔️
Scottish castle ✔️
Clever banter ✔️
Main character chemistry ✔️
A little spice ✔️
Adorable book puns on clothing ✔️

Do I want more of this story beyond the epilogue? Yes. Yes I do!! I can't wait to dive into other Debbie Mason books.

[Emma]

The Christmas Getaway by Debbie Mason

USA Today bestselling author Debbie Mason delights with this charming holiday romantic comedy about an American celebrating Christmas in Scotland with a dashing Highlander.

Librarian Charlotte Webb has always enjoyed escaping into a good story instead of dealing with reality, especially after her last year. But when her ex struts back into town and invites her to his Christmas wedding, Charlotte has to convince everyone, including herself, that she's moved on.

Deciding an adventure far from home with her perfect―albeit fake―Scottish boyfriend is just what she needs to complete her act, Charlotte boards the plane from New York to Edinburgh, where she bonds with her seat mate, a twelve-year-old girl who is leaving everything she loves in America behind to live abroad with her single father―Ewan, an extremely handsome duke with zero sense of humor.

But when Ewan agrees to keep up Charlotte's boyfriend ruse, sparks begin to fly, and it’s not long before Charlotte’s wondering if her make-believe boyfriend is the real deal.
A holiday romance!
Charlotte Webb
Charlotte with Ewan, a handsome Scottish duke
Ewan and his daughter Matilda.
Ewan is a duke and a single father to Matilda, who is moving from America to live with him after her mother passed away. Matilda ends up sitting next to Charlotte, and they bond because Charlotte has also lost her mother and understands how she's feeling.
Ewan agrees to be her fake boyfriend as long as she helps give Charlotte the best Christmas!
Matilda. Ewan, Matilda, and the Dowager Duchess
At the airport , Charlie befriends 13-year old Matilda —much to the dismay of the her dad, Duke Ewan. Matilda is still grieving the loss of her mother. She has been living with her aunt in New York and doesn’t want to leave.. Ewan misses her and wants her to live in his ancestral home in the Scottish highlands.
When sightseeing, she is robbed of her passport and wallet. Matilda and Ewan learn what happened and invite her to spend Christmas at their castle.
I recommend this book.
The Christmas Getaway by Debbie Mason
is a 4-star book.
I am looking forward to reading more books by Debbie Mason.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced readers copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions shared here in this review are my own.

[Julie Eichelberger-Ford]

The Christmas Getaway is the perfect holiday story that will have you laughing out loud, shedding a few tears and dreaming of visiting Scotland for the Christmas holidays. Charlotte Webb has inherited her love of books and reading from her mother who worked in the same library that Charlie currently works in but now they are closing and relocating to a bigger building. Dealing with losing the memories her mother created through artwork in the library and now learning her ex-boyfriend is back in town with his new fiance, Charlie decides to visit Scotland for the holidays with her fake Highland boyfriend. Ewan is the current Duke of Avonmore who has been in America for the past several months because the mother of his daughter has passed away after a long illness and he is bringing his daughter home with him. Matilda, the daughter, doesn't want to go to Scotland and is giving Ewan a difficult time at the airport when Charlie literally bumps into him. When her ex starts blowing up her phone, she begs Ewan and Matilda to pose for a picture with her and so begins the adventure of Charlotte and Ewan that leads to a truly fun, hilarious happily ever after. This is a grumpy/sunshine, single dad, fake boyfriend, hot Highland lover, nobility/commoner, sweet romance. The story draws you in from the first page with relatable, realistically emotional issues and lovingly, flawed characters that you just want to wrap your arms around and become their best friends. This is a book that you will not want to put down and wish that it never ends.

I received an advance reader copy from the publisher but all thoughts and feelings are my own.

[Roslyn McClain-Miller]

Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette Audio for an ALC of this book.

This book was so adorable. I loved everything about it from beginning to end. The audio narration was top tier. Charlie’s character was so funny. She got herself into the most outrageous situations, but was so likable she always found a way to win people over. Your heart breaks for her in the beginning. First, she deals with the loss of the library her mother headed for years before she died. The current building housing the library is being sold and the library is being moved to a less desirable location. Then she finds out that her father is leaving her high and dry during the holidays to spend Thanksgiving and Christmas with his second wife and her children. It will be the first holiday season Charlie hasn't spent with her dad. Poor Charlie did not even find this out until the day they were leaving. Then on top of that, the same day she learns that her ex is moving back to town with his fiancé. So, people do not feel sorry for her makes up a Scottish boyfriend and says she is going to Scotland to spend the holidays with him. Little did she know that she was about to manifest her dreams into reality.

The relationship between Charlie and our MMC Ewan developed so nicely. Charlie goes from being the annoying woman he met at the airport to the woman he can’t imagine living his life without. The chemistry and banter were top notch. I also loved the relationship between Charlie and Ewan’s daughter Matilde. The way Charlie connected with Matilde was so heartwarming. This was a perfect read for the fall season and gets you in the mood for the holidays!

[Jane]

The Christmas Getaway

Debbie Mason writes the kind of books I enjoy — especially a Christmas one! The stories have a bit of angst plus romance, humor, great characters and a satisfied smile at the end.

Charlotte “Charlie” Webb’s is falling apart. Her deceased mother ran the town library and it is closing. She is devastated at the loss. Her Dad and step-mother Nicole are spending Christmas with Nicole’s family in Arizona. if life couldn’t be worse, her ex-boyfriend is moving back to town with his pregnant fiancee. So Charlie decides to invent a hot titled highland boyfriend and fly to Scotland to see him.

At the airport , Charlie befriends 13-year old Matilda —much to the dismay of the her dad, Duke Ewan. Matilda is still grieving the loss of her mother. She has been living with her aunt in New York and doesn’t want to leave.. Ewan misses her and wants her to live in his ancestral home in the Scottish highlands. (Wait til you read the funny stuff on the plane ride alone!)

After landing, Matilda and Ewan and Charlie go their separate ways. When sightseeing, she is robbed of her passport and wallet. Matilda and Ewan learn what happened and invite her to spend Christmas at their castle. Charlie is just what Matilda needs —a friend, a confidant and activity planner. Charlie’s warmth and charm wins over everyone —even Ewan’s icy Duchess Mother. Sigh …. I wasn’t read yet for The End! But I see another Debbie Mason book in my future!

Thank you, NetGalley, for an Arc of The Christmas Getaway.

[Ayla]

The Christmas Getaway by Debbie Mason

Rating: 4/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you to Forever, Grand Central Publishing, Netgalley, and the author for access to this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

The Christmas Getaway is an absolutely wonderful, feel-good holiday story! With lots of warmth, a sweet romance, plenty of charm, and delightful Christmas magic, The Christmas Getaway is a perfect read for the holiday season!

Charlotte Webb, a librarian, finds herself having to convince everyone that she’s moved on after her ex invites her to his Christmas wedding. Charlotte decides that an adventure with her fake Scottish boyfriend is the best way to go as she boards the plane from New York to Edinburgh. On the plane, she bonds with a twelve-year-old girl who is leaving everything she loves in America to live with her single father, Ewan, a duke. Ewan agrees to keep up Charlotte’s boyfriend deception, but sparks soon start to fly between them and Charlotte starts to wonder if her fake boyfriend could actually be the one for her.

The Christmas Getaway is such a cute, heartfelt, and charming romance read! The chemistry between the characters is great, the cozy holiday atmosphere is amazing, and the emotional moments throughout the story really add a lot of depth. From the Scottish setting to the Christmas atmosphere to the fake dating, this is such a fun read from start to finish and is super cozy!

Overall, The Christmas Getaway is a sweet, swoony, and heartwarming story with lots of Christmas charm, likable characters, fantastic chemistry, and a perfect holiday setting!