Starting Over Scottish

by Tricia O'Malley

Grumpy. Meet Sunshine.
She’s American. He’s Scottish. She’s looking for a fresh start. He’s returning to rediscover his roots.

Harper Scott is starting over. She’s signed up for a work-for-hire Scottish Pub Experience only to discover a half-naked and irritatingly handsome Scotsman in the apartment she’s rented. It’s Christmas season, there’s no room at the inn, and the two are both stubborn enough to refuse to give up the rental.

Now, with the pub being threatened by developers, and Harper’s fresh new start tainted by a decidedly grumpy Scotsman determined to make her leave, Harper must decide what’s more important – beating the Scotsman at his own game or saving the pub in time for Christmas. Let the (Highland) games begin.


Author’s Note : a stubborn American takes on a grumpy Scotsman in this stand-alone, small-town, Scottish romance novella. A bit of banter, war kittens, a pub makeover, and a heartwarming happily ever after makes this the perfect Christmas treat.

Genres: Romance, Christmas, Audiobook, Novella, Holiday, Contemporary Romance, Scotland

160 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 2022

About the author

As an award winning NY Times, USA Today, and WSJ bestselling author, Tricia O’Malley’s infectious joy in writing romance with an added dash of the magical has touched hearts around the world. With over three million books read, O’Malley’s stories have been translated into several languages and enjoy a devoted following. Tricia O’Malley is a native of Wisconsin, and departed the wintry tundra for warmer locales five years ago. She now lives in the Caribbean with her handsome Scotsman.

An avid scuba diver, Tricia spends much of her time underwater dreaming up new stories while photographing the beautiful sea life. Tricia loves fun vacation reads, believes in mermaids, and has a serious travel addiction. She discovers her inspiration on the go – and you’ll find her books set in beautiful settings with characters who deserve a happily-ever-after.

To see some of her underwater or island life photos visit her on Facebook, Instagram, or join her mailing list at www.triciaomalley.com

Reviews

[Heather Adores Books · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐
Genre ~ Holiday romance novella
Setting ~ Scotland
Publication date ~ November 7, 2023
Page Count ~ 162 (15 chapters +e)
Audio length ~ 3 hours 25 minutes
Narrators ~ Amy Landon, Will Watt
POV ~ dual 1st
Featuring ~ starting over, grumpy/sunshine, forced proximity, insta~ish, small town, minimal steamage

Harper & Reid
Harper is supposed to be heading to enjoy a Scottish Pub Experience with her bff, but she had to cancel at the last minute, so Harper is on her own. You can probably guess how the story is going to go from there.

I love me a good grump and Reid is an okay one. I didn't find him overly grumpy, maybe it's due to the reason of why he's not a fan of Christmas. While what happened to him is indeed sad it's not something I haven't read quite a bit before.

Since it is a novella the characters have to fall for each other pretty quickly, so it's not too realistic, but they were cute. The small town people were great and welcoming. I liked how Harper wasn't afraid of starting over in a new country. I'm too much of a scaredy cat to do something like that. Overall, a quick read that does give off some good Christmasy vibes.

Narration notes:
Amy did good, even had a fine Scottish accent. Will is British and did a great Scottish and American woman accent.

*Thanks to the author, Dreamscape Select and NetGalley for the ARC. I am voluntarily leaving my honest review*

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[Maria V. Snyder · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this book up at RARE24 in Edinburgh - it was one of the free books, and I was in Scotland so... seemed a no brainer. It's a novella and it's a fast read.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC audiobook provided in exchange for an honest review.

I really liked that even though this is a novella, they still have male/female dual narration! The voices were clear and concise and the man voicing the Scottish accent made the story feel so real! All around I thought it was cute and fairly predictable which I fully expected it to be. If you like romantic comedies and are looking for a quick listen, give this book a shot!

[William · Rating 5 out of 5]

Entertaining family listening 🎶🔰

Another will written Scottish 🏰 romantic family and friends relationships adventure thriller novella by Tricia O'Malley prequel. Harper is having a hard time holding a job. Her and her girlfriend decide to go to Scotland and run 🏃 a bar 🍸. The girlfriend announces that she is pregnant and will not be going to Scotland. Harper arrives in the town and the pub. She goes to the apartment and finds a Scotsman there and the fun begins. I would recommend this novella and author to 👍 readers of romantic relationships mystery novels 👍🔰. Enjoy the adventure of reading 👓 or listening 🎶 to Alexa read books 📚. 2023 👒😀☺🏡

Great romantic comedy novella. Happy reading and have fun 🌙😀

[Shannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cute grumpy/sunshine holiday novella set in Scotland that sees an American find her calling working in a Scottish pub and falling for the town grump. Just an okay read for me. It kicks off a new series and was a fun read with a bit of spice. Perfect for fans of books like Ruby Spencer's whisky year. Good on audio too narrated by Amy Landon and Will Watt. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early audio copy in exchange for my honest review!

[Esme · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐

I've found my romance niche. I LOVED THIS!!!! I just wish it was longer!!

I adored the characters, loved all the cheesy puns, the Scottish slang and the romance. It was emotional and so sweet, I liked the aspect of grief and how it was handled.

I will 100% be reading more of Tricia's books.

the narrators were both fantastic!

thank you so much Netgalley, Tricia O'Malley as well as Lovewrite publishing for the audiobook in exchange for an honest review!

[Sabrina · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars rounded up for Christmas vibes and spot-on marketing.

Premise - An American trying to start over falls in love with the grumpy Scotsman she's renting an apartment from, set against the backdrop of the holiday season.

The story was cute, though I didn't enjoy the MMC's POV chapters very much (he's too alpha-hole, but part of that was because he's the grumpy in the grumpy-sunshine here). I liked the villagers and the Christmas vibes, and overall the story delivered tropes competently.

The story contains:
* grumpy-sunshine
* Scotsman
* alphahole
* starting over
* American abroad
* smalltown
* Christmas vibes
* forced proximity
* instalust
* body betrayal

I really could have done without the random paranormal event plopped into the middle of what's otherwise a general contemporary romance. It didn't make sense to me why it was included and I felt it detracted from the whole and cut believability in a silly way.

I wasn't sold on their love either (it felt like just lust all the way through for me) but I suppose that's always tough in a novella, especially one spanning such a tight amount of time.

I think fans of the Scotsman trope will enjoy this a lot! That isn't my fave in particular, but I enjoyed it for the Christmas vibes.

Also, big kudos to the marketing/product team. A book is, in the end, a product. The people who put this together knew what they were doing! The cover, the fonts, the colors, the blurb - all of it was *chef's kiss* in signaling the vibe.

Thanks, NetGalley and Lovewrite, for the free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Bobby's Reading · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 STARS | The humor and coziness in this holiday novella: chef’s kiss! I freakin’ laughed! Love the chemistry between Harper and Reed! STARTING OVER SCOTTISH is a grumpy/sunshine romance about Harper Scott starting over her life by taking a Christmas vacation to Scotland! She voluntarily signs up to work refurbishing a pub, only to discover grumpy handsome Reed Scotsman in the apartment she’s rented. Now, with the pub being threatened by developers, Reed is determined to make her leave even though her looks gives him some warmth in his grumpy heart. Harper must decide what’s important: saving the pub or defrosting Reed’s heart in time for Christmas. A hilarious holiday spicy romance to read this season!

[itsallaboutbooksandmacarons · Rating 4 out of 5]

I recently enjoyed a novella that pleasantly surprised me, considering my usual preference against paranormal elements. Despite my reservations, I found myself completely invested in the story. The setting in Scotland, with its picturesque landscapes and small-town charm, added a delightful layer to the narrative.

The novella offered a refreshing take on second chances, a theme that resonated deeply with me. The characters were well-developed, and their journeys were engaging, making it easy to empathize with their experiences. The paranormal elements, although not my usual cup of tea, were woven into the story seamlessly, adding a unique twist that kept me intrigued.

Listening to this novella was a special experience. The narration brought the story to life, enhancing the overall enjoyment. I appreciated the careful crafting of the plot and the attention to detail, creating a world that felt both familiar and fantastical.

In summary, this novella is a testament to the author's skill in storytelling. It beautifully combines elements of romance, second chances, and the supernatural, set against the enchanting backdrop of Scotland. If you're open to exploring genres outside your comfort zone, this novella is definitely worth a listen. It's a captivating journey that lingers in your thoughts long after the final chapter.

[Cassie Dyson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I actually listened to this one twice because it was so cute and I wanted to catch some of the details I missed the first time through! It was a little shorter than other books/series I normally read, and a true breath of fresh air with the writing and story.

I immediately fell in love with the main character and loved the playful banter throughout the whole book. I do hope to read more from this author since I enjoyed this story so much!

Recommend for a vacation read!

Thanks NetGalley for an early copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Trio · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short, sweet and incredibly charming, I enjoyed Tricia O'Malley's Starting Over Scottish. With just a hint of the paranormal, O'Malley truly captures the ambience of an olde Scots pub. An engaging romance works well too.

The audio version is nicely performed by Amy Landon and Will Watt.

A very fine listen.

an audiobook copy of Starting Over Scottish was provided by Dreamscape Media, via NetGalley, for the purpose of my honest review, all opinions are my own

[Sydney Bennington · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5

[Zoe Kaylor · Rating 3 out of 5]

Starting Over Scottish was a fun, tropey, Christmas romcom. It's only novella length, so you're not going to get the development of a longer romance, but since it follows a lot of normal romance conventions it was still sweet and easy to read. Recommended if you're looking for a quick holiday romance.

Thanks to Netgalley, Dreamscape Select, and Lovewrite Publishing for an audioARC in exchange for an honest review.

[MissBecka Gee · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was cute and the characters were fun, it just wasn't as well fleshed out as I wanted.
The author tried to pack a lot of elements into a novella and some of them were underdeveloped or unnecessary. Pulled focus from the main characters and plot.
Still a fun read, just a bit chaotic.
Thanks to NetGalley, Dreamscape Select & Lovewrite Publishing for my ALC.

[Brianna Hart · Rating 4 out of 5]

I listened to this one as an audiobook and it was great. The Scottish accent…swoon! I loved the humor and premise of this one too. I think we’ve all wanted to escape and make a new life for ourselves so it’s really cool that this story made that come true. Overall, a very cute story that I’d highly recommend just make sure if you’re reading it you use the accent!

[Nicole | bridge four books · Rating 3 out of 5]

Starting Over Scottish is a cute romance novella about finding your place in the world. It was sweet, and I liked both characters and their relationship. Their banter was fun. The side characters are fantastic. I loved this little town and would love to spend time with the whole village. However, I prefer my romances a bit longer. Novellas often lead to underdeveloped characters and relationships and the dreaded insta-love.

For those looking for a Christmas romance, note that it is not an overwhelming theme. It just happens to take place during Christmas Time. I still think this is worth a listen. The narrators did a good job.

[nush 𐔌՞ ܸ.ˬ.ܸ՞𐦯 · Rating 3 out of 5]

— a solid 3 ⚝'s

this was a very cute grumpy/sunshine, christmas novel. the whole plot gave very it happened one summer vibes and i was so excited ab that. a very cozy, fun and entertaining read. lovable main and side characters as well! my only issue was some dialogues felt too forced and inauthentic and just added in there for the sake of it, like "who did this to you?" so that gave me the ick because it felt like it was trying to pack too much in too little. but a very cozy and cute read nonetheless!

[Megan · Rating 2 out of 5]

2 stars
I just couldn’t get into this.
First of all, I didn’t realize it was a novella and I’m much more into full length books.
Second of all, I thought it was boring. I suppose if you’re into snack sized romance novels (without a lot of substance), this might be for you.

Narrator portion- the guy’s voice is Scottish and difficult to understand. I know I missed certain words in the sentence because his accent was so thick.

Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape Select for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Andrea ☾ [is inconsistently consistant] · Rating 4 out of 5]

4⭐️ This audiobook was amazingly good!

I loved this! The double narrators and the accents are incredible. I admittedly have a thing for Scottish accents and holy hell, does the male narrator kill it in here!

It's a holiday / Christmas novella with a small town romance feel. I'm sure this would be the perfect little book for an easy, light-hearted read for this holiday season! It's not super spicy, but it is an open-door rom-com, so keep that in mind.

Overall, I would 100% recommend this book to anyone wanting to get into the holiday spirit -and the audiobook is AMAZING!

Thank you so much, NetGalley, for the amazing audio eARC!

[Caitlin Galena · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this! I read the Enchanted Highlands series first which is out of order, but it was fun to see the cross over!!! It had just a hint of Christmas which was fun. The Book club is hilarious. I laughed out loud a lot. War Kitten Wallace was super cute too! Very cute Christmasy novella. On to the second one!

[Shannon Lea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Delightful and delectable, this was precisely what I wanted! I love a novella, we get right to the good stuff and solve our conflicts promptly. Vibes, prioritized!

[Kat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short and sweet. Left me wanting more. Lovable characters. Cute kitten appearance!

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute cute cute. It’s like a hallmark movie, I just loved reading it.

[Lucca Powers Bates · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a pretty cute and fast read. Definitely most enjoyable if you don’t ponder too much over the plot (like why she would pay to renovate a pub she didn’t own?) but it’s a fun and fast Christmas read.

[Rita Nye · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chances

Another great read by Tricia O’Malley

What’s not to love a vacation in Scotland and a chance to run a Scottish Pub? Harper did not expect to encounter a naked Scotsman when she arrived at her apartment above the pub. After many hours of travel all Harper wanted was a hot shower and 8 hours of sleep. What she got, however, was a grumpy, naked Scotsman. This most definitely was not the experience she was expecting but Harper paid for a Pub experience and she wasn’t going anywhere.

[iowagirlreads · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this grumpy/sunshine novella set in a tiny Scottish village! Harper’s relatable leap of faith to find herself was so charming, and Reid is the ultimate broody hero with a heart-wrenching backstory that totally makes his grouchiness worth it. The narration was next-level, capturing those accents and all the raw passion so perfectly that I was literally fanning my face.

[Tiffany · Rating 5 out of 5]

Overwhelmed with the direction her life, Harper Scott decides to travel to Scotland to unwind and get the "pub experience". Unfortunately, her plans get turned upside down upon arrival when she finds a grumpy Scotsman already occupying her rental. What's a girl to do???

First off, let me just say that I have been following this author for a while. I've had her books on my ever growing TBR, but hadn't gotten around to reading them yet. This book absolutely changes that! I will definitely be reading the rest of Mrs. O'Malley's books sooner rather than later!

In this book, I loved the playful banter and spicy moments between the characters. The charming pub, and interfering friends and neighbors definitely didn't hurt either!

I did listen to this book on audio, and felt that the narrators were great. I will say that the female narrator's guy voice is eh. I know that bothers some people, but I was able to get through it without an issue. The male narrator's voice, however, was absolutely amazing! I'll admit that I'm a sucker for Scottish accents, but this guy's voice was just... *chef's kiss*

🧚🏻A MASSIVE thank you goes out to NetGalley, Dreamscape Select, Lovewrite Publishing, and author Tricia O'Malley for providing me with an audio copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!

[Pamela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sometimes all you need is a fresh start . Taking her own advice our heroine signs up to run a pub in Scotland, just for several weeks near Christmas. It includes a place to stay, so how bad can it be? The book is basically as advertised stubborn upbeat American, meets grumpy hot Scottish pub owner. The pub was closed, and the guy was nude, as she unlocked the apartment.He was mourning the death of his grandfather, and the last thing he needed was another problem to handle. I loved it Just the perfect amount of laughter, a few sad places, a new hope for a small village,and new purpose for two strangers that refuse to give up. A touch of paranormal, but it was needed, to move them both along to a new start in life. I loved the book club of older ladies,and we Wallace the warrior kitten. 5 stars, it really was a joy to read. It does contain some sexy scenes.

[Mystic Forest Crafts · Rating 5 out of 5]

What to expect:

Gray sweatpants
Who did this to you
Grumpy sunshine
Daring kitten rescue
Small town romance
Minimal miscommunication
Men in kilts

Pros:

I had already read the author’s Enchanted Highlands series before starting this one. While it can be read as a lead in to that series it honestly is separate enough to be read at any point. If you’ve read the series first you see the past of some beloved characters, if you read this first going in there will be familiar faces.

This is a fast read and full of fun. Unlike many holiday books which have a death at the center this one doesn’t dwell in the negative. There is work done to heal the pain and move forward and the entire community comes together to make it happen.

Cons:

Only that it is a relatively short story and I could have lived in the world so much longer happily.

[Kristin - The Literal Gal · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had so much fun listening to this audiobook. It was the perfect short, Christmas story to get you excited for all things holiday. It took me a minute to get used to Read's Scottish accent, but once I caught on I LOVEEEDDD it. It made me want to book a trip to Scotland immediately.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
❤️ on the steam meter (a couple steamy scenes)

Summary: Harper is feeling lost in her current life so, in hopes of a fresh start, she books a holiday trip to Scotland that requires her to work in a pub in exchange for her room. Upon arrival, she walks in on a very Scottish, very naked man. Read has spent his life running from loss, but after the passing of his beloved Grandfather he is forced to come home and work through his life. The two of them decide to work together to save Read's family pub and navigate the town of eager residents ready to help.

My Thoughts: This was like a hallmark Christmas movie but add a little spice and a hot Scottish accent. There were so many cute and funny moments. (War Kitten!) The story was heartfelt and the characters felt genuine. They fell a little fast for me, but with a short story that is the way it goes! I definitely recommend that you add this to your holiday TBR this year.

I received this ACL from Netgalley and Tricia O'Malley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you so much!