Light reading. When I think of light reading right now, I think of contemporary romances, not my usual mysteries. Oh, I haven’t given up on them. I have three mysteries on a pile next to me right now, and I’ll select one as my next book. I only read one mystery at a time, although I’ll read three books or so at a time. But, if you’re looking for a light romance with no heavy messages, Laura Trentham’s first Highland, Georgia novel, A Highlander Walks Into a Bar, will fit the bill.
Isabel Buchanan doesn’t even know what to say when she picks her mother, Rose, up at the airport, and is told her mother brought a surprise back from Scotland. Rose’s surprise is “a six-foot, two-hundred-pound plus souvenir from Scotland”, Gareth Connors. And, Rose is so taken up with the new man in her life that she turns some of her responsibilities for the Highland summer festival over to Isabel. Isabel doesn’t know what to think.
The Highland summer festival was her father’s dream, a festival that imitated the traditional Highland games in Scotland. But, when her father died, Rose and Isabel took over responsibility for the festival that brought income into the small Georgia community of Highland. The games, music, dances and festivities brought the community together, and brought people from all around the southeast. And, this year, it brought a second Scot, Alasdair Blackmoor. Alasdair is Gareth’s nephew, and he’s looking for his uncle, the ninth Earl of Cairndow. But, Gareth hasn’t told Rose the truth about his name or the fact he’s an earl. It isn’t the only secret the two men are keeping from the Buchanan women.
Secrets always cause trouble in romantic novels, and the secrets in this one threaten the growing feels between Isabel and Alasdair as well as Gareth and Rose. But, readers can enjoy the engaging, humorous novel. The characters are charming. The Highland games really are an entertaining highlight of the story. And, it’s a romance. Romances must have a happily-ever-after. And, the happily-ever-after in A Highlander Walks Into a Bar leads straight from an estate in Scotland to the next book in the series, A Highlander in a Pickup.
Laura Trentham’s website is www.lauratrentham.com
A Highlander Walks Into a Bar by Laura Trentham. St. Martin’s, 2019. ISBN 9781250315014 (paperback), 307p.
*****
FTC Full Disclosure – Library book
Sounds like a fun read.
It was, Gram. And, it came right after I told my sister I like the Victorian romances, but I'm not really interested in the Scottish ones. Then, this twist showed up.
I have read both A Highlander Walks into a Bar and A Highlander in a Pickup and enjoyed them very much. Nice, fun reads. I have found all of author Laura Trentham's books to be like that, some more serious than others but all fun and sweet.
Sounds like fun. It is in our library system, but since we are closed for at least 10 more days I cannot put it on hold. They have taken that function away.
Thanks for making the TBR and hold list even longer.
Hope all is going well with you and the kitties.
Grandma Cootie, that's good to know! Thank you. I'm looking forward to the next in the series. And, I'll have to try her historical romances.
I know, Netteanne! Now, you really do have to have a list somewhere since you can't put items on hold at the library. Or, you'll have to come back and scroll through the blog to remind yourself what you wanted to read. We're all fine here. Take care of yourself!