Driven by familial duty, Holt Pierson has always followed the path expected of him. But lately, he’s been questioning what he wants and where he belongs. Will assuming the responsibility of the family farm make him happy or is there something else out in the wider world calling to him?
To Claire Smythe, the Scottish lead singer of touring band, the world has turned into a big, scary place and all she wants is to hide in little Highland, Georgia to lick her wounds. She’s doing a bang-up job of laying low until a handsome, overly curious Holt begins to ask too many questions she doesn’t want to answer.
Christmas is coming to Highland, Georgia, and with it a celebration that will bring together old traditions and new. As Holt draws her out of hiding and into the fabric of the small town, can Claire put past hurts behind her to embrace an unexpected love and future?
Very good book. I enjoyed my return trip to Highland, Georgia, and the chance to see Holt get his happy ever after. I felt bad for him in the first book, A Highlander Walks Into a Bar, when he lost Izzy to Alasdair. In that book, and the following one, A Highlander in a Pickup, he exhibits some restlessness, wondering if there is more to life. At the beginning of this story, Holt runs the family farm on his own while his parents travel the country in an RV. On a trip into town, Holt meets the prickly Claire when he rescues her groceries from a broken bag. A short time later, he comes to the rescue again when her bike has a flat. He is intrigued by the contrasts he sees in her - a bit of mystery, a crusty attitude, and hints of fun and flirtation.
Claire made her first appearance in the last book as the singer for the band The Scunners at the Highland Games. She traveled with them for several years but parted ways at the end of the games. Since then, she has worked as a caregiver for an elderly lady, Ms. Meadows. In the few months that Claire has been there, she has done her best to avoid spending much time in town. She has a pretty big secret, and she doesn't want to take a chance on revealing it. Claire has some big decisions to make about her future before going home to Scotland after Christmas. The last thing she needs is to get involved with a good-looking farmer.
I enjoyed seeing the relationship develop between Claire and Holt. They don't seem like much of a match at first. Claire is aloof, sometimes rude, but hides a good heart. Holt is handsome, charming, and seemingly unflappable. From the moment he met her, Holt was determined to get to know Claire better. In their first encounters, he is intrigued by the fun side that pokes through her prickly crust. He takes every opportunity to spend time with her until he breaks down her walls entirely. Claire doesn't know quite what to make of Holt at first. No matter how rude she is to him, it just rolls off his back. It isn't long before she enjoys his company.
The sparks of attraction that were there from the start soon burst into flame. The more time they spend together, the closer they get. It is soon apparent that both of them have been lonely and that being together makes a big difference in their lives. But Claire has been clear from the beginning that she has to go back to Scotland, which is warring with her growing feelings for Holt. An unexpected arrival in Highland accelerates decision time for Claire. I enjoyed this part so much because the growth in confidence and maturity that Claire has experienced surfaces in a very satisfying way. I wasn't surprised by her decision and loved how easy it was for her to do. I loved the follow-on of her visit to Holt and the happiness that resulted. The epilogue was excellent, with a few more surprises and a great deal of fun.
I love the small town of Highland. It was heartwarming to
see how Claire was eased into the fabric of the town's life. She never stood a
chance of staying aloof once she started hanging out with Holt. I had to laugh
at her encounter with Anna in the drugstore, which was an unusual way to begin
a friendship. I liked how Iain and the band helped Claire get back into her
music. But my favorite resident was Ms. Meadows. Under that crusty exterior was
a heart of gold, and I loved that she took care of Claire just as much as
Claire did of her. I had to laugh at her protectiveness when Holt first showed
up, and how his charm even worked on her. There were some wonderfully
heartwarming scenes between Ms. Meadows and Claire.
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