Winter Magic at Hollybrae Castle by Jaimie Admans #Review

 Winter Magic at Hollybrae Castle by Jaimie Admans was published by Boldwood Books on September 9th.

A Scottish castle, a fake marriage… and one very real Christmas romance?

 

After a window display goes disastrously viral – thanks to a malfunctioning animatronic Santa and an unfortunate encounter with Paddington Bear – Lula Haines finds herself without a job just weeks before Christmas. So she jumps at the chance to decorate Hollybrae Castle in Scotland for the holidays.

There’s just one complication: her handsome new boss, Oliver Bracewell, needs a fake wife for the festive season. To secure a promotion that could save his family’s castle, Ollie has been pretending to be a married father-of-two to impress the family-focused firm where he works. Now his bosses are coming to stay at Hollybrae over Christmas… expecting to meet his non-existent wife and children.

At first, playing along is easy as Lula is swept up in the magic of turning Hollybrae into the perfect festive escape with Ollie. But as Christmas draws nearer and she and Ollie grow closer, Lula begins to wonder if Hollybrae could become more than a temporary escape… and if the man she’s only pretending to love might actually be the one she’s been waiting for all along.

With heaps of tartan, tinsel and Christmas magic, this uplifting romance is perfect for fans of Trisha Ashley, Heidi Swain, Cressida McLaughlin, Ellie Henderson or Jessica Redland!

My Thoughts

This is one of my favourite festive reads so far. Despite the fact that it is only September, I seem to have read quite a few already! Lula finds herself in a strange situation, in a Scottish castle, pretending to be a fake wife but it all makes perfect sense when you read it. Lula is an entertaining and very likeable character. Although she knows that her current job is one that she has always wanted, she also feels that it lacks creativity and is rather corporate. She feels that she is stuck in her present life, renting a room in her sister's house and sometimes feels that she is in the way. The freedom she feels when she arrives in Scotland energises her. 

    Life in Scotland does seem rather idyllic but she discovers that Ollie has frustrations of his own, career -wise. There is plenty of humour to be found in the characters and situations and there is a real warmth in the people Lula meets who are locals. Even Ollie's guests discover an enjoyment in the traditional Christmas they are offered- all except one.  There is plenty of romance and festive sparkle in this delightful read

In short: unexpected new beginnings

About the Author

Jaimie Admans is the bestselling author of several romantic comedies – including The Little Christmas Shop on Nutcracker Lane and The Post Box at the North Pole. Her series for Boldwood, The Ever After Street Series, is based on the magical world of fairytales.

Book links: Amazon UK  |  Amazon US

You can follow Jaimie here: Website  |  Twitter |  Facebook  |  Instagram  |  Newsletter sign up  |  Bookbub

Thanks to Jaimie. Boldwood Books and Rachel of Rachel's Random Resources for a copy of the book and a place on the tour.