A Highlander in a Pickup is the second book in award-winning author Laura Trentham’s romantic comedy Highland Georgia series, full of love, laughs…and highlanders! When a gorgeous new man–in a kilt–comes to town, life in Highland, Georgia will never be the same… Iain Connors is the poster boy for the strong and silent type. Growing up a loner at Cairndow Castle in Scotland with only the … at Cairndow Castle in Scotland with only the cliffs and moors for company, it’s understood Iain will assume the mantle of Cairndow groundskeeper when his father is ready to relinquish it. But his stint in Her Majesty’s Armed Forces has opened up a whole new world–and now, rather than settle down, he accepts an invitation to travel to the States to take charge of the Highland Games. After all, he’s led men into battle, how hard can planning a party be?
Anna Maitland is ready to step up for her best friend Isabel Blackmoor, who can’t run the Games in their hometown this year. Surely Anna, a dance instructor with boundless energy, spirit, and charm, is up for the challenge? What she doesn’t anticipate is a man in a kilt who turns up claiming he’s the one in charge. What’s worse about this Iain? He’s so infuriatingly handsome that she can’t help but fantasize about him whispering sweet-nothings in her ear in his rumbly, sexy brogue. . .
“Trentham never misses the mark when she takes aim at the heart.”–Night Owl Reviews
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Iain Connors has come to Highland, Georgia, from his home in Scotland to help Anna Maitland with the annual Highland (Scottish) Festival. Anna is determined to organize and manage the festival, or most of it, herself. The interaction between these two is witty, snarky, and just plain fun. It takes a while for these two to get comfortable with each other, but eventually come to a workable accord. This entertaining story is full of humor and absolutely lovable characters. The people of Highland are delightful. Iain and Anna are both intelligent, astute people. They are great at solving problems, especially if they work together. Will the festival be a success? Iain and Anna have responsibilities in different places. What happens to their romance? Happily ever after doesn’t always come easy, but they do come. This is the second story in the Highland, Georgia series. I have enjoyed the first two books and look forward to the next one.
I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley and a GoodReads giveaway. My review is voluntary.
A Highlander in a Pickup was an enjoyable read. I liked both Anna and Iain, and it was fun to return to Highland, Georgia for the Highland Games. I love that they added animals to the festival this year, especially Ozzie the sheep.
I voluntarily read and reviewed a complimentary Advance Reader Copy from NetGalley.
I am enjoying this contemporary series by Laura Trentham.
Featuring another cocky highlander, this time, its Iain. He’s in America for the Highlander Games and driving Anna nuts. She’s filling in for her bestie and butting heads with Iain over the games. Fun and steamy times are guaranteed along with a kilt.
Recommend.
A Highlander in a Pickup is the second book in Laura Trentham’s Highland, Georgia series. Iain Connors has been dispatched from Cairndow, Scotland, to assist Anna Maitland orchestrate the yearly Highland Festival on the Stonehaven property outside of Highland, Georgia. Anna’s best friend, Isabel Buchanan, has married the next Earl of Cairndow and is on bed rest awaiting the birth of their daughter, so not only is Isabel not traveling home for the festival but also her mother, Rose, has journeyed to Scotland for the baby’s birth, which leads to Anna being in control.
Anna has felt little control in her life. Orchestrating this festival is the one way she feels she can establish her competency, especially in light of her plans to run for Highland mayor. She is not willing to relinquish her control to this Highlander in her best friend’s truck for the festival held on her best friend’s farm.
As the story unfolds, both Anna and Iain find the beauty in collaboration, their own competence, and that relinquishing control may be the only way to truly be free. This is a delightful story and I do recommend it!
A Highlander in a Pickup
Book 2 A Highland, Georgia
Laura Trentham
A Highlander in a Pickup is a very fun, full of love, and entertaining read! It is very well written and entertaining!
What a very pleasurable story! I Can not wait for the next book in the series!
This seems to be a wonderful small town where real men from Scotland seem to land. It was a great idea for a town named Highland to add a Scottish festival every year to hopefully get tourists in their town. Since they did this Anna is now planning the festival and is a little over her head since she has a job and hopes to run for Mayor of the city. She meets Iain and they have many adventures working together to plan the festival. I really enjoyed the romance. I received a copy of this book from St. Martin’s Press for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will
I thoroughly enjoyed reading A Highlander in a Pickup and found this book to be charming, funny, and wonderfully entertaining. Laura Trentham has written an absolutely lovable contemporary romantic comedy that pulled me in from the very beginning-picture a stubborn blackfaced sheep struggling with a sassy woman in a tutu, and completely held my attention to the very end- think handsome, brooding Highlander in a kilt! Although this is the second book in Laura Trentham’s Highland, Georgia series, it can definitely be read as a standalone. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a fast paced, sweet and totally entertaining “feel good” romantic comedy that’s simply a pleasure to read.
This story takes place in the small town of Highland, Georgia where visitors can experience the unique blend of southern charm mixed with Scottish culture and men wearing kilts. Every year the town hosts a Highland festival to promote its unique culture. This year Anna Maitland is left in charge of setting up and running this event since her best friend Izzy, who’s usually in charge, is in Scotland and about to give birth. Anna is energetic, runs a successful dance studio and is determined to do everything right to prove to the town that she is responsible and worthy of becoming their next mayor. “Cool professionalism was what would get her through the festival and a run at the mayor’s office. She was doing her best to cultivate a sober, serious persona.” Despite being overwhelmed and stressed by all her new responsibilities, she’s determined to get everything done and to do things her way. The last thing Anna needs is a sexy, brooding Highlander from Scotland to get in her way! What’s even more frustrating is that he’s wearing a kilt and she’s definitely attracted to him.
Iain Connors had a very quiet, unconventional childhood growing up in the shadows of Cairndow Castle in Scotland where his father worked as the groundskeeper of the castle and single handedly raised Iain after his mother left them. Iain grew up as a loner and as an adult he’s definitely the strong silent type who’s often viewed as intimidating and socially awkward around others. After serving in Her Majesty’s Armed Forces, Iain returns home to Cairndow to discover that he’s restless and no longer sure that he wants to take over as the castle’s groundskeeper when his father retires. When his close friend, Alasdair asks him to travel to the States to help out with the Highland festival, Iain sees this as an opportunity to spend some time away from Cairndow and as a chance to consider his future. When Iain arrives in Highland he mistakenly assumes that Anna will be more than happy to relinquish control of planning the festival. He certainly wasn’t prepared to encounter a stubborn, independent Anna who adamantly states that she doesn’t need or want his help with planning the festival and demands he stay out of her way! Iain knows that Anna doesn’t want him involved but sees that she obviously needs his help. He’s just as determined to keep his promise to Alasdair to do whatever is necessary to make sure that the festival runs smoothly, even if that means locking horns with Anna. Let the Highland games begin!
As Iain eases into his new life in Highland, Georgia he quickly becomes a vital part of the town by helping the elderly with small home improvements, assisting shop keepers, and singing and playing with the local Celtic band known as the Bluegrass Jacobites. He also finds his own path in a town where he is appreciated for his talents and where he feels free of his obligations. He is kind and considerate and makes sure to give Anna her distance while slowly becoming vital to her happiness. Anna continues to struggle with her attraction to Iain and is determined to keep her distance, especially since Iain will be returning to Scotland once the games are over. Anna’s insecurities of being left behind by the people she loves definitely plays a major role in her interactions with Iain. Will Anna let down her guard and allow Iain into her heart? Will Iain’s loyalty to his father and Cairndow Castle mean leaving Anna and Georgia behind? Will there time together end after the Highland festival?
I completely enjoyed reading A Highlander in a Pickup and especially appreciated how the story was told from the alternating points of view of the two main characters. The main characters were really well written and developed and the secondary characters were totally charming and entertaining. I completely fell in love with Iain’s character and his loyalty to his father and Cairndow Castle, his vulnerability and awkwardness around women, his love of poetry and Robert Burns, his supportive nature and his ability to understand Anna’s insecurities. In the end he proved himself to Anna, standing up for her when necessary, always ready to help and yet willing to respect her need to be independent. Anna’s character was strong and independent but her own insecurities often caused her to be judgmental, immature and deliberately hurtful to Iain. I found it harder to understand Anna’s actions especially since she was aware of Iain’s own insecurities. She was also told by her good friend Izzy that Iain was a very good man. Finally, I completely loved Iain’s father who gave his unconditional love and support to his son and was so understanding about Iain’s struggles.
This story was wonderfully entertaining, well written and had characters that became so lifelike that at the end of the story I just didn’t want to let them go. Since I never read the first book in this series it was the perfect opportunity to go back and spend more time with the charming town of Highland, Georgia and the lovable characters that live there. The epilogue of this book, which was told from Holt’s point of view, gave a quick glimpse into the lives of the main characters in the next story. I look forward to reading the next book in this series, A Highlander is Coming to Town which comes out in September. I can’t wait to go back to Highland, Georgia and visit once again!
I would like to thank the author and St. Martin’s Press for providing me with an advanced reader’s copy of this book in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.
A Highlander in a Pickup A Highland by Laura Trentham is book Two in the Highland Georgia Series. This is the story of Anna Maitland and Iain Connors. I have read the previous book, but felt you could make this a standalone book if you wish to do so. Anna is taking over the Highland Games planning from her friend Isabel. So Anna is wanting to prove that she can do this and wants full control. Anna is someone who is taking over her mother dance studio so she always seems to feel pressure to prove herself. Iain has come down from Scotland to help with the Highland Games too but he finds that Anna isn’t one for giving up control. But they do start to work together and finding that their feelings are becoming to hard to avoid. This was a fun read I though and really enjoyed it.
A Highlander in a Pickup by Laura Trentham has me by far hooked on this series! I couldn’t put it down until I had finished it in one day. I highly recommend this book and the series to anyone that has or hasn’t read Laura Trentham.
With a small town full of quirky characters, Laura Trentham delivers another fun and sexy story that has both humor and heart.
There was so much to love about both Anna and Iain. Anna has been trying to make a life for herself in Highland, but has a hard time feeling like the town she grew up in is taking her seriously as an adult – even though she runs a successful business and is always contributing to her community. I loved that she had ambitions to run for mayor and really wanted to help her town move forward. Iain is just trying to figure out what’s next in his life and is using his time in the States to think about his next steps. I loved how honorable and loyal he was, always taking his commitments seriously, even when they played against what his heart wanted. I loved the vulnerability in him about his looks and his awkward nature around women, always feeling like he was a big, burly guy that came across as scary or intimidating – and I especially loved how Anna was always in his face, standing up to him, and reassuring him that she wasn’t scared or intimidated by his size or afraid of him, she was generally just reacting to his actions because he infuriated her! It was fun to watch them verbally spar and try to fight the attraction that burned hot from their first meeting, but it was so satisfying to see them finally give in to that attraction and find out how good they could be together.
The supporting characters added both heart and humor to the story. From the assorted pets and livestock – I just loved Ozzie and Harriett – to family and friends that supported both Iain and Anna, the pages were filled with not only humorous banter and situations, but also the supportive dialogue to help both Iain and Anna find their way.
This is the second book in the series but can easily be read as a standalone. Ms. Trentham’s writing style makes this an easy and fun read and there is a good balance between the sexy times and the heart of the story, moving Iain and Anna towards their happy ever after.
Another series that I am all in on and would definitely recommend – it’s hard to resist a Highlander in a kilt!
I received an advance reader copy from the publisher via NetGalley which I voluntarily reviewed.
I was pumped when I saw that A Highlander in a Pickup was available for review on NetGalley. I wanted to see what Anna and Iain’s love story would be like. So, now you’re wondering why a 3-star review if I was so thrilled to read it.
It wasn’t the plotline. A Highlander in a Pickup had a fast-moving plotline. There was no lag, which is a massive plus for me, and there were no dropped storylines or characters.
I hate to admit this, but it was Iain and Anna’s issues that dragged the story down for me. I love enemies to friend troupe as much as the next person. But in this book, it was taken to an extreme. Even though I knew that Anna and Iain were going to fall in love, there was a point where I wondered if they were going to make it there. There was too much bickering between the two during the first half of the book.
I wasn’t a fan of Iain being overly insecure. He overthought everything that came out of his mouth and was afraid of pissing Anna off. There was a point where I started eye-rolling because it was too much. Other than that, I loved him. He was what Anna needed.
Anna drove me crazy go nuts right. I couldn’t get over her behavior towards Iain. Her hostility was unwarranted and at times, made me mad. She couldn’t handle the planning of the games, and it showed. Also, she was super insecure. OMG, was she ever. I did think to myself, at one point, that she needed therapy. It was that bad. But, putting the insecurities and her bad attitude towards Iain aside, Anna was a good person. And that goodness was showcased time and again.
Anna and Iain’s romance was slow to get started because of everything that I listed above. There was an instant attraction that got pushed to the back burner due to Iain’s insecurities and Anna’s hostility. But, once they kissed, there was no going back. That sexual attraction snowballed into some pretty steamy sex scenes.
A Highlander in a Pickup is book 2 in the Highland, Georgia series. This book can be read as a stand-alone book. But, I would recommend reading A Highlander Walks Into a Bar to understand more about the festival and Highland itself.
The end of A Highlander in a Pickup was your typical HEA. I loved that the author gave a hint about who the next book is going feature.
Highland Georgia #2, This is such a fun book, a light hearted and funny romance between one person determined to prove herself and a man who’s trying to find himself. I loved Iain and Anna. Anna, after failing her dream of broadway came home and eventually took over her mother’s dance studio. She has worked hard to make it hers to expand the direction of the studio to fit current trends and now she wants to run for mayor. Anna sees her chance at running the Highland Games this year as her chance to prove to everyone that she has what it takes to be mayor of Highland. Iain grew up the caretakers son he saw his dad’s life revolve around Cairnow Castle. As soon as he could he left but while in HM Armed Forces he couldn’t wait to come home. Until he actually got there and he didn’t know for sure of that’s what he wanted anymore, but he promised his Dad after helping with the Highland Games he’d be back.
At first Anna sees Iain as a threat, a very,very sexy, kilt wearing threat. Thinking he’s going to come in and take over. That had been Iain’s plan but seeing that Anna has everything under her control he takes on the one thing she can’t control, the animals. Since the addition of livestock show is new and Anna is horrible with animals she is more than happy to leave that to Iain. As the days pass the attraction builds and Anna sees how good Iain is with the townspeople he even takes on extra work just to help out around the town and the attraction grows stronger. When they finally do give into the lust it’s hot and heavy between them but they don’t let that get in the way of the festival. The Festival is anticipated and dreaded as it also marks the ending point of Iain’s time in Highland.
Overall, it was such a fun read. I am really enjoying this series and the teaser at the end about the next book, oh boy. It can be read as a standalone but reading the first book give you a bit more background on the town and the Highland Games festival.
You could certainly read this story standalone, but I would recommend reading A Highlander Walks into a Bar first.
Anna Maitland is Izzy’s best friend whom we met in the first book. Now that Izzy is on bed rest in Scotland waiting to have her baby Anna has agreed to run this year’s Highlander festival and Izzy decides to send Anna a surprise in the shape of a hunky highlander in a kilt!
Iain Connors has just gotten out of Her Majesty’s Armed Forces and is expected to take over his father’s position as the Cairndow groundskeeper but Iain wishes instead to see more of the world so instead he agrees to go to the States to help Izzy’s friend run the Highlander festival. What he was not expecting was to be instantly smitten with the dance instructor…..to bad she doesn’t want to give him the time of day. But little does he know that Anna is secretly lusting over him.
As Anna and Iain spend more time together their attraction continues to grow, but Anna doesn’t want to pursue anything so Iain just bides his time until these two control themselves! Just when Iain thinks he may have found the direction his life should be taking, a wrench gets thrown into the mix. It will take a lot of deep thinking by both Anna and Iain in order to finally find their happy ending.
I really loved Iain! He was so sweet and sexy all wrapped up in a kilt! 😉 I really loved him and Anna together!
3.5 Stars!
A Highlander in a Pickup is the second book in the Highland Georgia Series and it follows the story of Iain & Anna. When Anna’s best friend Isabel is unable to run the Highland Games this year, Anna steps up to the challenge. However, Anna quickly discovers that she might just be in over her head. And when Iain shows up to give her hand, he knocks her world off its axis…..
Overall, I thought this book was a quick and easy read. I had a fun time returning to the Highland Georgia Series and couldn’t wait to see what was in store for us this time. Anna is a strong and independent woman. You can count on her to help a friend who is need. And Iain is the strong, silent type. He’s very loyal and takes his duties seriously. Together these two are very similar and can’t help but butt heads. And the sizzling sexual tension doesn’t help the situation either. I loved watching these two butt heads and deny the feelings they had for one another. I knew it would lead to something pretty special and couldn’t wait to see how it would all play out.
A Highlander in a Pickup is a fun and entertaining read. You can easily finish it in a single sitting. The characters are fun and easy to connect with. The story was easy to read and written well. It had good humor, light angst and steamy moments. All in all, a nice read to spend your day getting swept up in.
This is such a fun series. I really like the way Iain is so strong yet so vulnerable. Since Izzy is in Scotland, Anna is left to plan the festival. Izzy sent Iain to help her. Do they think she can’t handle the arrangements? Is that why they sent Iain? Anna is like a little fairy and Iain a big hulky guy. He doesn’t know what to say most of the time and Anna keeps him tongue tied. Yet, he feels comfortable with her. Iain has made a promise to take over his dad’s caretaker duties and can’t really start anything with Anna. Anna is getting ready to run for mayor and doesn’t have time for any romance. He can’t stay and she can’t go. What will they do?
Hilarious, painful, emotional, romantic, this novel is all of that an more. Two characters couldn’t be more different than Anna Maitland and Iain Connors and their initial interaction with Ozzie the Scottish black-faced sheep had me wiping the tears of laughter from my cheeks. Sent to Highland, Georgia to assist Anna in running the annual Highland Festival, Iain is standing in for his friend to make the event a success. Anna is determined to take control of matters, given that she has a point to prove and a reputation to build. Iain, on the other hand, has the experience and the skills to bring the plans for the festival together, but the feisty and energetic Anna is not giving him any quarter. The taciturn Highlander is more comfortable quoting Robbie Burns than voicing his own opinions, whereas sarcastic, quick-witted Anna is never at a loss for words. Despite her success as a business owner and a dancer, Anna nevertheless suffers from the years of exacting discipline imposed by her mother, and it takes very little to make her crumble in the face of disapproval. With his watchful sensitivity, Iain begins to get the measure of Anna and when he shows her his caring protectiveness, she feels her heart soften towards the man who could very well overshadow her. Through it all, the reader once again meets up with friends from Highland with all their quirky characteristics and I found myself rooting for Anna and Iain. However, Iain has made a promise to his father and being the honourable man that he is, he would rather turn his back on finding love than to break his word, leaving Anna devastated and angry. Although this book is part of a series, it is also a standalone and Anna and Iain’s story comes to a really good conclusion. I received a copy of this book through NetGalley and this is my honest and voluntary review.
What can I say about author Laura Trentham? I love anything and everything that she writes. Her stories never, ever disappoint. We first visited the Scotland lookalike town of Highland, Georgia and met some actual Scottish highlanders and women mesmerized by them in the first book in the Highland, Georgia series A Highlander Walks Into a Bar. A Highlander in a Pickup starts right up where the first book left off, and it’s as good if not better.
Anna Maitland is strong, competent and capable – on the outside. On the inside she’s a bit shaky with a lot of residual fears and issues from the past. But she is certain she can handle the annual Highland Games all alone. And then she meets Iain Connors: “With her brain taking a nap, she smoothed over the sleek dark eyebrow with her thumb.” Iain Connors is a quiet loner, an ex-military man trying to figure out what to do with the rest of his life. But he is certain he can handle those Highland Games he was asked in Scotland to fly to the States and take care of without any trouble. And then he meets Anna Maitland: “He nodded like a caveman. He was a kiss away from having to draw on walls to communicate.”
With reactions to each other like that, and both of them sure they can run the Highland Games without any help, thank you very much, you know you are in for a wild ride. Author Trentham’s characters are sweet and funny and mixed up and often hilarious but always lovable. They get in laugh-out-loud situations, but then what they’ve been through or what they do has you reaching for a tissue. Peeling back the layers is a joyous voyage. And did I mention things can get a little steamy? Remember, this is a man in a kilt, after all!
Thanks to Laura Trentham for providing an advance copy of A Highlander in a Pickup in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. This book is yet another example of Trentham’s excellent writing, strong character and plot development, and thoroughly satisfying endings. I loved A Highland in a Pickup and recommend it without hesitation and am impatiently waiting for the next book in this series or anything else this author writes.
This was an entertaining, well-written book. Anna is running the Highland Games festival in Highland, Georgia for the first time, and is surprised when Iain arrives from Scotland, prepared to take over. Sparks fly between them, and slowly they begin to get to know each other, work together, and explore their connection. This book was so fun, sexy and charming! I enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more books by this author.
WOW!!! A Highlander in a Pickup is another amazing story by Laura Trentham, book two in her Highland, Georgia series. Anna Maitland had no problem agreeing to help her best friend Izzy, with getting everything ready for the Highland Games held in their hometown. As a dance instructor, Anna has boundless energy, spirit, and charm. Plus it would make her look good to town as she runs to be the next Mayor. The only problem Anna has is the arrival of Iain Connors claiming he’s the one in charge. Iain, the strong, handsome and silent type, is unsettled after his stint in Her Majesty’s Armed Forces. Iain readily agrees to travel to the States to take charge of the Highland Games. He’s led men into battle, planning this event can’t be any more trouble and maybe his time there will help him figure out his future. Working with control-freak Anna is a definite challenge; not only are they attracted to each other, their chemistry is off the charts. One thing is for sure, Highland, Georgia will never be the same after Iain, wearing his kilts, came to town.
Ms. Trentham wrote a wonderfully funny and sexy story that is not to be missed. She provided a tale rich with sexual chemistry, hot Highlanders, and other engaging characters giving Anna and Iain a chance for happiness and love. I highly recommend A Highlander in a Pickup to other readers and I for one am hoping there is another book in this series.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
Warm, small-town feel and an authentic, kilted Highlander for pure sizzle
4.5stars
A really great romance with a close-knit community and a real, kilted Scot to enliven the frazzled life of Anna, a wannabe community leader in Highland, Georgia, with emotional scars and fears of rejection. Iain, the tall, Scottish breeze who blows into town is one mighty fine laddie who’s working on his own issues and worries about his future.
Their story, packed with sexual tension and a growing emotional connection, was lovely, but so were the subplots related to other residents in town, including a grieving father and daughter, a prickly shop owner who sees Anna as a rival in town politics, and a young farmer taking on the management of his parents’ property. Plus, a lively Highland-themed late summer festival adds charm and challenges.
The story has some heat but it enhances the romance rather than predominating. I thoroughly enjoyed the plot, characters and writing; the Scottish flair throughout was an added bonus since I am a fan of all things Scottish.
I presume that this novel follows up on a story that I did not catch about Isabel, a former town resident who found herself a Scot and moved to Scotland. She and her family are frequently brought into this book, but Anna and Iain’s story is a true standalone. The last chapter is, however, largely dedicated to building a lead-in to a forthcoming romance about Holt, another Highland, Georgia resident. Based on the quality of A Highlander in a Pickup, I am already looking forward to his story.
Thanks to publisher St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for providing a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest review.