May McGoldrick’s Sweet Home Highland Christmas is a 2018 RITA® finalist for Romance Novellas! Freya Sutherland is a desperate aunt trying to keep custody of her precocious young niece, Ella. After the death of her father, Freya is willing to do anything to prove she’s capable of being Ella’s guardian, even if if means marrying for security instead of love.Recently retired from the military, … retired from the military, Captain Gregory Pennington wants nothing more than to make it home in time for Christmas. When his brother hears of his plans to return to the family estate for the holidays, he asks Penn to escort some travelers to the bordering estate.
When Freya and Penn meet their chemistry is instant. Once they realize he’s their escort for the journey, there’s no escaping their attraction. But Penn has plans that do not include a wife and child. And Freya has responsibilities as Ella’s guardian, no matter her growing discontent with her upcoming marriage. With Ella conspiring to get them together, Penn and Freya might just experience a little magic during the holidays.
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Freya Sutherland must find a way to keep the guardianship of her niece . Enter Captain Gregory Pennington when he helps to escort them when they discover feelings that her niece encourages. Delightful tale and character and is Page turner.
Ebook from netgalley and publishers with thanks. Opinions are entirely my own.
Sweet Home Highland Christmas by May McGoldrick is book 1.5 in The Pennington Family series. This is the story of Freya Sutherland and Captain Gregory Pennington.
Freya is has custody of her Niece Ella, but Ella’s grandmother is questioning Freya’s care. Freya is a single women but to keep her niece Freya will marry to do so. But when she meets Penn there is a immediate attraction but she knows that Penn hasn’t any plans to marry nor have a child. So trying to stick to her plan to keep her niece and fight the attraction she has for Penn. But little Ella has her own ideas and still the show…but she does help with a happy ending!
A very sweet romance for Christmas or just any time really….loved it!
I originally read this novella in the Christmas in Kilts anthology and it was by far my favorite in the collection.
This is the story of Gregory Pennington and Freya Sutherland. Freya is guardian to her niece Ella, but since her grandfather’s death, Ella’s grandmother has been questioning whether Freya is capable of caring for her. She has demanded Freya attend her and prove her worthiness. To prove her stability, Freya has agreed to marry her father’s heir, thus proving Ella a home and a financially stable future. She is not happy about the marriage, but the cost it worth it if it means Ella will stay with her. Her discontent grows once she meets their escort, Penn. These two have an instant chemistry, they sizzle! But Penn is not sure how he feels and has plans, plans that do not include a wife and child. And Freya has made a promise and she must marry. With a little help from Ella, these two finally get a HEA.
*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that was provided to me by NetGalley and the Publisher*
This is romantic and highly entertaining. Gregory is charming, kind, chivalrous and unassuming. Freya is strong, sweet and determined. Ella is bold, precocious and amusing. Gregory volunteered to bring his mother’s guests, Freya and Ella, to her home, but he wasn’t expecting a 5 y.o. girl to immediately start trying to get her aunt to marry him. Freya is determined to marry her cousin in order to keep custody Ella, but Ella prefers Gregory, and the more he gets to know them, the more he wants what Ella wants. It’s an amusing storyline and the characters are wonderful people who all deserve a happy ending. I recommend adding this to your TBR list.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. This is my honest and voluntary opinion of it.
Publisher’s Description:
A 2018 RITA® finalist for Romance Novellas!
Freya Sutherland is a desperate aunt trying to keep custody of her precocious young niece, Ella. After the death of her father, Freya is willing to do anything to prove she’s capable of being Ella’s guardian, even if if means marrying for security instead of love.
Recently retired from the military, Captain Gregory Pennington wants nothing more than to make it home in time for Christmas. When his brother hears of his plans to return to the family estate for the holidays, he asks Penn to escort some travelers to the bordering estate.
When Freya and Penn meet their chemistry is instant. Once they realize he’s their escort for the journey, there’s no escaping their attraction. But Penn has plans that do not include a wife and child. And Freya has responsibilities as Ella’s guardian, no matter her growing discontent with her upcoming marriage. With Ella conspiring to get them together, Penn and Freya might just experience a little magic during the holidays.
My Thoughts:
This was my favorite story in the previously released anthology, Christmas in Kilts. With a desperate heroine who needs a way to keep custody of her precocious niece who really made this story delightful, I loved it so much I had no problem rereading it now.
I easily see why this book received a RITA award nomination. This novella is easily one of the best I have read in the last two years.
I gave this story 4.75 of 5.0 stars for storyline and characterization.
Will our hero be the answer to our heroines prayers? Will this pair find love or will both of them resign themselves to a marriage of convenience?
I gave this story a sensual rating of 4.25 of 5.0 flames. It was one of the more sensual novellas in the collection it originally appeared in.
I received a complimentary digital copy of this novella to read and review. This in no way affected my opinion of this title which I read and reviewed voluntarily.
Prepare to be delighted in the Christmas novella set in the Highlands. Having taken care of her niece Freya, since Freya’s parents had passed away, Ella is desperate to keep custody of her. When Freya’s late fathers family begin to make demands to take her, Ella decides the only solution would be for her to marry her cousin. Captain Gregory Pennington, recently retired from the military is tasked by his brother to escort a family to their neighboring estate before he makes in home. Not expecting beautiful Ella, he and she are both instantly attracted to each other. Throw in five year old Freya and the adventure begins! The only problem is Pennington has plans of his own and a wife and child are not part of it. But as fate often does, it is the holidays and sometimes magic happens.
Loved this story and cannot wait to read more by this author!
Sweet Home Highland Christmas by May McGoldrick
The Pennington Family 1.5
As I began to read I realized I had read this delightful novella in the anthology Christmas in Kilts. What a delightful story of an aunt doing all that she can to retain guardianship of her niece…the little girl she has taken care of since her sister’s death…the little girl who starts the story playing matchmaker. I truly enjoyed this the first time I read it and equally so this second time around.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press – Swerve for the ARC – This is my honest review.
4.5 Stars
Captain Gregory Pennington is going home for Christmas and is newly retired from the Navy as an engineer. His older brother, Hugh, asked him to escort 4 adults and a child who were traveling to a neighbors for Christmas. Waiting for the party to arrive and an inn he’s approached by the most engaging child, Ella. He soon finds Ellis is the child he’s to escort along with her aunt and guardian Freya, and her nurse & husband. Colonel Richard Dunbar, the fourth hasn’t arrived yet and they expect he’ll join them further down the road. Freya’s father has no son’s and his Earldom will pass to Colonel Dunbar. He is not a nice man. Ella’s grandmother is demanding Freya marry to secure Ella’s care and support. Freya has raised Ella since she was born as Freya’s sister died in childbirth and her father died in the war.
I have to say Ella stole the book. Sometimes an author does such a wonderful job of writing a child into the story it,s delightful. Gregory finds himself drawn to Ella. In that way he’s drawn to the mother-guardian, Freya and her predicament. He’s horrified that Freya is being forced to marry a man she doesn’t want. Being an engineer he’s skilled at problem solving. Along the way he finds himself falling in love with her. Freya knows there’s no other option than Colonel Dunbar and desperately tries not to fall for Gregory.
Thank you May McGoldrick for this delightful story and thank you St Martin’s Press for the NetGalley ARC for my honest review.
How exciting! Christmas and a Christmas Ball at Baronsford in the Scottish Highlands! Captain Gregory “Penn” Pennington is asked by his brother to escort a party of 4 adults and a child to his childhood home for the Christmas holidays. Penn meets up with three of the adults and the charming, precicious child, Ella. Thus Penn and Freya Sutherland meet each other. Freya must marry to retain custody of her niece, Ella and has made an accommodation with her cousin, Colonel Richard Dunbar for a marriage of convenience. Dunbar is a gambler and womanizer, Freya knows this. But she has no other choice. Or does she?
May McGoldrick tells a delightful tale where girl meets boy and they fall in love with the help of young Ella. I totally enjoyed this charming tale and look forward to more stories in The Pennington Family Series.
Sweet Home Highlands by May McGoldrick is a quick historical romance, perfect for those with limited time for reading. Gregory was tasked with escorting a group of people to Baronsford. Included in the group are Freya and her niece Ella. I have to say, Ella stole the show in this book, everyone needs a little Ella in their life. The drama, sizzle and antics of Ella will keep readers glued to their e-readers. I love the humor. Kudos to Ms McGoldrick on the characters and dialog. Sweet Home Highland Christmas is book 1.5 of The Pennington Family Series but can be read as a standalone. This is a complete book, not a cliff-hanger.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book that I received from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Sweet Home Highland Christmas – what can I say, I LOVED Ella (the child)! It was fun watching how the H/h felt the instant attraction and how they both handled it while dealing with an extremely strong willed and voiced child. The ending was especially hilarious!
I received an ARC from NetGalley and these are my thoughts on the book!