Review – Winter Star in the Scottish Highlands by Lizzie Lamb @lizzie_lamb #IndieChampion #BookReview #WrittenInTheStars #RespectRomFic #WinterStarInTheScottishHighlands

I love Christmas Books and generally start my reading in the early summer. This year was no different, and I soon found myself overcommitted to blog tours long before the nights started drawing in. I met Lizzie in September 2023 at the RNA Afternoon Tea and then again at the RNA Industry Awards event, when I was thrilled to see that she won the acclaimed Indie Champion Award. At that subsequent meeting, I agreed to read and review one of her books, not realising that I had already been involved in a blog tour for her. If you would like to read those reviews, you can follow these links: Harpers Highland Fling and Dark Highland Skies.

I purchased my digital copy from Amazon and I’m posting my review of my own free will.

Synopsis

This tale weaves together the magic of Scotland’s breathtaking scenery and the complexities of relationships, set against a natural, snowy wonderland.

As the harsh Lochaber winter approaches and with Halley expecting a baby, living in the converted Airstream caravan, Beag air Bheag, becomes impractical. Tor’s family home – Eagles Crag – offers shelter, but his mother’s inevitable meddling is holding them back from moving there. Instead, they find refuge in the Dower House and prepare for the arrival of their baby with optimism and hope, embracing the magic of a Highland Christmas, culminating in the Ghillies’ Ball on Hogmanay.

However, an old flame of Tor’s rents the nearby bothy threatening to disrupt their idyllic life . . .
Is their love strong enough to survive the trials of family, winter and a ghost from the past?

Review

I loved being back in Lochaber and seeing how much had changed since my last visit. Halley and Tor are happily expecting their first child and looking forward to their first Christmas as a family. All the familiar characters are present, and it was terrific to catch up with them. Well, most of them, because Tor’s brother is still a complete idiot.

Tor and Halley still have a beautiful connection that makes my heart happy. As they make plans for the future, it’s plain to see that they will no longer be able to live in Tor’s Airstream, leaving the happy couple with a difficult decision. Thankfully, they are able to join Tor’s sister in the Dower House, thus avoiding the need to live with his parents in the family home.

Lysander, the vile brother I alluded to, has not improved with time, and he continues to meddle in their lives. Thankfully, the family is becoming less tolerant of his behaviour, and Halley finds support from surprising corners.

Lexie and Rowan once again provide Halley with some much-needed love and support as she settles into the Dower House and prepares for the forthcoming arrival.

That’s as much as I’m prepared to reveal of the story, as I would hate to include any spoilers. What I can promise is that this book picks up from where Dark Highland Skies ended, and everything that I loved about that book continues in this new one.

For me, the main draw is the unerring connection between Tor and Halley. Their determination to tackle everything head-on and not allow anything to create uncertainty in their lives is beyond powerful and a rare skill.

What comes across most clearly is that Lizzie Lamb has created a community that stands the test of time and tide. There are weak points, but they all band together and show a united front that is impenetrable. Lizzie’s love and knowledge of Scotland are clear, and I adored each element of her writing. I’m now hoping that we can return in the future and learn more about Rowan and the rest of the locals.

Author Bio

INDIE CHAMPION 2023 – ROMANTIC NOVELISTS’ ASSOCIATION

Hello, I am Lizzie. Writing allows me to celebrate everything I love about my homeland, Scotland, and share those feelings with my readers. I spend summers with my husband touring Scotland in our caravan, researching my next novel, writing, and avoiding the midges. I enjoy imagining the moment when the hero heroine fall in love. The pursuit of the hero-in-a-kilt motivates me to sit front of the computer each day and I have published eight novels: Tall, and Kilted, Scotch on the Rocks, Girl in the Castle, Harper’s Highland Fling Dark Highland Skies its sequel Winter Star in the Scottish Highlands, Boot Camp Bride, and Take Me, I’m Yours. All my novels are available on Kindle Unlimited and as paperbacks. I am currently working on a Christmas novella for 2025 my ninth novel, Holding Out for a Hero. I organise the Leicester Chapter of the Romantic Novelists’ Association and present workshops on indie publishing to new writers. My feel-good/uplifting novels would be very happy to sit alongside those of Jilly Cooper, Jenny Colgan, Jill Mansell, and Carole Matthews on your bookshelf.
Slainte Mhath.

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