Book Review: Highland Hearts Holiday Bookshop by Tricia O'Malley

Author: Tricia O'Malley

Title: Highland Hearts Holiday Bookshop

Genre: Contemporary Romance, Fantasy

Format: ebook

Pages: 338

Published: December 2, 2024

Where I got It: Kindle Unlimited

Summary: 

The universe is playing a joke on me.

An unexpected inheritance has gifted me with the dream of a lifetime – owning a charming bookshop in small-town Scotland. Little did I know this gift comes with a surprise – Highland Hearts bookshop has been running an underground magical matchmaking service – and as new owner of the shop, I am expected to deliver on these matches.

As Christmas looms, and lonely hearts beg for love, I’m tossed into the world of magic and romance, aided by a meddling book club who seems more interested in romance than reading.

The problem is – I just don’t believe in love. Or so I thought.

It turns out there’s one local bird nerd and Scottish hottie, Alexander MacTavish, who has my heart all aflutter. While he’s more into puffins than paperbacks, I can’t help but notice he’s showing up at the bookshop to help every time something goes wrong. Maybe it’s my determination to have an adventure, or maybe it’s the magic, but every time tall, dark, and grumpy enters my bookshop, I find myself wanting to read up on birds just to catch his attention.

As my newfound magic falters, and the town enters my shop into a cutthroat Christmas window decorating competition, I find myself working side-by-side with Alexander, who seems just as determined to avoid love as I am.

With Christmas fast approaching, I must figure out if I can suspend my disbelief and make the match of a lifetime – my own.

Review:

Awww I really like this author! She is so much fun and has such good ideas!

Here we have Rosie who has never taken a gamble or reached for anything. Everything she has settled for. She finally wakes up when she inherits a bookshop from a distant relative in Scotland. This is the new, fresh start she needs! Along with books, she is tossed into some magic, puffins, a hot man named Alexander, and a cutthroat Christmas window decorating competition. She will need Alexander's help to meddle through. 

This was adorable and I didn't want to stop reading. 

Loved the puffin. 

Loved the small town. 

Loved the magic element. 

Loved Alexander. 

Loved Rosie. 

Loved the book club!

It was adorable and fun for the holiday season. I def recommend this one! Too cute. Super fresh. 

5 stars. 

Blodeuedd's Monday: The List of Suspicious Things by Jennie Godfrey

Narrated by: Joanne Froggatt, Mark Noble, Asif Khan, Gemma Whelan, Simon Harvey

Release date: 12-30-25

Length: 10 hrs and 50 mins

Publisher: Tantor Media

Fiction/to review

Have I ever heard of the Yorkshire Ripper? No, but he killed a lot of people! Those few years must have been quite scary for women.

Miv is 12. Her mother is not really present, but she does not know why. She is just there. Her dad is busy at work and her aunt is staying with them. Everyone is talking about the Ripper, and they are told to be careful. Even if he goes after a certain kind of women, something she is not sure what it means either.

But together with her best friend Sharon she makes list of suspects and they investigate. During their investigations they make new friends, and find things that are not right. But how to solve problems when you are just a child?

It does get sad too, I did not expect it to get sad, but you are warned.

It was a really interesting book, I do confess to checking out who the ripper actually was in the end. I was just so curious! But I also managed to forget the name so I never knew what would happen.

A story of growing up.

There is quite a cast of narrators, 5 in total, that pop in here and there. And it works well, mostly it is Mivs POV, but there are other people around her too.

Twelve-year-old Miv is panicking. Life has been complicated since her mom got sick, and now her dad is talking about wanting to move their family away from the town Miv has lived in her whole life—because of the murders. Young women are dying, everyone is afraid, and no one knows who the culprit might be.

But as far as Miv is concerned, leaving Yorkshire and her best friend Sharon simply isn't an option, no matter the dangers lurking round their way; or the strangeness at home that started the day Miv's mum stopped talking. Perhaps if she could solve the case of the disappearing women, they could stay after all?

So, Miv and Sharon decide to make a a list of all the suspicious people and things on their street. People they know. People they don't. But their search for the truth reveals more secrets in their neighborhood, within their families—and between each other—than they ever thought possible. What if the real mystery Miv needs to solve is the one that lies much closer to home?

2026 Romance Reading Bingo Challenge

Hosted by: Blodeuedd @ Book Girl of Mur-y-Castell Jen @ That's What I'm Talking About Carole @ Carole Rae's Random Ramblings

We are doing it again in 2026! It's the Romance Reading Bingo Challenge (#RRBC2026), hosted by Carole, Linda, and Jen! The challenge is to read a book and check the boxes.

List of Challenges (Romance books):

• Re-read
• Wedding trope
• Wallflower/Ugly Duckling
• Office romance
• Blind Date/Arranged Marriage
• Number in the title
• Cat/Dog on the cover
• TBR over 2+ years
• Part of a series you meant to go back to
• Published in 2026
• Duke in the title
• Alien/Cyborg romance
• Secret Royal/Billionaire
• Pink Dress on the cover
• Audiobook with 2+ narrators
• MC Works in the Food Industry
• Non-Regency Historical romance
• Small Town romance
• Second Chance
• Sunset/Sunrise on the cover
• Book starts with same letter as your name
• LGBTQ+
• Necktie on the cover
• Travel / Vacation
• Non-Christmas Holiday

Rules:

• It MUST BE a genre romance book (HFN/HEA).
• One box per book. If your book meets more than one box, you have to pick just one.
• No changing the box. Once you put a book in a box, you can't move it.
• Books can be used in other challenges. (examples: Goodreads, Library Love, TBR, Audiobook, etc.)
• The goal is to get at least one BINGO! (see levels below)
• The challenge runs from January 1 to December 31, 2026.
• You may join whenever.

Bingo Levels: 1 or 2 Bingos: Beginner 3 Bingos: You're getting the hang of this! 4 Bings: Expert Level Entire Sheet: Supreme Ruler of Bingo! If you want to add your blog or Goodreads to the list, click on the linky below. NOTE: You do not have to have a blog or URL to sign up!

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

So what level will you try in 2026?

Audiobook Review: The Lump of Coal by Lemony Snicket

Author: Lemony Snicket

Narrator: Neil Patrick Harris
Title: The Lump of Coal

Genre: Humor, Fantasy, Children's story, Short Story
Format: Audiobook
Published: September 30, 2008
Where I Got It: Borrowed from library

Summary: 

This is a story about a lump of coal who can think, talk, and move itself around.

Is there a more charming holiday tale to behold? Probably, but Lemony Snicket has not written one.

Review:

I was digging through some quick audio shorts on my Libby app. I wanted something cute and Xmas-y, and then I found this. 

This is a story about a lump of coal who wants more out of life. 

This was certainly charming and funny. I want to find the actual book so I can see the illustrations! Maybe next year! I could read this again. It was super adorable. Very short, but fun for all ages. 

I ADORE the narrator. Everything he touches turns to gold. 

5 stars. 

 Challenge(s):

- Audiobook #62

- Library Love #33