Fall in love with a cozy holiday romance set in Ireland and/or Scotland.

Do you dream of inheriting a bookstore in a small town in Ireland? Have you ever tried to save the local bakery that made your favorite Christmas cookies? Would you like to run a bar in Scotland? An inn on Martha's Vineyard? Do you dream of returning to your small town for the holidays and getting a second chance with the one that got away? Are your favorite tropes grumpy/sunshine? Enemies to lovers? Fake dating? Second chance? Or just snowed in with a fireplace ... but only one bed?

A cozy holiday romance may be the perfect escape for you!

Here are some of my favorite sweet Christmas romance books I've read in the past year.

Coming in December 2024.

Highland Hearts Holiday Bookshop by Tricia O'Malley

An American bookworm working a dead-end retail job finally calls it quits on her job and her boyfriend after he doesn't care that she was pummeled by frantic customers in search of giant water cups with straws. Upon learning she has inherited a bookshop in Scotland, she begins a new adventure. Her new world leads her to discover magic in matchmaking, a new group of "book bitches" and a handsome Scotsman who cares for an injured puffin. This is my favorite of all her books, maybe because it seems to combine many of my favorite elements of all of them. Follow her on Facebook or Instagram to join her as she dives with sharks, finds the best hot cocoa in Edinburgh or just encourages you to "sparkle on."

Snowed In by Catherine Walsh

I read this book before her other books, and it didn't matter that it was the second in a series. Set in present day Ireland in a realistic world (no fae here) this book features vibrant, messy characters and believable love. Tropes: fake dating, forced proximity, second chance. Walsh is hilarious, and you should follow her on Instagram and read all her books.

Highlands Christmas Romance series by Amy Quick Parrish

In the Highlands Christmas Romance trilogy, Melissa MacKenzie’s life turns upside down when her marriage falls apart and she inherits a house in the Scottish Highlands. With the help of Colin MacGregor, a charming lawyer — who just happens to be her soon-to-be ex-husband’s attorney — Melissa embarks on a journey of love and self-discovery. As snow falls, friendships grow, and romance blooms, Melissa and her best friend Caitlin must navigate love, friendship, and new beginnings, all set against the magical landscape of Scotland.

Wild Irish Christmas by Tricia O'Malley

Tricia O'Malley quickly became one of my favorite authors. She writes about Scotland, Ireland, fae, magick, and mermaids. What's not to love? I highly recommend all her books, especially the Wild Irish, Wild Scottish and Siren Island series. Wild Irish Christmas is a crossover book that includes characters and settings in her Wild Irish series and her Isle of Destiny series. Highly recommend for feel-good escapism with a dollop of spicy love.