A Highland Christmas

by Rachael Lucas

Snow is falling in little village of Applemore and the Harbour Cafe is full of the scent of cinnamon and vanilla...
but owner Sarah Wilson is planning to skip the holidays this year.
The little coffeeshop is sparkling with fairy lights, but with her brother escaping to Morocco and no plans of her own, she's focused on what she can do to make the season special for everyone else.
Then Jim Fletcher walks through the door...
The professor from New England is spending the holidays in Applemore, researching small-town revivals and escaping his own ghosts. As their friendship grows over coffee and Sarah's famous gingerbread cookies, it turns into something more - snowy beach walks, sharing spiced apple cider by the village Christmas tree, and the sweet possibility of joy.
But Jim's research will end. He'll return to New England, and Sarah will stay exactly where she's always been - won't she?

Sometimes it takes a stranger to help you see that honouring the past doesn't mean surrendering your future - and the romance of Christmas can make it possible.

A standalone, sweet Christmas novella set in the much-loved village of Applemore.

Genres: Christmas

124 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 16, 2025

About the author

Rachael Lucas has written 15 novels for adults and teenagers, including the Carnegie nominated THE STATE OF GRACE, the top ten bestseller SEALED WITH A KISS and many more. She is also the author (as Rosie Curtis) of sweet holiday romance We Met in December, an Amazon Editors' Pick. Her novels have been translated into many languages, including Korean, Hungarian, Italian, Turkish, French, German, Latvian, Estonian, Danish, Norwegian, Swedish, and more.

Sign up for Rachael's newsletter at rachaellucas.com, and find her on Facebook at facebook.com/rachaellucaswriter for behind the scenes news and updates.

Rachael lives by the seaside in the north west of England with her family and two very enthusiastic spaniels. When she's not writing at the kitchen table with a coffee by her side, she's out walking the dogs on the beach or the nearby pinewoods. She's a huge Kindle fan - her ten year old self would have been over the moon to be able to carry a whole library around in her pocket - and a lover of sweet, romantic, small town stories, which is exactly what she likes to write. She's a big Hallmark movie fan, wanted to be Anne of Green Gables when she was growing up, and Jo March was her literary heroine. (She still is.)

Rachael's books are full of warmth and gentle humour, as well as beautiful small town settings which give her readers an escape from everyday. Rachael has been described as having "a gift for capturing complex emotion and both romantic and platonic intimacy" and writing which "exudes positivity and warmth" which has received starred reviews in Publisher's Weekly. The British Guardian called her "honest, romantic and hilarious". Her teenage boys think she's a bit disorganised, and that she forgets to cook dinner when she's writing. (Luckily they don't get to leave a review.)

Reviews

[Linniegayl · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a nice story set at Christmas in Applemore Bay featuring an older hero and heroine. While it's part of a much longer series, other characters from past entries make only brief appearances.

[christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Highland Christmas

The most beautiful book. Applemore Bay is a delightful place to be any time of the year, because the people that make up this charming community is breathtaking sweet. I felt as if I walked along with the characters. This was truly a beautiful romance and the magic of a second chance at life and love. highly recommend this for your reading list. Happy holidays.

[Grace Power · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved being back in Applemore, it’s a unique community made special with the friendly locals.
A short, charming visit which was fun, festive and gave me a warm, fuzzy feeling. Excited for my next visit.

[Jackie Human · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful festive short story

This is my first book by this author so decided to give this Novella a go.
I wondered as the story was short whether you would still be able to connect with the characters and get all the emotions needed. I definitely wasn’t disappointed. I loved Jim who came from America to the UK for research, he was warm and gentle. He had lost his wife a few years ago and hadn’t had a relationship since. Sarah was kind and supportive to all around her, she lost her Mum a few years ago, the Cafe was her Mum’s dream and Sarah felt she should carry on and make it a success. Both characters were missing something in their lives and the story charts their time together.
The HEA was lovely, I guess I would have liked to know a little more, but I know this would make it too long to be a novella!
Well done Rachael, lovely book ❤️

[Marian Chawner · Rating 5 out of 5]

A totally delightful novella return to Applemore. Beautifully gentle but also incredibly interesting. A lovely warm cosy feeling as you read Sarah and Jim’s story. As ever all the characters are so believable and realistic. Applemore is an ironic sounding place to live. Full of genuine characters events and community values. As ever so well written. Sheer bliss.

[Julie Pratt · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm a fan of Rachel's books and I especially love her Applemore series. This is a real treat for Christmas and a lovely little novella introducing some new characters and also some familiar ones too.

A cosy read for the winter months full of romance and the Highlands.

[Kendra Allen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful

Another great book from Rachael Lucas. It was good to meet the old characters again and be introduced to a new one. A lovely story of love and discovery in the beautiful village of Applemore. Highly recommended.

[Lisa Witte · Rating 4 out of 5]

Refreshing and Heartwarming Novel

This was a refreshing short novel. What do you think makes a small town thrive? The author did a good job of describing the Scotland town of Applemore and wrapping it up with a heartwarming ending!

[Brian LaPolla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inspiring

I liked the storyline and the life of the small town. I also liked how life threw Sarah and Jim a curve neither suspected. But, I'll admit, I would have loved to see more.

This was a very good story and I would recommend it.

[Cathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Light and sweet, a second chance romance

Christmas and New Year in Applemore! An American visitor and an Applemore baker find their happily ever after, all unexpectedly.

[Rachel Boss · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even though this was short, I really enjoyed the characters, the ambiance and the love story.

[Lois · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short and sweet, a little sad. A quick rainy day read.

[Julie Foster · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely story

I loved this short story, a link to Applemore Bay. Two people who had a second chance and found themselves.

[Claire · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lovely little festive read .

[Kimberley · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5⭐️

A lovely little Christmas novella.

Heartwarming, feel-good, guy gets the girl Christmassy romance. Thoroughly enjoyable.

[Jo · Rating 3 out of 5]

actual rating 3.5⭐

[Joyce tuffs · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely story.

This is a lovely short story from Rachel Lucas about finding second chances when the time comes. This author writes great stories.

[Theresa Winchester · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really enjoyable read. It had a few twist and turn. But it told you alot about the small village and the people who lived there.
It has hock me on this writer, I have just downloaded 2 of her next five books about the same area.
Can't wait to start the first one tonight.

[Shân Petry · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sweet story but not much to it. Read more like a short story in the People's Friend.

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

Never disappointed with a book by Rachel.