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Ticket to True Love
An Education in Edinburgh
Shakespeare had one thing right—the Scots were wicked, indeed. Well, one Scot.
Broadswords and stone castles might take Isla’s mind off the mess she left back in New York, but not even reenacting battles from military history or exploring ancient Scottish ruins can distract her from the very handsome instructor and the way he makes her forget her one and only rule when it comes to men: no Scots.
Alistair isn’t running away from his grief. Or his mother. He’s just really focused on his dissertation right now, and if he also happens to be picking up more classes during the break, it’s nothing newsworthy. At least, not until a gorgeous New Yorker with an attitude about all things Scottish walks into his life and makes him want to slow down for the first time in two years. All he has to do is convince her to leave her past behind, forgive the sins of his countrymen, and surrender to the undeniable heat between them before the retreat ends.
Easy? No. But if spending years with his nose in the history books have taught Alistair anything, it’s that some prizes are worth going into battle for.
Broadswords and stone castles might take Isla’s mind off the mess she left back in New York, but not even reenacting battles from military history or exploring ancient Scottish ruins can distract her from the very handsome instructor and the way he makes her forget her one and only rule when it comes to men: no Scots.
Alistair isn’t running away from his grief. Or his mother. He’s just really focused on his dissertation right now, and if he also happens to be picking up more classes during the break, it’s nothing newsworthy. At least, not until a gorgeous New Yorker with an attitude about all things Scottish walks into his life and makes him want to slow down for the first time in two years. All he has to do is convince her to leave her past behind, forgive the sins of his countrymen, and surrender to the undeniable heat between them before the retreat ends.
Easy? No. But if spending years with his nose in the history books have taught Alistair anything, it’s that some prizes are worth going into battle for.
ebook
Published February 25, 2020
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About the author
Holland Rae
19 books60 followersHolland Rae is the author of several works of erotic and romantic fiction in both the contemporary and historical genres, and enjoys pushing the limits of freedom, feminism, and fun in her stories. She has been an avid writer for many years, and recently moved back to her home state of New Jersey from Boston, after completing her education in journalism and creative writing.
In her free time, she loves to travel, and spent several months living in a 14th century castle in the Netherlands. When not exploring the world, she likes dreaming up stories, eating spicy food, driving fast cars, and talking to strangers.
In her free time, she loves to travel, and spent several months living in a 14th century castle in the Netherlands. When not exploring the world, she likes dreaming up stories, eating spicy food, driving fast cars, and talking to strangers.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
July 2, 2021
A super adorable romance story set in the city of Scotland that melted all my cores while reading it. I am not actually a big fan of fantasy books, but I have my random desire to savor them once in a while, so I usually tend to be quite particular. When I read the blurb, I saw several homes to be connected in the lives of the central actors & therefore, I was interested in the venture.
The account is really fabulous & I got myself growing absorbed into it. The writer revived scenic Scotland for me that I have just listened to & never toured. Plus, who could ignore the love that was cooking? The narrative is simplistic & the characters' natures so practical. The author reveals to her readers that sometimes taking risks in one's life is so mattering.
I got an advance review copy for free, and I am dropping this review willingly. Thank you, BookSirens & author Holland Rae.
The account is really fabulous & I got myself growing absorbed into it. The writer revived scenic Scotland for me that I have just listened to & never toured. Plus, who could ignore the love that was cooking? The narrative is simplistic & the characters' natures so practical. The author reveals to her readers that sometimes taking risks in one's life is so mattering.
I got an advance review copy for free, and I am dropping this review willingly. Thank you, BookSirens & author Holland Rae.
March 28, 2020
Because her mother can't go, Isla ends up going on a history retreat in Scotland. She really doesn't want to go because her father, whom she has never met, lives there. He abandoned her and her mother before she was even born. She embraces her mother's Italian heritage and the last name of Calabrese.
Isla picks her roommate by looking at a picture and seeing the name Ali. It turns out that Ali is not a woman, but it short for Alistair. Ali is the leader/teacher of the group. He is a very attractive man, but Isla cannot let herself get too close to a Scot, even for a short time.
Author Holland Rae has created a very atmospheric novel. I have always wanted to visit Scotland and love all books and movies set there. Her vision of the country only make my yearnings stronger.
The characters are authentic and very easy to relate to. It is easy to see why Isla can't let go of the past and her feeing of abandonment. Ali is an honorable man on top of being handsome.
I am writing this review in the middle of the Coronavirus crisis. In times of trouble, romance, with its happily ever afters, lift my spirits. When my beloved husband went through cancer treatment 16 years ago, romance novels helped me through that difficult time. My husband, who is my real life hero, is still with me and deals with my book addiction with smiles. If you want something to make you smile, read AN EDUCATION IN EDIBURGH.
I received an advance review copy for free, and a, leaving this review voluntarily.
Isla picks her roommate by looking at a picture and seeing the name Ali. It turns out that Ali is not a woman, but it short for Alistair. Ali is the leader/teacher of the group. He is a very attractive man, but Isla cannot let herself get too close to a Scot, even for a short time.
Author Holland Rae has created a very atmospheric novel. I have always wanted to visit Scotland and love all books and movies set there. Her vision of the country only make my yearnings stronger.
The characters are authentic and very easy to relate to. It is easy to see why Isla can't let go of the past and her feeing of abandonment. Ali is an honorable man on top of being handsome.
I am writing this review in the middle of the Coronavirus crisis. In times of trouble, romance, with its happily ever afters, lift my spirits. When my beloved husband went through cancer treatment 16 years ago, romance novels helped me through that difficult time. My husband, who is my real life hero, is still with me and deals with my book addiction with smiles. If you want something to make you smile, read AN EDUCATION IN EDIBURGH.
I received an advance review copy for free, and a, leaving this review voluntarily.
May 19, 2020
A woman on the search for her true self. Unsatisfied with her life In New York City, Isla decides, with a little help from mom, to go take a history course in Scotland. There she meets Alistair, a most intriguing man. Besides Ali, it’s the other characters (and boy are they!) in her group that also help her to come out of her shell. It’s almost like Scotland gives her permission to take a chance on herself.
Wonderful story with wonderful characters. The author made Scotland come alive and wrote just enough about the history to be interesting without being dull. Now would love to go and take a class or two in Scotland myself!
I received an advanced reader copy for free, and I’m leaving this review voluntarily.
Wonderful story with wonderful characters. The author made Scotland come alive and wrote just enough about the history to be interesting without being dull. Now would love to go and take a class or two in Scotland myself!
I received an advanced reader copy for free, and I’m leaving this review voluntarily.
April 17, 2020
This was a simple story about taking a chance to realize your true dreams. I enjoyed the plot and how Isla and Alastair are brought together in the first place. Switching places with her mom, Isla was really stepping out of her comfort zone attending a history tour in Scotland. As well, Alistair leading the tour has his comfortable routine disrupted by Isla’s participation in the tour including the unexpected roommate situation. I enjoyed learning about each of the characters vulnerabilities and the challenges faced when there was a disagreement. A cozy read with HEA’s all around. I received a copy of this novel from Booksirens in exchange for my honest review
March 22, 2020
This was a good read. Nothing too exciting but maybe the dialect was fun and interesting. Who doesn’t love a handsome Scot. The storyline is good and believable. When the main character, Isla, has to take her mother's place for an educational tour in Scotland she didn’t think her roommate, Ali, was going to be a man. She needed to get away after a few issues at work and in the romance department. As the book moves along, Isla learns a lot of history and a love for her roommate, Alistair.
March 24, 2020
Absolutely delicious romance involving a hot scot and a fiesty american and some lovable side characters. This is a super quick read with great writing that will leave you smiling, and if you are anything like me, you'll swoon at every word Alistair says! Enjoying all the Ticket to True Love books!
March 26, 2020
Very enjoyable read! The book is well written and the story is interesting and keeps you hooked. Definitely recommend!
April 21, 2020
Super sweet!
Such a fun & fast story!i would have loved a little longer or drawn out journey, but it was a cheer-me-up kind of story.
Such a fun & fast story!i would have loved a little longer or drawn out journey, but it was a cheer-me-up kind of story.
May 9, 2021
Short but sweet!
I absolutely loved this story and the language! It was truly sweet and to the point. I loved how it was all tied together. Wonderful job!!! beautifully written
I absolutely loved this story and the language! It was truly sweet and to the point. I loved how it was all tied together. Wonderful job!!! beautifully written
September 21, 2021
Mediocre. It was lacking something, but I don't know what.
Wish it was first person point of view.
Wish it was first person point of view.
April 22, 2020
Isla has one hard and fast rule when it comes to men - NO Scotsmen. The only things she knows about her father are his name, his country, and that he abandoned her and her mother. She is stunned to learn that her mother - who she thought was on the same Scot hating page she was on - has booked an educational tour of Scotland. What was she thinking??
When her mother is injured, she asks Isla to take the tour. Against her better judgment, she goes into the tour group's website and chooses her roommate for the tour, Ali. Arriving in Scotland, she discovers that Ali is Alistair, the tour guide. They're adults, right?
Close quarters bring conflicts, but they also amplify attraction. Can Isla keep her animosity for all things Scot under wraps as she realizes there really is something about a man in a kilt?
This was a fun, quick read! I'm glad I picked it up.
When her mother is injured, she asks Isla to take the tour. Against her better judgment, she goes into the tour group's website and chooses her roommate for the tour, Ali. Arriving in Scotland, she discovers that Ali is Alistair, the tour guide. They're adults, right?
Close quarters bring conflicts, but they also amplify attraction. Can Isla keep her animosity for all things Scot under wraps as she realizes there really is something about a man in a kilt?
This was a fun, quick read! I'm glad I picked it up.
March 29, 2020
"An Education in Edinburgh" by Holland Rae was a short, sweet story released as part of the multi-author Ticket to True Love series. It is likely to appeal to fans of the insta-love trope, which is not a particular favorite of mine, and I can't say that it worked very well for me here. That said, the main characters, Isla and Alistair (aka Ali), were fairly likeable, and being forced to spend a week together exploring the city of Edinburgh at least gave them an opportunity to build on their initial attraction before they declared their love for each other.
Aside from my dislike of the insta-love between Ali and Isla, there were a number of things about the story itself that didn't make sense to me. For example, how could there possibly have been no other bedroom besides Ali's available for Isla to sleep in? What was the plan if Isla's mother had been able to go on the trip as originally planned? Would she have been forced to share a bedroom with Ali too? As a single, middle-aged woman traveling alone, I can't imagine why she would have agreed to that. Besides, I would think that the trip organizers would have ensured that they had an even number of men and women to pair up when taking registrations to avoid just such a situation, given the potential liability issues involved. Also, if there really weren't any other bedrooms available, what was the big deal about Isla having to pick a roommate while she was on the plane? Who exactly was she choosing between?
I was also somewhat confused about the woman on the plane with Isla who gave her the spring water from True Springs, Pennsylvania. I wasn't able to find any further explanation in the novella, but my guess is that True Springs is supposed to connect all of the books in the Ticket to True Love series. Assuming that is the case, it would have been nice if that had been explained in a prologue to the story, since each novella is supposed to be able to be read as a standalone.
Finally, I must note that there were a fair amount of typos and missing words in the text, especially in the second half of the story. Additionally, Ali's brogue seemed really off to me, which I found to be a distraction at times. For example, I think "din" was supposed to mean "don't" or "didn't." However, a true Scotsman probably would not use a contraction there, but rather "doonae" or "dinnae" for "do not" or "did not." In any event, I would have been fine with Ali's dialogue being written in plain English so I could imagine his voice in my head, rather than having to try and figure out what the author was actually trying to convey.
Overall, I wouldn't say that this was a terrible story, but neither was it a keeper for me. I don't think I can recommend it.
*ARC provided by the author via BookSirens. All opinions expressed are my own.
Aside from my dislike of the insta-love between Ali and Isla, there were a number of things about the story itself that didn't make sense to me. For example, how could there possibly have been no other bedroom besides Ali's available for Isla to sleep in? What was the plan if Isla's mother had been able to go on the trip as originally planned? Would she have been forced to share a bedroom with Ali too? As a single, middle-aged woman traveling alone, I can't imagine why she would have agreed to that. Besides, I would think that the trip organizers would have ensured that they had an even number of men and women to pair up when taking registrations to avoid just such a situation, given the potential liability issues involved. Also, if there really weren't any other bedrooms available, what was the big deal about Isla having to pick a roommate while she was on the plane? Who exactly was she choosing between?
I was also somewhat confused about the woman on the plane with Isla who gave her the spring water from True Springs, Pennsylvania. I wasn't able to find any further explanation in the novella, but my guess is that True Springs is supposed to connect all of the books in the Ticket to True Love series. Assuming that is the case, it would have been nice if that had been explained in a prologue to the story, since each novella is supposed to be able to be read as a standalone.
Finally, I must note that there were a fair amount of typos and missing words in the text, especially in the second half of the story. Additionally, Ali's brogue seemed really off to me, which I found to be a distraction at times. For example, I think "din" was supposed to mean "don't" or "didn't." However, a true Scotsman probably would not use a contraction there, but rather "doonae" or "dinnae" for "do not" or "did not." In any event, I would have been fine with Ali's dialogue being written in plain English so I could imagine his voice in my head, rather than having to try and figure out what the author was actually trying to convey.
Overall, I wouldn't say that this was a terrible story, but neither was it a keeper for me. I don't think I can recommend it.
*ARC provided by the author via BookSirens. All opinions expressed are my own.
February 27, 2020
New Yorker Isla Calabrese had finished with her deceitful boyfriend and walked out of her job leaving her wondering what direction her life was going to take. Isla was the daughter of Italian Maria and Scottish Camdyl Malcolm Graham who had walked out on them before Isla was born.
Maria had unexpectedly, and much to Maria's disgust, booked to go to Scotland on a history retreat but due to her sister's accident a very unwilling Isla took her place.
Alistair McIntosh was the lecturer in charge of the retreat and after a very shaky start love blossomed.
This is a pleasant sweet story which you will enjoy if you want a very quick read, it has some amusing moments, a sprinkling of fantasy and a lot of romance, but it is very short. On the down side, and having a lot of Scottish friends, I did find the written Scottish dialect quite irritating and not always authentic hence the three stars. I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Maria had unexpectedly, and much to Maria's disgust, booked to go to Scotland on a history retreat but due to her sister's accident a very unwilling Isla took her place.
Alistair McIntosh was the lecturer in charge of the retreat and after a very shaky start love blossomed.
This is a pleasant sweet story which you will enjoy if you want a very quick read, it has some amusing moments, a sprinkling of fantasy and a lot of romance, but it is very short. On the down side, and having a lot of Scottish friends, I did find the written Scottish dialect quite irritating and not always authentic hence the three stars. I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
March 5, 2020
A great novella with the beautiful backdrop of Scotland!
Isla has a chip on her shoulder about Scotland, but when her life takes a sudden turn, and she is offered a free trip with a class about Scottish history, she find herself in enemy territory. What follows is a wonderful romance with a bit of magic!
Not only was there a steamy love story, but really fun supporting characters as well. Honestly, I wished that it was longer! I would have loved to hear more about their historic adventures in Edinburgh, and to have more interactions with the other characters on their tour. A short but sweet story that will keep me going back to this author again and again!
I received an advance review copy of this book for free in exchange for an honest review.
Isla has a chip on her shoulder about Scotland, but when her life takes a sudden turn, and she is offered a free trip with a class about Scottish history, she find herself in enemy territory. What follows is a wonderful romance with a bit of magic!
Not only was there a steamy love story, but really fun supporting characters as well. Honestly, I wished that it was longer! I would have loved to hear more about their historic adventures in Edinburgh, and to have more interactions with the other characters on their tour. A short but sweet story that will keep me going back to this author again and again!
I received an advance review copy of this book for free in exchange for an honest review.
March 16, 2020
It's a relatively sweet story about taking a leap of faith and overcoming past baggages. i was surprised with the small clip of spice added into it but beyond that, I loved how it gave a general preview of the Scottish culture. I have always admired the knit and gritty that made Scotland unique, which made me appreciate how this story showcased some of its beauty (not to mention the Scottish English). My one critique was that it was over in a blink of an eye. It only took me about an hour to finish it, cover to cover. I would have liked to see this story more laid out and expanded a bit. It was a whirlwind and not just the romance bit.
I received this as a review copy and am posting this feedback of my own freewill.
I received this as a review copy and am posting this feedback of my own freewill.
March 10, 2020
Need a quick break from your everyday life? Join Isla Calabrese on her reluctant trip to Scotland where she meets Alistair McIntosh, and the sparks begin to fly.
This is a very short romance that packs a lot of story into not very many pages. I was looking for a quick read, so this was great, but it honestly could have been much much longer. The story fleshed out quickly, which was enjoyable, but it had such great bones, that I didn’t want it to end. I would recommend this to anyone looking for a quick read that you can finish in a day.
I received an ARC of An Education in Edinburgh for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This is a very short romance that packs a lot of story into not very many pages. I was looking for a quick read, so this was great, but it honestly could have been much much longer. The story fleshed out quickly, which was enjoyable, but it had such great bones, that I didn’t want it to end. I would recommend this to anyone looking for a quick read that you can finish in a day.
I received an ARC of An Education in Edinburgh for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
February 25, 2020
I was given an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This was a cute story packed into what seemed like a few pages. I was enjoying it so much that I read it in one sitting and was disappointed when I reached the end.
It was nice and light. Just what I needed to unwind from a day at work!
This was a cute story packed into what seemed like a few pages. I was enjoying it so much that I read it in one sitting and was disappointed when I reached the end.
It was nice and light. Just what I needed to unwind from a day at work!
March 21, 2020
This was a fast read about Isla taking the trip her mom had planned to Edinburgh, when her mom’s sister falls and breaks her leg. Isla hates Scotland just because her father is from there. Will she change her mind? Grab your copy and see what happens during this wonderful story. I bet Ali will be your new Scottish BBF.
July 9, 2022
Of course, I'm going to say I like it! An Education in Edinburgh was a uniquely fun story to write and brought me back to some of my favorite places around the world. I hope you enjoy Isla and Ali's adventures!
March 10, 2020
Very sweet story!
March 21, 2020
Loved the chemistry between Isla and Ali. Supporting characters were quirky and fun. Loved the detailed descriptions of Edinburgh. Fun story with a “magical” HEA.
March 26, 2020
Very enjoyable read! The book is well written and the story is interesting and keeps you hooked. Definitely recommend!
Thanks BookSirens for the chance to read!
Thanks BookSirens for the chance to read!
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews