Stolen Kisses at the Loch View Hotel

The Glenbriar #1

by Margaret Amatt

One hotel. One week. And a secret that could change everything.

Ever-optimistic Briony Dalgleish has watched her dreams evaporate. Now, the only way to save her beautiful hotel in the Scottish Highlands is to sell up. In desperation, she agrees to a deal with an American businessman, but when his representative arrives, Briony recognises him as someone she’d rather forget.

American sci-fi geek Zach Somerton is on a last-ditch mission to redeem himself after an epic business fail. If he messes up this time, his career is over. But Scotland’s like another planet, and Zach’s facing crazy locals, bizarre legends, and a woman who’s out of this world. When his boss forbids him to reveal to Briony the real reason he’s at the Loch View Hotel, Zach’s loyalty is tested to the limit.

Forced to work together, Briony and Zach investigate the hotel's murky past and face up to their own. But getting too close could end their careers. Can Briony and Zach find a way to let in love? Or will secrets and lies crush their chance of happiness?

Genres: Romance, Contemporary Romance, Contemporary

353 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 11, 2023

About the author

Margaret is a Scottish author and chocolate lover who has been writing stories for over twenty years (possibly more if you count her primary school efforts). Her early works will never see the light of day and are locked in dusty vaults on some old floppy disks. But after all those years of practise, Margaret released her first novel A Winter Haven in 2021. This is the first of a ten-book series set on the gorgeous Scottish Isle of Mull.
The stories are unashamedly romantic but with lots of drama and an eclectic mix of characters. Each book can be read as a standalone but followers of the series will enjoy catching up with previous characters.
A new spin-off series based in the Scottish Highlands is coming out in 2023. Look out for the Glenbriar Series throughout the year.

Reviews

[Julie Foster · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great start to a new series

I loved reading this book the first in a new series. Briony met Zach five years ago, five years later and they still feelings for each other. Brion y has to save the hotel or sell up and Zach as come on a recce for his boss about buying the hotel. I can't wait for the next book in this series.

[Sarah Kingsnorth · Rating 5 out of 5]

STOLEN KISSES AT THE LOCH VIEW HOTEL.
Stolen Kisses At The Loch View Hotel, is book one in a brand new series from Margaret Amatt. And my first experience of her writing.

Firstly, you can’t fail to be drawn in by the vibrant and attractive cover. It’s so pretty and appealing.

Stolen Kisses At The Loch View Hotel, is a very easy story to get into. It felt like catching up with friends.

Margaret Amatt writes a wonderful setting. The Loch View Hotel and the village of Glenbriar, are so beautifully described, and quintessentially Scottish. You really will wish you were there. You can almost breathe in the fresh air and hear the water lapping at the shore. It’s just gorgeous!

I loved the characters in this book. Briony is a glass half full kind of girl. She doesn’t give up trying to save her beloved hotel.
Zach arrives as a bit of a geeky grump, but the magic of Scotland soon wins him over.

There is history between Briony and Zach that still sizzles. There may just be some unfinished business between them, as well as a bit of a mystery for them to work together to solve.

What’s not to love about this book? It’s full of wonderful characters, including a super star dog. There is a warm hearted sense of community, a mystery to be solved and some sweet, tummy tingling romance. Stolen Kisses At The Loch View Hotel is beautifully written, with a big and glorious Scottish heart.

I can’t wait to read what comes next in the series.

Uplifting, feel good and proudly Scottish. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

With thanks to Rachel’s Random Resources and the author for a digital arc of this title.

[Kirsty (BookBlogger) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stolen Kisses at the Loch View Hotel by Margaret Amatt

I received an advance review copy for free thanks to Rachel's Random Resources and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Blurb

One hotel. One week. And a secret that could change everything.

Ever-optimistic Briony Dalgleish has watched her dreams evaporate. Now, the only way to save her beautiful hotel in the Scottish Highlands is to sell up. In desperation, she agrees to a deal with an American businessman, but when his representative arrives, Briony recognises him as someone she’d rather forget.

American sci-fi geek Zach Somerton is on a last-ditch mission to redeem himself after an epic business fail. If he messes up this time, his career is over. But Scotland’s like another planet, and Zach’s facing crazy locals, bizarre legends, and a woman who’s out of this world. When his boss forbids him to reveal to Briony the real reason he’s at the Loch View Hotel, Zach’s loyalty is tested to the limit.

Forced to work together, Briony and Zach investigate the hotel's murky past and face up to their own. But getting too close could end their careers. Can Briony and Zach find a way to let in love? Or will secrets and lies crush their chance of happiness?

My Opinion

This is the first book in a new series and what a lovely introduction it is. Briony has inherited a hotel in the Scottish Highlands but is not sure how she will be able to afford the required improvements. This book is such an easy book to read - you will be near the end long before you are ready. A beautiful setting and some great characters - what more could you ask for?

Rating: 4/5

[thewoollygeek (tea, cake, crochet & books) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love a second chance romance and this is an absolutely fantastic example of why I love them, full of humour, fake relationships, awful exes and sizzling chemistry but there’s still so much more that will entice you to pick up this fantastic romance.

The setting of Scotland is one of my favourite places and Margaret Amatt describes it with the full justice it deserves, I could imagine being there myself as I read, she adds a sprinkle of magic, myth and legend just to top it all off. The characters are just so likeable, so three dimensional and have I mentioned the sizzling chemistry between Zachary and Brianna at all, because it’s so good.

I loved the pink hotel (you’ll have to read to understand) and Briony's attempts to adapt to her surroundings, this book is full of second chances, romance, career and even life, it’s an engaging read with some unexpected twists. Margaret Amatt is a brilliant author and I can’t recommend this enough to you, I’m looking forward to the next in the series now (this is the first)

[autumnal_reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

How beautiful is the cover of this book??!?! Completely catches the essence of the whole book! What a setting: the Highlands (I'm obsessed) the author described the hotel and loch so perfectly I could easily imagine it - is it possible to love a non existent place?

The story was so sweet, rekindled love, family secrets, ex husband's, dreams and friendship. A perfect mix for a soppy hallmark romance book - my favourite!

I loved that the main person was a secret geek, it made their love so much cuter! And the ending! A typical mushy romance ending but I loved it and I loved that everything that the main protagonist worked for ending up good! She deserved it! I will say I didn't like Zach's mother - she lost seemed selfish and a bit self absorbed! But I think she was the perfect character to contrast her son and his dreams

Overall a sweet mystery romance read and I thoroughly enjoyed it!

[Jess · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a super cute second chance romance! I really liked the story for this one, a not-so-fake-dating romance, an old mystery and a hotel to save! I really liked the Scottish myths and the community vibes this book gave, and I feel the need to give a shout out to my favourite character, Becker the dog! 🐶

This book is a great easy read and the characters are loveable and interesting. I love there was an age gap, I love that Zach is a self professed geek and that they both have the chemistry for their romance to work!

This book is out now and available in paperback or on KU!

[Jo Shaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stolen Kisses at the Loch View Hotel is the first in the series of books set in and around a fictional town of Glenbriar, and was the perfect introduction to a new-to-me author. The story was engaging, funny, romantic, and set in the most beautiful of backdrops. I have a huge love for Scotland, and this entertaining story reinforced that love.

Set in what sounds like a slightly garish pink hotel, but with masses of potential in a stunning location, this is a story of second chances, community, belonging, and with an adorable hotel dog too! I loved the connection between Briony and Zach (who doesn’t love a Star Wars geek?), and the way they worked through their issues carefully in order to work out what they really wanted. They both held back on some honesty, but it was done with the best of intentions. I loved the mystery they set out to solve, and the idea of a hidden still, or the ruins of one somewhere nearby.

There were some deliciously justifiable moments when Briony’s hideous ex-husband turned up to cause trouble. I loved the locals, there were some real characters amongst them, and I found the way in which they all rallied round to help the hotel really heart-warming. I’m looking forward to getting to know them better in the continuation of the series.

If you’re a fan of gorgeous Scottish landscape, the sweetest of romances, a wonderful sense of community, mystery, devious behaviour that does not entirely run to plan, and a bouncy dog, this is absolutely the book for you!

[Grace Power · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book, gorgeous characters, beautiful location and a bit of a mystery threading through the story. Briony is working so hard to get her hotel up and running but it’s going to take thousands of pounds which she doesn’t have! Zach’s boss an American billionaire is interested in buying the hotel and Zachary is sent to check it out. Briony and Zach have met before and both would rather forget that occasion! Enjoyed my visit to the Scottish Highlands and look forward to returning to this wonderful location. Book me In please!

[Susanne Baker · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautiful setting and some interesting characters soon drew me into the story. The added mystery of the missing whiskey added another level to the story and kept things moving along well.
It was fascinating seeing Briony trying to get her hotel up and running, her dedication was admirable.
Definitely an entertaining story with characters that were likeable and endearing in equal measure.
A fantastic trip to the beautiful highlands of Scotland.

[Lyndsey Gallagher · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic start to a brilliant new series!
Briony is a heroine you can’t help but feel for and Zach was so lovable.
Together they make a fabulous couple, I was rooting for them from the start and that was before her awful ex arrived!
Margarets descriptions make both the stunning Scottish surroundings, and the characters jump off the page.
I was so sad to get to the end!
Can’t wait to see which characters pop up in the next book!
Highly recommend.

[Jo · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great start to the Glenbriar series. Set in the Scottish Highlands so I knew I was going to enjoy it - but then I'm biased as I live in that neck of the woods. Love the main characters and their blossoming romance - and of course there has to be a baddie. Through in a bit of mystery and a goofy dig and you have a winner.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

If there’s one thing that I like doing, it’s discovering new authors. Margaret Amatt is certainly a new author for me. I read the synopsis of ‘Stolen Kisses At The Loch View Hotel’ and it certainly sounded like just the kind of read I needed to read at that moment in time – a light hearted, fun and ultimately feel good story. Well it was certainly all that and so much more. I thoroughly enjoyed reading ‘Stolen Kisses At The Loch View Hotel’ but more about that in a bit.

Once I started reading ‘Stolen Kisses At The Loch View Hotel’, I knew that I was reading something special and that I wouldn’t be doing anything other than reading for the rest of the day because I knew that I wouldn’t be able to put the book down. I was spot on too. I picked my Kindle up and I didn’t put the Kindle down again until after I had read the very last word on the very last page. The more of the book that I read, the more I wanted to read and the quicker the pages seemed to turn. I took to the main characters of Briony and Zach so well that they ended up feeling as though they had become friends of mine and I had to keep reading to see if they both got the ‘happy ever after’ ending that they so deserved. All too quickly I reached the end of ‘Stolen Kisses At The Loch View Hotel’ and I had to say goodbye to Briony, Zach and the rest of the characters. I found ‘Stolen Kisses At The Loch View Hotel’ to be a delight to read from start to finish and it did more to cheer me up in one afternoon than anything else could possibly have done.

‘Stolen Kisses At The Loch View Hotel’ is extremely well written. The author has an easy going writing style that is easy to get used to and easy to get along with. In fact reading this book felt more like a chat between friends rather than reading an actual book. I hope that makes sense. Margaret clearly cares about her characters and this shines through in the very vivid and realistic way in which she describes them. She makes her characters seem just as real as you and I. I always find that the sign of a good book is when I find myself becoming far too involved with the story and interact with the characters as if they can hear me. That’s exactly how I felt ahout ‘Stolen Kisses At The Loch View Hotel’. I often found myself chuckling away as I imagined the scene I had just read about- I am thinking particularly of the incidents involving the hotel pooch. I love the way in which Margaret makes the reader feel as though they are part of the story and at the heart of the story. That’s how I feel anyway.

In short, I really enjoyed reading ‘Stolen Kisses At The Loch View Hotel’ and I would definitely recommend this book to other readers. ‘Stolen Kisses At The Loch View Hotel’ is the first book in ‘The Glenbriars Series’ and I look forward to reading further books in the series in the future. I will certainly be reading more of Margaret’s work in the future. The score on the Ginger Book Geek board is a very well deserved 4* out of 5*.

[Eclectic Review · Rating 4 out of 5]

Margaret Amatt starts her new Glenbriar series with a run-down pink hotel, a committed woman who believes in dreams, and a clueless man trying to find his purpose in life.

American Zach Somerton has a week to prove his worth to his boss and convince the owner of Loch View Hotel to sell up. However, the owner of the hotel is a woman who happens to hate his guts because he had been responsible for her almost losing her job five years ago. Will he be able to complete his mission and get out alive, or will the attraction he felt for her years ago get him in trouble again?

Briony Dalgleish is in over her head. The hotel she loved as a kid is a money pit and she has no option but to sell. When she meets the rep sent from America to negotiate her deal, he's the same man who used her for a bet five years ago. It was unfortunate because she thought she felt a connection that seemed to still be there between them. He's told her what his boss is up to, but can she trust a man who almost ruined her life?

I loved Zach's awkwardness and nerdiness and Briony's optimism and kindness. Zach finally comes into his own with Briony's help. His life has certainly been lonely when he loses his loving grandmother and is left with an ill mother who is not the warmest person. His way of dealing with it is to disappear into computer games and science fiction books so his social skills aren't the best. It's so sad that he has never really been hugged by anyone until Briony came along. Briony is a people person and has the perfect disposition as a hotel owner. She is a hard worker and runs herself ragged, but she allows Zach to help her by walking her large mischievous dog and trying to solve the mystery of the priceless whiskey that is rumored to be somewhere in the hotel. The struggles Zach and Briony are going through are made easier by having each other and working together to make a brighter future.

Supporting characters abound. Briony works hard to make sure her two employees, Meg and Shari, keep their jobs. Briony's friend, Felicity is there to lend her support. The builder, Brann, has a little bromance going with Zach who has never really had a close friend. And don't forget, Becker, the dog, who steals Zach's heart. Of course, it wouldn't be complete without having Briony's nasty ex show up and make her life even more miserable, but he gets his just desserts. And then there is Zach's boss, Mr. Beyer who has a surprise in store for Zach.

This lovely second-chance, grumpy sunshine romance is delightful as we watch Zach eventually being won over by the kind and generous Briony and by the beautiful small town of Glenbriar. The characters are captivating and the setting is gorgeous. Just another reason for my wanting to visit Scotland.

Thank you to Ms. Amatt for giving me the opportunity to read this book with no expectation of a positive review.

[RomanceByTheBook · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stolen Kisses at the Loch View Hotel is a full chock-full of fun, romance, and delicious drama.

Stolen Kisses at the Lock View Hotel checks off all the boxes that make a good romance. The story is interesting, the setting is lush, the romance is steamy, and the heroine is smart and capable. I enjoy a good story about trying to save a struggling business. There is no better feeling than rooting for the underdog in a story. Briony’s dreams and passion for her hotel just leapt from the pages, and you really can’t help but get excited about this business’ potential. Her passion is so palpable that even prickly Zach starts to see all possibilities and even adds in his own ideas. The whole business side of this story added in this mystery element which I wasn’t expecting. As a reader, I found myself trying to figure out the real motive for buying this hotel for this American businessman, especially when Zach starts to uncover some of the histories of this place.

I loved Briony right from the moment I met her. She is endearing, and I just wanted her business to succeed. On the other hand, I wasn’t too fond of Zach at the beginning. He is abrupt, rude, and prickly. I love a good grumpy sunshine trope, but Zach’s character didn’t click with me right away. But the more time I spent with him, the more he grew on me. You just have to peel back those layers to get to the gooey soft inside. I adored the scene where Zach makes a new friend. I love a good bromance.

There is just a cornucopia of tropes in this book. There is second-chance, fake dating, forced proximity, and grumpy and sunshine, and all of these tropes come together to create this swoony and drama-filled love story. Briony and Zach met years ago, and both could feel the sparks between them, but when Briony learned that Zach only kissed her because of a bet, she stormed off in anger. Now, these two find themselves thrown back together for a week when Zach comes to the hotel to do some investigating for his boss. Things become even more complicated when Briony’s ex-husband arrives at the hotel. If you like romance stories filled with many ups and downs and drama, you will enjoy the love story between Briony and Zach. Watching it unfold was so much fun, and the ending was really satisfying.

Stolen Kisses at the Lock View Hotel is a fun, fast, easy-to-love romance story.

Click on the link to read more of our reviews on our blog: https://romancebythebook.com/book-rev...

[Margaret Amatt]

As the author of "Stolen Kisses at the Loch View Hotel", I have to say that writing this book was an absolute joy. Set in the picturesque (fictional) Scottish small town of Glenbriar, the story follows Briony, the determined and ever-optimistic owner of the Loch View Hotel, and Zach, a sci-fi loving American businessman.
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One of the things I loved most about writing it was exploring the theme of second chances. Briony and Zach have both faced struggles and heartache, but writing their emotional journey to overcome their messy pasts was both challenging and exhilarating!
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I also enjoyed delving into life in the Scottish Highlands and bringing the charming village of Glenbriar to life. The setting provides the perfect backdrop for a grumpy sunshine romance, as Zach's initial reluctance to be in Scotland is gradually replaced by a deep appreciation for the country and its people.
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The setting is so beautiful and evocative, and you really see that through Zach's perspective.
Perhaps the most enjoyable aspect of writing "Stolen Kisses at the Loch View Hotel" was the opportunity to create a cast of lovable and relatable characters. From Briony and Zach, to the friendly locals and the adorable hotel dog, each character was brilliant to write.
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I am also thrilled to be continuing the Scottish Island Escapes series with The Glenbriar Series. "Stolen Kisses at the Loch View Hotel" is the first book in this spinoff series, and I have to say, I absolutely loved writing it. I truly hope you will love this book and the series as a whole.
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Overall, "Stolen Kisses at the Loch View Hotel" is a heartwarming and emotional romance that will make you fall in love with the Scottish Highlands and the characters that live there. I can't wait for you to discover the magic of Glenbriar for yourself.
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You can get it here.
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If you’re here for:
🦄 A Scottish small town
🌞 A sunshine heroine who's had some major setbacks
💖 A sci-fi loving hero with a soft heart
🐕 A naughty but loveable dog
❌ A meddling narcissistic ex who gets his comeuppance
😁 Lots of fun
Then you need Stolen Kisses at the Loch View Hotel in your life!

[Evie Alexander · Rating 5 out of 5]

Briony Dalgleish's life is a mess. She's inherited a bright pink hotel in the Scottish Highlands, but it's falling apart and she's got no money left to save it. If it goes under, then so does she. Her current situation is a far cry from her childhood memories, and her adult dreams. Now she's putting on her bravest face and pinning her hopes on an eccentric American millionaire who says he's interested in buying the hotel, but only if the envoy he's sending to Scotland gives him the information he's looking for.

Zach Somerton's life isn't much better than Briony's. His job is hanging by a thread, and now his boss wants him treasure hunting behind Briony's back. But there's a bigger problem. Briony and Zach have a steamy history. One night, five years ago, everything went wrong between them before it could really start, but now fate has given them a second chance. But with another unexpected blast from Briony's past walking through the hotel doors, and Zach's boss breathing down his neck, can Briony and Zach hold onto each other and true love, or is fate about to deal them both a hand they never wanted?

Stolen Kisses a the Loch View Hotel is an absolutely fabulous book that I devoured in less than a day. It's got a second chance romance, a diabolical ex, a fake relationship, and plenty of Scottish myths, legends and magic. The chemistry between Zach and Briony is sizzling, and there were so many unexpected turns along the way that had me hooked. Margaret Amatt is a phenomenal writer. The location and characters leap off the page and, like me, you won't want to put this one down. Go read it now!

[Lizzie Lamb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Who can resist a second chance romance? Not me. Margaret Amatt is a new author for me and I’ve made a note of her other books. I can see that there are quite a few of them and I’m wondering how I’ve managed to overlook this prolific and talented writer up until now. Scottish myself, I love romances set in my ‘aine countree’ but I’m also aware how many of them read like Cornish Cottage romances transposed to the highlands with little feeling or understanding of how these communities function. However, Stolen Kisses at the Loch View Hotel is the real deal, I’m pleased to say. It’s set in and around a fictional town of Glenbriar and I was treated to a fantastic trip to the beautiful highlands of Scotland from the comfort of my armchair. It had all the ingredients for a successful romance: second chance romance, the opportunity for people to start over; not to mention family relationships which are at the heart of all good novels. The chemistry between Zach and Briony sizzled and I was rooting for them when the diabolical ex threatened to ruin everything. So, in short, if you’re looking for a cracking novel to read until spring pokes its head above the parapet . . . you’ve found it. I see there are two more books in the Glenbriar series – that’s me sorted, then.

[Elaine - Splashes Into Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a heartwarming read-
A nerd trying to succeed,
A billionaire full of greed,
And a hotelier in need!

A gorgeous setting on the shores of the loch
The pink hotel may come as a bit of a shock
But inside it is dated and in need of repair
Needing funds to do so, Briony is near despair.

She never anticipated the arrival of Zach
Who kissed in a hotel, way back.
Can her future rely on what Zach discovers?
Will he let her know what he uncovers?

A story filled with past history
Mixed up with present mystery.
A kiss that could be the start of romance
But will they decide to give it a chance?

Sometimes you need a shock or surprise
That jolts you enough to help realise
That your future is not what you'd surmised
And is so much better with unexpected compromise!

For my complementary copy of this book I say a huge thank you.
I thoroughly enjoyed it and this is my honest review.

[Christopher Hjelt · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really good read. Hard to put down

Interesting storyline. Maybe a bit predictable but excellent. Will be reading it several more times as I always find something I missed first time round.

[Agnes · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was ok

It wasn’t a bad book. But it seems a bit longish for fairly simple plot. Some things where looming, as pretty obvious and when revealed at the end were not surprising.

[Kevin · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐⭐

[Katy Potter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wholesome read

Loved this story, great characters that I felt invested in immediately. I felt like I want to visit the hotel and see the Loch and maybe drink the whisky.