The Secret Christmas Library: A Heartwarming Christmas Romance Tale Set in a Scottish Castle, Featuring Unlikely Alliances in a Mysterious Hunt for Hidden Treasures
A new holiday story set in the Scottish Highlands to warm booklovers’ hearts by Jenny Colgan, New York Times bestselling author of Midnight at the Christmas Bookshop.
Mirren Sutherland stumbled into a career as an antiquarian book hunter after finding a priceless antique book in her great aunt’s attic. Now, as Christmas approaches, she’s been hired by Jamie McKinnon, the surprisingly young and handsome laird of a Highland clan whose ancestral holdings include a vast crumbling castle. Family lore suggests that the McKinnon family’s collection includes a rare book so valuable that it could save the entire estate—if they only knew where it was. Jamie needs Mirren to help him track down this treasure, which he believes is hidden in his own home.
But on the train to the Highlands, Mirren runs into rival book hunter Theo Palliser, and instantly knows that it’s not a chance meeting. She’s all too familiar with Theo’s good looks and smooth talk, and his uncanny ability to appear whenever there’s a treasure that needs locating.
Almost as soon as Mirren and Theo arrive at the castle, a deep snow blankets the Highlands, cutting off the outside world. Stuck inside, the three of them plot their search as the wind whistles outside. Mirren knows that Jamie’s grandfather, the castle’s most recent laird, had been a book collector, a hoarder, and a great lover of treasure hunts. Now they must unpuzzle his clues, discovering the secrets of the house—forming and breaking alliances in a race against time.
A treat for booklovers and treasure hunters alike, The Secret Christmas Library serves up a delicious mystery with a hint of romance, and plenty of holiday spirit!
- A touching holiday read
- Perfect for fans of uplifting winter romances
- A delightful Christmas gift
BUY THE BOOK
Community Reviews
This is a book nerds’ story: a book about finding a special book in a castle full of bizarre books. I got a kick out of all the different kinds of books that Mirren, Jamie and Theo discovered and their thrill of discovering an amazing book. Once Jamie’s sister, Esme, entered the story (in the first half), I enjoyed all the reminiscing about the memories they had of growing up and hanging out with their eccentric grandfather, the castle among all of his books, and engaging in all of his treasure hunts and games. I have memories like that of certain people and special books. Do you?
Anyway, the book summary pretty much lays out the whole primary storyline. After meeting Jamie at the London Museum, in front of the rare book that Mirren found, Jamie offers Mirren a job to find a book for him. It’s not long before she is on a train from London to the northern Highlands, along with her gorgeous (of course) and annoying ex (who she is still very much attracted to), Theo, who is on assignment to find a book too. It’s at this point that I discovered that this book is actually a sequel to another book. It’s not clear that this was a sequel because it wasn’t posted as part of a series, which it may not be, but it is definitely a sequel. Apparently, last year, Mirren and Theo’s story was told in The Christmas Book Hunt
What the book summary kind of glosses over is the state of the “castle” they find themselves at. A “vast and crumbling castle” doesn’t adequately describe the place that Mirren and Theo end up at and now that they’re there, they are stuck for an indeterminant amount of time. They’re snowed in at a place that is at the end of the train line, with no roads to them and no cell service or internet signal, and eventually, no electricity.
Most of the story revolves around Jamie, Mirren and Theo finding clues and working the leads to finding the book that supposedly will save Jamie’s family legacy. The castle is a bad episode of Hoarders, and an overwhelming nightmare for Mirren and the guys. Pretty early in the story, Jamie’s sister, Esme, braves the ordeal in getting to the castle, after she gets word, that Jamie has hired people to find something that will save the family. Esme thinks it’s some kind of treasure or some valuable artifact and is going to make sure she gets her share of any money Jamie gets.
The character development of the MC’s was well done. Like Mirren, I was really curious about Bonnie throughout the entire story; wish there was a little bit more about her. The pacing was steady and the storyline interesting and engaging, and the writing on par for this genre. I’m looking at an overall rating of 3.9 that I will be rounding up to a 4star review. I want to thank NetGalley and William Morrow for sending me this eARC in exchange for my honest review.
#NetGalley #WilliamMorrow #TheSecretChristmasLibrary
Anyway, the book summary pretty much lays out the whole primary storyline. After meeting Jamie at the London Museum, in front of the rare book that Mirren found, Jamie offers Mirren a job to find a book for him. It’s not long before she is on a train from London to the northern Highlands, along with her gorgeous (of course) and annoying ex (who she is still very much attracted to), Theo, who is on assignment to find a book too. It’s at this point that I discovered that this book is actually a sequel to another book. It’s not clear that this was a sequel because it wasn’t posted as part of a series, which it may not be, but it is definitely a sequel. Apparently, last year, Mirren and Theo’s story was told in The Christmas Book Hunt
What the book summary kind of glosses over is the state of the “castle” they find themselves at. A “vast and crumbling castle” doesn’t adequately describe the place that Mirren and Theo end up at and now that they’re there, they are stuck for an indeterminant amount of time. They’re snowed in at a place that is at the end of the train line, with no roads to them and no cell service or internet signal, and eventually, no electricity.
Most of the story revolves around Jamie, Mirren and Theo finding clues and working the leads to finding the book that supposedly will save Jamie’s family legacy. The castle is a bad episode of Hoarders, and an overwhelming nightmare for Mirren and the guys. Pretty early in the story, Jamie’s sister, Esme, braves the ordeal in getting to the castle, after she gets word, that Jamie has hired people to find something that will save the family. Esme thinks it’s some kind of treasure or some valuable artifact and is going to make sure she gets her share of any money Jamie gets.
The character development of the MC’s was well done. Like Mirren, I was really curious about Bonnie throughout the entire story; wish there was a little bit more about her. The pacing was steady and the storyline interesting and engaging, and the writing on par for this genre. I’m looking at an overall rating of 3.9 that I will be rounding up to a 4star review. I want to thank NetGalley and William Morrow for sending me this eARC in exchange for my honest review.
#NetGalley #WilliamMorrow #TheSecretChristmasLibrary
It was a good read. It is like a scavenger hunt with clues and hidden messages. The romance that sparked, and the many twist and turns makes it interesting. The illustration of a lesson I wish I had when I was growing up, recognizing emotionally unavailable people, and the liberating feeling feeling os letting go. It's a bit slow at first.
I feel this book needed an editor to help it along. The setting and scavenger hunt portion was interesting but that’s about it. The main character was extremely unlikable. She was self-absorbed and annoying. Wasn’t too keen on other characters either, other than Bonnie & Jamie. Once on the actual hunt for the book it became more intersecting. I get that it’s supposed to be a fun, light read but I’m unsure why this author is a best seller. I don’t think I’ll read any of her others books.
4.5 stars!
The Christmas Bookshop is the second book I’ve read by Jenny Colgan and I adored the story, the characters, and especially the setting of charming Edinburgh, which is the perfect setting for a Christmas romance set in a bookshop. And while this one has plenty of romance, it’s primarily a story about sisters and family and finding your place in that family.
Carmen has always felt like a failure, especially compared to her perfect sister Sofia, who was excellent at school, has an impressive job as a lawyer, a handsome husband, and three beautiful children. When Carmen loses her job and Sofia (with some encouraging from their mother) offers to let her come stay with her family and help out one of Sofia’s clients through the holidays, Carmen doesn’t feel like she can say no.
When she arrives and discovers she’s sleeping in the basement (next door to the annoying nanny), is expected to help out her very pregnant sister with her nieces and nephew on evenings when the nanny is in class (and her handsome husband is out of town on business), and that the bookshop she’ll be helping in is more like a storage room than a bookshop, she feels like she’s been set up to fail—once again.
But as she settles in, she gets to know the village, the bookshop, and her family. And she starts to discover who she wants to be.
The characters are so well-done in this one. They’re funny, relatable, and engaging. Children aren’t always done well in romances, but I adored Carmen’s nieces and nephew! And if you’ve read Colgan’s The Bookshop on the Shore, you may recognize a few side characters. I haven’t read the book, but I could tell there was history there so I looked them up. Now I’m even more eager to pick it up. I already have the book waiting on my shelf.
Just like the other Colgan book I read, The Bookshop on the Corner, there are two possible love interests in The Christmas Bookshop. If you’re not a fan of triangles, then you have no need to worry. Colgan never seems to take it to that point. I always enjoy how she manages to leave the reader wondering who the main character will end up with throughout most of the book. I’m very happy with how the love story came together. It’s sweet and super memorable.
One of my favorite aspects of this novel is the setting of Edinburgh. I can’t remember ever reading a book set there and it had me googling all the locations she mentions. It sounds absolutely charming at Christmastime with fairy lights, Christmas markets, hot chocolate, mulled wine, snow, and the festive bookshop.
Much of this one is also set in fall, starting around the first of November, so it was nice to ease into the Christmas part and experience Edinburgh in the fall, as well.
I absolutely loved this holiday romance, and it’s the perfect read to kick off the holiday season!
Thank you to the publisher, William Morrow Paperbacks, and Netgalley for providing me with an advance copy.
Check out my reviews and playlists at A Book Wanderer
The Christmas Bookshop is the second book I’ve read by Jenny Colgan and I adored the story, the characters, and especially the setting of charming Edinburgh, which is the perfect setting for a Christmas romance set in a bookshop. And while this one has plenty of romance, it’s primarily a story about sisters and family and finding your place in that family.
Carmen has always felt like a failure, especially compared to her perfect sister Sofia, who was excellent at school, has an impressive job as a lawyer, a handsome husband, and three beautiful children. When Carmen loses her job and Sofia (with some encouraging from their mother) offers to let her come stay with her family and help out one of Sofia’s clients through the holidays, Carmen doesn’t feel like she can say no.
When she arrives and discovers she’s sleeping in the basement (next door to the annoying nanny), is expected to help out her very pregnant sister with her nieces and nephew on evenings when the nanny is in class (and her handsome husband is out of town on business), and that the bookshop she’ll be helping in is more like a storage room than a bookshop, she feels like she’s been set up to fail—once again.
But as she settles in, she gets to know the village, the bookshop, and her family. And she starts to discover who she wants to be.
The characters are so well-done in this one. They’re funny, relatable, and engaging. Children aren’t always done well in romances, but I adored Carmen’s nieces and nephew! And if you’ve read Colgan’s The Bookshop on the Shore, you may recognize a few side characters. I haven’t read the book, but I could tell there was history there so I looked them up. Now I’m even more eager to pick it up. I already have the book waiting on my shelf.
Just like the other Colgan book I read, The Bookshop on the Corner, there are two possible love interests in The Christmas Bookshop. If you’re not a fan of triangles, then you have no need to worry. Colgan never seems to take it to that point. I always enjoy how she manages to leave the reader wondering who the main character will end up with throughout most of the book. I’m very happy with how the love story came together. It’s sweet and super memorable.
One of my favorite aspects of this novel is the setting of Edinburgh. I can’t remember ever reading a book set there and it had me googling all the locations she mentions. It sounds absolutely charming at Christmastime with fairy lights, Christmas markets, hot chocolate, mulled wine, snow, and the festive bookshop.
Much of this one is also set in fall, starting around the first of November, so it was nice to ease into the Christmas part and experience Edinburgh in the fall, as well.
I absolutely loved this holiday romance, and it’s the perfect read to kick off the holiday season!
Thank you to the publisher, William Morrow Paperbacks, and Netgalley for providing me with an advance copy.
Check out my reviews and playlists at A Book Wanderer