Book Review: Holly Dates at the Christmas Cottage by Margaret Amatt

It is once again a pleasure to be welcoming Margaret Amatt to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her book, Holly Dates at the Christmas Cottage.

An unexpected bid for something special this Christmas

Perpetually single events manager Tiffany Barlow is used to being in control. So when she agrees to take part in the Holly Dates Auction at Thistle Lodge, it’s with a very specific goal in mind: to catch a respectable date for a high-profile event at a nearby castle. What she doesn’t expect is a last-minute twist…

Reserved English teacher Isaac Emery is looking forward to a peaceful, cosy winter at his grandpa’s Christmas Cottage, pretending he’s perfectly content with his books for company. When he accidentally wins a Holly Date experience at a festive fundraiser, he finds himself committed to a date with Tiffany – someone way out of his league.

As the glittering winter ball at the castle approaches, Tiffany is torn between what she’s been brought up to desire and an unexpected attraction to Isaac.

With a little seasonal nudge from his grandpa, Isaac might risk stepping away from the safety of his solitary world, giving both himself and Tiffany a chance to unwrap true love this Christmas.

*****

Tiffany has only one thing in mind when she ends up signing up for the Holly Dates auction and that’s finding a date to take to the Winter Ball, so she doesn’t look single in front of her family. She certainly isn’t counting on meeting Isaac.

Can Christmas work its magic, or will Tiffany and Isaac get in their own way?

A Margaret Amatt novel and Christmas. Yes please.

Told from the point of view of Tiffany and Isaac, it was really easy to completely fall into this novel. This author has a really lovely way of making me feel invested; not just this book but in all her books. I immediately love the characters within. This was certainly the case with Holly Dates at the Christmas Cottage.

The story unfolds well and gave me all the festive feels. There never seemed to be a dull moment, and I couldn’t put the book down to be honest. I was sad when it ended and hope we get to see these characters again. If you’re not a stranger to the Glenbriar series, there are appearances from some familiar faces. If this book is your introduction though, it stands alone.

I get the feeling that, although Tiffany would like to find love, she was also happy being single. I admired this about her. She loves her job. She has her own flat. It’s simply the pressure from her family that moves her into finding a date. She is kind, friendly and has the level of confidence I would love.

Isaac is more like me. He’s quiet and he keeps himself to himself. He’s a lovely man who deserves to be seen that way. The main characters felt relatable and real. I liked seeing how the relationship between these two developed as I progressed through the narrative. I also want to move into Christmas Cottage.

Jim and Mabel were a delight. When it comes to the characters that cause a conflict, they aren’t simply left as villains. They are layered and flawed and get a chance to be heard.

This novel deals with themes of loneliness, self-belief, family, hope and love.

I am not sure how much more I can reveal without giving too much away.

Holly Dates at the Christmas Cottage is a beautifully written festive tale about finding a place to belong and having the courage to grab love when it unexpectantly calls.

(Thank you to Rachel’s Random Resources for the advanced reading copy in exchange for an honest review.)

About Margaret Amatt –

Margaret Amatt is a bestselling Scottish author, professional daydreamer, and certified chocolate addict. She’s been making up stories for as long as she can remember – some of them even made it onto paper (and, tragically, onto floppy disks that no computer can read anymore). After two decades of writing in secret, she finally unleashed her first novel on the world in 2021, kicking off a ten-book series set on the stunning Isle of Mull.

But why stop there? She’s also the creator of The Glenbriar Series, where romance, small-town drama, and a pinch of spice keep readers coming back for more. This series is still going strong, with more books planned, including a spin-off series in 2027 – The Glenbriar Castle Series.

Margaret also has two books out in the Love on the Edge – Barra series, set in the Outer Hebrides.

Margaret has spent her whole life in Scotland’s breath-taking Highland Perthshire, despite her entire extended family coming from the Glasgow area. Her books are romantic and emotional, sweet and funny, and each one can be read as a standalone, but long-time readers know the joy of familiar faces popping up, adding to the chaos.

So, if you love relatable characters, sizzling chemistry, and plenty of banter, you’re in the right place – just don’t blame Margaret when you stay up way too late reading just one more chapter.

Say hello to Margaret via her website, Facebook, Ko-fi and Instagram. 

Holly Dates at the Christmas Cottage is book 20 in the Glenbriar series and was released in October 2026. Click to buy on Amazon UK, Amazon US, Barnes & Noble and Waterstones. 

by

Laura

I'm Laura. I started Novel Kicks back in 2009 as I wanted a place to discuss books and writing - two loves of my life. As someone who has anxiety, these two things give me, and I am sure countless others, a much needed escape.
There is a monthly book club, writing exercises, prompts, reviews, author interviews, competitions and guest posts. I cover many genres and I hope there is something for everyone.
I grew up by the sea in Dorset and currently live in Poole with my husband, Chris and three cats. I love writing and have a BA (Hons) in Creative Writing from Falmouth University. I am writing my first book. If only I could stop pressing delete. Chris has threatened to stop it from working. Haha.
I have always loved creative writing since I was in first school and would very much like to meet my teacher, Miss Sayers, to say thank you for all the encouragement she gave me then.
When not writing, I love reading, cats, Disney, singing (I can't sing but this doesn't stop me,) and falling into a good TV show or film. If I could step into any fictional world, it would be amongst the characters in ABC's Once Upon a Time.
I love reading many genres and discovering new authors.