Charlotte McGregor: High Spirits & Gentle Beasts
Highland Happiness #3

High Spirits & Gentle Beasts

Between whisky tumblers and alpacas, a Highland romance brews.

Shona Fraser’s life is as spirited as the whisky and gin she distills. As she sets out to transform Kirkby’s old distillery into a highlight of the region, she undergoes her own transformation as well. Going from carefree party girl to a respectable businesswoman is the change she was prepared to make. But life has more in store for her.

Local vet Kendrick McIntosh has a heart as tender as the animals he cares for. Their worlds collide – quite literally – when Shona’s beloved alpaca, Nessie, takes a tipsy tumble in front of Kendrick’s car. The fateful encounter sparks a fiery connection between them.

Beneath the surface of their shared love for Highland dancing and furry friends lies a deeper bond, unveiled through a twist of fate.

“High Spirits & Gentle Beasts” is the third novel in the “Highland Happiness” series and a tantalizing tale of passion, mishaps, and the magical allure of the Highlands.

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Quick Profile

High Spirits & Gentle Beasts is a sensual Highland romance with whisky-and-gin vibes, village gossip, and plenty of animal charm—plus a love story where time “shouldn’t matter” in love… but absolutely does in whisky.

  • Genre: feel-good romance | Highland romance | cosy romance
  • Setting: Scottish Highlands, fictional Kirkby — centred around the distillery, the pub, stables, and Loch Ness nearby
  • Main characters: Shona Fraser (distiller, determined to revive the old distillery—alpaca Nessie included) & Kendrick McIntosh (mobile village vet, new in Kirkby, more of a lone wolf)
  • Mood: cosy, romantic, humorous, sensual, emotional—with village dynamics, vet-life moments, and festival/dancing scenes
  • Tropes: Enemies-to-Lovers • Small Town • Opposites Attract • Forced Proximity (vet & alpaca/emergencies) • One Night Stand → more • Found Family (the Fraser clan) • Animal Companion (alpaca & dogs) • Hurt/Comfort • Gossip & Reputation
  • Heat level: medium-hot (2.5 chillies) — multiple explicit open-door scenes
  • Happy ending: yes
  • Entry point: standalone (no prior knowledge needed)

Who is this for?

Who is this for?

  • If you love Highland atmosphere: village life, Highlands, community, pub rumour mill
  • If you enjoy romance built on friction + real closeness (not just misunderstandings)
  • If you’re here for whisky and gin vibes: distilling, aromas, tastings, craft, uisge beatha energy
  • If you love animals in the plot: Nessie the alpaca (and later, even more furry chaos)
  • If you like characters learning trust, pushing boundaries, and still staying true to themselves

Not for you if…

  • You read strictly clean (this is clearly open door).
  • You struggle with animal suffering / medical emergencies (see Content Note).
  • Topics around trying for a baby / sperm donation / co-parenting stress you out.
  • Lots of alcohol context (whisky/gins/pubs) is an automatic no for you.

Tropes & Themes

  • Enemies-to-Lovers (including a big first misunderstanding: alpaca vs car wing mirror)
  • Opposites Attract (driven distiller vs vet looking for peace)
  • Small-Town Romance (gossip, meddling, family networks)
  • Forced Proximity (animals, emergencies, village life—you will keep seeing each other)
  • Hook-up → feelings (physical quickly, emotional takes time)
  • Fresh start & self-image: what do you actually want—vs what only works “on paper”
  • Family / clan dynamics: support, pressure, loyalty (the Frasers, after all)
  • Alternative family models: baby wish, responsibility, “how many adults does a child need?”
  • Love of animals & responsibility: rescue, care, loss—and how it bonds people
  • Time: essential for whisky, risky for love (and sometimes the saving grace)

Series Context

This novel is fully self-contained and can be read without any prior knowledge. A loose overarching thread runs in the background since Book 1, but you don’t need it to enjoy this story. Chances are high you’ll fall for Kirkby and its residents and want to keep reading.

Reading Order in Kirkby (chronological)

eading Order in Kirkby (chronological)

FAQ

Where is the story set?
In the Scottish Highlands—in the fictional village of Kirkby, centred around a newly re-opened distillery, stables, and village life.

Can I read the book without the series?
Yes. The love story is complete.

What’s it about (low-spoiler)?
Shona Fraser brings an old distillery back to life and wants to make it big with whisky and gin in the Highlands—together with her alpaca Nessie. Unfortunately, the new village vet Kendrick wants nothing to do with her (or her “animal ideas”). When Shona urgently needs his help, resistance turns into closeness—and closeness into something neither of them planned.

Is it more romcom or more emotional?
The feel-good tone and humour are there, but it turns emotional once trust, family, responsibility, and real vulnerability enter the picture.

How spicy is it?
2.5 chillies: clearly sensual, open door, with explicit scenes.

What role does the distillery (whisky/gin) play?
It’s the heart of the story: craft, aromas, brand-building—and Shona’s big stage (including pressure, pride, and risk).

Do the animals really matter, or are they just decoration?
They matter. Nessie isn’t just a mascot—she’s the trigger, the link, and sometimes chaos in a fluffy body.

Is there a happy ending?
Yes.

Formats & Publication Details

  • Formats: Paperback and eBook
  • ISBN paperback (Amazon): 9798292631118
  • ISBN paperback (wide): 9798232028633
  • ASIN (Amazon eBook): B0DB8V4QNH
  • Language: English
  • Series: Highland Happiness Saga #3
  • Length: 356 pages
  • Publication date: 24 July 2025

Short Recommendation Copy

A distiller with big plans, a vet who craves peace, and an alpaca that changes everything: between a distillery launch, village gossip, and animal emergencies, a Kirkby love story grows that proves closeness can’t be planned… but sometimes it’s exactly right.

Keyword Set

Kirkby • Scottish Highlands • Highland romance • small-town romance • feel-good romance • distillery • whisky • gin • distiller • tasting • Highland atmosphere • vet • enemies-to-lovers • forced proximity • found family • alpaca Nessie • Loch Ness • village community • open door

Content Note

Contains (low-spoiler) multiple explicit open-door sex scenes, strong alcohol context (whisky/gin/pub; including a “drunk animal” situation), veterinary emergencies with blood, serious injuries, and the euthanasia of an animal; severe weather (storm/thunder/hail) with panic and animals fleeing; relationship break-up/infidelity in backstory context; and discussions around trying for a baby, sperm donation, rainbow family models, and co-parenting.

Out now!