The Highland Fling Book Review
Check out my review of The Highland Fling, a steamy lighthearted romance set in the Scottish Highlands.
I devoured the Outlander series years ago so I was predisposed to enjoy another romance that takes place in Scotland. When I spotted this adorable cover and read the super-high reviews of the book, it immediately went to the top of the list of picks for our 2024 book club list.
You can get the book club discussion questions and matching party menu in The Highland Fling book club kit here.
Since I try to keep my own opinions out of the book club kit so you can form your own as you read it, I’m sharing my review of the November book club pick here!
Curious if this book is for you? Check out my full review below.
Summary of The Highland Fling
Freshly fired from her third job in a row, Bonnie St. James has lost her way. So when she and her best friend stumble upon a “help wanted” post to run a coffee shop in the Scottish Highlands, they apply on a whim. Who knows? Maybe traveling to a new place is just what she needs to figure out her next move.
When the friends arrive in the tiny idyllic town of Corsekelly, they instantly fall for the gorgeous Highland landscape and friendly townspeople. But Bonnie finds a less-than-warm welcome in Rowan MacGregor, the rugged local handyman. Busy wrestling his own demons, Rowan’s in no mood to deal with the quirky American—even if she is a bonny lass.
As Bonnie and Rowan’s paths inevitably cross, insults—and sparks—fly. Can the pair build on their similarities to help each other find purpose and direction…and maybe romance too? Or will their passionate tempers fling them apart?
What I Liked
Here’s what I would tell my best friend about the book:
- The Fantastical Plot Premise: Two best friends jetting off to run a coffee shop in Scotland? This is exactly the kind of escapist book I needed this month! As a mom who sometimes feels a little bit chained down by family responsibilities, it was fun to day dream of being so wild and carefree.
- Travel Adventures in Scotland: I think the author did a fantastic job of painting the picture of this quaint Scottish town and the fun characters who live there. She hit all the right notes for me: food, colloquialisms, and even native animals and scenery.
- The Romance: I was slower to warm up to the main couples in the story but the final 30% of the book had me sold.
- Bonnie’s Transformation: I confess I wasn’t a fan of her in the beginning, but I love where her character ended up in the end.
What I Didn’t Like
Every reader needs something different from a book. What I may not have preferred may be your favorite part.
I was not a big fan of Bonnie’s character for the first half of the book. I found her to be immature and crass, she was particularly difficult to warm up to but that changed for me about 60% of the way through the book.
I didn’t believe the initial attraction between Bonnie and Rowan, it felt forced and a little jarring. But as they got to know one another better and started to fall in love, I definitely warmed up to them as a couple.
How Spicy Is It?
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ : The Highland Fling rates a Level 4 on my spicy books rating scale. There are several steamy scenes with very vivid language but there is still a fun plot that moves the story along.
The dialogue is quite a bit course between the characters but that definitely keeps in line with the Scottish characters who are not quite as “prudish” as we Americans can be about cursing and innuendos.
Favorite Quotes
“Here I am, living out the wildest dream I never knew I had.”
“Relationships don’t define you; they only mold you.”
Overall Score
⭐⭐⭐⭐
I give The Highland Fling 4 stars. While it was a little hard for me to get into, the last half of the book went much faster and I enjoyed the ending.
If this is your first time reading one of my reviews, you may want to check out how I score my reads with this scale guide here.
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