#NetGalley Audio Book Review: Bewitching a Highlander by Roma Cordon

This is a sensual Scottish romance.

Bewitching a Highlander
By: Roma Cordon
Narrated by: Moira Quirk

Length: 10 hrs and 37 mins
Release date: 06-07-22
Publisher: CamCat Books
Genre: Historical Romance, Scottish Historical Romance
My Rating: 3.75 of 5.0 Overall; Story 3.75; Narration 4.0.

Publisher's Summary
Defying all for the love of a bewitching lass.
Breena MacRae, a healer from Skye with a touch of witchery in her blood, embarks on a dangerous search for her missing father. She arrives on the Isle of Coll, seat of the vile Campbells. There, she encounters the debonair future chief to the Dunbar Clan, Egan, who rescues her from a Campbell sentry.
Egan Dunbar is on Coll to keep the peace between the feuding Campbells and Dunbars. But when he catches Breena in a lie, he agrees to help her find her father to pay back an old debt and get to the bottom of the secrets she's hiding.
As their attraction for each ignites like a firestorm, Breena and Egan realize a future together could trigger deadly consequences—a clan war between the Campbells and the Dunbars. Is Egan willing to betray his clan for love, even though he knows Breena is keeping secrets from him? Can Breena trust him with her family secret and put those she loves at risk?
©2022 Roma Cordon (P)2022 CamCat Books

Review:
Breena is a 25 year-old young woman who lost her parents at age 6 and was raised by her wise grandmother. Breena comes from a family of healers…and witches. They have been good witches, but she hides this part of her nature because of the prejudices of others and the dangers disclosure presents.

Until very recently Breena thought her father was dead. Now she has learned that he may be alive an a prisoner of the chief of the Campbells who had her mother hung as a witch. Breena insisted on her uncle taking her to the Campbells land, the Isle of Coll, to secretly hunt for her father. Breena faces resistance and danger before even getting into the keep. She is ‘rescued’ by Egan, the debonair future chief of the Dunbar Clan, who helps her gain entrance and introduction to The Campbell.

Egan is enchanted but puzzled by this young woman. She has introduced her companion as her father, but something doesn’t ring true to her story. Egan is already having to walk a fine line as he is there to confront the vile Campbell chief over the death of some of the Dunbar men. It doesn’t help that he has to worry about Breena and her secrets as she sneaks around the keep.

Egan has been directly instructed by his father not to instigate a war between the Dunbar clan and the Campbell clan. Egan is also keenly aware that he is expected to marry a woman of high blood, not a common born woman like Breena. How much is Egan is willing to risks to help this woman who has ensnared his interest? And how far will he go to protect her?

The story pulled me in and I basically liked the characters and the touch of magic. I also enjoyed the underlying story but not the extra drawn-out sensual scenes. I could sense the chemistry without the extensive scenes and flowery descriptions to draw it out. Breena really seemed like a younger character as it didn’t seem likely that she would remain unmarried at 25 and she was obsessed with secrets and insecurities. Romance readers who like the long build up and tension will likely enjoy this more than I did.

Audio Notes: Moira Quirk does a nice job with the narration. She provided distinct voices and fitting emotional energy. I was glad for the opportunity to listen to this historical romance.

Source: June 2023 "Listen Now" audiobook at NetGalley. This qualifies for 2023 NetGalley and 2023Audiobook goals.