The Highland Fling

I grabbed this Amazon Prime ebook deal because I was in the mood for a light romance. I loved the premise of two young women setting out for an adventure in a new country and the Scottish setting had me sold! The inhabitants of the small town were a nice addition and I liked the bits of humour that made me giggle in the first half.

But this book felt waaay too long for the story we got, getting bogged down in dialogue with too much telling, not enough showing and excessive miscommunication. I liked Rowan, a big brawny Scot (naturally) who was grumpy due to unresolved family issues. Bonnie, on the other hand, was a socially unaware and self-centred woman who made immature decisions and whose addiction to eating cake was big part of her personality. Fergus, the locquacious local goat and the fitness twins were the highlight of the cast for me. 'Nuff said. 

What we get is a 'not quite enemies to lovers' vibe (more like Mr Grumpy meets Ms Self-Absorbed) that turns into insta-lust and issues that could be resolved with a single conversation. Some emotional subjects are introduced but not explored and don't get me started on the contrived third act conflict. Can .. we .. just .. not.

Overall, this book had great potential, but ended up being an underwhelming read with contrived dramatics and by the halfway mark I wanted Rowan to pick someone else besides Bonnie (not an ideal response in a romance). Points given for the Scottish pastries I'm eager to try, the Scottish setting that made me hear that delightful accent in my head as I read, and all the mentions of sweet Highland coos.  

My Rating: 2.5 stars

Author: Meghan Quinn

Genre: Romance

Type and Source: ebook, Amazon Prime Read

Publisher: Montlake

First Published: Aug 24, 2021

Read: Feb 15-19, 2026

Book Description from GoodReads: In this steamy tale by USA Today bestselling author Meghan Quinn, an American searching for her purpose escapes to a Scottish town but finds more questions than answers when she meets a brooding yet handsome handyman.

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?