So here's the thing about Highlander romances — I know exactly what I'm signing up for. Brawny Scottish laird, mysterious woman in peril, simmering tension, eventual steam. And honestly? That's the whole appeal. But I'd seen some pretty divided opinions on Joel Froomkin's narration before I hit play, and I almost skipped this one. I'm glad I didn't. Mostly.
I started this during Sophie's naptime on a Tuesday — miracle of miracles, she actually slept for two hours — and got hooked enough that I finished the rest over three days of school drop-offs and my sacred car-in-garage sessions. At 11 and a half hours, it's a decent commitment for my schedule, but Lynsay Sands keeps things moving fast enough that I never lost the thread even after being interrupted by Lucas asking me to open a juice box for the nine hundredth time.
The Amnesia Trope Gets a Carrot and Bread Upgrade
Jetta washes up on shore with zero memory, and Aulay Buchanan — scarred, brooding, doing his best "I'm not worthy of love" routine — fishes her out of the ocean and brings her to his clan's hunting lodge. Classic setup. But what makes this one fun is the misunderstanding that drives the first half: Jetta genuinely believes they're married. And Aulay, decent man that he is, keeps trying to correct this while also trying not to take advantage of the situation. The tension between his honor and his very obvious attraction is genuinely entertaining.
There's this scene early on involving a carrot and bread that had me laughing out loud in my minivan. I won't spoil it, but it's the kind of absurd, slightly bawdy humor that Sands does well — light enough to be funny, specific enough to stick with you. And then there's a moment where Jetta accidentally bites Aulay during a kiss? I snorted. Like, full ugly snort. At a stoplight. The woman in the car next to me definitely noticed.
The "someone is trying to kill Jetta" mystery is pretty straightforward if you've read any romance with a danger subplot. It's not going to keep you guessing, but it does keep the plot from being just about longing glances across the great hall. Sands' formula — man, woman, hidden danger, big Scottish family being nosy — works because she executes it with enough humor and warmth that you don't mind knowing where it's headed.
Joel Froomkin: The Narrator Debate I Now Have Opinions On
Okay, so. The narrator situation. I'd read reviews calling his Scottish male voices "gay and stupid" (their words, not mine, and yikes) and others calling him an absolute genius. The truth is somewhere in the middle, leaning toward the positive side.
Froomkin's emotional delivery is genuinely strong. There were moments — particularly during the tension scenes between Aulay and Jetta — where I caught myself gripping the steering wheel harder than necessary. He does vulnerability well, and his pacing during the romantic scenes is solid. You feel the push-pull between these two.
But. The Scottish male voices are... a choice. They're not terrible, but they do have this quality where several of the Buchanan brothers sound a bit same-y, and the accent work isn't as convincing as I've heard from other narrators doing Highland romances. It wasn't distracting enough to pull me out of the story, but if you're someone who's particular about authentic-sounding Scottish accents, manage your expectations. Also — and this is a weird specific complaint but I can't unhear it — the word "grimaced" comes up SO often. Like, everyone is grimacing constantly. That's more a writing thing than a narrator thing, but hearing it out loud made it way more noticeable.
The Ending That Just... Stops
Here's my biggest gripe, and it's a real one. The story ends abruptly. No epilogue. No "six months later" scene. No satisfying wrap-up where you see these two settled and happy. It just... stops. After investing nearly twelve hours in these characters, I wanted that payoff. I wanted the cozy bow on top. Isn't that the whole point of a comfort read? Give me the epilogue, Lynsay. I EARNED that epilogue.
It didn't ruin the book, but it left me feeling a little cheated sitting in my garage at 9:47 PM.
Who's Picking This Up (And Who Should Pass)
If you're already a Sands fan or you love Highland romances with humor baked in, this is a solid pick. It survived 47 pauses and still made sense, and the amnesia/fake-marriage setup kept things interesting enough to look forward to my next listening window. Though honestly, when I want something with a little more edge to the female lead — someone who actually chose to be in danger — Daughter of the Pirate King scratched a completely different itch. Not groundbreaking, but sometimes you don't need groundbreaking. Sometimes you need a scarred Scottish laird and a feisty amnesiac and a really funny carrot scene.
If you need a narrator with flawless Scottish accents, or if an abrupt ending is going to genuinely bother you, maybe borrow this one from the library first before committing a credit.
Car Time Approved, Epilogue Not Included
I finished this in about five days, which for my life is practically speedreading. It's warm, it's funny in spots, and Aulay and Jetta have enough chemistry to keep you invested. Froomkin's narration has real strengths even if the accent work isn't perfect. But that missing epilogue, man. I'm still a little salty. My book club would've had OPINIONS about that ending — if I ever have time for book club again.
