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4.05 AVERAGE
4.05 AVERAGE
emotional
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
challenging
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
An arranged marriage trope is always going to get my attention because it has the same level of tension that we get with marriage of convenience that is my absolute favorite trope. I’ve had this one on my list for awhile and it completely captivated my attention over the last couple of days.
I haven’t read a historical romance in a while that gripped me as much as this book. It is a deeply emotional story and the author masterfully made me feel all of the pain and emotions of Kate and Callum. I was hooked and couldn’t put it down. I have had this on my list and now that I’ve finished it, remember reading some spoiler reviews a while ago and really wish I hadn’t. Luckily, I didn’t remember all the details as I read through it. It is easy to really hate Callum at certain points in this story but he had a lot of growth and I ended up loving him. Kate is severely wounded emotionally on multiple fronts and you just hurt for her as she tries to make the best decisions given her circumstances. There are several surprises and I suggest going in blind on those.
My only complaints are that I wish there had been a little more resolution of the conflict between Callum and his father and that the epilogue would have focused a little more on Callum and Kate. I liked where that landed as to Charlotte but just wanted a little more Kate and Callum happily ever after.
Content Notes: Closed door romance
3.5 stars. This one was hard to rate. Parts of it I loved but it just dragged for me for the majority. Mixed feelings…
Heart in the Highlands by Heidi Kimball is a Scottish Regency Romance. It has an arranged marriage, a charming Scottish male lead, and an unpredictable plot full of heartbreak, redemption, and forgiveness.
I heard so many wonderful things about this book and it truly deserves the praise! I loved all the character growth, not just for the main characters but for important supporting characters as well. I loved that the characters had real flaws and made big mistakes and had to deal with consequences of their actions. I felt like the progression of the characters and the plot were well paced. It was fast enough to keep me interested but slow enough to feel realistic and relatable. Forgiveness and change take time and I like that Heidi Kimball gave Kate and Callum that time.
I loved all the details that made this story unique! Callum’s journal, Kate’s sketchbook, and Charlotte’s antics all helped me get to know the characters on a deeper level without distracting from the plot. Every scene and every detail had a purpose and contributed to the story and I loved that!
There were a lot of supporting characters in this story, and I really wish we could have seen more of certain characters. One character I would love to see more of is Callum’s mom. She seems to be such a wise and caring person! My favorite quote from this book is something Callum’s mom says to Kate. I really wish we could have seen Callum’s mom interact more with the main characters.
Lastly, I love how tastefully Heidi Kimball described Kate and Callum’s more intimate moments. Their wedding night in particular was so well done. Just like the rest of the story it felt very real and relatable rather than glamorized. You can tell Kate and Callum develop a very special connection and that foundation is very important to their relationship. And of course I appreciate that it was all very clean and tasteful. Major props to Heidi for writing a story with marital intimacy that encapsulates all the love and sacredness without any of the glamour or “steam” that is all too common in most forms of media. Even their kisses were passionate enough to show Kate and Callum have chemistry but were clean. It all was perfectly balanced and is exactly the kind of romance I love to read!
If you enjoy deeply emotional stories, handsome Scottish men, lots of character growth, and love stories with perfectly imperfect characters you should read Heart in the Highlands!
I heard so many wonderful things about this book and it truly deserves the praise! I loved all the character growth, not just for the main characters but for important supporting characters as well. I loved that the characters had real flaws and made big mistakes and had to deal with consequences of their actions. I felt like the progression of the characters and the plot were well paced. It was fast enough to keep me interested but slow enough to feel realistic and relatable. Forgiveness and change take time and I like that Heidi Kimball gave Kate and Callum that time.
I loved all the details that made this story unique! Callum’s journal, Kate’s sketchbook, and Charlotte’s antics all helped me get to know the characters on a deeper level without distracting from the plot. Every scene and every detail had a purpose and contributed to the story and I loved that!
There were a lot of supporting characters in this story, and I really wish we could have seen more of certain characters. One character I would love to see more of is Callum’s mom. She seems to be such a wise and caring person! My favorite quote from this book is something Callum’s mom says to Kate. I really wish we could have seen Callum’s mom interact more with the main characters.
Lastly, I love how tastefully Heidi Kimball described Kate and Callum’s more intimate moments. Their wedding night in particular was so well done. Just like the rest of the story it felt very real and relatable rather than glamorized. You can tell Kate and Callum develop a very special connection and that foundation is very important to their relationship. And of course I appreciate that it was all very clean and tasteful. Major props to Heidi for writing a story with marital intimacy that encapsulates all the love and sacredness without any of the glamour or “steam” that is all too common in most forms of media. Even their kisses were passionate enough to show Kate and Callum have chemistry but were clean. It all was perfectly balanced and is exactly the kind of romance I love to read!
If you enjoy deeply emotional stories, handsome Scottish men, lots of character growth, and love stories with perfectly imperfect characters you should read Heart in the Highlands!
at this point, i am just forcing myself to finish it. the plot is dragging and is very predicable.
i can’t stand the characters as well. especially callum. he is very cringe.
i can’t stand the characters as well. especially callum. he is very cringe.
emotional
hopeful
relaxing
sad
medium-paced
“My heart is yours, Callum.” The pulsing beneath his palm was proof of the truth of her words.
What did a man say when he was offered all he’d ever wanted? He couldn’t speak. His chest expanded with hope, but he couldn’t let her confession go un-answered. “And my heart is yours, Katie. Broken and bent as it is, it beats only for ye.”
I knew that this book would hurt me early on and I was correct.
Kate and Callum were a marriage of convenience couple, but they had a lot of tension from the start. I really loved the two of them together, how they thought it might not be so bad after they met each other, it was all looking up.
But then Callum decided to leave FOR FOUR YEARS(!!!!) because he argued with his father...my problem with this is that his reason wasn't good enough, and he was old enough to know better. If he was a teen I'd be more willing to forgive him, but he was 26.
During that time Kate suffers by herself, and then EVENTUALLY Callum comes back, but not of his own accord, only because an urgent family matter called him back. And then, in my opinion, he didn't grovel enough for Kate to forgive him.
She didn't forgive him easily though, but most of the time he acted like everything should be okay now that he's back. He did, at least, redeem himself a bit by being a good father to Charlotte.
Charlotte was my favourite, she was sooo adorable, I can't wait to read her own book. And, I hope there's pirates too (I can dream).
I also loved the writing from the very first page, that was how I knew I'd enjoy it.
Surprisingly, as a second chance romance hater, this one worked for me. Other than Callum leaving, of course. But I don't know, I prefer this to every other second chance I've read, it was done so much better.
I could actually feel the pain Kate went through and cried with her. And I will say that she deserved so much more. But Callum is all we got, so I gotta learn to forgive him too. At some point. In the very distant future.
The setting was magically described, and it made me want to to visit Scotland. Some of the characters speaking in Scottish brogue helped to envision it better too.
Heidi Kimball is on my radar now, and I'm planning on checking out some of her other books as well.
What did a man say when he was offered all he’d ever wanted? He couldn’t speak. His chest expanded with hope, but he couldn’t let her confession go un-answered. “And my heart is yours, Katie. Broken and bent as it is, it beats only for ye.”
I knew that this book would hurt me early on and I was correct.
Kate and Callum were a marriage of convenience couple, but they had a lot of tension from the start. I really loved the two of them together, how they thought it might not be so bad after they met each other, it was all looking up.
But then Callum decided to leave FOR FOUR YEARS(!!!!) because he argued with his father...my problem with this is that his reason wasn't good enough, and he was old enough to know better. If he was a teen I'd be more willing to forgive him, but he was 26.
During that time Kate suffers by herself, and then EVENTUALLY Callum comes back, but not of his own accord, only because an urgent family matter called him back. And then, in my opinion, he didn't grovel enough for Kate to forgive him.
She didn't forgive him easily though, but most of the time he acted like everything should be okay now that he's back. He did, at least, redeem himself a bit by being a good father to Charlotte.
Charlotte was my favourite, she was sooo adorable, I can't wait to read her own book. And, I hope there's pirates too (I can dream).
I also loved the writing from the very first page, that was how I knew I'd enjoy it.
Surprisingly, as a second chance romance hater, this one worked for me. Other than Callum leaving, of course. But I don't know, I prefer this to every other second chance I've read, it was done so much better.
I could actually feel the pain Kate went through and cried with her. And I will say that she deserved so much more. But Callum is all we got, so I gotta learn to forgive him too. At some point. In the very distant future.
The setting was magically described, and it made me want to to visit Scotland. Some of the characters speaking in Scottish brogue helped to envision it better too.
Heidi Kimball is on my radar now, and I'm planning on checking out some of her other books as well.
emotional
hopeful
The Swoony Reads Society has done it again—introduced me to a new author and showed me all I was missing! This book has been on my radar but never quite made it to the top of my TBR until it was picked for this month’s book club read. It is SO good. Heart achingly good. This is one of the best marriage of convenience, second chance romances I have ever read.
Things I Loved:
-Their meet cute
-Forehead kisses
-Wedding scramble
-Weapon of choice
-“‘Och, Katie,’ Callum murmured. ‘Ye are a fine surprise indeed.’”
-Lydia and William
-“As it turned out, living in the present was nearly impossible when one was busy agonizing over the past.”
-Charlotte
-“Ye’ve changed a great deal, Katie, but ye’ve not improved as a liar.”
-“‘I daresay children require more careful handling than sheep.’ She gave him a sideways glance. ‘I doubt you’ve ever lost a negotiation with one of your lambs.’ Callum tipped his hat. ‘Touché.’”
-The spasm 🤣
-Uncle Blair
-Harriet and Archie
-The journal and the sketchbook
-“Nae. It is admirable tae love so much that another’s happiness brings you joy, but ye also need a contentment that is all your own. One that isnae dependent on someone else.”
-Charlotte’s birthday present
-“She’d given him glimpses into herself, an artist revealing a small corner of her painting. But that wasn’t enough for Callum. He wanted—needed—to see the whole canvas.”
-The Epilogue
This book was a stunning picture of how hurt, bitterness, hatred, and forgiveness can shape our lives. There is so much depth here and also so much sweetness and fun, it is quite a dynamic read. I look forward to reading more books by her in the future!
Content: Closed door (married couple, brief implied intimacy, nothing on page)
Trigger Warning: Deals heavily with abandonment, strained parent relationships, fertility struggles, & infant loss. As someone who has experienced miscarriages, it was a deeply emotional read.
Things I Loved:
-Their meet cute
-Forehead kisses
-Wedding scramble
-Weapon of choice
-“‘Och, Katie,’ Callum murmured. ‘Ye are a fine surprise indeed.’”
-Lydia and William
-“As it turned out, living in the present was nearly impossible when one was busy agonizing over the past.”
-Charlotte
-“Ye’ve changed a great deal, Katie, but ye’ve not improved as a liar.”
-“‘I daresay children require more careful handling than sheep.’ She gave him a sideways glance. ‘I doubt you’ve ever lost a negotiation with one of your lambs.’ Callum tipped his hat. ‘Touché.’”
-The spasm 🤣
-Uncle Blair
-Harriet and Archie
-The journal and the sketchbook
-“Nae. It is admirable tae love so much that another’s happiness brings you joy, but ye also need a contentment that is all your own. One that isnae dependent on someone else.”
-Charlotte’s birthday present
-“She’d given him glimpses into herself, an artist revealing a small corner of her painting. But that wasn’t enough for Callum. He wanted—needed—to see the whole canvas.”
-The Epilogue
This book was a stunning picture of how hurt, bitterness, hatred, and forgiveness can shape our lives. There is so much depth here and also so much sweetness and fun, it is quite a dynamic read. I look forward to reading more books by her in the future!
Content: Closed door (married couple, brief implied intimacy, nothing on page)
Trigger Warning: Deals heavily with abandonment, strained parent relationships, fertility struggles, & infant loss. As someone who has experienced miscarriages, it was a deeply emotional read.
This has been on my tbr since it released and I was able to listen to the audio. The narrator is perfection!!
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad