Audio: Highland Crown by May McGoldrick

Narrated by: Raphael Corkhill, Saskia Maarleveld

Series: Royal Highlander, Book 1

Length: 8 hrs and 25 mins

Unabridged Audiobook

Release date: 04-30-19

Language: English

Publisher: Macmillan Audio

For review

Romantic fiction historical

I must say, this was not historical romance. Not quite historical fiction either, so let us say romantic historical then.

See, it was more about the struggle of the Scots, riots, talks of freedom, the run from the evil British, her being a doctor, than actual romance. When the book ended all I thought was Scotland needs to be free! So yes that says a lot.

Isabella are running from the British army (though I did think they spent WAY too much effort on finding her.) On her way to freedom she finds a cranky, but nice old lady. And then she meets Cinead.

Oh yes Cinead, the blurb makes it so that we get to know his secret, but that actually comes out at the end. Of course it was quite easy to figure out. But he was this nice guy who wanted to protect her, and that is so not easy with all those evil Brits after her. Brits are so EVIL! I know about what they did in Scotland, how they took land and destroyed villages, but ugh, they are so evil.

It was not the light read that I expected. Lots of darkness, mistrust and it does not even end with a solid hea, as the author says that their hea will continue in the next books (which are about her sister and stepdaughter.)

I did like it, but yes I do confess it was not what I expected.

Narration

Raphael Corkhill, Saskia Maarleveld

I have not listened to Corkhill before, but I did enjoy his narration, and he made it seem like the Cinead point and the quotes at the beginning was narrated by two different narrators. So that was very well done. Also Scottish accent, rawr

I have listened to Saskia before and I do enjoy her style. Isabella and a certain cranky lady sure shone through

Inverness, 1820 

Perched on the North Sea, this port town - by turns legendary and mythological - is a place where Highland rebels and English authorities clash in a mortal struggle for survival and dominance. Among the fray is a lovely young widow who possesses rare and special gifts.    

WANTED: Isabella Drummond 

A true beauty and trained physician, Isabella has inspired longing and mystery - and fury - in a great many men. Hunted by both the British government and Scottish rebels, she came to the Highlands in search of survival. But a dying ship’s captain will steer her fate into even stormier waters...and her heart into flames.     

FOUND: Cinaed Mackintosh 

Cast from his home as a child, Cinaed is a fierce soul whose allegiance is only to himself...until Isabella saved his life - and added more risk to her own. Now, the only way Cinaed can keep her safe is to seek refuge at Dalmigavie Castle, the Mackintosh family seat. But when the scandalous truth of his past comes out, any chance of Cinaed having a bright future with Isabella is thrown into complete darkness. What will these two ill-fated lovers have to sacrifice to be together...for eternity?