This review may contain spoilers, so fair warning, upon reading the review. Also my tags may have spoilers in them so be forewarned before checking out full review.

Book Evaluation:
Plot: 🎞️🎞️🎞️🎞️🎞️
World Building:🌎🌎🌎🌎🌎
Cover:📔📔📔📔📔
Hero: 🦸🏻🦸🏻🦸🏻🦸🏻🦸🏻
Heroine:🦸🏻‍♀️🦸🏻‍♀️🦸🏻‍♀️🦸🏻‍♀️
Intimacy Level: 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Relationship Building: 💒💒💒💒💒
Heart & Feels:💞💞💞💞💞
Witty/Banter/Reaction of Laughter: 😂😂😂😂😂
Page Turner Level:📖📖📖📖
Narration:🎧🎧🎧🎧🎧
Ending:🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧
Overall View: ✨✨✨✨.5


First Impressions
The Taming of a Higlander is the second book in the "Midnight in Scotland" series by Elisa Braden. Now this series is somewhat loosely connected to her "Rescued From Ruin" series. I couldn't seem to get enough of this author and her fantastic writing abilities to just suck me into this story. I honestly wasn't sure what I was expecting with this book but it melted my heart in all the good ways. And her writing style is so refreshing from all the modernistic romances we get these days. Its so nice to have such a classic HR feel to a story and Elisa Braden really knocked it out of the park. Its a story that will touch its reader deep to the heart.

First Line
"He Dispatches forty men? All with his dirk?" Hazel eyes glinted with amusement as John Huxley scraped a lean hand across his jaw. "Are you ....certain?"

The Main Protagonists
The Hero: Broderick MacPherson
The Heroine: Kate Huxley

Summary
Broderick MacPherson was wrongfully imprisoned for a crime that he didn't commit and by an enemy he has no clue is the source. After finally being free from prison after being tortured and almost dying, he is slowly recovering and determined to find those that framed him for a crime he didn't commit. But what he doesn't expect, is for a sweet curious lass to catch him in getting revenge on his enemy and now her testimony could incriminate him and the only way to protect him will be for them to marry. Kate Huxley, spent years on the marriage mart and could never seem to be content like her family in marriage, she has thirst for writing and wants to explore her talent in it and Scotland is the greatest inspiration for her. When she has an opportunity to stay in Scotland for good, she takes up the chance, even knowing it would mean marrying a man that terrified her. But as Broderick searches for his enemy, a slow building love grows between Broderick and Kate, a love neither of them expected...

What I Loved
WHAT A BLAST OF A BOOK!!! I honestly was so easily swept away by this book. There was so much to love about this story and I can see why this is one of the most well loved books by Elisa Braden, its definitely justified and I am glad that I own this one in both ebook and audio. You will find that this book is spectacular in every way. Broderick is a tortured hero, gruff and a bit of a recluse. Its justified as he also suffers from PTSD issues from his time in prison. Then we have this light and fluffy woman who just wants to write plays and enjoy the beauty of Scotland. She also isn't afraid to embrace new challenges. Even challenges she was afraid to embrace. I loved her nature. She is a sweet mix of soft, feminine, but striving for more in her life but like many of Braden heroines, treats the hero just right.

The relationship that builds between them is slow. At first, Broderick is trying to push Kate away from him. He doesn't know how to be a husband and is too busy for marriage things lol But Kate has other plans. She is determined to fight for her marriage and most especially this gruff but tender hearted man who just needs someone to love and care for him when he needs it. And I have to say if you need a good laugh....just read their first bedroom scene. I haven't LAUGHED so hard in such a long time. How our heroine practically seduces her husband in such a entertaining way. How this scene was written was pure brilliance!!!

What I Struggled With
There was really only one thing I struggled with....the pacing. The beginning does start out a bit slow, so keep with it for a few chapters and the heroine was a bit ....flighty. lol But Broderick keeps her to earth and grounded.

Narration
This is a fabulous narrator and does such a great job with Braden's books, and I am very picky about historical narrations and this one was so solidly done.

Overall View
The Taming of a Highlander was heartwarming in all the best of ways that Elisa Braden knows how to deliver. Its a story that tackles tough topics while delivering the sweet heart that will melt you in the best of places. A tale of a beauty who loves a scarred soul and teaches him the healing art of love and unselfish caring.

Favorite Quote(s)
She gave him one of her glowing smiles and he cracked, split like wood down the middle. The wood burned to ash revealing what lay inside. Need. Dark Shocking need.

Ye’re a flame in my darkness. I wouldnae have predicted it, given how we met. But nothin’s ever been truer.

Book Details (also in my shelves)
Sub Genre: Historical Romance, Scotland-Victorian Era
Character Types: Alpha Hero, Scarred Hero, Sweet and Sassy Heroine, Playwright Heroine, Tortured Hero
Themes: Pining heroine, All the Feels, Heart/touching, Danger Plot
Tropes: Marriage of Convenience, Forced Marriage, Forced Proximity

Book Perspective
3rd POV

Relationship Conflict vs Plot Conflict
Plot Conflict

If you like these authors, I recommend This Book
Laura Lee Gurhke
Lisa Kleypas
Lorraine Heath

Song This Book Inspires
With You-Cast of Ghost Musical

Recommendation For Reading Order
You can read as a standalone, but works better for family connections to read in order

Steam/Spice Explanations

Steamin' up the room -the sexual content is more explicit in the language and tone, heavier amount of sexual scenes.


Narrators:
Ruth Urquhart