Highland Vow is a shockingly quick read, but it contains characters that stick with you. At only 188 pages, it still manages to delver a story for readers who love music – and especially for those who enjoy seeing it act as the bonding glue between two musical people who truly love each other. Add in a distinct Romeo and Juliet flavor, and this was a delight for me, even though a few too typical plot points put me off.

Eilidh Hart frequently sneaks out of Hartsmoor Castle to fiddle in a band with her brothers. She keeps trying to outrun rumors surrounding her reputation. An expert fiddler, she ignores everyone else and concentrates on her music, using it as a way to free herself from the expectations surrounding her. As the Laird’s daughter she is expected to marry.

Torquil MacGregor is a talented singer and lute player who cares little for wars, feuding or clan politics. He’s an artist and a sensitive one at that, who just wants to play music. Elidh hears Torquil playing at a gathering and is immediately drawn to him without knowing anything about him. She learns his name, though not his heritage and begins conspiring to see him. Unfortunately, the Harts and MacGregors are bitter old enemies. When the pair give into their desire to make beautiful music together, they’re soon forced into wedlock. But can wild Eilidh accept that Torquil has married her out of love and desire as well as duty?

Highland Vow has a wonderful, firebrand heroine going for it. I liked the more pensive, inward thinking Torquil – he felt unique as a hero, softly meditative in comparison to Eilidh’s more action-forward ways. I like that they dreamed to know more about one another, with music providing the path from friendship to romance.

Sadly, the big mis can be seen coming from miles away, disappointing the reader with its brief False Sunset moment. I also struggled with why Eilidh would feel that Torquil was coming to their wedding an unwilling man considering how passionate his vows to her have consistently been.

The combination of music, forbidden love and the romance between Eilidh and Torquil made this a charming Highland romance.

Lisa Fernandes has been reviewing romance novels ever since her great aunt left a Billie Douglas book out in the bathroom. She’s currently working on a biography about Julian Sands.