My Heart's in the Highlands

by Amy Hoff

The year is 1888. Brilliant and beautiful, Lady Jane Crichton has fought the constraints of her Victorian Edinburgh upbringing to become one of the first women to attend university for medicine. Denied a degree because of her gender, she decides to marry a closeted gay man, providing him with political and social cover and herself with the time and money to pursue her scientific interests—one of which is a time machine. Jane’s machine works…but not exactly as she expected, and soon she has crash-landed in the 13th-century Scottish Highlands. There she is rescued by a wild, red-haired warrior woman, Ainslie nic Dòmhnaill, next in line to the chiefship of the great Clan Donald, the rulers of the Sea Kingdom of the Isles. Despite the constant threat of attacks from enemy clans, harsh winters and a touch of homesickness, Jane finds herself bewitched by this land, this time and this magnificent woman. The rough and warlike Ainslie also feels the magic and revels in a passion and love neither she nor Jane had ever imagined. But Jane is hiding a dangerous secret—one that threatens to tragically transform their Highland fairy tale.

Genres: Romance, Historical Fiction, Lesbian, Time Travel, LGBT, Historical, Historical Romance

384 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 18, 2020

About the author

Amy Hoff lived on the American road for many years. She is a folklorist and historian specialising in Scotland, and has taught at the University of Glasgow. She lives in Scotland, where she runs a film and theatre company working on various different productions.

Reviews

[Lex Kent · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 Stars. This was a good read. It had its share of bumps but I was really entertained while reading it. I have a little bit of a love/hate relationship with historical fiction in lesfic. I love being whisked off to another place in time to read about extraordinary women, but with the good comes some bad since women were treated so horrible in the past. What I liked about this book is that it didn’t feel very heavy, it was more of a romance with some adventure.

This is a time-traveling romance. This had a similar feel of a WLW version of Highlander. Except if I can remember Highlander correctly, this book goes back farther in time. It starts in the 19th century and travels back to the 13th. The main character is Lady Jane who is one of the first women to study medicine to pass the course of becoming a doctor in the UK. Her real love is science and she creates her own time machine. Will Jane find that she is a better fit in the 13th century than her own?

While this is a time-travel romance, this is not a science fiction book at all. Jane has a time machine and she wants to go. There is nothing about how or why the machine works, and only a slight description of what it looks like. We don’t even know how it was powered. I enjoyed a lot of this book but this part was a miss for me. I don’t care if Hoff totally makes it up but I wanted some science. Not just with the time machine but with the character too. Jane is a scientist and besides two inventions towards the end, you would never really know it. Maybe it’s the sci-fi geek in me but I wanted to see what Jane could do helping the people of the time by introducing knowledge or tech and the possible “time travel rules” she could be breaking. Hoff started to flirt with this idea but never really went there like I was hoping.

While this has some action, it really is a romance. The romance surprised me a bit. Actually, it wasn’t the romance but the sex scenes that were a shocker. First, the romance was a little too close to insta love for me. Hoff talks about how she made the character of Jane demi, and while I am all for more demi rep, I don’t think the almost insta love worked as well. This needed to be a slow burn romance so that they made such a strong connection that Jane falling in love would make perfect sense. I think it was a missed opportunity. The sex scenes though were pretty intense. There were a few times I felt a little uncomfortable, like things were going too far, but for the most part they ended up being very steamy. There were some D/S elements and some complete ravishing going on. Let’s just say that if Hoff wants to write some erotica in the future, she won’t have any problems.

While there were a few times I caught some modern words that got through, I was impressed with all the research that Hoff did. She did take some artistic license, this is fiction after all, but she used a lot of real life events, people and places that made the book realistic and really interesting. At the end of the book there is a bunch of chapter notes, glossaries, pronunciation keys and other goodies to read. I would suggest taking the time to read this if you can. You will see how much work Hoff really put into this book and how much research she really did. And in my case, I learned a lot more than I expected to which I always appreciate.

As you can tell from my review that this book had some ups and downs, but I did have a lot of fun reading it. If you can approach this as more of a fun read like I did, I think you will appreciate it more. I was very entertained and I enjoyed even more of the history after the book was over. I would recommend this to historical fiction fans that are looking for stories that are not too heavy. I would absolutely read this author again.

An ARC was given to me for a honest review.

[Corrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

With My Heart’s in the Highlands, Amy Hoff went for a historically ambitious debut romance novel. Like all firsts, this one, too, had some teething problems. That’s understandable, every new author has to grow into it.

I don’t know much about the history of the Scots, but reading that Hoff is a Scottish historian, cultural anthropologist, and folklorist, we can assume she really knows her material and you are in safe hands. Sure, she has taken some artistic liberties here and there but she is honest about it. I think she offers the most comprehensive author’s guide in the back of her book I’ve ever seen. Any historical question you might have after reading this book will be answered. She even breaks it down per chapter. Very impressive.

So Victorian Lady Jane Crichton is brilliant. So brilliant in fact she has built a time machine. We are pretty much kept in the dark about how it works, what powers it, or what it looks like. I have to say I was really disappointed by that because I love time travel and it was mostly ignored, as was the lady’s brilliance. In fact, her rather reckless and impulsive actions made me doubt her brain power. Hoff could have spent some more time on this character.

Lady Crighton fires up her mystery machine and basically crashlands into Ainslie nic Dòmhnaill’s lap. We are now in the year 1200-something-another and in need of some subtitles. Ainslie’s dialogue will be heavily accented. I understand why the author chose to do it this way but it will give your brain a bit of a work-out. Readers who don’t have a feel for other languages might struggle.

The romance part was not quite to my tastes. I felt this was the weaker part of the book. Lady Jane went from sexless to ravenous in the blink of an eye. Ainslie hovered between being a perfect gentle-woman and a rapist. There were some borderline abusive sex scenes that made me uncomfortable. I did not really understand the dynamics. They were all over the place.

Overall the book was entertaining although plot-wise it felt a bit too easy sometimes. Also I would have loved a bit more show than tell. Kudos on the historical part. I love to see what Amy Hoff will show us next time.

f/f explicit with a trigger warning for dubious consent

Themes: Victorian Edinburgh, Scotland, The Edinburgh Seven, time machine, 13th century, the feuding Donalds and Campbells.

3.5 Stars

* A free copy was provided by Netgalley and Bella Books for an honest review.

[Betty · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adore historical fiction/romance. I always have. I have found, though, that sometimes it can be hard to find good lesbian-centered historical fiction. There are some authors out there who have written some great novels in this genre, but not that many. Thankfully I’ve now found another author I can add to that list.

My Heart’s in the Highlands by Amy Hoff is a wonderful historical fiction novel set in two different time periods in Scotland. The main character, Lady Jane Crichton, one of the Edinburgh Seven uses a time machine that she has invented to travel back in time to the year 1292. She winds up in the Scottish Highlands where she meets Ainslie nic Domhnaill, the future chief of her clan. Thus begins an adventure that could possibly change the world and history as well.

Ms. Hoff has woven a beautiful story perfectly into the history of Scotland and especially the Highlands for both of these time periods. While the romance and the story of Jane and Ainslie are fictional, there is much historical fact here as well. For instance, The Edinburgh Seven really existed. This was a group of women who were the first women to be educated as doctors in Great Britain only to be denied their rightful degrees by the University of Edinburgh. In real life those degrees were finally awarded to the Group of Seven in the 1990’s, long after they had passed away. Also, several of the secondary characters in the novel are people who actually existed in real life. Much of the plot is based on what would be normal for the two time periods. The author is also kind enough to give a brief history lesson at the end of the novel with information about the two time periods as well as information on the languages you will see and hear in the story. Don’t worry, you can figure out much of the Gaelic words by how they are used in sentences, but there is help at the end of the book if you want more info.

I totally immersed myself in this tale. I loved the characters and the settings. Everything felt so real. Even the time travel from one time to another fit right into the story. It is in my favorites list, and I will be looking for much more from this author.

I received an ARC from NetGalley and Bella Books for an honest review.

[Tara · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have no idea how the hell to grade this book. On the one hand, I had a LOT of fun. Like, the more bonkers it became, the more fun I had, which is very much in its favour. On the other, it has some pretty big structural and historical problems that took away from my enjoyment.

Full review (SBTB): https://smartbitchestrashybooks.com/r...

Full review (TLR): https://www.thelesbianreview.com/the-...

[Joy Demorra · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an ARC copy of this book from the Publisher and voluntarily leaving my review.
For some perspective going into this review, I am a Scottish editor, and I have worked extensively in the realms of Scottish Historical Romance. Most have heard of the term ‘Britpacker,’ so if it helps, think of me as a ‘Scots Sifter’—I catch chunks of inaccuracy and gently nudge the phonetic (mis)spellings toward the realms of the accurate. And as a Scottish person who reads romance for both fun and work, it’s a breath of fresh air to read someone who knows what they are doing in this regard.

The historical details many readers crave are there in spades, lovingly rendered through beautiful and flowing prose. The (accurate!!!) use of Scots and Gaelic are also masterfully included in the dialect without feeling contrived, and overall enriches the narrative.
A note for history foodie buffs: I caught one slip-up in the form of potatoes being mentioned in the 13th century when they didn’t arrive in Scotland until 1739. I am, however, willing to concede that perhaps our heroine Lady Jane is perhaps not the first time traveler to have crash-landed into the Highlands. (The others were merely better supplied!)

As a heroine, Lady Jane is charmingly out of time and place even before she sets foot in her time machine. A woman in her later thirties (a novelty I’ll never tire of in Romance), she holds many convictions and beliefs, both about history and herself. All of which are proven wrong the moment she is flung back in time and meets the charming (and I cannot stress this enough) incredibly buff warrior woman, Ainslie nic Dòmhnaill, next in line to the chiefship of the great Clan Donald.
Setting aside my more analytical interests in this text, allow me to just say, I would die for Ainslie; something which I feel assured in saying would not need to happen, as Ainslie would murder anyone that tried. (And I would hold her golden torque and flower all starry-eyed while she did it.)

However, there were one or two things that jumped out at me, both as a reader and an editor. While some scenes are concisely eloquent, there are a lot more where pacing (and grammar) falls down, and the book feels like it could use with tightening up with another pass at editing. There was very little build up to the romance itself, which is fine, the true love trope is a well-loved trope for a reason, but it felt out of character for Jane, who presents initially as either on the demi or ace spectrum, but then falls immediately if not in love then certainly in lust with the love interest. If this was intentional, I cannot say, but her sudden switch in dynamic is jarring.
Once the romance begins, it is sweet and enjoyable for the most part, but also again not without issue. There’s a distinct lack of verbal consent which modern readers might find discomfiting, especially in the LGBTQ+ spheres which paved the way for better consent and relationship dynamics in modern romance, and if I were asked to tag this book, I’d likely opt to tag it as “dubious consent” just to cover any potential triggers for people who would be unsettled by that sort of thing. (“Tell me no” being met with silence is not the same as consent. It might have worked 20 years ago, but it wouldn’t fly now.)

I like the characters dearly. Ainslie is smitten with Jane the moment she sets eyes on her, even if Jane is initially prickly and somewhat judgmental*. Jane is also taken with her glorious redheaded warrior, and frankly, who could blame her? The book also has several of my favorite romantic tropes in it, including the all-time favorite “There’s Only One Bed”. Though I wish more had been made of them. The sex scenes are hot and also sweetly endearing at times, though again I would like to see more explicit consent.

Overall, it’s not a bad debut novel into the forays of Romance for a first-time Romance author. It’s enjoyable, but I am left with nagging the feeling that it could have been so much more. To my mind, where this book truly excels is Hoff’s love affair with history and Scotland itself. Their narrative shines in moments of reflection, and the subtle and nuanced injections of historical detail, which in my experience, are rarely done so well in this genre. But this is however a Romance novel, and the time-traveling scientist lesbian and her buff redhead warrior girlfriend felt second fiddle to the history at times, which was disappointing because how often do you get to say those words together? Not enough, in my opinion.

I’d rate this as 3.5 out of 5. It would have been a solid four were it not for the issues surrounding consent, and would enjoy seeing more from Hoff in the future.


*The word “savages” is used a lot, and may raise some eyebrows, but would be considered period accurate for the time. (As would Ainslie’s anger at it.)

[Kaila · Rating 2 out of 5]

2/5 stars

This was...all over the place. If you are looking for something entertaining and are a fan of Outlander then this is a good lesbian alternative. But the plot honestly makes no sense, the characters are two dimensional and the writing is all over the place. I admit that it was entertaining and the sex scenes were on fire, but that was pretty much the only thing that was keeping me bothered. The characters were madly in love so quickly, they made choices that didn’t make sense and the story got very weird very quickly. I feel bad for writing such a poor review, especially for a less reviewed book (at least on goodreads), but I also want to be honest in reviewing what I read. I definitely think that people can enjoy this if they’re just looking for a historical romp and love Scottish history. But it just wasn’t for me.

[Carolyn Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was bananas B-A-N-A-N-A-S! And I truly enjoyed it as I suspected I would.
I was not without issue with the story, but lack of information about aspects of successful time travel was not one. Really, what explanation of any 'science' would have been satisfactory? I was happy to just believe.
I did crave more depth in the battle scenes. I would have enjoyed feeling more a part of the action.
Overall, this is a good example of the whole being more than the sum of the parts and I had no trouble getting lost is the story. The written accent was sometimes overwhelming and I had to read the dialogue out loud to get meaning, but that's okay, too.
It was fun and sexy in true bodice-ripper style, at times skirting with dubcon, but again, I expected it and believed it appropriate to the tone of the story.
I enjoyed the characters, the setting and the constant passion and revelry. I would read more Jane and Ainslie.

[Charkie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brilliant inventor invents time machine and accidentally travels to 13th-century Scotland. The experience there challenge the conceptions of how a woman, and homosexuality, is perceived and judged in the different eras.'

Anna: Anna grew up in a patriarchal society with a mother who pushed her to strive to be an ideal woman to marry into the higher classes. Anna is a well educated woman, married to a closeted gay man, who in her own time struggles to be taken seriously as a scientist.

Ainslie: Ainslie grew up as the next in line for chief-ship in a society which promotes a focus on everyone helping out. 

I really wanted to give this book a higher score, because most parts of it are exceptional. I love the premise and the "Outlander"-wibes. The author appears very knowledgeable and follows the book up with an Author's guide with history, culture and/or geography comments on each chapter. This is something I appreciate as it adds depth to the book. Unfortunately I feel like the book lacks coherence, mostly shown in the dialog, which affect the reading pleasure.

Pro:
Excellent premise
Lovely secondary characters - Both Ainslie and Anna have great support systems mostly shown through family (and Dr. Bell). Even though some scenes show un-supportive family members, it helps explain how the characters are who they are today.
Very knowledgeable author gives the book a very authentic feeling - The author's guide to Matter of History, Culture, and Geography in the end of the book is a treasure trove filled with information and comments from the author.
Challenge the historic depictions we have been fed - A very interesting and fresh approach to historical fiction where the protagonist can discuss who's society is the most civilized.

Con:
Lack of coherency - Hard to follow dialog as the way the character speaks changes back and forth during the book.

This review is based on NetGalley ARC provided in exchange for an honest, unbiased opinion.

[Myth · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was lovely and clearly self-published.
I don't say that as a knock, because obviously I enjoyed the hell out of it, but it did drag a bit about 3/4 in and some of the chapters and time breaks were a little off (at least there were no glaring grammatical errors, unlike Certain Traditionally Published Novels I could name *cough*Tiger's Curse*cough*)
But again, this book was super fun! Highly recommended for your sweet wlw needs.

[Aleana · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC copy of this book from the Publisher via Netgalley and voluntarily leaving my review.

Jane been called eccentric all her life she doesn’t follow the rules all she wants is to study science and medicine and be a equal to men. She gets a opportunity to follow her dreams when she marries a closeted gay man name David who has dreams to be in politics they both thinks it’s great idea because they both get want they want.

Jane build a time machine that actually works but she winds up in the thirteen century where she rescued by a warrior woman name Ainslie who is heir to throne of the Sea Kingdom of the Isles. When Ainslie bring her to clan Jane is shock to see that woman and men are equal and she wonders what happen in the sixteen years to change this. As Jane get to know the clan while trying to fix her time machine she is shock to find herself falling for Ainslie she never really had attraction to either sex so this throws her as for Ainslie although she had lovers she never felt this way for anyone.

This was a good read it remind me of my favorite show Outlander. I love period drama with romance I wish they do more with LGBTQ as leafs though.

I received an ARC copy of this book from the Publisher via Netgalley and voluntarily leaving my review.

[Peregrine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I struggled with deciding if I should rate this book 3 or 4 stars, and settled on 3.5 rounding up to 4.

OVERALL REVIEW:
This book starts off with humor and a pace that effortlessly melds time period difference with universality of human emotion, which for me established a connection with the main character who is my proxy into the deeper past and yet is not from my actual time period. It also does a wonderful job of correcting the misconceptions of history and the myth of English-dominated and spread civilization:

“Jane had thought there would be a small hamlet of some kind, the sort of rude gathering of buildings she imagined when she encountered one of the poor Highlanders begging on the Edinburgh streets […] Instead, a busy metropolis of sorts met her eyes… The streets were thronged with people, laughing and hauling things, leading cattle here and there, sewing and knitting and doing all the sorts of things people find necessary to life.”

The way the tables get turned and Jane’s supposedly advanced society is revealed to be the less civilized one? Not just with big issues like sexism, but also in small issues like “bathing monthly” which horrifies Ainslie? Transcendent. This is my kind of historical fiction.

ASPECTS I GREATLY ENJOYED
Large lady who is decidedly not skinny meets a woman who can only be described by the comparison “if Jane was tall and stocky, this woman was absolutely huge” and who is “incredibly muscular”—look y'all this is lesbian rep we deserve.

I feel like the fact that Scots Gaelic exists as a language distinct from Irish Gaelic is not widely known and might confuse readers, but I for one welcome that, because more people should know and, in my opinion, should stop referring to the Irish language as Gaelic as if it is the only Gaelic in existence.

I love the way it subtly calls out the sexism of the present day (as well as racism, although that’s a quieter call-out that non-English readers might not pick up on as readily).

THERE’S ONLY ONE BED, which leads in to the fact that: This book is EXACTLY what I expected from it (and then some), and I think that’s wonderful. Why would I ever punish a book for being exactly what I hoped it would be? Tropes often exist because they’re good and enjoyable, and they help define and characterize the genre that they’re in. Is this a romance book? Hell yeah. Does it have tropes? Well, there’s only one bed, so that answers that.

The historical overview at the end is wonderful. I love that this book was written by a historian who knew her shit. As a (baby) historian, I found it immersive and, though this is not my specialization in history, no anachronisms pulled me away from the narrative flow at any point.

CRITICISMS:
I dislike the way intellect is paired with asexuality in the main character’s viewpoint. I understand that she is an unreliable narrator and that the story itself takes pains to make the reader aware of this fact; however, as an asexual person, I feel like it perpetuated if not harmful stereotypes, then at least unhelpful ones. The fact that she’s not actually asexual—or at least explicitly asexual, although I wouldn’t say it would be wrong for some readers to interpret her as on the asexual spectrum of identities, as she states she has never experienced attraction to anyone before Ainslie—also plays into this, as it felt to me as a reader like the kind of story where an aromantic, asexual person just needed to “find the right person” all along and treats love like a necessity to happiness. I get it—it’s the romance genre—but I think it perpetuated harmful stereotypes in this way and I have that gripe with it.

Additional criticism, but more a matter of personal taste: the last third of the book felt less compelling than the rest. It felt unnecessary as I was reading it, and though it did tie together in the end, I feel I would have enjoyed this story more had it ended before the Caimbeul plot.


CONTENT WARNINGS:
Dubious consent. “Tell me no” met with silence is not the same thing as a vocal and sincere “yes,” and while Ainslie is fully aware of this (whether Jane is or not is beside the point), she still presses forward. The sex scene has an element of fantastic wish-fulfillment to it, and far be it from me to be dissuade any reader who may enjoy the beautiful Highlander ravishing the Victorian lady… but the consent is dubious, and potentially triggering for the unsuspecting reader, and it should be acknowledged.

Racism of the English variety, wherein the character who has been raised in an English-dominated civilization refers to the native highlanders as “savages” frequently. Although this is in keeping with the beliefs of her time and accurate to historical representation, and is not glorified by the narrative, it feels worth mentioning when one considers the impact of England’s colonization and later imperial efforts.

[Colleen Corgel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well, I do have to say that this is my first true bodice ripper romance, and I can understand the appeal, but I have a ton of issues with some of the plot points. I understand that Hoff is a debut author, so some of it is just her getting into her craft. Also, she shines when she is puts her considerable research and expertise into the story. The romance between Ainslie and Jane is hot but does rely a little bit too heavily on love at first sight and some of the sex scenes are a little too close to assault for my comfort.

I will say that I love the characters and the vivid way that Hoff describes both Edinburgh and Insley. Both locations just come alive, and it helped me get into the feel of both time periods that Jane inhabits. I enjoyed Jane's wonder on the islands, the lushness of the flora and the smell and feel of the air are so different than Edinburgh. They reflect the times they are in, and love the little details that help us differentiate between the city and the island and the cultures they reflect.

I loved the characters, and enjoyed the development, for the most part, of our main couple's romance. I can understand Ainslie's love at first sight because it is tied to what she thought Jane was (a fairy that makes people obsess over them). Jane, though, I have trouble with. Jane is heavily coded as someone who may be asexual or demisexual - so that Jane is attracted to Ainslie, then jumping directly into a sexual relationship with her doesn't quite jive with her character. It could be that the whole story does have pacing problems so the development of the relationship could have suffered as a result of that. The one sex scene in which Ainslie raids the Campbell castle was very, very close to assault, especially since Jane literally tells Ainslie that there is a time and place -like implying that Jane enjoyed the act, but was just overwhelmed by the emotion of the moment to really thing about it. If anything it gave me some mixed feelings. It was passionate, desperate, very bodice rippy and bemusing. Given Jane's reactions during and after that scene, it felt off for me, though.

Anyways, before I ramble too much, I will say that historical romance readers will absolutely love the story, especially since it the historical research just helps you delve right into the time periods and places. It also touches on finding and reviving your culture which is super important for someone like Jane who's highland blood still could open her up to discrimination if she didn't learn "proper" English and looked English. I loved that being in the Highlands and being with a proud, loyal Chief showed Jane that being a highlander can be a point of pride. I loved that sneaky theme. The sex scenes are quite detailed when Hoff decides to, and Ainslie's and Jane's chemistry just makes the scenes that much steamier. I just have some huge problems with the pacing and some of the plot points (ho boy the scene that has Jane going back to her time was not great at all). So if you are a fan of bodice rippers - this is for you. If you're a historical romance reader, you'll love it, too. But just be prepared for some debut author bumps.

I received this ARC from NetGalley and Bella in exchange for my honest review.

[nutmeg · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an intricately crafted book laden with history and bursting with sass.

Doctor/Lady Jane (dependent on her addresser) devoted her life to science and in her ingenuity built a time machine. Her penchant for adventure landed her in the Highlands, 600 years in the past and met someone who stoked unfamiliar feelings within her. Used to a life of luxury and a husband who finances her experiments, Jane has hard choices that are difficult to make when she finds herself falling in love for the first time.

Advocacy for feminism and gender equality, a pairing of a full blooded, warrior queen and a cocky, sassy scientist? Well, if it’s not enough, both leads were fiercely independent, defiant and wild.

I haven’t been to Scotland - yet (that’s a shame and something to be addressed soon), but for now I’ll have this book to whet my appetite.

I just reviewed My Heart's in the Highlands by Amy Hoff. #MyHeartsintheHighlands #NetGalley

[Charlie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reading the blurb of this book, I basically felt like it was written for me. Historical romance...✔ LGBTQ+... ✔ Strong female protagonist...✔ But did it float my boat? Not so much.

I had my ups and downs with this book. I really struggled with how some of the dialect was written and although I completely get why it was done that way, it left me re-reading certain passages over and over again to understand what some of the characters were saying.

I also had issues with the pacing and felt like parts of the story were rushed when they could have been explored more, like Jane's time with the Caimbeuls for example. That should have been a big chunk of the story but was rushed through in about 20 pages, covering weeks of imprisonment, a declaration of love, a battle, a rescue and an overly aggressive reunion. The book really would have benefited from being longer as I think there was a lot to enjoy but it just needed room to grow.

On a plus I really liked David and the relationship between him and Jane, I found the history and setting interesting and I loved the additional information given on the time period etc at the back of the book which really helped me understand it more. You can tell that a lot of research has gone into this book and I think that shines through in the writing.

Thank you Netgalley and Bella Books for sending me a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[H M · Rating 3 out of 5]

I dont know what to write as review. I'm super thankful for the free copy. but I had a hard time reading it. the language was super hard for me and consumed all my energy. the story itself is promising. I enjoyed the humor and the time traveling. I dont know if i'm offending the author or anyone - not my intention. but simpler English was all I thinking about throughout the whole thing
Oddly enough, I liked the begging where she was with her fake husband and her follow Dr.

[Jasmine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jane is one of the first women to go to medical school in Scotland 19th century but is not allowed to practice medicine. She's married to a closeted gay man who is a close friend and gives her the freedom to study carry out science experiments like her time machine. When testing the machine, she's taken back to 13th century Scotland where she meets Ainslie, next in line to the chiefship of Clan Donald. She quickly finds herself falling for the other woman, and is enchanted by the wold she's fallen into. But this isn't Jane's world, is there a place for their love in the past or in the future?

This was a really interesting book - I loved the concept. I love historical fiction so I'm always on the lookout for my next read and I'm always for a time travel situation as well. Overall I enjoyed this, it was a really cool concept. I love the Scottish Highlands so this book was right up my alley but further back in time than I usually read so I learned a lot. What took me out of the book was the way Jane spoke - she often sounded more like she was from modern times rather than the 1800's. I also felt like there was a lot of info dumping where Jane would asks a question and Ainslie would explain how things worked during her time rather than these details being worked in more organically. The author definitely dd her research and it showed, we were pained a very rich picture of the time period and it was a really great immersal into this time period. I loved it. The chemistry was also off the charts! I haven't read anything by this author before but I will be definitely checking out more in the future.

I received an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Gabriella · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this book from BookSirens in exchange for an honest review.

3.75 stars. The premise of My Heart’s in the Highlands had me bursting with excitement. A Scottish Victorian time-traveling female scientist who accidentally travels back to 1293 (!!!) and falls in love with the powerful female soon-to-be-chief of one of the Highland clans?? Incredible. Masterful. This book isn’t perfect by any means, and I found some of the plot choices iffy, but I sure enjoyed reading it.

It’s obvious Hoff knows her stuff about Scottish history, and this book made me want to visit Scotland even more than I already did. The descriptions are lush, and I could see everything as if it were right in front of me. Writing about life in 1293 must have been a challenge, but Hoff’s writing is seamless.

Jane is a wonderful character, and I loved how traveling back in time informed her of not only life back then, but her own time as well. Jane is strong and self-assured, and Ainslie is probably one of the only people who could go toe-to-toe with her. They’re certainly a dynamic pair! And David, Jane’s gay husband, is wonderfully genial and supportive.

Several of the scenes between Jane and Ainslie are incredibly sweet. Like, mushy, aww-inducing, that’s-where-it’s-at level stuff. However, a few of the love scenes just did not sit well with me, because I didn’t feel there was enough consent happening. I mean, they both undeniably wanted to be doing what they were doing, but yeah, I’d have liked some more explicit consent. Also, the romance is totally insta-love, which I didn’t exactly mind, but found a bit jarring at times.

It’s unclear how Jane ends up on the island of Islay in 1293 in the first place, and the co-occurring passage of time (?) between 1888 and 1293 seem a bit random. Maybe this is all intentional though, since time-traveling is a new, unpredictable science. Regardless, this book is definitely more historical fiction than science fiction.

The Author’s Guide was an interesting and necessary addition to the book. In the guide, Hoff describes which characters were based on real people, which story elements were true to the time period, which elements were entirely artistic license, and which elements were estimates based on limited evidence. The most obvious use of artistic license is that 19th-century Jane and 13th-century Ainslie could have even communicated at all, much less so easily.

Overall, this was a memorable read, and I’m off on a Scottish history Wikipedia binge.

[lauraღ · Rating 3 out of 5]

She could feel the warmth of Ainslie's breath on her skin. It must be fear, Jane thought. This must be what it is to be terrified.

But it was unlike any fear she'd ever known. Not really, she realised, much like fear at all.

I'm giving this what I consider to be a pretty generous rating because I can't deny that a lot of research went into it, and some parts made me laugh out loud, and some parts were super sexy, and the basic premise appeals to my lesbian lizard brain so viscerally I have to stan. (I said YES out loud when I first read the summary.) Basically, this book is about a 19th century scientist in Edinburgh who travels back in time to the 13th century and meets and falls in love with a highlander warrior woman. It had the potential to be SO much better than it actually is.

And there are good things about it, make no mistake. The writing was fine; really good at times. I adore that this is a time travel book about someone from before our time going back even further in time. It lays the ground for a dynamic that's really interesting. Especially because of the ways that Ainslie's clan is more 'modern' than what Jane expects. Jane and Ainslie's chemistry was really good, extremely hot (although I really didn't buy them falling in love as quickly as they did; more on that later). There were a fair few interesting historical titbits. Interesting to me at least, who knows nothing about Scottish history and can't say much on the accuracy here.

As for the not so great stuff. Where to begin...

- Unlike a lot of time travel romance, where someone ends up in a another time because of magic, in this book the main character actually builds a time machine. But don't let that fool you; this book is not science fiction. Jane builds a time machine in 1888. How does she build a time machine in 1888? None of our damned business, I assume, because Hoff literally never lets us know. Part of me begrudgingly respects that; I don't think the author really cared about the science-y bits, and so she just did not include them. But it also felt so weird to have the whole premise of the book built around time travel, to have Jane be a literal scientist and the person who created the machine, and yet give us absolutely nothing about the technical aspects of that.
- This book needed editing. Or a better editor. A lot of research went into this, as I said, and the author has a lot of interesting notes at the end (I only skimmed them, because by the time I got to the end I was just ready to be done) but it seems like very little thought was put into historical fidelity with regard to language? And I don't mean the Gaelic/Scottish, which again, I can't comment on. A lot of modern words and phrasing were continuously used, and it was really counterproductive in terms of setting up that historical atmosphere and vibe. Which is something that I really enjoy in historical novels. It was a pedant's nightmare (or a pedant's dream, if you're the annoying type who likes to nitpick stuff). The POV character used words like 'cheer-leading' which didn't really come into use until 1904; 'submarine' which wasn't used in the sense of underwater vehicle until 1899; 'snow-globes' which were invented until the 1900s. And a lot more. At some point I had to stop taking note of these because again, it really didn't seem like something Hoff had bothered to care about. (And again, I kind of respect that she was just like 'yo this is about women in love, not fidelity in historical language.' She knew what she cared about.) One of the 13th century characters actually cracked a pun-based joke that was so clearly modern (something about fog and mist) that I just threw my hands up. Like, fine.
- With regard to the Scottish language though, I will say... the decision was made to phonetically spell out a LOT of the brogue and. I really wish Hoff hadn't done that LOL. It was more distracting than anything, made for a more difficult read.
- I liked the aspect of Ainslie's clan being more advanced and accepting than would be expected, but the ease with which they just accepted that Jane was a time traveller was laughable.
- The tone of this was all over the place. Sometimes serious, sometimes light, sometimes sombre, sometimes... ??? This obviously isn't to say that a book can't strike different tones as needed, but it just felt off-kilter in a way IDK how to explain. A couple times, the author says something like "because, you see, she knew all along". And like. There's a specific tone that a book needs to strike to get away with directly addressing the reader, and this was NOT IT. Part of me wishes that the book had leaned all the way into the whimsy and the humour, and been a bit lighter and sillier, and then I definitely would not have noticed all the word choice issues. It would have been like, stylistic, and in keeping with the humour.
- This was way too insta-lovey for my tastes. In the notes at the end, the author says that Jane is demi-romantic and demi-sexual, which is great, I love seeing ace rep in books but... it definitely didn't feel like she was. She and Ainslie did not build any kind of deep connection before they fell into bed and bombastic declarations were being thrown all over the place. Also, the way Ainslie lost emotional control because of Jane just didn't feel authentic to me. I thought this would have been a way slower burn.
- The sex scenes were pretty steamy, and there was a D/s element to them which I mean, BLESS, I'll never complain about that but also... it was all kinda sudden and un-negotiated, and. You hate to see it. Jane loved it and consented to it, but it got a little over the top, and the scenes where Ainslie got uber-possessive and almost abusive were too much. Jane called her out on it, and she apologised, but not enough imo. It was just kinda uncomfortable to me.
- The plot was a little garbled and confused, especially when it came to the clan rivalry, and Jane being a Campbell (which I didn't even realise until it became a thing). I got kind of bored with it.

I would love to see this book get edited for coherency and plot and language, because as far as I'm concerned, the world DESERVES good time travel Scottish lesbian romance. And this is that, just... not so much with the 'good'.

2.5 stars.

☆ Review copy provided via NetGalley.

[Andi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really fun time-travel historical romance. Definitely historical romance, not sci-fi. Author is a historian by trade, the book has a lot of interesting elements and ends with a great collection of traditions and resources.

Lady Jane Crichton chafes under the restrictions of late-1800 Edinburgh society. A scholar and a scientist, she is denied her place in academia and scientific circles. Jane also has a secret; she has built a time machine.

During a trip, however, an error occurs, and Jane is thrust back much further in time than she expected. She finds herself in the 13th century Scottish highlands. Dashing her pre-conceived notions, Jane finds a time much more equal, developed and accepting than her own 500 years in the future. Jane also meets the Ainslie nic Domhnaill, daughter to the Lord of the Isles and heir to the throne.

**I received a copy of this book free via BookSirens in exchange for an honest review.**

[Michelle Louise · Rating 2 out of 5]

One of the first women to attend Edinburgh University, Jane keenly feels the restrictions placed upon her as a woman living in the Victorian period. After all, she is more intelligent than many of her male colleagues.The proof: she’s invented a machine which allows her to travel through time. But when she goes to show it off to her favorite Professor, something goes wrong and she ends up trapped in the Scottish Highlands.

Thankfully, she’s found by Ainslie, the daughter of a laird and heir to the title herself. Jane needs to get home, but the longer she stays the more enchanted she becomes with 13th century Scotland, its people, and... and... Ainslie.

Can Jane bring herself to return to her Victorian life or is her heart going to remain forever in the Highlands?

---

This book has everything that I could ever want in a romance! Time Travel? Check. Women being awesome? Check. Promised Historical Accuracy? Check. Historical Lesbian Romance? Check. Accurate portrayal of Scots and Scottish culture. Check.

I was so looking forward to reading this book. Sadly the execution did not live up to the potential. I was disappointed, and that’s, well, disappointing.

First off, the editing left a lot to be desired. I found so many comma errors (both missing commas and randomly added ones) that it was distracting. The same was true with missing or wrong words. At one point, I was thrown out of the story at the mention of Potatoes being served in the 13th century... this is out and out impossible historically since potatoes are a New World crop and weren’t introduced to Europe until the 16th century at the earliest.

And that wasn’t the only thing that threw me out of the book. It felt like a thinly veiled Outlander satire... and not a good one at that. Multiple times during the story I felt like I, the reader, was being attacked for enjoying highlander romance. That there was something wrong with me. It felt like the author was taking pot-shots at the genre... and we all know how I feel about that. Romance needs to be respected, it’s one of the few genres where women are the primary audience. I didn’t like feeling like I was somehow lesser for liking and enjoying romance.

I suspect that the author isn’t a romance reader, or if they do read romance they’ve really only read old school romances. Because there are a lot of beats and tropes in this which have been largely discredited in romance. The biggest of which has to do with the sex scenes. There’s no consent. Which in LBGTQIA+ romance is a particularly egregious no-no. There’s also instalove... which is not one of my favorite tropes in general. The pacing was off, and I struggled with this book. Plot points came out of nowhere... as if the author went “Oh! I like this idea! And then didn’t go back and foreshadow it.” There were many times that I had to put it down and walk away for a bit before I could continue reading it. Or times where I jumped back to reread sections because I was confused about if I’d missed something.

So what did I like about this book? First off, I did like Ainslie... mostly she loses her shine for me as the story goes on. She was fun and funny and spunky. The author has the occasional lovely turn of phrase -- there were times in this story where the prose was so lyrically lovely it made me weep. The depiction of the Scots people, language, and culture was lovely. It was nice to see a highland romance without the randomly gratuitous Gaelic that is so prevalent in the genre. I liked the originality of having the time traveling heroine coming from a time that wasn’t “modern.” I liked Jane’s husband. (Yes she’s married, it’s a marriage of convenience... he’s gay and their marriage is mutually beneficial.) I also liked Jane’s mentor.

There’s good here, but it’s like a diamond in the rough. It needs polishing, trimming, and shaping.

I’ve struggled with what to rate this. I liked it and I didn’t. I could see some people really going for it, especially those for whom dubcon isn’t a huge turn off.

But since I didn’t enjoy it, and there were enough other problems I really can only give this

Two Stars

I received an ARC of this book through NetGalley.

[CA Portnellus · Rating 4 out of 5]

I did enjoy the book. The general reading of this book is a fast-paced adventure, a mix of themes and stories like “The Time Machine,” the more recent Outlander series, and a feeling of Mary Stewart’s Crystal Cave series, mixed with modern romantic ideals and some LGB tales.
Sass and wit, a few laughs and Aieslie is a lovely and compelling female version of Jamie Frasier of Outlander fame. A solid romantic hit, reminiscent also of Christina Rosetti’s idealistic love-as was mentioned in the book. Much was put into the story to craft it, and in a way it is similar to other historical romance novels that I call “Bodice Rippers.” Yet the story was richer and maybe inspired by a different set of rules as a women’s romance between women.
The author had trouble with the time period though, often infusing ideas not of the time, and using items that were definitely NOT of the period. A few here: forks, champagne, glassware and glass bottled whiskey, chiffon fabric, drinking milk as a beverage with breakfast that also wasn’t quite period with the food choices, were not of the 1200s. Then elaborately decorated cupcakes served at teatime or with coffee when visiting Jane’s friends in 1885. And a multitude of mentions of things that just don’t fit the time.
Perhaps a little better handle withJane the wiser of her era/period and recognizing the beginnings of the social mores, traditions and things to come. Like the Skye Terrier, Madre, that Queen Christina trades something for the special breed. Jane could have seen it was that breed or like the breed and mention it to the queen. She would be familiar as Skye terriers were also a favorite of Queen Victoria, and earlier, Queen Mary of Scotland. But in the 1200s, it was just a dog.

Overall, the writing and some of the descriptions were better than average, in some places poetic and colorful. The author had a very interesting way of acknowledging her research at the end of the book, with historical evidence and correlation, language and the geography to support her writing.
Of course, an author often needs to color the work adding in some punch, even if it’s not always true. However, despite the author’s research there were some major clinkers that annoyed me. I’ve highlighted them with notes.
There was a great deal of talk and ideas that were not of that time, incorrect phrases, and points of view that might have been more suspect and punishable.
Of course, the science behind the time machine is basic and fanciful as was popular of the time in fiction books. No great thoughts or realistic methods for the science. It’s fun and gives the platform to launch our very different woman of her era to somewhere and some other time for an adventure.
And if you want a romantic romp in the heather, this tale fits the need.
I was given an ARC copy for my honest review. Thanks to the author and publisher. I may have a new author to follow and read!

[toastie ʚ:ɞ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.4 Stars

“Jane was always too. She was too tall, too loud, too stocky, too much”.

First of all, I’d like to extend my thanks to the publisher, Bella Books, and NetGalley for allowing me to receive a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
-
Overall, I liked this book. Being a big fan of the Outlander series, the premise of this story thrilled me and I was excited to start it! This story felt like a rollercoaster, it consisted of constant ups and downs. I had moments where I enjoyed the writing and moments where I found it to be lacking. It left me wanting more. At times it felt as though the story was moving at lightning speed and I think there were scenes that would’ve been more enjoyable if they had been slowed down and stuffed with more details and dialogue. I wanted more from the characters and for Jane and Ainslie to discuss things of substance and truly get to know one another before beginning their relationship, which I felt didn’t happen.

Things that bothered me:

Jane’s time machine! I wish there had been more details as to how she built the machine, etc. I was expecting to go through the process of her building it rather than the book beginning with the machine already made.

Jane being a Campbell seemingly came out of nowhere, I would’ve enjoyed the twist more if it had been foreshadowed!

Ainslie’s actions in chapter forty-seven & forty-eight. She came across as overly possessive and controlling. I can completely understand being into the dominant stuff, whatever floats their boat, but I wish there had been a more obvious form of consent issued. However, I did like that they had a discussion regarding these matters afterwards.

Aspects of the story that I enjoyed:

DAVID !! I adored him (and his mustache!)

Madra and his twirls!

The research that went into the book was extensive and that was displayed throughout the story! As a reader, this is very much appreciated!

The wedding chapters were absolutely beautiful! I adored them. 🥺

[Leslie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and Bella Books for the digital review copy of this one.

This one was my first lesfic in a while, and it was a good one to jump back into. Lady Jane Crichton was one of the first seven women to get a medical degree in Victorian Edinburgh, and though shunned by most of the scientific community, she has one friend with whom she can share her secret, and it’s a big one. Jane has built a time machine. Her first big test lands her in the 13th century Scottish Highlands and right into the arms of Ainslie nic Dòmhnaill, a wild, fiery-haired woman destined to inherit chiefship of the great Clan Donald. Jane has never been attracted to any living creature, only science, but she can’t ignore the way she’s drawn to Ainslie, and it’s tempting to stay, not only because of her attraction, but because women are treated far better in the 13th century than they are in 1888, but will the two be able to make things work across the time gap?

This book moved pretty quickly while covering a LOT of ground. There’s time travel, clan wars, unsettling discoveries, sexual tension, relationship drama, political intrigue, queer politics. So many things, but overall, a hoot. I didn’t know I needed a queer version of time travel in Scotland, but this book proved I definitely did. I’m on the uphill slope of a reading slump, and this book was easy to sail right through. Hopefully the slump is over, but we’ll see.

I will say I’ve already started a new lesfic novel, so things are looking up. I’m a little late to this one (published in June), but this book is perfect for fall going into winter. As the nights get cooler, we all need a little bit of heat. This book has plenty, and it’ll inspire you to hunker down with your favorite plaid blanket.

[Ilovecats · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m not sure how I feel about this book. I absolutely applaud the author for all the research done. It started off as a fun book but it was lacking in so many ways. Whenever I felt intrigue coming on the author cut it off with a simplistic resolution. I don’t think that, were I time traveler in dangerous time, I would go around telling everyone that I’m from the future and that my ship was somewhere in the bushes. And why is no one talking about how moving to the past and making a gun is going to mess with the future? Science was left by the wayside which is fine. Totally get that but bothered me a bit.

Ainsley was basically a caricature and after a while I was looking for Mel Gibson. The book was not so much incoherent as rushed. Historical novels just can’t be written in a couple of hunderd pages and that’s also the reason why I don’t read them. I thought I would give a short, historical read a shot hoping I might like the genre. Still nothing.

The sex scenes were okay but a bit goofy. Yes, translated to our very sensitive times, one would notice the issues with consent and the lack thereof. I personally thought it was fine as Jane seemed to enjoy the dynamic. The book is set in the 13th century so I totally get that #metoo was not a big deal at the time. I think it’s pretty hilarious that some readers balk at the lack of historic accuracy but insist on transporting our modern sensibilities to the Middle Ages.

Overall, the book was okay. Probably not going to read this author again.

[Sebastian]

DNF at 36%
What I read of this book was all over the place to be honest. The pace was quick as lightning (which is not a compliment), the romance formed way too quickly for how antagonistic their first meeting was, and besides "thinks the future is dumb" and "prefers living in the past despite still thinking of the people as savages" respectively, these two characters had very little personality.
There's also the blatant anachronism? I know that in the past, peasant women did do hard work too, but from what I read medieval scotland was still a heavily gendered society reliant on the patriarchy and gender roles. So for the author to act as if the past was completely without gender roles or restrictions irks me in a historical novel, ESPECIALLY considering the author is a historian herself. There's also the usage of a fountain pen? Which wasn't invented until the 19th century... I don't know if later on it's revealed that this society has been trading with time travellers or something, but even if it is, these tidbits really ground my gears as i was reading.
All in all, this book would've been better off as a fantasy, which is sadly something I have said about a historical romance for the second time in a very short time. If you're looking for historical accuracy in your historical novels (which i assume you are, since that's the appeal of the genre in contrast to fantasy), this one's not for you.

[Artemis · Rating 5 out of 5]

My Heart's in the Highlands is about a Victorian inventor, Jane Crichton. She invents a time machine and on her first long trip, goes back in time to the 13th century. Her machine crash lands and she is rescued by Ainslie nic Dòmhnaill, the daughter of Dòmhnall, who is the leader of the Domhniall clan.
Their relationship develops in such a beautiful way, I was rooting for them through the whole book. This book is full of Scottish history, and I was a little intimidated when I first started it. However, there is a short Author's Guide in the back of the book to introduce the reader to important things to know about the history and culture of Scotland. There is also a glossary and discussions of most of the chapters that go more in depth as you read. I read the book with a bookmark in the chapter discussion section and reading the discussion after each chapter helped me understand most of the things that initially flew over my head.
There wasn't one moment in the book I didn't love, and I would definitely read it over and over again. If you're looking for historical romance with queer representation, please read this one. You won't regret it.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read a few historical fiction romances and have found them to be enjoyable. My Heart's in the Highlands also fall into that category. As I read this one, I could tell that the author knew her subject matter very well. The facts seemed well researched and I love the use of the language of the time period. It did take me a few chapters to get use to the dialect, but once I got that hang of it the book flowed even better. I loved both MC's and they for sure have great chemistry. The sex scenes are very well written as well. I did want this to be 5 stars, but I wish it was a tad bit shorter. I still do understand why it was a bit longer than say a contemporary romance. Overall this just made me feel good about love in very far distant past. 4.25 stars.

This Arc was provided by the publisher for an honest review.

[WY_reader · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is an entertaining read with a unique glimpse into the past. I really liked the characters, a number of whom are actual historic persons, and felt invested in their stories. The time-travel aspect was not overdone, merely the vehicle (pun intended!) to open the heroine's eyes to what her life could be. The only thing I really didn't like were the intimate scenes, not because I don't go for that but because I felt they did not match up well with the characters' personalities. That said, this book was well-written and I would certainly consider reading another by this author.

Disclaimer: I was provided an ARC for review. The final version may differ from that which I reviewed. All opinions are my own.

[Kristi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book quite a bit. I loved the main character Jane, and thought she was very well written. I liked Ainslie as well, but felt that her character could have been fleshed out a bit more. The story itself was a fun read, although I struggled with some of the Scottish accents.

I loved all the notes at the end of the book. It helped me understand the context so much better, and even helped me with some pronunciations. From the notes, you can tell that this book was work of love for the author.

Overall, I would gladly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys WLW romance novels.

*

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Frances · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book, some of the book felt like filler and some felt rushed but overall a wonderful story and I enjoyed the characters in this book. As a history nerd one of my favorite things is all the history behind the chapters in the back of the book. I really enjoyed this take on time travel and how things were different but so advanced in that little part of the world. I would recommend this book.

I did receive an early release of this book.