Why Roma Cordon’s Bewitching a Highlander Should Be Your Next Summer Read

Writing just comes naturally to author Roma Cordon.

As a forever-romance-novel lover, she was inspired to pick up the pen and let her mind explore the world of fiction on her own terms, creating what she thought the romance novel genre was missing.

For her latest release, Roma created the tale of Bewitching a Highlander, a novel filled with romance, action, rivalry, heroes and one very satisfying ending. We think she created a captivating novel that can be anyone's cup of tea, with two equally strong-minded heroes—something you don't see too often in romance novels. The book dropped just last month, and we got the chance to chat with Roma to learn all about how the book came to be. Keep reading for our review of the novel, as well!

(Photo Credit: Tori Mumtaz, Artist Credit: Radennorfiqri)

Name: Roma Cordon

Hometown: New York City, New York

Fun Facts

1. Roma's knowledge of romance novels inspired her to become a writer herself.

"I've always loved reading romance novels since I was a teenager. Over the years I've read hundreds of them. During one of these reads, a few years ago, a voice in my head said, hey, if I were writing this story, I would never make the heroine do that! Then another voice in my head said, well smarty pants, if you know so much, why don't you write it the way you would like? I then took a class with Anne Rice in New York in the early 2000s and dived into the world of writing. Truth be told, I never thought I could, until I did. I was also so sad to hear of Anne Rice's passing last year. A great loss to the writing world."

-Roma Cordon

2. If she could give any advice to her younger self, it'd be to keep reading and writing.

"These two go hand in hand. And in order to write you have to re-write. Writing is rewriting. Keep fine-tuning your craft by taking workshops, master classes, attending seminars and reading those 'how to' books. Be willing to work hard and step out of your comfort zone. Most of all, make criticism work for you, not against you."

-Roma Cordon

3. There were a number of things that inspired her to write Bewitching a Highlander while in Scotland with her husband.

"Listening to tour guides, shop owners and locals tell their stories of legends and local folklore was inspiring. I fell in love with the culture, the food and the country's history. There's also something unexplainable, intangible and inspiring in the air in Scotland, especially on the Isle of Skye, that makes one think of fairies, witches and forest nymphs. The witches part got me into reading up on the actual history of the witchcraft laws in Scotland. In Scotland in 1563 a Witchcraft Act was passed, making witchcraft a capital offense. Before this law was repealed in 1736, 4,000 to 6,000 people were tried for witchcraft and more than 1,500 were executed by strangulation or burning. It was out of a combination of these things that Bewitching a Highlander was born."

-Roma Cordon

4. Main character Breena Grant's character was born out of the witchcraft statistics Roma learned in Scotland.

"I imagine someone growing up in a society such as this, where their parents were accused of being witches. They would sadly be tainted by association and be extremely paranoid. Especially someone who thought it their duty to carry on the family legacy. My MC (main character) is just such a person. She is strong in character and never takes the easy road, and she needed an equally strong hero, with a heart of gold. Thus, Egan Dunbar was born."

-Roma Cordon

5. Roma says she can't write without her keyboard.

"My writing ritual starts with inspiration. I have to be inspired to write. Whether its inspiration by the story at large, or inspiration by a particular scene, it doesn't matter. Once inspired, I hit the keyboard. My favorite place to write is at my little secretary's desk in our apartment. I also carry around a little notepad and pen in case I am on the road and have to jot down ideas as they come. Or sometimes I use the notes feature or recording app on my cell phone."

-Roma Cordon

 

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6. Roma is a massive fan of the historical romance and fiction genre.

"I have so many favorite books, it would be too long to list them all, so I will list a snippet. I love Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, Oscar Wilde's The Importance of Being Earnest, Lord Byron's and Emily Dickinson's poetry, William Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet, and one of my all-time favorites—Sidney Sheldon's If Tomorrow Comes. I like all types of historical romance and fiction. Years ago I used to read Mills & Boons and Harlequin novels and I probably got through hundreds of them."

-Roma Cordon

7. The strong female leader that inspired Roma more than any other is Tracy Whitney from Sidney Sheldon's If Tomorrow Comes.

"This character had everything taken away from her; her job, her reputation, her mother, her home, her fiancé, and she was thrown in prison. What would you do to the people who took it all from you, if you had nothing left to lose?"

-Roma Cordon

8. Roma is currently finishing up her manuscript for her second book in the Scottish Highland Warriors series.

"Teaser: What happens when childhood friends, now grownups, one an army captain and the other a rebel spy, are caught in a compromising situation? They are forced into a marriage of convenience. But, they will have to survive each other first before they can take down their common enemies."

-Roma Cordon

9. In Bewitching a Highlander, Roma writes from the point of view of both main characters, Breena and Egan.

"I enjoy reading romance novels where you get into the head of both the hero and the heroine. You get to see how misunderstandings can occur. It causes emotional tension and conflict, especially when the reader knows something each of the characters don't. When I started to write, this approach was already familiar to me and so I used it."

-Roma Cordon

 

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Book Review

Bewitching A Highlander is a tale set in Scotland, filled with warriors, important titles and healers. The story flips between Egan and Breena's points of view. When reading Breena's thoughts, it's understood that she only has her heart set on the rescue of her father, Ian, but throughout her journey, she experiences a number of mind-blowing challenges. Meanwhile, Egan can't ignore the voice in the back of his mind telling him that the clan always comes first and he can't follow his heart. This novel has the perfect balance of the history of Scotland, suspenseful moments, forbidden romance and strong-willed characters.

Breena is one character we can all look up to in some way. Her heart is filled with compassion for others, and she is brave and passionate about using her healing abilities for good. She may be afraid to show the world who she truly is, because of the looming threat of being hunted for practicing witchcraft,  but she is willing to put that fear aside to help others around her.

Breena and Egan's forbidden romance is not like many of the stories we've encountered in the past, with complex layers that make it more than it seems at first glance. Some advice to readers: don't think you've got this whole book figured out until you've read every last word. At the halfway point, we had no idea what was coming next, with some truly shocking turns that shook us to the very core.

Roma Cordon's story was flawlessly executed, keeping us on the edges of our seats and hungry for more with every sentence. Her talents are on full display in the compelling novel, hooking us to the bold new genre. We can't wait to read the rest of the Scottish Highlander Series to see what she has in store for us.

 

Love getting to know the authors behind your favorite stories? Click HERE to read our interview with Tay Marley on The QB Bad Boy and Me.