Bestselling author Vanessa Kelly returns with an enthralling new series about the men of the Kendrick clan—and the women who claim their hearts . . . Lady Ainsley Matthews, heiress and darling of the ton, was expected to make a magnificent match. Instead she’s hiding on a remote Scottish estate, terrified that her vicious former fiancé will use her pregnancy to force her into marriage. One man … force her into marriage. One man can help her—Royal Kendrick, son of a distinguished Highland clan. Though a mistake drove them apart long ago, Royal is the only person Ainsley trusts to protect her baby—even if that means agreeing to never see either of them again . . .
Scarred in body and soul by war, Royal suddenly has a purpose—caring for an innocent babe and thereby helping the woman he can’t stop loving. But when Ainsley ultimately returns to Scotland, determined to be a real mother to her child in spite of the risk, there’s only one solution: marriage. And only one likely outcome: surrendering to the desire that’s simmered between them for so long, no matter how dangerous it may be . . .
Praise for Vanessa Kelly’s Improper Princesses series
“A thoroughly satisfying Regency romance.” —Publishers Weekly
“An enjoyable, thoughtful romance.” –Kirkus Reviews
more
A feisty heroine and a rugged Highlander…a combination made in heaven. Kelly always brings her A game. And this book is no exception.
Seriously one of the most wonderful heroes I’ve read in a long time. He’s wounded and broken and brooded (my favorite kind), but that isn’t the center of the plot at all, which is surprising. Instead, the wonderfulness centers around how perfectly he handles the heroine’s feelings in the wake of her rape. Trigger warning (sexual assault), but absolutely worth it to read swoon-worthy Logan falling in love with baby Tira. I liked this book so much that I got 4 chapters into it, then went back and read the first book in the series just so I could get the whole story.
This is book 1 of the Clan Kendrick series and what an awesome start to the series this story is! This book is wonderfully entertaining from start to finish. Really well-written, very interesting and likable characters that are well-developed with a story line that is certain to pull at your heartstrings. I very quickly got into the story which had lots of emotion, humor, drama, a bit of suspense and great romance. The heroine is fiery and strong, and yet she is also vulnerable. The hero is a strong Scottish man who will do anything for his lady love, including protecting her at all costs. If you are a lover of Scottish romance then you are going to love this book! I am so looking forward to the next installment in this series! I highly recommend this book!
Maybe 3.5
Royal Kendrick met Lady Ainsley Matthews in London and was immediately smitten, only to learn that she was all but betrothed. He is hurt and angry and proceeds make a bad decision and then spends his time healing from the injury he got in Waterloo and brooding. When Victoria suggests that he go visit Ainsley, his life will never be the same.
Ainsley has been living in “exile” in Scotland with her Aunt since refusing to marry the Marquess of Cringlewood and being abducted by Royal months ago – she didn’t want to elope, but the endeavor did ruin her, which in her mind was a blessing. She has a secret, one that could see her married to Cringlewood. Ainsley is pregnant with his child, the marquess forced himself on her and still she refused to marry him. She has been hiding her condition from everyone – until now.
When Royal learns of her pregnancy, nothing will stop him from helping her – but Ainsley is not going to make it easy for him and her secrets and failure to trust him will cause them both a mountain of trouble.
I so wanted to love this book, I fell in love with the Kendrick brothers in the previous book and couldn’t wait for Royal & Ainsley’s story, but unfortunately, this book fell short of my expectations and the ending nearly broke my heart. The book is well written and is emotional, but moments of lightness keep it from being a dark, depressing read. I loved Royal and enjoyed catching up with Victoria, the brothers and Angus. Ainsley had moments that gave me hope, but in the end, I blamed her for the way things ended.
*I am voluntarily leaving a review of an eARC that was provided to me by NetGalley and the publisher.*
This is a superbly written, gripping, fast-paced, suck-you-in kind of story. The characters make you love them or dislike them, but you aren’t neutral about any of them. It is the first book in the new Clan Kendrick series, but it is really a follow-on from The Highlander’s Princess Bride from the ‘The Improper Princesses’ series.
The Kendricks are a boisterous, close-knit, loving Highland Clan. The family consists of seven brothers – Nicholas (Nick), Logan, Royal, Graeme & Grant (twins), Braeden and Kade plus their irascible grandfather Angus. We learned their history in The Highlanders Princess Bride and I certainly recommend that you read it – you don’t have to read it to enjoy this one, but you really get to know them all in that book. Since that book, I have been sitting on pins and needles just waiting for this one because Royal was such an intriguing character – you know – dark, moody, brooding, wounded war-hero. I didn’t care for Ainsley in that book and I still didn’t really care for her in this book. Frankly, I felt sorry for her predicament, but I found myself thinking that Royal would be much better off in the long run if she just went to London and stayed there.
Royal met Ainsley not long after he returned from the war where he had almost died. Nick, his older brother and clan chief, had dragged him all the way from the Highlands to London to see a series of doctors. He had attended a ball because Nick thought he needed to ‘get a life’ and quit brooding. Then, he saw Ainsley and thought she was the most beautiful thing he’d ever seen. They flirted, but the evening ended badly. Fast-forward to the following year and Ainsley is staying just a half-days ride from the Kendricks. Royal decides to visit her, but he isn’t prepared for what he finds. He knew something wasn’t right with Ainsley when she had passed through on her way to her great-aunt’s home several months before, but he hadn’t pursued it. Now, here she was, sitting in her aunt’s house and she was very, very pregnant.
Ainsley went into labor shortly after Royal arrived and delivered a beautiful little girl. She asks Royal to take her daughter, keep her safe and raise her as his own. She tells Royal a part of the story, but not all, and Royal finally agrees. Royal puts up with the gossip and scandal of bringing ‘his’ by-blow into his family home and raising her. He’s squared his shoulders and weathered it all and they are finally content – not happy, but content. Then Ainsley shows up again and, of course, trouble follows.
Some of what I didn’t like – well, mostly it was Ainsley. She used Royal because he loved her and would let her walk all over him. She was selfish, spoiled, overbearing, opinionated, and she wanted it all. She wanted Royal to protect her and the baby, but she didn’t tell him the whole story. She was defensive and argumentative all the time –especially with grandda. She supposedly loved Royal, but, well, she didn’t do anything until the very end of the book that made me think she cared for him at all. Then, there was grandda, but I do have to say I liked him better in this book than the last one. He was an old curmudgeon who loved his grandson but constantly interfered to keep Royal and Ainsley apart – even after they were married.
Another thing I didn’t like was the ending. It cost Royal yet again – at that point, I thought he had surely paid enough – but no. It also didn’t feel complete – we were just left hanging with some things still unsolved. I assume (maybe) we’ll get the wrap-up in the next book – which will probably be Logan’s because he was a main feature in this book.
Add in some very modern conversation styles and the use of words such as Spoilsport, Corker, and Fussbudget which all seem to stem from the late 1800’s and not the early 1800’s. I didn’t look up all of the words that struck me as anachronistic. There were some ‘old sayings’ that I didn’t think came from the Regency period – but they might have – “shake a stick at” or “she’s a corker”.
All-in-all, I enjoyed the book, but I had a really hard time caring for Ainsley or understanding how Royal could be so besotted with her. I hope you will enjoy it too!
Please check out my reviews at:
Blog: https://flippinpages.blog/
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/flippinpages…
Twitter: https://twitter.com/FlippinPagesRev
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BarbBookReview
“I requested and received this e-book at no cost to me and volunteered to read it; my review is my honest opinion and given without any influence by the author or publisher.”
The romance of a Scotsman and an English Lady. Lady Ainsley and Royal almost eloped before, but a secret kept them apart. Now Ainsley needs Royal to protect her and her child from Lord Cringlewood. Trust will be their foundation, love with keep them together. One of the sweetest and protective heros.
I’ve laughed and cried reading historical romances for 20 years but I’ve never had a writer create a scene and dialogue where a character made me angry!! I got so mad at Angus that I felt it physically!! But I forgave him. What a great writer!
Vanessa Kelly has created a sizzling enemies to lovers and second chances story in one. Events were unexpected. The teasers about Royal and Ainsley from The Highlander’s Princess Bride left me waiting impatiently for their story. The Highlander Who Protected Me tells of struggling characters who react as best they can at the time to unforeseen and unexpected events. And they do this over and over. This is a memorable book for me and I highly recommend it.
I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley. This is my honest opinion.
What I love about Ms. Kelly’s books is the laughter (and tears) that she evokes with her stories. I laughed so much during this story and yes, cried at the end. Angus is a standout figure and his comments will keep you in stitches. The Kendrick Clan are supportive even though they get on each others nerves – but aren’t all families kind of like that? Royal is loyal, scarred and swoon-worthy. You root for him to get the love that he deserves and his interactions with the baby are so precious. Ainsley you might think is selfish and she admits it but underneath it all she is hurt and wants to avoid further interaction with those who would do her harm. Fortunately, “Loyal Royal” loves her and will not allow harm to come to her. This is really a charming and lovely romance of two scarred people who find love.
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher through NetGalley.
This was an entertaining, well-written book. Lady Ainsley Matthews is pregnant and hiding from her former fiance to avoid being forced to marry him. Royal Kendrick is the only person she trusts to protect her baby, who she leaves in his care. Desire, love and protection are involved and I loved reading Ainsley’s and Royal’s story. I enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more books by this author.
I really loved the story and how much Ainsley grew as a person due to everything that happened to her. Royal was hard NOT to love! The story was awesome and I really enjoyed Ainsley’s spirit and attitude. Have to admit that Angus is still my favorite! The only reason it’s not a 5 star is because even though we have a HEA, the ending made me sad. I would have preferred Cringlewood have a different ending, but I’m hoping we’ll get more information in the next book. (I was a little sad there wasn’t information on the next book and who gets the next story!) Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!
Rcvd an ARC at no cost to author..(netgalley) Well I enjoyed Royal and he was a loyal wounded war hero. Ainsley not so much, at the beginning I have to say she annoyed me and I wasn’t really crazy about her, I was trying to take into consideration that she was the product of the ton and that Royal was not really in her class. He was the brother of an earl and a scotsman, so he was just a lowly Mr. He was smitten with Ainsley from the beginning and goes out to save her from her nasty fiance and was surprised with her reaction. Eventually Ainsley did grow on me and I was also heartbroken for her. The good thing is that she had Royal who went out of his way to protect her and love her and eventually give her happiness.
We journey back to Scotland and the marvelous Kendrick family. Nick may be the head of the family, but Royal is the glue that holds it together. He came back from war a broken man. Even in pain from a badly injured leg, he knows he needs to keep going for his family. He found more to live for when he met Lady Ainsley Matthews. They saw in each other what others did not. They are able to toss teasing remarks back and forth, where others would be insulted, they laugh. Unfortunately, at their first meeting when he hoped for more, he found her parents had already promised her to the rather nasty Marquess of Cringlewood. Fourteen months later, Royal knows Ainsley is staying with her great aunt and finally decided he must see her. There is a story of what happened in those months, well covered in the last book of The Improper Princesses series. I dare not give much more away or this will be a spoiler review. Just let me say what Royal finds at Underhill Manor is a shock and a surprise, but he just takes it in stride. What follows is a wonderful story. The more I read about Royal and his actions, I am convinced that he is by far my favorite Kendrick. Not only is he a handsome brawn Scotman, he is also very sensitive to others and their needs. He would give everything for his family or Ainsley including his life. What a man! I love this series, all I can say is more Kendricks please! I received this eBook from NetGalley for an honest review.
This is such an emotional book with both the hero and heroine wounded in body and spirit. There were definitely some all-out crying moments for me. However, there are plenty of funny moments too, especially with Angus and the rest of Royal’s family. I’m a sucker for a loyal, caring hero who’s also brawny enough to take on the worst bad guy. Loyal Royal is definitely that man! I also liked that Ainsley was not too fussy to give up much of her aristocratic lifestyle when it became clear she needed to protect her child.
What I didn’t like was all the secret keeping, omitting to tell the truth, and outright lies between the heroine and hero. This is a pet peeve of mine. Just tell the truth! You’ll make your lives so much easier and can work together to solve the problem so much sooner.
I’m eager to see what the future holds for Royal and Ainsley and the rest of Clan Kendrick.
Warning and Spoiler Alert:
There is a sexual assault that takes place, related by the heroine after the fact.
An absorbing story with much more than the usual twists and turns of a romance. The characters are compelling, the action is intriguing and the ending was delightful.
This was one of the most beautifully written stories I have ever read. The characters and story completely came alive. I was so emotionally involved in this story. I ugly cried through at least half of the book…wow…and laughed through the rest. The story was engaging, devastatingly heartbreaking and hopelessly romantic all rolled together. Royal Kendrick and Ainsley were a perfect match, I couldn’t get enough of them. Royal was literally the perfect hero. Painsley Ainsley was exactly that… A infuriating pain… but in a good way. I really enjoyed her character. The bickering between Ainsley and Royal and Angus was ridiculously hilarious. I just really loved this story so much and cannot begin to praise it enough. I have never wanted to reread a book so badly and I JUST finished it!!! Absolute page turner.
A Highland hero to adore
I first want to say that Royal Kendrick is a fantastic hero! He is my new favorite Highlander in any book. Royal is gruff, loyal, intelligent, respectful of women, compassionate, great with babies, and patient with his lady. I also like that he is a veteran of the Battle of Waterloo. I absolutely love how he loves Ainsley. Ainsley brings chaos into Royal’s life. I like her, but she got on my nerves a little bit early on. However, she really grew as a person, actively trying to stop being snobbish and rude, so I liked her more and more as the book went on.
There is a lively bunch of lovable, funny minor characters. I especially appreciate Royal’s funny grandfather and Ainsley’s quirky old aunt. It seems like this family has appeared in previous Vanessa Kelly books, but I’m not sure. This is the first book by Vanessa Kelly that I have read, but it surely won’t be the last. I was surprised and pleased by the unpredictable plot developments and timeline of this romance. FYI, it is told in third person perspective, not first person as the title would seem to indicate. This novel is a really high quality Regency/Scottish romance that I recommend to all historical romance fans, except for those who care about the trigger warning below.
Trigger warning: Ainsley previously was the victim of a sexual assault perpetrated by the villain, and she does describe the event with some level of detail.
This book had more depth than I expected. It also had great main characters and the supporting cast of the Kendrick family. There was plenty of emotion and quite a few secrets; especially from Ainsley. I liked how about the time you thought that you knew all her secrets, another surprise would be revealed.
Ainsley’s life was SO messed up and she was doing all she could just to survive. And things don’t get a lost easier until nearly the end of the book. Because Ainsley’s former finance is totally obsessed not just with her but with the humiliation that he feels she dealt him. There were times when it was kind of hard to like Ainsley and at other times I begin to understand why she acted as she did. The author did a good job of showing that. The only other person who really understood her was Royal. He might not know all of her secrets yet but he proves himself trustworthy time after time.
And speaking of Royal, what a great character for the main man lead. The family nicknamed him Loyal Royal and it sure fit him to a “T”. He was always looking after others and always putting his own needs and pain last. And he did have pain and not just from his war wound which was pretty serious. He is hopelessly in love with and adores Ainsley. He isn’t sure that there will ever be any H.E.A. for him with her.
Keep an eye on Angus, Royal’s grandfather. He really does know how to keep things stirred up. But he also is fiercely protective of his family, who he loves intensely. That doesn’t mean that he won’t cause trouble in his own wacky way, though.
There was one thing thing that I will say that was a negative for me. There was a time or two when the story felt like it slowed down way too much for me. But thankfully things do rev up again because trouble just seems to follow Ainsley. Well, at least for a while anyway, until things come to a head. There is a dramatic twist towards the end. Also a pretty emotional Epilogue.
I received an Advanced Readers Copy of this book via Netgalley and this is my honest opinion of it.
***Really 3 and a half stars*** I received The Highlander Who Protected Me by Vanessa Kelly from NetGalley in exchange for a fair review. This is the first in her Clan Kendrick series but IS a continuation of Improper Princesses #3 The Highlander’s Princess Bride. While it can be read as a stand alone, if you don’t know Royal has already fallen in love with Ainsley, you might be confused.
Royal Kendrick met Ainsley Matthews in London where he found out she was engaged. Heartbroken, he goes home to Scotland. After a number of months, Ainsley shows up in Scotland, exiled for refusing to marry. However, she is hiding a HUGE secret; one that takes 9 months to develop and be delivered. After she delivers her baby girl, she ask Royal to care for the daughter and leaves as a way to protect the baby from the father. But after a few months, she comes back and ask Royal to marry her. But Ainsley still has secrets that can destroy her’s and Royal HEA. Can the 2 get past everything to form a family?
I really have mixed feeling about this book. I loved Ainsley in the last book and was looking forward to reading this book. But it fell flat. Ainsley came off as very selfish and spoiled (which she is) and none of the many layers that showed themselves in the last book. Also, I think the rape was brushed off. I am not what Vanessa Kelly was trying to do, but even Ainsley, the survivor seems almost… whatever. The ending was almost sad as well even though Royal and Ainsley have their HEA. I am hoping the next couple of books bring it back up to finish everything. #TheHighlanderWhoProtectedMe #NetGalley
Stoic and constant, Royal Kendrick makes an impressive hero. His honourable ways definitely strikes the right chord. Love the whole Kendrick clan whose various members make appearances throughout, especially the grandfather. The name of the series, Clan Kendrick, is so appropriate as this book goes beyond romance.
Lady Ainsley’s character is more challenging to pin down. She’s quite puzzling throughout the story. She seems to have an independent mind yet certain parts do not reflect this. Once Lady Ainsley stays true to her path, her appeal begins to shine.
I’d say Royal and Lady Ainsley complement each other perfectly. Her sarcastic banter and his ever-present affection go hand-in-hand. You can’t help but to root for their HEA.
*ARC provided by publisher through Netgalley
Royal and Ainsley, oh my! From their first meeting, there are fireworks. Royal is a war hero, a second son, and permanently scarred. Not a great catch, but from the beginning, Ainsley intrigues Royal, and Royal intrigues her. Misunderstandings abound, and these two separate until a failed elopement throws them together and results in AInsley’s banishment to her aunt’s in remote Scotland. When Royal decides to visit, he discovers her secret, and she realizes he is the only one she trusts with her most precious secret, feeling she has no other option.
Royal has a purpose, a reason to live, and, when Ainsley realizes she made the wrong choice, he has everything he ever wanted. They just need to learn to trust their feelings and each other.
These two are electric together. There is so much love and chemistry, even before they realize how strong it is. Royal and Ainsley are so well-matched and their every interaction left me giggling. Then there are the rest of the Kendricks. The clan is so full of characters you can’t help but to love them. Their antics will keep you rolling in laughter.
I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. The story was well-written and fast-paced. Vanessa Kelly has become a must-read for me. This is the first in the Clan Kendrick Series, but if you missed the introduction of the Kendricks in Kelly’s last novel, The Highlander’s Princess Bride, you should really go back and check it out.
#ClanKendrick #ThHighlanderWhoProtectedMe #VanessaKelly