In this dazzling new novel from bestselling author Vanessa Kelly, the wildest member of Clan Kendrick has found his purpose as a government agent. Now he must also meet his match . . . Lady Sabrina Bell has never been so embarrassed in her life. Not only did her new suitor fail to appear for their morning rendezvous in Hyde Park, but a thief pushed her into the Serpentine. Being rescued by a … Serpentine. Being rescued by a burly Highlander just adds to her humiliation. Nor is he content with rescuing her just once. Even when Sabrina travels to Edinburgh as part of King George’s entourage, Graeme Kendrick is there, interfering, exasperating, and so very tempting . . .
Once notorious for being the most unruly Kendrick brother, Graeme now runs dangerous missions for the King’s spymaster. Yet nothing has prepared him for Sabrina. The only child of a wealthy earl, and the pampered goddaughter of the king himself, she is stubborn, impetuous, and far too good for him. He doesn’t deserve her, but he can protect her and then send her safely back home. But the bonny Sassenach has her own ideas—and a plan for seduction that no red-blooded Highlander could resist . . .
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Lady Sabrina Bell meets Graeme Kendrick when he fishes her out of the Serpentine one morning in Hyde Park. He’s supposed to be catching a thief – in fact, he has very specific orders to do just that. Instead he’s getting distracted by a very stubborn, daring, and oftentimes too brave for her own good woman. Getting involved with her is bound to lead to trouble, but what choice does he have when she obviously needs protecting, if only from herself? What follows involves a series of villains, a trip to Scotland, and so many sparks it’s a wonder these two don’t catch fire. And while Graeme doesn’t think he’s deserving of Lady Sabrina’s affection, guarding his heart against her becomes a difficult matter once she decides to win it.
Having the heroine put her herself out there by going after the man she wants is a wonderfully refreshing theme in this story. Once Lady Sabrina knows how she feels about Graeme, she’s open and honest about it, not only with herself but with him as well. There’s no beating about the bush with her and rather than letting him push her away, she decides to convince him that they’re meant to be together, which makes her deserving of a very big cheer.
All in all, I found this romance highly enjoyable and would definitely recommend it!
Series: Clan Kendrick #3
Publication Date: 5/26/20
Number of Pages: 448
Oh! Graeme Kendrick, the brother who is always in or causing trouble, has grown up and makes the most marvelous hero. I loved him – and Sabrina Bell made the perfect heroine for him. She calmed the restless energy within him, steadied him, while he brought out her courage and spirit of adventure. Add in marvelous visits with most of the other members of the Kendrick clan and you have a wonderful, exciting, romantic adventure. It was particularly fun to see the heroine pursuing the hero – until he caught her. Remember Graeme’s affliction with breaking furniture – not on purpose – he’s just a big fellow? Well, there is a wonderful furniture breaking scene included – just to make you smile – and wonder.
We first met the Kendrick family in The Highlander’s Princess Bride, Improper Princesses series #3. In that book, we met Nicholas Kendrick, Earl of Arnprior, and his six very unruly siblings – Logan, Royal, Graeme & Grant (twins), Braeden, and Kade plus their irascible grandfather Angus. We’ve already had Royal’s story (The Highlander Who Protected Me) and Logan’s story (The Highlander’s Christmas Bride) and now we finally get to Graeme. I had wondered how the author was finally going to mature Graeme and make him into a believable and admirable hero – and now I know. She did it very well!
The Kendrick’s are a very close-knit family, but Graeme has somewhat separated himself from them for the last couple of years. He loves them, but he carries a lot of guilt and blames himself for a number of things that are not his fault – but his biggest secret is the one that makes him feel unworthy. Unworthy of their love or anyone else’s. When he rescues a beautiful young lady in Hyde Park – early one morning – he is immediately drawn to her. When she stands up to him and holds her own with him, he is even more drawn to her. Except he knows he doesn’t deserve her and walks away – all the way back to Scotland. He needs the distance and he has a mission to perform for the Crown.
Lady Sabrina Bell is a wealthy heiress and is totally accustomed to having men pursue her for her fortune. She’s quite sanguine about it and just marches along with her life – and she’s very happy that way. She does need to marry though and has met a newcomer to town who she thinks might be a candidate. Against all propriety, she even agrees to meet him very early in the morning – in Hyde Park. What an ordeal of a morning it turned out to be! It was raining, her assignation didn’t show up, she was wet, she was robbed and pushed into the Serpentine, and then she was rescued by a beast of a Highlander when she didn’t even need rescuing. He is certainly an intriguing man though.
As Graeme and Sabrina come into contact more and more often, both are thoroughly smitten. She freely admits it to herself – and he denies it totally. When he leaves London and heads to Scotland, she finds a way to get herself to Scotland. She’s a determined lass and has decided Graeme is the one for her. He doesn’t make it easy on her – and she almost gives up. He fights it with every fiber of his being, but poor Graeme just isn’t a match for Sabrina and his entire family. Then, add in kidnappings, smugglers, bootleggers, plots against the king and you have a rollercoaster ride of a story.
I hope you enjoy this story as much as I did – even though it does have some very modern situations and conversational styles. You’ll love both Graeme and Sabrina as well as visiting with most of his brothers and their wives.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
The Highlander’s English Bride is the third in the Clan Kendrick series but can also be read as a stand alone story. This is Graeme Kendrick and Lady Sabrina Bell’s story of who is rescuing who in a series of adventures that lead to a wonderful happily ever after. Sabrina is a strong-willed, stubborn, wealthy daughter of an earl who has been running her father’s estates and is determined to prove to Graeme that they belong together ever since their first dunking in the Serpentine. Graeme is a hard-headed Highlander and spy working for the King’s spymaster that is convinced that because of his past that he is not worthy of Sabrina but is determined to protect her from danger and herself. The adventures that follow are filled with laughs, a little danger, a few cringe-worthy moments and a beautiful love story that will keep the reader entertained until the very last page. Vanessa Kelly is a master storyteller that draws you into the story and makes you feel a part of the adventures and coming home to characters that are like family.
I received an advanced reader copy from the publisher but all thoughts and feelings are my own.
Vanessa Kelly’s The Highlander’s English Bride is the 3rd book of the Clan Kendrick series. Lady Sabrina Bell has never been embarrassed in her life. Not only did her suitor failed to appear, but a thief pushed her into the Serpentine. To be rescued by a burly Highlander only adds to her humiliation. Nor is he content with rescuing her just once. She finds Graeme Kendrick exasperating but so very tempting. Once notorious for being unruly Kendrick brothers, Graeme Kendrick runs dangerous missions for the king’s spymaster, but nothing prepares him for Sabrina, the daughter of a wealthy earl, and the pampered goddaughter of the king himself. He doesn’t deserve her, but he can protect her and send her safely home. However, the bonny Sassenach has her own ideas—and a plan for seduction that no red-blooded Highlander could resist.
Once again Vanessa Kelly writes a delightful tale of another brother of the Kendrick Clan—Graeme, the lovable twin from the Highlander’s Princess Bride. In The Highlander’s English Bride, Graeme finds his life turned upside down each time Sabrina get herself into a situation. The banter between them is hilarious. Half the time is about who is rescuing who. It is a joy to have Ainsley and Royal with Nick and Victoria and sweet-loving Angus back to meddle into Graeme’s love life. They share a strong family bond to love and support each other. Angus is a lovable character with his saucy advice. I received this ARC from Vanessa Kelly herself in exchange for my honest review. Believe me, The Highlander’s English Bride is an outstanding book. The release date is May 26, 2020
I wish I could give more than 5 stars. Ms. Kelly does it again. A heart-warming, romantic tale. Graeme and Sabrina are amazing together.
Former wild child and rake, Graeme Kendrick has changed and is currently working a case for Aden St. George. He is tailing the suspected theif when a young woman gets in the way of his suspect and is pushed into the Serpentine – he has a choice: continue after the thief or save the girl – he chooses the girl and his life will never be the same!
Lady Sabrina is unlike any woman Graeme has ever met – she is beautiful, smart and managing – but she is also kind, funny and brave. He should get he home and forget they ever met, but then he learns that she was meeting Lord Cringlewood and he just can’t let her be hurt by him like his sister in law was. So new plan – warn her off Cringlewood and then carry on with his life. What do they say about the best laid plans?
Lady Sabrina Bell is the only child of Lord Musgrave, and after several seasons. she has decided that she will never find true love and plans for spinsterhood. But then she meets Graeme and knows that he his her perfect match – too bad he thinks he isn’t good enough for her and tries his best to keep her at arm’s length – but fortunately for Sabrina, his family also thinks he and Sabrina are meant to be and will be equally (if not more) ruthless about throwing them together!
While this book is a well written and fun story, it is not quite as adventurous, steamy or exciting as the previous books – there is still a lot going on and Cringlewood briefly pops up to remind us that he still needs to be dealt with, we also get to catch up with Nick, Victoria, Aden, Vivien, Royal, Ainsley and Angus. Sabrina is a wonderful heroine and I loved her, she is perfect for Graeme and incredibly likeable. I would happily recommend this book and a can’t wait for the next installment in this great series!
*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that was provided to me by NetGalley and the publisher.*
his was another enjoyable story from Ms. Kelly although I did think there was a little too much going on with the plot. Graeme Kendrick works unofficially as a spy and is supposed to be very good at his job, however, throughout this book various villains get the jump on him. His number one distraction, Lady Sabrina Bell, keeps invading his thoughts at crucial points in various investigations.
I liked Sabrina. She started out as a typical Regency young woman. She ran her father’s household–was organized, and always the dutiful daughter. However, after Graeme rescues her from the Serpentine, her personality seems to be take a 180 degree turn and she could have been a modern heroine. Although her father depends on her, Sabrina has no qualms about leaving him when she accompanies the king on a trip to Scotland. There is plenty of lively banter between Graeme and Sabrina and the Kendrick family, all seemingly at Graeme’s expense. The plot moves along at a good pace, but I shaking my head at Graeme’s ineptitude as he tries to ferret out clues in a smuggling ring.
All in all, I enjoyed the book, but I do think it could have done without all obstacles thrown in Sabrina’ and Graeme’s path. These two do nothing but argue throughout the book until they confess their love and get their HEA.
his was another enjoyable story from Ms. Kelly although I did think there was a little too much going on with the plot. Graeme Kendrick works unofficially as a spy and is supposed to be very good at his job, however, throughout this book various villains get the jump on him. His number one distraction, Lady Sabrina Bell, keeps invading his thoughts at crucial points in various investigations.
I liked Sabrina. She started out as a typical Regency young woman. She ran her father’s household–was organized, and always the dutiful daughter. However, after Graeme rescues her from the Serpentine, her personality seems to be take a 180 degree turn and she could have been a modern heroine. Although her father depends on her, Sabrina has no qualms about leaving him when she accompanies the king on a trip to Scotland. There is plenty of lively banter between Graeme and Sabrina and the Kendrick family, all seemingly at Graeme’s expense. The plot moves along at a good pace, but I shaking my head at Graeme’s ineptitude as he tries to ferret out clues in a smuggling ring.
All in all, I enjoyed the book, but I do think it could have done without all obstacles thrown in Sabrina’ and Graeme’s path. These two do nothing but argue throughout the book until they confess their love and get their HEA.
The Highlander’s English Bride was so very good. I loved every minute of this book. I couldn’t put it down. Lady Sabrina decides that she wants Graeme Kendrick and that’s that. There is so many things I want to say about this book but it’s hard without giving any spoilers. The Kendricks!!!! What an amazing family i felt like I was one of them the whole time I was reading it. Which is amazing because most of the time when I read about an authors big family I usually feel like I’m outside peering in learning bits of who they are but with Vanessa Kelly’s book I felt I was in the room with them and part of their family. This was my first Vanessa Kelly book and let me tell you I am going to read every Kendrick book there is. Thank you Vanessa Kelly for a marvelous time I truly appreciate it.
This is the third book in the series about the madcap Kendrick Clan. It has it all: history, romance, adventure, intrigue, kidnappings, an assassination threat, beautiful scenery, wonderful characters and comic relief, all written in a well paced and entertaining voice.
Twins Graeme and Grant have grown up and have been having separate adventures. Graeme has been in London working as a detective for Captain Aden St. George, England’s chief spymaster and half-brother to Graeme’s sister-in-law, Victoria. While on a case, chasing after thieves, he is interrupted when he must rescue Lady Sabrina Bell from the Serpentine. Graeme finds out that a banished villain has returned and is now after Sabrina and still threatens his other sister-in-law Ainsley and his niece, Tira. He is now bound to not only find the thieves but protect Sabrina, who has a mind of her own. When Sir Walter Scott convinces the king decides to visit Scotland, Graeme is sent there as well, and finds to his dismay that Sabrina is traveling with the royal party and then plans on visiting her ancestral home and righting some wrongs. She has finally found the man that she wants and she is going to get him, despite his mistaken belief that he doesn’t deserve her. There she meets his whole wacky family- and fits right in.
This is such a fun read. Perhaps I was reading into it to much, but I detected at the end, a nod to KING’S QUEST, a game that I spent many hours playing with my sons in the 1990s. I read an ARC that I received from NetGalley.com. This is my unbiased and voluntary review.
This is book three in the “Clan Kendrick” series. Vanessa’s Highlanders are right up there at the top of the Historical Fiction Genre when it comes to Scotland and handsome, stubborn, honorable, and witty Highland Heros. I absolutely adored the first two books in this series. If my review sounds familiar it’s because I have run out of complimentary words to describe Vanessa’s love stories. Vanessa has a talent for pairing stubborn Highlanders with stubborn ladies, be they Scottish or English.
Graeme Kendrick is in London trying to track down a den of thieves that are preying on society. So far the bloody Sassenachs have proved elusive. On this day in June 1822, he has tracked a flunky he followed to Hyde Park hoping that the thief will lead him to the ringleaders. His luck today is the same as last month, none! Not only does he lose the thief he has to rescue a young lady that the culprit pushed into the Serpentine to getaway. Of course, the young lady thinks Graeme is trying to drown not rescue her. Unfortunately for Graeme, this is just the beginning of months of pain and frustration involving this particular young lady.
Lady Sabrina Bell is wondering what the heck she was thinking about meeting a man in Hyde Park on a cold and rainy morning. She knows better! The gentleman never showed up and she is soaking wet from a dunk in the Serpentine! The only redeeming part of this miserable morning is her rescuer, the most stunning man she has ever seen and he’s Scottish. He comes up with a plan to save her reputation which makes him her salvation. There would be hell to pay if her father finds out what happened. Sabrina has no idea that meeting Graeme is the defining moment in her life.
Sabrina and Graeme are so alike and different at the same time. Their interactions are both hysterical and romantic with a sizzling sensuality that practically singes the pages. All of Vanessa’s stories have interacting characters from her other books, it’s like catching up with old friends. There is always lots of action, mystery, and HAE’s in her stories. All her books are stand-alone stories that any Historical Romance fan will love. I recommend reading all of her books. I am certain that you will love them as much as I do.
Another Kendrick meets his match. Graeme, one of the always in trouble Kendrick has been doing some growing up. Working for Captain Aden St. George as a spy, Greene’s current job involves finding the thieves that have been stealing precious objects from members of the ton. Lady Sabrina Bell accidentally takes a dunking in the Serpentine during a pursuit of one of our the thieves. The thief got away, but Lady Sabrina did not. And so starts the pursuit of Graeme Kendrick. Once Sabrina decides Graeme is the man for her, she chases him until he catches her. What comes in between is a series of adventures, danger, kidnappings with ransom demands, travel to and in Scotland, and time spend with old friends. Royal is still my favorite Kendrick, but Graeme runs a close second. Since there are three more Kendrick men who I hope will have their own stories, I will reserve my judgement on favorites until I meet the rest of the brood. I received this eBook from NetGalley for an honest review. This are my own opinions.
3.5 stars
Lady Sabrina Bell is having a rather embarrassing day. She finds herself stood up in the park by her potential beau, robbed, and pushed into the Serpentine by a thief, then rescued by a gruff Highlander. The giant of a man also just happens to be the most attractive man Sabrina has ever met. He also seems to be around every time she finds herself in trouble, when Sabrina visits Edinburgh as a member of King George’s entourage, Graeme Kendrick is there too, keeping her safe but tempting her to misbehave as well.
Graeme Kendrick has come a long way from being the wildest of all the Kendrick brothers to competently running dangerous missions for the King’s spymaster. Even so, he’s wholly unprepared for his reaction to the King’s spoiled, stubborn goddaughter, Lady Sabrina. He knows he’s not good enough for her and he’s determined to keep her safe and then send her back home to her hypochondriac father. Too bad Sabrina has plans of her own and she’s determined to woo Graeme for herself.
First off, I liked this book much better than its predecessors and I loved that it was Sabrina pursuing Graeme. I enjoyed Graeme’s growth and his learning to feel worthy. What annoyed me, however, was Sabrina. Like so many heroines these days she was fiercely independent, which is great when done well, but here it just felt like she continuously made naive, uninformed or completely reckless decisions without a care for the danger to herself or others. She was very spoiled and used to getting her way, mostly by throwing her money around, and that was annoying for me. Don’t get me wrong, Sabrina did have her charming moments and she was miles better than the heroines of the previous two books, but much of this, especially conversations between Graeme and Sabrina, devolved into bickering and Sabrina insisting on her own correctness. That near constant arguing got rather repetitive for me. I did like the action of this one, I just wish Sabrina had shown more intelligence and forethought in her actions and that we had more scenes in which she and Graeme were truly communicating. We only really got one such good scene and I would’ve liked more for their relationship to really be believable. I did appreciate that Sabrina was more than willing to step outside her comfort zone, I just wish we could’ve had some more middle ground between her making stupid, reckless decisions and Graeme constantly freaking out about her safety. There was a lot going on here, but overall I did mostly enjoy it and will continue with the series.
I voluntarily read and review an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
The Highlander’s English Bride is the third book in author Vanessa Kelly’s “Clan Kendrick” series. Although third in the series, I do believe this book could easily stand alone. This is actually the first book I’ve had the pleasure of reading from Ms. Kelly. I was impressed with Ms. Kelly’s writing style and adored the characters so I will definitely be going back to read the entire series! So happy to have finally read Ms. Kelly’s work and can’t wait to catch up with her backlist!
Graeme Kendrick is on a mission to capture a gang of thieves. Just when he has one of the thieves in his reach, a young lady gets in the way and is thrown into the Serpentine. Lady Sabrina Bell is not your typical simpering miss. She’s a wealthy heiress who is stubborn, strong-willed & impetuous. From the moment these two meet, you know there is going to be plenty of action and fireworks! I loved the interaction between Graeme and Sabrina and watching these two extremely stubborn people get to know each other and eventually start to care about each other. But the road to their happily ever after is not completely smooth. Graeme struggles with feelings that he’s not good enough for Sabrina and Sabrina is determined to convince him that he is. With villains, meddling family members, and a trip to Scotland, this was an action-packed and exciting story. Graeme’s family all played a role in this story and I must say I adored them all. I must go back and read the previous stories in this series to catch up and get to know the Kendrick family better. Overall a fantastic read from a new to me author and a book I would highly recommend!
A young lady’s fall into The Serpentine forces Graeme Kendrick to rescue a lady and lose the thief he’s following. Working as a spy, Graeme stays in the shadows. Once he and Lady Sabrina meet, Graeme has already lost the battle of fighting against love.
Lots of family interference makes for a lot of laugh out loud moments.
A free copy for an honest review.
The Highlander’s English Bride by Vanessa Kelly is book Three in the Clan Kendrick Series. This is the story of Graeme Kendrick and Sabrina Bell. I have read the previous books but did feel this to be a standalone book. Sabrina is a strong willed women who shows that through out the book. Sabrina first meets Graeme when she is pushed into river at Hyde Park by the thief that Graeme is after. Graeme of course stops to help her out which leads to their rocky start. Then they meet again when Sabrina is part of the King’s entourage heading to Edinburgh. Graeme is a part of that entourage as he is a spy master for the King. This trips ends up being one adventures trouble after another because Sabrina isn’t a bystander is some of the situations they run into which leads Graeme running after her. Enjoyed their story.
Can I just say Delightful? Loved every second? Laughing out loud and could not get enough?
Of course I have to mention a really brawny Scot (because of the clean Highland air no doubt) with a brogue I am sure would just melt your heart? Whether it is stalking a criminal or saving a lady from drowning in the Serpentine (regardless that she could stand up and put her feet on the bottom!), Graeme Kendrick, was your man when you needed a spy to run down a criminal!
Seriously when Graeme and Lady Sabrina meet, yes, thief, reticule snatched, falling in water, it becomes some of the wittiest banter to the point that my jaws almost hurt!!
Then the fun begins. From London to the Highlands of Scotland, these two end up together and it seems danger and rescuing each other and sparks just seem to ignite.
Vanessa Kelly always engages you from the first and captures the imagination with her skilled pen that takes you on a journey you will not soon forget!
I absolutely love Vanessa Kelly’s Clan Kendrick. Each novel has brought a new brother to love even more, and her latest is no exception. In THE HIGHLANDER’S ENGLISH BRIDE we find out more about Graeme Kendrick, the twin wild twin. Graeme seems to have put his wildness to good use working for his sister-in-law’s half-brother. When a case puts him in direct contact with Lady Sabrina Bell, events conspire to keep throwing them together to protect her from an old foe of the Kendrick family and a new threat. Sabrina knows how to take care of herself, but, somehow, she keeps interfering with Graeme’s work and they have to work together to get out of it.
Graeme is my new favorite Kendrick (outside Angus) and Lady Sabrina is perfect for him, despite his initial feelings of unworthiness and my heart broke for him as we uncovered why he felt that way. I also loved how everyone realized he and Sabrina were a perfect fit from the beginning and worked together to make sure that Graeme figured it out.
Full of wit and fun characters, this novel kept me laughing and occasionally tearing up. It was a wonderful escape, and I can’t wait to see which Kendrick will be next. Though part of a series, it can be read as a stand-alone but it will have you rushing to read the rest!
Thanks to the Publisher and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this novel. All opinions are my own.
#TheHighlandersEnglishBride #ClanKendrick #VanessaKelly #Zebra #Kensington
Sabrina, a strong willed heiress, is the perfect match for Graeme, an equally strong willed Highlander. Graeme does not feel he deserves her even though he comes to love her as he protects her against an enemy. This is book 3 in the clan Kendrick series and I can’t wait to read more! I received an ARC from NetGalley and Kensington books for my honest review.
We finally get twin, Graeme Kendrick’s story. Who is the perfect lass for this highlander? Why Lady Sabrina Bell, the only child of a wealthy English earl, and the goddaughter of the King….and boy is she a spitfire!
While Graeme is working undercover for King’s spymaster early one morning, he witnesses someone attacking a woman and pushing her into the Serpentine. Graeme really wants to chase after the assailant, but ends up rescuing the woman out of the water instead. Of course said woman is Lady Sabrina Bell. Graeme finds it curious that Lady Sabrina is out and about unescorted that early in the morning but still ends up helping her out. This starts their war of wills. Both of these two are stubborn and passionate about everything in their lives….which of course always makes for a good match! 😉
When Graeme is tasked with providing security for the King for his trip to Scotland, he is completely thrown when Lady Sabrina shows up getting off the ship. Of course the Kendrick’s clan find this new turn of events amusing! As Graeme and Lady Sabrina spend more time together, feelings toward each other start to change and before they know it, they find themselves yearning for the other. When it appears that someone is out to harm Lady Sabrina, Graeme’s alpha protective ways start to show and these two have a fun showdown! Of course it also causes them to profess their love for each other too!
It was so fun watching these two stubborn, headstrong individuals fall hard! I just adored Lady Sabrina. She is a great, kick butt, take no prisoners type of person and putting her up against a redheaded alpha male highlander provided for some great moments. Together they brought us a great story and a perfect happy ending!