Let me just say that for the time period this book is set in, and the views and customs of the time, Royal Kendrick is a heartwarming, handsome, and kind man. A rare find indeed.
I haven’t read the previous book yet, so I was new to the characters. The banter between Lady Ainsley and Royal was very charming and witty.
So Ainsley is in a complicated situation, but one thing she does know is that she will do whatever it takes so that she won’t have to marry the monster who forced himself on her and got her pregnant. Neither her father nor her mother can convince her to marry her former fiancé so she is exiled to Scotland. Royal had no idea that she was pregnant, and Ainsley does not trust anyone else to take her daughter once she is born to keep her safe and away from her biological father.
I loved that Royal was so willing to help, he offered his protection, no questions asked. He would have gladly married her right away as well but Ainsley thought it would be better for her to return to society to try to move on. She comes back to her daughter soon enough, after all the Kendrick clan has fallen in love with little Tera, even Angus.
The nightmare she went through, as well as people from her past won’t let it be easy for her to just walk into Royal arms, not matter how much she wants to.
*ARC provided to me by the publisher through Netgalley.

I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley. This is my honest opinion.

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.

It was wonderful revisiting the Kendrick clan. Although this book is said to be the first book in the Clan Kendrick series so many events from The Highlander's Princess Bride are alluded to that I would recommend starting with that book.

I loved how different this plot was from the standard historical romance story lines. I went into reading it without reading the synopsis and was so frequently surprised by what was happening that I had to keep turning pages. I adore the Kendricks. They are so much fun to read about and I love how loyal they are to each other. An entire series about them is a dream come true. I have high hopes for the next books in the series although there were some things in this installment that did not work for me. The book seemed overly long to me but part of that could be that I just did not love either Ainsley or Royal. Royal was just toooo perfect. He isa long suffering and never complaining peacemaker that just seemed kind of dull to me. On the other hand Ainsley came across as selfish to me as she used Royal over and over again without giving him all of the details he deserved. Still was an interesting story and I cannot wait to see what is in store next for the Kendrick clan.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I should start by mentioning how much I LOVED our hero, Royal! He was our broken, strong, passionate, patient and loving hero. The best you could ever want to read about in a love story. Having said that, I really, really had a hard time warming up to Ainsley. I realized the poor women went through hell, but she was pretty annoying.

She was selfish. The whole idea about not marrying Royal to begin with, separating from her baby, just to avoid a scandal for her an her family... It was difficult to take. She should have married him from the beginning. Then having to rush back and somehow think that her baby would remember her and be comfortable with her because she is after all her mother... sigh...

Royal was so patient through it all. These two had great affection for each other. Poor Royal wore his heart on his sleeve. They where in agreement that they wanted to be together and yet I had a hard time finding a spark.

I would say that I really enjoyed the supporting characters to this story. Royals family stole my heart. Their closeness and love for each other was heart warming. The strength of the brothers I really enjoyed. The grandfather, Angus, was the best! I think that's probably why I think in the end I found that I warmed up to this book. Because while the love story had me frustrated and annoyed, the family just had me laughing out loud and making up for it.

Book: The Highlander Who Protected me
By Vanessa Kelly

Series: Clan Kendrick, Book #1

Release Date: October 30, 2018

Reviewed by: Barb Massabrook (of)
Tartan Book Reviews
Purple Tulip Book Reviews
Celtic Barb’s Tartan Book Review Blog

Overall Rating:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️


London February 1816
And
Castle Kinglas, Scotland
April 1817

Royal Kendrick had been in London with his brother Nicholas to find a physician to heal his leg that was injured in Waterloo. It was there he had first spotted his Goddess known as Lady Ainsley Matthews. It was not just her beauty that attracted him, but her humorous banter and word play as well. Since that first moment she was in his vision he had been in love with her.

Holy mother of God she was the the perfect woman in so many ways. He surely never expected her to ever give him any notice. Yet one day the Gods or fae faeries were on his side, as he was placed next to her at dinner. Both had non speaking partners luckily on either side of them. They chatted the entire time and from that point on they became friends. Though he wanted more but knew her family would never allow the sweetheart of the ton marry a Scottish second son and cripple! They naturally expected an advantageous match for their superb extraordinary flawless daughter.

Unfortunately Ainsley’s family had chosen a man for his wealth and title. It was the Leonard, Marquess of Cringlewood a cruel brute of a man that sexually assaults Ainsley. He gets Ainsley pregnant, unknown to him and flees to Scotland. She knows if Cringlewood found out he would force the marriage which would be a prison sentence for Ainsley. After she has the child the only man she trusts is Royal. She makes the most difficult decision of her life to leave the two people that mean the most to her Royal and infant daughter. She hands the child over to Royal, the only man she respects and trusts and cares for. Ainsley decides that removing herself and returning to London is the best decision for everyone. Plus she want to end her so called betrothal with her rapist!

Royal will do anything for this woman. Even if it brings shame impropriety and gossip on him, yet he will raise the child as his own. Royal and his clan fall in love with wthe bairn and it gives Royal positive motivation and reason to move on with his life and live. Yet Ainsley realizing she can’t live on in London as she thought without her child or Royal. So she returns to Scotland wanting her child back.

What will Royal do? Does Ainsley rip away the one thing that has kept Royal sane. Does Ainsley realize Royal is the man for her and three of them can make a family? That only marriage is the perfect solution for this beauty and her honest, honorable, handsome, Scottish beast? Does the villain of this story ever find out he has a child out of wedlock that is really his? Do Ainsley and Royal have a happily ever after or is it danger,high stress, anxiety
and problems? I highly recommend this magnificent novel to find out!


Vanessa Kelly blows me away again with this amazing new series. I had adored the Kendrick clan in the the Highlanders Princess Bride book. This was the final novel of The Improper Princesses series. They are absolute mischievous and lovable characters you can’t help but adore! I was thrilled Ms. Kelly decided to do a series about their clan.

This first book in Clan Kendrick series is an absolute sensational start. It is filled will all the elements historical romance readers love. A fast paced riveting romantic adventure that will absolutely warm readers hearts. An injured Scottish warrior and an abused english heiress with so many ups and downs. Throw in a cruel villain, non-understanding parents and a baby everyone will love!Readers won’t be able to put this unforgettable book down. It has a wonderful setting, amazing dialogue, hilarious secondary characters, as well as brilliant main characters. The plotting is an absolute masterpiece as well.

The Improper Princesses Series:
#1 My fair Princess
#2 Three Weeks with a Princess
#3 The Highlanders Princess Bride


Pre-Order Buy Links:
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http://www.kensingtonbooks.com/book.aspx/36993

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-highlander-who-protected-me-vanessa-kelly/1127921988?type=eBook#/

https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/the-highlander-who-protected-me

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https://books.google.com/books/about The_Highlander_Who_Protected_Me.html?id=ZNFoswEACAAJ


https://www.bookbub.com/books/the-highlander-who-protected-me-by-vanessa-kelly



I received a complimentary ARC copy from Zebra Books, Kensington Publishing through netgalley. I voluntarily agreed to read, review and blog an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts, ideas and opinions are my own.

What a story. Love the two main characters and their story. The highs and the lows. A man who loves a woman who he fears will never love him back but would change his life to save her and her child from a man she wants nothing to do with. Can they find their happily ever after

I fell in love with the Kendrick family in the 3rd book of Vanessa Kelly’s Improper Princesses series. They’re the kind of family you can’t help but love yet you know you’d go crazy if around them too long. At the time, I wasn’t sure whose story I wanted next. I just knew that I wanted more of this crazy, loyal family. I’m thrilled it was Royal and Ainsley’s story. Royal really intrigued me in that last book. Injured and brooding, he was very hard to figure out, but it was clear Ainsley had an effect on him, and I couldn’t wait to see where that led. After reading The Highlander Who Protected Me, this Clan Kendrick series promises to be every bit as spectacular as the series that gave birth to this amazing family.

Royal Kendrick had fallen in love with Lady Ainsley Matthews the moment he met her. Her vibrant beauty and lethal wit drew him in and he desired her more than anything he’d ever wanted. But he knew his desire was all he’d ever have of her. He was just a common second son. A man with a mangled leg and a moody temperament. Ainsley was an heiress. The darling of the ton. And she was promised, if not officially yet, to the Marquess of Cringlewood. Ainsley admired Royal for his bravery and sacrifice. He was as blunt and bad tempered as she and she enjoyed the acerbic humor and witty banter they shared. She trusted him and saw him as a good friend, though that was all they could be as her father would never consider Royal as a suitor. He was intent on a match with Leonard, the Marquess of Cringlewood. Unfortunately, the Marquess was a vile, cruel man who forced himself on Ainsley leaving her pregnant and with no choice but to flee to Scotland before Leonard discovered her plight and forced her into marriage.
When her friend Royal arrives to visit, Ainsley knows he is the only person she trusts to keep her baby safe. Though it will devastate her to place her child in someone else’s hands, it’s the safest place for her to be. Losing her child and losing Royal, the only man she’d ever thought she could love would be difficult, but it was the only way to keep the baby from a father who had no decency or compassion. Royal would do anything for Ainsley and agrees to raise the child as his own even though doing so would bring scandal on him.
Royal and the Kendricks quickly fell in love with the baby, and Royal, who’d felt he had no purpose after the war, found a new motivation for his future in raising the child. It doesn’t take long for Ainsley to realize she can’t bear being separated from her child, and she finds herself once again asking Royal for help. To marry her and raise the child together. Royal would like nothing more than to call Ainsley wife. But could Ainsley give up her wealth and status to marry a poor, crippled Scotsman? He’d been nursing a passion for her for two years. Could he be content to marry someone who may not return that passion? And most importantly, would marriage be enough to keep Ainsley and her baby safe from the Marquess of Cringlewood?
I adored Royal from the moment I met him in the previous series. Like all the Kendricks, he was loyal. But Royal has to be the most selfless man to ever exist! His injuries from the war left him in great physical and emotional pain yet he never complained. He was the peacemaker of the family, often having to referee between them. Whatever the task, Royal bore it. Again and again. Nothing mattered more than family. And Ainsley and her baby were family now.
Ainsley was harder to love at first. She was spoiled, though in her defense, it was all she’d ever known until the assault by Cringlewood and the subsequent betrayal of her family. But she was brave to run away and put her child first. And she was smart to trust Royal. I felt sorry and afraid for the predicament she was in. Cringlewood had wronged her but she was the one who would suffer. Regardless of his actions, she’d be the one at fault.
Seeing Royal and Ainsley together made me realize how very much they needed each other. I admired Royal for how patient and encouraging he was with Ainsley as she struggled with motherhood. The tension and humor in caring for a baby helped me see how much they cared for each other. Royal never gave into his passion, waiting instead till Ainsley was ready. He didn’t push or demand but allowed her to move at her own pace. I admired Ainsley for giving up so much for her child. Coming to a land she rather hated and living with a family that drove her mad. Because of the assault by Leonard, she was unsure of the way Royal made her feel at times. It was fun and sweet to watch her battle between her fears and her desires. The intimate moments between she and Royal, when they weren’t interrupted by Angus, were steamy and playful. The slow build to Ainsley and Royal finding love made it that much more rewarding.
The “wonderful supporting characters that keep you laughing” award goes to Angus Kendrick. I couldn’t decide if I wanted to hug him or strangle him at times. But he brought so much laughter and warmth to the story. I gained a whole new respect and love for him in this book.
The magic ingredient in this story has to be the witty banter. The clever, romantic sparring created sparks that brought Royal and Ainsley alive on the page. Sometimes seductive and sometimes playful, it painted such a brilliant picture of these characters. Even the sometimes aggressive banter was perfect because it showed how intense the attraction was. . I love that her characters can show wit and perfectly placed sarcasm even in the middle of romantic moments. There’s nothing like swooning and giggling at the same time. Their clever repartee kept the plot moving forward and ensured a fun filled ride to their happily ever after. Vanessa Kelly never fails to make me swoon with her amazing characterizations and her intriguing stories. I am eager to see which Kendrick I get to fall in love with next.

Royal Kendrick has returned a wounded soldier in many ways not only physically. Ainsley Matthews is stuck in a world where she has or no control. Royal and Ainsley story is fraught with monumental emotions that would cripple most people. If Royal and Ainsley cannot find a way to trust each other their decisions can have dire consequences. This story was emotionally gripping that left you breathless. I instantly fell in love with Royal. He was a complex character of strength and vulnerablity. I loved Ainsley's strength and watching her deveolp and grow throughout the book. The story unfolded beautifully and kept me turning the pages. I connected with the characters that they even brought me to tears. I love the Kendrick Clan and can't wait to read more from this series.

I love good witty banter, especially when insults are thrown in.

Who the hell is Cringlewood?

It's not her fault. He could have asked.

What the heck? He did what?

That's what you get for creeping around a house that isn't yours.

Was she forced?

If childbirth is a scary proposition for her, it stands to reason that it would be doubly so for him.

For the love of Pete, marry him!

It's so nice how they all try to make Angus feel useful.

She has to decide if her reputation and her scum parents are worth more than her happiness.

You would think that her mother would wish a better life for her daughter than she had.

They really need to start locking Angus in his room.

Someone kill Lord Fathead already.

Lady Montgomery's servants are so confused.

Yeah, they'd be better off in Canada, although it's a shame it's so far away.

Nice save, Logan!

I absolutely loved the story of ainsley and royal. I cried and I laughed. I admired royal for never giving up on her no matter what and raising her child what an outstanding man. I read this book in 1 day couldn't put it down th and looking forward to his brothers stories should be just as awsome

**Review of eARC provided by NetGalley**

3.5 stars. There were good points of this books and some mediocre ones. I liked the combination of tropes - heroine escaping an unwanted arranged marriage and her nutcase family, a war hero figuring out his life after coming home, a grumpy grandpa who is charmed by a new baby, and a new baby full stop. It all combined together to make for some interesting storytelling.

The parts that I didn’t like as much were things like both the hero and heroine resisting each other, even though they’re both crazy about each other. Ainsley had her moments of Too Stupid To Live. So many problems could have been taken care of had she married Royal to begin with (even after Cringlewood pulled his crap on Ainsley). Dragging their relationship out wasn’t great, especially given everything that was going on around them.

Other than that, I do want to know how their lives together turn out, particularly since they [spoiler redacted] at the end. ;)

One of the best things about this series of interlocking romances is that you catch glimpses of what's going on in the background of one book, then get to follow up and see the whole thing unfold when the series focuses on that particular story line in turn.

When Royal Kendrick receives a letter from Lady Ainsley Matthews, he rushes off to see her. He's pretty much been in love with her since he first saw her. What he discovers when he arrives certainly throws him for a loop. It seems Ainsley isn't just visiting her relative, but is in hiding until she delivers her baby.

Ainsley suffered at the hands of her so-called betrothed once, and she's not about to do it again. In order to protect her baby, she flees to Scotland. After her daughter is born, Ainsley gives her to Royal to raise as his own. Ainsley will then return to London to end things with her fiancé for good, and try to make the best of things. How will she ever survive, with the two people who mean the most to her in the world, her daughter and Royal, so far away.

The Highlander Who Protected Me has a wonderful plot, but the characters just made me so angry. Ainsley has been through a lot, but she truly made the worst decisions in my eyes. I had to remind myself of the time period and how women had so little of rights then. Royal, however, I esteem. He was a strong man, willing to make very big sacrifices for the people he loves. Although Royal and Ainsley's HEA isn't as conventional as most romances, it is still albeit, a touching one. Historical fans will delight in author Vanessa Kelly's first novel in her CLAN KENDRICK series, THE HIGHLANDER WHO PROTECTED ME. I give it a rating of 3.5 stars!

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.

Okay so I feel like I'm missing something. I think there was another book that i was supposed to read before this but I'm not sure and it doesn't say what book. There's a events alluded to that I don't know what happened. I can guess....
About this book, I liked it but I'm not a big fan of the leading lady Ainsley. She's kind of, not worthy of Royal. It isn't often i feel that way about a protagonist. I want to read the next one to see what's going to happen next. It doesn't leave it as a cliffhanger, just there's more to the story. They kind of let you know that there's something going to happen next.

A great start to Vanessa Kelly's Clan Kendrick series, this book, for me, was not a typical romance novel. Even though Ainsley is an heiress and darling of the ton, she is a real character with real-world problems, and nobody but Royal and his clan are willing to help her (besides her aunt), even to the point of bringing her into the Clan and fiercely protecting her from the evils of her past. This is a well written book with very real characters and their very real problems. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series!

Vanessa Kelly never disappoints. This is an enthralling new series about the men of the Kendrick clan—and the women who claim their hearts . . .
You will be thoroughly entertained with like-able characters in Ainsley and Royal. I recommend this book for anyone that enjoys a well written historical romance.

I love Vanessa Kelly and this one did not disappoint. Royal and Ainsley kept me engaged and I couldn't wait to see how it would all play out. I received a free copy for my honest review. Highly enjoyable!

Y❤️❤️❤️❤️
💋💋
Royal Kendrick is the sort of man you want in your corner to fight beside you, he never lets you down in any circumstance.
Ainsley is the woman he loves though she hardly acknowledges that he exists,
But when she needs help he’s her go to man .
This story had me screaming at him to dump her and anything to do with her and move on , to crying and hoping they could make a go of it , and all the time cheering for Granda Angus , I adore his character .
It’s a wonderful book , with characters that endear themselves to you very quickly, well written and kept me totally immersed in their world .
I’d recommend this book to all fans of this author. You’ll kick yourself if you miss it x
I received an advance copy of this book and chose to submit a review

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.