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!

Royal protects everyone, it's part of his nature. Ainsley was so lucky the day that he came into her life. Royal's family is loud and can be obnoxious. Ainsley is able to handle the lot of them without a problem.

I received a copy of this title from the publisher for an honest review. I've been looking forward to Royal and Ainsley's story ever since I read The Highlander's Princess Bride; the story easily works as a stand alone if readers haven't read the that title. Royal is one of a Highland brood of 6 brothers; injured fighting Napoleon, he is struggling to figure out what to do with the rest of his life. He met Ainsley in London two years prior and sparks immediately began to fly even though they both know she is expected to marry much higher than a younger son. After Royal kidnapped her several months previous to the beginning of the book thinking to marry her and help her avoid marriage to Lord Cringlewood, Royal finds himself at loose ends and after prompting from his family decides to pay a visit to Ainsley who has been staying with her aunt. He is shocked to find Ainsley and discover she is due to give birth any day.

Unexpectedly pregnant after her anticipated fiance raped her, her only thought has been to prevent him from learning she is pregnant, but she has put off exactly what she will do after giving birth. When Royal finds her and she goes into labor early, she finds the perfect solution to her dilemma: Royal will raise her daughter as his own. Although reluctant, Royal agrees and the two part with Ainsley returning to her life in London and Royal with his new daughter to his home. Several months after they part, Ainsley bursts into his life again asking him to marry her to prevent Cringlewood from forcing her to marry. Ainsley and Royal marry but find that adjusting to married life and Ainsley to motherhood is not a smooth process.

I really loved both characters; Royal is a caring man who will do anything to protect his family as he proves again and again. His patience with Ainsley is heart melting as is his care with his daughter. Ainsley is prickly and can be difficult, but she is aware of it and works to improve. The supporting cast is entertaining including Royal's crusty grandfather Angus. The only thing that I didn't like was that Ainsley continued to keep one piece of information secret way too long, but otherwise, I loved this book and couldn't put it down.

There has never been a Vanessa Kelly book that I haven't liked...this one is no exception. Beautiful story....check! Great characters...check! A very bad bad guy...check! Overall, an amazing book!

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.

Royal Kendrick was injured during Waterloo, floundering thru life , a protector of all and in love with Ainsley. Ainsley is the spoilt daughter of rich English parents who grows up throughout the book. Despite the fact she's suppose to marry the Marquess of Cringlewood, Ainsley shows Royal she's interested in him. Secrets and lies highlight her journey to love and maturity. You will love following Royal and Ainsley , getting to know Grandda Angus, and the Clan Kendrick family,throughout this journey. I can't wait for the next book .Clan Kendrick will become a favorite family to all, definitely not a typical Scottish clan.

The pregnant heroine plot point was a new one for me, so I was intrigued to read this book, especially since I had encountered Ainsley and Royal in a previous book and I wanted to know what her deal was and why she was always so prickly. Royal was an amazing and selfless hero, despite his own pain, both physical and emotional, he set all of his own needs aside to take care of his family, including Ainsley. On the other hand, Ainsley frustrated the crap out of me with her spoiled selfishness. However, her backstory did make me understand why she behaved the way she did and everything clicked together for me when she finally decided to trust Royal and let him take care of her, and when she decided to take care of him in return. Her development over the course of the novel made up for her prickly selfishness in the beginning, and even if it hadn’t, this story is worth reading for Royal.

Thanks to the author and NetGalley for the ARC!

I made it to 50%! The heroine a selfish, inconsiderate woman who have no thought to the hero and his feelings for the majority of the book.
I received this book from netgalley in exchange for an honest review and the reason I requested it was because it was supposedly the first in a new series. While that may be the case, there is a lot of plot that is glossed over or mentioned as an aside that has obviously happened in another book involving the same characters. I found it hard to keep up or connect with the characters ' feelings for each other and had no idea what they were talking about when mentioning things that had happened during the elopement, which had obviously taken place in a different story. I have up due to the heoroine's complete disregard for anyone but herself. 0.5 star

I loved it! When you read so many Historical Romance books you soon realize that they sometimes follow the same story line pattern. This book is a very refreshing read. I enjoyed the story line in which we have a war veteran, tradesman Highlander who falls in love with a London Lady. When they first meet they form a connection, but fate plays a hand and are unable to be together. Royal and Ainsley are both survivors. Both characters were not perfect, but they were perfect for each other. The love they had for each other helped heal their emotional scars. I did cry in some scenes in the beginning and laughed in others. I loved the bantering between Ainsley and Angus( Royal's Grandda). They knew how to push each other's buttons. He was my favorite secondary character. I hope to continue reading about him in the other books.
I look forwards to the continuation of this series and reading about the Clan Kendrick.

Vanessa Kelly has done it again! Lady Ainsley Matthew and Royal Kendrick were introduced in The Highlander's Princess Bride and the sparks began flying.

Lady Ainsley Matthews, heiress and darling of the ton, is expected to make a magnificent match. But Ainsley has secrets and in dire circumstances. Royal is an injured war hero drifting through life, a shell of his former self. He has the biggest heart and wants only to love and protect Ainsley. Throw in a dastardly villain of an ex-fiance and meddling family, and you get The Highlander Who Protected Me; an emotional roller coaster that will make you laugh, cry and want to kill the villain. This was an amazing story of the strength of family, love and perseverance.

I received an ARC from NetGalley but the review expressed is my own opinion.

#TheHighlanderWhoProtectedMe #NetGalley

Another charming and thrilling entry from Vanessa Kelly, featuring two secondary characters from The Highlander's Princess Bride, Royal and Ainsley. There's drama aplenty, as well as a few surprises. My only complaint is the grandfather (Angus), who featured prominently in the previous book and this one. I think Kelly finds him much more hilarious and likable than I do--I just wanted to lock him in the castle and leave him there, or at least have one of his relatives tell him to stop meddling so much. But overall, this was a very entertaining read.

I was given an advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review this book was blah – not offensive, not bad but not exciting, no sizzle, easily skippable

ARC kindle Copy from NetGalley

Set in Scottish background this tells the story a pregnant heiress who is hiding in Scotland from her former fiancé. She turns to a former beau whom she trusts as she turns to him for help.

They were once an item but a mistake drove them apart. Reunited will soon rekindle feelings they once had for each other. Will they be able to make a go this time around?

It is a sweet historical romance.

Royal just has a way with words, “true, but your bosom has gone from splendid to spectacular. I’m thinking of building a monument to honor your décolletage.” Royal sometimes focuses on the wrong thing, “you’re talking to my bosom, Mr. Kendrick.” Royal sometimes has to make sure he understands his woman right, “Ainsley, I’m about one minute away from flinging you onto that bed and having my wicked way with you, preferably all night. I simply want to be sure we’re on the same page about this..." I liked this book, I loved Royal.