A young women living life as a slave to a jealous, selfish mistress to pay off her father's debt, and a man who believes he his worthless and his life is over because of a careless mistake in his youth, come together to find that second chances can sometimes bring you more than you ever dreamed.

Because of a rash mistake he made in battle, that cost the lives of his clan and family, Bane runs to the streets of Edinburgh to escape the shame he is sure his clan feels for him. At the same time, Lucia is serving out her father's debt to a lady of a clan that is selfish and deceiving, even fighting off the attempts of one high placed servant to get rid of her.... for good.

when these two lost souls meet and realize things aren't always what they seem they will do anything to be able to live a life together, free of despair and fear. So begins Bane's journey to the Ludus Caledonia to find the man he once was and fight for the women he would give his life for.

This is the second book in the Scot and Swords series by Kathryn Le Veque, somewhat different than the novels she usually writes but still with the same ability to draw you in and keep you wishing that the book would never end. I especially liked how she threw a little nod to one of her most famous books into this one with the mention of "De Wolfe", which her loyal readers will pick up on. As always Ms. Le Veque leaves you wishing for more.

i received this book for an honest review from the publisher.. Thank you

Once known as the Highland Defender, Bane Morgan has fallen into a deep depression. He has been living on the filthy streets of Edinburgh and drinking far too much. His shame changed his life, can the scream in the alley change it again??

Lucia Symington is paying off a debt by being in service. Unfortunately for her the "Lady" she serves has some very naughty habits and a dragon of a nurse who abuses everyone.

Our hero can't deny his nature. He must defend the weak., even if he has to trade himself for years to do it. Our heroine is a brave and caring woman who tries to make the best of a bad situation. She has dreams of a much better life. Saving one down and out man to improve his life is just the start of that.

An action packed story from the Highland version of Fight Club. The warriors we meet are the best of the best. That's why the Lady wants them. In truth who can blame her. However honour is a big part of the code these men live by, so she's not always going to get her way.

All the characters in this story are fabulous and I'm glad to say we will meet them again in the rest of the series.

A great story. I loved it.

As usual another great read. Interesting take on arena fighting in the highlands. Men who have demons to atone for, take this route to try and redeem themselves and in the end fing themselves with their mates. HEA.

This was a very nice romance story. While Bane and Lucia fell for each other right away, their overall relationship built up slowly over the course of the book. There were two love scenes, both steamy but not obscene or overly detailed. It gave you just enough that you could imagine the rest. The characters were all likable aside from the antagonists. I would be interested to see stories about some of the fighters from the arena.

I received an ARC copy of this book from #NetGalley for an honest review.

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
💋💋

Second in this series and just as enjoyable and entertaining as the first.
Set in Scotland and around the Ludus Caledonia, a fight guild that is a secret and highly sought after.

These men sign away seven years of their lives for the honour of being trained by the best fighters . They live and breath for the Guild.
They are employed by armies that seek the best, and they give their all.

This book follows Bane Morgan who we briefly met in the first book , it’s his journey to the Guild and to his own redemption, one that helps him regain his honour and in the process find love.
Some members from book one are also in here , Lor ,Galan & Alex.

I brilliant story yet again from Kathryn, can’t wait for the next .

I received an Arc copy of this book and chose to post this review

I love a highland romance, especially with fighting and tragic backstories, but somehow every potentially enjoyable aspect of this book for me was overshadowed by some much larger problems looming overhead.

Lucia and Bane's relationship is instalove of the worst kind—not the sort of serendipitous, Cinderella-at-the-ball moment where you Just Know, but the kind where they quickly come together because the author said so. Their romance is unconvincing, and without that to bind this book together, all the fighting, tragedy, and danger couldn't fix it for me.

Other than Lucia, there are no good women. The nurse, Colly, is evil incarnate, and a common shorthand for this throughout the book was how big, heavy, and round she is—weird to concentrate on, given how she does actual evil things like hitting people and pushing them down stairs. Characters the reader is supposed to like call her a "cow." And then of course, Lady Currie is terrible as well, more so as the book goes on, as she plans out how to force Bane to her bed. This characterization came on fairly suddenly in the second half, a shift from the first.

I received a digital advance copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks Netgalley for allowing me to read this book. Bane Morgan arrives in Edinburgh from the highlands. While in Edinburgh he meets Lucia who he later falls in love with and will do anything to keep her safe. I liked the chemistry between Bane and Lucia.

Highland Defender is the second book in Kathryn Le Veque's Scots and Swords series, but it does a good job standing alone. I haven't read the first book (Highland Gladiator) yet, but it didn't deter me from enjoying this one.

If you love a good Highlander romance, be aware that this story is not your typical one at all. In fact, it almost entirely takes place in or near Edinburgh, with the Highlands being something talked about more than seen, and the only battlefield is the arena at the Ludus Caledonia. As the description points out, it's more Fight Club and Gladiator than anything else.

I liked Lucia and Bane a lot, though Bane seemed a little immature for a guy who was once considered an undefeatable warrior. But that flaw goes well with his past. I also liked Lor and Isabail (protagonists from the first book), as well as several of the other fighters. I didn't overly care for Clegg, the owner of the fight club. I know we were supposed to consider him more friend than foe, and he does redeem himself to me later in the book, but I found him a bit too...master like? Finally, Lady Currie and especially her former nurse Colly, the foes, were a rather dramatically evil (I expected Colly to break out with a mwah-ha-ha at any time). Overdone, but at least you don't have to feel sorry for them.

Overall, this book is a good, fast read. I want to return to book 1, and I look forward to subsequent books in the series.

I received an ARC of this book from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Highland Defender is a great story about a resilient woman who falls in love with a broken defender of the Highlands. Lucia is paying off the debts her father accumulated when he was ill, and the woman she works for is horrible. Though the victim of abuse and maltreatment, Lucia remains to work off her father’s debt. She is an honorable and brave young woman who does not tolerate mistreatment and always holds on to hope. I like that Lucia stands up for herself and others. Lucia also has a warm and compassionate heart, which she has in common with Bane.

At the start of the story, Bane is defeated. He admits that he gave up, unable to reconcile the guilt that tore him apart. However, though he is at his lowest point, he still acts quickly to help a harassed woman. There is goodness in him, but Bane doesn’t see it. He must face his mistakes from the past before he can fully embrace his future. Motivated by love, Bane finds himself again.

The romance between Bane and Lucia is instantaneous and strong. They form a deep connection, and it is fascinating to see what they do to be together. I also love the found family trope. As the story begins, Bane and Lucia don’t feel like they belong. They are both trapped in unhappy situations, and they are missing the bonds of family. I love that Bane and Lucia find help in the most unexpected of places with a group of like-minded people who support and encourage them. Bane and Lucia both have a chance to start a new life together if certain individuals don’t stand in their way.

The antagonists are dastardly in their selfishness and abuse. Others are weak and passive, which also exacerbates the obstacles that stand in Lucia and Bane’s way. Their bad qualities and actions completely contrast with Bane and Lucia’s positive characteristics.

Murder, intrigue, gladiator-like complexes and fights, as wells as a lovely romance, make for an entertaining read. I think the book will appeal to readers who like unique historical romances with great characters and an epic love story. Thanks so much to NetGalley, the publisher, and Kathryn LeVeque for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

Bane Morgan has hit rock bottom when a chance encounter with Lucia, a lady's maid, turns his life around. But with no way to pay the debt that keeps her shackled to an increasingly dangerous situation, Bane must enter the Ludus Caledonia and survive not only battles but the jealousy of Lucia's lady.

A gladiatorial arena in medieval Scotland? With our heroes pitted against other fighters as well as the obstacles between them and true love? What a fascinating premise! I love reading the same Scottish romance story over and over again, don't get me wrong, but this was such a refreshing take on the genre. I blitzed through this because I was just so keen to see how things would end. The pacing was pretty good too, allowing the relationship to develop realistically (despite the short timeframe).

Change is definitely a good thing here.