ARC REVIEW The Highlander Who Protected Me by Vanessa Kelly

Clan Kendrick #1, Spin-off of The Highlander's Princess Bride this picks up a couple of months after the conclusion of that book. This is a standalone from that book but for background on the characters the whole Kendrick family, and because it's an awesome book, I would recommend reading The Highlander's Princess Bride first. Kelly has a wonderful way with words she builds such fantastic, beautiful settings that set the mood and transport you to the Highlands; and situations that can be humorous and heartbreaking.

Royal Kendrick has always been the protector, ever since his mother died in childbirth he has taken it upon himself to protect his brothers even following his older brother into war. Only it was Nick who saved Royal when he was left for dead on the battlefield. Royal ended up with one leg badly damaged and is almost in constant pain. One woman makes him forget the pain, makes him think about the future and starting a family, unfortunately she wants nothing to do with him.

Lady Ainsley Matthews is a diamond of the ton, she has her pick of suitors but they are all sycophants and she wants nothing to do with them, except one man and infuriating highlander who can be so rude but it sets him apart from everyone else. Unfortunately Ainsley's father has other plans and arranges her marriage to a horrible man who does a horrible thing that send Ainsley running to Scotland. To protect her baby Ainsley, not able to trust anyone in her family, must leave the child in Scotland. She asks Royal to take her baby and claim her as his own.

It takes a bit to get to the external conflict everything up until that point is Ainsley and Royal finding their place together and Ainsley doing some serious soul searching to figure out exactly where she belongs and learning how to deal with Angus. It's all Ainsley with the internal conflict because Royal already knows he loves her and will do anything for her he's just waiting for her to figure it out. Overall, it was a great romance I loved the banter between the characters and the conclusion was heartbreakingly bittersweet. I can't wait for the next books in the series.