I received an ARC of this book to read through NetGalley in exchange for a fair review. The Highlander’s English Bride by Vanessa Kelly is the third book in her delightful Clan Kendrick series. It can be read as a stand-alone, but I think after reading this one, you will be intrigued enough to go back and read the first two, and also her Improper Princesses and Renegade Royals series as this book takes place in the world of and includes characters from both those series.
Graeme Kendrick is working for the home office trying to solve the mystery of a series of thefts in Mayfair and is just about to arrest a suspect when Lady Sabrina Bell gets caught up in the action and falls into the Serpentine. Forced to let the suspect escape in order to rescue Sabrina leaves Graeme in a surly mood and when she is more annoyed than grateful sparks fly and not the romantic kind just yet. I have to say that at first, I found Sabrina to be just a bit bothersome but she grew on me and her kindness, her willingness to do what is right no matter the cost to her, and that she’s willing to fight for and go after the man she loves even though he’s sure he’s not good enough for her endeared her to me, and she ended up being one of my favourite heroines. I do recommend not only this book but the other books in the series highly.
Medium Steam. Publishing Date May 26, 2020. #TheHighlandersEnglishBride #VanessaKelly #NetGalley #HistoricalRomance #RegencyRomance #bookstagram #KensingtonBooks #ZebraRomanceNovels ( )

Those captivating Kendricks!

“Och, don’t fash yourself," those Kendrick lads and their lasses are back! This time it's twin Graeme who meets his match. Such a simple thing really. Singularly pursuing a band of organized robbers, Graeme is tracking down his mark along the banks of the Serpentine River, in the rain. Naturally! Sighting a lady in the early morning, seemingly waiting for someone, Graeme's further discomposed when his mark veers off and attempts to grab the lady's reticule. His mark's quarry is made of sterner stuff and fights back. Unfortunately during the melee she falls into the river. (Melee appears to be a key word for all that follows with this delightful, snippety female. She never goes quietly! Mmm! a match made in heaven?)
What's Graeme to do but leave off with the pursuit and rescue the tiresome female who's interfered with his plans.
Needless to say upon confronting Lady Sabrina Bell, Graeme is lost. Captive to a female who looks like a harmless kitten, but is as stubborn as he is with the claws to match.
The despicable Lord Cringlewood makes an appearance once again. This time Lady Sabrina is his quarry. She thinks she can handle him. I'm struck time and time again by Sabrina's belief in herself (a good thing) which sometimes hampers her ability to see the truth (a conundrum) and how she so often completely foils the best laid plans of mice and men (a problem). Cringlewood's disposed of once again but I'm sure he's evilly waiting in the wings to make a grand appearance in a future novel. Meantime Lady Sabrina unknowingly prevents the Crown's operative (i.e. Graeme) from carrying out his orders. Still her grand plans always seem to make things turn about, even if there's a few scares enroute. Methinks Graeme visibly ages before our eyes, or at least it sometimes seems like that.
There's so much more going on here including threats against the King, whiskey smuggling, absentee landowners, and forced enclosures.
Angus is once again his normal rapscallion self, who goes his own way and confounds everyone when more often than not he "comes home with the bacon."
I love Graeme's return to his Scots accent when disturbed. As one lady says, ..."that brogue. So delicious."
An amusing, witty Highlander novel that thoroughly engaged me.

A Kensington Books ARC via NetGalley ( )

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Highlander's English Bride, by Vanessa Kelly, will be available at booksellers on May 26, 2020. Although book 3 in ms Kelly's Clan Kendrick series, it works just fine as a stand alone story. I've been waiting for this couples story and it didn't disappoint. A rare for me 5 stars.

Graeme and Sabrina are wonderful characters. Both are sure of themselves, a little bossy, good a managing things, and down right funny. They can insult each other in the wittiest ways. The Kendrick clan has so far been an enjoyable series with good characters but these two are the best. Graeme is constantly trying to save Sabrina, like she's a damsel in distress, she's not. Sabrina saves Graeme as, if not more, often. Their back and forth is a cover to hide feelings but it, of course, gives it away. Graeme at one point feels like an anvil fell on his head! Shades of Wiley Coyote cartoons! I loved it. Prepare for King George to be called every silly made up name the writer couple think of. Hysterical stuff. Happy reading.

#VanessaKelly #TheHighlander'sEnglishBride #ClanKendrick #Netgalley #KensingtonPublishine #Zebra ( )

Very good romance between two very independent and strong-willed characters. Graeme was well-known as a troublemaker when he was younger, but has tried to put his wayward past behind him. Now he works as an investigator for one of England's spymasters and has played a significant role in bringing several wrongdoers to justice. When this book opens, Graeme is working undercover to catch a gang of thieves preying on noble houses. The investigation hasn't gone well, but he finally has one in his sights as he pursues the thief through Hyde Park. But when the thief knocks a young woman into the water, Graeme gives up his pursuit to fish her out.

Lady Sabrina is the only child of her overprotective father. She rashly made plans to meet a gentleman in the park, but her plans were rudely interrupted when she was shoved into the water. Furious and embarrassed, she just wanted the Scotsman who rescued her to leave her alone.

I loved the first meeting between Graeme and Sabrina. He's angry about losing his quarry and not especially pleasant to Sabrina because of it. Sabrina is quite independent and would prefer to take care of her problem herself, but Graeme won't hear of it. Their clash creates some sparks, but Graeme has no time for distractions of the female variety. Unfortunately for him, Sabrina pops up again in the middle of another pursuit, this time finding herself in imminent danger. I felt bad for Graeme, who lost yet another chance to apprehend the thief because of her. His frustration was evident and vocal.

I enjoyed the development of the relationship between Sabrina and Graeme. From London to Edinburgh, Graeme seemingly can't turn around without stumbling over her. Sabrina is independent, stubborn, and impetuous, which gets her into some tight spots, and it seems that Graeme is always there to rescue her. Their clashes are intense, as Graeme is loud and blunt in his disapproval of her actions. Sabrina is just as candid about her intention to do things her way. And underneath the fiery words is a fire of a different sort, as the attraction between them grows. Sabrina quickly realizes that Graeme is the man she wants, and aided and abetted by his family, sets out to convince him. Graeme's feelings for Sabrina are just as strong, but he feels that the things he has done in the past make him unworthy of her. Sabrina has her work cut out for her, but she is determined to show him that they belong together. There are some interesting twists and turns to their journey, including a marriage proposal that had me laughing out loud.

Graeme's work creates quite a few exciting situations for the couple. I found it interesting that Graeme is supposed to be so good at what he does, but in this book, nothing seems to go right for him. Some of it he lays at Sabrina's door because she is in the wrong place at the wrong time, usually because she doesn't listen to him. There are other times that he ends up in trouble himself because he is distracted by thoughts of her. It was fun to see Sabrina turn the tables and rescue him now and then.

I liked seeing the changes that both Graeme and Sabrina underwent. Sabrina learns that she doesn't have to have all the answers or do everything herself. With the help of Graeme and his family, she learns that it is okay to ask for and accept help. I loved her determination to fix the problems at her father's Scottish property. Graeme has spent so long believing that he was the black sheep of his family that it took a concerted effort from Sabrina and his brothers to get him to let go of his guilt. Once he finally believed, the change in him was fantastic.

I enjoyed seeing more of the Kendrick family. The married brothers and their wives play significant parts in getting Graeme and Sabrina together. Their matchmaking efforts were obvious but effective. Their grandfather, Angus, is still outspoken, interfering, and incorrigible. There were some hilarious scenes with him during the king's visit to Edinburgh. Graeme's twin brother, Grant, made a few appearances, also. I got the feeling that something is going on with him, and hope that his story is up next. ( )

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. ( )