Tag: Vanessa Kelly

The Highlander’s Kilted Bride by Vanessa Kelly

On By TracyIn Georgian Era (1714-1837), Part of a Series, Scottish/Highlander, Tracy's ReviewsLeave a comment

The Highlander's Kilted Bride (Clan Kendrick #6)The Highlander’s Kilted Bride by Vanessa Kelly

Tracy’s rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series: Clan Kendrick, #6

Release Date: August 22, 2023

Charlotte Stewart was never a typical girl, at eleven she could out-ride, out-shoot, and out-hunt most boys, she wore a kilt and was called Charlie by most people. She never really cared about being a “proper girl” or thought about boys as anything more than playmates, until she met thirteen-year-old Kade Kendrick. It was a meeting that is forever etched in her memory and the day she fell in love with Kade and the violin. Now years later they meet again and to her complete mortification, he doesn’t even remember who she is. But that is about to change and if she is willing to risk her heart and can get rid of the suitor her parents are set on, Charlie’s life will never be the same.

Kade Kendrick was a sickly child and found solace in music, as he grew stronger, he outgrew his childhood ailments and became a world-renowned musician. But eventually, the shine wore off his fame and he dabbled in spying for the crown, but that did not work out and almost cost him his life. So he is back home to recuperate and finds himself roped into attending a wedding, where apparently his sister-in-law Ainsely has promised he will perform! He is intrigued by Charlie from the start and can’t believe he didn’t remember their first meeting right away. But when a family heirloom goes missing, he will have his chance to renew his friendship with her and maybe even convince her that when a Kendrick finds his true love, it is forever.

This was a fun read with a mystery woven into the romance. Kade and Charlie are very well-matched and have a wonderful chemistry. Charlie did suffer from a bit of insecurity and Kade seemed to fall in love a bit too fast, but I did love them together and enjoyed their banter. The story has a lot of secondary characters, a decent mystery, unwanted suitors, Angus being Angus, curses, accidents, phantom fiddlers, stolen heirlooms, stolen kisses, insecurities, and finally a HEA including an epilogue. I enjoyed this story and thought it was a nice ending to the series, but I was hoping for a glimpse into everyone’s HEAs in the epilogue and didn’t really get that, but overall this was a very good read and I would happily recommend it. I think it could be read as a standalone title, but I would suggest reading the series in order for the best reader experience.

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that I requested and was provided to me by the publisher. All opinions in this review are my own.*

The Highlander’s Holiday Wife by Vanessa Kelly

On By BarbaraIn Barb's Reviews, Part of a Series, Regency Era (1811-1820), Scottish/HighlanderLeave a comment

The Highlander's Holiday Wife (Clan Kendrick, #5)Barbara’s rating: 3.5 of 5 Stars
Series: Clan Kendrick #5
Publication Date: 9/27/22
Period: Regency Edinburgh – 1826
Number of Pages: 352

I have loved the Kendrick brothers since the very first book in the series. You know I love them because I’m reading them despite all of the very modern language in them. Frankly, it is off-putting, but I like the brothers and I like their HEAs, so I ignore the anachronisms the books are filled with – bottle rockets, billfold, mad about, dodgy, money laundering, blood bank, loonies – to name just a few. Things like that are so very simple to research . . . sigh.

When we first met Braden Kendrick (in the first book), he was a boy who dreamt of becoming a physician so he could heal his younger brother, Kade. Now, we see him as a man and a gifted, seasoned, physician. Braden has always been quiet and serious, but for the last few years, he’s done nothing but work – day and night. There is a reason for that.

Lady Samantha Penwith’s husband, Roger, was murdered two years ago. His murder caused another tragedy, which then caused another tragedy. Samantha is just beginning to come back to life – if you can call it that. Her life has a single focus – find Roger’s murderers – and the children who have gone missing from the orphanage they run. At night, Samantha and her trusted servant, Donny, haunt the labyrinth of passages in Old Town Edinburgh looking for the children and the killers. One night, she and Donny save the life of the young, handsome physician who runs a clinic in the roughest streets of Old Town. Oh, My!

When Braden and Samantha’s paths cross again, Samantha is definitely NOT in favor of him having any entanglements with her orphanage, her charity, her school, or her foundation. However, something is amiss and she knows she needs help to solve it.

Braden and Samantha both have secrets and hurts in their pasts, and they have to get past those before they can find their HEA. Because I liked Braden so very much, I hated to see him marry under the circumstances he did. It was nice that it all worked out, but I’d have liked a much more toe-curling romance for him.

Figuring out who the villain(s) are isn’t a hard task at all. So, if you are a mystery buff, don’t read this for the mystery. It really isn’t much of a spine-tingling romance either, but it is a nice story and I’m glad I’ve read it. I think there is only one more book in this series – Kade’s book. I’m not sure about that, but I look forward to seeing him get his HEA.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

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