Teàrlach MacGregor a ruthless soldier and skilled at training men. On his way to his next job he hears a woman crying for help and comes upon his former employer’s daughter the beautiful Lady Madeline Crawford. Madeline is sweet, kind, and very naïve and has been cowed by her father for most of her life. After her father was taken prison for treason Lady Madeline became a ward to the King. Teàrlach find out Madeline’s in the care of laird Henry de Moreville his new employer. He soon realizes she being mistreated and set out to right a wrong by bring her the supplies and sees to her comfort. Madeline has learned and doesn't complain due to her abusive up bringing by her father.
Teàrlach has always admired her from afar, but he knew as a fourth son he had no chance to win her has his wife. He now sees a chance to be near her and protect her until the King decides who she will marry. Madeline has always admired the big handsome Highlander too and privately fantasized about him. Fate has thrown them together, Madeline see him as her friend and savior and so much more. Teàrlach yearn for a cottage of his own in the Highlands close to his family with the sweet Madeline as the mother of his bairns. Fate has thrown them together, will they both realize their desires, dreams or will fate pull them apart again Madeline is set to marry Henry de Moreville son.
This is my honest opinions after I voluntarily read a copy of this book that was provided to me with no requirements for a review.

4.25 stars
Training men to be ruthless soldiers is a skill at which Highlander Teàrlach MacGregor excels as a fourth son he has to make his own way. After he rescues a ward of the king, the beautiful Lady Madeline Crawford, she begins to see a side of Teàrlach that nobody else has witnessed. The strong silent Highlander takes her to her first fair, teaches her to read, and bestows upon her a passionate kiss. Madeline is under the guardianship of the laird Henry de Moreville, who is stealing from the allowance Madeline has been given.
I fell for Teàrlach in the previous book in the series & was so glad he had his story. The pair have been attracted to each other for a long time & each brings out the best in each other. I found this to be a lovely tender story of Teàrlach thinking he’s not good enough & Madeline believing she’s to do as she’s told without complaint. I enjoyed the story & found the characters to be well developed & likeable, the plot was well paced & all the time I was routing for the pair to have their HEA
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

The Maiden's Defender by E. Elizabeth Watson is the story of Teàrlach MacGregor and Lady Madeline Crawford. Teàrlach once was Madeline's father guardsman so he has met Madeline before and had feelings for her. But when her father was sent to prison for some evil doings the King places Madeline in the care of lair Henry de Moreville. This lair place her in a small place on his property with two elderly people to look after her. But even those elderly people are doing her wrong and Madeline doesn't complain due to her abusive up bringing by her father. When Teàrlach meets up with Madeline again he still wants to help and protect her. But Madeline being noble puts her out of Teàrlach reach...but it doesn't stop their growing love.
I so loved this story! I couldn't put it down!
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The first half of the book really captured my attention, but it failed to keep it during the second half. I was bored, didn't really see where the story could go, and I felt the two main characters were a bit too immature to be truly enjoyable. I also felt like the whole premise of the book - two people fall in love but can't marry - was much ado about nothing. It was all settled easily, and it could have been fixed sooner had either of them bothered to be skeptical of the situation at all. I don't know much about medieval times, but it seemed to me that the whole marriage debacle wasn't accurate enough either. The king too easily let the heroine get out of the marriage, in my opinion. If all she had to do was say no to the marriage decree, that is so simple. I doubt it was so simple back then. Not my cup of tea, unfortunately, though the writing was well done.

Since her father's imprisonment Madeline Crawford has been under the guardianship of the King until he finds her a suitable husband. He sends money to High Sheriff Moreville to look after her. The Sheriff has his own agenda and is slowly putting things in place as he wants them.
Tearlach MacGregor once worked for Madeline's father. Now he is on his way to work for her temporary guardian. What he discovers when he finds her, angers him on her behalf. He will do his best to improve her lot until her marriage.
Our heroine has hidden her true personality for years through fear. It's time to face up to the world.
Our humble hero is a fearsome warrior who suffers with an excess of honour. It could cost him everything.
A very enjoyable and emotional read.

I adored the hero in this book - the tortured, self-sacrificing, honorable, fourth son Tearlach. He loves but will not allow himself to have that which "belongs" to another man, even if that man doesn't deserve the bonnie lass. Author E. Elizabeth Watson does a skillful job of ramping up the sweet agony of unrequited love until our hero unleashes his desire. Great read. Great writing. Great story-telling from Watson. I look forward to many more.

I loved "The Maiden's Defender" by E. Elizabeth Watson. Medieval romances are my absolute favorite and I keep hoping they make a comeback. Lady Madeline's evil father has been displaced and she has been taken pseudo hostage by the Scottish King. She has a ward, but lives alone with just two feeble servants in a deserted keep. Madeline is sweet, kind, and very, very naive, she can't read or write and was cowed by her father for most of her life.
Tearlach is Madeline's father's former commander and was always attracted to Madeline, but knew he was beneath her. He stubbles upon her as he is traveling to seek a new position. She fell and hurt herself and he rescues her. Tearlach instantly takes Madeline on as his responsibility. He gifts her with additional supplies, visits with her and ultimately they fall in love.
But it will not be easy for the two. Madeline is betrothed to a man who isn't kind and she is scared to defy the king. Tearlach would do anything for Madeline, but he won't keep her from marrying a man of her station.
Tearlach and Madeline have chemistry that leaps off the pages. Loved them as a couple and liked each one as an individual character. I found myself rooting for them to find a way to their happily ever after.
There are a couple of really steamy scenes between the two. I will definitely read more by this author. Please keep the medieval romances coming!

Teàrlach MacGregor.... swoon worthy. Man of few words, but manages to win over Lady Madeline. She is living quietly with a few servants awaiting news of a betrothal from the King. She sees herself as weak and slow, but is none of those things. She has a core of steel inside her. Teàrlach sees it and falls in love with her.

Their romance was built up quite well. I enjoyed seeing them at each stage, cheering for them. Letting loose a few tears for them. A very enjoyable historical romance for me.

This novel was a nice read. It brings a choice between love and duty, which may people face during this time period. Lady Madeline Crawford is a meek individual due to the upbringing by her father. She never complains or voices her opinions, which frustrated me since I felt she needed to speak up for herself, which she will gradually develop throughout the novel. She becomes a ward of the king due to her father's imprisonment. She is a ward of Lord Henry de Moreville, who plans a marriage to his son to get Madeline's dowry. However, he did not predict how Teàrlach MacGregor would influence Madeline's life.
Teàrlach is a fourth son and a warrior. He received employment from Moreville and finds Madeline living as his ward. He used to work for her father and stayed there because he liked and cared for Madeline, but it could never be more. He felt he could not be more for her, him as a fourth son and her a lady and ward of the king.
Teàrlach and Madeline get to know each other and begin to fall in love. Teàrlach taught Madeline to read. Madeline has never had anyone who truly cared for her. Both are torn between duty and love as Madeline's wedding to another man approaches. Teàrlach wants to marry Madeline, but feels he is not good enough. Madeline wants to marry Teàrlach, but cannot disobey the orders of the king. What will the two sacrifice in order to be together or will they follow their duty above all else?