What a story. Love the two main characters and their story. The highs and the lows. A man who loves a woman who he fears will never love him back but would change his life to save her and her child from a man she wants nothing to do with. Can they find their happily ever after

I fell in love with the Kendrick family in the 3rd book of Vanessa Kelly’s Improper Princesses series. They’re the kind of family you can’t help but love yet you know you’d go crazy if around them too long. At the time, I wasn’t sure whose story I wanted next. I just knew that I wanted more of this crazy, loyal family. I’m thrilled it was Royal and Ainsley’s story. Royal really intrigued me in that last book. Injured and brooding, he was very hard to figure out, but it was clear Ainsley had an effect on him, and I couldn’t wait to see where that led. After reading The Highlander Who Protected Me, this Clan Kendrick series promises to be every bit as spectacular as the series that gave birth to this amazing family.

Royal Kendrick had fallen in love with Lady Ainsley Matthews the moment he met her. Her vibrant beauty and lethal wit drew him in and he desired her more than anything he’d ever wanted. But he knew his desire was all he’d ever have of her. He was just a common second son. A man with a mangled leg and a moody temperament. Ainsley was an heiress. The darling of the ton. And she was promised, if not officially yet, to the Marquess of Cringlewood. Ainsley admired Royal for his bravery and sacrifice. He was as blunt and bad tempered as she and she enjoyed the acerbic humor and witty banter they shared. She trusted him and saw him as a good friend, though that was all they could be as her father would never consider Royal as a suitor. He was intent on a match with Leonard, the Marquess of Cringlewood. Unfortunately, the Marquess was a vile, cruel man who forced himself on Ainsley leaving her pregnant and with no choice but to flee to Scotland before Leonard discovered her plight and forced her into marriage.
When her friend Royal arrives to visit, Ainsley knows he is the only person she trusts to keep her baby safe. Though it will devastate her to place her child in someone else’s hands, it’s the safest place for her to be. Losing her child and losing Royal, the only man she’d ever thought she could love would be difficult, but it was the only way to keep the baby from a father who had no decency or compassion. Royal would do anything for Ainsley and agrees to raise the child as his own even though doing so would bring scandal on him.
Royal and the Kendricks quickly fell in love with the baby, and Royal, who’d felt he had no purpose after the war, found a new motivation for his future in raising the child. It doesn’t take long for Ainsley to realize she can’t bear being separated from her child, and she finds herself once again asking Royal for help. To marry her and raise the child together. Royal would like nothing more than to call Ainsley wife. But could Ainsley give up her wealth and status to marry a poor, crippled Scotsman? He’d been nursing a passion for her for two years. Could he be content to marry someone who may not return that passion? And most importantly, would marriage be enough to keep Ainsley and her baby safe from the Marquess of Cringlewood?
I adored Royal from the moment I met him in the previous series. Like all the Kendricks, he was loyal. But Royal has to be the most selfless man to ever exist! His injuries from the war left him in great physical and emotional pain yet he never complained. He was the peacemaker of the family, often having to referee between them. Whatever the task, Royal bore it. Again and again. Nothing mattered more than family. And Ainsley and her baby were family now.
Ainsley was harder to love at first. She was spoiled, though in her defense, it was all she’d ever known until the assault by Cringlewood and the subsequent betrayal of her family. But she was brave to run away and put her child first. And she was smart to trust Royal. I felt sorry and afraid for the predicament she was in. Cringlewood had wronged her but she was the one who would suffer. Regardless of his actions, she’d be the one at fault.
Seeing Royal and Ainsley together made me realize how very much they needed each other. I admired Royal for how patient and encouraging he was with Ainsley as she struggled with motherhood. The tension and humor in caring for a baby helped me see how much they cared for each other. Royal never gave into his passion, waiting instead till Ainsley was ready. He didn’t push or demand but allowed her to move at her own pace. I admired Ainsley for giving up so much for her child. Coming to a land she rather hated and living with a family that drove her mad. Because of the assault by Leonard, she was unsure of the way Royal made her feel at times. It was fun and sweet to watch her battle between her fears and her desires. The intimate moments between she and Royal, when they weren’t interrupted by Angus, were steamy and playful. The slow build to Ainsley and Royal finding love made it that much more rewarding.
The “wonderful supporting characters that keep you laughing” award goes to Angus Kendrick. I couldn’t decide if I wanted to hug him or strangle him at times. But he brought so much laughter and warmth to the story. I gained a whole new respect and love for him in this book.
The magic ingredient in this story has to be the witty banter. The clever, romantic sparring created sparks that brought Royal and Ainsley alive on the page. Sometimes seductive and sometimes playful, it painted such a brilliant picture of these characters. Even the sometimes aggressive banter was perfect because it showed how intense the attraction was. . I love that her characters can show wit and perfectly placed sarcasm even in the middle of romantic moments. There’s nothing like swooning and giggling at the same time. Their clever repartee kept the plot moving forward and ensured a fun filled ride to their happily ever after. Vanessa Kelly never fails to make me swoon with her amazing characterizations and her intriguing stories. I am eager to see which Kendrick I get to fall in love with next.

Royal Kendrick has returned a wounded soldier in many ways not only physically. Ainsley Matthews is stuck in a world where she has or no control. Royal and Ainsley story is fraught with monumental emotions that would cripple most people. If Royal and Ainsley cannot find a way to trust each other their decisions can have dire consequences. This story was emotionally gripping that left you breathless. I instantly fell in love with Royal. He was a complex character of strength and vulnerablity. I loved Ainsley's strength and watching her deveolp and grow throughout the book. The story unfolded beautifully and kept me turning the pages. I connected with the characters that they even brought me to tears. I love the Kendrick Clan and can't wait to read more from this series.

I love good witty banter, especially when insults are thrown in.

Who the hell is Cringlewood?

It's not her fault. He could have asked.

What the heck? He did what?

That's what you get for creeping around a house that isn't yours.

Was she forced?

If childbirth is a scary proposition for her, it stands to reason that it would be doubly so for him.

For the love of Pete, marry him!

It's so nice how they all try to make Angus feel useful.

She has to decide if her reputation and her scum parents are worth more than her happiness.

You would think that her mother would wish a better life for her daughter than she had.

They really need to start locking Angus in his room.

Someone kill Lord Fathead already.

Lady Montgomery's servants are so confused.

Yeah, they'd be better off in Canada, although it's a shame it's so far away.

Nice save, Logan!

**Review of eARC provided by NetGalley**

3.5 stars. There were good points of this books and some mediocre ones. I liked the combination of tropes - heroine escaping an unwanted arranged marriage and her nutcase family, a war hero figuring out his life after coming home, a grumpy grandpa who is charmed by a new baby, and a new baby full stop. It all combined together to make for some interesting storytelling.

The parts that I didn’t like as much were things like both the hero and heroine resisting each other, even though they’re both crazy about each other. Ainsley had her moments of Too Stupid To Live. So many problems could have been taken care of had she married Royal to begin with (even after Cringlewood pulled his crap on Ainsley). Dragging their relationship out wasn’t great, especially given everything that was going on around them.

Other than that, I do want to know how their lives together turn out, particularly since they [spoiler redacted] at the end. ;)

One of the best things about this series of interlocking romances is that you catch glimpses of what's going on in the background of one book, then get to follow up and see the whole thing unfold when the series focuses on that particular story line in turn.

When Royal Kendrick receives a letter from Lady Ainsley Matthews, he rushes off to see her. He's pretty much been in love with her since he first saw her. What he discovers when he arrives certainly throws him for a loop. It seems Ainsley isn't just visiting her relative, but is in hiding until she delivers her baby.

Ainsley suffered at the hands of her so-called betrothed once, and she's not about to do it again. In order to protect her baby, she flees to Scotland. After her daughter is born, Ainsley gives her to Royal to raise as his own. Ainsley will then return to London to end things with her fiancé for good, and try to make the best of things. How will she ever survive, with the two people who mean the most to her in the world, her daughter and Royal, so far away.

The Highlander Who Protected Me has a wonderful plot, but the characters just made me so angry. Ainsley has been through a lot, but she truly made the worst decisions in my eyes. I had to remind myself of the time period and how women had so little of rights then. Royal, however, I esteem. He was a strong man, willing to make very big sacrifices for the people he loves. Although Royal and Ainsley's HEA isn't as conventional as most romances, it is still albeit, a touching one. Historical fans will delight in author Vanessa Kelly's first novel in her CLAN KENDRICK series, THE HIGHLANDER WHO PROTECTED ME. I give it a rating of 3.5 stars!

What I love about Ms. Kelly’s books is the laughter (and tears) that she evokes with her stories. I laughed so much during this story and yes, cried at the end. Angus is a standout figure and his comments will keep you in stitches. The Kendrick Clan are supportive even though they get on each others nerves – but aren’t all families kind of like that? Royal is loyal, scarred and swoon-worthy. You root for him to get the love that he deserves and his interactions with the baby are so precious. Ainsley you might think is selfish and she admits it but underneath it all she is hurt and wants to avoid further interaction with those who would do her harm. Fortunately, “Loyal Royal” loves her and will not allow harm to come to her. This is really a charming and lovely romance of two scarred people who find love.

Okay so I feel like I'm missing something. I think there was another book that i was supposed to read before this but I'm not sure and it doesn't say what book. There's a events alluded to that I don't know what happened. I can guess....
About this book, I liked it but I'm not a big fan of the leading lady Ainsley. She's kind of, not worthy of Royal. It isn't often i feel that way about a protagonist. I want to read the next one to see what's going to happen next. It doesn't leave it as a cliffhanger, just there's more to the story. They kind of let you know that there's something going to happen next.

A great start to Vanessa Kelly's Clan Kendrick series, this book, for me, was not a typical romance novel. Even though Ainsley is an heiress and darling of the ton, she is a real character with real-world problems, and nobody but Royal and his clan are willing to help her (besides her aunt), even to the point of bringing her into the Clan and fiercely protecting her from the evils of her past. This is a well written book with very real characters and their very real problems. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series!

Vanessa Kelly never disappoints. This is an enthralling new series about the men of the Kendrick clan—and the women who claim their hearts . . .
You will be thoroughly entertained with like-able characters in Ainsley and Royal. I recommend this book for anyone that enjoys a well written historical romance.

I love Vanessa Kelly and this one did not disappoint. Royal and Ainsley kept me engaged and I couldn't wait to see how it would all play out. I received a free copy for my honest review. Highly enjoyable!

Y❤️❤️❤️❤️
💋💋
Royal Kendrick is the sort of man you want in your corner to fight beside you, he never lets you down in any circumstance.
Ainsley is the woman he loves though she hardly acknowledges that he exists,
But when she needs help he’s her go to man .
This story had me screaming at him to dump her and anything to do with her and move on , to crying and hoping they could make a go of it , and all the time cheering for Granda Angus , I adore his character .
It’s a wonderful book , with characters that endear themselves to you very quickly, well written and kept me totally immersed in their world .
I’d recommend this book to all fans of this author. You’ll kick yourself if you miss it x
I received an advance copy of this book and chose to submit a review

This was an entertaining, well-written book. Lady Ainsley Matthews is pregnant and hiding from her former fiance to avoid being forced to marry him. Royal Kendrick is the only person she trusts to protect her baby, who she leaves in his care. Desire, love and protection are involved and I loved reading Ainsley's and Royal's story. I enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more books by this author.

I really loved the story and how much Ainsley grew as a person due to everything that happened to her. Royal was hard NOT to love! The story was awesome and I really enjoyed Ainsley's spirit and attitude. Have to admit that Angus is still my favorite! The only reason it's not a 5 star is because even though we have a HEA, the ending made me sad. I would have preferred Cringlewood have a different ending, but I'm hoping we'll get more information in the next book. (I was a little sad there wasn't information on the next book and who gets the next story!) Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

Royal protects everyone, it's part of his nature. Ainsley was so lucky the day that he came into her life. Royal's family is loud and can be obnoxious. Ainsley is able to handle the lot of them without a problem.

I received a copy of this title from the publisher for an honest review. I've been looking forward to Royal and Ainsley's story ever since I read The Highlander's Princess Bride; the story easily works as a stand alone if readers haven't read the that title. Royal is one of a Highland brood of 6 brothers; injured fighting Napoleon, he is struggling to figure out what to do with the rest of his life. He met Ainsley in London two years prior and sparks immediately began to fly even though they both know she is expected to marry much higher than a younger son. After Royal kidnapped her several months previous to the beginning of the book thinking to marry her and help her avoid marriage to Lord Cringlewood, Royal finds himself at loose ends and after prompting from his family decides to pay a visit to Ainsley who has been staying with her aunt. He is shocked to find Ainsley and discover she is due to give birth any day.

Unexpectedly pregnant after her anticipated fiance raped her, her only thought has been to prevent him from learning she is pregnant, but she has put off exactly what she will do after giving birth. When Royal finds her and she goes into labor early, she finds the perfect solution to her dilemma: Royal will raise her daughter as his own. Although reluctant, Royal agrees and the two part with Ainsley returning to her life in London and Royal with his new daughter to his home. Several months after they part, Ainsley bursts into his life again asking him to marry her to prevent Cringlewood from forcing her to marry. Ainsley and Royal marry but find that adjusting to married life and Ainsley to motherhood is not a smooth process.

I really loved both characters; Royal is a caring man who will do anything to protect his family as he proves again and again. His patience with Ainsley is heart melting as is his care with his daughter. Ainsley is prickly and can be difficult, but she is aware of it and works to improve. The supporting cast is entertaining including Royal's crusty grandfather Angus. The only thing that I didn't like was that Ainsley continued to keep one piece of information secret way too long, but otherwise, I loved this book and couldn't put it down.

There has never been a Vanessa Kelly book that I haven't liked...this one is no exception. Beautiful story....check! Great characters...check! A very bad bad guy...check! Overall, an amazing book!

Well I enjoyed Royal and he was a loyal wounded war hero. Ainsley not so much, at the beginning I have to say she annoyed me and I wasn't really crazy about her, I was trying to take into consideration that she was the product of the ton and that Royal was not really in her class. He was the brother of an earl and a scotsman, so he was just a lowly Mr. He was smitten with Ainsley from the beginning and goes out to save her from her nasty fiance and was surprised with her reaction. Eventually Ainsley did grow on me and I was also heartbroken for her. The good thing is that she had Royal who went out of his way to protect her and love her and eventually give her happiness.

Royal Kendrick was injured during Waterloo, floundering thru life , a protector of all and in love with Ainsley. Ainsley is the spoilt daughter of rich English parents who grows up throughout the book. Despite the fact she's suppose to marry the Marquess of Cringlewood, Ainsley shows Royal she's interested in him. Secrets and lies highlight her journey to love and maturity. You will love following Royal and Ainsley , getting to know Grandda Angus, and the Clan Kendrick family,throughout this journey. I can't wait for the next book .Clan Kendrick will become a favorite family to all, definitely not a typical Scottish clan.