I’m a huge fan of Vanessa Kelly’s books! I love them!
It’s Christmastime in Edinburgh, but Lady Samantha Penwith’s secret mission takes no holiday: the Highlands-born lass vows to find the assailants who murdered her beloved husband, founder of a charitable school for orphaned boys. On her latest undercover excursion, she closes in on a pair of armed attackers and interrupts another assault, then disappears into the darkness, leaving the lone victim mystified—and lucky to be alive . . .
Braden Kendrick may be the sensible brother, yet the dedicated doctor routinely ignores the dangers of his late-night calls to the city’s slums. But when a fleet-footed rescuer saves his life, he’s determined to uncover the stranger’s identity. And once he does, he’ll find himself facing his own past loss for the first time—and more than willing to risk his heart again, just in time to make the Clan Kendrick’s Christmas celebrations more festive than ever . . .
I adored this story. Braden is a great character, so capable and strong. Samantha is amazing, interesting and resilient. I really enjoyed all their interactions. The story is sweet, romantic and emotional, but it also has funny moments and intrigue. It was a beautiful journey. I have read all the previous books in this series and they are all good and funny. In this one, we can see a lot of the Kendrick family, what’s always a pleasure.
I highly recommend.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Book: The Highlander’s Holiday Wife
By Vanesssa Kelly
Series: Clan Kendrick , Book #5
Publisher: Zebra Books, Kensington Publishing
Book Rating: 5/5 stars
Blog Rating: 5/5 Saltire Star

Edinburgh, Scotland 1826
Widow, Lady Samantha Penwith is searching for her husband’s murderer and the missing children from the charitable orphanage for boys he was the founder of. She traveled the dangerous stews in Old Town. It was dangerous but she always brings Donny with her, he is a lifetime employee that has worked for her family since she was a little girl. Never did she expect to rescue Dr, Kendrick’s life in this bad part of town. Now beside trying to find her husband’s killer, which caused another tragedy for Samantha that nearly killed her from the shock of losing her husband Roger. On top of that she cares for her deceased husband’s young deaf sister Felicity.

The problem is her grandfather-in law is a nasty old goat and has legal custody of Felicity. Now Felicity hates her grandfather for good reason, a girl he is definitely ashamed and embarrassed of who he ignores and shows no affection. He would just hide her away in his estate with no life at all, but threatens to take her away from Samantha if she brings scandal or things he considers not of a pious, conservative, life. Nothing Samantha can do will ever be good enough for him, he is only impressed by titles and old money and can’t even smile at his own granddaughter and only feels shame. The one thing he truly hates is highlanders especially those rambunctious scandalous MacKendricks!

Now Braden Kendrick who was first introduced as a child in The Highlander Who Protected me, Royal’s book as even then he dreamed of becoming a physician. Well Braden who is the calmest Kendrick besides his younger brother the musical prodigy Kade who had been deathly sick as a child .

Her latest rescue is Dr. Braden Kendrick being cornered a wife beater who wants to kill him for advising the ruffian’s wife to divorce her husband. So she quickly threatens the ruffians with a couple shots, of course the cowards took off. Now Braeden is dying to know who his female rescuer is and soon realizes after se..meeting Samantha’s sister in law Felicity. As Samantha is good friends with Braden good friend and fellow Doctor John Bathmord and his wife Bathsheba and now realizes he knows sign language and could understand he and Donny’s speech on the night she saved him. Now her fellow friend and Dr John Blackmore and His wife Bathsheba which didn’t take long for Braden to realize her deceased husband needed financial help and meeting Felicity he realizes she it was Samantha and Donny who saved his life, Noe Samantha’s husband has been gone for neatly tow years but can’t move on with her life until she finds her husbands killers and now these missing orphans. Samantha agrees to meet with Braden and they are both instantly attracted to each other. Yet Braden also suffered a big loss in his past too, so he has not been involved with ever since. Now when she does accepts Braden’s help when Donny I hurt and can’t travel the dangerous streets . Except het grandfather in law thinks she is having an affair with one of those awaful Kendrick highlanders. A clan he detests and thretens to take Felicity away and as her legal guardian there is nothing she can do, yet Braden thinks of one option but will Samantha accept. Read and find out in another fabulous Kendrick story.

Again Vanessa Kelly pen another phenomenal tale that has a mystery,suspense as the holidays approach plus a historical love adventure too. This is a sweet clean historical romance too which I really loved too. The plotting of this book was absolutely extraordinarily and definitely swept this reader away. I am really looking forward to Cade’s book as I love that he has groupies already. Of course Angus the Kendrick grandfather is always hilarious like a big teddy bear in his unorganized faded kilt who loves babies and young children. A book I highly recommend.

Clan Kendrick by Vanessa Kelly

Book One:The Highlander Who Protected Me
Book Two:The Highlander’s Christmas Bride
Book Three: The Highlander’s English Bride
Book Four:The Highlander’s Irish Bride
Book Five: The Highlander’s Holiday Wife

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary ARC copy from Zebra Books, Kensington Publishing through netgalley. I voluntarily agreed to read, review and blog an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts, ideas and opinions are my own.

Buy Links:

https://www.amazon.com/Vanessa-Kelly/e/B002BOFLJI?ref=dbs_m_mng_wit_byln

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/mobile/w/the-highlanders-holiday-wife-vanessa-kelly/1140825144

https://books.apple.com/us/book/the-highlanders-holiday-wife/id1602867061

https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Vanessa_Kelly_The_Highlander_s_Holiday_Wife?PAffiliateID=1l3vnbh&PCamRefID=bookbubblogd&_bbid=86640560&_bbreg=us&_bbtype=blog&id=bllXEAAAQBAJ

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I have been waiting so long for Braden's HEA! It was a good one too definitely worth the wait. I loved Samantha for him. She was fearless. A young widow looking for justice and vengeance takes to the streets to find answers. Braden falls head over heels with her. But Braden has been hurt in the past and is scared to love again. Samantha is almost the same she feels like she can't move on from her husband. It was a fantastic story very exciting lovely romance.

The Highlander's Holiday Wife is the fifth book in the Clan Kendrick series. This is the story of Lady Samantha Penwith, who is looking for her husband's murderer -- when she unexpectedly meets Doctor Braden Kendrick on her quest.

I wanted to read this novel because I have enjoyed the earlier books in this series. The holiday setting was an extra bonus.

I think this may be my favorite book in the Clan Kendrick series. I really like Samantha, who is so bright, independent, and determined. The sub-plot of her looking out for her late husband's much younger sister, who is deaf, was lovely and well written. And Samantha and Braden! Braden is a wonderful book boyfriend - smart, strong, pragmatic, and infinitely kind.

I enjoyed the blend of romance and the mystery of what happened to Samantha's husband. The author did a wonderful job of balancing the two storylines - and they certainly kept me up late reading to see what would happen next!

I recommend The Highlander's Holiday Wife, and the other books in this series (must be read in order!) to fans of historical romance, especially with a Scottish setting.

✨He wears GLASSES.✨

This wasn’t too Christmasy, so I think you could read it at any time of the year. This is definitely a mystery heavy romance, but it was easy to follow, especially since it was book fine in a series I haven’t read before. I would recommend listening to the audiobook for the accents 🤤

I think I am rightfully hurt that this was closed door because sex was referenced and the build up was hot and definitely not shying away from the act. I needed that extra layer in their relationship because he said “I love you” pretty darn quickly (once everything went down).

Overall, I enjoyed the story and liked the characters. The mystery maybe overtook the romance a bit too much for my tastes, especially with it being closed door. I’d definitely consider reading more from the author if some of her older books had some steam.

⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5 🌶/5

Thanks #NetGalley for the advanced copy of #TheHighlandersHolidayWife by Vanessa Kelly for an honest review of the book.

I really liked the Kendrick family in this book. I definitely want to read more of the series to get more of this amazingly wonderful family. I loved that the brothers picked on each other but you could really tell how much they loved each other and would do anything for their family. Braden is a sweet cinnamon roll doctor hero with some Highlander tendencies and a brogue - what more could you want? Samantha is a strong, independent heroine who loves fiercely. This really is a great holiday closed door read. A few content warnings for miscarriage (before the book takes place), some violence, kidnapping. There is a murder investigation going on so expect that as well.

I absolutely loved this story! It was so much more than a holiday historical romance. This is a wonderful story of a widow determined to see her husband's murderer brought to justice and protect her sister-in-law. Her hero is a guardian protector doctor who helps her find justice but doesn't take the quest over from her. It's warm, close family and loyal friends uniting into a team. It's such a warm holiday adventure full of our favorite Kendrick heroes.

When we meet Lady Samantha Penwith she's busy rescuing Doctor Braden Kendrick from ruffians who are trying to kill him in the stews of London. She's there with her servant-bodyguard-friend Donny. She's been hunting for her husband's murderer for quite some time armed with her sword stick. She's become a formidable warrior with Donny's help. Braden is often in the poorer side of town seeing patients. He is a younger Kendrick, the more serious and sensible Kendrick. He doesn't realize who his rescuer is until he puts pieces together after talking to his good friend Dr. John Blackmore. He quickly finds himself an integral part of the widow Samantha's life when he becomes a board member of the Penwith Philanthropic Foundation that has a boys orphanage and girls school. Sam has figured out her husband was murdered because he discovered something hinky going on within the Foundation. Samantha is determined to put a stop to it.

This story has twists and turns that will keep you guessing. There's a dear deaf sister-in-law who reads lips and signs, with a crusty bully of a Baron grandfather that wants her buried in the country. This is packed with close friendships, interfering family, a guardian protector hero, and an enduring Scottish grandfather who has a big mouth and butts into everyone's business. It's a delight to read from start to finish.

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

I am posting an honest review after reading an advance copy of this story.

Next in the series of Highlander romances, book 5, I found Braden and Samantha to be a lovely grown couple; their romance was different from the usual debutant/older man trope. All the Highlanders in the series have been grown and married strong women who are partners in the marriage. I enjoyed reading how they managed to merge their two busy lives together, and make it work. Braden is a doctor & Samantha runs a charitable foundation that includes a school & orphanage. Braden's large family came together to help the couple when they were dearly needed. I thought it made having a large family a plus, although it's usually not nice every day. If I have counted correctly there's one highland brother left & I bet he gets a highland HEA just as good as this one.

#TheHighlander'sHolidayWife #VanessaKelly #historicalromance #Netgalley #Zebrabooks

I recieved a free copy from netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I really enjoyed this book.
Samantha is trying to find the man who murdered her husband. She also has to find out why orphans are disappearing from her foundation.
Braden is the boring Kendrick. The serious doctor who works in Old Town with the poor. When he gets involved the foundation it's not long until he in the thick of things and is helping Samantha whether or not she wants it.
I liked Braden and he definitely wasn't boring. I liked the growth between the two and the honesty between them.

Vanessa Kelly knows how to deliver on a sweet, highlander romance. Her writing is immersive with lovely world building that gives her novel a gravity of authenticity to it. I always feel like her characters are well crafted and fully dimensional. Her novels are low on the steam, more along the lines of a Georgette Heyer novels, and while they are low steam they are still beautifully romantic. Definitely pick up a Kelly novel if you are in the mood for a romance that has a comforting pace and feel and leaves your heart feeling warm and joyful!

In The Highlander's Holiday Wife, Christmas time is abound in Edinburgh, but Lady Samantha is on a secret mission to unmask her beloved husband's murderers and has no time for the holiday festivities. When Samantha rescues Braden, a dedicated doctor, after an attack in the middle of the night, he finds himself willing to risk his heart to help her on her mission.

This fifth installment in the Clan Kendrick series is a delightful edition, that can definitely be read as a standalone. I really enjoyed this novel and found it to be an interesting and well paced read. Kelly balance's the mystery, romance and holiday spirit with ease and grace. Samantha is determined, smart and witty, I really loved her as a heroine, she is hard working, she has strong morals but she is not afraid to open herself up to another. Braden as a hero is a delight, he and Samantha have so many of the same great qualities. They both are dedicated to others and they build such a beautiful friendship that becomes a solid foundation for their romance. Their relationship is definitely built on trust and understanding and a true respect for each other. I really loved watching them grow together, work together, support each other and respect each other. They both have an understanding of the other, they both have experience of lost love and they both find comfort and joy in experience love for a second time.

Definite must read for any Vanessa Kelly fans or any historical romance lover that enjoys a novel that explores a more realistic feel for the time. I really enjoy Kelly's works and will continue enjoying her backlist.

I received an advanced reader's copy of The Highlander's Holiday Wife by Vanessa Kelly.

The mystery was interesting in this story and there were enough suspects to keep you wondering who was involved and what role they played in the murder of Samantha's husband. I liked how the Kendrick family members support and listen to each other. The story takes place during the holidays and while there are light moments, the story revolves around solving the murder. Braden and Samantha balance each other out well. When Samantha wants to go forth into danger, Braden is the one to show her she doesn't have to go it alone and shows her how to trust again. I thought the way the story came together at the end and the reveal of the reasons behind the murder was clever. The story ends on a happy note and Samantha and Braden are able to find happiness again despite the tragedies in their pasts.

Second love brings hope, with those words i would describe this book, specially because the characters journey through it is so beautiful that it has fill my heart with so much hope.

Braden Kendrick is the next to the last son of Clan Kendrick. He is also a Dr. for the Infirmary, has a free clinic, and teaches at the university. He also belongs to the Penwith Charitable Foundation. He had just finished with a patient in Old Town, not the best place to be at night when two huge men came out at him. All he had was a small blade on him, he threw his medical bag at one and sliced the arm of the other and ran. He slipped in some muck and fell. Out of nowhere came a huge man and a smallish woman, they saved him.

Samantha Penwith was a widow. Her husband had died two years ago, murdered, She and Donny her manservant had been looking for his killers. She also ran the Penwith Charitable Foundation. Which had an orphanage and school for both girls and boys.

The story is full of excitement, mystery, and villains everywhere. The characters are kind, knowledgeable, and giving. The Kendrick family is big, and they protect the family and support
each other. The tale flows smoothly and evenly. I very much enjoyed the book and recommend it
if you like thrilling. Some surprises are still coming.

I received this ARC from Net Galley and voluntarily reviewed it.

Samantha Penwith is a widow who is still looking for answers to who murdered her beloved husband, Roger. She is introduced to Dr. Braden Kendrick by her friend and personal doctor, John as a potential candidate to sit on her foundation's board. The foundation supports an orphanage and was created by her late husband and now Samantha is running the foundation. Samantha also cares for her sister in law, Felicity, who is deaf. Braden and Samantha are thrown together after her employee gets hurt on one of their nocturnal visits and Braden offers to accompany her on her adventures. The problems start once her grandfather in law finds out that she and Braden have been going out at night and he also catches them in what he considers a compromising position. The grandfather threatens to remove Felicity from Samantha's care so Braden proposes marriage to prevent this from happening. The story is full of adventure but light on romance.. It contains mystery, murder and kidnapping and requires the Kendrick clan minus the Earl to solve the mystery and reach a happy ending

I received the story as an ARC from Kensington and Netgalley and I am voluntarily leaving a review

Ever since her husband was murdered, Highlands native Lady Samantha Penwith has devoted her nights to searching Edinburgh’s seedier streets for his killer. On her latest sortie, she and her companion interrupt an attempted robbery and then disappear, leaving the intended victim puzzled but grateful for the intervention.

Braden Kendrick is a very dedicated doctor, often ignoring considerations for his own safety in the name of treating some of the city’s poorest residents. But after his close call with violence, he’s determined to uncover the identity of the mysterious lady who saved him. When he does learn who she is, it means facing his own painful past and learning to risk falling in love again just in time for Christmas.

I’m so sad to have to review this book in this way after how much I looked forward to it. I’ve really enjoyed the Kendrick family and have been anticipating strong, silent Braden’s story for some time. I found Samantha to be rather unreasonable in her reluctance to accept Braden’s help and she came off as reckless and hypocritical when it came to safety concerns, especially considering how she and Braden initially met. It was a good thing Braden was persistent, but I was left wondering how Braden was somehow suddenly in love with Samantha despite the fact that she’d been pretty mean to him, and they hadn’t even so much as touched. That said, we did have a promising slow burn here, but then it disappointingly faded to black and without that connection, we’re only told that love has developed between Braden and Samantha, but I didn’t feel that it was ever really shown. The romance was slow but also rushed and it just didn’t exactly feel romantic to me given the on-page interactions we did get between Samantha and Braden, especially coupled with all the other plot lines that were going on. I did appreciate that this serious-toned book was broken up by some Kendrick family humor, but Samantha’s villainous grandfather-in-law was a lot and I’m still not sure how things were resolved with him. The villains in this story were pretty obvious from the beginning, so that did lessen the mystery a bit and make Samantha seem a bit air-headed, but their motivations were rather cobbled together and never all that clear. Overall, this was an entertaining story but it was lighter on the romance than I’d hoped, especially for such a highly anticipated read.

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

Maybe 3.5 stars

When Dr. Braden Kendrick is attacked in Old Town and saved by a sword-wielding young woman, he never imagined she would turn out to be Lady Samantha Penwith, the very proper widow of Roger Penwith, founder of the Penwith Philanthropic Foundation – an orphanage and school for both boys and girls of Edinburgh. He wonders why she is roaming the streets of Old Town at night and is further intrigued when his friend Dr. John Blackmore explains that Samantha is now running the foundation and is also caring for Roger’s deaf, teenage sister Felicity. John wants Braden to join the foundation as a board member to lend support to Samantha, he resists at first, but ultimately agrees, especially since he feels an attraction to Samantha that he thought he would never feel again.

Samantha deeply mourns her beloved husband and is determined to find his killers, which is why she is roaming the streets at night with only a dedicated family retainer at her side. Her jaunts into the underbelly of Old Town are twofold, first and foremost, she wants to find Roger’s murderer, but she is also looking for children that have gone missing from the orphanage, the more she investigates, the more sure she is that the two are connected and that both are tied to the Foundation. Braden intrigues her too and stirs feelings she thought died with her husband, but with the problems at the foundation and her husband’s crotchety grandfather trying to take Felicity from her, she doesn’t have the time to explore those feelings. However, when Samantha and Braden are found in a compromising position, marriage may be the only way to save Felicity and her late husband’s legacy. But will the answers they seek bring peace and let them both get a second chance at love or will truth break them?

This installment of the Kendrick brothers saga features Dr. Brenden Kendrick, the second to the youngest brother. Honestly, this book read more like a mystery than a romance, which would be fine except for the fact that this is a second-chance romance in which both the hero and heroine have been in love and lost their love. I didn’t feel as if the romance got the attention it deserved and the love scenes were basically nonexistent. I did think the mystery was excellent and perfectly executed, I also enjoyed the cameos from Logan, Kade, Angus, Donella as well as, John and Bathsheba Blackmore. Overall, it was a very good historical mystery, with a dash of a very slow-burning, second chance at love romance. This is the fifth book in the series, but it could easily be read as a standalone title.

*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.*

I'm a big fan of Vanessa Kelly and her Clan Kendrick series. The Highlander's Holiday Wife isn't that much of a Christmas romance and more of a historical mystery! It is a very quick read, works well as a stand alone and has our favorite characters popping in throughout the book. Our favorite characters, like Angus, don't distract from the mystery and often get our heroine into more of a pickle.I loved getting to hear Dr. Braden Kendrick's story and his instant attraction to Lady Samantha... a widow seeking revenge for her murdered husband. This is a really fun read and I highly recommend. Looking forward to Kade's romance in the series!

Thank you so much to #netgalley for the advanced read of this one. All opinions are my own.

This was a well-written, entertaining book. It was fun, steamy and action-packed. I wanted to find out what would happen. I enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more books by this author.

Samantha Penwith has two questions. Who murdered her husband, and who is kidnapping children from the orphanage he founded? Braden Kendrick is a physician who cares for the poor in Edinburgh. On his way home one night he is attack by two thugs out to rob him. He is rescued by a pair of vigilantes, actually by Samantha and one of her footmen who prowl the stews at night in disguise searching for the murder and kidnappers. He soon discovers Samantha and Donny, and feels compelled to help, and not just him, but the Kendrick Clan. Their story is quite an adventure. There is danger, mystery, intrigue, and betrayal. Is it possible that in the midst of all the excitement they might find their happily ever after? This is a story that is hard to put down. The villains are somewhat of a shock, especially to Samantha. Braden and Samantha are awesome characters. Those around them are wonderfully entertaining, especially Grandda Angus, Joseph, and Felicity. An enjoyable story with great characters. I look forward to more stories from the Kendrick family.
I received an ARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily reviewing it.

So much to like.

Braden is a doctor in Edinburgh. He is rescued by Samantha and Donny.
Samantha is a young widow, looking for her husband's killer and to protect her sister-in-law, Felicity (who is deaf).
This is a clever read with intrigue, some suspense and a great cast of supporting characters that still feels feel-good.
Oh, and Samantha is a BadA. when she is out roaming the streets as a vigilante.
Braden and Samantha are truly well matched.
Recommend.