In 1826 Edinburgh, physician Braden Kendrick visits patients in dangerous Old Town. But when he runs into an old enemy, he’s saved by two strangers, one who’s a young woman who signs with her partner. Braden is intrigued and follows their trail.

Lady Samantha Penwith is running her late husband’s orphanage and has sworn to find the assailants who murdered him. On her latest excursion, she interrupts Braden’s assault, and then fears the doctor will realize who she is, especially as they being to work together on the board of her foundation.

Braden is kind and dedicated to his profession, and his family struggles to understand his busy life. It was tough to see an adult be lectured by his family. His family took up too much page time, even for a romance series. Samantha is determined, but she either trips or reveals too much when nervous in order to progress the plot and it makes her seem stupid. Their relationship felt very forced.

The language was distractingly modern. Bottle rockets were even referenced.

This was both slow and all over the place. Both mystery plots were lost when Samantha’s grandfather-in-law interfered with her sister-in-law. The romance is very rushed. Too much of the mysteries’ progress was managed off page, often by the Kendricks clan. It was a mess and the villains were obvious, but their motivations and clues were never set up for the reader to discover. Everything was just told to you at the end.
2.5 I received an arc from NetGalley

Oh my gosh!! All the girly squeals happening right now! This beautiful book whisked me away and gave me quite a grand adventure. Murder, intrigue,  kidnapping, betrayal, and second chance romance await. And of course Clan Kendrick to the rescue. What an unputdownable tale.

Braden and Samantha are two halves of the same soul. They've carried their wounded hearts along for far too long. Both feel obligations and guilt and are justice seekers by nature. Seeing them rely upon each other, to share their worlds and hearts was tenderly touching. 

The supporting characters were larger than life and really made this an endearing edition to a series that is superb in every way. How could you possibly choose a favorite?!

Ms. Kelly knows how to entertain and keep a reader captivated for hours upon hours. This will leave you with a happy tear or two, as it settles into your heart.

This book is a winner! I love the characters and the plot. So much to figure out and although you see some of it coming, most of it is a good mystery. I really enjoyed getting to Know Braden more, and his girl Samantha, we always need a strong female who isn’t afraid to be in charge. They both overcome so much, and I love their happily ever after. I would say some of the book needs some minor editing just extra words here and there. I hope Kade’s story is next!! Or maybe Bathesba and John?

Samantha is a widow who runs an orphanage and school and at night searches for her husband’s killer. Braden is a physician who treats the people of Old Townn and is asked to become a board member for Samantha’s foundation.

This is a sweet, well-written romance. The romantic drama/suspense kept me turning the pages.

I received an advance reader copy from the publisher. All opinions are my own,

I really enjoyed this book! I loved that both characters had some history in relationships which they needed to deal with in their journey. Lady Samantha’s dedication to Felicity is so wonderful and strong. Braden’s dedication to them both is admirable. His family’s loyalty to stand behind him and the Penwich ladies and giving them their full backing warms my heart! This was a really good story.

** I was fortunate to receive an ARC of this book in return for an honest review. **

What a lovely story of the larger than life Kendrick family, this time it is Braden's turn. Samantha, widowed, is looking for her husband's murderer, running an orphanage and caring for her dead husband's deaf sister! Will she truly have time for anyone, much less a devastatingly handsome doctor?
This is a good mystery, a romantic who done it! This is my favorite genre, Historical Romantic Mystery; I cannot get enough of them! You still thoroughly enjoy this book, and if this is your first time meeting the Kendrick family, as it was mine, you are going to want to go back to the beginning.
I highly recommend. Thank you,
carolintallahassee.com

I love a highlander romance, so naturally, I've been curious about Vanessa Kelly's novels. This is the first one I've read by her. There were definitely things I liked--I'm a sucker for a couple who heal each other, the H is not a manho and is a doctor to boot, and there is a mystery. However, I can't say that I will be clamoring to read another one of this author's novels as the H's family needlessly took up too much of the story and the couple's romance felt rushed. Much more time is spent going into love stories past rather than developing romance between the current couple. I'm sure that the book was much more engaging for readers of Kelly's previous novels, and maybe I'll give her another try. I'd love to see a book featuring Kade and Felicity. But it would need to have a lot more romance.

I really enjoyed reading this. I like it when I can get lost in the story. I enjoyed all the characters. It was funny, and a feel good story.

Don’t be fooled by the title. I’m not sure who thought it would be appropriate. This, is instead a mystery novel and it wasn’t until about the 70% mark that marriage was even discussed between them. And the holiday is very secondary to the action.

Braden is a physician in 1826 Scotland. He is well known for serving the indigent of Old Town Edinburgh and is talked into serving on the Board of the philanthropic Penwith Foundation- orphanage and school. Samantha is a widow who runs the Foundation and she has problems: someone is defrauding the foundation, children are disappearing and her husband was murdered.

Braden is a pretty stand up guy: a physician and lecturer who also treats the poor and he’s a new Board member of the Penwith Philanthropic Foundation (orphanage and school). Samantha is the head of the foundation. But they don’t meet in the boardroom: they meet in the middle of the night on the streets of the Edinburgh ghetto, Old Town, fighting off villains. You see the disguised Samantha and her servant troll the streets of Old Town searching for for clues about the disappearance of some of her orphanage’s children and about the mystery surrounding Samantha’s murdered husband.

Will they find what they are looking for in the streets and offices of the foundation? Or will they too be silenced?

I would give this a 3.5 to a 4 but will round it up rather than down because it is a good book. I was given this ARC from NetGalley and Kensington Books in exchange for an honest review.

Ms Kelly is a new author for me and now one of my favorites! This highly entertaining story makes you feel like you are part of the family. I LOVED the banter, so well written it just leaped off the page, sometimes getting me into a fit of goggles! I love Grandda Angus and Logan’s son as well. Samantha is a feisty heroine who will stop at nothing to protect what is hers and Braden is the hero who has his hands full protecting her! Their story is delicious and clean, which was refreshing. Thank you for such a wonderful story, it is GRAND! I wish I could give this more than five stars!

Lady Samantha vowed revenge on the assailants who murdered her beloved husband, She interrupted a robbery attempt and saved Braden and disappeared. Braden was determined to find his savior... Will they fall in love?

A very sweet Christmas story. Love the happy endings... I love reading about the Kendrick clan in particular... Such a lively and fun group.

Thanks to the publisher for the arc.

Kindle Copy for Review from NetGalley, Kensington Books and Zebra.

I received a free, advance copy of this book and this is my unbiased and voluntary review.

Scottish lady seeks revenge for her dead husband’s killer. She goes undercover and foils a robbery in progress as she sneaks away afterwards.

One of the men she saves wants to know her identity as he will seek out information about her. In doing so he will come to face his past and what he is running away from.

Will they be both be able to move past their past and move on with each other? Will this Christmas bring them together forever?

It is a sweet Christmas story that will bring you festive feelings.