The Highlander Who Protected Me

Clan Kendrick, Book 1

By: Vanessa Kelly

Narrated by: Ruth Urquhart

Length: 13 hrs and 3 mins

Publisher's summary

Lady Ainsley Matthews, heiress and darling of the ton, was expected to make a magnificent match. Instead, she's hiding on a remote Scottish estate, terrified her vicious former fiance will use her pregnancy to force her into marriage. One man can help her - Royal Kendrick, son of a distinguished Highland clan. Though a mistake drove them apart long ago, Royal is the only person Ainsley trusts to protect her baby - even if that means agreeing to never see either of them again....

Scarred in body and soul by war, Royal suddenly has a purpose - caring for an innocent babe and thereby helping the woman he can't stop loving. But when Ainsley ultimately returns to Scotland, determined to be a real mother to her child in spite of the risk, there's only one solution: marriage. And only one likely outcome: surrendering to the desire that's simmered between them for so long, no matter how dangerous it may be....

Contains mature themes.

©2018 Vanessa Kelly (P)2018 Tantor

Not a bad book…it’s the characters

Ainsley is the most stuck up, ungrateful bad word I’ve ever read in a book. She’s absolutely horrible. The fact that she tosses her daughter to a guy because of her reputation, and then has the gall to be so rude and judge him and his family made me want to give up on the book.

Great plot - but too much whining and delay

What I did really like: I love a historical romance. I've listened to so many... the plot lines are often very similar. This storyline was unique to the period and I liked that. No spoilers, so I'll just say that the heroine is going against her family and society in a way that is atypical. She's in a bad spot, trying to protect herself and those she loves, and in steps our hero. He's a unique hero as well. Some aspects are familiar... like the nice brogue and bod, a war hero with some scars... but some are unique as well, he's a bit disabled, cranky, not wealthy, a dry sense of humor. I think he's smarter than most old-world heroes are made out to be in these books... not so two dimensional as the men are often written.

Adult content - This book has adult content. Not much. You'll be quite a bit through the book before the heroine and hero come together physically. There are a few 3rd base scenes leading up. There is a lot of romance in the book but not very much adult content. Trigger warning - there is sexual violence discussed in the book, but no worries, the hero is not the bad guy. It's also not discussed graphically. I actually wish the author had either left it out or made a bigger deal of it. Why? Because sexual assault is horrific and has a large impact on the victim, and if you're going to relay a survivor story it should give weight to the event.

What I didn't like: (1) The narrator - I've heard her many times before, sometimes her voice works for the characters and other times not so much. As the main character, she's fine. Unfortunately, she makes the grandfather, (who is basically described as a old, hardened, life-worn, Scottish goat), sound like someone's effeminate uncle. (2) The annoying heroine. Time after time she tests the hero, she won't trust him even though he's solid from the go, she makes stupid decisions and also continues to put herself and others in danger. Since she's not written as having a low IQ, these issues don't work in the plot. She's often rude to the hero instead of grateful. She comes across like a twit. (3) There are parts that are painfully drawn out. This 13 hour book should have been edited to 8 or 9 hours. There are some aspects that are presented at an agonizingly slow pace. Also, in a few spots, items that seem important are just glazed over.

It was worth the listen, but not one of my favorites.

Couldn’t stop listening

What a clever plot! The narrator deftly handled the range of voices.
I definitely recommend this for fans of period books.

Amazing narration

A great story with characters you grow to love. The narrator is absolutely wonderful, so much so that you believe each character is being narrated by a different person. There were only a few times throughout the book where characters sounded similar, but it was very easy not only to know who was talking, but to imagine the characters as the voices were so well matched to their personalities.

A cute romance very entertaining

I love the story. Grandpa was so funny, like the characters in the way men used to be.

Liked the book.... BUT

Good God!!!! She was annoying as heck. Way to Whiny, Selfish, Spoiled, Entitled, and Greedy

GOOD IDEA FOR A STORY….

But heroine was obnoxious, voice was whinny never did win me over, hero, whom I loved deserved better. But a great writer & I will continue to read her books.

It’s all about family

Great beginnings! I enjoyed hearing about each character and I’m looking forward to the rest of the series.

What I would change!

Ainsley. Talk about someone who doesn’t deserve the hero, it was she and her machinations which drove this story and you wanted to use the tiny pistol in your reticule to help the ending! Royal was a walking, breathing saint by comparison even though he had a short temper and the “personality of a warrior” trying to be the constant hero saving the day. His time at Waterloo explained his shortcomings and you could somewhat forgive him but Ainsley was a total minus. Her parents had spoiled her, granted, but when a person finds out what is lacking in themselves they usually try to change things. Ainsley never does even in the last scene in the book! She is the cause for all the problems they face and she gets off (pardon the pun) Scots free. The narrator gets kind of whiney but is tolerable at 1.1 speed.

Something different

Good storyline. Love the Kendrick family. I started listening to these a bit backwards but they’re still grand.