Today I am pleased to be a part of the Blog Tour for The Highlander's English Bride by Vanessa Kelly..
ABOUT THE BOOK:
In this dazzling new novel from bestselling author Vanessa Kelly, the wildest member of Clan Kendrick has found his purpose as a government agent. Now he must also meet his match...
Lady Sabrina Bell has never been so embarrassed in her life. Not only did her new suitor fail to appear for their morning rendezvous in Hyde Park, but a thief pushed her into the Serpentine. Being rescued by a burly Highlander just adds to her humiliation. Nor is he content with rescuing her just once. Even when Sabrina travels to Edinburgh as part of King George’s entourage, Graeme Kendrick is there, interfering, exasperating, and so very tempting...
Once notorious for being the most unruly Kendrick brother, Graeme now runs dangerous missions for the King’s spymaster. Yet nothing has prepared him for Sabrina. The only child of a wealthy earl, and the pampered goddaughter of the king himself, she is stubborn, impetuous, and far too good for him. He doesn’t deserve her, but he can protect her and then send her safely back home. But the bonny Sassenach has her own ideas—and a plan for seduction that no red-blooded Highlander could resist...
BUY LINKS:
MY THOUGHTS:
Author: Vanessa Kelly
Series: Clan Kendrick #3
Series: Clan Kendrick #3
Genre: Historical Romance/Scottish
Publisher: Zebra Books
Format: ebook & Paperback
Pages: May 26, 2020
Date of Publication:
My Rating: 4 Stars
Many thanks to Zebra, HFV Blog Tours and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
Format: ebook & Paperback
Pages: May 26, 2020
Date of Publication:
My Rating: 4 Stars
I have been enjoying this series by Vanessa Kelly. This third book in the Clan Kendrick series treats readers to Graeme Kendrick’s story. Busy running dangerous missions for the King’s spymaster hardly leaves time for romance. While out on a mission he spied Lady Sabrina Bell pushed into the Serpentine River by a thief. Of course, Graeme rushes in and rescues her. While they both recognize how attractive the other is, they hardly think they will see one another again.
Graeme discovers that the damsel in distress he rescued was meeting her suitor, the Marquess of Cringlewood, who readers might remember from the second book in this series, The Highlander’s Christmas Bride. This is very upsetting to Graeme as the man is evil, a nightmare, a rapist and an enemy of Graeme’s family.
Graeme feels a dire need to protect Sabrina from Cringlewood. Not only is he an uncouth man by all standards, Graeme knows the blighter is after Sabrina’s wealth. Even with Graeme’s mission to bring men like Cringlewood to justice, as well as dealing with a group of kidnappers, he immediately plans on putting Sabrina under his protection. However, Graeme is hardly prepared for her stubborn and impetuous nature.
Sabrina has traveled to Scotland and she happens to be the goddaughter of King George. This ratchets up Graeme’s concern all the more. He wants to see her safely home. How will Graeme have time to serve the King’s orders and carry out his current mission with his altruistic attentions towards Sabrina?
Not only does Graeme balance his spying with Sabrina’s safety, he must contend with growing feelings for her. Sabrina simpered from time to time, but her headstrong nature gave her strength. Along the way we see Graeme deal with kidnappers, thieves and even the smuggling of whiskey. This gives the pair even more interchanges.
I loved this pair together! Graeme was brutal when he needed to be - but kind and tender to Sabrina. Her spirit was refreshing and once Sabrina decided she wanted Graeme for her own, there was no stopping her. This couple was indeed perfect for each other. With intense sensual tension and ultimately passion, this book truly was a delightful read.
Giveaway
During the Blog Tour, we are giving away a paperback copy of The Highlander's English Bride & a $20 Amazon Gift Card! To enter, please use the Gleam form below. Giveaway Rules – Giveaway ends at 11:59 pm EST on June 9th. You must be 18 or older to enter. – Paperback giveaway is open internationally. – Only one entry per household. – All giveaway entrants agree to be honest and not cheat the systems; any suspicion of fraud will be decided upon by blog/site owner and the sponsor, and entrants may be disqualified at our discretion. – The winner has 48 hours to claim prize or a new winner is chosen. The Highlander's English Bride
Please enjoy the following excerpt:
THE HIGHLANDER’S ENGLISH BRIDE
CLAN KENDRICK
Graeme Kendrick, spy for the British Crown, is tracking a notorious gang of jewel thieves. Lady Sabrina Bell has also fallen afoul of the thieves. Attending a theatrical gala with friends, Sabrina is robbed at gunpoint.
The thief gave Sabrina a mighty shove, pitching her straight into Graeme. Her foot tangled around his ankle, and they went down to the floor. He landed hard on his back, with Sabrina on his chest. Her hip connected forcefully with his groin.
Pain sucked the air from his lungs. His brain shrieked at him to get up and go after the thief, who was pelting down the stairs. His body, however, refused to comply.
Sabrina pushed up, her hipbone pressing harder into his beleaguered cock.
“Argh. Stop moving,” he yelped.
“That villain stole my pearls.” She started to scramble up, as if prepared to chase after the thief.
Graeme shot out a hand to grab her. “He’s got a gun, you henwit.”
She glared at him through her coiffure, now listing over one eye. Impatiently, she shoved the bedraggled knot to the side.
“I remember. It was pressed into my spine.”
He sat up, fighting the pain. “Och, lass. You’re worth more than any jewels.”
Her outraged expression suddenly crumpled. “But those were my mother’s pearls. Father gave them to her,” she said in a forlorn voice.
“I’m sorry—”
Aden strode round the bend in the corridor. “Graeme, what the hell is Lady Sabrina doing on the floor?”
“We were accosted by a thief,” she said. “He just absconded with my pearls.”
“He went down the stairs,” Graeme said.
Aden cursed. “Get Sabrina back to the box, and stay with her.” Then he disappeared down the stairs.
Sabrina, now on her feet, peered down at Graeme. “Are you hurt?”
“Do you recall when your hip connected with my body, perchance?”
She grimaced. “I suppose I did fall rather hard. I’m so sorry.”
He breathed out, willing the pain to fade. “Not your fault. Just give me a few more seconds, all right?”
“Perhaps we should we send for a doctor?”
“Lass, there’s nothing a sawbones can do about this particular problem.”
She blinked, then turned a bright pink. “I’m exceptionally sorry.”
“Not to worry.”
As he carefully hoisted himself up, Chloe and Vivien came rushing up the staircase.
“Aden said you needed help,” Vivien said. “What’s wrong?”
“I was robbed,” Sabrina dolefully replied. “A terrible man took my mother’s pearls.”
Chloe folded her into a comforting hug. “That’s awful. Are you all right?”
“I’m unharmed.”
Vivien leveled a stern look at Graeme. “And you just let this person run off with Sabrina’s jewels?”
He glared right back. “He had a bloody pistol on her, Vivien.”
“There was really nothing Mr. Kendrick could do,” Sabrina explained. “The villain came right up behind me out of the blue, with his awful pistol.”
“And I was a good ten feet away, unfortunately.” He grimaced but finally managed to straighten up.
“Graeme, are you injured?” Chloe asked.
“Mr. Kendrick hurt himself when he fell on the floor,” Sabrina explained.
Vivien frowned. “That sounds quite unhelpful of you, Graeme.”
“I didn’t just happen to fall. Lady Sabrina tripped me.”
“Not on purpose,” she protested.
“You should not have been wandering about unescorted.” Now that she was safe, his frustration—and the remnants of his gut-wrenching fear for her—had resurfaced.
“He has a point, dearest,” Vivien said. “Theaters can be a trifle dodgy.”
“I wasn’t wandering. I was following Mr. Kendrick.”
Chloe, who was trying to repair Sabrina’s hair, raised her eyebrows. “Also not very appropriate. Dear girl, please stand still while I fix your coiffure.”
“Why were you following me?” Graeme couldn’t help asking.
She wrinkled her nose. “Because I wanted to apologize for the other night, when I was rather beastly to you.”
“Oh. Well, no harm done, lass.” Then he mentally grimaced at his idiotic response.
Vivien looked ready to laugh, but a swell of voices had her glancing toward the stairwell. “The interval is over.”
Chloe started to usher Sabrina toward their box. “Coming, Graeme?”
Sabrina glanced over her shoulder. “Aden did say you were to stay with me, Mr. Kendrick.”
“For all the damn good it will do,” he muttered. The thief was probably long gone by now.
He stalked behind them down the corridor to their box.
Sabrina hesitated before going in. “I don’t know what I’m going to say to my father.”
“Don’t say anything. Maybe he won’t notice,” Graeme said.
She shot him an incredulous look.
“I’ll explain,” Chloe said. “We don’t want to worry poor Lord Musgrave any more than we have to.”
Dominic suddenly opened the door from the inside. His gaze flickered over their little group, snagging momentarily on Sabrina’s bare throat. He let out an exasperated sigh.
“Really?” he said to Graeme.
“It’s rather complicated, dear,” Chloe said.
“It always is when a Kendrick is involved.”
THE HIGHLANDER’S ENGLISH BRIDE
Graeme Kendrick, spy for the British Crown, is tracking a notorious gang of jewel thieves. Lady Sabrina Bell has also fallen afoul of the thieves. Attending a theatrical gala with friends, Sabrina is robbed at gunpoint.
The thief gave Sabrina a mighty shove, pitching her straight into Graeme. Her foot tangled around his ankle, and they went down to the floor. He landed hard on his back, with Sabrina on his chest. Her hip connected forcefully with his groin.
Pain sucked the air from his lungs. His brain shrieked at him to get up and go after the thief, who was pelting down the stairs. His body, however, refused to comply.
Sabrina pushed up, her hipbone pressing harder into his beleaguered cock.
“Argh. Stop moving,” he yelped.
“That villain stole my pearls.” She started to scramble up, as if prepared to chase after the thief.
Graeme shot out a hand to grab her. “He’s got a gun, you henwit.”
She glared at him through her coiffure, now listing over one eye. Impatiently, she shoved the bedraggled knot to the side.
“I remember. It was pressed into my spine.”
He sat up, fighting the pain. “Och, lass. You’re worth more than any jewels.”
Her outraged expression suddenly crumpled. “But those were my mother’s pearls. Father gave them to her,” she said in a forlorn voice.
“I’m sorry—”
Aden strode round the bend in the corridor. “Graeme, what the hell is Lady Sabrina doing on the floor?”
“We were accosted by a thief,” she said. “He just absconded with my pearls.”
“He went down the stairs,” Graeme said.
Aden cursed. “Get Sabrina back to the box, and stay with her.” Then he disappeared down the stairs.
Sabrina, now on her feet, peered down at Graeme. “Are you hurt?”
“Do you recall when your hip connected with my body, perchance?”
She grimaced. “I suppose I did fall rather hard. I’m so sorry.”
He breathed out, willing the pain to fade. “Not your fault. Just give me a few more seconds, all right?”
“Perhaps we should we send for a doctor?”
“Lass, there’s nothing a sawbones can do about this particular problem.”
She blinked, then turned a bright pink. “I’m exceptionally sorry.”
“Not to worry.”
As he carefully hoisted himself up, Chloe and Vivien came rushing up the staircase.
“Aden said you needed help,” Vivien said. “What’s wrong?”
“I was robbed,” Sabrina dolefully replied. “A terrible man took my mother’s pearls.”
Chloe folded her into a comforting hug. “That’s awful. Are you all right?”
“I’m unharmed.”
Vivien leveled a stern look at Graeme. “And you just let this person run off with Sabrina’s jewels?”
He glared right back. “He had a bloody pistol on her, Vivien.”
“There was really nothing Mr. Kendrick could do,” Sabrina explained. “The villain came right up behind me out of the blue, with his awful pistol.”
“And I was a good ten feet away, unfortunately.” He grimaced but finally managed to straighten up.
“Graeme, are you injured?” Chloe asked.
“Mr. Kendrick hurt himself when he fell on the floor,” Sabrina explained.
Vivien frowned. “That sounds quite unhelpful of you, Graeme.”
“I didn’t just happen to fall. Lady Sabrina tripped me.”
“Not on purpose,” she protested.
“You should not have been wandering about unescorted.” Now that she was safe, his frustration—and the remnants of his gut-wrenching fear for her—had resurfaced.
“He has a point, dearest,” Vivien said. “Theaters can be a trifle dodgy.”
“I wasn’t wandering. I was following Mr. Kendrick.”
Chloe, who was trying to repair Sabrina’s hair, raised her eyebrows. “Also not very appropriate. Dear girl, please stand still while I fix your coiffure.”
“Why were you following me?” Graeme couldn’t help asking.
She wrinkled her nose. “Because I wanted to apologize for the other night, when I was rather beastly to you.”
“Oh. Well, no harm done, lass.” Then he mentally grimaced at his idiotic response.
Vivien looked ready to laugh, but a swell of voices had her glancing toward the stairwell. “The interval is over.”
Chloe started to usher Sabrina toward their box. “Coming, Graeme?”
Sabrina glanced over her shoulder. “Aden did say you were to stay with me, Mr. Kendrick.”
“For all the damn good it will do,” he muttered. The thief was probably long gone by now.
He stalked behind them down the corridor to their box.
Sabrina hesitated before going in. “I don’t know what I’m going to say to my father.”
“Don’t say anything. Maybe he won’t notice,” Graeme said.
She shot him an incredulous look.
“I’ll explain,” Chloe said. “We don’t want to worry poor Lord Musgrave any more than we have to.”
Dominic suddenly opened the door from the inside. His gaze flickered over their little group, snagging momentarily on Sabrina’s bare throat. He let out an exasperated sigh.
“Really?” he said to Graeme.
“It’s rather complicated, dear,” Chloe said.
“It always is when a Kendrick is involved.”
Blog Tour Schedule
Review at YA, It’s Lit
Wednesday, May 27
Review at Amy’s Booket List
Feature at What Is That Book About
Thursday, May 28
Review at Gwendalyn’s Books
Feature at I’m All About Books
Review & Interview at The Romance Dish
Excerpt at Books In Their Natural Habitat
Friday, May 29
Feature at I’m All About Books
Review & Interview at The Romance Dish
Excerpt at Books In Their Natural Habitat
Friday, May 29
Review at A Bookish Affair
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Vanessa Kelly is a USA Today Bestselling, award-winning author who was named by Booklist, the review journal of the American Library Association, as one of the “New Stars of Historical Romance.”0 Her Regency-set historical romances have been nominated in a number of contests, and she has won multiple awards, including the prestigious Maggie Medallion for Best Historical Romance. Her books have been published in nine languages.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Vanessa’s latest book, The Highlander Who Protected Me, was a USA Today, Barnes & Noble, and BookScan bestseller. Her Renegade Royals Series was a national bestseller, as was The Improper Princesses Series. My Fair Princess was named a Goodreads Romance of the Month and is a USA Today and BookScan bestseller. The Highlander’s Princess Bride, book 3 in the series, was a Barnes and Noble top 50 bestseller.
When she’s not dreaming of plots for her next Regency novel, Vanessa is writing USA Today Bestselling books with her husband, under the pen name of V.K. Sykes. You can find Vanessa at vanessakellyauthor.com or at vksykes.com. For all of Vanessa's latest news and contests--and to receive a free story--please sign up for her newsletter on her website.
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Thank you so much for hosting today! I am thrilled that you enjoyed it!
ReplyDeleteAmy
HF Virtual Book Tours
Wow! I love that cover.
ReplyDeleteYou have been hitting the bodice rippers lately ;)
ReplyDeleteYou don't seem many historical romances set in Scotland (well I don't anyway). Great review.
ReplyDeleteNot my type of book but I am glad you enjoyed it.
ReplyDeleteThe cover is beautiful! Sounds like a book I would enjoy. Great review!
ReplyDelete