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    The Highlander's Christmas Bride
    The Highlander's Christmas Bride
    The Highlander's Christmas Bride
    Audiobook12 hours

    The Highlander's Christmas Bride

    Written by Vanessa Kelly

    Narrated by Ruth Urquhart

    4/5

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    About this audiobook

    In bestselling author Vanessa Kelly's irresistible Clan Kendrick series, Christmas in the Highlands means family, celebration-and for one brother, the beginning of a passionate adventure . . .

    Being thrown over by the man she expected to marry was humiliating enough. Now that Donella Haddon, grandniece of the Earl of Riddick, has also proven a failure as a nun, she has no choice but to return to her family's estate. The brawny Highlander sent to escort her is brash, handsome, and the only thing standing between Donella and a gang of would-be kidnappers. But the scandal in her past can't be so easily outrun . . .

    Wealthy widower Logan Kendrick was expecting to meet a plain, pious spinster-not a gorgeous, sharp-tongued lass who can hold her own in any ambush. Though she's known as the Flower of Clan Graham, Donella is no shrinking violet. In fact, she might be the perfect woman to bring happiness back to his lonely little son's life, just in time for Christmas. But first he must protect her from ugly gossip and a mysterious threat-and convince her that their wild, unexpected desire is heaven sent.

    Contains mature themes.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherTantor Media, Inc
    Release dateOct 29, 2019
    ISBN9781977385062

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    Reviews for The Highlander's Christmas Bride

    4/5

    18 ratings5 reviews

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    • 4/5
      I didn't realize this was the second book in the series until after I had finished reading it. Obviously, it can be read as a standalone. At the time, I was just looking for holiday romance books to read over Christmas. It fit the bill and I enjoyed.Parts of the plot were a bit unrealistic. However, I know it is fiction and it didn't detract from the story. The best part of the book is the character of Donella. She was strong and still feminine. Glad I read it and it was a good choice for anyone in the mood for some holiday romance.
    • 4/5
      The Highlander’s Christmas Bride by Vanessa KellyClan Kendrick #2Donella Haddon has spent three years in a convent when she is told that she must leave because she is not a good fit for being a nun. Logan Kendrick shows up to take her to her home as requested by her grandfather but the trip is fraught with danger due to a kidnapping attempt. The two grow to know one another as they travel though neither is interested in marriage. There are ups and downs occur during the story with both of their families and Logan’s young son all hoping the two will end up together. Well, all but one or two old flames from their past who hope they might rekindle what was left behind years before. There is a HEA for the couple after balls, walks, talks and more. I have to say that I had trouble warming up to the couple and seeing them as truly “in love” with one another. I felt more that Logan was, at least at first, more interested in Donella as a potential mother for his child than wanting her as a wife for himself and Donellla, though she did feel attraction, was always down on herself, thinking about joining a convent and more interested in Logan as a way out than as the man she wanted forever. The story was a bit predictable and at times I wondered if I had missed significant stories about Logan in Canada and other couples that no doubt had starred in books off their own. Did I enjoy this book? For the most partWould I read more in this series? I believe I would Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing Coporation – Zebra Books for the ARC – This is my honest review. 3-4 Stars
    • 4/5
      Feisty lass won my heart!Near to Christmas 1819, and Donella Haddon, the Flower of Clan Graham, who'd fled to a convent three years before when her engagement ended has just been given a shock. Now the convent is returning her. It seems that her vocation is in doubt, if not dead in the water.Logan Kendrick, a wealthy widower has returned from Canada to more firmly establish his Shipping business. He been negotiating financial matters with Lord Ruddick and agrees to escort his grandniece home. What he doesn't agree to is defending her from a kidnapping attempt. Not that Donella wanted to be kidnapped either. So fleeing from the brigands is their main priority.I very much enjoyed Logan and Donella's interactions that ranged from humorous to pointed. They "fashed" each other continually. And when clan business became involved things became even more obscure.Of course they were drawn to each other but these two had enough secrets and regrets to sink the Titanic.Logan's first impressions of Donella is that she's a snippy lass, "She was all business and as tart as a lemon ice. Logan was quite fond of lemon ice. “I loved the way Donella struck out at the gossips and the prejudiced. But that often served to fuel the many rumors even moreFortunately things worked out, just not in the normal way. Angus was still the old curmudgeon he'd always been in earlier stories, and just has the right knack for escalating things. Thanks to t Kendrick ladies paths were smoothed and some gossip smothered. And "Hogmanay, when they rang in the New Year", was entered into with all guns blazing.An enjoyable Highlander historical romance!A Kensington ARC via NetGalley
    • 5/5
      Fun book about two people who need to overcome guilty feelings about past events before they can accept that they can have a happy future together. From the moment they met, the sparks flew between Logan and Donella. Logan wants the Earl of Riddick to enter into a business relationship with him, so he agrees to escort the man's grandniece from a convent to her family's home. He's stunned to find a beautiful and feisty woman instead of a plain and pious spinster. Donella entered the convent three years earlier after a series of events that caused a scandal. A month from taking her vows, the Reverend Mother has told her she's unsuited to being a nun (cue "How Do You Solve a Problem Like Donella?).I liked both Logan and Donella. Donella is feisty and independent. She also loves her family and wants to keep them from having to deal with the fallout from her scandal. She can be brash and blunt and has no problem expressing her opinions to Logan. Having lost her place at the convent, she's not sure what's in store for her future. I ached for her as bits of her story were revealed throughout the book, leaving her doubtful of her worth. Logan is a good man with a painful past. He desperately wants to be a good father to his son, but events from his past make it awkward for him as he tries to reconnect with Joseph and the rest of his family.I thoroughly enjoyed the development of the relationship between Logan and Donella. The banter between them was snappy and fun to follow. When their carriage was attacked by another clan who wanted to kidnap Donella, Logan refused to cooperate. I loved seeing them have to work together to escape. As the circumstances threw them together, the sparks between them flared hotter, but neither was willing to give in to them. Logan has no intention of marrying again, and Donella hopes to find another convent to go to. It was exciting to see their escape play out, especially with the lengths that Logan went to to disguise her identity. I laughed out loud when help finally arrived, and they had to do some fast talking to avoid a forced marriage. They parted, thinking they wouldn't see each other again.But Fate wasn't done with them. Donella's uncle refuses to let her run away to another convent just yet and sends her off to Glasgow to help with family Christmas preparations. Since she needs a chaperone, she's sent to stay with her cousin Victoria - who just happens to be Logan's sister-in-law. From the moment they meet again it's evident to everyone around them that there is something between them. When Logan's son and grandfather arrive unexpectedly from Canada, Logan is surprised by how quickly Joseph and Donella bond. As Logan discovers that Donella brings light and laughter back into his life, he decides that he'd like to keep her in his life.Meanwhile, Donella is surprised by the effect that Logan has on her, but she has secrets that keep her from believing that she is suitable for him. I enjoyed seeing them grow closer, first building something of a friendship in their mutual care of Joseph. The attraction also continued to build. I enjoyed seeing Logan try to work past Donella's walls. The scene at the ball, where he and Donella were caught together was pretty funny. I loved Logan's support of Donella when she finally confessed all of her secrets.Though Logan and Donella are ready to embrace their future, her past isn't quite done with her. When a man with a grudge succeeds in kidnapping her, it's up to Logan to find her before it's too late. The final confrontation was both intense and funny, as the kidnapper's plans are foiled by a surprise twist. The actions of several highly volatile Highland men left me laughing and shaking my head, especially when it took a woman to bring them under control. I loved the epilogue and seeing the happiness that both Logan and Donella found together.I will definitely go back and read the first book in the series as soon as possible and look forward to further books about the Kendricks. They are sure to be just as fun. The only issue I had with this book was the occasional use of anachronistic words or phrases, but it didn't diminish my enjoyment by much.
    • 4/5
      This second book in the series can easily be read as a stand-alone as long as you realize that there are many characters that are crossovers from other series as well as those that are included in this series. There are characters from How to Marry a Royal Highlander (The Renegade Royals series) and The Highlander's Princess Bride (The Improper Princesses series). The Kendrick family was introduced and featured in The Highlander’s Princess Bride. You’ll love the Kendrick’s although you’ll want to lock grandda in a closet and lose the key.Donella Haddon has had a life of many upheavals, scandals, and turmoil. After the last scandal, all she wanted was a quiet life and she sincerely thought becoming a nun was the way for her to go. However, after three years, and just one month before she was to take her final vows, she was called to the Reverend Mother’s office and told that she just wasn’t going to be able to continue as a nun. Though Donella begged to stay, the Reverend Mother was adamant. Donella was to leave the convent just as soon as her uncle could make arrangements for her to travel home.We met Logan Kendrick in the earlier books, but it was lovely to really get to know him in this book. He is a widower who is still guilt-ridden from the death of his older brother, Nick’s, son. Having a six-year-old son of his own now, he feels that guilt, again and again, every time he sees Nick. Logan exiled himself to the Canadian wilderness after the child’s death and became quite wealthy there. He met his wife, fell in love, married, had a child, and then lost his wife in just a few scant years. Now, he and Nick have resolved their differences, except for Logan’s guilt, and Logan is back in Scotland for a while growing his shipping and timber business.Logan had been trying to work a deal with the Earl of Riddick who was a powerhouse in Scotland’s timber industry. So, when the man asked Logan if he’d make a short side-trip on one of his journeys and escort his great-niece home from a convent, Logan agreed. We can only say that the young woman he picked up wasn’t at all what he was expecting!The journey began to go downhill right from the beginning when they were waylaid by seven men bent on kidnapping Donella. Escape was a narrow thing and the attempts didn’t stop. As their journey continued, Logan learned what a strong, self-reliant, confident young woman she was – and he quickly came to admire her. Even after they reached their destination, the excitement didn’t end. If you add in former loves, vicious gossips, and insane mothers, you have a lively, and fun read.Again, as with the previous books I’ve read by the author, there was a lot of anachronistic verbiage and that always throws me off. I liked Donella better than Ainsley (heroine from the last book), but she still got on my nerves. Why do authors always seem to equate being a strong, forthright, intelligent and independent woman with being rude and foolhardy? That scene in the first kidnapping attempt is a prime example – evidently, she didn’t care if she got captured or got Logan or one of the others killed or injured. She just had to have her say and be the one in charge. I also didn’t care for grandda. I know I’m supposed to think his antics are funny, but I don’t. He is hurtful, rude, and disrespectful.The bottom line, it was a lovely, fun, fast-paced read and I enjoyed it.I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.