The Highlander's Christmas Bride
Series: Clan Kendrick #2
Author: Vanessa Kelly
Published October 29th 2019 by Zebra

Goodreads Synopsis
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.
Goodreads

Review
Donella Haddon may be related to the Earl of Riddick, and had been expected to marry well, but when her cousin - who she was engaged to - fled and then returned with a wife, she was left humiliated and took up orders to become a nun. And then failed at it. Now kicked out of the convent, she is forced to return to her uncle's estate, and is to be escorted by handsome Highlander Logan Kendrick. Logan never expected to be widowed, and home in Scotland after a fight with his elder brother. But he needs support with his growing timber and lumber business, and the Earl of Riddick is best placed for it. Thinking escorting Donella will be an easy job, he's quickly surprised when they are ambushed, and others want to claim the Flower of Clan Graham for themselves. As they hide and travel across the Scottish countryside alone, hoping to be home in time for Christmas, they start to fall for each other, but is their story too much for even a Christmas miracle?

This book didn't hook me as much as book 1, but I still loved it. Again, there are plot lines which are alluded to from previous books by Kelly, which I haven't read, but I feel like I picked up enough of it to understand. Donella was a character who I had to warm to at first. Part of that I think is because of the religious aspect to her story, but once we learnt more about her, I wanted to see her happy. Her family had always sort of forgotten about her, and when she was with Logan, it was like he saw the real her, and she could be herself without any repercussions. Logan's story too, was heartbreaking. He blamed himself for the death of his nephew, and fled to Canada where he founded a prospering business, married, and had a son. But his wife died, and he doesn't know how to be a dad to little Joseph, so he's back in Scotland, hoping that the rest of the Kendrick family can help. I loved seeing Joseph meet him family, and the way Donella took to him. They became a true family, and by the end I had a silly grin on my face. Though slow to get into, it was definitely worth it!

Dates Read:
September 5-7, 2021

Rating
4 Stars