The Highlander's Irish Bride - Vanessa Kelly (Zebra - Aug 2021)

Series: Clan Kendrick (Book 4)

Meet the most respectable member of the Kendrick Clan and the independent woman who has stolen his heart...
 
Miss Kathleen Calvert may be the daughter of an Irish aristocrat, but she has no intention of acting like one. All she desires is to return to her family's estate to raise horses and manage her father's magnificent gardens. But when a scandal threatens her reputation, her parents order her to a remote Scottish estate, hoping she will finally learn to behave like a proper lady. To make matters worse, her escort is a handsome Highlander who just happens to be the most boring man in all of Scotland...
 
After a youth of dangerous and wild escapades, Grant Kendrick surprised his family--and himself--by becoming a successful businessman and the most respectable Kendrick brother. But does that matter, when the beautiful and free-spirited Kathleen deems him a stodgy bore? Luckily, he gets the chance to prove her wrong when their carriage is ambushed by thieves. But it will take all his ingenuity to protect the beautiful lass who has stormed her way into his heart--and to convince her that a life with him will be a love-filled adventure...
 
Another fun entry in the Clan Kendrick series. This is the story of Graeme Kendrick's (The Highlander's English Bride) twin brother, Grant. Though Graeme and Grant were hell-raisers when they were younger, both have changed and matured. Grant took to the family business and surprised everyone with his success. Much to their dismay, however, Grant shows no interest in marriage, seemingly content with his bachelor status. He occasionally feels that his life lacks something, though he isn't sure what. That is, until the day a feisty Irish visitor arrived.

 
Kathleen is the daughter of an Irish baron who longs to return to Ireland and the family estate, horses, and gardens. Instead, she's stuck in London, bored stiff by Society activities. Her latest attempt to relieve that boredom, carriage racing on Hampstead Heath, landed her in the midst of scandal. Her parents decide to send her to her cousin Sabrina in the Scottish highlands to let the scandal die down and hopefully expose Kathleen to more ladylike behavior. Accompanied by her friend Gillian, Duchess of Leventon, they stop in Glasgow to visit Gillian's cousin, Countess of Arnprior. The trip becomes more complicated when they discover that Kathleen's sixteen-year-old stepsister, Jeannie, stowed away.
 
From the moment Kathleen and Grant met, the sparks between them were obvious. However, their first impressions of each other don't bode well. Kathleen thinks he is boring and humorless, and Grant believes she is flighty. Besides, neither is looking for a relationship; they are too different. Kathleen intends to return to Ireland as soon as possible, and Grant isn't interested in marrying. Grant's family thinks they are perfect for each other and find every opportunity to throw the pair together. It isn't long before Kathleen and Grant start to see each other differently, but they still fight their feelings.
 
When another scandal accelerates Kathleen's departure to Sabrina and Graeme's home, Grant is tagged with ensuring Kathleen and Jeannie arrive safely. Grandfather Angus goes along to help and spends much of the trip telling stories about Grant's past exploits. Shortly before their arrival, highwaymen rob the coach, and Kathleen sees yet another side of Grant.
 
I enjoyed watching their relationship develop. Kathleen and Grant started with dislike, then moved to friendship. I liked their time in Glasgow as they began to get to know each other. Their visit to Castle Mugdock with Jeannie and Grant's youngest brother Kade was hilarious as they teamed up to keep Jeannie out of trouble. But their changing relationship hits its stride when they arrive in the highlands. Grant agrees to stay to help Graeme track down the men who robbed them but worries about his ability to resist his attraction to Kathleen. His fears are well-founded as he finds himself more and more drawn to her. Kathleen discovers that returning to Ireland holds less appeal than it used to, displaced by the vision of a life with Grant. 

I loved the teasing, light-hearted banter, and flirting between them as the feelings they tried to resist take over. Some Jeannie-induced drama accelerated their attraction, while Kathleen battled fears about the future. I loved seeing her work things out in her mind and then explain them to Grant. His reaction was fantastic, and his understanding of her fears was terrific. The library distraction scene made me laugh out loud a couple of times and ended perfectly. There's a dangerous foe to face before they get their happy ending. The epilogue was a grand wrap-up.
 
The suspense of this story involved a gang of bandits terrorizing the area. From their attack on the carriage that brought Kathleen to the final confrontation, I could feel the frustration as Grant and Graeme fruitlessly searched for their hideout. From thievery and vandalism to arson, the growing threat created fear and tension among the villagers. I began to suspect the truth near the end, a suspicion that proved to be horrifyingly true. I wasn't sure how it would turn out, and I certainly never suspected who would be responsible for the capture. That scene was intense but also had some unexpected moments of humor.
 
As for secondary characters, I enjoyed catching up with other members of the Kendrick family. Kade was one of my favorites. He was kind to Jeannie despite her over-the-top actions. I felt terrible for him when she cornered him at Mugdock, but he handled it well. Grandfather Angus is always a hoot with his matchmaking attempts, conveniently revised memories, and willingness to interfere in almost anything. The secondary character with the most prominent part was Kathleen's sister Jeannie. I still have mixed feelings about her. For most of the book, she was a brat. She refused to listen to anyone who disagreed with her desires, putting herself and others into awkward and sometimes dangerous situations. While she supposedly hero-worshipped Kathleen, that certainly didn't translate to listening to her advice. She did redeem herself in the end, but it was a close-run thing.
 
My only question now is: will there be a story for Kade?