when he promises nicholas kennet that he'll watch over his daughter, reid mackenzie imagines a young girl in pigtails who he'll ship off to boarding school. what he discovers is that miss audrey kennet is a lovely young woman, all of nineteen, too old for a guardian, but given society's rules, also in need of someone to watch over her.
at first suspicious of the man who brings her tidings of her father's death, she begins to change her tune when he doesn't immediately treat her as incapable of rational thought. he respects her intelligence and gives her more freedom than she expects. but it's when he stands up for her and refuses to allow her to be forced into marriage that she really takes notice. even though his stated goal is to marry her off and have her settled and out of his hair, he refuses to take the first proposal that comes along. he wants to give her a real chance at happiness.
possibly because he knows what it is to be bound by someone else's promise. he isn't entirely free to choose his own mate. and this holds him back from freely expressing himself to audrey. even if it is readily apparent to one and all that he's totally in love with her. and she with him.
they must fight some pretty tough odds, including false imprisonment, a wild escape, a dragoon of redcoats, and the remote scottish highlands. but when audrey and reid stand together they find a way to prevail. the strength of their connection, the way they will fight to save one another says it all.
this was a very enjoyable read, combining action and adventure with a lush historical backdrop and characters who feel so real.
**the highland guardian will publish on december 19, 2016. i received an advance reader copy courtesy of netgalley/grand central publishing (forever) in exchange for my honest review.
Thank you for your lovely review! Love the colors on your blog :)
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