Book Review with featured author: Highland Defender by Kathryn Le Veque

 

Highland Defender by Kathryn Le Veque

Publisher & Release: Sourcebooks, January 26, 2021

Setting:  1486 Edinburgh, Scotland

Genre: Medieval Romance

Length: 306 Pages

Heat Level: 1 flame

Rating: 5 Gold Crowns

Book Description: 

Gladiator meets Fight Club in the Scottish Highlands in this thrilling Highlander romance series from USA Today bestselling author Kathryn Le Veque!

Ashamed of a decision he made in battle that cost good men their lives, the dark Highlander Bane Morgan escapes to Edinburgh to forget his past. But the more time he spends away from his Highland home, the more he's filled with regret and despair.

Lucia Symington knows something about despair. Forced to work off a family debt for a clan with little moral compass and a particular hatred for her, Lucia loses herself a little more each day. When a chance meeting with Bane gives them both a glimpse of what their future together could be, Bane pledges himself to the Ludus Caledonia, the warrior training club where he can reconnect to the fire for justice that still burns within him. The Highland Defender has returned...only to discover that his quest to free his lady could cost them both everything...

"Gripping, impassioned romance."—Tanya Anne Crosby, New York Times bestselling author, for Highland Gladiator

 

Buy Links:

 

Amazon: https://smile.amazon.com/Highland-Defender-Scots-Swords-Book-ebook/dp/B088P87RRC

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/highland-defender-kathryn-le-veque/1136916991

KOBO: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/highland-defender-1

Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Kathryn_Le_Veque_Highland_Defender?id=I5sIEAAAQBAJ

Apple Books: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/isbn9781728210131?mt=11

 

Add to Goodreads & BookBub:

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/53515852-highland-defender

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/highland-defender-scots-and-swords-book-2-by-kathryn-le-veque

 

Vikki’s Musings

 

Thanks go to the publisher and Net-Galley for the complimentary copy of Highland Defender by Kathryn Le Veque. I voluntarily agreed to read and review this book prior to publication. My opinions are my own, and no one has influenced them.

 

Highland Defender is a well-written novel, and Ms. Le Veque’s descriptions gave me enough information without keeping me from using my imagination. I could actually see in my mind’s eye the arena, and the crowds of cheering people. I could hear the clashing swords. She is also a master of the dialogue that is unique to the highlands of Scotland.

 

Lucia Symington is the heroine, and she has a true nurturing nature, which she shows toward the young boy in the tale. She’s loyal to her friends and watches out for them. Even though she serves a self-centered lady, she doesn’t bemoan or complain. She’s the true lady. I love this arche type, so Lucia greatly appealed to me, but let me say, in no way is she weak. She’s a determined, strong woman, a protector.

 

Bane Morgan is the hero, and he is a true warrior. He also has a wounded soul. For me that is always a winning combination! Although he’s at an extremely low place when he meets Lucia, he quickly realizes her worth, and that helps him return to life, making him willing to do whatever he needs to win her heart.

 

I loved the chemistry between Lucia and Bane. It’s so much more than the physical attraction. There is a truly strong emotional connection between them. The love scenes are beautifully written, focusing more on their emotions than the physical, and I enjoyed them a great deal.

 

If you enjoy historical romance set in the medieval period with compelling characters and an emotionally charged plot, then you will love Highland Defender as much as I did. For the last year, I’ve been reading less historical romance novels, and this book has me questioning why. I look forward to reading more novel by Ms. Le Veque. Happy reading!

 

Author Bio:

 

Kathryn is a critically acclaimed 21-time USA TODAY Bestselling author, a charter Amazon All-Star author, an Indie Reader top seller, and a #1 bestselling, award-winning, multi-published author in Medieval Historical Romance with over 100 published novels. 

Among her many accomplishments, she is the CEO of Dragonblade Publishing, the #1 Historical Romance e-book publisher on Amazon. In 2020, Kathryn collaborated with Sourcebooks publishing for a Medieval Fight Club series set in Scotland. 

 

Social Media:

Website: https://kathrynleveque.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kathryn.leveque

Twitter: https://twitter.com/KathrynLeVeque

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kathryn_le_veque/

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/kathrynleveque/_saved/

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/kathryn-le-veque

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5989639.Kathryn_Le_Veque

 

Guardian of Darkness by Kathryn Le Veque

Publisher & Release Date: Dragonblade Publishing, January 4, 2014  

Time and setting: 1200, England

Genre: Historical Romance/Medieval Romance

Length: 374 pages

Heat Level: 1 Scorching Hot Flame

Rating: 5 Gold Crowns

Book Description:

1200 A.D. - After decades of warring between the Lairds of Kerr and Prudhoe Castle in Northumbria, a tentative peace is reached. The Lady Carington Kerr is sent to Prudhoe as a hostage to ensure her father’s good behavior, and a more reluctant hostage there never was. 

Small and dark, with emerald eyes and a luscious figure, she is as gorgeous as she is fiery. Enter Sir Creed de Reyne; a gentle giant of a man, he is, by nature, calm and wise. He is the ice to Carington’s fire. As Carington resists the attempts to keep her in her English prison, Creed is placed in charge of the captive as both jailer and protector. 

But Creed is also as reluctant a protector as she is a hostage; six months prior, he had been given the important assignment of escorting Isabella of Angoulệme from France to England as the bride of King John. Isabella, a woman-child of twelve years, was smitten with Creed from the start. When he spurned her advances, she fabricated a story of Creed’s indiscretions against her and brought the king’s wrath upon him. Creed fled to Prudhoe and straight into another assignment guarding a firebrand of a young woman. 

Creed soon discovers that Carington is far different from the petty child who would become queen and against both his judgment and his wishes, he falls for the Scots lass. Suffering through tragedy and triumph, Creed and Carington have a love that only strengthens with each passing moment. Even when Creed is forced to flee for his life and leave Carington behind, their only thoughts are of being together again. 

With Isabella and King John closing in, Creed and Carington must fight for their very survival as two countries and a kingdom seek to separate them.

Buy Links:

Amazon: http://smile.amazon.com/Guardian-Darkness-Reyne-Domination-Kathryn-ebook/dp/B008A0OQ84/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1437316603&sr=8-1&keywords=guardian+of+darkness

Audible: http://www.audible.com/pd/Romance/Guardian-of-Darkness-Audiobook/B00JU292DU

Add to Goodreads:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15715718-guardian-of-darkness

Vikki’s Musings

A friend of mine has a blog, Booktalk with Eileen, and she does quite a few audio book reviews. She has done several of Ms. LeVeque’s books, and since I love a good medieval, I decided to find one to read/listen to. I found Guardian of Darkness on a free promo through Amazon and was able to add the audio for a great price. I am so glad I read this book. This is a fantastic medieval romance! Since this book has a detailed book description, I will not do a synopsis. It would be redundant.

Ms. LeVeque writes beautifully with a great deal of emotion. In fact, I did not just tear up a few time, I had tears rolling down my face. When Carington’s horse had to be put down, I became very emotional. It is a very moving scene. There are other scenes that also moved me greatly.

Even though, Ms. LeVeque tells much of the story in omniscient point of view, I was still able to connect with Carington and Creed. Normally, I feel as if I am sitting on the sidelines watching when omniscient POV is used, but that was not the case with this book. I was pulled into the story from the first page and remained so until the end.

Guardian of Darkness is an excellent example where external conflict enhances the story. While there is some internal conflict, the external ruled this story, bringing the hero and heroine closer as they try to overcome their many trials.

I loved the romance between Carington and Creed and found it believable even though they do fall in love incredibly fast. Since my parents experienced love at first sight and it lasted throughout their marriage, I do believe in it, which helped greatly. What I liked about this story is that it spans over months, allowing me to see their love continue to grow and flourish. I absolutely loved the epilogue since it gives a look at them after many years have passed. I found it vastly satisfying.

I also listened to the audio version performed by Brad Wills. I thoroughly enjoyed his narration. Ms. Wills does a fantastic job distinguishing the many voices, especially the children. That is a huge feat for a male. Now at times, he did speak a bit fast making it difficult to understand every word, but not enough to take away from my listening pleasure. I will be looking for other recordings by Mr. Wills.

Guardian of Darkness is a riveting tale filled with an emotionally-charged love story and plenty of suspense. That is a winning combination for me. I highly recommend this incredible book to all who enjoy medieval romance. I am confident that you will enjoy it as much as I did. Happy reading!