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Conquered Bride #4.5
Protected by the Laird
WHEN SHE NEEDED A CHAMPION… HE RAISED HIS SWORD…While besieging an enemy castle, Laird Douglas Hay comes across the half-frozen body of a lass. She’s obviously one of the enemy, but he cannot allow her to die. Besides, as his captive, she could bring a hefty ransom. He revives her, a task easier managed than her fiery temper and the intense desire heating his veins.Taken as a prisoner by the brutish warrior, Lady Annora Comyn is determined to make her escape. Secretly, she believes the war between the Comyns and the Bruce is ridiculous, that the vying for the crown should have died the day her royal brother was murdered. Annora struggles internally with the notion of letting men fight their battles or putting herself forward as collateral in a treaty to unite the warring Scots. After all, there are far worse things than having to kiss Laird Hay every day for the rest of her life…
134 pages, Paperback
Published November 5, 2020
129 people are currently reading
167 people want to read
About the author
Eliza Knight
142 books1,964 followersEliza Knight is an award winning, USA Today and international bestselling author. Her love of history began as a young girl when she traipsed the halls of Versailles and ran through the fields in Southern France. She can still remember standing before the great golden palace, and imagining what life must have been like. Growing up in the Washington, D.C. area, her weekends were filled with visits to museums, and historical reenactments. Escape into history for courageous heroines, irresistible heroes and daring escapades. Join Eliza (sometimes as E.) on riveting historical journeys that cross landscapes around the world. She is a member of the Historical Novel Society and Novelists, Inc., the creator of the popular historical blog, History Undressed, and a co-host on the History, Books and Wine podcast. Eliza also writes contemporary women's fiction as Michelle Brandon.
While not reading, writing or researching for her latest book, she tries to keep up with her three not-so-little children. In her spare time (if there is such a thing…) she likes daydreaming, wine-tasting, traveling, hiking, staring at the stars, watching movies, shopping and visiting with family and friends. She lives atop a small mountain with her own knight in shining armor, three princesses, two very naughty Newfies, and a turtle named Fish.
CONFESSIONS OF A GRAMMAR QUEEN out now! LOST IN THE SUMMER OF '69 out June 9, 2026!
For more information about book club visits, downloadable reader guides, upcoming author events, book news, newsletter and more, visit her website: www.elizaknight.com
If you love history and want to dive in for some fun, visit Eliza's popular, award-winning blog:
http://historyundressed.com or her history podcast: https://historybooksandwinepodcast.bu...
To connect on social media, visit/follow Eliza at the following:
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/elizaknightfi...
Instagram: @ElizaKnightFiction
While not reading, writing or researching for her latest book, she tries to keep up with her three not-so-little children. In her spare time (if there is such a thing…) she likes daydreaming, wine-tasting, traveling, hiking, staring at the stars, watching movies, shopping and visiting with family and friends. She lives atop a small mountain with her own knight in shining armor, three princesses, two very naughty Newfies, and a turtle named Fish.
CONFESSIONS OF A GRAMMAR QUEEN out now! LOST IN THE SUMMER OF '69 out June 9, 2026!
For more information about book club visits, downloadable reader guides, upcoming author events, book news, newsletter and more, visit her website: www.elizaknight.com
If you love history and want to dive in for some fun, visit Eliza's popular, award-winning blog:
http://historyundressed.com or her history podcast: https://historybooksandwinepodcast.bu...
To connect on social media, visit/follow Eliza at the following:
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/elizaknightfi...
Instagram: @ElizaKnightFiction
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
May 9, 2022
This is an OK Medieval romance novella, but I wanted Annora to get past her insecurities. There were also a few situations that I found very unbelievable. It gets 3 stars from me.
The story was very short, so there wasn't as much character development as I usually like. I wanted more backstory on both Douglas and Annora.
Douglas was OK, and his past (with the brutal murders of his family) was incredibly sad. I did wish that the story had told who had murdered his family, though. To deal with his pain, he had become cold and reserved, and had dedicated his life to fighting for his king. I did like that he refused to hurt women, children, or the elderly, though.
I liked that Douglas saved Annora, even though he thought she was his enemy. He did intend to ransom her back to her family, but that was typical of warfare in those days.
I wanted Annora to get past her insecurities about not being wanted, all because of what happened to her when she was a child. What happened to her was terrifying, but it was children who abandoned her -- so why did she automatically assume that her entire family did not want her?
I also thought Annora was an idiot with what she said to the king near the end of the story. She was lucky he didn't execute her on the spot. Douglas was able to save her, but I was surprised about that.
I thought that Douglas and Annora were more in lust than in love. They simply didn't know each other well enough to be in love, but they were definitely in lust.
This is not the author's fault, and it didn't affect my review, but this makes several times recently when I've found a Medieval romance unsatisfying. They always contain so much violence, which bothers me. I also think maybe I'm a little too liberated to handle the way women were treated in those days. Even when a woman had a good husband, she was still his property, and had almost no independence. Maybe I should stick with romances from a more contemporary time period ...
My rating system is below.
1 star -- Hated it, or did not finish. I usually only give this rating if some of the content is truly objectionable to me, like if one of the main characters does something really awful, and gets away with it.
2 stars -- Didn't like it. This rating usually means that I thought the writing wasn't very good, the editing was terrible, I didn't like the characters, or it had other major flaws.
3 stars -- I liked it, but had some minor issues with it. This rating means that there were minor editing issues, the story needed more character development, it was just too unrealistic, or had some other fairly minor issue. The majority of books I read get this rating – I do not consider it a bad rating.
4 stars -- I liked it a lot. This is a high rating for me, and I rarely give a higher one.
5 stars -- I loved it, and will probably read it again. Very few books are good enough to get this rating from me. The ones that do are usually classics.
The story was very short, so there wasn't as much character development as I usually like. I wanted more backstory on both Douglas and Annora.
Douglas was OK, and his past (with the brutal murders of his family) was incredibly sad. I did wish that the story had told who had murdered his family, though. To deal with his pain, he had become cold and reserved, and had dedicated his life to fighting for his king. I did like that he refused to hurt women, children, or the elderly, though.
I liked that Douglas saved Annora, even though he thought she was his enemy. He did intend to ransom her back to her family, but that was typical of warfare in those days.
I wanted Annora to get past her insecurities about not being wanted, all because of what happened to her when she was a child. What happened to her was terrifying, but it was children who abandoned her -- so why did she automatically assume that her entire family did not want her?
I also thought Annora was an idiot with what she said to the king near the end of the story. She was lucky he didn't execute her on the spot. Douglas was able to save her, but I was surprised about that.
I thought that Douglas and Annora were more in lust than in love. They simply didn't know each other well enough to be in love, but they were definitely in lust.
This is not the author's fault, and it didn't affect my review, but this makes several times recently when I've found a Medieval romance unsatisfying. They always contain so much violence, which bothers me. I also think maybe I'm a little too liberated to handle the way women were treated in those days. Even when a woman had a good husband, she was still his property, and had almost no independence. Maybe I should stick with romances from a more contemporary time period ...
My rating system is below.
1 star -- Hated it, or did not finish. I usually only give this rating if some of the content is truly objectionable to me, like if one of the main characters does something really awful, and gets away with it.
2 stars -- Didn't like it. This rating usually means that I thought the writing wasn't very good, the editing was terrible, I didn't like the characters, or it had other major flaws.
3 stars -- I liked it, but had some minor issues with it. This rating means that there were minor editing issues, the story needed more character development, it was just too unrealistic, or had some other fairly minor issue. The majority of books I read get this rating – I do not consider it a bad rating.
4 stars -- I liked it a lot. This is a high rating for me, and I rarely give a higher one.
5 stars -- I loved it, and will probably read it again. Very few books are good enough to get this rating from me. The ones that do are usually classics.
January 25, 2018
Enchanting the Highlander Anthology
Douglas' family was murdered while he was away and he can't forgive himself. He now spends his time fighting for Robert the Bruce. When they storm the castle of a rival clan Douglas saves Lady Annora from freezing in the snow. They bond while she is his "prisoner" and just need to convince everyone that she isn't a traitor like her brother.
This was cute. Both characters were likeable and though she maybe more combative than she needed to be at times, Annora wasn't stupid.
Douglas' family was murdered while he was away and he can't forgive himself. He now spends his time fighting for Robert the Bruce. When they storm the castle of a rival clan Douglas saves Lady Annora from freezing in the snow. They bond while she is his "prisoner" and just need to convince everyone that she isn't a traitor like her brother.
This was cute. Both characters were likeable and though she maybe more combative than she needed to be at times, Annora wasn't stupid.
October 8, 2021
Protected by the Laird
I love the Scottish stories. Enemies fighting for loyalty and some for wealth. When two Enemies meet in battle things change. Both have lost everything. One lost his whole family, the other one her family denied her. Could they find each other and love. I never tire of reading these stories.
I love the Scottish stories. Enemies fighting for loyalty and some for wealth. When two Enemies meet in battle things change. Both have lost everything. One lost his whole family, the other one her family denied her. Could they find each other and love. I never tire of reading these stories.
January 15, 2018
Eliza Knight's "Protected by the Laird" is the #4.5 tale in The Conquered Bride series, but you can read it as a standalone. This series is apparently a spin-off of the Stolen Brides series, but I haven't read that series and you can understand these just fine without reading that series. I just love that Annora and Douglas! They are both so broken from their pasts. Yet they're able to seal their broken edges together and be open-hearted! Just a very sweet and sexy story. I have already ordered the next one! I <3 Eliza Knight!
November 23, 2017
THIS WAS SO CYUUTTEE
February 8, 2019
Just didn't sit well for me. They fall in love too fast and within two days.
May 22, 2019
A great read
June 22, 2021
Good story
This was a good story not as exciting as the previous ones but still worth reading. My heart went out to both of them.
This was a good story not as exciting as the previous ones but still worth reading. My heart went out to both of them.
January 25, 2023
A Very Nice Read
This book will draw you in from page one to the last period. Time well spent for some winter nights.
This book will draw you in from page one to the last period. Time well spent for some winter nights.
March 23, 2017
This is the first novella in Enchanting the Highlander and I did not enjoy it. Too much war and misery. She had to be rescued a lot. Just kind of a depressing story over all.
November 27, 2016
I read this novella as part of the Enchanting the Highlander anthology. It was a great start to this group of Scottish tales. Within the backdrop of the conflict between Robert the Bruce and the Comyns, a love story develops between Annora Comyn and Laird Douglas Hay who is loyal to the Bruce. They connect through the traumatic pasts they suffered. For a novella, there was a good backstory, lots of action and heartfelt passion. It did not feel rushed or abrupt as many novellas do. I am eager to continue on to the next story.
December 10, 2016
Loved Annora and Laird Douglas' story. To her surprise, the kind warrior makes her feel things she should not. He is the enemy and she must fight her feelings. I wish this would have been longer.
March 31, 2017
in Enchanting the Highlander anthology
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews