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The Maiden's Defender (The Ladies of Scotland Book 2) Kindle Edition
Training men to be ruthless soldiers is a skill at which Highlander Teàrlach MacGregor excels. He can kill three men with nothing but a sword and a couple of daggers. After he rescues a ward of the king, the beautiful Lady Madeline Crawford, the fierce warrior begins to yearn for a cottage of his own in the Highlands, with the sweet, delicate Madeline as the mother of his bairns.
Madeline begins to see a side of Teàrlach that nobody else has witnessed. The strong silent Highlander takes her to her first fair, teaches her to read, and bestows upon her a passionate kiss—her very first. But Madeline is informed that she is betrothed to another with the blessing of the king, making her and Teàrlach’s love forbidden.
Teàrlach, the famed fighter, vows to make Madeline his even if that means bringing down her corrupt warden, and Madeline knows that she must defy the king if she hopes to claim her Highlander.
Each book in the Ladies of Scotland series is a STANDALONE story that can be enjoyed out of order.
Books in the series
An Earl for the Archeress
The Maiden's Defender
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherEntangled: Amara
- Publication dateNovember 27, 2017
- File size3.2 MB
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Editorial Reviews
Review
"Iloved "The Maiden's Defender" by E. Elizabeth Watson. Medievalromances are my absolute favorite!" -amanda R., NetGalley
"Iadored the hero in this book - the tortured, self-sacrificing, honorable,fourth son Tearlach. He loves but will not allow himself to have that which"belongs" to another man, even if that man doesn't deserve the bonnielass. Author E. Elizabeth Watson does a skillful job of ramping up the sweetagony of unrequited love until our hero unleashes his desire. Great read.Great writing. Great story-telling from Watson. I look forward to many more." -Jennifer Trethewey, author of Tying the Scot
"I so loved this story! I couldn't put itdown!" -Sissy's Romance Book Review, Goodreads
"Chemistryand passion for days!" -Erika C., NetGalley
"Avery enjoyable and emotional read." -Petula W., Goodreads
"Tearlach and Madeline have chemistry that leaps off the pages. Loved themas a couple." -Amanda Richardson, Goodreads
"I adored the relationship between Maddieand Tearlach. He is extremely protective of her. A strong, taciturnwarrior, but I loved how Maddie brings out the tender and gentle side ofhim." -Linda, Goodreads
"I fell for Teàrlach in the previousbook in the series & was so glad he had his story." -Janet,Goodreads
From the Author
Product details
- ASIN : B07771L245
- Publisher : Entangled: Amara (November 27, 2017)
- Publication date : November 27, 2017
- Language : English
- File size : 3.2 MB
- Text-to-Speech : Enabled
- Screen Reader : Supported
- Enhanced typesetting : Enabled
- X-Ray : Not Enabled
- Word Wise : Enabled
- Print length : 392 pages
- Page numbers source ISBN : 1979593639
- Best Sellers Rank: #1,002,113 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- #570 in Highlanders Romance
- #1,073 in Historical Scottish Fiction
- #1,210 in Scottish Highlanders Historical Romance eBooks
- Customer Reviews:
About the author

Elizabeth is an Amazon Top 100 and #1 Barnes and Noble Ebook bestselling author. She is convinced life is better with good coffee, chocolate, and a pair of hiking boots. Ever since her elementary school librarian "published" her epic childhood tales--complete with laminated handmade covers--she's enjoyed exploring the world through literature.
While studying prehistoric Britain at Newcastle University, Elizabeth found story inspiration in the tumultuous history of the British Isles and the folklore of Scotland. As an undergrad at the University of Texas at Austin, her rock art research drew her to the harsh Texas desert where she imagined charismatic cowboys and the stubborn women who tame them.
A recovering archaeologist and biomed research coordinator, Elizabeth spends her days penning heroes ranging from Scottish and Medieval warriors to Texas cowboys crowned with Stetsons. Whether in kilts or pearl-snaps, her heroes wear plaid! She currently lives on a mountainside in West Virginia with her husband, sons, and various pets.
Always honored to hear from readers, make sure to follow her on:
TikTok @eelizabethwatsonauthor
Facebook @Author.E.Elizabeth.Watson
Bookbub @ EElizabethWatson
Twitter @AuthorEEWatson
Instagram @authoreewatson
Goodreads - E. Elizabeth Watson
Customer reviews
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- 5 star4 star3 star2 star1 star1 star74%23%3%0%0%0%
Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.
To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.
Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers enjoy the book's romance, describing it as exciting and sweet. They find the heroine strong and brave, with an unbreakable spirit. The characters are well-developed, and the writing quality is praised as skillful and intelligent.
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Customers enjoy the romance in the book. They find the love story exciting and passionate, with a protective hero. The characters are vivid and provoke an emotional response from readers. The book keeps them guessing with its twists and turns.
"...The author penned this story beautifully! The story's structure is a great combination of delightful meandering (in the beginning) and rising..." Read more
"...It features my favorite romance novel guy – a swoon-worthy protective hero. Who doesn’t love a sexy highlander?..." Read more
"...The plotting is tight but contains twists and turns which keep the reader in suspense. The Maiden's Defender is superior in every way...." Read more
"This was a very emotional and touching retelling about Maid Marian’s younger sister and her happily ever after...." Read more
Customers appreciate the heroine's strength and bravery. They find the story relatable, with a well-developed cast of characters that readers can connect with. The gentle nature and quiet resilience are also praised.
"...Moreville for years, yet she found ways to survive and her spirit remained unbroken. She is one of the strongest heroines I've come across...." Read more
"...It features my favorite romance novel guy – a swoon-worthy protective hero. Who doesn’t love a sexy highlander?..." Read more
"...The characters are vivid and provoke a response in the readers heart...." Read more
"...clashes that occurred in Marian’s story, this book shows that strength and bravery really is admitting what you don’t know, accepting help when..." Read more
Customers find the writing quality good. They say the author is skilled and has a good working knowledge of the Highlands and Scotland.
"...It's clear that the author has good working knowledge of the Highlands and Scotland in general, at least enough for this twelfth century novel...." Read more
"...Madeline is an uneducated yet smart and strong heroine. She started out as fairly meek and with good reason...." Read more
"...This is another highly successful story from a skilled writer. I highly recommend it as a "must read"...." Read more
"WOW, I found this book well written and moving. The characters well developed so you seem to feel their joys and pain...." Read more
Top reviews from the United States
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- Reviewed in the United States on November 30, 2018***Review posted on The Eater of Books! blog***
The Maiden's Defender by E. Elizabeth Watson
Book Two of the Ladies of Scotland series
Publisher: Entangled Amara
Publication Date: November 27, 2017
Rating: 5 stars
Source: Purchased Kindle copy
Summary (from Goodreads):
Training men to be ruthless soldiers is a skill at which Highlander Teàrlach MacGregor excels. He can kill three men with nothing but a sword and a couple of daggers. After he rescues a ward of the king, the beautiful Lady Madeline Crawford, the fierce warrior begins to yearn for a cottage of his own in the Highlands, with the sweet, delicate Madeline as the mother of his bairns.
Madeline begins to see a side of Teàrlach that nobody else has witnessed. The strong silent Highlander takes her to her first fair, teaches her to read, and bestows upon her a passionate kiss—her very first. But Madeline is informed that she is betrothed to another with the blessing of the king, making her and Teàrlach’s love forbidden.
Teàrlach, the famed fighter, vows to make Madeline his even if that means bringing down her corrupt warden, and Madeline knows that she must defy the king if she hopes to claim her Highlander.
What I Liked:
It's been a while since I really enjoyed a book - for some reason, this year has been a difficult reading year for me. Nothing appears to be holding my attention. I'll start a book and then set aside and it'll probably stay abandoned. I saw this book on sale a few weeks ago, for $0.99, and I was curious because of the cover (it's gorgeous!). But when I saw that the story features some of my favorite tropes? It was a no-brainer. The Maiden's Defender is the first book I've read in weeks and it was so wonderful, the perfect book to get me out of my reading slump.
This is the second book in the series, and it features Teàrlach and Maddie. Teàrlach has been hired by Laird Moreville to train soldiers. Teàrlach is a skilled warrior and a fourth son of the MacGregor clan's laird, and he wants to make a name for himself. He doesn't plan for Lady Maddie, who is Laird Moreville's ward under the King. He doesn't expect to fall for this sweet maiden, who is shy and a little naive but so clever and spirited. He doesn't expect to have to escort her to her wedding to Laird Moreville's son. Maddie doesn't want to marry John de Moreville - she'd rather stay in her rundown home and live a simple life. She never expected to fall for Teàrlach MacGregor. But when the time comes to marry John de Moreville under the King's command, Maddie knows she must choose: duty, or love?
I've not read the first book in this series, nor have I read anything else by this author. So I didn't know what to expect in terms of writing style, prose, world-building, etc. The author penned this story beautifully! The story's structure is a great combination of delightful meandering (in the beginning) and rising tension (in the second half). Her writing is well-crafted without nothing to detract the reader's attention. It's clear that the author has good working knowledge of the Highlands and Scotland in general, at least enough for this twelfth century novel.
I love several tropes of this book, which ended up being what prompted me to buy the book (besides the fact that it was $0.99 at the time - on sale). I LOVE the burly warrior/gentle maiden trope. I know it is somewhat of an "old"/outdated trope, and perhaps not always viewed as the most feminist of tropes. But I love it. It IS feminist; not all girls are rough-and-tumble fierce warriors. I love the girls of quiet strength, whose silent resilience is her strength. And I love the strong, surly warriors who are also sensitive and honorable. This trope is quite possibly my favorite in romance novels. The book also featured a fairly good slow-burn romance - it was so sweet!
Maddie is a wonderful, admirable heroine. She is definitely one of quiet strength and silent resilience. Her gentle nature is a strength, as is her resilience. She was mistreated by her father for years, and indirectly mistreated by Laird Moreville for years, yet she found ways to survive and her spirit remained unbroken. She is one of the strongest heroines I've come across. She isn't a sword-wielding, world-saving, trouser-donning heroine; yet she is equally strong, in her own way.
Teàrlach is such a sweetheart. He is a big, burly, quiet, broody Highlander, with years of experience as a warrior and hired sword. He can move like a shadow despite his tall frame, and he is incredibly skilled with most weapons. But he also has a soft, honorable heart. He takes care of Maddie when her leg is sprained. He ensures that she receives proper resources and visits her every week. Honestly Teàrlach wasn't even trying to court her, but he was the perfect suitor in every way. Teàrlach is the embodiment of an excellent alpha male: he's masculine and viral and whatnot, but also sensitive, honorable, loyal, caring. He has so many good traits but he isn't a cardboard cutout.
The romance is so sweet, and steamy too. I loved watching Teàrlach and Maddie fall in love. It was so obvious and so adorable to watch. The author spent a lot of page time ensuring that readers could witness the blossoming relationship. There is no insta-love here. I loved every romantic second of their "courtship" (it wasn't technically courtship but you know what I mean!). I loved the care that Teàrlach took to keeping Maddie's good name and reputation intact. But I also loved when Maddie made some decisions for herself and threw caution to the wind! You go, girl.
There were a few steamy scenes in this book, not very many, in fact I think there was only one "long" one, but the author did a great job of creating good chemistry and building tension. The romance was sweet, but sexy too!
The climax of the story takes a heartbreaking turn, and then a joyous one, and then heartbreaking, and then wonderful. It's a roller coaster of an ending! But worth it in every way. I actually liked how the author took a somewhat unconventional way to get to the expected HEA. Don't get me wrong, Teàrlach and Maddie get a fantastic HEA and I love it so much. But there was a little bit of heartbreak before they arrived at this HEA. Worth it!
As you can see, I really enjoyed this book. I wouldn't have come across it had Entangled not put it on sale, so thank you for that, Entangled!
What I Did Not Like:
Nothing to knock off stars, but the author could have thrown in one or two more ~steamy~ scenes! Maybe more tension-building scenes, and at least one more long one. That would be my only complaint. Teàrlach and Maddie had such great chemistry, it was almost a shame not to see more clashes between them!
Would I Recommend It:
If you like historical romance novels, I really recommend this one. It's set in the medieval Highlands (1191, if I remember correctly), and it has the sweetest romance. Not to mention the alpha warrior/sweet maiden trope. And an excellent HEA. And a slow-burn romance. Love it!
Rating:
5 stars. I am a huge fan of this book! The alpha male/sweet maiden trope was the main draw for me, and of course the gorgeous cover. However, I will be looking out for future books by this author. She has me intrigued!
- Reviewed in the United States on March 21, 2018This was the first time I can remember reading a Medieval Romance and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It features my favorite romance novel guy – a swoon-worthy protective hero. Who doesn’t love a sexy highlander?
Madeline is an uneducated yet smart and strong heroine. She started out as fairly meek and with good reason. Her father was a brute who oppressed her horribly and refused to let her learn to read. She was illiterate through no fault of her own, but she was also inquisitive and highly intelligent.
The hero, Tearlach, recognizes and admires her intelligence. He even teaches her to read. How swoon-worthy is that??
Madeline certainly came into her own at the end, which I really loved. Naturally, women were supposed to be meek and mild in that time period, but Madeline proved she was no shrinking violet when it came to choosing her own destiny.
- Reviewed in the United States on November 28, 2017the sequel to an earl for an archeress, the maiden's defender picks up on teàrlach macgregor's feeling for lady madeline crawford and gives them a chance to grow and blossom into something deep and meaningful and able to withstand any trial.
when teàrlach discovers maddie at the bottom of a ravine he is incensed to realize that she is being neglected by her guardian. having previously witnessed her father's abuse and neglect of her and her sister, teàrlach is unwilling to stand by and see her suffer any longer. and so he takes it upon himself to care for her, even as he realizes that this friendship can't go any further than that.
but you can't control who you love. and teàrlach was already half in love with maddie before he ever saw her again. and spending time with her now only strengthens the depth of his feelings for her. he would lay down his life for her in a heartbeat, give up anything to save her from injury. the only thing he cannot force himself to do is see her marry someone else.
and she is betrothed to her guardian's son. it is a marriage that has been blessed by the king and as loyal subjects neither maddie or teàrlach have the power to break the agreement. teàrlach is the fourth son of a highland clansman and maddie the youngest daughter of the imprisoned sheriff of ayr.
this moment marks a long and arduous separation for these two lovers, and by the time it ends and they are reunited, they are completely changed. but one thing holds true. the love they feel for each other is beyond anything—time, distance, old hurts—all of that can be overcome.
**the maiden's defender will publish on november 27, 2017. i received an advance reader copy courtesy of netgalley/entangled publishing (amara) in exchange for my honest review.
- Reviewed in the United States on November 30, 2017This is a wonderful story containing love and passion as well as selfishness and betrayal. The characters are vivid and provoke a response in the readers heart. The plotting is tight but contains twists and turns which keep the reader in suspense. The Maiden's Defender is superior in every way. The author is able to catch the reader and keep them involved. This is another highly successful story from a skilled writer. I highly recommend it as a "must read". Once you pick it up, you have difficulty putting it back down.
- Reviewed in the United States on September 19, 2020This was a very emotional and touching retelling about Maid Marian’s younger sister and her happily ever after. While it doesn’t have the archery and the clashes that occurred in Marian’s story, this book shows that strength and bravery really is admitting what you don’t know, accepting help when needed, daring to trust others and living your truth. While this book is different from the first one, Don’t miss this one.
- Reviewed in the United States on January 12, 2019WOW, I found this book well written and moving. The characters well developed so you seem to feel their joys and pain. I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough. The plot was good and kept you reading.