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Protectors of the Crown book cover 1
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Protectors of the Crown
Series · 5 books · 2015-2025

Books in series

The Heart of the Highlands book cover
#1

The Heart of the Highlands

The Beast

2015

For hundreds of years, Scotland has battled the English for their freedom. Now, they face a new, unforeseen threat. In a divided world between politics and religion, the young King James V faces a threat from his own people. As civil wars break out amongst the highland clans, James recruits a secret group of warriors for protection. He calls them, the Protectors of the Crown. Ian MacKay has one mission; to defend the crown no matter the cost. Along with his men, Ian’s mission is to hunt down one of the most dangerous men in the Highlands. While on his journey, venturing into unfriendly territory, he comes across a lass on enemy land that he takes for ransom. However, as events unfold, truths come to light and passions are awakened. Is it Ian whose been captured by her instead? Keira Sinclair has lived a life of peace and simplicity until now. With her clan on the verge of losing everything, she is forced to wed a Laird from a neighboring clan to ensure that hers survives. During her travels to her new home, her carriage is attacked and Keira is taken hostage by a ruthless man. Caught in the middle of a war that she does not understand, will her secrets be safe, or will she succumb to the Highland warrior who now threatens to capture her heart?
Heart of the Highlands, The Raven book cover
#1

Heart of the Highlands, The Raven

2021

She's accused of murder. He's accused of treason. When faced with those who convict them, will they be able to escape or be condemned to death? A Highland tale of mystery, intrigue, and love. Forced to wed a ruthless English Lord, Adelyn Scott welcomed death over marriage, but had no idea her wish would come true until she discovered her husband’s body lying dead in his chamber on the night of their wedding. As commander for the king’s personal guard, Eamon MacLeish’s loyalty has never been questioned. Until the day a mysterious woman arrived seeking an asylum and stole his heart. As Adelyn and Eamon piece together clues surrounding her husband’s murder, Eamon must choose between his loyalty or his heart. For one path would ultimately lead to her death, and the other…his.
Heart of the Highlands book cover
#2

Heart of the Highlands

The Wolf

2017

Rylan has spent most of his life keeping his identity a secret, even from those he loves. But in order to secure his future, he has to face his past. On the run as an outlaw, trying to clear his name, Rylan comes across a woman who he discovers has dark secrets of her own. Living a simple life with her young son, nothing seemed as if it could go wrong, until a Highland drifter shows up on her doorstep. Dragging her into his world of chaos and deception, Fallon finds herself at a crossroads that may impact both of their lives. As secrets become exposed, will Fallon choose the right path to change her life, and will it be enough to save Rylan from the noose?
Heart of the Highlands, The Dragon book cover
#4

Heart of the Highlands, The Dragon

2022

After years of war, his battle will end, but hers is just beginning. It took only one day, for Alys Sinclair's seemingly perfect life to crumble. As news of her father's death and treachery against the king begins to spread, Alys discovers her father had more secrets than she could have ever imagined. With no parents and her oldest sister gone to marry a neighboring laird, Alys is left to defend her castle and raise her three younger sisters alone. Wanting to keep her safe, her only ally, Laird Frederick Sutherland offers to marry her, but as suspicious arise, she refuses the proposal. Angered by her decision, Frederick refuses to take no for an answer. With so much betrayal and not sure who to trust, Alys vows to never trust another man again. Since Leland MacKay was a lad, war is all he knew. Forced from their land, the Sutherlands took everything away from them. Now with his brother Ian as the new laird of their clan, they are more than ready to win back their home. The only problem is Ian’s wife Keira’s sisters are caught in the middle. To get them out of harm’s way, Leland offers to journey north to Sinclair Hall and bring them back safely. After all, how much trouble can lassies be? Well, Leland is about to find out. With war on the horizon, can Leland convince Alys to blindly trust him, or will her loss of faith in people cause them both to lose? Read the Protectors of the Crown in Heart of the The Raven (Prequel)Heart of the The BeastHeart of the The WolfHeart of the The Dragon
Heart of the Highlands, The Rose book cover
#5

Heart of the Highlands, The Rose

2025

The Saga continues... Abigail "Abby" Sinclair grapples with the burden of her seer's curse. Though her visions are both a gift and a curse, one ominous truth looms over her fate - she must never fall in love, for it will lead to her ultimate death. Destiny, however, has other plans when a mere glance into the eyes of a mysterious man changes everything. Thrust into the role of laird following his grandfather's death, Aiden McKeirnan faces an ultimatum - marry and produce an heir or risk losing his clan's legacy. As time nears his deadline, Aiden is no sooner at finding a wife than he is finding the woman from his dream who had stolen his heart. With so many missed connections and a twist you won't see coming, following Abby and Aiden's story of love and sacrifice.

Author

April Holthaus
April Holthaus
Author · 13 books

April lives in central Minnesota. April developed her passion of historical romances from her love of history and geneaology. She has complied over 350+ grandparents of her direct bloodline dating back to 1100s. Follow her on her facebook page: www.facebook.com/author.april.holthaus Sign up for April's newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/811a73813c77/sign-up

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