C. H. Admirand

This was a terrific, fast-paced story. Darby Garahan is the youngest of the four brothers assigned to the Duke's Guard and the last one unattached. His current assignment is investigating the latest threat to one of the duke's family members. That task is interrupted when he is asked to rescue a young woman who ended up in a front for a brothel after being tricked by a bogus offer of employment. All she had wanted was to make a new start after a devastating betrayal, only to find herself in worse circumstances.

Like his brothers and cousins, Darby has a tough exterior and a heart of gold. He is strong, kind, and honorable. His anger at what happens to these women is palpable, and you can see the effort it takes to control himself. I loved how gentle he was as he took Aimee to Michaela, how determined he was to protect her, and how understanding of her fears. He never expected to be blindsided by his intense need to care for her.

I loved watching the relationship between Darby and Aimee develop. Darby doesn't take long to realize that Aimee is the woman for him, but he also knows it will take patience to overcome her fears. I loved his determination to show her he could be trusted with her heart and body. Aimee is wary at first but quickly realizes that she trusts Darby. Her problem is that her past prevents her from believing he would want her. Darby's patience and love pay off, but only after more trouble comes their way.

The story is action-packed as Darby assists Coventry and King in stopping those responsible for Aimee's trouble. There are twists and turns and some unexpected connections that keep Darby and the others on their toes. I always enjoy watching members of the Duke's Guard in action, and there are some terrific scenes of them doing what they do best. However, Darby doesn't come out unscathed, and I laughed out loud at seeing his efforts to avoid the treatment he needed. Seeing Aimee stand up to his attempts and keep him in line was especially fun. She puts her anger at what happened to her to good use in the final confrontation, showing that she is an excellent addition to the women of the Duke's Guard.

I liked seeing more of Emmett O'Malley in this book and found his interactions with Michaela intriguing. I suspect we will see more of this pair in the future.

#netgalley… (plus d'informations)

Hooked...but…!

My guilty pleasure continues, but sadly I was not as enamoured of the Duke’s Enforcer as I have been other titles in the series. I love the Guards but the storylines have become somewhat repetitive the last several times.
You know, hero with a backbone of steel and a heart of gold rescues a damsel in distress from a really bad situation. In this case it’s Darby Garahan who falls in love with the much terrified young woman, Miss Aimee Anderson. Down on her luck, Aimee has answered an advertisement to work as a milliner, only to find she’s destined for a brothel. After rescuing Aimee, Darby proposes marriage to save her. The marriage is strewn with boulders of self doubt and it’s our hero’s job to cast the rescued damsel’s fears out. The marriage is a work in progress. Of course there’s more!
Despite my quibbles, despite the well worn plot, I must admit I just can’t stop reading any new additions to the series.

A Dragonblade ARC via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author and publisher.… (plus d'informations)

This is another terrific entry into the Duke's Guard series. In this book, we move to the home of Baron Summerfield and his wife. The Baron is the Duke's cousin, and his wife is the Duke's sister. This puts them firmly under the Duke of Wyndmere's umbrella of protection and is why members of the Duke's Guard are stationed at their estate.

Ryan Garahan is one of those Guards, and as the story opens, he hears calls for help while on patrol. There, he finds Prudence stuck in a tree and is overcome by the sight that greets him. I loved the vision of Prudence in his life that immediately came to him. Like his brothers and cousins in earlier books, Fate has shown him his future, and there is no denying it.

Prudence is no meek and petite Society flower. Unusually tall and statuesque, Prudence's horrible mother sent her away so she wouldn't detract from her more conventionally pretty sisters. Prudence is now the unpaid and cruelly treated governess for her twin cousins, Percy and Phineas. She adores the boys, and they can be found outdoors whenever possible. But Prudence's aunt is even worse than her mother, and her treatment is abusive at best.

Ryan being who he is, his chivalrous treatment of Prudence is no surprise. I also loved how he connected with the two boys, who reminded him of his cousins, Thomas and Eamon, at the same age. Ryan can't get Prudence out of his mind, but he also worries about neglecting his duties at the same time. Matters become more complicated when Ryan comes to their rescue again, saving Prudence and Percy from drowning. Expedience has him taking them to the Baroness, who is closer, instead of to their home.

I loved the quick connection between Phoebe and Prudence and Prudence's surprise at how kindly she is treated. This is something she is unaccustomed to and not sure how to deal with. I ached for Prudence and the love that has been denied to her for so long. Her aunt and uncle's treatment of her at this point was criminal. After overhearing their parents' plans for Prudence, I cheered as Percy and Phineas took matters into their own hands to save their beloved cousin. I adored the following chapters, as Ryan's protectiveness is fully aroused.

I loved Prudence. The cruel treatment she has received from those who should love her has impacted the way she sees herself. It hurt to see how she accepted how she was treated. But once Ryan comes into her life, things begin to change. His obvious appreciation for her looks, kindness, and intelligence helped her see herself in a new light. However, Ryan still has a hard time convincing her they belong together. I loved seeing him finally overcome the fears that kept them apart. But Fate isn't quite finished with them.

At the same time Ryan is handling his unexpected love life, the Duke's Guard has a mystery to solve. The horrifying rumors that circulated about Lady Phoebe in The Duke's Hammer and were thought to be resolved have resurfaced in their village. The men of the Guard have a great deal of trouble uncovering the source of the problem. Complicating matters, there are also rumors about Ryan that go against everything he stands for. I had a good idea of the problem's origins, but getting the proof was the issue.

I was glued to the pages as new trouble for Prudence coincided with further information on the source of the rumors. I loved how Prudence's newfound self-confidence helped her until Ryan arrived. At the same time, the resolution of the rumor scheme had me on the edge of my seat as Phoebe rushed off to confront the one responsible. I laughed, cheered, gasped, and cried at the twists during the final confrontation.

I can't end the review without commenting on Phineas and Percy. I was amazed that they had such good hearts with the poor examples they had in their parents. I was thrilled to see how close they were to Prudence. I enjoyed their intelligence, enthusiasm, and joy in their activities with her. I laughed out loud at their awestruck reaction to meeting Ryan and the other Guards. And I was very impressed by their determination to help Prudence.

The epilogue was a terrific wrap-up to the book. I liked seeing what the future held for Ryan and Prudence. I can't wait to see who is next to fall.

#netgalley… (plus d'informations)

The Duke’s Guard—Swoon for the Men in Black!

Another title in the Duke’s Guard series. I really should give them up. They’re not offering much new. A variation on the same theme. Bad (well good) Boy meets lovely girl who’s threatened in some way. Falls head over heels for her but has to convince her to want him as much as he wants her (or a variation on that theme). All happening as he’s trying to protect the Duke of Wyndmere and his family.
There’s always some sort of threat to the girl, and the Duke’s extended family.
The many Irish/Scottish cousins who make up the cohort that are the Guards are helping, or hindering. This tale is set at Summerfield Chase, home of the Baron and Baroness Summerfield, distant cousins to the Duke of Wyndmere. All are under the protection of the Duke’s Guards.
In the Duke’s Sabre, Prudence Barstow is the niece to a local squire. Prudence is treated like an unpaid governess, being starved because her mother and aunt feel she’s too tall and voluptuous (as they say slatternly) to marry, and is treated worse than a maid. Her physical appearance offends them.
Ryan Garahan rescues her from a tree, and later from drowning. Of course he’s enamoured of her at first sight. There’s twins involved. Precocious and precious. A lively pair.
Ryan, and as it turns out the Baroness, are both having shocking slander spread about them in the village. Ryan is accused of molesting two shy maidens. No one can get to the bottom of who’s fanning the gossip.
Add to this the kidnapping of Prudence and those maidens, and all the story hooks are in full flight.
So back to giving up on the series? I just can’t! Despite knowing the fairly predictable plot twists involved, despite me being aware of how the stories will turn out, even the fairly ordinary ones have me hooked!
Ah! Guilty pleasures!

A Dragonblade ARC via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author and publisher.… (plus d'informations)