The Duke's Rapier - C.H. Admirand (Dragonblade - Sept 2024)

Series: Duke's Guard (Book 10)
 
A lecherous lord out for revenge and the black sheep of the O'Malley family complicate this Regency Romance on the Duke's Guard's latest assignment—to find a missing woman.
 
O'Malley doesn't believe in coincidences, nor that his cousin has somehow managed to stumble upon the missing woman he has been sent to find. He arrives at the inn to discover O'Ghill has locked the vicar's niece in her room at the inn and left him to face the fireworks.
 
When O'Malley opens the door, a winsome lass with eyes the color of morning mist—magnified by her spectacles—wild red curls, and freckles falls into his arms. Her expression of wonder and attraction goes to O'Malley's head like three fingers of the Irish on an empty gut. But it is a kiss in the garden at midnight that has O'Malley falling hard for the enchanting lass.
 
Caroline Gillingham has lost everything: her older brother and his best friend—the man she promised to wait for—on the battlefield on the Iberian Peninsula, and her parents, both of whom succumbed to illness. In order to pay their mountain of debt, she is forced to sell their home and its contents.
 
She journeys to Summerfield-on-Eden to stay with her uncle the vicar and his family, but ends up a few hours away stranded at an inn with her mother's locket, her father's pocket watch, and three shillings in her reticule.
 
O'Ghill may have saved her from the crooked pawnbroker, but it is the blond-haired, green-eyed giant of a man who captures her heart when she tumbles into his arms.
 
Danger stalks in the night, but it will have to get past the Duke's Rapier before he will let harm come to those he has sworn to protect with his strength, his honor, and his heart.
 
Another fantastic entry into the Duke's Guard series. Just when I think it can't get any better, a new book proves me wrong. This book picks up where The Duke's Mercenary leaves off. Prudence Garahan and the vicar's and blacksmith's daughter have been rescued and returned to their families. But word comes that the perpetrator of their abduction was released because he has friends in very high places. Baron Summerfield and the Guard members believe he will be looking for revenge. When the vicar's niece, Caroline, disappears on her way to stay with her uncle, Thomas O'Malley is sent to find her.
 
After her mother's death, Caroline is penniless and jilted by her suitor. On the journey to live with her uncle, she runs out of money for the coach and visits a pawnbroker. O'Malley's cousin O'Ghill saves her from the unwanted attention of the shopkeeper and locks her in her room at the inn while he waits for Thomas's arrival. When Thomas arrives and lets her out, something about him speaks to her heart.
 
I enjoyed watching the relationship develop between Caro and Thomas. After seeing so many of his brothers and cousins fall hard and fast, it doesn't take long for Thomas to recognize his feelings. But he also knows his duty to the baron and must subdue those feelings while carrying out his duties. I enjoyed seeing Caroline and him get to know each other while the sparks of attraction grew with each encounter. Thomas's arguments with himself are amusing, and I laughed out loud at the teasing he endured from his cousins. There is also a terrific scene where Thomas deals with Caro's former suitor.
 
The story's suspense is intense as Baron Summerfield and the Guard members prepare to protect their loved ones. Matters are complicated by the headstrong actions of the vicar's daughter, who unthinkingly puts herself and others in danger. The tension builds as the danger draws nearer, and Thomas is injured. The conclusion is somewhat anticlimactic but satisfying.
 
Each book can be read as a standalone, but the backstory and family dynamics are best if you start from the beginning. I love these men and their loyalty, commitment, and support for each other. Their interactions are frequently funny, especially when accompanied by their stubbornness and competitiveness. I also recommend reading the author's Lords of Vice series to understand the relationships of the Duke of Wyndmere and his family. 

The Duke's Mercenary - C.H. Admirand (Dragonblade - June 2024)

Series: Duke's Guard (Book 9)
 
Dermott O'Malley, The Duke's Mercenary, expects trouble but not the lovely lass perched on the stone wall, arms spread, prepared to jump. He calls out a warning, and rushes to save her as she falls.
 
Caught in his arms, she opens her eyes, unable to tear her gaze from the devastatingly handsome man with the brilliant green eyes hovering above her. She blinks. Who is he? Her heart begins to pound…. Dear Lord, who is she?
 
The nameless woman captures Dermott's heart, but trouble follows her from London.
 
As the threat against the lass with no memory increases, Dermott's vow to protect her with his life is called to action until he realizes the only way to truly protect the lass is to marry her. But will the brave lass trust him with her heart and her love?
 
Danger stalks in the night, but it will have to get past The Duke's Mercenary before he will let harm come to those he has sworn to protect with his strength, his honor, and his heart.
 
Another terrific entry into the Duke's Guard series. Dermott is one of the sixteen handsome, protective Irishmen who work for the Duke of Wyndmere, guarding his immediate and extended families. I love these men who are tough on the outside but have an inner softness brought out by the women they fall for.
 
The story opens with Georgiana Eggerton discovering that her father has gambled away their homes, his fortune, her dowry, and her hand in marriage to the vile Viscount Trenchert. Devastated by what happened, he suspects that the Viscount cheated and challenges him to a duel, but he also knows that Georgiana is in danger. He quickly sends Georgiana off to the country, telling her to seek assistance from the Earl of Lippencott.
 
Dermott is making his rounds of the Earl's property when he spies a beautiful young woman about to jump from a wall. He races toward her but isn't in time to catch her. He scoops up her unconscious body and races for the manor, all the time worrying about her, wondering who she is and what she is running from. His protective instincts are aroused, as is his heart, and something in him says, "Finders keepers - she's mine."
 
Matters become complicated when Georgiana regains consciousness but can't remember who she is or what she is running from. Dermott vows to protect her, as do his fellow Guard members and the Earl himself. But it is Dermott who has Georgiana's complete trust.
 
I loved watching the relationship develop between Georgiana and Dermott. As her memories return, the danger she is in becomes clear. I enjoyed seeing Dermott's protectiveness combine with the tender feelings that were new to him. Georgiana's feelings for Dermott grow the more time she spends with him. But she is no frail flower, and there are times when her strength of will runs up against Dermott's stubbornness, and sparks fly. The tension ramps up as the viscount attempts to claim his prize, but the Duke's Guard members thwart him. Meanwhile, Dermott comes up with the perfect plan to put Georgiana out of the viscount's reach. I liked that neither took long to admit their feelings, and there were no misunderstandings to keep them apart.
 
The confrontations with the viscount were intense and exciting. It's always fun to see the feisty Guard members have to rein in their more violent instincts to adhere to their employers' rules of engagement. However, I found the final confrontation with the viscount a little anti-climactic, as I would like to know what happened to him.
 
As always, I love the interactions among the men of the Duke's Guard. The brothers and cousins always have each other's backs, but they do not hesitate to roast each other whenever they feel like it. It was entertaining to see Dermott on the receiving end of post-marriage teasing and the payback from the others. 

 
 

The Duke's Enforcer - C.H. Admirand (Dragonblade - Mar 2024)

Series: Duke's Guard (Book 8)
 
“Ye’re under me protection now, lass. ‘Tis yers, whether ye accept it or not.”
 
Darby Garahan’s latest assignment, to uncover the source behind the threat to kill the duke’s brother-in-law, is complicated when the angel of the streets asks for his help. He must rescue a young woman who has been lured to London with the promise of employment—only to end up at a boarding house rumored to be a front for a brothel.
 
Aimee Anderson answers an advert for a position at a milliner’s shop in London, taking charge of her life after a lord compromised her on the way to Gretna Green a few years earlier, leaving her stranded at an inn.
 
The handsome-as-sin Irishman who rescues Aimee reminds her that the past does not have to define the future if she has the courage to make a change.
 
Rescuing her is just the beginning. He must convince her that she is not damaged goods in order to gain her trust and win her heart and her hand in marriage.
 
Danger stalks in the night, but it will have to challenge The Duke’s Enforcer. Nothing short of dying will deter him from his duty to protect the duke and his family!
 
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.