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

The Duke's Saber (Duke’s Guard #7) by C.H. Admirand     

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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.