Series:
Duke's Guard (Book 7)
“Let me be the man who loves ye, and makes love to ye,
for the rest of our days. Say yes, lass.”
The Duke's Guard: The men in black who have sworn an oath
to protect the Duke of Wyndmere and his family from enemies that would stop at
nothing to discredit and destroy him!
Ryan Garahan has given his vow to the Duke of Wyndmere,
and nothing will deter him from his duty.
Fate has other plans the day Ryan reacts instantly to a
cry for help. He races to the ancient oak at the edge of the village, glances
up and notices two things at once: a pair of scuffed half boots and shapely stocking-clad
legs dangling directly above him.
He quickly averts his gaze but cannot forget the heavenly
sight of long, lithe legs adorned with white silk stockings -- tied with
scarlet ribbon garters -- nor the curve of her delectable derrière!! He nearly
swallows his tongue.
Prudence Barstow has been sent to the Borderlands as
governess to her young twin cousins.
Prudence's love of the outdoors and her rambunctious
young cousins' constantly flaunting danger, has the trio being rescued more
than once by Ryan. This time he fears he is too late, when he sees the lass
slipping under the water as he sets the twin beside his brother on the bank of
the pond.
Danger stalks in the night, but it will have to challenge
The Duke's Saber before he will let harm come to those he has sworn to protect
with his strength, his honor, and his heart.
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.
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