Another fantastic entry in the Duke's Guard series. The action starts immediately, as Flaherty comes across a broken-down coach. The jumpy coachman, when confronted by a large man dressed all in black, trips and accidentally shoots him. Flaherty's pride takes a serious hit when he discovers he's been felled by a woman.
Pippa is determined to protect her best friend, Millie, and Millie's newborn son. Millie's brother-in-law plans to take the child and claim it as his own. Though wary of the stranger, Pippa agrees to accept his protection as he takes them to Summerfield Chase.
As always, those in need are welcomed and cared for. I enjoyed seeing Pippa and Millie settle in at Summerfield and get to know the wives and Lady Phoebe. Pippa is always on guard, expecting trouble from Millie's brother-in-law. We get the occasional glimpse into the villain's mind, showing that he has not given up his plans. The tension builds as attempts escalate, with one rescue coming from an unexpected source, and the final confrontation a heart-stopping face-off.
I enjoyed the development of Flaherty and Pippa's relationship. The sparks were there from the beginning, though it took a little while for Flaherty to overcome the hit to his pride. Once he did, it didn't take long for him to realize the depth of his feelings for her. When the men of the Duke's Guard fall, they fall hard, and he was no exception. Pippa fell just as hard for Flaherty, but was concerned about continuing Millie's protection. I loved their honest conversation about dreams and expectations, and seeing how Flaherty showed her his love and understanding.
There is more going on than just avoiding the dastardly brother-in-law. Pippa and Millie's fathers look for information about Millie's husband's death. They also hear rumors about the women and involve Pippa's three brothers. I laughed out loud at their arrival at Summerfield Chase, the exchange of opinions between the brothers and the Guards, and watching them all get skillfully handled by the women. There is a surprising twist to their arrival that changed some of the dynamics. The later arrival of the two fathers brought some humorous moments as Flaherty faced his father-in-law for the first time. The book ended with a look into Flaherty and Pippa's future family.