L'honneur de Lucy

The Danby Brothers #2

by Elisabeth Hobbes

Angleterre, XVIe siècle
Quand un inconnu, gravement blessé, se présente à la porte de son auberge, Lucy n’hésite pas à lui offrir l’hospitalité. Comment pourrait-elle refuser un abri à un homme qui en a de toute évidence fort besoin ? Mais, quand l’inconnu – qui prétend être chevalier et répondre au nom de Roger Danby – refuse de lui révéler les raisons de sa présence dans la région et les conditions qui ont conduit à sa blessure, Lucy se prend à douter. Et s’il était un bandit de grand chemin prêt à la dévaliser ? Ou pire : un traître susceptible de jeter le déshonneur sur sa maison ? La peur au ventre, Lucy présente à son troublant hôte un ultimatum : s’il refuse de lui révéler ses intentions, elle le dénoncera aux autorités…

Genres: Historical Romance, Romance, Medieval Romance, Historical Fiction

320 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published August 22, 2017

About the author

Author for Harlequin Historical.
Falling For Her Captor October 2014
A Wager for the Widow July 2015
The Blacksmith's Wife May 2016
The Saxon Outlaw's Revenge December 2016
Redeeming the Rogue Knight August 2017

I grew up in York where I spent most of my teenage years wandering around the city looking for a handsome Roman or Viking to sweep me off my feet. Sadly it never happened but I developed a love of the past and went on to read History and Art History at university before venturing into the world of teaching. These days I hold down jobs as a teacher and mum. I live in Cheshire with my husband, two young children and two cats with ridiculous names.
I love historical fiction and have a fondness for dark haired, bearded heroes. When I'm not writing, I spend a lot of my spare time reading and have become something of a pro at cooking one-handed while holding a book!

You can find me on Facebook and Twitter
https://www.facebook.com/ElisabethHob... and Twitter https://twitter.com/ElisabethHobbes

Reviews

[SuperWendy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The hero was the villain in an earlier story (The Blacksmith's Wife) and he was loathsome. Not over the top evil. More DudeBro - he tries to "c'mon baby" the heroine into bed while casually dismissing her and when she settles into marriage with his half-brother he comes slinking back around like the worst sort of alley cat. So yeah. Roger has a long ways to go in the redemption department.

The author manages to pull it off - mainly because she doesn't morph him into a choir boy. Instead she pairs him with the ideal heroine and through her experiences and through her eyes, Roger realizes what a putz he's been. There's external conflict in play, but I was drawn more to the internal conflict. The heroine who "got into trouble" and is raising her son alone, while the hero has bedded half the women on the Continent and is celebrated for it. The author sets off little truth bombs about the amount of garbage and hypocrisy women have faced since the dawn of time, and still experience today.

And while I hesitate to mention it - it's the sort of thing that readers seem to love to complain about on GR - there are no sex scenes in this book. Frankly, it didn't need any and would have been jarringly out of place given the internal conflict. This couple burning up the sheets together in the context of this story would have been as subtle as a chainsaw. Instead there's some lovely tender moments that illustrate the growing trust between the couple - which works well.

[Joanne Robertson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have always been a closet Mills and Boon fan and the historical fiction books are always worth a look especially those of the less well known periods of history for me. Elisabeth Hobbes is my favourite author in this genre so I’m always delighted when her newest book is launched. And this time I had even more to rejoice about as this is book two in the Danby brother series and I was curious to find out what had happened to Roger after we left him in The Blacksmith’s Wife  so it was great to meet him again here! Although I did love Rogers character in that book, he was definitely a bit of a “bad boy” and whilst women fell in love with this charismatic knight he seemed oblivious to their needs thinking only of his own. But he is about to meet his match here in single mother Lucy but she has more reason than most to give Roger a wide berth!

This is the second book I have read this week that is set here in my home county of Cheshire and although both were love stories they couldn’t have been more apart on the “romance spectrum” so to speak!    As with most historical romances, it’s all in the build up to the big HEA. And Redeeming The Rogue Knight is an absolutely sumptuous historical romance that has been meticulously researched and perfectly polished from start to finish. Roger is a dark and brooding hero who has been away from home since the family problems he faced previously in The Blacksmiths Wife. Now injured, he seeks refuge with Lucy, who’s brother has been travelling with him. His interactions with Lucy are full of sexual tension and their chemistry is palpable from their very first encounter. I couldn’t have picked a better heroine for Roger to pursue as she was perfect for him. Lucy was feisty and prickly, standing up to her nemisis and determined to do what she had to do to keep food on her table and a roof over her child’s head. Definitely a strong minded woman ahead of her time!

I loved every page of this compelling romance and have to admit that it’s actually my favourite of her books so far, made unputdownable by her enticing writing style and perfectly crafted historical detailing. It also helps that the cover promises a rather delectable Roger inside as well! A must read for fans of this genre!

[Frankie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Roger is well and truly a wolf, a dominant leader of the pack he is a masculine and insatiable man, who is very self-assured and über confident – even when wounded, he still ultra charming, if on the verge of egotistical.

Lucy has an awful lot on her shoulders, she is practically ostracized by her village due to the fact that she is a single, unwed mother. She is raising her son, brewing the ale and running the inn after the death of her father and to protect her son and her livelihood she will do just about anything – that includes tying Roger to the bed while wielding a red-hot poker.

This is like walking in the characters foot steps you get a real sense of the period, Hobbes has yet again shown just what a talented author she is.
It is sharp and precise, from the language right down to details of the joust. It’s an highly charged tale of finding love in the most unexpected places, it is thrilling and emotional.

Another great read that I cannot recommend enough.

https://chicksroguesandscandals.wordp...

[ANNE · Rating 5 out of 5]

Through skillfully crafted character development, Elisabeth Hobbes manages to successfully redeem the villain of The Blacksmith’s Wife. A medieval redemption arc of this magnitude is almost unheard of! Hobbes quietly subverts the bodice-ripping genre and delivers a satisfying feminist piece. An absolute gem of a story!

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

What happens when a man who is every bit of a rogue finds his match in a single mother who stirs his soul? Will this be a match made in heaven? Sir Roger is a womanizer and a scoundrel who'll bed any woman the first chance he can get. But things get rough and chaotic when his partner Thomas, does the unthinkable and spends the night in the bed of Katherine Harpur. Now men are after them and Roger gets injured along the way. They ride to Thomas's house where his sister, Lucy Carew helps them. Roger's racy conversations with Lucy just prove he'll break the rules no matter the situation. But for how long can Lucy deny the attraction between her and this rogue of a man?

Elisabeth Hobbes writing in Redeeming the Rogue Knight is impeccable. This story entertained me from the start. I was thrust into Sir Roger’s world and experienced firsthand his womanizing ways and later on his growth as a hero. The storyline which is fast-paced, character driven and adventurous made my reading experience as seamless as possible. All in all, a satisfying read for anyone who fancies historical romance!

Recommended
4 Stars

[Harlequin Historical]

Miniseries: The Danby Brothers

[Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

Redeeming the Rogue Knight is the kind of book that reminds me why I love Elisabeth Hobbes’s historical romances. I first read this story back in 2018, and returning to it now only deepened my appreciation for how skillfully Hobbes turns a former villain into a hero worth rooting for.

Sir Roger Danby—Hal’s charming but deeply flawed brother from The Blacksmith’s Wife—is not an easy man to like at first. I’ll admit I had serious doubts that Hobbes could redeem him in a believable way. But she does it with such nuance and emotional honesty that Roger’s transformation feels earned rather than convenient. Seeing the layers beneath his swagger, the vulnerability behind his mistakes, and the quiet longing he tries so hard to hide made me fall for him far more than I expected.

Lucy Carew is an absolutely wonderful heroine. A single mother who has survived hardship and judgment, she’s strong, capable, and wary of men like Roger—and with good reason. Yet she offers him refuge when he’s injured and on the run, and their connection sparks from the very first moment. Their chemistry is warm, tender, and full of tension in all the best ways. Lucy’s resilience and Roger’s slow, heartfelt awakening to what truly matters make them a perfect match.

I also loved revisiting Hal and Joanna from the first book. Their presence adds continuity and emotional depth to the Danby Brothers world, making this second installment feel even richer.

This story is about redemption, trust, and finding love where you least expect it. It’s a beautifully paced romance with engaging characters, a touch of danger, and a hero whose journey from rogue to worthy knight is immensely satisfying. The Danby Brothers series remains wonderfully entertaining, and this book is one of my favorites. Highly recommended.

[Romance Rehab · Rating 5 out of 5]

All reviews posted originally on the blog: http://www.romancerehab.com/

I have a little confession, folks. I haven’t read historical romance in a really long time. And even back in the old days when I did read a ton of historical romance, my comfort zone was the Western historicals. (Nobody’s Darling by Teresa Medeiros is and will ALWAYS be one of my all-time favs) Why’d I give up on the category, you ask? Frankly, I got a little bored with rakish earls, viscounts, and dukes.

I also got tired of having to look up a crap-load of terms about old-timey clothing just so I could understand what everyone was wearing. (There’s a ton of really detailed descriptions of clothing in historicals, OK? It was making me think way too hard and y’all know I prefer nice, easy reading.)

But, not too long ago, I made an exception on the recommendation of another blog I follow and read Elisabeth Hobbes’s The Blacksmith’s Wife and really enjoyed it. So when the author asked if I’d be interested in reading Redeeming the Rogue Knight, which features characters I’d met in The Blacksmith’s Wife, I was all for it. And once again, the author didn’t let me down.

Let’s face it. Medieval romance is tough sell for some audiences. I mean, it takes a talented author to make love stories set in a time before simple things like penicillin, deodorant and tampons seem sexy. But against all odds, this author makes it work. And better yet, I don’t need an old-timey English to modern English translator on standby to understand what the heck is going on in the story. There’s just enough detail provided that I believe the story is historically accurate (I’ll take the author’s word for it. I don’t plan on looking anything up to verify that stuff, but nothing here tripped my bullshit meter) without getting bogged down in too much detail.

As for the hero, Sir Roger Danby, I’ll admit that I was skeptical. After his introduction in The Blacksmith’s Wife, I frankly didn’t know if he was redeemable. He was an asshat in that book, and he started off as an asshat in this book. But when he’s stripped of his title and privilege (temporarily) due to circumstances outside his control, he shows little hints of vulnerability that made me start to dislike him less and less. And after a few chapter, I found that I didn’t even want to kick him in the balls anymore. I consider that a win.

Lucy was a fierce mama bear heroine. She did whatever it took (and I mean whatever...it wasn’t always pleasant) to care for her baby, and I admired her selflessness. She wasn’t a whiner, either. There was no time for woe-is-me pity parties in Lucy’s life. All in all, I thought she was the perfect woman to straighten out the stuck-up, somewhat entitled Sir Roger. She even had him doing “woman’s work” at one point in the book, which I loved.

Long-story-short, Redeeming the Rogue Knight is a tender and passionate medieval romance that fans of historicals should definitely check out. It’s highly 1-clickable.

Full disclosure: We received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review.

[Laura Sefton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was given a copy of the book ahead of publication in return for an honest review.

We first met Sir Roger Danby, the devilishly dashing knight, in The Blacksmith's Wife. In his first outing, he was a conniving, arrogant knight and the wonderful Elisabeth Hobbes had created a truly unlikeable character. Redeeming the Rogue Knight, however, allows Sir Roger to take centre stage and we see him as we've never seen him before...

We rejoin him in the house of Lord Harpur, where he and Thomas Carew are staying. The pair have returned to the UK after a stint as mercenaries in France, and they are on a mission to deliver an important message from King Edward. But before they can make their delivery, they are attacked. Roger is wounded by an arrow and Thomas takes him to an inn, which is run by Thomas' sister, Lucy. As Lucy tends to the knight's wounds, we discover the innkeeper's own past and how she has done everything she can to survive. Can Lucy change the knight's philandering ways? And can he teach her to trust her heart again?

If I can use one word to describe this book, it is 'smouldering'. The relationship between Roger and Lucy gently smoulders away, gradually flickering into a flame, and this makes for a slow build-up to romance. We go along for the ride thinking we know how the tale will unfold, but there are moments when Hobbes genuinely blindsides us so that we feel the revelations being made by Roger about himself just as acutely as he is.

This is a tale that cleverly continues the path taken by a character we thought we knew and sends him on a journey we do not expect. Although Roger's carefree way with women hasn't changed, we see the impact Lucy has upon his conscience - and likewise Roger leads Lucy to see that all is not lost.

Lucy herself is another strong-willed female character to add to Hobbes' collection of feisty females. However, Lucy has been damaged by men who have used, abused and abandoned her. We see that she will do anything for her child and this at once inspires sympathy and provokes a shocked reaction by the reader. There is one particular point in the story where I genuinely willed for Roger to appear before it was too late.

Ultimately, the element of redemption becomes the focal point for our two lovers, and this makes for an intriguing read that brings closure to Roger's story...for now!

[Rosemarie · Rating 3 out of 5]

The hero of this book, Roger, is very flawed and selfish, and great deal of the story is him realizing how his actions effect others, that being said I still found myself liking him a great deal. The heroine, Lucy, is also flawed, she is very prickly and has trust issues, but when you learn about her past it makes sense. The entire first half of the book is spent getting the characters to a place where they can show even a little bit of decency to each other, but once they get to that point they fall for each quickly, not that is the the end of their problems, far from it. One criticism is I wish the author had shown the couple spending a little more time sharing with each other, what we got was good, but I really wish that there had been more intimate moments, especially aside from topics of Roger's past treatment of women, which was a such a fraught topic for Lucy, not to say that it didn't need to addressed, it did, but it felt like they spent a good deal of the story in judgment of each other. I wanted to see them share some of their hopes and dreams, and maybe memories that weren't so painful.
This book is clean, which was surprising because the hero and heroine both spend great deal of time thinking about sex. Although, the fact that they didn't have sex makes complete sense given the context of the story, I kind of wish though that the book had ended showing them married and enjoying themselves in bed, because it seems like poor Lucy never had a very positive experience with sex.
This book was the second in a series, but I was able to read as a stand alone just fine. Overall, a solid medieval romance with both characters being strong, but flawed.

[Rachel (Rae) · Rating 5 out of 5]

After reading The Blacksmith's Wife it's safe to say I was intrigued by Roger's character and I couldn't wait to see how his story would turn out. Now I know that it is the second book in The Danby Brothers series but I still think it works well as a standalone. However I think it is worth reading the series from the start just so you get to read Joanna and Hal's story.

I really enjoyed both books for different reasons but in this story I loved the feisty interactions between Lucy and Roger. Their first meeting is pretty memorable and from then on it is so entertaining when they clash and you get the resulting sparks flying. Roger has definitely met his match in Lucy and it was lovely to see his character develop. When he isn't being bad tempered he has such a playful and flirty personality which was so much fun to see. It was so easy to completely become engrossed in this story. Lucy is the perfect person to stand up to Roger she hasn't had an easy life but tries her best and her strength is a wonderful attribute. Their chemistry sparked whenever they were near each other which made the story even more lively and engaging.

With an added bit of danger to keep the characters on their toes the pacing of the story is great and I had finished this book in no time at all. I had got that attached to the characters that I didn't want to say goodbye to them.

Fiery interactions, witty writing and two wonderful characters makes this book so very entertaining!


With thanks to Elisabeth Hobbes for my copy. This is my honest and unbiased opinion.

[Rosie Amber · Rating 4 out of 5]

Redeeming The Rogue Knight is a medieval historical romance. Roger Danby and Thomas Carew have been earning a living as mercenary fighters in France. They are currently in Cheshire delivering a message from the King, who requests more troops for the war.

Roger and Thomas are forced to make a hasty departure from the house of Lord Harper due to an indiscretion with the Lord’s daughter. Injured by an arrow, Thomas takes Roger to safety at his family inn. Since Thomas has been away, his father has died leaving his sister and her young son alone to run the ale house.

With men still after the pair, and Roger unable to travel further, Thomas takes off to lead the pursuers away. He leaves his sister to tend Roger. Fearful of Roger, his wound and the trailing men, Lucy is reluctant to put herself and her son in any danger. She agrees to treat Roger, but shows her disapproval of his manners and his life, whilst hiding her attraction to the rogue. Roger needs Lucy to care for him while he recovers, he finds his usual charm rebuffed and in time is humbled by Lucy’s life. Forced to spend time with Lucy and her son, Roger begins to open his eyes to his past life and ask himself questions about his future.

This is an enjoyable rags to riches romance following a popular story arc and I would recommend this to readers who like clean historical romance.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you want sex in your romance book, skip this one. There are only chaste kisses. Personally, I want the sex, so I knocked it down a star. I knocked this story down another star for the constant quotes in dialogue without recognizing who said what--I hate it when authors do that! It really bugs me when I have to guess at who made the quoted comment.
The story moves along pretty well, and I liked how the author brought up the double standards of how women are treated in society. This is an issue that we still face in society today--how men can get away with certain deeds and making women pay for their sins of the men. Lucy's anger towards how she was treated in the past and how it affects her decisions to relate to men in her daily life is something many of us as women share.

[Mairibeth MacMillan · Rating 5 out of 5]

After reading The Blacksmith’s Wife I was intrigued to hear the Elisabeth Hobbes had decided to write Roger’s story. He was such an unlikeable character in that first book and I really wanted to know how he could become hero material without it seeming unrealistic. Hobbes, however, pulls this off admirably and Roger is the same, arrogant man but as we get to know him better his redemption is convincing. The mediaeval period detail is fascinating and the scene at the local fair with its jousting tournaments is particularly atmospheric.

I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review which I then forgot to write but I’m not complaining about having a justifiable excuse to sit and reread the entire book just for the pleasure of it! Intriguing characters and a great setting make this one of my favourite romances that I’ve read this year.

[Emma Moyle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'd been lucky to get hold of an advance copy and this is another fantastic novel from Elisabeth Hobbes - from the off, I loved Lucy and Roger as romantic protagonists. Lucy is a strong-willed single mother who has learnt to her cost that women are often at a disadvantage in a male world of commerce and violence. She is more than a match of Roger, who we had first met in Hobbes' brilliant The Blacksmith's Wife, and without giving any spoilers, I really enjoyed seeing his character develop into a *very* attractive romantic hero. Once again, Hobbes' attention to detail meant that I was utterly immersed in the growing attraction between her characters. I loved the fact that this developed a character we'd already met and I hope we haven't seen the last of the Danby brothers just yet!

[Charlie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read all of Elizabeth's books, and enjoyed them all. This one though is probably my favourite. Why? Elizabeth’s skill is in presenting two characters who are both antagonistic to each other, until a gradual understanding and attraction builds between them. In this book, the story is almost in reverse. They start with a strong attraction, and for their personal reason fight against it all through the story until... Well I’ll let you find out the ending.

[DarkAthena59 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Une histoire qui sort plutôt de l'ordinaire de avec une héroïne qui doit se battre pour survivre et un héros agaçant au début mais qui fini par s'amender sur la fin. Une histoire qui reflète bien les différences entre les conditions féminines et masculines. Lecture sympathique.

[Catrina Donnelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant! This is the book I have been looking for to rekindle my love of Mills & Boon and historical romances and novels. Well done author!

[Gwessie Tee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Received arc in return for an honest review, naughtiness 3

Knowing some of my friends had recommended this book to me, I was delighted to be offered the honour of reading it, I can honestly say that I have not read a huge number of medieval romances but the ones I have read, including this I absolutely adore, I will most definitely be collecting more of Elisabeth's books this is the first of Elisabeth's books I've read it certainly won't be the last.


As always I will not give spoilers as its not fair to the author or possible new readers that is what blurbs are for. I can tell you I am most definitely addicted to medieval as well, just haven't had the chance to read alot of them this I believe is my 5th possibly 6th medieval romance. I will definitely be collecting more especially this lovely author. Elisabeth can write a full roller coaster of emotions beautifully,which can have you weeping one minute with one character, to giggling the next with another, I was able to connect with the story and characters very much so. Definitely highly recommend this book.

To those who haven't tried medieval but do like historical romance or want to expand on their sub genres of reading definitely give this book a read I doubt you will be disappointed.

Thank you Lady Elisabeth for writing this beautiful book and giving me the honour to read it 💖

[Harlequin Books]

*Miniseries: The Danby Brothers

[crazy1bad]

A man that thinks it is no big deal seducing virgins, making bastards and wants to make his mistress the wife of his brother is unredeemable.

In the first book Roger wanted to seduce Joanna and said that she has to prove her love for him by having sex with him. He made her believe that he would marry her and she was a virgin that would be ruined if she let him have his way. Roger also was forceful when he kissed Joanna and it felt as if he wanted to rape her any second.

Roger has no conscience, loyalty and deserve no happiness. I would be glad if he burned in hell.
No amount of trauma in his life would make me forgive him.