The Duke's Sword

The Duke’s Guard #1

by C.H. Admirand

Gwendolyn guards her bruised and battered heart like a warrior…Patrick O’Malley has no time for distractions…

The Duke of Wyndmere’s quest to find a nanny for his newborn twins brings yet another applicant to his door. Widowed Gwendolyn Alexander's reputation precedes her as one of the most sought-after nannies among the ton.

Patrick O’Malley, head of the duke’s personal guard, hopes this latest applicant will meet with the approval of the most difficult members of the duke’s family…his twin babes. Nothing prepares him for the physical reaction that slams into him as the petite woman, dressed in drab peat-brown from head to toe, steps down from the duke’s carriage. Her Irish whiskey-colored eyes hold him captive, while her voluptuous curves have his breath snagging in his lungs as unbidden images slam into him of tangled sheets…flickering firelight, and silky brown tresses spread across the white of his pillow.

Gwendolyn Alexander anticipates her reputation preceding her as she alights from the duke’s carriage. She steps down from the carriage to thank the footman for his assistance, and her gaze collides with an impossibly handsome, broad-shouldered man, garbed in black from head to toe. Desire flickers in eyes the color of polished emeralds, reminding her of Beltane fires, drawing her inexorably toward him.

When Gwendolyn and Patrick find themselves at cross purposes protecting the little ones from threats of kidnapping, they must learn to compromise and work together before the kidnapper strikes again!

Will they walk away or face the fire of desire that threatens to consume them?

Genres: Historical Romance, Romance, Historical, Historical Fiction, Amazon, Regency

298 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 30, 2022

About the author

C.H. was born in Aiken, South Carolina, but her parents moved back to northern New Jersey where she grew up. She believes in fate, destiny, and love at first sight. C.H. fell in love at first sight when she was seventeen. She was married for 41 wonderful years until her husband lost his battle with cancer. Soul mates, their hearts will be joined forever. They have three grown children—one son-in-law, two grandsons, two rescue dogs, and two rescue grand-cats.

Her characters rarely follow the synopsis she outlines for them…but C.H. has learned to listen to her characters! Her heroes will always have a few of her husband’s best qualities: his honesty, his integrity, his compassion for those in need, and his killer broad shoulders. C.H. writes about the things she loves most: Family, her Irish and English Ancestry, Baking, and Gardening.

C.H. is currently spending time in Regency England, writing for Dragonblade Publishing. Book four in her new series, The Lords of Vice, is in her editor’s hands. Pre-Order is live for Dragonblade’s 2021 holiday collections. Her novella, A Promise Kept…A Love Unspoken, will be in Star of Wonder: A Historical Romance Collection #1. She’s currently writing Rescued by the Lyon for The Lyon’s Den, releasing in February 2022. Watch for her new series featuring the fabulous O’Malleys from The Lords of Vice Series!

If you love Historical Western Romance, venture back to the Old West with her bestselling Irish Western Series. Perhaps you’d rather read her Medieval Trilogy: Mo Ghra, Mo Chroi, Go Deo (translation: My Love, My Heart, Forever,) set in 11th Century England.

Is Contemporary Romance more to your taste? Stop by the Circle G Ranch in Pleasure, Texas; the Claddagh Ranch in Emerson, Colorado; or Small Town USA ~ Apple Grove, Ohio ~ to see what the descendants from her historical romances are up to. While you’re at the Apple Grove Diner, be sure to try a slice of Peggy McCormack’s Buttermilk Pie…it snagged injured U.S. Marshal Ben Justiss’ attention and his heart in A Second Chance For Justiss!

C.H. loves to hear from readers! Stop by her website https://www.chadmirand.com and click on the icon to your favorite social media platform to see what she’s up to.

This award-winning multi-published author’s books are available in paperback, hardcover, trade paperback, magazine, e-book, large print, and audio book.

Happy Reading!

C.H. Admirand

Reviews

[Gloria]

DNF on page 7, when the duke’s guard ushers the new nanny into the house:

She bit her bottom lip, and his brain simply shut down as need clawed his gut, tearing at his control.

I thought I would try a new author, but I’m not willing to try this hard.

[eyes.2c · Rating 3 out of 5]

A pleasing romance-mystery-adventure. (I feel that there’s a series missing of why the Duke of Wyndmere‘s family is under threat.) However this is the story of the Duke’s head of the guard. (Guarding the Duke and his lively Duchess seems to be an Irish family affair). When the new nanny, widowed Gwendolyn Alexander, steps out of the coach Patrick O’Malley, head of the duke’s personal guard, feels his heart strings snap. Well something like that. But there’s no time for any of that, the Duke's children are in danger. Kidnapping and worse are on the cards and Patrick must keep his focus on the job, not on the rather beguiling Mrs Alexander.

[Kat · Rating 2 out of 5]

Something about the writing style and pacing in this book absolutely did not work for me. This was a real struggle to get through.

[Janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Duke of Wyndmere’s quest to find a nanny for his newborn twins brings yet another applicant to his door. Widowed Gwendolyn Alexander's reputation precedes her as one of the most sought-after nannies among the ton. Patrick O’Malley, head of the duke’s personal guard, hopes this latest applicant will meet with the approval of the most difficult members of the duke’s family…his twin babes. The pair are immediately attracted to each other. When Gwendolyn and Patrick find themselves at cross purposes protecting the little ones from threats of kidnapping, they must learn to compromise and work together before the kidnapper strikes again!
This is the first in a new series but is a spin off from The Lord of Vices series & events in that series are referred to, so I’d recommend reading the Duke of Wyndmere’s story first. I found this to be a well written book with mystery, intrigue, humour & of course romance. I really liked both Patrick & Gwendolyn & I loved the chemistry between & how they locked horns whilst protecting the twins. An interesting start to a new series
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

[Jill booksandescape · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an advance ebook copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for review.

The Duke’s Sword by C.H. Admirand is the first book in the Duke’s Guard series. Widowed Gwendolyn Alexander is one of the most sought after governesses. The Duke of Wyndmere hires her on to care for his twin babies. Patrick O’Malley is head of the Duke’s personal guard. When he first sees Gwendolyn, he is captivated by her. Gwendolyn is also instantly drawn to him. The twins are under threat of kidnapping, so Patrick and Gwendolyn must join forces to protect the babies. They also must contend with desire.

I liked the mix of romance and intrigue in this one. The way Patrick and Gwendolyn were together when it came to the babies was great.

[Gerbera_Reads]

DNF at 64%.

The plot revolves around the kidnapping attempts of the Duke's twin infants. It's so focused on it that it overshadows everything else. At this point beyond a couple of conversations that MCs have, there is nothing to support the romance. The author didn't do any research, it seems, into basic things and facts that are pertinent to the time period which is not even mentioned in the book. (personal pet peeve). There are no descriptions of pretty much anything to even guesstimate. That is really annoying.

The Duke is given his POV despite being a secondary character. This book should not be read as a standalone because one has no idea of why the attempts are being made. One has to read the Duke and Duchess's story first. I didn't and I feel like I am missing some facts. I just cannot get invested in the story when there are so many inaccuracies present. The babies are mentioned on almost every page. I hoped to get to romance but I just don't really care at this point. Maybe I will pick up the Duke's story and return to this one, but don't count on it. The writing is not bad but the storytelling is.

[Margaret · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Duke of Wyndmere must protect his wife and children. He hires Patrick O'Malley, his sixteen brothers and cousins to protect his home and other properties. Patrick is the "Duke's Sword" in charge of protection. Gwendolyn Alexander is hired as the new nanny. The duke is hesitant, but his duchess is insistent she is perfect for the job. It's love at first sight for Patrick when he meets Gwendolyn. She is cautious. She's closed off her heart for ten years, but Patrick is hard to resist. He seems to be losing his focus on his job because of Gwendolyn. The Duke isn't happy and wants to move him to a different property. His duchess has other ideas. I see some open holes in the story. The villain's reason for revenge seems a little weak. The Duke has just as much reason for revenge, but never pursues it, or am I wrong in the way I'm reading it? Even though he has a few moments he is happy with his duchess and children, he seems angry all the time at everybody else.
It's still worth the read. I must say a man in uniform is very attractive, especially when the uniform is all black.
Heat level 3
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book.

[Cherie S · Rating 4 out of 5]

 Love at First Sight and Mystery:
A new author for me and the story has quite an intense emotional plot
The cast of characters are very interesting and their banter between
each other was very humorous and had me laughing out loud many times.
The romance in this story is a slow simmering one between Gwendelyn the
new nanny for the twins and Patrick the duke's sword.
There is more than one plot that carries most of the story. Threats to the Duke's
family and the mystery of discovering who and why kept this story intense.
I enjoyed the story enough to read another one of this authors books.
I would call this a clean story by my standards.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book.
All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[InD'tale Magazine · Rating 3 out of 5]

“The Duke’s Sword” is a unique historical romance between servants instead of the titled.

Read full review in the 2022 November issue of InD'tale Magazine.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Terrific start to the new series. This series is linked to the Lords of Vice series that came before this one. Those books were about the Duke of Wyndmere and his family members, with the O'Malleys and their cousins as secondary characters providing security. In this series, the main characters are the guards, their work for their employers, and the love they find along the way. I loved looking at events from the commoner's point of view.

The Duke of Wyndmere feels a bit frazzled. He and the duchess are the new parents of twins and are feeling the stress of taking care of them. Unlike many of their class, they are hands-on parents. They have been searching for a suitable nanny, but all applicants have come up short thus far. The most recent applicant has a stellar reputation, and he has high hopes for a bit of relief. The duke has also been dealing with a series of threats against his family. The latest ones involve the kidnapping of his children. He depends on Patrick O'Malley, the head of the Duke's Guard, and his relations to keep them all safe.

Patrick is a man who is confident in his abilities. His brothers and cousins are 100% loyal to him, as we see later in the book. He had formulated plans to protect the baby before it was born and quickly made adjustments when it turned out to be twins. Nothing distracts him or comes between him and his duty to the duke. Until...

Gwendolyn Alexander is a widow who has a tragic loss in her past. Since then, she has devoted her life to taking care of infants. She keeps her heart guarded, fearful of growing attached. She never expected the lightning bolt of attraction to hit her when she first saw Patrick O'Malley.

I loved the first encounter between Gwendolyn and O'Malley. He is struck motionless and speechless at first sight of her, something that has never happened to him before. He resists the attraction as best he can, unwilling to allow anything to distract him from his duties. Gwendolyn also has no intention of getting involved. While the sparks between them are undeniable, each has their own ideas on protecting the babies. Gwendolyn is no shrinking violet and has no problem standing up to O'Malley when she believes she is right. At the same time, O'Malley isn't about to take any chances with the safety of his charges.

It was fun to watch Gwendolyn and O'Malley try to resist the inevitable. Being near O'Malley tends to turn Gwendolyn's mind to mush, while he is dismayed to find his mind wandering in her direction when he should be working. A blow-up with the duke over this distraction throws everything into chaos when he removes O'Malley from command. I laughed out loud at the other men's attempts to do his job and the women's determination to fix the problem. It was especially satisfying to see the duchess, who is the duke's equal in stubbornness, work her wiles to make it happen.

I loved how everyone could see the connection between Gwendolyn and O'Malley and wanted to see them both happy. I loved watching O'Malley's brothers and cousins poke at him about his feelings, trying to get him to face them. When O'Malley is injured during an attack, Gwendolyn finally admits her feelings to herself, and O'Malley has also seen the truth. But it takes the efforts of the entire household to get the two stubborn people to see that they belong together. The scene at the inn was fantastic, and I loved the surprise waiting for Gwendolyn when they returned to the estate. I was impressed by the duke's progressive thinking on the private lives of his staff.

The suspense in the story was terrific. While the reader gets an inside look at who is behind the threats to the babies, our characters must do the hard work of the investigation. Because they are aware of the threats, O'Malley and company have plenty of time to make their plans. The first attack is intense, as the kidnappers get close, not knowing it's a trap. That isn't the end, and the attacks escalate as the bad guy grows more desperate. The final confrontation is a nail-biter, especially with O'Malley's injury. While the threat is vanquished, the resolution is less than satisfactory, and I wonder if we've seen the end of it.

I enjoyed the variety of characters in this book. This is a household with great respect and caring among the inhabitants, whether servants or master. I loved the duchess's easy camaraderie with Gwendolyn and the servants and her appreciation of the Duke's Guard. Her love for her husband is undeniable, but she has no problem standing up to him when she thinks he's wrong. His love for her is also evident, as is his frequent frustration when they butt heads. I also loved the cook and housekeeper and their ways of keeping everything running smoothly. But my favorites are the other members of the Guard. Their love, respect, and support for each other are undeniable, as is their enjoyment of teasing, arguing, and "discussing" various matters. I can't wait to read the rest of the series.

[Barbara Rogers · Rating 3 out of 5]

Barbara’s rating: 3 out of 5 Stars
Series: The Duke’s Guard #1
Publication Date: 6/30/22
Period: Ambiguous, but I’m guessing Regency
Number of Pages: 298

This is a new-to-me author and I may – or may not – read another of her books at some point. Overall, I found the book frustrating because I felt as if the author had not researched the period sufficiently, and there were few indications within the book that would orient you toward time/place. I mean – how hard can it be to stick a date at the beginning of a chapter somewhere? It also frustrated me that things had happened earlier – maybe an earlier book I hadn’t read. Those situations/events were mentioned but weren’t explained well enough for me to understand what started all of the need for the Duke and Duchess’s protection. Perhaps if I had found and read that first book, my frustration level would have been a bit lower – but – I wasn’t interested enough to stop reading this one, find that book and read it, and then finish this one.

Then, there is the romance. I just didn’t see it. The two main characters didn’t spend enough on-page time together to even remember each other’s names much less to love one another. There was the insta-lust the second he saw her step out of the carriage, but I didn’t see love happening. I also thought we spent as much (or more) time with the Duke and Duchess as with the current main characters. Perhaps less Duke and Duchess time and more Gwendolyn and Patrick time would have helped. BTW – I didn’t care much for the Duke. 😊

I loved the premise of the series, and that is why I bought the book. I was looking forward to reading a fast-paced adventure filled with vile villains and heroic heroes. Well, the intent of the villains was vile – but the execution – not so much – each attack was over before it had hardly begun. Anyway – the series plot revolves around the Duke and Duchess of Wyndmere being threatened by an unknown enemy and they hired a whole family of Irishmen to protect them, their estates, and their extended family. The specific threat in this book was the plot to kidnap the Duke and Duchess’s one-month-old twins. I just thought the Duke, Duchess, Servants, protectors – all of them – were just too over-the-top.

I am happy to have read a new-to-me author, and I may, at some point, try another of her books. However, I would not read this book a second time. Perhaps the issues were mostly from there being so much going on in this first book to set up the entire series – but I don’t think that was it. Anyway, should you choose to read it, I would suggest reading Mending the Duke's Pride first.

Happy Reading!

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Duke’s Sword by C H Amirand is the story of one of the men the Duke of Wyndmere has chosen to protect his family. There were people out there who represented a threat, mostly based on the actions of his dead older brother, but a threat none-the-less. Patrick O’Malley was the captain of his guard and the head of his family of brothers and cousins, all of who worked for the duke. His equanimity was upset when the new nanny had arrived for an interview. They had gone through two already and the twins were only a month old. The duke and duchess were very involved with their children, eschewing things like a wet nurse. She made his heart flutter when she descended from the carriage and it got nothing but worse as time passed. She was the perfect nanny and had been hired by the duchess before he and the duke had a chance to talk to her. They didn’t argue with the duchess and despite the fact his nickname was The Duke’s Sword, his power stopped at the duchess. It turned out she was right.

Patrick O’Malley was all man. His weapon of choice was not a sword but he had defended the family several times using knives and his fists, mostly, and his wits. His cousins and brothers were blindly loyal to him, having 100% confidence in his abilities. He had formulated a plan to protect thy baby even before it was born. When it turned out to be two babies, he quickly modified his plan. He was savvy enough to let the perpetrators get close so that they could be prosecuted for their crimes instead of denying them. He was a terrific character and the perfect mate for Gwendolyn, the nanny. Everyone saw it even as he denied it, citing his duty to the duke. The duchess put a stop to that. It had a good plot and excellent characters, many reappearing from past books. I enjoyed it.

I was invited to read a free e-ARC of The Duke’s Sword by Dragonblade, through Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #netgalley #dragonblade #chamirand #thedukessword

[Chelsea Johnson · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was just okay. There was a lot going on and it really felt like you had to be "in the know" to get it. The plot(s) against the twins seemed like a carryover from a previous book/series, yet this book was written in such a way where it seemed like it was expected that you already knew all the players and plotlines.

The romance between Patrick and Gwendolyn took a back seat to all the protecting the babies. Yes, there were a couple of times where both Patrick and Gwendolyn thought about something but then one or the other would basically give themselves a kick in the pants and they'd both be back to "but the job!" I might have missed something, but I feel like the duke's reasons for relieving Patrick, and Patrick going "yep, I 100% agree" were not only ridiculous but also again calling back to "you already need to know the history". That plot line was frustrating in general because based on what happened in this book, if Patrick being momentarily wrapped up in Gwendolyn (because this was before they both started with the "what if(s)?") was enough to lose the duke's trust, then there wasn't a ton of trust there to begin with.

The writing style was also weird. I don't know why, maybe it was tied into my annoyance/confusion with all the callbacks to previous storylines, but it just felt off to me. That doesn't mean this was a bad book, not at all. But it wasn't what I was expecting and it definitely wasn't for me. Someone else may like it, especially if you already have experience/history reading this author. I might find the rest of this series or go back and find the previous books at some point, but I'm not in a rush.

[WyoGal · Rating 2 out of 5]

Stopped at 9%; writing needs more polishing

The first sections are herky jerky in that the male protagonist is in several settings having several conversations with different characters about several problems. The conversations come across as though the reader has interrupted them, as though the characters and situations should already be familiar. Also, his accent is written in such a way that he sounds less intelligent.

The female protagonist comes across as stubborn and reserved. She has a traumatic past but instantly has the hots and fantasizes about the male lead. Her thoughts swing from the past to the present to the past in the same paragraph. This is rather wishy-washy.

The POV also shifts from one character to another in mid scene and back again. This is confusing.

I think the author is trying to tuck in the backstory via implied ominous threats, but there are several characters’ names thrown out, no specific reason for the threats, and the characters are introduced rather quickly. It’s like the opposite of an info dump. But there should be a middle ground—where the reader can be immersed in one scene with a couple of characters before getting a smattering of buckshot spray of info about everyone and everything.

I’m going to pass on finishing this book and look for one that is more highly polished.

[Lesley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Slow Burn 3.5*
An attraction at first sight is not pursued by either party, Gwendolyn protects her heart with diligence due to past tragedy and heartache, whilst Patrick has sworn an oath to protect the Duke and his family and a beautiful woman is a distraction he cannot afford. The increased threat to the twin babes that Patrick must protect and whose needs has bought Gwendolyn to the Duke’s country estate however throws the two of them together.
Whilst this is a new series which focuses (for the most part) on the Duke’s guards, I did feel the lack of not having read The Lords of Vice series. Events from these previous books were referred back to and I felt I would have had more understanding of the situation and characters if I had done so. For instance I was totally at a loss as to why the Duke and his family were being threatened in the first place. If I had previously met the Duchess would I have understood why she insisted on the nanny, a servant far below the status of even a governess, addressing her by her first name? I really feel the need to read this previous series, I guess book 1 for the most part but who knows?
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[BookishMya · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love at first sight! Both as a reader and for our main couple. Admirand writes strong characters full of strength and value. Patrick O’Malley lives to serve and protect, but the moment he lays eyes on Gwendolyn Alexander he is lost. And she is equally shook. Having lost the love of her life, she never expected to care again. She blocked of her heart, fearful of growing attached to anyone. These two characters both possess an over abundance of stubbornness and refuse to shirk their duties or be distracted. The pull of love has different ideas in mind. The tension of the kidnap attempts on the Duke & Duchess’s twins has them working together, as they will do whatever it takes to protect this family. I loved Gwendolyn’s fire and strength, she is no push over. Also, Patrick’s determination and single mindedness. They both share so many characteristics that compliment each other and make them the perfect match. Of course, the Duke and Duchess are an equally strong couple. Their love for each other smoothed the for Patrick and Gwendolyn to come together. All in all, the entire household, prove to be a family of unmatched kindness and love. Each character brought something monumental to the story. Beautifully written and engaging.

[Pam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Duty or Love

This book resonates with tense ongoing threats and action as well as a cast of fascinating characters. Readers familiar with this author will undoubtedly thrill to become fully acquainted with the Duke of Wyndmere's special forces who appear as secondary characters in a previous series. Someone wants to kidnap the Duke's newborn twins, and thwarting that threat is the duty of Patrick O'Malley, the blond, green eyed Irishman who heads the guard unit. But a distraction from that duty arrives in the person of a petite, curvaceous, whiskey-eyed nanny for the twins. Gwendolyn Alexander, a widow of many years yet still wrapped in grief, finds herself attracted and frustrated with Patrick, because she also has a duty to protect and nurture the twins. I especially loved Gwendolyn's habit of keeping a journal about the babies' actions, habits, and preferences in care, as well as the unusual way of soothing the babies by gently stroking their eyebrows. For both loyal servants duty must come before personal feelings. Or not? I loved both story and characters, and recommend this book to readers who like action and characters with forceful personalities.

[Anonymous 5 · Rating 5 out of 5]

My first experience with this author was with Rescued by the Lyon, and I really enjoyed that book, so I was excited to give this a try. I was not disappointed! This is the first of a new series, The Duke's Guard, and it is off to a wonderful start! The story is filled with mystery and intrigue and held my interest all the way through. Patrick and Gwendolyn meet when the Duke of Wyndmere is looking for a nanny for his twins and Gwendolyn applies for the position. She is a widow and has made quite a reputation for herself as a nanny. Both Gwendolyn and Patrick have an instant attraction to each other. They both find themselves in the position of protecting the Duke's babies and work together to keep them from harm, all the while growing closer to each other. They both had wonderful chemistry and along with the mystery and romance, there was witty dialogue and humor that kept me turning the pages. A very entertaining and enjoyable first installment! I am looking forward to following the rest of the series.
I received a complimentary copy from Dragonblade Publishing via Netgalley and am voluntarily leaving my review.

[Ashley Waskey · Rating 4 out of 5]

the duke’s sword

Very good book. Great characters you get invested in and a storyline that is easy to follow and gets you wrapped up in the events happening throughout. The only thing I will say i’d like more of is scenes with the main characters, H and h. The events that involved them were quick and didn’t have much substance before the end and they are together. Like for example, her walk in the garden, she bumps into him, they say a few words and it’s over, she goes back inside. There was an opportunity for them to really talk and get to know each other. They don’t seem to have any quality time together getting to know one another, just these small, quick incidents and conversations that are over quickly. It would be so much better if the author added to these moments throughout the book so we could feel like they really formed a bond and fell in love. The end happens pretty quickly with everything happening at once. It kinda felt rushed to tie it all up and end the book. That being said, I still liked the book and would read it again and others in the series.

[Petula · Rating 5 out of 5]

Patrick O'Malley is the leader of the Duke of Wyndmere's guard.  It's a very busy household that faces a credible threat of danger.  Our hero and his men are willing to put their lives on the line to protect the Duke's family, especially the infant twins. 

Gwendolyn Alexander has a reputation as an excellent nanny.  It will be her great pleasure to help the Duchess with her precious babies.  Our heroine has faced tragedy in her past and still struggles with the memories. 

There is a lot of danger in this historical romance.  Our exceptionally stubborn characters have lots to deal with.  Plenty of lighthearted moments with the guards personalities.  

This is the first book in a new series , but this series connects to another so you will meet characters that you might remember from previous books. Each book has it's own stand alone story that links to the next.  

Great fun.  

[Gillian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can the head of the Duke’s guard get past the defences Gwendolyn has placed around her heart.

Patrick O’Malley is the head of Jared’s guard. He and his brothers and cousins have sworn to protect the Duke, his wife and their twins.

Gwendolyn Alexander has arrived to take on the post of nanny to,the twins. We soon discover she has her own source of sadness and and is doing all she can to support Persephone in keeping the twins safe and happy.

There is a renewed series of attacks on the family which come from the fallout of the actions of Jared’s older brother.

Gradually Patrick and Gwendolyn accept the strength of their mutual attraction.

Whilst it is not necessary to have read the previous series (Lords of Vice) I certainly got more from this book having gone back and read those books before restarting this one. I am looking forward to the rest of this series.

[Barbara Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

A new nanny is coming to The Duke of Wyndmere’s estate for his newborn twins. A boy and a girl and the Duke and Duchess have not been able to find a nanny that bonds at all with them. So, another woman leaves, and they are eagerly awaiting Gwendolyn Alexanders arrival. As she steps down from the carriage, she finds herself staring into the eyes of Patrick O’Malley, the head of the duke’s personal guard. The world suddenly changes for both. Mystery, evil men trying to kidnap the babes, and the hearts of two people trying to hide what could turn into a wonderful encounter. Both are battered from life’s experiences and together they must stay aware to protect the twins. Interesting plot and a great adventure for a summer evening.

[Linda J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 STARS

Love the cover - that is how I figured the H.

The one thing I had a problem with in this story is how the Duchess wanted to be called by her first name by the h. They weren't friends when this was requested. Then the Duke gets upset with his head guard and doesn't let him explain when he witnesses something. So both the Duke and Duchess disappointed me. Thank goodness the H/h saved the day!

This story is filled with suspense, intrigue, humor, romance and wonderful secondary character's that I can't wait to read their stories.

Lovemaking within marriage, heat level 3 out of 5. I felt a connection to this couple and it was filled with love.

No cheating, no cliffhanger, romance, HEA and a small tad of steam. (ljb)

[Fredine Purvis · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Duke's Sword (The Duke's Guard Book 1) C.H. Admirand

This is a an exciting book about the Irish family of guards for the Duke and his family. Treats and kidnapping of his newborn twins, keep the guard on high alert. Enter the new governess which attracts the attention of the head guard. This makes for a frustrating time for both, pitting duty the duke verses falling in love. The challenges make for a very interesting but frustrating for our lad and lass. Reading the well written conversations you can almost hear them talking to each other, for there is much comradery between the family of guards. Suspense, danger, and duty are the stuff of the guards, but a feeling of love and caring is the heart of all. I enjoyed book so much I read twice.

[Rainelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my fellow readers you will love this little gem of a story. I just want to say how I feel that the writer did an impeccable job with the writing of this book. Have you ever picked up a book, read the first sentence and then you finally decide to look and half your day is gone? Well that’s what you will do when you read Gwendolyn and Patrick’s story. I will admit that the romance is a bit of a slow burn, but it’s the chase before the match that excites all the fun from the romance.
I loved the entertainment that involved a kidnapping scheme and distrust among those that are close to you. I enjoyed this book a lot. I give this book two snaps and a twist. Until next time my fellow readers. Read on!

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this story and thank you NetGalley for the chance to read it. The Dyke isn't the love interest in this story the man who is his personnel guard and head of his guards is the sword. The Nanny that comes to take care of the Duke's twin babies. The babies seem to know what they want for a nanny and Gwendolyn is a widow who lost a baby of her own. There is a threat against the Duke's family which he loves very much. Patrick was taken with Gwen right away and though he is devoted to the duke and family he tells Gwen he must have the Duke's interest first. She doesn't think she can marry again but he can change her mind.

[Wendy Tavenner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Second Chance at love

I absolutely loved Gwendolyn and Patrick’s story. Gwendolyn was a widow who lost her husband and then her babe. Patrick is a man who has sworn an allegiance to the Duke and Duchess and protecting their precious twins. But when Gwendolyn arrives to take care of the twins sparks fly between her and Patrick.
With the Dukes family on the line Patrick her men, Gwen and all the staff will do all that is necessary to keep them safe.
But with hot kisses and fiery looks can Patrick and Gwendolyn find it in their self to reach for a life together.
A beautifully written story with a wonderful ending.

[Karl F. Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

The most attractive protection available

Start with a Duke, a Duchess and their two children, add a threat to the children requiring dependable guards and a need for a governess for the children. Add an immediate attracting between the head of the guards (who is 'the Duke's sword') and the governess and the situation is established. This book is unusual in that while the attraction is definite, no real action is taken about it until very near the end of the book.

I enjoyed this book and I recommended it to anyone who is not put off by the absence of romantic action until near the end of the book.

[Kayla Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Duke’s Sword: Patrick O’Malley and his brothers/cousins are sworn to protect the Duke of Wyndmere and his family, the duchess and their twin babies. While trying to foil multiple kidnapping attempts, Patrick manages to to stay on task, despite the distracting presence of the new nanny. Gwendolyn is a young widow who only plans to stay a few months and absolutely never wants to fall in love again. But both Patrick and Gwendolyn find the spark between them increasingly hard to ignore.

Ok, so this book was a lot of fun. But I found myself way more interested in the politics of the house and the kidnapping plot than any love story. I suppose I would technically categorize The Duke’s Sword as a romance, but if you’re looking for the relationship to be the main plot of the story, this is not the book. Very light on romance.

That being said, I really liked this book. It was a fast read, all the characters were interesting and even the minor characters had decently defined backstories. The Duke’s Sword is the first book in this series, and plenty of conflict, past and present, is hinted at to set up future books. I look forward to getting to the rest of the series at some point.

[Lori D · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great start to a new series, with mystery, intrigue, danger and humor, which is always needed if possible!

He was head of the Duke's guard and he was their to protect the family and of course those surrounding it. When the new nanny arrives to care for the twins of the Duke, he cannot take his eyes off her!

She was one of the most sought after nannies and when she saw the head of the guard, she was memorized by him!

But as danger surrounds the twins and these two have to work together, a little clash might just spark some flames that cannot be put out!