What a Fantastic Story! The second in the series The Dukes Protector will keep your attention as it takes you on a rollercoaster ride that weaves a story from beginning to end with threads of intrigue, scandal, danger and a villain who is spreading malicious rumors. Sixteen Irishmen, all brothers or cousins, are all part of the Duke of Wyndmere's personal guard of the highest order. Sean O'Malley has vowed to protect Mignonette, a modiste’s petite seamstress, from the villains who broke into the shop were Mignonette works.
C.H. Admirand has written a story and filled it with a great cast of characters that will hold your attention as their individual personalities become more than just part of the tale they come off the pages and pull you in into the story, with passion, humourous dialogue between the guards, the story moved fluidly and delivers another terrific read, and the plot brims with tension building twist and turns. With setting descriptions and action sequences that are wonderfully vivid that brings the story to life.

I received a free ARC from NetGalley and this is my honest opinion.

I liked the cast of characters but it wasn't a real roamnce for me, more focused on the action and the brotherhood of protectors,

I liked this story. It’s a very clean historical romance novel that was very entertaining. I have to say the O’Malley’s are a family that certainly make themselves known through the streets of London with the biggest and kindest heart their is. The main character related to the plot of the story. The many issues related to the characters moved with the plot. The story is an easy story to read. I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.

Historical Romance with Suspense

Violence and danger brought Sean and Mignonette together. He saved her from dangerous criminals and took her to his employer’s house to recuperate from her injuries. He found himself falling in love with her. Sean was a protector, and he courted danger. Something was bound to happen to him, and it did. When his life was on the line, Mignonette found herself taking care of the man who saved her life—the man with whom she was falling in love. Would the danger that brought the two together rip them apart, or would love keep them together? If you like historical romance with suspense, you might enjoy this story.

Not going to lie, I requested an ARC of this book because the man on the cover reminded me of Draco Malfoy. Sean O'Malley is a detective investigating attacks on an aristocratic family. Mignonette is a seamstress who witnesses a break-in at her shop where the dresses of an aristocrat are slashed. Sean and Mignonette share an immediate attraction and try to keep each other safe while Sean hunts for the perpetrator.

This is the second book in a series, and without having read the first book, some of the plotlines were confusing (but that's on me). There was some insta-love between Sean and Mignonette, but I didn't feel a super strong emotional connection between the two by the end. It is nice reading a historical romance about "regular" people though; usually it's all about viscounts and dukes, but in this one they were on the sidelines. If you're a fan of characters nursing each other back to health, this is definitely the book for you! Overall, 3.5 stars.

4 stars

It's a well written book but I think I'm a bit jaded. Like book 1 it's about the brawny irish protection officers, for want of a different expression that support an earl and a duke. The hero's seem to mostly have moss green eyes and the heroine's are fiesty with often chocolate eyes. There's kisses and passion and the hero often saves the heroine. There's an overarcing baddy who hasn't got her comeupance yet.

I wish the author well but I'm less likely to continue with this series.

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

This is the second book in The Duke's Guard series. Sean is the head of the Duke's Guard at the home of the Earl of Lippincott in Sussex. After an attack on the earl and his wife in London, Sean travels there to investigate. Mignonette works for a well sought after modiste and also resides in the backroom of her shop. When the shop is broken into, Sean comes to Mignonette's rescue. He becomes quite smitten with her. Mignonette is no shrinking violet, but she appreciates the tenderness Sean shows her and welcomes his protection. They each have an opportunity to take care of the other when injury befalls them, and in the process of spending more time together, they begin to fall in love. I enjoyed their interactions together, and I also loved the way Migononette, although seeming vulnerable at first, stood up to Sean and seeing Sean fall all over himself trying to make things right with her.
This was a lovely romance with some suspense and intrigue and I enjoyed it very much. The characters were well-developed and the storyline flowed smoothly and kept my interest the whole time. Looking forward to the next installment!
I received a complimentary copy from Dragonblade Publishing via Netgalley and am voluntarily leaving my review.

This series is linked to the <i>Lords of Vice</i> series that came before this series. Those books were about the Duke of Wyndmere and his family members, with the O'Malleys and their cousins as secondary characters providing needed 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.

As this story opens, Sean O'Malley is sent from Sussex, where he works for Earl Lippincott, to investigate the source of salacious rumors about the earl's wife, Lady Aurelia. Sean is there to investigate when the gowns the lady ordered are destroyed during a break-in at the modiste's. He meets one of the seamstresses, Mignonette, and is immediately taken with her and impressed by her bravery and spirit. When the shop is broken into a second time, Mignonette hides in the false bottom of a wardrobe and is rescued by Sean.

I loved watching the interactions between Sean and Mignonette. Sean is a protective man who can't stand by and watch if he can find a way to help. When she is injured during the second attack, he sweeps her off to the duke's townhouse, where she can heal, and he can watch over her. Sean tends to be high-handed in his actions, doing what he thinks is best. Mignonette appears to be a doormat at first, going along with everything. But once she starts to recover, her natural feistiness reasserts itself. I loved seeing this tiny woman stand up to the big, tough Sean and have him falling over himself to make things right.

When Sean is badly injured in a knife attack, it is Mignonette's turn to take care of him. The situation is dire, with the loss of his arm or death a real possibility. I loved Mignonette's determination to save the man and the arm. Seeing her ride herd on the stubborn Irishman was great fun. Sean worries about being able to protect her and settles on the best he can imagine - marriage. If something happens to him, she'll have his family and his employer to watch over her.

I loved the development of the relationship between them. The connection between them is immediate and strong. Sean's protectiveness was sweet, as was how he tried to anticipate her needs. Mignonette's life had not been easy, and she feels safe and cared for with Sean. It's no surprise that she fell in love with him, but she thinks that she isn't good enough for him. It's easy to see that Sean is in love with her, too, but he doesn't recognize his feelings. I enjoyed seeing Mignonette's fiery feistiness appear as she settled into her marriage with Sean. There were times when he had no idea what he'd gotten into, but he was happy. I liked how everything came together for them at the end, and I look forward to seeing more of them in future books.

The suspense of the story was good. I could feel the earl's frustration over the rumors that maligned his wife and his inability to stop them. I liked seeing Sean and the others proceed with their investigation and discover who was behind it. Unfortunately, without proof, there wasn't much they could do. An intense scene near the end with one of the co-conspirators unexpectedly puts Mignonette in danger, though she also prevents a tragedy. I suspect that the perpetrator of the trouble will still be a problem in the next book, and I can't wait to see how that one goes.

I loved the closeness among the members of the Duke's Guard. They are all related, parts of a big Irish family. Some of their interactions are hilarious with how they tease each other and fight at the drop of a hat. But no matter what, they are always there to back each other up, whether in battle or love. I also like the mutual respect they have going on with their employers and other investigators.

In the process of investigating slander against the Earl of Lippincott and his wife Lady Aurelia, Sean O'Malley comes to the rescue of Mignonette de Chauret, a seamstress for the best modiste in London. The shop where she works is the target of destruction of Lady Aurelia's gowns. Sean is smitten. Mignonette responds to his tenderness and protection. Though the identity of the villains comes to light there is no proof. More rumors and a bet at Whites, leads to a challenge on the field. It will take everyone connected to the duke and the earl to bring the villains to justice. What a charming Irishman and his sweet lady. Many humourous comments and interactions between O'Malley's family that reappear in this book. A very low level of steam.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book.

The Duke’s Protector by CH Amirand is not the story of an aristocrat, but rather his bodyguard. That, in itself, makes it different. Sean O’Malley and a bunch of his cousins were responsible for guarding Earl Lippincott and his brother the Duke of Wyndmere from a variety of people looking to harm them. This time they appeared to be after Lady Aurelia, the Earl’s very pregnant wife. Mostly innuendo. The O’Malley to take care of this situation is Michael, Sean’s brother. So off to London he goes, to identify and stop the threat. Whilst he does that he runs into a seamstress named Mignonette de Chauret, finding her under a wardrobe, hiding from the attackers. They are in the modiste’s shop destroying clothing made for Lady Aurelia. Mignonette was sleeping there because she had no where else to go. He immediately became responsible for her and took her to the Duke’s London residence to receive medical care and recuperate. She was extremely uncomfortable. He didn’t care. He wanted her close. He lied to himself about why he wanted her close. He even married her, saying he needed to in order to protect her: another lie to himself.

This O’Malley and their brothers and cousins are all big, handsome, and smart. They do an excellent job of protecting their charges and are mostly single, although that is changing. It is a cute romance. They are in love. She recognizes it. He does not. She takes excellent care of him; something that has not happened since he left his mother’s home. It is a good story with a good outcome. It takes some doing to find the culprit, but they do and solve the situation, without too much blood being spilt. It is fun to read about someone that has not got a title, but it is not very real. I recommend it.

I was invited to read a free e-ARC of The Duke’s Protector by Dragonblade, through Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #Dragonblade #CHAmirand #TheDukesProtector

The Dukes Irish guard protects whats theirs. The lead guard at the Earls house will protect whats his at all costs. C H Admirals has a wonderful writing style that I throughly enjoy. She explores the depth of feelings without going into details in the bedroom. She also makes books seems so realistic with the tragedies and events that occur. This book is no different. Delightful read!
I recieved a free copy so that I might tell you what I honestly think. Hope you enjoyed my review. Now go enjoy the book.

As part of a series, this novel is heavily dependent on the foregoing books. I enjoyed the romance that developed between Mignonette and Sean O'Malley as he sets out to keep her safe from unscrupulous characters who are acting at the behest of an evil-minded individual. The O'Malley Clan have featured all the way through this series, and they certainly make the heart flutter and bring a smile to one's face. Despite being vulnerable, Mignonette is no shrinking violet and as she gains confidence, she is able to stand up to Sean's demands, making him appreciate her all the more. In view of the fact that this is a series, not all my questions were answered and although Mignonette and Sean's story is complete, there is obviously more to come before the perpetrator of crimes is brought to justice. I received a copy of this romance as a gift through Dragonblade Publishing and NetGalley and this is my honest and voluntary review.

Sean O’Malley the head of The Duke’s Guard at Lippincott Manor in Sussex, is sent to London to investigate the latest attack on the Earl of Lippincott & his wife. Mignonette de Chauret loves working for modiste Madame Beaudoine and is temporarily living in the back room of her shop. Wen the shop is broken into for the second time she is force to hide in the false bottom of an old wardrobe. A blond-haired, green-eyed giant of a man dressed in black from head to toe pulls her free. O’Malley is attacked outside the duke’s town house. His arm flayed open to the bone, the threat of infection and the reality he may lose his arm changes everything in a heartbeat. His vow to protect and provide for the lass who has stolen his heart has him asking the duke for a favour.
The second book in the series & it could easily be read on its own, I particularly like that the series is about ordinary people who whilst working for a Duke are down to earth & are members of an Irish family. I loved both Sean & Mignonette, he’s strong, intelligent, gorgeous & has a touch of the Blarney, she’s a seamstress who feels uncomfortable in the Duke's house & at first seemed quiet, unassuming but as we came to know her, her fiery spirit emerged. Whilst the attraction between them was apparent from their first meeting I didn’t feel they were in love when Sean proposed but did feel they fell in love as the book progressed. There was lots of action & the book flowed well. I adored the banter between the Irish guards & look forward to more of them falling in love . A well written romance with intrigue & mystery, which I thoroughly enjoyed
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

I truly do enjoy the charming wit that is The O’Malleys. Sean O’Malley does not disappoint with his charm, his loyalty and his strength. The family ties between not just the Dukes Guard but also those they protect and those they stand alongside, paints a wonderful picture. The underlying current in this series of loyalty, trust & love is truly well woven. When we first meet Mignonette, she comes across as such a quiet, mousy girl. I was not expecting the fiery, high spirited woman she became after her wedding. It was a delightful surprise. Watching their love develop through the natural early marriage battles was a delight. An excellent story!

So I was apparently a little confused about what I was getting when I picked up this book. I thought it was more historical romance, but it actually reads like historical fiction with a romance thrown in. The book was OK, but I had a little trouble keeping up who was who among the characters, and there were a couple aspects of the plot that were introduced that just kind of fizzled and died. This book held my attention enough to finish it, but it wasn't my favorite.

This is an action-packed historical romance, but the couple are from the working class which is a nice change and different from the norm. There is danger and intrigue as well as romance which is one of my favourite genres. It did feel a little rushed in places, but this could be due to the danger mentioned. While it could be read as a standalone it would be better to have read the first book. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

He is a protector and takes his responsibilities seriously until he met her and immediately recognizes she is his other half. She is feisty and independent and returns his regards. The story is filled with family banter of the amusingly threatening kind, empathy and generosity even for the villains and finding justice for the harm done to the Duke’s family. It is also about friendship and loyalty within family and comrades. Interesting read.

I received an ARC of this book via Netgalley and leaving my review voluntarily.

Overall, I enjoyed this book but I always felt like there was something missing. Part of that was that having not read the first book in the series I didn't know exactly what was going on or who all the characters were. There is some information about what happened previously, but not enough to fully understand the danger to everyone involved. I also felt the romance between Sean and Mignonette was a little rushed. They've met only a few times and are so in love they are willing to risk their own lives for the other - this part of the story relies heavily on the reader enjoying/believing in love-at-first-sight stories. And I wasn't totally behind Sean's expectation that Mignonette would give up her entire life to suit his. I realize that this was common and would have been expected, but she was pretty much forced to leave behind the two women closest to her and her occupation to sit out in the country (doing what exactly, I'm not sure). I read Coventry's story in a holiday anthology so it was great to get to see him again and find out what he was up to.

Sean O'Malley is head of the Duke of Wyndmere's guard and in London to help with a problem.

Our hero is a natural protector and can't stop himself from looking after anyone who seems to be in trouble.

Mignonette de Chauret is a seamstress working for a very successful modist.

She's very happy with her work, and is living in the back of the shop.

Our heroine has had a difficult time and is wary about trusting anyone. She is also brave and not afraid to speak out.

This is an action packed historical romance where our protagonists are from the working class. There is a lot of danger and a romance that sweeps our heroine off her feet.

The book is part of a series but you can read it on its own.

Great fun.

A suspenseful romance that blends sweet naivete, innocence and instant attraction with a touch of steamy, awakening of desire, intimacy. Making this an entertaining addition to the series that interweaves a thin veil of deception and discovery as it ups the sensual heat more than a few degrees.