Joseph Chisholm, the Duke of Wincham, is angry and bitter after losing part of one leg in France. His frustration is not being able to mount and ride his horse. His doctor recommends the help of someone named Godwin. Only the Godwin who shows up at his stable is a woman. Hattie may wear britches, but she knows what to do to help. A no nonsense woman, she isn't afraid to speak her mind, even to a duke. A lonely duke falls hard for the lady. Would she return his affection? One of my favorite tropes is a difference in class. Darn! Only one more book in the series.
Some descriptive sex.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book.

Rating 4.5
This story brings together two strong willed individuals, Joseph and Hattie, who clashed from day one. I love how as the story progresses, attitudes change and it becomes an unexpected love. The story is well written with some very emotional moments which bring them closer together. This is a story worth reading.
I received a free copy of this book via Netgalley and are voluntarily leaving a review.

3.5 stars.
“Put Your Best Duke Forward”, by Emily E.K. Murdoch (Dragonblade Publishing), is about a romance between a rigid aristocrat and an unconventional, strong woman, showing how an incredibly stubborn wounded hero heals and turns pliable when submitted to a heroine who is a force of nature.
Joseph, the hero, is a mix of strength and vulnerability, stubbornness, rigidity and softness.
I loved the initial depiction of his life as a recluse, the self-imposed isolation after the accident, and the life he spent repressing himself because of several different reasons.
The way Hattie provokes him and makes him leave the shell is admirable. The physical healing comes along with the psychological.
I liked the vibrant, indomitable heroine, who has no filters, but is a generous, kind person.
They have common personality traits: stubbornness, determination, drive, sense of humor; and the love for horses.
I liked how the difficulties and obstacles Joseph endures through the healing process aren’t sugarcoated. I also appreciated the therapeutic dimension of the relearning of walking and riding.
Joseph and Hattie have a strong chemistry. The tension in the beginning was very explosive and I really enjoyed it.
When the story inevitably lost that tension things move a bit too quickly for me, already a marriage proposal in the horizon and soon sex, which seemed too sudden.
Joseph’s conversion to a much softer person didn’t felt convincing sometimes, although I liked watching him learning to enjoy life again, in great part because of Hattie’s positive influence.

I absolutely loved this book! The characters are all so relatable and the plot twists throughout keep you always guessing, wondering what's gonna happen next! I really didn't want it to end!

I almost always love this author, however this particular book did not grab me as much as I thought. An excellent premise, a wounded Duke whose life is ruined by the loss of his lower leg and a horse trainer who believes she can bring him back to himself. Hettie is the Duke of Winchams neighbour and has a stud farm which is struggling. Joseph needs to get back on his horse,literally, but perceives it to be impossible.
So begins the often tetchy relationship of a man placing his faith in a woman. Great dialogue in this book but I was bothered by the complete lack of any other character excepting the doctor and servants of the Duke. The story felt a bit unbalanced as a result, Hettie has led a relatively sheltered life so becoming close to the Duke and falling in love is a bit predictable. I liked the dynamics of these characters but did not love the way the story played out. However it is worth 3.5 rounded to 4. Thanks to Netgalley and Dragonblade for an ARC of ''Put your best Duke Forward".

I discovered Emily E.K. Murdoch this year and I've been happily devouring the Dukes in Danger series book by book. My favorite has been Strike While the Duke is Hot, which features a female blacksmith. I've finally found a second book in the series that matches the same attitude I admired in the first heroine. Put Your Best Duke Forward was the unique story of a duke recovering from the loss of his leg with the help of an unorthodox horse trainer. That aid comes in the form of a local woman who happens to wear breeches and has the sassiest mouth for miles. The absolute gall! I've never been a Horse Girl frankly because I was too poor to afford that lifestyle. My drug of choice was a weekly visit to my local library, not galloping through a luxurious corral.

Put Your Best Duke Forward was a really sweet romance and I loved how it came together. Hattie was unfailingly kind and patient towards the duke in his recovery. She understood his emotional and physical difficulty overcoming his new circumstances. Hattie seemed like the perfect horse therapist who took the process one step at a time and never gave Joseph more than he could handle. After the duke swallowed his pride and realized what a phenomenal trainer Hattie was, it was two tickets to paradise. They were so sweet together and once again I adored how the heroine shut down miscommunication leading to the dreaded third-act breakup.

Put Your Best Duke Forward was a lovely romance that galloped its way to a happy ever after. I loved the couple's dynamic and how tenderly their relationship developed. I'm pleased the series managed to pick up again after a slew of books that didn't quite reach the bar of Strike While the Duke is Hot, at least for me. I would love to see more romances featuring characters with disabilities, especially when they're treated so respectfully as Hattie. I may not have been able to relate to the heavy equestrian content, but I've learned to get back in the saddle and Put Your Best Duke Forward.

This was a bit of a different read for me, i don’t usually enjoy historical romances as the writing can be hard to follow and always feels stilted. However I absolutely loved this and found it easy to read, A lovely short romance. Will definitely be reading more from this author

Despondent and angry over the loss of part of his leg, Joseph lashes out at everyone on his estate. When he decides to accept help in learning to ride his horse again he never expects a woman, Hattie, to show up to teach him. Though he resists, he learns to appreciate Hattie’s lessons. Growing closer, he realizes he can not live without her. I received an ARC from NetGalley and Dragonblade Publishing for my honest review.

A very different story involving a “damaged” Duke, Joseph and his outspoken neighbor, Hattie. I loved the honest and forthright banter and loved watching Joseph grow and change his demeanor. Seeing Hattie deal with her own issues was a testimony of a strong woman, especially in Regency times. This truly is a wonderful love story, with well written characters and great plot. I especially loved the old butler…….especially his blow up with the Duke- hilarious!

I received this ARC copy for free and these are my own opinions.

Joseph is going through it. He had an injury while serving his country and lost part of his leg. Enter the best physical therapist he would ever have Hattie. Hattie only goal is to help him ride his horses again but their lessons improve his life over all, easing the pain he is feeling, helping his mobility, and helping him not feel so helpless and upset about his injury. I loved that there was no third act break up and I really felt Joseph’s journey as I had to go through a similar journey. I like that his journey was not a flat line it had improvements and setbacks. Also, the romance is very sweet and they are both so vulnerable together. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Thank you NetGalley for this fascinating read. The Duke of Wincham had lost his foot in France and was having a hard time dealing with it. His doctor suggested he hire a horse trainer near him to help learn to ride again. When this trainer shows up it is a woman in breeches and he is having nothing to do with that. Hattie is not there to put up with his nonsense. She first teaches him to walk better so his pain is less and from there they form a friendship and then fall in love. The story goes on from there.

The Duke Meets His Match:
Joseph the Duke of Wincham has been struggling terribly with the loss of part of his leg.
His love for horses has him in a quandary and despair for all he wants is to be able to ride his beautiful stallion Maximus again.
Hattie has come across her neighbor Joseph in a very embarrassing situation that has him very frustrated. Angry words fly between them.
Their next meeting isn't much better, but this is the beginning of slow building romance that will bring many changes to both of their lives and bring their story to a very happy enjoyable ending.
The characters are charming yet determined to work together to accomplish their goals and along the way find a love they never expected.
I read this story in one day it was that good.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy for my honest opinion and thoughts.

I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher. This in no way impacted on my view.

Returning from France with an amputated leg, Joseph, Duke of Wincham, is even more irascible than ever before. He hates the fact that he can't walk or ride like he used to, and he won't let anyone help him. But following a fall, he allows the highly recommended doctor to pass his details onto a horse trainer, Godwin, in the hope that he'll be able to find some joy again. But when Harriet Godwin arrives on his doorstep, the woman who saw and insulted him, and claims she can get him in the saddle within a month, he'll take that bet. Hattie knows that this will be her hardest work ever, but she's running out of money, and the £50 the duke will pay will be enough to save her stud farm. As the two work together, throughout thick and thin, it's clear that what may have started out as simply a job, has soon become so much more.

Another lovely addition to the Dukes in Danger series. As I read through this series, I don't think they are less companion books, and more books which are simply in the same universe. There's very little overlap between the characters, though some names are mentioned. Put Your Best Duke Forward is very much a self-contained book. Hattie has been the sole owner and operator of her family's stud farm since her parents' deaths, and it's been a struggle. Getting the chance to work with the often absent Duke of Wincham will be more than enough to save the farm, and tide her over into the new year. But when she inadvertently insults Joseph, they get off on the wrong foot, so to speak. It's hard for her to convince him she knows what she's doing, but helping to ease his pain in their first lesson was a good start. I liked how she didn't let him get his own way, and was just as fiery as he was. They really were made for each other, and I didn't even mind how quickly Joseph realised he wanted to make her his duchess. The ending was cute, and it's definitely setting up for book 7.

"Put Your Best Duke Forward" is the next installment in Emily EK Murdoch's "Dukes in Danger" series but operates well as a standalone. It is a fairly straightforward romance with the twist of the MMC being an amputee. Joseph is understandably angry and frustrated as he adapts to life with half of one leg missing. Hattie is desperate to save her horse breeding farm. She is tasked with training Joseph to learn to ride with his new body. As he learns to ride he also learns acceptance, both of himself and the unconventional woman that is Hattie. Hattie, meanwhile, gives no quarter to Joseph's title. She is confident in her own abilities even as she worries about how to succeed as a woman in a man's world. Joseph and Hattie are a good pairing, though the passion doesn't come through as much as in some books. The villain seems a sort of after thought versus a necessary part of the story. This book makes a good relaxing day read.

3.5 stars, rounded to 4. Thank you to NetGalley and Dragonblade for a complimentary ARC of this book. The opinions herein are my own.