Thank you NetGalley for this story. Henry is a duke whose sister has had terrible things said against her. He has followed it to a little village with a lady blacksmith. The blacksmith is spreading the lies so he understands but it can't be Minny. He disguises himself and tells her he wants to learn blacksmithing. They find themselves falling for each other but he is not able to see where she has done this bad deed against Peg. He has been gone two months and needs to get back to being a duke. He is not wanting to leave her. It is interesting to see how they resolve the situation.

Their Secrets Could Destroy Them; Could Love Redeem Them?

Both Henry and Minny had secrets, and sometimes, secrets could be quite dangerous. Henry was a duke in search of the person responsible for besmirching his sister's reputation. His search led him to a town with a smithy. Except that the blacksmith was no ordinary one. He … was a she. Who heard of such a thing? In Henry’s day, it was quite possible that no one had. Henry convinced Minny to train him as a blacksmith so he could discover who was sending misinformation to the newspaper from that village. As the two got to know one another, the inevitable happened, and the two found themselves falling in love. However, there were secrets between them. He was a duke in hiding, but what was Minny’s secret? Was she the one destroying his sister's reputation? To find out the answer, you must read this entertaining historical romance. I enjoyed this story and would recommend it to lovers of the genre.

I love Emily Murdochs' books, they guarantee a great escape. This is the second in the series and, while I have not read the first, it really doesn't matter. Henry is a Duke whose sister is the subject of scandalous gossip and it his duty to protect her and discover who is touting the stories. His intention is to go undercover and he has tracked down the person he thinks is behind the stories to the sleepy village of Pathstow. More specifically to the blacksmith, here we meet Minny the said blacksmith who holds secrets of her own. A somewhat unlikely tale but the narrative runs along very smoothly and one can't help liking this pair. It is a story which keeps one entertained and the story bowls along. Very enjoyable for a light read which nonetheless carries a message. This book is highly recommended and thanks go to Dragonblade Publishers and Netgalley for this advance copy.

This is the second installment of the Dukes in Danger series, and what a glorious addition it is! I always get swept away into the Regency world with Ms Murdoch's stories and this one was no different. I don't think I have read a Regency yet where the female lead is a blacksmith, but this is the case in this book and it was very well done. Henry comes to town, undercover, to try and find out who has been spreading gossip about his sister. He comes to the town's blacksmith, Minny, wanting her to take him on as an apprentice so he can stay in town and flush out the person who has been ruining his sister's reputation. In the process, the sparks begin to sizzle and fly between them and it was an absolute delight to see their romance blossom and grow. The two were just a great pair, and the witty banter between them kept me smiling. Two people from completely different backgrounds, yet so perfect for each other.
A lovely and entertaining addition to the series!
I received a complimentary copy from Dragonblade Publishing via Netgalley and am voluntarily leaving my review.

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

Henry Everleigh, Duke of Dulverton, is sick of seeing his sister's name in the gossip rags, and knows that the source is someone linked to a smithy in a little town. Masquerading as a country gentleman wanting to learn a trade, he's more than a little shocked to discover a woman working and owning the smithy. Minny Banfield knows the kind of comments that are made about her, but she'd proved herself to be a great smith, and deserving of her job. Teaching the mysterious man who's walked into her smithy demanding training is not something she would usually do, but she needs the money he is offering, and could do with an extra pair of hands too. As Henry and Minny work together, they realise that the attraction which has been simmering between them is about to boil over, and Henry is still keeping secrets.

Another addition to the Dukes in Danger series, and one which I really enjoyed. I liked the way Henry and Minny were able to get close to each other, and fall in love. Yes, Henry was hiding his true identity, and the reason he was at the smithy in the first place, but he managed to reveal a lot of his true self to her even so. The messages that Minny was sending were innocuous really, and I felt real pity with her and her brother for why they were separated. A great romance, and definitely suited to the series!

I would like to thank netgalley and Dragonblade Publishing for a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Enjoyable.

A woman blacksmith and a Duke in disguise! Sign me up. Emily Ek Murdoch's Strike While the Duke is Hot has the perfect premise that easily charms and delights! By weaving together secrets and heat, Murdoch crafts this delightfully fun and sensual read. I love that this fish out of water story, explores class differences, and places the hero in a position where he must learn from the heroine. Murdoch's writing is fun and quick paced, and easily left me giggling and smiling through out. This novel features two interesting and strong characters at its center, both are bold and can be brash when needed. I love that the heroine is full of confidence and agency, she will not let miscommunication bring her down. I love that we see the heroine knows her value and can easily stand up to the Duke if and when necessary.

Murdoch is definitely an author worth checking out if you have not yet had the opportunity. If you love sexy and funny situations, then this is the novel for you. If you love a hero and heroine that can go toe to toe with each other and still maintain their ground, this is the novel for you. If you want to giggle and smile your way through a story that can easily be read in one sitting, this is the novel for you!

This book was good. I enjoyed reading it and although I had never read the others in the series I was able to read this one. I did however after reading this book get the 1st book in the series to read. This book kept me reading so I could find out what was going to happen.

Thanks to NetGalley for a copy of this ebook and this is my freely given opinion.

Has Emily Murdoch been watching Forged in Fire? Just wondering what inspired the blacksmith plot to the story.

Anyways this has been part of atypical main characters for HisRoms for me this week. This one featured a Duke seeking answers on who has been spreading scurrilous gossip about his younger sister. His chase leads him to a rather hole in the wall pokey little village where he is told the blacksmith's shop is part of the information network that may be linked to the slandering of his sister in the gossip rags. Henry Everleigh, the Duke of Dulverton is a rather hot headed nobleman looking to defend his sister and exact revenge. He is quite taken aback when he enters the forge to find that the owner and suspect in his chase is a rather beautiful woman. Minny Banfield is a strong independent woman who has been taught smithing by her father, and when left alone in the world, uses her skills to run the forge herself, to make a living. She is part of a secret information network, but not in the way Henry suspects.

Henry inveigles his way into the forge, under the pretense of seeking to learn to forge and offering to pay for the knowledge. Despite Minny's distrust of him, she can ill afford to turn the money down, but does put Henry through his paces before he is allowed to put hammer to anvil. This gives Henry a new appreciation of day to day work, something he never really had consider as a Duke, and especially of Minny being alone, and working in a role usually for men.

Henry seems completely bespelled by Minny and falls for her, and enjoys their simple lifestyle. Until he mistakes a secret Minny has as being complicit in the slander of his sister. Then he makes some almost unforgivable assumptions and accusations of Minny and breaks her heart. He returns to his life as a duke after she makes him aware of his mistakes, but is overwhelmed by the loss of her love and comes to realize that he made many mistakes along the way.

This was definitely a fun story of two people of incredibly different backgrounds and social classes coming together. You have to suspend belief that they would share things in common and could have a lasting relationship. But it was a fun story with Henry being quite out of his comfort zone doing hard labour and having to learn from Minny. A very cute and fun story.

3.75 stars out of 5

Is it getting hot in here or is it just my imagination? This book is forge hot and sexy Duke imagery hot!

I really liked the back and forth teasing and silliness between Henry and Minny. She is one strong woman taking on a man's world of being a blacksmith and Henry isn't too prideful to learn from her. The romantic is just easy, but creative too, anvil anyone?

I liked the concept of Henry being undercover on his own to try to find out who was publishing lies about his sister. What I wanted was more suspicion or digging for clues. A little bit more angst or arguments/misunderstanding between Henry and Minny I think would have driven the plot more along with extra fire in the romance.

This setting was definitely unique and had me drawn in more and more out of curiosity, plus the imagery of Henry during his blacksmith work pushed me to crave more.

Thank you to Dragonblade and Netgalley for providing me a copy of this ARC for my honest review.

Henry Everleigh, Duke of Dulverton, has a bad habit of striking first without having all the information. He leads with his heart, that's not a bad thing. London gossip sheets are spreading lies about his sister. Paying for information, Henry ends up in the village of Pathstow. The blacksmith is the source of the lies about his sister, but he has to be careful to get proof. Henry decides he will work for the blacksmith, a lady blacksmith, Miss Minny Banfield. Day after day, Henry learns how the other half lives and the different ways to love. A nice approach to a romance with a difference in class. Henry is a charmer!
Nice epilogue.
Some heat.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book.

4 stars

A nice story but our hero is sadly mistraken in his actions and his attitudes. Minny is unusual in that she is a blacksmith and Henry thinks she is sending gossip to London to undermine his sister, Pegs reputation. There were some aspects I found unrealistic but it's a very interesting premise. An epilogue might have been interesting to know if she kept up her skills. We are introduced to the next hero/heroine.

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

Oh this one is a lot of fun.

Our hero Henry Everleigh the Duke of Dulverton is furious over the gossip concerning his sister. Unable to stop it, he will find the person who is telling all these lies.

Minny Banfield has a very unusual job. She also has a big secret that she must protect at all costs. Her brother depends on it.

This historical romance turns most of the normal "rules of the ton" on its head. You cant help but laugh at the things our poor hero has to learn. How can these two from such different worlds ever have a happy ever after???

Great fun.

Someone is spreading rumors through the press about his sister, and intends to find whoever it is and stop them. When Henry arrives at his destination, he goes straight to the smithy to find Mr. Banfield, the blacksmith. To his surprise, shock actually, the blacksmith is Miss Minny Banfield. He convinces Minny to give him, Mr. Everleigh, a job in the smithy, and to teach him how to be a blacksmith (yeah, that’s what he wants). Henry is as inept at this as Minny is competent. His time in the smith is funny and a lesson in life for him. He is not the only one with a secret. Minny has a very sensitive one. It doesn’t take long for the two of them to fall for each other. Henry sees a beautiful woman, unconventional, intelligent, hardworking, and secretive. Minny sees Henry as handsome, stubborn, obviously out of his comfort zone, and secretive. What will happen when the two of them discover the secrets? This is an enjoyable and often amusing story with somewhat unusual characters. Minny and Henry are both strong and intelligent, and, although they may not realize it at first, they need each other. I enjoyed this off-the-beaten-track romance.
I received an ARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily reviewing it.

I received a free copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

For me, this was a very quick read. The story was light, fun, and not terribly drawn out. If you’re looking for a HEA with some heat and romance, this is what you’re looking for.

Strike While the Duke is Hot was an absolutely fantastic historical romance and I nearly finished it in one sitting. I was practically kicking my feet and giggling with excitement over this book. So many different elements worked in tandem perfectly. Any story featuring a lady blacksmith is a guaranteed win and this book was no exception. Minnie and Henry were the sweetest couple and I was giddy from every stage of their courtship. From nursing burns in the forge to extracurricular activities on the anvil, there was no shortage of steam pumping out of the local smithy. These two were constantly giggling and smiling at each other that you couldn't help but join along as the reader. Their love was so infectious and it practically radiated outside the pages.

The biggest achievement of this book and what ultimately earned that elusive five-star rating was the communication. Sure, our hero was evasive about his ducal status, but Minnie was not having an argument end on a matter of miscommunication. When I thought a distressful chapter was going to end on a sour note, our blacksmith hauled him by the shoulder and set him straight. There was no room for misinformation here! That kind of agency is practically unheard of in the romance genre and I was cheering from the sidelines. I really wish that was utilized more often instead of the dreadful miscommunication that rears its ugly head in every other book I seem to get my hands on. Pile on her directness to her strong career choice and gentle gooey center, and Minnie becomes one of my favorite heroines I've read all year, heck even this decade. Girls really do run the world, huh?

Strike While the Duke is Hot was everything I could have wished for when reading a new author for the first time. I certainly have added Emily E.K. Murdoch to my radar and I hope to read more of her catalog in the future. I loved her writing style and I grew so fond of her characters. This is the second female blacksmith book I've read and that only proves what an absolute winner of a trope it can be when placed in the right hands. I know that you must strike when the iron is hot, but it seems like dukes are too even outside of the smithy!

I am enjoyed the book and was entertained by the banter and with of both characters. There was only one scene which I skimmed through . The book is well written and very different since it includes a woman as a blacksmith.
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.

Henry Everleigh, Duke of Dulverton, is determined to discover who’s ruining his sister’s reputation by sending false news to gossip rags. That’s why he’s in the middle of nowhere, attempting to convince a blacksmith to take him on as an apprentice—undercover, of course. He’s tracked down the source of the gossip to this forge, and Henry is not prepared to find a woman at the anvil. Minny Banfield doesn’t exactly expect respect, but she’s never had a strange man march into her smithy and demand to be taken on and trained. If she didn’t need the money, she could firmly ignore him. But the secret messages she’s been passing have taken a toll and she needs work. Sparks fly as Henry and Minny clash, both of them keeping secrets they are certain will destroy them.
The second book in the series & it’s easily read on its own. I really liked both Henry & Minny & enjoyed their journey to a HEA. I liked the chemistry between them & how their relationship grew & changed. They both had secrets, which of course would be revealed & had the potential to scupper their romance. A very enjoyable read but my mind’s eye was set on picturing Minny as a large strapping lass, this image stayed with & unfortunately put a damper on the romance
My review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

I usually like this author, but I couldn't wrap my head around the premise of this story.
There may be spoilers in this review.
The story, while well written and complete, did not quite check off my "believability" column. The heroine is a 21 year old blacksmith, complete with forge and anvil. I do not have a problem with this. Her father was the village smithy and he taught her from age 7 and she helped her mother in the kitchen from age 10. This is quite the norm for a working class family. She took over the family business after her father passed away, her mother having passed prior to that. She had a steady business and was well treated by the villagers. The hero is a 28 year old duke, whose sister was the subject of gossip columns. He has hired investigators and five of them had determined the gossip was coming from the heroine's village, actually, the heroine's business. So, he has his carriage and man servant drop him down outside of the village. He had the foresight to offer one of the gardners a new, Saville-row suit from shoes to hat for the man's upcoming wedding as a trade for all the man's work clothes. So as he changes into a "working class" man, he gets a room in the local in and does some recognizance work. This is what I find hard to understand. The way a Duke talks. walks and breathes is very different from a regular working man. By the time he adjusted his manners, everyone would know he was a duke. He has no experience in dealing with the working class. I once read a historical romance where a duke, who was a spy, had to enter the working class. And he hired a retired boxer to teach him how to walk, talk and act like a working man. That was believable. But not this.
It really is a shame, because I enjoyed the rest of the story. The duke must have been a free spirit because he was willing to have his smithy wife led him around and help him make his decisions. I admire the duke for changing his views to what the regular world is. I give this book 4 stars and recommend reading. After all, it was a good story.

This was a fun story and well written but so very implausible which I just couldn't get past. For me the whole point of reading about this era is the rules that have to be followed and how these can be over come. This just wouldn't have been possible in this time which makes it more fantasy than reality which ruined it for me. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.