The Duke’s Hammer. My fellow readers. What a spectacular way to make this romance readers heart melt. Have a fine officer such as James as my savior would not be a bad thing at all. I will say this ladies.
Melinda needed to turn some of that atrocious actions that her cousin mediated out and used it on him. I would have beat him behind that bar until he screamed for his mama! All in all I love the pure romance of the story. This was truly a historical romance novel that falls under the correct category or genre of historical romance. I give this book two snaps and a twist.
Until next time my fellow readers read on!

The story itself was ok but reading this book felt like a chore. I was pushing myself to get through it and I'm not sure why. I may need to come back to it at a later date and try again.

This is the 5th book in the series The Duke's Guard. This is James book and he is part of Coventry's Men (The Duke) James meets Melinda in a tavern while he is trying to find out who is slandering the Dukes family. She is being degraded and set upon by her patrons and hurt by her cousin. James doesn't like this at all. During Melinda's new employment she gets to know James and they slowly fall in love. I like this series because you get to see the people that are important to High members of the Ton, but are not part of the ton!

Much More Than a Protector

James Garahan is one of the Duke of Wyndmere’s guards. He is an honorable man and a fighter for justice. When he sees a woman abused, he promises her safe haven, but she does not accept his help. The next time he sees her with more bruises, he takes her out of the hellhole where she was. After she heals, instead of staying where it is safe, Melinda decides to listen to her pride and find employment elsewhere. She would come to regret this decision. Would Melinda survive her decision intact? Could James find Melinda again and convince her to take a chance on love? I enjoyed this story and would recommend it to lovers of historical romance.

This is Book 5 of the captivating and exciting series, The Duke's Guard. I have enjoyed all the books in the series this far, and this one also did not disappoint. The series centers around the men who protect the Duke of Wyndmere and his family from enemies. James was one of the Duke's private guards. A man not easily distracted by a pretty face, but when he walks into a tavern and sees Melinda, a battered young lady sorely in need of rescuing, he is a goner. Melinda's circumstances changed for the worst after her father passed, and that is how she ended up here, working for nearly nothing, and suffering abuse. When James walks into her life, she doesn't believe she deserves his help, but he doesn't take no for an answer and proceeds to be her knight in shining armor. But no matter whatever she has been through, she remains strong. And when it comes to James, she definitely keeps him on his toes.
The story is well-written and entertaining and kept me engaged from start to finish. The characters were well-fleshed out and interesting and I was immediately endeared to them. Another brilliant addition to the series!
I received a complimentary copy from Dragonblade Publishing via Netgalley and am voluntarily leaving my review.

You got to love O'Malley and his kin in The Duke's Guard series! The Duke's Hammer brings the family together again with humorous banter and their dictation to The Duke of Wyndmere and his family. In the Duke's Hammer, C.H. Admirand weaves a story from beginning to end with threads of intrigue, danger, and violence It's a well written romance that brims with tension building twists and turns, remarkable emotions, characters that come off the pages and pull you into their emotional ride that keeps you involved until the very end, passion, those who are out to destroy the dukes family with slander, and with an enjoyable plot that leaves you eagerly anticipating the next in the series.  

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

James Garahan, dressed in black, is one of the Duke of Wyndmere's private guards. With a big heart, he's saved more than one person from destitution and harm. Melinda Waring has no where else to go, but to work in the filthiest tavern owned by her abusive cousin. Falling in love at first sight, James is determined to save Melinda as he discovers the source of the ugly rumors concerning the Duke's family. It's an uneven pace in the plot. Events will happen very quickly or very slow. It seems almost impossible to have a romance with so much evil. I wouldn't blink or you might miss something. Multiple characters overlap in all the books in the series and I recommend reading them in order. Descriptive violence and mild open bedroom door.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book.

James Garahan is one of the toughest in the Duke's private guards. While he has been investigating where some particularly nasty rumours started, he finds someone who needs his help.
Melinda Waring made a mistake in accepting a cousin's offer when she needed a home. She has paid a very steep price.
This historical romance is part of a series of very connected stories. It would be better to read the series in order but each book does have separate lead characters and different tales to tell. They are all great fun and interesting reads. I have read and thoroughly enjoyed every one, and look forward to more.
Good fun.

Thank you NetGalley for catching up with this series again. James is one of his brothers and cousins who works for the Duke of Wyndmere's guarding his family. While visiting in the stew of London on another case, he comes across Melinda who is working for her cousin in his tavern. She is beaten and underfeed no matter how hard she works. James sweeps her in his arms to take her back to the Duke's home where the cook and housekeeper will get her back to healthy again. James has fallen in love with her. She leaves to go on her own and her cousin finds her. She jumps from his carriage as he is returning to the tavern with her. She is lucky to find someone who rescues her and takes care of her wounds then contacts James. It takes her awhile to realize James loves her and stay where she is. There are many things that happen along the way that makes for a very good story.

The Duke's Hammer by C.H. Admirand
This is one of those book you can't simply put down and you just need to continue and when it ends, a little piece of yourself want to relive the entire book. Love it!

❤️❤️❤️❤️
💋💋

Excellent new book from this author, I’ve loved the others and I thoroughly enjoyed this one too.
Great characters and a storyline that keeps you hooked and glued to the book.
This is an excellent read, can’t wait for the next one.

I received an Arc copy of this book and chose to post this review

Another fantastic entry in the Duke's Guard series. The brothers and cousins of the O'Malley, Garahan, and Flaherty families are members of the Duke of Wyndmere's personal guard, protecting those he holds dear. They are very good at what they do and have earned the duke's admiration and respect.

This book is about the Duke's Hammer, James Garahan, who has a reputation for persuading information from the most reluctant adversaries. He also has quite a reputation with the ladies, who can't get enough of his Irish charm. We've recently seen him turn the head of Mary Kate, a maid he helped rescue from a bad situation. But none of these ladies touched his heart until he met Melinda.

By now, we know when these Irishmen fall, they fall fast and hard, and James was no exception. While on an information-gathering mission in a seedy tavern, he witnesses the abuse Melinda endures from her employer. He lets her know he can find her a better position, but she feels she has no choice but to stay. The next time he sees her, she is bruised and battered, and he's barely in time to save her from the unwanted attentions of a tavern customer. I loved seeing him wade in, rescue her with a fellow operative's aid, and carry her off to the duke's house and his caring servants.

Melinda is in a tough spot. After the death of her vicar father, she lost her home. Because of a limp caused by a childhood injury, she cannot find work and takes a job at the tavern owned by a distant cousin. The man is cruel and abusive, but she has nowhere to go until the handsome Irishman whisks her away. But Melinda is stubbornly independent and doesn't want to be beholden to anyone. James can barely get her to agree to remain where she is while she heals from her injuries - far worse than he initially knew.

Despite having watched four of his fellow Guard members fall hard and fast for their ladies, he doesn't expect it to happen to him - until it does. It was fun to watch him and Melinda butt heads as he tried to keep her safe, and she tried to assert her independence. She has fallen equally hard for him, but between her limp, her scars, and her past, she believes that she isn't good enough for him. It takes a great deal of patience on James's part to get past the obstacles she puts up. I loved the help he got from his family, friends, and even the noble ladies of the duke's family. I loved the ending and seeing both get their hearts' desires.

James isn't able to spend as much time with Melinda as he would like. Someone is spreading nasty rumors about two women in the duke's family, and he and the rest of the Guard are tasked with finding who it is and making it stop. The reader knows who it is early on, and I enjoyed watching James and the others conduct their investigation. There are some intriguing twists in the search for the truth, and I always enjoy watching the guys use their skills to make things happen. I laughed out loud when James confessed the details of the latest rumor and had to deal with the expected reactions. I also enjoyed the scenes with the earl's and viscount's wives, who are as stubborn and strong-willed as Melinda. Like Melinda, they don't take well to being coddled and kept in the dark and take the actions they feel are needed.

The resolution of the rumor issue was very well done. I loved the set trap and the unique method of baiting it. James, of course, handled his part flawlessly. It was lovely to see the bad guy get what he deserved. I also loved seeing James get teased by his cousin about his lack of a shirt and then have to deal with the earl and the viscount and their comments.

As usual with this series, I couldn't put it down once I started reading this book. I can't wait for the next one.

Foul rumors and a fair maiden!______3.5 stars

So the trope here is a powerful one. An orphaned maid landed in desperate straights when lied to by her kinsman offering respectable work. What she actually did was all the serving, cleaning work around his bar. He’s beaten her badly for refusing to entertain men and she’s not fed properly. Let’s not even ask about water for washing.
Enter our knight in his shining black coat, one of the Duke of Wyndmere’s private guards, James Garahan, who has plainly fallen in love with her. Rescue is his motive. Love is his reward, maybe! Only Melinda Waring doesn’t think she’s worthy of rescue, and is frequently doing things to put herself in danger in her efforts to be independent.
Meanwhile the Duke and his family are besieged by foul rumors. How to stop that, how to find the source, and how to save his love are all problems the Duke’s Hammer, James, has to contend with.
The plot is mightier than the execution but I still enjoyed it as part of the continuing overall storyline for the series. And yes, despite the few criticisms I have I will continue to read my way through the various layers. I just can’t resist the hero knight trope!

A Dragonblade ARC via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author and publisher.
(Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.)

Another wonderful book about the Dukes guard. The Hammer finally gets his own tale. I loved this book
The oldest brother finally falls and he falls hard. I think I enjoyed this book a little more simply because both characters had their flaws physically and mentally. They finally chose to match each other. They could accept each other because of the flaws. Prevailing justice is always a strong thread throughout this series.
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.

James Garahan, one of the duke’s private guard, has had his head turned many times by a comely face in his thirty years. Not once has a lass touched his heart…until the night he walks into a tavern in the bowels of London and sees a battered angel in need of rescuing. Melinda Waring is alone and homeless. She accepts an offer to work from a distant cousin to toil in his tavern. The next time Garahan sees her, she has bruises on her wrists and cheek. When she is cornered in the back room of the tavern, he whisks her to safety. Melinda is drawn to the handsome-as-sin Irishman with the broad shoulders and big heart. As the lass is healing, Garahan must uncover a new source of vicious slander, and threats of scandal, aimed at the duke’s family. Leaving Melinda in the care of the duke’s London staff is the last thing he wants to do, but Garahan has a vow to keep and a duty to perform.
Garahan is the fifth of the Duke’s Guard to find love & another well written, page turner of a romance. The characters have depth, the pace is good & another villain is threatening the Duke’s family. I loved both Garahan & Melinda, although I could have shaken Melinda several times for not listening & thinking she could protect herself. James is like one of my favourite sweets hard on the outside but with a gorgeous soft centre, he even talks to the horses & his way with babies! There’s a mystery, twists & surprises which all made for a riveting read
My review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

Rumors, Proposals, Love:
A dramatic and exciting continuation of the Duke's Gurad series.
Wow, this story was very captivating from the very sad start that introduces us to a very sweet, strong and stubborn Melinda.
James one of the duke's guards with a heart wants only to help Melinda escape from the cruel abusive situation she has found herself in.
This story is filled with gripping attraction, mystery, camaraderie, passion, heartfelt confessions, and so much more.
The characters are wonderful. James is so swoon worthy and caring. I enjoyed the way he talked to his horse.
Melinda was sweet yet so determined to be strong and independent.
Their blossoming love grew to a happy ending. The mystery was solved, and the villain got his just reward.

A well written well paced novel as all in this series have been. The character's were great with well written banter between them. The hero is a protective strong character who secretly has a heart of gold underneath that rough exterior. Melinda is someone in need of protection who has suffered. All in all there is a lot of twists turns and danger. Another great addition to this series. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I loved the Hammer.  He is a fantastic character with a well developed storyline. He may be a little rough around the edges but he has a heart of gold and a strong protective nature.  Protection is in his DNA and Melinda is in dire need of his help.  I am glad that Melinda and James found each other, even though getting to their HEA was a rough road, with a lot of danger involved, along with Melinda’s insecurities, but finally they made it.  There is a lot going on and there are some characters from previous books that added to the story. This is the first story that I have read in this series but I plan to go back read some of the previous books which will give me a little more insight into this story.  This is a fantastic story that had several support characters that I fell in love with, especially Emmett. This is a great story definitely worth reading.
I received a free copy of this book via Netgalley and are voluntarily leaving a review.

This one sadly was just not for me. The description really hooked me, but the actual plot didn't.

The characters were a bit one dimensional. The story spent too much time with them apart. I just overall found myself skipping pages.

I am sure it will find it's reader though!

Thank you for the opportunity to read and review this book.

I can't say enough how much I am enjoying The Duke's Guard series, who can resist these handsome and powerful Irishmen dressed in black? Not me!!! James Garahan, known as the Duke's Hammer is definitely a swoon worthy hero and when he finally falls in love, he falls hard! I absolutely adored his character and I also loved Melinda's character. No matter what she has gone through, she stays strong and determined to make her own way in life but what she didn't expect was James saving her and falling in love:)

C.H. Admirand is a wonderful writer with stories that come from the heart and are filled with strong characters, humour, honour and love so powerful, it will curl your toes.

I received an ARC of this book via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving an honest review. A solid 5 star read!!