Put Your Best Duke Forward
Book #6

by Emily EK Murdoch

She has done it again. I absolutely love this author. The H wants to be treated as equally as those around her (men), and so what's the big deal with wanting to wear breches. Fast read another good book in a great series.

The Duke and the Horse Trainer

Joseph and Hattie's first meeting did not go well. He was on the floor, unwilling to accept help even though it was obvious he needed it. The next time they met, things did not go much better. She was the horse trainer his doctor recommended, and the duke was not keen on the idea of a woman training him to ride a horse.

Two stubborn people clash, but they both desperately need each other. She needs his money to pay the debt on her horse farm. He needs her to help him to ride a horse again. Losing his leg makes it seem impossible. Can Hattie show him that he can ride again?

This is an entertaining historical romance. There will be a villain that will test Hattie and Joseph's relationship. I enjoyed this story and would recommend it to those who like historical romance with a dash of suspense.

A woman in breaches on hr story, how scandalous and how sensual could that be, this story was everything i expected and more, the way this man healed *swoon*

I always enjoy Ms. Murdoch's stories and this lived up to my expectations. Take a grumpy one-legged Duke with a chip on his shoulder, add in an unconventional female horse trainer in breeches and you've got one heck of an adventurous book.
Thank you Emily EK Murdoch, Dragonblade Publishing and NetGalley for allowing me an advance copy for my honest feedback.

Such a great book! I had never read a historical romance where the male MC had a disability. That make this story so much interesting! And the female MC wearing breachers??? Outrageous... and awesome! I hope to read more from you in the future!

A beautiful story of love and healing. Perfect for anyone who likes spice and animals. You'll fall in love with this Duke too!

Joseph, Duke of Wincham, lost his leg while in France, and has now returned home, more irritable than ever. Despite the fact that he can't walk or ride like he used to, he won't let anyone help him. But when his doctor recommends a horse trainer by the name of Godwin that may be able to help him find the joy again that he once did while riding, he reluctantly agrees. He never expected a beautiful woman, Hattie Godwin, wearing breeches and sporting a no-nonsense attitude, to arrive at his door. After being skeptical at first, Joseph soon had to swallow his pride and acknowledge the fact that Hattie was an outstanding trainer. With her perseverance, patience, and kindness, it didn't take long for the lonely, irritable duke to fall hard for her.
This was another lovely addition to the Dukes in Danger series. The story was well-written and entertaining with interesting characters. Hattie and Joseph had a great dynamic and I enjoyed seeing their relationship develop. I also enjoyed the witty dialogue and banter between them. Hattie sure wasn't afraid to speak her mind, which I loved! A wonderfully captivating story that caught my attention from the start and kept my interest all the way through.
I received a complimentary copy from Dragonblade Publishing and Netgalley and am voluntarily leaving my review.

This historical romance is part of a series, but the books are only loosely linked, so you can read each one alone or all of them. The particular Duke in this story has lost a leg after being wounded in France. He is not dealing well with his recovery and is taking it out on everyone around him.

Miss Harriet Godwin has taken over the family horse stud and training since the death of her father. Her work has taught her to be very direct when dealing with stubborn men but gentle with horses.

This is an amusing and unusual romance. You have to admire the b**ls of our heroine to speak to any man in those days the way she does. Truly fearless when it's a Duke.

Great fun.

Grumpy meets get-over-it-already.....
The duke needs to just get s move on with his life. She needs to money to survive. But they both realize they need more.
Wonderful interactions between the characters. The story is unique which is always welcome. A Duke getting help from from a WOMAN horse trainer is unheard of but if it can get him a semi normal life why not try it?
I am giving my honest review for a complimentary copy.

Overall, I enjoyed the story of a duke who thinks he has lost everything and a woman who just wants to fit in to the world she loves. In the beginning, Joseph is rude and not very nice to anyone. He does not ask for help because that is beneath him as a duke. Hattie is trying to keep her horse training business alive as a single woman in a time when women were only expected to keep house.

I liked the evolution of their relationship and growing feelings.

My one huge issue is how the heck did he "walk" with only one crutch??? There is no mention of a pair and it seems he only had one made. I found this to be completely unbelievable.

Put Your Best Duke Forward by Emily EK Murdoch was an enticing read. Joseph Chisholm, the Duke of Wincham had lost part of one leg while serving in France. At best, he was difficult to be around, now he was nearly impossible, but he paid well. His neighbor came upon him directly after he had fallen and was struggling to right himself. She offered to help and, as always, he was rude to her. She let loose her opinions on his host, the Duke of Wincham, not realizing to whom she was speaking. Then, done with his rudeness, she left him on the ground. Later, his doctor, the best in England, recommended a horse trainer that could help him and he made the appointment. He was waiting for Godwin when the woman to whom he had been so rude arrived. It turned out she was the horse trainer. After adjusting to that fact, she was able to help him. He wasn’t easy and she didn’t put up with his rudeness, but before long she had him on horse. That was what he wanted: to ride and to return to France.

As often happens with people who lead solitary lives, Joseph had become harder and harder to deal with. Hattie was as different as possible but was struggling to keep her father’s horse farm afloat. She never let on, but let him pay her an exorbitant amount for her expertise. He didn’t care, so long as he could ride again. They were a match made in heaven: darkness and light. It was a good story with terrific characters. It made me think about patience and how I treat others.

I was invited to read a free e-ARC of Put Your Best Duke Forward by Dragonblade, through Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #Dragonblade #EmilyEKMurdoch #PutYourBestDukeForward

4.5 stars

A lovely story. The duke is grumpy, understandably so when he's lost his leg. He wants to go back to his spying in France and to do that he needs to be able to ride. Joseph's doctor suggests getting in touch with Goodwin. The Duke makes the big assumption that Goodwin is a man and of course it isn't she's a woman called Harriet. She helps hm get back on his horse and improves his gait by observing how his hips were droppingwhilst using his crutch. I was a bit sceptical that one woman could keep her 40 horse stud going on her own. I also wondered how Joseph rode bare backed. Where did he put his crutch? because he obviously needed that to walk when he got to his destination. I've read 3 of the other books in this series but I think it also works as a standalone.

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

Joseph Chisholm, Duke of Wincham, was arrogant and a bit unpleasant (lol) before he lost part of his leg. He may be a little more so now. He is quite unhappy that he can no longer ride his horse, or even mount on his own. Proud (arrogant), he refuses help, period. His doctor suggests and sends for, Godwin, a trainer who can teach him to ride again. Here is where the fun begins. When Godwin arrives, Joseph wants nothing to do with HER. He, of course, wasn’t aware the trainer was a woman, especially one who had already put him in his place. Hattie owns a stud farm that borders Joseph’s property. She takes the job to clear debt and save her farm. No matter how Joseph balks and complains about her, Hattie gives as good as she gets. Will Joseph learn to ride again? This is a well-written story with an interesting plot and unforgettable characters. There is a strong-willed hero, and a heroine to match. There is some initial strife and a slow-burn romance. There is a scare when an old nemesis takes Hattie hostage and tries to steal her horses, but Joseph rides to the rescue. Great story! Way to go, Hattie!
I received an ARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley and voluntarily reviewed it.

Oh what a fun couple, between the brash banter to a deeper kindness underneath, the character personalities were the star of this book.

I really liked that this book had minimal characters. So much can get lost when there is a huge cast of characters to keep track of. We really just got to focus on Joseph and Hattie and their personalities.

So much of this book focuses on Joseph's loss of his leg and Hattie teaching him to ride again. What I'm glad didn't happen was the fact that there wasn't a pity party around it. Joseph was stubborn and pushing himself and Hattie was not going easy him. They both got in some heated spats, but weren't afraid of speaking their minds. Hattie was introduced coming to Joseph's aid (he wasn'thaving it being helpedby a lady), wearing her breeches, and ranting to him about why the Duke was failing at a bunch of things. Whoops she didn't know he was the Duke. Even with a rough start, it was nice to see how their romance progressed, especially after understanding eachother's blunt comments.

I have read all of the other books in this series, but they really are independent other than just some name mentions of other characters. This book really was the Joseph and Hattie bubble. Definitely a series favorite up until this point. This book will be a tough act to follow, but I am ready for the next book.

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

Barely able to walk and convinced he will never ride again but wanting to return to a war that already cost him half a leg, Joseph Chisholm, the stubborn and grumpy Duke of Wincham, agrees to meet the horse trainer his doctor recommended. Preposterous as the idea may be. He doesn’t need help; he’s a duke!

The trainer turns out to be Harriet ‘Hattie’ Goodwin, a beautiful young woman in breeches who isn’t afraid to speak her mind. If suffering an arrogant duke’s pride means she’ll keep her stud farm out of debt, she’ll stop at nothing to get him back on his horse. She might not understand people, but horses and riding she does. If the man would only get over himself and accept some help!

Slowly their daily battle of wills turns into a strange friendship.
Discovering the man behind the title and that they share much more than their love for riding, she dares to dream once more.
It goes against everything he knows, yet her unorthodox approach works. She teaches him so much more than he’s paying for… maybe his future doesn’t’ have to be as lonely as his past?

📚 Horses, riding and a broken man... that's like catnip for my soul!
Neither of the MCs mince their words which leads to some very dry wit and funny banter. Her capable, non-nonsense approach leaves him breathless - literally - and he can’t help but lose his heart. Not without a fight though, he’s after all determined not to like her. And everyone knows fighting leads to kissing - of course it does - and that leads to… some nice steam! No third-act break-up, but a spot of danger and a heroic rescue before they head off into the sunset.
Simply wonderful and captivating; this book was a blast! If you’re looking for fun, fast-paced and delicious the ‘Dukes in Danger’ series is definitely your thing!!

4.3 Stars
Joseph Chisholm, Duke of Wincham doesn’t need a horse trainer to tell him what he already knows: the loss of his leg makes riding impossible. His doctor, on the other hand disagrees. Doctor Walsingham recommends a trainer who has never failed, and so Joseph begrudgingly agrees to meet the man. So when Harriet Godwin, a dazzling beautiful woman wearing trousers arrives at his door, even Joseph’s self-imposed isolation isn’t enough to make him forget the impropriety of the situation. Hattie has the debts her father left on her horse stud farm to be paid, one way or another. An agreement is made and Hattie begins Joseph’s horse training.
The sixth book in the series & like the other books in the series it’s easily read on its own, some previous characters make appearances but they all live in the same world so it adds to the book. I really liked both Joseph & Hattie, I loved the chemistry between them but it was the banter, which I adored. I also loved how Hattie stood up to grumpy Joseph & wasn’t afraid to speak her mind. One of my favourites of the series so far
My review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

A wonderful warm read.

Joseph Chisholm Duke of Wincham was a changed man after his accident so when Harriet Godwin stepped into his life, he didn’t like it one bit until suddenly he couldn’t live without her. He looked forward to seeing her every day. Yes he still had a lot of issues but it was getting easier.

Harriet was in debt and when the Duke agreed to her help, with the money she earned, she was managing to slowly pay all her bills and become solvent again but what was she to do about her feelings for the Duke? He could never love someone like her, she was too outspoken and didn’t fit into the ideas of the ton.

Enjoy this warm hearted, tender slow burn into love which will make you sigh with some fun moments. Ms Murdoch puts her heart and soul into her books and you can tell with the emotions running each storyline she compiles.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The duke has met his match as wounded pride, resentment, rehabilitation & misperceptions collide!

PUT YOUR BEST DUKE FORWARD is a wonderful, feel good relationship blooming romance centred around rehabilitation and the driving challenge to succeed.
Fueled by a heady chemistry, delightfully fed by a sparring of bluntly delivered wit, frustrated friction and bubbling anger coupled with a heavy dose of swallowing your pride. I just loved getting to know these two!
I loved the sass, bickering and standing your ground clashing between Joseph and Hattie from first meet. I thoroughly enjoyed the wearing down of misperceptions, frustrated disillusionment and the flow from short fused tolerance and irritation to respect. That built this engaging friendship based on mutual dependency and a growing closeness that sparked from a gumption to speak without censor, an undeniable attraction, a binding affinity for horses and the sheer stubborness to not give in. As straight talking Hattie found herself being challenged to teach the gruff and ill mannered Joseph how to ride again, since the devastating amputation of the lower half of his leg.
Making this a runner for my favourite in the series so far, in competition with book 3: The Duke is Mightier than the Sword - excluding the first two as I haven't yet had the pleasure.
A truly fun addition to the series, one that was so easy to become absorbed in, I didn't want it to end!

I will admit that I was slightly hesitant about reading this book at first. The fact that the female on the cover wasn't wearing the usual regency finery was a bit off-putting. The fact that I have a personal dislike of horses didn't help either! However, I have really been enjoying the "Dukes in Danger" series, so I decided to take the plunge.
After losing part of his leg in the war, Joseph was struggling physically and emotionally. He wants to get back to riding his horse again, and he winds up with a trainer who is unfortunately a female. Joseph eventually gets over his initial misgivings and Hattie's assistance quickly becomes invaluable to him. She helps him in every aspect of his life and they eventually fall in love.
This was a beautiful and inspirational story. I did not expect to like it as much as I did. I received a free ARC from NetGalley and this is my honest review.

A returning war hero must learn to live and ride again. Joseph was already a bit pompous but having to re-learn how to ride makes him crabby, pompous and arrogant. Enter Harriet, a horse therapist and a woman, oh my! She is strong, steady, compassionate and knows her stuff. I found their interactions amusing as she doesn't cut him any slack and holds him to live up to his potential as a rider and a human being. Very well written story, love the equestrian angle and the creativity of the overall story. Can't wait to read more of this author's work.