Personal Security - Lisa Childs (HRS #2325 - May 2025)

Series: Bachelor Bodyguards (Book 15)
 
He'll risk anything to protect her…
Even his heart.
 
Watching over Blair Etheridge as she reopens her family's art gallery is Ivan Chekov's first chance to prove himself as a bodyguard. He hopes it's also a chance to start over. But this job brings up bad memories, and Blair doesn't want him anywhere near her. Ivan overcomes her stubborn streak after an attack on her life proves she's in danger. The undeniable attraction sizzling between them makes posing as her boyfriend easy, while the thought of losing her frightens him more than he's willing to admit.
 
Good addition to the Bachelor Bodyguards series. This book features Ivan Chekov of Payne Protection Agency and Blair Etheridge, a woman determined to reopen her family's art gallery.
 
Ivan is coming off weeks of desk duty after being injured on a previous case (Hostage Security) and is looking forward to his first case as lead bodyguard. He feels he has a lot to prove, starting with his name. As a child, he witnessed his father's murder by his uncle, then forced to work for his uncle, a local crime boss. He escaped but is still attempting to redeem himself. Providing security for an art gallery owner should be an easy start.
 
Blair spent the time since her father's death preparing to reopen his art gallery. She invested everything she had, determined to make it a success. She's not happy that her insurance company insists on hiring the Payne agency to protect her and the gallery. She gives in when an attack proves her life is in danger.
 
Things get off to a rough start for Blair and Ivan. Ivan and his coworker arrive at the gallery to discover an attack in progress. They stop the attack, but Blair doesn't trust them, especially when she learns Ivan's name. She holds his uncle responsible for the trouble that ultimately caused her father's death. Ivan is equally wary, as he isn't sure if Blair is involved in the gallery's previous activities.
 
The story's suspense kept me turning the pages. The escalating attacks threaten the upcoming gallery opening, and Blair refuses to let that happen. There are multiple suspects to complicate the investigation, paintings of dubious origin, and a twist at the end I didn't see coming. The final confrontation kept me turning the pages. There are some unanswered questions that I expect will be addressed in subsequent books.
 
I enjoyed the development of Blair and Ivan's relationship. Sparks of attraction flared between them despite their initial mistrust. They can't ignore the attraction, but Ivan fears the distraction will affect his ability to protect her. Blair's realization that Ivan puts his life on the line for her softens her heart, but both must overcome their pasts before they can think about a future together.
 
I enjoyed seeing characters from past books. Garek and Milek, who run this branch of Payne Protection, are still feeling their way. They catch some flak about the people they hired to work for them but are steadfast in their support. Penny Payne and her new husband, the police chief, play important roles. I have issues with one of the law enforcement characters, Sheila Carlson, who I thought was extremely judgmental about Ivan and his coworkers. Judging by the interactions between her and one of the bodyguards, I suspect that there may be a surprise in her future. 

 

Marriage Bargain with the Comte - Parker J. Cole (HH #1858 - May 2025)

Series: Proposals in Paris (Book 1)
 
From first kiss
To husband and wife?
 
Dieudonné, the Comte de Montreau, steps in when he catches a disreputable suitor trying to ruin his friend, heiress Evena. Only to accidentally compromise her himself, forcing them to wed!
 
Dieudonné might be the man who occupies Evena's thoughts, but he's not the well-connected nobleman she needs to help her ailing father. And now, as they head to the altar, their friendship is in jeopardy, too! Could her convenient husband ever see her as more than a burden…and could their bond become something even more thrilling?
 
Good friends-to-lovers romance in an unusual setting. It begins in Saint-Domingue (current-day Haiti) and moves to Paris in the 1770s, a little-used era in the Harlequin Historical line. It was refreshing to step outside the Regency period. I liked learning more about these two locations and people. I do wonder about their fates in the coming years of unrest.
 
Dieudonné is the illegitimate son of a French nobleman, raised by his aunt and uncle. Though illegitimate, he inherited his father's title (we find out why eventually). Though raised primarily in France, his aunt and uncle also own property in Saint-Domingue, where they frequently visit. Dieudonné and the girl next door, Evena, have been best friends since childhood. The book opens with a visit in 1769 when Dieudonné is twenty-one, and Evena is seventeen. Suddenly, he sees her in a whole new light.
 
Evena is a beautiful and outgoing young woman who adores her best friend. But something changed with this visit, and he stirs feelings she doesn't understand. An impulsive kiss changes everything. Both try to forget, but the memory is there between them.
 
Five years later, they meet again when Evena and her family travel to Paris. Her father developed a mysterious illness, and they hope to gain access to the King's doctor for his help. That access requires Evena to marry a well-connected nobleman despite her attraction to Dieudonné. At the same time, he wants to marry a well-connected Frenchwoman who can give him the legitimacy he needs for respectability. His first attempt ended with him being left at the altar.
 
The development of Evena and Dieudonné's relationship was enjoyable and frustrating. Their connection and attraction remain strong, but their goals create an insurmountable obstacle. Dieudonné has trouble controlling his attraction to Evena and copes by avoiding her whenever possible, which strains their friendship. However, Dieudonné is there when Evena's "suitor" attempts to ruin her and rescues her, only to compromise her himself. Marriage to each other is their only option.
 
Once they marry, each spends an inordinate amount of time beating themselves up for ruining the other's plans. Frequent misunderstandings prevent them from actually talking to each other about their situation and feelings. Dieudonné frustrated me with his frequent response of "not now" whenever Evena tried to speak to him about it. He wasted so much time because he thought she would reject him. I liked Evena's strength of will in taking charge of her life and doing what she thought would help him. I liked how her support helped him see he was chasing the wrong thing. The ending brought several surprises before they found their way to their desired future. The epilogue was good.
 
Evena's twin sister, Sophiette, intrigues me. She is very different from Evena in that she prefers to be alone. I liked how she clearly sees Evena and Dieudonné and tries to help them through their issues. I look forward to her story and the man who wins her heart.

 
 

The Lightkeeper's Curse - Cassie Miles (HI #2288 - May 2025)

Series: Lighthouse Mysteries (Book 2)
 
With the darkness closing in around them
They'll risk everything to bring a killer to light
 
Rookie FBI agent Skylar Gambel and police detective Jake Armstrong both had their lives shaped by the Lightkeeper Murders. Now, twenty years later, a new serial killer called the Shadowkeeper has emerged from foggy obscurity. Are the deaths the work of a new murderer, simply an evolved one…or a curse? Skylar is determined to crack the case, even as she fights her hidden phobias and her attraction to Jake. But when she is kidnapped along with the killer's next victim, Jake vows to silence the violent slayer once and for all.
 
The action and intensity begin with the first page as we see the serial killer set up his first victim. The similarities to a twenty-year-old murder spree are undeniable and leave law enforcement wondering if this is the same killer or a copycat.
 
Rookie FBI agent Skylar and her veteran agent partner, Harold, join local police detective Jake to investigate the murder. Harold was one of the investigators on the original unsolved murders. Jake was a child at the time but fascinated by the investigation. Now, they face a killer with the same MO. Harold and the now-retired sheriff he worked with before concentrate on following up on the old investigation's leads while Jake and Skylar investigate leads for the current murder.
 
The investigation intensifies when a second murder occurs. There are twists and turns leading to multiple suspects, some of whom have connections to the original murders. I stayed glued to the pages as Jake and Skylar worked through the information they collected. Matters became complicated when Skylar received taunts and threats from the killer, making her the next target. The intensity of the ending had me on the edge of my seat as the final confrontation played out.
 
I enjoyed watching Jake and Skylar's relationship develop. The sparks between them are immediate, but both are determined to keep things professional. I liked their teamwork during the investigation and how they avoided allowing their growing attraction to distract from it. I liked how Jake was tuned in to Skylar and could sense when something was wrong. I liked how he figured out her secret and reacted to it. I liked that while Jake respected Skylar's abilities, he was also very protective. I liked the ending and Jake's plan for the future. 

 

A Summer to Start Over - Sera Taino (HSE #3092 - May 2025)

Series: Soledad Bay (Book 1)
 
She needed help…
He needed to begin again.
 
Single mom Indya Linares has always been Ms. Independent -- especially when her family's hurricane-ravaged resort is at stake. But when Indya's boat breaks down at sea, she's forced to accept help from a handsome stranger who immediately makes her heart beat faster. Who would have imagined that he's also her stubborn mother's pick for a new facilities manager extraordinaire? After Santiago Pereira left Venezuela to begin again in Soledad Bay, he's got something to prove to his family…and a mission to bring his daughter back to him. But when Santi just can't stop thinking about his new boss, will hospitality take on a new meaning for them both?
 
Good story about new beginnings. I liked the Gulf Coast setting, the diverse cast of characters, and the role reversal of the main characters.
 
Indya returned to her hometown to help her parents with their resort after it was heavily damaged during a hurricane. She is a single parent with a somewhat tense relationship with her ex, whom she divorced when she discovered her independent businesswoman persona didn't mesh with his expectations of a traditional wife. Her efforts to carry out the needed repairs are hampered by the unexpected departure of her facilities manager.
 
Santiago left Venezuela looking for a better life after a business betrayal left him with nothing. His goal is to bring his daughter and her mother to join him in the US. Landing the job at the resort will give him the income and stability to make that happen.
 
I enjoyed watching Indya and Santi's relationship develop. They first met when her boat broke down, and Santi towed her back to the marina. The sparks of attraction flared as soon as they met, but both tried to resist. Indya isn't interested in a relationship after being burned by her time with her ex. Santi doesn't need the distraction from his goal. Matters become complicated when Indya hires him as the new facilities manager - Santi is now her employee. Working together brings them closer; shared experiences as single parents help them bond. There are some bumps in the road on their way to a happy ending, especially when something Santi does runs up against Indya's insecurities. I liked seeing them work through the issues and develop a stronger relationship.
 
I liked the secondary characters. The kids in the story are well done, with age-appropriate actions and reactions. I liked Indya's mom and could also understand Indya's issues with her interference in resort matters. Santi and his father have a strained relationship due to Santi's past actions, and his dad has trouble letting go of the past. I loved Indya's spirited defense of Santi and its effect on him.
 
I look forward to further books in this series. 

 
 

Hazardous to a Duke's Heart - Sabrina Jeffries (Kensington - May 2025)

Series: Lords of Hazard (Book 1)
 
Napoleon's war has ended, and English captives detained for years in a French fortress are finally released. Returning to a London he no longer recognizes, and facing astonishing changes in his own family, Lord Jonathan Leighton learns he has inherited a dukedom. But the new nobleman carries the guilt of having wronged his late mentor. Now, he vows to fulfill his promise to find a suitable match for the man's daughter, Victoria -- even if it takes offering a nonexistent dowry to spark her interest in matrimony . . .
 
Sharp-witted Victoria would just as soon sculpt the Greek god who has come to take charge of her future. In fact, she has her sights set on founding a school for women artists. As Jonathan matches wits with the talented beauty, revelations from his past -- and their connection to her father's demise -- threaten to unveil both of their closely held secrets and thrust them into a danger they can only escape together.
 
Good start to the new series. I especially enjoyed learning about a little-known part of the Napoleonic Wars - the imprisonment of British men of fighting age found on French soil immediately after the declaration of war. These civilian men remained in prison for up to eleven years before being released at the end of the war.
 
Eleven years ago, Jon was the third son of a duke, with little to do but get into trouble. Fed up with his antics, Jon's parents hired Professor Morris to accompany him on a tour of Europe to get him away from bad influences. Unfortunately, Jon and Professor Morris got caught up in the sweep and spent the next eleven years in prison. Those years left a deep mark on Jon's soul, including an intense sense of guilt over the professor's death. He promises to find a husband for the professor's daughter. When Jon finally returns home, he discovers his father and two brothers are dead, leaving him the dukedom. Not only must he adjust to being free, he must also learn how to be the duke. To fulfill his vow, he invents a dowry to assist in finding a suitable match.
 
After her mother's death, Victoria became a governess for Jon's sister, Chloe. Now that Chloe is grown, Tori has become her companion instead of governess. This also gives Tori time to pursue her love of sculpting.
 
I enjoyed watching Jon and Tori's relationship develop. The beginning is a little rough, as Jon doesn't expect Tori's independent nature. He plans to find her a husband, while Tori isn't interested in marriage. She wants to use her dowry to fund a school for women artists. I loved their interactions as each fights for their own plans until they work out a compromise. I liked how Tori held Jon to his promise. I laughed out loud at some of the art lessons.
 
Neither expects the sparks of attraction that flare between them. Tori doesn't intend to marry, as experience has convinced her that men are unreliable. She has another compelling reason to avoid marriage that she has kept secret from everyone. I understood her concerns and loved her protectiveness. At the same time, Jon finds himself increasingly drawn to Tori. However, he is wracked with guilt over her father's death and fears that she will hate him if she learns the truth. I liked seeing both finally trust each other and themselves enough to open up.
 
The ending was excellent, and I loved seeing how everything worked out.
 
There is also a hint of mystery in this book that I suspect will run through the entire trilogy. When Jon and his friends were captives in France, they planned an escape. Unfortunately, they were betrayed and recaptured. Now, they want to find out who was responsible. There is an interesting twist involving one of their suspects. 

 

Hardly a Gentleman - Eloisa James (HarperCollins - May 2025)

Series: Accidental Brides (Book 2)
 
Desperate after her Season comes to a spectacularly disastrous end, the Honorable Miss Clara Vetry jumps into a carriage hired to take a housekeeper to Scotland.
 
The laird of Castle CaerLaven has no interest in a wife, especially a love match -- but when Caelan sees his new housekeeper, he changes his mind. Marriage to a delectable bookworm strikes him as a perfect arrangement.
 
To his surprise, Clara refuses his proposal once…and again…yet again.
 
When her true identity is revealed, and they're forced to marry, Caelan realizes he has a far more crucial challenge.
 
He finally has Clara's hand -- but how will he ever win her heart?
 
Fun book about two people who are very different than their peers. I enjoyed the story's premise and the two main characters' interactions.
 
Caelan is a widower whose wife died two years ago. He's not interested in remarrying and prefers simply to be left alone to write his books about whisky and fishing. His family and the villagers believe that he is lost in grief over his wife's death. Most of his staff are gone, and his castle is a filthy mess. He doesn't care. However, his sister insists that he needs a new housekeeper and sends to England for one, as no one locally will touch the place.
 
Clara is a young lady whose fourth Season comes to a disastrous end. A beautiful and curvy young woman, she unfortunately drew the attention of the (married) Prince Regent. Matters come to a head when a drunk Prince makes a spectacle of himself and her, ending with him groping her and ripping her dress in full view of a ballroom full of people. I thought her reaction was great, but it didn't go over well with the Prince. Clara's mother, who is far more concerned with appearances than her daughter's feelings, banishes her to stay with a distant relative in Scotland.
 
However, Clara isn't about to roll over and accept her mother's plans for her. At a coaching inn, she bails out of her carriage and jumps into one taking a housekeeper to Scotland. She looks at it as an adventure despite having no experience. Her arrival at Castle CaerLaven is an eye-opener, as she stumbles on Caelan while he is fishing (kiltless) in the loch. The encounter is highly amusing and sets the tone for the book.
 
While Clara attempts to pass herself off as the new housekeeper, no one believes her. That doesn't slow her down, and I enjoyed seeing her put everyone to work - including Caelan. I loved the cleaning scenes and seeing Clara steamroll over his reluctance.
 
I enjoyed watching their relationship develop. Caelan made no secret about his desire not to remarry. Clara is off men, thanks to her recent experiences. However, there is no doubt about the sparks that fly between them. After spending lots of time together cleaning and getting to know each other, Caelan realizes he wouldn't mind marrying again as long as Clara is the bride. Clara fights her feelings for Caelan because, like everyone else, she believes he's still in love with his late wife. She won't risk her heart on someone who can't love her back.
 
I got frustrated with Caelan's refusal to talk about his wife and the truth of their relationship, which allowed the misunderstanding to go on way too long. Caelan keeps proposing, and Clara keeps turning him down until an unexpected twist forces them to marry. The misunderstandings continue until a crisis forces them to face that which keeps them apart. I liked the ending and have high hopes for a happy future for them.
 
The secondary characters provided additional humor to the book. From Caelan's sister, Fiona, who ignores his protests to hire a housekeeper and has a matchmaking glint in her eye, to Elspeth, the maid, and Cobbledick, the driver, each one provides lighthearted moments and occasional serious advice. But my favorite was Fiona's son, Alfie, and his pet chicken, Wilhelmina. Alfie is adorable, and his unfiltered comments are fun. 

 

Corralled in Cutthroat Creek - Juno Rushdan (HI #2286 - May 2025)

Series: Cowboy State Lawmen: Duty and Honor (Book 6)
 
She was looking for evidence
What she found was him
 
Logan Powell never expected to see Summer Stratton again. He definitely hadn't imagined a reunion under fire. After he scares off an intruder who seemed bent on killing her, Logan's instincts -- as a cop and as a cowboy -- demand that he keep her safe. But the persistent lawyer won't stop asking questions about her best friend's death, which means that protecting Summer involves helping her find a murderer. The threats against their lives seem to come from every direction… And Summer's grit and courage prove as irresistible to Logan as her undeniable beauty.
 
Terrific conclusion to the series. The story opens with a bang as Summer searches for proof that her best friend did not die in an accident. Summer believes Dani was murdered because they were investigating a link between suspicious deaths and pollution caused by a local company. While searching Dani's house, an intruder fires shots at Summer before Logan's arrival scares him off.
 
Logan is Dani's cousin, and his uncle sent him to assist Summer. As Wyoming law enforcement, Logan initially is skeptical of Summer's claims that Dani's death was murder. However, subsequent attacks soon convince him.
 
The story's suspense was fantastic. It hooked me from the first page and kept me hooked to the end. As Summer and Logan delved deeper into their investigation, the intensity of the attacks increased along with the number of suspects. The snake scene had me on the edge of my seat until it was over. Several twists kept me guessing to the end, with an unexpected final revelation.
 
I liked Summer and Logan. Summer is focused and driven by her quest for the truth. She can be impulsive, which sometimes gets her in trouble. Logan is the Powell brother who is a little out of step with his siblings. While he grew up on their ranch, he doesn't consider himself a rancher.
 
I enjoyed the development of their relationship. They met a few years earlier and connected, but nothing came of it. When Logan's uncle asked him to help Summer, he jumped at the chance to see her again. Though their reunion got off to a rough start, there was no denying the sparks between them. But Summer is wary of forming a long-distance relationship with someone and insists on "friends only." I ached for Logan, who wants more but accedes to her wishes and backs off but doesn't give up. I loved the ending and seeing how they worked it out.
 
I'm looking forward to seeing what the author has next. 

 
 

Hero Mine - Janie Crouch (Calamitte Jane Pub - May 2025)

Series: Linear Tactical: Oak Creek (Book 5)
 
"Survival is always the most important thing."
 
You don't get far in Oak Creek, Wyoming, home of Linear Tactical and its gruff and rugged heroes, without hearing that motto.
 
Free-spirited Joy Davis—opposite of gruff and rugged—heard the slogan her whole life and generally met it with a roll of her eyes.
 
Until the night she was attacked and left for dead.
 
He's always been her anchor. But now, she's his reason to fight.
 
Bear Bollinger, the Oak Creek's rough-hewn mechanic, has been Joy's protector and confidant for years, waiting for the right time to make his move.
 
Watching her struggle in the aftermath of the attack breaks something inside him. Determined to see her smile again, he steps in to help her rebuild her shattered confidence.
 
But Oak Creek has danger closing in.
 
When a new threat begins to stalk the town, Bear must protect the woman who means everything to him, even as Joy fights to reclaim her life and face a danger unlike anything she's ever known.
 
I've eagerly anticipated this book, and it did not disappoint. The prologue overlaps the end of the previous book, Hero's Heart, from Joy's point of view. We see the blossoming of Joy's relationship with Bear and the hope for the future. Then comes the attack.
 
I loved Joy in both books. Before the attack, she was Miss Sunshine, with a smile or a joke for everyone. With the reputation of being a "wild child," she was full of spontaneous energy and actions. A month after the attack, she has healed physically, but mentally, she struggles. She copes as best she can, hiding her fears from those around her. The dreams she had before the attack are now buried, victims of her loss of confidence in herself. She's loved Bear for years, but not even that can break through the trauma.
 
Bear, the son of Finn and Charlie (Eagle), took over the mechanic garage from his uncle after returning from his time as a Marine. He is observant and caring and can be lethal when those he cares about are threatened. He returned from war with secrets of his own that give him insight into Joy's struggles. He has loved her since she was a teenager and wants to help her.
 
I ached for Joy and her struggle to recover. I also wanted to shake her and tell her to stop pushing away the people who want to help. Joy is fiercely independent and believes she can get through this on her own. I also hurt for Bear, who struggles to give her the space she wants. I loved seeing him finally reach his breaking point and step in after a particularly bad flashback. He won my heart with his quiet support, encouraging her to return to following her dreams and helping rebuild her confidence with his self-defense training.
 
I enjoyed watching Bear and Joy's relationship progress as she recovers. I especially liked how in tune they were, with each understanding how and when to push and when to back off. I loved their ease of communication, from serious subjects to lighthearted teasing. I liked how Joy turned Bear's encouragement to talk about what happened to her back at him when he revealed the secret he kept. As their relationship deepened, there were flashbacks to their past, especially Bear's issues with the eight-year age difference. I understood his position from their early years, but it took him a while to finally get past it. I loved Joy's growth as she healed and regained belief in herself and its effect on her relationship with Bear. I loved the epilogue, Bear's emotional speech to Joy, and his surprise for her.
 
There is a subtle layer of suspense in this book. Rather than a bad guy they have to hunt down, this occurs at home. A frequent feeling of being watched slows Joy's ability to move past her trauma. She doesn't know if the feeling is real or if she imagines it. It didn't take long to suspect the who, but the why was a mystery until the final confrontation. I loved how it turned out.
 
Another mystery affects the entire town. Someone is stealing odds and ends and junk from local businesses. This perplexed everyone; it took outside-the-box thinker Lincoln to figure it out. I loved this twist and how they handled it.
 
I continue to love the community of Oak Creek. They take care of their own, and I loved their support for Joy. Characters from the original Linear Tactical series and the second-generation members of this series play critical roles. Joy and Sloane remain close friends, and I loved Sloane's help and encouragement. My favorite secondary character in this book is Lincoln. His character fascinates me, and I'm excited that he is the hero of the next book. It will take a special lady to partner with him. 

 
 

Beauty and the Lyon - Tanya Wilde (Dragonblade - Apr 2025)

Series: Lyon's Den (Book 77)
 
A heart hidden in shadows. A beauty who dares to see.
 
Eternal optimist Lady Rosilee Fairchild refuses to let fate -- or scheming rogues -- dictate her future. When her brother is tricked into gambling away their estate and held prisoner by a ruthless man determined to force her into marriage, she takes matters into her own hands. Her solution? Find a husband of her own choosing before one can be chosen for her. And there's only one place daring enough to help her do it without question -- Mrs. Dove-Lyon's infamous matchmaking den.
 
Hardened recluse Blake Faiththorne, Duke of Crane, has long been withdrawn from society, content to live in the shadows of his past. But when he learns that the woman who once saved him is now in danger herself -- not only menaced by the worst sort of ruffian but on her way to the Lyon's Den, a place dripping in scandal -- he cannot stand idly by.
 
There is only one, big problem -- though Blake has vowed never to marry himself, helping Rosilee find a husband leaves a bitter taste in his mouth. She is a flame in the dark, and he, despite all reason, is doomed to seek her radiance.
 
Can he break free from his haunted past and claim the woman who has always been his light? Or will old wounds and new dangers keep them apart forever?
 
The story opens with a prologue where we see Blake, the future Duke of Crane, as a boy desperately trying to escape his abusive father. Just as he's certain his father will catch him and beat him, a young girl pulls him to safety and hides him. Though he never saw her again, he never forgot her.
 
Fast forward about fifteen years. Blake is now the Duke, but he is also a recluse. He is bitterly ashamed of his father and convinced that because of his "bad blood," he has the potential to be just as bad. His only option, in his opinion, is to avoid people altogether. His only friend is his butler/valet/man-of-all-work, Bishop. When he hears that the little girl, all grown up now, is in trouble, he vows to help her.
 
Rosilee is eternally optimistic and cheerful. But when her brother falls prey to an unscrupulous card player and loses everything, the rogue takes Leo prisoner. He attempts to coerce Rosilee into marrying him to set Leo free. Rosilee takes matters into her own hands and heads for London to ask Mrs. Dove-Lyon to find her a husband.
 
Blake decided to help Rosilee find a husband without involving Mrs. Dove-Lyon. The problem is that he loves her, and thinking of her with someone else is difficult. Though Rosilee doesn't recognize him at first, she instinctively trusts him. I enjoyed watching their relationship develop. She senses his pain and doesn't push. Once she realizes who he is, she understands him much better. As her feelings for him grow, Rosilee wants him to marry her, but she can't get past his fears. When faced with his rejection, she again takes matters into her own hands. It takes a kick in the pants for Blake to realize what he is throwing away. The confrontation at the Lyon's Den was intense and emotional, and I loved how it worked out.
 
I loved Blake's friend and butler, Bishop. He is about the same age as Blake and takes it upon himself to break Blake free from his past. I loved their interactions. There is nothing servant-like about Bishop, and I loved watching him call Blake out on his stubbornness.
 
In an unexpected twist, Blake encounters one of seven illegitimate half-brothers. This man is determined to help Blake whether he wants it or not. There are some terrific scenes with him. The other brothers show up at a critical time. I hope these brothers will get their own stories.
 

The story was good, but it didn't keep me as engaged as other Lyon's Den stories have.