What a tangled family! And secrets! So many secrets!

Madelyn Tavernash, widowed Duchess of Glenmoor, is holding onto a gigantic secret. One that could destroy those she holds dear.
Meanwhile she’s come out of semi solitude to attend her friend Lucy and her half-brother Sir Robert Benson’s wedding. Somewhat off kilter from her unexpected attraction for Rob’s friend Colonel Brynn Morgan, Maddy contemplates her life and the reasons for her retiring to Clarion Hall’s Dower House at Ashmead. Not that we really see much, only hints. The Colonel is part of the security company Rob works with for the foreign office.
After the wedding Maddy consents reluctantly to journey to London staying with the family at her brother David Caulfield, the Earl’s home, Clarion House. She’s needed to help guide the newly married Lucy through the pitfalls of society.
Serendipityly the answers to many of Maddy’s questions are rudely awakened by the demands of an ill kempt American Isiah Jessop when he confronts her outside Clarion House demanding to know the whereabouts of Gideon Jessop, the half brother of her stepson, Phillip Tavernash, the Duke of Glenmoore. Rob calls in his security detail, whom Maddy dubs the ‘palace guard.’ Answers about Jessop are sought for by Brynn. Not that Brynn even guessed the half of it.
A trip to Wales, to Brynn’s home that he clearly doesn’t want to be near, is unfortunately for him, on the cards. Maddy insists on going much to Brynn’s exasperation. Unexpectedly her stepson, Phillip also turns up. Wales will be an eye opener for all.
I must say though that I lost patience with the Duchess’ prima donna behavior that endangered many.
Still the complexities begin to iron out. I’m sure there’s more to come from this interesting group of people.

A Dragonblade ARC via NetGalley ( )

I met and loved Brynn and Maddy in the first book of the series, The Wayward Son, and I couldn’t wait for their book. I’m here to tell you, it was worth the wait! This writer’s work always warms my heart and makes it soar, and that was definitely true with this book. I adored the characters and was so happy to see their personal growth throughout the book. Then, there are the secondary characters, Rhys, Gideon, and Philip – OMGoodness – though they aren’t Ashmead heirs, they definitely need their own books.

Lady Madelyn (Maddy) Tavernash, widowed Duchess of Glenmoor, was in a seriously abusive marriage and when her husband died, she walked away and never looked back. For the last ten years, she has been living at her brother’s estate because she refused to take any settlement from the Glenmoor estate. She may be living in lesser circumstances, but her life is quiet and peaceful – just as she wants it – until it isn’t. When she begins to enjoy the company of one of her brother Rob’s wedding guests AND she learns that her stepson is being accosted and threatened, her peace and quiet come to a rapid end and she finds herself doing things she never thought to do again.

Colonel Brynn Morgan is retired from the military and trying to determine what he wants to do with the rest of his life. He’s accepted employment with the Home Office under the leadership of Viscount Rockford and spends his days analyzing reports on ports and troops, etc. While helping his good friend Robert (Rob) Benson unearth and thwart a villain at his newly inherited estate, he meets a most intriguing woman. He enjoys teasing her but knows she has serious issues of her own. Brynn has plenty of issues himself and he certainly cannot pursue a relationship with the lady – especially since she is a duchess and he isn’t an aristocrat of any sort. She sure does call to him though.

When the two of them are thrown together in an effort to help one of Maddy’s stepsons (Philip) and to determine what actually happened to the other (Gideon), they each have to begin to deal with their personal demons. Brynn’s demons rear their ugly heads more and more as they draw nearer their destination – Brynn’s childhood home and his younger brother Rhys.

With danger lurking and futures at stake, Maddy and Bryn must finally confront their feelings and decide how they’ll deal with them.

I definitely recommend this book because I absolutely loved it and can hardly wait for the next one, The Forgotten Daughter, which releases in January. I hope you’ll choose to read it and love it as much as I did.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. ( )