Title: The Lady’s Guard
Author: Christi Caldwell
First published July 25, 2017
322 pages, Kindle Edition
Rating: 4.17
Overview
Christi Caldwell’s Sinful Brides series continues with a heart-racing story of love and danger. Niall Marksman has always been a rogue, taking advantage of London’s high society at the infamous Hell and Sin Club.
But when Lady Caroline Winstead seeks his help, Niall’s past comes back to haunt him. Caroline is the daughter of a wealthy earl, and her life is in danger.
With no one else to turn to, she hires Niall as her bodyguard. Niall is determined to protect Caroline at all costs, even if it means risking his own heart.
As they navigate the dangerous streets of London, Caroline and Niall realize that their attraction to each other is more than just a business arrangement. But can their love survive the threats that surround them?
Don’t miss this thrilling tale of passion and intrigue in The Lady’s Guard.
About the Author
Christi Caldwell, a USA TODAY Bestselling author, was drawn into the world of historical romance by Judith McNaught’s “Whitney, My Love!” while she was in her graduate school apartment at the University of Connecticut. Instead of studying, Christi decided to give romance writing a try and hasn’t looked back since.
She believes that the most captivating heroes and heroines are flawed and enjoys putting them through trials before giving them the happy ending they deserve.
Christi currently resides in Charlotte, North Carolina, where she spends her time writing her own enchanting historical romances and baking delicious cakes (thanks to almost two years in lockdown). She shares her home with her brave son and twin daughters, who provide endless inspiration with their daily antics.
Editoral Review
In “The Lady’s Guard” by Christi Caldwell, readers are transported to the Regency era where they will follow the story of Lady Chatwick, a widow who is struggling to keep her estate afloat while fending off the advances of a nefarious neighbor. Along comes Captain Robert Carlyle, a war hero who is hired as her new estate manager, but it soon becomes apparent that he has been accepted into her household for a different purpose altogether.
While trying to salvage her estate and reputation, Lady Chatwick must navigate the growing feelings she has for Captain Carlyle, all while trying to uncover the truth about his mysterious past. Caldwell, a bestselling author in the Regency romance genre, does an excellent job of setting the scene and immersing the reader in the time period.
From the descriptions of the clothing to the ways in which society was structured, it’s clear that Caldwell has done her research and is knowledgeable about the era. This level of detail helps to create a vivid and believable world that readers will find themselves fully absorbed in.
The plot itself is engaging, with enough twists and turns to keep the reader on their toes without feeling contrived or forced. Lady Chatwick is a strong and likable protagonist, and Captain Carlyle’s past is intriguing enough to keep the reader invested in his character as well.
The romance between the two is slow-burning and satisfying, and readers will find themselves rooting for them to overcome the obstacles that stand in their way. There are some limitations to the book, however.
The pacing can be a bit slow at times, and some readers may find themselves getting bogged down in the minutiae of estate management. Additionally, while the characters are well-written and their motivations are clear, there isn’t a lot of development beyond what is necessary to move the plot forward.
Overall, “The Lady’s Guard” is an enjoyable read for fans of Regency romance. Caldwell’s attention to detail and engaging plot make this a worthwhile addition to the genre.
While there are some weaknesses, they are outweighed by the strengths of the book, and readers who enjoy a good love story set in the past are sure to find much to enjoy here.
