This boxed set includes the complete Daughters of the Dagger Series.Series Prequel:Mirabelle de Burgh is desperate to conceive a baby for the earl and listens to superstition. For every jeweled dagger bought from a blind old hag, a baby will be conceived. But when she tries to steal the fifth dagger, her life is changed forever by her greediness.Ruby – Book 1Lady Ruby de Burgh has been betrothed … 1
Lady Ruby de Burgh has been betrothed to Lord Nyle Sheffield – the Lord of Death. The man is said to have killed off three wives, and now he’s come for Ruby.
Lord Nyle Sheffield is in need of a strong wife to not only help him carry out the king’s secret plan but also to use as a pawn to flush out the killer hiding within his castle walls. When he sees Ruby practicing the joust and able to use weapons, he knows he’s found his bride.
Sapphire – Book 2
Lady Sapphire de Burgh goes to Rye to marry Lord Roe Sexton – a man she’s never met. But once there she’s told he’s been killed overseas and she’s married off to a baron twice her age who is abusive. She sneaks off into town looking to escape the horrible man, but because of her disguise, she is mistaken as a harlot.
Lord Roe Sexton has returned from overseas and spends the night in a pub with a whore like he’s never encountered before. But when he returns home to find his whore married to his uncle’s friend, he realizes his night of passion was as deceitful as the wool smuggling ring that has taken over the coast.
Amber – Book 3
Amber de Burgh is a novice of St. Ermengild’s Abbey – as she’s decided to become a nun to atone for her family’s sins. But when a devil of a man, Lucifer, enters the church one night bleeding, her heart goes out to him as she tends to his wounds.
Lucifer – or Lucas, has returned from pilgrimage angry at the priest who has raised him from a baby. Now to his dismay, he is being sent on pilgrimage again – this time with a novice of the abbey. Amber intends on praying, but that is the furthest thing from Lucas’s mind, as he’s really on a mission to steal the Regale Ruby from the Canterbury Cathedral.
Amethyst – Book 4
Amethyst de Burgh has been sent by the archbishop to be assistant to her uncle, the master mason, building a castle for the border lord, Marcus Montclair. She has a sharp mind and many skills of a man, as she’s learned from her uncle through the years what it takes to build a castle. But Lord Marcus doesn’t respect women, and the last thing he wants is one working for him.
Marcus Montclair is appalled that the archbishop has burdened him with this awful jest of sending a woman to build his castle. But that’s not the worst of his problems. When his father arrives, he brings a missive concerning the girl – and it is the last thing Marcus expects or wants.
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I have really enjoyed this box set and having all the books at my fingertips while I go back and forth from kindle and audio.
Bk1 Ruby-4.5* – Kindle only
Nyle/Lord Sheffield- had 3 wives die before he was able to consummate the marriage so his next wife he picked out someone who could defend herself
Ruby- oldest daughter and good with weapons.
I enjoyed reading this engaging enemies to lover story that is well written with charismatic characters. As they worked together to take care of Tibbar and got to know one another they were able to fall in love. I like how and the way she was able to get her dagger 9the one her mom gave her) back. Their story has a wonderful HEA.
bk2 Sapphire 4* also reviewed 0n the audible edition-read in set as well in audio
Lord Roe Sexton- came back from war learning his uncle had his betrothed marry someone else
Lady Sapphire- when arrived to marry her betrothed was told he was dead and had to marry the cruel and ugly baron for alliances and family reasons.
I am glad that I muddled through the begining usually I don’t read any books with cheating no matter how justified it may be. I do believe that the scene wasn’t necessary but I really enjoyed reading/listening to the rest of the story it was dramatic, romantic, eventful and the mysterious old hag in there as well. This story is well written and has unforgettable characters with a strong heroine who could be foolish at times, good thing she had loyal friends and an understanding Hero. They had great chemistry together and their story has a loving HEA.
Narrated by Stan Chandler- Who did a decent job telling the story but something about his reading rhythm seemed off and his voice animation didn’t seem to be the same for per character. Just my opinion but I still will listen to his books starting with Amber. I do have both audio and kindle, I love going back and forth Listen while I exercise, clean and cook and read when I want to sit and relax.
bk3 Amber 5* read in set as well in audio
Lucas/Lucifer- was left at the church steps by his mother. growing up feeling abandon and unloved.
Amber- feeling she must atone for her family sins she is wanting to become a nun with 9 more months of being a novice left until Lucifer enters her life and she showed him compassion and love.
I enjoyed reading/listening this entertaining and captivating story of a man growing up feeling unloved and unwanted not only finding his true love but the love of his mother. This story is well written with excellently developed characters who made the story including Maribel. Their story has a marvellous HEA
Narrated by Brian J Gill- who did a wonderful job of telling the story and a good use of voice animation for each person in the story
Bk4 Amethyst 5* read in set as well in audio
Lord Marcus- A ruthless border lord who had no respect for woman!
Lady Amethyst- by the order of the Archbishop of Canterbury was able to help her uncle make a castle.
I Loved listening and reading this highly engaging story of 2 very strong willed individuals learning to become their own person and accepting themselves as well as the ones they love. This tale is well written with unforgettable characters and some dramatic/action events and a loving HEA. I try never to put spoilers in my review but Can’t help not to mention that baby brother Onyx makes an appearance and apparently has his own story bk1 of the Madman Mackeefe series.
Narrated by Brian J Gill- who did a wonderful job of telling the story and a good use of voice animation for each person in the story.
read on 2/18/21
This whole series is great!
Ruby
Elizabeth Rose
I received a free copy of this book for an honest review.
I liked Nyle and Ruby’s story because it had so much passion in it from the time they met all the way until the end. She despised Nyle upon first meeting him because she thinks he killed his previous wives but things are not as they seem. Upon settling into her new surroundings, Ruby is determined to not act as a lady should but to prove she can ride, shoot and wield a sword as any man. But, her life too, becomes endangered when the assassin stalking any wife of Nyle comes after her. Ruby is forced to defend and protect herself but at a very high risk. She did many foolhardy things that could have ended badly. I felt in this they were perfectly matched because Nyle was himself impulsive and acted without thought. They story had a wonderful power struggle between Ruby and Nyle and it was good to see how it was worked out. This was definitely worth a read.
I only received Ruby but could not find it as a separate novel.
Prequel 5* – Short Novella (4 chapters). It’s very useful but not essential, to have read this book before reading the Daughters of the Dagger series and Onyx’s story as it is the only opportunity you have of meeting their mother, as she dies giving birth to Onyx. The meeting with the blind hag and the attempted theft of a fifth dagger are mentioned in the other stories but it is nice to read the full story.
Ruby 5* – Willfulness, Murder and Intrigue. Ruby is the eldest of four sisters and her father always having wanted a son, she has done her best to fulfill that role; she dons men’s clothes, fights with a sword, jousts and can ride astride as well as side saddle. In short she is a daredevil with little to no skills as a lady; not the ideal wife for a nobleman beloved of the King and hardly motherly material. However, Nyle has already lost three brides, time is of the essence and he hopes that the capable Ruby will survive longer than her predecessors; if only he knew who was murdering his wives.
Sapphire 4* – Quick, engrossing read. Lord Roe Sexton is presumed dead and so his betrothed, Lady Sapphire is married off to another man. The Baron is an uncaring man and when Roe returns from war and meets Sapphire, the attraction between the two of them is undeniable.
Amber 4* – This is the love story of Amber, formerly Lady Amber, the daughter of an Earl and now a novice nun and Lucifer/Lucas who was abandoned by his noble mother when he was a baby and brought up in the monastic life. Lucas is a tortured soul; he was temperamentally unsuited to be a monk and ran away before taking his final vows. Out in the world, he became a mercenary and indulged in all the vices but that wasn’t the life he wanted for himself either and so he returned to the man whom had raised him. A new life was dangled before him however, the tasks he had to undertake in order to reach that life made him feel tainted and now he was being tempted by the chaste and pure Sister Amber!!!!!
Throughout history not all religious men have been pious. During the 18th Century, it was just a role that the fourth son undertook, whether he had a “calling” or not (first inherited the estate, second went into the army and third into law) and many of the 16th Century Popes had mistresses and illegitimate children. This book is set in the middle of 14th Century England, during a time when the Church was very wealthy and influential and those who reached the top echelons certainly did not live a life of poverty (though not all were promiscuous). I can imagine that this could have led to some ill-feeling within the Church itself. The villain of this novel, Father Armand, has become twisted, deceitful, greedy and grasping and this was the man who raised Lucifer! Will he make the right choices? Read this book to find out.
Amethyst 4* – Eighteen year old Lady Amethyst has a gift for castle building but as a mere woman is going to have difficulty in getting Lord Marcus to respect her prowess. The situation is then muddied when the King and his father decree that they should marry. Marcus is a hardened warrior who has suppressed his gentler side, can Amethyst draw it out and find a man to both respect and love? Amethyst is a feisty and likeable character, Marcus much less so, though as his attitude improves so does his character. Amethyst in future though will have to take charge of the purse strings if she doesn’t want to live in poverty as it is clear that Marcus likes the finer things and has absolutely no idea of budgeting!
I have read the above books individually and copied my reviews to this boxed set.