Reviewed for Wit and Sin

 

Rival investigators find love in Heiress for Hire. Madeline Hunter’s Duke’s Heiress trilogy is off to a strong start with Chase and Minerva’s book. It has mystery, romance, and engaging protagonists who make it easy to fall into the story.

Minerva is an excellent heroine who is easy to root for. The survivor of an abusive marriage, Minerva has made a new life for herself with the family she has made. She has also started an inquiry service and knows how to make use of her skills and others’ in a time when people would dismiss a woman such as her as an investigator. Chase is also an investigator, though he doesn’t need to do it for money. Chase is an honorable hero who is easy to love, though he questions himself because of some ghosts in his past. His latest case is close to heart; he’s looking into the death of his uncle, the duke of Hollinburgh, who he believes was murdered. He is also trying to track down three women to whom his uncle has left a fortune. Chase’s investigation put him right in the path of the first beneficiary, Minerva.

Sparks fly from the start between them, but the romance is a slow burn one. Minerva carries scars from her brutal first husband and Chase is sensitive to her needs, fears, and always puts the choice in her hands. There’s a struggle between Chase wanting to be protective and Minerva wanting her independence, but it’s not played for false drama and these are organic bumps on the road toward happily ever after. The two of them suit each other perfectly, both in business and in bed. I enjoyed watching them open up and learn to trust one another with their pasts, secrets, and fears. Their love story builds from a foundation of mutual respect, understanding, and lust and it was a joy to watch unfold.

Heiress for Hire is the first in the Duke’s Heiress trilogy and I cannot wait to see what Ms. Hunter has in store for the next two heiresses. There are a few mysteries in this book, among them the questions of who murdered Chase’s uncle and why did Hollinburgh leave Minerva a fortune. I enjoyed watching Chase and Minerva work through the various mysteries, each in their own investigative style. The question of who murdered Hollinburgh and why looks to be a mystery that will span the trilogy, but there are very interesting suspects and the puzzle pieces laid out in this book are sure to keep me interested in the next two. All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed Heiress for Hire and I’m looking forward to seeing what comes next in the Duke’s Heiress series.


FTC Disclosure: I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

 

This winter, steal away with the reigning queens of Regency Romance

. . . to a surprise snowstorm, the comfort of a blazing fire, and the heat of a lover’s kisses 

This was a great anthology by three authors whose books I love. I devoured the stories in no time. I highly recommend.

**I voluntarily read and reviewed this book

This book has 3 Christmas Novellas included in it.

A CHRISTMAS ABDUCTION by Madeline Hunter
When Adam Prescott, Baron Thornhill is abducted by Caroline Dunham that is when the fun begins.  Caro thinks that Adam is guilty of a certain action and she wants to set the record straight....too bad in the meantime she ends up falling for him.  This story was so fun and I just adored Caro.  She is a go getter and is not afraid of much!   4 Stars

A PERFECT MATCH by Sabrina Jeffries
We finally get Cassandra Isles story...she is Thorn's twin sister.  When Colonel Lord Heywood shows up at a ball to warn his friend's sister, Katherine "Kitty" Nickman about Captain Lionel Malet, Heywood never would have thought he'd fall in love with her cousin, Cass.  After all he always thought he was in love with Kitty and her wonderful letters.  I just adored Cass.  She is so matter-of-fact about everything.  5 Stars

ONE WICKED WINTER NIGHT by Mary Jo Putney
Lady Diana Lawrence is back in London after having traveled the world.  She never expected to run into Anthony Raines, the now Duke of Castleton, so soon but the obvious chemistry was still there.  Diana is unsure if she ever wants to be married but Anthony lost Diana once and is intent on not letting that happen again.  It will take a kidnapping for Diana to come to her senses!  I just loved Diana.  She is not your typical member of the ton.  She was a hoot!  5 Stars

Reviewed for Wit and Sin

 

“A Christmas Abduction” by Madeline Hunter
Caroline Dunham’s family once owned a famous racehorse-breeding farm, but their luck has been spiraling downward for years. It’s the last straw when she learns that Adam Prescott, Baron Thornhill, has done something unforgivable to a member of her family. What’s a woman to do when she has no options? Abduct the lord in question, of course. Except this supposed villain is nothing like she expected…

“A Christmas Abduction” started out a lot of fun, mostly due to the chemistry between Caroline and Adam. Caroline has had enough and is determined Adam will do right by her family and Adam is anything but your typical hostage. I liked watching Adam start to care for Caroline and her friends, enjoyed seeing him work hard alongside Caroline. As for Caroline, I respected how hard she worked and her loyalty to others, her strength in holding her family afloat. That being said, the romance left me wanting a bit. Given what Caroline believed of Adam, her attraction to him and the way she gave into it made the love story feel a bit stilted and rushed. Added to that, the ending was tied up so neatly that it was not entirely believable. Still, “A Christmas Abduction” is an enjoyable story and Madeline Hunter’s writing keeps things moving along at a quick clip.


“A Perfect Match” (Duke Dynasty, Book 1.5) by Sabrina Jeffries
Colonel Lord Heywood Wolfe has come to a ball to warn his best friend’s sister, Kitty, that one of her suitors is a villainous fortune hunter with a dark past. One thing leads to another and Heywood ends up abducting Kitty and her cousin, Cass, and taking them to his family home for the holidays in order to protect them. Kitty is an heiress and Heywood needs funds to restore the estate he inherited, so she should be the one he’s courting. Except he can’t take his mind off of Cass, the intelligent beauty who is his perfect match in every way…

“A Perfect Match” was my favorite novella of this anthology and the reason I picked it up in the first place. Sabrina Jeffries brings Christmas cheer and charm with her story of a soldier in need of a fortune and a secret heiress who will only marry for love.

Heywood and Cass sparkle, their chemistry wonderful and their back-and-forths made me smile. Cass has sworn her family to secrecy about her being an heiress and she’s been burned in the past by fortune hunters. So even though she’s quickly falling for Heywood she doesn’t want to reveal she has money and risk not finding a man who wants her for herself. I adored Cass and Heywood and was rooting for their happily ever after. The only thing that detracted from the story was a turn in attitude from Heywood at the end, one that was out of character and seemed forced in to add drama. It’s a pity, because otherwise “A Perfect Match” is a fun, aptly-titled story with two protagonists I adored and a cast of supporting characters who made me smile.


“One Wicked Winter Night” (Rogues Redeemed, Book 3.5) by Mary Jo Putney
After exploring the world for years, Lady Diana Lawrence has decided to return home to England. The only thing she’s wary of is running into the man who was the reason she so quickly took to exploring all those years ago. On the night of her cousin’s masquerade ball she meets a dashing corsair who tempts her in a way she hasn’t been tempted in a long time. Of course, it’s none other than Anthony Raines, Duke of Castleton, the man she loved and lost. It’s clear the attraction between them has never died, but is that enough for them to take a risk at opening their hearts for a second chance at love?

I love a good second chance romance so I was eager to dive into this story of a duke who wants to marry for love and the intrepid explorer he never got over. I liked that Diana was older than Anthony, that she was worldly and well-traveled, had an adventurous spirit, and knew her own mind. I also really liked that Anthony accepted and loved Diana for who she was, unreservedly and without any alpha male posturing. The two of them had a lot of promise and their sense of humor charmed me. However, partway through “One Wicked Winter Night” the story took a turn and I was flabbergasted by both Anthony and Diana’s stunning lack of maturity. I won’t spoil the story, but Anthony’s way of securing Diana’s attention was childish and her response to it was reckless and irresponsible. It left a sour taste in my mouth and the two of them didn’t have enough chemistry to overcome it. And because it was so distracting, I must point out that Mary Jo Putney’s overuse of exclamation points did not help her characters seem more mature (truly, the sheer quantity was alarming!). Still, fans of the Rogues Redeemed series (which I have not read) might enjoy this story more than I did. Previous heroes and heroines play strong supporting roles and that will undoubtedly mean more to people invested in the characters.


Seduction on a Snowy Night has its ups and downs with a bit of unevenness in tone in each of the stories. Being snowed in plays a part in each story and close quarters helped with the accelerated falling in love timelines the novella length necessitates. If you’re a fan of any of these authors it’s worth picking up this anthology. I particularly enjoyed Sabrina Jeffries’s “A Perfect Match,” but there’s something for every historical romance lover in Seduction on a Snowy Night.


FTC Disclosure: I received this book for free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

 

A Devil of a Duke - Madeline Hunter Amanda Waverly, secretary or thief? Or is she both? She was born into a life a crime, forced to become a thief due to her parents' training. Amanda is striving to keep her identity a secret, all while trying to escape that life by serving as a secretary to a responsible lady in society. However, the pressure to keep stealing is constantly facing her.

Fortunately, her employer, Lady Farnsworth, a publisher of a lady's journal, has a wonderful influence on her. What Amanda doesn't expect, however, is to run into Gabriel St. James, Duke of Langford. Amanda manages to trick the duke into participating in a theft, all while keeping her name a secret. How long can this go on? Who will end this farce?

While the two spend time together, one thing is undeniable, and that is their powerful attraction to one another. Throwing caution to the wind, they engage in far more than a begrudging friendship. The story shifts back and forth between their affair, her secret and Gabriel having to choose honor and decency over his own heart.

This was a sensitive story, especially since both Amanda and Gabriel went through so many changes, and the result could have been more than disastrous. It was enjoyable to be reminded of Gabriel's friends with the other two Dukes and how they helped him to see how he actually felt. This entry in the Decadent Duke series had a satisfying ending.

Many thanks to Zebra and to NetGalley for this ARC to review. This is my honest opinion.