The Duke That I Marry
by Cathy Maxwell
Series: The Spinster Heiresses Series
Genre: Adult Historical Romance
Publisher: Avon Books
Publication Date: November 27, 2018
Once upon a time there were three young ladies who, despite their fortunes, had been on the marriage mart a bit too long. They were known as “the Spinster Heiresses” . . .
Is it wrong for a woman to want more?
Not if she is a Spinster Heiress. They do not settle. Any young miss would be very lucky to find herself promised to a man like the Duke of Camberly. However, Miss Willa Reverly has watched her friends marry for love. Camberly may be the prize of the season, but she will not be “sold” to any man. She wants his devotion or she wants nothing at all.
When is a Marriage of Convenience inconvenient?
Newly named to the ducal title, Matthew Addison is determined to discover the secrets behind Mayfield, the bankrupt estate he has inherited. He doesn’t have time to coddle a headstrong heiress who is determined to ditch him over something as silly as “love.” Little does he know that his questions will place her in jeopardy. Now he must do what he must to save them both.
Could it be that in running from danger they might be racing headlong into a truly unexpected fate: falling in love?
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Excerpt:
Her arms came around his neck. She stood on her toes. He picked her up and carried her to the bed. His fingers began working her lacings. Her hands slid inside his jacket, pushing it down over his shoulders.
Dear God, he wanted this. He’d had her warmth beside him in bed but it had taken all his willpower to give her the time she needed to heal.
Matt lowered his arms, and his jacket slid to the floor. He pulled Willa down onto the bed beside him. He kissed her chin, her cheek, her nose, and her sweet ears before finding her mouth again. She laughed as if it tickled, and the sound made his heart grow fuller, the beat stronger.
She loved him.
He’d always thought true love was full of drama and turmoil. It wasn’t. Love was the sense that he was right where he was supposed to be. That at last, he’d found his home.
Review:
Finally, Willa’s story!
I really liked both Willa and Matt, and was quickly invested in their HEA–even though at times I felt that one of them (usually Willa) deserved it a bit more than the other (usually Matt). I liked that they were both flawed–unfortunately for Matt, one of his flaws was pretty publicly known–and that they both made attempts to overcome those flaws without needing to be bludgeoned over the head with them. I especially liked that Willa wasn’t ready to settle for less, even if she did waffle a bit in her resolve when Matt turned on the charm (and really, who can blame her?) she stuck to her guns and ultimately made him work for it but at the same time wasn’t ridiculous about it.
The blackmail/suspense plot took me by surprise, and the figuring out who dunnit and the resolution of that part felt a bit rushed. It did do the trick of bringing them together in the end, though, which I guess was its purpose, so…
I also enjoyed the brief glimpses we got into the HEAs of the other series characters. They were really brief, though–so no worries if you haven’t read them yet. This one absolutely works fine as a standalone.
While The Duke That I Marry isn’t my favorite of the series, but I did like it a lot when all is said and done–mostly because of the characters themselves. I’m looking forward to seeing what Ms. Maxwell will bring us next.
Favorite line, which really shows where Matt is at the end of the book and the warm cozy feeling that the two of them together inspire:
He’d always thought true love was full of drama and turmoil. It wasn’t. Love was the sense that he was right where he was supposed to be. That at last, he’d found his home.
Rating: 4 stars / B+
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.
About the author:
CATHY MAXWELL spends hours in front of her computer pondering the question, “Why do people fall in love?” It remains for her the great mystery of life and the secret to happiness. Fans can contact Cathy at www.cathymaxwell.com; Twitter: @maxwellcathy
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Giveaway!
To celebrate the release of THE DUKE THAT I MARRY by Cathy Maxwell, we’re giving away one paperback copy of If Ever I Should Love You!
GIVEAWAY TERMS & CONDITIONS: Open to US shipping addresses only. One winner will receive a paperback copy of If Ever I Should Love You by Cathy Maxwell. This giveaway is administered by Pure Textuality PR on behalf of Avon Romance. Giveaway ends 10/10/2018 @ 11:59pm EST. Avon Romance will send the winning copies out to the winner directly. Limit one entry per reader and mailing address. Duplicates will be deleted. CLICK HERE TO ENTER!
