Despite being thrown from her home and stripped of her place in society at a young age, Madame Marce Davenport is proud of what she’s accomplished with her family and the notoriously scandalous Craven House. Except it’s all built on a lie. When an arrogant duke strode into her home years ago, offering her a way to keep the brothel open, she agreed to his game of deception. But now that her siblings have found their happiness, Marce can finally live the life she’s always wanted: one that embraces the truth. And that means severing ties with the man who has claimed too many of her days—both in reality, and fantasy. Rowan Delconti, the Duke of Harwich, has been angry for so long: at his father, at the woman who broke apart his parents’ marriage, and at the children who won is father’s love. He’s determined his mother won’t be unhappy again—even if it means pretending to be married to Marce, so that his mother will think he’s found love in his life. But the beautiful madame fuels his fire like no other, and the charade starts to feel all too real.
This was a pretty good book. The story is a lot deeper than the description gives and I’m glad I gave it a chance. Both characters were well written and go through a lot emotionally. I really enjoyed the book. I can’t wait to read to read more from this author. I recommend.
**I voluntarily read and reviewed this book

Imagine if a very powerful man came to you and you were forced to pretend that you were his wife for eight years in name only. Eight years! Why? Revenge and retribution is what the Duke of Harwich thinks he deserves. The Duke finds Marce in the brothel that her mother ran and therefore it makes sense to him that she is perpetrating what her mother started. Marce is in a bad place financially and has siblings to support and feels that she has no recourse but to accept, and so it is that the sham of a marriage goes on for eight years until Marce decides that she has had enough. Well, that and also the realization that the Duke was wrong after being enlightened by a good friend.

This story is so well-written with a beautifully complex plot. You will love the characters who are totally engaging, realistic and personable. It is a story with lots of emotion and drama. It is a beautiful addition to McKnight's series, and I look forward to reading more from her in this series.

This book just wasn't for me. It was well written, however I found the premise very hard to believe, while most historical romances take an ounce of suspense of disbelief, this just took too much. The thing you have to believe is that Rowan Delconti, the Duke of Harwich, puts very little forethought into his actions...ever. First he shows up to Craven House having done no research on current circumstances. Then he doesn't seem to think about what happens with his deception with Marce if his mother doesn't die rather quickly. Several times it had me saying "Really??" which wasn't an experience I enjoyed.

I received a copy at no cost from NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Loved this book. A little more prose than dialogue slowed the pace and dragged it down a little at times. But finally- was able have the story of my favorite sister in the series.

I tried to get into this book, and I tried to like it, but it fell short for me. This is the third book in the series, maybe if I had read the others I would have enjoyed it more.
The premise fell short, a woman who masquerades as a duchess for eight years to a man who pretty much despises her and her family? She never tells, they never get caught, they only meet a few times of year for her to perform as his wife for his mother's sake? Didn't seem plausible.
I like stories where enemies become lovers, but Marce and Rowan weren't enemies, I don't think they felt anything for each other - and that emotion showed in the story. They were just there.
I gave up around 70% of the book when Rowan was finally thinking that maybe he kind of liked Marce - the woman who played his wife for eight years. This one wasn't for me.

Madame Marce Davenport has spent her life giving of herself to others. When her father died, her half-brother threw her family from their house. Her mother survived by opening a brothel. After her death, the Duke of Harwich demands that she either vacate her family's home or agree to his scheme.

Rowan Delconti, the Duke of Harwich is seeking revenge against his father and the woman who broke apart his family. He goes to Craven House intent on confronting the Madam but finds her daughter, Marce. Rowan abruptly decides on a change of plans. Marce is to pretend she is his Duchess and she will keep Craven House. All she needs to do is to be available when he visits his beloved mother at the family estate.

After eight years, Marce wants her freedom. However, to gain it, secrets will have to come to light. Will their relationship evolve from fake to a real romance?

This is the third book in the Craven House Series. I thought it read well as a stand-alone. However, I will have to read the first two.

The characters were so well written that I felt like I was part of the book. I loved the characters. Marce was a wonderful heroine. I liked seeing how Rowan's character developed. I loved his devotion to his mother. Rowan's friend Tobias deserves his own book! There was a twist at the end that I did not see coming.

I received an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Thank You!

This is the 3rd book in Ms. McKnight's Crave House series of romances. Overall it was a good addition to the series. Marce and Rowan were an interesting pair of lovers. The story includes some drama, heat and simply romance.

Things are not always as they seem and extreme measures are often taken to cover untruths. Such is the case with Marce Davenport and Rowan Delconti, the Duke of Harwich. Marce Davenport has had a hard life from childhood. When her father died, Marce, her mother and siblings got tossed out of their home with little money to survive. Her mother opened a bordello, Craven House and became a paid mistress to the Duke of Harwich, Rowan's father. When Rowan's father passes away and he becomes the Duke, he goes to confront the woman who ruined his parents marriage. But he finds that the woman has passed away and finds Marce, her daughter in her place. Determined to throw her out of Crave House, which he now owns, he ends up striking a bargain with her to act as his wife in front of his mother.
This story picks up many years later with Marce determined to end the bargain with Rowan and visit his mother, the Duchess one last time. But as things often happen he realizes he has developed feelings for her and does not want the farce to end. Marce is such a strong woman who has overcome so much in her life. Rowan on the other hand had a lot of bitterness from his childhood and resentment about his father's treatment of his mother.
Can the two get past all the lifetime of hard feelings and find any happiness? The author brought the characters to life in the story and I felt the emotions coming off the page. This is a great tale of redemption and finding the good in life in the end. Although this is part of a series it can be read as a standalone but you will want to go back and read more of the Craven House books.

I received an arc of this book from the publishers via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The Madam Catches Her Duke is the 3rd book in Christina McKnight’s Craven House Series. t can be read as a standalone.
Marce Davenport’s life changed dramatically when as a small child her father died and her half-brother threw her family out. Her mother supported her children the only way she knew how, by opening a brothel. Rowan Delconti, the new Duke of Harwich discovers in the prologue that he now owns Craven House he storms over there intent on throwing out the woman he blames her for ruining his parents' marriage. Disconcerted to find she has died he strikes a bargain with her daughter. Marce must act as Rowan's wife in front of his mother or her and her siblings will be thrown out of their home again.
The story picks up eight years later and Marce has determined to end their bargain after one last visit to the Duchess. Rowan finds himself developing unwanted feelings for Marce and is unexpectantly jealous of her friendship with his best friend.
Rowan is pretty unlikeable for most of the book but insights into his childhood give an understanding of his bitterness toward the people who 'stole' his father. Marce is a strong independent woman who strives to help those around her. She is willing to sacrifice her own happiness for her siblings.
This book was an enjoyable read. The story was compelling and the characters were interesting. The secondary characters really heightened the story.

When you first start reading this, you are given the impression the duke is all stone and no feelings. That is until you get to about chapter 4 and you soon learn he isnt all he seems. I love this slow burn romance that didnt happen over night. I love the twist on the fake marriage and the lies that take place over the 8 yrs. the best thing was that both our duke and duchess have no idea who the other really is. They are holding onto past lies and a sense of responsibility.

Now that Marce’s siblings have found happiness, Marce plans to end her deception with Rowan, the Duke of Harwich. But will he let her go? This is a fast-paced read with plenty of drama. I liked the characters and thought their romance was sweet but intense. The story held my interest throughout. A good read.

This is Marce and Rowan’s story. He blames her mother’s for his mother’s suffering. He punishes her by having her play at being his wife to make his mother happy or Marce will lose her home. This goes on for eight years. Marce has decided to end it but love has found them. I couldn’t put the story down. I will go back and read the other books in the series.

Rowan Delconti, the new Duke of Harwich nurtured hate for his father's mistress for years. When the old Duke passed on he planned to exact revenge on his father's erstwhile mistress Sasha and her family for the pain he went through.

But Sasha has passed away, Madame Marce Davenport, as her eldest daughter took all the brunt of retribution from Rowan. He asked Marce and her siblings to vacate the premises he owns unless Marce agrees to his proposition, a sham marriage to make the Duke's mother happy. Marce will do anything to safeguard her siblings. She made a pact with the devil. For eight long years they maintain a farce, unbeknownst to them, the Duchess is aware of their charade.

I haven't read the first two books in the series but this narrative can hold its own. It was wonderful to read when everything unfolds and the conflict was resolved. The characters live for their strong familial affection. I can't help but endear to their deep sense of duty.

Did Craven House and its Madame live up to its scandalous reputation? Christina McKnight has written a wonderful twist.

This is a complimentary eGalley copy from the publisher. My review is impartial and honest.

The Madame Catches Her Duke
by Christina McKnight
Anna Swedenmom's review Jan 21, 2018

Definitely a buy buy buy buy buy book.

I was really not expecting to be impressed with this book. The blurb was interesting. Now I am totally caught up in the story. From pathos, betrayal, love. Bitterness and sweetness....to romance, forgiveness and passion. No matter which way you look at this , the story unfolds and you are swept away by such a wonderful cast of characters and action that you will not regret taking the time to sit and read the story. The writer is one that is able to pull her readers into the midst of the story allowing you to picture it and experience with her words. Such a wonderful gift. Buy the book and let it sweep you away as it did me. I was given this book in return for an honest review. Anna Swedenmom

I never could come to believe the heroine could fall so easily in love with the hero after the peril she lived with from his demands. It worked out a little too neatly to make a NEW possible.

The Madame Catches Her Duke is a strong tale of hurt, betrayal, vengeance and eventually, love, forgiveness, and redemption. Lady Marce Davenport and Rowan Delconti, the Duke of Harwich have formed a most unusual alliance as a wedded couple to fool Rowan’s mother, whom he thinks is dying, but she continues to live for eight more years. This books grabs you from the beginning as you try to determine how this scheme will work, but work it does and for eight long years.

Both Marce and Rowan feel strongly that they have each been wronged, yet they never talk about their real hurts until it is almost too late. Rowan loves his mother deeply. Marce comes to love her just as much. Just as Rowan wants to protect his mother through her illness, Marce wants to protect her siblings although Marce comes to love Rowan’s mother as if she were her own.

It was amazing that all of Rowan’s staff knew what was going on, his best friend and neighbor Tobias helped perpetuate the ‘marriage,’ but Rowan never thought of the effect all of this would have on him or Marce. The relationship with Marce was fraught with anger that he did not seem to be able to overcome even though she was just as innocent as he in what their parents had done.

The ending was not at all what I was expecting, but it was even better. Although a stand alone book, this is third in the series. Craven House series is an unusual set of regency books that you will not be able to put down.

Rowan Delconti, the Duke of Harwich, has been angry for so long at his father for how he all but abandoned them. He sets out to punish the woman who broke apart his parents’ marriage, and at the children who won is father’s love. He arrives to find the women died so he makes a bargain with the daughter, Marce Davenport. Madame Marce Davenport is proud of what she’s accomplished with her family and the notoriously scandalous Craven House. She’s raising her sibling when the Duke of Harwich unexpectedly walked into her home and attempted to evict them from their home so she agreed to his bargain and game of deception.
Rowan and Marce have kept up this deception for eight years now and Marce has had enough, she’s ready to free and independent of Rowan and his blackmail tactics. Rowan doesn’t know things are about change, but he notices his reaction to Marce, jealous of his best friend relationship with her, he starts to feel like an outsider and finds himself drawn to her as never before. Rowan finds himself changing too and wanting more. What starts out as an act of love for his mother and Marce’s siblings simply isn’t enough anymore for either of them. A great story with two strong characters who both love their family and will do anything to protect them even sacrificing themselves. Rowan and Marce both know the pain of a broken heart and they slowly come to know the hidden secrets they have been hiding, but can they forgive each other to find their own happiness before it’s too late.
This is my honest opinions after I voluntarily read a copy of this book that was provided to me with no requirements for a review.

In ‘The Madame catches her Duke’, Lady Marce Davenport has been posing as the wife of Rowan Delconti, the Duke of Harwich, in order to please his mother. In exchange, Marce has been able to hold onto Craven House, which was once a brothel run by her mother. It was only Rowan’s anger towards his father, the previous Duke who he witnessed together with the Davenport family, whilst Rowan’s wife lay close to death.
I thoroughly enjoyed this latest edition to the Craven House series, and I would have to say that this is the best one yet. The romance between Marce and Rowan is mesmerising in its intensity and the pain that they have experience is easily felt. On a lighter note which balanced the novel was the reappearance of Marce’s siblings. I also enjoyed Marce’s interactions with Rowan’s mother Leona and I particularly enjoyed the character of Tobias, Rowan’s friend, who I hope to read about in the near future.
I received an advanced review copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is the third book in a series about a group of siblings in London all children of a notorious madame. Each book is a stand alone, and this is the first one I have read. It is really terrific! Marce is the eldest of the siblings and now head of Craven House, the home where they’ve all been raised. She has taken on the burden of ensuring the health and safety of her siblings and others since her mother’s passing years before, despite her young age. While in her office one evening a man comes to call- this man, Rowan Delconti, is the Duke of Harwich. He is young, dark, and angry. He has a desire for vengeance and Marce is the only way he feels he can achieve it.
Rowan blackmails Marce for several years, and it is during this time that their unusual arrangement forces the two of them to spend time together. But does this time bring them closer or breed contempt?
I thoroughly enjoyed this story as the plot was not a usual one I have read in past romance novels. It was a unique solution to Rowan’s desire for revenge. The additional characters were colorful and well written, and the heat between the two characters crept up throughout the story in a slow style that has the reader anticipating their HEA. The heat level is just a touch about sweet, but it is that build of anticipation and longing that kept this reader turning the pages!
I liked this book so much I am very much looking forward to the next in the series and I intend to go read the first two! I highly recommend this book to romance readers who are looking for something with a little twist that makes this story stand out.

Marce Davenport will do anything to protect her siblings and that includes making a deal with the devil, Rowan Delconti, the Duke of Harwich. Rowan wants to even the score for a wrong done to his family years ago and Marce is forced to shoulder his revenge against her now dead mother. For eight long years these two enact a farce, but has it become more real than face?

As it says in the blurb, "There's a fine line between love and hate," and this book walks that line well. Rowan is pretty unlikeable for most of the book until Ms. McKnight begins to tease out his back story and Marce had her own reasons for accepting Rowan's terms. There was a couple of nice twists and turns in the book that kept me reading until the end.