Heiress for Hire is the first book in the Duke's Heiress series by Madeline Hunter. It is scheduled for release on April 28 2020.

Minerva Hepplewhite has learned the hard way how to take care of herself. When an intruder breaks into her home, she doesn’t swoon or simper. Instead she wallops the rogue over the head and ties him up—only to realize he is Chase Radnor, the man who nearly got her convicted of her late husband’s murder. Now he’s insisting that Minerva has inherited a fortune from his uncle, a wealthy Duke. Chase can’t decide whether Minerva is a wronged woman or a femme fatale. Since the scandal surrounding her husband’s death, she has set up a discreet detective business to rival Chase’s own. She may be the perfect person to help him uncover the truth about his uncle’s demise. But as proximity gives way to mutual seduction, Chase realizes he craves a much deeper alliance.

Heiress for Hire is a book that might be a romance, which is well done, but I often was more invested in the mystery than the romance. I liked Minerva, she was still compassionate and sweet despite what she has been through in the past. She is smart and I enjoyed getting to know her and her found family. Chase was a little harder to get to know, his mysteries were revealed more slowly, but he was a well written character. I think their individual lives and their coming together were very well done, and I liked the importance put on consent. I liked that an old mystery was solved, even if I expected that outcome before it was revealed, but I would have liked a little more closure on the larger mystery. I waiting for some big reveal, but we did get many smaller pieces to the puzzle and veiled conclusions. I suspect there will be more as the series continues, but I am not sure if I will be continuing.

Heiress for Hire is a historical romance with complex characters and an underlying mystery or two.

Minerva survived years of abuse and has come out strong. She is now the recipient of a generous inheritance from a stranger. Chase is a Duke’s nephew and a former soldier tasked to dig into his uncle’s death and find the three women he has left a large inheritance for. He and Minerva do not make a very great first impression on each other but soon find their is much to admire and respect about the other. This is a story of trust, survival and renewal. It is also about the people you choose to make your family. It is an intriguing mix of characters as well as romance and mystery. There is also humor. It is a story that will be enjoyed. I look forward to seeing how the other two women will fit with Kevin and Nicholas.

Heiress for Hire by Madeline Hunter is the First book in the A Duke's Heiress Series. This is the story of Chase Radnor and Minerva Hepplewhite. Minerva has learned to take care of herself through out her life. So she has some shad to her past but she is no murder. Which she is under suspension when a unknown to her Duke leaves her money along with some other ladies. Chase is a investigator and the nephew of the Duke in question. Chase is the one assigned by the family to look into what happened to have the Duke leave these ladies the money and if his death might be murder. Chase and Minerva meet when Chase is breaking into her home to do some sneaking around to get clues. Minerva being the resourceful women ends up catching him and turning the tables on him. This is where Minerva learns of her new wealth and of the new suspicion about her. So she starts doing her own infestation which of course collides with Chase's. So they end up working together which brings them to have strong feelings that neither can ignore. Really enjoyed this mystery romance and can't wait for more from this author!

Good book with a nice blend of romance and mystery. It opens with a bang as Minerva catches Chase breaking into her house. No shrinking violet, Minerva promptly renders him unconscious long enough to tie him up before interrogating him. She is stunned and somewhat disbelieving to find out that she has inherited a great deal of money from a duke she has never met. Besides telling her about the inheritance, Chase also wants to find out if she had anything to do with his uncle's suspicious death.

I liked both Minerva and Chase. Minerva is strong, intelligent, and stubborn. She has a sharp wit and isn't afraid to use it. She also has secrets that led her to change her name and move to London to start a new life. That former life has left her wary of men and determined to live life on her terms. She is ready to open Miss Hepplewhite's Office of Discreet Inquiries. Chase is the nephew of a duke, but also a self-made man. He has a reputation as an excellent private investigator, at which point the Home Office asks him to quietly investigate his uncle's death.

I enjoyed the development of the relationship between Minerva and Chase. The sparks are there from the moment they met, though both fight hard against them. Minerva and Chase cross paths several times as each investigates the death of the duke. Eventually, they decide to work together, though neither is entirely forthcoming about everything they learn. There are times that Minerva's stubborn independence bothers Chase, but he also admires her persistence and intelligence. The more time they spend together, the closer they become, and the more their attraction heats up. There is a scene where Minerva is injured, and Chase's protectiveness is aroused. I enjoyed the back-and-forth between them as Minerva fought against his protectiveness. As their feelings for each other grow, Minerva must decide if she can trust Chase with her heart. I liked that there was no big blowup between them, just a steady growth and then admission of their feelings. I liked their big moment at the end, especially the honest look at the differences between them and how they would handle them.

The mystery of the story was good. Chase's uncle died under mysterious circumstances that he is charged with investigating. There is also the mystery of the three unknown women who received large bequests, cutting out the family members. The women must be found but also investigated. The duke's family members do not react well to their loss of what they think they deserve. Is it possible that one of them murdered the duke? The family dynamics were very interesting, and I look forward to seeing more of them in the next book. I liked seeing how Chase's methodical methods and Minerva's more unorthodox ones complemented each other as they pursue their investigation. The conclusion was unexpected but leaves the matter open for the rest of the series.

After mercifully being widowed, the former Margaret Finley left Dorset, and set out to make a new life for herself with her loyal friend, Beth. Now known as Minerva Hepplewhite, she longs to put all thoughts of her abusive deceased husband behind her and begin anew. Though there were grumblings of suspicion that Minerva was responsible for the late Algernon Finley’s death, there was never any proof. One night, Minerva and Beth capture an intruder in their home. They have the man solidly under control, and he proceeds to inform them that he brings news that Minerva has been left a sizable fortune by his late uncle, the former Duke of Hollinburgh, a man Minerva has never met.

Chase Radnor is a gentleman, and a former soldier who occasionally does investigative work, some for the Crown, some for hire. His uncle’s death seems suspicious to him, and so he plans to scrutinize all those who would benefit from the duke’s demise, including his own family. While the entailed properties automatically transfer to the new duke, the sizable amount of cash and investments was bequeathed to three women, one of them being Minerva, none of them known to the family. Chase was hoping to find information in Minerva’s home, when he was unexpectedly caught and bound.

Minerva is shocked and disbelieving, at first, that a man she doesn’t know would leave her a fortune. She meets with the solicitor Chase directed her to, and discovers that she is about to be an heiress. With her uncertain future now secure, Minerva intends to pursue her own desire to be an investigator. Her first case will be her own – why would the Duke of Hollinburgh leave her a fortune? Her path is obviously going to cross with Chase’s, over and over again, as he is on the same quest.

Right from the start, I loved the relationship between Chase and Minerva. He is clearly suspicious of her, yet he speaks the truth about his suspicions without being obnoxious, rude, or heavy handed. He acts like the gentleman he is, a fact that is greatly appreciated by Minerva, who has been used to a life of abuse and scorn. They “sort of” agree to share information with each other, though they do tend to hold back little things. As they get to know each other better, they feel an attraction, as well as a respect for each other, and decide that neither of them is guilty.

To her surprise, Minerva begins to feel desire for Chase, something she thought had been beaten out of her by her husband. She sees the matching longing in his eyes, and very slowly, she allows kisses and embraces, gradually overcoming her fear of intimacy. Chase’s care and patience with Minerva as she regains her sexuality is breathtaking. He’s an amazing man, one very easy to fall in love with. Though Chase realizes that he wants more than an affair, Minerva has made it clear that she will never remarry. Her newfound financial independence solidifies her resolve to never be bound to a man again.

HEIRESS FOR HIRE is a fantastic book to read, both for the mystery, as well as the steamy romance. This is the start of a new series, and while we do learn the probable reason the duke left a fortune to Minerva, we don’t positively find out the identity of his murderer, though there are plenty of hints and suspects. We meet Chase’s extended family, many of them with strong motives, as well as a possibility outside the family. I’m guessing that will finally be resolved in the final book. Chase and Minerva, do, however, achieve their happy ending, and it is a sweet one. HEIRESS FOR HIRE is one of those “read in one sitting” books, as the plot, excellent writing, and strong, likeable characters captivated me throughout. I’m usually so focused on the hero, that it takes a really strong heroine to grab my attention, but Minerva did that. I admire both of them for their character, their strength, and their genuine kindness and determination. Their chemistry and heart touching romance makes for a delicious and satisfying read, which I highly recommend.

A really fast, fun read. All of the characters were very nice, well rounded. Overall, a really enjoyable read! And the romance felt very fleshed out.

Mysteries develop!

An eccentric bachelor duke is dead and family expectations are not met.
Minerva Hepplewhite, a woman with secrets, inherits a small fortune from said Duke. A man unknown to her. It's in her interests to investigate the circumstances around the Duke's death to ensure that her secrets aren't revealed, otherwise the suspicions about his death might fall upon her.
This woman who investigates secrets meets with another more experienced investigator.
Chase Radnor, a man used to secrets, nephew to the eccentric Duke Hollinburgh, investigates his death for his own reasons, and on behalf of the home secretary, Robert Peel.
Of course Chase and Minerva come into contact--in a most unexpected way.
Of course that contact has an underlying frisson of sexual energy.
Minerva however wants nothing to do with men, given her experience at her dead husband's hands.
There are some interesting characters that feel like they might grow into more.
Minerva's small adopted family circle for one. Her cook / housekeeper Beth and son Jeremy. Chase's valet and sometime agent (or so he claims) Briggs. Chases's various relatives, the grasping and the frustrated. All have a story.
In the end we don't know who killed the Duke. Will future works in the series reveal that? In part that doesn't matter. What is important is Chase and Minerva's story and their road to emotional healing. A chancy technique leaving us hanging, but it works.
It seems the death of the Duke will be an organizing theme for future books in the series. An interesting hook!

A Kensington Books ARC via NetGalley

Great opening story of an historical romantic mystery series. I really enjoyed seeing Minerva and Chase both conducting investigations into who may have killed the former Duke of Hollinburgh and keep stepping on each other's toes. The mystery is unsolved except to be pretty sure he was pushed and didn't accidentally fall. We also have yet to find the remaining two mystery heiresses named in the Duke's will. I can't wait to see the resolutions.

The story opens with Minerva Hepplewhite and her servant/best friend Beth reviving a knocked out Chase Radnor, retired military investigator & nephew to the deceased Duke. He snuck into their house to find evidence as to her relationship to the Duke as she's named as one of the 3 unknown women in the Duke's will, now heiresses. He discovers it isn't easy to sneak around Minerva. Minerva assures him she is the one he's looking for but she had no relationship with the former Duke. This begins a delightful story of Minerva coming into money so she can officially launch her Hepplewhite's Office of Discreet Inquiries now that she has some money. Chase has been charged by the Home Office to discover if his uncle died by accident or murder, and hopefully who did it. His cousin Nicholas, the new Duke, has asked him do find the 3 unknown women named in the Duke Frederick's will, as well as ascertain if one of the family members helped their uncle die. There are so many suspects and we get to meet a few, all with motives as the Duke didn't leave anything to any of them.

Minerva has secrets from her past, she was accused of murdering her abusive husband, and is concerned now that she's an heiress if she'll be accused of the Duke's murder. Chase is afraid a family member killed his uncle and is highly suspicious of Minerva. He discovers Minerva is very good at investigating, differently than him, and they keep crossing paths. By the end of the book they agree to work together but we still don't know who did it. This was such a fun journey.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced readers copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

When Minerva catches someone breaking into her home, that last thing she expected to learn was that she was now an heiress. But with the chance that the family of her benefactor might contest the will, she is not counting on anything yet. With her and a few others getting the bulk of the man's unentailed estate, there are those that think his death might not have been an accident. While Minerva definitely didn't murder anyone, she has things in her past, she rather not come to light. She decides to take it upon herself to investigate the death.

Chase has been asked to look into his uncle's, the duke, death, although he would have done it regardless. When three unknown woman were recipients of a large portion of his uncle's wealth, he has been tasked with locating them and verifying their identity. First on his list is Minerva. He soon learns that she is also looking into the death of her uncle and they combine their forces.

What neither expected was to find a mutual attraction and a love for investigations. Can they find find out the truth about the duke's death and find their HEA??

I really enjoyed Minerva and Chase's story! I loved that their mutual love was investigation. During the investigation, Chase was trying to be protective, but Minerva was so used to doing things on her own, that it caused many a clash. This was a great start to a new series and I can't wait to read the next book in the series!

Rate: 4.5 - This book appears to be the start of a three book series that revolves around the death of a Duke and the three mysterious women that he left large sums of money. The Home Office has asked Chase to look into his uncle’s death and he locates the first of the three women in his uncle’s will, Minerva and together they try to solve the mystery. The Duke died from a fall but was it an accident or murder, at the end of this book, that question is still unanswered. By the end of the story, Chase and Minerva find a HEA but they had a lot of bumps along the way. This is a good read and I would recommend it.

Great start to a new historical series. Chase is trying to uncover why his uncle would leave a fortune to Minerva. When he breaks into her home, she catches him and hits him over the head and ties him up. Now she has set up a discreet detective business competing with his own. What will happen when sparks fly between them? Fast-paced read that is loads of fun and has plenty of drama and steam. I really liked it.

Heiress for Hire is the first book in A Duke’s Heiress Romance series by Madeline Hunter. A Duke dies and unexpectedly leaves most of his fortune to three unknown women. Was his death an accident or murder? Minerva Hepplewhite is to be the first recipient of the dead Duke’s estate, but no one knows who she is or why she’s left this fortune. Chase Radnor, grandson of the late Duke is investigating the untimely death. The hero and the heroine are thrown together in the investigation. So what happens when sparks ignite between them? I tried to like this book. I think I felt lost in the myriad of characters. Hunter is an excellent writer, but I think there were too many people to try to keep up with for me to be able to relax and enjoy the book. “He touched his lips to hers, ignoring the inner voice warning of impossible complications. She did not veer back, but allowed it. It entered his mind that she was too stunned to resist, but the softness of her lips and the warmth of their closeness diverted his attention for that idea. He lingered in the kiss, and when she still did not object, he gathered her toward him and into an embrace.” I obtained a copy of this book from NetGalley.

Minerva is one of many mystery women named in a late Duke’s will. Chase, a detective, is determined to find out why the family was cut out in favor of women nobody knows. On top of that, the Duke’s death might not have been a tragic accident.

The romance between these characters feels very forced. Lots of insta-attraction. Then there is the the fact that Minerva (who’s running from something in her past) randomly wants to become a detective. Convenient since her love interest is one as well. But the problem is that she’s not very good at it.

The plot seems unnecessarily convoluted and difficult to follow. I struggled a lot with the author’s writing style. A miss for me.

This book started out a bit slow for me but the characters and the plot were still interesting enough for me to keep reading and I am so glad I did. I really liked the supporting characters and I do want to read the next book in this series. I was hoping the mystery would have been solved here but it looks like we will have to read all 3 books before we learn who murdered the Duke or even if he was murdered. However, the romance story for the couple is complete.

I thought Minerva was an interesting character. She is strong and loyal and she is a survivor. Chase is a good guy and easy to like. Both are easy to connect with. The dialogue was excellent and the author's descriptions were good.

I recommend this book to any historical romance lover who also likes a bit of mystery incorporated in their novels.

I received a copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.

4.25 Stars
Minerva Hepplewhite has learned the hard way how to take care of herself. When an intruder breaks into her home, she doesn’t swoon or simper. Instead she wallops the rogue over the head and ties him up. He informs Minerva that she has inherited a fortune from his uncle, a wealthy Duke. Chase can’t decide whether Minerva is a wronged woman or a femme fatale. Either way, he’s intrigued. Since the scandal surrounding her husband’s death, she has set up a discreet detective business to rival Chase’s own. She may be the perfect person to help him uncover the truth about his uncle’s demise. But as proximity gives way to mutual seduction, Chase realizes he craves a much deeper alliance.
A well written page turning series starter that I found to be an intriguing read as I love a mystery as well as a romance. I loved both Chase & Minerva both had skeletons in their cupboards but both had overcome their difficulties & become stronger because of it. I loved how their relationship developed & found it to be very believable especially from Minerva's point of view. The mystery surrounding the duke’s death was well handled. I also really liked secondary characters some of whom I hope will feature in later books. I thoroughly enjoyed the book which I recommend & look forward to the rest of the series
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

I received an ARC of this book to read through NetGalley in exchange for a fair review. Heiress for Hire is the first book in Madeline Hunters enchanting new series Duke’s Heiresses. When Minerva Hepplewhite discovers that the has been made an heiress by a Duke who passed away mysteriously, it’s a bit of a shock, because she never met the Duke and she caught the bearer of the news Chase Radnor sneaking around her home, knocked him out and tied him up. Chase has been asked by the crown to investigate his uncle's death quietly and by his cousin, the new Duke to find the heiresses who have inherited from the duke’s estate. Minerva, too, decides to investigate the duke’s death because she has already been falsely accused of murdering her husband, and she doesn’t wish to be accused again. What begins as a reluctant partnership grows into something more as they seek to find the answers to the mystery surrounding the Duke’s death. I enjoyed this story very much and look forward to reading the rest of the series. Medium Steam. Publishing Date April 28, 2020. #HeiressForHire #MadelineHunter #NetGalley #HistoricalRomance #bookstagram #KensingtonBooks

Heiress for Hire
By: Madeline Hunter
5 Stars ⭐️

This book is first in the series and the emphasis is building the back story and the previous Duke’s suspicion death.
- H likable? Yes, I really liked Chase. He is described as handsome with rough features, honorable, and everyone in the family relies on him to find the truth surrounding the death of the previous duke. He is investigating the h for possible murder.
- h likable? Yes. Minerva went through a lot in her first marriage. He first husband’s death was suspicious and there is talk of her possible involvement. She is a survivor and made the best of the hand she was dealt.
- h virgin? No
- First time they kiss: 30%
- First time they sleep together:52%
- OW/OM drama? No
- H/h cheat? No
- Steamy? No, mild
- Did I skip pages? No
- Big secrets? No
- Did I cry? No
- Cliffhanger? No
- How it ends: HEA
- Recommend? Yes, I really enjoyed this book. The moments between Chase and Minerva were delicious and I wanted more of them. I am looking forward to Kevin’s and hopefully Nicholas’s book.
Thank you to the publisher for providing the ARC.

There are never enough superlatives for me when it comes to a book by Madeline Hunter and ‘Heiress for Hire’ is no exception. Minerva Hepplewhite has changed her name from Margaret Finley, the widow of Algernon, who died under suspicious circumstances. Having fled a violent marriage and struggling to survive, she suddenly finds herself an heiress, left a fortune from the Duke of Hollinburgh, a man she has never met. However, she discovers her inheritance from the duke’s nephew, Chase Radnor, who is also investigating the death of his uncle, by orders of British government. It appears that the late Duke, has left most of his fortune to three women, leaving the estate and his family without funds. Consequently, Minerva is considered a major suspect in the crime. As both Minerva and Chase endeavour to discover the identity of the killer, they soon find themselves spending more time together, yet less certain of the other’s innocence.
There is so much to reveal about this book that makes it a real treasure to read. I must admit that the dialogue between Minerva and Chase, at times had me chuckling, more due to Minerva’s very witty manner. She definitely has a sharp mind yet the tragedy of her past, is well explored, with secondary characters helping to unravel the details. Chase is the perfect gentleman for Minerva and I truly relished his strength of character yet gentleness with Minerva.
I look forward to reading more about Chase’s cousins, Nicholas and Kevin, in this very clever series. Not only was Book 1, a beautiful and touching romance, but the mystery and intrigue, makes it definitely a book to savour.
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Heiress for Hire is a book I saw show up on my Goodreads feed and once I read the summary, I knew I needed to check it out.  

Minerva Hepplewhite is the heroine of this story and she hasn't had an easy way of things so when an intruder breaks into her house, she isn't one to faint or swoon.  When she realizes who it is that has broken into her home, she knows she faces some decisions she has to make...one of which is whether she can trust the gentleman in question, Chase Radnor, the nephew of the wealthy duke who mysteriously left her a fortune.  I thought Minerva was a solid character and I loved that she wasn't just your standard member of the ton.  Her backstory made things much more interesting as it gave the story somewhere to go as Chase questions how his uncle died.

Chase Radnor has handled various types of inquiries and when his uncle unexpectedly dies, the Home Office asks him to look into what happened.  The odd thing about the whole situation, outside of how his uncle died, is the fact that there are three mysterious women that his uncle has left his fortune to.  Chase decides to dig into who the ladies are and this ultimately leads him to Minerva.  As he begins to dig into her past, he finds out more about Minerva than he ever expected and add to that the feelings he starts to have for her, and has to determine whether he believes she had something to do with his uncles death or not.  

I enjoyed this story.  Minerva tended to be one step ahead of Chase and he never held it against her. I thought the way they began to work together was great and helped to build the base of their relationship.  

I also enjoyed the secondary characters in this book as well.  Beth and Jeremy were the family Minerva never really had and I was glad she had that.  Chase's relationship with both grows throughout the book and I thought that was a great.  Chase's family was so interesting and I loved his relationship with Nicholas, the new duke.  I'm hoping these characters show up in future books within this series.

Overall, I enjoyed this book and will grab the next book when it is available.  I haven't read anything by Madeline Hunter before this one but I will be checking out her other stories.  If you're looking for a historical romance that goes a bit outside the normal society story line, you should check this one out.

Historical romance with a splash of mystery, this was a great read. From the first page to the last page I couldn’t put this book down. I enjoyed the nuanced subplots and characters that Madeline Hunter brought to life. The cast of characters were relatable in the best way, they all had their strengths and flaws. This left me feeling like I knew the entire cast and not just the main characters.
There was one part I wasn’t sure I was going to like, but in the end I can see that this will be a connecting thread through the books. The death of the Duke and who murdered him. Already I can tell that this underlying plot will help drive the future characters together and create the tension that is needed for a riveting love story.
Highly recommended and cannot wait for the next book in the series.