I should start by saying this is the only book from the series that I have read, but has made me definitely want to go back read and read the previous novels. I thoroughly enjoyed this story from start to finish. Rhys and Dalinda are great as both individuals and a couple. I loved that Dalinda was portrayed as both a strong, independent, smart woman as well as a woman who loved being a mother and wanted more children. She didn't give up one aspect of her personality in order to have the other and found a man who loved everything there was about her. Rhys struggling with his new position in society was realistic and made you understand why he didn't think he was good enough for Dalinda. There are parts of the story that happen a little too easily - setting up the veteran's hospital, getting money for that venture, etc. The parts involving Garfield weren't really necessary for the story and the scene with him and Harry was resolved so quickly easily you really wondered why it was included at all. Overall, this is a great read if you're looking for a sweet romance to fill your days.

Colonel Rhys Armistead is the next Earl of Sheffington is the current earl's sickly son does not survive. It's the last thing he wanted, but as fate would have it, both the current earl and his son both died leaving Rhys as the new Earl. Rhys knows nothing about running an earldom and turns to his friend Dez Baker, a friend he served with in the military recently became an earl as well. While Rhys is visiting Dez, he meets his twin sister, Duchess Dalinda Baker, a widow. There is an instant connection between them, but Rhys is convinced he wouldn't stand a chance with the lovely Dalinda? Can she convince him that she finds him just as attractive?

I really enjoyed this book and was routing for both Rhys and Dalinda to enjoy their own happily ever after. I loved reading about what had happened to Dalinda especially after her cruel father try to force her to marry against her will. Luckily, the Duke of Gilford, an honorable and good man, saved her from that fate. Dez and Anna were delightful secondary characters as well.

This book was a nice story about a widow with a few choices. She has helped her brother try to elope and was about to be punished by a marriage to a gross man when she met a duke at a ball. She was upset and the duke offered to marry her because he had loved his first wife and knew he would never love again and because as a duke, he out ranked the gross man. She had about 12 years of a good, respectful marriage, but it was passionless. The hero was a young man who had been a groom when he was told he was a back-up heir. He was educated and went to war when the earl's heir died and then the earl died. He was left an estate that needed a lot of help. The widow is the sister of his best friend and she offers to help. Since her hisbands long illness and death, she had been having to run the estate herself, so she knew how to help the tenants and run the estate. The hero wanted to bring wounded soldiers in to work the estate. Between them they were working to open a hospital to rehabilitate returning soldiers. This hospital has a little action, but mostly it is a lovely story about meeting someone, seeing the good in that person and falling in love. The hero doesnt think he is any good because he wasnt bron into the aristocratic class. That does cause some problems. I liked this story because the couple were if a similar age and were not young people or an older man and female child. The grammar and spelling were correct and the story read in a continuous flow. The characters were supportive to the story, even the characters from earlier books in the series. It all made sense.. I recommend this book with 5 stars.

Absolutely LOVED this story. The characters were so real. I felt immediate empathy for both Rhys and Dalinda. They were such likeable sweet people. I don't like to spoil a story so I won't tell you what happens...just know that if you are in the mood for a really good story, and a hard-earned HEA, read To Win A Widow.

I loved seeing all the characters from the previous books as we get Dez Baker’s sister Dalinda’s story after she her husband the Duke of Gilford saved her from marry a horrible old man. She’s now a widow at loose ends and decides to visit her brother and Anna to see their new son, Charles. She encounters Colonel Rhys Armistead and is instantly attracted to the virile handsome Earl. Rhys wasn’t supposed to the Earl of Sheffington, but has with fate life changes suddenly. He’s a distant cousin to the Earl of Sheffington who fifteen years ago plucked him from obscurity working as a groom and treating as a second son. He has Rhys educated him and bought him a commission in the army. I loved this captivating story of a war hero who now finds he’s an Earl of a huge estate needing financial help and the Duchess widowed now free to find love on her own terms. Rhys and Dalinda find themselves thrown together in a passionate encounter and both wanting more but Rhys doesn’t feel he is worthy of a Duchess. An excellent story and I read and reviewed.

Such a beautiful and warm hearted love story between two people who truly deserved a happily ever after. It's never an easy road that leads to love, though, and both had their share of adventure.

Rhys is a hero after my own heart, he's got such a beautiful heart and no matter how hard his beginnings were and the devastation of war that he lived through, he loves strongly and passionately. When he suddenly finds himself the Earl of Sheffington, he is at a loss of what to do with his estate that has been neglected for years and calls on his dear friend, Dez, to help him. Little did he know he'd also get the help of Dez's sister, Dalinda!

Dalinda, a widowed Duchess with 2 sons (I just adored her boys), would love to remarry and have more children. When she meets Rhys, she almost immediately knows he's the one but even after one night of loving, he feels he's too far below her station for them to ever have more than that one night. It's up to her to show him that they're perfect for each other:)

I have to say, it really boggles my mind all the staff that they would have needed to hire to run such a huge estate. I also love the idea Dalinda came up with, to help those wounded soldiers, it really warmed my heart. Beautifully written story as only Alexa Aston can do.

I received an ARC of this book via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

The final book in the series, ‘To win a widow’ follows Dalinda Baker who marries the Duke of Gilford, in an attempt to escape the proposed marriage by her father. Whilst the marriage is a happy one, with Dalinda having two sons and a genuine friendship with her husband, he dies from a heart attack, leaving her widowed. With her books at school, Dalinda decides to visit her brother, only to meet Rhys Armistead, the new Earl of Sheffington. Rhys has only recently become the new Earl, after a distant relative dies, leaving the estate in financial ruin. Earlier on in the book, Rhys is elevated from being a working-class groom, to being groomed for the possibility of taking on the responsibility of the earldom. He is purchased a commission in the army, and after a dozen years fighting on the Continent, he returns and meets Dalinda. Their attraction is instantaneous, but as Rhys believes that he is below Dalinda, the romance appears doomed from the start.
Whilst part of a series, this book is a standalone read; however, whilst the connection to Dalinda’s brother and his wife is well explained, it is definitely worth reading this earlier story. I must admit that having recently read Dez and Anna’s story (Book 4), Rhys and Dalinda’s story was a bit more sedate. The main issue is Rhys determination not to lower Dalinda to his station, yet I found this quite amusing, as did Dalinda, as he was an Earl and she had not always been a Duchess. Yet, the interaction between Rhys and Dalinda’s two sons, makes for a lovely read. The chemistry between the couple is evident from the start and quite well detailed. A good addition to this series.
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Strangely, this was both a satisfactory and disappointing end to a series a very much enjoyed. First, the characters, Duchess Dalinda and Rhys are just two splendid people. She was married to the Duke of Gilford, a much older man, to escape an awful marriage; the two never "loved" each other but were loving and had two sons together. Rhys Armistead has the unlikely tale of rising from groom to earl; he served in the Army with Dalinda's brother and is a man of honor and good character. A dream, in other words. That's the satisfactory part. You can't help but love these two people. But ...
There is no reason that a widowed duchess cannot marry an earl, whether he was born with a silver spoon in his mouth or worked as a groom. And that's the disappointing part of the book. There is no real conflict, except in Rhys' mind. Dalinda is not a snob. She is ready to move on after some reflection; she can help him be a better early. This book needed actual tension -- a rival for Dalinda's hand or Rhys having a commitment — something, that blocked their HEA in some way. A somewhat deranged guy in a stable, tossed in at the end of the book to threaten one of the boys does not an actual conflict make.
Despite the lack of real stress in their relationship, the writing was lovely, the romance realistic yet passionate and the series concluded well — with two wonderful people falling in love. Next time, just have a few obstacles along the way.
(I received an ARC via NetGalley; opinions are mine.)

Rhys Armitage was a young groom working to hard to send money home to his mother when he gets a surprise that changes everything. It will take many years and a war zone to complete his transformation.

Dalinda Baker tried to help her twin brother elope with the love of his life. It didn't go to plan and they all got punished. Years later as a widow with two young sons she gets a chance to start life all over again.

All the characters have had life experience that has made them the people they are and brought them friends who feel the same way. Family is a very important part of this story.

This is part of a great series. Each book can be read on it's own, but the series should be read in order to avoid spoilers. Our heroine's brother has his own book in the series that would definitely be spoiled if you read this one first. As the series deals with soldiers there are quite a few emotional scenes and parts of history you may not of thought about before.

I loved it.

An absolutely wonderful book.
Delinda and her boys are delightful.
Rhys is charming.
We get to meet up with Anna and Dez again.
What Rhys does with his ducal estate is wonderful.
Highly recommend it.