An enchanting tale unfolds, featuring a Radnor heir and one of the duke's long-lost heirs. Both characters, Kevin and Rosamund, captured my affection. While Kevin initially exhibits chauvinistic traits, his likability prevails, and he undergoes significant growth. Rosamund, a fantastic character in her own right, contributes to the story's overall charm. Witnessing the development of these characters and their entertaining journey was truly enjoyable. The ongoing mystery adds an intriguing layer but doesn't overshadow the narrative, making it easily accessible even as a standalone read.

As someone who reads a lot of historical romance, regency in particular, it's really hard to find interesting characters anymore. They all kind of bleed into one another in my mind. Thankfully, this book had main characters who were intriguing and not one dimensional.
The book focused more on the romance, not the mystery of why Rose inherited, which is why this one was more enjoyable than the last part of the series.
At the end of the day, I came for the romance, not the legal and familial concerns.
Kevin was a likeable character, I think the author did well in describing his personality, especially how his mind work, and how his extreme focus and drive made him prickly and angry whenever anyone tried to suggest something about his project.
I'm not saying this was a virtue per se, however, he wasn't totally conceited to not be able to step back and reassess the situation. In short, he was simply humane.
Rosamund was definitely my favorite, she wore her strengths and weaknesses alike with pride, she had her own flaws and shortcomings, but one thing I really liked about her was her maturity. She had such great social skills that enabled her to be the wiser person in every argument with Kevin.
In the end, they truly complemented each other.
The last quarter was extremely anticlimactic, the author was rushing through to end the book without any kind of definitive closure. The ending started and ended so suddenly, I was left confused for a minute.
*I received an ARC of this book through netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review*

I enjoyed reading about Rosamund and Kevin. I liked their story, some parts were slow but overall fast paced. A good book!

Hello

Apologies for the late notice, but I have decided not to review this title. While I am certain it's obvious by now, I wanted to also clear this off NetGalley, so it's not showing as open for either of us.

I look forward to continuing to work with you in 2023 and beyond.

Laura

Cute and sexy, and very easy read. I was excited to read another book by this author and they've kept the same style and tone as from the other book I've read. It's fun and sparky which is exactly what I wanted to read.

A very slow-moving story about Rosamund, a milliner who inherits lots of money and half a business enterprise from a Duke she only spoke to once. Kevin is the Duke's nephew. He's worried she will sell her shares and he won't have control of his invention. At 50% of the book there is still no romance. Rosamund, being from the lower class is trying to improve her station by elocution and etiquette lessons. She's been pining for 5 years for the son of her former employers who fired her from service when they discovered the relationship. She thinks if she betters herself, he'll want her and she'll be acceptable to his parents. Be prepared to wait a looong time for anything to happen between the two main characters.

I really enjoyed Rosamund and Kevin's story. The main characters are entertaining and the second ary characters are colorful. I look forward to reading Nicholas story next and going back to read book 1 in the series.

I ended up putting this one down for now but it’s one I might try again later. I feel like it would be one people would enjoy but maybe not love

FINAL DECISION: Enjoyable story of two people who are good at their work but not so good at relationships. By the end, I was really rooting for these two but was disappointed by the abbreviated resolution.

THE STORY: The Duke of Hollinburgh has died (perhaps murdered as some suspect) and left fortunes to several women outside the family and unknown to them. This book picks up the story about the second woman, Rosamund Jameson, who has been left money and half of a company. The other half is owned by Kevin Radner who is none too pleased by his new partner.

Rosamund designs hats and has a shop and has no intention of signing away her new business interest as Kevin wants. Instead, she insists on being a true partner which infuriates Kevin and makes him consider marriage to control Rosamund's interest. But Kevin gets more than he bargained for in approaching Rosamund.

OPINION: I really enjoyed this book. The characters were often difficult to grapple with which made their romance that much better.

Rosamund is both practical and realistic and yet also innocent and perhaps a little silly about certain things. I enjoyed how many times I saw her as a fully fleshed-out person with strengths and weaknesses. So often in romance these days, the desire to show a practical woman with strength as she practices her trade and goes through life is tied tightly to those same qualities in her personal life. But that is not often how people are in real life. We all have weaknesses and frailties and having weaknesses does not take away Rosamund's great business sense.

Kevin is also intensely good at what he does but really bad about personal relationships. Another aspect I enjoyed was how he must learn to allow Rosamund into all parts of his life because not only does she make the personal better, but her intelligence and business sense also can complement and enhance his own business.

I particularly enjoy books where both characters grow and change because of the relationship and not a book where the heroine is perfect and stays that way and the story is instead her bringing the hero to heel.

I really ended up loving these characters. My only complaint about this book is that it ended too quickly. After the final resolution of the conflicts in the book, I would have liked more with Rosamund and Kevin just being shown happy for a little while or an epilogue just so I could feel that their lives together have been cemented. I missed that in this book.

WORTH MENTIONING: The hero of this book, Kevin, is at times difficult to understand or even to like. Although there is no specific mention, because of the time period, it is pretty clear that Kevin is on the spectrum. I especially enjoyed that aspect, but he does not act or think like a "stereotypical" historical romance hero, and I've noticed that some reviews ding this book for that reason.

CONNECTED BOOKS: HEIRESS IN RED SILK is the second book in the A Duke's Heiress series. The romance here is self-contained and thus it can be read as a standalone although the overarching storyline is much better if this book is read after HEIRESS FOR HIRE.

STAR RATING:  I give this book 4 stars.

NOTE: I received an eARC of this book via Netgalley in order to prepare this review. I was not required to write a review or to write a positive review. All opinions contained herein are my own.

I was expecting to really like this story but I just could not get into it. The h & h were both so boring. I never felt the connection. Also, the plot was very slow moving. I became very bored.

This is second book in the series and having not read book number 1 disappointed me a little cause I was not able to reconcile the trope and side characters story
Rosamund is a milliner that inherited a big sum from a duke and Kevin a young resourceful Inventor
They do a business deal and the story then do not take off !
No nilch nada null zero chemistry
2 stars

I'd say this book was a 3.5 stars for me, rounded up to 4. I enjoyed the story and the construction of characters and it was nice for once not to have the ton as a protagonist. However, it seemed a bit feminist and preachy about how women can think for themselves and carve their own path. Yes, we can. Yes, we are. But the reason (at least some of us) read historical romance is to take a break from that. I would recommend this to whoever wants a different Regency with solid storytelling.

Unfortunatly this was a DNF. I could not get into the story and despite a few attempts, I have decided to set it aside for now.

Highly entertaining enemies to lovers tale. Rosamund Jameson is a milliner who has been left an inheritance and business partnership by a Duke she barely knew. His nephew and the other half of the business partnership, Kevin Radnor, is in disbelief when Rosamund makes it clear she will not just let him make all the decisions in the partnership. A highly entertaining back and forth adventure ensues and soon both Rosamund and Kevin are considering making their business partnership into a marriage. The characters from the first book continue to play a role in this second book in the series. Despite not having read the first book, I was not confused or lost. Most likely, I will go back and read the first in the series before starting the next. Delightful characters and unique plot.

I received an ARC of this book to read through NetGalley. All opinions are my own. Heiress in Red Silk is the second book in Madeline Hunter’s A Duke’s Heiress series. The books should be read in order as there is a central mystery that continues through the series. Milliner Rosamond Jameson inherits half of Kevin Radnor’s business, and he’s frustrated and annoyed that his uncle left that share to her, especially since she seems to want to have a voice in decisions made regarding his company. He offers her a marriage of convenience so that he can take back control of the company. The storyline is reminiscent of My Fair Lady as Rosamond is a tenant farmer’s daughter, and Kevin is the nephew of a duke. I found when that when Rosamond speaks in her lower-class language, it felt awkward and pulled me out of the flow of the story. I did not feel that there was much chemistry between these two. Kevin’s sense of superiority had me wondering what Rosamond saw in him.
When he finally understood that Rosamund is his equal and her common sense and business acumen will help his business succeed, then the story began to work for me and the HEA, while not passionate, was lovely. Steam Level: Medium. Publishing Date: April 27, 2021. #HeiressInRedSilk #MadelineHunter #HistorialRomance #HistoricalRomanceSeries #KensingtonBooks #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #NetGalley

I have to say that I really love this book! I read it twice before writing this review. The beginning of the story had the best hook when one of the main characters, Kevin Radnor, was introduced as being on the path to eccentricity. I got the sense right away that he was not going to be sticking to societal conventions and expectations. I had to laugh out loud when he got up and left the brothel before doing what he came to do because of a bonnet. Rosamund Jameson was also a lovely, intelligent and fun character! I loved her determination to make a good life for herself. The unconventional pairing of these two characters is the best and makes for an engaging read.
As you can tell by the title, Rosamund is the heiress and it is a life that she was not prepared for. I had to admire her for not giving up her love of designing hats and bonnets, even though it was frowned upon for people of means to work. One of my favorite scenes is where Rosamund is looking at Kevin’s moth collection and calls him out for being weird. That right there set the tone for the rest of the relationship for me.

Both Rosamund and Kevin have what it takes to be successful in business ventures, despite what society expected of them. This was definitely part of the fun of their story. The sex scenes were off the charts. I may have gone back to reread a few parts 😉How can one resist a man who puts his partners pleasure ahead of his own? Swoon. Their trip to Paris…soooooo romantic. His eccentric personality made him inventive in the bedroom *fans self* I was totally rooting for them the entire time.

If you are looking for a historical romance to immerse yourself into; read this book. The historical detail, the description, the settings, the characters all stand out to me. The dialogue will make you laugh out loud and whisk you away into another world. I am a huge fan of Madeline Hunter’s books and this one does not disappoint. It was published at the end of April this year and I am a bit late in posting the review, the red dress on the cover will make it a perfect July read 🏖

I really enjoyed Rosamund and Kevin's story! I liked that even though Rosamund had inherited a large sum of money, she still wanted to continue with her shop and even expand it. She also wasn't about to give up her share of the business. She also wanted to to have some say in it. This showed you how strong of a woman that she was and that she wasn't going to give into the pressure that Kevin put on her to give into his demands. As much as this infuriated him, it also intrigued him...and me! I just couldn't wait to see what these two were able to do together!

Heiress in Red Silk by Madeline Hunter is the second book in the Duke's Heiress series.While having read the previous book in the series (Heiress for Hire) will give readers more knowledge of the characters and larger story line, I think newcomers will be able to enjoy the romance as a stand alone well enough if they want.

In one life-changing windfall, Rosamund Jameson goes from struggling shopkeeper to heiress—and co-owner of a new business. Not only will her sudden fortune allow her to move her millinery shop to fashionable London, but Rosamund will be able to provide her younger sister with a proper entry into society. The only hitch for resourceful Rosamund is her arrogant, infuriatingly handsome business partner. Kevin Radnor is shocked that his late uncle, the Duke of Hollinburgh, bequeathed half his company to a total stranger—worse, a beguiling beauty who can only hinder his enterprise. But Rosamund insists on an active, equal partnership, so Kevin embarks on a plan: a seduction that will lead to a marriage of convenience, giving Rosamund the social status she needs, and guaranteeing him the silent partner he desires. Yet as this charismatic gentleman sets his flirtation in motion, he begins to wonder who is seducing whom—and if he can learn to share himself body and mind, without losing his heart.

Heiress in Red Silk is a solid romance with characters that have strong personalities and points of view. I liked that they were both very smart- even though life and other people's perceptions made them feel like they might not be. I also like that they were both caring characters, although they both could get a bit caught up in their work of choice. I feel like there could have been more danger or intrigue, but I did like that both Kevin and Rosamund had to figure out their own place, and their own needs, rather than just falling into love or lust and ignoring all the work that would be needed to make their own happy ending. I liked that everyone had flaws and made mistakes, and that imperfection is what general makes characters feel more real for me. I did not get completely engaged in the story, and I am honestly more invested in the details of the larger story line than I have been in the romance portion of this book, or the first in the series. However, maybe that is just my brain telling me my next read should be a mystery.

This was better than book one. Both main characters had more personality. They also go into business together, but Rosamunde’s business savvy is a pleasant surprise, even if Kevin doesn’t want to acknowledge it. Ultimately, he’s an inventor, not a businessman. The family is more cruel in this story, perhaps because they are getting more desperate but also because of Rosamunde’s low birth. I love reading about the early industrialists and the slow transition from the haute ton being the leaders of society to the inevitable diminishment of the noble class as people in trade and industry begin making the big $. This is a good blending of the two sides, a Duke’s grandson who uses his brain and creativity to forge a lucrative path for himself paired with the daughter of a tenant farmer who has business acumen, opening and running a successful millinery business, but who also proves to understand the partnerships needed to a leader in the new industrial revolution.

I received a complimentary ARC of this book from Kensington Zebra through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.I received a complimentary ARC of this book from Kensington Zebra through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.

Second in a series, I enjoyed Kevin's story with Rosamund, the newly found heiress whose inheritance includes half of his company featuring his invention, making her an equal partner in all future plans. A tenant farmer's daughter, she is the beautiful and intelligent owner of her own millinery shop, where she designs and sews imaginative creations. With this totally unexpected windfall, Rosamund suddenly has entry into Kevin's world of high society and exalted family connections. While Kevin is known to go his own way, will he have the courage to recognize love?