I really enjoyed the first two books from Christina Britton, so I was very excited to return to the Isle of Synne for A Duke Worth Fighting For and the book did not disappoint. First off, the book starts off with a map of the island, which I genuinely don’t get why more romance series especially series that take place in the same town don’t have maps. It was something small that made me happy.

I have been waiting for Margery’s story since the first book in the series because she needed a happily ever after and Daniel was exactly the hero she needed. I love the setup that Margery is going to help Daniel find a wife because of course they’re going to fall in love. It’s such a classic romance set up and I love it every single time. Christina peppers in a few of my other favorite things like experience heroine / virgin hero and Daniel being a big dummy about his feelings and saying “Yes, I love her. Which is why I have to leave.” Their entire relationship is a delight.

One of my favorite things about later books in a series is getting to see the characters from the previous books. I loved catching up with Clara and Quincy as well as Lenora and Peter and their expanding families. And as always, Lady Tech was also there being absolutely wonderful and meddling in the lives of the young people she loves.

I believe this is the last book in this series and I’ll be sad to leave, but I’m excited to see where Christina’s books take me next. Thank you to NetGalley and Forever for the digital ARC and Forever Publishing for the gifted review copy.

Bookstagram post coming August 9.

This story was so juicy and delicious from start to finish! I loved every page!
Christina Britton is a new author for me and I must say that I am impressed. She has a very flowing and easy writing style that allows you to actually get to know the characters and what they are thinking. They are very real, not flat on the page. She keeps the focus on the main storyline and the main characters themselves without going off on tangents or filling the pages with useless imagery about the landscape.

The storyline here is a good one and in many ways predictable, however, the way Ms. Britton goes about that is very well done.
I loved Daniel. He is so tortured but has a good heart and when he finally decides to stand up for himself, you are left cheering for him. I also really liked the twist the author gave for him in the first bedroom scene- did not see that coming! I also felt that the issue surrounding veterans and PTSD was handled very well with much realness and also rawness.
Margery I was less enthused with but I will say that I loved that she wasn't a wallflower and spoke her mind, and knew what she wanted- even if it took forever for her to declare what her heart truly wanted!
You can really feel the tension and heat from these two characters although the bedroom scenes are not explicit.
If I had to give one criticism it would be the length of some of the sentences. They seemed to go on and on and on some, I had lost what the sentence was about in the first place. In some cases, I thought it would have been better to make two sentences instead of a big rambling run-on.

Overall I give this book a hearty recommendation. You won't want to miss out on reading this one and it will leave you with the HEA, a swoon-worthy hero, and a strong female lead.

I received an advanced copy in exchange for my review

Christina Britton gives readers a beautiful, broken young man navigating a world filled with high expectations. His visible scars and the PTSD he suffers when he returns from the war are burdens he carries with grace and strength. The "arrangement" he enters into with a young widow who promises to find him a suitable bride in order for him to fulfill is familial obligations becomes a friendship and the beginnings of a relationship that save them both from a life of loneliness. I absolutely ADORED Daniel and Margery and their sweet and tender story touched my heart deeply. This author's excellent writing gave me memorable characters I watched grow and open up to the possibility of deep love and their journey to a life of happiness together. I highly recommend and cannot wait to read more by this author.

I received an ARC of this book and am voluntarily providing my honest and heartfelt review.

Margery and Daniel's story was so sweet. Their conflicts were so internal that while emotional, they never seemed without hope. I love the island setting in these books and the strong sense of family. Daniel seemed to fit right in. I don't love a blackmail story line, but once that got resolved, things came together beautifully.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A Duke Worth Fighting For is a swoon-worthy tale of love’s healing power. This is a beautiful re-telling of a redemptive Beauty And The Beast story. The novel is an eye-catching, breath-taking journey.

Daniel Hayle, the Duke of Carlisle, is awkward and severely injured from the battle of Waterloo. He has to find a wife and produce an heir quickly to ensure that his dastardly cousin doesn’t inherit. Daniel is reclusive and shy; he is self-conscious of his wounds resulting from other’s horrific reactions. Daniel is such a tragic figure. He is beaten down by a society that scorns him and in which he cannot navigate. Although a hero, he has been brutally rejected and swears off love. His awkwardness and discomfort resonated with me. Daniel has become one of my all-time favorite heroes in historical romance.

Margery Kitteridge is a war widow who is wholly devoted to her late husband, killed at Waterloo. She vows never to marry or love again, fearing she would diminish the love she and her husband shared. Margery receives a blackmail letter besmirching her husband’s good name, demanding a large sum of money. Margery meets Daniel, and the two agree to a contract; Margery will help Daniel find a wife, and in return, she will receive enough funds to pay the blackmailer. Margery has a stubborn streak a mile wide and is loyal to all those she loves. She, like Daniel, is emotionally broken in her unique way. Margery is a gritty, unforgettable character. Her quiet strength, coupled with her vulnerability, captivates.

Daniel and Margery’s physical connection is instantaneous. However, their love story is a slow burn. The story deliciously builds in passion and love at a perfect pace. The couple’s passionate moments had me crying and smiling at the same time. These moments were extraordinarily tender and heartfelt. Daniel and Margery are a standout couple.

A Duke Worth Fighting For is the third book in the Isle Of Synne series. This series focuses on a seaside town involving family, friends, and one cantankerous, matchmaking grandmother. The pace of the plot built steadily throughout, keeping my attention. There were many plot twists and surprises I didn’t anticipate. I was shocked at some of these revelations. There was also levity smartly weaved into the drama. The story was an all-encompassing journey through heartbreak, discovery, and blossoming love. I loved the theme that when we suffer loss, we can still have room in our hearts for more than one special love; if we are open to the possibilities, we can find peace, acceptance, and belonging. This novel was breathtaking. It had many unique plot concepts and had a stand-out, particular writing style. This book was a sparkling, radiant romance that left me wanting more; I didn’t want this one to end!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book through Netgalley and the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

A Duke Worth Fighting For by Christina Britton is the 3rd book of the Isle of Synne Series and it was such a wonderful journey!

Mrs. Margaret Kitteridge lost her husband at the fight at Warerloo four years ago. Now she seems ready for some intimacy, but don't want to marry again at all. When Daniel Hayle, Duke of Carlisle, comes to Synne to prepare himself for the season in London, she agrees to help him find an acceptable wife to get a heir. Both have to deal with their battles from the past... but maybe there's a chance for a new love and new hope for both of them?

I loved book 1 and 2 of this series soooooo much and so it wasn't a surprise that I love book 3 as well!
Now that I finished A Duke Worth Fighting For I'm so happy!!
I looooooved Margery and Daniel so much! OMG! As a widow life wasn't easy for Margery. When you've lost the love of your life it's not so easy to feel hope again.
I felt so much with Margery! Losing an important person isn't easy. It was so wonderful to see her development in their story! Daniel's arrival and her fascination for him. Awwwww! I got goose bumps everywhere! Well I think it's definitely Daniel's fault! OMG what a character! I love him so much too! I cant even find the right words to describe him! He's a character that definitely got under my skin! That's for sure. He had to deal with the battle at Waterloo too and his scars aren't so easy for everyone.
Okay enough swooning! LOL
Soooo A Duke Worth Fighting For is the beautiful love story of Margery and Daniel with so much emotions and some drama and even more emotions and laughter too.
I can't say it often enough: I LOVED THIS BOOK and can't wait for more!
Thanks to Forever Grand Central Publishing and Christina Britton for this ARC via Netgalley.

♡ This is my honest review with my own words. ♡

I really like this book and thought that it was beautifully written. Plus, who doesn't like broken heroes?

Margery- a widow who vows to never remarry after her husband is killed in the war meets Daniel, a scarred soldier who must marry to carry on the family name. In need of money, Margery suggests she can help the socially awkward Daniel to find a bride. But they end up finding so much more.

Perfect summer read

It is always a pleasant surprise reading a Christina Britton novel, because I never know where the story will lead or what new characters I will get to meet along the way. She tied this book in nicely with the previous books in the series, without focusing too much on the other couples, which can sometimes happen in a series. I often prefer reading books where each book in the series has a clear focus on the new couple, and Christina does a wonderful job of that. We still see the previous couples and get to enjoy their personalities and their lives together, but we branch off to explore the new romance blossoming. I have a particular weakness for wounded heroes, especially ones who don't feel they are worthy of love, so the hero in this book was perfect for me. Both physically wounded and traumatized by the events of the war, he had a lot of healing to do, and it was lovely seeing that as the story progressed. The heroine is a widow with no children, still in deep mourning, which made this romance especially tense and full of a friends with benefits feel. If that is your jam, you are going to love this book.

When blackmail comes to Mrs. Margery Kitteridge's door, she is shocked and appalled at the allegations made towards her late husband. Worried that others will believe the lies, and unwilling to ask for help from her friends and reveal to them the contents of the letter, she begins to wonder how she is going to come up with money to pay off this awful person. Enter Daniel Hayle, Duke of Carlisle - the son of her grandmother's friend and a new guest in their home. Daniel is a former military captain, having fought in the war and coming close to death at Waterloo. Haunted by his past, and saddled with the task of creating an heir for the dukedom, he has come with his mother to help her heal from the passing of his elder brother and prepare to find a wife, any wife. Margery is roped into helping him, and seeing his ineptitude at navigating social niceties, she offers him a deal. She will help him find a wife there, on the Isle of Synne, by the end of the month, in exchange for one hundred pounds. Daniel agrees, unknowing why she needs such a large sum, and soon they are spending more time together as she introduces him to the eligible young women. Still in deep mourning for her husband, Margery has no intention of marrying again...so why does it bother her so much every time she thinks about Daniel with another woman?

This relationship was definitely one of the most complicated I have read about, for a number of reasons. Daniel is adamantly opposed to being with someone for love, and he has no intention of feeling anything at all for his wife beyond perhaps mild affection. Which is why it's so odd for him when he begins to feel things for Margery that he never expected. Margery, on the other hand, has vowed to all who can hear her that she will never marry again. Four years since her husband passed, she still wears her wedding ring, dresses in half mourning colors, and has felt no inclination to be with a man. Until Daniel, that is. It was interesting seeing their relationship develop, as they thought scratching the itch would solve things, and, as we romance readers know, that never works. I was surprised how much guilt Margery felt, and she clearly had healing of her own to deal with, made evident by how long her reluctance to be with Daniel lasted. This is not a romance that is wrapped up neatly with a bow, and there is quite a lot of tension, hidden feelings, and burning beneath the surface. There are also several content warnings, which Christina Britton kindly provides on her website, and I recommend you check those out in case of any potential triggers. Overall, this story was a lovely one focused on redemption and healing. As always, I leave this book feeling like I have learned something, not just about other people but about myself.

One side character I adored was Miss Denby - her comic relief throughout the story was so welcome and hilarious. I hope she gets her own book at some point. I can't wait to meet the man she is meant for.

*Blog review will be published in August*

From the publisher: Daniel Hayle, Duke of Carlisle, returned from Waterloo a hero, and he has the wounds to prove it. But he dreads the coming London season as he never did the battlefield, where his lack of social skills is certain to make it difficult to find a wife. What he needs is someone to help him practice socializing with the ton. Someone who isn’t frightened away by his scars . . . . Margery Kitteridge is still mourning the loss of her husband. So when she receives a blackmail letter accusing him of desertion, she’s desperate to protect his reputation. The answer to her troubles appears in the form of a damaged, reclusive duke in need of a wife. She proposes an alliance: she’ll help him find a bride, in return for the money to pay off the blackmailer. But working so closely together awakens passions they never imagined possible, and reveals secrets that might tear them apart.

A Duke Worth Fighting For is a slow moving historical romance set during the Regency period. The story switches back and forth between Margery’s point of view and Daniel’s point of view. I found Margery somewhat unusual as a fictional Regency widow because she loved her first husband and is legitimately mourning him. So often the heroine’s first husband was abusive or neglectful.

Daniel is physically damaged and suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder. He is a kind and socially awkward character who is easy to love. Margery is ebullient and creative, and it’s easy to see why their older relatives are matchmaking – easy, that is, for everyone except Daniel and Margery. They hold out against their mutual attraction for as long as possible. The author does take advantage of the fact that Margery is a widow and not a virgin, and things get physical long before they get romantic.

I was disappointed that an extreme coincidence plays an important role in the plot. The historical details were pretty standard; I was not wowed by any new information about the time period. The dialog was mostly fine, although I was reminded unfavorably of some bad dialog in the musical Singing in the Rain when the hero said “I love you” three times in a row. 😁 If you enjoy historical romance novels that address societal issues and feature likable characters to root for, you may enjoy A Duke Worth Fighting For.

I read an advance reader copy from Netgalley of A Duke Worth Fighting For, which is the third book in the Isle of Synne series. I have not read the first two, and I think I would have enjoyed A Duke Worth Fighting For more if I had. Characters from previous books are thrown into the story without much introduction. The Galesburg Public Library owns the first two, A Good Duke Is Hard to Find and Someday My Duke Will Come. A Duke Worth Fighting For will be available in late August.

Daniel Hayle, the new Duke of Carlisle, returned from Waterloo a scarred man. He needs to marry and produce an heir so the title doesn't fall to his odious cousin. Widow Margery Kitteridge is desperate to protect her husband's memory, even if it means paying off a blackmailer. She'll gladly play matchmaker for Daniel in exchange for funds, but she doesn't expect to fall for him herself!

This is the third book in the Isle of Synne series. It can stand alone, although both previous couples make an appearance. The heroine from book one, who is Margery's best friend, plays a role.

I love when "broken" characters find partners who love them and stand up for them. Daniel doesn't expect much from marriage, just a woman who can tolerate him and not be put off by his injuries and socially awkward personality. Margery loved her husband and doesn't think she'll ever be ready to move on, but Daniel intrigues her: emotionally and physically. Britton's writing is very easy to become immersed in, and the story is compelling and heartwarming. 4.5 stars rounded to 5 because I liked that the book managed to surprise me in spots.

Tropes: Widow, Soldier, Matchmaker, Virgin Hero

* I received an ARC and this is my honest review. #ADukeWorthFightingFor #NetGalley

Margaret and Daniel are a match made on the battlefield of Waterloo. Meeting 4 years after the battle, Daniel is scarred mentally and physically from the horrors of the fighting; Margaret still mourns the love of her life because her husband died that day. Believing he died a hero, she is stunned to receive a blackmail letter accusing him of battlefield cowardice. Daniel seeks a wife having unexpectedly inherited a duchy and agrees to pay Margaret to help him find one. They fight each other and themselves and history in order to reach a well-deserved HEA. A complex tale, skillfully drawn, which will remain in the reader’s imagination long after the final page is read.

Margery lost her beloved husband at the Battle of Waterloo. After his death she vowed to never love another - and has remained in partial mourning for the last five years. She receives a blackmail letter at the start of the book that suggests her husband didn't die the heroic death everyone thought he did. When Daniel arrives on the scene, she decides to make a deal with him to help him navigate society in exchange for enough funds to pay the blackmailer.

Daniel was severely wounded as part of the war and suffers from PTSD that particular track from events at Waterloo. He became the Duke after the tragic death of his brother - whom he looked up to in a major way. Daniel is socially awkward and more athletic than brainy. He has some serious confidence issues and is very much a beta personality. I adored him and pretty much wanted to give him a hug the whole book.

Margery was a great character - independent, loyal, and had a great personality. There is a reason her friends love her so much. Which leads to the one thing about this book that didn't work for me - was the blackmail plot. I felt like Margery was too sensible to not talk to her close, highly placed, very rich friends for help. I know she wanted to handle it and was worried about what they'd think about her husband. But her actions just didn't seem likely to me. I also felt the connection between Daniel and Margery's husband were very predictable and a little too over-the-top for me. I just felt like neither plot was truly needed in the book.

That being said - I still really enjoyed this entry into the Isle of Synne series. In this book you could really see how much more Christina Britton could expand the series. I hope she does!

I received this as an ARC from NetGalley, but these opinions are all my own.

Daniel and Margery end up at a house party together. Margery is being blackmailed and the only way to raise the funds is to charge the newly christened Duke of Carlisle to refine his social skills before the beginning of the London season. However as they are together they both learn they are keeping secrets that are better off shared to find the love they both need.

Alright. I’ll admit this review is probably not super fair because it’s my first book by this author and I’m jumping into the middle of a series. But I know a lot of other romance authors that make it work and this book was so compacted with characters I didn’t know or recognize it took away from the story.

But**** I will say that if the story had moved along quicker or been more engaging, I wouldn’t have minded so much.

This book is really slow. I was pretty bored reading this one.

Didn’t care too much for the characters, not enough conflict to keep my interest.

Happy they ended up together though. Bully for you two, just didn’t really enjoy the ride.

I very much enjoyed this third book set on the Isle of Synne with the sly matchmaking machinations of Lady Tesh. Her latest recipient of her attentions is her granddaughter Margery. Margery has chosen to live a quiet life, honoring the memory of her husband Aaron, killed at Waterloo. All of that is threatened by a blackmail note accusing her husband of cowardice on the field of battle. Daniel, the Duke of Carlisle, survived Waterloo with serious wounds. He has accompanied his mother to visit her old friend, Lady Tesh. Daniel was a shy, socially awkward boy who has grown into a shy, socially awkward battle-scarred man. He is horribly aware of his shortcomings and the attention his scars receive magnifies how inadequate he feels. The older ladies have decided he needs to practice his social skills before he travels to London to find a wife and Margery will be his teacher. This story is heartfelt as the two shift in their attitudes and beliefs, overcome or control their fears, and start living life again.

Daniel Hayle, Duke of Carlisle, never wanted to be the duke. He was a soldier and knew war not glittering ballrooms and simpering misses. He agrees to accompany his mother on a trip to the Isle of Synne where she can rest and regain her health and he can practice his social skills. He meets Margery, a war widow who still misses her beloved, but there's something about her that Daniel can't get her out of his mind. When she volunteers to help him find a bride for a price, he readily agrees. What could go wrong?

I loved Daniel. Even though he was an awkward and scarred man who was just looking for a bride, he begins to look forward to outings because Margery would be by his side. He needs no love or tender feelings involved in his potential bride. He just needs an heir so his greedy cousin doesn't inherit the dukedom. Margery was so kind and could look beyond his scars to the honorable man he was and she makes Daniel feel more like a whole man despite his scars. Theirs is a slow burn romance amidst a blackmail mystery. Ms. Britton has a couple of clever twists in the story that kept me turning the pages to the end. I thoroughly enjoy this series and look forward to the next book in the series.

I read this novel in one sitting and could not put it down! I had come across the character Margery before and I enjoyed reading her story. I love that her life changes and that it does so in a way she does not expect. Britton’s novel does not focus only on the romance between the two main characters but references other issues as well. It deals with grief, the letting go of a loved one, and the chance to love again. It deals with how a lack of self esteem can hamper a person’s interactions in society. Reference is made as well to war and PTSD. I love the characters in this series - they are flawed and imperfect yet capture my attention with their experiences and struggles.

Margery finally gets her romance. In the previous two books in the Isle of Synne series Margery has seen her cousins marry Dukes under the matchmaking skills of her grandmother Lady Tesh. Margery married young and below her rank to the son of the village blacksmith, getting disowned by her father. After his death at Waterloo she has no plans to every remarry. Now someone is blackmailing her claiming her husband died a coward and she doesn't wish his name tarnished.

Daniel Hayle, the new and unexpected Duke of Carlisle visits Lady Tesh with his mother. He is very physically and mentally scarred from the battlefield. He needs to find a wife to have an heir but thinks no one in London will overlook is looks. Margery suggest she help him find a wife on Synne in exchange for a fee that would pay off her blackmailer. In an interesting choice Daniel is still a virgin.

The book is fun especially meeting the quirky possible brides on Synne. Of course the outcome is going to be predictable but the blackmail mystery adds to the plot. Cousin Lenora is delightful as Margery's confidant. I like that Margery got to be a little more brazen as a widow and could speak more frankly than most women of her time. I did feel it went on a little long in the middle waiting for them to recognize their feelings. And this was less steamy than the previous two books. Thank you NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for an ARC ebook in exchange for an honest review.

Margery's husband died at Waterloo. Daniel returned from the battle wounded. Between his scars and his social anxiety, he has very low self-esteem and needs a wife. And so, with a bit of an assist from their relatives, the two come to an agreement that she will serve as his matchmaker or "conjugality coordinator."

I really enjoyed the premise of this book with Margery looking for a wife for Daniel. The tone felt more serious than the previous books in the series with the theme of grief. The book asks the question of whether we can have true love more than once in a lifetime and what we owe to the memory of those we have lost.

I appreciated that Christina Britton included an author's note at the start of the book with links to her website with trigger warnings.

Thank you to Forever for these books. These opinions are my own.

" A Duke Worth Fighting For" by Christina Britton
OH, MY WHAT A STORY ! !
Yes, I loved this story. I had a hard time putting it down when my allotted reading time was ended. War scenes remembered that will break your heart. Enduring love that will bring tears to your eyes. Love that wins in the end. All things that made me love this story and rather sad when it was time to say goodbye to Daniel and Margery. Reminds me of a poster that said something like this: The end of a good book is like saying goodbye to a dear friend. Happy Reading ! !
NOTE: I received an ARC of this story from the publisher via NetGalley
This review is my honest opinion of this story.