As this was the third book in the series, I expected much more than what I got. To begin with, I'm a little confused as to why the author chose to call this one The Heiress Bride when by the end of the story, there still had not been a wedding. Nor was there even an epilogue that showed us what happened to the two main characters after (most of) the mysteries had been solved. Were their investments enough to save the Dukedom? Did they have children? This was even more disappointing because throughout the book, I never really felt like these two did love each other. It felt more like they were partners on a quest to uncover the truth, who occasionally shared a bed, and even then, Iris was more than willing to walk away once she had gotten what she wanted.

I was also more than a little confused about one of the side plots involving a textile company that Nicholas had inherited. Although we found out the who and the why, there was never a resolution to that specific story arc. I expected there to at least be a showdown of words at some point once Nicholas became aware of what was going on and took steps to end it, but there was nothing. Did the person in the wrong just accept defeat without a word?

At least we finally got to solve the mystery of the late Duke's passing, although I must say, after the build-up over the three novels, the outcome seemed very anti-climatic, especially when you consider the fact that the person (or persons) behind everything manage to escape without any real punishment.

At the end of the day, I am happy to have finished this series, and while it didn't end in a way that was overly satisfying for me, I would definitely read more from this author.

DISCLAIMER: I received a complimentary copy of this novel from the publisher. This has not affected my review in any way. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are 100% my own.

This was middling for me, I really enjoyed this series but the story was pretty repetitive and it was way too similar to the other books. I liked Iris and I thought the idea of the mystery was interesting but ultimately this didn't deliver. Plot wise, it was eh.

I received this book for free from Netgalley. That did not influence this review.

The Heiress Bride is the third novel in the Regency Romance series, A Duke’s Heiress, by Madeline Hunter. In this series, the recently deceased Duke of Hollinburgh has left his fortune not to his family, but to three strangers. The strangers are all tradeswomen, commoners, and this leaves his money-hungry relatives confused and angry. The stories of two of the heiresses are told in the first two novels, but this novel stands alone well.

Nicholas Radnor is the new duke. He has inherited the title and some property, but not enough money to support the lifestyle or keep up the estates. He has to marry an heiress. It’s one of his many unwanted duties.

Another duty is to find the third woman named in the old duke’s will. (The old duke was his uncle.) So he is relieved but suspicious when she makes his job easier by showing up at his door.

Iris Barrington has no idea she is about to inherit a fortune. She came to see the duke on another matter entirely. She is a dealer in rare books, and she hopes to find a particularly valuable psalter in the duke’s possession. She has been searching for it for a long while. And her reason for looking is a secret she needs to keep from the duke.

Nicholas is impressed by her beauty, intelligence, and independence. He’s intrigued by her worldliness. (Iris is no blushing, virginal debutante.) Iris is attracted to Nicholas’ strength, handsomeness, and his willingness to help her. Things heat up quickly. But Nicholas doesn’t quite trust her. And Iris’ motivation for finding the book is not something he would condone if he knew of it. Plus, someone may have murdered the old duke and someone is trying to kill either Nicholas or Iris.

The stakes are high in this Romance infused with mystery. The protagonists are compelling. And the love story is strong. Romance fans should enjoy this series.

The Heiress Bride is really good! I love Madeline Hunter and her slightly-dark, broody tones with a slight air of mystery and intrigue, and this one was no exception!
I really enjoyed finally getting to Nicholas' story, after reading the two other heiresses' and their stories.
The dialogue is great, and story is fantastic. I loved the description of scenery, I felt like I could smell the books!
This a good addition to the series and I recommend to historical romance fans that like some intrigue and independent women in their books!

The Heiress Bride by Madeline Hunter is the third book in the Duke’s Heiress series. The book centers on the Duke of Hollinburgh, Nicholas Radnor and Iris Barrington. It can be read as a stand alone or read as part of a series. In either case the book follows a storyline of a Duke dying and leaving Nicholas as the new Duke the property, however there are 3 inheritors for a large amount of money that no one knows about or understands.

Nicholas and his family have searched for the third person, Iris Barrington when she just shows up asking for an appointment with him. She has no idea she is in the old Duke's will and has no idea why. Iris came to ask the duke if he had a specific book in his library that was ‘misplaced’. Of course both Nicholas and Iris start looking at the books and try to figure out where the missing item is. They start a torrid affair with the expectation that both will want to indulge for just a small amount of time.

The story is much more convoluted once you get through all the information, but fascinating at the same time. I enjoyed reading the book and was quite interested in how it was all going to work out. I did read the other books from Madeline Hunter and found them interesting as well. The Heiress Bride is a good read.

I would like to thank netgalley and Kensington Books for a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Enjoyable

The third mystery heiress has appeared. Who is Iris Barrington and why did the former Duke Frederick leave her the biggest of the legacy's to her? All the questions are answered in this book including whether Uncle Frederick murdered. I enjoyed this book of unplanned love and surprises. It's a mystery story in that Iris is trying to find an old Psalter book that was involved with her grandfather's ruination. She believes it was in Frederick's library but when she arrives he's dead. Nicholas Radnor is the new Duke of Hollingburgh. He's willing to let her catalogue his various libraries while looking for the book.

Iris Barrington is a rare bookseller and travels the continent brokering books for individuals. When she discovers Duke Frederick left her a pile of money she's floored but grateful. She's alone in the world as her parents and grandfather have now passed. She makes ends meet but once the solicitor confirms her identity she'll be a rich woman.

Nicholas Radnor never expected to become Duke but here he is trying to make ends meet. His father, who would have been duke after uncle Frederick died in a duel. Uncle Frederick died way to young with no children and under mysterious circumstances. Nicholas has had to shoulder the responsibilities of the dukedom as well as his wastrel family who always have their hands out. Because of the three unrelated heiresses he has little money to take care of all his responsibilities. When Iris appears willing to curate his libraries he's hoping she finds books that he can sell. He finds her intriguing, genuine and very desirable. The dance between them toward passion is long, drawn out and delicious. He needs to marry an heiress and it can't be her for various reasons. It's heartbreaking when she discovers she must break things off with him. I really enjoyed unearthing the clues as to Uncle Frederick's death, the answer to why her grandfather ended up accused of theft, and the love story between Nicholas and Iris.

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

Iris Barrington trades in rare books. A manuscript, an early 1400s Psalter, is connected to the deceased Duke of Hollinburgh. The uncle of the new duke, Nicholas Radnor. Iris needs it to prove her grandfather wasn't a thief, but nobody knows where it is. In her interview with the duke, she discovers she has an inheritance from his uncle. The question is why he left it to her. Nicholas has never desired a woman so quickly. Iris will never be a mistress, but will take a lover.
A search through his family's estates for the Psalter, draws Nicholas and Iris closer together, but a secret may destroy any life they could have together. Not ready for this series to end!
One hot couple!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book.

Hands down, this was the best of the series for me. It had some of the elements of my favorites by Hunter. The first two books in this series seemed lackluster to me, but the wait for this one was worth it.

This features a pairing between a duke and a rare book broker. As someone who tries to read less dukes these days, the fact that this was third in a series and by Hunter were the only reasons I picked this up. And since I didn’t love the first two in the series, I wasn’t sure if I would actively seeking the next by Hunter. Now, I know I will if there is indeed more.

Ok, I let this sit for too long to get into details, which is fine. The main point is that Hunter does a great job of showing well-matched pair even if they are at odds at times. The heroine is a confident, independent woman, believable represented in this book, and the duke is in awe of her. It’s well told and my kind of story.

<I>Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read and review this book. Views are my own.

I really liked this book, the book did a great job introducing the characters and made me invested on them, like so in them that i wanted more. The characters specially Nicholas is so beloved that i want him to be happy so bad.

The Heiress Bride by Madeline Hunter is the third installment in A Duke's Heiress Romance Series. I strongly urge everyone to read all three books in this series, but if you can't this book can be read as a stand alone. It is the story of the third heiress, Iris Barrington, to inherit part of a sizeable fortune from the uncle of the Duke of Hollinburgh, Nicholas Radnor. This book gives you romance, intrigue, history, and a little passion. This book is great! Madeline Hunter has a way of keeping you engrossed in the story from the first page. You can't wait to solve the mystery along with the main characters of the story. I recommend this story along with the other books in the series, they are definitely must read books.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Zebra Books for the Advanced Reader Copy, it in no way influenced my opinion of the book.

While I really enjoyed our main characters and their romance, the rest of the plot was too complicated. This book could have benefitted from a family tree at the beginning to explain the branches of the Radnor family. Not to mention the plot twist with Iris’ family at the end. It became a bit convoluted.

That said, I loved Nicholas and Iris and especially loved the minor characters of Bridget and King Arthur! This is third in a series and while quite possibly standalone, the family dynamics might have made more sense if I had read the first two.

Thanks to the publisher for a review copy via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Another great book from Madeline Hunter!
Now the new Duke of Hollinburgh, Nicholas Radnor has two duties to fulfill: locate the mysterious woman mentioned in his late uncle’s will and acquire a suitable bride. When bedazzling, unconventional Iris Barrington shows up at the estate, Nicholas believes he may have found the missing beneficiary. But as for his second duty—he is finding it difficult to think of any other woman while tantalizing thoughts of Iris occupy his mind. Iris will do anything to restore honor to her beloved grandfather’s name. Even tangle with the likes of Nicholas, a man whose formidable intellect and good looks lure her like no other. Now Iris’s desire to unearth the scandal behind the dukedom burns ever brighter: for doing so might also protect the man who has stolen her heart . . .
I liked how strong and independent Iris was. Nicholas is still adapting to his new role as a Duke and once he meets Iris his need of a bride is overall by his attraction to her. I enjoyed watching the relationship between Nicholas and Iris develop. So many sparks between them right from the beginning of the book! There’s mystery, a bit of action and a lot of romance.
The written is flawless of course and the sexy scenes steamy and really, really good.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

It’s a delightful, flirty romance between two potential enemies, who never saw each other that way.

Iris’s profession as rare book dealer took her all over the world and introduced her to many different kinds of people. She was worldly and not afraid of that label at all. It allowed her to be bold with Nicholas in a way that he was unused to from the women in his circles. Iris intrigued him. Nicholas was under some pressure to marry for a large dowry to keep his estates and family afloat. His aunt kept throwing a specific debutant his way, but he only had eyes for Iris. I didn’t particularly care for this addition to the story.

I enjoyed the hidden looks, furtive touches, and overt flirting between Nicholas and Iris. All these little gestures accumulated slowly until they couldn’t hold it in anymore. The story moves from London to a house party in the country and back to London, and all the while Nicholas’s fascination keeps growing.

There were two separate mysteries that needed solving and both were skillfully handled. They did not detract from each other, and one was not treated as an afterthought over the other. I was really invested in finding out the truth behind Iris’s claims, and that truth wasn’t anything I had guessed up to that point.

A Duke’s Heiress provides a satisfying conclusion to this series. I can highly recommend it to any reader who likes historical romance with a little bit of mystery. Each book stands well on its own, but I think you will find more value in the series if it is read in order.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Definitely recommend this series.

This was a perfect wrap-up to the series. I really enjoyed meeting these characters and seeing how the story of the third heiress played out. I have a few questions about minor background characters, but that's just for my curiosity. I do love how the author unfolded the ending.

I found this story to be a pleasant combination of romance and who-done-it. The main characters are well fleshed out and interesting. I read the book in 2 evenings meaning it held my interest. The secondary characters are just as well thought out which will help when their stories are told. You've got just enough information about them to start off with. I'm a fan of Madeline Hunter's stories and she hasn't disappointed.

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

I enjoyed this third, and final, book in Madeline's A Duke's Heiress series -- both the couple involved and finally finding out the truth of the whole premise - how did the Duke die and why did these women receive inheritances from him. Nicholas and Iris are worthy opponents even when they don't realize it!

Madeline's writing is elegant and nuanced, a joy to read. She included so many details and knowledge about the time and subject matter in the story, making it feel authentic while entertaining.

Brava!

I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher, via NetGalley. This in no way impacted on my view.

As Duke of Hollinburgh, Nicholas Radnor never expected that he would inherit all of the drama that his late uncle left behind. Rather than inheriting the estate and all of the wealth, Nicholas has little more than the title, and the family to his name. Three unknown women were all left money, and it's been his job, and that of his cousin's, to find them and discover how they knew the late Duke. Now that two of the women have been found, and have married into the family, there's only one left, and Iris Barrington hasn't been heard of. So when the very lady arrives on his doorstep, demanding to speak with him, and search his library for a missing book, it's both a blessing and a nightmare. Iris never expected she would be an heiress, and has only returned to England to clear her grandfather's name. The added complication of how handsome Nicholas is is not helpful, and neither are the growing feelings between them.

I have been looking forward to this book ever since I read the first in the series, and Nicholas and Iris did not disappoint! Their romance was epic, and though I disliked the secrecy at times, I completely understood why neither could be fully open with each other at first. Iris's family had been respected in England, and across Europe, for their work with rare books, but after an incident years ago with the Hollinburgh family, Iris's grandfather's name was in tatters, and the family had to change their name to continue their work. Iris knows that her grandfather was framed, and plans to clear his name, once and for all, and she won't let anyone, not even someone as handsome and intriguing as Nicholas, get in the way of that. The strength of character that she had was wonderful, and I loved seeing the way Nicholas became so protective over her. After the way he laughed at Chase and Kevin over how they fell for their now wives, it was karma that he would be the same. The overarching plot line in the entire series about the late Duke's death was finally solved in this book, and the mystery kept me on the edge of the seat until the very end! A perfect conclusion to the series.

Nicholas gets his story in the final installment of A Duke’s Heiress trilogy. In this book, we get to know more about him, and meet Iris Barrington, the last heiress who wasn’t found for over a year. She is a worldly woman, a bookseller by trade, who has traveled the continent in pursuit of rare tomes. One with a personal connection eluded her, though, despite her efforts to find it. Then Iris learns she has inherited a legacy from the very man she believes had the book in his possession, and with whom she had an unsuccessful meeting shortly before his death. A unique opportunity presents itself that will allow her free access to the ducal library, and the current Duke, as well. Attraction to, and appreciation for, each other builds until Nicholas and Iris can no longer deny themselves that for which they yearn the most - each other. As passion ignites between them, and amongst members of Nicholas’ family, strange “accidents” start to occur, and we follow the ever increasing tension that drives this story to its climax. Old friends, and annoying family members, from the previous two books are back and play an integral role. Nicolas continues to confide in Kevin and Chase, while Minerva and Rosamund become close to Iris and thus complete the “sister heiresses” trio. With a red herring thrown in for good measure, we also finally learn who killed Uncle Frederick. A delightful read that had me chuckling, cheering, and involved until the end.

Nicholas Radnor, the new Duke of Hollinburgh, whilst titled, finds himself land poor. However, when the last of the three mysterious women, to whom his uncle left funds to, arrives at his doorstep, he wonders whether his life will be forever changed. Iris Barrington is both beautiful and flamboyant, but Nicholas is suspicious of her and wonders what secrets she holds. An independent woman, with a trade as a rare book dealer, she has reached out to him, unknowing of the inheritance that has been bestowed on her. Her offer to review his library and that of his relatives, soon leads to events that will ultimately impact any future that they might have together.
The romance between the two main characters is passionate but burns slowly with Nicholas being the honourable man and Iris, being cautious. Despite the threat that Iris posed to Nicholas, he does all that he can to protect her, without any arrogance or perception that she can look after herself. I also enjoyed reading of Iris’ search for the rare books. This plays such an interesting part in this story and so very cleverly interwoven. An enjoyable read.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.