Introduction
The Heiress Bride is the third book in the Duke's Heiress trilogy and I really had a great time with this one. This is the conclusion to the heiresses' mystery and I really enjoyed seeing what Madeline Hunter did with this one here. Madeline Hunter just writes some great solid historical romance and I love that her writing style hasn't become too modern. It really has that classic Avon feel to her writinig and I really appreciate that. So if you are fans of Anne Gracie or Elisa Braden, then this author you will really enjoy. This had a solid mystery that was attached to it, pacing solid and just was a solid story that I enjoyed fully.

Summary
Nicholas Radnor, is the Duke of Hollinburgh and there are pressures to marry an heiress and also locate the mysterious woman in his late uncle's will. She is the last of the three heiresses mentioned but when a strange woman approaches him for a book she was authenticating for auction for his uncle, he is intrigued and believes she could be the lost heiress and that there is more to her presence than meets the eye. He wants to fulfill the late duke's promise to Iris though while at the same time determining if she has ill will towards his family. But soon love and passion enter the playing field between them and a family mystery with secrets to be unveiled.

My Outlook
I absolutely adored this one here, and while the pacing wasn't perfect in this book, I absolutely adored everything else about this story. I do want to give a fair warning on the narration. I tried it in narration and it wasn't that good. The accent is super super thick and I found it to be more distracting. The writing in this one is very easy to read for the most part, so you will be easily sucked into the story. I really love how this author writes her books though. Her writing is just really enjoyable to fall into. I found this story to be quite a solid read and if you love a good mystery being unveiled, this story really tackles the mystery very well. It ended up being something I actually didn't expect. So the author really mixed me up here with the reveal but at the same time I really enjoyed how it all played out. I really loved the banter that we see in the previous two couples here and I really need to read the second book in this series, because I just need Kevin's book.

What I really enjoyed though was the way that this couple interacted with each other. I loved how they each have their own agenda, but at the same time, you see the way their chemistry builds the more they interact and the way that they both balance their personal agenda with how their relationship is changing throughout the story. The growth of their bond was truly wonderful and their kissing scenes!!! WOWZA I really felt like it was so powerful in these intimate moments. The only complaint that I have in this story is the pacing was a bit stagnated in the middle way through of the story and I really struggled pushing through it. But I am glad that I stuck with it and was able to see the way this story comes to completion. Because it did end up being such a beautiful story in the end here.

Overall View
The Heiress Bride is a captivating romance that delivered on authentic historical feels, a sensual strong relationship that delivers on top with a stunning mystery to keep you heart tuned in from beginning to end.

The moment I realized Iris was obsessed with books, I knew I was going to love her as a character. The fact that she also has a strong desire to stand on her own and not be beholden to others made her even more compelling. This is one of the most delightful regency novels I've read in awhile!! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the free advance copy.

4 Stars
One Liner: Entertaining and easy to read

Nicholas Radnor, the new Duke of Hollinburgh, is doing his best to handle the responsibilities of his position. Dealing with annoying aunts, managing a draining estate, and trying to find out more about his uncle’s sudden death are keeping him occupied.
Iris Barrington arrives at the last hour, demanding that he fulfill his uncle’s promise and find a rare book that could be hidden somewhere in the estate’s libraries. However, Iris is also the third heir to the dead duke and now is eligible to claim a substantial portion of funds. Iris is shocked by the developments. After all, she is a woman of trade, a rare book dealer traveling across the Continent, and an independent woman.
Nicholas and his family are suspicious of Iris, and she sure has secrets to keep. Yet, as the two come closer, someone is determined to do anything to keep Iris away from her new inheritance.
The story comes in the third-person POV of Nicholas and Iris.

My Thoughts:
Historical romances have their own charm. Lovely dresses, balls, elaborate dinners, house parties, headstrong heroines, and handsome heroes. Of course, we also get a good dose of the snobbish ton as a reflection on the times.
Though this is the third book in the trilogy (?), it works perfectly as a standalone. The couples from the previous two books have an active role in this one and add to the entertainment value.
The writing is easy to read and keeps things simple. It’s not overtly historical but not modern, either. That works for me well.
The lead characters, Nicholas and Iris, are strong and independent. I wish their past is explored a little more, but we get enough to understand their actions and decisions.
There’s a bit of mystery as well (a couple of attacks) that is solved at the end (one is left open-ended and makes me wonder if there will be another book in the series). However, this is predominantly a romance with some steam in the second half (2.5-ish).
The vagaries of the ton are well presented, along with a desire for extravagance without any thought to practicality. Aunt Agnes and Dolores are the typical relatives who decide a person’s worth based on their birth and yearly income rather than their character.
The book has quite a few scenes and discussions about books, though most of it is in terms of the book’s value. After all, the heroine is a rare book dealer.
However, my biggest question is- why is there no epilogue! Why? Historical romances feel so incomplete with an epilogue. I need to know about Iris’s wedding dress, Minerva’s child, Miss Paget, and a few other itsy bits details that neatly tie up the end. Sigh!
There’s a thirty-pound tabby, King Arthur. However, our heroine isn’t a cat lover. She is a no-nonsense woman with a business-oriented mind, which makes her worry more about cat hair on precious books (valid point!). But then, when did cats bother about trivial issues like that?

To summarize, The Heiress Bride is an entertaining historical romance with likable main characters and well-etched supporting characters. Carry it to the beach or pick it up on a lazy afternoon.
Thank you, NetGalley, Kensington Books, and Zebra, for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

I liked this a lot and am now reading the first two books in the series, the other characters are excellent and its an ongoing mystery

Iris Barrington is a rare bookseller from Europe. She visits England to followup with a visit she made to the Duke of Hollinburg regarding a rare book she is looking for and believes may be in his posssession. When she is admitted to the Duke's study, she realizes that it is a different person and she is informed that they have been looking for her as she was left a monetary gift by the former Duke. Iris makes a deal with the new Duke, Nicholas Radnor to appraise the books in his library on the offchance that she may find the book among those left to him by his uncle. While Iris is appraising Nicholas's library, his lawyer is investigating Iris's contacts to see if she is truly the heiress to the money left the previous Duke. While Iris is looking for the book, she is keeping secrets from Nicholas knowing that if he knew why she was searching for the book, he would not allow her access. This book was a little dry as it mainly dealt with Iris looking for the book and Nicholas looking for ways to earn money to support his dukedom. There is mystery and scandal surrounding Nicholas' grandfather and uncle and Iris' grandfather that once solved, provides clarification for both he and Iris. Thankfully, they do have a HEA. . I have the other two books in the series that I haven't finished reading but I will now that I have read Iris's story.

Nicholas Radnor, the new Duke of Hollinburgh, never expected to inherit the estate from his uncle and feels overwhelmed, especially when he learns that his inheritance doesn’t include his Uncle’s personal wealth, the money needed to support the dukedom and the multitude of grasping relatives, that money has been left to three women, and to add insult to injury – Nicholas has the task of finding the women. So far he has found two of the women and they have married his cousins. He is holding out hope that the last woman won’t turn up and he can use the money bequeathed to her for the estate and save him from having to marry an heiress. But when Iris Barrington shows up at the estate, looking for a book that his uncle promised to look for, he is attracted to her, but mostly he is suspicious and wants to confirm her identity before handing over the final inheritance. He agrees to let her look for the Psalter she wants and she will evaluate his library and see if there is anything worth selling.

Iris Barrington is not your traditional HR heroine, she is a rare book dealer and has traveled throughout England and the Continent doing business and living life on her own terms. She was surprised to learn of the inheritance and is more interested in finding the medieval psalter that will clear her grandfather’s name and restore her family's honor. Her attraction to Nicholas is inconvenient, but not necessarily unwelcome, the real problem seems to be someone is trying to kill him or maybe it's her they are after, either way, it is just another mystery on top of the others to solve.

I have read the entire series and for the most part, I enjoyed the books and was invested in the ongoing mystery surrounding the death of the former duke, but this book just fell flat for me, which is a shame considering it is the last book in the series. There were some things that saved the book from being a wall banger, such as Iris’ profession, the inclusion of previous characters, a regency-era “girl’s night”, warm love scenes, great secondary characters including King Arthur, the cat, multiple mysteries, some closure, and villain comeuppance. But even with those things, I didn’t love the book and was disappointed by several things, the biggest was the lack of passion between Nicholas and Iris, there was attraction, but it didn’t feel like love. Besides that issue, some things felt incomplete, and when you add to that a slow-moving story that ends abruptly without a wedding (making me wonder why this book was called The Heiress BRIDE) or even an epilogue, so I felt deprived of a proper ending and left to wonder how things worked out for Nicholas and Iris and the estate. This is the third and presumably last book in the series; if you would like to read this story, I would definitely recommend reading the books in order rather than trying to read this as a standalone title. Overall, I was happy to get some answers and to catch up with previous characters but felt this book lacked Madeline Hunter’s usual pizzazz.

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that I requested and was provided to me by the publisher. All opinions in this review are my own.*

This was an enjoyable conclusion to the series. Nicholas, the new Duke of Hollinburgh, is slowly settling into his new role. As the book opens, he contemplates some of his challenges. One is finding the last of the three mysterious heiresses mentioned in his late uncle's will, and another is looking for a suitable bride to bring much-needed cash into the family. The heiress has been challenging to track down, so Nicholas is shocked when she shows up at his estate.

Iris, a rare book dealer, extracted a promise from the late duke that he would look for a missing rare book that she believes is in his possession. That book is at the heart of a scandal that ruined her grandfather's reputation, and she is determined to find it and prove him innocent. She is shocked to discover that the duke left her a substantial inheritance. She understands Nicholas's doubts and agrees to an understanding with him - she will inventory and appraise the books in his library if he agrees to look for the missing book.

I liked both Nicholas and Iris. Nicholas is an honorable man who didn't expect to inherit the title as soon as he did. Now he is land-rich and cash poor with many relatives who are furious at being cut out of his uncle's will, and they are making his life miserable. His best friends are his cousins Chase and Kevin, the heroes from the series' first two books. All three are convinced their uncle's death was not an accident, but their investigation has not revealed any proof.

Iris is a spirited and independent woman. She is a professional woman who makes her living buying and selling rare books all over Europe. She has no trouble going after what she wants, whether clearing her grandfather's name or giving in to the attraction she feels for Nicholas. I loved that she didn't let the relatives' attitudes get to her.

I enjoyed watching the relationship between Nicholas and Iris develop. The sparks between them are evident from the start, and it was fun to see the attraction build as they got to know each other. There is some distrust between them, as Nicholas suspects that Iris is hiding something, and Iris isn't sure Nicholas will agree to something that would tarnish his family's reputation. The banter between them was fun, as neither held back when they had something to say. When it came to their attraction, Nicholas had no trouble showing Iris how he felt but left the pace of their relationship up to her.

I liked how they worked together to search for the missing book and how it brought them closer. Nicholas finds himself less interested in the "suitable" bride his aunts push at him and more inclined to make Iris a permanent part of his life. Iris has fallen hard for Nicholas but feels the gap between them is too significant to make anything permanent possible. That feeling intensifies when she makes a devastating discovery. I love that Iris is honest with him about what she found and that Nicholas shows her that it makes no difference to his feelings for her.

Several mysteries kept me guessing throughout the book. First is the mystery that runs through the series - was the previous duke's death an accident or murder? Nicholas, Chase, and Kevin have their suspicions but no proof. Second, is the mystery of the missing book. Nicholas and Iris have questions about the reasons for its disappearance, as nothing about it makes sense. Then there is the mystery of the attacks that happen when Nicholas and Iris are together. Who is the target? Iris, because of the inheritance, or Nicholas, because he is the current duke? The twists and turns of this story kept me guessing to the end, as the interweaving of all three made a surprising conclusion.

The relationships in the book were one of the highlights. In addition to the one between Nicholas and Iris, we see more of the previous couples. Minerva is now expecting, and Chase's overprotectiveness is sweet and irritating. Minerva is so frustrated with him that she finds ways to escape his hovering, creating hilarious situations. Rosamunde is a willing co-conspirator who gets Kevin in hot water with his cousin. The close friendship between the three cousins is heartwarming, though there is also a fair amount of teasing among the three. It is especially amusing to see Nicholas's reactions to Kevin and Chase's propensity to be "distracted" by their wives. I loved how Minerva, Rosamunde, and Iris bonded so quickly. The three get up to some interesting shenanigans, and seeing how the men react is fun.

The other relationships that dominate the book are those of Nicholas's relations. They all feel entitled to anything they want, and Nicholas has his work cut out to keep them in line. I liked watching him grow into his ducal dignity and use it effectively, though there were other times when they seemed to walk all over him. His two aunts were especially good at that, and Iris gets into the act when she uses them to set up Nicholas. I laughed out loud at the drawing-room scene where Nicholas pictured Iris and Minerva as lionesses bringing down a gazelle (Aunt Agnes) who never realized she was being hunted. He was less amused when he started to feel like a gazelle himself.

My only disappointment with the book was the lack of an epilogue. I would like to have seen them two or three years in the future, happy and prospering.

I love the way Madeline hunter rights. She’s always so good at weaving an intriguing B plot with the main romance story and this entire series has been a delight as we unravel the mystery of the heiresses. A wonderful conclusion!

When Iris Barrington goes to the duke of summit house looking for an old Salter instead of seeing the old Duke who she was quite fond up she meets the new Duke Nicholas Garrett who has not only been in search of the last Aris but also he needs to meet a suitable bride. Little does Nicholas know with the arrival of lady Iris the bibliophile who will kill two birds with one stone but it may take a little doing and the solving of a mystery. I love historical romance is whether they be regency westerns a made up kingdom it doesn’t matter but something I cannot take in a historical romance is when they do not act historical at all and then the first meeting with the Duke Iris tells him she isn’t going to marry but rather likes to take on lovers… The one thing Lady Iris shouldn’t have been traveling by herself for another no woman in the 1800 is going to tell a new acquaintance that she takes on lovers I almost stopped reading the book right then and there but because I was promised a mystery I continued in the more I read the more I like the book the spy the other inaccuracies I found but they say Madeline hunter is an award-winning author of regency books in so I guess some women aren’t sticklers for historical accuracy and I guess lucky for Miss Hunter they’re not. Having said all that I still finish the book and will probably read the next one I just know I love to read historical romances because of how previous books have made me believe things were back then and I don’t understand why people insist on putting 21st century opinions in Waze in their books but obviously there is a need for it because people read them. I received this book from Net Galley and the publisher but I am leaving this review voluntarily please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.

Although the third n the series, The Heiress Bride can easily be read as a stand alone. Iris and Nicholas are fantastic together and their attraction is immediate. The discovery of how and why Iris became an heiress gives a bit of mystery combined with an on-going question around how the previous Duke died and this story moves quickly. I love when our hero knows what he wants and goes after it. And he wanted Iris and was determined he wasn’t going to let her decide against him or their relationship. Great read!

FANTASTIC!!! The Heiress Bride by Madeline Hunter is book 3 in the A Duke's Heiress series and though in a series this book can be read as a standalone. What I just loved about the book was the mystery behind the romance. Madeline Hunter is one of the best authors of today and I have read serval of her books and The Heiress Bride did not disappoint. There were so many questions I would ask myself while reading this book and they were all answered by the end. I found this book easy to read, very well written, had the real feel of the regency era, wonderful characters, vivid description and just a joy to read. Nicolas and Iris’s romance just sizzled too! I am highly recommending you read the regency era story.

***This book was gifted to me and I am voluntarily reviewing.

Nicholas Radnor, the Duke of Hollinburgh, has decided that he must find a bride. He and his cousin, Chase, think that the previous duke may have been murdered.

That duke had bequeathed a large portion of his wealth to 3 people who were not family. To date, 2 of them have been found and have received their money. They are still searching for a woman named Iris Barrington. This means that Nicholas is trying to take care of the dukedom without much funds.

Today, a woman saying she is Iris Barrington shows up at the duke’s door. She says she is a rare bookseller and that his late uncle had promised her that he had a manuscript from the early 1400s and that she could be the go-between to sell it for him. When Nicholas tells her that his solicitor has been searching for her, she is surprised. When she sees the solicitor, she learns that she has been left a vast amount of money by the late duke but says she doesn’t know why. Now, the solicitor has to verify who she claims to be. In the meantime, Iris asks to look through the collection owned by the duke and see is any of them are rare should he want to sell them.

It’s around this point that the book seemed to go off in different directions that left me somewhat confused. I’m sure I can only chalk it up to the fact that I did not read the first two books in this series. Perhaps if I had, I would understand more about the other two heiresses and the whole point of the book. So, I suggest you read the first two books of the series and maybe you will get more from this story than I did.

Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

eet Iris and Nicholas, a rather unusual couple, and get the chance to catch up with Minerva and Chase, as well as Rosamund and Kevin, the couples from the previous titles. But just as importantly the mystery surrounding the deceased previous Duke will finally be revealed, and while I’ve enjoyed that thread woven throughout this series I definitely was satisfied to finally get answers. And no, you’ll have to discover that for yourself; I’ll not spoil it for you here.

Iris is a somewhat modern-thinking woman for the time period. She’s independent, has a career as a rare bookseller (researcher), travels the world on her own, and isn’t afraid to voice her opinion. While she spends most of her time away from England’s shores, she’s returned to the Duke’s estate with the intention of collecting a book he’d promised her not knowing that the Duke she knew of had passed away or that she was the final heiress to complete the dictates of his will. While this particular book may not have a huge monetary value, for Iris it’s personal for she needs this book to clear her grandfather’s name, to bring closure to a disgrace with the truth… for her, this tome is invaluable, and she will find it. She simply didn’t expect Nicholas or the effect he had on her — or the danger they’d find themselves in.

Nicholas has two important tasks to accomplish. Find the last heiress, and marry well for while he has inherited the Duke’s title and estates; well, the funding for those estates (and other family members) is wrapped up in the inheritances of three women, the final one being Iris… or so she says. While her claims are being investigated, Nicholas has decided to keep her close and why not allow her to search the libraries for the book she was promised while cataloging the other contents? It soon becomes apparent that there is more between Iris and Nicholas than the former Duke’s will. But is it enough to base a lifelong love upon? Not to mention the attempts to harm both of them.

Watching events play out as Iris and Nicholas give in to their attraction, delve into the family’s history, and bring justice to the past was a satisfying, emotional journey. Not everything is as it appears, but the long-awaited answers to so many of my questions were the highlight of The Heiress Bride, for me. If you love a well-written, steamy, emotional mystery with characters who will grab your attention throughout then you’d love this series – but I would suggest reading it in order for the best reader experience.

*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley, and I sincerely thank the author or publishing house for their trust. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*

First time reading this author and found the story to be a little long for me. Some details could have been left out and the story would have still worked. Having said that, it was an entertaining read overall and contained all the usual elements to make a romance work, love, suspense, historical setting, and steam. An ok read for me.

I received an advanced reader's copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

This was an entertaining, well-written historical romance. It was fun, steamy, suspenseful, and I didn't want to put it down. I enjoyed this historical romance and look forward to reading more books by this author.

This novel is the last book in the Duke’s Heiress trilogy, the setup for which is that the previous Duke of Hollingburgh died unexpectedly in what can be best described as ‘suspicious circumstances’, leaving most of his unentailed fortune to three young women; all commoners, and all unknown to the family entirely. The first two heiresses have been located, and both have found love and happiness with two of the late duke’s nephews.

Since he also died without issue, it’s now up to the new duke to find the last beneficiary in the will, save the dukedom from ruin, and find out exactly what happened the night his uncle died.

We will get back to the whole “his uncle” bit in a minute, but let me say: not mentioning the possibility of murder in the blurb was a serious error in the marketing for this novel.

I am not even sure where to begin with the review.

Except, wait, I do: Iris is a rare books dealer, and it’s a crime that this is not mentioned in the blurb either, among other reasons, because she’s good at it, and we see it on the page.

Turns out that her late grandfather was also a rare book dealer, who passed his love of books to Iris, as well as teaching her about first editions, rare printings, incunabula, illustrated manuscripts, and so on; after he and her parents all die of “the agues” (that’s as much detail as it’s given), Iris sort of falls into the trade, because there is no money and she has to support herself. In the years since, she has built a list of regular clients, and a reputation across Europe as an honest and reliable agent.

Now, there’s a whole backstory as to why Iris was born in Italy and has rarely set foot in England until now, but it takes a while–a long while–to get into that. Suffice it to say that Iris has Reasons–capital R–to be in London now, and to approach the newly minted Duke of Hollinburgh.

Funnily enough, those reasons have nothing to do with her inheritance from the previous duke, but now that she knows about it, Iris resolves to stay in London at least until the legacy is settled. To that end, she immediately builds a mutually beneficial business relationship with the proprietress of a modest rare book shop, who is struggling herself since inheriting the store from her uncle; unlike Iris, Bridget lacks education about the field, but not the business sense needed to make a go of it with some help.

But I’m getting ahead of myself.

So, about Nicholas and the whole uncle/nephew thing.

It took me until well past the middle point of the book before the line of succession to the dukedom became clear, which was incredibly distracting. A simple family tree somewhere in the book–hell, in the author’s website!–would have helped dispel confusion spawned by several early passages in the text, which made sense in retrospect but muddied the waters in the moment; among other reasons, because of the sheer number of uncles!

So, to help anyone intending to read this book without having read the first two, here’s the short version: Frederic Radnor, previous duke of Hollinburgh, was the firstborn of six sons and two daughters; Nicholas’ father was the second son; Quentin the third, and after that…well, no one much cares. All the sons married, and all but Frederic had male issue; the daughters became spinsters, living off the largesse of whoever the current duke may be.

Here I must note, because it bothers me immensely, that none of the mothers of any of the cousins–all men–is ever mentioned, not even to say they’re dead. They just seem to not exist in the world the characters inhabit.

The spinster aunts are a source of grief for the duke and his cousins, even the married ones; the surviving uncles are all at least named, and a couple even show up on page; even Frederic’s wife, dead tragically young, gets a line. The cousins' mothers, however? Not one of them is mentioned, not once, let alone named.

If we are to presume they’re dead–and I suppose we must–why not say that at some point? No need to make it a big deal; a line in passing, such as with Iris’ own backstory, would have sufficed.

Instead, we get nothing.

Moving on…

Nicholas is close friends with only two of his five cousins, who happen to be the protagonists of the first two books in the trilogy. These friendships, along with their occupations (one is basically a private detective; the other an inventor/polymath, and probably written as being in the autism spectrum), are helpful to Nicholas as he grapples with a number of issues. Not only did the his uncle left his personal fortune to three strangers, leaving the dukedom itself next thing to impoverished, and the businesses that come with it entangled in a number of dodgy partnerships; there are also unanswered questions about what happened the night he died–by falling off the roof at his country estate.

Of course, being a duke in need of funds, it behooves Nicholas to marry a wealthy heiress of good family and better bloodlines, and to get her with child posthaste.

Then along comes Iris; she’s not only a commoner, she’s in trade. Totally inappropriate for a duke, even as a lover. She’s also not a virgin and very much not one to care what anyone thinks of her socially, so long as she gets to ply her trade unimpeded–while working to clear her grandfather’s name.

Of course Nicholas immediately falls for her, and shenanigans ensure.

Someone is trying to kill her; no, someone is trying to kill him. Hold on, we are back to: someone is trying to kill her–or maybe it’s him?–and so on, until a number of questions are answered, a few villains are exposed and punished (after a fashion), and a happy ending is written.

The writing voice is competent, and other than a bit of slog during the second third of the novel, the narrative moved along well.

Here’s the thing, though: I never felt attraction or yearning between our protagonists.

Oh, it’s nominally on the page. “She couldn’t concentrate with him near” and “he wanted to kiss her” and so on; we even get a few explicit sex scenes, but it all felt…perfunctory? Almost mechanic.

I didn’t get sexual tension from the text, let alone a passion so deep as to override the demands of both society (she’s a commoner!) and common sense (he needs a literal fortune to maintain the entailed properties!).

The mysteries, on the other hand, are engrossing, because there were so many threads, and bits and pieces; the feeling that those pieces are connected is pervasive, but it takes a good while to tease out all the answers.

And I confess that at least one of the revelations near the end of the novel was entirely unexpected; credit where it’s due: excellently done!

Another thing that I liked is that Nicholas actually examines his own reactions and impulses, especially when they’re of the caveman variety; not many male protagonists in genre romance, especially straight men in historical romances, are so inclined.

I’ve mentioned above that Iris is competent, and that we are shown that on the page, on several occasions; she’s also quite sensible for the most part: she has little illusions as to where a relationship with a duke can lead. And she does have a goal that she’s not willing to give up, no matter how sexy the sexytimes with Nicholas.

There are good representations of female friendships, both with Bridget and with the two other women named in Frederic’s will, and plenty of conversations amongst them that do not revolve around men or romance. Yay!

On the other hand, there are also far too many examples of negative feminine stereotypes:
We have the two grasping, greedy, vacuous spinster aunts, who also manage to be harridans.
We have the vacuous gold digger wife.
We have the overprotective wife.
We have the ambitious mama and her equally ambitious debutante daughter.
And if I never again read the words “womanish things” in my life, it will be too soon.

Add the morally questionable “punishment” of the villains, and…welp.

I wish my first Madeline Hunter read had gone better.

The Heiress Bride gets 7 out of 10.

3.5 Stars
Now the new Duke of Hollinburgh, Nicholas Radnor has two duties to fulfil: 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 honour 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.
The third part of this trilogy & I recommend reading in order as there has been a mystery ongoing throughout the series. Whilst the book was well written & the characters had depth & were well portrayed I did feel a little short changed at the end. Why? There wasn’t an epilogue to round off the series plus not even a wedding in this book. I loved Nicholas & felt he deserved more especially as I found it hard to relate to Iris. Whilst I’m glad most of the questions were answered it wasn’t my favourite read of the trilogy nor by the author
My review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

The book has a mystery element too as attempts are made on the life of Iris and Nicholas.

I think this book is great fun. There is stuffiness, humor, passion, meddling family and a mystery. I’ve only read a novella by the author previously so it was nice to read a full book. She has been writing for years so there is a good sized catalogue of books that I can enjoy when I have the time.

Love Story With A Mystery

I enjoyed the mystery within this romantic love story and all the secondary characters. Although Iris and Nicholas did become lovers, I didn’t feel the emotion or passion within their characters for each other but having said that I did think it was quite a lovely story and it did show their personalities and that of their friends quite wonderfully.

Having said that, I still found it enjoyable and worth a read!

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

This was an exciting read by one of my favorite authors. Ms Hunter writes an intriguing story with lots of secrets. Even though this is third in a series, it can be read as a stand alone. The characters were fully developed with thoughts and feelings of their own. Nicholas Radnor ,the new Duke of Hollinburgh, is searching for the woman mentioned in his late uncle's will. He also is in search for a bride because it's the right thing to do. Nicholas wants to make sure that the woman who has arrived at the estate is the legal beneficiary. Iris Barrington is determined to restore her grandfather's name no matter what the cost. Iris is one spunky and feisty woman who tries to outsmart Nicholas at his own game. His good looks and intellect go along way of getting under Iris's skin. Sensual stirrings and lots of kisses make for a hot to handle story with a happy ever after.
I appreciate Net Galley for this ARC title in which I gave an honest review.