Member Reviews

I really liked this one! It had been a bit since I read a historical romance, and I'm super happy this is the one I picked up. Because it was the perfect read for my mood!

My favorite thing about this was definitely the soft moments. Although Lavinia and Alex definitely spent a lot of time arguing, the moments when they were happy made up for it all. They were so adorable!

What was even more adorable was the relationship between Alex and Nigel. It had me cackling. Especially at the end. Seriously, they were so much fun. I'd pay good money for a book solely about their brotherly shenanigans.

I'd really enjoyed McLean's last book, Ten Rules for Marrying a Duke and I'm happy to say I enjoyed this one too!

Thanks to Netgalley for providing a free copy in exchange for an honest review!

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This book was a mixed bag for me. The premise of the story was engaging, and Alex and Lavinia both had so much potential as characters, but, unfortunately, it fell a bit short to me. I'm used this author creating characters and scenes that I can just get lost in, because I'm so immersed in the story. This one, felt more formulaic and much less engaging. This is a book that I could easily put down - there wasn't anything in it that made me feel like I couldn't wait to read the next page.

I remain a fan of this author, however, this isn't her best work.

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Fun wallflower and Duke needing a wife. He gets one but she is not what he expected. She is doing what she thinks he needs. Of course he really messes up and may ruin a great thing. Some fun, some tension and a lot of action. You have to watch for the four weddings.

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Cute story. Though most felt it came from Lavina's point of view and not Alex. There were points int eh story we could have delved more into learning more about him, so that felt a missed opportunity there. All in all it was good. I love the rivalry with Nigel.

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Thank you to the publisher, author and NetGalley for the eARC. I've received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book but it wasn't a standout for the genre to me. The MMC was okay but I loved Lavinia. Her development through the book made for a nice read. I also loved the side characters and especially Nigel and Kitty and would love to read their stories.

Overall a fine read but not terribly memorable.

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“If someone had told Lavinia a month ago that she would be betrothed, to a duke no less, and on her way to visit her grand new country estate, she would have summoned the physician.”
I am in love. Deeply, completely in love with this book. Wow !!! I’m amazed !!!
A spinster and a duke, marrying for different reasons, will try to make the marriage, and the incredible tension and attraction they feel for each other, work while he will try to work on his plants projects and learn how to trust her (yes he is more a nerd than she is)!!!
Lavinia and Alex’ story was absolutely marvellous!!! It is a regency romance but so so good!!!
I couldn’t handle myself half the times. I just wanted to know what happened and I wanted to watch them navigate this unique situation that was their marriage.
These two people have incredible chemistry !!! The spicy times were so freaking good !!!! I can’t believe how they could owe their hands off each other most of the times, the tension was so thick !!!!
I absolutely loved it !! I don’t think I made it clear enough with it will make do.
And the fact that both of them were so nerdy … it was definitely a plus.
I’m so so thankful I had the chance to read this book. And I can’t wait for another one from this author that keeps on surprising me with her novels !!!
"Your uniqueness complements his,"
“How did they go from flirting to fighting to fornicating all in the space of a few minutes?”

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This is one of the best uses of the miscommunication trope that I have read.

Alex and Lavinia get married but have opposite ideas and expectations for their roles in the relationship. Alex expects Lavinia to be as unwilling to attend and host social events as he is and she thinks he wants someone to handle the Season on his behalf. But even with this misunderstanding and the problems it creates in the marriage Alex and Lavinia still care about each other though so you get all of these lovely sweet moments between them while still anxiously waiting for the other shoe to drop.
And when it does I was not disappointed. I usually like long drawn out grovel scenes but this one was just so sweet.
The side characters were also so great in this. Lavinia's sisters, Alex's sister but my favourite is Nate. I love close platonic male/female friendships
I will definitely be checking this authors other works

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Alex, the duke of Beaubrooke is an experts on grafting botanical species in England. It sounds stuffy and it is stuffy. Lavinia is the youngest of three sisters and she likes to read, likes it more than attending a party, for instance. Since Alex hates attending soirees and balls and prefers to spend time researching, he sees the perfect wife in Lavinia and marries her.
I couldn’t relate to the struggles Laviana and Alex faced; the fact that Alex thought Lavinia liked a quiet life and solitude and would avoid social events in favor of her book. And that he resented her for doing her ‘job’ as a duchess and host parties. Lavinia on the other hand should have known what kind of man Alex was instead of resenting him for spending so much time on his research and manuscripts. Why couldn’t they sit down and have a good talk about what they expected from the marriage, instead of changing completely (Lavinia) or changing nothing and continuing a bachelor life (Alex)? I felt this whole debacle not worth it’s salt and found the solution predictable.
I received and reviewed an advanced copy of this book and I am grateful for this opportunity. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

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3.5 stars
This is a good story, light to read, and with an attractive cover. I expected a bit more in the dynamics of the love story between the two main characters.

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This book was sweet but not a lot happened. I kept waiting for a plot to kick in but it really is just about two introverts navigating the social whirl and their new marriage.

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Four Weddings and a Duke was a really fun and cute regency romance.
While I had never read a book written by Michelle McLean before, it was easy to dive into the story and the main characters, Lavinia and Alex, were both truly likable.
I'll definitely be reading other books by this author in the near future. In the meantime, historical romance readers should keep an eye out for the release of this one!

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Too cute! Michelle McLean truly knows how to keep you interested in her books. She writes of adorable Lavinia who is forgotten by everyone and hides herself in any and every situation whether at home or at a ball. So much so that Alex, the duke who is required to marry one of the Wynnburn girls actually talks to her but did not know she was one of his three options for a wife. They have kind of a cute-meet visit at a ball, but it is days later that Alex is introduced to Lavinia and learns of her.

From the very beginning Alex is ‘smitten’ with Lavinia. He just does not recognize or realize it. And, after the sweetest beginning to the relationship/marriage, he makes a mess of things. Obviously, trust does not come easily. Whereas Lavinia is the most honest, caring and loving individual a person could meet. A lot of groveling is definitely needed.

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Alexander “Alex” Reddington, the Duke of Baeubrooke, is a scholar and botanist. He has no interest in the ton’s social events or activities. All Alex wants to do is work on his botanical projects. He happens to sit next to a fascinating bespectacled wallflower at his cousin’s wedding. Despite Alex’s interest in the woman, duty mandates he marry one of the Wynnburn sisters. He soon learns that his book-loving wallflower is one of them. Will Lavinia interfere with Alex’s botanical research? Or will he discover she is much more important than his plants?
Lavinia Wynnburn is the middle daughter of a rich earl. She is used to being overshadowed by her popular and beautiful sisters. Lavinia prefers spending her time reading than socializing with her peers. She meets Alexander by chance when he seats himself next to her at a wedding. Lavinia knows she is ill-equipped to being a duchess. However, she is surprised and delighted when Alex chooses her. Can Lavinia adapt to her new station in life? Will she be everything Alex needs in a wife and duchess? Or will Lavinia cause even more trouble for Alex?
Alex easily won me over. I like that he is not your normal, run-of-the-mills kind of duke. Alex is an eccentric, who prefers his scholarly pursuits and his plants than intermingling with his peers or their frivolous pastimes. What I adore the most about Alex is how he encouraged Livinia to wear her glasses, despite it being unfashionable. Alex cared more about her ability to see than their peer’s views on what is fashionable.
Lavinia is a woman I easily identified with. I know how wretched it feels being overlooked and/or forgotten by others. It is NOT a pleasant feeling. What I admire the most about Lavinia is how she tried to adapt to her new station in life. She knew that she was in unchartered waters, but that did not stop Lavinia from doing her best. Also, by going outside her comfort zone, Lavinia did learn new and interesting things about herself.
FOUR WEDDINGS AND A DUKE is a standalone historical / regency romance by Michelle McLean. I am new to this author’s works. The book’s title and synopsis caught my attention. It sounded like something I would enjoy. It did NOT disappoint me! I found myself entrenched in the plot and characters. I literally finished this story in two settings. I just did not want to put it down until I finished it.
I hope McLean considers writing a happily-ever-after for Kitty, Georgina, and Nigel. I admit, secretly, I hoped Nigel would have ended up with Georgie, just to continually irk his rival, Alex. I am definitely interested in reading McLean’s backlist.

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Four Weddings and a Duke is a really good read! I enjoyed it immensely. This was my first Michelle McLean book, and I will be looking our for more.
Lavinia (I love this name) is a somewhat shy, perhaps more reticent young lady, who prefers reading with her glasses on compared to trying to be compared to her two dazzling, social butterfly sisters. Alex is a scholar and scientist who prefers to be working on his botany instead of attending social events. He's essentially contracted to marry either Lavinia or one of her two sisters, and chooses Lavinia, after sitting next to her at a wedding and not realizing who she is. He's drawn towards her, and they get married.
Lavinia, away from her family and also getting a social boost that her marriage gives her, starts to become interested in social events. She overhears Alex and his assistant talking about duties, and assumes that she is supposed to throw herself into them to make Alex happy. Alex is happier than he realizes, but torn between what he thought made him happiest, and what he wanted to do with his life.
There is a lot of dialogue in this book, almost too much but it is all excellently detailed and well-written. Michelle McLean does a good job having the two main characters grow together, and their growing pains and settling in to marriage is so good! I had delicious, emotional teary moments that I had to read a couple of times because they were soooo good. I really enjoyed this book, and can't wait to read more. This was a romance as well as a story of a new couple getting their footing, without a lot of the heavy tropes or suspension-of-belief over the topness (which I do love, but this is a more subtle HR).
I received Four Weddings and a Duke as an ARC and read to give my honest opinion. This was a good read, and I shall be reading more!

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When a duke has to pick wife should he pick someone who would make him a great duchess or someone who would make the perfect wife?

Alex, the Duke in question, has no interest in societal events he rather be in his greenhouse studying his plants. When he meets Lavinia he finds a kindred spirit in her antisocial tendencies. When he finds out Lavinia is one of three sisters he has to choose to make his wife his mind is set.

Lavinia has happily remained on the sidelines letting her sisters have the attention. When she meets Alex she can hardly believe be would pick her to be his wife. She is determined to make a great duchess.

When communication about what the other expects of them takes awhile this author knows how to bring the heat. I loved the effortless chemistry between Lavinia and Alex and couldn’t get over how cute they were.

I very much enjoined this book and would recommend it to any HR reader.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. And thank you NetGalley and Entangled Publishing for the ARC.

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Lavinia is shy and uncomfortable with social settings. That's exactly what Alexander is looking for because he doesn't want to socialize either. However, after marriage, Lavinia flourishes and accepts all invitations and he may even like her. Now he must hide why he chose her in the first place.

Love Lavinia and Alexander. They are both interesting characters. I love how they fall for each other. They have great chemistry. It's a fun rom-com. Really enjoyed it.

Thanks to the publisher for the arc.

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An enthralling and deeply compelling Regency romance with unexpected twist. I was hooked from start to finish. I will definitely keep following this author.

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