I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.

I had a hard time getting into this book. It did get better as it went, but overall, I didn't love it.

This book didn't work for me. The wedding seemed very rushed and the characters weren't fully formed by that point. By the end. Lavinia had a much different personality from the start of the book and I didn't like it.

Thank you @entangled_publishing @netgalley for my digital copy. My thoughts are my own.

I love regency romance novels. They detail beautiful gowns and jewels, as well as extravagant parties, dashing men and beautiful (and almost always naive) women! I enjoy reading about the societal rules of early 19th century Britain and the creative ways the characters get around them.

In this novel Lavinia Wynnburn is a wallflower. She prefers her books and often hides behind the plants at balls so she does not have to mingle politely with the other guests.

Alexander Reddington, Duke of Beaubrooke, has recently inherited his title. It is important for him to wed and provide an heir so the family line can continue. His family has a longstanding arrangement with the Wynnburns that the duke will marry one of their three daughters. The problem is, Alex is fascinated with his research and plants. He loves to talk about plants, soil, cuttings and more. He does not have time to think about a wife. When he meets Lavinia, he determines that she is the perfect wife. She will not force him to go to countless parties, and she will not distract him from his work. He doesn’t plan to fall in love with her, but he does. The newlyweds are pleased with each other and get along well at first. But soon, there are misunderstandings and hurt feelings.

This is a lighthearted romance story. It moves at a good pace and ends with a beautiful conclusion. I loved the chemistry between Alex and Lavinia as well as the storylines of the secondary characters.

“If you love “ugly” ducklings who find their match, marriages of convenience, and adorable meet-cutes, you do not want to miss this one!”

This is my second read by Michelle McLean and while ai enjoy her writing style and the way she develops her story this book fell a little short for me. I was just not very interested in the relationship between Lavinia and Alex and more so the constant fighting and toxic way they treated each other. There were good parts to the story like the relationship with Alex and Lavinia’s best friend but it just wasn’t enough to pull this above a 3⭐️ for me.

Four Weddings and a Duke was an absolute delight in my eyes! Michelle McLean's writing is clear, charming and charismatic. This is the romance between two awkward people who find someone they can relate to. This novel is very much a character driven novel, it is about two people starting to build a life together, it is about how they learn to work and grow together, and how they choose to embrace the attraction between them. While this novel might not work for everyone, it absolutely worked for me.

I loved watching the hero and heroine fall in love with each other. Their relationship is quickly built on the foundation of attraction and curiosity but blossoms as they grow together and independently. Because their relationship is new it definitely lacks in true open communication in moments which causes the misunderstandings in their marriage. But I thought that McLean traverses these moments realistically in regards to the time period, the perceived age and innocents of both, and the uncertainties that come when you wed a stranger. I found that in their moments of interaction in which they let their attraction and the physical side of their relationship give them the openness and clarity to believe in the relationship they are building. This novel is really about building the strong foundation of their relationship that will give them the opportunity to support and understand each other as they grow older and create a family.

This novel has the charm of first love and the sweetness of what falling in love is. It highlights the lustfulness of attraction and is a sensual novel that balances innocent romance with the frustrations of new love. If this intrigues you, I think you are sure to enjoy this offering from Michelle McLean. Michelle McLean is definitely becoming a must read historical romance author for me and I am so looking forward to continuing to watch her writing grow!

.Love finds us in the least expected time, he has to fulfill a marriage contract and chooses her to do so because he thinks she won't impact her life... guess again.

I am a sucker for stories like this and i loved it.

In this sweet romance, we have two wallflowers, more misunderstandings than you can shake a stick at, and a scientific deadline putting immense pressure on a young marriage. Lavinia is a quiet bookworm who can often be found reading instead of participating in social events. Alex was a second son happy to be left to his research and plants until he inherits the title. He must fulfill his father’s marriage contract by marrying one of three sisters. So he chooses the one he thinks will create the least impact in his life and will likely support his scholarly pursuits. The couple start well in their first few weeks but then through misunderstandings and lack of communication, they both make a variety of poor choices and mistakes. These pile up until they have said things that can’t be unsaid and their marriage is wilting under these conditions.

As always with Michelle’s characters, I fell in love with them and their backstories. I enjoyed the romance (open door) and enjoyed their love story. But I do feel that Michelle hurried a bit through the resolution of their misunderstandings. This isn’t my favorite of her novels but I will continue to be an avid reader and look forwards to what she writes next!

Thank you Entangled and NetGalley for letting me have a copy so I could read and share my thoughts!

This was a lovely story, but I just couldn’t connect with it and I’m not sure why. I wanted the highs to be higher and the lows to be lower…feel more passion between them in the bedroom so the contrast outside was greater. I wanted her to get mad at him, like really mad, for ignoring her and letting her down over and over again. I wanted her to have it out with her sister. I wanted more drama with his research assistant and with her friend/Alex’s nemesis. It just felt very bland and every time I thought ‘here is the climax!,’ it was kind of washed over. I loved McLean’s MacGregor Lairds series and Ten Rules for Marrying a Duke, but Gunslinger and this book felt very different.

I quite liked this one! The characters were great, and I loved reading about their growth throughout the book. Overall, I would definitely recommend!

I received an e-ARC from the publisher.

Not what I expected from one of my favorite authors. I liked the premise but just couldn't get into the story. I thought it moved slowly and didn't suck me in. As with all authors occasionally they write something that just doesn't talk to you, and for me it's this one. Don't let me dissuade you from this book. As previously stated, she is one of my favorites, but this story just didn't connect with me.

This is a first time read for me by this author and it won't be my last. I always like finding new authors and this one is definitely one I will follow. This was a fun and cute romance with well-developed, likable characters. It's an entertaining, marriage of convenience story. Alex doesn't really enjoy social events, but now that he needs an heir, he needs to find a wife. When he meets shy and awkward Lavinia at a ball, he believes to have found the perfect match and they ultimately enter into a marriage of convenience. Only Alex didn't expect to fall for her. He hides the truth from her of why he really wanted to marry her, and if she finds out, he risks losing his unexpected and newfound happiness. Miscommunications also lead them to some challenges before they find their HEA.
A lovely and enjoyable story!
I received a complimentary copy from Netgalley and am voluntarily leaving my review.

It's really nice sometimes to read a low angst romance that still holds my attention and makes me swoon. In Four Weddings and a Duke, Michelle McLean hits that sweet spot.

Lavinia would rather be hiding behind potted plants reading than socializing. Alexander is more dedicated to his botanical research and never expected to be the Duke. An arrangement between their families means that he needs to pick one of the three sisters to marry. Lavinia is his choice.

I loved experiencing these introverted and bookish characters getting to know each other and falling in love. This was a fantastic romance with a super sweet happily ever after.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Lavinia wears spectacles, is shy and do not appreciate the Society. She prefers books. Alexander is the new duke of Beaubrooke, due to the death of his father and his older brother. He is a scholar, a botanist, looking for a new graft. Unfortunetaly, now thas is duke he has to marry and have to choose beetween 3 sisters, Lavinia is surprised to be the one, because her older sister Harriet was the evident choice: she knows to navigate and all the subtleties of the Society. Her younger sister Kitty is vibrant, beautiful, nice and know too to cooperate with the Society.
The first chapters were enthralling, but whe Alexander and Lavina are married, time goes faster and I didn't appreciate the interaction beetweenn the two of them, it's either sex either Alexander is working. The plot twist about the sister Harriet didn't convince me, and the rivality beetween Alexander and Nigel, the same.

Nevertheless the book is well written, but Alexander deserved more crawling in order to conquest Lavinia !

This was a cute romance. Enjoyable writing style with good characters. Sort of basic but still good.

I enjoyed this book. I read the first third of the book quickly and the story does seem to slow down a bit in the middle. But it does pick up again at the end, so be prepared. It was a little angsty there at the end too.

As the middle sister Lavinia is considered the least marriageable sister. But she doesn't mind because this means most won't notice if she commits a social faux pas. Until the Duke of Beaubrooke asks for her hand in marriage.

Alexander isn't interested in social niceties nor is he any good at them. Having recently become the heir he must marry soon. When he accidentally meets a socially awkward wallflower he knows he's found the perfect wife. Someone who won't bother him to attend every silly event of the season.

The only problem, Alex's new wife seems to be enjoying her new role, as she accepts every invitation that comes their way. And to top it all off, he might just be falling in love with his wife. But one argument in particular has them spending time apart both dealing with their emotions.

Thanks so much to the author, Entangled and NetGalley for this ARC to review.

This was a new to me author, and I really enjoyed this one! I like the characters and the story! Lavinia is a sister of 3, who doesn’t like balls or parties. She likes to read and plants. Lavinia meets Alex at a wedding when she’s reading. Alex, Duke of Beaubrooke, was the second son but now a Duke. He hates social gatherings but needs a wife. He loves plants and is doing research to earn a grant. Alex is meant to pick a sister between Lavinia and her two sisters, he picks Lavinia. Once married, Alex is busy a lot with his research. Lavinia is hurt by him away so much while she’s trying to figure out how to be a duchess! I think this story was really sweet and fun! I like the dynamic! I hope there’s more historicals from this author!

I have to be fair to this book and explain that I don’t usually enjoy a book based on misunderstanding and/or lack of communication. Unfortunately, that’s what I got out of this one. The angst in the story is all about prior expectations that aren’t realized. That’s not my cup of tea.

I hoped that I would read about a developing relationship. Instead, I found Lavinia and Alex to be at cross purposes. And relationship growth was stunted by this. That was the main angst of the story. Alex was the main culprit, seeming unwilling to meet Lavinia in the middle. Lavinia didn’t do much bending herself. And this led to fights. And Alex had some very cruel things to say to and about Lavinia. For a period of time, I was wondering whether they would be able to come to HEA.

Now all of this is based on my preferences. It does not mean that the book doesn’t have its quality moments. I loved the meet/cute. They could also be quite sweet with each other. They spent a lot of time together and that is always enjoyable. Their love scenes were well done. They were written with sensuality instead of being graphic (vulgar). You get to see Lavinia traveling the path from wallflower to duchess. And Alex and Lavinia travel their rough road to their HEA. The overall writing style is easy and comfortable. It’s no chore to read it.

As I said, there is a lot to like in this book. Although it didn’t fit in my comfort zone, it’s still a worthy book for those looking for relationship building.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Four Weddings and a Duke by Michelle McLean

Published: May 23, 2023
Entangled: Amara
Pages: 295
Genre: Historical Romance
KKECReads Rating: 4/5
I received a copy of this book for free, and I leave my review voluntarily.

Michelle McLean is a jeans and t-shirt kind of girl who is addicted to chocolate and Goldfish crackers and spent most of her formative years with her nose in a book. She has degrees in history and English and is thrilled that she sort of gets to use them. Her novel Truly, Madly, Sweetly, written as Kira Archer, was adapted as a Hallmark Original movie in 2018. When Michelle’s not working, reading, or chasing her kids around, she can usually be found baking, diamond painting, or trying to find free wall space upon which to hang her diamond paintings. She resides in PA with her husband and two teens, the world’s most spoiled dog, and a cat who absolutely rules the house. She also writes contemporary romance as USA Today bestselling author Kira Archer.

“And it was only the beginning.”

Lavinia is used to blending into the background, and for the most part, she doesn’t mind. Alex wishes he could be left alone to blend into to background- until he sees a beautiful woman hiding among the plants who changes everything.

This was so sweet. The story was charming, there was the perfect balance of humor and wit, and the romance was delicious!

I adored Liv. She was bold, and her growth throughout the book was beautiful. I enjoyed the awkwardness of, Alex. He had the perfect mix of nerd and hunky professor. Their chemistry was great.

I enjoyed the pacing of this story and how things fell into place. The romance was multi-dimensional and felt authentic. The writing was smooth, and the side characters were such fantastic additions.

I loved experiencing two people falling in love and realizing they were in love. It was such a sweet moment. This was an easy story to get lost in.

This book was interesting because of the hero's hobby; he was a botanist and he was experimenting with plant grafting in order to produce medicinal plants that could be propagated and produce higher concentrations of medicine.
This review may contain spoilers.
The hero became a duke about a year before when his older brother died in an accident. His brother had been groomed to be the next duke all his life and was one of the better dukes around, according to the hero. The hero is a botanist who is trying to increase the efficacy and propagation of medicinal plants using grafting methods. He and his partner have been working on this for over 10 years. His partner is works in the archives of a college and looks for obscure references to grafting methods, so the hero is usually the first to get the information. That summer, the hero has to present their project to the Royal Society. He also has the other responsibilities of being a duke. The most important one is that he has to marry one of his father's friends daughters. It was his brother's problem, but now it is his. And with all three of his father's friend's daighters out in society, he has to get married soon. He only has to pick one of the daughters. But he doesnt go about in society and has only seen the oldest sisiter and he was intimidated by her. She was bred to be a duchess, a perfect duchess.
He was attending the wedding of his cousin and he promised his mother to dance with the daughters at the wedding ball. And he promised his mother to make a decision soon. His mother went to help the mother of the bride who was a relative and he looked for a place to sit that was hidden. He saw a column with a seat next to a woman who was reading. He went over and was surprised at how pretty she was. And they were able to converse and he was comfortable with her. Her sister came to get her and the duke recognized her as one if his potential choices for bride. Then he realized that the woman he was talking to, might be another choice.
The hero went to the heroine's family ball the next day and found out she was one of the choices. He found her sitting in a window seat and asked her to walk in the gardens. As they walked around, the hero felt more comfortable and asked her questions and talked about his research. He also explained that he felt comfortable talking to her and would she please be his bride. And the heroine, the middle sister, looked over child, sat next to the plants at every ball, said yes. Boy, was that a change in dynamics
I enjoyed this book because even though, neither party was trying to help the suffering of the world, they did work on the hero's research. It was not a book just about two society figures with nothing but fashion, balls and gossip to fill.thwir times. Both of them actually worked to some degree, the hero with research and grafting and the heroine with running the various mansions and manor houses that the made up the ducal estates. I am going to take one star away because the title is "4 Weddings and a Duke" and I only recall 3 weddings. The hero's cousin's wedding at the beginning, the wedding of the hero and the heroine, and the parlor wedding of the older sister. If there was a 4th wedding, it was not memorable to recall. So I will give this book 4 stars and a recommendation to read.

Four Weddings and a Duke by Michelle McLean is an historical romance with fun characters. Lavinia is a wallflower, a blue stocking compared to her sisters. She would prefer to be at home, alone reading a book. Alexander became the heir and then the Duke. His mother and family insist he needs to find a wife and start a family. Alexander knew his family had a deal with the Wynnburn Family to help him find a wife. After all there are three daughters.

Alex and Lavinia are perfectly matched. He is determined to figure out how to graph plants in order to make them stronger and more productive. It is his goal and purpose. He thought that Lavinia would make a good bride because she would understand how he needs to keep working toward the solution.

Lavinia leans on her sisters for help learning how to be a good helpmate to her husband. They encourage her to work within society’s bounds to keep her place in her husband’s world. She has changed to help him, but he has not changed with her, expecting her to stay in the background so he can continue with what he already does daily.

Neither is sure this is working. Both are unhappy. Is there a solution? Four Weddings and a Duke by Michelle McLean is a good read.