What can i say about this book that won't ruin the experience for others? everything, this book has everything a historical romance can have, and yet i don't feel is ambitious, i feel it serve their story right and that's hard to find. a must for hr lovers.

Historical Romance with Mystery

Recently arrived from Bengal, Kendryck is seeking a wife. Two women answer the advert. One of them makes it to his home in Wales, and the other does not. As Tynley and Kendryck get to know one another, they fall in love. However, Kendryck's family is quite toxic. Will Tynley accept Kendryck, troubled family, and all?

This story has romance, mystery, family tension, and redemption. If you like historical romance with mystery, you might enjoy this story.

This story turned out to be a real page turner, and quite unpredictable. There was intrigue, murder and suspense all in the middle of a sweet courtship and romance. Kendryck was an unwanted middle son sent away to India by his grandfather as a teen. He spent the next fifteen years of his life there before returning to England to assume the Baronetcy at the death of his brother, and to find a wife. He advertised for a wife and was blessed with a lovely widow that he quickly grew to love. The poor lady had no idea what a crazy family she was marrying into. Kendryck was a wonderful man but his relatives were something else altogether! This one will keep you on the edge until the end!

First thing you read after opening this book are 3 letters sent to a newspaper. First one from a gentlemen from the ton looking for marriage of convenience and stating everything he wants in a wife. He will come back from Calcutta in 2 years and wants to marry as soon as he arrives to England. Second letter, is a succint answer to the gentlemen's letter from an educated widow. Third letter, is another answer to the first letter, from another widow, but a much more eloquent one.

After reading these 3 letters, I wanted to know more! Because there's so much potential there. A love triangle, a change of opinion (I wanted to marry A first, but rather do it with B), a no show (because one of the ladies could possibly meet someone in the 2 years it would take him to come back), or maybe I would read my first historical romance with ''Why choose'' trope. None of the above happened. Somehow it ended up being a murder mystery and I didn't enjoyed it.

I give this book 2 stars because even if I didn't like the plot, I still think the author is an excellent writer. I would DNF this one if she weren't.

You Made Me Love You by Cerise Deland was an intriguing read. There was a bit more to it than many Regency-type romances. Kendryck Hollens had been sent to India by his grandfather, hopefully to die. But, now he has returned to claim his title as Baron Strade of Rhoose and Gary. He had decided before he left India that he needed a wife and so he placed an advertisement. He got many responses but selected two and asked that they meet him at his home in Wales. He then realized that he had business in London and that would be a better place to meet. Sadly the letters never arrived. So two women set off for Wales: one sixteen years old and unmarried, and one thirty or so and widowed. The sixteen year old never arrived, but in the older woman Kendryck found everything he hadn’t known he was looking for. They took their time getting to know one another.

Things got complicated with his “family” and with the woman who never arrived. The house in Wales became oppressive and the closer he and Tynley got the worse things got at home. One of his many projects to was write a novel exposing the atrocities that were being committed in India by English men and companies. She was fully on board with the project despite the fact it would make pariahs of them. It was a complicated story, as ones are when people are afraid of losing the life they are used to. The characters, both good and bad, were excellent and well-written. The plot was complex and worth taking the time to unravel. I was a very enjoyable read.

I was invited to read a free e-ARC of You Made Me Love You by Dragonblade, through Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #Dragonblade #CeriseDeland #YouMadeMeLoveYou

This is Book 3 of the Matrimony! series. Kendryck has spent his adult life in India making his fortune and learning the culture. But when he inherits the barony, he knows it is time to come home to Wales. He also knows it's time for him to marry, so he arranges for a marriage through correspondence. Tynley is a widow who lost her husband and son to illness. She desires companionship and is ready to marry again. She has been corresponding with Kendryck and feels they will do well together, so she takes a risk and goes off to meet him in Wales. Kendryck invites Tynley to stay with him, and as they spend time together they grow closer. But family drama and conspiracies within create complications that threaten to drive them apart.
An intriguing story that is filled with mystery and drama, that held my interest from start to finish. A lovely addition to the series!
I received a complimentary copy from Netgalley and Dragonblade Publishing and am voluntarily leaving my review.

Looking to wed, again.

This was an interesting read. Tynley is a widow, looking to wed again. Kendryck is back after years living in India. He, too, is looking to wed. Both have loved and lost. They have lived life. But there are outside forces and mainly family keeping them apart. And circumstances, too. Nothing is easy.

Kendryck Hollens, Baron Strade of Rhoose and Gray, and Mrs.Tynley Wallingford are mature adults looking to remarry. Thanks to G. Hammond, Publisher of the Fleetside Chronicle, she brings them together with their matrimonial adverts. This is no ordinary courtship. The Hollens family in constant turmoil, a missing young lady who responded to Kendryck's advert, his political goals and Tynley's professional life are all part of the mix. It's enough to boggle the mind and slow the pace. DeLand always seems to find the most unusual characters and make them work in a story.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book.

Thanks to NetGalley for a copy of this ebook and this is my freely given opinion.

This is a continuation of the Matrimony! series, book 3, and has the similar themes of people seeking marriages through advertising and correspondence through the the Fleetside Chronicle, run by Mrs. Hammond.

This one has more of a gothic feel to it, featuring a Kendryck Hollens, a younger son who was sent to India to make his own fortune as a 16 year old. He has lived his adult life in India, working for the East India Company, making his fortune, learning and living a different culture, and the ills and corruptions of British Colonialization. He has loved, and lost, and was planning to return to Britain as an adult with the intention of exposing what he has witnessed. When he gets notice that his older brother, and other male family members have passed, and he has inherited the barony, that gave him greater cause to leave his post and return and he arranged for correspondence to arrange for a marriage.

In his communications, he arranged to meet with two women who seemed to best suit his needs, but because of delays in the post, he was unable to inform them in a timely fashion of changes in his plans, including changes to his travel plans and desires for matrimony. Both women had already commenced their travels to South Wales as was originally planned.

Tynley Wallingford is a widow, who lost her husband and son to illness. She aspires to be a playwright and used to work in the theater world. She had a loving marriage and knows she misses that, and seeks companionship through remarriage. Because she misses his last correspondence, she ends up on his doorstep in South Wales. Kendryck decides to have Tynley stay for at least a week, and see how things develop.

This becomes a combination romance, gothic suspense and mystery. As Tynley and Kendryck grow closer and develop a warm, sensual connection, as well as respectful friendship that they decide to base a marriage, they have many other factors to deal with. Including hostile relationships and conspiracies within his extended family, and a mystery in the form of the other woman he was in correspondence with, who turns up to be missing.

As always, I enjoy the story that Cerise DeLand weaves, as her characters and how they interact, especially the romantic leads, tend to be warm and appealing. I quite enjoyed the gothic and suspenseful aspect to this, as it was not expected in this series. It seemed to be more of a story for me than the actual romance between Tynley and Kendryck. This is not necessarily a negative.

4 stars out of 5

Suspenseful and a little sad, this novel is nevertheless an intriguing book and holds the reader's attention. Sent to India as a teenage boy, Kendryck's life was initially modeled after the men in his family and then too, the habits of the British community in that country. Eventually, the impact of his deeds hits home, and he is disgusted with what he has become. When it is time for his return to Britain, Kendryck is determined to bring to light the abuse of power and dishonorable deeds. Tynley, who answered an advertisement, agrees to meet him in Wales with a view to marrying him and Kendryck finds a woman he can love and respect, but he is fearful of the impact his avowed mission will have on her. Unfortunately, he discovers that he has enemies in his own home as well, and bringing his family to order brings its own complications. The novel does come to a good conclusion, although not without mishap, and Kendryck and Tynley finally find their happiness. I received a copy of this romance as a gift through Dragonblade Publishing and NetGalley and this is my honest and voluntary review.

Kendryck Hollens, Baron Slade, has returned to his home after fifteen years in India. He has his hands full with his chaotic family. Tynley Wallingford is a widow seeking a comfortable, respectable marriage. She answered Kendryck’s advertisement in the newspaper and has come to Wales to meet him. The two of them find in each other the traits they desire in a spouse. Theirs is slowly building romance. There is trouble and a mystery involving a missing woman (the second woman Kendryck expected to interview). I liked Kendryck and Tynley. They are both intelligent, caring people. He wants to affect better lives for those oppressed. She is excited to help him. Kendryck’s family, particularly his brother, benefits positively under his influence. An engaging story with a lovely romance and an interesting mystery with an interesting solution.
I received an ARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley and voluntarily reviewed it.

Wow! A challenging story of two people who marry without expectations of second changes, Kendryck is a mature gentleman seeking a wife. Tynley is an engaging widow. As the two of them embark on a journey of discovery together they find the light of romance and joy. However before they can fully engaged in that light, darkness and mystery engulf them. Dealing with family members, that I would personally have pitched out into the unknown, they must overcome twist and turns. The third book in this series can stand alone but once you are hooked on this story, you may enjoy the author so much that you will want more. Similar to some classical music it starts slowly and builds in intensity, speed and interest until it becomes a page turner that you won't want to put down.

4.5 Stars
Tynley Wallingford is a widow who yearns for a quiet, comforting marriage to a man whom she can respect. She even answers an advertisement in a newspaper & corresponds with one man at length before she takes a risk and travels to Wales to meet him. She finds in Kendryck a man with a noble ambition—and a family filled with age-old conflict and despair. Kendryck Hollens returns home to Wales after fifteen years in India, a stranger to his family. He assumes his rightful title as baron of the legendary house of Strade and attempts to change the less than reputable reputation of his ancestors, and put his siblings on the right path to a purposeful life.
The third book in the series & it’s easily read on its own. I loved Kendryck & Tynley & loved how they had a connection form their first meeting & this just grew & grew. I totally disliked Kendryck’s family & I think if I’d been Tynley I’d have packed my bags & run! That said I did like how some members of Kendryck’s family gradually began to change & mature. There was also the mystery of the missing woman, this took the back burner for a time only to come to a head & the denouement was an edge of the seat event. A very well written book, with wonderful characters of depth, the pace started slowly & gradually increased but most of all a lovely romance
My review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

I have to be honest this book was interesting but the writing style was not to my liking. It was kind of choppy and needs a good edit too many grammatical errors and typos.

As far as the storyline goes, the romance was nicely built up with the H and h taking the time to get to know each other, building trust, friendship and deep respect for each other before taking the marital plunge.

A good read but mat required some patience due to the style.

Thanks NetGalley. Kendryck returned from spending many years in India after his grandfather sent him there as a teenager. He has advertised for a wife in the paper and chose two candidates. He returned to Wales as the one candidate showed up in a snowstorm. Tynley had been married before and lost her husband and son. Kendryck's step-mother and half brother are causing lots of trouble for both of them. They take a walk everyday that the weather allows. They fall in love and marry. While they would like a peaceful life together, it isn't to be for awhile.

This is a fun, entertaining, intriguing story. The underlying mystery plot is intriguing with twists and turns. Tynley and Kendryck are interesting, entertaining, relatable characters. I enjoyed these characters as individuals and a couple. Their romance is fitting for them and their journey. I loved the epilogue and that we got to see where their lives took them. The secondary characters, including the dogs added to the fabric of the story.

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

This was the first non-Lyon's Den or short story I have read from this author so I didn't really know what to expect. Obviously that also means this was the first book in this series I have read - but I didn't find that to be a problem as the premise is pretty clear and it doesn't seem as though the characters from those book carryover into this one. This book had a slow start for me, but once it picked up I was hooked. I thought it took a little too long to come back to the mystery of the missing woman - for a while I wasn't sure that would even be mentioned again. On that note, the killer wasn't a huge surprise but that didn't take anything away from the big reveal as it was still interesting to hear the why of the murder. I thought some of the parts with Gerard were less developed than they could have been (or just dropped altogether). For example, it was never explained how he sent the letter about having made his apology or the fact that he lied about it altogether. That was just a minor part, so it doesn't really hurt the story I just wanted to know. I did enjoy the slow burn of Tynley and Kendrick's romance and getting to follow along as it developed and grew from a friendship.

Is love strong enough to unhook the talons & soothe the deep scars of demons past but ever present?

Loved the mystery entangled within the romance of two so much more mature in their desires, ambitions and dreams than our average hero and heroine. Combined with the poetic, vivid historical detail of a DeLand and the added thread of gothic-esque darkness that surrounds the Hollens residence. I was hooked, intrigued, blushing and horrified in equal measure!
Kendryck and Tynley seek the comfort of a marriage of friendship and support but never expected to find or yearn for love the second time around. Earnest in their desires to nurture the instantaneous soul deep connection, shared understanding and increasingly hard to resist temptation of sensual intimacy, that promises so delightfully to be seductively all consuming, as it rose so deliciously charged and thrumming, between them, awakens a tender yet heady romance. As they worked together to cherish and explore, with opened minds, hearts and time the possibility of marriage, much to the begrudgement of his step-family.
While, rooting out the twisted mysteries that surround the familial victims that haunt Strade Rambles - an ancestral monstrosity, historically built and ran on the abuse, horrific subjugation and hedonistic tyranny of past heirs. Adds a darkness to the plot, a character almost in and of itself, that compellingly keeps you seeking the answers that creep out of the wood work. As a black cloud hangs over head, hides behind corners and festers simmering and seething in the shadows, spouting poison and hyping up the eery goings on and sinister feelings that you can't help but become akin too.
Creating a heart-pounding, waiting-for-the-hammer-to-fall, suspense that keeps you tottering on the fence between a cultivating light and crushing darkness. Pitching a sweet, tension-licking, passion-flaring, romance against seething animosity, laced with blood-curdling frustrations, despair and age-old torment. A threatening undercurrent that flows and entwines itself around the humour, witty intelligence, good intentions and integral compassion of our leads and keeps you invested in their fates and awed at their strong convictions and noble ambitions.
A well put together plot that emotionally raises you up, as much as it plunges you back down, with a poignant nod to the many facets and capabilities of human nature on a wavering spectrum of good versus cruelty. An engaging and thought-provoking addition to a fabulous series!

A beautiful love story that had a lot of unexpected twist and turns and a lovely romance. It’s a fun read with great characters and a well written storyline. It is very entertaining and definitely worth reading. Glad to see that Mrs. Cerise DeLand is still on her game.