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.
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