Once upon a time there were three young ladies who, despite their fortunes, had been on the marriage mart a bit too long. They were known as “the Spinster Heiresses” . . .
Is it wrong for a woman to want more?
Not if she is a Spinster Heiress. They do not settle. Any young miss would be very lucky to find herself promised to a man like the Duke of Camberly. However, Miss Willa Reverly has … However, Miss Willa Reverly has watched her friends marry for love. Camberly may be the prize of the season, but she will not be “sold” to any man. She wants his devotion or she wants nothing at all.
When is a Marriage of Convenience inconvenient?
Newly named to the ducal title, Matthew Addison is determined to discover the secrets behind Mayfield, the bankrupt estate he has inherited. He doesn’t have time to coddle a headstrong heiress who is determined to ditch him over something as silly as “love.” Little does he know that his questions will place her in jeopardy. Now he must do what he must to save them both.
Could it be that in running from danger they might be racing headlong into a truly unexpected fate: falling in love?
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I’ve been looking forward to this book! Cathy Maxwell never fails to entertain us with her swoonworthy heroes, her strong heroines, and tales that leave you breathless!
Maybe 4.5 stars.
If you have been following the series, then you already know Willa Reverly and Matthew Addison, the Duke of Camberly. Willa is the last of the “Spinster Heiresses” and has recently become betrothed to Matt, the Duke of Camberly, the biggest “catch” of the season. She should be ecstatic, but she’s not, in fact, she has just written to him breaking their betrothal.
Matt has been at his country estate, licking his wounds, since his betrothal to Willa. He made a complete fool of himself over a married woman before becoming betrothed to Willa and his lover’s rejection broke his heart. He will marry Willa because his estate is bankrupt and while rusticating he spent time looking over the books – something doesn’t add up. When his grandmother arrives and demands to know why he is not in London – he questions her about the estate and finally learns the truth – the former duke had been blackmailed. Matt wants to find the blackmailer and get the money back, much to his grandmother’s horror. But his plans are halted when he gets the letter from Willa – before he can do anything about the blackmailer, he needs to fix things with Willa.
Matt can be incredibly charming and as the only boy with four older sisters, he understands women – or so he thinks – he meets with Willa and convinces her to go through with the wedding. He is surprised to realize that he really wants to marry her, he will never love her because after the fiasco with Letty, he will never let himself love again (insert eyeroll), but she is very pretty and he likes her. She agrees, mainly because she knows her father will not let her jilt him and because she really does like him.
They marry and have a disastrous wedding night – But Matt refuses to let her shut him out. He is determined to make this marriage work and will do whatever he has to, to succeed. Things seem to be going well between them, Matt begins looking into the blackmailer and Willa is starting falling in love with him.
But when she catches him with his former lover, she is crushed and runs to her mother. Her mother sets her straight and sends her back to her husband, however, before they can be reunited, Matt’s digging into the blackmailer comes back to haunt him and he may lose the woman he never believed he could love.
I thought this was a good book, it has a lot going on, but it is well done and stays on point. I did think Willa acted a little spoiled at times and Matt is more of a beta hero than I would have liked, but overall, they are both likable, they communicate with each other instead of letting misunderstandings fester, the wedding night was a little disturbing, but it didn’t dimished the story for me and actually made me like Matt a little more than I thought I would. The mystery of the blackmailer was ok, the identity didn’t come as much of surprise to me, but it did add a layer of intrigue and danger to the story that kept me turning the pages. I thought Matt’s declaration at the end was flat out the best part of the book and the epilogue was very sweet. I would happily recommend this book and while it could be read as a stand alone, I suggest reading the series in order to get the most out of this story.
*I am voluntarily leaving a review of an uncorrected eARC that was provided to me by Edelweiss and the publisher.*
Matt and Willa are a perfect couple to conclude this series. The book was a joy to read.
Enjoyable Read, Good Series
The romance between Willa and Matthew was well-developed. There is also a dash of mystery and suspense in the plot. I don’t think it is necessary, but I suggest reading this series in order. It helps to appreciate the spinsters’ friendship. If possible, try the audible version of this series. Mary Jane Wells is an excellent narrator.
Cathy Maxwell’s books are always worth the read.
i enjoyed this book it was well written and I liked the story line a bit of humour
. will watch out for this author .
Willa and Matthew are another marriage of convenience, but with a little different take. Willa is a wallflower heiress. After her two best friends ended up with love matches, she wants no less for herself. Matthew is very taken with her, but has his hands full trying to figure out how the estate he inherited is almost bankrupt. He marries her hoping for a marriage of mutual respect and obvious need of her funds. She will continue to try to make the marriage more than what it starts out with. When a mystery concerning his family ends up with possible dire consequences for Willa, well as they say “the rest is history”. I have read and enjoyed all the books in this series.
This book was really interesting in the way it addressed the impact on anyone who doesn’t fit into their society.
very good
Fun book to read.
Love everything she writes!
“The Duke That I Marry” by Cathy Maxwell Dec. 2018 (Spinster Heiresses Series #3)
Matthew Addison, the Duke of Camberly inherited the title after his brother died. He also inherited a bankrupted estate. So what was he to do? His grandmother found him an heiress so he met her, proposed to her and then headed for his estate in the country to figure out the full intent of his estate problems.
Miss Willa Deverly thought that the handsome Duke might fall in love with her but after being abandoned after the proposal, she wrote him that she was releasing him of his promise to marry her.
Well that shook him up a bit and he went back to London on his fastest horse to see if he could change her mind.
There is also a mystery involved with the estate and danger to himself and Willa.
I was actually quite pleased that this was such a fun story. I love the cover. Happy Reading! ReadingGenie
The Duke That I Marry is quite the adventurous romp, something I did not expect from Cathy Maxwell. This book surprised me in many ways. I wondered how she’d “redeem” Matt in his own story after introducing him as someone who was in love with a married woman in the previous book. The redemption was slow, but it came and it was satisfying.
There are a lot of things to like in this conclusion to the Spinster Heiresses series. The characters and situations are original and seemed truer to life than most. I actually liked that their first time together was difficult. It can’t be all unicorns and rainbows for everyone, right? I liked that they talk. Yes, I like that best of all. Not letting the misunderstanding fester. I also liked that the MCs for the three books are each drawn uniquely, that each is distinct and memorable. Even the secondary characters.
I love the ending with the three heroines toasting their friendship. “May we be women unafraid to face whatever life brings us.” I say cheers to that.
4/5
The Duke That I Marry started out with a mystery that needs to be solved, and then a beginning of what seems to be a budding romance – enough to get me started reading. Yep, can’t believed I finished this book in one sitting.
The characters have their own flaws and perfections. I like Matt – he seems to have a good head on his shoulder. He wasn’t supposed to be in line for the title, but certain circumstances brought him to it. And now, he must save his crumbling estate and help his sister by marrying one of the richest heiresses in London. Only to find himself being dump a night before his wedding.
Willow wanted love. She wants what her friends have who seemed to be happy and content of what they have. Everybody wants the Duke, and she wanted him not because of his looks but of the poetry he penned. But after their betrothal, he vanished and he expects her to marry him? Nooo way. So, she decided to let him go via letter.
If she things he will let her, she was sorely mistaken.
Matt can charm the dead. Poets are indeed deadly with words, and Matt was determined to have his bride. What he didn’t expect was to like his bride, and wanting to spend time with her, especially during the wedding night. Although, their wedding night was such a surprise. It started out as romantic, but ended in a tone that was quite real, I was glad Cathy Maxwell didn’t sugarcoat it like most author do.
Their relationship might start out as a pragmatic one – she (or rather her family) needs him, and he needs her (or her fortune rather). Nevertheless, I like how Cathy allowed the love to grow without pushing it too far. Readers will enjoy falling in love together with the characters. It wasn’t an insta-romance. There was attraction, and from their blossomed a relationship. They had their bumps, but all went well.
The action part was pretty spectacular. It had my heart stop for a while, I couldn’t breathe. It was just wow.
The Duke That I Marry offers great romance, wonderful adventure and an i-am-on-the-edge-of-my-seat action that will have you hooked on to this book!
The Duke That I Marry by Cathy Maxwell is book Three in the Spinster Heiresses series. This is the story of Willa Reverly and Matthew Addision, Duke of Camberly. I have read the previous book but feel this can be a standalone book if you wish to do so.
Matt’s father married a actress who he was in love with but Matt’s Grandfather disowned his father an the children they had. When their parents die his sister goes to the Grandparents to ask that they give Matt the education he needs as a Duke’s grandson. But their Grandfather never warmed to them. Now Matt has inherited the the Family Title and with it the highly in debit estate. Matt has his heart broken by a women so he has settle himself to marry for money instead of Love that his parents had. Willa is a very wealthy women who at first her and her friends think Matt is the catch of the season but after their engagement party he up and leaves and doesn’t interact with her at all during or before it. So she goes forward to write him to let him know she is releasing him from their engagement. Around that same time Matt learns that his Grandfather was being blackmailed and that is why the estate is in such money loss. But now he has to convince Willa to stick to their engagement. But they both start to think that maybe their marriage will be more than they ever hoped…but there is danger lurking near them.
Enjoyed their story!
This is my first read by Cathy Maxwell, I know she is a renowned author of Historical, so finally I took time to read her new release.
And I loved it, even if it is the last book in this series, I was not lost, the different protagonists were well introduced.
I loved the main couple, they are far from perfect, they have flaws and made mistakes, lot of but they try to redeem them and do not run away, they face life even when they would have preferred to hide, plus they listen when they simply could shut out the others.
Willa is no different woman at first, except being a wealthy heiress, she has no special talent, she just has spent her life trying to be a good daughter and fulfill her parents expectations, until she reached her very limits and decided to cry off her betrothal.
Matthew never thought he would inherit his grandfather tittle, nor get a bankrupted estate which put him in a situation to marry an heiress instead of marrying for love. Love he has sworn off after he made a mess of himself with a married woman. So when he receives a missive from his betrothed that she is releasing him from his promises the day before their marriage, he realizes it is time he gets to know his intended.
« She was giving him a second chance . . . and she might be the person to help him become the man he wished to be. She had the strength of character to both test and challenge him, and he found he always wanted her to look at him as she had that afternoon when he’d rescued the kitten. Always. »
I do loved how he tried to prove he was worth her trust, how he did not shy when their wedding night didn’t went well and tried his best to reassure her, I also appreciate Willa refused to be kept in a glass bubble and wanted to be really part of his life, even when events turned ugly, she stood her ground, refused to back down and he accepted her help.
A very enjoyable and entertaining first read full of actions.
Willa Reverly is one of the wealthiest heiresses on the marriage mart and she is the last unmarried Spinster Heiress. At the beginning of the season, in order to make standing around at balls more tolerable, the heiresses came up with a game. They chose the most eligible bachelor of the season and then devised a point system for interactions with him. They ALL wanted to win the game and to win the Duke of Camberly – but – Willa won both the game and the man.
Willa hasn’t seen her betrothed since the night of their betrothal party – quite some time ago. He left London without a word to her. She hardly knows the man since they’ve only spoken two or three times. She’d hoped for a kiss (at least) at the betrothal party, but that didn’t happen either. She knows they aren’t a love match, but she’d at least like to know that he has some respect and regard for her since they’d be spending their lives together. She definitely doesn’t want a marriage like her parents have. Since she is tired of stewing at home by herself, she sends Camberly a note to tell him that she is releasing him from their betrothal because they just will not suit.
Matthew Addision, Duke of Camberly, did NOT want to be the duke. Matt’s father had defied his parents and married the woman he loved – an actress. He was quickly disowned, but he didn’t let that stop him from having several children and raising them in a family filled with love and happiness. When both of Matt’s parents died, his older sisters approached their grandparents and begged them to at least give Matt the education he should have as the grandson of a duke. They did that but totally ignored him personally. Now, he is the duke and is responsible for his grandmother and an impoverished dukedom. Matt always wanted to marry for love just as his parents did, but it appears that he is going to have to sell his title on the marriage mart in order to salvage the dukedom. He’d managed to obtain a betrothal to one of the richest heiresses on the Mart and now all he has to do is sit back and wait for his wedding day. Just imagine his shock when he receives a missive from his betrothed who is releasing him from their betrothal. WHAT!
Matt has discovered that there are some very strange transactions in the estate ledgers. The money came in, but it never went to pay off creditors, repair cottages, purchase seed, etc. Where did it all go? After a confrontation with his grandmother, he learns that the old duke was being blackmailed and the demands had gotten greater and greater until the dukedom was bankrupt.
As soon as Matt gets the letter from Willa he sets out to convince her to change her mind and to give him another chance. He manages to secure her hand and things proceed. Willa wants love and Matt wants love – but can they love each other? The path won’t be smooth or easy if they do manage to fall in love. Their path will include betrayal, kidnapping, and murder.
The entirety of Chapter 8 could have been left out of this book and I would have been much happier. I really bothers me when someone uses the excuse of ‘losing control’ to excuse despicable behavior. The entire consummation scene was just too ‘over the top’ and not well done.
One thing that bothered me in this book was the use of American terms rather than British. I could see one slip-up with something that wasn’t particularly obvious, but when you use the American term ‘feet’ for height measurement rather than the British metric term that is very obvious. An even greater offense is using the term ‘lawyer’ throughout the book. In England, you either have a solicitor or a barrister, depending on your legal needs, but you don’t have a lawyer. Another term is when the author refers to him putting on his socks and boots – in that time period both men and women wore ‘stockings’.
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“I requested and received this e-book at no cost to me and volunteered to read it; my review is my honest opinion and given without any influence by the author or publisher.”