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3.54 AVERAGE
3.54 AVERAGE
I have read a few Madeline Hunter books and like her writing style. However, this book just didn't work for me. I had a hard time believing Minerva and Chase's relationship. It grew to quickly. I would like to read the next book in the series to see if my feelings can be changed on this book.
emotional
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
funny
informative
lighthearted
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I received an advanced copy in exchange for my review. As a avid fan of historical fiction, this book checked all my boxes. A little bit of mystery? Check. Mutual attraction? check. I am a sucker for stories where a couple starts off hating/disliking each other then fall in love. It gives a little suspense and a rocky start to my ship but I'm always smiling by the time the ship comes out of the storm unscathed. Minerva Hepplewhite is the girl I wish to be (especially if I traveled back in time) and embodies everything I love. This is my first Madeline Hunter novel and I was smiling throughout the whole book. I can't express how glad I am that this is only the first book in a series of three.
Loved Minerva and her people. I liked Chase well enough. I was expecting a more exciting climax but overall it wasn’t bad.
Slow-burn historical romance meets murder mystery in Heiress for Hire, the start of a new series. An eccentric Duke has recently died, surprising his relatives by leaving much of his fortune to three unknown women. Each book in the series will follow one of them. In this first installment, Minerva Hepplewhite has learned how to take care of herself and dreams of starting her own detective agency.
When a strange man breaks into her house at night, she hits him over the head and ties him up, only to discover that Chase Radnor is himself a private detective, and the nephew of the aforementioned Duke. Minerva is a sudden heiress, but has never met the Duke in question. Due to the suspicious circumstances of the Duke's death, Chase is conducting a discreet inquiry and the suspect at the top of his list is Minerva. But Minerva has her own reasons into investigating the death, and along the way is frequently thrown in the path of Chase and an attraction begins to develop.
I really enjoyed this book. The external conflict is interesting and keeps things light, but we also get some depiction of real issues such as domestic violence, abuse, and PTSD. The romance is slow to develop, which I liked. Things do get a bit steamy, but most of the time is more vague in description than authors like Tessa Dare or Sarah MacLean. (also, she uses the term "phallus" which I find to be a little odd and not terribly sexy) That said, this was an enjoyable read and I would be interested in continuing with the series. I received an advance copy of this book for review via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
TW for references to domestic violence and abuse including rape, references to child abuse, and discussions of murder
When a strange man breaks into her house at night, she hits him over the head and ties him up, only to discover that Chase Radnor is himself a private detective, and the nephew of the aforementioned Duke. Minerva is a sudden heiress, but has never met the Duke in question. Due to the suspicious circumstances of the Duke's death, Chase is conducting a discreet inquiry and the suspect at the top of his list is Minerva. But Minerva has her own reasons into investigating the death, and along the way is frequently thrown in the path of Chase and an attraction begins to develop.
I really enjoyed this book. The external conflict is interesting and keeps things light, but we also get some depiction of real issues such as domestic violence, abuse, and PTSD. The romance is slow to develop, which I liked. Things do get a bit steamy, but most of the time is more vague in description than authors like Tessa Dare or Sarah MacLean. (also, she uses the term "phallus" which I find to be a little odd and not terribly sexy) That said, this was an enjoyable read and I would be interested in continuing with the series. I received an advance copy of this book for review via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
TW for references to domestic violence and abuse including rape, references to child abuse, and discussions of murder
I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher via NetGalley. This in no way impacted on my view.
In Heiress for Hire, Minerva Hepplewhite has finally got her life back on track when she comes upon an intruder, who turns around and tells her that she is a beneficiary of the late Duke of Hollingburgh. The intruder is his nephew, Chase Radnor, who has been involved in working with the Home Office in the past, and on good terms with the Home Secretary, Robert Peel. His uncle's death was slightly suspicious - he fell from the roof of his country estate, a roof he had walked on year after year. Chase thinks there's something not quite right, and the fact that Minerva was once known by a different name, Margaret Finley, and suspected his her late husband's death, is raising his hackles. He tries to investigate her, and at the same time, she also is doing the same. She understands why she's being suspected, especially when she has no obvious ties to Hollingburgh, and the fact that he left basically nothing to his family, and a lot to his three beneficiaries, makes it a tricky situation. Creating her own agency, Hepplewhite's Office of Discreet Inquiries, to help her in her endeavours, she finds herself crossing paths again and again with Chase, and can't seem to control her feelings, but, luckily for her, he's feeling exactly the same.
I loved the mystery in this book. First we had the whole situation regarding Hollingburgh death, and why he had cut out the majority of the family from the will, and then we had Minerva's history, too. The more we delved into Minerva's background, the more my heart went out for her. She was abused, horrifically, in her marriage, and when she managed to leave him, and he later died, she was free, and wanted to forget everything about him, so changed her name. The only connections she had to her previous life were her two companions, Beth and her son Jeremy, who had worked for the family, and stayed with Minerva when she got away, and were her true family. Throughout the course of the book, we saw Minerva grow, and recover from the horrors of her past, both by herself, and with the help of Chase, Beth, and Jeremy, which was the best part of the story.
The romance between Chase and Minerva was definitely swoony. Both tried to fit their attraction, especially when there was suspicious between them about the death, but their chemistry was just too much to overcome. Their banter was witty and snarky, and it was obvious that their attraction was not just skin deep from the get go. They really cared about each other, and if they hadn't got together properly, I may have rioted! I can't wait to see how their story progresses, especially with the joint venture of their investigations, and hope that in the next books in the series, we see more from them. Madeline is definitely an author I'll read again!
In Heiress for Hire, Minerva Hepplewhite has finally got her life back on track when she comes upon an intruder, who turns around and tells her that she is a beneficiary of the late Duke of Hollingburgh. The intruder is his nephew, Chase Radnor, who has been involved in working with the Home Office in the past, and on good terms with the Home Secretary, Robert Peel. His uncle's death was slightly suspicious - he fell from the roof of his country estate, a roof he had walked on year after year. Chase thinks there's something not quite right, and the fact that Minerva was once known by a different name, Margaret Finley, and suspected his her late husband's death, is raising his hackles. He tries to investigate her, and at the same time, she also is doing the same. She understands why she's being suspected, especially when she has no obvious ties to Hollingburgh, and the fact that he left basically nothing to his family, and a lot to his three beneficiaries, makes it a tricky situation. Creating her own agency, Hepplewhite's Office of Discreet Inquiries, to help her in her endeavours, she finds herself crossing paths again and again with Chase, and can't seem to control her feelings, but, luckily for her, he's feeling exactly the same.
I loved the mystery in this book. First we had the whole situation regarding Hollingburgh death, and why he had cut out the majority of the family from the will, and then we had Minerva's history, too. The more we delved into Minerva's background, the more my heart went out for her. She was abused, horrifically, in her marriage, and when she managed to leave him, and he later died, she was free, and wanted to forget everything about him, so changed her name. The only connections she had to her previous life were her two companions, Beth and her son Jeremy, who had worked for the family, and stayed with Minerva when she got away, and were her true family. Throughout the course of the book, we saw Minerva grow, and recover from the horrors of her past, both by herself, and with the help of Chase, Beth, and Jeremy, which was the best part of the story.
The romance between Chase and Minerva was definitely swoony. Both tried to fit their attraction, especially when there was suspicious between them about the death, but their chemistry was just too much to overcome. Their banter was witty and snarky, and it was obvious that their attraction was not just skin deep from the get go. They really cared about each other, and if they hadn't got together properly, I may have rioted! I can't wait to see how their story progresses, especially with the joint venture of their investigations, and hope that in the next books in the series, we see more from them. Madeline is definitely an author I'll read again!
A great start to a series - why did the deceased Duke leave the majority of his assets to three unknown/ unrelated women? The heroine of this piece is a strong, independent women who is able to investigate the Duke's murder as well/ or even better than his detective nephew.
It's good to read about a woman who doesn't need a man but lets one into her life. He recognizes her talent and encourages her to use it. Their equal partnership makes the Happily Ever After even better.
It's good to read about a woman who doesn't need a man but lets one into her life. He recognizes her talent and encourages her to use it. Their equal partnership makes the Happily Ever After even better.