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3.54 AVERAGE
3.54 AVERAGE
Minerva and Chase are so good together. I loved reading their story a lot and want more. I cant wait to read what happens with the other two girls that inherited the dukes fortune. The first page grabbed me and I didn't let go. I like her friends Beth and her son Jeremy. also the mystery was well formed
I don't read much paranormal romance because I feel like there isn't enough room to build a good world and a great romance (hence the overuse of the fated trope). It's kind of the same with these historical romances that hinge around a mystery - if the investigation plot works, it often feels like the romance gets left behind. And I felt that here. I enjoyed the story, but the romance never really developed for me. I'll read the next one, though, because I'm curious about the link tying them together.
DNF The last couple of books from this author haven’t quite reached the level of her previous work. But I’ll still seek her out as I love the majority of her catalog of books.
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
When the Duke of Hollingburgh dies suddenly, his will reveals that he has left the bulk of his money and business interests to three women, women the family has never heard of. One of the duke's nephews, Chase, is tasked with finding these three women and with investigating the duke's death. A former soldier who was cashed out under a cloud of suspicion, Chase will only go by the facts in a case and not let his emotions affect him ever again but dealing with family and one of the mysterious heiress, it's harder said than done.
He opened his eyes to see the end of a pistol mere inches from his head. His gaze traveled up the arm that held it, until he looked into the furious dark eyes of a very handsome dark-haired woman. She held the pistol like she knew how to use it.
Heiress For Hire was a leisurely mystery with a mature, tranquil romance and engaging characters. As a first in the series, the set-up for the storyline, that will obviously continue throughout at least what I can discern for three books, takes up a lot of the page time. The former duke's death that our hero Chase is investigating for probable murder is not resolved in this book and will obviously be the thread that ties the series together. While the introduction to the family members and how they are all set-up as red-herrings to keep you guessing was well thought out, it did steal too much time from our main characters and their romance.
It had been stupid to allow herself to taste that which she dare not enjoy in full.
Our heroine, Minerva, is one of the three mysterious women the duke left money to. I found her character and background more flushed out than Chase's and therefore she became the stronger character. Minerva is a widow who has changed her name to distance herself from any possible negativity to do with a trial that tried to convict her of murdering her husband. This is what sparks some of the conflict in keeping Chase and Minerva wary of each other. Chase believes his uncle was murdered and Minerva doesn't want her past dredged up and understands that she would be a prime suspect in the duke's possible murder. Minerva's husband was also abusive and this leads her to being slightly fearful of intimacy with Chase but the agency and control Chase gives to her during their moments of closeness have her healing and moving forward in this regard.
He hated how being disillusioned once had him guarding information now.
Chase's background and cloud over his leaving the army is kept secret for the majority of the book and while his friendship with his cousins, the new duke Nicholas and Kevin and his calm deliberate care towards Minerva, give insight to his personality, I still felt he wasn't colored in enough. I think I was around one-hundred pages in and I realized because of Chase and Minerva's background still kept secret and the focus more on the murder mystery set-up, I felt like I still didn't know these characters. Towards the end when Minerva and Chase get more time together, I enjoyed their by-play and interactions, which were smooth and calm. There really is no angst or dramatic flares to the story or characters, if you're looking for a more mature and comfortable romance, this would be the couple to read.
Secondary characters filled this story out wonderfully but the romance was overtaken by the series set-up too much for me. Minerva and Chase were a couple where the gradual friendship definitely built the trust to make acting on their mutual attraction believable. I just wish I had felt closer to them and the pace of the story was picked up a bit. I am curious to see who the other two mystery heiresses will be and if Chase's cousins Nicholas and Kevin will be paired with them.
When the Duke of Hollingburgh dies suddenly, his will reveals that he has left the bulk of his money and business interests to three women, women the family has never heard of. One of the duke's nephews, Chase, is tasked with finding these three women and with investigating the duke's death. A former soldier who was cashed out under a cloud of suspicion, Chase will only go by the facts in a case and not let his emotions affect him ever again but dealing with family and one of the mysterious heiress, it's harder said than done.
He opened his eyes to see the end of a pistol mere inches from his head. His gaze traveled up the arm that held it, until he looked into the furious dark eyes of a very handsome dark-haired woman. She held the pistol like she knew how to use it.
Heiress For Hire was a leisurely mystery with a mature, tranquil romance and engaging characters. As a first in the series, the set-up for the storyline, that will obviously continue throughout at least what I can discern for three books, takes up a lot of the page time. The former duke's death that our hero Chase is investigating for probable murder is not resolved in this book and will obviously be the thread that ties the series together. While the introduction to the family members and how they are all set-up as red-herrings to keep you guessing was well thought out, it did steal too much time from our main characters and their romance.
It had been stupid to allow herself to taste that which she dare not enjoy in full.
Our heroine, Minerva, is one of the three mysterious women the duke left money to. I found her character and background more flushed out than Chase's and therefore she became the stronger character. Minerva is a widow who has changed her name to distance herself from any possible negativity to do with a trial that tried to convict her of murdering her husband. This is what sparks some of the conflict in keeping Chase and Minerva wary of each other. Chase believes his uncle was murdered and Minerva doesn't want her past dredged up and understands that she would be a prime suspect in the duke's possible murder. Minerva's husband was also abusive and this leads her to being slightly fearful of intimacy with Chase but the agency and control Chase gives to her during their moments of closeness have her healing and moving forward in this regard.
He hated how being disillusioned once had him guarding information now.
Chase's background and cloud over his leaving the army is kept secret for the majority of the book and while his friendship with his cousins, the new duke Nicholas and Kevin and his calm deliberate care towards Minerva, give insight to his personality, I still felt he wasn't colored in enough. I think I was around one-hundred pages in and I realized because of Chase and Minerva's background still kept secret and the focus more on the murder mystery set-up, I felt like I still didn't know these characters. Towards the end when Minerva and Chase get more time together, I enjoyed their by-play and interactions, which were smooth and calm. There really is no angst or dramatic flares to the story or characters, if you're looking for a more mature and comfortable romance, this would be the couple to read.
Secondary characters filled this story out wonderfully but the romance was overtaken by the series set-up too much for me. Minerva and Chase were a couple where the gradual friendship definitely built the trust to make acting on their mutual attraction believable. I just wish I had felt closer to them and the pace of the story was picked up a bit. I am curious to see who the other two mystery heiresses will be and if Chase's cousins Nicholas and Kevin will be paired with them.
The mystery aspect of this one kept me reading, so I was a bit disappointed in the ending when .
However, I really liked our hero and heroine (both Private Investigators!) and have to give bonus points to the author for really making it seem like they actually like each other. And the hero wasn't a Duke!
Spoiler
we never actually find out whodunitHowever, I really liked our hero and heroine (both Private Investigators!) and have to give bonus points to the author for really making it seem like they actually like each other. And the hero wasn't a Duke!
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
TWs: sexual harassment, mentions of past domestic violence
Pity, the story was interesting but I didn’t love the romance and the relationship between the heroine and hero, I liked that he was always quite understanding of why she was that way but other than that there was no chemistry between them and what even is sexual tension?
Pity, the story was interesting but I didn’t love the romance and the relationship between the heroine and hero, I liked that he was always quite understanding of why she was that way but other than that there was no chemistry between them and what even is sexual tension?
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A escrita da autora não me cativou muito e achei as primeiras 100-150 páginas um tanto aborrecidas.
Se não fosse pequenino, teria-o deixado a meio.
Não irei continuar com a saga provavelmente. :(
Se não fosse pequenino, teria-o deixado a meio.
Não irei continuar com a saga provavelmente. :(
Chase Radnor has met his match in Minerva Hepplewhite. When he sneaks into her house during an investigation into her identity, she knocks him out and ties him up. However, the two find that they share not only past suspicions but a fondness for investigating. As the two become closer, they continue to look into the untimely death of Chase's uncle who also left Minerva a substantial inheritance much to the chagrin of the family.
This first book in the series does a nice job of balancing mystery and romance and sets up an ongoing storyline.
This first book in the series does a nice job of balancing mystery and romance and sets up an ongoing storyline.