The title Four Weddings And A Duke is a nice twist on the movie Four Weddings and a Funeral though the characers and plot don’t align that closely. It was, nonetheless, an interesting premise. Both Alex, Duke of Beaubrooke, and Lavinia, his chosen duchess, are intriguing characters and were easy to like. That said, I really did wish Lavinia would grow a spine and tell her family and acquaintances where to go in terms of rranging interminable social events. I also thought Alex could have been a little less of a nerd, though that ws very much his anture and a good reason for their communication difficulties. There was some great dialogue in this book and the plot mostly flowed well. While I thought the story was not entirely believable, it was still a good read.

This story of a marriage of convenience that turns into something else was entertaining and sexy, even while retaining a very sweet feeling. It's a story about the many miscommunications and misunderstandings of two people who married without knowing the other and expecting something very different than they found!

I did feel sorry for the heroine -- Lavinia really tries to adapt to her new husband, tries to please him, tries to learn him, but he really doesn't help her much. And Alex, for being as smart as he is, is really ignorant about women and wives.

Luckily, they did get their happily-ever-after!

I love historical romances and lately some of them have been lacking. This one did not though! I fully enjoyed it. The characters were so fun and sweet and I really enjoyed the story line!

Four Weddings and A Duke by Michelle McLean was a romance in which Alexander Reddington, the Duke of Beaubrook takes front and center. He had been betrothed to one of the Wynburn daughters when they were young. There were three of them and he could choose. The eldest, and the one everyone assumed he would select, Lady Harriet, had been born to be a duchess. She was outgoing, beautiful, and authoritative. She didn’t appeal to him at all. The youngest, Lady Kitty, was bright and cheerful, and really too much for him. He had already met the third, Lady Lavinia, whom he hadn’t known at the time. She was bookish, a wallflower. Perfect for him. And a surprise to everyone else. Unfortunately, shortly after the wedding she overhears something she misunderstood, and went about becoming that person, putting her marriage on the line.

This was an entertaining book with a little different storyline. Communication was the key and the lack of it was nearly their undoing. Alex was not a social person. He wanted a quite life, allowing him to spent time in his greenhouse, with his experiments. Lavinia was quiet and bookish, with only one true friend, Alex’s nemesis. That caused trouble, at first, although only for imagined reasons. Lavinia thought he wanted her to arrange a social life for them. The reality was, he wanted no social life. He wanted to be left alone. It caused a rift. It was a good story, with a decent plot and interesting characters. It always hurts my heart when a love is put in jeopardy by a lack of communication. This one did just that.

I was invited to read a free e-ARC of Four Weddings and A Duke by Entangled Publishing, through Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #EntangledPublishing #MichelleMcLean #FourWeddingsAndADuke

Alexander Reddington meets Lavinia Wynnbourn while they are attending the wedding of his cousin. They aren't formally introduced but he is attracted to her. He doesn't think much of it as he is already promised by his now deceased father to marry one of the daughter's of a prominent family whom his recently deceased older brother was to marry. Unbeknownst to him, Lavinia is one of the daughters. As he visits the family home of the potential brides and also stands up with them at various balls and other events, he starts to realize that he has only met two of the three sisters. Lavinia has purposely kept herself away from him because she thought her older and younger sisters would be a better duchess for him. Once Alex and Lavinia are formally introduced, he realizes he is the woman he sat by briefly at his cousin's wedding. The pair are attracted to each other, though neither thinks they would make a good couple. As they try to fight their attraction, it grows deeper and eventually they decide to marry. What ensues next, is a love affair for the ages as they fall in love despite the odds. Alex helps Lavinia see that she be herself and not have to rely on the opinions of others. Lavinia helps him realize that he sometimes needs to rely/trust in other people to help him with his endeavors.

I received an ARC from Netgalley and I am voluntarily leaving a response.

I recieved a free copy from netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
This was a DNF for me. I tried and I liked the initial premise with two introverted scholarly people finding love in an arranged marriage. I liked Alex the unexpected duke choosing the overlooked middle sister but the book did not live up to its promise. I didn't like the writing or pacing. I have read and like another book by the author so I won't write her off completely but this fell far short for me.

⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2
Four Weddings And A Duke is a novel by Michelle McLean. Michelle McLean switches back to regency romances from her humorous, addictive Western romances. Alex Reddington, the Duke of Beaubrooke, has to pick a bride from three sisters. Lavinia Wynnburn is the middle sister and the least prepared to become a duchess. Alex picks Lavinia for these qualities and hopes she can keep him from all the social events he abhors. Alex would much instead be holed up in his greenhouses doing research.

I had a difficult time with the concept of pitting three sisters at a duke. It made the romance between Alex and Lavinia seem forced at times. Alex is singular-minded and often hurts Lavinia with his neglect. I did enjoy it when Alex realized how blind he has been to Lavinia and her indomitable spirit. I loved Lavinia – she has always felt the odd sister out, never the first choice. With marriage, Lavinia finds her voice and her footing; I loved watching her bloom and grow as a character.

The plot went in circles at times, coming back to the same predicament between the couple often. What I missed most in this book is the humor the author expertly weaves with her Western romances and her other Regency romance. That being said, I enjoyed the character development, and the journey of Alex and Lavinia was passionately romantic. I love Michelle McLean and her romances; this is not my favorite, but it is still worth reading. I wanted more sparkle, but this is a solid, fun, romantic read. I am anxiously waiting on Michelle McLean’s next book!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book through Netgalley and the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

When Alex and Lavinia first met, I thought it was a match made in heaven - the book work and the guy more interested in his research than social activities, even if he is a Duke,

I liked that he picked her instead of one of her sisters for his marriage, however then they both lost a bit of their shine for me.

Alex stayed true to himself, but Lavinia went from the wallflower to the social butterfly, and expected him to say OK let us do all this, even though he was upfront about what he wanted, what he needed in a wife (though she did do what he wanted and he never pulled her up on it so he is to blame for a lot of her stuff as well)

I did not like how Alex treated Livvy like an afterthought and then couldn't understand why she was upset with him.

But once both removed heads from sand, I really did like them again.

I didn't get Liv's sister's hostility towards her when we find out more about her life - why was she like she was? Was it a case of misery loves company, and Harriet was very miserable?

Overall I liked the story, but there were times I didn't like anyone

Lavinia Wynnburn has always known that she is the odd one out in her family. Surrounded by beauties, she is content to go unnoticed until Alexander Reddington, the Duke of Beaubrooke turns up the morning after a ball, asking for her hand in marriage. When Alexander finds himself in the same corner at the ball with Lavinia, he realises that he has found the perfect wife, as her wallflower status means that she won’t want to attend ton events. Yet, after their marriage, Lavinia delights in all the attention of being a duchess and accepts every invitation she receives. Alexander also finds himself captivated by her. What Lavinia doesn’t realise is the reason behind Alexander’s proposal, and so he must contrive a way to explain everything before his unexpectedly happy marriage is ruined.
This is a sweet and light-hearted romance. What begins as a marriage of convenience, takes a new turn as both want their relationship to be something more. Whilst there several times where the characters struggle to understand the other, both appear to accommodate the other. I enjoyed Lavinia’s character but at times felt that Alexander, lagged behind her.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Four Weddings and a Duke by Michelle McLean, is sweet, love story that had a marriage of convenience, wallflower blooms theme to it, with a touch of mean girls. Alex Reddington, the new Duke of Beaubrooke, was the second son, never expecting to take up the responsibilities of the dukedom. As a scholar and botanist, he has no interest in the ton’s social events or activities; only wanting to work on his botanical projects. He happens to sit next to a fascinating bespectacled wallflower at his cousin’s wedding. Despite Alex’s interest in the woman, duty mandates he marry one of the Wynnburn sisters. He soon learns that his book-loving wallflower is one of them. Lavinia Wynnburn is the middle daughter of a rich earl; used to being overshadowed by her popular and beautiful sisters. Lavinia prefers spending her time reading rather than socializing with her peers. She meets Alexander by chance when he seats himself next to her at a wedding. Lavinia knows she is ill-equipped to become a duchess; however, she is surprised and delighted when Alex chooses to marry her.

After they are married, cracks start to appear; Alex is on the cusp of a breakthrough and is never there while Lavinia is trying to help by managing the household and social life of a husband she could never aim so high for. As people start seeking her out, as the new Duchess of Beaubrooke, Lavinia begins to break free of her shell. Not having the social savvy of her sisters, Lavinia is unable to realize and recognize the sharks swimming in the waters of Society. Alex and Lavinia don't share what either of them expect of each other and their marriage and things break down when he appears to abandon her socially, so he can focus on his research, and then he starts to suspect Lavinia of undermining his research, especially as her best friend is his chief rival.

Ms. McLean wrote a cute, lighthearted romance where the newlyweds miss the mark with each other through miscommunication, and a marriage that grows into something more than a mere convenience. She provided a tale rich with humorous scenes, sizzling chemistry, wonderful banter, as well as a building of trust between Alex and Lavinia as they are pushed out of their comfort zones. I highly recommend Four Weddings and a Duke to other readers.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.

Ugly Duckling trope with steam and sweetness
I just finished this book. It was fantastic and I’m not usually a Regency romance reader. This book had it all: Alex, the Duke and Lavinia meet almost immediately, interest ensues, wedding, marriage and bedding. Then the day-to-day begins and things get a little difficult as the Duke has interests outside of taking care of his dukedom and his wife. Miscommunication is a problem but it all turns out well.
Alexander Reddington, Duke of Beaubrooke notices Lavinia at a wedding of his cousin to European royalty. Livy is hiding behind a column. She is the middle daughter, a wall-flower and always overlooked until Alex sees her. His intentions may be skewed as he wants a Duchess who is shy and retiring; someone who won’t make him go to or put on balls or soirees for the ton. After they are wed however, she blossoms and begins to do the very thing he has avoided. Oops. There will be conflict elsewhere as well: suspicion, family issues and catty women. Fortunately, there is some sweet and saucy steam which gives our ugly duckling her wings. Look for the meaning in the title. Clever and humorous banter among characters.
If you like Regency romance, a young girl who realizes the woman she already was and a marriage of convenience becoming real, you will want to read this book. I volunteered to review an ARC of it through Entangled/NetGalley.

Four Weddings and a Duke is a standalone read told from dual perspectives. It starts with a meet-cute at a wedding between two unconventional non-conformists who abhor big gatherings and enjoy their quiet time. That is all about to change. The story is located mostly in London where the season is filled with weddings and balls and newlyweds and academics on the brink of discovery.

The book follows an arranged marriage between the myopic and unusual middle sister Lavinia Wynnburn who prefers her books over balls, and the reclusive, academically-inclined Alexander Reddington, Duke of Beaubrooke, who would much rather be in his greenhouse studying his plant research than overseeing his estate and being seen in society. The arranged marriage between the two families is unique in that Alex was given a choice between three Wynnburn sisters--two more suited to the role of Duchess, and Lavinia, who should have paid attention to society's rules more closely. With no time to spare and weighing the personalities of Lavinia and her sisters, Alex chose her for her sense of humor, her honesty, her intellect, and her acceptance of his life pursuits. Yes, she would do just fine. "She may not be what the Duke of Beaubrooke needed, but she could be what he, Alex, needed." And he needed her more than he knew.

After the shock of the Duke announcing his choice of bride, her family, and the ton welcomed her in her new role with open arms and catty gossip. She started to revel in the balls and social gatherings and knew that Alex would not be a willing participant, but it was becoming a problem with her husband's disappearance to pursue his research. She wanted him to notice her as she did him, to stand beside her as she supported his research, to recognize her significance as a woman and a wife, but the day of his special birthday party broke her heart. She understood why he had to leave, but nonetheless, she was hurt and ridiculed by her so-called friends saying she couldn't keep her new husband's interest long enough to have him attend his own birthday party. Where had she gone wrong? Did she make a mistake in marrying this man who thought so little of her?

I delighted in the instant connection between Lavinia and Alex. Their interests and personalities are similar. Unfortunately, that includes their lack of communication which leads to suspicion and doubts. Lavinia is strong but she has a problem expressing her feelings to Alex sometimes. She is so kind and giving to the people she loves. Lavinia has been ignored in her family all her life and I loved that Alex noticed that at first. Working around academics for years, I understand his work ethic and drive to win a grant to pursue his lifelong dream in the field of botany. But it comes at a price to his growing relationship with Lavinia. Alex seems a bit stuffy, but he has a tendency to pop a joke or give a half smile that shows his playful side. Alex and Lavinia's passion is beautiful and secure as they get to know each other intimately. However, as we know, other outside influences can hinder and ruin relationships. Because they are newlyweds with societal responsibilities as well, it is a struggle to balance their lives. Communication breaks down, rumors start to fly, trust starts to falter, and unfounded accusations are thrown. Just when everything looks bleak, Alex comes through with one of the most heartfelt apologies and grand gestures I've seen in a long time. Yes, tears formed and my heart melted.

My favorite supporting character is Nigel, Lavinia's ornery childhood friend, and Alex's school nemesis. I adored how he stuck up for Lavinia and set Alex straight. His playful ribbing of Alex is funny and he turns out to be a good friend in the end.

I highly recommend this delightfully funny historical romance with a lesson in communication and understanding and making the little choices count. The characters are entertaining and I found Alex's research on plant grafting interesting.

Thank you to Ms. McLean for giving me the opportunity to read this book with no expectation of a positive review.

Love it! The banter between Lavinia, Alex and Nigel of course was priceless. A new Duke who never expected the title must honor an agreement with parents on selecting a wife. A little different because he has a choice between 3 sisters. Not realizing he met one who seems a kindling spirit when he finally meets all the sisters he chooses Lavinia. Being a bit of a reclusive and devoted to his work she seems the perfect to be his Duchess.
Lavinia is the middle overlooked sister. When she is picked by the Duke to be his bride she is shocked!
But they do seem to have several common interest. This could work and may be her only chance for a marriage. Feeling the pressure of being a social butterfly is all the bad, accept her husband hates it and avoids it. His works comes first, which she understands but still it hurts.
The storyline was great, the growth and development of the characters will keep you turning pages. Thank you NetGalley for this eARC. I am voluntarily posting an honest review after reading an Advance Reader Copy of this story. #NetGalley #FourWeddingsandaDuke

Four Weddings and a Duke is a historical romance novel set in the Regency era.

Lavinia is content to be the wallflower, preferring to spend her time reading and studying plants. When her father arranges for one of his daughters to marry the Duke of Beaubrooke, Lavinia is positive it won't be her that is chosen.
After all her sisters are outgoing and beautiful and can manage the expectations that come with running a dukes home.

Enter Alexander - He is a quiet and reserved man who is more interested in plants and grafting than in social obligations. He is reluctant to marry but agrees to the arrangement in order to keep the title in the family.

After a serendipitous meeting, Lavinia and Alexander find that they have a lot in common. They are both intelligent and independent, not big on social niceties and they share a love of nature.
Lavinia is a relatable character who is easy to root for. She is intelligent, kind, and funny, and she deserves all the happiness in the world. Alexander is the perfect match for her, and their love story is both sweet and steamy.

Four Weddings and a Duke is a charming and heartwarming romance novel.
The characters are well-developed and relatable, and the story is full of humor and heart.
If you are a fan of historical romance novels, then I highly recommend Four Weddings and a Duke.

I thought they were a cute match until the FMC’s personality overhaul after the wedding?? I didn’t understand it beyond a plot tool, which I abhor, so I ended up bailing on this nonsensical bait and switch for the worse. I have enjoyed McLean in the past so I will be trying something else in the future.

Thank you for the advance reader copy via NetGalley. All thoughts are my own.

Four Weddings and a Duke by Michelle McLean

Communication is the foundation of a good marriage and assumptions…well, you know what they say happens when you “assume” instead of verifying issues…

What I liked:
* Lavinia Wynnburn: wellborn middle daughter, quiet, reserved, feels overlooked, reader, artist, sees better with her eyeglasses than her lorgnette, wise, mature, caring, does her best, thrilled to have been seen and chosen…
* Alexander Reddington, Duke of Beaubrooke: the second son now the heir, prefers botany to duking, a bit of a recluse, avoids social events, has been working on a project for decades, is a good man but definitely a bit clueless
* The family dynamics within both the Wynnburn and Reddington family – they seemed real and caring of one another
* Nigel Bainbridge: friend of the Wynnburn family, classmate of Alexander’s, interested in the same research as Alexander but in competition rather than working together, has a sense of humor and likes to rile some people up.
* The meet-cute at the wedding that led to who Alexander chose to marry
* How Lavinia was there for her husband and family
* Wondering who Nigel and Kitty might end up with in the future
* All of it really…don’t want to give the story away…it made me think, care, and root for the couple to make it work

What I didn’t like:
* No people to really dislike but did with that Lavinia and Alexander had managed to communicate a bit more honestly and openly…or at all…as it would have saved them a great deal of angst…although as pivotal in the story, it was nice when they realized the difference talking rather than assuming could make.

Did I enjoy this book? Yes
Would I read more by this author? Yes

Thank you to NetGalley and Entangled Publishing for the ARC – This is my honest review.

5 Stars

A great book! I enjoyed this book in the beginning thinking that the Duke had made a great choice in a wife as I liked the characters. The Duke of Beaubrooke and Lavinia seemed perfect for each other which was pretty amazing as he was the spare with a dukedom thrust upon him suddenly. Between that and the old agreement that the heir has to marry one of the three daughters of the Wynnburn family. Which he figured was a bit better than some arranged marriages.

Alexander hates socializing and just wants to study and work with his plants. Since he discovered Lavinia, a wallflower, literally hiding among the palms, he felt she must feel the same as him and promptly asked for her hand the next day. The duke seems perfect for Lavinia for many of the same reasons he thought, but then she overhears him telling another that he needs a social secretary and that his wife is the perfect one to handle that for him. That's where the trouble begins because Lavinia never planned to marry and didn't pay attention to her lessons on running a household or to gossip of the ton that would clue her in on who to socialize with as a Duchess. While she's trying to navigate her new duties, Alexander is spending less and less time with her.

With each of them operating under bad assumptions, the gulf widens between them. The problem they each discover is they miss each other and slowly wonder about their feelings. It's a hard situation when you love both characters and they're both being stupid and not listening. You feel compelled to yell at them even though you expect an HEA, but it feels like they're never going to figure it out. The ending makes up for it though!

Thank you to Entangled-Amara for this ARC. All opinions are my own.

I enjoyed this sweet historical romance with many tender moments between the main characters. They are both introverts and that made it so easy to love them. No two people are more suited to be together than Livinia and Alexander. Unexpected circumstances throw them into each other's orbit and now they are married. But what happens next?
Soon, Livinia will realize that she doesn't know herself as well as she thought. She is immensely enjoying the attention her new status brings with it. Or maybe she needs to learn more about society and how to navigate amidst all the deceit and hidden agendas. One thing is sure though, she wants to become a Duchess her husband can be proud of.
Alexander married Livinia because he thought she was like him. A woman who would avoid social gatherings and be content with a more secluded lifestyle. Yet, his wife keeps accepting invitations and he must pretend to make her happy. Should he reveal the real reason he married her and risk unhappiness to come between them?
Overall, it's a lighthearted book that is easy to read and enjoy. I'd recommend it to all fans of historic romance novels.

POV: Dual
Spice: 🌶️ 🌶️ 🌶️

While I appreciate historical romance in just about any form, I especially love coming across one that is a little different from the rest, just like this book! As a botanist, Alex isn’t your typical duke and although him and Lavinia are pretty similar to each other, they are such a great match. I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I think these two needed to do a lot more talking than “discovering” each other, but otherwise I really enjoyed this book that includes the humor that I’ve come to love from this author!

A light and easy read with a fun meeting of the main character's in a church at a Royal Wedding. I liked how they were both awkward and didn't like crowds. However as Lavinia got more practice and grew to like socialising which caused some problems for the couple. However I didn't feel that she changed as most of her plans were down to following advise from people who didn't have her best interests at heart. All's well that end's well though when they finally talk about things. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.