When Chase Radnor breaks into Minerva Hepplewhite’s home, the last thing she expects him to ask when he wakes up after she hits him with a bedpan is if she was once known by her former married name. Minerva did everything she could to get away from her old, unpleasant life with her late husband, even going so far as to change her name, and now some strange and handsome nighttime intruder has come barging in to her life claiming that she has inherited money from a man she never knew–the intruder’s recently passed uncle and Duke, nonetheless!

Chase Radnor is intrigued by the handsome and keene Ms. Heppelwhite, who has her own ambitions of becoming an inquiry agent like himself. Perhaps he can use her help in investigating the death of the very uncle who brought him to her doorstep–or, more precisely, on her floor with quite the headache. Chase and some of his family members suspect that his uncle’s death wasn’t an accident at all. Unfortunately, with Minerva as one of the heiresses, she’s also one of Chase’s lead suspects.

As Minerva and Chase investigate the incident individually and delving deeper and deeper into the events leading up to the Duke’s death and how he could have possibly known Minerva, they find themselves skirting Chase’s family politics, trying to discover one another’s secrets, and (despite their better judgement) falling for one another.

This was a fantastic romp into historic London with a cast of wonderful, well-rounded characters and a tapestry of interwoven mysteries that slowly unravelled, revealing a beautiful romance.

Minerva was ambitious, astute, and kind. She had experienced some less than ideal situations in her past, but instead of rolling over she found a way out and built the best life she could with those closest to her, using her intelligence to make a better life for them all. Chase was also a clever person who had a passion and mind for inquiry work and a bottomless need to find the truth where he could. Together, they made an impassioned couple with a passionate bedroom chemistry!

I really enjoyed this read and it was everything I look for in a London-based historical romance, ad i cannot wait for the next one in the series!

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for an advanced copy, provided in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I truly struggle to understand why historical romance authors insist on giving their characters utterly ahistorical names. British men NOWADAYS still aren't called Chase, let alone in the 1800s...

Minerva Hepplewhite has to be one of the best names of a heroine in years -- and she is worthy of the name, a widow who has to deal with being accused of murder. The investigator is Chase Radnor, investigator and nephew to a duke (recently deceased) who has left Minerva a mysterious bequest and in whose death she is a suspect. The mystery of how Minerva was left money by a stranger and why the duke wanted to share his wealth makes for a compelling mystery, complete with a rich and satisfying backstory for our heroine. She isn't someone who needs rescuing; the facts of her life helped her learn how to rescue herself, as the delightful initial meeting between our couple showed. The HEA is resolved but the mystery continues -- this is the first in a series, one we can't wait to continue. Madeline Hunter has a winner, with a heroine and hero you will come to love. (I received an advance copy via NetGalley and the publishers. Opinions mine.)

The author weaves an intriguing tale with subtle twists and turns. Chase and Minerva uncover clues and reveal the characteristics of the other players layer by layer while he peels away her insecurities. A story that will leave you with as many questions as answers and which will undoubtedly have you looking for the next book in the series to pick up where this leaves off. A must read for anyone that enjoys the romance as much as the craft of a well written story.

I really liked the main couple. The two mysteries that surround the book were well-conducted, one being revealed and another that is mainline of the plot that will have more revelations in the next books of the series.
I only had some difficulty during reading because of the author's writing, she used many different words, and different grammatical constructions for me.
3,5/ 5 stars

Great start to a new series by Hunter. The characters and pacing are strong. I enjoyed the setup for the next book in the series. A heart-warming romance.

A great start to the Duke's Heiress Romance series. The interaction between Chase Radnor and Minerva Hepplewhite was lovely. They both search for the truth behind a Duke's death. The plot flowed smoothly and filled with mystery. The characters were well-developed. The story was beautifully written and look forward to next in the series. I received a copy and I am voluntarily giving my review.

*** Netgalley Widget was sent to me to create an Instagram post from TLC Booktours. The Book has released and I am halfway through, so I will not be writing a review for it just yet. I did haul a copy of my own, and will post review on Netgalley. What I have read was intriguing enough for me to haul a physical copy. Thank you to the Booktours and Publisher for the Netgalley Widget.

First off I'll readily admit to being a huge fan of Madeline Hunter. Her books feature unique story lines, strong female characters, a bit of mystery/suspense and plenty of steamy romance. Her latest book Heiress for Hire features Minerva Hepplewhite, a widow left a fortune by an an unknown benefactor and Chase Radnor, a nephew of the man. I loved Minerva's feisty nature and the wonderful banter between the characters. I can't wait to read the next book in the series. Thank you Kensington Books and #NetGalley.

tldr: I loved this book
CW for violence and spousal abuse,in the heroine’s backstory

“Heiress for Hire” (I’m not crazy about the title) had a strong mystery plot, as well as a great romance. There are two unexplained deaths; one was the heroine’s late husband, and the other is the Duke of Hollinburgh, who was the hero’s uncle. The heroine, Minerva, was at one time suspected of causing her husband’s death. Now the Duke, a man she never met, has left her a sizeable legacy in his will, for reasons no one knows. 
The hero, Chase, has done a lot of investigative work in the past, and is now looking into his uncle’s death. Minerva at first seems to be his prime suspect, which is what first brings the two of them into each other’s orbit. 

The mystery plot was compelling enough that it had me rushing through some parts of the book. Then I would have to backtrack and reread the pages more slowly, because I was missing out on the details of the story, and the development of the romance. 
Although there is an immediate attraction between Chase and Minerva, the first half of the book is all slow burn, with nothing more than a few kisses exchanged. Minerva is reluctant to get involved in a sexual relationship after the bad experience she had with her truly horrible ex-husband, and Chase is smart enough to not push things past her comfort zone, and to let her take the lead. The relationship did heat up in the second half, and there is no lack of well-written love scenes. 
A number of intriguing secondary characters rounded out the story, especially Minerva’s former servant and now friend, Beth, and Beth’s teenage son. 
I’ve never been much good at guessing whodunnit, so it wasn’t until right before one  of the mysteries gets solved, that I began to suspect what happened. 
If you are wondering what the ‘for hire” means in the title, Minerva is so clever at  investigating the Duke’s death, that she decides to go into business as a private investigator, something Chase has been doing for a while. It was fun to see them in competition with each other, chasing down clues. Sometimes she was one step ahead of  him, and other times it was vice-versa, which made them a believable and well-matched couple. I recommend this book to fans of historical mysteries as well as romance.

This was a fun romance. Interesting plot but the murder mystery wasn't solved so that was disappointing. Potentially it'll be explored in other books though. I am interested in the sequels. The romance was cute and love the consent. It's not the smuttiness but its adequate lol

FINAL DECISION: Lovely, slow burn story. I loved the hero and heroine's competing investigations. Both damaged by the past, these two learn to trust one another in a sweet and sexy murder mystery romance.

THE STORY: Minerva Hepplewhite whacks an intruder on the head but finds out that he has been searching for her to tell her that his uncle, a recently deceased duke, has left her a small fortune and she is now an heiress. Chase Radnor also considers Minerva a suspect in the duke's suspicious death. Both Minerva and Chase end up conducting competing investigations into the duke's death. This brings them into competition and cooperation with one another.

OPINION: I found the relationship between Minerva and Chase to be comforting and incredibly loving. The two are competitors but also find themselves partnering in the investigation into the duke's death. The two have a relationship that is adult and based upon discussion and care. Minerva is an incredibly strong woman and yet has a fragile part of her hidden. Chase is able to see that in Minerva and care for her. While the two are physically attracted to one another, their relationship is also based on their attraction to the cleverness of the other and the genuine good person the other is. The book is a bit of a slow burn, but in a lovely way.

Both Chase and Minerva have been burned by their pasts which lead them to question their own judgment. Seeing them find a reason to trust the other was heartwarming. I loved how gentle this book is with their emotions.

While the romance in this book is complete, there are overarching questions regarding the mystery that are left open at the end of this book which is part of a series.

WORTH MENTIONING: The heroine was subject to an abusive marriage and while the book is not graphic as to that abuse, it is a significant aspect of the book for those who are sensitive to the topic.

CONNECTED BOOKS: HEIRESS FOR HIRE is the first book in the Duke's Heiress series.

STAR RATING: I give this book 4 stars.

NOTE: I received an eARC of this book via Netgalley. I was not required to write a review or to write a positive review. All opinions contained herein are my own.

I  generally enjoy Madeline Hunter books, although lately I've been steering clear of some of her older romances, which feature a marriage-averse rich guy who tries to seduce the spirited heroine and make her the current mistress, until he realizes she's amazing and marries her instead. For the moment, I'm over that.

This book is NOT like that. At first the plot is ridiculous. Minerva is a private investigator. Chase (really? In 19th century England?) is a private investigator. She just inherited a boatload of cash from his uncle, a duke. He thinks she might have killed the duke to get the money. They both want to find out who killed his uncle. Along the way we're introduced to two other future leads, Chase's cousins, Kevin (inventor and quasi pauper) and Nicholas (the new duke). They presumably will get their own books.

As with most Hunter books, there's a mystery plot, good chemistry and intellectual connection between the leads, compelling dialogue and well-written love scenes. What makes this book stand out, though, is that Chase is capable, protective and sexy without being your garden variety jobless rich guy who spends his time seducing women. He's respectful of Minerva's boundaries in a way that's both considerate and sexy (she was married to a real creep who abused and tormented her). He is attracted to her, but makes no attempt to seduce her, convince her, browbeat her into his arms. By virtue of his being a really smart, solid, capable man, she is attracted to him and chooses to be with him.

On the whole, it looks like Hunter is trying to meet the expectations we have in 2020 for historic romance: capable woman with a life outside of a man, strong man who respects women. For me, it works.

Four stars for this excellent book

Heiress for Hire is the first book in the Duke's Heiress series by Madeline Hunter. It is scheduled for release on April 28 2020.

Minerva Hepplewhite has learned the hard way how to take care of herself. When an intruder breaks into her home, she doesn’t swoon or simper. Instead she wallops the rogue over the head and ties him up—only to realize he is Chase Radnor, the man who nearly got her convicted of her late husband’s murder. Now he’s insisting that Minerva has inherited a fortune from his uncle, a wealthy Duke. Chase can’t decide whether Minerva is a wronged woman or a femme fatale.  Since the scandal surrounding her husband’s death, she has set up a discreet detective business to rival Chase’s own. She may be the perfect person to help him uncover the truth about his uncle’s demise. But as proximity gives way to mutual seduction, Chase realizes he craves a much deeper alliance.

Heiress for Hire is a book that might be a romance, which is well done, but I often was more invested in the mystery than the romance. I liked Minerva, she was still compassionate and sweet despite what she has been through in the past. She is smart and I enjoyed getting to know her and her found family. Chase was a little harder to get to know, his mysteries were revealed more slowly, but he was a well written character. I think their individual lives and their coming together were very well done, and I liked the importance put on consent. I liked that an old mystery was solved, even if I expected that outcome before it was revealed, but I would have liked a little more closure on the larger mystery. I waiting for some big reveal, but we did get many smaller pieces to the puzzle and veiled conclusions. I suspect there will be more as the series continues, but I am not sure if I will be continuing.

Heiress for Hire is a historical romance with complex characters and an underlying mystery or two.

Minerva survived years of abuse and has come out strong. She is now the recipient of a generous inheritance from a stranger. Chase is a Duke’s nephew and a former soldier tasked to dig into his uncle’s death and find the three women he has left a large inheritance for. He and Minerva do not make a very great first impression on each other but soon find their is much to admire and respect about the other. This is a story of trust, survival and renewal. It is also about the people you choose to make your family. It is an intriguing mix of characters as well as romance and mystery. There is also humor. It is a story that will be enjoyed. I look forward to seeing how the other two women will fit with Kevin and Nicholas.

Heiress for Hire by Madeline Hunter is the First book in the A Duke's Heiress Series.  This is the story of Chase Radnor and Minerva Hepplewhite.  Minerva has learned to take care of herself through out her life. So she has some shad to her past but she is no murder.  Which she is under suspension when a unknown to her Duke leaves her money along with some other ladies.  Chase is a investigator and the nephew of the Duke in question.  Chase is the one assigned by the family to look into what happened to have the Duke leave these ladies the money and if his death might be murder.  Chase and Minerva meet when Chase is breaking into her home to do some sneaking around to get clues.  Minerva being the resourceful women ends up catching him and turning the tables on him.  This is where Minerva learns of her new wealth and of the new suspicion about her. So she starts doing her own infestation which of course collides with Chase's.  So they end up working together which brings them to have strong feelings that neither can ignore.  Really enjoyed this mystery  romance and can't wait for more from this author!

Good book with a nice blend of romance and mystery. It opens with a bang as Minerva catches Chase breaking into her house. No shrinking violet, Minerva promptly renders him unconscious long enough to tie him up before interrogating him. She is stunned and somewhat disbelieving to find out that she has inherited a great deal of money from a duke she has never met. Besides telling her about the inheritance, Chase also wants to find out if she had anything to do with his uncle's suspicious death.

I liked both Minerva and Chase. Minerva is strong, intelligent, and stubborn. She has a sharp wit and isn't afraid to use it. She also has secrets that led her to change her name and move to London to start a new life. That former life has left her wary of men and determined to live life on her terms. She is ready to open Miss Hepplewhite's Office of Discreet Inquiries. Chase is the nephew of a duke, but also a self-made man. He has a reputation as an excellent private investigator, at which point the Home Office asks him to quietly investigate his uncle's death.

I enjoyed the development of the relationship between Minerva and Chase. The sparks are there from the moment they met, though both fight hard against them. Minerva and Chase cross paths several times as each investigates the death of the duke. Eventually, they decide to work together, though neither is entirely forthcoming about everything they learn. There are times that Minerva's stubborn independence bothers Chase, but he also admires her persistence and intelligence. The more time they spend together, the closer they become, and the more their attraction heats up. There is a scene where Minerva is injured, and Chase's protectiveness is aroused. I enjoyed the back-and-forth between them as Minerva fought against his protectiveness. As their feelings for each other grow, Minerva must decide if she can trust Chase with her heart. I liked that there was no big blowup between them, just a steady growth and then admission of their feelings. I liked their big moment at the end, especially the honest look at the differences between them and how they would handle them.

The mystery of the story was good. Chase's uncle died under mysterious circumstances that he is charged with investigating. There is also the mystery of the three unknown women who received large bequests, cutting out the family members. The women must be found but also investigated. The duke's family members do not react well to their loss of what they think they deserve. Is it possible that one of them murdered the duke? The family dynamics were very interesting, and I look forward to seeing more of them in the next book. I liked seeing how Chase's methodical methods and Minerva's more unorthodox ones complemented each other as they pursue their investigation. The conclusion was unexpected but leaves the matter open for the rest of the series.

After mercifully being widowed, the former Margaret Finley left Dorset, and set out to make a new life for herself with her loyal friend, Beth.  Now known as Minerva Hepplewhite, she longs to put all thoughts of her abusive deceased husband behind her and begin anew.  Though there were grumblings of suspicion that Minerva was responsible for the late Algernon Finley’s death, there was never any proof.  One night, Minerva and Beth capture an intruder in their home.  They have the man solidly under control, and he proceeds to inform them that he brings news that Minerva has been left a sizable fortune by his late uncle, the former Duke of Hollinburgh, a man Minerva has never met.

Chase Radnor is a gentleman, and a former soldier who occasionally does investigative work, some for the Crown, some for hire.  His uncle’s death seems suspicious to him, and so he plans to scrutinize all those who would benefit from the duke’s demise, including his own family.  While the entailed properties automatically transfer to the new duke, the sizable amount of cash and investments was bequeathed to three women, one of them being Minerva, none of them known to the family.  Chase was hoping to find information in Minerva’s home, when he was unexpectedly caught and bound.

Minerva is shocked and disbelieving, at first, that a man she doesn’t know would leave her a fortune.  She meets with the solicitor Chase directed her to, and discovers that she is about to be an heiress.  With her uncertain future now secure, Minerva intends to pursue her own desire to be an investigator.  Her first case will be her own – why would the Duke of Hollinburgh leave her a fortune?  Her path is obviously going to cross with Chase’s, over and over again, as he is on the same quest.

Right from the start, I loved the relationship between Chase and Minerva.  He is clearly suspicious of her, yet he speaks the truth about his suspicions without being obnoxious, rude, or heavy handed.  He acts like the gentleman he is, a fact that is greatly appreciated by Minerva, who has been used to a life of abuse and scorn.  They “sort of” agree to share information with each other, though they do tend to hold back little things.  As they get to know each other better, they feel an attraction, as well as a respect for each other, and decide that neither of them is guilty.

To her surprise, Minerva begins to feel desire for Chase, something she thought had been beaten out of her by her husband.  She sees the matching longing in his eyes, and very slowly, she allows kisses and embraces, gradually overcoming her fear of intimacy.  Chase’s care and patience with Minerva as she regains her sexuality is breathtaking.  He’s an amazing man, one very easy to fall in love with.  Though Chase realizes that he wants more than an affair, Minerva has made it clear that she will never remarry.   Her newfound financial independence solidifies her resolve to never be bound to a man again.

HEIRESS FOR HIRE is a fantastic book to read, both for the mystery, as well as the steamy romance.  This is the start of a new series, and while we do learn the probable reason the duke left a fortune to Minerva, we don’t positively find out the identity of his murderer, though there are plenty of hints and suspects.  We meet Chase’s extended family, many of them with strong motives, as well as a possibility outside the family.  I’m guessing that will finally be resolved in the final book.  Chase and Minerva, do, however, achieve their happy ending, and it is a sweet one.  HEIRESS FOR HIRE is one of those “read in one sitting” books, as the plot, excellent writing, and strong, likeable characters captivated me throughout.  I’m usually so focused on the hero, that it takes a really strong heroine to grab my attention, but Minerva did that.  I admire both of them for their character, their strength, and their genuine kindness and determination.  Their chemistry and heart touching romance makes for a delicious and satisfying read, which I highly recommend.

A really fast, fun read. All of the characters were very nice, well rounded. Overall, a really enjoyable read! And the romance felt very fleshed out.

Mysteries develop!

An eccentric bachelor duke is dead and family expectations are not met.
Minerva Hepplewhite, a woman with secrets, inherits a small fortune from said Duke. A man unknown to her. It's in her interests to investigate the circumstances around the Duke's death to ensure that her secrets aren't revealed, otherwise the suspicions about his death might fall upon her.
This woman who investigates secrets meets with another more experienced investigator. 
Chase Radnor, a man used to secrets, nephew to the eccentric Duke Hollinburgh, investigates his death for his own reasons, and on behalf of the home secretary, Robert Peel.
Of course Chase and Minerva come into contact--in a most unexpected way.
Of course that contact has an underlying frisson of sexual energy.
Minerva however wants nothing to do with men, given her experience at her dead husband's hands.
There are some interesting characters that feel like they might grow into more.
Minerva's small adopted family circle for one. Her cook / housekeeper Beth and son Jeremy. Chase's valet and sometime agent (or so he claims) Briggs. Chases's various relatives, the grasping and the frustrated. All have a story.
In the end we don't know who killed the Duke. Will future works in the series reveal that? In part that doesn't  matter. What is important is Chase and Minerva's story and their road to emotional healing. A chancy technique leaving us hanging, but it works.
It seems the death of the Duke will be an organizing theme for future books in the series. An interesting hook!

A Kensington Books ARC via NetGalley