This is Minerva Hepplewhite and Chase Radnor’s story, book one in A Duke’s Heiress Romance series; a standalone, happily ever after, no cheating, historical romance with some heat.
This well written romance kept my interest throughout, the characters are well rounded with great interplay between the hero and heroine. A mystery along with some sizzling moments. I look forward to the next in this series. 
I received an electronic copy of this book through NetGalley for my honest opinion.

I really enjoyed this historical romance because it also mixed in a little cozy mystery into as well. I was very intrigued in both the romance and the mystery and I definitely wouldn't mind seeing more historical romance mystery hybrids like this in the future! I also really liked Minerva because she was a very independent and strong woman trying to have her own business in the 1800s by becoming an investigator. I also really liked Chase, I felt like he always had Minerva's back but really let her do what she needed to do. This was my first Madeline Hunter book but I am looking forward for the rest of this series and will definitely be checking out her backlist as well!

Heiress for Hire had an interesting concept, and I wanted to connect with this story but just didn't. I found this book to be slow-paced and quit reading about a third of the way in. Thank you for the opportunity to read and review this book.

what an amazing book!! The author is a master of creating stories and characters. I will definitively be reading books of this author!! Great job.

Oh how I love Madeline Hunter's books. Her characters are well developed and must have been dreamed of for days before ever landing on a page. 
Minerva and Chase are not friends. In fact, they're definitely on two different sides. He thinks she murdered her husband and she thinks he's exasperating. Time spent together changes their views and leads them to forever.

I liked this book but it really didn't stand out for me. The circumstances behind the inheritance, three strange women unknown to the family? I wanted to know more. I will probably read the rest of the series just to find out.

3.5

this book was dull. so, so, soooooooo dull. The mystery element wasn't engaging, the character were annoying as heck, and the writing was bland.

Minerva Hepplewhite can take care of herself. The young widow proves this one night by hitting an intruder over the head with a convenient warming pan. Of course, the intruder turns out to be one Chase Radnor, a (distractingly handsome) investigator who tells Minerva the shocking news that she's inherited a fortune from a duke she's never met. Minerva herself is starting a private investigation firm, and the rivals find themselves at odds as they try to find out what happened to the duke, and what might be his connection to Minerva. 

This was an entertaining story of spy vs spy. Minerva is an endearingly independent character, and never falls into damsel into distress territory. This first book sets up Hunter's new series well, and I look forward to the next one!

Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for the ARC to review.

TW: References to past abuse (not shown).

I was looking forward to this story but it did not get into the story for a few chapters. It just didn't capture my interest but I kept reading and it got better. I thought Chase was a bit stalkerish at times. I felt Minerva was too trusting with him despite her past. But overall it was a pretty good story

Melt-your-Kindle hot and a great romantic story. Loved this one! Minerva and Chase are adorable together.

Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

A fun debut historical regency romance with a touch of a cozy mystery. As much as I love historical romance, I always love the inclusion of a mystery element!

Heiress for Hire is the first book in the Duke's Heiress series and the concept itself is interesting. A Duke dies under mysterious circumstances and leaves the bulk of his fortune to three women he has no relation to. The heroine, Minerva, is one of those women. She has no idea why she was given this fortune because she had never even met the late Duke. Chase is one of the late Duke's many nephews and his entire family is enraged that his uncle had decided to give away most of his money to three strangers. Given his career in inquiries, Chase investigates his uncle's death as well as the three mysterious women who were bequeathed a fortune. Minerva also has a knack for inquiries and begins her own investigation because she doesn't want to be considered a suspect in the late Duke's suspicious death.

First of all, who in the hell wrote this blurb? Quoted directly from the blurb: "...Chase Radnor, the man who nearly got her convicted of her late husband's murder." This is FALSE. This never happened. Chase didn't even know that Minerva's late husband was murdered. The blurb would lead you to believe that Chase not only knew about the murder, but had even tried to get Minerva convicted for it. And based on the way the blurb is written, you are led to believe that this all happened before the drama with the Duke's death and will. THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN!! What a terribly misleading blurb. 

Heiress for Hire was unbearably dull. It is perhaps the dullest book I've read this year. I've enjoyed Madeline Hunter's books in the past, but I genuinely don't recall her prose ever being this unexciting. The romance is dull and boring. The hero and heroine have zero chemistry. We are told that there is a superb attraction between Chase and Minerva, but I didn't feel shit. The mystery is also dull. I can't believe that the author managed to make SLEUTHING and MYSTERY SOLVING boring?? The prose is apathetic, unengaging, and quite simply, boring. There is emotional development, but the prose is so dry that I didn't feel anything for the hero and heroine. There is no life in this book. Why did I keep reading? Well, I was curious enough to find out just how the Duke died...and guess what? His suspicious death doesn't even get solved! It looks like this simple mystery will be dragged throughout the series. I am not curious enough to continue the series, so I will stick to Madeline Hunter's older books from now on.

P.S. Parts of this book gave me Kat Holloway vibes. I feel like Heiress for Hire would have been a lot more engaging and compelling if Jennifer Ashley had written it.

Heiress for Hire by Madeline Hunter is the first book in Ms. Hunter's A Duke's Heiress Series. This book is well-written and quite intriguing. I was engrossed in the story from the very beginning. Heroine Minerva Hepplewhite and Hero Chase Radnor are both very likeable characters. They are both very intelligent, straight talkers and honest. Chase's uncle, the Duke of Hollinburgh has died and left a small fortuneto Minerva. This comes as quite a surprise to Minerva as she tells Chase she has never met his uncle and has no idea why he included her in his will and left her this fortune. This conversation takes place in Minerva's house after Chase has broken in and Minerva catches him and bops him in the head with a bedwarmer. He tells Minreva he broke in to check her identity. He didn't want to approach the wrong person. Strange way for our hero and heroine to meet but the attraction is there and much happens as they travel on their road to their HEA. This is a fascinating story and I totally enjoyed it! 
By Marge for BOC

I really struggled with this book, I didn't hate it, but it was just dull. I had to attempt it a few times before I could fight through. It was lacklustre at best. There is very little character development, particularly with Chase he just seems to exist purely because the author wanted this to be a romance. 

Maybe it's me, but the current batch of historical romances are an inferior offering. Perhaps I'm burned out on the genre, but in my opinion, there is nothing new or exciting being written. This book was one of the better ones, and that's saying something. 

I received an arc of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Minerva Hepplewhite is a heroine's heroine. Now she is a strong, independent woman, but once was a physically and mentally abused wife. She found the inner strength to leave that situation along with her servants, Beth and her son, Jeremy, now her friends. When Minerva becomes a widow, she comes to London honing her skills for inquiries. She meets Chase Radnor, a gentleman who performs discreet inquiries for some very lofty clients. Unfortunately, they meet when Chase breaks into her house and also meets her frying pan. Frying pan to the head always wins. Chase was checking her out before he told her about her significant inheritance from his uncle. Curious because she never met his uncle. Why was she and two other ladies left so much of his wealth when his own family received very little? Did one of his disgruntled family push him from the roof of was it an accident? Chase has been given the job of figuring that out, along with finding the women who have inherited. One down with his finding Minerva. Who are the others? This was an enjoyable book to read with a slightly different story line. The characters are great, most likeable, although there are a few not so likeable. There was enough action to keep it interesting and fast paced. The teaser of the next book in the series raises more questions. Looking forward to reading it.

The writing is as usual good, and the plot held promise. However I felt it rushed through certain parts and couldn't sustain the readers' interest and therefore fell short on delivering up on a great read.

Great story by Madelyn Hunter!
It is about Minerva Hepplewhite and 
Chase Radnor.
Minerva has received a large amount of money from a Duke that she has never met. The Duke’s family is outrageous about the settlement. Chase is the nephew of the former Duke and is trying to find out how Minerva knew his uncle. 
This is a story that I would recommend!!

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.

This is the first book in a new series by the author, and while I enjoyed it overall, it fell flat in a few areas for me. The premise was good with the dual investigator main characters who overlap and team up, and the chemistry between them was solid, but the story itself seemed to needlessly drag in some places. And, for me, there wasn't quite enough romance (not as much as I tend to enjoy). Overall, okay but not my favorite.

This is a fun book about a brave woman who found love in an unexpected place. Together the hero/heroine worked together to help each other. This is the first book in a series that will build to a final overarching back story. I want to keep reading this series and can’t wait for the next story. I recommend if you like a bit of mystery and love you will love this story and series.