With the second heiress to the old duke found, more trouble comes for the Radnor family. You don't have to have read book one (Heiress for Hire) to pick up the idea for this series: one very wealthy, slightly eccentric duke dies under potentially questionable circumstances and the mostly awful family (think "Knives Out" with about 3 decent people in the family) discovers that there are three unknown women included in the will- working class women, decent women, who could really use the money and had no idea they were getting it. You can imagine how well the family takes it.

In Red Silk Kevin Radnor must team up with new heiress Rosamund because not only has the duke left Rosamund a lot of money, he left her his share (half) in a business venture with Kevin. Kevin is an inventor who is so paranoid about anyone stealing his ideas he can't see how to manufacture them because that would involve trusting people. Rosamund is a talented milliner who wants to improve her life for the sake of her sister, and is very good at the practical aspects of business.

I'm conflicted about this book. I enjoy the premise of the old duke giving away money to strangers he thought needed/were worthy of the money. Certainly more worthy than the majority of his pompous and entitled family. I liked Rosamund- a sensible, hard working woman who sees her windfall as a way to expand her business and fights men's expectations and beliefs of her based on her looks every single day. Kevin I wasn't as impressed by. I liked that he was willing to go his own way, follow his own interests and not listen to family members telling him that inventing wasn't 'done' in their circles. But he spent most of the book not trusting Rosamund, not trying to get to know her, but just trying to get her to agree to what he wanted to do with his invention- when it was pretty clear he had no idea what the practical steps should be and she did. No matter what Rosamund said, asked or suggested, he refused to listen because she was a woman and didn't know anything about his invention- which should have made him more willing to listen. A physical attraction and business partnership might not be the worst basis for a marriage of convenience, but I never felt chemistry between Kevin and Rosamund, or much emotional connection. The last few pages finally they both (spoiler alert) discover and claim their love for each other, but I have to admit I didn't really feel it, and was disappointed by that.

Heiress in Red Silk had some good ideas, but dragged a lot along the way and never really captured or convinced me. Here's hoping for more in the next book in the series.



I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

I really enjoyed this book. It is the second in the A Duke's Heiress series. It was like meeting up with friends again and meeting a couple of new ones. Madeline Hunter develops her characters very well. They are easy to get to know. The storyline is easy to follow and pulls you in right away. In this book, Kevin Radnor gets to meet the woman that his uncle left half of his business to, Rosamund Jameson. Kevin is hoping to convince Rosamund to give him her half of the business, but she has other ideas. She owns her own hat business and wants to expand it. She has business knowledge and isn't as naïve as Kevin hoped. She intrigues him, but can he trust her? He is frustrating, but can she resist her attraction to him? Can they make a deal that will be mutually beneficial? Kevin wants a silent partner and Rosamund wants a better life for her younger sister. Will their relationship be purely business or will they give in and let it become more?

Madeline Hunter does it again! Hunter has a way of making her characters so original and swoon-worthy! My favorite series is her Wicked series, and I've been a fan of hers ever since. I love the chemistry between the hero and heroine, and Hunter always writes a love story that tugs at your heart strings. Excellent job!

** 3.5 Stars Rounded Up **

As we learned in the first book of the series, Heiress for Hire, the Duke of Hollinburgh changed his will just prior to his mysterious death. That change was to the detriment of his family and to the benefit of three women the family doesn’t know. Now, they have to find those women and give them their very sizable inheritances. Once you meet the duke’s brothers and sisters, you’ll definitely understand why the duke would want to leave them out of the will, but the ones he really hurt were his nephews – and he was really close to them. Those nephews also have to solve the mystery of their uncle’s death. I don’t think the duke was trying to hurt his nephews – I think he was matchmaking. The first book saw his nephew Chase find a love match with the heiress Minerva – and this one pairs up his nephew Kevin with the heiress Rosamund. Nothing in this book furthered the investigation into the duke’s death, so that thread will either fizzle out and go nowhere or maybe it will be finally solved in the next book.

Inventor Kevin Radnor is incensed at what his uncle has done to him. Kevin has invented a part that will eventually be used in every steam engine that is made. It is unique and he’s very, very secretive about it because someone else could easily steal it. He is incensed that his uncle, who was a fifty-percent partner, has left his portion of the enterprise to some woman nobody has ever heard of. They’ve spent over a year looking for her – a year in which Kevin cannot do anything toward furthering his invention because his new partner isn’t there to okay any expenses. They need to find her and convince her to sell her share or at least allow him to make all of the decisions. He’s in for a big surprise when she turns out to be beautiful, intelligent, and disinclined to turn over any part of her inheritance to him – and that includes allowing him to solely manage the company. Uh-Oh. She definitely gives as good as she gets.

Daughter of tenant farmers, Rosamund Jameson, met the Duke of Hollinburgh only one time. He was grateful to her for nursing a friend of his and gave her a bag of coins that amounted to ten guineas. She had never seen so much money in her life and she was thrilled. She could use that money to open up the millinery shop she’d always wanted to have. The shop, located in Richmond – just outside London – has become quite successful. She will be forever grateful for that gift. So, imagine her shock when she learns that the very same duke has died and has left her an enormous amount of money as well as half interest in a company.

Poor Kevin gets off to a very bad start with Rosamund. The poor man is absolutely brilliant but socially inept. He doesn’t make small-talk, he doesn’t make polite statements – many consider him just rude. What he really is, is honest. He says what he’s thinking and it doesn’t always come out in a politically correct manner. Kevin is hyper-focused on whatever subject has him interested at the moment – and right now, that is his newest invention. He doesn’t understand why Rosamund won’t just let him run things as he likes – it is his invention. Rosamund doesn’t think Kevin knows anything about running a successful enterprise.

I really liked both Kevin and Rosamund – and I liked them together – and the lust was definitely there, but somehow, I just didn’t see how they got to the long-lasting love. Most of the on-page time was either arguing with each other or spent in bed and they’d go days without seeing each other. There just didn’t seem to be any time of working together and sharing and getting to know each other. I still enjoyed the read, I just didn’t get all of the warm-and-fuzzies for them as a couple.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Book 2 in the series and I have read book 1. I will say it may not be necessary to read in order but it would clarify a few things apart of the story. We meet our second woman who inherited the legacy the late duke left three women the family knew nothing about. This has Rosamund and Kevin foisted together to run and operate a business venture started by Kevin. These two must work together or come to an understanding about said venture. It is a good solid historical romance. There is a bit of tension and a little mystery with our heroine. The Radner family is again present and awful just like book one. I felt it was hard to see the chemistry between the Hero and heroine for a good while but then we eventually get there it is a nice pairing. I would have liked more of their married life to see how they handled more of the business but we might see that in book three, just as we see Chase and Minerva from book one. They do not take over the story but just little glimpses are nice. I also love the side story of how the duke died and can not wait for a result hopefully in the next book. This book is a good amount of steamy. A small bit of kinky and I would have liked more but very nice for a historical romance.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I like a quirky, different style book like this one. Although set in historical London, as so many romance novels are, this book stood out. The couple had very distinct personalities. The intriguing plot kept me turning the page. The story put a new spin on this genre. There was intrigue, conflict, heartbreak, and eventually love. This book was a wonderful reading experience.

Both Kevin and Rosamund had their eccentricities and were highly strong-willed. Kevin was laser-focused on whatever he was doing. Kevin was crass and aloof at moments and highly passionate at other times. His complexity astounded me; he was so intricately written. Rosamund comes from nothing and has fought for everything she has. She tends to see everything as a transaction yet she is a passionate person. Her drive and intrinsic kindness endeared me to her. Kevin and Rosamund’s passion built throughout the novel. I didn’t feel the initial spark. However the couple shared a close connection from the first encounter and that grew throughout the book. What I liked most was that they allowed each other to just be themselves.

The storyline was extremely entertaining. There were twists and turns. It is a story of two very different people falling in love despite the odds being stacked against them. This book was a page turner. It moved at a good pace. My attention was riveted to the page. One thing I disliked were the secondary characters. They were well written and necessary to a point; I felt there were too many of them, at times it was difficult to keep up. The book did a wonderful job of just making me care deeply about the characters and their outcomes.

Through everything, raw authenticity was kept. I learned a lot about self worth and that I can love my differences. The book relates that the past cannot define us. The most unusual of people can find love. I was sad to see this story finish. I love epilogues; this book didn’t have one. The ending did conclude in a satisfying manner. By the end the passion between the couple was undeniable. The conflict played out throughout the book; it took time to resolve. I like that, often the conflict is concluded in two pages. I recommend this book because of the colorful characters and intricate storyline. I advise you to read it, you won’t be disappointed.

I received an ARC of this book through Netgalley and Kensington Books. This is my honest, voluntary opinion.

I've read other Madeline Hunter novels and although I did not read the first in this series, I think this was more of a standalone read. I thought the story and characters were enjoyable, however I did feel a bit disconnected from them also. The only two that seemed more cohesive were Chase and Minerva. The story was about and inventor and a milliner...both who were left to split an inheritance from a wealthy duke.

It was a well-written plot and I thought the chemistry build between the H/h was nicely done. There was angst, and quite a bit of banter between the two that led to a slow building intimate relationship. Both the H/h carried this sense of entitlement that had me disliking them early on but as the story went on, they became two warmhearted individuals. I did like this story because there was the difference in classes that felt genuine because regardless of your station, love can conquer.

Nicely done by Ms. Hunter, but this story left me missing something. Not sure if it was the romance that I just couldn't grasp my mind around, if it was the trying to somehow connect the two characters into a plausible romance, the secret about one of the jobs the heroine held or just the many finger pointing fill-ins to the hero killing his grandfather. Enjoyed but could have been more for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for this ARC in exchange for my fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

4.5 stars - What a wonderful continuation of this series! Heiress in Red Silk has us meeting another confident woman, sure of her worth. This time she grabs the attention of the inventor in the family. No one believes her suitable, but he needs her in more ways than one. It’s sexy and engaging from start to finish.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Why did the Duke leave a fortune to Rosamund, as well as his 50 percent interest in Kevin Radnor's company? No spoilers from me but this is a fun enemies to lovers novel that's a bit ahead of it's time given that the struggle starts around business decisions. Rosamund is a milliner and she's a smart cookie with strong ideas about how Kevin can improve and grow his invention to make trains work better into a real concern. HIs family hates and resents her but he sees something that keeps him working with her. There's a bit of steam but that's less interesting (sorry) than the wordplay. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. I missed the first book so this was a standalone that I enjoyed without concern that I'd missed something. A good read.

Was I hooked by that book? Sort of. It was fun seeing Kevin and Rosamund butt heads, but the romance got a bit lost in all the business talk.

Rosamund is very serious. She has worked extremely hard to be able to open her shop in Richmond. The inheritance from the late duke has helped to secure her future and enable her to open a second shop in London. She isn't impulsive, and she considers every choice very carefully first.

Kevin is no light-hearted man himself. He tends to be brusque and honest to a fault. He says what he thinks without much forethought and he barges in whether he is welcome or not. His family finds him abrasive and seems to mostly tolerate his presence. There are a few exceptions, who see him as a good person to have around. He easily gets lost in his thoughts and shuts everything around him out.

The two of them have to find a way to work together, as Rosamund had inherited half of Kevin's brilliant invention. And she has no plans to relinquish her share of it.

Kevin and Rosamund were so busy trying to keep their relationship all about the inventions, that they didn't notice the love between them until it was almost too late. I wasn't invested in them as a couple initially, but they sort of grew on me. They both have very different, but complicated personalities. It was interesting to see how their differences ended up complementing each other.

This is book two in the series Duke's Heiress. It's not necessary to read them in order, they work well on their own too. I liked the first book better.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The quirky deceased Duke has done it again from beyond the grave. This time it is his nephew Kevin that is on the receiving end of the strange bequest his Uncle has bestowed on another unknown women. Rosamund, a milliner finds herself a heiress. Only met the Duke once and now has a fortune and half a business enterprise with Kevin. The Duke’s family is in a uproar and as awful as in the 1st book.
Kevin is attracted to his new partner, but doesn’t want to have a partner. A real dilemma for hotheaded Kevin to figure out. Rosamund see the fortune as a answer to fulfill her dreams. She has one millinery shop in Richmond and now can see about another in London. Plans to send her little sister to school, so that she can lead a better life, plus maybe she herself can find her long lost love and reconnect.
The story takes awhile to develop. I did enjoy the “My Fair Lady” start of story, which kept you in mind of Rosamund humble beginnings. The story just seemed lacking somehow, not up to the normal fast paced written in the past.
 I am voluntarily posting an honest review after reading an Advance Reader Copy of this story.

After learning of a bequest from the late Duke of Hollinburgh, Rosamund Jameson goes from struggling milliner to heiress overnight. Her stroke of good luck means Rosamund can now open a millinery shop in London and improve her younger sister’s prospects. But her inheritance also comes with a half interest in a business and an all too handsome, self-assured business partner.

Kevin Radnor is alarmed to learn his late uncle endangered his company by leaving his interest to a beautiful woman who is sure to bring trouble. Rosamund decides on being a true partner with a voice in business decisions so Kevin decides to try his hand at seducing her. A marriage of convenience will ensure no one else can encroach on his business and keep him in control. But Kevin finds himself all too enthralled with Rosamund and begins to wonder how close he can allow her without risking his heart.

This heroine was very off-putting to me, especially at first. She came off as unbending and entitled somehow, despite her humble origins. She grew on me eventually but her harshness toward Kevin, not all of which he deserved, and her rather pompous manner were unappealing. She redeemed herself with the faith she put in Kevin and her protectiveness of him, but I would’ve liked more communication between them. Their true romance only really took off near the end of the book and then culminated in a rather abrupt ending that left me slightly unsatisfied. Otherwise, I found Kevin to be quite an original and possibly neurodiverse hero; he’s nearly a savant so his struggles with social situations, especially given his neglectful upbringing, were interesting and unique. Practical Rosamund was a good match for him, and I liked how these two stood up for each other against Kevin’s awful family. Overall, their connection needed a bit more development for the romance to be there, but this was an enjoyable enough read.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

What a exciting book from one of my favorite authors. Ms. Hunter newest is the second in a series but can be read as a stand alone. The characters are real with thoughts and feelings of their own. The writing is fun and witty from start to finish.
Rosamund Jameson has just found out that she is an rich woman. Her occupation is a shopkeeper and now she can move her business to upscale London. Her dreams have come true, but there is a hitch. Her business partner is Kevin Radnor and he thinks the idea is ludicrous.
Why would his Uncle, the late Duke of Hollinburgh, bequeath half the company to this woman?
So what's a fellow to do? Why plan a seduction to get the wily woman to marry him, so he can get his business back in his hands. Kevin knows his way around women, and hopes to get under the lady's skin with lots of kisses. But fate has a way of tempting even the most hard headed men. So a happy ever after and love is the key.
I appreciate Net Galley for this ARC title for an honest review.

Who knows why the will was written as it was but it is still making many unhappy. Rosamund Jameson is not unhappy about being one of the heirs Kevin Radnor does not care about the money Rosamund inherited. He does want something else she has. Fun at times and serious a times this gives a interesting look at past characters while giving Rosamund and Kevin a HEA

I am new to Madeline hunter but I liked this! She’s one of the better romance authors I’ve read. Will read more by her in future.

In her second novel in The Duke’s Heiresses series, Hunter returns to one of the things she does best, cross-class romance. Fans of her early Medievals were vastly entertained by the plausible matches she created between noble and commoner and here it is absolutely no different. And she doesn’t just handwave the issue, as so many modern authors do. If a nobleman wants to marry a shepherdess or a scullery maid (or whatnot) many authors make it seem like society doesn’t care. Here Hunter addresses the issue head on, but shows how the personalities involved make the match work regardless of society’s or family’s dislike of the union.
In this novel, Mr. Kevin Radnor, the eccentric genius inventor among the Radnor family (introduced in Heiress for Hire, the previous book in this series), has spent nearly a year trying to discover the whereabouts of Miss Rosamund Jameson, the woman who his Uncle, the late Duke of Hollinburgh had left half his business to. Miss Jameson is a humble milliner, with a small but smart shop in Richmond.

Having discovered her whereabouts he sends his cousins Chase and Minerva, the heroes of Heiress for Hire, to tell her of her legacy. Rosamund is startled, but also owes her shop to the late Duke, so she’s not completely unaware of his kindness. She travels to London to learn more about her inheritance.

Kevin, unable to keep himself away now that she has been located, accosts Rosamund at the home of his cousin Chase and Minerva. He does a poor job of explaining the importance of his invention and of pleading his case to allow him to move the business forward and buy her out with the profits. Rosamund feels insulted, as nearly everyone does when speaking to Kevin, and refuses to give him control of the business.

As she attempts to establish her new life as a woman of means in London, Kevin attempts to make himself useful to her, in order to keep an eye on his interests. But Rosamund has her own agenda.

She wishes to establish herself in polite society so she can bring out her younger sister, Lily, and give Lily a better life. She is also in love with Charles, the son of the family to whom she’d formerly been in service. He had claimed to also love her and so she was turned out with no references by his family, the first of many examples of how the nobility views the servant class. He claimed to love her, but it has been five years with no contact. Now that she was wealthy, would his family accept the match? She engages Minerva to learn what became of her former lover, Charles.

When Kevin’s relatives, who were also passed over for an inheritance by the former Duke, decide to make Rosamund’s life miserable, Kevin finds himself circling the wagons with Chase and Minerva to defend her. Here, too, we see the sneering attitudes of the Ton vs. the working classes despite Rosamund proving more and more that she’s not just a respectable and honest person, but a remarkable and ambitious one. Rosamund feels increasingly safe with Kevin, and it is clear both find the other attractive. But Kevin has learned Rosamund’s worth as she has stood up to him and pursued her goals, and despite his family’s insults, continues to treat her with respect for her intelligence.

Ultimately, he proposes marriage to increase her social standing and solidify their partnership, though he never claims to love her. She refuses, holding out hope for a reunion with her former beau, Charles, who Minerva learns is now living in Paris.

At this time Kevin shows her his invention and she agrees it should be manufactured. Kevin says he will leave for Paris at once to secure an add-on feature from an inventor there. Rosamond vows to go with him, ostensibily to protect her investment, but really to find Charles.

And this is basically the set-up. I do not wish to spoil how it plays out in this review, but though you realize Kevin and Rosamund are well-matched from the beginning, their relationship is not easy. They don’t fall into each other’s arms, though they are attracted to each other. There’s too much at stake for both of them, which makes their turning to each other as the story goes on all the more rewarding.

We see them building their relationship on far more than physical attraction and “love at first sight” or other nonsense. Their relationship has actual substance. Rosamund is a worthy partner, not just in Kevin’s bed, but in his enterprise, as he has the genius, and she has the practical planning and day to day running of a business that he doesn’t fully understand. He can imagine it. She can make it real.

And she is a creative person, herself, designing hats. Modifying designs she sees elsewhere. She goes to Paris to study fashion as much as anything else, and makes practical strides in securing business relationships on her own behalf as much as for Kevin’s enterprise. She is a wonderful heroine on her own and I’d love a story just about her and her millinery business. We get to see her competence here and she truly doesn’t need Kevin at all. Just as he doesn’t need her. Which makes them coming together and the way Hunter has it happen all the more satisfying.

These people are believable and real. They have their own interests that they don’t abandon once they become part of a couple. Their passions for their work aren’t just window dressing, but integral parts of their characters. It makes them, despite the historical setting, perfectly attuned to today’s dual income couples yet without being anachronistic.

I strongly recommend this to anyone who likes a good historical romance about competent adults. I like it more than the previous outing in this series, which is also good.

Heiress in Red Silk is Book 2 of the Duke's Heiress series. As in Book 1, the heroine, a shopkeeper, finds herself the recipient of an inheritance from the 'unknown' deceased Duke. The hero, the deceased Duke's nephew, finds his business in now entangled with the shopkeeper. Their business ideas are polar opposites and set up quite the fight. Hunter's character develop is in display once again as the hero and heroine seek a resolution. Good dialog and sensual heat are present throughout. It's another must read!
#HeiressinRedSilk #NetGalley

Review originally published at Romancing Romances.

I received an eARC at no cost from the publisher, and I am leaving a voluntary and honest review. Thank you.

2.5*


Heiress in Red Silk is the second book in the series A Duke’s Heiress. Here, we meet Rosamund Jameson, the milliner who receives a large inheritance from a Duke she barely knew.

I liked that Rosamund was very focused on her job, but also interested in the new enterprise that came with the inheritance. This, in turn, was something that made Kevin Radnor very upset.

Kevin is an inventor, and he created a model of something that would improve the trains at the time. But he doesn’t really trust anyone with his invention and its construction, which makes it very hard to move it forward.

This book attempts a bit of a My Fair Lady/Pygmalion trope, but for me it was left a bit incomplete.

Kevin annoyed me, and although I liked Rosamund, I didn’t really feel much of a connection between these two characters. The first little bump and they were done. It didn’t feel much like love…

I liked seeing Minerva and Chase, and their story from the first book had much more appeal to me.

The mystery of the first book is still present here, but it even though the hero was definitely a suspect to some people, it just never felt like he was ever in dire need of help. And if in the first book I felt wrapped by the whole mystery, this one just made the story a bit boring.

I’m still interested in knowing what happened to the old duke, and who the next heiress is, but to be honest, Kevin and Rosamund’ story wasn’t the best.

I first picked up Madeline Hunter’s books several years ago, but it has probably been a couple years since I read her work. This book was a fun reminder of how easy to read her books are. While the book as a whole was good and not great I did enjoy the couple hours it took me to read it.

I loved the premise of the book, though I am a bit confused as to when the book was taking place. It had to have been after 1870 for Rosamund to maintain her property after marriage, but other parts of the book felt like it was taking place earlier in the 1800s. The biggest and most glaring historical inaccuracy for me was the fact the hero is named Kevin. Kevin as a name in England prior to the 20th century would have been extremely rare to the point of being unheard of. Every time I read the hero’s name it pulled me out of the story and frankly made me cringe. I’m not saying there were no Kevin’s at the time but Kevin is the English version of an old Irish name and there is an almost 0% chance that a English aristocratic family in the 1800s would have given their child an Irish name.

I liked how quickly the book moved. It threw me into the story, and while clearly there was a book in the series before this one I did not feel like I missed out on the set up. I really liked Rosamund. I liked that she was independent and smart. I also appreciated that Madeline Hunter cleverly incorporated that Rosamund was of a lower class through her lower literacy level rather than making her uncouth in other ways. I did not like Kevin and I do not think his relationship with Rosamund was healthy. Beyond my issues with his name he was constantly sexist and condescending to Rosamund even after they married. Additionally every time he messed up he didn’t trust he would give a half-assed apology and she would accept then he would do the same thing again. He never grew and I genuinely don’t think his feelings every grew past lust into love, at least his behavior never changed enough to indicate that.

Thank you to Net Galley and Kensington Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Disclosure: I received an ARC of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I have read all of Madeline Hunter’s books and was looking forward to this book.
I couldn’t wait to read this next installment in the series. But as I have found with the last three of her books I just didn’t connect.

We are still searching for the last two women left money by the Duke of Hollingsburgh. These bequests have cause havoc in the family and each single man affected is trying to deal with the fall out.

Quite by accident Kevin Radnor finds his mystery woman, Rosamund Jameson (and I really didn’t like the implication on how he found her). She discovers that the Duke left her half shares in an engineering invention, and money beyond her wildest dreams. When Kevin, her partner shows up he is arrogant and he sets out to seduce Rosamund to get his hands on her shares

I never really felt connected to these two in the story. So many misunderstanding and condescension towards Rosamund. And while I think we were meant to respect her strength, her running away did not make me respect her. And Kevin just all of a sudden saw the light. No real growth between them and I didn’t feel that they understood love at the end.

So while this was a good read it was not my favorite of her books.