I DNFed this book halfway in. I gave it a lot of chances, but I just couldn't convince myself to finish it even though it seemed like something I would have enjoyed.

I love a good, sexy historical romance with a broody male lead, and this one delivered. Daniel and Margery are a great couple and I just loved their chemistry. There were touches and twists that I wasn't expecting which made this a unique read in the historical romance genre.

Daniel Hayle, the Duke of Carlisle, has promised his mother he’ll participate in the London season this year and find a bride to protect the dukedom from his grasping cousin. But Daniel is more terrified of socializing in ballrooms than he was of fighting Waterloo, a battle that left him terribly scarred and with a formidable appearance that many find off-putting. He hopes a month visiting his mother’s friend on the Isle of Synne will give him a chance to practice socializing so that he can find a wife who can bear the sight of him.

Margery Kitteridge has spent the past four years mourning her husband’s death at Waterloo. She’s not ready to marry again but her body misses the physical aspects of marriage. When she agrees to help Daniel with his wife search, she doesn’t bank on the intense physical connection between them. When the two kiss, Margery decides Daniel is perfect for an affair. But as the two come to know each other, Daniel learns of an unexpected connection to Margery’s late husband and she must decide if she can set aside her old love to give the new a chance.

It took me an unusually long time to finish this book, partly because life got crazy, but also because I was savoring it. This story is well-written and has quite a bit of emotional depth, so I also found I had to take breaks from the sheer feelings it evoked. I adored shy, scarred, awkward Daniel. He was such a well-drawn character and he just made me want to give him a hug and take care of him. Margery was frustrating and had me wanting to shake some sense into her as she took so long to let Daniel in, but since Daniel was also afraid of being hurt again, the slow pace really did fit this couple. I loved how protective Margery was of Daniel and how she helped him find his confidence. I do wish that we’d had more time with Daniel and Margery on the page after they’d admitted their feelings for each other and maybe a bit more steam. I also think Margery confiding in Daniel would’ve made their relationship stronger and overall, I would’ve liked to see more communication from them, rather than the two of them fighting their feelings for the first 90% of the book and leaving us with only a taste of their loving relationship. Overall, however, this was a lovely story and I’m hoping for more books set on the Isle of Synne.

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

Margery Kitteridge’s world is turned upside down when she receives a blackmail letter. The note implies that her late husband was a coward during the Battle of Waterloo and the sender demands 100 pounds to keep quiet. Even though her father disowned her when she married, Margery never regretted her decision to wed Aaron Kittredge. After Aaron’s death, she joined her grandmother, Lady Tesh’s household as her companion.
Daniel Hayle, the Duke of Carlisle and his mother arrive at Lady Tesh’s home for a visit. Daniel is a war hero and has the scars—both physical and emotional-to prove it. Although Daniel does not express himself well and panics in social situations, he is able to talk to Margery. The Duke agrees to pay Margery 100 pounds to assist him in finding a bride. I felt for Daniel when he narrowly missed stepping on a chicken, is introduced to a young lady who is enamored of insects and suffered through an assembly dance. He was not comfortable in social situations but, he put himself out there and accepted Margery’s assistance. Loved the candid and at times, emotional conversations that Daniel and Margery share and the attraction that develops between the couple.
Cristina Britton does a fabulous job developing the secondary characters in this novel. Daniel’s cousin, Gregory appears to be everything the Duke is not. He is charming, well dressed gentleman. Loved how Gregory’s true nature was revealed during the novel. Loved the unique characters who make up the community of Synne—each one adds to the feel and the storyline. The author’s descriptive writing style lends itself perfectly when she describes Daniel’s memories of the Battle of Waterloo. I could smell the smoke, sense the fear within the troops and visualize the battles. These words allow the reader to understand what Aaron and Daniel and the other soldiers faced during each skirmish and understand why Margery could be a target for blackmail.

Daniel and Margery’s journey is romantic, emotional and tugs at your heartstrings. The chemistry between the couple simmered and sizzled throughout the first part of the book. Loved that Margery felt jealous every time she introduced Daniel to a prospective bride. Margery’s conflicted feelings for Daniel and her late husband and Daniel’s struggle to come to terms with the aftermath of the war drew me into the story. I loved how the couple gave each other strength and confidence to heal and move forward.
Christina Britton’s A Duke Worth Fighting For has all of the story elements that I adore! If you are looking for a novel filled with engaging characters, heartfelt romance and a dash of intrigue than this is the perfect book for you!

This slow burn Beauty and the Beast style romance brings together a beautiful, young widow and a scarred war-hero duke!

Margery, whom has sworn to never marry again since her first husband was the love of her life… until… in walks Daniel, the Duke of Carlisle to visit the Isle with his ailing mother. This wounded war vet has scars on the outside and on his poor heart! Daniel is shunned and only accepted by his peers due to his rank, until Margery steps in and sees the beauty of his true self.

Daniel is looking for a bride to secure his succession, and due to his circumstances, no love match needed for this wounded soul. Seeing an opportunity and his potential, Margery volunteers to be his matchmaker! Too bad the attraction between these two literally sparks off the page!

I loved seeing Margery heal Daniel’s heart and Daniel become a Duke worth fighting for by Margery! Truly another beautiful love match made on the Isle of Syne

A Duke Worth Fighting For by Cristina Britton is scheduled was released August 24th, 2021.

Thanks so much to Forever Romance and Grand Central Publishing for gifting me with my review copy. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

#ADukeWorthFightingFor #CristinaBritton #NetGalley #pinkcowlandreads

We LOVE to see a full-figured woman on the cover of a historical romance novel.

I believe this is the first in the genre I've read where the widow is actually grieving. It's an understandable plot device to have a woman widowed from a loveless marriage in this time period, seeing as this was a position in society that granted certain freedoms not otherwise offered. While I don't mind it being used in that manner, I was intrigued to enter into a story where the widow still loves and misses her deceased husband four years after her loss. It makes for an emotional journey, and Margery's first love is never cheapened to make way for a new one. This made for some powerful storytelling.

The book starts off with a bang when Margery receives blackmail threatening to reveal her husband's dishonorable actions on the battlefield before his death. Margery refuses to believe the blackmailer, but she hasn't the money to grease their mysterious palms and make it go away before the one-month deadline is up. She offers to help Daniel, Duke of Carlisle, find a bride for a sum that will protect her late husband's reputation.

The romance features a gloriously awkward meet-cute and a matchmaking scheme gone wrong (or right, depending on one's perspective and who is considered the matchmaker). The SLOW BURN *fans self.* I realize that's a sentence fragment, and I refuse to fix it. Margery is big-hearted and fiercely kind, and Daniel is socially awkward and of low self-esteem but loyal and honorable. It was honestly heavenly not to contend with some alpha caveman-type hero, and Margery is the kind of character I would wish to befriend. I loved that this is a simple story in many ways, completely focused on the romance with a soothing island backdrop, yet the emotions run so deep, and the characters' histories make full tapestries to uncover and understand. This also doesn't limit the slew of fun side characters that motivate me to pick up the rest of the series.

As a final note, the story does feature memories of war and the accompanying PTSD, as well as the grief of losing a loved one to its violence. It doesn't romanticize war, which was frankly a relief. Of course, the genre requires the romanticizing of a lot of things, but I do feel there should be limits, and this book recognizes them.

This was a really wonderful read and a beautiful romance. I adored Daniel and Margery. As a couple and individually they gave me mega feels. The story captured and held my attention effortlessly and had me fiercely rooting for this duo. Deep emotions and drama are paired with true sweetness and a twist or two to create an entertaining read and potent fuel for this romance. The journey that these wounded characters take you on as they make discoveries about themselves and each other, the internal and external obstacles they overcome and the unexpected love they find along the way is as powerful as it is swoon worthy.

This was my favorite book from this series! It was absolutely wonderful! I really adore this author. This series can be read as standalone’s but I highly recommend reading them all! Daniel is the new Duke of Carlisle. He has scars from the war…..and a little socially awkward. He’s need to find a wife and have an heir…..but he know it won’t be for love. Margery is a widow. She’s smart, loving, and brave. She’s still mourning her husband after 4 years. Margery needs to pay off a blackmailer, so when she finds out the Duke of Carlisle is in need of help finding a wife. Margery offers to help, for a price! What these two don’t expect to happen is the amazing chemistry! I adored that Margery defended Daniel at one point. They both had to overcome some things to get to love. I enjoyed watching them get to their HEA! They were a perfect match! This book was a slow burn, magical, & romantic! It gave me Beauty & the Beast vibes! Just wonderful!

This is the third book in the Isle of Synne series and I think it might be my favorite. Margery finally gets her own story and happy ending!

In this installment of the series, Margery - widowed by the Battle of Waterloo - receives a blackmail threat that causes her to offer her services as a matchmaker to the newly arrived Daniel, a veteran of the same battle and a reluctant duke. As one would imagine, they fall for each other, though they both have reasons for trying to deny their attraction and feelings. Daniel is socially awkward and suffering from guilt and emotional torment as a result of his time in war and his horrible cousin (I would have liked that toad get truly squashed - what happens to him wasn’t bad enough for me), while Margery is struggling to reconcile her feelings for her first husband and those she has for Daniel while also trying to get the funds necessary to pay her blackmailer. The relationship between Daniel and Margery is sweet and satisfying, even if the resolution to all the conflicts feels a little too neat and tidy. Overall a good read!

Thank you Forever Publishing and NetGalley to the chance to read A Duke Worth Fighting For!

Return to the Isle of Synne in A Duke Worth Fighting For. Christina Britton takes readers on a journey of healing and finding love after loss. It’s a heartfelt, emotional, and oh-so-satisfying read.

Daniel endeared himself to me from the first. He’s a man who has always been shy and perhaps socially awkward. Coming back from the war with vicious scars and a limp has made it harder for him because shallow people aren’t ones to hold back their opinions. Daniel is kind-hearted and I wanted him to find someone who would bring him happiness, not mere tolerance which is all he thinks he can hope for. Despite her plans never to remarry, Margery is just the person for him. She’s a widow who has known love and loss and doesn’t think she could or should find love again. But when her grandmother throws her into Daniel’s path, she becomes his guide to Synne society and his fiercest champion.

It’s clear that Daniel and Margery are made for each other, but Britton doesn’t make it easy on them. Daniel has to learn to expect more for himself and Margery has to come to terms with her grief. I was rooting for them both every step of the way. Though Britton hits on some hard topics in this book, there are lighthearted moments as well. Daniel and Margery have an easy chemistry and it makes the pages of the story fly by. The attraction between them is sizzling and they are just as a good a match in bed as out.

A Duke Worth Fighting For is the third book in the Isle of Synne series but it can easily be read as a standalone. Past Isle of Synne heroes and heroines make appearances which will delight fans of the series and will surely make new readers want to enjoy those tales. I love the world Britton has built where family born and made come together to support one another. One of my favorite parts of this book was the scenes between Margery and her best friend, Lenora, where Britton showcases the simple comfort of having a best friend by your side. All in all, I greatly enjoyed A Duke Worth Fighting For and I hope to revisit Synne again soon!

A Duke Worth Fighting For 💜

Out Now!

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 stars
Steam: 🌶🌶/5 (some descriptive steamy scenes)

Thanks to Netgalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for the digital ARC in exchange for my honest review

No spoiler review 👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻

First off this cover is beautiful! Purple is my favourite colour and I love it this.

This is the 3rd book in the Isle of Synne series. This is the first one I’ve read in this series and it works well as a stand alone too and I was able to understand everything

I liked at the beginning that this book had a link to visit for full content warnings! Very important and I think more books should do that.

I liked the map at the beginning of this book. It was a cool touch for a historical romance read.

Margery is a young widow who needs funds to prevent a blackmailer from tarnishing her late husbands name. The Duke Daniel, is staying at her grandmothers house and needs a bride. He is very awkward in social settings so him and Margery make a deal. She’ll find him a bride for the ransom money she needs. He needs a wife, but doesn’t want love to have anything to do with it.......Margery has also sworn to never marry or love again now that she’s a widow. However, attractions bloom.

I loved the main characters interactions it was hilarious and so sweet!

Daniel, is a new Duke (as he was a second son, who’s brother passed). He served in the army which left him disabled. I love that we got disability representation in this historical romance! Plus he’s a virgin too, and I’m a sucker for the male virgin trope. It’s something we don’t see enough in romance. He is also a grumpy hero and I just loved his character so dang much!!

This is a story of grief and growing, and love. It’s a beautiful book and a great historical romance read with some steam. I highly recommend picking this one up!

A Duke Worth Fighting For, the final book in Christina Britton’s Isle of Synne series, is a classic “Beauty and the Beast”-esque tale. Margery Kitteridge, the circumspect widow of a soldier who died at the battle of Waterloo, is challenged with aiding Daniel Hayle, the battle-scarred and socially inept Duke of Carlisle, with his matrimonial prospects. Britton sensitively explores how Daniel’s bodily injuries pale in comparison to those inflicted on his soul, balancing darker elements with his growing resiliency and Margery’s inspiring loyalty to the people she loves. A Duke Worth Fighting For is a truly worthy end to the Isle of Synne series.

Full Review: https://bookpage.com/reviews/26625-christina-britton-duke-worth-fighting-romance#.YSgtsI5KhUA

Big thanks to Read Forever Publishing for the e-ARC of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions and comments are my own

Overall 3/3.5 stars

I think the book had such an interesting premise but felt like the book moved at a much slower pace than I had anticipated. The premise makes it seem like some of these events in the book would happen earlier in the book than they did which kind of threw me.

Overall I did like the book but it was only okay for me. Though I do plan to read the rest of the series because I enjoyed all the characters.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was a wonderful book. I really loved it!

This book is a classic story of a young widow and a tormented war veteran finding solace and a new lease on life after falling in love.

Both Margery and Daniel are believable, relatable characters that you can't help but root for as soon as you meet them. They both have great tragedies in their past that are keeping them from fully living and enjoying life, and the way that Britton brings them together is perfectly romantic.

I definitely appreciated how their relationship slowly builds and the several interesting twists that Britton added to keep things from being too cookie-cutter romance. There are the classic elements that we all know and love from a romance with fresh takes on them that make this not only enjoyable but a treat to read.

I do think that appreciation for some of the relationships and the location would benefit from having read the other books in this series first, but it's a minor thing and can easily be ignored in favor of enjoying the fantastic love story.

Many very happy thanks to NetGalley and Forever for the great read!

This is book three in the Isle of Synne series. I've really enjoyed this whole series which is why I couldn't wait to read this gem. ⁠⁠
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Margery is a widow after her husband dies in the war. Duke of Carlisle is in search of a wife so that his lands don't go to his awful cousin. Unfortunately, the Duke was wounded in the war leaving him with visible scars and poor self-esteem. Someone is looking to blackmail Margery slandering her late husband's name so the Duke hires her to help him find a wife in Synne so that he won't have to travel all the way to London. ⁠⁠
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Add in quirky animals and matchmaking relatives! I mean technically you could read this as a stand-alone but I love the first books so much that I recommend reading the whole series!

When the hero unexpectedly gained a title, he looks at the heroine to help him navigate society and find a wife. Yet an attraction rises between the duke and the widow, so the two begins a love affair. As per usual, the couple has a group of secondary characters that I enjoyed reading about. This is a solid addition to the series and as usual, it needs some more details that is something I personally preferred. Overall, an enjoyable read and I look forward to reading more Christina Britton books in the future.

**Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the review copy. All opinions and thoughts in the review are my own.**

What an emotional ride! I felt moments of sadness and grief for these characters, the budding love, hurt from judging eyes, even laughter from antics of so many including the large dog who was so out of control and vividly described. The moments nearing the end of the discovery of what they, at first, thought was the past, then ultimately learned the truth was so intense and what an incredible weight for him to have carried for so long! When they finally give in to their love, finally acknowledge it and embrace it, I wanted to cheer. This was an endearing story with well developed characters, and I intend to go back and read the others from this series, and hopefully there will be someone to take on Miss Denby...and her dog! #netgalley #adukeworthfightingfor

Romantic escapism at its best!

Margery needs money to fend off a blackmailer, and Daniel needs help finding a wife. He agrees to her proposal to hire her as his "conjugality coordinator" and while we know where this is going, it's the exquisite journey that makes it all worthwhile.

Both Daniel and Margery have endured tough times that have only made them stronger yet more cautious as well. There's a sweetness to their interactions that was heartwarming to see. Their HEA was sublime and perfectly tailored to their unique personalities.

I simply adore this author's voice, how each character is carefully developed, and how such a simple plot can be infused with so many complex layers. This third visit to the Isle of Synne is like coming home, and I enjoyed seeing all the familiar faces again.

I couldn't have loved this book more, and I highly recommend this delightful series. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.

A socially awkward, scarred duke and a widow being blackmailed.

This book is filled with family, extended relations, the aftermath of Waterloo four years ago (and the events that affected both Margery and Daniel). Daniel is a large, scarred, socially awkward duke, he wears his wounds inside and out. He loves his mama and is determined to find a bride and secure an heir. Hence, his foray into the Isle of Synne society.
Margery is tricked into helping Daniel by her matchmaking, sly grandmother. Margery is a widow, who lost her husband at Waterloo and is now being blackmailed.

I thoroughly enjoyed Margery and Daniel. They were fresh, well defined characters who had both known hardship yet were still kind and generous. I liked them together and felt they were well matched and it was fun reading their journey. What can I say? I do so like a duke who isn't a rake or arrogant. Rather, a good man in need of his own HEA.
Recommend.