Aww the ending was so sweet! I've read Kate Bateman before and also gave that four stars. This is a very solid read. On her wedding night, Tess's awful husband (forced upon her because he was a Duke) drops dead right when he sees her in her bedroom. Tess, along with her friends and colleagues Ellie and Daisy (they have a detective agency together), sets out to have some fun and comes across Justin Thornton (yes I did read this entire book thinking of Mr Thornton of North and South too), the ruthless businessman who's just inherited her late husband's estate, fortune, and title. They have an unforgettable encounter and he offers her a marriage of convenience to get rid of matchmaking mamas. The terms are simple - Tess would become his Duchess, they'd live together for three months and then he'd leave her to her own devices. No feelings, no love, no strings attached. Well, we all know how that goes :)

I enjoyed this! Justin and Tess's romance is very sexy and passionate. I love that she's a detective along with her best friends (there's a good side plot here as they try to solve a blackmailing mystery, frankly I could have read a whole book about their adventures together solving mysteries!) and the scenes with the three of them together were my favourites. I also liked that Tess has a good head for business that Justin can respect and this had four of my favourite things - French toast, maple syrup, truffles, and a Christmas scene. Perfect for this time of year!

My endless thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.