An unknown man breaks into her home and now he has the audacity to ask her to untie him. . . so he can give her some good news! Who is this uncommon thief? He is definitely handsome, but what is he up to? Still, there is something about him that intrigues Minerva Hepplewhite. Then, he tells her a small fortune is hers, courtesy of the late Duke of Hollinburgh.

Minerva is in shock! Why would a duke leave her money? Her own money supply is getting low and she could use it to support herself and Beth, her former servant and now a faithful member of their small “family” along with Jeremy, Beth’s son. Her goal has always been to support them as they supported her, but inheriting money was the furthest thing from her mind. Could she dare go to the lawyer to claim the inheritance?

The intruder, Chase Radnor, claims not to be a thief, nor a runner, and says he is, in fact, a gentleman who handles discreet inquiries. Can she trust what he says? For her part, Minerva has a few things in her past that she doesn’t want to come to light. If they did, it could be very dangerous for her.  

Well known for her skills as a romance writer, the talented Madeline Hunter is the author of HEIRESS FOR HIRE, the first book in her A Duke’s Heiress series that is lining up to be a wickedly funny series about three women inheriting money from an aging, eccentric duke.

While HEIRESS FOR HIRE is totally intriguing as a stand-alone novel, I am definitely looking forward to reading more in this latest series. There are concerns the old duke did not die from a fall but may have been murdered. The hunt to solve the mysteries of the bequests and the possible murder of the duke provide a great backdrop to the slow budding of a thorn and roses romance between Minerva and Chase as they investigate if the other can be trusted, competing with rapier-sharp wit and brilliant flashes of humour.

I fully enjoyed the feistiness and independence of Minerva, especially as her background and maturity are slowly revealed. Hunter is very effective in writing about issues affecting women, such as domestic abuse and women’s place in society, that are both historical and contemporary at the same time. Chase is also a delightful as starts to fall for Minerva while still striving to be loyal to his role as an investigator and a lookout for his brother, the new duke.

If you are a romance reader who relishes a well-researched historical novel and is new to Madeline Hunter, HEIRESS FOR HIRE is a great place to start your investigation.  Hunter’s many fans will also be eager to get their hands on this latest novel. So, get your copy and enjoy your own discreet inquiry!

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