Review: Heiress In Red Silk (A Duke's Heiress #2) by Madeline Hunter

   

Print Length: 304 pages

Publisher: Zebra (April 27, 2021)

From Goodreads.com:  In one life-changing windfall, Rosamund Jameson goes from struggling shopkeeper to heiress—and co-owner of a new business. Not only will her sudden fortune allow her to move her millinery shop to fashionable London, but Rosamund will be able to provide her younger sister with a proper entry into society. The only hitch for resourceful Rosamund is her arrogant, infuriatingly handsome business partner...

Kevin Radnor is shocked that his late uncle, the Duke of Hollinburgh, bequeathed half his company to a total stranger—worse, a beguiling beauty who can only hinder his enterprise. But Rosamund insists on an active, equal partnership, so Kevin embarks on a plan: a seduction that will lead to a marriage of convenience, giving Rosamund the social status she needs, and guaranteeing him the silent partner he desires. Yet as this charismatic gentleman sets his flirtation in motion, he begins to wonder who is seducing whom—and if he can learn to share himself body and mind, without losing his heart . . . 

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My Rating: 3 stars out of 5

This had such a promising premise that I was hoping for more than I got. The story was good, but I found it often became stilted, bogged down with too many unnecessary details.  And honestly, while I'm not one to shy away from sex scenes if they are well done and move the overall story forward, I do not feel as though this was the case here. It seemed once they fell into bed, they lost their heads entirely. She offered him money he needed as a loan, in bed. They seriously contemplated marriage, in bed.  In fact, I found myself skipping these scenes altogether because I didn't see where they added to the plot other than upping the word count. 

I enjoyed Rosamund to a point. I liked how she put her sister above herself, and how she refused to give up her hat shop and designs even while she worked hard to "better" herself. I was annoyed at how naïve she was, especially where Charles was concerned, although I will give the author credit for handling that whole story-line better than I thought she was going to. 

Kevin was an infuriating character to say the least. He was stubborn to the point that I started hoping someone else WOULD steal his designs out from under him just to spite him. Even after their marriage, he was still quick to anger and jump to the wrong conclusions (and really is it any wonder he was for a time accused of killing the old Duke)?  Time and again he not only tries to convince Rosamund to turn her share of his enterprise back over to him, but he later laments signing documents that allowed her to keep her share once they had married. He was often rude to her, to the point I would have slapped him stupid and walked out on him. 

Once again, it was little things such as that that made it clear this was not a love match no matter what the author would have us believe. Even when he comes to her to admit that he was wrong, he still doesn't come across as sincere, at least not in my opinion. 

I wish there had been more about the old Duke's death, but it seems that particular story-line will continue on in future stories. I am particularly interested in the next installment as it seems to feature Nicholas, aka the new Duke. I would definitely read more from this author.

DISCLAIMER:  I received a complimentary copy of this novel from the publisher. This has not affected my review in any way. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are 100% my own.

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                                                                        Heiress In Red Silk is available from Amazon.com