Minerva is a lively, independent heroine. Readers will fall in love with her the moment she decides to tie up and interrogate Chase for his intrusion ... Expect to have a goofy smile on your face for a bulk of the book as the two go head-to-head, while slowly learning to value the other ... feels like a mix of Knives Out (minus the hunky Chris Evans in a cable knit sweater) and Clue, with a touch of Scooby Doo. It’s an entertaining whodunnit with a slew of entertaining side characters and suspects. Thankfully, the mystery elements only enhance Minerva and Chase’s slow burn. And let’s talk about this slow burn, which is worthy of the ultimate chef’s kiss ... a gradual and wonderfully agonizing seduction that will leave readers begging for these two nerds to just kiss already ... This fantastic beginning may be Hunter's best series starter yet. With its memorable characters, a murder mystery and a perfectly paced romance, Hunter is at the top of her game.
It’s no mystery why RITA Award–winning Hunter continues to be a favorite of discerning historical-romance readers. And the literary proof in the pudding is this launch of her new Duke’s Heiress series, which delivers a superbly sexy love story deftly dovetailed with a well-crafted, mystery-spiked plot, and graced with a cast of endlessly amusing characters.
Frustratingly, the mystery remains unsolved until later in the series. Also, some readers may find the blunt descriptions of Minerva’s past abuse by her husband particularly disturbing ... Readers who enjoy strong elements of crime solving in their romances will love Minerva and Chase’s sleuthing, but be prepared to collect the entire series for closure on the mystery.
... smart, satisfying ... Hunter gives the well-matched pair plenty of ground to cover with a wide cast of memorable suspects, and their clever detective work is a consistent pleasure. The plot moves apace, but Chase and Minerva’s relationship is treated patiently, with their attraction simmering alongside mutual respect, and their eventual love scenes are sensitively rendered. Romance readers craving substantive mystery and intelligent leads will savor this pitch-perfect love story.
The romance is a slow burn for the first half as the pair learn to develop trust, though their banter is sharp and exciting, and it’s the mysteries surrounding the dead duke and both Minerva's and Chase’s pasts that propel the plot forward more than the romance. Unfortunately, the anticlimactic resolutions of these mysteries undermine the satisfying relationship at the end ... Fun but ultimately underwhelming.
