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Reece Family Trilogy #1
What a Gentleman Wants
Marcus Reece, Duke of Exeter, has spent most of his life pulling his twin brother out of trouble. An occasional thank you would suffice; instead, his resentful sibling forges his name to a marriage license and presents him with an unwanted wife. She's a vicar's widow with a mind of her own who may be the first person in Marcus's well-ordered life to make him feel...completely out of control.
Hannah can't help but curse her own idiocy. Dire straits have led her to the altar with a gentleman she hardly knows. Played for a fool, she's embarrassed, furious, and worse, married to an equally outraged stranger—an exasperating man who unleashes all manner of emotions in Hannah, not to mention unwanted desire. Reluctantly, she agrees to play the wife until he can sort out the mess. But the nearness of the undeniably attractive Duke and the passion in his black eyes unsettles her well-guarded heart—making her want to do so much more than "act" the role of blissful bride.
Hannah can't help but curse her own idiocy. Dire straits have led her to the altar with a gentleman she hardly knows. Played for a fool, she's embarrassed, furious, and worse, married to an equally outraged stranger—an exasperating man who unleashes all manner of emotions in Hannah, not to mention unwanted desire. Reluctantly, she agrees to play the wife until he can sort out the mess. But the nearness of the undeniably attractive Duke and the passion in his black eyes unsettles her well-guarded heart—making her want to do so much more than "act" the role of blissful bride.
351 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2006
198 people are currently reading
2429 people want to read
About the author
Caroline Linden
54 books1,709 followersCaroline Linden was born a reader, not a writer. She earned a degree in mathematics from Harvard University and worked as a programmer in the financial services industry before realizing writing fiction is much more exciting than writing code. Her books have won the NEC-RWA Readers' Choice Award, the JNRW Golden Leaf, the Daphne du Maurier Award, and RWA's RITA Award, and have been translated into seventeen languages around the world. She lives in New England.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 385 reviews
October 29, 2025
The book is 20 years old, and they don't write them like this anymore. This can be good and bad all at once. I seldom read older series in order as I read what catches my attention and I read book 3 of this series and gave it 5* (don't ask I don't remember it all...). So, suspend all disbelief and just go for it with this one. The first chapter had one of the best opening chapters that I have read and there are so many ways this could have gone...but it didn't. The book ended up being about a couple that get to know each other and (not sure when) fall in love. There is a mystery that was totally unnecessary, and the book could have had a hea at the 75% mark, but NOOOOO we need to solve the mystery that was never really well developed. Some quibbles that I had with the duchess where she seemed to have no issue with giving away large sums of money (I mean life changing) to a couple of people that didn't deserve it, and she came from very modest circumstances. Still, I enjoyed the book and give it 3.75*.
November 4, 2023
I love when a widow has the chance to get absolutely railed like yes queen you deserve it
March 14, 2026
read: 4/10/2021
Reread: 3/14/26
Setting: Regency England
Trope: MOC, mistaken identity/ twin swap
3.5 stars
My notes for 2nd read:
*hmm... I'm not following the Duke's reasoning for keeping the secret about their marriage for a month 🤔
*37% Damn! Marcus is a real S.O.B
*56% I'm ready for Marcus's personality to thaw a little.
*63% first kiss
* 76% They admit to their feelings. Feelings that magically appeared. Their sex scene was steamy. 🥵. So a lot has happened since their first kiss
Conclusion: This was still a good read, but I wish there had been more romance between the couple.
************ orginal review *********
A stone hearted Duke, a smart, practical heroine, and a never do well twin brother who switches places....what more could you want in a fun romance?
I enjoyed this light romance. I do wish there had been an epilogue.
Reread: 3/14/26
Setting: Regency England
Trope: MOC, mistaken identity/ twin swap
3.5 stars
My notes for 2nd read:
*hmm... I'm not following the Duke's reasoning for keeping the secret about their marriage for a month 🤔
*37% Damn! Marcus is a real S.O.B
*56% I'm ready for Marcus's personality to thaw a little.
*63% first kiss
* 76% They admit to their feelings. Feelings that magically appeared. Their sex scene was steamy. 🥵. So a lot has happened since their first kiss
Conclusion: This was still a good read, but I wish there had been more romance between the couple.
************ orginal review *********
A stone hearted Duke, a smart, practical heroine, and a never do well twin brother who switches places....what more could you want in a fun romance?
I enjoyed this light romance. I do wish there had been an epilogue.
October 11, 2025
I’m baffled by this book’s relatively low rating average; it’s quite good!
Hannah has been a vicar’s widow for six months and she and her daughter Molly are being forced to move back into her father’s home, reluctantly for both parties, when a carriage accident outside her gates lands an injured lord in her parlor. David, the injured lord, is a womanizing, hard-drinking, gambling, reckless wastrel with a broken leg, but is so seduced by the country air and peace and quiet during his recuperation that he impulsively offers Hannah a marriage of convenience.
This is one reason this book gets 4 stars instead of 5: this guy wouldn’t enter into a white marriage to save his life, and country air would never persuade him to do so.
Sensible Hannah balks at the idea of marrying a virtual stranger, but she has come to like David and he promises to be a good husband and father and she most definitely doesn’t relish returning to her father’s house, so she agrees. One little problem: as their wedding day approaches, David begins regretting his rash proposal—no more drinking and partying, egads!—but he doesn’t want to disgrace Hannah by crying off. Instead, he marries her…and signs his twin brother’s name to the marriage register. His twin brother is the stiff, forbidding Duke of Exeter, the starchiest, most arrogant, dukiest of all dukes—David thinks it’s a great jest, so he dumps Hannah and Molly in London and sends his brother, stepmother and half sister, and The London Times letters announcing the duke’s marriage and skedaddles to the continent.
Marcus The Duke is not happy to find himself married to a country bumpkin with a noisy child. He had determined never to marry or have children (another reason for 4 stars instead of 5: no way in hell does this duty-bound duke risk leaving the dukedom to his ne’er-do-well brother, and there’s no motivation offered for his rejection of marriage and family). But he’s in the process of paying a distraught Hannah off when his stepmother and sister burst in, thrilled he’s taken a wife and fulsomely welcoming her to the family. To avoid scandal and disappointed family, Marcus and Hannah strike a bargain to continue the marriage until season’s end for appearance’s sake, then she and Molly will retire to a country manor on a stipend and the promise of a dowry for Molly.
It’s time enough, though, for Feelings. And the evolution of Marcus’s and Hannah’s fake feelings to real seems authentic, even though it cycles through attraction and rejection of that attraction a few times too many to suit me before attraction wins out.
There’s a side plot with counterfeit notes and an evil cousin that builds to an action-filled climax which I don’t think the story needs but which is competently written. Hannah’s child is underutilized and it’s a crime that Lady Willoughby gets away with everything, and David doesn’t manage to fully redeem himself but, shortcomings aside, this is still a very enjoyable read.
This was my first book by this author and I will read more. I’d like for the pacing to be a little tighter and characters’s motivations fully enunciated, but the writing is really good and the author delivers emotionally.
He had woken in the middle of the night, Hannah sound asleep in his arms, and lay awake a long time trying to figure out what had happened to him. She wasn’t the woman he had ever pictured at his side—two months ago he would have laughed at the idea of even knowing such a woman—but she was the one he found he couldn’t do without, the one he wanted more than anything or anyone he had ever wanted in his life. He didn’t give a damn what society said about him for it. She was good for him, he had realized; she was perfect for him. And he meant to do anything to keep her with him.
Hannah has been a vicar’s widow for six months and she and her daughter Molly are being forced to move back into her father’s home, reluctantly for both parties, when a carriage accident outside her gates lands an injured lord in her parlor. David, the injured lord, is a womanizing, hard-drinking, gambling, reckless wastrel with a broken leg, but is so seduced by the country air and peace and quiet during his recuperation that he impulsively offers Hannah a marriage of convenience.
This is one reason this book gets 4 stars instead of 5: this guy wouldn’t enter into a white marriage to save his life, and country air would never persuade him to do so.
Sensible Hannah balks at the idea of marrying a virtual stranger, but she has come to like David and he promises to be a good husband and father and she most definitely doesn’t relish returning to her father’s house, so she agrees. One little problem: as their wedding day approaches, David begins regretting his rash proposal—no more drinking and partying, egads!—but he doesn’t want to disgrace Hannah by crying off. Instead, he marries her…and signs his twin brother’s name to the marriage register. His twin brother is the stiff, forbidding Duke of Exeter, the starchiest, most arrogant, dukiest of all dukes—David thinks it’s a great jest, so he dumps Hannah and Molly in London and sends his brother, stepmother and half sister, and The London Times letters announcing the duke’s marriage and skedaddles to the continent.
Marcus The Duke is not happy to find himself married to a country bumpkin with a noisy child. He had determined never to marry or have children (another reason for 4 stars instead of 5: no way in hell does this duty-bound duke risk leaving the dukedom to his ne’er-do-well brother, and there’s no motivation offered for his rejection of marriage and family). But he’s in the process of paying a distraught Hannah off when his stepmother and sister burst in, thrilled he’s taken a wife and fulsomely welcoming her to the family. To avoid scandal and disappointed family, Marcus and Hannah strike a bargain to continue the marriage until season’s end for appearance’s sake, then she and Molly will retire to a country manor on a stipend and the promise of a dowry for Molly.
It’s time enough, though, for Feelings. And the evolution of Marcus’s and Hannah’s fake feelings to real seems authentic, even though it cycles through attraction and rejection of that attraction a few times too many to suit me before attraction wins out.
There’s a side plot with counterfeit notes and an evil cousin that builds to an action-filled climax which I don’t think the story needs but which is competently written. Hannah’s child is underutilized and it’s a crime that Lady Willoughby gets away with everything, and David doesn’t manage to fully redeem himself but, shortcomings aside, this is still a very enjoyable read.
This was my first book by this author and I will read more. I’d like for the pacing to be a little tighter and characters’s motivations fully enunciated, but the writing is really good and the author delivers emotionally.
He had woken in the middle of the night, Hannah sound asleep in his arms, and lay awake a long time trying to figure out what had happened to him. She wasn’t the woman he had ever pictured at his side—two months ago he would have laughed at the idea of even knowing such a woman—but she was the one he found he couldn’t do without, the one he wanted more than anything or anyone he had ever wanted in his life. He didn’t give a damn what society said about him for it. She was good for him, he had realized; she was perfect for him. And he meant to do anything to keep her with him.
September 6, 2020
I didn't plan to reread this so soon, but it was released in audio so I decided to go ahead. The narrator is Heather Wilds and she does a good job. I enjoyed just as much in this format as in reading.
I don't think I will write much of a review but some things I like about this one is the plot and the family-oriented leads. The heroine is a widow and loving mother. The duke is constantly protecting his wayward brother while allowing him to stay in the good graces of their step mother and sister at his own expense.
It's probably no secret that I am a bit biased when it comes to Linden, but this is a really good one. One of her better ones. The plot is unlike any others I have read which is saying something in HR.
I don't think I will write much of a review but some things I like about this one is the plot and the family-oriented leads. The heroine is a widow and loving mother. The duke is constantly protecting his wayward brother while allowing him to stay in the good graces of their step mother and sister at his own expense.
It's probably no secret that I am a bit biased when it comes to Linden, but this is a really good one. One of her better ones. The plot is unlike any others I have read which is saying something in HR.
March 27, 2017
I knew while reading it that the story is extremely farfetched. It's only after finishing it that I realize how willing I was to go along with how very unlikely the whole setup is. And that goes for pretty much everything surrounding the main couple, from the brother's marriage trick to the counterfeiting to the household and family situation. The thing is, all that wasn't even a little bit important to me while reading because I was lost in Marcus and Hannah.
It isn't just that I liked them (I did), but that I respected them both for their strength and courage and honest communication. I just wanted them to be together because they were so perfect for each other and seeing them come to care for one another was just so emotionally engaging that I didn't mind the skips and trips and bumps they found along the way.
I wish I could recommend this to everyone, but I have to admit that high sticklers for period and/or, well, sensible plots will probably struggle. Add that Marcus has a moderate case of negative motivation* and I can't give this the five stars I want to. Heck, four stars is probably more than the story really deserves. Except that I enjoyed reading it so much and really loved both Hannah and Marcus so well that I'm not going to be at all wobbly on giving it all four of those stars.
A note about Steamy: There's really only one explicit sex scene, but that's under my definition where I count it as a single scene as long as the sexy times roll along. This particular scene spanned two chapters and had a brief breakfast interlude so any reasonable definition of "scene" would probably have it as two and possibly more. So this is the middle of my steam tolerance, and I have to admit that having so much all in one place had me skimming by the end...
* Negative Motivations: I kind of hate that the term "negative motivation" isn't widespread, yet. Since it isn't, I'm going to save off this little jag to append to my reviews that feature the term. Jennifer Crusie blogged about it a bit back and it changed how I understand story. The problem with the term is that if you've never heard it before, you'd assume it meant motivations that are harmful or immoral. Not so. What it refers to is motivations not to do something. The thing is that many of us are motivated to not do things for a lot of different, perfectly valid and reasonable, reasons. The problem is that in a story motivations to not do things are a huge drag on the plot—particularly considering the fact that most negative motivations are overcome by the character simply deciding they don't care any more (or, rather, that they do care and are now motivated to do the thing). So not only do you have a counter to action but you also have a situation where to overcome it, all a character has to do is change their mind. Which means eventually, the reader is rooting for the character to get over him/herself already and do the thing we want them to do. Conflict drives story. Conflict between a reader and a main character drives readers away from story.
It isn't just that I liked them (I did), but that I respected them both for their strength and courage and honest communication. I just wanted them to be together because they were so perfect for each other and seeing them come to care for one another was just so emotionally engaging that I didn't mind the skips and trips and bumps they found along the way.
I wish I could recommend this to everyone, but I have to admit that high sticklers for period and/or, well, sensible plots will probably struggle. Add that Marcus has a moderate case of negative motivation* and I can't give this the five stars I want to. Heck, four stars is probably more than the story really deserves. Except that I enjoyed reading it so much and really loved both Hannah and Marcus so well that I'm not going to be at all wobbly on giving it all four of those stars.
A note about Steamy: There's really only one explicit sex scene, but that's under my definition where I count it as a single scene as long as the sexy times roll along. This particular scene spanned two chapters and had a brief breakfast interlude so any reasonable definition of "scene" would probably have it as two and possibly more. So this is the middle of my steam tolerance, and I have to admit that having so much all in one place had me skimming by the end...
* Negative Motivations: I kind of hate that the term "negative motivation" isn't widespread, yet. Since it isn't, I'm going to save off this little jag to append to my reviews that feature the term. Jennifer Crusie blogged about it a bit back and it changed how I understand story. The problem with the term is that if you've never heard it before, you'd assume it meant motivations that are harmful or immoral. Not so. What it refers to is motivations not to do something. The thing is that many of us are motivated to not do things for a lot of different, perfectly valid and reasonable, reasons. The problem is that in a story motivations to not do things are a huge drag on the plot—particularly considering the fact that most negative motivations are overcome by the character simply deciding they don't care any more (or, rather, that they do care and are now motivated to do the thing). So not only do you have a counter to action but you also have a situation where to overcome it, all a character has to do is change their mind. Which means eventually, the reader is rooting for the character to get over him/herself already and do the thing we want them to do. Conflict drives story. Conflict between a reader and a main character drives readers away from story.
November 10, 2025
I have to admit that this was one exciting book. But... when MMC Marcus Reece (Duke of Exeter), was first introduced, his actions (minus the quizzing glass) reminded me so much of Mary Balogh's (Slightly Dangerous) Wulfric Bedwyn. Both characters are described as cold and not wanting marriage. And since I've just started reading Slightly Dangerous, I can't help but compare FMC Hannah Preston's character to Balogh's Christine Derrick (minus a young daughter) in the same book.
This is a good story about twins saving each other's hides so to speak. Marcus, the extremely responsible one always getting his brother out of trouble. And David, always being a magnet for trouble or occasionally causing it on purpose. After breaking his ankle in a carriage race through Middleborough, David finds himself staying at the Vicar's cottage to heal. FMC Hannah Preston (the Vicar's widow), helps David but also has to pack knowing her days at the cottage are limited. She's a young woman with a four year old daughter, Molly. David watches everything Hannah does with great interest and thought.
His hostess was a very industrious woman. Just watching her made David faintly ill. While he sat among her roses and herbs, she baked bread, knitted socks, tended the garden, read stories to her daughter, mopped, scrubbed, washed, and mended until David thought she would drop. It was fascinating to him; women of his class never did half those things. [...] The amazing thing was, she didn't seem to mind.
After finding out Hannah will be moving back into her father's home unwanted, David offers for her hand in marriage out of convenience. Hannah reluctantly accepts. Realizing later that he's making a mistake and after the nuptials have been performed, David signs his twin brother's name to the register. With the help of his friend Percy, David makes sure everyone in the ton knows the Duke of Exeter has taken a Duchess.
After Hannah and Molly are unceremoniously deposited in London, David departs telling her he will eventually return. In less than 24 hours, Hannah learns about David's deception and meets the very frosty Duke of Exeter. Marcus is an exacting and strict man with his servants and also with her after first meeting his "wife." After finding out about all of the letters David sent out announcing his brother's "marriage," Marcus has no choice but to convince Hannah she needs to go along with the ruse for a month or two so his sister's chances are not ruined when she debuts the following season.
Throw in a disgruntled ex-mistress, a vengeful cousin, a counterfeiting mystery, a spying servant, and an interfering step-mother, the Duke of Exeter has his hands full trying once again to get his twin brother as well as himself out of trouble.
The best part though? (Okay, best two parts.) When Marcus realizes he has feelings for Hannah after witnessing her doing things that normal Duchesses don't do. For example, one night she prepares tea for both of them in the kitchen using the servant's teapot instead of reaching for the fine silver one. She unknowingly impresses him with her practicality, discomfort of being waited on hand and foot, and by her frugality.
The second best part is in the final chapters where the twins' acting is flawless in front of the bad guys. David definitely redeems himself in my eyes. Can't say more than that, or it might be considered a spoiler.
Will I read this author again? I have to because I've already purchased books two and three in the series.😀
This is a good story about twins saving each other's hides so to speak. Marcus, the extremely responsible one always getting his brother out of trouble. And David, always being a magnet for trouble or occasionally causing it on purpose. After breaking his ankle in a carriage race through Middleborough, David finds himself staying at the Vicar's cottage to heal. FMC Hannah Preston (the Vicar's widow), helps David but also has to pack knowing her days at the cottage are limited. She's a young woman with a four year old daughter, Molly. David watches everything Hannah does with great interest and thought.
His hostess was a very industrious woman. Just watching her made David faintly ill. While he sat among her roses and herbs, she baked bread, knitted socks, tended the garden, read stories to her daughter, mopped, scrubbed, washed, and mended until David thought she would drop. It was fascinating to him; women of his class never did half those things. [...] The amazing thing was, she didn't seem to mind.
After finding out Hannah will be moving back into her father's home unwanted, David offers for her hand in marriage out of convenience. Hannah reluctantly accepts. Realizing later that he's making a mistake and after the nuptials have been performed, David signs his twin brother's name to the register. With the help of his friend Percy, David makes sure everyone in the ton knows the Duke of Exeter has taken a Duchess.
After Hannah and Molly are unceremoniously deposited in London, David departs telling her he will eventually return. In less than 24 hours, Hannah learns about David's deception and meets the very frosty Duke of Exeter. Marcus is an exacting and strict man with his servants and also with her after first meeting his "wife." After finding out about all of the letters David sent out announcing his brother's "marriage," Marcus has no choice but to convince Hannah she needs to go along with the ruse for a month or two so his sister's chances are not ruined when she debuts the following season.
Throw in a disgruntled ex-mistress, a vengeful cousin, a counterfeiting mystery, a spying servant, and an interfering step-mother, the Duke of Exeter has his hands full trying once again to get his twin brother as well as himself out of trouble.
The best part though? (Okay, best two parts.) When Marcus realizes he has feelings for Hannah after witnessing her doing things that normal Duchesses don't do. For example, one night she prepares tea for both of them in the kitchen using the servant's teapot instead of reaching for the fine silver one. She unknowingly impresses him with her practicality, discomfort of being waited on hand and foot, and by her frugality.
The second best part is in the final chapters where the twins' acting is flawless in front of the bad guys. David definitely redeems himself in my eyes. Can't say more than that, or it might be considered a spoiler.
Will I read this author again? I have to because I've already purchased books two and three in the series.😀
March 21, 2016
What a Gentleman Wants was originally released in 2006 and is being re-released ten years later with a shiny new cover (and boy what a nice cover it is!).
I realized that I had never read this early work of Linden's so I moved quickly to remedy the issue. For this story, you will need to suspend some belief in reality, but if you can adjust to the set-up of the story, you will enjoy the emotional journey.
Marcus, the Duke of Exeter, has a twin brother. They may be twins but appearances are the only thing they have in common. Marcus is responsible, intense, and aloof. David is irresponsible, charming, and carefree. When David is nursed back to health by a vicar's widow after a carriage accident, he impulsively offers marriage. However, the night before the wedding, David decides to back out and instead signs his twin brother's name in the marriage ledger, takes his brother's new "wife,"Hannah, to London, leaves her at Marcus' house, and flees to the continent.
The bulk of the story takes place as Hannah and Marcus struggle to sort through the mess David has created without hurting those close to them and whipping up a scandal. Despite the ridiculousness of the situation, Hannah and the duke are both sensible, even-tempered people who discover an unexpected connection to each other. At first, they circle each other warily, but this does not last as the masks fall away and the two begin to understand one another.
I really like how this story progressed. There were not flowery words or excessive drama between the two leads. Instead, there was wariness, which turned into respect, which led to friendship, which blossomed to love:
For most of the book, the physical relationship between the two is limited since they both know the marriage is a sham and are searching for a way to move on from the mess. However, this delay in intimacy only served to ratchet up the sexual tension to such a degree that I was fanning myself when Marcus and Hannah finally gave in. Good heavens. I love how Linden writes her sex scenes :)
There is an underlying mystery with a counterfeit money ring to increase the suspense, as well as a series of delightful secondary characters in Marcus' stepmother and stepsister and Hannah's young daughter Molly to add to the sweetness.
Overall, this was a great read. The set-up of the story is a bit far-fetched, but the emotion is all real. I loved Hannah and her straightforward, positive approach to life. At first, I struggled with Marcus, but just like Hannah, I came to understand and appreciate his cautious, quiet demeanor. When Marcus falls, he falls hard:
And isn't that just perfect? This is an early Linden book, but her voice is as fresh as ever. I recommend this one for a nice escape.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a chance to read and review.
I realized that I had never read this early work of Linden's so I moved quickly to remedy the issue. For this story, you will need to suspend some belief in reality, but if you can adjust to the set-up of the story, you will enjoy the emotional journey.
Marcus, the Duke of Exeter, has a twin brother. They may be twins but appearances are the only thing they have in common. Marcus is responsible, intense, and aloof. David is irresponsible, charming, and carefree. When David is nursed back to health by a vicar's widow after a carriage accident, he impulsively offers marriage. However, the night before the wedding, David decides to back out and instead signs his twin brother's name in the marriage ledger, takes his brother's new "wife,"Hannah, to London, leaves her at Marcus' house, and flees to the continent.
The bulk of the story takes place as Hannah and Marcus struggle to sort through the mess David has created without hurting those close to them and whipping up a scandal. Despite the ridiculousness of the situation, Hannah and the duke are both sensible, even-tempered people who discover an unexpected connection to each other. At first, they circle each other warily, but this does not last as the masks fall away and the two begin to understand one another.
I really like how this story progressed. There were not flowery words or excessive drama between the two leads. Instead, there was wariness, which turned into respect, which led to friendship, which blossomed to love:
She knew she had fallen in love with him--not when, not how, and sometimes not even why--but she had.
For most of the book, the physical relationship between the two is limited since they both know the marriage is a sham and are searching for a way to move on from the mess. However, this delay in intimacy only served to ratchet up the sexual tension to such a degree that I was fanning myself when Marcus and Hannah finally gave in. Good heavens. I love how Linden writes her sex scenes :)
His dark hair was tousled every which way, his face taut. He looked dangerous and reckless, not at all like his usual controlled self. "You have no idea," he said, "how much I want you."
There is an underlying mystery with a counterfeit money ring to increase the suspense, as well as a series of delightful secondary characters in Marcus' stepmother and stepsister and Hannah's young daughter Molly to add to the sweetness.
Overall, this was a great read. The set-up of the story is a bit far-fetched, but the emotion is all real. I loved Hannah and her straightforward, positive approach to life. At first, I struggled with Marcus, but just like Hannah, I came to understand and appreciate his cautious, quiet demeanor. When Marcus falls, he falls hard:
He didn't give a damn what society said about him for it. She was good for him, he had realized; she was perfect for him. And he meant to do anything to keep her with him.
And isn't that just perfect? This is an early Linden book, but her voice is as fresh as ever. I recommend this one for a nice escape.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a chance to read and review.
February 5, 2011
This was a sweet romance that was exactly what I was looking for: a diverting bargain with no price-fix from the publisher. It takes some work to find these treasures these days, but I'm indignant enough to overcome my inertia on book seeking.
Marcus Reece, Duke of Exeter, is a stuffy guy who likes his peace and quiet. Always pulling his twin brother, David, out of scrapes, he never seems to get a break. Hannah Preston is the widow of the vicar in Middleborough who has the unique opportunity to help nurse David back to health after a carriage accident.
Frankly, the whole basis of the story is a bit unbelievable, but I could get past it because I was engaged enough in the story telling and the characters. David manages to convince Hannah to enter into a "marriage of convenience" with him but signs his twin's name to the registry which causes all kinds of problems. Absurd. But whatever, as long as the interactions work, I can live with it.
Hannah's four-year-old daughter is cute and actually fairly realistic. Throwing little tantrums when she's tired and wearing her mom out while alternately melting everyone's hearts with her little kid utterances. It's nice to see that when most kids in historical romances are not much more than cardboard cutouts with lace hung all over them.
Marcus is hard to like at first, but he starts to gain some sympathy quickly. Hannah is immediately likable and in such a difficult situation it's hard for the reader not to root for her. At first they might not seem like a good match, but their chemistry becomes apparent and it's believable.
I have to point out one scene that really made this book for me. So often I want to bang a book against the wall because the author contrives internal reasoning for the characters NOT to talk to each other in order to continue a rift or misunderstanding. There is a lovely scene where this doesn't happen. It's a simple thing, but it made me so happy to see an author just go ahead and allow a relationship to progress.
Yes, it's Regency fluff. But it's a bargain on Kindle and it's a sweet romance. Friends looking to break up the angst might want to remember Caroline Linden for future stress reduction therapy. :)
Marcus Reece, Duke of Exeter, is a stuffy guy who likes his peace and quiet. Always pulling his twin brother, David, out of scrapes, he never seems to get a break. Hannah Preston is the widow of the vicar in Middleborough who has the unique opportunity to help nurse David back to health after a carriage accident.
Frankly, the whole basis of the story is a bit unbelievable, but I could get past it because I was engaged enough in the story telling and the characters. David manages to convince Hannah to enter into a "marriage of convenience" with him but signs his twin's name to the registry which causes all kinds of problems. Absurd. But whatever, as long as the interactions work, I can live with it.
Hannah's four-year-old daughter is cute and actually fairly realistic. Throwing little tantrums when she's tired and wearing her mom out while alternately melting everyone's hearts with her little kid utterances. It's nice to see that when most kids in historical romances are not much more than cardboard cutouts with lace hung all over them.
Marcus is hard to like at first, but he starts to gain some sympathy quickly. Hannah is immediately likable and in such a difficult situation it's hard for the reader not to root for her. At first they might not seem like a good match, but their chemistry becomes apparent and it's believable.
I have to point out one scene that really made this book for me. So often I want to bang a book against the wall because the author contrives internal reasoning for the characters NOT to talk to each other in order to continue a rift or misunderstanding. There is a lovely scene where this doesn't happen. It's a simple thing, but it made me so happy to see an author just go ahead and allow a relationship to progress.
Yes, it's Regency fluff. But it's a bargain on Kindle and it's a sweet romance. Friends looking to break up the angst might want to remember Caroline Linden for future stress reduction therapy. :)
March 26, 2021
What can I say? I love arrogant characters and in this book the hero is amazingly arrogant! He loves his family so much that he coddles them and help them without them even knowing or asking. Due to it, his twin brother is a wastrel and only makes mischief. Sometimes some rather big ones.
I loved seeing the mess his twin brother made and all the characters involved. I was only not convinced that the heroine could be so good so easily in the roll of the duchess. But okay.
I loved seeing the mess his twin brother made and all the characters involved. I was only not convinced that the heroine could be so good so easily in the roll of the duchess. But okay.
March 20, 2026
3.5 🌟
I'm not quite sure how to review this one.
Did I enjoy it? Yes
Was it life-changing? No
Am I going to forget it in a week? Probably
Look the premise is hilarious but the way it plays out is less so.
Starting with a fraudulent marriage and a meddling family and even a child character - so many opportunities to make this funnier but it just wasn't.
There is so much tension and I'd say even animosity between the two... But also they fall in love.... Which I'm a little bit unclear on how that actually happened
But when they do like each other, they're lovely together.
There is of course the dangerous subplot which I thought could have been fleshed out more.
I also was a bit disappointed with the ending, I love an epilogue and this just ended so abruptly but maybe because there are other books in the series.
I will actually continue the series but I wish this book had given me a bit more
I'm not quite sure how to review this one.
Did I enjoy it? Yes
Was it life-changing? No
Am I going to forget it in a week? Probably
Look the premise is hilarious but the way it plays out is less so.
Starting with a fraudulent marriage and a meddling family and even a child character - so many opportunities to make this funnier but it just wasn't.
There is so much tension and I'd say even animosity between the two... But also they fall in love.... Which I'm a little bit unclear on how that actually happened
But when they do like each other, they're lovely together.
There is of course the dangerous subplot which I thought could have been fleshed out more.
I also was a bit disappointed with the ending, I love an epilogue and this just ended so abruptly but maybe because there are other books in the series.
I will actually continue the series but I wish this book had given me a bit more
December 19, 2014
This one started quite well and had so much potential, it was sad to see that it never reached it. Though well written and interesting, it failed in the most important part: the romance.
The hero and the heroine find themselves married because of a joke his twin brother played on them. Though their immediate reaction is to hide the fact and live their separate lives as before, they soon find that this is quite impossible and they have to act the happy couple for everyone to see. There is also a subplot about some counterfeit money that the hero is trying to solve, which unfortunately points to his brother as the culprit.
The heroine was nice and gentle and caring all right, but the hero was cold and unkind to her. And the bad thing is, we never see him acting differently before she starts to feel an attraction to him, as she sees him as the man he is, not the duke. Well, she may have seen him but I didn't. I never saw how, why or when those two people fell in love; they suddenly do. How I may ask, since we only watch them in a couple of occasions together where he speaks barely two words to her. They have so little interaction with each other, it's impossible to feel their connection. And they fight this 'attraction' again and again, succumbing only to a kiss for almost until the end; no chemistry, no sparks between those two.
The ending was also dedicated to the suspense part of the plot, which I ended skimming in order to get it over. I bet I'm not going to remember anything from this book in a week or two.
The hero and the heroine find themselves married because of a joke his twin brother played on them. Though their immediate reaction is to hide the fact and live their separate lives as before, they soon find that this is quite impossible and they have to act the happy couple for everyone to see. There is also a subplot about some counterfeit money that the hero is trying to solve, which unfortunately points to his brother as the culprit.
The heroine was nice and gentle and caring all right, but the hero was cold and unkind to her. And the bad thing is, we never see him acting differently before she starts to feel an attraction to him, as she sees him as the man he is, not the duke. Well, she may have seen him but I didn't. I never saw how, why or when those two people fell in love; they suddenly do. How I may ask, since we only watch them in a couple of occasions together where he speaks barely two words to her. They have so little interaction with each other, it's impossible to feel their connection. And they fight this 'attraction' again and again, succumbing only to a kiss for almost until the end; no chemistry, no sparks between those two.
The ending was also dedicated to the suspense part of the plot, which I ended skimming in order to get it over. I bet I'm not going to remember anything from this book in a week or two.
December 17, 2018
3.5/5. Great prose as expected from Linden, but for some reason it just didn't move me. It took me more than a week to finish, partly because of Seasonal duties calling me elsewhere but partly because of my procrastination in returning back to it. Both protagonists are appealing but the chemistry didn't sizzle enough for me. The premise was not the most convincing, especially with Marcus forcing Hannah to pretend they're happily married in order to spare the feelings of his step mother and sister. Furthermore, Marcus had virtually no interaction with Molly, no scene where they started to bond. The closest thing was him acknowledging while watching her at play that she's not as annoying as he expected. David meanwhile was observed by Hannah in the beginning to be patient and good with Molly which aided in her decision to accept his proposal initially. It bothers me that Hannah did not consider how Marcus might be as a father figure to Molly, before falling for him.
December 17, 2025
3.5 ⭐️ sweet and different.
I loved the premise but I wanted more from the romance and less from the suspense subplot.
Hannah is a widow and lives in a small village, David has an accident and needs medical care for a few weeks, they form a friendship and due to her circumstances David volunteers to marry her. He is however a rogue and a scoundrel and regrets his offer, the night before the wedding.
He proceeds to write his twin brother Marcus’s name on the wedding certificate and dumps her at his house in London. They ( Marcus and Hannah) slowly fall in love, and I honestly loved this part of the story, the romance was build up slowly, and in an adorable way.
However a suspense subplot takes over the last 30% and I am not really into that. It’s probably a me thing.
The beginning had a nice build up, but it was a little slow.. 3⭐️
The middle was awesome 5⭐️
The ending felt a little like filler 3⭐️
I had some fmc issues, especially how she interacted with her 3 year old daughter, and I had a hard time shaking the dialogue. She was a little harsh with her, ex.: Molly the daughter, wanted to do a million things that day, and Hannah responds with: “enough”. That’s it.
I fully remember what it feels like to be an exhausted mother, but she is living as duchess with all the help in the world. I think it’s a writing issue and not a character issue and I do understand what CL wanted to do here. But it bothered me because the daughter was so young.
She came across a little obnoxious at times. Giving a deed back to a random character, without knowing the value, or talking to the duke beforehand, seemed very stupid and a little entitled.
Should you read it? Maybe, It really was super romantic, the middle part was vert heartfelt, but it gets resolved at 75% and then its like its a new book😂
I loved the premise but I wanted more from the romance and less from the suspense subplot.
Hannah is a widow and lives in a small village, David has an accident and needs medical care for a few weeks, they form a friendship and due to her circumstances David volunteers to marry her. He is however a rogue and a scoundrel and regrets his offer, the night before the wedding.
He proceeds to write his twin brother Marcus’s name on the wedding certificate and dumps her at his house in London. They ( Marcus and Hannah) slowly fall in love, and I honestly loved this part of the story, the romance was build up slowly, and in an adorable way.
However a suspense subplot takes over the last 30% and I am not really into that. It’s probably a me thing.
The beginning had a nice build up, but it was a little slow.. 3⭐️
The middle was awesome 5⭐️
The ending felt a little like filler 3⭐️
I had some fmc issues, especially how she interacted with her 3 year old daughter, and I had a hard time shaking the dialogue. She was a little harsh with her, ex.: Molly the daughter, wanted to do a million things that day, and Hannah responds with: “enough”. That’s it.
I fully remember what it feels like to be an exhausted mother, but she is living as duchess with all the help in the world. I think it’s a writing issue and not a character issue and I do understand what CL wanted to do here. But it bothered me because the daughter was so young.
She came across a little obnoxious at times. Giving a deed back to a random character, without knowing the value, or talking to the duke beforehand, seemed very stupid and a little entitled.
Should you read it? Maybe, It really was super romantic, the middle part was vert heartfelt, but it gets resolved at 75% and then its like its a new book😂
October 9, 2025
This book has such a great set up. Wastrel second son David drunkenly crashes his carriage and is forced to recover his broken leg (ah pre-plaster cast times, such a reliable HR plot point) with the lovely young widow Hannah. He's been feeling a little over himself, and the time in the country not drinking and getting sun and fresh air with Hannah is great for him. "As long as he was steeped in the pure air of this little village, he wasn't tempted to return to his old ways." So great that he offers a marriage of convenience to her, she's being turned out of the vicar's cottage to make room for the new one, and they're good friends. What a classic romance set up! Except SURPRISE, David is not the hero of this book. He panics when he gets the first whiff of the old life he'll leave behind "Could he never drink again? Never visit a brothel again? What was he thinking getting married while he was still young?" and so he does what he's always done, leaves his mess for his brother Marcus the Duke to clean up, by writing his name in the registry, and boom they are married, In Which Winnie Halifax Is Utterly Ruined style.
So they go to London, and he sets her up in one of his brother's houses for a couple days while his plan comes together, and then he sends her and her daughter to the Duke's house and bounces. She finds out she's been tricked only when the Marcus tells her, and then they have to Romance Reasons fake it a bit because his sister and stepmother show up delighted in the marriage.
It's so telling how David sets her up in the Mistress house, a place for temporary arrangements. Marcus immediately installs her in the Duchess' suite, where she belongs (even if he doesn't know it) and where she feels immediately at home. Later there's great symbolism with the use of pearls, the symbol of Exeter Dukedom, showing they belong on her, that they are hard to remove, and how they save the family.
This book has so many things that delight me. Poor Marcus is SO PRESSED, it's constantly "He exhaled slowly through his nose, as if she tried his patience, and Hannah bristled." He's constantly cleaning up David's messes, and this is one of them, that will leave him looking bad in the eyes of his sister and stepmother. Nevertheless! When they shake on their deal (when they are done faking it she'll get a house and settlement, and a dowery for her young daughter) "He held out one hand with a dry smile. Hannah took it, and his fingers closed around hers as if their hands had been made to fit together." And he undergoes the classic and beloved thinking she's plain, even though she has the "self-confidence and bearing of a duchess" to thinking she "smelled as enticing as she looked" and on from there.
Of course these two are crazy in lust for each other, but know it's going to end and they can't make the marriage "legal" anyway. Of course there are late night conversations and confidences where "for the first time in his life that he could recall, it seemed as though someone had understood him completely." And then when the gig is finally up, the truth telling hit SO HARD. The icy duke who never planned to marry and was controlled in every thought in action has completely evolved because of love. Their relief about not losing what they had is palpable, and the passion in their first times(s) together HIGHLY memorable. "It barely even penetrated his fastidious mind that he was making love to her on a table, both of them still clothed." and "Last night had been so frenzied and desperate because he had been...frenzied and desperate." I particularly liked that the next day she is briefly overwhelmed with it all, and then takes a glance at the mess they made sweeping a surface the night before and is like, yeah this works. At breakfast "For the first time she didn't feel like a guest at this table, like an imposter."
This was my first Linden, and I can't tell you how much I enjoyed this book. There is such a place for a (complimentary) serviceable and effective author cranking out the well-plotted and emotionally resonant bangers, and this is it. I fully intended this to be a single-read as part of my RU curriculum, but before the book was over I had downloaded books 2&3. I don't know how they are going to pull off having feckless David be the hero of the next book, but stay tuned, because I'm about to find out!
So they go to London, and he sets her up in one of his brother's houses for a couple days while his plan comes together, and then he sends her and her daughter to the Duke's house and bounces. She finds out she's been tricked only when the Marcus tells her, and then they have to Romance Reasons fake it a bit because his sister and stepmother show up delighted in the marriage.
It's so telling how David sets her up in the Mistress house, a place for temporary arrangements. Marcus immediately installs her in the Duchess' suite, where she belongs (even if he doesn't know it) and where she feels immediately at home. Later there's great symbolism with the use of pearls, the symbol of Exeter Dukedom, showing they belong on her, that they are hard to remove, and how they save the family.
This book has so many things that delight me. Poor Marcus is SO PRESSED, it's constantly "He exhaled slowly through his nose, as if she tried his patience, and Hannah bristled." He's constantly cleaning up David's messes, and this is one of them, that will leave him looking bad in the eyes of his sister and stepmother. Nevertheless! When they shake on their deal (when they are done faking it she'll get a house and settlement, and a dowery for her young daughter) "He held out one hand with a dry smile. Hannah took it, and his fingers closed around hers as if their hands had been made to fit together." And he undergoes the classic and beloved thinking she's plain, even though she has the "self-confidence and bearing of a duchess" to thinking she "smelled as enticing as she looked" and on from there.
Of course these two are crazy in lust for each other, but know it's going to end and they can't make the marriage "legal" anyway. Of course there are late night conversations and confidences where "for the first time in his life that he could recall, it seemed as though someone had understood him completely." And then when the gig is finally up, the truth telling hit SO HARD. The icy duke who never planned to marry and was controlled in every thought in action has completely evolved because of love. Their relief about not losing what they had is palpable, and the passion in their first times(s) together HIGHLY memorable. "It barely even penetrated his fastidious mind that he was making love to her on a table, both of them still clothed." and "Last night had been so frenzied and desperate because he had been...frenzied and desperate." I particularly liked that the next day she is briefly overwhelmed with it all, and then takes a glance at the mess they made sweeping a surface the night before and is like, yeah this works. At breakfast "For the first time she didn't feel like a guest at this table, like an imposter."
This was my first Linden, and I can't tell you how much I enjoyed this book. There is such a place for a (complimentary) serviceable and effective author cranking out the well-plotted and emotionally resonant bangers, and this is it. I fully intended this to be a single-read as part of my RU curriculum, but before the book was over I had downloaded books 2&3. I don't know how they are going to pull off having feckless David be the hero of the next book, but stay tuned, because I'm about to find out!
January 19, 2019
4.5/5 stars.
A testament to how much I loved this book is that I re-read almost days within completing it. Caroline Linden is fast becoming one of my favorite authors, and I've only read two full fledged books by her and a novel or two. This book is my all time favorite as of now.
Marcus and David Reece are identical twin brothers, and Marcus is the elder by barely a few minutes thus making him the Duke of Exeter. A formidable, respectable and thorough gentleman Marcus takes his elder brother status and ducal responsibilities a touch to the extreme. From the prologue itself I found myself completely in love with Marcus. His body language, his manners, his words and his inner thoughts cemented my thought that he'd a brilliant hero. He's my favorite kind of hero's in historicals ; powerful, strong with enough darkness to make him sexy as hell but no underlying angst to make him a douchenozzle. And most imporantly Miss Linden proved that a hero can be infinitely attractive without being a rake who sleeps with everything that moves. Both Hannah and Marcus have a sexuality that's understated but oh so powerful, not just together but also as individuals. I loved this part particularly.
I won't get into any plot details because it's just so unique and wonderful to experience that I do not wish to spoil anyone who'll be reading it. Basically, through certain circumstances Marcus and Hannah (the widow of a vicar with a little girl in a remote town) end up married - or something of the sort. They agree to keep up the shenanigan for a month or two so that the Duke doesn't have to face a scandal and cause pain to his step-mother and his little sister, both of whom he loves dearly in his stoic ducal way. God, his relationship with Rosalind and Celia is so beautiful I have no words. The sacrifices he makes of himself and their image of him so they never see the truth of David and his failings is just ugh. Though it is classic enabling behaviour on Marcus' part but he rectifies that later.
Reading about Marcus and Hannah getting to know each other is a delight, and the underlying sexual tension is tense as hell. When they finally get together it made me sigh and lean back in my chair because I was just so on edge. Brilliant work by the author in pulling us into the characters and the romance. But my favorite part of it was the fact that they both have honest and open discussions on everything, but mostly their feelings *gasp* for each other. An HR without misunderstandings and open, honest communcation bewteen MC's? Yes, it exists.
When push comes to shove Marcus doesn't hold back in expressing his feelings for Hannah and doesn't let anything, nor his ducal pride, nor what is expected of him as a Duke and especially not the notion of being vulnerable come in the way. Even Hannah doesn't do the whole insecure I-will-not-express-my-feelings-until-he-does nonsense. Ugh it was just so sweet and romantic.
The ending is wonderful as well, and sets up the next book in the series by actually making us like David as a character. Which I did not in the start of the book for sure.
if I have any complaints its the lack of epilogue, and perhaps the lack of interactions between Marcus and Molly but it isn't that troublesome. The book was always more about Marcus and Hannah and I love that!
Just go read this, I promise you won't be dissapointed.
A testament to how much I loved this book is that I re-read almost days within completing it. Caroline Linden is fast becoming one of my favorite authors, and I've only read two full fledged books by her and a novel or two. This book is my all time favorite as of now.
Marcus and David Reece are identical twin brothers, and Marcus is the elder by barely a few minutes thus making him the Duke of Exeter. A formidable, respectable and thorough gentleman Marcus takes his elder brother status and ducal responsibilities a touch to the extreme. From the prologue itself I found myself completely in love with Marcus. His body language, his manners, his words and his inner thoughts cemented my thought that he'd a brilliant hero. He's my favorite kind of hero's in historicals ; powerful, strong with enough darkness to make him sexy as hell but no underlying angst to make him a douchenozzle. And most imporantly Miss Linden proved that a hero can be infinitely attractive without being a rake who sleeps with everything that moves. Both Hannah and Marcus have a sexuality that's understated but oh so powerful, not just together but also as individuals. I loved this part particularly.
I won't get into any plot details because it's just so unique and wonderful to experience that I do not wish to spoil anyone who'll be reading it. Basically, through certain circumstances Marcus and Hannah (the widow of a vicar with a little girl in a remote town) end up married - or something of the sort. They agree to keep up the shenanigan for a month or two so that the Duke doesn't have to face a scandal and cause pain to his step-mother and his little sister, both of whom he loves dearly in his stoic ducal way. God, his relationship with Rosalind and Celia is so beautiful I have no words. The sacrifices he makes of himself and their image of him so they never see the truth of David and his failings is just ugh. Though it is classic enabling behaviour on Marcus' part but he rectifies that later.
Reading about Marcus and Hannah getting to know each other is a delight, and the underlying sexual tension is tense as hell. When they finally get together it made me sigh and lean back in my chair because I was just so on edge. Brilliant work by the author in pulling us into the characters and the romance. But my favorite part of it was the fact that they both have honest and open discussions on everything, but mostly their feelings *gasp* for each other. An HR without misunderstandings and open, honest communcation bewteen MC's? Yes, it exists.
When push comes to shove Marcus doesn't hold back in expressing his feelings for Hannah and doesn't let anything, nor his ducal pride, nor what is expected of him as a Duke and especially not the notion of being vulnerable come in the way. Even Hannah doesn't do the whole insecure I-will-not-express-my-feelings-until-he-does nonsense. Ugh it was just so sweet and romantic.
The ending is wonderful as well, and sets up the next book in the series by actually making us like David as a character. Which I did not in the start of the book for sure.
if I have any complaints its the lack of epilogue, and perhaps the lack of interactions between Marcus and Molly but it isn't that troublesome. The book was always more about Marcus and Hannah and I love that!
Just go read this, I promise you won't be dissapointed.
December 10, 2025
3.75 stars
This is my first CL book and I quite enjoyed her style! It made for a very entertaining and fun light read. The romance was not swoony, but it still had layers and the steam was steamy.
I thoroughly enjoyed the first part even though the basic premises stretches belief (e.g. the legality of their marriage, Marcus's reasons for upholding the charade, the ton's surprisingly sedate attitude, Hannah adapting to her role without much issues) - David's reason for the last minute change even made kind of sense. The next part did not convince me how Marcus started to feel attraction for Hannah, but once it was established they wanted each other, the plot flowed more easily. The whole Bentley-counterfeiting subplot was kind of flimsy (because there were still unanswered threads by the end), but the author's dynamic style helped me to let go and just enjoy the ride.
An author I will certainly be watching out for my TBR 😊.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 24, 2021
David bi’ dayak yemiş ya!!!! Ohhhhhh!!!!
İçimin yağları eridi utanmaz herif.
Güzeldi karakterler bence. Kız eccik istemem yan cebime koydu ama ossun.
👍🏻
İçimin yağları eridi utanmaz herif.
Güzeldi karakterler bence. Kız eccik istemem yan cebime koydu ama ossun.
👍🏻
June 15, 2021
I read and listened both to this first book in the Reece family series. It took me a minute to get used to the narrator but once I did I really enjoyed what the narrator brought to the characters.
Marcus and Hannah are my kind of H/h. A twin, a fake marriage, and a vicar's widow. The perfect storm. Can't wait to read book 2, although if it's about David, he has some redeeming to do.
Marcus and Hannah are my kind of H/h. A twin, a fake marriage, and a vicar's widow. The perfect storm. Can't wait to read book 2, although if it's about David, he has some redeeming to do.
March 10, 2011
I really enjoyed this book. It's written in a moderately intense tone, with lots of point-of-view switches between the characters, which annoyed me very slightly at first, but actually made the whole story much more intimate.
The basic plot is quite simple, but the internal dialogue of the hero and heroine, and the hero's naughty brother, is fabulous, and makes it quite an addictive read. I even liked the heroine's daughter in it. Normally, I find that children have no place in HRs, but, like all the characters, she felt so realistic that it didn't bother me at all.
There were some things in particular which I absolutely LOVED about this one. The situation the heroine is placed in is awful, and, on the surface, sounds completely unbelievable, but actually marriage in this period was a much more haphazard, iffy thing. Lots of people never did really get married at all, others used fake names if they had a previous marriage which turned into a mistake (you couldn't divorce unless you were very wealthy), and anyone could be dubiously married in the Fleet Prison, for as long or short as you wanted. So, actually, the premise is more realistic than it sounds.
I also loved how the characters place the heroine into a completely impossible situation. She's been emotionally blackmailed into doing the most ridiculous thing, and is surrounded by a complete cold-fish, his matchmaking, shopaholic stepmother, and his step-sister, who is far too romantic for her own good, and clinging on to her last year as a child by her fingernails. She's been dumped in this situation by a man who's done a runner and her daughter loves it there. I can't imagine what I'd do in that situation.
The development of the romance itself is also well-written. They don't fall into bed at the first opportunity, and the steamy bits were kinda vague, but the sexual tension and attraction is smokin' hot.
The plot switch and change of pace towards the end also surprised me a bit, mainly because it worked so well. Normally, when suspense is thrown into a Regency HR, after the romance bit is quite well-developed, it falls flat for me, but it really didn't here.
So, maybe after writing this review, I'd give it closer to 4.5 stars than 4 stars...
The basic plot is quite simple, but the internal dialogue of the hero and heroine, and the hero's naughty brother, is fabulous, and makes it quite an addictive read. I even liked the heroine's daughter in it. Normally, I find that children have no place in HRs, but, like all the characters, she felt so realistic that it didn't bother me at all.
There were some things in particular which I absolutely LOVED about this one. The situation the heroine is placed in is awful, and, on the surface, sounds completely unbelievable, but actually marriage in this period was a much more haphazard, iffy thing. Lots of people never did really get married at all, others used fake names if they had a previous marriage which turned into a mistake (you couldn't divorce unless you were very wealthy), and anyone could be dubiously married in the Fleet Prison, for as long or short as you wanted. So, actually, the premise is more realistic than it sounds.
I also loved how the characters place the heroine into a completely impossible situation. She's been emotionally blackmailed into doing the most ridiculous thing, and is surrounded by a complete cold-fish, his matchmaking, shopaholic stepmother, and his step-sister, who is far too romantic for her own good, and clinging on to her last year as a child by her fingernails. She's been dumped in this situation by a man who's done a runner and her daughter loves it there. I can't imagine what I'd do in that situation.
The development of the romance itself is also well-written. They don't fall into bed at the first opportunity, and the steamy bits were kinda vague, but the sexual tension and attraction is smokin' hot.
The plot switch and change of pace towards the end also surprised me a bit, mainly because it worked so well. Normally, when suspense is thrown into a Regency HR, after the romance bit is quite well-developed, it falls flat for me, but it really didn't here.
So, maybe after writing this review, I'd give it closer to 4.5 stars than 4 stars...
September 30, 2014
4.5 stars. Personally, I ♥ this historical suspense romance, despite its unlikely premise. The suspense is decent, and it has such an intimate feeling to it, partly because we get so much of the hero's POV. The "newly married to a stranger" relationship starts off cool and distrustful, warms to friendship and trust, and finally blazes into passion. That first erotic love scene! Yowsa! The explicit love scenes felt honestly emotional.
Unlikely Premise: David, an irresponsible rogue with good intentions, impersonates his older brother Marcus, the Duke of Exeter. Signing the duke's name, he marries Hannah, a widow with a young child. When Marcus discovers what David has done, he feels compelled to continue the farce, staying married to Hannah until David returns. Why? To protect his stepmother and sister from losing faith in their beloved David. (Quite a stretch, yes?)
The problem is -- David has gone missing (foul play!) and does not return for several weeks. Long enough for Marcus to fall in love with Hannah. At first cold and aloof, our hero heats up nicely:
Child alert! The few scenes with young Molly were sweet -- especially when she is talking with the Duke, calling him Extera. Linden writes decent children's dialogue.
Unlikely Premise: David, an irresponsible rogue with good intentions, impersonates his older brother Marcus, the Duke of Exeter. Signing the duke's name, he marries Hannah, a widow with a young child. When Marcus discovers what David has done, he feels compelled to continue the farce, staying married to Hannah until David returns. Why? To protect his stepmother and sister from losing faith in their beloved David. (Quite a stretch, yes?)
The problem is -- David has gone missing (foul play!) and does not return for several weeks. Long enough for Marcus to fall in love with Hannah. At first cold and aloof, our hero heats up nicely:
"He was lean and hard everywhere, his skin sleek and golden in the candlelight. Dark hair covered his chest, narrowing down to his stomach. His eyes never left her, those dark, dark eyes she couldn't look away from. He put her in mind of a powerful animal, muscles taut and coiled, ready to spring -- at her."I came upon that first big clincher at about 70%. Sizzling, and the loving between Marcus and Hannah feels real. Emotional, but erotic:
"With one arm he lashed out, sweeping perfume bottles and brushes from the dressing table before lifting her onto it...He kissed her desperately, his hands shaking as they raced over her, too wild with urgency to linger anywhere. God in heaven, how long has he wanted this, to have her..."Suspense: A decent suspense thread runs throughout the story: kidnapping, beating, theft, impersonation, and murder, etc. This thread did not fully develop until the second half of the book, but the author alluded to it in the first half. I especially liked the scene with the pearls, up on the roof.
Child alert! The few scenes with young Molly were sweet -- especially when she is talking with the Duke, calling him Extera. Linden writes decent children's dialogue.
October 13, 2025
3.5 ⭐️ sweet and different.
I loved the premise but I wanted more from the romance and less from the suspense subplot.
Hannah is a widow and lives in a small village, David has an accident and needs medical care for a few weeks, they form a friendship and due to her circumstances David volunteers to marry her. He is however a rogue and a scoundrel and regrets his offer, the night before the wedding.
He proceeds to write his twin brother Marcus’s name on the wedding certificate and dumps her at his house in London. They ( Marcus and Hannah) slowly fall in love, and I honestly loved this part of the story, the romance was build up slowly, and in an adorable way.
However a suspense subplot takes over the last 30% and I am not really into that. It’s probably a me thing.
The beginning had a nice build up, but it was a little slow.. 3⭐️
The middle was awesome 5⭐️
The ending felt a little like filler 3⭐️
I had some fmc issues, especially how she interacted with her 3 year old daughter, and I had a hard time shaking the dialogue. She was a little harsh with her, ex.: Molly the daughter, wanted to do a million things that day, and Hannah responds with: “enough”. That’s it.
I fully remember what it feels like to be an exhausted mother, but she is living as duchess with all the help in the world. I think it’s a writing issue and not a character issue and I do understand what CL wanted to do here. But it bothered me because the daughter was so young.
She came across a little obnoxious at times. Giving a deed back to a random character, without knowing the value, or talking to the duke beforehand, seemed very stupid and a little entitled.
Should you read it? Maybe, It really was super romantic, the middle part was vert heartfelt, but it gets resolved at 75% and then its like its a new book😂
I loved the premise but I wanted more from the romance and less from the suspense subplot.
Hannah is a widow and lives in a small village, David has an accident and needs medical care for a few weeks, they form a friendship and due to her circumstances David volunteers to marry her. He is however a rogue and a scoundrel and regrets his offer, the night before the wedding.
He proceeds to write his twin brother Marcus’s name on the wedding certificate and dumps her at his house in London. They ( Marcus and Hannah) slowly fall in love, and I honestly loved this part of the story, the romance was build up slowly, and in an adorable way.
However a suspense subplot takes over the last 30% and I am not really into that. It’s probably a me thing.
The beginning had a nice build up, but it was a little slow.. 3⭐️
The middle was awesome 5⭐️
The ending felt a little like filler 3⭐️
I had some fmc issues, especially how she interacted with her 3 year old daughter, and I had a hard time shaking the dialogue. She was a little harsh with her, ex.: Molly the daughter, wanted to do a million things that day, and Hannah responds with: “enough”. That’s it.
I fully remember what it feels like to be an exhausted mother, but she is living as duchess with all the help in the world. I think it’s a writing issue and not a character issue and I do understand what CL wanted to do here. But it bothered me because the daughter was so young.
She came across a little obnoxious at times. Giving a deed back to a random character, without knowing the value, or talking to the duke beforehand, seemed very stupid and a little entitled.
Should you read it? Maybe, It really was super romantic, the middle part was vert heartfelt, but it gets resolved at 75% and then its like its a new book😂
August 4, 2023
Story of twins. Responsible Duke Marcus and a rake/gambler David and one marriage to a vicar’s widow Hannah.
It was sweet to see Hannah and Marcus come together.
I was pleasantly surprised how wild and imaginative Marcus became during that one sex scene. I kind of wanted more of that.
Also the build up is pretty slow but when they started to fall in love with each other it was so sweet I just kept on highlighting sections.
But the end with all the drama even though necessary wasn’t my cup of tea.
It was sweet to see Hannah and Marcus come together.
I was pleasantly surprised how wild and imaginative Marcus became during that one sex scene. I kind of wanted more of that.
Also the build up is pretty slow but when they started to fall in love with each other it was so sweet I just kept on highlighting sections.
But the end with all the drama even though necessary wasn’t my cup of tea.
February 11, 2025
2/11/2025: This was closer to 4 stars upon reread, what a difference 5 years makes! I definitely liked this more than my original 3 star rating. I think I really enjoyed a lot of angst back then, so anything that wasn’t crazy wasn’t crazy a high rating from me. This book has plenty of angst for me now!
I also really can’t believe I ignored so many “safety” details in the past. Whoops. Can’t even trust my past self to tell the truth. 😭😭😭
Safety is still fine overall
-Heroine is widowed and said she loved her husband but it seemed like she barely mentioned him
-Hero not a manwhore but has been with plenty of women
-Heroine is originally left to live unknowingly in hero’s past mistress’ house
-OW who hero had a brief affair with causes some drama, hero wasn’t really super into her ever, he slept with her bc she was willing, but she had some ideas about him marrying her and is therefore bitter and rude about the heroine, which the heroine overhears
-No major OM drama but hero does show some jealousy about the heroine’s late husband
-No scenes with OM/OW
-No cheating
5/31/2020: 3 stars, this book was just ok. It is certainly not my favorite from this author. I liked the story and the hero & heroine well enough, but somehow I just didn’t feel the connection. I didn’t think that the love between the MCs was compelling... it felt like it came out of nowhere. One minute they just want to make out, the next they are declaring themselves. On the plus side, this book had no cheating, no major ex lover drama, no virgins, and no ridiculous schemes or secrets.
The last point I want to make is that the h was widowed... and I can’t decide if this part of the story was well done or not. On the one hand, I didn’t feel like the H ended up being her second best. On the other hand, she moved on from her loving husband and father of her child rather quickly and really didn’t think of him much at all. Having a widow as part of the story always makes for extra complications that I never much enjoy. 🤷🏻♀️
I also really can’t believe I ignored so many “safety” details in the past. Whoops. Can’t even trust my past self to tell the truth. 😭😭😭
Safety is still fine overall
-Heroine is widowed and said she loved her husband but it seemed like she barely mentioned him
-Hero not a manwhore but has been with plenty of women
-Heroine is originally left to live unknowingly in hero’s past mistress’ house
-OW who hero had a brief affair with causes some drama, hero wasn’t really super into her ever, he slept with her bc she was willing, but she had some ideas about him marrying her and is therefore bitter and rude about the heroine, which the heroine overhears
-No major OM drama but hero does show some jealousy about the heroine’s late husband
-No scenes with OM/OW
-No cheating
5/31/2020: 3 stars, this book was just ok. It is certainly not my favorite from this author. I liked the story and the hero & heroine well enough, but somehow I just didn’t feel the connection. I didn’t think that the love between the MCs was compelling... it felt like it came out of nowhere. One minute they just want to make out, the next they are declaring themselves. On the plus side, this book had no cheating, no major ex lover drama, no virgins, and no ridiculous schemes or secrets.
The last point I want to make is that the h was widowed... and I can’t decide if this part of the story was well done or not. On the one hand, I didn’t feel like the H ended up being her second best. On the other hand, she moved on from her loving husband and father of her child rather quickly and really didn’t think of him much at all. Having a widow as part of the story always makes for extra complications that I never much enjoy. 🤷🏻♀️
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 7, 2016
Once I got past my initial loathing of the premise (younger, good-for-nothing twin has an accident, ends up admiring the woman who takes care of him so much he offers her a marriage of convenience only to get cold feet at the last possible second, ends up forging his brother's signature on the marriage certificate and then proceeds to abandon a completely oblivious woman in London after sending an announcement of his twin's wedding to the Times and informing his stepmother and sister about the marriage), I ended up really enjoying this, only to roll my eyes at all the last-minute drama that served as an attempt to redeem the younger twin's actions so he can get his HEA in the next book of the series. Once the story focuses on the relationship between the heroine and the older twin, I found it really enjoyable, their journey from married-by-"mistake" to married-for-real was slow and believable, but I would've loved it more if it hadn't been for the last-minute kidnapping, blackmail, and rescue mission.
August 18, 2021
Disappointed in this one tbh. Our hero was too cold.
February 15, 2024
Caroline Linden is a fairly new author for me even though this is my 15th book by her. I read 3 of her books in 2021 but didn't pick her up again until June 2023 when I read her 7 book series The Scandals, which was really good. Although I really like her writing and her stories, she is not someone I normally look to when trying to find a book to read because as someone that reads 300 books a year, I found some of her books a bit too expensive. But I keep her on my list and will check back periodically to see if any of her books go on sale or if I have credits to buy them.
So when browsing for books to read, I saw this series and actually they weren't too expensive. This book was actually KU and I was able to get Book 2 and 3 on credits so they didn’t cost that much.
I really enjoyed Hannah and Marcus' story. I liked their personalities. The only strange thing to me, and I don't think I'm giving anything away as it says this in the book description, was if his brother signed Marcus' name to the marriage documents wouldn't they be married? They spoke sometimes like they were married and other times like they weren't. It didn't detract from the story just something I noticed. I also wish there would have been a bit more detailed epilogue. If they weren't married, I am guessing they secretly got married. Did she ever have kids? Things like that. Maybe they'll touch a bit in Book 2 on that. Otherwise a pretty good read.
So when browsing for books to read, I saw this series and actually they weren't too expensive. This book was actually KU and I was able to get Book 2 and 3 on credits so they didn’t cost that much.
I really enjoyed Hannah and Marcus' story. I liked their personalities. The only strange thing to me, and I don't think I'm giving anything away as it says this in the book description, was if his brother signed Marcus' name to the marriage documents wouldn't they be married? They spoke sometimes like they were married and other times like they weren't. It didn't detract from the story just something I noticed. I also wish there would have been a bit more detailed epilogue. If they weren't married, I am guessing they secretly got married. Did she ever have kids? Things like that. Maybe they'll touch a bit in Book 2 on that. Otherwise a pretty good read.
October 6, 2021
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January 14, 2016
3.5 rounded up to 4.
This is a re-print of a previously published work, I read a digital ARC of this reprint
Hannah is about to lose her home having been recently widowed. Her only option is to move her and her daughter back to her father's house which is a daunting prospect because he is recently remarried and doesn't really want them. As she is preparing to move there is a carriage accident and she takes care of the victim David. After learning of her problems and feeling grateful, David offers her a marriage of convenience promising to look after her and her daughter. However, the night before the wedding David has second thoughts and on the day of the wedding signs his twin Marcus, Duke of Exeter's name in the marriage register. Unaware of the deception, Hannah goes to London with him where David dumps her but not before telling the newspapers and family of the Duke's marriage.
Marcus is absolutely furious and plans to send Hannah away immediately but can't because of the notice in the paper and his family's arrival in town to congratulate them. I have to admit that I found the beginning of the book a bit unbelievable and read much of it with a raised eyebrow but what followed was a really enjoyable read. The relationship build-up between Marcus and Hannah was very well done, we see the haughty Duke slowly softening towards Hannah and her daughter and watch Hannah come to realise that the man behind the Duke is a really good man. He does his best to look after everyone, they talk to each other, there are no big misunderstandings between them.
There is a side story about a counterfeiting ring and a jealous cousin who is trying to get rid of the twins so he can be Duke which gives some drama towards the end of the book and is wrapped up very neatly. All in all I enjoyed this book, it wont be added to the favourites list but it was fun while it lasted.
*Received from Netgalley
This is a re-print of a previously published work, I read a digital ARC of this reprint
Hannah is about to lose her home having been recently widowed. Her only option is to move her and her daughter back to her father's house which is a daunting prospect because he is recently remarried and doesn't really want them. As she is preparing to move there is a carriage accident and she takes care of the victim David. After learning of her problems and feeling grateful, David offers her a marriage of convenience promising to look after her and her daughter. However, the night before the wedding David has second thoughts and on the day of the wedding signs his twin Marcus, Duke of Exeter's name in the marriage register. Unaware of the deception, Hannah goes to London with him where David dumps her but not before telling the newspapers and family of the Duke's marriage.
Marcus is absolutely furious and plans to send Hannah away immediately but can't because of the notice in the paper and his family's arrival in town to congratulate them. I have to admit that I found the beginning of the book a bit unbelievable and read much of it with a raised eyebrow but what followed was a really enjoyable read. The relationship build-up between Marcus and Hannah was very well done, we see the haughty Duke slowly softening towards Hannah and her daughter and watch Hannah come to realise that the man behind the Duke is a really good man. He does his best to look after everyone, they talk to each other, there are no big misunderstandings between them.
There is a side story about a counterfeiting ring and a jealous cousin who is trying to get rid of the twins so he can be Duke which gives some drama towards the end of the book and is wrapped up very neatly. All in all I enjoyed this book, it wont be added to the favourites list but it was fun while it lasted.
*Received from Netgalley
August 9, 2016
Plot-y bits: Hannah is the widow of a vicar and is about to be evicted by the new vicar. David is the twin brother of the Duke of Exetar and proposes marriage. He forges his brother's signature and then drops Hannah in London and sends letters to the Times and his step-mother / sister. Marcus, the duke, is enraged but allows the farce to stand.
First: HUGE suspension of disbelief that a man would be like 'JUST GO ALONG WITH IT' to the woman his twin brother dumps on him after forging their marriage.
Second: I thought there were some really, really well done parts, especially the scene where they have tea together and talk, and when they discuss what's to be done now that David's ruined everything. Much conflict could have been had, but Linden chose to circumvent it and it was refreshing and delightful.
Third: The subplot / final conflict was a MESS. I never quite understood how Marcus was supposed to be helping with the investigation and the kidnapping/showdown thing was just not good.
Overall, intriguing but not light-me-on-fire great. Will probably check out additional books by Linden if I come across them, but am not in any great rush to seek them out at this time.
First: HUGE suspension of disbelief that a man would be like 'JUST GO ALONG WITH IT' to the woman his twin brother dumps on him after forging their marriage.
Second: I thought there were some really, really well done parts, especially the scene where they have tea together and talk, and when they discuss what's to be done now that David's ruined everything. Much conflict could have been had, but Linden chose to circumvent it and it was refreshing and delightful.
Third: The subplot / final conflict was a MESS. I never quite understood how Marcus was supposed to be helping with the investigation and the kidnapping/showdown thing was just not good.
Overall, intriguing but not light-me-on-fire great. Will probably check out additional books by Linden if I come across them, but am not in any great rush to seek them out at this time.
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