Four Weddings and a Duke

by Michelle McLean

As the middle—and least marriageable—sister in a bevy of swans, Lavinia Wynnburn is quite content being the odd duck out. This way, she’s free to commit social faux pas without anyone much noticing. Until the Duke of Beaubrooke turns up the morning after a ball, asking for her hand in marriage.

Alexander Reddington doesn’t particularly care for social niceties, nor is he particularly good at them. But now that the spare has become the heir, he must marry...and soon. When he stumbles into the same corner as a socially awkward wallflower, he knows he’s found the perfect one who won’t bother him to attend every simpering event of the season.

Only, Alexander’s shy and pretty new wife is finding her new position surprisingly exciting and keeps accepting every invitation that flutters past their door. And worse luck, he might even be falling for her. Now he must hide the truth about why he really proposed…before his unexpectedly happy marriage is dashed to pieces.

Genres: Historical Romance, Romance, Historical, Historical Fiction, Audiobook, Marriage Of Convenience, Regency

300 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 23, 2023

About the author

Michelle McLean is a jeans and t-shirt kind of girl who is addicted to chocolate and Goldfish crackers and spent most of her formative years with her nose in a book. She has a B.S. in History, an M.A. in English, and loves her romances with a little heat, a lot of humor, and always a happily ever after.

When Michelle's not working, reading, or chasing her kids around, she can usually be found baking or diamond painting, which she accidentally got addicted to while bored one day. She resides in PA with her husband and two teens, the world's most spoiled dog, and two cats who absolutely rule the house. She also writes contemporary romance as Kira Archer.

For more info on Michelle and her work, visit her website at michellemcleanbooks.com.

Reviews

[Chris C - A Midlife Wife · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love the deep connection, steam, and daring displays of affection at the end.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This story was a delightful surprise. It is fresh and unique with characters that are out of the element and the norm of society!

This is the second book I have read by this author and I was excited that she allows her imagination to roam.

What would normally be droll and boring characters come alive in Four Weddings and a Duke. Unexpected and fun, cranky and focused, sweet and endearing. The author hits all of the notes in this one.

I especially love the deep connection between the two, the unabashed steam, and the “daring” displays of affection at the end! These made the difference in this romance!

* copy received for review consideration
* full review - https://amidlifewife.com/four-wedding...

[ChasingLeslie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Alexander Reddington, once the spare, has now become the Duke of Beaubrooke. He knows he must marry and produce an heir, but Alex doesn't care to move in society and simply wants a wife who will leave him to his research. After a chance encounter with an awkward wallflower, he thinks he’s found the perfect wife! But Lavinia Wynnburn is not exactly what he expected, and their quick marriage leads to unexpected consequences.

An agreement existed between the Reddington and the Wynnburn families that the Duke would choose a bride amongst three sisters, but Alex is not the same man as his deceased brother. He chooses sister Lavinia rather than her more popular and socially polished older sister, believing Lavinia would prefer a quiet life and he could simply continue with his botanical studies. While the story started well - with a meet-cute between Alex and Lavinia at a wedding, this book couldn't hold my attention at all. I didn't feel that the story had "teeth" and just sort of gummed through some misunderstandings and disagreements until their HEA. I didn't have the patience for it, so I'd say it was 2.5 stars but I'm rounding to three.

Tropes: Wallflower, Unexpected Title, Arranged Marriage/Marriage of Convenience

[Antonella · Rating 4 out of 5]

Four Weddings and a Duke is an utterly charming historical romance with a delightful twist on the usual marriage-of-convenience trope. Lavinia is the overlooked middle sister, content to stay in the background, until a completely unexpected proposal from the grumpy and awkward Duke of Beaubrooke turns her life upside down.

What I loved most about this story is how endearing both leads are in their own wonderfully awkward ways. Lavinia is relatable and quietly strong—she blossoms throughout the book, embracing her new role in society with growing confidence. And Alexander? Total grump with a heart of gold. He’s so bad at emotions and even worse at communication, but you can’t help but root for him as he stumbles his way into love.

If you enjoy wallflowers, cinnamon roll dukes (with a crusty exterior), and a cozy, feel-good romance, Four Weddings and a Duke will hit the spot. A delightful read with a soft spot in the heart and a sparkle of wit!

🎶"Invisible String" – Taylor Swift
🎶"Beyond" – Leon Bridges

[Avid Booker · Rating 1 out of 5]

It's laughable really how much of a horrible time I had. It's taken me a month to finish this book. ON the LAST day it took me 2 hours to read less than 100 pages. I didn't like the heroine at ALL.

Okay HERE's the REAL Premise of the book: Two HORNY nerds meet at a ball neither of them want to be at (allegedly), where the hero nerd thinks he's met his match in nerdy anti-socialism (and we ALL DO TOO), but little does he know the heroine nerd is not really a nerd but does the antisocial thing because woe-is-me no one notices her. So once he chooses her as his bride out of all her socialite sisters because HE THOUGHT THEY HAD COMMON INTERESTS. SHE MADE HIM BELIEVE THEY DID. She suddenly turns into a party girl who loves the spotlight and wants him to join in on it too (EVEN THO HE DOESN'T LIKE IT AND AGAIN, THOUGHT THAT WAS WHAT THEY HAD IN COMMON). He buries himself in work and when he's not doing that and she's not going to parties and planning them, they're arguing and then fucking mid argument. That's it. That's the book. And I explained it way more interesting than the book is. Trust me.

ALSO, this is personal gripe of mine. I HAAAAAATE The whole best friend of the opposite sex thing. That's just me. Her best friend is a GUY. A Lord. Because that's exactly possible. They are together A LOT, in very Not proper for the time-way, and the author and hero force it down my throat that they're just friends and very platonic and would never do anything romantic, and it just didn't matter because the DUDE WAS JUST ALWAYS THERE. ALWAYS. IT drove me and the hero CRAZY because although the hero wasnt jealous or thinking she was cheating with the best friend, that guy is his rival, and he has to share his wife's attention. That's crazy??? Especially in this time.

Also hate to admit this. But I was on the hero's side the ENTIRE TIME. She did suspicious shit. I don't think he needed to grovel. Yes he said some hurtful things. But she is NOT the girl he married. He has every right to feel some disappointment in that, I know I did.

Also her SISTER??? suddenly in love after she was a BIG BITCH to the heroine about marrying the hero..........felt random and easy. It was weird pacing in this book. And they didn't really know each other.

[Ami · Rating 2 out of 5]

At one point during their climax argument, Alex, the main male character said this to Lavinia, "The reason I married you was because we were alike. Or so I thought. You craved quiet and solitude. You hated social events. You’d rather hide in corners and read, remember? Yet the moment we married, you changed into someone I didn’t recognize. The only thing on your mind was the next ball or soiree. You were obsessed with hosting your own, and worse, you kept dragging me into all of it with you"

AND THAT was my biggest issue with this book!!

Because I expected that too from the moment Alex and Lavinia met. I thought Lavinia would enjoy her solitude and her books. I thought the romance blossomming between Alex and Lavinia would be the meeting of the mind, and the join forces of two people loving solitude rather than social events. I thought, the story would be fulfilled with the two of them on Alex's garden or the library, or reading together, and such. I thought Lavinia was like me ... one who prefer the quiet and that she would dismiss all the "duties" of being a duchess who entertained.

Alas, that was NOT what I get.

Apparently - as the author explained in the end, it wasn't that Lavinia craved solitude ... it was rather than she's never seen, so she WANTS to be seen, and she enjoys all those parties and social events, and she apparently also like hosting balls, and wanting to do it. I didn't get it, and I thought it felt like Lavinia got a change of characteristics... and I was ANNOYED and DISSAPPOINTED that she didn't end up like what I wanted in the beginning.

So this one was a failure for me, because I totally felt like Alex, and no matter what the author explained about Lavinia, for Alex to see differently, I couldn't. So I didn't enjoy it at all.






The ARC is provided by the publisher via Netgalley for an exchange of fair and honest review. No high rating is required for any ARC received.

[Stacee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had read a couple of Michelle's other books (westerns!) and was excited to see her take on a historical.

I loved Lavinia and Alex. They're both good, loyal people who have a spark during a chance meeting. I loved reading them figure out how to navigate their newly found responsibilities as well as the chemistry between them. There are a few other characters here, but this story is firmly on the two of them.

Plot wise, it's good. There are a lot of balls and parties, yet it didn't feel repetitive. The botany aspect was interesting and not to science-y to feel lost while read the details. The conflict was fantastic, the grand gesture was even better, and the epilogue left me wanting more of them.

Overall, this was a quick and fun read and I know it'll be one I come back to.

**Huge thanks to the publisher for providing the arc free of charge**

[Bonnie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley for a copy of this story and this is my freely given opinion.

This was a rather sweet, love story that had a marriage of convenience, wallflower blooms theme to it, with a touch of mean girls. Alex Reddington, the new Duke of Beaubrooke never expected to have to take up the responsibilities of the dukedom. He was a second son, who was more than happy to spend his time on his particular passion, namely botany and the research into improving plants and their medicinal qualities. His brother was the one who enjoyed all the social niceties that were part and parcel to being a duke. He knows it is his duty to wed and ensure the line, especially seeing how easily his brother and father were brought down.

Luckily his father and a friend of his, had made an agreement whereby his son would marry one of the Earl's three daughters when the time comes. This was originally Alex's brother's duty, but Alex was willing follow this plan so he could avoid the Season, and return to his research.

Lavinia Wynnburn is the middle daughter of the Earl, and used to being overlooked. She is a spectacle wearing wallflower more comfortable hiding amongst the palms in the sidelines, and reading, than holding court amongst Society, unlike her popular, beautiful sisters. She never expected that Alex would choose her as his Duchess. But Alex, after coming upon her hiding and reading at a ball, thinks that she would be the perfect Duchess for him, because she would not want to spend time in London and be taking his time with useless society events.

Lavinia is determined to become a Duchess Alex can be proud of, and starts to come out of her shell when she finds people start seeking her out, as the new Duchess of Beaubrooke. But she does not have the social savvy of her sisters, and initially cannot recognize that there are sharks swimming in the waters of Society. Alex and Lavinia don't share what either of them expect of each other and their marriage and things break down when he appears to abandon her socially, so he can focus on his research, and then he starts to suspect Lavinia of undermining his research, especially as her best friend is his chief rival.

A cute, lighthearted romance where the newlyweds miss the mark with each other through miscommunication, and when the marriage grows into something more than a mere convenience, Alex almost flubs things by taking things for granted and being suspicious of things that are not there.

3.5 stars out of 5

[Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

As the middle of three sisters, Lady Olivia Wynnburn has always been rather overlooked. She’s content enough with being relegated to the corners, that way no one notices her social mistakes. But all that changes when the Duke of Beaubrooke selects her over her sisters to be his bride.

Alexander Reddington never expected to be the duke, but his brother’s passing thrust him into the role. He’s more content to spend his time engrossed in his botanical studies and couldn’t care less for social engagements. But now he must fulfill his late brother's marital obligations and when he winds up sharing a corner with a lady who is just as socially inept as he is, he believes he’s found the perfect wife who won’t hound him about attending society events.

To his surprise, however, after their marriage Lavinia begins to gain confidence and accepts many more social invitations than Alex ever expected. Even worse, Alex seems to be losing his heart to her and he has no idea how to handle any of it with his research due date to the Royal Society looming.

This was a fine story, though rather slow. The conflict relies heavily on misunderstanding and miscommunication, and the MCs seemed to have the same argument over and over again. I enjoyed seeing the overlooked wallflower finally begin to come into her own, but Lavinia was also frustratingly naïve at times. In many ways, Alexander was just as naïve, so this caused most of their disagreements, but sometimes the story was bogged down by these little minutiae and that made it hard for me to stay invested. He was too suspicious for no reason and somehow, I was just left wanting more. I wanted her to take her sister and her supposed friend to task in a more dramatic fashion and I also wanted real communication sooner. That said, this was still a sweet, enjoyable story, and I very much appreciated how low angst it was.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Blog link: https://mustreadalltheromance.blogspo...

[Tammy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a standalone book, and tells the story of our hero Alexander the Duke of Beaubrooke and our heroine Lavinia who are similar in so many ways.. neither care for society, preferring other things—Alex wants only to be left alone to do his important botanical research 🌱🪻and Lavinia, the awkward wallflower, can always be found off in a corner somewhere reading.📘 When they meet there’s instant attraction!💥🤩

Alex, needing a duchess and an heir, asks for her hand in marriage.💍 It’s quite unexpected (for everyone) and Lavinia is completely caught off guard by the proposal, as she’s the middle daughter with two sisters that would make better duchesses.

This follows their whirlwind romance with Lavinia settling into being a duchess quite quickly by accepting all invites to parties and such. Of course Alex is a little taken back by this change in his new bride. What happened to the shy introvert that drew him to her? And then we have Alex and Lavinia’s best friend physically clashing over everything as both are involved in the same botanical research. This causes a lot of conflict and mistrust between Alex and Lavinia.

I have to mention what didn’t work for me was the older sisters character.. her bad attitude over not being picked as Alex’s duchess but then “immediately” falls in love + marries someone else. Not my favorite HEA from this author but I did like it for the most part + will read more from her. ❥ 3.5 stars — 5/23/23

[Fae · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an alright read.

Lavinia and Alex had similar personalities and in that, they were compatible. But in terms of chemistry, it could be improved.

However the main issues lies in the miscommunication between them. Alex did not tell Lavinia from the start what he expected from her after their marriage and it led to Lavinia doing some things that she thought would make him happy, but did not.

That miscommunication lasted for almost the whole book and I disliked that. When they do start to talk, they end up shouting and then having angry sex—which did not solve the root of their problems.

Nevertheless, I did not hate the book, but neither did I love it. It’s a lukewarm feeling. Hence, a 3 stars rating.

[Jenna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I voluntarily read and reviewed this advanced copy from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Four Weddings and a Duke was like sleeping on a cloud. The interactions between our main couple were so tender you could cut it with a fork. I am a great supporter of gentle, soft moments and I gobble them up like bonbons. The hero and heroine were sweet introverts more than willing to escape into the greenhouse together for some time alone. I knew from the first few pages that I loved the author's writing style and ran to NetGalley for more of her catalog. I'm weak-kneed for protagonists who wear glasses, especially when their partner encourages them to use them at every opportunity. Bundle in that feature with the couple's immediate chemistry and I was hooked like a bluefin tuna.



Lavinia and Alex were so well matched and a joy to read. I loved how they first met and he was already meant to marry a daughter of the Wynnburn family. Everything certainly worked out in the end. I felt like the eldest sister and family friend were both manipulative busybodies, but you've got to have a villain somewhere. Both the spice and the sweetness were perfectly curated in Four Weddings and a Duke. The last quarter of the book dragged on, but I suppose you have to lay the ground work for the eponymous four weddings. I was the most invested in the second wedding, but we gotta deliver on the title's promise!



Four Weddings and a Duke was a lovely surprise and I'm already anticipating the second Michelle McLean book stored in my Kindle. I could already tell from the first chapter how talented the author was and I couldn't wait to read more from her. If the next book has half as much tenderness as this one, we're golden. With gentle, green-thumbed heroes and strawberry sweet heroines, what's not to like? I'm just saying that I'm willing to suffer through four weddings like Lavinia if my consolation prize is a duke like Alex.

[Sherwood Smith]

I really enjoyed an earlier book by this writer, so I took a chance on this one. I did enjoy the first portion especially, though it was clear from the first page that this is a Bridgertons subgenre "Regency romance", with extra emphasis on the quotes, as it's not clear when it's supposed to be set. The world building details are scant, and the language twenty-first century, as are most of the attitudes--which I realize is a feature, not a flaw, for many readers who want balls and dukes and carriages and romantic trappings, without dealing with archaic language.

Aside from that, I suspect that this book wasn't sure if it was supposed to be a romance or a comedy of manners, and so it opted for romance tropes--lots of emphasis on hero and heroine's physical attraction, the grand misunderstanding (they argue like modern people but don't actually talk out their problem until way late, a trope that is a difficult sell for me). When the novel tried to be a comedy of manners, that is, a girl not prepared for becoming a duchess trying to figure out how to do so, and to fit into her new role, I found it a bit more engaging. But the thing with comedies of manners is, they work if author and reader knows the manners and mores of the given time. And that wasn't the case here, so there were a lot of falters, and then reversion to predictable tropes.

Still, it's a slow, pleasant read, with likable characters. Just the ticket for those times when you want an untroubling read!

[Suong Doan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Alexander, the Duke of Beaubrooke meets Lavinia Wynnburn at a social gathering and is misled into thinking that they are two of the same. Unfortunately after they marry Lavinia turns into someone he doesn't really know.

I'm not a fan of this story. So the premise is that Lavinia is only a bookworm because she doesn't have the confidence and was never noticed over her sisters? Suddenly she has a shiney new title and becomes a whole new person?

I can almost understand Alex's reactions in this story, he didn't get what he bargained for. Neither did we.

Unfortunately I expected a different type of relationship from these two and the sudden changes in personality was too sudden for me.

Thank you netgalley and the publisher for this ARC, opinions are my own.

[Lady Nilambari Reads HR · Rating 2 out of 5]

It strove to be cute, succeeded in part, but the whole thing was a little too on the nose with no point to it. The major gripe is that the blurb was misleading. Detailed review to follow.

[Simply Love Book Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

Four Weddings and a Duke is a historical romance that will have you smiling and laughing. It is a marriage of convenience and very entertaining. Alexander Reddington wants nothing more than to do his botanical research. Instead he finds himself sitting next to a wallflower of a girl at his cousin’s wedding having a delightful conversation and finds her refreshing. Soon it will be his own marriage to attend but he needs to figure out who the bride will be. It’s been arranged for him to pick from one of the three Wynnburn sisters. When he notices that the wallflower miss is the middle sister, he proposes to Lavinia and prays that she’ll make the perfect duchess and deal with his social calendar. Lavinia and Alex embark on their married life which both find of a bit of a challenge in unexpected ways.

I was totally enthralled with this story because the main characters made it entertaining. Alex and Lavinia were both learning about the other and navigating their marriage. I would even say that it was a coming of age story for Lavinia because she was finally able to grow as a person and at the same time, as a wife. The secondary characters of Kitty and Nigel brought delightful humor, and their banter kept the story flowing forward. There were a few bumps along the way but both Alex and Lavinia learned what truly was important to them, and the grand gesture at the end showed how much they’ve grown in love and hope for their future. Michelle McLean is becoming a favorite of mine for her vivid writing, intriguing characters and interesting stories. Historical romance fans should be happy with this wonderful story.

Review copy provided for a voluntary review

[Yami’s Bookshelf · Rating 4 out of 5]

After having watched Bridgerton, I was ready to immerse myself in more period romances with total Bridgerton vibes.

Four Weddings and a Duke by Michelle McLean was exactly what I needed in a fun Regency romance.

Synopsis:

As the middle—and least marriageable—sister in a bevy of swans, Lavinia Wynnburn is quite content being the odd duck out. This way, she’s free to commit social faux pas without anyone much noticing. Until the Duke of Beaubrooke turns up the morning after a ball, asking for her hand in marriage.

Alexander Reddington doesn’t particularly care for social niceties, nor is he particularly good at them. But now that the spare has become the heir, he must marry...and soon. When he stumbles into the same corner as a socially awkward wallflower, he knows he’s found the perfect wife: one who won’t bother him to attend every simpering event of the season.

Only, Alexander’s shy and pretty new wife is finding her new position surprisingly exciting and keeps accepting every invitation that flutters past their door. And worse luck, he might even be falling for her. Now he must hide the truth about why he really proposed…before his unexpectedly happy marriage is dashed to pieces.

My 4 Stars Review:
Michelle Mclean brings to life the main characters of Lavinia and Alex, Duke of Beaubrooke. I seriously loved these two main characters, Alex and Lavinia. A match made in heaven if I’m being honest.

The storyline was character driven and I’m definitely going back to read other books by McLean. What a treat.

[Bea · Rating 3 out of 5]

Four Weddings and a Duke features an arranged marriage between our heroine, Lavinia and our hero, Alexander. Unlike most couples in the genre with this specific trope, these two are actually pretty eager to marry each other, which I found very refreshing.

I really enjoyed the beginning of the novel, it was great to have a hero who is quiet and reserved, but kind instead of your usual broody rake, and I liked Lavinia even more. It was refreshing to find a heroine, who despite starting out as a wallflower, becomes more interested in parties and participating in society.

However, after they married and finally had their wedding night, I started to lose interest. There was a lot of showing and not telling and Alex's research taking priority over his wife so often made me not really root for them as a couple, and I don't think he groveled nearly enough at the end for how he behaved.

The writing was good, so I'll probably give another chance to the author, but I don't think I'll ever revisit this specific title.

Thank you to Entangled Publishing and Netgalley for providing me with an ARC. All opinions are my own.

[✰ BJ's Book Blog ✰Janeane ✰ · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

When Alex and Lavinia first met, I thought it was a match made in heaven - the book work and the guy more interested in his research than social activities, even if he is a Duke,

I liked that he picked her instead of one of her sisters for his marriage, however then they both lost a bit of their shine for me.

Alex stayed true to himself, but Lavinia went from the wallflower to the social butterfly, and expected him to say OK let us do all this, even though he was upfront about what he wanted, what he needed in a wife (though she did do what he wanted and he never pulled her up on it so he is to blame for a lot of her stuff as well)

I did not like how Alex treated Livvy like an afterthought and then couldn't understand why she was upset with him.

But once both removed heads from sand, I really did like them again.

I didn't get Liv's sister's hostility towards her when we find out more about her life - why was she like she was? Was it a case of misery loves company, and Harriet was very miserable?

Overall I liked the story, but there were times I didn't like anyone

[Katy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an easy, quick read for me. It was very gentle and sweet – there is definitely conflict and drama but it felt very low-stakes for me. When it got angstier I enjoyed it a lot more. The chemistry between Alex and Lavinia started out well and their love scenes were well-written, but I struggled to warm to Alex’s character. I found him very frustrating and selfish, and I didn’t personally feel like he’d made up for it enough by the end.

Lavinia however I quite liked, although a lot of that was feeling sorry for her more than anything else. The romance had a lot of things to like about it – it was nice that they spent a lot of time together, for example, and they had some really sweet scenes. I would recommend it if you’re looking for a historical romance that’s light and easy to read. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing a free copy of this book.

Content Notes:

Warnings: Death of a parent (in past), death of a sibling (in past).

Other: On-page sex..

[Mina · Rating 5 out of 5]

The epilogue

I loved this book. I struggled at first with Alex, he was freezing and clinical towards Livy. And I can see she didn't have a single backbone in her body. You see her disappointment and sadness as she assumes her life and grows. There is grovel, Alex wasn't the best husband and I blame it all on miscommunication. Nigel brought in the comedy and I wasn't sure if he was the antagonist or what. Glad to see in the epilogue everyone coming together as a family.

[Rebeccah · Rating 3 out of 5]

2 1/2 ⭐️

[Jocelynereadsromance · Rating 5 out of 5]

Four Weddings and a Duke was an absolute delight in my eyes! Michelle McLean's writing is clear, charming and charismatic. This is the romance between two awkward people who find someone they can relate to. This novel is very much a character driven novel, it is about two people starting to build a life together, it is about how they learn to work and grow together, and how they choose to embrace the attraction between them. While this novel might not work for everyone, it absolutely worked for me.

I loved watching the hero and heroine fall in love with each other. Their relationship is quickly built on the foundation of attraction and curiosity but blossoms as they grow together and independently. Because their relationship is new it definitely lacks in true open communication in moments which causes the misunderstandings in their marriage. But I thought that McLean traverses these moments realistically in regards to the time period, the perceived age and innocents of both, and the uncertainties that come when you wed a stranger. I found that in their moments of interaction in which they let their attraction and the physical side of their relationship give them the openness and clarity to believe in the relationship they are building. This novel is really about building the strong foundation of their relationship that will give them the opportunity to support and understand each other as they grow older and create a family.

This novel has the charm of first love and the sweetness of what falling in love is. It highlights the lustfulness of attraction and is a sensual novel that balances innocent romance with the frustrations of new love. If this intrigues you, I think you are sure to enjoy this offering from Michelle McLean. Michelle McLean is definitely becoming a must read historical romance author for me and I am so looking forward to continuing to watch her writing grow!

Thank you to Entangled: Amara and NetGalley for an eARC, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Kaye · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alexander Reddington the new Duke of Beaubrooke needs to marry and produce an heir to make sure the title stays in the family. His father had arranged that the new Duchess would be one of the daughters of a neighboring Earl. As a second son Alex’s main focus has been academic and his interest is in plants and grafting. He wants very little to do with society but is a good son and willing to fulfill his obligations. Lavina Wynnburn is the middle daughter. Often over looked and out shined by her two more vivacious sisters. Lavina would rather sit in the corner and read and that is where Alex first meets her. She never expects to be the Duke’s choice but graciously accepts.

I love arranged marriages but this one is nice in that the two do want to marry and get to know each other better. Neither is forced. The trick is to figure out how to work the marriage together. There is miscommunication and miss-expectations. He thought the wall flower would avoid society like he prefers but she is fulfilling his obligations as is expected. I really loved the first third of the book but I grew less interested with so much of the focus on the Duke's quest to be recognized for his plant work. I enjoyed seeing her grow in confidence in her role as Duchess but some of the author’s choices felt off. Usually Duke’s are very wealthy but Alex often seems penny pinching. Her being blamed for donating house hold items for a charity auction he left it to his man servant was odd and not funny like I think it was intended. And her sister falling in love so quickly didn’t fit her character either. Lastly I'm not sure the title fits the story as I only recall two weddings.

I’ve read the author before and especially enjoyed her Ten Rules for Marrying a Duke (Feb 2022). This book was a little more uneven for me but still a good historical romance. Thank you to Entangled Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC and I am leaving a voluntary review. (3.5 Stars)

[Magen · Rating 4 out of 5]

'Four weddings and a Duke' was so so good! It really had everything I love, plenty of great romance, witty dialogue, misunderstandings and a happy ending! Lavinia and Alexander are great characters separately and together, I really enjoyed getting to know them as they fell in love. I've read a few of Michelle McLean's books so far and she is quickly becoming an auto-read!

Thank you to NetGalley and Entangled Publishing for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Jazmine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m a sucker for a good historical romance and this one was definitely a good one! I was drawn in by the cover but the story was great.

[Veronica and Rae · Rating 5 out of 5]

Today is a good day, and that’s because I get to talk about a delightful book I just read. I’m quite the connoisseur of historical romances so this one was right up my alley. While not familiar to me before, Michelle McLean has now made it to my list of go-to historical romance authors with her newest release, Four Weddings and a Duke. I will say, I’m not a fan of historical american western romances, but I’ve enjoyed her two regency era novels, so I’m willing to take a chance. Also, I picked up a few of her steamy contemporary rom coms that she pens under the name Kira Archer. Dang girl, you get it - quite the oeuvre!

A Little Bit of Plot
Being the middle daughter of 3 sisters, Lavinia Reddington is facing another season hiding behind potted plants while secretly devouring romance novels resulting while spinsterhood looms. Not as extroverted as her sister’s, she would rather spend a night with a good book or paintbrush rather than a ton outing. Alexander Beaubrooke is the overly studious botanist who would rather toil in soil than step foot in a ballroom. While on the verge of a momentous scientific discovery, he needs a wife that detests society and it’s frivolities as much as he - enter Lavinia. Within days of meeting, the two are engaged to be married, it’s what comes after that will put their relationship on the line. What happens when suddenly Livvy enjoys taking part in parties and balls and Alex becomes increasingly involved with his work? One place they can’t deny their attraction is the bedroom, but will it be enough to save this relationship before it starts?

The Compliment Sandwich
The Top Bun (The Pro)
The sensuality of a pair of glasses
Livvy has terrible eyesight and because of this needs spectacles or at least quizzing glasses to see. Because the ton in regency England was the worst, she is shamed by society from wearing the one thing that allows her to see - awesome. Alex, however, actually gets super frustrated when he witnesses her struggling without them. Every time he insists that she use them despite going against society’s opinions.

Before they headed to the table, Alex caught her arm and slipped her spectacles into her hand.
She glanced up at him shocked.
“Wear them,” he said.
“But…” Her eyes darted around the room, though without her spectacles or quizzing glass, the features of the guests were hazy.
He took them back from her and unfolded the thin wire arms so he could slip them onto her nose. He took care to make sure the loops fit comfortably behind her ears and let his thumbs trail across her cheeks in quick caress.
“It will be difficult to play cards if you are holding a quizzing glass with one hand. This is your home. You deserve to be able to comfortably see while you are in it… You are the Duchess of Beaubrooke now,” he said quietly. “You needn’t care what any of these people think.”

The sensuality of his caress to her face in public is something that would have been deemed inappropriate at the time. We find that as soon as they announce their engagement, Alex gravitates close to her each time they’re in the same room together. The pull toward one another is magnetic.

She took a deep breath and slowly blew it out, moving ever so slightly closer to the duke, as if he’d shield her from whatever might come her way. A movement everyone seemed to have missed… except Harriet. Her eyes had focused on the excited flush in Lavinia’s cheeks and the pleased look in the duke’s eyes the moment they’d cleared the threshold.

So while tiny touches and the need to be in one anothers orbit might not be sensual today, I think McLean describes how touch is taken for granted and how sensory deprived most were in this time period.

It was a very strange thing to be told one’s whole life that to even touch a man was so forbidden, it could ruin one’s entire life. And then, one day, after a few words from a clergyman, she could stand in this room with this man and do whatever she wanted with him. To him. It was a bit hard to reconcile, and she was sure at least some of the anxiety fluttering in her chest was latent guilt for engaging in activities she’d always been taught were sinful. That was now, somehow, the actions of a good and dutiful wife.

We should be thankful for the ability to touch one another at will and experience that connection with humanity. There is something sexy though to finally experience skin to skin contact after having been forbidden for so long.

The Meat (The Con)
While I absolutely love the GG in this, I wish we’d had more build up to Alex’s big revelation.

The Bottom Bun (The Pro)
The Relationship Between Harriet and Liv

Harriet, being the elder sister, and at one point, the one point on the cusp of being married, does not take the news of Lavinia’s wedding well. While at the time, as the reader, you’re like “listen chick, just be happy for your sister, and get that stick out ya’ rear”, you learn the reason for her upset and forgive her her haughtiness. Lavinia has exceptional emotional intelligence, and while Harriets iciness upsets her, she only hopes that she will find her own happiness and eventually they can make peace. This peace comes more quickly than we anticipate, and because of spoilers, I’m just going to include this very lovely exchange when the two come to an understanding:

Harriet froze for a second, staring at her, and then shook her head. “This is part of being the Duchess of Beaubrooke. You anted to be the duchess, didn’t you?”
Lavinina shook her head. “No. I just wanted the duke.”
Harriet nodded slowly. “And that is why he married you. And why he made the right choice,” she said with a long sigh.
Lavinia blinked at her in surprise. Kitty did the same.
“Are you admitting that you were…wrong?” Kitty asked.
Harriet scoffed. “Don’t be absurd. I still would have made an excellent duchess.” She leaned forward and squeezed Lavinia’s had. “But I would have made him a terrible wife”.

Harriet plays a large part in the book past this point, and she turns out to be Livvy’s largest proponent. I ended up loving this character and their relationship.

Lastly, I am writing this as a plea to McLean to write both Kitty and Nigel stories…if they’re the same one, I’m okay with that too (if you know what I mean).

Honestly, though, McLean does a wonderful job with these characters that at time frustrated me and others swooning from their actions. I’m working through her Sweet Love Book series currently and it’s also another recommend for me!

[Christi (christireadsalot) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Four Weddings and a Duke is a historical romance between a new-to-his-title socially awkward Duke, an equally socially awkward wallflower, and their mutual love of plants?

Lavinia, the middle and least marriageable sister, is perfectly happy being the “odd duck out”. One of her sisters is due to marry a newly-titled Duke, but she knows it won’t be her. Alexander became a Duke after the heir passed away and he, the spare, became the new Duke in need of a wife! He isn’t a fan of social events, so when he slinks off to a corner to hide at a ball and finds Lavinia there hiding out and reading…he thinks he has found the perfect bride for him! Lavinia is a socially awkward wallflower who has no love for the frills of society life. Alex would rather spend his times with his plants, so he asks Lavinia to marry him instead of her sister whom everyone assumed he would ask.

“He might have been the first person in her life, ever, to choose her first. Not because he had to. But because he actually wanted to.”

What starts off as an arranged marriage of convenience easily turns into real feelings. Alex and Lavinia are both intellectuals who’d rather read and she wants to learn more about the plants he’s so interested in. This one sounded great but definitely feel flat for me. I was a bit confused with some of her sister’s actions and didn’t feel like there was much of a plot to the story once Alex and Lavinia were married. The not communicating, petty fighting style of miscommunication, and misunderstanding was not my favorite.

[Janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

As the middle and least marriageable sister, Lavinia Wynnburn is quite content being the odd duck out. This way, she’s free to commit social faux pas without anyone much noticing. Until the Duke of Beaubrooke turns up the morning after a ball, asking for her hand in marriage. Alexander Reddington doesn’t particularly care for social niceties, nor is he particularly good at them. But now that the spare has become the heir, he must marry and soon. When he stumbles into the same corner as a socially awkward wallflower, he knows he’s found the perfect wife: one who won’t bother him to attend every simpering event of the season. Only, Alexander’s shy and pretty new wife is finding her new position surprisingly exciting and keeps accepting every invitation that flutters past their door.
A well written delightful romance. I really liked both Alex & Lavinia & loved the chemistry between them but sometimes they were verbally cruel to each other which I didn't like at all. Then as their feelings grew their verbal bantering became a delight. There were misunderstandings, lack of communication but everything came right in the end
My review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

[Elizabeth McFarland · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's really nice sometimes to read a low angst romance that still holds my attention and makes me swoon. In Four Weddings and a Duke, Michelle McLean hits that sweet spot.

Lavinia would rather be hiding behind potted plants reading than socializing. Alexander is more dedicated to his botanical research and never expected to be the Duke. An arrangement between their families means that he needs to pick one of the three sisters to marry. Lavinia is his choice.

I loved experiencing these introverted and bookish characters getting to know each other and falling in love. This was a fantastic romance with a super sweet happily ever after.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Four Weddings and a Duke starts with a sweet meet-cute and an unexpected proposal. Lavinia and Alex seem like a match made in heaven. They are both solitary and intellectual, they connect instantly and they have great chemistry. There was a lot of miscommunication but to me it felt pretty realistic and Alex's passion about his science was understandably difficult to navigate considering his personality. I loved their HEA and I found the epilogue hilarious.