To Marry the Duke

American Heiress Trilogy Series, Book 1

By: Julianne MacLean

Narrated by: Rosalyn Landor

Length: 9 hrs and 39 mins

Publisher's summary

American heiress Sophia Wilson leaves Old New York for a Season in London. Her goal: to marry into the English aristocracy and help improve her family's social standing in America. Sophia knows her marriage will be a business transaction - her father will provide a generous financial settlement in exchange for a title - but secretly, what she desires most of all is to marry for love.

Love is the last thing on James Langdon's mind. The darkly handsome Duke of Wentworth comes from a menacing past and has learned to avoid his passions at all cost. But his castle in the north is falling into disrepair and what he needs is a swift cash infusion, not to mention an heir. A business transaction with a beautiful American heiress seems the perfect solution.

All goes according to plan until James finds himself enchanted by his spirited new wife, who demands far more from him than the title of duchess. Sophia wants his heart, but his heart is hidden away, shrouded in the darkness of ominous family secrets. James will go to any lengths to protect the dukedom. Soon, he and Sophia must choose between the marriage they thought they wanted and the passion-filled union that could change them forever.

©2020 Julianne MacLean Publishing Inc. (P)2021 Tantor

No one is better than narrator, Rosalyn Landor!

Landor has such a versatile voice - I love it! This story was a good story of character-change! Unfortunately, it doesn't much happen that way. But it was nice to read a story where things worked out fine! Most American women DID come here trying to buy a title- the higher title the better. And as a result, many had awful marriages that didn't last too long! It was nice to read of one that did!

Not a huge fan

While I enjoyed the story, it was a bit too sensual for me. I wish a review had mentioned that so I wouldn’t have wasted my time. Typically the Regency novels I’ve read allude to intimacy but don’t share quite so much.

Rosalyn does it again

Storyline ok. Repetitive of many past storylines but still enjoyable. I’ll listen again at some point, mostly because I love Rosalyn Landor. I’m willing to listen to anything she narrates!

I love the narrator! Entertaining!

I loved the pace of the story and the performance of the narrator. Been a fan since I heard her from Bridgerton. The story was interesting and my only regret is Sophia didn’t make James suffer a bit more for being so cold to her! Lol!

Enjoyed even with the suspense.

An American heiress meets duke, wants to fall in love, falls for the duke, duke pretends to fall in love with heiress. Happily ever after. Hmmm. Not quite. Heiress Sophia is open and loving and plucky and determined. Nicholas is the horribly abused child of a violent father, an isolated mother and fearful siblings. He does not believe in love and strongly holds feelings at bay. Well reader, you know the rest. Charming and lovable Sophia will not put up with fears and icy behavior. Let the challenging relationship begin. I liked the two main characters (had to put up with Nicholas until he became human), liked the secondary characters (had to put with with mother-in-law until she became human) and I really liked the HEA. Julianne MacLean does a fine job with historical romance and with Rosalyn Landor narrating how can it be other than a fine read.

Going across the pond

Great book. Loved the unraveling of the Dukes family.How someone from America could see they needed to loosen up and talk.

This was so good. I wish it didn’t end’

The narrator was fantastic, the storyline was great. I love the characters and a happy ending.

It “Goes There”

Fans of Mary Balogh will like this story. I don’t agree with the negative reviews. I think this is one of the better period romances, and I’ve listened to quite a few. Plot is a little different, but the tension is the same - wounded, spiteful man and gentle, loving lady who heals and wins his heart. The leads are like thousands of others. The sex scenes aren’t over the top descriptive, though I wouldn’t be sad if they had been left out altogether. Sophie is American, and the author tries to draw comparisons between a liberated Americans vs. a shy and proper English society rose. In some passages, a sensitive American reader might feel insulted because the English aristocracy appears to think Americans are brash, bold and uncouth.

This also touches on the subject of incest. I was surprised when the author dipped a toe, and was even more surprised when she then dove right on in.

Rosalyn, oh Rosalyn, oh how I love thee. She can narrate the birds right out of trees and steal the yellow of the sun. I never tire of listening to her. She breathes life into every story she voices. I do admit, I chuckled a bit at her American “accent”. She does a decent job, but sometimes she definitely over emphasizes the roundness of “o”s.

I struggled with this one

The narrator was not bad, but I feel like her voice didn't fit. it made it hard for me to connect with the characters and thus the whole story. it seemed to be written well enough, although I did struggle to see what was likeable at all about the duke. All in all I would give it 3.5.

Strong h

Genuinely an entertaining book. Story slow start. Believable. Ending a bit convoluted. Characters develop well.