M

I am Lover of romance, who indulges in the romantic adventures of literature

My name is Renee, and I am the host of this site. I am a 34 year old woman, on the prowl for her mate, searching out the best of books, exploring the wilds of the imagination and delving into the heart of a beautiful love story.

 

Book Review-A Date At The Altar by Cathy Maxwell

by | Jan 4, 2017 | Book Reviews | 19 comments

Book Review-A Date At The Altar by Cathy Maxwell

Book Review-A Date At The Altar by Cathy MaxwellA Date at the Altar by Cathy Maxwell
Also in this series: A Little Thing Called Love, The Match of the Century, The Fairest of Them All
Series: Marrying The Duke #3
Published by Avon on October 25th 2016
Genres: Historical Romance, Regency Era
Narrator: Mary Jane Wells
Length: 7 Hours and 37 Mins
Pages: 384
Format: Audiobook
Source: Self Purchased
ISBN: 0062388665
Goodreads
AmazonLibrary ThingLibrary ThingLiteral Club
four-half-stars

New York Times bestselling author Cathy Maxwell’s glittering Marrying the Duke series continuesβ€”Twice he has been close to the altar and still no duchess.
Will the third time be the charm? A duke can’t marry just anyone. His wife must be of good family, be fertile, be young. Struggling playwright Sarah Pettijohn is absolutely the last woman Gavin Whitridge, Duke of Baynton, would ever fall in love with.
She is an actress, born on the wrong side of the blanket, and always challenges his ducal authority. She never hesitates to tell him what she thinks.
However, there is something about her that stirs his blood  . . . which makes her perfect for a bargain he has in mind: In exchange for backing her play, he wants Sarah to teach him about love.
And he, in turn, has a few things to teach her about men  . . .

Summary

Gavin Whitridge, is the Duke of Baynton and expectations are high for him to marry and he can’t just marry anyone especially the penniless playwright Sarah Pettijohn. She is the last woman that anyone would expect that Gavin would set his eyes on. Gavin knows that he can never marry Sarah, his mother and aunt already have a woman in mind. He knows he needs an heir however there is something different about Sarah that draws him. And when Sarah finds herself in trouble, Gavin proposes she become his mistress and he will support her and her dreams of seeing her play become a reality. Sarah finds herself agreeing to a bargain she never though she would agree to but becoming Gavin’s mistress isn’t what she expected. He makes no demands on her that she isn’t willing to make. Gavin desires a woman that he can be himself with, someone that is safe and makes him feel like he is at home with. Gavin however is forced to make a difficult choice duty or love…or will he realize he can have both?

Plot and Story Line

What a story and Cathy Maxwell closes this series out with a bang with A Date At The Altar. I was highly impressed with this book, and I got it in audio format and I listened to it in TWO DAYS!!! I never listen to a audiobook that quickly, but after a couple of hours and I just wanted more and more and couldn’t put it down. This story starts out with Sarah putting herself in a position to dance as the “siren” so she can have her play. And is shocked to see the infamous Gavin, Duke of Baynton at her show of all place. She is horrified, but when he saves her from a mob of men trying to get her she sees something more in him. Gavin has searched for the right wife for so long, and even though he wants a love match like his two brothers, he doesn’t know if he will find it. Gavin and Sarah aren’t the type of couple you could see together to be honest. They are so different from each other, however once they are together they just fit so perfectly well. I really enjoyed what I saw in this one. And we are also introduced into some surprises as well. This story does have its dramatic moments, and even though it seemed a bit unrealistic…it was so uniquely written that you have no real issue with it. I loved seeing the conflict that this pair is faced with and certain truths that they learn about themselves and about each other. There is a pivotal moment toward the end of the book, that brought tears to my eyes. AΒ  moment where Gavin and the hero (of the first book, the novella) and it made me fall in love with this series even more. It changes the whole tone to the story and is worth every moment until then to see how Gavin changes in certain ways. I loved the character growth and seeing one fight for LOVE over the threat of scandal. A love story you don’t want to miss out on.

Children mean nothing to me if I can’t have you. You are the one I choose. I was meant to love you Sarah.

The Narration

Sarah Jane Wells is simply brilliant and she did this series so well but especially Gavin’s book is my favorite of her work. Her voice and the way she dispalys different tones of feelings of the story and character kept me captivated. She has such a pretty British accent, and I love the way she reflects that in the work she does. She is a must listen to if you like historical romancesΒ  on audio.

The Cover

What a gorgeous cover…I just love her dress and the playful smirk. Sets a playful tone

Overall View

A Date At The Altar is a lively and dramatic romance that keeps the reader engaged, anxious and highly eager to see this couple get their HEA. A FUN ROMANTIC GEM!!

Books N Tunes Pick #2: Your Hands Are Cold


I was hearing this song in my head as I was listening to this book especially some of the later scenes of the book.

Click To Buy On Amazon

About Cathy Maxwell

CATHY MAXWELL spends hours in front of her computer pondering the question, "Why do people fall in love?" It remains for her the mystery of life and the secret to happiness.

She lives in beautiful Virginia with her children, horses, dogs, and cats.

You May Also Like…

ARC Book Review-My Season of Scandal by Julie Anne Long

ARC Book Review-My Season of Scandal by Julie Anne Long

About The Book In USA Today bestselling author Julie Anne Long’s latest installment in the Palace of Rogues series, a notorious rake meets his match in a doe-eyed girl from the country, changing the course of both of their futures… A London season is the chance of a...

Book Review-Wilde for You by Jennifer Ryan

Book Review-Wilde for You by Jennifer Ryan

About The Book New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Ryan’s page-turning Dark Horse Dive Bar series continues with this story of love lost...and found…as a widow seeking to heal her heart crosses paths with a rancher/bartender who offers her a taste of...

Book Review-Leopard’s Hunt by Christine Feehan

Book Review-Leopard’s Hunt by Christine Feehan

About The Book The next exhilarating Leopard novel from #1 New York Times bestselling author Christine Feehan. In this pulse-pounding novel in the #1 New York Times bestselling Leopard series, animal instinct unites two elite shifters whose heads are at war...

19 Comments

  1. Michele H

    Lovely review! Wasn’t it so wonderful to see Gavin finally get his HEA? Poor guy had been through a lot, but so hadn’t Sarah. And that moment you mentioned toward the end of the book? I teared up as well and thought it was the most touching/heartrending moment in the series, basically. So glad you loved this one as well. πŸ™‚

    Reply
    • Lover Of Romance

      Thank you!!! I was so thrilled to see him FINALLY get his HEA. And yeah that ending, total tear fest going on because it was so sweet and in front of everyone. Loved that.

      Reply
  2. Quinn's Book Nook

    I really don’t like historical romances when the hero wants the heroine to be his mistress. They just do not work for me.

    Reply
    • Lover Of Romance

      Yeah that trope is not for everyone, but it has a lighter feel to it. Since our hero is a virgin and the author take a unique turn with it.

      Reply
  3. Bookworm Brandee

    Oh, I’m so happy this series ended so well, Renee! It sounds lovely and if you listened to it in two days, I just may give the series a try in audio. πŸ™‚

    Reply
    • Lover Of Romance

      Thanks Brandee, I am glad she did a great job with finalizing the series. You definitely should try the narrator, she did a great job.

      Reply
  4. LilyElement

    Can’t read this review just yet, I started the book the other day πŸ˜‰ Glad to see you enjoyed though!

    Reply
    • Lover Of Romance

      oh I hope you enjoy it Melissa, it is so great especially the ending. Makes reading the whole built of of the series worth it.

      Reply
  5. Carole's Random Life

    I don’t think that I have read a Cathy Maxwell novel yet even though I am pretty sure that I have a few. This one sounds wonderful and it is great that the audio version was so good. I love it when I can listen to a book that fast – it means it is a really good one. Great review!

    Reply
    • Lover Of Romance

      oh she is just wonderful, I have been reading her since she started writing. And everything I have read from her has been great. It does help to have such a great narrator.

      Reply
  6. Zeee @ I Heart Romance & YA

    I am hit and miss with Cathy Maxwell… I actually didn’t like The Match of the Century and it was a DNF for me because the secondary characters were annoying and overtook the story… ugh but I am actually wanting to read The Fairest of them All.

    Great review, too! Now I’m adding A Date at the Altar to my TBR! πŸ™‚

    Reply
    • Lover Of Romance

      Oh I am sorry to hear about Match of the Century, I liked it but didn’t LOVE it either. Fairest of Them all was way better than book one so I think you would like it. But I do feel like the Duke here overtakes the other characters in the first two books. Which is different. But I do think this one was the best of the three.

      Reply
  7. Nick

    I haven’t read anything by her but I love the sound of two unlikely characters falling for each other. Those always are the most memorable reads for me. I’m glad this ended well for you! πŸ™‚

    Reply
    • Lover Of Romance

      oh yes these two are just great together! And its the whole opposite attract trope that gets to me every time. I definitely recommend trying this author. I have enjoyed just about everything she has ever written.

      Reply
  8. Aurian

    Sounds good! I did read some of her books many years ago, and I have a few more on my TBR Mountain. One day…

    Reply
    • Lover Of Romance

      Oh yay….I just love her older books so much, they are so fun and adventurous and witty!!

      Reply
  9. Eva

    Great review! That cover makes me laugh but this does sound awesome

    Reply
  10. Blodeuedd

    I do adore that smirk

    Reply

Leave a Reply to Bookworm BrandeeCancel reply