His Reluctant Duchess

by Samantha Hastings

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Mantheria, the Duchess of Glastonbury, is recently widowed and has no interest in marrying again. But when her son, Andrew, runs away on an adventure, she turns to her dear friend Sunny, the Duke of Sunderland, for help. Together, they follow the clues to find not only her son but the broken pieces of their hearts.

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Book Details

Genre

Historical Romance

Subgenre

Action/Adventure, General Historical, Regency 1811

Series

The Scandalous Stringhams • Book 8

Audience

Adult

Bell Peppers

🫑🫑🫑

Profanity

2 Mild

Violence

3 Moderate

Drugs, Alcohol, Tobacco

2 Mild

Publication Date

January 6, 2026

Language Versions

English

Fiction Form

Novel

Sensitive Themes

Arranged or forced marriage, Bullying or humiliation, Grief or loss of a loved one, Kidnapping or abduction

Representation

Single-parent or widowed-parent protagonist

Editorial Reviews

PRAISE FOR THE SCANDALOUS STRINGHAMS:

"VERDICT [Accidental Courtship with the Earl] Hastings presents a sweet, spirited Regency romance. Full of heartwarming humor, this sixth book to feature a member of the Stringham family can be read as a stand-alone."

—Library Journal

"VERDICT [Debutante with a Dangerous Past] With romance, mystery, and scandal, Hastings's latest book has it all. Perfect for a quick weekend read and for fans of Regency romance."

—Library Journal

"VERDICT [The Marquess and the Runaway Lady] Combining the Regency season with the runaway woman trope makes for a delightful story."

—Library Journal

Loved it!!

So excited for Mantheria!!!

My first encounter with Mantheria was from Becoming His Bluestocking Countess and I knew I needed her story.

This one struck my heart from the beginning. Her joy, her light, I knew something happened to change her, but it still got me.

I loved this journey, the adventure, reconnecting with her first love, finding healing and forgiveness in her relationship with her sister, and learning it’s ok to find happiness and open her heart again.

I just love Mantheria and Sunny and their second chance at happiness!

Thank you to Samantha Hastings for the copy. All opinions are my own.

A fun, second chance romantic adventure

Oh, the scandals that follow the Stringham family! Newly widowed Mantheria and her brother’s best friend, Sunny, have another chance at love when her young son goes off on an adventure and they put their heads together to track him down.

Although young Andrew is very smart, capable and precocious, as a mother, even I was worried about it, but the journey he took Mantheria and Sunny on was well worth the stress. A beauty who married a much older man after feeling jilted, she dotes on her child and easily rekindles a friendship full of attraction with a man she can trust–even when their reputations are on the line at every turn.

I had a lot of fun with this story and really enjoyed these characters, their romance, and their amusing quest.

*I received a complimentary copy. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and were voluntarily given.*

Excellent series conclusion!

I’ve been anxiously awaiting Mantheria and Sunny’s book ever since the series started! It was always very clear their arc would eventually take them to marriage- but there were so many questions about how and when they would get there!

Both Mantheria and Sunny are very layered characters; the way they present themselves and the way they feel are so often at odds. Learning more about each protagonist’s internal motivations and thoughts made for such an engaging read! Mantheria’s very proper exterior hides so much anxiety and so many concerns about not being enough; so too does Sunny’s carefree exterior. Underneath the façade each puts on, there is much in common in their insecurities.

I loved that the action in the story largely consisted of Mantheria and Sunny following after Mantheria’s son Andrew, who at 11 decided he was grown up enough for an independent adventure. Andrew’s exploits are such a realistic combo of random experiences and near misses; he’s a very realistically written by 11-year-old, with all the confidence and bravado that come with being a very privileged young child.

I loved revisiting all the other Stringham family members, too! It’s such fun to see each more settled into marriage and into being their own unique selves (still laughing about Helen giving everyone her pregnancy measurements 😂).

Thank you to the author for the ARC; all opinions are my own!

LOVED this second chance romance!

I have been waiting for Mantheria’s story with bated breath, and let me tell you—it was everything. This wasn’t just a romance; it was a journey of duty, healing, and a love twelve years in the making. My heart is officially full! 🤍

“Maybe it is time that you were happy, too. Maybe being happy is the best way to be good.”

Mantheria is the epitome of the "sacrificial elder sister." From honoring her sister’s dying wishes to navigating the rigid expectations of society, she has spent her life being exactly what everyone else needed her to be. Now a widow and a single mother to her adventurous son, Andrew, she’s found herself surrounded by fortune hunters who see her as a prize rather than a person. Enter Sunny. If you love the "He Fell First (And Harder)" trope, Sunny is your new book boyfriend. He has carried a torch for Mantheria for twelve years, and watching him step up—helping her track down her runaway son, offering her a safe harbor, and seeing how he matures—was pure magic.

What I loved:
* The slow burn and transition from childhood friends to more.
* The character arcs- this is a powerful story about finding yourself after years of living for others.
* The devotion- it proves that a happily-ever-after isn't just happenstance. It’s built on patience, hard work, and pure, unwavering loyalty.
* The references to Greek Mythology

A masterful conclusion to The Scandalous Stringhams series. This HEA wasn't just given; it was hard-won and deeply earned. Thank you to the author for the advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.

“if it takes twenty years like it did for Odysseus and Penelope to be reunited, then so be it. You are worth waiting for. You are worth working for.”

Content: closed door romance, discussion of the marriage bed, consummation of marriage.
No language.

I love Mantheria & Sunny's story!

I've enjoyed all the Stringham siblings' stories and was thrilled to finally get Mantheria's! We've gotten snippets of her in the previous books, but I wanted all the details! One of my favorite tropes is second-chance romance, so I was rooting for Sunny to win Mantheria's heart from the start!

Mantheria, the Duchess of Glastonbury, has already done her duty—marriage and producing an heir. As a young widow, she has zero interest in risking her heart again. Her world revolves around her son, Andrew… until he disappears on an adventure. Desperate to find him, she turns to the one man she trusts: Sunny, the Duke of Sunderland. What follows is more than a search across the countryside; it’s an emotional journey through years of buried feelings and the quiet “what ifs” that never went away.

I love second-chance romances!! Watching a couple that missed their happily ever after, finally getting another shot at it, touches my heart so much. Shared glances. Lingering affection. The kind of friendship that has always meant more than either dared admit. Sunny is steady and compassionate without being overbearing, and the way he supports Mantheria—without pushing her beyond her grief—is just perfect and so swoony!

I loved that Mantheria finally discovers who she is! We find out why she's always so prim and proper when the rest of her family often isn't. I thought it was because she was a Duchess, but now we see that wasn't the reason at all. I loved seeing the family all together again. It was the perfect ending to the series. If you enjoy friends-to-lovers energy, second chances, and Regency romance with emotional weight, this one is absolutely worth the read.

I received a complimentary copy from the author. All opinions in this review are my own.