A Convenient Match for a Protective Duke: A Clean Historical Regency Romance Book (Deals of Marriage 2)
He wants a wife, and if she agrees, he’ll get the perfect one, though she doesn’t know it. But he will always keep her safe, even if she can never love him.
A gentleman cannot in all good conscience refuse to help a damsel in distress. Especially not when she’s the loveliest woman he’s ever seen. With hair the color of dark chocolate and eyes to match, her intellect and noble spirit have him entranced. She desperately needs his help . . . and he’s prepared to take extreme measures to protect her and her family.
At the start of the new London Season, the Duke of Newhamptonshire, Clement Rose idly wonders if this will be where he finds a suitable wife, hoping it will stop his mother’s nagging. But no lady appeals until he notices a stunning young woman one night at a ball. Before he gets an introduction, he finds her being attacked by a rejected suitor and sends the man packing. He thought that was the end of it. Unfortunately, the spurned suitor wants revenge, his actions spurring Clement to take radical action—an offer of marriage.
Lady Violet Perry-Jones is in her third Season and is not bothered at all about marrying anytime soon despite her parents’ pleas for her to find a suitor. When she rejects the man they favor and he shows his true colors, she’s driven to accept an unconventional solution to her problem . . . by marrying a handsome duke. Soon though, she’s falling for her husband and wishing they had more than just a marriage of convenience. But they eventually find true happiness by solving a mystery from the past together.
A Convenient Match for a Protective Duke is a historical romance novel that you are going to love. No cheating, no cliffhangers, and a happily ever after full of romance. This captivating love story will hold your attention from the beginning to the end, providing a gratifying conclusion.
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Customer Reviews
B***********n
a Convenient Match For A Protective Duke
Avery good read. Clean but it still keeps you anticipating the next move. Keeps your attention quickly. Exciting events taking place.June 2, 2025
p********9
His to protect
I absolutely loved Clement and Violets story. Lord Tellerby would not take no for an answer so when he tricked Violet and got her alone she would do anything to get away. The Duke of Newhamptonshire heard the argument and threats and came to the rescue. Lady Violet was so relieved but Lord Tellerby made more threats and left. As the days continue, Clement & Violet were getting to know each other but when Violet stated that she will marry Tellerby after a dance Clement and friends took Violet aside and got all the details. Tellerby had threaten Violet, her family and Clement again. They will not tolerate this so to curtail his threats Clement & Violet agree to marry. With more threats and secrets coming to light they will stand united and win against him. Such a wonderful story with a beautiful ending.May 26, 2025
LC
great read
I thoroughly enjoyed the story and of course it’s HEA. The writing was thorough; but a little stilted. I would happily reread it if it goes through another editDecember 13, 2024
M*****i
Slow moving and boring
We have the very, very good people and the very, very bad people. The good people are always very, very good. The problems make no sense, really. I ended up scanning most of the pages, not reading them.November 30, 2024
A*************r
A Convenient Match for a Protective Duke
This is a wonderful tale of love! An evil villain seeks to selfishly take whatever he wants; threatening, blackmailing are his tools. But one duke steps in to rescue a damsel in distress! Filled with intrigue and danger, this book is highly recommended for anyone that loves a suspenseful romance in an English regency period.July 24, 2024
K*************r
Beautiful Love Story
Recommended for all ages, courtesy described, Christian beliefs and love exemplified without bible quotes, Christian treatment of villain, the 2 couples had strong friendships, worth re-reading.July 3, 2024
F**********f
A Convenient Match for a Protective Duke
This was a nice story, but I just felt it was a bit slow but I did like when Lady Violet gave lord Tellerby a facer for trying to force her to marry him.April 30, 2024
A*******r
Good clean story
This was a good story. Totally clean. It moves around pretty quickly so there’s not really a lot of wasted time. I am still not sure how I feel about that. It was a quick read though. The only thing really wrong with this book was the editing. Clearly no one proofread it. And there are some big mistakes in there.March 16, 2024
C*******l
clean
The plot had promise but it was not executed well by the author. I rolled my eyes a lot in this book, I found the villain ridiculous and over the top. The Duke and heroine too sappy, especially at the end. I was skipping a lot of sappiness at the end where they were explaining how much they loved each other… It just went on and on. Now regarding the search for the uncle, wouldn’t you first look at the ledgers? If the uncle was being kept at some asylum, it had to be paid for, So there would have been a record of that out-going payment. Even if somehow it was a one time payment, which is unlikely, there were always records of that. So the search felt annoying because they didn’t seem to have a clue how to go about it. The previous book in the series I really enjoyed so I bought this one. But was disappointed. I found I was trying to rush through just to get to the end because it was annoying.February 13, 2024
M*******n
Interesting story
I liked the drama behind the story, the danger and threat. I think there needs to be much more attention to the editing and proofreading. Also the sudden transitions of theme and place should be separated by the three dots or some symbol, otherwise it is a disconcerting change.November 2, 2023
S************n
A chance meeting turns to forever happiness.
This was a very sweet tale, however, it was interrupted by a venomous man who was very opposite. Even though the story can be enjoyed by all, I recommend that only those who are a bit older and seasoned will appreciate it more. A bit disjointed in places, but worth the time to read.November 1, 2023
T********d
Much love
I liked the character of the heroine. She defended herself against a bully. Eventually giving him kindness that changed him. The hero has a temper but falls for the kindness of the heroine. A satisfactory ending.October 30, 2023
S******.
unexpected plot
Lovely resolution. I enjoy Martha Barwood and her originality. No real violence, and yet a good bit of tension. Enough at least to keep my interest until finished!October 29, 2023
M***********n
oh my really really enjoyed this story
This was a wonderful story. Persecution and disdain were the plight of Violet. Rescued by a hero but still tormented by a villain. The story wove a tail of how kindness and love can temper even the vilest villain.October 25, 2023
D******.
Very nice story
Very nice story and romantic plot. Small amount of conflict but character not that scary. I recommend this book to anyone who loves romance.October 23, 2023
T**********m
Violet and Clement
Ms. Barwood has done it again. She has written an engaging story that grabbed my attention right from the start and held it throughout the book. There are a few twists that Ms. Barwood added to the story that made it more enjoyable to read. Ms. Barwood does not disappoint. I look forward to reading more books by her in the future.October 23, 2023
K*************r
A Convenient Match for a Protective Duke
Liked the fact a romance was written without the Ned for explicit sex scenes. To me the story and the characters are more important. I like books written during this time period. Story could have had more action in it.October 18, 2023
G**************r
Great Read
Enjoyed this story, especially the part where they decided to treat evil with good. With all that is happening at this time, it is well to know good triumphs over evil.October 15, 2023
T************l
Kindness wins.
Violet shows true noblty of character and treats an opponent with kindness even if he does not deserve it. It wins her fiancé’s heart.October 7, 2023
A*************r
A decent story
This book is about greed, trying to take what wad never yours to have. The rest of the story is of redemption.October 7, 2023
D*****a
protective Duke
This book kept me engaged from beginning to end. It had all the requirements for a good romance, an evil villain, a handsome protective male lead and a strong female lead.October 6, 2023
M**B
Love this book
Wonderful story of Clement & Violet. This story had it all–drama–secrets–and most of all love. Great quick read that I enjoyed from page 1 until the very end.October 1, 2023
R********e
A Convenient Match
It was an extremely good story about love and fighting to keep your reputation. Violet was an angel with her courage and fortitude for what she wanted at a time when women were not treated well.September 28, 2023
D************e
Violet and Clement
loved this historical romance. Loved the chemistry between Violet and Clement and the goodness in Violet’s heart that spread to Clement.September 26, 2023
S**********r
knot what you expect!
I felt that the two main characters were a bit withdrawn and almost unfeeling, it was just a story and I never warmed up to live between these two people. Very unfeelingSeptember 24, 2023
J***.
A delightful love story
Lady Violet Perry-Jones is looking forward to her third season and is no hurry to marry, but unfortunately she has caught the eye of Lord Tellerby, a very wealthy man who is used to getting what he wants. Violet dislikes Lord Tellerby immensely and it is rumoured that he beats his horses and his servants. However, Lord Tellerby attempts to force his attentions on Lady Violet who punches him in the nose and is then rescued by the Duke of Newhamptonshire, Clement Rose. Lord Tellerby continues to harass Lady Violet, going so far as to threaten her family and her reputation in an attempt to force her to marry him, but once again Duke Clement comes to her rescue. This was a love story with an intriguing and believable plot, and where both the hero and heroine were slow to recognise what their feelings meant. I really liked the main protagonists and enjoyed their journey of discovery. I would like to have given the book five stars, but as seems to be the case so often with e-books these days there were typos and spelling mistakes (eak instead of eke for example) that some good editing would have removed. Also, I disliked the way that the story would suddenly jump from one situation to a completely different one with no break to show it had happened. This was a little confusing at times, and could have been avoided by simply putting some space between the different situations. I received an ARC and am leaving this review voluntarily.September 24, 2023
KH
Family ties!
Martha Barwood will you in with her characters in “A Convenient Match for a Protective Duke.” Lord Tellerby is accustomed to getting his way. When he’s refused by Lady Violet, he tries to get her into a compromising situation. Remove yourself from me! screams Lady Violet. The Duke Clement of Newhamptonshire could hear the dark tone of a male and then a scream of a woman. Clement came upon them just as the young lady throws a punch connecting with Lord Tellerby’s nose! Duke Clement says, I should demand recompense for the lady’s honor.” Duke Clement goes on to say, Shall we say pistols at dawn?. Lord Tellerby apologizes and takes his leave. but he is not one to give up so easily! Lord Tellerby has found some information on Duke Clement that questions if he is really the rightful heir to be the Duke of Newhamptonshire. Clement asks his mother if there is anything in their family’s history that Lord Tellerby could use against him and how did Lord Tellerby find it? Lady Violet helps Duke Clement go through family documents to either prove or disprove the claims by Lord Tellerby. Will they be able to find what they’re looking for before Lord Tellerby comes through with his threats? A well written story, you won’t be disappointed!September 23, 2023
A***e
Excellent
Excellent book! I thoroughly enjoyed reading it! I definitely plan on reading more books by this author!September 20, 2023
C******t
A Convenient match for a protective duke
This was a entertaining read. When Clement over hears a a man of the ton threading lady he can’t sit back and leave the Lady unprotected. But Violet is the same way determined to protect the ones she loves. The heart warming story brings the two together to fight Violets tormentors and to put an end to his threats. This was a.good read and enjoyed the story very much.September 20, 2023
D*********i
my best friend’s sister
Martha! What a surprisingly wonderful story. And I mean that in a wonderful way. You had everything in this story from sadness, to guilt, to surprise, to pain, to finally overwhelming happiness. I loved the steaminess of the story! That was something I didn’t expect but am so happy for. Martha, you are an amazing writer. Thank you for the opportunity to read this book. * * * * *September 20, 2023
T*********s
A Convenient Match for a Protector Duke:
This was a good book. It was a page turner and the suspense was very emotional between these characters. I was at the edge of my seat. There were so much drama and feelings between them. Was romance building up between them and she was fierce woman with the Duke. I highly recommend this book. I received a ARC of this book and am voluntarily leaving a honest review. Trina JonesSeptember 19, 2023
A*************r
Definitely recommend!
Loved this book! Story was straight forward and to the point, not a lot of wasted details. I didn’t want to put the book down. Liked each of the characters and their portrayal.September 19, 2023
m*****c
Enjoyed reading this book
This engaging book grabbed my interest early in the book and held it through out. The plot is well constructed and suspenseful. It isn’t predictable. I couldn’t put it down. I received this book as an ARC and am voluntarily leaving a review.September 19, 2023
L************y
Boring
It just didn’t have any suspense or the cliff hanger your last book had.September 19, 2023
J***b
Protective, Strong and Handsome!
The Duke of Newhamptonshire possesses all the attributes above and more. And he is in the market to find a Bride. For the past three Seasons he has enjoyed all Society has to offer, now he is serious about marriage and a heir. Lady Violet and her best friend, Lady Antonia are looking forward to a season of Balls, Tea Parties and such with the goal of finding the perfect man to happily wed. As they look over the Ballroom, Lady Violet is asked to give her dance card to Lord Tellerby, a despicable. spoiled but extremely wealthy man. He chooses a dance and tells her he needs to speak with her after. She agrees to the dance but refuses the talk. She has no desire to be in the company of a man whom it is rumored beats his animals and servants. At the next ball, she catches the eye of the Duke of Newhamptonshire whobis with his friend Lord Donnington, who has set his heart on Lady Antonia. The Duke is determined to get an introduction to Lady Violet. Lord Tellerby, much to Lady Violet’s dismay shows up for a dance. He tells her he has decided to court her. She refused him again and he plotted to have her meet him in the gardens alone to gain her agreement. When she again refuses, he tries to physically force himself on her to compromise her, threaten her safety and reputation. She fights back and fate intervenes. The Duke is in the garden and hears the entire conversation and intervenes to offer her protection and to warn Tellerby away. They agree to keep the incident quiet, return to the ballroom and enjoy a dance. But Lord Tellerby refuses to give up. His attacks and threats become more insidiously evil and threaten everyone Lady Violet cares about including the Duke. He however has made it his mission to protect her. How, by proposing an engagement to which Lady Violet agrees. They have grown very close and care a great deal for each other. The threats, attacks.secrets and betrayals kept me glued to the book. The sweetness, love, redemption and a happily ever after were a perfect ending Martha Barwood writes delicious stories exposing the best and the worst of the Regency Era and she develops her characters to such a degree that you feel you know them. I enjoyed this one! Thank you, Martha.September 19, 2023
M*****************r
A great read!
The characters are believable. It is a book that will keep you entertained.September 19, 2023
a**********n
Cool
FunSeptember 18, 2023
A****n
..A lady and a duke
This is a love story. A gentleman blackmail a lady and a duke hears him. He offers to Marry herSeptember 18, 2023
B********a
Great novel
I enjoyed reading this novel it is a very well written page turner great storyline enjoyable characters I enjoyed this novelSeptember 18, 2023
R*********e
Captivating from beginning to end
This clean romance novel held my interest throughout. It never lagged. It was very sweet how Clement protected Violet from the beginning and continued to do so no matter what. Their love for each other was so tender and heartwarming. Their best friends ended up together too which I thought was perfect. The villain was quite hateful, as expected. He meant to do irreparable harm to the duke’s family name but it backfired on him. In fact, without his interference, perhaps the family mystery would have remained completely unknown. A wonderful thing came out of evil. This was a very satisfying book. Loved it!September 18, 2023
c***l
Clean read
The duke meets Violet under while she is undergoing a stressful situation after which he finds himself drawn more and more to her to the point he decides to become betrothed to her so as to prevent her having to marry a nasty gentleman. Despite their betrothal there are still threats they are encountering but in time the mystery of those threats are resolved and they find their hea At times the pages got a bit wordy and dragged but overall a pleasant readSeptember 18, 2023
G**.
how convenient
In regency times marriages of convenience were quite common and the spouses were fortunate when eventually love evolved from the agreement. Clement and Violet are both pressured by their parents to finally get married, but are both reluctant since they long for more than convenience. When fate brings them together they both get their moment to shine and are shown that they were truly meant to be togehter. I enjoyed their story very much.September 17, 2023
c**********3
Romance
Well written. Love the characters.September 17, 2023
L***********s
Great story.
Reading Martha Barwood’s new book was great. A story with a Duke that knew what he wanted and gracious to aid and protect the Lady.September 17, 2023
L**************k
A really good read.
I really enjoyed this book! It has some very likeable characters, and if course a dastardly villain or two. I had trouble putting it down because I wanted to see what happened next! I’ll read more by this author for sure.September 17, 2023
J*d
Great read!
It doesn’t look like Lady Violet’s dream of marrying for love will happen. Trouble happens when she rejects Lord Tollerby’s suit. He doesn’t like to lose. Enter her savior The Duke of Newhamtonshire. Lady Violet has a choice to wed him or the rake, Lord Tellerby. The choice is clear even though the road ahead is rocky. Delightful story with engaging characters.September 17, 2023
D******n
Skeleton in the Closet
Duke Clement at a ball found a young lady interesting and was watching her when he seen that she may be in trouble. He stepped in when he heard the young Lady Violet tell Lord Tellerby to leave her alone. Clement threatens him with the way he was talking to the lady to discourage a scandal. One night Clement and Violet’s friends know Tellerby has said something to upset her. To solve the issue Clement asked Violet to marry him in hopes this will solve the problem. Then Violet receives a letter telling her he has information to destroy Clement. Talking with his mother finds out there is a skeleton in the closet and wonders if this could be a problem for them. Deciding that he needed to research his father’s documents, and determine if this skeleton was true or not, and if true what will or can he do about it. ARC ReviewSeptember 17, 2023
C*W
I loved the affection present from beginning to end.
A great love story where the attraction and affection grew between the two main characters from beginning to end. They worked together to overcome the obstacles trying to keep them apart, which makes a refreshing love story.September 17, 2023
J***e
So Good
Loved this book. Such a sweet love story. Highly recommend could not put it downSeptember 17, 2023
N********n
Sweet and clean
There definitely is a villain that is out to cause trouble as he doesn’t get what he wants. The hero steps in to save the heroine from his clutches and then continues to want to protect her. Both of them are slow to realize what they feel is love, although their best friends understand what it is they are feeling. There is a secret to be revealed and the villain to thwart to keep the drama going. I wished that there was more of a visual separation between scenes. There were a few editing mistakes, but the plot was very intriguing.September 17, 2023
