His Reluctant Duchess: The Scandalous Stringhams: Review

About the Book:

Title: His Reluctant Duchess

Author: Samantha Hastings

Publisher: Scribbling Pens

Release Date: February 5, 2026

Pages: 247

Genre: Historical Romance, Regency Romance

Synopsis:

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.

PRAISE FOR THE SCANDALOUS

“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

Review:

*I received an arc from the author for review. Thank you for the opportunity. All thoughts are my own*

I’ve loved all the stories about the Stringham family, so I was absolutely delighted to get Mantheria and Sunny’s story! We’ve had bits and pieces of their story in the other books, but now the focus is on them. His Reluctant Duchess was the perfect ending to what has become a beloved series for me. Samanta Hasting’s books always seem to come to me at the right time too. I needed an uplifting story at the time that I read it. This book can be read as a standalone, but I highly recommend reading the rest of the series first.

Mantheria is recently widowed and doesn’t plan on marrying again. Then, she must embark on an adventure with Sunny after her eleven- year- old son, Andrew goes missing. As they follow the clues to find Andrew, they find themselves picking up the broken pieces of their hearts.

If you enjoy second chances, romance, and historical fiction I think you will enjoy this one. I highly recommend!

About the Author:

Samantha Hastings has degrees from Brigham Young University, the University of Reading (Berkshire, England), and the University of North Texas. She met her husband in a turkey-sandwich line. They live in Salt Lake City, Utah, where she spends most of her time reading, eating popcorn, having tea parties, and chasing her kids. She writes cozy mysteries under Samantha Larsen.