A Date at the Altar Gavin and Sarah have nothing in common. He thinks with his head, She leads with her heart. He has money to spare and a title to uphold. Her opinions are abundant but her pocketbook is lacking. He needs a wife, she doesn't fit the bill. Sarah is about to tackle the hardest role she's ever played and possibly find the only place she truly belongs.A Date at the Altar reminds me why I've been a fan of Ms. Maxwell for years. Her stories are always finding new ways to enthrall and surprise. She can do light and funny, as easily as she can tackle dark and mysterious or heartwarming tales and she does so without taking away from the charm and uniqueness of her delivery. ( )

Good book. I was glad to see Gavin finally get the girl, after losing out (to his own brothers!) in Match of the Century and The Fairest ofThem All. In the first book the woman he's been engaged to all his life because of a family arrangement, has actually been in love with his brother Ben for years. In the second book he loses out to the twin brother who has been missing for years and suddenly reappears.

For the most part in the first two books, I liked Gavin. I also felt a bit sorry for him. As the heir, he was raised very strictly by his father, with a sense of responsibility and importance of appearances drilled into him. He's been so intent on his responsibilities as duke that he has never taken the time to cut loose like others of his class. It has made him rather stiff and awkward around women, and he usually has no idea what to say to them. He is also no real believer in love, though when he sees it in the previous two couples he does the right thing and steps back. He's not perfect, though, and has his moments of reacting badly. At the end of the previous book, he is in pursuit of Jack and Charlene, who are eloping to Gretna Green. With him is Char's Aunt Sarah, who rubs him the wrong way. They arrive before the wedding, but Gavin sees the light and lets Char go, leaving him alone again.

Sarah is an independent woman with a mind of her own and plans for her future. She is a survivor of a life that hasn't been easy. She is the illegitimate daughter of a nobleman and his mistress. For years she watched her mother go from man to man and vowed she wouldn't follow in her footsteps. She married a man who turned out to be abusive, causing her to doubt her judgment about men and keep them at a distance. After the death of her husband she became an actress to earn the money to care for her orphaned niece, then worked as an assistant playwright. She is determined to put on a play of her own writing. She makes a deal with a pair of theater owners to do so, but things don't go the way she planned. Gavin ends up rescuing her from a dangerous situation.

I loved the relationship that built between them. In the previous book there had been sparks of antagonism, but those were mixed with sparks of attraction. Gavin's rescue of Sarah brings his attraction to her to the surface. There is also a need to protect her when he discovers the conditions she's living in. The protection he offers isn't what she wants, as it goes against everything she wants for herself, and she has no problem telling him so. But circumstances cause her to have to take him up on it. This is where Gavin shows his true self. He wants her very much, but is sensitive to the fear he senses in her. I loved the way he backed off and talked things out with her. I loved Sarah's confusion, as she had very definite expectations and Gavin didn't match any of them. The connection between them when they finally came together was not what either expected. Over the next few weeks they got much closer, as Gavin found himself wanting to spend as much time as he could with her. I loved the way they shared their lives, sharing bits about their days and supporting each other. Sarah made a good sounding board for his problems, and he was an active supporter of her play.

But Gavin still has to find a wife, because as much as he wants her, Sarah doesn't fit the requirements he's been looking for. He's understandably reluctant, even as his mother and aunt find the "perfect" woman. I ached for Sarah as she realized that she had fallen in love with Gavin, but that nothing could come of it. I loved how she picked herself up and went on, because that is what she does. I also ached for Gavin, who wanted what he believed was impossible to have. I loved the conversation with his first fiancée's father, and the difference it made to his outlook. Gavin's big moment at the end was sweet and romantic, and so out of character for him that it was irresistible.

There wasn't much in the way of secondary characters except for one fellow nobleman. Though he had started out as a friend of Gavin's, he turned out to be a real loser. Rov's pursuit of and attitude toward Sarah earned him Gavin's enmity. The duel scene showed just how awful a person he was, and that wasn't even the end of his troublemaking. I enjoyed the final confrontation with him and how Gavin dealt with him. ( )

A DATE AT THE ALTAR is book 3 in Cathy Maxwell's Marrying the Duke series. I have to say that I was hoping Sarah Pettijohn would end up as the heroine of this one and she is. I loved Sarah and the Duke of Baynton, Gavin's interactions in the second book in the series, The Fairest of them All.

Gavin, the Duke of Baynton, has been headed to the altar twice but has yet to make it. So far both ladies have chosen other men, his own brothers. While he is happy his brothers have found their loves, he's a bit frustrated his own efforts have fallen short. When last Gavin saw Sarah Pettijohn she was doing okay, having helped her niece elope with his twin brother. Now Sarah's situation is much much worse and Gavin finds he wants to help Sarah and he just plain wants Sarah, but he can't marry her. With that in mind Gavin's mother finds another young lady perfect for the Duke of Baynton. Sarah is determined to make her way in life on her own, but sometimes no matter how independent we want to be we need the help of others to succeed. Sarah finds herself not only needing but wanting the Duke of Baynton as much as she'd rather not require anything from him.

I have to say this was an interesting read. The characters are engaging, the setting is well written and the premise is intriguing. This is book 3 in the series and while you don't have to read the other 2 stories I do feel that you'll understand where the Duke is coming from better if you do. I also feel you'll enjoy Sarah better if you've read the previous books.

Fans of historical romances with a bit of humor and some intrigue will enjoy A DATE AT THE ALTAR. Be warned it's a bit unusual, yet a lot of fun to watch these two as they fight their attraction and their feelings. I found the story to be easy to follow and the characters fun to watch. ( )