A baron and a woman who has turned her back on love find something magical in Duke, Actually by Jenny Holiday. This delightful book delivered all the feels and trimmings, making it the perfect holiday romance this season.
by Jenny Holiday
Series: A Princess for Christmas #2
Genres: Contemporary Romance
Source: Publisher
Purchase*: Amazon | Audible *affiliate
Heat Level:
USA Today bestselling author Jenny Holiday follows A Princess for Christmas with another delightful contemporary Christmas romance between a playboy baron and a woman who has said goodbye to love.
There’s a royal wedding on, and things are about to get interesting.
Meet the man of honor
Maximillian von Hansburg, Baron of Laudon and heir to the Duke of Aquilla, is not having a merry Christmas. He’s been dumped by a princess, he’s unemployed, and his domineering father has sent him to New York to meet a prospective bride he has no interest in. In the city, he meets Dani Martinez, a smart (and gorgeous) professor he’s determined to befriend before their best friends marry in the Eldovian wedding of the century.
Meet the best woman
Newly single, no-nonsense New Yorker Dani is done with love—she even has a list entitled “Things I Will Never Again Do for a Man”—which is why she hits it off with notorious rake Max. He’s the perfect partner for snow angels in Central Park and deep conversations about the futility of love.
It’s all fun and games until their friendship deepens into attraction and, oops…
Falling in love was never part of the plan.
With a nod to Love, Actually one of my favorite holiday movies, i couldn’t help but read Duke, Actually. Even though I didn’t read A Princess for Christmas book one in the series by the same name, I had no trouble slipping into this one.
Maximillian von Hansburg, Baron of Laudon and heir to the Duke of Aquilla is the ex-fiancée of the princess. Now worries though, the two are best friends. Dani Martinez is best friends to the groom and lives in New York. She has sworn off men, especially rakes like Max…but an unexpected friendship develops when he is sent to NY for family business.
This was such a fun story with a slow-burning romance that begins with doubts, turns into friendship and blossoms into more. I laughed, pulled my hair out, and cheered my way through the story as we traveled back and forth between Aquilla and New York.
A pup, family issues and responsibilities combined with their best friend’s wedding offered a delightful story. Holiday allowed the characters to grow, find themselves and happiness. Her secondary characters addressed serious matters, added humor and enhanced the overall tale.
If you love sweet romances with all the feels of a Hallmark or Netflix original, you’ll want to curl up with Duke, Actually.
Duke, Actually by Jenny Holiday delivered a delightful slow-burning romance filled with friendship, Hallmark moments and swoons. #review #Romance #APrincessForChristmas Share on XAbout Jenny Holiday
Jenny Holiday is a USA Today-bestselling and RITA®-nominated author whose books have been featured in The New York Times, Entertainment Weekly, The Washington Post, and Buzzfeed. She grew up in Minnesota and started writing at age nine when her fourth-grade teacher gave her a notebook to fill with stories. When she's not working on her next book, she likes to hang out with her family, watch other people sing karaoke, and throw theme parties. A member of the House of Slytherin, Jenny lives in London, Ontario, Canada.
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About Kimberly
Kimberly is a coffee loving book addict who reads and listens to fictional stories in all genres. Whovian, Ravenclaw, Howler and proud Nonna. She owns and manages Caffeinated PR. The coffee is always on and she is ready to chat. BlueSky | Facebook | Instagram
Lorna
I saved this to read after I finished reading, which was yesterday. I listened to the Princess one just last month and hadn’t realized this was the sequel when I put it on hold at my library. I actually enjoyed this one a bit better than the other one. Fun listen.
Kimberly
Yay. I have not read book one, so good to know.
Katherine
The blurb and your review hooked me! I love the nod to Love Actually and I love that this a Duke romance but in a modern setting.
Suzanne @ The Bookish Libra
This sounds like such a fun holiday read and you sold me on it as soon as you compared it to a Hallmark movie. I’m such a sucker for their Christmas movies, lol.
Maureen @ Maureen's Books
I already have this one on my wish list after you mentioned it. It sounds like an amazing read!! And I love ‘Love, Actually’ too.
Lisa Mandina (Lisa Loves Literature)
This is one on my TBR. Glad to hear it was good and that I don’t have to read the first book to read this one. Great review!
ShootingStarsMag
This sounds cute. Good to know you don’t necessarily need to read the first book.
Lauren
Nadene
It sounds adorable. Adding it to my TBR
ALICIA MARQUEZ
This sounds so good. I’ll have to add it to my TBR.
Carla
Great review Kimberly. I also enjoyed this one and agree that you don’t need to read the first one to enjoy it.
Mehsi
Great review, this book sounds adorable! Bonus points to having a puppy!