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569 reviews for:
How the Dukes Stole Christmas
Sarah MacLean, Joanna Shupe, Sophie Jordan, Tessa Dare
3.66 AVERAGE
569 reviews for:
How the Dukes Stole Christmas
Sarah MacLean, Joanna Shupe, Sophie Jordan, Tessa Dare
3.66 AVERAGE
Last and first read of the year! Technically. I had high hopes given the talent involved, but alas, I find that with the best novellas, I always want to know more about the characters once the story draws to a close, and for all four of these tales, I was merely content with what I got.
Still, there was lots to like. My favourite was surprisingly the story by the author I haven't read before, Sophie Jordan, so I should add a few of her books to my to-read pile for 2019. I loved the shared element in all the stories, it was charming and made me hungry all at once. And none of the stories made me cross, which is always nice.
This was a charming collection to end my reading year with, even if the fourth story in the collection slipped into 2019. I might have to do some baking soon...
Still, there was lots to like. My favourite was surprisingly the story by the author I haven't read before, Sophie Jordan, so I should add a few of her books to my to-read pile for 2019. I loved the shared element in all the stories, it was charming and made me hungry all at once. And none of the stories made me cross, which is always nice.
This was a charming collection to end my reading year with, even if the fourth story in the collection slipped into 2019. I might have to do some baking soon...
The overall rating is the average of the following ratings.
Meet Me In Mayfair by Tessa Dare
3 stars - I liked it
This was a short and sweet Christmas romance. Louisa heads to a ball in the hopes of finding a wealthy man to marry who will settle her fathers debts and let them keep their house. Instead she runs into the very Duke who is calling for their debts and kicking them out.
I enjoyed Louisa and James’ story. It was short, sweet, and filled with holiday miracles. I really enjoyed how Louisa was determined to keep him at arms length but that just pushed him to get closer. This was an instant love romance that felt very possible for the time period. I did like that James felt hard and fast but still decided to slow down and court Louisa, even if we don’t get to see that. Overall, this was a good Christmas romance.
The Duke of Christmas Present by Sarah MacLean
4 stars - It was really good
This was a wonderful second chance story. Eben James, Duke of Allryd, unexpectedly became the Duke when he was 20. Two years later he is so absorbed in fixing his estate that he doesn’t notice that he is ignoring the one person who means the most to him, Lady Jacqueline “Jack” Mosby, his neighbor, childhood friend, and only love. They spend twelve years apart before they finally take another chance at Christmas.
I really liked this one. It jumps back and forth between the present and twelve years before when Jack decides to leave. Becoming a Duke slowly killed Eben’s love of life but he never stopped loving Jack, even if he failed to show it. I really enjoyed watching Eben fight his feelings for Jack and her refusing to let him keep her at a distance. These two had a lot to work though but it worked out once they finally sat down and talked. Overall, I really enjoyed this second chance romance and how they turned this grinch back into a Christmas believer.
Heiress Alone by Sophie Jordan
3 stars - I liked it
This was a short and cute Christmas story. After being left behind, Annis Ballister finds herself being whisked away to the Duke of Sinclair’s home to protect her and the servants from bandits. Calder, the Duke of Sinclair, may have declared he would never marry one of the Ballister daughters; he quickly finds himself falling for Annis.
This was an enjoyable story. I enjoyed watching these two get to know each other. I was surprised by Annis’ plan to become a nun but if I had that many annoying siblings, I might have thought the same. I liked how Calder was determined to show her that she wasn’t nun material too. Overall, this was a short and enjoyable Christmas romance.
Trigger Warnings: abandonment by family; death of parents and sister from Cholera pandemic mentioned;
Christmas in Central Park by Joanna Shupe
DNF Ch. 7
This story isn’t working for me. I don’t like how far Rose is willing to lie to keep her job, especially when she finds out how important truth is to Duke and his paper. I also didn’t love the whole fake affair part, which is basically when I stopped. While they aren't actually cheating, Duke does believe she is married and is going ahead with the affair, which to me means that he is ok with cheating and I don’t like that. So this one isn’t for me.
Trigger Warnings: domestic violence briefly mentioned (not towards heroine);
Enjoyable stories. I love that they were inspired by movies and all included foul-tasting shortbread. I had to take multiple breaks while reading Christmas in Central Park because of the nerve-wracking tension! Introduced me to two new (to me) authors, and I will definitely be seeking out more works from them.
Liked the small connection between the stories. One of these would definitely have been better as a full length novel, as there was not near enough time for grovelling on the part of the hero.
Overall: 3.75 ⭐️
Meet Me in Mayfair - 4 ⭐️
The Duke of Christmas - 2.5 ⭐️
Heiress Alone - 5 ⭐️ (my favorite!)
Christmas in Central Park - 4 ⭐️
Meet Me in Mayfair - 4 ⭐️
The Duke of Christmas - 2.5 ⭐️
Heiress Alone - 5 ⭐️ (my favorite!)
Christmas in Central Park - 4 ⭐️
1. Meet Me in Mayfair by Tessa Dare - 4.5 stars
2. The Duke of Christmas Present - 4 stars
3. Heiress Alone by Sophie Jordan - 4.5 stars
4. Christmas in Central Park by Joanna Shupe - TBR
2. The Duke of Christmas Present - 4 stars
3. Heiress Alone by Sophie Jordan - 4.5 stars
4. Christmas in Central Park by Joanna Shupe - TBR
3.75⭐️
“Meet Me in Mayfair” by Tessa Dare — 4.5⭐️
This might be my favorite story in this anthology. I liked how it started with a little insta-like and ended up with the duke promising her a proper courtship and all. It made me want to read what happened in those months. Also the duke even waited until they get married before he can bed her! He's very charming and I just love their chemistry so much.
“The Duke of Christmas Present” by Sarah MacLean — 3.5⭐️
I'm not really into second chance romance that much but this story is in between okay-ish and I-think-I-like-it-ish. What I love about this is how it's so obvious that they still like each other. Well, for me, anyway. You can even feel the tension whenever they are together. And, okay, I admit that I liked how they got back together again.
“Heiress Alone” by Sophie Jordan — 3⭐️
This is my least favorite story. But it's not because it doesn't have an epilogue although I would love to read more. Maybe if this is a whole book, I would've liked it more.
“Christmas in Central Park” by Joanna Shupe — 4⭐️
Although the character's names got me confused (like why is she called Mrs. Walker if it was implied that she is single? And Duke Havemeyer is actually the MMC's name and he's not the Duke OF Havemeyer), this still made it to my second favorite story. I enjoyed reading this eventhough it is kinda insta-lust/love (well for Duke anyway). The dinner Rose hosted especially when she was baking made me so nervous for her. But that pantry scene more than made it up for it.
“Meet Me in Mayfair” by Tessa Dare — 4.5⭐️
This might be my favorite story in this anthology. I liked how it started with a little insta-like and ended up with the duke promising her a proper courtship and all. It made me want to read what happened in those months. Also the duke even waited until they get married before he can bed her! He's very charming and I just love their chemistry so much.
“The Duke of Christmas Present” by Sarah MacLean — 3.5⭐️
I'm not really into second chance romance that much but this story is in between okay-ish and I-think-I-like-it-ish. What I love about this is how it's so obvious that they still like each other. Well, for me, anyway. You can even feel the tension whenever they are together. And, okay, I admit that I liked how they got back together again.
“Heiress Alone” by Sophie Jordan — 3⭐️
This is my least favorite story. But it's not because it doesn't have an epilogue although I would love to read more. Maybe if this is a whole book, I would've liked it more.
“Christmas in Central Park” by Joanna Shupe — 4⭐️
Although the character's names got me confused (like why is she called Mrs. Walker if it was implied that she is single? And Duke Havemeyer is actually the MMC's name and he's not the Duke OF Havemeyer), this still made it to my second favorite story. I enjoyed reading this eventhough it is kinda insta-lust/love (well for Duke anyway). The dinner Rose hosted especially when she was baking made me so nervous for her. But that pantry scene more than made it up for it.
All the best authors writing tales of Christmas? It's as perfect as it sounds.
Story #1: 3 stars — This felt incomplete and somewhat like a draft. Not my favorite from Tessa Dare.
Story #2: 2 stars — This was a chore to get through. I didn’t like it at all.
Story #3: 3.75 stars — So far, this one is my favorite. I liked this one a lot. I wish it had been wrapped up better. The first 11 chapters of the short story were excellent. I really liked the pacing. The last chapter was so fast and cheesy. I wish it had been drawn out just a smidgety more.
Story #4: This started out so strongly, but the ending just didn’t do it for me. I’m still trying to figure out why.
Story #2: 2 stars — This was a chore to get through. I didn’t like it at all.
Story #3: 3.75 stars — So far, this one is my favorite. I liked this one a lot. I wish it had been wrapped up better. The first 11 chapters of the short story were excellent. I really liked the pacing. The last chapter was so fast and cheesy. I wish it had been drawn out just a smidgety more.
Story #4: This started out so strongly, but the ending just didn’t do it for me. I’m still trying to figure out why.