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568 reviews for:
How the Dukes Stole Christmas
Sarah MacLean, Joanna Shupe, Sophie Jordan, Tessa Dare
3.66 AVERAGE
568 reviews for:
How the Dukes Stole Christmas
Sarah MacLean, Joanna Shupe, Sophie Jordan, Tessa Dare
3.66 AVERAGE
emotional
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I enjoyed all four of these novellas to varying degrees - Tessa Dare's was probably my favorite with Sophie Jordan's a close second. If I hadn't known these stories had (slight) inspiration from well-known Christmas movies, I don't know that I would have noticed it at all although Sarah MacLean's was the most obvious.
A Little Something for Everyone... and Shortbread
This is a collection of 4 novellas, by 4 different authors. There’s a little bit of something for everyone: the impoverished damsel out to save her family; the yearning of love lost and found again; romance with a dashing Highlands laird; and a comedy of errors involving a woman who wants more than the limits of society will allow her.
I don’t know which one I enjoyed the most, but they’re all worth a read. If I had to pick, I pick ‘Meet Me in Mayfair’; it might be because it’s the Regency story, but for me, it was the sweetest of the 4 stories and I like sweet.
The one that made me cry the most was ‘The Duke of Christmas Present,’ but again, it’s a story of lost love and the ache that comes with yearning. ‘Heiress Alone’ was a nice change to the Scot story, as it took place after the Battle of Culloden rather than being set before it, so there’s less of a threat from a rebellion and more from dastardly brigands. And ‘Christmas in Central Park’ tackles the Golden Age, journalism and some really heart-pounding flirting.
Be warned, there are some explicit scenes. This is *not* a clean read. But unlike some other stories I’ve had the displeasure to read, the plot was not just an excuse at foreplay before copulation.
This is a collection of 4 novellas, by 4 different authors. There’s a little bit of something for everyone: the impoverished damsel out to save her family; the yearning of love lost and found again; romance with a dashing Highlands laird; and a comedy of errors involving a woman who wants more than the limits of society will allow her.
I don’t know which one I enjoyed the most, but they’re all worth a read. If I had to pick, I pick ‘Meet Me in Mayfair’; it might be because it’s the Regency story, but for me, it was the sweetest of the 4 stories and I like sweet.
The one that made me cry the most was ‘The Duke of Christmas Present,’ but again, it’s a story of lost love and the ache that comes with yearning. ‘Heiress Alone’ was a nice change to the Scot story, as it took place after the Battle of Culloden rather than being set before it, so there’s less of a threat from a rebellion and more from dastardly brigands. And ‘Christmas in Central Park’ tackles the Golden Age, journalism and some really heart-pounding flirting.
Be warned, there are some explicit scenes. This is *not* a clean read. But unlike some other stories I’ve had the displeasure to read, the plot was not just an excuse at foreplay before copulation.
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
4.5⭐
A historical romance anthology, set around Christmas, written by best authors of the genre, featuring grumpy Dukes and free spirited heroines, with lots of smut.
This one feels like it's custom made for me.
A historical romance anthology, set around Christmas, written by best authors of the genre, featuring grumpy Dukes and free spirited heroines, with lots of smut.
This one feels like it's custom made for me.
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Really hard to rate this. Loved the MacLean and Jordan stories but not the other two really. Cute Christmas feelings though.
4 regency romances, 3 set in England, one in New York, and all during the Christmas holidays.
Cute, fun, and I found a new author to read, so thanks!
Cute, fun, and I found a new author to read, so thanks!
emotional
lighthearted
slow-paced
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Anthologies are a struggle for me and, sadly, this one was no exception. I loved one of the stories, liked another, and was underwhelmed by the other two. Here's how I came up with my final rating for this holiday collection:
▪️Meet Me in Mayfair by Tessa Dare (5⭐): This was a fabulous start to the collection. As always, Tessa Dare is a master of writing excellent heroines. The premise wasn't realistic, but I was willing to suspend my disbelief.
▪️The Duke of Christmas Past by Sarah MacLean (2⭐): I skimmed this one. The steamy scenes were well-done but the plot and characters left me wanting more.
▪️Heiress Alone by Sophie Jordan (4⭐): Home Alone, except the main character is rescued by a sexy Scottish duke as a snowstorm looms on the horizon and thieves approach her home. I enjoyed the steam, forced proximity, and setting.
▪️Christmas in Central Park by Sophie Jordan (3⭐): I liked this more than I expected. The premise of a female journalist trying to make it in Gilded Age New York was unique and entertaining. I didn't like the hero, which soured the chemistry for me.
▪️Meet Me in Mayfair by Tessa Dare (5⭐): This was a fabulous start to the collection. As always, Tessa Dare is a master of writing excellent heroines. The premise wasn't realistic, but I was willing to suspend my disbelief.
▪️The Duke of Christmas Past by Sarah MacLean (2⭐): I skimmed this one. The steamy scenes were well-done but the plot and characters left me wanting more.
▪️Heiress Alone by Sophie Jordan (4⭐): Home Alone, except the main character is rescued by a sexy Scottish duke as a snowstorm looms on the horizon and thieves approach her home. I enjoyed the steam, forced proximity, and setting.
▪️Christmas in Central Park by Sophie Jordan (3⭐): I liked this more than I expected. The premise of a female journalist trying to make it in Gilded Age New York was unique and entertaining. I didn't like the hero, which soured the chemistry for me.
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Really enjoyed the second two novellas (Heiress Alone, Sophie Jordan & Christmas in Central Park, Joanna Shupe). Heiress alone was definitely my favorite. It was a Home Alone retelling set in the 1800s.
The Tessa dare novella was fun, I loved the walk through London in the snow at night.
I DNF the second novella.
Overall fun christmas-y collection of novellas, but I think romance novellas are just really hard to execute! A love story that’s believable in 100 pages isn’t exactly easy. But I just suspended disbelief for tried to enjoy the stories.
The Tessa dare novella was fun, I loved the walk through London in the snow at night.
I DNF the second novella.
Overall fun christmas-y collection of novellas, but I think romance novellas are just really hard to execute! A love story that’s believable in 100 pages isn’t exactly easy. But I just suspended disbelief for tried to enjoy the stories.