Reviews

Duke, Actually by Jenny Holiday

defiantfalcon's review against another edition

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emotional funny lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes

4.5

beccastaley's review against another edition

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3.0

3.5

lavorgnm's review against another edition

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emotional funny lighthearted slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

leigh_47's review against another edition

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4.0

Duke, Actually is the sequel to A Princess for Christmas by Jenny Holiday. I did not know it wasn't a standalone before I started reading it! I never read out of order so this was a real event for me.

With their best friends getting married, Maximillian von Hansburg, Baron of Laudon and heir to the Duke of Aquilla finds himself in a position to get to know Professor Dani Martinez. They did not hit it off when they first met, but he is visiting New York and reaches out. Dani relents and the two end up in an unlikely friendship that develops as she sets out to have sex with someone and Max tries to find a real job. Eventually Max realizes he wants to be the one Dani is intimate with, while Dani finds she believes in Max and helps him find the strength to push against familial expectations.

Dani's soon-to-be ex-husband who is also tenured colleague in her academic department was a great way to showcase how stuck she was in New York. My only quibble was that there was zero reference to her students/advises and how she would keep up with them during her time away. It was as though students don't exist for a faculty member who is probably also trying to secure funding for her research? I'm nitpicking as someone very familiar with universities and the T&P process. The scenes with the best friend and the faculty parties were my favorites.

The C plot about the Eldovian who hid people in the mine and spent a year in New York felt underdeveloped and frankly like it could have been edited out. Keep Max trying to work on a second life for the mine, and maybe even keep the part about hiding refugees; but the details about the letters and the trip keep itching in my brain as threads that were dropped.

I believe I heard Jenny Holiday in an interview describe this series as "Hallmark, but hotter" and I would honestly just leave it at "Hallmark." That's fine! This is an adorable story about two people with hangups about relationships who learn to let one another into their lives.

I received this ARC as a reward for supporting the Bonkers Romance podcast.

jmbibliolater's review against another edition

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5.0

I do not give holiday romances five stars very often but this book is pretty damn perfect. A slow burn, friends to lovers with outstanding banter and some steam? Yes please.

edhpbg2022's review against another edition

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funny lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

holly_suds55's review against another edition

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emotional funny lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.75

sparklingstarling's review against another edition

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funny lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

itschelseaw's review

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emotional funny lighthearted fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

This was super cute, and I wasn’t expecting it! I am normally not big on the friends to lovers trope, but this book pulled it off so well. Dani and Max were so easy to root for. Both were lovable in their own ways, and I appreciated that they both respected the other and supported them.
Max’s parents were horrid, and we didn’t really see a lot of Dani’s. I wish we had gotten more insight into her life in NYC, but I’m guessing at least part of that was covered in the first book of the series.
Really enjoyable read that was an unexpected hit for me!