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sarah_moynihan's review against another edition
4.0
Ten years ago Felicity and Calder were in love and ready to build a life together. Expecting a proposal upon his return from Oxford, she is then shocked to receive a letter from him instead, a letter detailing the reasons why he should not and would not marry her. Feeling heartbroken and betayed, she accepts her fathers offer to remove to York. For the frist time in ten years, she returns to Hartwell in order to care for her ailing mother and she is shocked to find her lost love to be a much changed man.
Cut off by his cruel and negligent father, who treated him so much differently from his sisters, Calder has since had to rebuild himself. Mistreated and mislead, denied the woman he loves, he has become a cold and solitary man, one who cuts himself off from all sentiment and feeling.
Horrified to find him changed so and treating those around him so coldly, Felicity is determined to help him find his way back to the man he used to be and as a result bring the holiday spirit back to the town of Hartwell.
___________________________________
This is the third book in Darcy Burke's Love is All Around series, and is a retelling of A Christmas Carol. This story was quite enjoyable even though it was a bit predictable, but this was to be expected as it is a retelling of another, quite famous story. It is unique enough to stand seperate though.
Believing her to be too good for the man he has become, Calder repeatedly teeters on the border of redemption and reclusion, but when he does finally turn toward redemption it is hard to believe he flipped from a cold and harsh man, set in his ways over the last decade to a sweet and compassionate man, almost like someone hit a reset button. It's hard to believe they are one and the same man.
I thought the book started off very strong, but thought the second half was a little prone to cheesiness. That being said though it is a perfectly sweet book for the holiday season and I will be going back to read the previous two books in the series. If you're a fan of the holiday classics or just sweet holiday romances then you should check out this series.
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Many thanks to NetGalley and Darcy Burke for sharing an electronic copy of this book with me for reviewing purposes.
Cut off by his cruel and negligent father, who treated him so much differently from his sisters, Calder has since had to rebuild himself. Mistreated and mislead, denied the woman he loves, he has become a cold and solitary man, one who cuts himself off from all sentiment and feeling.
Horrified to find him changed so and treating those around him so coldly, Felicity is determined to help him find his way back to the man he used to be and as a result bring the holiday spirit back to the town of Hartwell.
___________________________________
This is the third book in Darcy Burke's Love is All Around series, and is a retelling of A Christmas Carol. This story was quite enjoyable even though it was a bit predictable, but this was to be expected as it is a retelling of another, quite famous story. It is unique enough to stand seperate though.
Believing her to be too good for the man he has become, Calder repeatedly teeters on the border of redemption and reclusion, but when he does finally turn toward redemption it is hard to believe he flipped from a cold and harsh man, set in his ways over the last decade to a sweet and compassionate man, almost like someone hit a reset button. It's hard to believe they are one and the same man.
I thought the book started off very strong, but thought the second half was a little prone to cheesiness. That being said though it is a perfectly sweet book for the holiday season and I will be going back to read the previous two books in the series. If you're a fan of the holiday classics or just sweet holiday romances then you should check out this series.
_____
Many thanks to NetGalley and Darcy Burke for sharing an electronic copy of this book with me for reviewing purposes.
books_and_more_books_byt's review against another edition
4.0
Joy to the Duke is the third and final book in the new series Love is All Around. The series is based on the Duke of Harwell (Calder) and his two sisters, Bianca and Poppy. They can be read as a standalone, but they are better if they are read in order. They take place around the Christmas holiday and Calder’s story is based on A Christmas Carol.
Calder is Ebenezer Scrooge in the story. He lost the woman he loved due to his father’s interference and once he gained the title, he quit supporting the things his father loved. He has isolated himself from his sisters and has refused to host the annual St. Stephens Day celebration that the Duke of Harwell’s have hosted for years. He has withdrawn the financial support to the Hartwell House that is a home for women and children.
Widowed Felicity Garland has returned to Hartwell to help her mother and is surprised by Calder’s attitude. She is upset when she learns of their father’s interference in their youth, but she is determined to help him open his heart to the joy of the season and his family.
The book was short but still wonderful. Calder’s attitude in the two previous books was cold and unfeeling and left the reader wondering what had happened in his past to cause him such pain. It was great to finally read his story and see him get his happy ever after.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Calder is Ebenezer Scrooge in the story. He lost the woman he loved due to his father’s interference and once he gained the title, he quit supporting the things his father loved. He has isolated himself from his sisters and has refused to host the annual St. Stephens Day celebration that the Duke of Harwell’s have hosted for years. He has withdrawn the financial support to the Hartwell House that is a home for women and children.
Widowed Felicity Garland has returned to Hartwell to help her mother and is surprised by Calder’s attitude. She is upset when she learns of their father’s interference in their youth, but she is determined to help him open his heart to the joy of the season and his family.
The book was short but still wonderful. Calder’s attitude in the two previous books was cold and unfeeling and left the reader wondering what had happened in his past to cause him such pain. It was great to finally read his story and see him get his happy ever after.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
redpineapple's review against another edition
4.0
Even though this was a novella, it flew really well. I liked the pacing and the characters. This was my first book by the author but certainly will not be my last.
I have deducted a star because the ending felt a little rushed and tied up with a neat little bow. I liked the bow but not at the pace at which everything was brought together.
I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley.
I have deducted a star because the ending felt a little rushed and tied up with a neat little bow. I liked the bow but not at the pace at which everything was brought together.
I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley.
sassysmutlover's review against another edition
5.0
I think this may be my favorite in this series! We finally find out what turned Calder so cold and the extent of that will surprise you. They were meant to be together and Felicity wasn’t going to let him continue on the downward spiral. When they came face to face again the sparks flew and I knew it was going to be a journey for them. The ending was perfect and I loved seeing the family together again.
Felicity is a strong-willed woman that isn’t going to give up and will fight him all the way. I loved her from the start because she saw the man she loved was still inside him. She brought joy back into his life.
Calder is bitter and pushing everyone that loves him away because of the past. Once you find out why he is the way he is you will understand him and love him as time goes by. He needs joy back in his life.
Copy provided for an honest and voluntary review
Felicity is a strong-willed woman that isn’t going to give up and will fight him all the way. I loved her from the start because she saw the man she loved was still inside him. She brought joy back into his life.
Calder is bitter and pushing everyone that loves him away because of the past. Once you find out why he is the way he is you will understand him and love him as time goes by. He needs joy back in his life.
Copy provided for an honest and voluntary review
dukefn99's review against another edition
4.0
A story of redemption and a reunion at Christmas? Yes please. Ms Burke packed a ton into this story and I just kept turning the pages needing to know how everything was going play out. I, personally, could have used just a touch more as I felt it wrapped up a bit too neatly and abruptly. But that didn't take away from my enjoyment of the story.
This is the third book in this series, and I haven't read the others... and I don't feel like I was missing anything. That said, I might just have to go back since I *think* the secondary characters in this book were the leads in the prior ones and my curiosity is piqued.
I've enjoyed all the books I've read by Ms Burke in the past and this is another winner. I look forward to reading more from her in the future.
In full disclosure, I received an advanced copy of this book. But all thoughts are my own.
This is the third book in this series, and I haven't read the others... and I don't feel like I was missing anything. That said, I might just have to go back since I *think* the secondary characters in this book were the leads in the prior ones and my curiosity is piqued.
I've enjoyed all the books I've read by Ms Burke in the past and this is another winner. I look forward to reading more from her in the future.
In full disclosure, I received an advanced copy of this book. But all thoughts are my own.
plottrysts's review against another edition
3.5
We liked:
Lack of infertility drama;
Reversal of expectations when it came to the conflict;
The exploration of what it means to celebrate a "family holiday" when you are your siblings have VASTLY different recollections of previous family interactions.
We were meh:
The romance itself;
That the length detracted from the possibility of fully exploring the above interesting concepts.
Read this if you like new takes on A Christmas Carol or if you've read the first two in the series and want to know what's up with Chill.
13-Word Summaries:
Laine: If your ghost of christmas past, present, and future are dicks, what gives?
Meg: Your dad’s abusive, your girlfriend ghosted you. Obvious next step? Become the grinch.
Lack of infertility drama;
Reversal of expectations when it came to the conflict;
The exploration of what it means to celebrate a "family holiday" when you are your siblings have VASTLY different recollections of previous family interactions.
We were meh:
The romance itself;
That the length detracted from the possibility of fully exploring the above interesting concepts.
Read this if you like new takes on A Christmas Carol or if you've read the first two in the series and want to know what's up with Chill.
13-Word Summaries:
Laine: If your ghost of christmas past, present, and future are dicks, what gives?
Meg: Your dad’s abusive, your girlfriend ghosted you. Obvious next step? Become the grinch.
viktorian's review against another edition
3.0
This was a cute, super loose nod to a Christmas Carol. I loved the family themes, especially
Spoiler
how a family member can present themselves one way in public and to certain members of the family and then a totally different way to other peopleSpoiler
of abuseI did wish Felicity's character was a little more developed? But for 150 pages, it wasn't bad. I liked The Red Hot Earl more and I skipped #2 for personal triggers/reasons, but overall, this is a cute, festive little series. My only real complaint is my usual whine for Darcy Burke novellas: I wish she'd write more full-length stuff.
beckymmoe's review against another edition
4.0
Reviewed on my blog, Becky on Books, on 11/17/19.
A sweet ending to a fun holiday novella series!
Calder had his work cut out for him in this book--he was a wretched human being in the first two books, and the novella-length format doesn't give him a lot of room for error--but fortunately for him, Ms Burke got right to making him work on his own redemption. Not that he was at all interested in even trying at first--thankfully, Felicity has the tenacity of a bulldog and won't give him a moment's peace. She's going to drag him back to his long-buried last bit of humanity kicking and screaming if she has to.
In keeping with the underlying theme of the series (holiday stories loosely inspired by classic Christmas tales), it's a Christmas Carol-style episode that finally gives him the final nudge he needs to start fighting for his own HEA and sets the reader up for a super sweet epilogue. If needed this novella could work as a standalone, but since each story builds slightly on the one before it, you'll get a more complete story by reading them all in order.
I don't know about you, but where I am the weather is perfect for three sexy but sweet historical holiday novellas--so grab a cup of tea, a cozy blanket, and start reading :)
Rating: 4 stars / B+
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.
A sweet ending to a fun holiday novella series!
Calder had his work cut out for him in this book--he was a wretched human being in the first two books, and the novella-length format doesn't give him a lot of room for error--but fortunately for him, Ms Burke got right to making him work on his own redemption. Not that he was at all interested in even trying at first--thankfully, Felicity has the tenacity of a bulldog and won't give him a moment's peace. She's going to drag him back to his long-buried last bit of humanity kicking and screaming if she has to.
In keeping with the underlying theme of the series (holiday stories loosely inspired by classic Christmas tales), it's a Christmas Carol-style episode that finally gives him the final nudge he needs to start fighting for his own HEA and sets the reader up for a super sweet epilogue. If needed this novella could work as a standalone, but since each story builds slightly on the one before it, you'll get a more complete story by reading them all in order.
I don't know about you, but where I am the weather is perfect for three sexy but sweet historical holiday novellas--so grab a cup of tea, a cozy blanket, and start reading :)
Rating: 4 stars / B+
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.
jillmlong's review against another edition
4.0
Joy to the Duke was my favorite book in the trilogy. I loved Felicity. She was confident and fearless. I wasn't sure how Darcy Burke was going to make the Duke likable but she succeeded!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
laffingkat's review
4.0
This is the third and final book in Darcy Burke’s new Love is All Around holiday Regency romance series about three siblings. While all of the stories interconnect, each book focuses on one couple and can be enjoyed on its own. This was the most Christmassy of the three, and I really liked how it incorporated elements of A Christmas Carol.
Poppy and Bianca’s brother Calder, the Duke of Hartwell, was portrayed so disagreeably (such a Scrooge) in the previous books that I wondered how Ms. Burke would redeem him. She handled his redemption via “ghosts” of the past, present, and future with aplomb. Calder and Felicity were both portrayed as likable characters, and I was rooting for their second chance romance to succeed.
While this book deals with some dark themes (parental death, child abuse, poverty), it also includes some laughs and the love of a very good dog.
This is a fun holiday romance. I recommend it to anyone who won’t be offended by the inclusion of mild profanity and a couple of explicit sex scenes.
I received an ARC of this book from the author and volunteered to provide an honest review.
Poppy and Bianca’s brother Calder, the Duke of Hartwell, was portrayed so disagreeably (such a Scrooge) in the previous books that I wondered how Ms. Burke would redeem him. She handled his redemption via “ghosts” of the past, present, and future with aplomb. Calder and Felicity were both portrayed as likable characters, and I was rooting for their second chance romance to succeed.
While this book deals with some dark themes (parental death, child abuse, poverty), it also includes some laughs and the love of a very good dog.
This is a fun holiday romance. I recommend it to anyone who won’t be offended by the inclusion of mild profanity and a couple of explicit sex scenes.
I received an ARC of this book from the author and volunteered to provide an honest review.