Monday, December 24, 2018

Sarah's Review: How the Dukes Stole Christmas

Remember, this is a Royal Pick for the month! Check back on December 27th when the monthly giveaway opens!



How the Dukes Stole Christmas by Tessa Dare, Sarah MacLean, Sophie Jordan, and Joanna Shupe
Publisher: October 15, 2018
Genre: Historical Romance


Christmas magic is in the air... From the ballrooms of London, to abandoned Scottish castles, to the snowy streets of Gilded Age New York, four bestselling authors whip up some unforgettable romance...with a little help from some enchanted shortbread.

"Meet Me in Mayfair" by Tessa Dare
Louisa Ward needs a Christmas miracle. Unless she catches a wealthy husband at the ball tonight, the horrid, heartless Duke of Thorndale will evict her family from their beloved Mayfair home. But when her friend begs to switch dance cards, Louisa finds herself waltzing with the enemy: the horrid, heartless--and unexpectedly handsome--Thorndale himself. Now the duke's holding her future in his hands...and he's not letting go.

"The Duke of Christmas Present" by Sarah MacLean
Rich and ruthless, Eben, Duke of Allryd, has no time for holidays. Holidays are for whimsy and charm--the only two things his money cannot buy. Lady Jacqueline Mosby is full of both, even now, twelve years after she left to see the world. When Jacqueline returns for a single Christmas, Eben can't resist the woman he never stopped loving...or the future that had once been in reach. It will take a miracle to convince her to stay...but if ever there were a time for miracles, it's Christmas...

"Heiress Alone" by Sophie Jordan
When Annis Bannister's family leaves her behind in the rush to escape an impending snowstorm, she finds herself stranded in the Highlands, left to fend off brigands terrorizing the countryside, robbing homes locked up for winter. Her only hope falls on her neighbor, a surly hermit duke who unravels her with a look, then a kiss ... until she fears the danger to her heart outweighs the danger of brigands and snowstorms.

"Christmas in Central Park" by Joanna Shupe
Women all over America devour Mrs. Walker's weekly column for recipes and advice. No one knows Rose, the column's author, can't even boil water. When the paper's owner, Duke Havemeyer, insists she host a Christmas party, Rose must scramble to find a husband, an empty mansion, and a cook. But Duke is not a man easily fooled and she fears her perfect plan is failing--especially when Duke's attentions make her feel anything but professional. To save her career will she give up her chance at love? 



Where to Buy*:
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Sarah's Review:



Four powerhouse romance writers -- Tessa Dare, Sarah MacLean, Sophie Jordan, and Joanna Shupe -- come together to weave a little Christmas magic. From snowy London, to blizzard conditions in Scotland, to the perfect Central Park Christmas, the 4 stories in this anthology are a perfect bite of holiday cheer!  To add to the fun, each story is a stand alone tale, but the authors worked in force to thread a common element of a magical shortbread recipe. This cookie shows up in each story and you just can’t help but think it might be magic.



Each of these authors are at the top of their game. I have enjoyed their individual books and was thoroughly delighted with their combined effort.



Tessa Dare offered “Meet me in Mayfair”, I think my favorite of the four.  The heroine must find love tonight if she is not going to be shipped away from London because a new Duke has called in a loan her father can’t pay. She ends up spending a delightful, snowy evening with said Duke where she comes to grips with the idea of leaving and starting over. He comes to grips with the idea that love hit him like a snowball in an unfair fight. Of the four, I think this story best captures the Christmas magic.



Sarah MacLean’s “The Duke of Christmas Present” is an obvious play on the Ebenezer Scrooge tale.  Our hero is even named Eben. MacLean is one of my favorite writers and this is another hit. I just fall into her writing like Alice into the looking glass. Her characters are so real you feel like you are eating the Christmas goose at the same table. I loved this retelling!



“Heiress Alone” by Sophie Jordan is a fun “Home Alone” spoof with the hottest scenes...like melt the snow hot! There is an impending blizzard and a band of thieves on the loose. The duke can’t just leave a forgotten heiress all alone. If this is what happens when your family forgets you,  I want to be forgotten in the Scottish highlands, please!



Last, but certainly not least we meet a New York newspaper owner, named Duke, and an intrepid advice columnist both trying to save their jobs at Christmas in “Christmas in Central Park.” This story best incorporated the shared cookie element and naming our hero Duke rather than him being a duke was cheeky fun!



All in all, this was a fun Christmas read to start of my holiday break. I give it a 4.5 stars and have more Christmas stories waiting in my queue.



4 1/2 STARS! 


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Source: Bought

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Thanks for the review, Sarah! I'm so excited to read this one; I'm waiting on my library hold still *sigh*.



Enjoy!



Until Next Time,










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