Friday 21 December 2018

Audio: How the Dukes stole Christmas - Anthology


A Holiday Romance Anthology
By: Tessa Dare, Sarah MacLean, Sophie Jordan, Joanna Shupe
Narrated by: Justine Eyre
Historical romance
Release date: 12-04-18
  • Publisher: HarperAudio
  • Thank you Harper for this review copy!

My Thoughts
"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.

This takes place under a rather magical night. Louisa meets her bitter enemy and shares a dance. And then they are sort of stuck with each other and get to know each other better. He is no ogre after all. No, James is a hardworking man who never wanted to be Duke. And Louisa just wants to save her family. 

It was a fun little story and I knew a little drama was coming but they handled it well.

"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.

I was not that keen on this one. It was rather depressing for a Christmas story. Eben is lonely and does nothing else but work. Once upon a time he wanted to marry Jaqueline, but he was busy saving his Dukedom to be worthy of her so he forgot her. I mean idiot much!

Jack loved him for the 12 years she was away and now she is back.

It just left me with the feeling that if he forgot about her once he will do so again. Rather depressing yes.

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. 

I liked this one. The Duke is so grumpy, and Annis is well normal! She wants some peace and quiet to read and garden. Her family gives me Pride and Prejudice vibes. Mum wants to marry off the daughters and they are so loud ;)

Then it becomes Home alone and she is left behind and there are bandits. Luckily for her a grumpy Duke is nearby and sparks fly as they spar and fall in love.

Of course I would have ADORED an epilogue when her mum comes back and is all omg wasn't it great we forgot you so you could catch a Duke. All loud and such.

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?

What? No real Duke, just a guy named Duke? Blasphemy!
Wow, the theme really is that all these Dukes are grinches. This one works works and works some more.'

In romance, all romance is plausible. But here it did stretch a bit, they had not spoken a lot. They fell in love, but really it was just lust since he thought she was married after all. But hey love is love and then they lived happily ever after.

Conclusion.
A nice little anthology with Dukes who are grinches for different reasons and need a bit of Christmas joy and a beautiful woman to get all merry with it.

Narrator
Justine Eyre
I do like her stuff! She is great fun as a narrator! She make her characters come alive.

21 comments:

  1. Oh nice many great HR names here!

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  2. ah those grinches who just happen to be dukes :)

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  3. I love the dress she's wearing on the cover. That sounds like a good one.

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  4. I do love those narrators that make the book come alive!!

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  5. Never underestimate how much drama romance writers can fit even into a short story! :)

    ~Mogsy @ BiblioSanctum

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  6. Haha -- the guy's name was Duke! ;) I'm glad this was an overall enjoyable read, even if there were some things here and there that you didn't like. Thanks for sharing!

    Lindsi @ Do You Dog-ear? 💬

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  7. It sounds like most of these stories were good. I don't think that I have listened to an anthology yet but I would try this one.

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    1. It was different, since well one narrator and she did not make a hundred different voices

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  8. Interesting stories. I like how Heiress Alone sounds. Was a little disappointed to find out that the last story isn't about a Duke.

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    1. I was all flor the Dukes, not really the same with a guy named Duke ;)

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  9. I had my eye on this one, but got caught up in others. Next year, maybe...

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  10. Kicking myself I didn't find time to read this one! Dukes at Christmas... not much better.

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