Scan barcode
javalenciaph's review against another edition
5.0
Read the full review on Bookaholics Not-So-Anonymous.
Note: This review is for The Duke's Christmas Wish by Vivienne Lorret only. The review for the full anthology will be posted once I read the three other novellas.
I absolutely adored this love story! Admittedly, I don't read as many regency and historical romances as I used to in my twenties, but it's stories like this one that make me miss the romance sub-genre and make me want to read more of it. North may have come off as a stiff snob in the beginning, but he's actually so dumbfounded by meeting Ivy that has his all quiet. I liked how he struggled to find reason within his uncharacteristic actions and reactions to the woman, and even when did have some sort of excuse for them, they would flit away once he glanced her way. It's all that propriety and restraint that made it such a refreshing read from my usual romance fare. This man didn't believe in fanciful things like love and romance, but just like his labeling of Ivy as inconsequential to his formula, North learns a thing or two about love and romance, and ultimately about himself and has to live with the consequences that come with it. Using The Frog Prince was one of my favorite elements. Five stars for The Duke's Christmas Wish. ♥
Note: This review is for The Duke's Christmas Wish by Vivienne Lorret only. The review for the full anthology will be posted once I read the three other novellas.
I absolutely adored this love story! Admittedly, I don't read as many regency and historical romances as I used to in my twenties, but it's stories like this one that make me miss the romance sub-genre and make me want to read more of it. North may have come off as a stiff snob in the beginning, but he's actually so dumbfounded by meeting Ivy that has his all quiet. I liked how he struggled to find reason within his uncharacteristic actions and reactions to the woman, and even when did have some sort of excuse for them, they would flit away once he glanced her way. It's all that propriety and restraint that made it such a refreshing read from my usual romance fare. This man didn't believe in fanciful things like love and romance, but just like his labeling of Ivy as inconsequential to his formula, North learns a thing or two about love and romance, and ultimately about himself and has to live with the consequences that come with it. Using The Frog Prince was one of my favorite elements. Five stars for The Duke's Christmas Wish. ♥
nellesnightstand1's review against another edition
3.0
This review was originally posted on Nelle's NightStandThis was a cute anthology of Christmas stories. I just love short stories fill with holiday spirit and romance!
The Duke and Duchess Trap by Valerie Bowman
This first story is based off of "The Parent Trap". I was excited for this one as I loved both movie versions. I was expecting it ot have some creative differences but honestly other than trading the Grandfather for the Grandmother, I couldn't find anything different. It ended up being a rather boring rendition of "The Parent Trap", regency edition.
Sophie and the Duke by Tiffany Clare
The second story was so much better! "Sophie and the Duke" This was more of a Cinderella story but Sophie and Adrian had been childhood friends. Adrian, Duke of Helmsworth was holding a masked ball so he could meet all the eligible ladies to fulfill his father's will and marry to obtain his inheritance. The banter and romance between them was just perfect! I felt that this one could be extended as there were several loose ends. I need to find more by Tiffany Clare as I really liked her writing style and her characters!
The Duke’s Christmas Wish by Vivienne Lorret
The genius, Duke of Vale is hosting a house party in order to prove his Marriage Formula works. Ivy Sutherland is there with a friend to help her friend find a husband.
I saw disaster in the making when North put Ivy's name in the "Red book". The book that said " of No Consequence" because of her lineage or lack thereof. The sparks between Ivy and North flew almost instantly. I loved their interactions. I'm going to have to look for her friends story, as I want to know what happens next!
One Magic Season by Ashlyn Macnamara
Patience and Nathaniel were in love years ago. Nathaniel wasn't strong enough to buck his family's expectations and Patience married elsewhere. Both of them are free again as their spouses have passed on. They meet again on a snow road during Christmas.
This was a warm, cozy story of second chances and I loved how Nathaniel proves he's ready for that second chance.
Three out of four stories in an anthology is a great read! who knows you might like the rendition of the Parent Trap more than I did!
nellesnightstand's review against another edition
3.0
This review was originally posted on Nelle's NightStandThis was a cute anthology of Christmas stories. I just love short stories fill with holiday spirit and romance!
The Duke and Duchess Trap by Valerie Bowman
This first story is based off of "The Parent Trap". I was excited for this one as I loved both movie versions. I was expecting it ot have some creative differences but honestly other than trading the Grandfather for the Grandmother, I couldn't find anything different. It ended up being a rather boring rendition of "The Parent Trap", regency edition.
Sophie and the Duke by Tiffany Clare
The second story was so much better! "Sophie and the Duke" This was more of a Cinderella story but Sophie and Adrian had been childhood friends. Adrian, Duke of Helmsworth was holding a masked ball so he could meet all the eligible ladies to fulfill his father's will and marry to obtain his inheritance. The banter and romance between them was just perfect! I felt that this one could be extended as there were several loose ends. I need to find more by Tiffany Clare as I really liked her writing style and her characters!
The Duke’s Christmas Wish by Vivienne Lorret
The genius, Duke of Vale is hosting a house party in order to prove his Marriage Formula works. Ivy Sutherland is there with a friend to help her friend find a husband.
I saw disaster in the making when North put Ivy's name in the "Red book". The book that said " of No Consequence" because of her lineage or lack thereof. The sparks between Ivy and North flew almost instantly. I loved their interactions. I'm going to have to look for her friends story, as I want to know what happens next!
One Magic Season by Ashlyn Macnamara
Patience and Nathaniel were in love years ago. Nathaniel wasn't strong enough to buck his family's expectations and Patience married elsewhere. Both of them are free again as their spouses have passed on. They meet again on a snow road during Christmas.
This was a warm, cozy story of second chances and I loved how Nathaniel proves he's ready for that second chance.
Three out of four stories in an anthology is a great read! who knows you might like the rendition of the Parent Trap more than I did!
milicasbookshelf's review against another edition
3.0
The Duke&Duchess Trap - Valerie Bowman. -3 Stars
Sophie and the Duke - Tiffany Clare -4 Stars
The Duke's Christmas Wish - Vivienne Lorret 4.5 stars
One Magic Season-Ashlyn Macnamara 2.5 stars
Sophie and the Duke - Tiffany Clare -4 Stars
The Duke's Christmas Wish - Vivienne Lorret 4.5 stars
One Magic Season-Ashlyn Macnamara 2.5 stars
merrinish's review against another edition
3.0
Cuuuuuuute
About what you'd expect for Christmas short stories, but definitely super cute. The Linnet story was definitely my favorite, but I've read in that series before.
About what you'd expect for Christmas short stories, but definitely super cute. The Linnet story was definitely my favorite, but I've read in that series before.
ssejig's review against another edition
3.0
The Duke and Duchess Trap by Valerie Bowman
Fun but blatant rip-off of the Parent Trap with an added Big Misunderstanding at the end. Elizabeth and her duke married young and, after a big fight, they split up their identical twin daughters. Now the girls are twelve-years-old and have gone to the same school. It would be a bit more charming if it weren’t SO mired in the Parent Trap realm. Bits of dialogue that, if they weren’t lifted verbatim from the movie were pretty damn close, kept pulling me out of the story.
Two and a half stars
Sophie and the Duke by Tiffany Clare
Sophie is in London at a ball meant to find the Duke of Helmsworth a bride. She knows that she would never be his choice, twenty-eight is too old after all, but she had hoped to see the boy she played with as a child.
For his part, Adrian isn’t enamored of the ball. Somewhat of a playboy before his father’s death, Adrian couldn’t have been trusted with the estate. Which is why his father tied it up until his 30th birthday unless Adrian married.
Sophie doesn’t believe she can get married but Adrian refuses to believe that he can marry anyone else now that he’s found her again.
Three stars
The Duke’s Christmas WishVivienne Lorret
Ivy wants nothing more than for her friend to find a husband so that she can fulfill the terms of her father’s will. And the man hosting the Christmas house party, the Duke of Vale, seems to be in want of a wife. Too bad Ivy is very attracted to him.
The Duke is trying to get into… it must be some sort of scientific or inventing society. To that end, he’s created the Marriage Formula. His theory of being able to do away with the courtship period by mathematically finding the perfect matches will earn him a place in society that his parentage (his mother was a commoner) denied him.
I cannot wait to read the rest of the books in this series. With the Duke’s wastrel cousin and his former flame, his friend Wolcott, and his other friend, Jack Marlowe, seems to be being set up for Ivy, even though he’s doesn’t have a title (the requirement of her father’s will.)
Four stars
One Magic Season by Ashlyn Macnamara
Lady Patience Markham is a dowager Duchess. At twenty-eight, no less. But she’s content. Even if she does still think of the Duke of Kingsbury, the man she loved with all her young heart. The man who was too far out of her reach. The man whose carriage is blocking the road because of the current storm. The man who she has unwittingly invited to share her home while they wait for the weather to settle…
Three stars.
Fun but blatant rip-off of the Parent Trap with an added Big Misunderstanding at the end. Elizabeth and her duke married young and, after a big fight, they split up their identical twin daughters. Now the girls are twelve-years-old and have gone to the same school. It would be a bit more charming if it weren’t SO mired in the Parent Trap realm. Bits of dialogue that, if they weren’t lifted verbatim from the movie were pretty damn close, kept pulling me out of the story.
Two and a half stars
Sophie and the Duke by Tiffany Clare
Sophie is in London at a ball meant to find the Duke of Helmsworth a bride. She knows that she would never be his choice, twenty-eight is too old after all, but she had hoped to see the boy she played with as a child.
For his part, Adrian isn’t enamored of the ball. Somewhat of a playboy before his father’s death, Adrian couldn’t have been trusted with the estate. Which is why his father tied it up until his 30th birthday unless Adrian married.
Sophie doesn’t believe she can get married but Adrian refuses to believe that he can marry anyone else now that he’s found her again.
Three stars
The Duke’s Christmas WishVivienne Lorret
Ivy wants nothing more than for her friend to find a husband so that she can fulfill the terms of her father’s will. And the man hosting the Christmas house party, the Duke of Vale, seems to be in want of a wife. Too bad Ivy is very attracted to him.
The Duke is trying to get into… it must be some sort of scientific or inventing society. To that end, he’s created the Marriage Formula. His theory of being able to do away with the courtship period by mathematically finding the perfect matches will earn him a place in society that his parentage (his mother was a commoner) denied him.
I cannot wait to read the rest of the books in this series. With the Duke’s wastrel cousin and his former flame, his friend Wolcott, and his other friend, Jack Marlowe, seems to be being set up for Ivy, even though he’s doesn’t have a title (the requirement of her father’s will.)
Four stars
One Magic Season by Ashlyn Macnamara
Lady Patience Markham is a dowager Duchess. At twenty-eight, no less. But she’s content. Even if she does still think of the Duke of Kingsbury, the man she loved with all her young heart. The man who was too far out of her reach. The man whose carriage is blocking the road because of the current storm. The man who she has unwittingly invited to share her home while they wait for the weather to settle…
Three stars.