This book is described as a Christmas romance and while there are significant scenes that happen at Christmas, there are also large chunks of the book that occur throughout the rest of the year. That being said, I still adored this book. Dani is a professor living in New York and will be the attendant at her best friend Leo’s wedding. Leo just happens to be marrying Marie, the princess of Eldovia. And Marie’s attendant for the wedding will be Max, a baron (in line to be duke). Dani is not impressed by Max’s wild bachelor ways but Max is determined that they become friends. I’m sure this would be considered a slow-burn friends-to-lovers story but the first half of this book is about Dani and Max becoming the best of friends in a wholesome innocent way and it’s just absolutely precious. Of course the rest of us know they’re falling in love but they just consider themselves becoming great friends who understand one another, laugh with one another and want to build each other up. It was very funny but also dealt with some very serious issues (alcohol abuse, verbal/physical abuse among family). I think my favorite part was how much Dani and Max fell for one another for their personalities (Dani’s intelligence and wit, Max’s kindness) instead of it being so driven by physical attraction. Very enjoyable story!

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for this advanced copy!

So good! Loved this sequel to Princess for Christmas and it was the perfect read to kick off my holiday season. I'm hoping the next installment will be a M/M romance so will look forward to 2022. Thanks to netgalley for the advance ecopy.

4.5 Stars

Maximillian von Hansburg, Baron of Laudon and Dr. Daniela Martinez, tenure track 19-the Century Literature Professor are an unlikely pair. Max is under pressure to find a suitable wife (though he has no desire to marry) and Dani is “post-men”, swearing off love and relationships after having her heart broken by her ex-husband. Brought together as wedding attendants for the upcoming royal wedding, Max and Dani strike up an unexpectedly fast friendship- Max appreciates that Dani doesn’t seem to care he’s a future Duke and Dani appreciates Max’s earnest, honest and supportive approach to their friendship. Throughout a year-long, mostly long distance friendship rooted in New Year’s Resolutions, Dani and Max come to be the most important people in each other’s lives and their friendship starts to spark into attraction and desire. Obstacles stand in their way: Max’s parents would never approve of Dani as a future duchess and Dani isn’t so sure even her favorite person is worth uprooting her life and risking her heart again.

I absolutely adored A Princess for Christmas, Jenny Holiday’s 2020 Christmas novel, but I adore this one even more. While this can be read as a standalone, your introduction to Dani and Max in that first book does set the scene a bit for where we find our hero and heroine when this book opens. I absolutely adored both Max and Dani (I can see why Leo and Marie chose them as their best friends) and thought their chemistry just jumped off the page. I think that their relationship was so rooted in friendship and the emotional honesty they shared with each other throughout their long-distance friendship and that just made it so real and tangible; I was so ready for them to take the next step in their relationship when the time came. I loved the way that Max supported Dani, even when she couldn’t ask for it and that Dani served as a safe place for Max to land, something he didn’t have enough of growing up.

I thought that Max’s family and upbringing, while cloaked in riches and aristocracy, was one that is unfortunately all to relatable to more “common folk”. I loved watching him and Sebastian, his younger brother, reconnect and support each other while Max searched for his purpose, it really added an element to the story beyond the romance and the “will they, won’t they” storyline (which, don’t get me wrong, is plenty on its own, but I’m here for layers!)

I was also so glad we got to go back to Eldovia for the royal wedding; it’s probably my favorite fake kingdom, with the beautiful Alps, the cocoa festival and the idyllic scenery. Max’s cottage on his estate sounds picturesque- lots of swoony moments take place there, but those are spoilers, so you’ll just have to read and find out!

This is a fantastic option to pick up when you’re in the mood for a Christmas romance; yes, there are Love Actually references! I don’t believe in Dani’s December 11-Janury 6th Christmas celebration restraints personally (though I can respect them); it’s not too soon to rush out and grab this one today!

CW: Mentions of Child Abuse (physical, emotional), alcoholism, homophobia

#dukeactually
#jennyholiday
#romance
#NetGalley published 11/16/21
#avonandharpervoyager

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Romance. My "guilty pleasure" of genres. It reads goes quickly. I love the enemy to lover and best friends to lover tropes. This is a little bit of both. And finally a royal wedding that isn't about the main characters in the book. They are the best woman and man of honor of course.

Favorite part of the book? The #snark and cleverness between them. I love snark. This book is not too sweet. But as per the usual, there was a conflict near the end. Not a fan of the way that was done. Thus the minus one ⭐.

Fun book. Definitely recommend. Would def read another by this author.

#bookstagram #booknerds #bookworm #booklover #bookdragon #readalot #ilovereading #inkdrinker #librarymouse #bookaddict #bookaholic #booklover #booknerd #readingaddiction #readingaddict #readingforpleasure #read #readingheals #bookreview #booknerdigan #bookish #booknerdbookreviews #bookaddict #bookaholic #bookrecommendation

I’m going to be honest, I’m not really much of a
Christmas book reader and kind of requested this on a whim. But I’m so glad I did! What a heart warming holiday hug of a book. Think a well written Hallmark movie but with some spice. The banter was A+, and the characters were great! A solid 4 out of 5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon for sending me this ARC in exchange for an honest review! This book has it all. We get a Christmas rom-com, with a friends-to-lovers romance, and elements of royalty. If you love any of these tropes I recommend adding this book to your holiday reading list.

Duke, Actually is a very charming and sweet holiday romance that is being published just in time. This book made me want to light a candle and curl up under a blanket with some hot chocolate which is exactly what I did. I really appreciated that this book was filled with the essence of Christmas without being completely consumed by it. It gives off the festive, heartwarming feelings we get during the holiday season, without throwing it all at us. I feel like that's a reason that anyone will enjoy this rom-com even if Christmas novels aren't necessarily for you.

There are a lot of references to Jenny Holiday's other book "A Princess for Christmas" because there is overlap with some of the side characters. You don't have to read that book before Duke, Actually because everything is explained and easy to understand but you definitely could if you want the full picture.

I love that even at the beginning of the book when you first see Dani and Max interact before they truly get to know each other, Max always has Dani's back and does whatever he needed to do to compliment her around others. Their relationship was so much fun and I enjoyed watching them grow closer and care about each other. I also really enjoyed seeing the text messages between them because it adds an extra fun element to the reading experience.

I highly recommend Duke, Actually if you're looking for a holiday romance and enjoy books about royalty and friends-to-lovers.

The answer is yes, but I have questions. Question the first: Is this going to be one of those elaborately complex romantic comedies where we pretend to be in love to make your ex-husband jealous?

Continuing with characters readers met in A Princess for Christmas, Duke, Actually takes the two bestfriends of the first book's couple. Dani is going to be the Bestwoman in her friend Leo's wedding and Max is going to be the Man of Honor for his bestfriend and ex-fiancee Marie. This did start off in a fast, jump into it way, that had me wondering if I should have read the first book, Dani and Max clearly know each other and even though they weren't in each other's presence much, there is the feeling that something, however, intangible, is already between them. After feeling a little lost in the very beginning, the rest of the book takes such thoughtful, deliberate time exploring the two that you could, actually start here.

He was a baron who lived on another continent. There was no danger of him upending her life.

Dani is a literature professor who is in the middle of a divorce, her husband left her for one of his students, and has decided to swear off love and follow her list that has rules for never losing herself to a man again. At first, Max comes off as the playboy aristocrat because of all the mentions of how he is portrayed in the media, but you can tell he is generally interested in Dani, she's not impressed with his status and treats him in a real way. When Dani needs a date to a holiday party, he agrees to be her plus one and their friendship only grows from there. Right away the two are cracking together but the relationship stays in the friendship realm and the first 20% has a sweet feel with the promise of more.

She was making snow angels in Central Park with an Eldovian baron.

The two then separate as Max goes back to his country and Dani stays in New York but they stay in frequent contact as Dani goes to Max for dating advice but really their text message conversations are just bonding these two together more and more. At 50% Dani heads over to Eldovia (the fictional country of Max) and the two are reunited, having that mental and emotional connection foundation. As I mentioned, this was a very considered paced story, the bulk takes place over a year and for the vast majority, Dani and Max are friends but with that slow burn building to heating up the sheets; you're going to say “Now kiss!” out-loud more than once.

He had come here purely to keep her company at the party she was so dreading. It made her throat catch.

With that deliberate pace, there is a lot of story to sink into and sit with, this is not a story to breeze through but settle in while Dani deals with the emotional fall-out of her divorce and Max addresses his father's alcoholism and the emotional abuse from it. There was only once or twice I thought the story felt slow in the second half as maybe Dani toed the wallow line with her list but I also could have stood for more scenes added between her and her lovely relationship with her parents and Max and his brother Sebastien getting more bonding moments.

“You looked at me first.”

I loved how this became a story to invest in, it has light, sweet moments that will delight those holiday vibe senses, intriguing threads involving a forgotten WWII heroine, sincere emotional pain, full characters, and a relationship that so wonderfully developed from friendship to love.

DUKE, ACTUALLY – Jenny Holiday

Avon

ISBN: 978-0-062-95208-0

November 16, 2021

Contemporary Romance



New York City & Eldovia – Present Day



College professor Dani Martinez is in the process of a divorce and isn’t looking for a new relationship, though she wouldn’t mind having sex with a man just to “scratch the itch.” Her best friend, Leo, recently moved to the country of Eldovia to marry the love of his life, Princess Marie. Dani will be Leo’s “best woman” during the wedding ceremony. Princess Marie’s ex-fiancé in name only, Baron Maximilian von Hansburg, had been introduced to Dani months ago and they hit it off on friendly terms. He contacts her one day to let her know that he’s in New York City and asks her out to dinner. She is busy that night as she will be attending her university’s Christmas party, where she will run into her ex and his new girlfriend. Suddenly, Dani has an idea: Max can attend the party with her where she will use his notoriety to impress her superiors and prove to her ex that she’s over him.



Max is the heir to a dukedom but it’s a job he’s not looking forward to. Instead, he’s been enjoying himself and making a name for himself as the “Depraved Duke.” Max sees Dani as a fun person that he wants to befriend, and they do end up having a good time in New York City. He invites her to stay with him when she arrives in Eldovia for the upcoming wedding, and she agrees. In the intervening months, they are constantly texting and talking on the phone together. Whether they knew it was coming or not, Max and Dani are soon attracted to each other. Will they end up having even more fun—this time in bed together—after she arrives in Eldovia? Is there any chance a duke and a commoner can find a happily-ever-after together?



A royal match brought together Max and Dani in DUKE, ACTUALLY. They first appeared in Leo and Princess Marie’s romance in A PRINCESS FOR CHRISTMAS and now they are best friends. It takes several months over the course of this tale before they realize that there is an attraction brewing, even though their first instinct is that it would be a “friends with benefits” type of relationship. Max’s future includes being the duke and Dani would not be a part of it. They’re just having a little fun until he must select a wife and settle down. Of course, along the way, their fun turns into a few comedic turns, especially when they try to keep their bedroom shenanigans a secret. Will they be found out? Will Max have to marry a woman he doesn’t love just to satisfy his dukedom requirements?



The title DUKE, ACTUALLY is a play on the move Love, Actually as our couple watched it together early in this tale. Their road to love is a rocky one and neither expects to fall in love with each other. There are too many responsibilities and obstacles in their way. Can they overcome them? Will there be another wedding in the air? Don’t miss this enjoyable read by picking up a copy of DUKE, ACTUALLY today.



Patti Fischer

Romance Reviews Today

Is posted to the blog but will also post soon to the website: http://romrevtoday.com/

Duke, Actually is a surprisingly emotional, complex friends-to-lovers romance between a ducal heir, Max, and Dani, a college professor from NYC. They first met in A Princess for Christmas and, as best friends of Marie and Leo, will be attendants at their upcoming wedding. Max has a reputation as a playboy “Depraved Duke” but the sensitive, funny and honest man Dani comes to know between his visits to NY and their ongoing texts and phone calls defies the stereotype. Since she’s experienced heartbreak after her soon to be ex-husband’s cheating, Dani is against the idea of falling in love again which she equates to suppressing her own wants and needs. Max, who has never been in love and has spent a lifetime deflecting the pain his cruel parents have inflicted, doesn’t see himself ever having a loving relationship. Despite this, they eventually become the most important person in each other’s lives. With the heavy weight of Max inheriting the title with its inherent expectations and Dani’s conflict over her job and ambitions, is there any chance of a HEA if they move out of the friend zone?

Although their friendship is full of honesty, laughter, fun, and respect, there are some weighty issues that keep this book from resembling a typical Hallmark commoner-meets-aristocrat Christmas movie. Foremost are child abuse and homophobia. As integral parts of the story, Holiday handles them deftly while keeping the focus on the growing relationship between Dani and Max. The subplot about Max’s discovery of his family’s involvement in the World War 2 Austrian resistance is fascinating and it’s fun to revisit all of the characters from Book 1. If you’re looking for a somewhat steamy Christmas romance with depth, pick this one up, but consider reading A Princess for Christmas first to get the backstory. Highly recommended.

I received a complimentary ARC of this book from Avon through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.

I loved this, it was so much fun to read! This was one of those books where I knew it was going to be a favorite even before the first chapter was over. The writing is sharp and the characters are quickly and fully realized. I loved the banter and rapport Max and Dani have. Dani’s lack of awe for Max’s position had me cracking up. (And Max liked it too which made me like him even more.)

This book surprised me because the premise is super Hallmark fairytale Christmas movie, but somehow thoroughly grounded in real life with plenty of depth. It is fun and funny and delightful and adorable. Highly recommend!

4.5 stars out of 5

Duke, Actually by Jenny Holiday is a sexy and captivating holiday romance. I devoured this book in one sitting. The characters are intriguing, and their love story is full of undeniable chemistry.

I was just not in the mood for this one. 36% in, and I still don’t CARE. I didn’t love the first one, but at least I was in the mood for that type of story. No one is grabbing me and nothing is happening.

Jenny Holiday's A Princess for Christmas was one of my favorite holiday reads last year, so I was elated to get my hands on a copy of Duke, Actually. I was not disappointed.

Maximillian von Hansburg is the definition of a rakish duke, and his witty banter and chemistry with Dani Martinez is a delight. What's great about this book is that they truly start as friends and then romance blooms.

Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for sharing this book with me. All thoughts are my own.

I'm a big fan of Jenny Holiday, but I think this series is my favorite of hers. Her acknowledgements for this one refer to the series as "Hallmark Christmas movie, but make it spicy," and I think that's a perfect description. Dani Martinez (best friend to Leo from a Princess for Christmas) met Max von Hansburg through Leo's fiance, Marie, Princess of the small European country of Eldovia. Max has a reputation best represented by his tabloid nickname, "The Depraved Duke." He and Dani (as Marie's Man of Honor and Leo's Best Woman) strike up an unlikely friendship across continents, and that friendship eventually turns to more. I really liked Dani and Max (and also Dani's dog Max) so much as characters. They're both smart, a little lost, and dealing with some past (and sometimes current) trauma. Their relationship unfolds in such a natural way that it felt really authentic, and, while I loved the ending, I was sad that this was over.

I was excited to read this one and it did not disappoint! I absolutely loved how the book took place over the course of a year and allowed a slow build of the relationship between Dani and Max. Super cute read

A Hallmark Movie with some spice, but in novel form with some spice thrown in? Yes, yes, please. This book is perfect for a holiday read, or to kick off your Christmas season as Dani does beginning on Dec 11. Only we are a couple of months early, but you won’t be judged.

Duke, Actually follows Dani, the best friend of Leo in the first book, as she navigates her life after her husband leaves and she works through finalizing her divorce. Enter Duke Max, well really Baron Max, the jilted former fiancé of Marie from the first book. The pair already know one another and it’s presented from the very beginning that while Max might be interested in Dani, she is not at all interested in Max.

Over the course of the year leading up to Marie and Leo’s wedding, you follow the progression of the relationship between the two. As their relationship progresses you see them both start to question their original thoughts and feelings that were first presented in the novel. It happens slowly and makes perfect sense for the development of their character over the course of the book. The banter was to notch, the support system they create with one another is beautiful and something worthwhile.

Overall this book was a cute and happy read. I would suggest reading the first book in this world, A Princess for Christmas, but this does work as a stand-alone also.

This book was a delight from start to finish. I'm usually not a fan of the miscommunication trope, however Jenny's use of it here is great and makes complete sense for our characters.

The story follows Dani, who is getting divorced and Max, a Baron from a fictional European country. They become really good friends through circumstance and help each other grow through their problems and achieve their personal goals.

What a cute and fun read to get you in the holiday spirit.
It reminded me of Netflix’s “A Christmas Prince”.
The names of the magical lands were also eerily familiar “Aldovia” and “Eldovia”.

Daniela Martinez is “post-men”. In the midst of a divorce, she is determined to never change her life for a man ever again.
Enter Max. A soon-to-be Duke in Eldovia.
Best Man to the Princess of Eldovia who ironically is getting married to Daniela’s best friend Leo (Daniela is his Maid of Honor).
Max is a serial player and tabloid favorite, but maybe Daniela shouldn’t judge a book by the cover…
They soon strike up a friendship.
They push each other to work towards their individual goals.
Will they be able to remain friends?
Well, it’s a rom-com so of course not
(See previous “The Friend Zone” post for my feelings on male & female friendships).

This book reminded me of a Hallmark Christmas movie.
Yes, it was a little corny.
(The author herself pokes fun at the royalty falling in love with a normal person trope).
But don’t worry, there are still plenty of steamy romance scenes, witty dialogue, and important issues in this book.
Definitely a cute, fast read to start your holiday reading!

This is the perfect, cozy, royalty Christmas romance. Slightly more cheesy than I typically like, but still really solid! I think the organic development of the relationship between Max and Dani was wonderful, and the fact that neither was looking for a relationship really worked for me. They start as friends, and develop into more. It was such a lovely journey.
I've been a big fan of this author for a while, and this one didn't disappoint. Definitely check this one out this season.

This story is the perfect holiday read because what’s more Christmasy other than the North Pole than Christmas in NYC? This had sparks, banter, humour and wide open steamy moments. The slow burn between the protagonists was a thing of perfection and I really enjoyed the fact that they developed a friendship first instead of diving head into their attraction.

I love when past characters show up so it was nice to see Leo and Marie be included within the story and Dani’s dog Max, whom the human version Max called him his “namesake” was adorable.

One of my favourite moments was the snow angel scene and when Dani got to experience watching The Nutcracker with her mom again. Another favourite part was the infusion of Dani’s hispanic Christmas traditions. My culture has specific things we do at Christmas time that’s outside of the North American norm, so it was wonderful that this aspect was included.

The narration was done so well by Stacy Gonzalez as she weaved in and out of accents that were done seamlessly.

Overall, Duke, Actually was a wonderful holiday romance that had me sighing and giving this book a big ol’ hug.