Thank you Avon for an early copy of this book. I absolutely loved it! I loved the first book in this series as well. I was so happy that Dani and Max got a book. I am looking forward to read what Jenny Holiday publishes next.

3.5⭐️
A friends to lovers romance set over a years time and an ocean away from each other - I found myself smiling throughout this entire book! The burn between Dani and Max was slooooooowwwww, but their friendship was so incredible that I didn’t mind. There were great phone calls and texting, which I always think add so much to a book! I enjoyed Dani’s sweet family and her cute dog - incidentally also named Max! I loved catching up with Leo, Gabby, and Princess Marie. And I especially loved Max’s brother Sebastian! I am crossing my fingers that we will get more of his story!! 🤞🏼

***SPOILER***
I was a little disturbed by the twist/conflict resolution with Max’s family. Sebastian comes out as gay and then the dad keels over from a heart attack?!?!? Seems problematic and like every child’s worst nightmare even IF the dad was a grade A ass hole…. I wish it had been handled differently.

Jenny Holiday does it again. I adored A Princess for Christmas and couldn't wait to get back into this world of royals and love and Christmas. Last year, Jenny described this series as a Hallmark movie with steam. She was not wrong and she surely did it again. The story of Max and Dani is a long run of friends to lovers with their friendship written in texts and phone calls and in person interactions over the course of a year. As they help each other to move forward in life, they find themselves moving toward each other. It's the slowest, sweetest burn and the best book for your holiday reading stack.

This is a solid 4.5 for me. I know I will be bossing people around to read this all holiday season.

I haven't read <i>A Princess For Christmas</i>, Jenny Holiday's first holiday romance that is a companion/prequel to this one, but my mom liked it so I knew enough about what I was getting into with this one. And Leo and Marie and Gabby are quite prominent in this book (but why you center the whole thing around a wedding and then only show the wedding briefly from the reception is beyond my comprehension. It's a royal wedding! You could've done so much!), but they're side characters.

As for our main couple, Dani and Max, I just...didn't care.

It kept me reading when four books before it hadn't, but I got halfway through this and realized nothing had happened. Literally nothing. It was all repetitive scenes of Dani and Max talking and getting to know each other. They don't even get together for the first time until 85% through and then it's completely rushed because there isn't enough time to bask in the glow of them as a couple before the cliche third act break-up happens. There's no investment in them as a couple.

Not like Sebastian and Torkel, who I would happily read about. Hell, give Max Minimus his own book.

I can't even say I disliked this book because the rest of the October wasn't any better. Like all the others, this one was <i>fine</i>. Not a holiday romance I'll put on my Christmas TBR every year, but fine.

Hello, cute Christmas romance! I think this is my favorite genre and I have previously loved Jenny Holiday’s Christmas romance, so I was thrilled for this read and it did not disappoint! This book was cute, witty, and full of heart. I love our main characters and simply adore Holdiay’s writing. More of all, please!

This book was the perfect holiday read! A love story, Christmas, and a female heroine overcoming obstacles is my favorite type of novel. Way to go, Holiday, knocking another one out of the park!

Dani could be your best friend. Smart, fun to be around, always keeping life interesting- until her own life fell apart. Her husband left her for a 20 something, and now she's starting over. Her best friend, Leo, is marrying a princess and she's the best woman.

The best man is another story. Maximillian von Hansburg, Baron of Laudon and heir to the Duke of Aquilla, is also struggling. He will also be serving in the wedding, as the man of honor, and ends up changing Dani's life in more ways than one. His family has planned his entire life- and hasn't given him any input in the matter.

Dani and Max set off on their own parallel journeys, to healing, self-discovery, and love.

This is officially my favorite Jenny Holiday book to date – I honestly adored it and it was exactly what I was looking for (and didn’t know I needed) to kick off my holiday reads ❄🎄😊 This one is not only a holiday romance / RomCom, it is also a fantastic slow burn, friends to lovers romance and the perfect Hallmark with steam feel.

I was hooked on this one from the start. I was intrigued by both Dani and Max when we met them in the first book A Princess For Christmas (Marie and Leo’s story), but the glimpse of them did not prepare me for how attached I would grow to both in this story.

Things that I loved:
• The friendship that develops between Max and Dani.
• The Max nicknames 🐾🐾
• Max the pup (I love a pup in a romance!)
• The slow burn throughout the book, I was so rooting for them and the tension was just right.
• The relationship that develops in part by correspondence (I’m a sucker for epistolary type romance – be it letter, email, notes or texts 🤷‍♀️😍)
• The heartwarming feel I got reading this book

I could go on, but it was just perfect. It was like a cozy afternoon spent snuggled up in your favorite blanket with a cup of cocoa type of read – just puts you in a happy, content space. I recommend this one and can’t wait to get my hands on my pre-ordered copy.

Thank you to Net Galley and Avon books for the advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

#DukeActually:

“I feel like I’m always navigating these two worlds but always falling short in each of them. But at home, with my family, it’s not a thing. I’m just who I am.”

HOLD THE EFF ON! I didn’t realize this was the follow up to A Princess for Christmas 🤯

Jenny Holiday is one of my favorite romance authors, and she always has the best banter. I could not help but laugh and cackle the entire time.

Are you kidding me?!?! My favorite movie is Love, Actually. One of my favorite romance authors is Jenny Holiday. All the references got me in ALL the feels. Plus, it’s not too Christmasy to where it’s more of a awesome book that takes place with a little emphasis when the holiday hits. I did get confused on the timelines because I thought it was just over a few days, but it’s about last Christmas, then the year, and this Christmas. Totally missed that 🤦🏻‍♀️ But, when I finally realized. It all made sense.

Of course with Jenny Holiday book, you get some good steam and good banter. You don’t really hit the steam until almost the end, but it makes up for the wait!

Let’s talk audio, because we all know I usually end up getting steamy audio and end up triple checking my Bluetooth connection to make sure the kids can’t hear 😂. The accents were top notch! “No one puts baby in a corna” had me cackling. I am a major fan of this audio.

There’s also really awesome side stories with Dani & Max. I felt her so much on he diversity hire and if she’s too white to be Mexican or too Mexican to be white. That constant push and pull was something I got. We get such a cool little mystery with Max’s grandmother, Carlotta. I wish we could expand on that more.

Overall, a solid romance from one of my favorites. The audio is amazing and I wouldn’t expect anything less from Jenny Holiday. Thank you harperaudio and Avon for the gifted copy. Duke, Actually is now out 11/16.

This was a cute story with at checked all the boxes in terms of content. Christmas time, big city vibes, a cute dog, an ex we all love to hate, unique traditions, flirting, pop culture references etc. I did enjoy reading it but found the conversations between the main characters to be drawn out and found our female protagonist hard to connect with. I know after a breakup we are usually not our best selves so that's not unheard of to be extra needy and probably a realistic interpretation so kudos to the author on that even though it was cringy in parts. I did enjoy that they became friends first and the thought put into a slower burn romance.

When I read A Princess for Christmas in 2020 I immediately wanted another book set in the world of Eldovia. I was smitten with the characters of Max and Dani and I wanted their story! And in Duke, Actually I get just what I wanted and it was delightful. The way Max and Dani became friends and slowly pulled down each other’s walls was exactly what I wanted in a book about the two of them. They were such great characters on their own but even better as a unit. Their bond was exactly what I liked to read in a book that is establishing a relationship and was a solid foundation for friendship to more. In a word..smitten. I was smitten with them and I think you all will be two. My one complaint…the title would have been a perfect line somewhere in the story. 🙂

*note, A Princess for Christmas and Duke, Actually are not listed as a series, but they are in the same world. You do not need to read Princess first but I personally recommend doing so.

What do you read when you're stressed? For me, romcoms have been the ticket since COVID started, and a Christmas romcom is an even better treat! Thank you to @avonbooks for my ARC of Duke, Actually!

Pub date: Nov 16
In one sentence: Baron Max (aka the Depraved Duke) and Dani are BFFs to a royal couple set to wed in Eldovia, and sparks fly as they get to know each other in NYC.

Oh how I loved this book! Dani had just the right amount of snark for an MC without being too negative. Max was hilarious - it was clear that he'd been underestimated by society for a long time, but boy this man had a lot to offer. And of course the dog - Max Minimus - such an adorable fluff ball. This book took me on an armchair trip to NYC and Eldovia, and I loved spending some pre-Christmas time with the characters.

Bonus for Love, Actually fans - yes, the title Duke, Actually does mean there are a lot of movie references, both serious and silly. This book takes place in the same universe as A Princess for Christmas, but you don't need to read that book first.

If you're looking for a Christmas romcom with a little something extra, check this one out! 4.5 stars!

Posted to Instagram and Goodreads on Oct 27.

I found DUKE ACTUALLY to be quite delightful for the most part. It was a cute holiday read and think that anyone who enjoys Hallmark Holiday movies will love it, too. The only thing I found odd about the book was how Seb’s story played out, it felt unnecessary or at least it wasn’t thought out well. Besides that, it was a fun? read.

Duke, Actually is the second in a series of Christmas novels by Jenny Holiday, but can be read as a stand alone. (I haven't read the first). New Yorker Dani has sworn off of men after her husband leaves her for another woman and throws herself into her career and being the "Best Woman" for her best friend Leo when he marries the princess of Eldovia. Her "Man of Honor" is Max, a Baron who arrives in NY for a visit and reaches out to Dani so he doesn't have to spend an evening alone.

Max and Dani enjoy themselves and during the months before the wedding spend a great deal of time talking and planning...and becoming very close. This novel is a slow burn and a very satisfying love story that features growth of the characters as well as the growth of their love, which is unusual in a Christmas novel! I thoroughly enjoyed the characters, the locations and the novel.

Thank you to the author, Avon and Harper Voyager, and NetGalley for an ARC of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

🍁 Review 🍁

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the complimentary ARC. All opinions provided are my own.

📖 Q: what are your fave chips? 😆

I’m usually not a huge friends to lovers fan but this book makes me a real believer. Jenny Holiday’s Duke, Actually is peppered with truly heart-warming scenes—like how the leads, friends-only at the time, share a bag of chips & talk on the beach—& each one ratcheted up my impatience for this couple to fall over that friend line.

We meet Dani Martinez, recently divorced & burned by love, & Max von Hansburg, sobriquet the “Depraved Duke,” in the first book in this series: A Princess for Christmas.

Dani is really resistant to even hanging out with Max during his visit to NY at the beginning of Duke, Actually, but he agrees to attend a faculty party as her “date” so she won’t have to face her ex alone.

Along the way Dani starts to see new depths to the rakish royal, & they both realize that they can talk to each other in ways that are unexpected. That they’re actually best friends.

As the book progresses, each confession builds on the simple loveliness of their friendship. They grow to care for one another, to depend on each other, to love each other, & to be *in love* with each other, & each step feels natural & wonderful.

Jenny Holiday is a fantastic author & this book takes it to a new level. It’s a slow burn set in NY & Eldovia with two leads who caught my heart & whose HEA exceeded my expectations. I really hope you’ll pick this one up!

5 ⭐️. Release date: 11/16


CW: Max’s father is abusive father & dies of a heart attack during a stressful dinner conversation.


[ID: an ebook is on a tan sweater with two brooches, one orange & clear & one with some black showing. To the left is a staggered column of ornaments: a sparkly ballet costume, a sign reading “Noel” in red & white gingham, a translucent crystal, & a green car with a tree on top.]

I read A Princess for Christmas last year and couldn’t wait to dive back into this world and it’s characters. We met Dani and Max in book one and they were great side characters so I’m happy that they both got their own book (with each other!)
We have the same situation as last time (a royal and a commoner) but I think this time around was way more fun. The banter and their friendship really brought this romance to life and kept me wanting more. I loved seeing their friendship develop over the course of the book. I also liked that we got to see both characters fight for their relationship. It felt genuine and was really heartwarming.
Perfect for fans of Hallmark (with spice!), Jill Shalvis, Lucy Gilmore and Jen DeLuca.

Thanks to NetGalley and Avon /Harper Voyager for the gifted copy.

DUKE ACTUALLY is a delightful rom com about an American career woman who meets an European aristocrat. I enjoyed the story.

Highly recommended for fans of Hallmark Romance movies.

4.5 rounded up

We first met Dani and Max in A Princess for Christmas by Jenny Holiday. Dani is Leo’s best friend and Max was engaged to Princess Marie of Eldovia. Now Leo and Marie are getting married and Dani and Max are the attendants in their wedding. Dani has sworn off men while awaiting her divorce to finalize and Max is a notorious playboy Baron, soon to be Duke. Their paths cross in NYC one December and the story takes off from there!

This was actually a slow start for me. I wasn’t too invested at first but then as the story progressed, I felt like I was right there in the friendship with these two and I’m really sad now that it’s over! This was a sort of enemies to lovers/friends to lovers plot and I thought it was done so well! It had some open door steam but wasn’t too steamy. I can’t get enough of the Duke/Royal/small fake country in Europe trope and this one did not disappoint. This was a nice holiday romance!

A sweet book that will make you feel all warm and cozy inside, like you're wrapped up in a flannel blanket, sipping the signature drink of Eldovia, hot chocolate. I loved Max and Dani and little Max as well. They're developing friendship really came to life whilst reading it. It moved a little slow in parts but the buildup to them actually being together was nicely done. All in all the book was a perfect Hallmark romance.

Now that her professor husband has left her for a former student, Dani is done with men. Serving as Best Woman in her friend's wedding isn't enough to reawaken her romantic side. Neither is the handsome and charming Man of Honor, even if he is heir to a dukedom.

Instead, over the course of the months leading up to the ceremony, she and Max become close friends. But she lives in New York, and he lives in Europe. There's no way the two of them could have a future together, even if they did make the mistake of falling in love. Is there?

This book is utterly adorable. It's funny and steamy and smart. The friends-to-lovers story is a long, slow burn, which I appreciated. Insta-love has its place, but it was satisfying to see the characters get to know each other deeply before taking the plunge.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

Duke, Actually was such a great romance to get me into the holiday spirit! While there are characters from the previous holiday book, A Princess for Christmas (which is worth the read!), you can read this as a standalone without issue.

Dani thought she had her life all figured out. She was married, had a great job and was on track for tenure, has an adorable dog and she was loving life. Until her husband cheated with a student and now she finds herself newly single and questioning if being a professor is even what she wants anymore.

Max, who is a Baron in Eldovia, isn't keen on romance and happily ever after. While he is expected to marry because he will eventually inherit the Dukedom when his father passes, it's not the life he envisions for himself at all. To be honest, he's not sure what he wants to do with his life.

Dani and Max have been brought together by the fact their best friends are marrying each other, so these two have been in close proximity. Their friendship grows as the book moves along and there is a definite slow burn relationship growing as well. They have fun together, support one another and their banter is everything. While both of them have had to deal with their share of hardships, the friendship they have with each other seems to buoy them.

This was such a wonderful story. The description that it is "a Hallmark story with spice" is totally accurate and I loved it. Do yourself a favor and pick this one up!

**I voluntarily read an early copy of this title courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review**