Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

First, I hadn't read historical romance since long ago, so I was excited to read this book .

About the characters:
Myrtle is very likable, but sometimes she frustrated me. I think it was because she is really young, maybe a character a little bit older would have been better.
And Val, I understood why he acted like he did but it was frustrating also.

In general, I liked the narrative, but I didn't like that the author used a lot of Christmas songs lyrics, after a few I just started to skip them.

Finally, the romance: The main characters were really cute together and I enjoyed their story. But I feel like the ending was a little abrupt. Their relationship starts really slow and then a lot of things happen that you don't have time to process all.

Final thoughts: it is a short book that can be read fast. I recommend it if you like historical romance or are looking for a Christmas romance.

I am a fan of Christi Caldwell and have been for a few years.

Home Alone meets regency romance. I found this premise very attractive to me. I had hopes of a fun and light story with a few struggles thrown in to make sure we appreciate the good. I got the home alone vibe -Myrtle feeling invisible to her family -large family preparing to travel for Christmas -the set up for possible burglars. Bonus when we meet the Duke (Val) I got a bit of a Scrooge vibe -bah humbug to all things Christmas and anyone who may make him think about the holiday.

Myrtle gets left alone and she finds herself turning to and leaning on Val much to his annoyance in the beginning but things gradually change because we read these books for the happily ever afters. I did find a couple places where a part of my mind was tapping her toe saying "ok... lets move along".

I didn't get as much light and fun as I would have liked. I had hopes of a bit of a exciting romp in preparing for and with the burglars but that was not to be. I had also hoped for a reconciliation scene between Myrtle and her parents rather than the touching yet brief one (hint hint to Christi.... maybe a second epilogue?)

Language - Val uses a word I was slightly surprised to read referring to Mrs. Belden proprietress of the finishing school Myrtle and a number of other ladies from Christie's books have attended. So grabbed my phone and looked it up and was surprised to read not only have I always mispronounced it but but as many words seem to do meanings change and was only a mild insult at that time.

Overall while I didn't get the fun romp I had hope that was my expectation. The book delivered on it's promise of a Home Alone-esque Regency romance with a happily ever after.

This seems to be a stand alone in Christie's Regency London but with all of Myrtle's relatives and Val's brother I wouldn't be surprised to see more of this family tying themselves to families we know from some of Christie's established series.

“What a better life it is when one believes in magic and goodness”

“The stubborn minx continued on with a spritely little step, leaving him as he always was after a meeting with her - completely and totally befuddled”

“It was going to be nigh impossible to forget a woman like Myrtle McQuoid”

“She was innocent. So very innocent. Too innocent to be with a cynical unsmiling bastard like himself”

And here I give you all a regency romance that has EACH AND EVERYONE of the best tropes ever !!!!
This book was so good!!!!
I had such a fun time reading it, it probably became one of the best regency romance I’ve ever read so far!!
It has them all: a grumpy/sunshine trope, forced proximity, one bed trope and even one CARRIAGE trope (the tension !!!!)
The amount of feelings I experienced while reading it, left me a bit troubled … it the best possible ways !!
The trauma and the past our main male character goes through is impressive… Val in himself is a handsome and impressive man and the way Myrtle is able to choke him to the core and completely change everything he thought he could ever had in life is astonishing !!!
This is not a very spicy book but I have to admit that the tension and banter between the two intrigued me more than anything else !!
The way Myrtle is, a “little star” all sunshine and rainbows but at the same time , hunted by her belief that she is not enough (given what she experiences with her family) makes her a strong character like so many others I’ve read about … she is such a huge inspiration!!!
I’m so glad I had the chance to read this book and I honestly hope that I’ll have the opportunity to read something more by this author !!

“Touching her would be folly; touching her while she remained in a state of undress would be an even greater one”

“And amongst them there will be you, with a smile like sunshine No a spirit not crushed by the constraints society placed upon every other woman, whose light will be so very dim in the bright rays that emanate from you”

“Cutting those you love and care about won’t protect you from hurting when they’re gone, Val … it will simply leave you with a profound regret for the time you did not spend together. All you can do is take what time you have, what moments you have together, and make the most of each”

A sweet and comforting romance with plenty of familiar tropes made fun and exciting. The regency romance Home Alone remake I didn't know I needed

The Duke Alone is a romantic take on Home Alone, with the vivacious Myrtle as a debutante accidentally left behind, and Val (the Duke of Aragon) as the surly neighbor. As Myrtle cheerfully attempts to draw the widowed Val out of his shell, while defending her home against two potential burglars, Val and Myrtle realize what it means to be seen by the other, and the rest is regency romance magic.

Cute and swoony holiday read that is well executed like all Caldwell stories.

Unfortunately I had to DNF this book at around 40%. The Home Alone elements were entertaining to begin with, but didn't translate well to a historical romance plot - the heroine was so young, naive, and whiny, and seemed a very poor match with the incredibly brooding and unlikeable hero. She acts and sounds like a child, despite being 18 - I don't mind a young debutante heroine in historical romance but they do need to at least feel adult. I really couldn't believe in their relationship because it was *so* far outside the bounds of propriety to the point it made zero sense - even the Home Alone plot required you to believe that the family of any unmarried young woman would have been fine to leave her alone. It just stretched belief too far.

Most annoyingly of all, for me, there were a number of really bizarre errors - the English Duke of Aragon was one of them (Aragon notably being in Spain), another was a serious misunderstanding of when the Season was and how it worked, and the error that actually made me give up was the conversation about how the English don't celebrate Christmas but the Scots do (Christmas having actually been banned in Scotland for over 400 years!). I just really couldn't get into this at all, but hardcore fans of Home Alone, or those who don't mind anachronisms, will probably still have fun. I don't think this author is for me.

A nice holiday novella.
I loved the story's premise. Sort of like a Regency era Home Alone story.
There's a ton to like: we have forced proximity, grumpy/sunshine dynamic and a little danger (nothing serious!).
I think the characters were fun and the story a great escape from reality.
I do wish there was some (at least one) explicit sex scene but I'm not too bummed about it.
If you looking for a Home Alone inspired romance I would pick up The Duke Alone.

Who doesn't love a book with historical and love. Loved it all and the story. I couldn't put it down.

This was my first book by the author, so I can't compare it to her other books. This book just fell flat to me, it was repetitive and unbelievable. Myrtle spent most of her time acting like a whining adolescent,but then she was brave and clever enough to "save" herself from the bad guys. And the singing had me ready to scream! Val was maudlin and just too much of an exaggeration of the grief stricken widower. I just couldn't buy their romance. 3 stars

Thank you to the Publisher and NetGalley for giving me this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

I really love this cover. I love the composition. I love the colors. I want it on my shelf.

On to the important bits. 

I thought this story was adorable. I liked the home alone elements, I thought it was cute and funny. I want to reread it in the winter with some cozy cocoa. This is a Take a Break from the Holiday Stress read. (One of my favorite kinds of books.) It is very light, only took roughly 2.5 hours to read. 

I *love* a Grumpy Caldwellian Hero. (Trademark it, Christi! Hahaha) Val is perfect. A lovely closed off widower with no interest in society. *swoon* 
Give me allll the grumpy / sunshine / Christmas / cozy romances! I love it!

A book showing some adult emotional struggles, dealing with past grief, and coming to terms with new love. It was a sweet story with some heavy, emotional themes, but it was also fun and quirky like the main heroine, Myrtle. Has a little bit of that Christmas, holiday cheer mixed in, and some holiday songs I was unfamilar with. Overall, it was an easy, sweet read.

This book has a sweet quality which pulls at your heart. It is a story of grumpiness and friendship. Lady Myrtle McQuoid is left behind in the family home as most of the Ton leaves London for the winter season. Duke of Aragon, Val Bancroft is the grumpy widower next door who blames himself for his wife death. He wallows and does not want anyone around him. However, Myrtle is the pesky chatty neighbor who won’t leave him in peace. They develop a friendship of sorts. This book was touching as 2 lonely people connect. It is about trust and taking the leap to be vulnerable to someone. Amidst of this, the danger lurks as robbers conspire to loot the empty houses of the absent ton. Guess who house is on the list…. This book was good and I enjoy it. I have read this author before and it did not disappoint. I would recommend this book to put a smile on your face.

**I received this book from NetGalley and publisher for an honest review. All these opinions expressed are my own.

The Duke Alone is the story of Val and Myrtle. I almost instantly fell in love with Val, and his murderous ways. Myrtle, on the other hand, always wears a smile that hides her own type of pain. I laughed and cried while reading this book. I loved the back and forth between Val and Myrtle, but the internal dialog was a bit much for me. I did skim through parts of it and it didn't feel like it took away from the book at all. Even so, Val's character made up for it!

I received an arc of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Duke Alone was a wonderful, fantastic read. There was some drama and that made the story a nice read. Enjoyed the book and I liked the characters.

There's nothing wrong with this book, it's just not my type of book. Grumpy/sunshine (which I like) with really annoying banter (which I don't like). I don't mind banter, but this banter is used a blunt instrument and it's just not for me. The one sex scene is closed door.

I love Caldwell’s work, and I love historical romance AND a Christmas setting. But this didn’t hit me as well as others of hers for me. Here are three takeaways:

1. This is a fade-to-black romance. There are varying views on this within the Romance community but hey, let’s just say that upfront. Readers enjoy Romance – especially ones with secretive handsome Dukes - for various reasons. And yes, the love story is there, even without on-page sex. But it’s safe to say that many readers who enjoy historical romance do so because of on-page sex—knowing that upfront may make it easier for certain readers to choose (or not choose) this book.

2. There’s an age gap – she’s 18, and he’s a thirty-ish widower (with a bit of a scandalous/dangerous/maybe even murderous past). It’s also a grumpy/sunshine trope, which is usually my jam. But this one fell somewhat flat. Not sure why other than I’m not the biggest fan of age-gap romances. Especially when they’re still in their teens, even for the Regency period, it’s a bit much for me.

3. It’s Christmas!!! It’s Home Alone!!! It’s a cozy, somewhat easy read, perfect for a cozy day. And that’s something, especially if readers are looking for a specific kind of book during the winter season. Cuddle up and enjoy!

*Copy received from Netgalley in exchange for review - may contain spoilers*

As a fan of most stories sent in the regency period, I have to say that I was a little disappointed by this one. Lady Myrtle McQuoid is left behind by her family during the Christmas period (big Home Alone energy) and finds herself befriending a solitary and grumpy Duke who lives in a neighbouring house, whom she and her siblings have been watching through the windows of their own house for a long time. With his help, she manages to stop two burglars breaking into her house (hello, Home Alone!!!) and we get to see their initial opinions of each other change as they realise the positive impact they can have on either others lives.

I think my main issue with this story was the very glaring age difference between the two characters. I know this was common throughout history to have a young woman as young as `17 courted by a significantly older gentleman but it was at the forefront here and Myrtle seemed so, so young, especially with her frequent mentions of her finishing school and the scene that focuses on her turning 18. I have to admit that it did make me really uncomfortable. In addition, I found the declaration of love a little insincere as it was lifted from Pride and Prejudice. I appreciate that Austen is such an influence to Myrtle but it became a bit much to me to enjoy. The final scene of the book was also a little lacklustre, as Myrtle's mother explains that she has always loved her daughter, but with little apology or explanation as to how she was forgotten or why she has been treated so dismissively.

This one was a miss for me!

This was a nice and light read. The perfect book for a toasty Sunday evening sitting by the heater. Christi Caldwell knows how to create characters that warm you inside. The premise was a unique one and the execution was wonderful.

I can't wait to read more by Caldwell!

Thank you to the publisher for kindly providing me with an ARC via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

I received a copy of this from NetGalley and this is my freely given opinion.

Lady Myrtle is a young woman home in London, with her loud, large, and boisterous family. She is a middle child, of six, and the impression one gets is that she feels lost, neglected, and not heard. She was shunted off to finishing school for 4 years and has just returned, and feels her family has forgotten about her more and sees and hears her even less than before she left. It is Christmas time and to add further to her feelings of disappointment, her family is packing up the home and leaving London to head off to Scotland, as the London townhouse needs extensive renovations to make it livable. Myrtle loves Christmas and their traditional way of celebrating it was in London, with their extended family.

In the hurly burley hustle and bustle of packing up and packing off all the siblings, cousins, and extended family going to Scotland, as well as all the servants, no one realizes when they leave that Myrtle wasn't with them. She had slept in and was left behind.

At first, Myrtle doesn't mind. She figures they will realize soon enough their mistake and come back for her, and after a lifetime of noisy, bustling family, and then being a group at school, she figures she will enjoy the quiet.

But really, she doesn't and becomes cold, and lonely pretty fast. She engages with the new-to-her neighbour, Val, the brusque, rude, reclusive Duke of Aragon. He has rebuffed visitors in the past, including herself and her family, as well as pretty much his own, has a minimal household, and keeps to himself. Society, including her own family, spout gossip and rumours about him. He is a widower who lost the young love of his life after a very short time to a tragic accident and that has changed him from the charming, social man he was prior to the barking, gruff recluse next door, with a skeletal staff and his wolf-like dog.

But Myrtle is lonely and intrepid and loves dogs, so she wheedles her way into his life, steals the affections of his dog, and manages to get under his skin.

This is a very sweet story with definite Home Alone vibes - so much so, I was expecting Myrtle to slap her hands on her cheeks and scream at some point. But it was also too too too sweet almost for me. Myrtle is supposed to be mischievous and a prankster in the characterization - to the point where she thought her family sent her away to finishing school as a punishment, and she engaged in further pranks and mischief there. Fine, that sets it up, so that if you are going with the Home Alone vibe, that I expected some of that to come through when the thieves were engaged - yes, there were two thieves who were looking to break into what they thought would be an empty home over the holidays. But I felt at times Myrtle was just too sweet and innocent, and too child-like in her feelings of familial neglect and resentment and her behaviour with the Duke. It became a bit treacly and grated on my nerves a bit.

Also, this was obviously a Christmas story.... so very many Christmas-y things in this story. The Home Alone vibes. The fact the family celebrates Christmas tide - when not everyone did at the time, and had traditions that Myrtle cherished. So many carols... she sings a lot - in English and German. Val has trauma around Christmas - his wife died during that time, and he has images of her dead body in red satin, in snow... on the the way to his family's Christmas celebration... Myrtle's birthday occurs around that time too.

However, if you are looking for an exceptionally sweet, feel good Christmas love story, where sunshine meets grumpy, where a tragic heartbreak is healed, with Home Alone vibes, then this would be one for you. It was OK for me, but I did find that my teeth ached a bit from too much sweetness at times.

But, there was a dog, and he was a great dog and a large focus of the story, so that helped a lot.

Because no matter what, I always love animals in stories.. especially big, furry, snuggly dogs.

3.25 stars out of 5.

Despite enjoying historical romance novels a lot, I do not think I am the target audience of this book. The Duke Alone felt very redundant and unimaginative.