Okay, that was a book worth reading! Positive, up beat characters placed in challenging circumstances who rely on themselves to persevere.
This review may contain spoilers.
The heroine of this story is a 24-year-old granddaughter of an earl who has to turn her back on her aristocratic roots and work to support herself and her little sister. Her sister wants to become a doctor and is going to school to do so. Her father married a common lady and the family turned their backs on them. Her mother died early and her father died a few years ago. The heroine was lucky to find a job as a secretary to a widowed countess who runs many charities. The heroine had successfully planned the latest charity ball and she was able to have some downtime since dinner had been served and dancing started. She is looking for a quiet spot to read and is hiding in a garden alcove.
The hero is a Duke who inherited the title from an elder brother. The hero had always wanted to work with his mother the rebuild a Connemara herd, the Irish horses. His mother had passed, but he continued her work. He also wanted to breed Irish thoroughbreds. He was not comfortable in social setting and clumsy on the dance floor. When his latest partner flees from him after tripping over her during a dance, he goes out to the garden to clear his head. There he trips over and knocks down the heroine.
It is so nice to have a hero who isn't fornicating their way through London. This is just an average Joe Duke, looking to live peacefully in his Irish castle. The heroine is an independent working woman, who understands what she has given up and is not bitter about it, but she feels that she is lucky and grateful. This is a perfect story of a chance meeting love.
The story is very well written with an individual story line and supporting actors. The characters are all nice people, working with and living around the main couple. The characters all made sense and were varied. There were no dropped or non-completed story lines.
Overall, I give this book a strong 5 stars with a recommendation to read.

Mostly this was just silly and skin deep. The idea that two identical dogs get swapped was a dumb way to drive the narrative.

I really enjoyed this historical fiction book. Both the leads were very compelling and I enjoyed the overall story. I will definitely be reading more from this author in the future.

This low-angst light and fluffy romance was a treat. If you like road trip romances, forced proximity, and class differences, you'll love this book. It's the perfect summertime read.

I received an ARC from NetGalley. This is my honest review.

Nosy Sisters. Pushy ants. And scandal uncles keep Alex on defense. All he wants is his horse farm with a vet hospital. Well apparently that was too much to request. Evelyn comes and releases some of the stress for Alex. Evie comes in as a fresh breeze Alex as the romance grows. I was entertained. I thought the story was exciting. I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed this book more than the previous book in the series. This book had two strong characters. I really liked reading about Alex and Evie. They were delightful.

I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher, via NetGalley. This in no way impacted on my view.

In Duke Seeks Bride, personal secretary Miss Evelyn Graves finds her working holiday in Connemara, Ireland, may have more surprises than she could ever imagine. She may be the granddaughter of an Earl, but her parents marriage led to a break in the family, and she took on the position as the Countess of Waverly's secretary to support her younger sister's medical career. When the Countess is invited to help host a charity event with the Duke of Rennick, she is double booked, and instead sends Evie in her stride. But the Duke needs more than just a hostess, he needs a duchess. Alexander Pierpont has inherited the rundown family estate, but his father's will leaves a caveat that his beloved Ballymore Castle will be lost if he doesn't marry within six months of inheriting. Alex needs a wife, and he had set his hopes on Lady Waverly. So when her beautiful secretary arrives instead, someone he has met before, and sets his heart alight like no other, it's a complication he really doesn't need.

I've really enjoyed the books in this series, but this was hands down my favourite. Alex and Evie's romance was epic, and their chemistry was simply palpable. Neither expected to ever find love, and Alex, though he needed to marry, was actively looking for a loveless marriage. So when they met for the first time in Lady Waverly's garden, in the moonlight, the sparks flew, but neither thought they'd see each other again. Evie's arrival at Ballymore was dramatic, and it was clear that Alex's Aunt Oona was against any sort of friendship, let alone romance between the pair, but true love prevailed. Evie's ideas for the charity event, and to help Ballymore in the long run were great, and it was fantastic to see how receptive Alex was to her work. He respected her thoughts and opinions, and was the perfect partner for Evie. I'm sad this was the end of the series, but am so glad with how it concluded!

Evelyn is a secretary to a countess. Her employer wishes her to go to Ireland in her space to help a new Duke with a special project. When she gets there the new Duke knows she’s not the Countess but asked her to play along for everyone else’s sake.

Alex needs to marry quickly. His family thought he could marry the countess but with her secretary taking her place that doesn’t seem likely. Or does it?

This story was cute. Cliche but perfectly lovely. There’s a reason why I read these books over and over again. Alex and Evelyn were adorable.

Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins for the ARC.

I liked this book a lot and usuall false identity soemtimes gets to skip ovdr other difference in class etc but this did a good job and I liked the characters.

I loved this romance! It was soft and made me so happy while reading it. I loved the tension between the hero and heroine.

I really adore is author and this series! It’s such a wonderful, sweet historical romance! Evie and Alexandra, Duke of Rennick, are a great pair! Evie is sent to Alex to help him try to get people to attend his horse charity. Alex is in need of funds, he isn’t expecting Evie though! Evie is a secratery, who works hard for a living. Alex is in need of funds. He has a love of horses, so he has a plan for a charity. He also planned to try and marry a countess, which is when Evie arrives. Evie and Alex both had some things to overcome before they got their HEA! They really had a sweet love story! I enjoyed it. I can’t wait for the next one!

Christy Carlyle has written such a sweet story with equally sweet characters. I am so in love with their love, it's absolutely contagious. Evie is a secretary to the Countess of Waverly who has accepted an invitation to a charity event in Ireland, but is unable to fulfill her obligation so she sends Evie in her place to help with the preparations. Of course, she meets Alex, Duke of Rennick, and that's where their story really begins.

Evie is such a sweet character with an independent heart. She is the sole supporter of herself and her younger sister who is in school. Evie is a very practical woman who knows her position in society and is aware of her social standing. When she arrives in Ireland, her only focus is the preparations for the charity event she was sent to coordinate. But of course life has other plans for her, and there is an internal battle within herself featuring her brain and her heart.

Alex is duty-bound. He knows he needs to marry for money, but when Evie comes into his crumbling castle, she makes him question his motives. Both characters know how to communicate, they don't have any problems with miscommunication. They desire each other, they have feelings for one another and neither one is forced to guess what the other is thinking or feeling. I very much enjoyed their relationship and being able to see the progression from desire, to like, to love.

My only concern with the story was that the issues felt resolved a little before the ending which could have resulted in the story ending a couple chapters sooner. I didn't need to read the previous two books in the series to understand what was going on in this story, but after reading my first Carlyle book, I want to go back and read them when I get a chance. I definitely recommend this read if you want a sweet, angst-less, passionate romance with a meddling sister who approves the match and a pair of horses named after literary characters.

Christy Carlyle's books always feel like a hug to the soul. They're so cozy and sweet and this was no exception. I loved the meet cute between the characters and their later reconnection. Something kind of different I loved was that we have an Irish duke and the story takes place in Ireland; we don't see that nearly enough in Historical romance and I loved it.

3.5 Stars! This is book 3 in the ‘Love on Holiday’ series and can be read as a standalone. The main characters are socially awkward Alexander Pierpoint/Duke of Rennick and the Countess of Waverly’s secretary, Miss Evelyn Graves. I liked both main characters and loved their HEA ending. The story didn’t have a reason these 2 couldn’t really get married, just that they are both broke. The uncle is seen as a villain in the beginning, then he just sort of goes away. Not a lot going on in the book but it was still entertaining.
*I received this book at no charge & I voluntarily left this review.*

Alexander, the Duke of Rennick, steps out at Lady Waverly's ball to find a bride, as much as he's against it. According to his father's will it's a must or he will lose his home in Ireland, Ballymore Castle. Tripping over Evie in the garden was a nice surprise, but they are from a different class. As Lady Waverly's secretary, Evie is good at her job and is sent to Ireland to organize a fund raiser. Evie and Alex meet again and the attraction is real. Does class really matter? It's nice to read a romance where the hero and heroine are continually honest with each other and are willing to face adversity together.
Mild open bedroom door.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book.

Duke Seeks Bride is the third and final book in the historical romance series Love on Holiday by Christy Carlyle. I read and thoroughly enjoyed the first book and was excited to read this one. Though it didn't have the same magic as that one, this was a good, sweet and thoroughly enjoyable read. Each story stands alone, so don't worry about reading them in order.

Miss Evelyn (Evie) Graves is the personal secretary of the widowed Countess of Waverly. The Duke of Ballymore Castle in Connemara, Ireland, invites the countess to visit and assist him in planning an equine fundraiser; she is unable to attend, so she sends Evie in her place. Evie's never had a holiday and, after all, she does most of the work in planning the countess's parties and fundraisers anyway. When she arrives, everyone mistakenly believes she is the Countess of Waverly....everyone, that is, except Alexander Pierpont, the Duke of Rennick, who had met the enchanting woman in the Countess of Waverly's garden recently. Alex's family was hoping he would marry the countess or a rich neighbor to save the deteriorating Ballymore Castle and estate before he loses it to his uncle. Alex will be a hospitable host if she lets others believe she's the countess. However, as time is running out for Alex to marry a wealthy woman to save his home, will he be able to part with the woman who has come to mean everything to him?

The description of this story was a bit misleading: Just about everyone figured out Evie wasn't the countess in about five minutes flat, with the exception of Uncle George. Besides that, I enjoyed the basically sweet romance (with passionate interludes mixed in) between two people who normally wouldn't be together. Since her father died, Evie worked for the countess to support herself and her sister who was going to medical school. She was content in her job and was valued for her work, but she really wanted to be a novelist. While reading in the garden during a party at the countess's home, she was trampled by an incredibly handsome duke who fell on top of her. He seemed stern, but showed childlike delight when he saw a glowworm. And in an instant there was wonderful chemistry! Evie was a great heroine; she was a hard worker and did all she could to send her sister to school. She just wanted more for herself - writing, and then a handsome duke. But she was a practical woman, also. Evie knew they couldn't marry, yet she didn't deny herself the physical pleasures and companionship of this man, though she yearned for more. I just loved Alex! He loved Ballymore and had big plans for the estate: He planned to breed Connemara ponies with other horses, have a place for equine medical care, and the like. However, his horrible father left a stipulation in his Will that Alex would lose Ballymore Castle, if he did not marry within six months of his father's death, to his Uncle George, who would come around to remind Alex of that fact. When she realized that there would be no marriage between the countess and Alex, his Aunt Oona decided he should marry her wealthy friend's daughter, a young lady whom Alex's brother Rupert loved. Alex wanted to protect his family, home and dreams, but the heart wants what it wants. The chemistry between our hero and heroine was steamy at times, but it was the emotional closeness that drew me in. I enjoyed the supporting characters. Uncle George wasn't what he seemed; Rupert was an overacting flirt who really cared for his older brother; and sister Bel was kind and a good friend to Evie...but Aunt Oona? Alex should have kicked that meddling woman out on her buttocks! The epilogue was lovely; it was a fitting end to a good series.

I received an ARC of this book courtesy of the publisher and NetGalley. I received no compensation for my review, and all thoughts and opinions expressed were entirely my own.

✨Me Seeks Big, Irish Duke Who Puts Marble Statuary to Shame✨

If you want just the coziest, warmest hug of a series, please read the Love on Holiday books by Christy Carlyle. I swear every time I read one I’m like it seriously won’t stay this soft FOREVER right??? And then it does!

I also really loved that Irish hunk of a man. I definitely got lost in that accent! *swoons* The last time I remember a hero with an Irish accent, it was when Mary Jane Wells accidentally gave one to Matthew Swift for a chapter in the Wallflower Christmas audiobook 😭 Safe to say the accent is rare for me to hear, so it was very appreciated here.

Evie was a lovely and strong heroine. His aunt was hard and a bit judgmental, but Evie never let her get her down. I was always kind of waiting for the other shoe to drop, but she always stuck to her guns and fought for what she wanted. She was also just so fricken relatable. I love when you can read a chapter and be like ah yes ME.

I did just get a bit, literally the tiniest bit frustrated with his aunt trying to set him up with someone not named Evelyn! Not necessarily because I thought he was going to cave—that man was so gone I do have to applaud him—but it felt like a missed the opportunity to have a meddling (for good!) aunt because they’re the best characters. However, I do understand that the aunt and her plans were basically the extent of the external conflict, and really it was so tame in the grand scheme of things.

Overall, I just think Christy Carlyle has absolutely mastered the art of writing soft romance. When books don’t have super explosive third-acts, the tension still needs to be there and it’s HARD to do. Christy makes it look easy.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.25/5 🌶️🌶️*/5


Thanks so much to the publisher for an eARC via NetGalley. All opinions are honest and my own.

Christy Carlyle's Duke Seeks Bride is an absolutely delightful and charming addition to her Love on Holiday series. This historical romance is full of romance, soft and elegant writing, and the perfect little escape from the real world. Carlyle's writing has an ease about it that quickly engages the reader, this novel has such a charming setting (Ireland), and the romantic couple is interesting and swoon worthy! This novel feels like the perfect holiday and is a really wonderful finale to this series that I have adored!

This novel is the romance between Evie, a secretary to a duchess, and Alex, a second son who has just inherited his families dukedom. I love a class difference romance that pits an independent heroine against a grumpy hero with a guarded heart. Carlyle does a lovely job of exploring these dynamics and creating two characters who learn to meet on common grounds. I loved watching these two get to know each other and trust each other. They are both able to have a meeting of the mind and experiences that make them the perfect partner of the other. These two easily fall head over heels and both openly express their feelings. I love that they are open communicators and that they never fall into the trap of miscommunication. Carlyle also does a wonderful job of exploring their chemistry and sensuality in a consensual way that is both sexy and romantic.

Christy Carlyle is definitely a gem in the historical romance world and her love on holiday series has been an absolute smash in my mind. If you have never had the chance to pick up a novel of hers definitely do yourself a favor and try one. Any novel in the Love on Holiday series can be read as a standalone and I have found each and every installment to be absolutely delightful!

This was the best one of the series for me.

I loved Evie and Alex. They're both good, loyal people who are looking for something of their own. I enjoyed reading them get to know each other and their acceptance of the other. There's a good amount of family in this story, but the two MCs remain the focus.

Plot wise, it was good. There's an adorable meet cute followed by a fast moving week or so set in the future. I loved that they were together nearly the entire book and how the relationship shift felt organic within the time frame. There's no tension, no real conflict, and it was fantastic.

Overall, this was a fun read with characters who were easy to root for.

**Huge thanks to the publisher for providing the arc free of charge**

I have not been in a historical mood lately, but THIS BOOK is just what I needed. I love the vacation trope to begin with. I feel like it moves the relationship along at a faster pace and we get more from the characters sooner than we typically would. Evie goes to Ireland to help plan a fundraiser luncheon for Alex as a representative of her employer. He tries to convince her to pretend to be the Lady she works for to head off his matchmaking family and help take some pressure off of an inheritance clause in his father's will. Their forced proximity and commonalities. made for tension and heat and romance that lead me to binge all evening.