“Duke Seeks Bride” by Christy Carlylye is a swoon-worthy, classic story where guy literally stumbles over gal, they watch glowworms, then they wonder if they’ll ever see each other again!

Secretary Miss Evelyn “Evie” Graves is going on a working holiday to Ireland for her employer, a countess, to help the Duke of Rennick. However, the countess doesn’t know Alexander Pierpont and Evie are already in each other’s dreams.

I love that Evie and Alexander were attracted to each other upon their meet-cute yet they were practical enough to not pursue each other. When they surprisingly met again, their earlier practicality adds to the feeling of being fated mates. The close proximity allows their dreams to become reality.

Alex has a timeline to fulfill a stipulation in order to keep the estate that is home. So, of course, there is a fun secret identity, fake engagement aspect to the book which allows them more allowance to be with each other.

I appreciate that this book is about choosing love for personal and professional decisions. Alex has supportive and non-supportive family members for his time spent with Evie and for his horse endeavors. Evie is supporting a sibling so life is in London. However, being separated is not an option when an accident shows how much they care about the Ton’s rules.

If you enjoy different social class, holiday love stories, and low angst yet bursting attraction and compatibility reads, then I highly recommend this book!!!

Thank you to Net Galley, Avon, and Harper Voyager US for the ARC in exchange for a honest review.

Right off the bat, let me nitpick something, and this appears to only be an issue on Goodreads, so it doesn't affect my review, but it needs to be corrected. The main character's name is NOT Aurelia in the final cut; it is Evelyn, aka Evie. And the Castle is NOT Ballycannon; it is Ballymore.

That being said, let me get into my review of the story itself.

If you are looking for a low-angst romance with not much in the way of plot or villainous characters, then this will be the perfect read for you. And don't get me wrong, for what it was, I enjoyed it very much.

The two main characters are adorable together, and I enjoyed every moment they spent getting to know one another. They complement each other very well, and it was undeniable that they had chemistry. There were even some secondary characters that I enjoyed, mainly Alex's sister Belinda and his brother Rupert. In fact, I kind of wish they would get stories of their own as I would like to see what happens to them.

The problem with this story is.... well, to be perfectly honest, it was a little boring for me. There is absolutely nothing standing in the way of their happiness. The fact that Alex needs to marry for money? Seemingly not an issue, as he somehow has the funds to start his horse breeding business that will make the estate profitable even though there are areas of the house that are in such a bad state they can't be entered. His "villainous" uncle who stands to inherit if he doesn't marry? He's not a bad guy in the slightest; just misunderstood. Sharp-tongued aunt? Easily put in her place by Alex. Even the woman his aunt had hoped to match him with when it became clear that Lady Waverly wasn't attending didn't add much drama to the plot. A few waspish words, and then she, too, was forgotten.

Now, I will completely say that this issue was one hundred percent on me, as I need my stories to have a touch of drama somewhere. In my opinion, that is what keeps them interesting, and sadly, this one just missed the mark for me.

DISCLAIMER: I received a complimentary copy of this novel from the publisher. This has not affected my review in any way. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are 100% my own.

2 Reviews - 3.75 Average

3 Stars

“The memory of the man she’d met in the garden and her experience with the one who’d locked her in his study with him were so incongruent that she still couldn’t merge them in her mind. The two versions of the duke were like mismatched puzzle pieces. Or perhaps she was just too weary to put all the aspects of the distractingly handsome man together in her mind.”
Miss Evelyn Graves works as a personal secretary for the Countess of Waverley. She is sent to Ireland to assist the Duke of Rennick with a charity function in place of the countess, but what she doesn’t know is that his scheming aunt is planning on matchmaking the countess and Alexander. Everyone is shocked when Evelyn shows up in her place, especially Alexander, after they had a chance meeting months ago that he can’t stop thinking about.

Christy Carlyle’s Love on Holiday series is extremely low angst, and I think when I read this that maybe I wasn’t in the mood for it. If something is low angst, there isn’t much to push the plot forward, and that can make the story drag on and on. This did just that. She tried to add some plot devices like Alexander’s money issues and a scheming uncle, but neither was developed enough to frankly contribute anything to the story. They felt more like an afterthought. I also think there wasn’t much truly keeping Alexander and Evelyn from being together by the end. I expected more internal conflict from Alexander about his money struggles and her being a poor secretary, and how his home was at risk due to his lack of funds. I expected to see him fighting his desire for her much more than he did.

At the end, they decide that love is more important than anything else, but I struggled with that since it left me with more questions than answers. Even the epilogue left much to be desired. Overall, this one felt slower and less romantic than the first two books in the series.

If you’re a fan of low-angst historical romance writers like Anna Bennett and Erica Ridley then this series may be for you.

~ Michelle

4.5 Stars

Tropes: Road Trip, Forced Proximity, Class Difference, Working Heroine

Miss Evelyn Graves works as personal secretary to the Countess of Waverly. She is sent in her employer’s stead to Ballymore Castle in Connemara, Ireland, believing that she would be assisting with planning a fundraiser for an equestrian society. But little does Evie know that the aunt of her host – Alexander Pierpont, Duke of Rennick – is scheming to marry Alex to the countess!

This is the third book in the Love on Holiday series. It stands alone and is only connected to the others by theme. Just like the previous stories, this book was low angst with warm-fuzzy feels. These characters met by chance once before, so there is already an attraction between them. The previous Duke’s will states that Alex must marry in a certain time period, otherwise his mother’s unentailed family property will pass to his uncle. His pushy (but not mean-spirited) aunt is not happy to receive Evie instead of her employer, but Alex’s siblings join in the family mix and can see Evie and Alex’s connection.

I’ve found this entire series to be so enjoyable…perfect for beach reading or curling up on a lazy day. This book would be great for fans of Julia Quinn, Cathy Maxwell, and Charis Michaels.

~ Leslie

Alex and Evie meet briefly but can’t forget their meeting. When they meet again later, it doesn’t take much for them to fall in love, but they know they can’t end up together. This is a sweet love story that I enjoyed reading, especially with the interruptions from Aunt Oona and the Duchess of Vyne.

This was an entertaining, well-written book. It was fun, steamy and kept me reading. I enjoyed this book and would recommend it to others.

This is the third book in Christy Carlyle's Love on Holiday series. I've read the second book in the series but feel like it reads aright as a stand alone. Evelyn Graves is the secretary to the widowed Duchess of Waverly. She is sent in the Duchesses stead to the Irish countryside to plan a charity event with Alexander, the Duke of Rennick. Alexander is being pressured to propose to the Duchess of Waverly to save the family's estate. It's a big surprise when Evie steps out of the carriage. They met years before during a moonlit party but never learned each other's names. They've spent so much time pining for their mystery person that the attraction picks up pretty immediately.

This is a pretty low angst, breezy book. I liked how the "villian" character turned out to be not all he seemed. It had some of my favorite micro tropes: let me help you out of those wet clothes, literally catching someone when they fall, running into each other in the library in the middle of the night. It was probably a little longer than necessary. Also, as I'm tying this the Goodreads description has different character names and a slightly different plot description.

3.5 stars rounded up
Thank you to Avon Harper Voyager, NetGalley, and Christy Carlyle for this eARC. All opinions expressed are my own. #netgalley #avonharpervoyager #christycarlyle #dukeseeksbride #loveonholiday

Secretary Evelyn is sent in her employer's place to visit a duke in Ireland. In a case of mistaken identity, Evie is believed to be the countess. The duke's family hopes to arrange a match between the countess and the duke, Alexander. Despite knowing Evie's true identity, Alex convinces her to pretend to be the countess during her stay. But as time passes and pressure mounts for Alex to marry an heiress, he faces a dilemma—follow his heart, which now belongs to Evie, or do his duty.

I loved the narration to this bubbly, engrossing audiobook. Evie is smart, determined, and proud of her ability to make her own way in the world. Alex is introverted, good-hearted, and devoted to his family. With all the chemistry between them, they're a perfect match.

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

Belgravia, London - 1896

Alexander (Alex) Pierpont is the new Duke of Rennick. Before his father died, he told Alex that he must marry within 6 months of assuming his title or it will pass to his odious uncle. As he hates the season in London, he has put off looking for a bride even though time is running out. His coffers are low as he father gambled away most of their money. He loves his home, Castle Ballymore that has been in his family for generations. He loves breeding champion horses and has great plans to expand this.

Miss Evelyn (Evie) Graver, 24, works as secretary to the wealthy widow, Lady Waverly. Evie’s efficiency has pleased the lady immensely. Evie also likes to write romance novels. She is saving money to help put his sister, Sybil, through medical school.

Lady Waverly asks Evie to travel to Ireland to represent her at a charity luncheon for the Irish Equestrian Society. She is head of the same society in England. Always wanting to see Ireland, she is happy to go. Upon arrival, some people think she is Lady Waverly until she sets them straight. Her shock is seeing Alex again whom she happened to meet one evening at a soiree for Lady Waverly. They both were smitten by one another that night. Evie didn’t know that the luncheon would be held at the duke’s castle. Alex needs to wed a wealthy woman and soon. He and Evie know they cannot be together because of this.

This is a delightful story and I loved the immediate chemistry between Alex and Evie. There was no coyness - just outright real and honest love. The horses sound beautiful and their plan to breed them makes for a wonderful future. Great characters and storyline. Enjoy!

Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Well crafted and set in Ireland...

This is one of Christ Carlyle's best books yet. Evie and Alex met in London, briefly, and it left an impression on them both. When Evelyn "Evie" is sent to Ireland in her employers stead, she gets to spend time with Alex, a duke, who needs to marry within six months of his father's passing and ideally, a wealthy heiress. That would solve two of his problems. If Alex fails to marry, Ballymore, the family castle will go to his uncle.

I loved that Duke Seeks Bride was primarily set in Ireland and is filled with horss.
I also really liked that Alex was a bit neurodivergent. He needs to take time to think, if he doesn't he acts implusively. He is very honorable and so very much more interesting than a vapid and boring rake. He has plans and his mind works uniquely. That makes him a very compatible match for Evie, who is excellent at organizng and planning and writing. I enjoyed Evie and Alex his uncle's subplot.
Highly recommend.
Purchased.

As the personal secretary to the Countess of Waverly, Miss Evelyn “Evie” Graves, agrees to take her employer’s place in Ireland. She believes that she will be meeting with the Duke of Ballymoore Castle to help plan a charity event, but she is shocked to learn that the Duke is none other than the man she met months ago in the Countess’ garden during a ball. Apparently, his aunt was playing matchmaker and wanted the duke to spend time with the countess, who happens to be a wealthy widow, in hopes that they would form an attachment that would lead to marriage. Evie can’t deny her attraction to the duke, but she knows that she isn’t an appropriate bride for him or is she?

Alexander “Alex” Pierpont, the Duke of Rennick never thought he would be the duke, nor did he want to be since his deceased older brother should have been the duke. But with the death of his father, Alex is the Duke of a nearly bankrupt estate. And now he has learned that if he doesn’t marry within six months he will lose Ballymore Castle, which came from his mother’s family. He is onto his Aunt’s scheme but is surprised that when their guest arrives and he recognizes her as the lady from the garden. He knows he needs to find a bride, but the more time he spends with Evie, the harder it becomes to say goodbye.

This was a very well-written, nicely-paced story with likable characters and a relatively painless journey to HEA. Evie and Alex are clearly meant to be and even though they have some obstacles in their path, it is obvious that love will win the day. I enjoyed this story, it was a gentle read without a lot of drama and angst, with a slow-burn romance, great secondary characters, and a HEA complete with an epilogue. Overall, it was a good read and I would be happy to recommend this title. It is the third book in the series, but it can definitely be read as a standalone title.

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that I requested and was provided to me by the publisher. All opinions in this review are my own.*

Thanks #NetGalley for the advanced copy of #DukeSeeksBride by Christy Carlyle in exchange for an honest review.

If you are looking for a no angst, feel good romance, this is the book for you. I really enjoyed this book because I need that kind of book every once in a while. The MCs find love in each other and they aren't afraid to be together. Sometimes you just need a book that takes away all the stress in life and lets you escape from it all by just being happy and carefree and this book was that. This was my first book by Carlyle and it has made me interested in seeing what else she has written. I enjoyed her writing style too - it is very smooth and let me read faster than I usually do.

Alex, Duke of Pierpont, invites a duchess to his castle in Ireland but she sends her secretary, Aurelia, in her stead. Aurelia is thrilled at the opportunity to travel but is surprise to learn her host is not expecting her and even more surprised when is the same man she had a run in with during a party some time ago. The two spend time together riding horses and exploring the castle ruins. Alex is under a time crunch to marry and while marrying someone with money and influence would be ideal, he finds himself in love with Aurelia.

This is the third book in the Love on Holiday series, but stands completely on its own and if there were character overlaps I did not recognize them. The book is log angst and filled with lots of warmth. I was honestly surprised their respective money issues didn’t become more of a source of conflict as the book progressed. I did like both Alex and Aurelia and liked them together, but I needed a little more tension in their relationship. That being said, I did enjoy the book. I really enjoyed that the book was set in Ireland as it created a nice change from the standard historical romance novel and i like that the green hills are referenced in the cover.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I have been reading Christy’s books since the beginning and I really enjoy her writing. This story is very low angst and I think the older I get the more angsty I like my books. While this book really flows well, is an easy read and very sweet, I wanted more angst. It is a very sweet book and had that feelgood feel to it. I think if you are a low angst lover, this is definitely the book for you.

A sweet, low-angst historical!

From the premise I thought this book would be much more tense, but it is actually such a sweet story! It is perfect for when you want a warm and fuzzy plot with a great love story at the center!
The two main characters have an instant connection that builds throughout the book. They are both well written characters, but I wasn’t as invested in Alexander as Evelyn for some reason.
This is a standalone story, connected to the others in the series only by some sweeping themes, and so you can absolutely read it without reading the rest of the series.

Star Rating: 3/5
Tropes: Fake dating, fake identity, class differences
CW: Medical trauma

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

After an adorable meet-cute between our couple neither one expect to ever see the other again, although they can't stop thinking about it. Until Evie's employers send her to a Duke's home to help him set up a party, and upon tumbling out of the carriage into each other's arms they realize they have met before.

This is a super cozy and heartwarming romance. I loved watching them fall in love and it left me with a warm and fuzzy feeling and a smile on my face. No third-act breakups, no miscommunications, when Evie and Alex decide to be intimate (gotta love a room with only one bed.. during a storm!) they just let it happen with no regrets on either side. and when Evie realizes the depths of her feelings for Alex she rushes off to tell him.
This book gave me all the feels and left me with a smile on my face.

I can't wait to see what Christy Carlyle is going to come out with next!

Duke Seeks Bride was the perfect low angst, (slightly) slow burn story my heart needed. I was instantly drawn into the story by Evie and Alex from their meet cute in the garden during one of the Lady Waverly's charity balls. I loved both their reactions when they met again in Ireland, and how everyone could instantly tell there was a spark between them. I feel like the obstacles to their possible HEA were, as stated prior, low angst enough to allow me to completely enjoy the story. I love that there was no third act breakup and yet enough conflict to keep me connected to the story.

I found myself almost slow playing my read of this novel, because I just wanted to continue to revel in the heartwarming feeling it provided every time I picked it up. I just didn't want that feeling to end. In so many ways, Duke Seeks Bride reminds me of when I read Austen/watch an Austen adaptation. That perfect contentment mixed with the giddy feeling of a love story.

CW: Death of a parent (off-page); references to off-page animal abuse

Duke Seeks Bride is another perfect, sexy, low-angst historical romance novel from Christy Carlyle that wraps up her Love on Holiday series. This series is the perfect one to read if you want a romance that isn’t going to be high-drama or high-angst but instead tells compelling and engaging stories of two people falling in love and finding their happily ever after in unlikely circumstances. It’s perfect escapism, and sometimes that’s all I want from my romances!

The official summary of this book on retailers is a bit misleading as it makes it seem like the book will lean into the fake dating trope more than it actually does. The official summary positions the story as Evelyn “Evie” Graves needing to pretend to be the fake fiance of Alexander Pierpont, the Duke of Rennick, for a fortnight. In actuality, Evie only does that in front of Alex’s uncle once or twice, as everyone else knows she’s there in the countess’s place to help plan a charity event. If anything, the central driver of the plot is the stipulation that Alex marry within 6 months of inheriting or risk losing Ballymore Castle, his family’s home in Ireland, and the only inheritance that matters. I didn’t mind that the plot deviated a bit from the premise, but it may feel a tad misleading if you go into this thinking it’s going to be a faking dating-type book.

Now, I absolutely adored the romance in this book. There’s something so charming about watching two people fall in love when there is little to no drama in their relationship. Despite a short timeframe, Alex and Evie’s relationship felt believable because their chemistry is so good! There is an electric spark at their first meeting in the garden at a ball, and then again when they meet in Ireland. That connection builds into something more very fast, yet they both feel it, so the relationship doesn’t feel rushed. Everyone could also see how far gone these two were for each other, so it was just a matter of time before they acted upon it.

Duke Seeks Bride also felt like the horniest book of the series – and I loved that! These two really wanted each other and acted upon it. I also loved that Evie fully embraced her sensual side with Alex and didn’t feel ashamed by sex. Also, the first sex scene had the most trope-tactic setup, and I loved it! We get Alex and Evie trapped out in the country in the rain, where, of course, they have to spend the night at an inn with only one room left and then need to help each other out of their wet clothes. I was LIVING for this scene and felt so giddy that I wanted to kick my feet in the air while reading. This book also has a ton of other tropes I love, such as class differences and nursing back to health, and a micro trope of being unable to sleep, so they run into each other at the library. The romance was delicious, and I loved every second of it.

Alex was not a classic Duke, and I enjoyed that. He seemed to have some form of social anxiety, as he struggles in the ballroom and tends to avoid society. He’s much more at home at his family’s castle in Ireland, surrounded by his horses, siblings, and Aunt than in any ballroom. Despite trying to avoid anything scandalous, he cannot help what he feels for Evie, and I loved how far gone he was for her and didn’t end up letting the class difference impact how he felt.

Evie is a very practical, logical person – a trait that helps her excel as Lady Waverly’s secretary – but she’s also incredibly empathetic and caring. I loved how she went after what she wanted, whether in her professional or personal life, as she was not going to let others shape her life. Now, that does backfire on her a tad as she makes not the smartest decision towards the end of the book by going after what she wants immediately, but at least she does it for all the right reasons.

The secondary characters in this book round out the cast beautifully. I enjoyed Alex’s siblings, Belinda and Rupert, and the relationship they had with each other. They’re so loving, caring, and supportive of one another. I liked that they welcomed and accepted Evie into their circle so easily. I like Alex’s Aunt, even though she was a bit scheming, as her heart was in the right place. Heck, I even ended up liking and sympathizing with Alex’s Uncle, who was set up to be the villain, but once you learn his backstory, he’s not so bad in the end.

Overall, I found this a delightful read that hit all the right notes with its romance. I thoroughly enjoyed reading Alex and Evie’s journey towards a happily ever after and finished this book with a smile on my face, feeling warm and fuzzy. If you like your romances with low drama and low angst, the Love on Holiday series is perfect for you, and I definitely recommend you check it out!

Thank you to Avon/Netgalley for the ARC. All thoughts, ideas, and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

The Glowworm and the Secretary:
A lovely story with its flowery writing from this author was a treat to read.
The characters are charming, the plot is quite intriguing with all of the emotions a desirous romance could bring to a good enjoyable story that takes us to a very rewarding and happy ending. Actually, the ending had some surprising moments that I did not see coming. A Bravo! shout out to the ending.
This is my favorite book of this charming series, but charming does not mean without fire crackling heat.
✔Mature Advisory🌶🌶🌶

Duke Seeks Bride is a really fun pseudo-second chance romance. Evie and Alex had a missed opportunity but unusual circumstances months later bring them back together, and the story really starts from there. Thrown together to plan a charity event, a duke and a secretary shouldn’t make sense. But Evie and Alex do, instant chemistry turning into something deeper. Evie is clever and kind, with big dreams, and you can’t help but want the best for her. And Alex who dislikes crowds and just wants some quiet and good book, is all too relatable.

I think what I really loved about this book was that it subverted all the expectations I’ve come to have for historical romance. Alex’s family is expecting a countess to arrive, and I was expecting Evie to play the role, assuming a fake identity. But she’s honest with them from the start. Alex’s aunt is meddling, pushing him to marry an heiress, and instead of dragging out Evie’s discomfort at the idea that she’s falling for a man promised to someone else, Alex is upfront that he never intends to marry the woman his aunt has picked out.

That’s not to say the plot is without drama, but it’s not in the usual ways I expected. There’s family drama, and a bit of “we can’t be together because of society” drama. But I really appreciate when the lead couple is affected by forces outside their relationship and face it together, rather than suffering some misunderstanding within it because of the manipulations of others.

Just a really great addition to the Love on Holiday series!

This is the third and final book in the Love on Holiday series, and it’s as entertaining as the first two. The story follows Evie, a secretary to a wealthy duchess, and Alex, the new Duke of Pierpont. With a marriage stipulation in his father’s will, Alex must find a wife within just a few short months. And since he has a floundering estate, Alex needs to marry someone wealthy, which is why his aunt invites the Duchess of Waverly to spend time with them in Ireland. However, the duchess is unable to make the trip and sends Evie in her stead.

I really liked Evie. She is an independent, hard-working woman who is confident in her capabilities. It’s easy to see why Alex falls so quickly for her, and I love how his family does too. And Alex is pretty fabulous too. He’s so torn between his duty toward his family and his inherited lands and his love for Evie. Evie also struggles with her feelings since she knows her social standing is not on par with his, and she is also providing for a sibling. It’s interesting to see how the pair deals with the obstacles in their way.

Evie and Alex have a wonderful romance that begins with a memorable meet cute in London and carries to Ireland. Even though Alex knows he must marry someone of wealth, he can’t help the feelings he has for Evie. I wouldn’t say they have an insta-love romance, but there’s definitely a strong connection and attraction from the start.

I enjoyed this story. It’s a quick, low-stakes, and entertaining historical romance with great protagonists, and an interesting cast of secondary characters. Special thanks to Avon for providing me with a copy of the book. All thoughts are my own.