The Duke's Christmas Bride by Anna Bradley was an enemies to lovers trope. It was a fairly clean historical Christmas novel that had sweet moments and holiday traditions. I really enjoyed reading it.
Thanks Kensington Publishing via NetGalley.

Nineteen years ago Max's father lost his childhood home in a wager and now he's determined to get it back. When Ambrose, the man he believes cheated his father, writes him a letter telling him to come get his treasure, Max believes he can finally have Hammond Court. He arrives to find Ambrose dead, the house falling apart, and a young woman, Rose, living in the house. It turns out Ambrose had adopted the illegitimate daughter of his deceased cook. The lawyer tells them they have both inherited the house together. With Rose having no intention of leaving, Max plots to get her married. Once she's married, he'll get the house from her husband. So, he's having a Christmas house party to allow her to be wooed and wed. Careful for what you wish for because he wasn't prepared for the jealousy he feels when his plan starts to work. A lot of self reflective inner dialogue drags on. She went ice skating, wished on the Christmas pudding, made him is favorite childhood cookies. I did google a recipe for ginger nut biscuits though after reading this.

The Duke’s Christmas by Anna Bradley
Drop Dead Dukes #3

This is a solid light historical romance with an engaging female lead character with what other reviewers call a Pollyanna-like persona that I see as slightly more mature than the teen-Disney-character but still a fairytale type sprite who meets a gorgeous man when kicks in her door. He is icy and reserved, perhaps broken, and could benefit from a dose of Rose. Will he be able to leave his desire for revenge behind and instead find his way forward to…a perfectly happily ever after with the woman that he was hoping to wrest a home from and overcome his painful memories?

The good thing is that there is a happily ever after and though this is not the book I hoped to read, it is well written and could lead to future books in the series or it might be the last.

I did like Rose, never really totally warmed up to Max but had hopes he could change and the two of them could provide a happy future for their children in the future if they had any.

Did I like this book? Perhaps
Would I read more by this author? I think so

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC ~ This is my honest review.

3-4 Stars

A quick but fun historical romance in which the MMC is absolutely smitten with the FMC from the start but too stubborn, at first, to admit [to himself] his feelings toward her. It was fun to read but I won't be picking it up again - just not really what I was hoping for.

I wasn't a big fan of this book. The whole premise didn't make sense to me. The Duke starts out loathing the woman he eventually falls for. While enemies to lovers works sometimes, it doesn't work here. Because these two are forced to co-exist because they each inherit the home in question. And in a poorly planned attempt to marry this young woman off at a Christmas party backfires on the Duke as he falls for this woman...

Just doesn't make sense....sorry, not for me

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

This was the perfect book to get me into the holiday spirit. I enjoyed it so much!

Loosely inspired by “A Christmas Carol”, “The Duke’s Christmas Bride” is the story of te very cold, very unfeeling Duke of Grantham whose purpose in life is revenge. When he was a child his mother died of cosumption and his father was an alcoholic who wagered his wife’s birthplace and lost it. Max has ever since seen Ambrose St. Clair as the man who he once loved like a second father until he betrayed him and took ownership of the house. But Ambrose kept a secret and before dying he wrote a letter to Max urging him to come back and claim his treasure.

Hampton Court is now in ruins and Max’s intention is to tear it down as a final act of revenge. But what he doesn’t know is that 17 years ago Ambrose had adopted the four year old daughter of a friend and the man’s will specifies that Rose is entitled to half of the house while the other half now belongs to Max. Since the will also clarifies that none of them can take the other’s half by force, Max invites a few acquaintances to spend Christmas with him, but his real intention is to make someone marry Rose.

Rose of course guessed what Ambrose’s real motives were and she will see his last wish come true… but she never thought love would come knocking on her door, or rather tearing it down.

Although it is a bit early for Christmas stories, I read this book precisely when I needed it. It was such a sweet and compelling story that it warmed my heart. Rose and Max are two lonely people who find love where they least expect it even though there are other characters in the book, the moments when they are toghether building memories without being aware of doing so are the best. I loved seeing the snow through their eyes, the houses, the decorations, the ginger biscuits, the frozen lake, and how little by little, Rose’s joy and sweetness melts Max’s icy heart. Love changes him and humbles him enough to prevent him from becoming Mr Scrooge forever. If you only read one Christmas romance this year, let it be this one. I adored it.

I love all of Anna Bradley’s books. With a Christmas theme and passion in the mix you can’t go wrong. Especially when you create great characters and a story you can’t put down. It definitely got me in the Christmas mood already. With a great combination of wit, romance and story you're in for a real treat. You get that cozy Christmas story vibe with a slow burn romance. Their conversations and interactions are so fun.
How can two strong willed people share a property that both feel belongs to them?Can they pull off the traditional amazing Christmas party?Can they fight the passion, do they even want to fight it?
The story is all about righting past wrongs and finding common ground. Max and Rose are some fun characters that really create a magical Christmas story you won’t want to put down.
Your going to love Christmas adventure.

Merry Christmas to me! This Christmas regency Romance was everything I wanted! Sweet and sizzling Romance! Witty banter! A Christmas spirit love only Anna Bradley can write! 🌹

Can you imagine walking up to a property and finding out that someone else inherited half of it? Well that's how Maxwell feels! This Duke is not going to give up without a fight. 💗

But when he meets Rose the sunshine to his rain! The jingle bells to his soulless tower. She brings sunlight back to his world. The Duke is very prickly it doesn't really enjoy Christmas LOL 🎆

The Duke has a scheme and that involves getting the sunshine Christmas angel to fall in love with someone else! What starts as a matchmaking scheme and then some turns out to be were the sugar and spice duo can't resist each other and they fall in love!🍨

Bravo!!! 🥰

What a delightful, fun, romantic story. Anna Bradley is an underrated historical romance writer. Her books have some of the best banter. This one really put me in the Christmas mood and I enjoyed reading! thank you to netgalley and the publisher.

The Duke's Christmas Bride by Anna Bradley is the third book in the Drop Dead Dukes series. If you haven't read the other books, don't worry - you can pick this one up and read as a standalone with no problem even though the characters of the other books do make an appearance.

Our main mmc in this book is Maxwell Burke, Duke of Grantham. He's spent years working to regain the properties his father lost and he's down to the last, and most important one - Hammond Court. When Max finds out that the man who he believes stole the property from his family has died, and has invited him to "come collect", he never stops to think it is meant for anything other than the house/property. So when he shows up to claim the house, he quickly finds out that the current inhabitants have no intention of leaving.

Alarmed by the sound of an intruder, Rose St. Claire fetches her pistol. She’s shocked to discover that the trespasser is a handsome gentleman—one who states that the house, which Rose recently inherited from her late benefactor, was stolen from his father decades ago. He claims it is now his. And it is—but not entirely. As it turns out, Hammond Court has been left to them both—and neither can evict the other without forfeiting their right to the property . . .

As Christmas draws near, Max comes up with a plan to get the house back. He's going to throw a holiday party. His plan though includes inviting someone who owes him a debt and offering them the opportunity to wipe out the debt in exchange for them to woo and marry Rose and then return her share of the property to him. What he didn't plan on was spending time with Rose and being drawn to her and wanting to be happy at Hammond Court with her.

I enjoyed the story on this one but the pacing felt a bit slow for me. I thought Max was interesting and there was a bah humbug feel to him with the Christmas angle but for some reason, Rose's character didn't win me over...and I can't pinpoint why. That said, if you're looking for a quick holiday romance read, consider picking this one up. I thought the story was well-written and the plot was well done.

This is an adorable read, perfect for the Holidays.
Maxwell is fantastic and charming, Rose is extremely resilient. Both are wonderful together, with a good chemistry and relationship that builds over time.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Grumpy sunshine

They both inherited, even though Maxwell insists its his (its not, his father wagered it away).
He isn't above using bribery in the from of getting another man to court and wed Rose, so he can then get the property transferred back to him. I liked Rose, Maxwell, not so much.

What a delightful love story. It begins after a death and the need to correct a paste wrong. The characters were complex and strong-willed. After time spent enjoying life during Christmas time, feelings and thoughts drastically change, and a huge misunderstanding cleared up. I really enjoyed how beaulove comes out regardless of everything, and life ends happily. I highly recommend reading!

Bad decisions by the father has led to hate in the son. Upon meeting the arch enemy's daughter and dealing with her, his feelings begin to change. An easy read that was an enjoyable Christmas read.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and the Publisher and leaving a review by my own accord.

The Duke's Christmas Bride begins with suspense and mystery and continues to keep the readers engrossed. I was extremely fortunate to receive an ARC from Netgalley and all thoughts and opinions are my own.
Maxwell Alastair Hammond Burke, the Tenth Duke of Grantham, is set to seek retribution for actions committed against him and his father by a man named Ambrose. Rosamund Elizabeth St. Claire is living in the home Ambrose had taken her and her mother in when all others had deserted them. This seems to be a home where there are a bag of mixed memories and history for both Maxwell and Rose. Ambrose last will leaves the dilapidated home equally to the both of them. One wants to demolish it along with the memories, the other wants to maintain the home to cherish the memories. We see how sometimes there are two facets to the same person, and how sometimes, we have only the one-sided opinion of a matter. This is a wonderful story with the concept of looking beyond the obvious front and delving a little deeper to find the truth. Anna Bradley has outdone herself again.

When Rose St. Claire first meets Maxwell Burke, Duke of Grantham, she finds him trespassing in her home, only to fire her pistol at him, if not by accident. When they both discover that the home that Rose believed her late benefactor, Ambrose had left her, has now been left to both of them. Max has always believed that Hammond Court was stolen from his father decades ago and he is determined that he will regain the property, at all costs. However, Rose has no intention of leaving which forces Max to plan a holiday party, if only to find a gentleman who will marry her. Yet, as Max spends more time with Rose, it becomes apparent to him that he has no intention of another man, marrying her.
Another great addition to this series, but it is a standalone story. Rose is a delightful character and sees only the good in others, doing all that she can to bring some happiness into Max’s life. It was so sweet to see the large personality of Max, become putty in the hands of Rose. A delightful romance.
This book I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The third story in the Drop Dead Dukes, another engaging story in this series. Rose St. Claire and Maxwell Burke, Duke of Grantham meet when he comes to claim the house she is in, only to find they have both inherited the house. A well written Christmas story of enemies to lovers. I enjoyed seeing them with their ups and downs find love and a happy ending. I received a copy of this book via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review.

The Duke’s stumped by a fairy child!

Charming story of a glowering tight lipped duke being bested by a fairy child of a young woman
In this enemies to lovers story Rose St. Claire inherits half the house she has lived in for many years, the other half goes to our terse duke, Maxwell Alastair Hammond Burke, the Tenth Duke of Grantham, Viscount Hammond.
Their battle for ownership is a thing of drama, loss and ultimately joy. (Their first introduction when the Duke breaks into the house is hilarious.)
The Duke’s hurts as a young child govern his actions as he grows into his inheritance. A dark and joyless time that reflects in all he does, until he meets Rose. He’d been dubbed the Duke of Ice.
Can he change, can he allow the magic in?

A Kensington Books ARC via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author and publisher.
(Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.)

I enjoyed this delightful enemies to lovers, grumpy-sunshine Christmas romance novel, which is brimming with twists, banter, irony, witty inner monologues, LOL moments, tender emotions, sizzling chemistry and a bit of steam. The author‘s playful storytelling makes it so much fun to read! The main characters are endearing and I loved their battle of will, Rose‘s compassion, her kindness, her joyfulness and her love for Christmas. Max may be a Grinch but he stands no chance resisting Rose‘s zest for life.
I also enjoyed reuniting with the characters from the previous books of the series.

As a child, Maxwell „Max“ Burke, Duke of Grantham had to watch his father gamble away the family fortune, including Hammond Court to his then friend Ambrose St Claire, where he spent many happy moments. After that, his life became a nightmare. Max was teased at school, his father drank himself to death and Max's only thoughts were to get his lost fortune back and take revenge on Ambrose, who he believes robbed him of his childhood.
Now, years later, Max is known as the Duke of Ice for his ruthlessness and coldness. He has managed to get back all his losses except Hammond Court, the last piece of the puzzle to his happiness, which he wants to tear down. When Ambrose dies and Max receives a cryptic message summoning him to Hammond Court, Max expects the property to be returned. To his horror, however, he is confronted with Ambrose's adopted daughter, who has inherited half of Hammond Court and has no intention of leaving the dilapidated estate. Rose loves the estate too much and will not allow herself to be blackmailed or bribed by Max. So he has no choice but to trick her, even if it means hosting a hated Christmas house party and finding a suitor for her. But soon he cannot resist the kindhearted, joyful woman who has made it her mission to drive away his loneliness and make him enjoy life and Christmas again…

If you like heartwarming and humorous opposites attract romances with broken heroes and determined heroines, you will certainly enjoy this book!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.