Hello, fellow romance lovers! To those in the states, Happy Thanksgiving! I have had a couple of milestones this month. I am another year older, and I have passed my 400th blog post! This blog has been a passion project, and I am thrilled to have this amazing opportunity to do something I love! I am mixing it up a bit this month. Instead of only having a book of the month, I am also choosing a favorite location, trope, pet, heroine, and hero! I can’t wait to share my thoughts and choices with you! I also have another book giveaway and I will conclude with a November preview.
Location of the month: Rome
Book: Tempted By The English Marquis
Author: Sasha Cottman
Rome is showcased in this star-crossed lovers’ romance. Gideon and Serafina visited many locations in Rome, and I felt like I was there with them. I visited Rome in the spring. I loved that the first sight Gideon sees is the Castel Sant’Angelo. Once a prison, when I visited, it’s now a museum with a café. We stopped and had a cappuccino and a breathtaking view of Rome. It was clear that Sasha Cottman had done her homework. Each scene was vividly and lovingly brought to life.
Favorite trope of the month: Christmas!
Book: Naughty Or Nice Anthology
Authors: Bree Wolf, Sydney Jane Baily, Tracy Sumner, Fenna Edgewood, Charlie Lane, Jennifer Monroe, Meredith Bond
I chose The Naughty Or Nice anthology for the trope of the month. This was my first Christmas anthology of the year, and the entire collection put me in the holiday spirit. Each unique novella showcased a spectacular romance set in the holiday season.
Pets of the month: 1. Horace from 2. Gunner
Books: 1. The Duke Alone 2. The Counterfeit Wife
Authors: 1. Christi Caldwell 2. Paullett Golden
Pets of the month: 1. Horace from 2. Gunner
Books: 1. The Duke Alone 2. The Counterfeit Wife
Authors: 1. Christi Caldwell 2. Paullett Golden
I loved both of these overgrown teddy bears! Grumpy, strict, aloof Lords own both Horace and Gunner. Horace and Gunner both served as a bridge between hero and heroine. The dogs instantly loved the heroines, and they helped warm them to their owners. I felt Horace and Gunner stole several scenes, and both enriched the stories.
Heroine Of The Month
Heroine of the month: Lady Myrtle McQuoid
Book: The Duke Alone
Author: Christi Caldwell
Myrtle is all sunshine! She is accidentally left alone by her family at Christmas. Myrtle is eternally cheerful and upbeat. I loved that about her! Myrtle keeps chinking away at Val’s defenses until he reluctantly lets her in. Myrtle’s beauty inside and out and her free spirit stole my heart!
Hero of the month: Val Bancroft, the Duke of Aragon
Book: The Duke Alone
Author: Christi Caldwell
Val is as grumpy as Myrtle is happy. Val has suffered horrible tragedies and has shut himself off from everyone. He goes from being frigid and angry to being able to open his heart again. Val’s journey grabbed my heart and made me cry! His redemption story is emotional and captivating. Val’s slow fall into falling in love with Myrtle is romance perfection!
Book Of The Month!!!!!!
Book Of the month: The Duke Alone
Author: Christi Caldwell
This book won pet, heroine, and hero of the month for a good reason. This romance has a classic Christmas feel. The main characters are vivid and intricate. The storyline made me both laugh and cry. Val and Myrtle’s happily-ever-after resonated with me long after I was finished reading the book. This is an epic romance I won’t soon forget!
My Review
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I love a good Christmas romance, and The Duke Alone is Christmas romance perfection. This story blends elements of grumpy/sunshine, Home Alone, and A Christmas Carol and references Pride And Prejudice. Oh! I can’t forget Horace – Val’s lovable monstrosity of a dog!
Val is a widower who has become an angry and bitter recluse, shutting himself off from friends, family, and any happiness. Only Val’s butler and his dog, Horace, are left in Val’s life. Val blames himself for his wife’s and unborn son’s deaths. Myrtle is a middle child in a vast family. She is misunderstood and ignored mainly by her family. Through it all Myrtle maintains her sunny disposition. When Myrtle gets left behind by her family at Christmas, she and Val strike up an unlikely friendship that evolves into something more.
I did something I rarely do in novels, I cried. Val’s haunting, heart-wrenching pain was so organic that it ripped at my heart. Also, watching Myrtle heal Val piece by piece grabbed me and resonated with me viscerally. Val’s pain and Myrtle’s cheerfulness collide to create a fiery attraction that builds into a unique romance.
The plot married drama, romance, and humor perfectly. It took many literary elements and blended them perfectly. There were some scenes I felt could have been shortened and some scenes I would have liked lengthened. The Duke Alone stole my heart! Val and Myrtle are two characters I will remember lovingly for a long time. Christi Caldwell has made holiday magic with an eye-catching enchanting romance.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book through Netgalley and the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
📖💕November Giveaway!📖💕
I have a ten-book historical romance package I am giving away this month. The authors included are Stephanie Laurens, Cathy Maxwell, Catherine Coulter, Arnette Lamb, Megan Frampton, Liz Carlyle, Lara Lee Guhrke, Johanna Lindsey, Karen Ranney, and Kat Martin. Comment on why you love historical romance, and you’ll be entered! The winner will be announced next month! Good Luck!
November Preview
I have a hectic month this November. In October, I had personal and fur baby health issues and did not get to read and review everything I wanted. I have over twenty books to read and review this month, both advance copies and books already published. Below are the books I will review so far. This isn’t a complete list and is subject to change.
Release Date November 1, 2022
Release Date: November 3, 2022
Release Date: November 4, 2022
Release Date: November 8, 2022
Release Date: November 10, 2022
Release Date: November 15, 2022
Release Date: November 16, 2022
Release Date: November 17, 2022
Release Date: November 18, 2022
Release Date: November 22, 2022
Release Date: November 24, 2022
Release Date: November 29, 2022
I hope you enjoyed the new format! I love hearing from my followers; please let me know how I am doing! I am always looking for new books to read and review! If you are an author or publisher and have a book you’d like me to review, please leave a comment. I want to thank all my followers, visitors, authors, and publishers that I work with! All of you make this possible! I hope everyone has a fantastic start to the holiday season! Until next time….
🥰 Jenna
readingrebelreviews.com 