It was loathe at first sight when Cecilia Bromwell met John Rowley, the Earl of Cosford five years ago at a party where his ill-conceived prank and irascible temper ruined not one but two of her new gowns. Now, at a Yuletide house party, Cecilia learns their parents seek to match them in wedded bliss. However, she has no interest in even speaking with the “Menace,” especially after he spills wine down her bodice, ruining yet another gown.
John has no desire to be paired with the “Shrew” for the Yule log hunt. But if they can suffer each other’s company for a short time, perhaps they can convince their parents that they do not suit. When they’re separated from everyone else and a snowstorm drives them to seek shelter alone in a cottage together, it may not matter what they want.
With marriage all but imminent, can these enemies become lovers by morning?
Review:
Yule Be My Duke by Darcy Burke is a prequel of sorts to The Rigid Duke , but since it happens years before the events of that book, it absolutely works as a standalone. Yule is a delightfully steamy (there’s only one bed AND one blanket! And their clothes get all wet in the snow!) enemies-to-lovers romance that I really enjoyed. It’s fairly short (just over 100 pages) but neither the story nor their relationship feels overly rushed–despite what the heroine’s father believes.
I originally read this as part of the Duke in a Box: Twelve Steamy Historical Holiday Novellas anthology, but since that book is no longer available Ms Burke is re-releasing it on her own with a fun new twist–there are not 1, but 3 different bonus scenes! Readers can sign up at the end for the author’s newsletter and receive them one at a time in the following 3-5 days. They’re fun little snippets of John and Cecilia’s HEA, and provide a nice bridge between the events of this book and the couple’s matchmaking house party that they host in the other series books: The Rigid Duke , The Bachelor Earl , The Runaway Viscount , and The Make-Believe Widow .
Still waiting on my invite to your next one, Your Graces… 😉
Rating: 4 stars / A-
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.