Last December I flew from California to Michigan for my sister’s nursing school graduation. Shortly after arriving at the airport for my return trip it was announced my flight was delayed. So I did the only sensible thing and perused the little bookshop for something to read. I was in the mood for something light and if it was Christmassy, that was a bonus. I settled on So This is Christmas by Jenny Holiday. The book was exactly what I was looking for! Due to delays on both my flights I finished it before getting home.
This December I decided to find another fun Christmassy novel and ended up selecting Duke, Actually, also by Jenny Holiday. What I didn’t realize until starting reading Duke, Actually was that So This is Christmas was part of a series. The events in Duke, Actually happened before So This is Christmas. It was delightful to unexpectedly slip back into the tiny made up country of Eldovia and its royalty.
Duke Actually is a friends to lovers romance. Light on the spicy meter but a good slow burn as the friends discover deeper feelings for each other. Baron Maximillian (Max) von Hansburg is a the eldest son to the Duke of Aquilla, a title he vehemently does not want to inherit. Long known as the Depraved Duke (despite actually being a baron) Max is known for his playboy ways. Activities he prevents from becoming romantic entanglements with his set of rules. What others don’t see is that he is adrift. Max wants to do something with his life, have a job and a purpose beyond his title.
Daniella (Dani) Martinez has clawed her life into some semblance of order after the trauma of her husband leaving her for one of his college students. Unfortunately that wound festers as her ex-husband keeps dodging finalizing their divorce. Dani is a nineteenth century literature college professor on the tenure track but she doesn’t feel fulfilled by her job. Afraid of falling in love and getting hurt again, Dani has declared herself post-love and created a list of things she will never do again for a man. Fate has thrown Dani and Max together as they are to be the Best Maid and Man of Honor at their respective best friends’ wedding.
You may be asking, “Where does Christmas come into the story?”. Dani is a Christmas super-fan but she limits herself to celebrating only from December 11th (two weeks prior to the 25th) to the Epiphany on January 6th. But mid-summer when Dani learns Max has never seen the holiday classic Love, Actually, they watch it together. Dani delves deep into the lore of the movie and the meanings she finds in it. When the romantic climax happens, it’s steeped in Love, Actually.
I thoroughly enjoyed Duke, Actually and now knowing this is a series, I intend to seek out more Eldovia books for future Christmases!
