I love collections of holiday stories and this one by the Duke of the Month authors is an amazing, absolutely delightful read. I like collections like this, holiday or not, because they are often a chance to read a novella by a favorite author as well as meet new authors. Duke in a Box did not disappoint.

My first thought was to review each story individually, but you need to read them all. The intro at the beginning of each story tells you what you need to know, so dive in and start reading.

These stories are sweet, spicy, steamy, suspenseful, sometimes silly – and always satisfyingly entertaining. There are friends to lovers, childhood sweethearts/friends/enemies reunited, mistaken identity, social barriers, age barriers, obligations, restrictions, stubbornness, desires. You name it, they’ve got to fight against it to get to that HEA. They’ve got old hurts and fears and don’t want to give their hearts, they try to do the right they but it always, sometimes hilariously, goes wrong.

Let yourself be transported to another place and time. Sit back, relax, and enjoy each and every one of these charming stories. I know I did. ( )

Duke in a Box: Twelve Steamy Historical Holiday Novellas
By Collected Authors

Four of the authors that provided stories for this collection are favorites of mine and their novellas were all that I expect from their writing. The remaining eight stories are going to be read and hopefully savored between now and Christmas as a special Christmas gift to myself. Stories read so far are:

YULE BE MY DUKE by Darcy Burke:
Enemies Cecilia and John are thrust together by their parents to make a match…a match neither of them wants. These two young people didn’t hit it off well when they met but when they finally spent time together…things began to change for the better.

HER DUKE WITH BENEFITS by Jess Michaels:
This story was heartwarming and fun to read. I loved Alice and Leo together and how the close proximity, honest communication, and mature look at what they wanted for themselves, and their future was so splendidly shared in this novella.

AUDACIOUS by Minerva Spencer:
How fun to see how favorite characters from a previous book are doing and have this love story be that of their only daughter who falls in love and is strong enough to overcome all to end up with the man she truly loves. Thoroughly enjoyed Antonia and Lucas’s story!

UNDRESSING THE DUKE by Erica Ridley:
How difficult it must have been to know your duty and not want to fulfill it. This novella dealt with the class disparity between the two in love, expectations of society and family, and the taboo of loving someone it was actually illegal to be with. Donovan and Geoffrey had a slow burn over twenty years but have a feeling it was worth it in the end for both of them.

Did I enjoy the stories I read? Yes
Am I looking forward to reading the rest of the novellas in the collection? Definitely

Thank you to Darcy Burke for the ARC – This is my honest review.

5 Stars ( )