Been looking forward to this story for a while. Such a scrooge ending and finding a happily ever after. So good.

JOY TO THE DUKE is the third book in the Love Is All Around series. The three stories in this trilogy are all happening simultaneously, so you could read them in any order, but I recommend you read them in the order of release.

There may not have been three ghosts, but there are two sisters and Felicity – the girl he never forgot. As you may have guessed from my description, this book is lovingly wrapped around Charles Dickens’ A CHRISTMAS CAROL with Calder cast as Scrooge. There has never been a rendition of Scrooge that I didn’t love from Mickey Mouse to Albert Finney to Patrick Stewart.

There are moments that are hilarious with childish antics and others that are terrifyingly emotional, but it is all filled with love, hope, and eventually the joy of Christmas and family.

May your Christmas be as blessed as those at Hartwell and Hartwood.

Note: While I received this book as a gifted ARC via NetGalley, my opinions are my own and are given freely.

Have you ever wondered if a Scrooge-type character could be redeemed? The answer is yes and Darcy Burke has been the one to do it!

For the third installment of the Love is All Around series, Burke focuses on the Duke of Hartwell, Calder Stafford. He is the older brother of the ladies featured in the first two books of the series, Bianca and Poppy. When Calder’s father told him the woman he loved took a bribe to leave town and stay away, he was completely devastated. He almost lost himself in the vices of women, gambling, and alcohol. When his father cut him off, Calder turned his finances around but hardened his heart to love.

Widow Felicity Garland has returned to Hartwell after ten long years. Her family suddenly left town back then and she hadn’t returned since. After her father’s death, her mother moved back. When her mother becomes ill, Felicity comes home to care for her. When she and Calder meet face to face after all those years, things do not go smoothly. Calder is cold and seemingly heartless. Felicity is shocked to hear some of the things he has and hasn’t done since becoming the duke. She takes charge of her life and love when she makes it her mission to find the Calder she loves.

From the onset, Burke makes us aware of the pain Calder has suffered at the hands of his father. It’s not until later on in the story that we find out how cruel the old duke really was. Once Felicity barges into his life again, he has no idea how to handle his emotions. His determination to keep the love and anguish at bay slowly begins to crumble as he gets a taste of what could be. With some helpful words from Bianca and Poppy, a forever friend of a dog, Isis, and the duke’s faithful staff, Felicity finds the man she’s dreamed of since she was eighteen.

Joy to the Duke is an amazing story of love and redemption. It is the perfect way to bring this holiday series to a close with a happily after for all the Stafford siblings. Another plus is that this is a well-rounded story that can be read in just a few short hours. Spend an afternoon curled up with this fabulous read from Darcy Burke.

I received Joy to the Duke for free. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

4 stars

A good story and interesting addition to the Love is all Around series. The author makes us wonder whats has happened to Calder to make him such a scrooge figure. She then introduces the dilemna of a fickle parent. How does a child react when someone is lovely to his siblings but horrible to him and how does this impact on his character and life story.

This story can be read as a standalone but in my opinion is good as a rouding off of the series. I recommend you give it a go!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own

Joy to the Duke was my favorite book in the trilogy. I loved Felicity. She was confident and fearless. I wasn't sure how Darcy Burke was going to make the Duke likable but she succeeded!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

A love torn apart by misunderstanding and conniving leaves Calder Stafford, the Duke of Hartwell a cold and heartless man. When his old love, Felicity Garland, comes back to town she may be the only one able to thaw his heart
A good short story but I prefer Byrne's full length novels, as they pack more steam, but this does well for a holiday read.

This story showcases in eloquent terms, the very definition of love. The self-sacrifices, no returning insult for insult. And it’s so very hard to overcome abuse in any form. The unconditional love given to Calder by Felicity goes above and beyond what most people are willing to give. Yet the author handles a difficult topic so succinctly that this book is not dark or dreary. Instead you become entranced by it and end up rooting for Calder and Felicity throughout the book. What a phenomenal story!
I received an advanced reader copy from NetGalley in exchange for my volunteer review.

Joy to the Duke is a precious second chance romance for the culmination of the Love is All Around series. We have had very negative glimpses of the pain Calder, Duke of Hartwell has endured. Unknown to Calder and his love, Felicity, Calder’s father manipulated them to prevent their marriage. His father was an extremely cruel man when it came to Calder, but not to his sisters.

Felicity, also, believed the lie Calder’s father perpetrated against her. Her family literally moved out of the area to assist in keeping Calder and Felicity apart. Back now to care for her sick mother, their romance takes flight helping them find their HEA. This is a great feel good trilogy for the Christmas season. I loved the way this family fought to stay together.

This is Felicity Garland and Calder Stafford’s story, 3rd in the Love is All Around series; a standalone, happily ever after, no cheating, historical romance with sizzle.
I have to say upfront that Darcy did such a good job of making me dislike Calder in a previous book, that I found it hard to forgive or find any redeeming qualities in this story. I do believe if I hadn’t read the previous story or if the story was read and forgotten, I may have enjoyed his coming around from the dark side.
This has a Christmas Carol feel to the story and Felicity is out to show Calder how to open up his heart, learn to forgive and forget the past and move forward with goodwill, kindness and love. 3.5 stars rounds to a 4.
I look forward to more in this series.
I received an electronic copy of this book through NetGalley for my honest opinion.

Joy to the Duke by Darcy Burke is another in a long line of great reads. Her characters are unique and have depth, both the main characters and the supporting characters. The story takes you through all your emotions. Great story with lots of transformation and growth of the characters!

His father, the duke did not want them to marry and so he forged a letter from his son to Felicity to saay he did not want her. Her father suddenly sold the farm and they moved. Calder has closed himself off from others for a decade. He is the duke now but can't get past the betrayal he thinks happened. Felicity is now in Hartwell though a widow now. She still loves Calder. Can she save him? She will make every effort to do so.

This story had two key elements to it, yes there was the love part, but also another theme running throughout the plot, was the love for family and the different situations that happen in a family, that other relatives have no idea what is going on. I feel that this family theme, kind of took over the whole novel, don't get me wrong it was highly enjoyable and it was a very quick read, but for me I just wanted more depth brought to the romance aspect to the book. I felt like the two main characters could have been explored a lot more, but overall a nice light hearted novel.

They were betrayed in the worst possible way and by none other than their parents.
.Felecity and Calder came face to face and immediately found that the love they had for each other ten years ago was still alive. It is said time heals all wounds, but it took a decade for Calder and Felicity. Although Calder’s feelings have all been frozen for the last ten years, it took a determined lady who still loves him to melt the ice away. This has been a sexy sizzling hot read.

Neglected and mistreated by father, check. Rejected by the woman he loved, check. Mean as a snake, cold as ice, and determined to end the expense along with the joy and fun of Christmas, check. A Christmas Carol is my favorite Christmas story and movie. Calder Stafford is one of the best Scroogie characters I have read in quite a while. Ebenezer would be proud.

His sisters try to understand him and want him to be happy, but Calder won’t let them close. He has nightmares about his past and the woman his father caused him to lose. When his old love returns to town, Felicity Garland becomes all of the ghosts of Christmas in his world. As they talk and the truth come to light, things begin to change. Can Calder and Felicity get beyond the betrayal of the past? Will Calder finally find the happiness denied him, or is it too late? Are we headed toward a happily ever after or a great big Bah Humbug?

Joy to the Duke is a story of forgiveness and reunion. The last story in the series ties everything together in an epilogue that show quite clearly that Love is All Around.

I received an ARC from NetGalley. My review is voluntary.

Joy to the Duke by Darcy Burke is book Three in the Love is All Around Series. This is the story of Felicity Garland and Calder Stafford, the Duke of Hartwell. I have read the previous books which added to my enjoyment of this one, but I feel you can make this a standalone book if you wish to do so. Felicity and Calder where young and in love but they were torn apart. Calder thought that Felicity had chosen money over him and Felicity thought that Calder had turned cold toward her. So Felicity had left Hartwell to go on with her life and ended up marrying someone else who has since past on. Now she is back years later in Hartwell. Felicity has returned to care for her mother which has put her back in the site of Calder. Calder is now a scrooge of a man left harden by his lost love and when he learns she is back in town he seeks to see her.
Loved this second chance at love story.

I had been waiting for Calder’s story for certainly there had to be more behind his actions as shown to us in the earlier stories of his sisters finding their true love, even if Calder didn’t approve. To be frank, I wasn’t expecting to like Calder at all, and he still made that very difficult to do for a good portion of his story – the damage his manipulative father did to this man goes deep, very deep. Yet there were sparks, moments that gave me hope that Felicity could eventually reach the man he once was in spite of what time and circumstances have done to him.

I adored Felicity without a doubt. It didn’t take long to figure out exactly what Calder’s father, and her father in a lesser role, had done to them a decade ago. Felicity was the faster to be willing to let the past go for it does no good to hold on to something that cannot be changed. Calder, however, held on to his belief that he’s no good for her, that his drop into the depths of self-loathing is too deep to climb out of. When in fact – he’s scared. What if it turns out his father was right about him? Maybe love is not meant for him, ever. It will take one determined woman and sisters who love him in spite of himself to finally show Calder what the future is that he could be reaching for if only he’d take the risk and believe in Felicity, to believe in his own worth to make a very kind, loving, good husband for the woman he’s always loved.

I enjoyed JOY TO THE DUKE very much and it brings this series to the perfect conclusion. Seeing Bianca and Poppy again, along with their new husbands was simply icing on this cake. I loved the touch of ‘A Christmas Carol’ dreams for Calder, he needed to be shaken up quite badly. I’ll admit to finally liking Calder and I hope his redemption sticks. Yeah, it’s hard for me to trust in Calder now, and it shows but you should be making up your own mind by reading this story for yourself – you’ll enjoy yourself.

*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley. That does not change what I think of this story. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*

I enjoyed this read. It had the proper amount of Scrooge-like undertones. I’m just happy the duke finally got his HEA. He really deserves to be happy.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Joy to the Duke is the third and final book in the new series Love is All Around. The series is based on the Duke of Harwell (Calder) and his two sisters, Bianca and Poppy. They can be read as a standalone, but they are better if they are read in order. They take place around the Christmas holiday and Calder’s story is based on A Christmas Carol.
Calder is Ebenezer Scrooge in the story. He lost the woman he loved due to his father’s interference and once he gained the title, he quit supporting the things his father loved. He has isolated himself from his sisters and has refused to host the annual St. Stephens Day celebration that the Duke of Harwell’s have hosted for years. He has withdrawn the financial support to the Hartwell House that is a home for women and children.
Widowed Felicity Garland has returned to Hartwell to help her mother and is surprised by Calder’s attitude. She is upset when she learns of their father’s interference in their youth, but she is determined to help him open his heart to the joy of the season and his family.
The book was short but still wonderful. Calder’s attitude in the two previous books was cold and unfeeling and left the reader wondering what had happened in his past to cause him such pain. It was great to finally read his story and see him get his happy ever after.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

As always a nice read from Darcy. We follow up Mr Grump from the previous novels and his love life and what happened with him and his father.
The storyline continues with orphans and women who need homes due to missing husbands for whatever reason and we have a type of Dickens Xmas novel without the ghosts of Christmas Past but lots of Actions of Father’s Past to replace it.
This book really just rounds up the story lines from the previous novels in the series without any more social commentary of the era - except a side of doctors bleeding people when they are very ill which really did no good at all. Doctors were basically, mostly, incompetent and a transmitter of diseases.

Even though this was a novella, it flew really well. I liked the pacing and the characters. This was my first book by the author but certainly will not be my last.

I have deducted a star because the ending felt a little rushed and tied up with a neat little bow. I liked the bow but not at the pace at which everything was brought together.

I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley.