Thank you to my partners at @avonbooks and @harperaudio for the #gifted copies. 

 

Two grumps.  Not enough sunshine.

 

Duke Actually was my favorite holiday read last year.  It was full of magic and atmosphere and sparks.  So I went into this one with high expectations.  

 

And there were parts of this novel that charmed me.  Once I got past our main characters’ rough exteriors, I was reminded of the magic Eldovia holds, even on the gruffest.  

 

Yet the allure wasn’t as strong as in Duke Actually.  I liked this one.  But I had hoped to fall head over heals for another Eldovian couple.  And that wasn’t to be.