William Hart Duke of Ashmore is determined to make up for his disreputable father, repaying for his sins and trying very hard to be as respectable as physically possible. Trouble is that he is trying to hard and has become a bit of a pariah and a joyless grump. His sisters have determined to fix this and insist he takes a holiday off in Cornwall in one of his father's many places. There he meets Madeline Ravenwood who runs her parent's gardening business and who has no time for herself. Between them sparks fly and they find that they can be better people for each other.
It was a fun read with engaging characters that I really did want to succeed and did want to get their happy ever after. ( )

3.75/5 stars!

The hero changed from a carefree person to a grumpy one after he inherited the dukedom from his late father. Due to the deceased parent's debauchery, the hero ended up with a huge responsibility of taking care of the neglect and debts that were left for him to take care of. When his sisters asked him to visit a Cornwall property, the hero agreed and met the heroine. The heroine inherited a gardening business from her late father and went to visit the hero to repair his Cornwall home. They met and they're attracted to each other. As the pair becomes closer, they face obstacles and personal struggles. How will they get their happy ending?

I enjoyed reading this first book in the Love on Holiday series. I liked the couple together and as individuals who are facing changes in their lives. Some of the secondary characters were definitely likable while there were a few that are tolerable but necessary to the story. The story may also drag a bit in certain parts, and it really needed more details in other parts of the story. But overall, it's a nice beginning to the series and I look forward to reading more Christy Carlyle books in the future.

**Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the review copy. All opinions and thoughts in the review are my own.** ( )

Barbara’s rating: 4.5 of 5 stars
Series: Love On Holiday #1
Publication Date: 12/28/21
Period: Victorian – Haven Cove (A lovely fictitious seaside town)
Number of Pages: 384

Madeline Ravenwood and William Hart, the Duke of Ashmore have both forgotten what they really want to do in life. Neither really knows how to enjoy themselves – how to have joy in their lives. It seems duty and responsibility have supplanted those things and turned one of them into a dour old grump and the other into a chronic joiner of committees and causes.

Maddie’s parents married for love and her mother always told Maddie to do the same. Maddie, however, knows she’ll never marry. What man would want a spinster who is independent and quite competent at running the business she inherited from her parents. Moreover, a man would either want to take over the business or sell it. He definitely wouldn’t want her involved in it. No, it is best she remains a spinster and runs the business her parents worked so hard to create. Never mind that that business, as her father designed it, doesn’t bring her joy or happiness. Ah, well, she still carves out time to propagate her roses and will even be entering one in the upcoming festival.

Will’s parents were the opposite of Maddie’s. His father was a lecherous cheat and thief who would take advantage of anything or anyone for his own pleasure. His many infidelities and bacchanals even led to Will’s mother’s death, and to say that Will despises and reviles everything Stanwick Hart stood for doesn’t even begin to cover the depth of his feelings. Since assuming the title, Will has spent every waking moment uncovering his father’s misdeeds and making amends where he can. No, Will is absolutely nothing like his father and he goes to great pains to show it. For his trouble, the ton has reviled and labeled him as heartless and uncaring.

Will’s youngest sister, Daisy, is engaged and she and their other sister, Cora, don’t want Will underfoot for the big engagement ball. So, they convince him to take a ‘vacation’ to Carnwyth. That just happens to be the one property Will never wants to visit because his father purchased it and made it into a scandalous place where he held weeks-long parties with like-minded men and women. The decorations were scandalously done and Will could hardly bring himself to go there. But then, on his way to the property, he encounters Miss Ravenwood. He’d met her very briefly, several months earlier – she had overheard his fiancé breaking their engagement. Not that she meant to – there was just no way around it. Even though they hardly spoke at all, Will had never forgotten her. (She hadn’t forgotten him either.)

I thoroughly enjoyed seeing Will and Maddie come to realize that there was absolutely nothing wrong with being happy, with pursuing the things you loved. I loved that the story was straightforward with no angst, no secrets, no impediments at all to keep Will and Maddie apart – well, other than themselves. The story had some of the most likable characters you’ll ever read and you’ll definitely find yourself cheering them on. The writing is excellent and the pacing is just right. I think my only complaint about the whole book is the way his sisters treated him. It just wasn’t right and I think the writer could have accomplished the same thing without the sisters – Cora in particular – letting him know, in no uncertain terms, that he wasn’t welcome at the engagement party – for which he had paid. This man had saved the family from financial ruin, repaired their reputations, assured his sisters were well dowered and secure – and they ask him to leave the biggest celebration of their lives. No – I didn’t like that part at all, and that is why I deducted a half star from my rating.

I can definitely recommend the book and hope you will enjoy it as much as I did. It might be one of my favorite books this year.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. ( )