Her Time Traveling Duke by Bryn Donovan (Dec 9, 2025) Thank you, @berkleyromance and @prhaudio for the #gifted digital and audio copies! Last year, I found Her Knight at the Museum absolutely charming (and it sounds like it is being adapted to the screen!) so I was very excited to jump back into this world that is both a magical realism rom-com and a love letter to all that Chicago has to offer!
When Rose Novak, who dabbles in magic and spells, wishes for an old fashioned gentleman, she didn’t anticipate the universe would quite literally pull Henry Leighton-Lyons, the Duke of Beresford through time. She’s familiar with Henry from his portrait at the Art Institute of Chicago (where she works) and this whole situation would have been infinitely more shocking if not for the fact that last year the statue of a knight came to life, fell in love with her best friend, and she just attended their wedding. But, there’s still some serious stuff to figure out: First, when she asked for an old fashioned gentleman to fall in love with, why did the universe send her this infuriating man? Second, how can they get him home? (And third…how not to fall in love with I’m along the way)
I loved last year’s Knight at the Museum for several reasons that made it an excellent rom-com – it was fun, funny, and full of heart. So much so that it has been optioned for the screen! Also, I love books where the author sets them in a city and you can feel that particular city as part of the story. If you love Chicago, you will love these books as the city is such a presence. For this book, it was fun to see Rose and Henry’s relationship evolve, their hijinks, and their tender moments. I loved the twists Donovan put into their love story, with Henry’s unrelenting search for a way to turn back time to reunite with his wife before her death launched him hundreds of years into a future he cannot comprehend but soothes his loneliness in a unique way both with Rose and the unlikely cast of characters at the museum. I’m hoping there will be more in this charming series.
🎧 Audiobook Thoughts: Narrated by Brittany Pressley, who as we all know is an absolute legend, this one is loads of fun on audio! (10 hrs and 31 mins)
Book: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
🎧 Audio performance: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
🔥 Spice: 🌶️🌶️
Book Smart Kate 