Book Review: An Historical Holiday Duet

If you’re not quite ready to let go of the holidays just yet, I have one last holiday duet of novellas for you. A few weeks ago Clyve Rose reached out to me and asked if I’d like to read An Historical Holiday Duet, which features a novella in her Clifton Hall series called A Holiday Season at Clifton Hall and a novella by Heather Hallman called Seduction of Tokyo which is part of her Tokyo Whispers series. Of course, I said yes and I just finished the novellas yesterday!

A Holiday Season at Clifton Hall

I’ve read Clyve’s other books in her Clifton Hall series and loved them (Always a Princess and The King’s Mistress) so I was excited to read this novella. This novella follows Chal, the younger brother of Syeira and Valkin, and his betrothed, Stari. Stari is also Romany and marrying into the more prominent Brishen house (Chal’s older brother, Valkin, is the Romany king). Their betrothal has been long with Stari’s father and Brishen house going back and forth about the bride price. But they are finally to be wed on Christmas Eve. That is, until Stari gets accused of stealing from a vendor at the market and is arrested. It is well known that Romany who are arrested are always hanged. Now is up to Chal and his family, including his brother-in-law Wil, who is the younger brother to a influential Duke, and his sister-in-law Lydia, who is the sister of the Duke, to save Stari so they can get married.

I really enjoyed this novella and loved seeing beloved characters from the previous two books again! I really liked Chal and Stari and reading their inner monologues and how much they both wanted to be with the other and couldn’t wait to be married to each other. I also predicted who would be the love interest in the upcoming 3rd novel in the series about Wil and Lydia’s older brother, which was confirmed with the excerpt, and I’m excited for that!

Seduction of Tokyo

I’ve never read anything by Heather Hallman so this story, while it is a novella in her established Tokyo Whispers series, can be read as a standalone. The novel takes place in Tokyo in the early 1900s and follows a few characters – Pierce Roth, Kiyo Iwai, and Euphemia Lyons. Pierce is a banker, Kiyo is a bookkeeper for him and his business partner, and Euphemia is an American socialite who is a long time friend of Pierce and is expecting a Christmas proposal from him especially after they were intimate once. However, Pierce does not see a future with Effie and he secretly has feelings for Kiyo. Kiyo also secretly has feelings for Pierce, but knows he’s expected to marry Effie. When Kiyo decides she can no longer work for Pierce for her own emotional well-being she resigns with her last day being Christmas Eve. Distraught, Pierce will do anything to keep Kiyo in his life.

I really enjoyed it this novella and am now intrigued in this series and this whole world of characters!

Read these novellas if you want steamy/spicy historical Christmas romances. You can read these novellas now if you’re still in the holiday vibes, this spring if you want something Christmas-y, or add it to your tbr for next holiday season!

*I was sent this book complimentary, but all opinions are my own. This post contains affiliate links.*