For December, Forget Wrapping Presents And Treat Yourself To These 3 Romances

If you need an escape from the holiday whirlwind, these three romance novels — featuring a duke with an epic library, a young girl finding herself in the big city and a proper lady finding love where she least expects it — won't disappoint. Forget the shopping and holiday prep and treat yourself to these happily-ever-afters.

Those who prefer their historical by Grace Burrows. Julian St. David, Duke of Haverford, is up to his eyeballs in debt, thanks to ancestors who spent the family fortune acquiring a library of 30,000 books. He ought to wed an heiress, and his sister requires a match as well, so they host a house party at their castle in Wales. As one does. It is here that he meets Elizabeth Windham — a kind, intelligent, passionate and woman a bit too long on the shelf. She is the duchess he needs and the duchess he wants, but barriers to their match seem insurmountable — namely, his integrity and stubborn refusal to let her pay his debts to a nefarious neighbor (who Elizabeth fabulously and puts in his place); he believes she can do better than a penniless husband. While Elizabeth and the duke realize their love and passion for each other relatively early in the house party — and thoroughly enjoy their time together — you wonder just what sacrifices they'll have to make in order to live happily ever after (and also what fate will befall those 30,000 books!).