Review - - Her Time Traveling Duke

Her Time Traveling Duke

by Bryn Donovan

Publisher: Berkley

Release Date: December 9, 2025

Reviewed by Hellie

Rose Novak, a free-spirited museum employee who dabbles in magic, has had her share of disappointments. So when she tries a little spell for a romance with an “old-fashioned gentleman,” she doesn’t really expect it to work…especially literally. And yet, the duke from a painting she admired at the museum is now standing in her apartment, demanding to know who abducted him.

A man of science and truth, Henry Leighton-Lyons, the Duke of Beresford, has searched tirelessly for a way to turn back time and be with his late wife again. Instead, just as he’s about to pose for his portrait, he’s ripped centuries forward by a feckless, scantily dressed—and utterly bewitching—woman who believes in nonsense like magical crystals and astrology.

Unable to immediately reverse her spell, Rose vows to help Henry return to his own century, even though disguises and high jinks are required to get their hands on an enchanted astrolabe and master the art of time travel. But it’s hard not to fall for the irritable yet honorable duke.

Little does she know that he’s starting to wonder: did a reckless love spell get it right, after all?

Hellie’s Heeds:

I snatched up this frothy feel-good book after having had the opportunity to read Donovan’s debut, Her Knight at the Museum (November 2024), and it did not disappoint. For fans who loved the swoony rom-com, Kate & Leopold, as well as for those of us who wish we could bring the real Mr. Darcy into the modern-era to bypass all those Tinder ads–this is wish-fulfillment at its finest. 

Tropes: Grumpy and Sunshine, also Mr. Rational Science Guy with Miss “I Perform Magic in my Nightie while Sipping Chardonnay" and a little Marvel Universe hilarity with a secondary character named Jason, who I would love to know more about in future books–and I hope there is more time-traveling books to come–or even a time-traveling damsel for Jason–that’d be fun. If you read the first book, you get to meet up with some beloved characters there as well, but you don’t need to have read the first one to enjoy this one. (There are other secondary characters that I wouldn’t mind learning more about–but Jason really stands out.) 

I have to hand it to Ms. Donovan–she had me scared. There was a Black Moment where the hero really futzed it up and I thought, “Oh, my girlfriend is not going to get over this! What was he doing?” But fortunately–ruining it for all of you–they work it out. You’ll have to read it to see how though. 

I took this book with me on a trip–and I was supposed to go and look at art museums and eat out in a big city–and I refused to leave my hotel room so I could keep reading it. It makes you forget whatever is happening outside of you–which is the best recommendation I can have about a book. My husband would return from work and I’d be like, “Listen, listen, I’m going to let you talk about your terrible day, but isn’t this the funniest thing you ever heard?” and would read a scene to him. And it did make his day a little better. And I had the best vacation, staying in the hotel, in bed with this delicious novel. (I also recommend a chocolate bar–that also upped the experience too.)

I’m recommending this to all my rom-com readers this holiday season. Please rush out and put it on your last minute stocking stuffer because once the presents have been torn through, you deserve a little me-time to dream about stuffy dukes from England and modern day wallflowers who deserve a happily ever after.

Review & Giveaway - - Her Knight at the Museum

Her Knight at the Museum

by Bryn Donovan

Publisher: Berkley

Release Date: November 12, 2024

Reviewed by Hellie

 

Forgotten by time and abandoned by hope, Sir Griffin de Beauford’s existence stretches out before him. Cursed by a ruthless enchanter to see, hear, and think, but never to move or speak, Griffin suffers the long, lonely centuries trapped in stone…until an unexpected kiss from a fair maiden breathes new life into his soul—and his body.

Emily Porter, a recently divorced conservator at the Art Institute of Chicago, is charged with the restoration of a statue of a medieval English knight. Breaking curses was not part of the job description. And yet, here he is, the man of her dreams come to life, resplendent in shining armor as he joyously barrels into priceless antiquities...and goes on to dismantle her defenses, wreak havoc on her senses, and tempt her to believe once more in happy-ever-afters.

But the modern age tries Griffin’s patience and pride, and Emily is a prime suspect in the investigation of the missing sculpture. In a complicated world, can they find their way to a fairy-tale ending?

Hellie’s Heeds

A true romantasy rom-com, Her Knight at the Museum will tick your boxes if you’re in the mood for a swoonworthy hero (who talks in complete sentences), comical hijinks, and sexy love scenes that you may want to dogear for later. The last time a knight statue came to life and stole my heart, it was A Knight in Shining Armor, which also featured a swoonworthy hero and comical hijicks–but I do have to say, I do prefer this ending to the more realistic ending that Deveraux gave us. After all, if I found a guy like Sir Griffin, I would want to keep him. 

For me, while the story was very lovely, I did have a habit of putting it down and being distracted by other things. While I have longed for a pure rom-com for ages–and I’m so grateful for Ms. Donovan’s book–at the same time, it can be a little difficult to just lose myself in the fantasy when I’m also thinking, “Aren’t they rushing into bed together? In this era? I mean, you don’t even know if he’s lactose intolerant.” Obviously these were my issues. Never mind that the premise that he is a cursed medieval man who wakes up from stone, like some sort of Snow White, and doesn’t immediately die from the flu due to his naked immune system struck me as far-fetched. Yep, his immune system was the far-fetched part for me. These occasional thoughts would distract me from the book and I would just watch episodes of murder mysteries for the satisfaction of a solved case in 42 minutes. I don’t think this is the fault of the writer or the story–I just think sometimes stories resonate with us more during different seasons of our lives. There have been books I’ve read decades ago I didn’t care for, but read again later and was blown away–and vice versa. 

The first hasty love scene aside, the later scenes were very hot and steamy…and distracting. So if you like your sex scenes more steamy–I would say this is moderately spicy. Rom-com spicy. I also loved when they toured the art museum together and she showed him some Andy Warhol paintings (which is the inspiration of her dog’s name) and I had to laugh when Sir Griffin immediately announced the pieces were hideous. Right there with you, big guy. I do not appreciate modern contemporary art. The chemistry between Emily and Griffin felt real and sweet–I was rooting for them the whole time. Even while I was wishing she would hold back a little until she made sure he wasn’t allergic to cheese. Or vegan. (I mean those are the things that can break a relationship. I mean, too late for me–my knight in shining armor hates peanut butter, though it does benefit me in that I get all the peanut butter cups to myself. Hmm, maybe it’s not so bad.) 

I love the job that Griffin ends up getting in the 21st century–and the scene for his job interview was particularly diverting. I’m also curious about Emily’s boss, Jason, and wondering if he is featured in other books or if there will be more connected books–which I think would be very fascinating. All in all, I recommend this book for a frothy, fun rom-com with a dashing hero, a relatable heroine, and secondary characters (shout out to you, Rose!) that steal every scene they are in. Romance authors are the true heroes out there–I’m grateful for all of them. Sign me up for the next Donovan rom-com–I hope it’s just as magical.

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Have you read Bryn Donovan yet?

How do you feel about statues coming to life in your romances? Yay? Nay?

If you could conjure a real-life hero from a trip to the museum, from which era would he hail?

One randomly chosen person posting a comment before 11:00 PM, November 20 will receive a print copy of Her Knight at the Museum.

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*Must be 18