I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Her Time Traveling Duke
by Bryn Donovan
Published by Berkley on December 9, 2025
Setting: Chicago, Illinois
Genres: Romantic Fantasy
Pages: 352
Format: Audible Audiobook, Kindle, Paperback
Source: NetGalley
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Get Your Copy at: Amazon
Magic meets science and sunshine meets grumpy when a love spell whisks a Regency-era duke to modern times.
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?
However, Her Time Traveling Duke by Bryn Donovan is about Rose finding love with an unexpected visitor from the past.
Can Rose get Henry back to the past? Or will they fall in love?
Rose Novak
Rose Novak is happy for her best friend’s marriage and wants the same happiness for herself. Except sadly, she isn’t finding anyone who likes Rose for being who she is. Rose works at the museum as one of their social media people, driving people to visit. She is a practicing witch and the reason Henry appears in the present time. Rose is also the reason that her best friend is happily married.
Rose is a great character, and I like her. Although at times she seems a bit unsure of herself and uses a fake persona to hide that from others.
Henry Leighton-Lyons
Henry Leighton-Lyons is taken from the Regency era to the present-day United States as he gets his portrait painted. Well, now that he is in the present day, his portrait is no longer painted, and that spells trouble for Rose and everyone else at the museum again. Henry was a duke and truly in love with his deceased wife. In his past, he had to deal with the prejudice and social limits of the time. In the present time period, he can explore whatever he wants to learn without being ridiculed for it. I like Henry. I think he is a good character.
Five Stars
My rating for Her Time Traveling Duke by Bryn Donovan is four stars. I found some things about this book predictable, since I saw parts of the storyline coming right away. Ms. Donovan did a good job writing this book, and I enjoyed reading the story.
Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of Her Time Traveling Duke by Bryn Donovan.
Until the next time,
Happy Reading!
About Bryn Donovan
Bryn Donovan is an author and a former executive editor in publishing. She earned her MFA in Creative Writing at the University of Arizona, and she’s a freelance book editor at Lucky Author. She lives in the Chicago area with her husband and their rescue dogs, and she blogs about writing and positivity.
Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
- 2026 Goodreads RC
- 2026 Romance Book Reading Challenge
- 2026 Traveling the World
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