From a New York Times bestselling author: Secrets and scandal abound when two strong-willed opposites are snowbound together in this witty, heartwarming romance! As the daughter of a duke, Lady Isabelle’s pristine reputation is paramount. Her high status is how she’ll attract the titled suitor her mother insists she wed. When Belle’s chaperone falls ill en route to a party, she must pose as an … route to a party, she must pose as an independent widow to avoid gossip. Why not have a wee innocent flirtation with a handsome tailor staying at the same inn? She’ll be gone in the morning…
A sudden blizzard upends Calvin McAlistair’s plans when he’s snowbound at a posting-house. He has no time to play lady’s maid to the helpless beauty next door, no matter how much he enjoys unbuttoning the straitlaced widow. His future depends on impressing an important investor… who will ruin them both once they realize Calvin has spent a scandalous fortnight with Lady Isabelle!
The 12 Dukes of Christmas is a series of heartwarming Regency romps nestled in a picturesque snow-covered village. Twelve delightful romances… and plenty of delicious dukes!
~~~
The Twelve Dukes of Christmas:
- Once Upon a Duke
- Kiss of a Duke
- Wish Upon a Duke
- Never Say Duke
- Dukes, Actually
- The Duke’s Bride
- The Duke’s Embrace
- The Duke’s Desire
- Dawn with a Duke
- One Night with a Duke
- Ten Days with a Duke
- Forever Your Duke
more
These stories are just so adorable. Belle is a lady with great aspirations and dreams. Calvin is totally focused on achieving his dream. This story mostly takes place outside of Christmas but involves the characters on a trip there. It has all the vibrancy we have come to expect with the wit and fun. Belle and Calvin make a charming pair that are perfectly matched. Seeing her tackle the Duke is the best part of this story.
I absolutely LOVED Dawn with a Duke! Belle is exquisite, talented, sweet, and smart. Calvin is glorious, adorable, brilliant, and dedicated. Did they really think they could get away with playing with fire? Even though a happily ever after ending was expected, the final twists were fabulous!
Erica Ridley has a way of writing playful, whimsical stories that make you feel as if you are one with the characters. This book does not disappoint. Dawn with a Duke is the ninth book in the 12 Dukes of Christmas series and each book can be read as a stand alone. This book is the story of Lady Isabella, the sister of the Duke of Nottingvale. On the way to the town of Cressmouth, Lady Isabella’s maid falls ill so they have to stop at the town of Houville. There Lady Isabella pretends to be a widow for propriety’s sake since she doesn’t have a chaperone. She meets Calvin McAlistair in the dining room and finds that he is in the room next to her. When she learns that she can’t make it without a ladies maid she hires him to button and unbutton her gowns for her. The situation is comical with Lady Isabella running next door to get buttoned and unbuttoned. This is such a great book, I just couldn’t put it down. I would definitely recommend it and all of the books in the series.
The ninth book in the 12 Dukes of Christmas series a well written story with a very good storyline the story flowed smoothly across the pages. Lady Isabelle and Calvin McAlistair’s story of two people falling in love but keeping secrets from each other. I want to read more in this series. A story that was well worth reading.
What a charming and delightful story. Lady Isabelle Borland is the daughter and sister of a Duke. She is on her way to Christmas. Her brother is having a huge party in a week or two, she wants to spend the time with her best friend before it happens. Her maid is sick and the snow is getting unpassable.
They are forced to stay at the next inn. It is a modest inn but the people are accommodating and she has no choice.
Calvin McAlistair is a tailor and he and his friend Jonathan McLean have a scheme to supply nice, quality clothes to the middle class for a fraction of the cost the Ton pays. They have a catalog and mail or take the clothing to you, quite ingenious. He and Belle end up staying at the same inn. She had to share a table with him, they get to talking. Their rooms are next to each other and her maid is downstairs in the sick room so she needs some to help with her buttons.
I loved the story and thought the characters were marvelous. The author is great and I have never been disappointed with any of her books. I wasn’t with this either. It was lighthearted, witty and they worked so well together. The big problem that Belle saw, was her brother and mother, they would not allow her to marry a commoner. There were a few surprises but they just enhanced the tale and kept your interest up. It did get a little steamy but was well written and so easy to read and flowed evenly. I highly recommend this wonderful book.
I received this ARC from the author and voluntarily reviewed it.
Another brilliantly written story
This is another brilliantly written story in a series that has plots that keep you gripped right to the end. The characters are beautifully portrayed, and crafted with a strength to overcome their problems. This is a great book for all those that love steamy historical romances.
This is the ninth book of Ms. Ridley’s amazing 12 Dukes of Christmas series.
I am totally in love with this series! I have slowly been filling up my library with Ms. Ridley’s books and I couldn’t be happier. All her books provide romance, wit, humor, and a high level of entertainment. Of course, this book was no different. In this delightful story, Lady Isabella, sister of the Duke of Nottingvale, ends up stranded in an inn due to a snowstorm. Calvin is also stranded in the same inn. Calvin and Isabella develop a connection while stranded together, however, when Isabella’s true identity is found out, will their love have a chance to grow and blossom? Isabella’s and Calvin’s characters were very likable and endearing and you can’t help but fall in love with them and root for them. The dialogue was witty and entertaining and the overall storyline was captivating. Definitely loved this book and am eager to read the next one!
I received an advanced reader’s copy via Netgalley and am voluntarily leaving my review.
Two people who enjoy their own company are next door neighbors at an inn during a snow storm. The gentleman next door is in trade. Belle is the sister of a Duke, but pretends to be a widow. With her maid sick, Belle needs help with her buttons. The gentleman next door comes to her aid. A connection builds between them and they fall in love. After Belle reveals her true identity, is she willing to fight for what she really wants? I really enjoyed the perfect ending.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book.
I love all of Erica Ridley’s books and this one did not disappoint at all! The wonderful atmosphere of Christmas and a horrible blizzard all contributed this cute, Christmas romance. I loved the characters as they seemed more realistic, and Erica Ridley never fails to make her books historically accurate. I really loved the romance as it was sweet yet steamy but so swoon-worthy. The writing sucked you in and really made you feel happy inside. There also charming wit that added to this and made me laugh a couple times. This was definitely a fun, sweet romance read and would recommend this to anyone who wants a good romance with great characters, swoon-worthy romance, and a bit of wit!
Excellent romantic story of a young lady coming into her own. After years of oppression to live up to her family name, reputation was everything. Her mother convinced her love was not for her but her duty was to marry well and make political connections. With her maid ill and stuck at an inn Belle met Calvin. He was a talented tailor. He could design everything from a woman’s wardrobe to a man’s three-piece suit with all the trimmings. Currently his eyes were on the common man’s market. Those who wanted to look like a duke but could not afford to. He would make it possible. During the last fortnight both of them were stuck at the inn due to a snow storm. The most important thing was that Belle was with someone who appreciated her for herself. Calvin and Belle worked together as he designed the clothes and she painted the sketches. A perfect pair. But when the snow cleared reality burst their bubble. Calvin wanted forever but Belle still felt stuck with her mother’s voice in her ear telling her to be a dutiful daughter and biddable. Little did they know that was not the last time they would meet. What happens when her brother the Duke finds out about them? He is the investor Calvin and his partner Jonathan wanted to impress. Calvin was afraid things would go down the drain if the Duke knew about, he and his sister. An excellent romance. The characters were different from each other and realistic. I loved the buildup of their romance from strangers to friendship to more. This is a wonderful read and I do recommend it.
I received an Advanced Readers Copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I love Erica Ridley! This book started off a little slowly for me, but it picked up around the 20% mark. I enjoyed the premise of a duke’s daughter snowbound at an inn without the services of her lady’s maid, unable to do the simplest things like dress or style her hair on her own. And pairing her up with a tradesman trying to start a ready-to-wear men’s clothing business was genius. Ridley is brilliant at using details to bring the story to life. A light, fun read that I’m happy to recommend.
Thanks, Netgalley, for the free ARC.
I usually read five books a week, mostly historical romance, so there isn’t much that could surprise me. This book did. Is amazing, so sweet and romantic. I couldn’t put it down. The heroine is the sister of a Duke raised to be a lady 24/7. The hero is creating a line of already made men clothes for selling to people that are not from the ton but they need to dress as if they were, but cheaper. They find themselves trapped in an inn and everything is possible.
For all the romantic souls out there. Don’t miss this one.
I received an ARC of this book and all the opinions are my own.
Lady Isabelle is the daughter of a Duke. She’s shackled by her family and their demands. When she must stop at a Inn, she’s forced to posed as a widow. She doesn’t have any choice, her chaperone is ill. Little does she know that a blizzard will change her life forever. Here she meets Calvin McAlistair, a fellow traveler. Since their rooms are adjacent, he agrees to undo her gowns. They grow to be friends and Isabelle becomes the illustrator for his creations. It was nice to see Isabelle grow and want freedom. I hated her to sacrifice her happiness to please others. Calvin is wary of letting her into his life. He’s lost people he’s cared about before and he doesn’t want to take risk his heart. I couldn’t blame him. He’s on the threshold of achieving his dream. However, life has surprises for these two. Even though they are from different social classes, they are perfect together. They are both so talented and creative. The truth devastates Calvin. Will the Lady fight for her chance to be happy? Will Cressmouth work its magic? I hoped so. Erica Ridley wrote an entertaining romance that made me smile which is what I needed.
I received a copy of this book which I voluntarily read and reviewed. My comments are my honest opinion.
Lady Isabelle Borland traveled with her maid, Ursula, to Cressmouth, a city also known as Christmas, for the Yulitide party that her brother, the Duke of Nottingvale offered every winter.
Unfortunately, along the way Ursula was very ill, and Isabelle thought it would be better to stop at an inn so that the maid could rest and be examined by a doctor.
The last stop before Cressmouth was Houville, Hoot & Holly inn.
Upon arriving there the discovery was frightening. There was a wave of influenza around the place and many other people were sick, including some employees of the inn. This meant that the place was overcrowded and the service was precarious.
Even so, Isabelle managed to get the last available room.
The cafeteria, also packed, she had no alternative but to share a table with a stranger.
In order not to damage her reputation, she began to introduce herself as Mrs. Lépine, a widow.
The gentleman was Calvin McAlistair. He had no title. In fact, he was on his way to Cressmouth for a business meeting with his partner, Jonathan MacLean, and a future investor to the work Calvin had been working on for months.
Calvin was a tailor. He learned the trade from his mother, a famous seamstress in London. He did not think to be another tailor for the noble and very wealthy people, who already had their favorite tailors. He wanted to sell clothes to the common people, but with the same quality as if it were custom-made. The label would be called “Fit for a Duke”.
“And what do you deserve? Should you not gain recognition for your efforts in addition to financial compensation and the joy of sharing your work?”
“I don’t care what about people think of me. I’m trying to improve how they see each other. I want to give them the means to full confident and fashionable, even if they’re spending the evening at home with a book and a cat.”
After the first pleasant conversation, Belle and Calvin discovered that they were staying in neighboring rooms. But he was not there to distract himself, even though that widow was extremely beautiful.
However, Belle encountered an obstacle: her dresses.
In the absence of her maid, she had no way of removing the buttons on the back of her clothes, and there was no innkeeper available to help her. It was then, when she made a different proposal to Calvin…
From this business arrangement that the two started to make, Belle got to know Calvin’s work, and offered to paint the sketches made by Jonathan, which would be presented to the investor.
And from those visits to Calvin’s room to work, the first kisses came.
A storm caused them to stay at the inn for more days than planned, and the feelings between them grow.
Calvin discovered that Belle was not only an excellent water colorist, but her drawings were like a dream. She had the desire to publish them in a book (but how could she, being Duke’s daughter and sister?)
The day before their last night, she finally found out who Calvin’s investor would be, and decided that she deserved to have a worthy farewell… and they had a night far beyond kissing.
The next day, the truth.
Calvin felt doubly deceived, not only because she was not a widow, but also because she was the sister of a duke. Their lives were not made to cross, much less to fall in love, but who could give orders to the heart?
Calvin had a life plan to go on (and he hoped from the bottom of his heart that he wouldn’t go bankrupt before he even started), and Belle had a princess life to live.
How could they be a couple with a world of differences between them?
“Don’t wait for a hero. Be one.”
4 stars
I adored the humor in this story, and the utter sweetness of the connection between Belle and Calvin. I was so happy to have a working man as a hero in a regency! I loved that Calvin is a tailor and so dedicated to his craft. All the little fashion and fabric details throughout the story were an absolute joy. Belle is a wonderful character as well, very easy to relate too, maybe because she is not the typically feisty heroine or an overt rebel, but still she stands up for herself, at long last, and it was glorious! I also liked Ursula very much, we didn’t get to see a lot of her, but she still made quite the impression as a loyal and supportive friend. I wouldn’t mind seeing her get a HEA herself. Our two main characters carry the story very well, not easy, as they have almost no interactions with other characters throughout the main part of the story.
Most of this ninth book in the 12 Dukes of Christmas series, unlike its predecessors, mainly does not take place in the town of Cressmouth, aka Christmas. Unlike many of the other books, this one actually takes place at Christmastime. Lady Isabelle and her maid become snowbound on their way to her brother, the Duke of Nottingvale’s annual Yuletide party. Unfortunately, her maid becomes ill and needs to be isolated with others who are also sick. This leaves Belle on her own for the first time in her life so she claims to be a widow to save her reputation. Calvin McAlistair has been staying at the same inn working on a proposal for none other than Belle’s brother. Of course, neither is aware of that fact. Circumstances draw them together, finding them enjoying each others company and becoming a little more than friends. To say much else would give away too much and i don’t like to write spoilers. One of the best things about this series is discovering who or what the duke is in the book. Erica Ridley never disappoints with her tales. They are a delight to read. I received this eBook from NetGalley for an honest review.
‘Dawn with a Duke‘ is the ninth story in the ‘12 Dukes of Christmas‘ series. Although I’ve purchased the previous titles (in a binge-buying spree), frankly time got away from me before I could read them prior to this release. So, it’s a good thing these are Christmas themed stories for I can get caught up easily over the next few weeks. It’s also a good indicator to me (one who tries to read series in order) that this title could be read and completely enjoyed on its own, which makes me believe the earlier ones could be read that way as well.
Most of what you’d want to know before picking up this title can be found in the Cover Description. What can’t be felt there is the utter rightness of these two people being together, slowly falling in love in spite of their differences, or finding a way to make sure that love lasts a lifetime – no matter what life or society tossed their way. I liked Belle and Calvin so much. Yes, there is a feel of steamy chemistry between them, yet there is also the feeling of a slow burn, a getting to know each other through those quiet moments, a sense that they are exactly what the other needs in their lives.
I had an excellent time in this world, which only makes me want to start a binge-reading of the earlier titles immediately. If you love a really good romance with believable people in unusual circumstances then you’ll want to pick up ‘Dawn with a Duke‘ right now.
*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley. That does not change what I think of this story. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*
When a snow storm and a sick maid leave Lady Isabelle stranded at a posting house on her way to a Christmas party, she poses as a widow to avoid all gossip. She didn’t plan on meeting Calvin McAlistair and he didn’t plan on meeting her. Calvin is trying to get the last bits of his business proposal worked out and cannot afford the distraction.
Dawn with a Duke is a super cute, sweet and quick read with a little bit of humor. I liked that Calvin was “average” and that Lady Isabelle was the one to make a grand gesture. I’ve really enjoyed the slightly interconnected series. Definitely recommend especially if you’re short on time and want or just love Christmas and regency. Excited to see where the next story goes.
I’ve read most of the books in this charming series by Erica Ridley, but it doesn’t matter if you haven’t read any of them; you could absolutely pick up here and thoroughly enjoy it, because they’re all standalone. In this one, Lady Isabella, sister of the Duke of Nottingvale, has to interrupt her journey to Cressmouth when her maid and dear friend falls ill. Snowbound in an inn with no maid to help her out, Bella rather desperately asks a gentleman for assistance.
Tailor Calvin MacAlistair has grand plans to launch a line of ready-to-wear fashion for aspiring gentlemen and no time to pamper ladies who can’t manage to undo their own buttons. Except you can’t really leave a lady trapped in a gown, can you? And once they start talking, they discover they rather like each other… and might just be able to help the other one out.
Things go wrong when Bella discovers Calvin is seeking her brother’s patronage, but by then it’s rather too late to guard their hearts. Bella has to decide what she wants out of life, if she’s willing to let her mother and brother dictate the mold she is to fit herself into, or if she is willing to step outside those bounds and follow her heart.
This is an absolutely delightful series and this might be one of my favourites yet. I really enjoyed Bella getting to make her own decision and having agency; while Calvin provided a pathway for her, she was the one who seized it with both hands. Five stars for a thoroughly enjoyable read.
Disclaimer: I received a review copy of this title via NetGalley.
It is imperative that, as the daughter and sister of a duke, Lady Isabelle maintain a sterling reputation so she can marry well and finally earn her mother’s approval. But when she’s snowed in at a posting inn and left unchaperoned when her maid falls ill, Lady Isabelle claims to be a widow to avoid any scandal. And while she’s an anonymous widow, there’s no harm in indulging in a bit of a flirtation with the handsome tailor in the neighboring room.
Even snowed in Calvin McAllistair has plenty of work to do and no time for buttoning and unbuttoning the proper, but rather helpless, widow next door. He certainly shouldn’t be flirting with her. He needs to focus on wooing an investor to secure his business and therefore his future, all of which could be ruined when he learns his beloved Belle is actually sister to the very duke whose investment is so vital to Calvin’s plans.
This was a quick and enjoyable read. My only complaint was the fact that Isabelle’s near constant reiteration of her need to keep her reputation unsullied and do her duty to her family got really old and repetitive very quickly. However, that annoyance did make it all the more satisfying when Belle finally decided to stand up for herself and what she wanted rather than just going along with her family’s wishes. Thankfully, her maid had a good head on her shoulders and was able to make Belle see sense. That bit of development, along with Calvin’s adorable social awkwardness made this worth the read and I look forward to the next book.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.