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!
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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
Dawn with a Duke by Erica Ridley was just a delight to read. Out of all the 12 Dukes of Christmas, this one is by far my favorite. Thank you to the author and publisher for the book through NetGalley for this copy. This review is my own opinion.
Lady Isabelle is snowbound at an inn. She in on her way to her brothers home in Cressmouth where she will spend Christmas. She is stuck at the inn along with her sick maid. She meets Calvin McAlistair who is also stuck at the inn. He is a tailor preparing a presentation to a Duke residing at Cressmouth. Turns out the Duke he is supposed to meet is none other than Lady Isabelle’s brother.
This fun book has a snowstorm, paintings, tailoring, sick maids and lots of fun. It is definitely worth the read.
Dawn with a Duke is another winning historical romance that turns the genre on its head as a Lady finds love with a common man. Lady Isabelle always seems to be on the outside looking in as her mother’s rules for what a Duke’s sister will and won’t do seem to stifle all the things that she enjoy. An ill maid/chaperone leaves Belle unattended at a posting-house. To protect her impeccable reputation, Belle pretends to be a wealthy widow. Calvin McAlistair is not good with social graces or people in general, preferring his own company. A tailor by trade with big plans for his future that rely on a Duke for backing, Calvin never planned to fall for a wealthy widow who cannot seem to fend for herself but love has other plans. Sweet with unconventional characters, the story brings smiles and happiness for a feel good read with a memorable HEA that will leave you coming back for more of the 12 Dukes of Christmas series by one of my favorite writers of historical romance. My voluntary, unbiased review is based upon a review copy from Netgalley.
This was a very enjoyable read and a great new addition to this series. Belle and Calvin’s story was a entertaining blend of sweetness, humor, emotion, drama and heart. Calvin was 5 star book boyfriend winner that will have you totally wishing he available in the real world just on the hopes you could get a chance with him! As for Belle, I liked her but I so wish that chosen to be honest before push came to shove. Despite that though, I felt that this was a really good read that had a couple you couldn’t help but fall in love with. This is my independent, impartial review.
I loved the setting for this novel and how the hero and heroine met. It was a situation I had not thought about before and it was so interesting. I’m looking forward to the rest of the 12 Dukes of Christmas series!
Emotionally thrilling roller-coaster adventure filled with engaging charters, interesting dialog, heart racing twists, exciting turns and passion. Really enjoyed this edge of your seat witty and fun adventure. Great reading!
Cute, quick read.
What I liked:
The writing style
The characters
Part of a series: 12 Dukes of Christmas
Standalone
HEA
Epilogue
I look forward to reading the next book in this series.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC.
I have been reading this series for quite a while. This new installment tells the story of Lady Isabella and Calvin.
Lady Isabella is the sister of the Duke. Although her brother is relatively kind, Izabella has always been treated like an odd bird and taken advantage of in that she was the one who was made to be responsible for the all of houses and all of the events that were part of the dukedom. Isabella is very smart but was always stifled by her family and society in general. Her lifelong best friend is the child of a servant, who now acts as her maid. Isabella isn’t a gifted painter but as a woman, she isn’t supposed to do such things for public show. Her maid sells her work for her under a male pseudonym.
Calvin grew up a the son of a famous modeste. He learned design watching in his mother’s shop. His mother was not supportive but her seamstresses were. They taught Calvin and he became quite skilled. He inherited his mother’s shop upon her death but clients were not accepting of a male designer. Calvin and his partner are about to make their big break with ready to wear versions of the clothing worn by the bon ton. All he has to do is finish up the sample pieces to present to their investor. He is staying at a roadhouse until their appointment.
Bella is traveling with her maid to Christmas Mountain for the holidays when her maid becomes ill. That and a snowstorm leave them stranded at the roadhouse for 2 weeks. Alone because of her maid’s illness, Bella takes on a pseudonym to protect her identity and her reputation. On her first night, she meets Calvin. A relationship develops but when it comes time to leave and Isabella tells Calvin who she really is, he is livid.
Will Bella be able to repair their relationship when they meet at Christmas Mountain and will Bella finally be able to be who she really is?
This is a sweet story of two people who are fighting to be able to be themselves. Although it is part of a series, it can be read as a standalone.
A delightful romance to savor and enjoy filled with witty dialogue and amazing characters as Erica Ridley so artfully pens!
On her way to Cressmouth and Marlow Castle with her mail Ursula, Lady Isabelle is force to stop and take refuge at the Inn due to Ursula’s sickness. Posing as widow, Mrs. Lepine due to her being the daughter of a Duke, Belle tries to make the best of things until the can get to her brother’s house.
Calvin McAllister is also on his way to Marlow Castle. He is a talented tailor and hopes to meet with The Duke of Nottingvale, Belle’s brother, during Christmastide.and get some backing.
When these two meet they seem to be pulled together and Belle helps him with his designs to be presented. The plot thickens and as the two work together they grow closer.
Loved this addition to this wonderful series and as always the author wraps us up in a story that brings humor and a little intrigue that leaves us only wanting more!
Lady Isabelle and Calvin McAlistair meet when a blizzard strands them at an inn just outside of Cressmouth, the Christmas town. Isabelle to pretend to be a wealthy widow to protect her reputation. Isabelle and Calvin have a lovely dinner. When they go upstairs to retire, Isabelle realizes that with her maid ill with the flu and the inn is short of staff for the same reason, she is going to need help with her buttons. She turns to Calvin for help, and the fun begins. Calvin is a brilliant clothing designer and Isabelle is an extremely talented artist. They work together to produce a catalogue of clothing for Calvin’s new (hopefully) business. The more time they spend together, the stronger their attraction grows. Everything is absolutely wonderful until the snow stops and Isabelle reveals who she really is. What happens now?
This is a charming story filled with humor and warmth. The main characters are from different stations, but are perfect for each other. Each of them appreciates the talent of the other. They work and laugh together and make each other feel good. There is no nasty villain and not much angsty drama. I enjoyed and recommend this delightful romantic tale in the spirit of Christmas and Cressmouth, a lovely addition to this happy series. Oh, yeah, there are nine drummers drumming. You and Calvin have to look closely to find them.
I received an ARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. My review is voluntary.
This is romantic, sweet and entertaining. On the way to Cressmouth, Lady Isabelle’s maid gets sick, so they have to stop at a posting house. With no one available to help her (except the man in the next room), Belle sleeps in her clothes the first night. After learning that her maid was going to be in the sickroom for several days, Belle asks the man next door, Calvin, to help unbutton her at night, and button her up in the morning. She has him sign a contact that said that was all the contact they would have. Until he shows her what he’s doing in his room, then she asks to help. They have a chaste relationship, drinking tea, watching the sunset and working on the clothes that Calvin was designing. They fell in love, but she knew that she had to go home after Christmas and marry a lord. He wasn’t interested in having a wife yet, he wanted to concentrate on the business. They make a spectacular couple, both are caring, quiet and talented. The end of the story was satisfying and shocking.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. This is my honest and voluntary opinion of it.
A new turn of the caught-in-a-snowstorm trope. This is among my favorites of this series. I enjoyed reading this very much and finished it with a grin on my face.
Both Calvin and Belle feel they are a bit of misfits in their separate societies. Calvin can’t find the words of conversation and Belle feels oppressed by her mother’s demands and expectations.
While Calvin had intended to stay at the inn, Belle’s travels to Cressmouth are unexpectedly interrupted. What is she to do on her own in an inn for days on end?
They enter into a form of cooperation and enjoy the quiet company of each other. She finds herself revealing information to Calvin which could ruin her. But finally she received acceptance as an artist and unprejudiced praise.
Nicely executed story.
I read a free advance copy and voluntary post my thoughts.
Lady Isabelle Borland’s chaperone has taken ill and her reputation is put at risk. She decides to stay at an inn on the to her brother the Duke of Nottingvale’s Christmas party at Cressmouth. She encounters Calvin McAlistair and they are snowbound together at a posting-house. Calvin is a man trying to earn his way and start a new business venture that he hopes the Duke will invest in. Belle poses as an independent widow and Calvin becomes intrigued by her, the two have an instant attraction and romance, but will the lies and deception keep them apart when they meet again at the Duke’s estate? I have voluntarily read and reviewed the excellent book.
Bella is a duke’s sister who only wants to paint and do illustrations. Calvin is a tailor who only wants to start a ready to wear line of men’s clothes. Thrown together in an inn during a snow storm Bella hides her identity and falls in love with Calvin. Will their love be enough for the duke to approve? I received an ARC from NetGalley and WebMotion for my honest review.
Cressmouth – near Marlowe Castle – December 1814
Lady Isabelle (Belle) Borland is traveling by carriage with her lady’s maid, Ursula, to spend Christmas with her brother, the Duke of Nottingvale. Ursula has come down with influenza and is quite ill. Worried for her, Belle decides to stop at an inn and get a doctor for Ursula. As it is starting to snow, the inn is nearly full, but Belle is able to claim a room and the proprietor has a room set aside for others stricken with influenza. A doctor is expected to attend the patients.
Belle’s room is very small but she will try to make do until Ursula has recovered and they can resume their trip. Downstairs, Belle looks for an empty table for dinner and there are none. However, a gentleman asks her if she would like to join him and she agrees. She says that she is Mrs. Lepine, a widow and he is Mr. McAlistair.
Calvin McAlistair is a quiet man who enjoys his solitude. He is staying at the inn waiting for a friend to join him. They have formed a company called Fit for a Duke. It sells ready made clothing for people that is of excellent quality and much less expensive than made to fit clothing that is enjoyed by the ton. When ready, the presentation will be made to the Duke of Nottingvale as an investment.
The snowstorm turns into a blizzard meaning the people at the inn will be stuck for several days. Without the help of her maid, Belle shyly asks Calvin to unbutton and button her dresses in the morning and at night. She is embarrassed by it, but he is a total gentlemen and helps her. When she learns what he is doing, she, being a good watercolorist, requests to help him. Seeing her talent, he agrees.
As they spend time together working on his collection, they enjoy one another’s company. Belle loves sharing tea with him and painting as she watches Calvin work on his collection. Soon they begin to share kisses. When Belle realizes that the snowstorm has stopped and Ursula is recovering, she knows that kisses are not enough. How far will things go? Is there a future for her, a lady, and him, a commoner?
I really liked this book. Belle is a sensible woman with lots of talent that has yet to be recognized properly. Calvin is an extremely gifted tailor with the ability to makes both men’s and women’s clothes. Both are open to one another and don’t put on airs. The plot is quite unique and I enjoyed it very much.
Copy provided by NetGalley, Goodreads, and the author in exchange for a fair and honest review.
That was so much fun. I can’t for the life of me think that it’s the least bit realistic for the time, but I enjoyed the ride too much to quibble over the historical accuracy of it. I thought Calvin was adorable. His social awkwardness found a twin in my own. Belle and her circumstances made me want to cry over all the opportunities her station in life were forcing her to forgo. I thought that together they made a very sweet pair, and I’m already looking forward to seeing what else was happening in Cressmouth while they were snowed in.
I received a complimentary advanced copy of this book from the author through NetGalley.
This was a very engaging read. Lady Isabelle would seem to have everything, title, wealth but she lacked freedom. She was also limited by what was thought appropriate behaviour for someone of her station in life. Calvin McAlistair was a commoner but very talented. He has no time for the ton. They meet in an inn but Isabelle is pretending to be someone else. They are very attracted to each other but can anything come of it due to their social differences. I enjoyed their connection and how they brought out the best in each other. This was an entertaining read. I received a copy and have voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I just love when I pick up a HR story and it takes me on a fun jurney as this story did. I absolutely adored Calvin and Belle. The story line was unique and fresh and it made me laugh more than once. The road to HEA is filled with two people trying so hard to keep a distance but failing at it. A story about trying to find yourself and at the end of the day, your true mate.
I always find myself enjoying Erica Ridley’s books and this one was no different and It’s by far my favorite book in the series.
***Review copy requested and reviewed on behalf of OMGReads Blog***
Dawn with a Duke by Erica Ridley is a very enjoyable addition to her well-received 12 Dukes of Christmas series. I have read all of the books in the series and found each of them to be witty, feel-good historical romances. They are filled with good humor, a nice flow to the prose, and a sweetly-spicy romance with the intimacy not overplayed. Dawn with a Duke has two engaging main characters and a clever premise to the story. Calvin McAlistair, a talented tailor with well-thought-out plans for his business, is staying at an inn which is now snowbound. Lady Isabel, “Belle,” finds herself snowbound at the same inn when her maid/chaperone falls ill. To get a room, she poses as a widow. Belle is the daughter of a Duke and her brother is the current Duke. Growing up she was always expected to be responsible and not do anything to harm her reputation. She’d never been alone before so with an ill chaperone she was faced with having to do many things herself, but she did need some help her with her buttons. It was delightful how she and Calvin developed a friendship and eventually a growing attraction to one another. She is impressed with Calvin’s talent as a tailor and his plans to expand his business. Calvin was impressed and grateful for the talents Belle had with her paintings and illustrations. Their sojourn at the snowbound inn changed both of them. Their romance was really sweet. I loved Belle’s first impression of Calvin…”He was like a portrait entitled “Dangerous Rake: Virtuous Ladies Should Not Dare Come Near.” I received an ARC of this work which has in no way influenced my voluntary and honest review. All opinions stated are my own. Book rating: 4 stars; Heat rating: 2 ½ – 3 stars.
Glad to slip into this one in a time long gone but still fun to read. Isabelle will give us quite the adventure on the way to a party. What she thinks will be innocent will take a different path which is the fun in it. The standards of the day made for stringent for the women. Thinking she is being clever it will show her the after effects which gives us delightful reading. The other fun thing is other than the fun they have is what Calvin thinks he does not have time for but haha. Things will take a twist with us taking it all in but this relationship give us the enjoyment we crave.
What an original story! I found it delightful as two individuals make the most of being snowed in and needing to feel fulfilled. We have a enterprising tailor working madly to get his innovative designs done in time to meet with a potential investor, and a lonely frustrated daughter of a Duke who just wants to be seen for her talents and not her status. Circumstances bring them together and they end up helping each other through being snowbound in an inn close to the holidays.
Calvin McAlister is a very talented tailor. He’s on the cusp of potentially building a business that will revolutionize the clothing of the rising middle class of men in England. He is holded up at the Hoot & Holly Inn just outside of Cressmouth and Marlow Castle. He needs to finish up his designs before he and his business partner Jonathan MacLean meet with the Duke of Nottingvale over Yuletide. He meets Lady Isabelle Borland when she stops on her way to Cressmouth. Her maid Ursula has become sick with influenza along the journey and needs a doctor. Isabelle soon realizes she can’t keep her reputation in tact without her maid’s companionship at the inn so she pretends to be the widow Mrs. Lepine. She meets Calvin in the crowded common room when they end up sharing a table at dinner. With the snowstorm and flu, the inn is short staffed and Belle soon realizes without her maid, who is quarantined in a sickroom with the rest, or a servant from the inn, she can’t change her clothes with all the fastenings in the back. As Calvin is in the room next door to her, he comes to her rescue. They soon find themselves spending time together. She ends up painting his design illustrations and he does her closings. This begins the surprising friendship that leads to love between the classes. Little does Calvin realize his investor is her brother. When Belle realizes this, she is glad she’s taken precautions to make sure Calvin never reveals their relationship or her reputation will be destroyed and his funding will disappear.
I found this story to be delightful. Belle has a quick, intelligent mind and much talent in watercolors. She just wants to be appreciated as a person and for what she can do. Her station in life makes her all but invisible and unable to utilize her mind and talents. Calvin wants to use his talents to make a living but needs funds to launch his vision. These two coming together make such a strong team once they overcome society’s roadblocks to their happiness.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced readers copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.