From a New York Times bestselling author: Sparks fly in this definitely-not-falling-in-love workplace romance between a handsome drifter chasing adventure, and a small-town jeweler who would never leave her home behind… desperate to outrun his past. When a blizzard traps him in a tiny mountaintop village, he meets a woman who tempts him with dreams he’d long since abandoned: Home. Community. Love. But other people’s livelihoods depend on him leaving for good as soon as the snow melts.
No-nonsense jeweler Angelica Parker has spent her life fighting for recognition. She’s Black, she’s a woman, and she will prove her creations are the equal to any artisan in England. With the project of a lifetime on the line, there’s no room for error—or distractions. Especially not the handsome charmer whose unquenchable cheer and melting kisses have become more precious than jewels…
Welcome to a heartwarming series of fun Regency romps nestled in a picturesque snow-covered village. After all, nothing heats up a winter night quite like finding oneself in the arms of a duke!
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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
As a longtime reader of Regency-era fiction, I have been aware of Erica Ridley’s books for many years, but this is the first one I’ve ever read. Something about the cover and premise was intriguing to me in a way that the others had not caught my attention previously. To be fair, I think I’ve only ever glanced at covers and titles. Although the eyeroll-inducing title of this book put me immediately in mind of a zero-merit bodice-ripper novel, it surprisingly is not one of those at all; it’s actually a clean read, and now I get the joke I believe the title was intended to be. As an offering on NetGalley, I was prompted to take a closer look at the premise for a change. I was very pleasantly surprised by this story. While it certainly has its more lighthearted and cozy moments as a tale set in a snowy Christmas village, there’s an unexpected depth to it as well in the multi-faceted protagonists. I loved the lavish generosity of the hero and the quiet reserve of the heroine and admired their perseverance to succeed in their professional pursuits, despite—or perhaps because of—the challenges they have faced. It was refreshing to read a role reversal in this genre, and to see a relationship that is not one-sided. In many ways, they save each other by sharing their unique perspectives, but in the end I think she saves him far more than he saves her. It was a heartwarming tale about honest communication, having a willingness to learn and share, and how to love people just as they are.
The tenth installment of the 12 Dukes of Christmas series brings us the story of Jonathan and Angelica. Jonathan is an adventurer. A charming and intelligent man who never settles in one place and is always trying to outrun his past. Angelica is an independent and strong woman who has worked hard all her life. She is not the typical Regency heroine you tend to read about. She is written as a black character, which I absolutely loved, and she was a very well-developed character who I fell in love with instantly. Her perseverance to make a good life for herself and manage a business successfully as a jeweler was great to see. It is at her shop that her and Jonathan meet while he is on his way to meet with a Duke in hopes of securing him as a business investor. As outgoing as Jonathan’s character is, he can’t stand Christmas, and Angelica’s little town loves it. He is forced to take it all in when a blizzard hits and he gets stuck there for awhile. The romance that develops between the two is sweet and easy to get swept into. Jonathan’s Scrooge-like attitude also brought some humor to the story. It was great read and a wonderful addition to the series. Can’t wait to read the next one!
I was given a free copy via Netgalley and am voluntarily leaving my review.
Another great instalment in the series. I enjoyed this one even more than the previous ones because it’s more angsty and steamy.
Looking foreword to more
This delightful tale takes place at the same time as the previous one, Dawn With a Duke, about taylor Calvin McAlistair and his unlikely romance with Lady Isabelle Borland (Belle) the sister of the Duke of Nottinvale. Meanwhile his partner Jonathan MacLean, is stuck in Cressmouth, waiting for Calvin and the Duke, who are held up by a snow storm. Because of his heartbreakingly sad childhood, Jonathan has learned to be charming and not allow himself to become close to anyone so he can not be hurt when they leave him. His goal is to be so successful that everyone will recognize him, something his own father never did, by investing in ordinary but talented people, an early venture capitalist.
But while stuck in Cressmouth, trying to amuse himself, he comes upon the most stunning woman he has ever seen, very talented and busy jeweler, Miss Angelica Parker, who has her own goal, to receive the recognition of her skills that she deserves, and has no time for him. But as he forces his time on her, she comes to appreciate his distraction. He made it clear that he will be leaving to never return again, but what happens when they realize that they don’t want their time together to end? The book also explores the exploitation of people in the slave trade, as Angelica is Black.
I read an ARC as part of the author’s Review Crew. This is my unbiased and voluntary review.
Another wonderful book that continues the series
This is another wonderfully written book that continues a brilliant series. The plot is one of slow realized love, and beautifully portrayed characters
One of the 12 Dukes of Christmas series. Features a Black heroine, an artist, and a man who never stays in one place for long, a salesman. These books always have a bit of Christmas magic to them, and it is fun to watch how each couple comes to their happily-ever-after.
Jonathan MacLean never stays long or visits the same place twice. He loves the new and adventurous, in fact, he loves absolutely everything, except Christmas. When a snowstorm blows in and strands him in Cressmouth just a few days before Christmas he decides to make the best of it and meet everyone in town. Angelica Parker has spent the last 7 years in Cressmouth building her jewelry business. She’s not interested in a husband or a romantic entanglement of any kind really, until Jonathan.
I really enjoyed One Night with a Duke. I loved that Jonathan was charming and happy-go-lucky and that Angelica was the one that was more withdrawn. It’s a perfect quick holiday read, it has great characters, and while you could read it as a standalone, It’s much better if you’ve read Dawn with a Duke since Jonathan and Calvin are business partners. One Night with a Duke makes me long for snow, hot chocolate, and all that’s Christmas (which is saying a lot since I don’t even like snow). Definitely recommend for a super sweet, quick escape.
Action packed, emotionally thrilling and engaging journey filled with interesting and engaging charters, witty banter, heart racing twist and undeniable passion. Highly entertaining reading from beginning to end.
Cressmont Village – December 1814
Mr. Jonathan MacLean has arrived in Cressmont to meet with the Duke of Nottingvale at Marlowe Castle. His partner, Calvin, is to meet him here for the meeting. Calvin is a talented tailor and has created an affordable line of men’s clothes called Fit for a Duke. Jonathan backs him with the money and Calvin sews the clothes.
Jonathan is impressed by the pretty village and all of the snow so he decides to take a walk around the town. He enters a shop and is struck by the pretty black woman working in there. Her name is Miss Angelica Parker. She is a jeweler and he is impressed by the nice pieces she has created. He chats with her saying he will buy everything, but she thinks he is being silly. A woman from the town comes in saying that this year a tree will be brought inside the Castle and they need some extravagant decorations for it. Therefore, she needs Angelica to make some large ornaments.
Jonathan soon learns that a large snowstorm has hit the surrounding area which means people invited to the Duke’s Yuletide Party will not be able to arrive for some days yet so the party will be held when they get there.
Usually, I like this author’s books but this one left me shaking my head. Jonathan comes across as a rich guy who throws his money around in what appears to be a way to make friends. He walks into a jewelry store and immediately falls in love. The town has a castle that gives out free food to everyone. There are just so many things here that made me wonder if this is supposed to be a fantasy story. Sorry. I just did not care for the plot.
Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
This is #10 in this delightful series set in the lovely little village of Cressmouth also known as Christmas. I think this is one of my favourites. The characters were, as usual, written with warmth and humour but also with a depth of feeling. The fact that the heroine was black made it just that more special. Their relationship developed beautifully and what made this book even more special for me was that the heroine was not going to have sex before marriage and they were able to have a beautiful and meaningful relationship without having to rush off to bed. I received this as an ARC and freely give my review.
I loved this book! The characters were fun and seemingly opposites though each was lonely in different ways. They were well-written and actually had depth which made them understandable and easy to love. They were wonderful and their romance was steamy but still sweet. The festiveness of Christmas only added to this sweet story. There was all the feelings for a great romance, and it made you feel really happy and satisfied with the ending. I would definitely recommend this to anyone who enjoys the Christmas spirit and wants a great historical romance.
Jonathan MacLean is Calvin McAllister’s partner (DAWN WITH A DUKE). Jonathan is waiting for Calvin to arrive in Cressmouth/Christmas to give their business proposal for Fit For A Duke to the Duke of Nottingvale. Exploring the village, Jonathan meets the jeweler, Angelica Parker. Jonathan presents a carefree facade, but he’s really a lonely man. As their affection for each other grows to love they have to learn to compromise. A delightful romance that includes the joy of Christmas with family.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book.
This is a charming story about two somewhat wounded souls who find each other and fall in love-even with some obstacles to overcome.
The story started out a bit slow as we get to know Jonathan Maclean, who appears to be a happy go lucky guy with more money than he knows what to do with. He seemed a bit goofy to me at first.
He came to Cressmouth (i.e. Christmas) for a business meeting with the Duke of Nottingvale. and his partner Calvin, a talented tailor to pitch a ready made clothing line that he has invested in and is hoping the Duke will too.
Jonathan wanders out of his lodgings and into a jewelry store seeking adventure and discovers Angelica Parker, who is a jeweler and the proprietress of the store. Jonanthan believes her to be the most stunning woman he has ever beheld in his life. and Angelica believes him to be unsettlingly handsome.
Jonathan is stranded in Cressmouth by a snowstorm and Calvin appears to be delayed by the same storm. He begins to spend more time with Angelica and that is where the story really begins to shine. The dialogue is witty and the characters shine.
I received an ARC from the author via NetGalley but that did not influence my opinion of the book in any way.
One Night with a Duke was a fun, short story. There was adventure, deadlines to meet, learning how to compromise was a big take away. Definitely recommend.
A blizzard traps Jonathan MacLean in a tiny mountaintop village where he meets woman and a talented jeweler Angelica Parker. She wants to establish herself as an artist in England and she doesn’t need the distraction of a man. She’s made a name for herself despite black and a woman and this contract is her life hood and it needs to succeed. How can she maintain a stable life and love a wandering young man she comes to love? A fascinating story of two people drawn together and love will always find a way to conquer their hearts. I have voluntarily read and reviewed these excellent story
Jonathan is quite the happy-go-lucky traveling Scot entrepreneur, never returning to the same place twice! Too bad he got snowed in Christmas, which he hates. Determined to avoid such idle shenanigans, he visits Miss Parker in her small jewelry shop attached to her dwelling and offers to be her servant in return for an introduction to the locals. Angelica has no time for him but finds her work goes more swiftly and is more pleasant with his visits. Imagine their surprise when she finds time to introduce him around, he knows everybody already and furthermore has found a home in the black shopkeeper and her family! How this happened is most entertaining reading!
Welcome back to Cressmouth! I seriously need to find this place and go! Who knows what I might find!
Jonathan MacLean did not sit around and dream about adventure, no he lived it! He tried never to travel to the same place twice, but keep going from town to town. But now he had a meeting to attend in Cressmouth, but he had to explore first. Imagine, the first shop he went into, a jewelry shop.. and there she was!
This was the most unusual, wonderful story I have to say. Jonathan was constantly talking, asking questions, staying busy. Angelica had worked hard so long to prove herself with her jewelry design and shop but had not felt taken seriously until Jonathan. These two understood each other on some level that was amazing.
But as the snow falls and he gets stuck in town, a lot is going to happen that is both unexpected but fated it seems!
Really enjoyed this and the authors notes and historical facts is so enlightening!!
If you read the previous book, Dawn with a Duke, you met Calvin’s friend and partner, Jonathan McLean.
He’s a charismatic, funny, slightly hyperactive character, whose principle is never to visit the same place more than once.
He is an investor of ordinary people. When he meets new places, he has contact with unknown people (artists, craftsmen, tailor), invests in their talent making them famous, and earns his percentage. Yes, he is very rich and has a good business acumen.
“I’m not funding charites. I’m providing capital in exchange for healthy interest rates. I make money using other people’s genius.”
He came from Scotland to Cressmouth – the city known as Christmas – because he would have a business meeting with the Duke of Nottingvale, to convince the nobleman to invest in a new venture called Fit for a Duke, ready-made collection of men’s apparel.
The great genius was Calvin, the tailor. Jonathan had drawn the sketches (which still needed to be painted) and would enthusiastically present their new endeavor.
He arrived in the city two days before the scheduled date and the city was plagued by the arrival of a storm. This meant that Calvin would not be able to arrive, just as the meeting with the duke would have to be rescheduled.
While in town, he would try to behave like a local.
But actually, Jonathan didn’t even know what it was like to behave like a local. He never stayed more than seven days anywhere he arrived. His conversations with people were interested but superficial.
At Christmas, he started to feel a little uncomfortable for something he hadn’t known for a long time: family.
All of this because of Angelica.
Angelica is an independent, black woman from a family of jewelers who has had to show her worth since her older brother Luther became responsible for their father’s store. Angelica was as talented as Luther, maybe even a little more, but because she was a woman she was passed over.
“Once she received the recognition she craved, then and only then would she entertain the notion of marrying a husband of her own choosing (…) She did not need or want a man to make her life complete. Angelica was enough, all on her own.”
So, she decided it was time to show her worth. She made a seven-year deal with Mr. Malowe, and although she had to give up the company – and noise – of her family, she moved on.
Her goal was close to being achieved, and with the help of the other inhabitants of Christmas, so helpful and careful with each other, she would succeed.
And then this strange, smiling, investor appeared, who would stay in the city for a few days, and not to be bored – he is fascinated by Angelica’s beauty and also by her talent with jewelry – he offers to be her footman.
And Jonathan begins to meet the inhabitants.
And Jonathan knows Angelica’s story.
And he is fascinated to realize not only that he was facing another genius that he could invest his money, but that she made him feel unknown things… and began to have the desire to belong.
“Miss Parker was dangerous. He liked her because he didn’t have to try to like her.”
And between hard work, opportunities, getting to know Ignatius Sancho’s history and their own feelings, the couple would have to find a middle ground so that the love that was beginning to grow would be polished as the most beautiful Christmas jewel.
5 stars
I really really enjoyed this book. Is a short love story with beautiful main characters in a small town that everyone call Christmas.
Angela is our black heroine that owns a jewelry store. Johnathan is a scottie with a free spirit that never stays in a place more than a couple of days, but he has to wait a week for his friend Calvin to arrive to the small town. They start spending more and more time together and at the end of the week they have to decide what to do about their love.
The story is a low burn romance with sweet moments and funny dialogs.
I’ve received a copy of this book and all the options are my own
Opposites attract in this quirky Cressmouth romance, where Christmas is a year-round event. As with the previous novels in this series, the characters are out of the ordinary and generally march to a different drumbeat. Jonathan MacLean is a rolling stone that gathers no moss and has no intention of putting down roots anywhere, especially in Cressmouth. However, Angelica Parker draws him like a magnet, even though she does her best to repel him. Angelica doesn’t have time for verbose visitors when she is racing against the clock to finish her jewelry pieces before Christmas so that she can spend time with her visiting family, and is therefore surprised when she realises that Jonathan’s distractions actually aid in her meeting her goals. The story is well-written, witty, and heartwarming and I love the characters. Having met Angelica in previous books in the series, I was glad to read her story. I received a copy of this book through NetGalley and this is my honest and voluntary review.