From a New York Times bestselling author: a second chances, enemies-while-lovers reunion romance where nothing is as it first appears, and everyone’s motives are suspect… until her father brokers a truce by offering the Weston heir the Harper farm. The only way to get it back is to marry the knave who kissed her and humiliated her, twice—or prove to her father that some rifts can never be healed.
Scholar and botanist Elijah Weston is dreadful at feuding. For one, he prefers horticulture to horses. For two, he’s been desperately in love with his mortal enemy ever since he kissed her—and, yes, publicly destroyed her—all those years ago. When he’s given ten days to win Olive’s heart, he arrives with marriage license in hand. But where lies and double-crosses abound, how can lifelong rivals learn to trust their hearts?
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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I always enjoy reading Ms. Ridley’s books. Her books are always entertaining and fun, with just the right amount of passion and romance. This book was no different. Elijah and Olive were such good, strong characters and I especially loved how Olive can stand up for herself. The storyline was well crafted and kept my attention all the way through and the plot twists had me guessing and turning the pages, eager to see what happens next. Ms. Ridley also does a great job in describing the scenes and bringing the characters and story to life. This story is sure to make you swoon and put a smile on your face. This has been such a great series and I’m sad that it’s almost done, but I know Ms. Ridley has more treats in store for her readers!
I received a complimentary copy from Netgalley and am voluntarily leaving my review.
Really enjoyed this action packed, emotionally thrilling journey filled with engaging charters, witty banter, heart racing twists and exciting turns. Was a great read from beginning to end and so hard to put down.
The eleventh book in the 12 Dukes of Christmas series a well written story that had a great storyline the story flowed smoothly across the pages. I enjoyed reading Scholar and botanist Elijah Weston and Olive Harper’s story I especially liked the surprises at the end.
Olive and Elijah are maneuvered into a trial betrothal by their fathers, who are sworn enemies. Happily, they outsmart the tricksters at their own game. Very enjoyable.
W.O.W!!! What a thrilling book. There was rarely a page that did not have suspense, excitement, extreme emotions and feelings. Olive and Eli were amazing characters. So lively, so realistic, so animated. It was so easy to identify with them. Their feelings of fear, shame, hurt, regret, anger but more importantly love. I love the “Duke” series. Each book in unique and exciting. I really look forward to the next book. I highly recommend this book.
I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I love everything that Erica writes!
Ten Days with a Duke was a delight to read. This is the 11th book in a 12 book series, and I am sorry to see it end. Cressmouth, or Christmas as the locals call the town is the home of Harper Farm. The horses are so famous, even the Prince Regent has tried to purchase the prized stallion.
I enjoyed the interaction between the two main characters. Olive Harper wants nothing to do with Elijah Weston. She remembers how he humiliated her when they were younger. He is in love with her and has been since they were kids, Some twist and turns that you will have to read the book to see what happens.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for letting me read an early copy.
Another amazing book from Erica Ridley! This will definitely get you into the Christmas spirit. <3
I highly recommend escaping reality for a bit with Erica Ridley’s holiday series, 12 Dukes of Christmas. The newest installment was cute and kept me guessing. TEN DAYS WITH A DUKE is less about the Christmas Holiday and more about the stories central Characters.
The main trope of this book is enemies to lovers…though it seems they will never get together and nefarious forces are behind the scenes plotting. Despite all this there is some serious steam that I LOVED!
Olive is about to completely take over her Father’s horse farm. The horses are just as important characters in the book and so much fun! He is worried about his daughter and tries to arrange a marriage for her. Olive’s father is deaf and I loved the inclusion of sign language in the novel!
The marriage plot is where Eli comes in. Son of the Harper Family’s enemy and has hurt Harper in the past. Eli is a botanist with a mission to use plants for women’s health.
I can’t recommend getting to know Olive and Eli enough!
Thank you to NetGalley and Erica Ridley for the chance to read an advance copy.
#Erica Ridley #12Dukes #NetGalley #TenDayswithaDuke
I can always count on Erica Ridley for charming, heartwarming, low-angst novels. And this one is perfect for the holidays!
Olive is determined to stay unmarried and run her father’s horse farm. Her father has other ideas. He arranges a marriage between her and the son of his former best friend in hopes of healing the rift between the families. But he doesn’t tell Olive this until Eli is about to show up on their doorstep. And her father threatens to withhold his shares in the farm from her if she doesn’t comply.
Eli is terrified of horses, His interest is in Olive, not the farm. He’s had a crush on her since they were teenagers. But he humiliated her then, and she still hasn’t forgiven him. Can he win her heart despite the past and the machinations of their fathers?
Ridley excels at characterization, and that’s certainly true here. Olive and Eli are adorable separately and together. They’re perfect complements for each other, and it’s easy to envision what their future together will look like. The stakes are high in this story, and there’s plenty of action to hold the interest. But it’s also a joyful thing to see how these two characters bring out the best in each other.
Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received.
SETTING: Miss Olive Harper’s father runs a horse-breeding business, which is quite successful. She is being “groomed” to take over the reins of the business in his place. Marriage is not in her plans. Therefore, when her father announces her betrothal, she is shocked! To make matters worse, it is to the son of his enemy! For his part, Mr. Elijah Weston is also being pushed into marriage by HIS father. How these two young people overcome the strain of this relationship makes for exciting reading.
CRITIQUE: I found this variation on the trope of “enemies to lovers” unusual and quite interesting. The barriers to their relationship were formidable, and at first glance I did not think it possible for Olive and Weston to overcome them. This refreshing and clean story is enjoyable for readers all ages.
It was fun to read about the Harpers and their horses since they have been around in the previous novels of the series. Loved the characters and their story!
The eleventh of the Twelve Dukes of Christmas was full of witty conversation with many in two versions- Regency Period English and sign language for Mr. Harper, the congenial owner of Harper Stud Farm and Olive’s loving father. Harper had been best friends and partner with Elijah Weston’s father but they were now mortal enemies and had been since their children were small and they’d parted ways with Weston keeping all the land in the London area and Harper starting up his new operation in Cressmouth, the village that celebrates Christmas! He decides to spice up his daughter’s life by writing to his old enemy that he wanted to make up and for him to send his son to marry his daughter and he would transfer his shares of his farm to Elijah when he married his daughter. But it’s not that simple as Olive’s whole self-image was seriously damaged by the Westons by Elijah kissing her and then insulting her ‘horse-face’ when his father and friends appeared on the scene. Things really heat up fast when Eli appears on her doorstep immediately after her father tells her the deal! She negotiates with her father to spend the twelve days of Christmas with Eli before her final refusal to give up her horses and stable to marry him. Wait until you find out who is the Duke and the part he played the 12 days!
I loved this story. Erica never disappoints and this was such a joy to read! There was swoonworthy romance, great characters, and a bit of wit. The enemies-to-lovers story sucked me in and the romance with the added Christmas joy made my day. The characters had fun personalities and great banter as well and I loved them! This is a must-read for sure this Christmas season!
Olive Harper was devastated by Elijah Weston when she was a young teenager, and it has followed her ever since. Elijah has been unable to forget how upset Olive was and can’t forgive himself for being so cruel. Their fathers decided that the two should wed, and the couple is pushed into a ten-day trial period. The resulting time is sweet and funny and so entertaining to read. I couldn’t put this book down and read it over an evening.
An enchanting tale of second chance love. We are back in Christmas and a new duke. Miss Olive Harper is a renowned horse breeder and trainer. She adores her horses and hates having to let any of them go. But of course, she must. Her father is Deaf and was trained in sign language as is Olive.
Elijah Weston is the son of Lord Milbotham. He and Mr. Harper had started a stud farm together. One day they were partners and the next they were not. There had been a longstanding feud. Elijah was a botanist, who was searching for a plant to stop childbed fever. He became very knowledgeable and his good reputation spread. His mother had died because of it. Ehi was trying very hard to get funding to bring the chemists to mix and experiment with the plants and flowers. The characters were charming and sweet. He had a harder life than Olive. He had scars all over his body. Every time people come to Christmas something wonderful happens.
I received this ARC from the author and voluntarily reviewed it.
Olive Harper’s father has made given her an ultimatum marry her enemy to gain and keep the family horse farm she loves with all her heart. The Weston’s have been the harpers enemy for several years, so why does her father want her to marry Elijah Weston the one young man who broke her heart. His family owns a prosperous horse farm and humiliated her ten years ago. Elijah knows nothing of horses, horse farming he’s a scholar and botanist, but Olive throws down the gauntlet and challenge he knows he can’t refuse. A captivating story as these two come together with fire and water and grow to respect one another and fall in love despite their fathers. I have voluntarily read and reviewed these excellent story.
Olive Harper and her father have been involved in a fierce rivalry with her father’s former business partner and his son, the Westons, for as long as she can remember. Sure, the Westons’ horse farm is larger, but the Harpers’ operation has gained more of a reputation. Even better, Olive is the sole heiress to the business she’s so passionate about. At least she thought she was, until her father determines a way to end the feud by arranging a marriage for Olive to the Weston heir. He’ll get the farm she loves, and she’ll be forced to wed the man who’s done nothing but humiliate her in the past.
Elijah Weston prefers his study of botany to time spent with horses, much to his father’s disappointment and ire. He’s also been madly in love with Olive since first kissed her and then, unfortunately, humiliated her, ten years ago. Now he has just ten days to convince Olive his feelings for her are sincere, but with machinations from both their fathers, earning her trust won’t be easy.
This was hands down my favorite book of this series so far. This one has some real steam and chemistry between the main characters, in addition to the cheery, Christmassy feel. Eli and Olive were great together and I loved that it was Eli working to win her. His determination to follow his heart no matter the sacrifice or consequence made this excellent reading. Olive was prickly but she truly did give Eli a fair shake and was willing to hear out his explanations and understand from his actions just how much she truly meant to him. I loved this couple and look forward to the Duke of Nottingvale’s book.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Ten Days with a Duke is another delightful visit to the village of Christmas with yet another Duke. Olive Harper’s family is one of the best horse breeding operations anywhere. Her father’s feud with his former partner, Weston, has caused Olive nothing but heartache. Years ago, she kissed the Weston heir, Elijah, and was ridiculed by him and the ton for it. Now her father is determined for them to marry to bring an end to the feud but Olive is only giving Elijah twelve days to ride her headstrong horse and win her hand. Manipulating fathers and a painful past is all that stands in the way of a sweet HEA. I enjoyed Olive and her strength and spirit even in the face of cruelty. This is another great, feel good read in the 12 Dukes of Christmas series that will leave you with a warm fuzzy feeling just in time for Christmas. My voluntary, unbiased review is based upon a review copy from Netgalley.
A brilliant penultimate in series
This is a brilliantly written penultimate book in a fabulous series. The plot is full of emotional twists and turns, and a thrilling HEA. The characters are beautifully portrayed with the necessary strength to overcome their past problems and feud. This is a an amazing book that is suitable for all those who love steamy historical romances, that have a few surprises.