A laugh-out-loud romp from a New York Times bestselling author: Meg Church adores two things: life in a village of perennial Yuletide, and the freedom of being a spinster with no reputation to protect. Oh, very well, three things: She’s harbored a secret tendre for Christmas curmudgeon Lucien le Duc since the moment she first glimpsed him. But the sexy blacksmith won’t give her the time of day, … But the sexy blacksmith won’t give her the time of day, much less a night of torrid passion.
Ever since Lucien le Duc was forced to flee his beloved France during the revolution, his all-consuming goal has been to recover not only his lost land and fortune, but also his rightful place among the French aristocracy. He would never be distracted by an English dairy maid’s sultry glances… or her soul-consuming kisses… or the temptation to turn one night into forever…
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
Another good story from the village of Cressmouth. Meg is a spinster who enjoys the freedom of her life. Lucien has worked hard toward one goal for years – to return to France and regain his land and title. Enjoyed the conflicts and attraction between these two. I received an ARC of this book.
I have waited for Lucien’s and Meg’s story knowing it would be something special and very different. I love all the books in the 12 Dukes of Christmas series but this is the best. One of the reason’s is because it is very funny, very emotional,heartbreaking at times too. Meg Church is a spinster who does what she whats whenever she wants. She is outrageous, flirty, sexy and doesn’t give a fig about her reputation. She has her cousin who she loves, the village of Cressmouth where it is Christmas all year. There is only one thing she desires and that is Lucien le Duc.
He is one of the 12 Dukes of Christmas, even if he doesn’t want to be. Lucien is the head of his family, after his parents
were killed in France. His Uncle brought him and his brother and sister to England. All Lucien has thought of for the last 18 years is getting back to France, and regaining their rightful place again.
His plans have not worked out cause both his brother and sister have fallen in love with English partners. He is known as the unfriendly one of the family. He is curt, rude, glowers at people and never speaks. This is not because he is unfriendly but because he never learned to speak English. He understands it thru.
His new nephew and niece are learning French and ask him to learn English. Family is every thing to him, so
he lowers his pride and ask Meg to tutor him. Oh my he is shocked by how she talks about everything including
her attraction for him and what she would like to do with him!! He is also attracted to her. And can’t stop thinking of her. Meg is always telling him things from her favorite sexy book, “Fanny Hill”. Which doesn’t help at all.
As they spend time together, and learn about each other, the attraction grows stronger.
Will these two very special people learn to give and take, fall in love, deal with the hardest secrets of all.
Saying any more would ruin the story for you, grab a copy turn off your phone and get ready to read till the end.
This is one that will stay with you long after you finish it… Loved the banter between the two all the way to the end.
I received and ARC and am giving my honest opinion.
Wildly bold Meg breaks through Luc’s cold demeanor to find he is an honorable and loving man. Can’t wait to read the next one! I received an ARC from NetGalley for my honest review.
This story is sweet and poignant and filled with the magic of Christmas, (and Cressmouth). With the other le Duc siblings happily settled, I’ve been anxiously waiting to see how Lucien’s story would play out. Meg is so delightfully outlandish. So many of her comments had me howling with laughter. I adored watching this pair banter, no matter what language it was in. It broke my heart that circumstances were conspiring to keep them from being together. To the point that I was nearly in tears a couple of times while reading this book. I loved the ending and I can’t wait to dig into the bonus epilogue.
I received a complimentary advanced copy of this book from the author through NetGalley.
Luc and Meg seemed so wrong for each other but the more you read the more you see that they are perfect for one another.
Meg was a spitfire while Luc is more closed off and only has one goal and that is restoring his family name and it’s wealth. But love is never a narrow road and as they spent more time together it shows them what is really important in life.
Another great read in the series and I can’t wait what comes next.
***Review copy requested and reviewed on behalf of OMGReads Blog***
The Duke’s Desire” by Erica Ridley is book 8 in the 12 Dukes of Christmas Series. This is the story of Lucien le Duc and Meg Church. I have read the previous book but feel you could make this a standalone book if you wish to do so. Meg lives with her cousin and family. Meg is a spinster but a happy one with that title. But there is one man she has an attraction to…Lucien. Lucien and his siblings had to flee France and their aristocratic background for what they are now…blacksmiths. But they have saved enough money to return and Lucien wants to claim what was once his. Seeing nothing but returning home he is taken back by Meg when they crash into each other. Of course their feelings become engaged but will Lucien seeing anything more than returning home?
Enjoyed their Story.
Meg Church has embraced her spinster lifestyle. She’s opted to enjoy the freedom of not having a husband dictating what she can or can’t do, and extremely happy being outrageous and bold with what she wants and she’s set her eyes on taking Lucien le Duc as a lover…if only in her fantasies…
Lucien le Duc is determined to leave England and return to his native France. A dream since he had to flee with his family during the revolutionary war, Lucien will let nothing change his mind…well almost nothing…there just happens to be a beautiful outspoken woman that may just make him think twice on his feelings of all things English…
Oh I’m so in love with Erica Ridley’s 12 Dukes of Christmas series! These holiday romances are just the right mixture of sweet and heat! Highly recommend!
**I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book that I received via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own. **
ONE HEART POUNDING ADVENTURE!!!
Excellent! Erica not only builds the bridge and soothes rough waters, she maps the flow and masters the current, fusing this bad boy together piece by jagged piece. Presenting incredibly, well rounded scenario’s, that punch dead center with such intensity and precision, blasting this gem to life beautifully. Carefully treading through the trials and tribulations, testing our characters in ways they could have never anticipated. The chemistry builds as each layer is peeled back exposing an undeniable bond and amplifying affections, launching this gem to a whole new level. The characters and scenes are so colorfully descriptive it gives the illusion you were right there in the middle of ground zero with them. Remarkable job Erica, thanks for sharing this bad boy with us.
Delightful, fun and flirty romance!
Meg is everything that Lucien is not. She’s outspoken, flirty, adventurous, and wants nothing more than to live in Cressmouth forever. He’s broody, taciturn, frustrated, and can’t wait to return to France. What they have in common is a deep loyalty to their families and an undeniable attraction to each other.
Lucien’s family suffered greatly in the recent French revolution, but after twenty years of safety and security in England, all Luc wants is to return to the home and heritage he left behind. Meg’s family had a much different experience in France, one that she has no desire to return to.
I enjoyed the banter and playfulness between these two, and appreciated the deftly-handled role reversal that was unusual in a Regency-era story, yet it perfectly matched the personalities of the main characters. It’s always wonderful to see the emphasis on family in a romance, and here it was used to great effect all around.
As the third story focusing on the le Duc siblings, this one brings a bit of closure for the entire family. I have thoroughly enjoyed this entire series, and my only disappointment is that we have to wait another ten full months before the next Dukes of Christmas tale is published. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.
Another visit to wonderful to Cressmouth, a village where it seems Christmas all the time! This is Lucien le Duc the local blacksmith and Miss Margaret Church, spinsters delightful story!
Lucien’s only goal had been for years to go back to his home in France and he has been saving. Alas it will be without his brother and sister who have both married and found happiness.
Meg Church was born to French parents and was raised in France during the war and time of turmoil. She longs for things she knows will just be taken away because it has in the past. So instead she embraces her spinsterhood. Secret liasons (oh yes!), loves meeting new people and helping those she can and a gift for organization.
As these two come together, there is so much humourous banter, laugh out loud moments, differing views on life but also an amazing attraction that yearns to break the barrier between them.
Prepare to be enchanted and not wanting this story to end! Well done!
When I first started reading this book I wasn’t sure I was going to like it. But then I fell in love. I never stood a chance against totally improper, unflappable, hysterically funny Meg Church. And the things that came out of this woman’s mouth, oh, my gosh! She made me laugh so many times throughout the book. When I wasn’t laughing, I was grinning. And pretty much everyone else in her vicinity ended up feeling her caring, her humor and were pulled into her “web”.
Scowling Lucien never stood much of a chance against Meg either. Meg and Lucien both had hard-times and pain in their childhood but Meg met everything with her zest for life. Both were also hard working and responsible and they were all about family. In Meg’s case she didn’t have all that much family left but loved the people she had. She’s also sort of “adopted” other people along the way too. It was sad to hear her say that every time she was she got something that she wanted, she lost it. No matter how much she hurt, she just smiled, laughed and tried to move on. So you can see that this is also an emotional story as well.
Later on Lucien came to an unusual but utterly true conclusion about Meg. That she was extraordinary, utterly fearless, as unstoppable as a tornado and with a heart big enough to crumble Lucien’s staunchest walls.
There is a wall or two between them though. One of them is the lure of France for Lucien and Meg’s heart being in this forever Christmas village. Add to that there is another wall between; it’s a secret that Meg holds.
The Epilogue holds the details of their H.E.A. which I liked seeing.
“I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.”
I thought that this was a delightfully charming read. I liked Lucien and Meg so much. These opposites really stole their way into my heart! I felt that there was a real uniqueness to these characters and that held a lot of appeal for me. Together as a couple, I thought they were perfection! The story is engaging and held my attention easily. This book is a wonderful combination of emotions, humor and drama. I just loved it!
My Recommendation
The Duke’s Desire, by Erica Ridley, will be available at booksellers on 12-24-19. A Christmas romance on Christmas eve! Desire is book 8 in Ms Ridley’s series The 12 Dukes Of Christmas. I’m with her to the end. Trying to figure who will be duke 9 to 12 is a mystery I’m still trying to solve. So many choices. We’re still in the village of Cressmouth, where is Christmas all year round.
With Duke’s Desire we come to the end of the le Duc family. All the siblings are firmly in their HEA’s. Ms Ridley saved the best for last. Lucien le Duc has been a pain in the other 2 stories. He glowers, he smolders, he’s curt, downright rude. He refuses to speak English, he’s been here 18 years! Even after all these years he feels out of place, out of step, longs to go home to France & try to find his old life. I’m not sure he’s understood that it will never be exactly the same but he does by the HEA. He’s made a promise to his family that he’ll try harder to learn English, he understands a lot but he can’t communicate with the new English members of his family. He’s motivated to learn and to return home.
Margaret Damaris Brouillard Church is just plain old Meg to everyone in Cressmouth. She spent many years, unhappy years, in France & offers to tutor Lucien. When he agrees boy do things heat up. She a 28 year old spinster & not a virgin anymore. She doesn’t have lasting relationships, doesn’t believe they exist. Tourist for a one nighter is her M.O. These two burn up the pages with looks, kisses and finally “it”. Love them both.
A lightbulb went off, I’m ashamed it took me 8 books to realize the pun. The neighboring village is Houville! The Grinch Who Stole Christmas? Whoville? Cindy Lou Who? She got me there. It was fun.
#12Dukes #TheDuke’sDesire #Netgalley #EricaRidley #historicalromance
Lucien has a goal and nothing is going to distract him from returning to France to claim his inheritance. Unfortunately, he makes a promise to his young nephew and niece to learn English, something he has stood against the whole time he has resided in Cressmouth, where Christmas is a year-round event. His quest takes him to the Marlowe Castle library where he literally runs into the outrageous Miss Meg Church and before he knows it, she is tutoring him in English. Lucien is uptight and controlled, whereas Meg spills every thought, much to Lucien’s bewildered amusement. The unlikely couple have more in common than initially meets the eye, but it could just be that their very heritage will stand in the way of them finding happiness. This well written novella has laugh out loud moments, but there is also an underlying pain as both Lucien and Meg have to deal with their past. Having met these characters in previous books in the series, I enjoyed reading about their story. I received a copy of this book through NegGalley and this is my voluntary and honest review.
What a hysterical romance. Such a quirky risqué heroine with her sexual metaphors. It was too funny. Meg’s character was a delight to read. She is refreshing. Nothing like any other character so far in the series. She has an interesting family background that surprised me. As for the brooding Lucien his heart was touched by the innocence of his niece and nephew who were learning French and that was when he decided to really learn English. Finally, when Meg and Lucien got together for tutoring, she caused his imagination go wild with her sexual metaphorical talking. When Meg’s background was revealed I truly felt her pain and worry. The more Lucien was around Meg the more he smiled and tried harder to learn English. Their attraction was inevitable. It culminated with Lucien sharing with Meg his deepest feelings shocking her. Would he stay in Cressmouth or leave for France? Could she accept his dreams while holding on to hers? I received an Advanced Readers Copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This romance has lots of twists in it starting with a very forward English woman for that time trying to seduce a very uptight French man who only wants to be left alone by anyone who is English.
This story is comical at times with their interactions and very entertaining.
I received an ARC and chose to give my unbiased opinion.
The Duke’s Desire is a Fantastic Story with so many emotions swirl through you as you read this story by Erica Ridley. In a village high atop a mountain at Marlowe Castle is a small village Cressmouth but known as Christmas. Lucien le Duc is the eldest of the three le Duc siblings. Lucien is French and Cressmouth’s grumpiest blacksmith. Meg is a spunky, scandalous spinster who enjoys torrid novels by Fanny Hill. Meg volunteers to teach Lucien to read and speak English but at first he doesn’t want to because he chooses not to communicate in English. After agreeing to learn English they find a magical romance filled with laughter, humor, giggles, delightful dialogue, and the meaning of family love. I loved revisiting old friends that you haven’t seen for a while. Erica has created a story that grabs you the first few pages and then you can’t put the book down until the very end.
The Duke’s Desire is the eighth book in the 12 Dukes of Christmas series. It can be read alone, but this is such a fun and wonderful series and better if read in order. We were introduced to the main characters, Meg Church and Lucien le Duc in some of the previous books. Luc was always glowering and refused to speak English. Meg was outlandish and very forward with her banter. She loved Cressmouth because she finally felt like she had family, friends, and stability. She had lived in France as a child and didn’t want to ever return. Luc never hide the fact that he hated England and wanted to go back to France. He refused to speak or learn English because he was too proud, and he never considered England his home. He was determined that he would restore their family’s land and their rightful place in French Society. He slowly came to the realization that he would miss Cressmouth and his life there. The book was fast paced and full of witty banter. Meg was sassy and full of mischief and I loved seeing Luc slowly open up to her. They both had bad memories of France but would they be able to forget the reasons they lost their parents and get their happy ever after? I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Lucien le Duc has escaped revolutionary France with his little brother and baby sister and worked as the blacksmith in the Yuletide town of Cressmouth, England for 18 years waiting for the war to be over so he could return to claim his family’s property. In that time he has refused to speak English, branding a frown to every English speaker who approached. But now his sister has married a widower with twin 10-year-olds and his brother has married the editor of the local paper. Now he has tickets to return to France and a date in court to claim his family’s property. However, Lucien decides to really begin to speak English since his family will be staying and that the gorgeous dairymaid Meg Church is just the right person to practice with. Imagine his surprise to find out she speaks perfect French! Will he return to France or remain in town as he is one of the 12 dukes of Christmas, and his family and the beautiful Meg reside here! Read this great book to find out.
The Duke’s Desire
12 Dukes of Christmas Series #8
Erica Ridley
https://www.facebook.com/ericaridley/
Release date 12/24/2019
Publisher Webmotion
Blurb :
Meg Church adores two things: life in a village of perennial Yuletide, and the freedom of being a spinster with no reputation to protect. Oh, very well, three things: She’s harbored a secret tendre for Christmas curmudgeon Lucien le Duc since the moment she first glimpsed him. But the sexy blacksmith won’t give her the time of day, much less a night of torrid passion.
Ever since Lucien le Duc was forced to flee his beloved France during the revolution, his all-consuming goal has been to recover not only his lost land and fortune, but also his rightful place among the French aristocracy. He would never be distracted by an English dairy maid’s sultry glances… or her soul-consuming kisses… or the temptation to turn one night into forever…
My review :
When the last Le Duc ready to leave soon for France finally needs help from an english miss …
And this series continue with each new book a lovely romance.
No it is Lucien’s turn, the taciturn, secretive French smithy to find his happily ever after.
Meg is not the usual spinster, I would call her the feminine version of a rake or rogue, she is very free, maybe a bit too modern but she enjoys her life with no reputation to protect as a merry spinster.
Lucien has spent his life doing the right things to provide for his family but also keep his family legacy’s promise. But now it is time to going back claim what was his, it will be an alone trip as his siblings have found their other half here in England.
Up to them to mend what might keep them apart if they are willing to see what really counts.
A lovely tale with reverse roles in this couple, about where you belong and to whom.
4.5 stars
I was granted an advance copy by the author and preordered my own.
Here is my true and unbiased opinion.
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