A star-crossed lovers, opposites attract, feel good romance from a New York Times bestselling author:Rumor has it, charming adventurer Christopher Pringle is finally ready to settle down. He’s searching for a free-spirited bride to join him on his travels. But when the matchmaker he hires turns out to be the woman he had a public spat with the day before, nothing goes as planned!Miss Gloria … nothing goes as planned!
Miss Gloria Godwin loves exploring the world… from the safety of a book. She detests her dashing client’s attempts to force her from her comfort zone. It should be easy to marry off the handsome heir to a dukedom. But the more she tries to match him to other women, the harder it gets to say goodbye…
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Erica Ridley’s newest regency romance series features twelve delightful laugh-out-loud romps… and plenty of delicious dukes!
The 12 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
Get your Duke today!more
The 12 Duke’s of Christmas #3, I knew I’d love Gloria from the previous book, I thought I would like Christopher too but he ended up being a bit of an intellectual snob. He was better by the end of the book but Gloria really had him going there for a while to teach him a lesson. It was a nice heart warming story that introduces a few more of the unique eligible young ladies of Christmas.
Gloria wanted to find love, she was completely smitten the first time she saw Christopher but like everyone else he never saw her. Christopher was looking for a wife someone he could love and take around the world and explore together his first look at Gloria and he was captivated. But first impressions go a long way and Christopher didn’t make a good one.
With Christopher’s rake of a brother no engaged he finds himself the center of attention for every lady in town but Christopher is looking more than a dalliance. Being set up by the matchmaker seems like a good idea until he realizes the matchmaker is Gloria. Gloria arranges for him to meet some of the young ladies who fit his criteria, but Christopher doesn’t connect with any of them but he does Gloria. Christopher wants to give Gloria the world but Gloria is to scared to leave Christmas. Is Christopher enough for Gloria to conquer her fears or are they doomed before they can even start.
Overall, it was an emotional and fun read. I always enjoy reading Erica Ridley.
Wish Upon a Duke book 3 by Erica Ridley in the Series 12 Dukes of Christmas. Two serious broken hearted people with their lives headed in two completely different directions when love stopped them both in their tracks. They helped heal each other. Enjoyed the banter, humor.
Very good short story.
I’m loving this series! This third book was a lot of fun, I really enjoyed reading it and did it in one afternoon since I couldn’t put it down. I recommend this book, it was funny and romantic. I was given an advanced copy so I could voluntarily share my honest opinion. Pick up your copy, I know you’ll love it too.
A LITTLE SWEET HEAT!!!
Talk about starlit nights. This is one exciting, interesting, intriguing, pulse racing, heart pounding, smooth flowing, page turning jewel that captivates from the very beginning. All the twists and turns, unexpected circumstances and unpredictable surprises around every corner make for remarkable experience. In a whirlwind of emotions and events that really pull these two opposites in the same direction are trying and nerve racking at times. Erica keeps the drama, disappointments, suspense and realization increaseing and tension spiraling as the plot thickens for one amazing climax. The characters and scenes are written with such realism it really pulls this bad boy together beautifully. Fantastic job Erica, thanks for sharing this little guy with us.
Another five star hit! Erica Ridley never fails to please. Crisp dialogue, characters you quickly come to know and love, and a plot that is fun and makes sense. Christopher travels constantly and Gloria travels nowhere ever. Christopher loves facts and nice, constant rules. Gloria plays with imagination and firmly believes rules are to be broken. It’s a good thing Gloria is the matchmaker and not trying to be a match!
I love this series! All the characters are as endearing as the picturesque town of Christmas (formerly known as Cressmouth) that serves as a perfect background for these heartwarming holiday romances.
Christoper Pringle is that rare thing in romance novels, a non-rakish hero who actually wants to get married and is searching for a true life partner. Though he does need to adjust his vision a bit about what that might entail exactly. Gloria’s matchmaking attempts make for very entertaining reading, especially the unexpected twist concerning her career. Didn’t see that one coming. Go Penelope go!
I loved both Christopher and Gloria in the previous books and I really liked that two people who so dreamed of finding a partner wind up with each other. Christopher is very serious-minded and a stickler for rules, whereas Gloria is far more fanciful in her approach to life, yet still these outwardly different characters have a lot in common. They share a passion for travel and astronomy, and they both know what it’s like to be overlooked and feel unnoticed among a crowd of people. I think Christopher must sometimes have felt a little like Alice in Wonderland during his first conversations with Gloria, who chastises him for “ruining perfectly good imagination with unnecessary facts”. Gloria is very intelligent, independent and has a great sense of humor. She’s his perfect match.
One of the things I most love about Erica Ridley’s writing is the heartfelt moments that sneak up on you amidst the lighthearted banter. There is always some underlying sadness or hidden struggle that adds an element of realism to the story and makes the characters’ emotions more intense.
Absolutely recommend this.
Christopher Pringle came to Cressmouth, the Christmas town, to find a wife. He wants a wife who shares his interests and who will travel with him on his adventures around the world. Gloria Godwin loves astronomy, fixing mechanical objects, and exploring the world through her books. From the moment they meet, she drives him crazy. She doesn’t follow directions in the proper order and doesn’t call the stars and constellations by the proper names. As Chris and Gloria spend time together (she is supposed to be his matchmaker), they discover they enjoy being together. After all, they like astronomy, plum pudding, and learning about other places. They might just make a good match – might. Remember that Chris wants his wife to travel abroad with him. That could be a problem.
In Wish Upon a Duke, we find ourselves in the merry winter wonderland of Cressmouth. The characters are witty and cheerful. Chris and Gloria fit together perfectly. They just don’t know it. They both have bad memories from the past. Perhaps they can help each other work through them. They get some encouragement from Nick and Penelope, and Gloria’s maid Madge nudges them along the way. Don’t miss this one. It’s a jolly good addition to the series. Oh… and how do you suppose you wish upon a Duke, and where will you find three French hens? Look to the stars for the answer.
This is a charming story of a matchmaker who tries to match Christopher with young ladies in her town.
Gloria tries over and over again to find his perfect lady but alas no luck time after time. Has she lost her touch or will Christopher leave with the perfect lady for him????
This story will captivate you as you cheer for each character.
I received a free, advanced copy of this book from the author. This is my unbiased and voluntary review This is another humorous, historical romance with delightful characters and a skillfully narrated, provocative plot.
Back to Marlowe Castle, Christmas (Cressmouth) England. This book happens concurrent with the previous book. Mr. Christopher Pringle, has come to Cressmouth to find a forever bride, who will travel the world with him. His brother Nicholas had come along and not that he was looking, but found his own bride first. His fiancee, Penelope, recommends her friend, Miss Gloria Godwin, as a matchmaker, something she has never done before. Perhaps, Penelope, has more insight into her friends character and heart? While none of the eligible women that Gloria introduces to Christopher set his heart on fire, they find they are drawn to each other, with similar interests. However, after loosing both her fiancee and father to the ocean, Gloria is terrified of water and traveling, while traveling is his passion. Is there anyway to reconcile their differences?
One con, the same one as in the last book. While Nicholas is next in line to the Duke of Silkridge, and Christopher after him, neither is very likely to ever be one. So of the first 3 books, only one is really a duke.
A magical story taking place in a village that celebrates Christmas all year and two completely opposite people falling in love. But she is happy living where she is and is happy imagining traveling and he can’t seem to stay in one place very long.
I do like Erica Ridley’s books, they are easy read with wits, humor and no weak characters despite their flaws.
Here we have two main characters who have totally opposite view of life, one can’t stay in one place while the other won’t move out safe range.
Gloria wishes very much to be seen for once, to not be overlooked anymore and to find love, but in some ways, she hides herself in plain sight, playing the silly girl with her way to twist things.
She is smart and resourceful, so certain of what will be her future but she too longs for some kind of adventures, without risks, she has built walls around her home she forbids herself to trespass.
She feels secure in her remote town, there she can’t be hurt, but life wherever it takes place is no safe thing.
Christopher is one to follow the rules, nothing can make him bend them, he also has an innate need to keep moving, but now after years of going from one place to another, he hopes to share it with someone but his dream-bride-to-be is quite elusive, he is not attracted by the women who are close to his ideal but he can’t take his sight out from the woman who is so wrong.
At the end, every personality trait he thought important is undermined when compared to the attraction he felt for Gloria, the one woman who can dismantle and assembly objets as a second nature but sees stars not as well known schemas.
From the beginning, they know they have opposite aspirations but maybe love could help them overcome their difference. Not easy but with a little faith…
This may simply be proving that I’m nothing more than a squishy mass of gooey marshmallow, but Gloria’s story reduced me to tears – multiple times. Her justly earned fears are utterly heartbreaking. And Christopher’s wanderlust is almost as devastating. Especially when the pair are squared off in opposition to one another. I loved watching these two very different yet so similar people fall in love with each other. It hurt my heart to witness how much both Gloria and Christopher were willing to sacrifice for the other’s happiness. I’ve only just finished this book and I want more Christmas already.
I received a complimentary advanced copy of this book from the author from NetGalley.
Christopher Pringle is ready to marry but having difficulty finding a suitable bride – one that won’t leave him and will enjoy traveling. In spite of the women he is introduced to by Gloria Godwin…women that might be more suitable to his wants and desires…he falls for her instead. Trying to convince her to be his bride is not easy because the two are such opposites in what they want in life…at least it seems so for most of the book. This was a fun little love story that is novella length and was a fun way to spend the afternoon.
Thank you to the author for the ARC – This is my honest review.
3-4 Stars
Cute story that plays upon the Twelve Days of Christmas. Enjoyable read. I received an arc of this book.
Back in the town of Cressmouth where Christmas is a year-round event, Christopher Pringle determines to find the wife of his dreams. He is looking for someone sensible, who loves to travel and is willing to take long sea voyages with him. Instead, he finds a whimsical matchmaker who delights in breaking rules and has her roots down deep in Cressmouth. It seems impossible to find a compromise or a way to allay Gloria’s fears. The story is humourous and sweet, leaving one with a sense of Christmas around the corner. Although this book is part of a series and characters from the previous two books appear in this one too, it is a standalone and comes to a happy conclusion. I received a copy of this book as a gift and this is my honest and voluntary review.
Attention grabbing historical romance. Chris and Gloria both want a love match. Both are afraid of not finding it. One is an explorer while the other is not. One follows rules, the other uses imagination; causing both to withdraw from each. other due to their differences. Enjoyed the chemistry between the leads; also liked the closeness of the brothers, Gloria & Maude and all knowing Virginia! (Book 3 in series.)
Voluntarily read ARC for honest review.
pulling back from the chemistry.
This doesn’t feel like a Regency novel but more like a contemporary small town romance which just happens to be set in the past. It has an almost fairy tale quality and I found it delightful.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Delightful opposites-attract romance!
At first glance, world-traveler Christopher seems to be exactly the wrong kind of man for Gloria, who is content to never leave her small, picturesque town. When she’s called upon to act as matchmaker for him, Gloria finds no shortage of women who meet his stated list of requirements. Christopher thinks he knows what he wants in a bride, so he’s beyond confused that his heart keeps directing him towards the one woman who meets none of his criteria.
I loved this delicious little love story right from the start. Christopher and Gloria each think they know what they want, but their hearts reveal what they really need. Their conflict was believable and seemingly insurmountable, making their journey to their HEA especially poignant and heartfelt. I’m looking forward to reading more in this wonderful series. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.
Rumour has it, charming adventurer Christopher Pringle is finally ready to settle down. He’s searching for a free-spirited bride to join him on his travels. Miss Gloria Godwin loves exploring the world… from the safety of a book. She’s trying her hand at being a matchmaker but detests her dashing client’s attempts to force her from her comfort zone. It should be easy to marry off the handsome heir to a dukedom.
Another heart warming story that I was loathe to put down & read in two sittings. The story flowed very well & the characters were well fleshed, I particularly liked that with each book in the series we are introduced to some new characters so it builds the whole community of the village & hopefully some of these characters will also have their stories. Chris & Gloria are delightful, she has always been attracted to Chris & thinks he hasn’t noticed her. They then have a misunderstanding but gradually begin to become friends, like each other, the road to their HEA is amusing, poignant & had me smiling
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
Enjoyed the story of Christopher and Gloria. It was well written and interesting to the end. Christopher who is looking for a wife to join him on his many travels falls for Gloria a woman who does not wish to travel outside her village. Her idea of travel is to pack her trunk and read all about what is in the place she is mentally traveling to. They are opposites of each other but the attraction deepens and there us a HEA but a lot happens before this comes about. This is an enjoyable read and I would recommend it.