Once Upon A Duke features Benjamin, Duke of Silkridge. He’s travelling to his estranged late grandfathers home hopefully to retrieve his most treasured possession, a locket containing the only portrait of his mother who died at Christmas shortly after giving birth to him. A locket that his grandfather stole from him before throwing him out and banishing him. When he left the first time, he didn’t realise he was also leaving his heart behind. Noelle Pratchett is a foundling, abandoned on the steps of his grandfather’s castle as a baby. Her whole life revolves around the castle and the surrounding village – Cressmouth, the place where they’ve made a business out of it being ‘Christmas all year round’. She doesn’t need anything else especially not an arrogant and cold-hearted duke who broke her heart five years before with his abrupt departure.

This is basically a re-telling of A Christmas Carol combined with The Twelve Days of Christmas set in regency times. The fun lies in spotting all the references from a partridge in a pear tree to twelve lords although in this case the lords have been exchanged for dukes but I think Charles Dickens himself would be surprised by the form Tiny Tim takes in this version. This is a heart-warming story, short and sweet. I did get a little bored by the whole Cressmouth/Christmas thing and the overwhelming happiness everyone seemed to feel and I felt it was missing a good villain. Cressmouth is alright for a visit but I wouldn’t want to live there – bah humbug!!!

This was a cute Regency second chance romance, but it didn’t wow me the way some of Ms. Ridley’s other books have. The book is well written with lovely descriptive text. It’s a relatively short read that mixes the hero and heroine’s past traumas with considerable silliness, including frequent references to classic holiday literature and songs. I just didn’t find it as funny as I think it was meant to be, although some of the dialog was clever. That said, the romance between our main characters is quite sweet, and perhaps it will be just what you need to put you in the holiday spirit.

Note that there is one fairly explicit scene of premarital sex if such things bother you.

I was provided an ARC through NetGalley that I volunteered to review. Because I have not seen the final published version, I cannot comment on the final editing and formatting. The ARC I received was well written and neatly formatted; I noticed only a few proofreading errors, which may have been corrected before publication. If not, the errors were sufficiently minor and infrequent enough that I doubt they would interfere with most readers' enjoyment of the book.

This is a true Yuetide tale. It's a re-telling of Dickens' " Christmas Carol" in a slightly different setting. I found it rather cute for a while but I can't say that I thought it either moving or romantic. Most of the characters have similar names to those in the classic and the setting is a town named Cressmouth, caled "Christmas" by the residents..I thought the gimmick got old after a while but maybe that will sound like "bah, humbug" to others. Definitely for those who enjoy immersion in the Christmas experience.

Noelle and Benjamin exchanged one kiss years ago, and then he left. However, when he returns two years later both realize that their love never ceased, but both have a life they can not abandon for each other. How sadly hopeless. Of course, there is a Happy Ending in sight - just how?
This was an easy going romance, not as "laugh-out-loud" funny as advertised, but still an entertaining holiday read. It could have done with a few less references to Christmas - the joke of mixing up the holiday with the towns name got fairly old fairly quickly. And why the deceased father's will was worded as it was would have been a nice, yet missing, revelation.

This was an adorable read. It had a good conclusion even though it seemed to end too soon as I couldn't put it down. Loved it

Benjamin is the Duke of Silkridge, justifiably hates Christmas and he doesn’t have a reason to celebrate Christmas. The village of Cressmouth is both home and family that Orphan Noelle has never known. Poor Benjamin trying to meet the terms of his grandfather’s will means he’s stuck in village of Cressmouth at Christmas for the time being while he tries to find a family heirloom. A play on Scrooge …bah humbug can the town of Cresswood thaw is heart and allow him to find love. Noelle is drawn to his charms, but can she trust her heart to him? A delightful Christmas story with excellent characters with a growing attraction and romance for the holidays. This is my honest opinions after I voluntarily read a copy of this book that was provided to me with no requirements for a review.

A short sweet story full of Christmas spirit, Once Upon a Duke uses famous Christmas stories as punny jokes to make a delightful story. Tiny Tim is a goat, Fuzzy Wig is the grandfather's old money counter and so on, will inspire little chuckles keeping the story like and fun. I can see this as a rom-com holiday Hallmark movie that would become an instant favorite. I hope there will be more in the series, Twelve Dukes of Christmas.

This was a cute Christmas story. I enjoyed the interaction between Noelle and Benjamin. It is a pretty quick read that is sweet but has some mature dialog. I liked the nod to Dickens' A Christmas Story and I liked that the characters moved on from the past.

Benjamin Ward, the Duke of Silkridge is in a village he thought he would never return to for the reading of his maternal grandfather's will. His one goal is to get back the portrait locket containing the last picture painted of his mother.

His grandfather had transformed the village of Cressmouth into Christmas creating a thriving village for the residence. One of the residence, Noelle Pratchett, once fell in love with Benjamin. When he returns, Noelle knows she must protect her heart because a duke will not marry an orphan. Due to a request in his grandfather's will, Benjamin must stay in Christmas longer than he wanted to and as Noelle assists him in his quest, he slowly realizes that she is the one woman he loves. Can Benjamin win Noelle's trust and heart back with Christmas magic?

I enjoyed reading this book. I liked the characters and their banter. The book was romantic and yet at the same time, there was a lot of humor. I felt bad for Benjamin and his relationship with his grandfather. Noelle was his perfect heroine. She helped Benjamin achieve the peace he was seeking.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC provided by NetGalley and the publisher. Thank you!

A really delightful holiday story, even though it really isn't Christmas. Lots of bah humbug meets indominable goodwill and friendliness. Underlying this romance is a strong sense of loss and loneliness. All of the quirky events that this poor Duke suffers through softens his heart without him knowing it. Well written and enjoyable, this is the perfect story to get you in the Christmas spirit.

I could not get into this book. The characters seemed a bit off. The whole "Christmas" thing is weird to me. I am very fond of this author so I am very sad to have not liked this book. Might be a first for me for an Erica book. Couldn't finish it.

With a nod and a wave to Charles Dickens' Christmas Carol, Once Upon a Duke takes Benjamin, the Duke of Silkridge, back to the unforgiving climes of Cressmouth, where he lost his most valuable possession. There he encounters the one woman he most regrets leaving behind. Noelle Pratchett felt her heart drop when the Duke of Silkridge appeared on the scene, reminding her of all she had lost. She vows to guard her heart but finds that all is not as she first supposed. She gently draws Benjamin into the life of the people of Cressmouth where he discovers that he, in fact, does have a part to play. This gentle love story, with hilarious incidents and outright comedy leaves the reader with a warm heart and smile on one's face. I received a copy of this book from Netgalley as a gift and this is my honest and voluntary review.

***ARC was provided to me for a fair and honest review***

Overall rating: 3/5

Heroine (Noelle): 3/5 She is altogether the smartest person in town and a bit naive at the same time. She keeps the town going but thinks herself in love with a grumpy standoffish guy who for 99% of the book is unwilling to compromise for them. She too was likewise unwilling to compromise for the same length of time.

Hero (Benjamin): 3/5 A grumpy do-gooder duke who hates Christmas because of the losses he’s suffered around the holiday.

Plot: 2/5 It loosely follows A Christmas Carol’s storyline minus any ghosts or magic. Benjamin is our Scrooge stand in and Noelle is his once lost love and to win her back Benjamin must learn the meaning of Christmas.

Personal Review: It’s a quick holiday read in a town called Christmas that is always brimming with holiday spirit and good cheer.

Honestly, I didn’t really buy into the leads being together. The reader is more or less just told these two are into each other rather than them having any real chemistry on the page. They just decide it’s that point in the story to kiss, or visit the bedroom, or get married. There’s no real build up to each event.

Since a large part of the story is from Benjamin’s POV, the reader is not as open to the idea of liking his grandfather as the townsfolk of Christmas would like them to be. In Benjamin’s eyes, for much of the book his grandfather was irredeemable and unloving toward his grandson for being the perceived reason Benjamin’s mother dying after childbirth. So the townsfolk’s constant praise of the man paints his treatment of Benjamin in a harsher light.

Once Upon a Duke is a lovely and light hearted homage to Dickens’ Christmas Carol, in the form of a Regency romance. It was fun to guess how the author would work in little details like Tiny Tim, and mash them up with the 12 Days of Christmas.

While most of the book falls within the ‘sweet’ category, it does contain one steamy bedroom scene, so be prepared if that’s not your cup of mint tea.

Thank you Ms. Ridley for helping us all keep the Cressmouth (aka Christmas) spirit in our hearts all year round.

❤️❤️❤️
💋
A modern Christmas fairytale , based on the Classic , Christmas Carol .
It’s different and Quirky, and to be honest not my sort of thing , but I enjoyed the read .
The main characters are interesting and have well developed personalities, the setting is seasonal, though for me a bit too cheesy.
I love Christmas stories, and this did tick a lot of the write boxes , but for me this is at most a 3 star. I received an advance copy of this book and chose to submit a review

I love Erica Ridley stories they are always so much fun, this is another well written and adventurous read with loveable characters

I received an ARC from Netgalley and I am voluntarily leaving my own honest opinion

This is the first in her new series 12 Dukes of Christmas. I enjoyed the idea of a town living Christmas values all year round and loved the references to “A Christmas Carol” but felt this book just wasn’t up to her usual standard. The characters where engaging and the humor eg the goat, partridge, and Benjamins “humbug” kept a smile on your face but I felt there was a little too many repeated thoughts and not enough interaction/ action to keep me turning the page. Being a Christmas story, it was sweet and if you enjoy Christmas stories this one is for you. I received this book as an ARC.

This was a delightful and funny book for all those who love Christmas! Noelle Pratchett loves her community of Cressmouth or as Christmas as the villagers like to call their little town. Having been hurt by Benjamin, Duke of Silkridge, 5 years ago, she's not happy to see him return for the reading of his grandfather's will. Benjamin has lost everyone he's ever loved during the Christmas season and he's the perfect Scrooge for the story loosely based on a Christmas Carol. Noelle makes Benjamin feel things he doesn't want to acknowledge and yet she pulls at him like a siren at sea. Can Benjamin open his heart and let in the one girl who can make all his dreams come true?

Ms. Ridley has written a very entertaining book and I loved all the supporting characters especially Tiny Tim. The witty banter between all the characters is great and had me laughing throughout the story. A definite read for romance lovers who adore a happy ending.

Christmas romances are always fun. Erica Ridley is a gifted writer. Combine them and you have the first book of the 12 Dukes of Christmas series. Once Upon a Duke is a quick, romantic tale of a duke who believes his country needs him. He is haunted by his past and a grandfather who never accepted him. His grandfather blames him for his mother’s death, steals the only keepsake he has of his mother and refuses to ever give it back. But, wait a minute, said duke, or Benjamin as we get to know him, has to complete an unusual task for his grandfather and then, he can retrieve the locket with a picture of himself with his parents. The only picture that exists of them.

Noelle, also an orphan, became of ward of Benjamin’s grandfather as a baby. She was raised by a man she loved as a father and who treated her and the surrounding community extremely well. Cressmouth became Christmas due to the old man. No one would ever believe he mistreated his grandson or son-in-law. He was the spirit of Christmas to everyone.

Added in to the spirit of Christmas that surrounds Benjamin is that this is his second chance to be with Noelle. He left five years earlier and never told her why. It’s obvious she still cares about him. Benjamin cares about her, but his country needs him more. It’s a hard road to their HEA.

There were several repetitive comments that just struck me as keeping the lightheartedness going; “it’s January;” “You can’t count a horse as a duke;” “It’s Cressmouth, not Christmas.” Even the character’s names added to the Christmas spirit: Noelle, Tiny Tim the goat, Nicholas and Christopher Pringle. Benjamin is the typical Scrooge semi haunted by his grandfather Marlowe, close enough to a Dicken’s character. This is the perfect book to enjoy on a wintry, Christmas evening with a cup of hot chocolate to sip as you read. It’s a Hallmark movie in written form.

Once Upon a Duke by Erica Ridley. Webmotion, 2018.

This lite romance deserves a lite review.

The writing in this book is grammatically correct. The premise is rather intriguing but few details about any of the characters or the setting resonated. Quite a lot of repetition, very little substance, a cotton candy of a book. I managed to get through it, but it wasn’t easy.


Disclosure: I am grateful that I received a review copy of Once Upon a Duke free via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.