This is a well-written book which kept my attention throughout ,I enjoy reading this entertaining series

Journalist Miss Eve Shelling never goes anywhere without a trusty notebook and her overprotective bull mastiff.
Working for her father has its limits however , especially as she also acts as the sole typesetter, the entire writing staff, and one half of the printing team
Hardworking blacksmith, Sebastien le Duc wants nothing less than to be the focus of Eve's next front page ……… he has more than one secret to keep , but most of all just wants to return to France with his brother .
As Eve gets in the way of the brothers' plans - she must take care not to put their lives at stake .
The favour for favour between Eve and Sebastien allows for romance to blossom - can they have their HEA at the cost of the brothers plans .?

This Author continues to write historical romances that draws the reader in , investing them in the outcomes .

I was given an arc of this book by the Publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review .




you find a plenty of romance, unusual plots and great storyline that would make you finish the book and crave for more

Unpaid and under-appreciated journalist Miss Eve Shelling never goes anywhere without a trusty notebook and her overprotective Duenna—who happens to be a bullmastiff. Eve learned the hard way that men are not to be trusted. She’s definitely not falling head-over-heels for the deceptively charming subject of her front-page column.
Local blacksmith Monsieur Sébastien le Duc is the pillar of his community—when he’s not pillaging elsewhere. He’s a rakish dandy with a heart of stolen gold and two teeny tiny secrets. One happens to be a wee international smuggling operation. The other involves losing his heart to an ambitious journalist determined to expose the truth at any cost.
This was a great story by a great author. I’ve read a number of her books and they don’t disappoint. I really liked both main characters as well as the plot. I recommend.
**I voluntarily read and reviewed this book

Erica Ridley is not only a great author, but she will keep you engaged in the storyline like no other author will (with few exceptions😊). Here you find a plenty of romance, unusual plots and great storyline that would make you finish the book and crave for more. You will never get bored with her books because they do captivate the readers!

My Rating: 3.5
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e-Book/ Netgalley/ January2020
<i>Thank you Netgalley and the author for the review copy. All opinions are my own and not influenced in any way. </i>
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I am a huge fan of Erica Ridley's 12 Dukes of Christmas series and it is no surprise that I have come this much into a series!.
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This book follows an enthusiastic journalist, Eve Shilling, who wants to establish herself and experience writing radical articles in the community, and a hardworking blacksmith, Sébastien le Duc, who just seems to harbor secrets that can put his family's life at stake.
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First, as usual, I loved the writing and the word choices used for the characters and it went really well with the personalities of them as well. When you compare the storyline with the previous titles, I feel the flow could have been better and I didn't get the feel-good element after I finished the book. But when you take the book as a stand-alone, the story was quite unique and I really enjoyed the simple banter among the two main characters.
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Overall, I am really glad I am continuing with the series and if you are looking for a short historical romance series, I definitely recommend this one!

Ive been waiting for a story about the le Duc brothers and this one did not disappoint. I thought Sebastian was the kinder brother and it showed in this story. I loved how headstrong Eve was when her father was upset about her story. Overall I think this story was great and Eve and Sebastian were the perfect match

This is Eve Shelling and Sebastian le Duc’s story, seventh in the 12 Dukes of Christmas series; a standalone, happily ever after, no cheating, historical romance with sizzle.
This is a novella, thus, not enough time to develop the storyline and characters to my liking. Maybe it was the laissez-faire attitude to the smuggling that bothered me the most.
I received an electronic copy of this book through NetGalley for my honest opinion.

“The Duke’s Embrace” (12 Dukes of Christmas #7)” by Erica Ridley.

Another whimsical tale for the 12 Dukes of Christmas series. Although a good stand alone book.

For years Eve Shelling wanted to write news worthy articles, become a renowned journalist and move to London. However being the sole typesetter, the entire writing staff, and one half of the printing team at her father’s Cressmouth Gazette can only get you so far. She just needs one good story. One story that would push her to her dreams. If only her father would allow her to write something other than frothy and wholesome Christmas adverts and articles.

Monsieur Sébastien le Duc (Bastien), the local smithy, and his brother miss their home in France and no longer have any debts holding them back to return home. Except their side hustle of an illegal importing business of brandy and champagne has fallen through. This has left them penniless and no way to support themselves when they do return home. Bastien comes up with a plan to sell their business property.

In an unexpected meeting of the two main characters, Bastien assists Eve with an article.
It becomes a favor for a favor. Which turns to love.

When Eve find out about the illegal importation business - will she decide to write her news worthy story or will she not?

Star rating: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ and 1/2

[** I received a copy of “The Duke’s Embrace” (12 Dukes of Christmas #7) by Erica Ridley via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 
Thank you to publishers and Netgallery for the opportunity to review this book.]
#12Dukes #NetGalley

Erica's books are always very well received, they add a touch of joy and romance to life, and if they are predictable, it is in a good way, as one reads with the knowledge that good will triumph and love and happiness will eventually fill the lives of the protagonists, after they surmount the trials placed in their path.
Well written and pacy, a great way to spend a few hours enjoying the lighter and kinder side of life.

I love Erica Ridley’s writing style and this book did not disappoint. The characters were very likeable and well defined. My only complaint is that it wasn’t long enough.
Many thanks to WebMotion and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

What I adore about Ridley's regency stories is how she puts unique story twists into a period of time that should be restrictive. In this story our heroine is struggling with being a true journalist in her local holiday periodical. She is fighting against her Fathers's rules but she can't help following through on a smuggling story involving two very sexy brothers.

Her choices will effect her professional and love life

A very different setting then the norm in this novella. While I found it enjoyable , The storyline was very different then expected. Which in some ways was good... others I struggled in certain parts of the book to have my attention held. Certainly worth a read for it is written by a talented author. A light enjoyable read overall. I was given this book via NetGalley. All opinions expressed here are my own. Regards

I have thoroughly enjoyed the 12 Dukes of Christmas, and still have a few left to read, it's another wonderful mix of romance and humour with a healthy mix of engaging characters, some more outrageous than others. The more I read about the town the more I wish it was a real place.

Erica does it yet again.
This story, part of the 12 Duke's of Christmas series, is on par with all the stories in the series. I highly recommend this as well as the others in the series if you enjoy engaging characters, interesting story lines and all around good fun.
Thank you Erica Ridley, WebMotion and NetGalley for allowing me this advance copy in exchange for my honest feedback.

Ms. Ridley’s Cressmouth and its citizens have provided delightful romances that are light hearted and enjoyable around Christmas. I have loved how each of the male leads/heroes have some ducal connection or name.

Eve, our sweet female hero is just a normal working-class woman still under the protection of her father even though she is an adult. Her father owns the local paper even though Eve seems to do all the work. She must get approval from him on everything. Eve is a strong person who has had her share of mistakes but wants to do what is right.

Sebastian and his brother just want to return to France and try to get their family lands back. Eve kind of gets in the way of that plan.

The Duke’s Embrace is another great Ridley addition to the 12 Dukes of Christmas series.

The Duke's Embrace is the 7th book in the 12 Dukes of Christmas series. If you have read the others you will know what to expect. If you haven't read any in this series you will be in for a treat. This series features strong women, passion, dukes and Christmas time...whats not to like?

I received this ARC for my honest review.

This book reminds us that while it might be fun to read these stories, it couldn't have been very fun to live in the actual time (which is why I can not stand time travel stories that strand women in the past, where are the stories that bring a lady from that time and strand her in the present and watch her blossom with all the freedoms and opportunity she could have).

I voluntarily read this ARC for an honest review
All thoughts and opinions are mine

I love Erica Ridley's books and this is another in a series so was so pleased to be able to read this

a Christmas theme which I so enjoyed

Great characters, loved the story

A great, quick read

I enjoyed this book. I like the author so it was an auto buy for me. The author writes a great love story. I love the historical romances. This is a good one.

"About what you expect" which sounds harsh, but really isn't. There were no major surprises in this one and some of the character dynamics were wonderful (the brothers' interactions were humorous!) Other aspects seemed rushed or didn't include quite enough detail. It's a typically-enjoyable seasonal historical romance with witty, likeable characters, some heat, some conflict, and of course, a happily-ever-after. Not necessarily a prize-winner, but a quick and enjoyable escape from reality.

Eve Shelling is a journalist. She is determined to make her family's paper readable.
She does not want the paper to be the same old boring news.
Her father has decided that Eve may only write what he deems appropriate.

Sebastien Le Duc is a very handsome and talented blacksmith. His family is determined to return to France. His sister married an Englishman but Sebastien and his brother Lucien are planning on returning.

When Eve is given permission to write an additional column about an English family in Crestmouth, she decides that she wants to focus on the blacksmith's family. Even though they are french, she does not see how her father could object to such upstanding pillars of the community.
As she learns more about Sebastien, and Sebastien starts to learn more about her their attachment starts to grow. Can Eve and Sebastian make a relationship work?