Part of Erica Ridley’s 12 Dukes of Christmas series about a small town the residents have turned into a permanent Christmas-themed tourist attraction, you don’t need to have read the rest of the series to enjoy this rather charming novella. Sébastien le Duc, French aristocrat turned blacksmith, is the hero of this one, and Miss Eve Shelling his heroine. Eve and her father run the Cressmouth Gazette, more of a promotional pamphlet extolling the town’s virtues than an actual newspaper, but Eve dreams of being an actual journalist. When Bastien asks for her help writing an article to paint the smithy in a favourable light for a potential buyer as he and his brother have plans to return to France, Eve’s willing to oblige.

When she uncovers the truth about how the le Ducs have reversed their fortunes, however, she has a decision to make. Tell the truth and destroy Bastien and his family, or pass up the greatest chance she’ll ever have to make her name as a serious journalist?

This is a romance, so you can probably guess how it turns out. It’s also a fairly short novella so the author doesn’t really do much of a deep dive into the ethics of smuggling, making it feel just a little shallow in execution. Bastien and Luc as gentlemen blacksmiths didn’t really ring true either; they just wouldn’t have been on a social level with Eve despite their backgrounds once they started engaging in trade at that hands-on level.

I’ve really enjoyed other books in this series, and though this one has its moments, it just didn’t quite click for me. Eve and Bastien went from not liking each other much to intimacy really quickly, and I wanted more interaction with Eve’s cute dog Duenna, who didn’t get nearly enough of the spotlight. Important things like Eve’s moral dilemma got rushed over, and I think the novella length did this particular story no favours. It needed to be about twice as long to explore all the nuances. I’m giving it three stars.

Eve is a journalist and an unpaid and unappreciated one at that. She is investigating a story about a blacksmith who happens to have lots of secrets. Bastien just wants to help his brother reclaim what is theirs. This read is fun, entertaining with lots of great characters, plenty of steam and loads of drama. A fun and entertaining historical read.

This is the first book that I read from the Twelve Dukes series.

The description caught me: a young journalist in the regency period, going about with a bullmastiff dog.

It´s a cute romance, that encapsulates a small town. I wish that that aspect could be more developed. But it´s a small novella, so...

An enjoyable read.

#12Dukes #NetGalley

It was wonderful to read more about the le Duc family, with blacksmith Sebastien le Duc meeting journalist Miss Eve Shelling. Eve has a story to tell but if she chooses to go ahead with what will be the scoop of her career, she will lose the man that could make her dreams of love, simply fiction. Sebastien is desperate to return to France to re-establish the family vineyard after having escaped several years ago. However, Eve is threatening to undermine this by revealing the illegal dealings of his family.
I loved both characters, particularly Bastien who in trying to do what is right for everyone, puts his emotions on the line. Eve was not as easy to like given her attempts to under Bastien’s family, but Ms Ridley as always, brings each of the main characters to life in a beautiful romance.
Another great addition to this series. I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

As I always say " another great book by Erica Ridley!" She writes the best Historical Romance ever!!

The village of Cressmouth gets even more heart-warming and charming with each of these tales. Eve is refreshingly spirited, ambitious female for her times and makes a sweet heroine for Bastian. The way she held the Gazette is really amazing and the adjustments she was ready to make for Bastian was sweet. Earlier I did not like Bastian that much, but in this book, his real character is shown making him a really kind person.

Another heartwarming sweet story!

Eve Shelling wants to make the local paper something special. Even though her father makes all final decisions, she is basically the one running it. She just needs an article that will shine, and one that her father will run. The le Ducs selling their smithy should be a worthy topic.

Sébastien le Duc and his siblings almost meant to return home to France. The last thing they need to do is sell their blacksmith business. Sébastien owes it to the town to find the right person to buy it. That's where Eve comes in. She can help him make the tough decision. Leaving England is hard enough, but having to say goodbye to Eve may prove impossible.

Author Erica Ridley's 12 DUKES OF CHRISTMAS resumes with the next le Duc sibling, Sébastien. He and Eve are just perfect for one another. Both are bold as brass willing to fight for what they want. A long-ago mistake has Eve afraid to warm up to males in general, so I was touched to see that Sébastien was the one too get past her defenses. So glad they got their HEA. I am so happy more of these stories centered around the le Duc family. There is just something so special about them and I hated to see them leave Cressmouth (Christmas) without learning what would happen to all three of them. I cannot wait to read the next Lucien's story.

This was a fun book!
Loving this series and I recommend it to anyone who needs something to take their mind off the everyday!

How does Erica do it?? Another fantastic book in the 12 Dukes of Christmas series. I had been hoping Bastien would get a book when I read the previous one, so I was happy to see him here. I love the le Duc family. This book had some really interesting issues that I found very thought-provoking, from what is “home” to how to deal with some questionable morals. Very entertaining!

The charming village of Cressmouth plays host again to the next installment in the series. This time we meet Eve Shelling, running the Cressmouth Gazette on behalf of her ageing father. She wants nothing more than to be recognized as a serious reporter, and to do that she has to change the tone of their quarterly paper to a more serious one. She has the idea to write about the upstanding citizens of their village, starting with the Le Duc brothers, who run the blacksmith.

Sebastian le Duc had one ambition, to return to France with his brother, Lucien, to reclaim their birthright. But his goals become more muddled the more time he spends in Eve’s company.

Another short story filled with interesting characters and an interesting story arc. Sebastian seems frivolous on the surface, but he turns out to be kind, loyal, and filled with dreams of his own. I liked Eve as a character. She was funny and interesting. Both Sebastian and Eve had to make some choices and adjust their goals for their futures.

I really enjoyed this book, and would love to read Lucien’s story.

I received an advanced copy of the book from Netgalley to review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I absolutely love this series, and each one is a light fun read. Eve and Bastien are such likeable characters both hardworking individuals who have known life-changing heartache. Both have earned their happily ever after. Like all the books in this series, the romance isn't smooth sailing, and the couple has to weather a few bumps in the road. 

This is a great series, each book can be read as a standalone, but I recommend reading it in order. I am anxiously awaiting the next book, which will feature Bastien's brother. 

I received an arc of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Duke's Embrace, by Erica Ridley, is available at booksellers on 12-3-19. Embrace is book 7 in The 12 Duke's of Christmas series. An ambitious project, 12 stories about 12 "dukes" before Christmas but Ms Ridley is making a fantastic go of it. We're still in the village of Cressmouth, better known as Christmas. The picturesque village is a holiday dream come true. Tourist trade keeps them going and nothing should get in the way of a visitors enjoyment. The Cressmouth Gazette is on the verge of doing such a thing.

Ms Eve Shilling wants to be a "real" journalist, not just write about all things Christmas and touristy. She runs the paper but her father owns it. She's got serious self esteem issues. Blames herself for all kinds of bad things past and future. She wants out of Cressmouth and away from her troubles, which we all know would follow her anyway. She's been immersed in her work for so long that she's almost blind to the world if it's not a story. When she finally looks up Eve is hit with a powerful attraction that she doesn't want.

Sebastien "Bastien" le Duc is a dandy with morals, values, a conscious, and a sense of family & duty. Not your typical dandy. It to give him a boost to his self esteem to be dressed to the nines & admired. He's something special. He works hard at it, even making his own clothes. He kinda wants to go home to France and kinda doesn't, he's been gone almost 2 decades. He's aware of Eve long before she notices him. Neither is interested in anything but a short term romance but the heart wants what the heart wants.

There are holes in the story but I was so invested in the characters that it didn't matter. I liked these two. You're going to love the bullmastiff, Duenna. It's Spanish for a companion and that's exactly what she is. I'm waiting on the next installment, the last le Duc brother and the hardest to imagine with an HEA. Hurry Ms Ridley, write faster.

@12Dukes #EricaRidley #TheDuke'sEmbrace #Netgalley #historicalromance

This is my second book in the Twelve Dukes series. This one gets 3-1/2 stars, because I didn't completely "buy" into the story. I feel more length would have made the story more realistic and the love story more believable.

I received and ARC from NetGalley for my honest opinion.

This was a really fun read. This Christmas series gets better with each story. Eve is a journalist wanting to be taken seriously. Bastien is the heartthrob blacksmith who has a few illegal activities on the side. Together they are adorable and a bad idea. This one has plenty of humour and I loved the bang between them.

Highly entertaining, fun, engaging and action packed adventure filled with interesting charters, witty banter, emotional thrills and undeniable passion.... was a great read from beginning to end. Really enjoyed this journey!

Eve dreams of the perfect story that will get her to London. Instead of writing just about the village and the celebrations during the holidays, she decides on a human interest story. Her most attractive subject is one of the local blacksmiths, Bastien. Only Bastien has a secret that can destroy the love they have for each other.. A short book full of conflict and romance.

I have not read the first 5 books in the series, I have read the 6th book because I was given that for review. I feel like for the 6th book I didn’t feel like I needed to read the first 5 books to connect with the story and the town and the characters and I really enjoyed that one. For this one though I don’t know what happened but I could not connect with the characters or the romance. I wanted to love this one and it just didn’t do it for me. The romance just seemed rushed and I just didn’t care for the characters at all. The story was alright and I still intend to continue on with the series. I also really need to read the first 5 books

THE DUKE’S EMBRACE by Erica Ridley
I loved this simple story of a young lady who dreams of becoming a renowned journalist in London. Miss Eve Shelling’s father owned the only printing press in Cressmouth famous for its yuletide cheer Christmastide feeling all year round. Eve no longer wanted to write puff pieces for the paper. She wanted to write hard hitting action pieces. She needed the experience if she was ever to make it big in London. Monsieur Sebastien le Duc is one of the local smithies. His eldest brother Lucien was the other smithy. The reason they were in England is a terrible tragic story. They escaped France during the peasant revolution. Bastien’s family’s dream has been to return to France and try to reclaim their title and lands their parents had. It has been eighteen years and now the time was at hand to leave. That had been the plan. Eve fought her attraction to Bastien at every turn. When Bastien set his eyes on her there was no going back. If you read the last book in the series you know the type of other business the le Duc’s were involved with. Eve found out and was going to expose all those involved. I liked the characters very much. Strong, loyal, determined and honest. Family first was something Eve and Bastien had in common. What was to happen to Eve and Bastien’s budding romance? What was going to happen to the le Duc family if Eve printed an expose? Will they flee to France or be stuck in England? I enjoyed the story. It was entertaining and fun to read. I do recommend this story. I received an Advanced Readers Copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

What a fun little town! This story is a nice addition to the series. A dominating father for the journalist and the Frenchmen are ready to return home. So why suddenly do they notice each other? The story unfolds in a delightful tale. I enjoyed the book.

I thought that was really enjoyable story!

It was a little slow to start but as soon as I got in to the story and pace built up I thought it was a real page turner and a really nice romantic story that was genuinely heart-warming in places. It has well developed characters that work well together.

The plot was well developed and the author had a nice writing style. The flow for the story was good too. It is 4 stars from me for this one, highly recommended!!