I recieved an ARC from the publisher via Netgalley in return for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
This isn't the first book of Erica Ridley that I have read and I am sure that it won't be the last one.
This book was an easy and engaging read. Two people stranded during a snow storm fall in love during process. But getting to the falling in love was creative and detailed and helped to place the two characters in vivid detail throughout the book.
Lady Isabelle becomes stranded at an inn without the aid of her lady maid. She has to think fast in order to protect her identity and not shame her family by being discovered for her true identity.
Calvin is stranded at the same inn as Lady Issabelle working on a deadline to help get his new business endeavor off of the ground.
Both are struggling with a problem that causes them to need each other's help. Lady Isabelle uses an alisas to protect her identity and protect her family name. Lady Isabelle can not dress herself and seeks the help of Mr. Calvin. They find a mutual need and come to an agreement to each other until they have to part ways.
While working together on their mutual agreement they slowly come to fall in love. However lady Isabelle hidden identity comes to light causing a rip between Calvin and Lady Issabelle.
The rest of the book continues with finding a way for lady Isabelle and Calvin to find their way back together despite their difference in status.

Regency readers will delight in this captivating story. Erica Ridley has outdone herself with this charming tale of two strangers stranded in a small inn. The storyline is poignant and slightly eccentric at times , but thoroughly enjoyable. It is a wonderfully sweet tale. I received an advanced reader copy of this work from netgalley and all opinions are my own. Regards and happy reading, Anna

Erica Ridley is an author I enjoy. This was a good book with good character development. I would recommend this author to others.

I recieved an ARC from the publisher via Netgalley in return for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Lady Isabelle is heading to her brother's estate for the Christmas holiday, but her maid ends up sick with influenza so they have to stop at an inn. It's here that she meets tailor Calvin McAlistair, and they strike up an easy friendship. Unfortunately, she doesn't tell the truth about who she is and that secret could tear apart their budding romance.

I had read one other Erica Ridley book and I could not connect to the characters. I did not have that problem with this book. I really enjoyed it. Belle was feeling constricted by the circumstances of her birth, and having to adhere to the societal pressures of being a Duke's sister. She pretends to be a widow at the inn that she is stuck at during the snowstorm. This allows her and Calvin to spend a lot of time alone working on his affordable clothing line. It was nice that Calvin was so into Belle, and it's usually the hero is fighting his feelings. This was a short and sweet read. I wish it hadn't wrapped up so easily. Besides the misunderstanding there wasn't a real "black moment". The duke didn't even have any objections or anything. That would be my one complaint.

Lady Isabelle is the daughter of a Duke who is bound by all the rules of society. She stops at a posting inn when her maid gets sick, so she poses as a widow to draw less attention to herself and not require a chaperone wherever she goes. She meets Calvin McAlistair, a tailor and fellow traveler, when they have dinner together. When it turns out their rooms are next door to each other, he reluctantly agrees to help her undo her gown. During their time at the inn when most people are sick with the flu, they develop a friendship and she offers to help him by drawing illustrations for his clothing designs.

Calvin is a bit of a grump and he's hesitant to let Isabelle close to him after losing people he has loved in the past and you can't fault him for his way of thinking. Their social classes may be different, but their hearts and minds are in sync. It's fun to see they journey they take to reach a HEA.

It is a book in a series, but I read this one without having read the others and it's great as a stand-alone novella and I definitely would read more of this author.

An honest review is provided in exchange for receiving a copy of the ARC from Netgalley.

This is the ninth book of Ms. Ridley's amazing 12 Dukes of Christmas series.
I am totally in love with this series! I have slowly been filling up my library with Ms. Ridley's books and I couldn't be happier. All her books provide romance, wit, humor, and a high level of entertainment. Of course, this book was no different. In this delightful story, Lady Isabella, sister of the Duke of Nottingvale, ends up stranded in an inn due to a snowstorm. Calvin is also stranded in the same inn. Calvin and Isabella develop a connection while stranded together, however, when Isabella's true identity is found out, will their love have a chance to grow and blossom? Isabella's and Calvin's characters were very likable and endearing and you can't help but fall in love with them and root for them. The dialogue was witty and entertaining and the overall storyline was captivating. Definitely loved this book and am eager to read the next one!

I have read a few Erica Ridley books and have always enjoyed the period romances full of charm and drama. It is a perfect read for escaping for an afternoon into a lovely romance (that is a little predictable but definitely enjoyable!).

Looking forward to reading more of her novels in the future!

Overall- a pleasant read, a bit boring in some spots, predicable in others. I would recommend.
Author has an easy very nice writing style, story flows nicely. For a novella, it is very well presented and thought out, not rushed, except for the very end.
The story setting itself doesnt really go anywhere and that may contributed to the boring feel, there was a lot of repetitiveness and I found Belle to be a bit of a conflict in that she is a proper titled lady, has inner thoughts of what should be expected and demands yet she is really only sympathetic to her own maid, the other maids she treats like servants. While this isnt a problem per se, I found it really didnt suit with her character. If she was really having snobbish thoughts about how she should be treated, then I dont think she would have treated her maid so well. Her thoughts on saving her pristine reputation were a bit too much as they were repeated nearly every chapter.
A quick, light read, simple storyline, great author.

I always enjoy Erica Ridley's books (and I've read a ton of them), and Dawn with a Duke was no different, despite its flaws.

I read many historical romances with one MC being nobility and one not, but sometimes the circumstances stretch the imagination. Dawn with a Duke was one of those times. I couldn't help being very skeptical of how these two worked out their improbable romance in the end.

I was charmed, however, by the writing style and the story. I always love the way that Erica Ridley writes, and how she manages to make novellas feel fully fleshed out. I really enjoyed the male MC and his ingenuity, and I liked the female MC, even though she felt self-absorbed at times.

Where the story lost me a bit was at the end. A total deus ex machina ending, as one of my friends put it. I couldn't fathom how everything could possible work out, and it seemed like the author rushed things and then magically made their problems disappear.

However, I'm a sucker for a holiday romance, so I know I'll eat this entire series up (in fact, I already have another on my Kindle). I think there is a lot of potential here.

*Copy provided in exchange for an honest review*

This is a charming period romance with lovely characters and settings. It's just the kind escapism that I'm looking for these days and especially during the holidays. Perfect to curl up in front of the fire with a cup of tea.

Two people who enjoy their own company are next door neighbors at an inn during a snow storm. The gentleman next door is in trade. Belle is the sister of a Duke, but pretends to be a widow. With her maid sick, Belle needs help with her buttons. The gentleman next door comes to her aid. A connection builds between them and they fall in love. After Belle reveals her true identity, is she willing to fight for what she really wants? I really enjoyed the perfect ending.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book.

This is one of my absolute favorites in the 12 Dukes of Christmas series. To me, this one seemed like the most romantic, most genuine of the novels, with a relationship that developed organically.

This is a fast-paced novella that really explores the relationship between a man and a woman, Calvin and Belle were quietly romantic, genuinely fond of each other, and honestly caring of each other. It was a really tender romance, and I'm glad that I read it.

I read this the same weekend I read One Night with a Duke and inadvertently read the titles out of order. Because of the timeline of these stories, it didn't matter, as each title complements the other without detracting from the independence of each title - they work well in the series, they can be read as a standalone.

This one felt a little madcap - but it was delightful. Ridley sprinkles eccentricity and humour in her tales so you grin throughout the reading while rooting for the characters who obviously overcome their stubbornness and stupidity to fall in love, happily ever after. The pacing and dialogue work in providing a fun, decadent escape from the mundane of everyday life. I enjoy the tempo and voice of the author and this title was no exception.

Imogen Huxley’s husband passed without leaving her any money to survive. His parents are kicking her out of their family home and she has no where to turn. The only thing she can think to do is to become a mistress to a wealthy gentlemen but her family has barred her from going to any reputable establishments. As she goes into a notorious brothel, she has second thoughts about her whole plan and tries to make a run for it. Unfortunately, instead of finding a door to the outside she walks onto a balcony where she witnesses the body of a dead girl and the discussion of what to do with her. Fleeing for her life she runs straight into the arms of Oscar Fitzhugh, a mysterious, but very handsome club owner.

Oscar is sure that the woman he loved was murdered by someone at that same brothel and believes that by helping Imogen he can figure out who is murdering innocent girls.

Imogen and Oscar have a connection from the start. This book is the last in the series and these two characters have been mentioned in previous books but this can also be a stand-alone novel. It is a fast, fun read that I thoroughly enjoyed.

Thanks to the publisher for a review copy via NetGalley.

Light hearted historical romance featuring two interesting characters,not typical to the time. An enjoyable read.

Erica Ridley writes lovely romances that sweep me off my feet. I totally jumped at the chance to read this book on NetGalley because her books are just so sweet and whisk me away to another time and place. Who doesn't want a little escape with a dash of romance?

I like that this relationship builded over time and wasn't just suddenly there. The romance that eventually comes is absolutely beautiful and dreamy. The leads have legitimate flaws to make them feel real, but that's what makes this book so charming. They aren't perfect and their romance is one for the ages.

Add in the fact that this book isn't super long and that it moves at a fast pace = You've got yourself a real winner!

Overall, this regal romance is definitely on my must read romance list!

Four out of five stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and WebMotion for providing me a free copy of this book in exchange of an honest review.

This is a sweet and romantic story about a woman stranded at an inn during a snowstorm and without a companion so she decided to take the room as a widow. But having no maid brings on it's challenges and as a duke's sister she doesn't want to ruin her reputation. What begins as a small favor from her next door neighbor at the inn will turn into much more. I loved reading about a male designer in this era. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone looking for a sweet romantic read. This is book nine in the 12 Dukes of Christmas but can be read as a standalone.

* I received this ARC from NetGalley and the publisher for an honest review*

Book 9 in this author's series and it did not disappoint! It's a lovely Christmas romance filled with humor along with great characters and a very good story! I loved it!

This is a voluntary review of an advanced copy.

I seriously doubted that I could enjoy this book when Isabelle was stranded in Houville, and she was so helpless that she could not figure out how to do anything. She started to grow on me as she got a bit more courage and then she kind of went all out warrior woman by the end of the book!

All I can say is it was a good thing that she stood up for herself and didn't allow Calvin's deal and dream of his life to fall apart. Seriously wonder what happened with his partner Jonathan, so really looking forward to that book coming out and really really hope that we get to see the fall of the Duke - Vale, he really needs to get a bit more humble!

This is such a fun series and am trying to patiently wait for the next book in the series!

Actual Rating 3.5 stars
All the books in the 12 dukes series can be read as standalone and in no particular order. I like this series as it is heartwarming, with unique characters in a fairytale setting.

What I loved about this was our hero was not of the upper classes. The son of a seamstress he has developed a ready to wear wardrobe for everyman. He is humble, shy and endearing.

I wasn't too fond of Isabella. she comes across as immature and impulsive, but I loved how accepting and encouraging she was of Calvin's plans. I loved how she wanted to be more than her family expected. an artist in her own right.

The ending happened too quickly, in my opinion, and everything was wrapped so neatly. I felt like there should have been more. The romance was so sweet I thought it deserved more and for that, I rated it lower than I would have if the ending was better.

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