The webs we weave when first we attempt to deceive. When Lady Isabelle finds herself in a potentially compromising situation while stranded in a small inn during a vicious snowstorm, her traveling companion stricken ill, she finds herself depending on the honor of an anti-social stranger.

DAWN WITH A DUKE by Erica Ridley is a sweetly romantic tale of two people, from different stations in life who find their heartstrings being knotted together, with Calvin’s pride and Isabelle’s deceit the only thing standing between them.


This sweet romance doesn’t have an over-the-top, macho hero, instead it has a man of substance and emotion trying to earn his way in life. Isabelle is a wonderfully lost member of high society that had me chuckling at her inability to dress herself! A delightful tale with all of the warmth and surprising twists that Erica Ridley is known for!

I received a complimentary ARC edition from Erica Ridley and and Web Motion! This is my honest and voluntary review.

I don’t generally read in the genre, but I have seen a lot of good reviews for the Duke series and so I requested an Advanced Reader Copy of Dawn with a Duke. I have been craving light and fun reading with everything going on in the world, and this book was very charming.

Set around the Christmas holiday season, this is a historical romance with Lady Isabelle as the main character. Belle gets waylaid while traveling because her maid falls ill and she ends up snowed in at a remote Inn. Though she is the daughter of a Duke, she decides to pose as a wealthy widow for safety.

Once there she meets Calvin, a tailor who is preparing for an upcoming business meeting with a potential investor. Of course everyone falls in love and it’s adorable and very improbable and it actually did make me forget about the world for a little bit, so I call it a success!

Thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley for the ARC, I enjoyed it, and I’ll probably dip back into the series from here.

Will she follow or break the rules she was breed in ...

I follow this series since its first book, and each is a delight as the duke is oft far from the usual and expected peer of the realm.
This new couple is a fun association, as they each stand at one edge of the society’s ladder.
Yet they are so complementary.
Belle has been repeated again and again what she must do or not and thinking is one of the deeds a lady must forbore. Her lady’s edicts are so engrained in her, she at first chooses greater discomforts to lesser one to follow the rules as to be at ease she would have to set aside everything she had been taught.
It was fun to see her discover by herself the many impediments her breeding weights on her freedom. It was like she landed in the twilight zone, as she has to think and rethink everything twice from Lady Isabelle’s view then her new alter ego’s.
Calvin is such a sweetheart, while he dresses like a man of the ton, he is no gentleman nor rake, just a man who wants to better his fellow men’s life. He is devoted to his trade which he envisions like a kind of affordable art, he creates but it is not for an elite, it must be shared for everyone.
I loved how they come from strangers to neighbors of unfortunately stuck in the same place to a kind of associates before becoming friends.

This new addition to this series is a cheerful and delight, with two out of the ordinary people.
5 stars

I was granted an advance copy by the author, here is my true and unbiased opinion.

The latest in the village of Christmas series. A short book which is a fun read. Hidden identities, unusual activities for a lady and the inevitable happy ending. Can’t wait for the next book.

What a wonderful romance on the way to Christmas!

Calvin and Belle find themselves snowed in just long enough to fall in love! Both are on their way to Cressmouth, the mountain town where Christmas is celebrated year-round, and circumstances force them to rely on each other far more than propriety would allow.

I absolutely adored the way these two were so uncharacteristically at ease with each other right from the start. It's a perfect match of two people who have a deep, innate connection even though they're from such far different worlds.

Watching them fall in love is the sweetest part of the story, and just as their forever seems within reach, all Belle's secrets come rushing out and their HEA appears to have melted away with the snow. I really liked the way the author developed these characters. Belle's dilemma was heartbreaking, and her bravery to overcome it was admirable.

This entire series is enchanting and I can't wait to read the next installment. Do yourself a favor this holiday season and binge-read all of these delightful books. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.

This has to be one of my favourites in this series. It's a delightful storyline where two strangers have a chance meeting on their way to Cressmouth, the picturesque Christmas place which has now become familiar.

Calvin likes his own company. He isn't one for socialising and avoids being noticed at all costs.

Belle is a Duke's daughter. She has to behave "properly" as the high society demands. She has her own dreams, but she feels obligated to honour her family name.

Calvin and Belle meet when they are stranded in a post house, just outside Cressmouth. Her maid is taken ill and she acts quickly to retain her reputation. She feels gauche without a chaperone and as it happens the only free dinner table is occupied by Calvin. He indicates the free seat, but regrets it straightaway. He is not one for small talks. Belle feels even worse as she is not used to the lifestyle offered in the post house. This is an awkward situation, but will they try to make the best of it?

Calvin and Belle's interactions are adorable. The build up to their romance is rather sweet. Belle's desire to please her family at the cost of the own happiness is frustrating. In the end she goes for what she really wants and she does so admirably. Beautifully portrayed.

I received an ARC from the author and the views expressed are my personal opinion.

Great fun, excellent escapism. Erica Ridley develops a warm relationship between likeable characters with a bit of jeopardy thrown in. If you like Lisa Kleypas and Eloisa James then this is for you. Thankyou for providing this free ARC in return for an honest review. I will be looking out for more by the author.

Dawn With a Duke is the latest story in Erica Ridley's 12 Dukes of Christmas series, but it doesn't take place in the village of Cressmouth and it doesn't involve a duke.

The plot revolves around Lady Isabella Borland, the sister of the Duke of Nottingvale. En route to his Christmas house party, her journey is cut short when her maid becomes ill. They then are stranded at an inn due to a winter storm that halts all travel. During her stay at the inn, she meets Calvin, another guest who is a tailor with plans of starting a line of ready-made clothing for working-class men. In order to protect her reputation while her maid is ill, Isabelle poses as a widow who has no need of a chaperone. Isabelle and Calvin develop a friendship, then collaborate on his business plan. As their feelings for each other grow, Isabelle realizes that her real identity as a member of nobility would threaten her relationship with Calvin.

I loved the characters, the writing, and the plot of this story. There were no villains and no abductions, just a lovely story of how 2 people from 'different levels of society find common ground in which love can take root,

This is a charming story set around the Christmas holiday season. It is an easy, fun read and I highly recommend it.

Lady Isabella and her maid, who she is extremely close to are traveling to her brother's estate to spend the Christmas season. On the way, her maid becomes extremely ill and the snowy weather gets bad forcing them to stop at an inn on the way. They discover her maid has influenza.

Belle has had propriety preached to her forever, she is the daughter of a Duke after all, and decides that for sake, she can't use her real name and title. She poses as a well to do widow and meets Calvin, a tailor who is in the area to pitch a business idea to a potential investor.

They end up being snowed in at the inn and Belle has to call on Calvin's assistance to help with her buttons as her maid in incapacitated.

What follows is a slow burn of a romance where Belle and Calvin learn of each others dreams and talents and fall in love.

You may need to suspend your belief a time or two, but it is a gem of a romance and unless you are a real stickler for historical accuracy it shouldn't bother you.

I received an ARC of the book but any opinions expressed are my own

I have loved all of the 12 Dukes of Christmas books so far. Erica Ridley has such a way with her stories and characters. This is the story about Lady Isabelle a dukes daughter. But when her chaperone falls sick on the way to the party. Isabelle has no choice but to pretend to be a widow for her reputation. Calvin McAlistair’s plans change when he gets snowbound at the post house. This story has a funny turn of events. I really enjoyed this book.

This is a quick and steamy read set in the close confines of a posting house in winter. Dawn with a Duke is the 9th is a series of holiday themed stories all with some sort of Duke in each book. I liked Calvin our hero he was sweet and interesting, and I liked that he was more forward with his feelings that most heroes. Belle was a pretty good heroine, but I felt like she was a little be under developed. Overall I love forced proximity books so I enjoyed myself.

5 stars

Excellent story, I am enjoying the 12 Dukes of Christmas, though they are not all dukes. This one is a talented tailior and he meets Lady Isabelle in an Inn close to Cressmouth. I liked the interaction between Belle and Calvin and for the mahority of the books it's just kisses. Calvin encourages Belle's artistic talents and she gradually sees that there is a different future available that isn't being a spinster or rich mans wife. The book is quite a quick read and I think you will enjoy it, It reads as a standalone, though other characters from the series do take part.

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

Lady Isabelle / Mrs. L’épine / Belle ends up stranded at a posting house when her maid/companions falls sick with the flu. There is one tiny room for Belle and so she is separated for the duration from her maid and driver. In order to remain respectable, she takes on the persona of a widow and gets a taste of independence. She quickly realizes that being alone isn’t all it’s cracked up to be, especially when she can’t dress/undress herself so she strikes up a friendship with the handsome bachelor, Mr. Calvin McAlister, next door. Not only does Belle convince him to button/unbutton her dresses each day; she goes to work painting images for his catalogue. Both have their moments of being socially awkward but soon realize that there is a strong attraction between them. Calvin is wonderful and supportive, right up until Belle tells him who she really is and then his mind turns to the worst thoughts. Belle is so used to doing what her family expects of her that she wasn’t prepared to do what was best for her and what she wanted; thankfully he maid, Ursula, is her champion and incredibly supportive. One of my favourite lines by Ursula is is “Don’t wait for a hero,Be one.” Once again, Erica Ridley has written a story that I absolutely love.

An adorable holiday romp that I thoroughly enjoyed. A lot of humor an heart packed within less than 200 pages.

This story had a lot of my catnip - forced proximity, class differences.

Calvin was such a fantastic hero. He was a genuinely good guy and I loved reading about a working man, in this case a tailor and clothing designer, which is the first time I've ever read a hero have this type of career in a historical romance! He also was progressive and supportive of Belle's dreams, which is a sexy characteristic in a hero.

Lady Isabella was a fun heroine who wanted more from her life from what society dictated. Great moment when she found her strength and followed her heart.

Together, trapped in an inn for a couple of weeks, it was such a fun ride watching these two get to know each other and fall in love. I was never bored with this story.

Great story, can't wait to read the rest of this anthology.

Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC of this book, my opinions are freely given.

The book was fun and the writing style was very breezy, not like the highbrow Austen wannabes that attempt to combine light-hearted historical romance with the "lofty" writing style of the Regency. The book is part of a holiday'themed series, which was also nice. However, it was rather slow. By chapter seven, our main characters are still barely on the brink of a friendship, let alone anything more.

Lady Isabelle is trapped at a posting house on the way to her brother's castle for the Christmas holidays, the result of an influenza outbreak and a snowstorm that buried the town. With her lady's maid downstairs in the sickroom and Isabelle having to take the only remaining room at the inn, she disguises herself a "Mrs. Lepine" to avoid any untoward accusations or gossip. Unfortunately, the room next to hers is occupied by the most handsome man on earth, one who is setting about transforming men's fashions of the day. (That's not a euphemism... he really is a fashion designer/tailor with bold ideas.)

There are reasons the duo form a partnership of sorts, and the result is really entertaining. While the love story was slow to come to life, it eventually reaches an unexpected twist.

“I’ll be back for as long as you want me…”
“I’ll always want you.”

Belle and Calvin’s romance is what I’d consider a historical insta-love story. While traveling to the picturesque Town of Cressmouth, a snow storm keeps them staying in an inn where they become comfortable companions then lovers…never dreaming that it would develop into something so much more…

Erica Ridley’s characters just make you smile when they get their HEA! I adore this series and can’t wait for the next installment!

**I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book that I received via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own. **

What a fun twist on the Duke theme. I think I smiled through most of the book. The characters are fun and interesting. The idea of using a duke to sell product is different from most books and the twist of relationships in the end is delightful.

I really liked the story. This author does keep me entertained. I never go wrong selecting one of her books to read.

5 of 5 stars

I love this series! The latest books features Calvin McAlistair, a talented tailor, and Lady Isabelle, daughter of a duke. Calvin is working toward a dream of having the duke invest in his ready-made clothing line. Lady Isabelle has been drilled over and over that her reputation is her most precious commodity. When a snowstorm traps both Calvin and Isabelle, they soon learn that everyone needs a champion to believe in them. Is there a world where a commoner and a lady can find true love?

Calvin was such a good and honorable hero who had his own insecurities to overcome. He's terribly awkward with people, but when Isabelle enlists his help to button and unbutton her gowns while her maid is in the sickroom, he becomes comfortable with the beauty. For the first time in her life, someone is seeing the real person instead of her rank. When Calvin agrees to let her to paint his illustrations, Isabelle is overcome with emotion that someone believes she is a talented painter. I felt bad for Isabelle especially the way her family treated her as an object instead of a young woman. That was the way of the ton in that era and I was so glad when Isabelle finally stood up for herself. Ms. Ridley writes such compelling characters and I'm looking forward to the next book in the series.

I’ve read a lot of Erica ridleys books and this one has been as cute as ever. The couple has a great connection and the scenes in which they watch the sunsets every evening, had me just sighing with happiness. It’s the first time that I’ve seen a tailor being made the hero in a Regency romance book and it was very well done indeed. The whole thing was just cute as a button like all the ‘Duke at Christmas’ books.

Lady Isabelle and Calvin McAlistair are both stuck at the same posting inn on their way to Cressmouth (aka Christmas). Belle is on her way to her brother’s annual Christmas party and Calvin is on his way to secure an investor for his company. They soon discover their interlude at the inn might jeopardize those plans.

Erica Ridley writes the BEST heroes and Calvin was no exception. I adore historical romances but they’re so overrun with the arrogant hero that’s slept with everything in skirts that it gets old. Calvin is a great guy without being boring. He still has a past and I loved learning about it.

Ridley’s heroines are also fantastic. Belle might be a lady but she’s not a typical one. She dreams of something more, especially beyond the kind of marriage her family expects her to have.

This was a super easy read and a great addition for a fabulous series. I cannot wait for the next title!!