This book, the 10th in the 12 Dukes of Christmas series, did not satisfy me as much as the others. Jonathan, a roving entrepreneur, and Angelica, a jeweler, meet by chance when a snowstorm strands him in her village of Cressmouth. He was attracted by her exotic beauty, and she was attracted to his gregarious nature. I found some of the points annoying because they are found in other books in this series; he hated Christmas, she was a slave to her craft, she wore the same clothes every day, etc. I also did not discover what the 'duke' in the story was. This would be a difficult stand-alone read because of peripheral characters that had stories of their own in previous books, which would have confused me if I hadn't already read them . Of course, Angelica and Jonathan found their 'happily ever after'. I gave this only 3 stars because the plot seemed to be a copy of others, but the writing was good.

Opposites attract in this quirky Cressmouth romance, where Christmas is a year-round event. As with the previous novels in this series, the characters are out of the ordinary and generally march to a different drumbeat. Jonathan MacLean is a rolling stone that gathers no moss and has no intention of putting down roots anywhere, especially in Cressmouth. However, Angelica Parker draws him like a magnet, even though she does her best to repel him. Angelica doesn't have time for verbose visitors when she is racing against the clock to finish her jewelry pieces before Christmas so that she can spend time with her visiting family, and is therefore surprised when she realises that Jonathan's distractions actually aid in her meeting her goals. The story is well-written, witty, and heartwarming and I love the characters. Having met Angelica in previous books in the series, I was glad to read her story. I received a copy of this book through NetGalley and this is my honest and voluntary review.

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Jonathan MacLean finds himself stuck in the Christmas town of Cressmouth because of a snow storm. It is a novel experience for him, since he only spends enough time in one place to conclude his business there, and take in some of the sights the area has to offer before moving on to the next place. He is a charming, jovial man, making friends wherever he goes, but he never gets close to anyone, and he doesn’t give anybody else the chance to get close to him either. In Cressmouth, the industrious Miss Angelica Parker makes him pause, and for the first time, he has the desire to stay for a bit longer.

Angelica only wants to make a name for herself as a jeweler, away from the shadow of her family’s business. She loves her town, and her friends, and her shop. And then Jonathan showed her that she can make so much more of her business, something that she had only dreamed about before.

In many respects Jonathan and Angelica are opposites, and they look at life in very different ways. But Angelica’s quiet strength drew Jonathan in, and his friendly, non-judgmental, open nature was what made Angelica take a second look.

It was a quick, fun read, with plenty of romantic moments and character development, and a great addition to the entire series. You don’t have to read them in order to still enjoy each installment.

Thank you to WebMotion and Netgalley for providing me with an ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Well once again this was a great short story. I enjoyed this wonderful sweet quirky couple. I enjoyed their journey of self understanding and the fact that it’s was brought them together. Stand alone within a series.

I thought this book was fun. The premise of a white man marrying a black woman in the 1800s made it more of a fantasy book than some. It was a cute premise and I liked that the heroine wasn't a pushover. I am going to read more of Erica Ridley's books after this for sure.

Jonathan MacLean is a philanthropist, adventurer, and a shrewd businessman and investor. He runs from his unhappy past and the father who never acknowledged him as fast as he can. He stays in a town no longer that he must and never visits the same town twice. He works constantly to prove he can make it on his own, without his father and his father’s money. When a blizzard strands him in Cressmouth, he explores the town. In his wanderings, he meets Miss Angelica Parker. Angelica is a talented jeweler. When her father left the family jewelry business to only her brother, she accepted a deal in Cressmouth to open her own shop. She is determined to prove herself as an artisan, to make it on her own. Jonathan is immediately stricken with Angelica. He is an irresistibly friendly chatterbox who makes others, including Angelica feel at ease. These two are falling hard for each other, but there are obstacles. The biggest, that Jonathan can’t stay still and doesn’t want to stay in one place, while Angelica wants to have roots, a home, and friends and family close by. Is there a compromise that can make them both happy, or will they just say goodbye? It’s a good thing Angelica has a big brother.

This is a fast-moving (just like Jonathan) sweet story. There is good chemistry between Jonathan and Angelica. The residents and tourists in Cressmouth are friendly and welcoming and the town is festive as usual. There are appearances by characters from the other stories in the series, and some new ones. Angelica’s family is visiting for Christmas, and they are delightful, especially her nieces. I laughed when her older brother, Luther, was offended that she allowed a SCOT into her shop, when he is never allowed. Business is done, and the venture is better than expected. I love the way the story ended. One Night with a Duke is another happy visit to Christmas, and also provides insight into the Black community in England after slavery was outlawed. It is a great addition to the series. Oh, and there were ten…lads hanging ornaments. Nothing about leaping lords. A good story. I recommend it.

I received an ARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. My review is voluntary.

The fun of reading this series is finding out who or what the duke is in it. In One Night With a Duke, finding the duke is not quite so obvious. There's Duke, the one-eyed cat, there's Duke, Calvin's manikin (from the previous book), and lastly the business Fit for a Duke. Jonathan MacLean is Calvin's partner and the "legs" of the business. Since he loves to go to different places, it is no hardship for him to promote their designs. He never goes back to a place a second time. So how does a Christmas hating man find himself in Cressmouth aka Christmas during the Yuletide and snowed in to boot. Having an adventurous soul Jonathan wants to explore this new to him town. He walks into the local jeweler shop and is gobsmacked by Miss Angelica Parker. As they spend time together, their mutual attraction grows. Will Jonathan be willing to put down roots for Angelica? Why has he never celebrated Christmas? I like the way Erica Ridley handles their difference in race. Although she describes the abolition of slavery in England, but the growing friendship and romance is more matter of fact. Why not? England did not have to fight a civil war in order for their people of color to have rights. Only two more dukes to be uncovered. I will be sad to see the series end, but have loved each and every book in it. And just who is the duke in this story? My money's on Fit For a Duke.

A bastard son of a duke meets a female black jeweler. He is very aloof and she serious. Together they find a happy medium and the love they didn’t know they needed.
Opinion
I’m not quite sure how this madness called the mind of Erica Ridley weaves such fantastic tales and manages to intertwine them from story to story. I am however convinced of her genius. The story does not disappoint and leaves me wondering if it could really have happened.
If you are pondering reading this book (or any others in the series), do it. You will not be sorry.

Another great 12 Dukes of Christmas novella. We got an idea of this one from the book before but I just loved the characters in this. Loved the Scot always up for a new place and new adventure and the jeweler just looking for a place a a Black artist. The Chemistry is there for this one which is nice with a novella. Enjoyed the setting as always with this series!

Overall, 5 stars and .5 steam

Highly Enjoyable.
Jonathan is a rolling stone, never visiting the same place twice and whilst gregarious never getting close to anyone. When a snow storm traps him in a little village, particularly one that celebrates Christmas on a grand scale (a season that he detests) he is horrified. Not wanting to do the Christmassy things laid on for visitors, he decides to make friends with the locals and comes across a beautiful jeweller. Angelica finds the chatty Scot a useful distraction in enabling her to work much faster than when her shop is quiet and empty. Both know their friendship is temporary and neither expect to fall in love. With their lifestyles so different how can they have a future?
English readers should note (if the author has not corrected the final copy) the use of hot biscuits rather than scones and red berries on mistletoe, lol.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from the author and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This was a light , short read that was enjoyable. Jonathan travels around the country , never staying in one place or forming any lasting relationships. Angelica is a jeweller, an unusual occupation for a woman. She stays in cressmouth year round, her family visit over Christmas yearly. The only time she gets to see them.
The two are opposites but form an attachment that seems unlikely to last , with Jonathan leaving soon and Angelica finally in a position to own her own premises.
Both protagonists are likeable and it was an enjoyable way to spend an afternoon as their story unfolds. . I give this book 3.5 stars

One Night with a Duke is the 10th book in a 12 book romance series set in Regency England and follows main characters jeweller Angelica Parker and investor Jonathan MacLean. Both Angelica and Jonathan are working hard and trying to make a name for themselves. Neither character believed they had enough time for someone significant, but help each other to grow and develop, falling in love along the way. It was nice to read a relationship that didn’t have communication issues and supported each other while still seeming realistic. I wish the backstories of Jonathan and Angelica were explored a little more, but I still think enough was given for the characters to be understood.

In terms of the time period, I really liked that this was an interracial couple, something that isn’t usually explored within the Regency time period and the added information about the lives of Black people at the time was interesting to read. Angelica’s character of a business woman was also something that was unexpected and refreshing to read about given the time period.

From what I understand, all the books in the series are set in the same place, which I can imagine links them really well. The Christmas theme was also unexpected, but was lovely and I think the length of the books is perfect for reading all 12 during the festive period, although, had this been a completely standalone novel, I would have liked more. I liked the reference to the 12 Days of Christmas in the book and I have since discovered this is a theme that runs through all 12 books, which is a lovely addition to the Christmas theme. While the book did focus of Angelica and Jonathan, secondary characters were present, such as Calvin, who I believe is featured in another book in the series. While it’s nice there was a link to another book, I was a little unsure who he was, so maybe it would be best to read these books in order.

I haven’t previously read anything by Erica Ridley, but I’m excited to read more from the series and the genre in the future.

Thank you to Netgalley, Webmotion and Erica Ryder for providing me with an ARC copy in exchange for my fair and honest review.

This sweet Regency romance is the tenth book in the 12 Dukes of Christmas series by one of my favorite romance authors, Erica Ridley. While the stories interconnect, each book focuses on one couple and can be enjoyed on its own. Each book also features a different “duke,” but the duke might not be what you were expecting. And watch for the relevant reference to “The Twelve Days of Christmas” carol in each book!

Our main characters are very likable and suit each other well. Jeweler Angelica Parker and investor Jonathan MacLean are both determined to prove their value through their business success. They are so driven to succeed that neither feels like they have time for a relationship. Throughout the course of the story, they discover that life is sweeter with the right person to share it with, and they have to figure out how to overcome their fears and insecurities to create success in both their personal as well as professional lives.

It’s a very clean, wholesome story, and it was nice to see an interracial romance set in this period. I appreciated the discussion of what life was like for Black people after slavery was abolished in England (and additional information is provided in the Author’s Note). I thought the ending was a little bit rushed, but there is a charming epilogue.

I recommend this book, and the entire series, for fans of Regency romance.

I was provided an ARC through NetGalley that I volunteered to review.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

After reading the previous installment in the series, I was excited for One Night with a Duke, with the hero being introduced in that book. As a result, while I felt the previous book could serve as a good stand-alone/starting point, I do feel this one is best read after reading that one.

Jonathan is an interesting hero, and having seen him as a secondary character in the previous book as Calvin’s business partner, it’s great to see him get his own story and development, particularly as he spends much of the narrative being so work-centric, until he meets Angelica and she has the potential to offer him something more.

I really liked Angelica’s character as a successful Black businesswoman in Regency London, while we never see her experience it directly, I like that Ridley did not shy away from depicting it, and making her character well-rounded. There are so many non-ownvoices portrayals of Black people (and other POC) in fiction that have been done wrong, but Ridley clearly had compassion for the Black people, as well as an awareness of the true extent of their lives in during the Regency era, which varied wildly from servant to aristocrat and everything in between.

This is another heartwarming entry in Erica Ridley’s 12 Dukes, and I can’t wait to see what’s next. If you love Regency romance but haven’t read Erica Ridley, this series is a great place to start: short, sweet, and full of holiday cheer!

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So here we are again in Christmas village - and we meet the partner - the wordsmith - and financier (part) of our wonderful tailor. The Clawhammer coat, breeches and waistcoat of the gentleman who wants to look like a Duke but only has a working man's salary.
Jonathan is peripatetic. He sees his job as to promote the various endeavours he has financed from ormulu weaving to tailoring to many other crafts and activities, small and large. And of course, he takes a small percentage of the income in return for lending the start-up funding. It turns out that he is illegitimate and has a trust fund from his father - but his own income is more than sufficient - except for this new concept of the ready-made outfit for men. He is also a great story-teller about his adventures.
He accidentally meets a jeweller. She has her own issues as although she learnt her trade from her father, he didn't think women should run their own businesses, and then it turns out she is also part African, descended from a freed slave.
There have been Black people living in the UK since Roman times at the very least, and it is thought that we had a Black queen - Queen Charlotte born 1761. By the late 1700s there were around 15,000 Black people known to live in the UK many were servants and domestic workers, but some were also tradesmen. The abolition of slavery in the British Empire in 1833 meant that there was no further immigration to boost numbers. Most lived in large ports and centres of population. Unfortunately, race was not commonly recorded in Parish Registers or Censuses, so it is difficult to be accurate about numbers or occupations.
What we do know is that lockets with small portraits and locks of hair were commonly worn and that many were intricately jewelled and decorated.

This is a delightful series of short novels with a mention of a Duke at some point in the storyline, and all set amongst characters we have met in previous stories about this imaginary village.

I received an advanced reader’s copy of One Night with a Duke by Erica Ridley.

This sweet romance is a nice addition to the 12 Dukes of Christmas series.

Angelica is a jeweler and Jonathon is an artist. Both are trying to make a name for themselves. Angelica has set roots in the town of Cressmouth while Jonathon never stays in a place long enough to form any connections. With their very different ways of life, they’ll need to compromise if they want to stay together. The only thing that is keeping them apart is their vision for their future.

I liked how the story ended and how things worked out for Jonathon and Angelica.

Another great read in this series and although it is a romance it also deals with a subject that is really relevant at this time where Black Lives Matter is at the forefront of the world politics. Just loved it. Erica never disappoints.

This is book #10 in the 12 Dukes of Christmas series of novellas by Erica Ridley. They're all standalone novellas, but this one is related to Dawn with a Duke since we see those characters reappear here, but there is no need to read them together or in order. You can if you want to, but it is unnecessary.

Jonathan arrives in town several days before his partner, so he has some time to kill waiting to get down to business. Jonathan has never really been a man to consider settling down, or even going back to the same town twice. While he's exploring the town, he meets Angeilica Parker, and he's smitten.

Angela is a highly-skilled black woman running her own business at a time/place when that is not the norm. And Erica Ridley does not shy away from the fact that this is not the norm, and that racism and sexism existing in Regency England,

This is one book where I wish it was a little bit longer. There could have been more development of the relationship and the story, although it does work well as a novella. I guess that's me being selfish and wishing for more.

This is the perfect book to snuggle up with on a cold winter's day. It's light, fun, fast-paced, and so very sweet.

Johnathan MacLean decided long ago that he would enjoy enjoy everything. His cheery spirit moves with him from town to town as he's determined to never set foot in the same place twice. One thing that dampens Johnathan's spirit: Christmas. Which is unfortunate considering he is visiting a town nicknamed Christmas during the Christmas season.

Angelica Parker has lived in Cressmouth (aka Christmas) for seven years. She has focused all her time and energy into her jewelry shop where, one day, her talent will lead her to be a grand success, proving to her family she didn't make a mistake when she left London. As a black woman, Angelica has to work harder for recognition but she has found a welcoming and supportive community in Cressmouth.

When Johnathan and Angelica meet, they are both determined not to get involved. Johnathan will be leaving and Angelica has far too much work to do. Yet, Johnathan cannot resist spending time in her shop while Angelica find his presence comforting. Soon they have to figure out whether it's possible to love each other when their lives are so very different.

I'm usually drawn to romances where the main male character is a curmudgeon. Something about a grumpy aristocrat being softened by a strong-willed women just does it for me. But it was refreshing to see the male character in this novel be so upbeat, cheerful, and supportive of others. He is generous with his time and his money, always searching for talented people with good ideas he can fund.

Angelica's reserved nature felt absolutely perfect for the character. She simplifies the rest of her life so she can devote her time and energy to her work. She is serious without being the kind of character who is boring with no sense of humor.

This is the first time I've read an historical romance with a interracial couple and it was so nice to see. I'm sure the lightness of this book can in no way capture the reality of being black in England at the time, however, it also isn't glossed over. There are discussions of slavery and Angelica challenges Johnathan, making him prove that he truly believes in abolition and in no way thinks of Angelica, or any other black person, as inferior. I do wonder what complication would ensue being in an interracial relationship in that time period but that's for a different book to address.

I thoroughly enjoyed with sweet romance story. From the start I was drawn in by Johnathan and Angelica's characters. I loved watching their relationship unfold. It's just the kind of lighthearted read that almost any reader could enjoy.

(And for those concerned with the level of intimacy, there is no sex in this book.)

Well! Now I know what was going on while Calvin and Belle were caught in the snowstorm. That being said, I don’t recommend reading this book without having read Dawn with a Duke first. Charming rogue and apparent wastrel, Jonathan MacLean is carefully guarding hidden depths behind that façade. Angelica Parker is succeeding in a world that’s telling her she shouldn’t. On the surface, this pair shouldn’t work. Angelica has strong ties to Cressmouth and the people around her, while Jonathan has never been anyplace he wanted to return to. And yet, this pair are drawn to each other. I thoroughly enjoyed their story, and, to be honest, I wish it had been longer. Both Jonathan and Angelica have backstories that could have been expanded on further, and I would have loved to have read more about that. The ending is everything that is sweet and adorable, I just thought it came about a touch too quickly. The further into the series we get, the more I’m falling in love with Christmas. I kind of never want to see the series end.
I received a complimentary advanced copy of this book from the author through NetGalley.