Another visit to wonderful to Cressmouth, a village where it seems Christmas all the time! This is Lucien le Duc the local blacksmith and Miss Margaret Church, spinsters delightful story!
Lucien's only goal had been for years to go back to his home in France and he has been saving. Alas it will be without his brother and sister who have both married and found happiness.
Meg Church was born to French parents and was raised in France during the war and time of turmoil. She longs for things she knows will just be taken away because it has in the past. So instead she embraces her spinsterhood. Secret liasons (oh yes!), loves meeting new people and helping those she can and a gift for organization all make up her person but she has had a secret admiration for Lucien for years!
As these two come together, there is so much humourous banter, laugh out loud moments, differing views on life but also an amazing attraction that yearns to break the barrier between them.
Prepare to be enchanted and not wanting this story to end! Well done!

The Duke’s Desire is book 8 in Erica Ridley’s 12 Dukes of Christmas romance series. So far I have loved each one of Ridley’s books. I have scored them with 5 star reviews because I felt that’s what they deserved. Unfortunately I can only give a four star review for this one. I loved the hero, but hated the heroine. Lucien le Duc is one smoldering, hot Frenchman. I enjoyed his taciturn personality, and his glaring silent rebukes. I enjoyed watching him gradually melt. But the heroine Meg Church just didn’t grab my heart. I thought her too vulgar and unbelievable for her Regency setting. Her crudeness and self centered lust made her unappealing and unbelievable. I am still a Ridley fan, just not a fan of this book. I was given a copy of this book.

When I first started reading this book I wasn't sure I was going to like it. But then I fell in love. I never stood a chance against totally improper, unflappable, hysterically funny Meg Church. And the things that came out of this woman's mouth, oh, my gosh! She made me laugh so many times throughout the book. When I wasn't laughing, I was grinning. And pretty much everyone else in her vicinity ended up feeling her caring, her humor and were pulled into her "web".
Scowling Lucien never stood much of a chance against Meg either. Meg and Lucien both had hard-times and pain in their childhood but Meg met everything with her zest for life. Both were also hard working and responsible and they were all about family. In Meg's case she didn't have all that much family left but loved the people she had. She's also sort of "adopted" other people along the way too. It was sad to hear her say that every time she was she got something that she wanted, she lost it. No matter how much she hurt, she just smiled, laughed and tried to move on. So you can see that this is also an emotional story as well.
Later on Lucien came to an unusual but utterly true conclusion about Meg. That she was extraordinary, utterly fearless, as unstoppable as a tornado and with a heart big enough to crumble Lucien's staunchest walls.
There is a wall or two between them though. One of them is the lure of France for Lucien and Meg's heart being in this forever Christmas village. Add to that there is another wall between; it's a secret that Meg holds.
The Epilogue holds the details of their H.E.A. which I liked seeing.

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

The Duke's Desire, by Erica Ridley, will be available at booksellers on 12-24-19. A Christmas romance on Christmas eve! Desire is book 8 in Ms Ridley's series The 12 Dukes Of Christmas. I'm with her to the end. Trying to figure who will be duke 9 to 12 is a mystery I'm still trying to solve. So many choices. We're still in the village of Cressmouth, where is Christmas all year round.

With Duke's Desire we come to the end of the le Duc family. All the siblings are firmly in their HEA's. Ms Ridley saved the best for last. Lucien le Duc has been a pain in the other 2 stories. He glowers, he smolders, he's curt, downright rude. He refuses to speak English, he's been here 18 years! Even after all these years he feels out of place, out of step, longs to go home to France & try to find his old life. I'm not sure he's understood that it will never be exactly the same but he does by the HEA. He's made a promise to his family that he'll try harder to learn English, he understands a lot but he can't communicate with the new English members of his family. He's motivated to learn and to return home.

Margaret Damaris Brouillard Church is just plain old Meg to everyone in Cressmouth. She spent many years, unhappy years, in France & offers to tutor Lucien. When he agrees boy do things heat up. She a 28 year old spinster & not a virgin anymore. She doesn't have lasting relationships, doesn't believe they exist. Tourist for a one nighter is her M.O. These two burn up the pages with looks, kisses and finally "it". Love them both.

A lightbulb went off, I'm ashamed it took me 8 books to realize the pun. The neighboring village is Houville! The Grinch Who Stole Christmas? Whoville? Cindy Lou Who? She got me there. It was fun.

#12Dukes #TheDuke'sDesire #Netgalley #EricaRidley #historicalromance

Lucien has a goal and nothing is going to distract him from returning to France to claim his inheritance. Unfortunately, he makes a promise to his young nephew and niece to learn English, something he has stood against the whole time he has resided in Cressmouth, where Christmas is a year-round event. His quest takes him to the Marlowe Castle library where he literally runs into the outrageous Miss Meg Church and before he knows it, she is tutoring him in English. Lucien is uptight and controlled, whereas Meg spills every thought, much to Lucien's bewildered amusement. The unlikely couple have more in common than initially meets the eye, but it could just be that their very heritage will stand in the way of them finding happiness. This well written novella has laugh out loud moments, but there is also an underlying pain as both Lucien and Meg have to deal with their past. Having met these characters in previous books in the series, I enjoyed reading about their story. I received a copy of this book through NegGalley and this is my voluntary and honest review.

Another delightful and funny addition to the Dukes of Christmas series. Not the best so far but still a relaxing read.

This is my fair and honest review, voluntarily given, in my own words for this ARC. I have said it before (several times) and will say it again. I am not a very "christmas tale" kind of woman but I LOVE this series!!! Buy the full series and read in order if you can.

This is one of the sexiest stories I have read that is pretty much clean. Meg had me in stitches waiting to see what Lucien would say or do with her innuendoes. I could imagine his face and had to laugh. This is by far my favorite book and couple in this series. Meg and Lucien are delightful characters who grow to love each other deeply. Ms. Ridley’s writing is impeccable as always and her storytelling is flawless.

When the last Le Duc ready to leave soon for France finally needs help from an english miss ...

And this series continue with each new book a lovely romance.
No it is Lucien’s turn, the taciturn, secretive French smithy to find his happily ever after.
Meg is not the usual spinster, I would call her the feminine version of a rake or rogue, she is very free, maybe a bit too modern but she enjoys her life with no reputation to protect as a merry spinster.
Lucien has spent his life doing the right things to provide for his family but also keep his family legacy’s promise. But now it is time to going back claim what was his, it will be an alone trip as his siblings have found their other half here in England.
Up to them to mend what might keep them apart if they are willing to see what really counts.

A lovely tale with reverse roles in this couple, about where you belong and to whom.
4.5 stars

I was granted an advance copy by the author and preordered my own.
Here is my true and unbiased opinion.

This was a fantastic Christmas gift from Erica Ridley to her readers! The only drawback to it is the fact we have to wait almost a year for the next title in this fabulous series.

We readers have been waiting for Lucien’s story for a long time, and not only did it NOT disappoint; it was my favorite of the three le Duc siblings’ stories.

I absolutely loved the idea of the hero needing lessons in another language and that that kept him from socializing with the village around him. I felt it was a very interesting take on a grumpy hero. Meg was certainly not your average historical romance heroine, either! I wasn’t sure I would like her at first but I really did by the end. She was unconventional and a lot of fun.

The town of Cressmouth is always a pleasure to visit and I can’t wait for the last 4 titles next year!!

*I received an eARC from Erica Ridley in exchange for an honest review.