Emotionally thrilling roller-coaster adventure filled with engaging charters, interesting dialog, heart racing twists, exciting turns and passion. Really enjoyed this edge of your seat witty and fun adventure. Great reading!

I’ve read most of the books in this charming series by Erica Ridley, but it doesn’t matter if you haven’t read any of them; you could absolutely pick up here and thoroughly enjoy it, because they’re all standalone. In this one, Lady Isabella, sister of the Duke of Nottingvale, has to interrupt her journey to Cressmouth when her maid and dear friend falls ill. Snowbound in an inn with no maid to help her out, Bella rather desperately asks a gentleman for assistance.

Tailor Calvin MacAlistair has grand plans to launch a line of ready-to-wear fashion for aspiring gentlemen and no time to pamper ladies who can’t manage to undo their own buttons. Except you can’t really leave a lady trapped in a gown, can you? And once they start talking, they discover they rather like each other… and might just be able to help the other one out.

Things go wrong when Bella discovers Calvin is seeking her brother’s patronage, but by then it’s rather too late to guard their hearts. Bella has to decide what she wants out of life, if she’s willing to let her mother and brother dictate the mold she is to fit herself into, or if she is willing to step outside those bounds and follow her heart.

This is an absolutely delightful series and this might be one of my favourites yet. I really enjoyed Bella getting to make her own decision and having agency; while Calvin provided a pathway for her, she was the one who seized it with both hands. Five stars for a thoroughly enjoyable read.

It is imperative that, as the daughter and sister of a duke, Lady Isabelle maintain a sterling reputation so she can marry well and finally earn her mother’s approval.  But when she’s snowed in at a posting inn and left unchaperoned when her maid falls ill, Lady Isabelle claims to be a widow to avoid any scandal.  And while she’s an anonymous widow, there’s no harm in indulging in a bit of a flirtation with the handsome tailor in the neighboring room.

Even snowed in Calvin McAllistair has plenty of work to do and no time for buttoning and unbuttoning the proper, but rather helpless, widow next door.  He certainly shouldn’t be flirting with her.  He needs to focus on wooing an investor to secure his business and therefore his future, all of which could be ruined when he learns his beloved Belle is actually sister to the very duke whose investment is so vital to Calvin’s plans.

This was a quick and enjoyable read.  My only complaint was the fact that Isabelle’s near constant reiteration of her need to keep her reputation unsullied and do her duty to her family got really old and repetitive very quickly.  However, that annoyance did make it all the more satisfying when Belle finally decided to stand up for herself and what she wanted rather than just going along with her family’s wishes.  Thankfully, her maid had a good head on her shoulders and was able to make Belle see sense.  That bit of development, along with Calvin’s adorable social awkwardness made this worth the read and I look forward to the next book.

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

I received a copy of Dawn with  a Duke in return for an honest review, special thanks to Netgalley for allowing me to review this book. 

Dawn with a Duke is part of a series of books, it doesnt matter if you haven't read the others in the series, as although I think they all interlink, the stories aren't reliant on being read in a set order. 
I read this book in one sitting, and was hooked from the start. I was immediately drawn in by the instant drama that the main character, Belle is thrown into. From then on the relationship between Belle and Calvin is what makes you want to keep reading. I found it really enjoyable seeing the story unfold from both characters points of view. I was actually quite disappointed to have reached the end, as I had started to feel quite connected to the characters, and found myself wanting the story to continue. I will definitely be reading the other books in the series, as they make for easy and enjoyable reads.

Dawn with a Duke is a sweet story about finding that special someone when you least expect to, and they end up being the missing puzzle piece to all the potential you never knew you could achieve. 

I believe Dawn with a Duke is out 9th installment in the 12 Dukes of Christmas series by Erica Ridley and it so doesn't disappoint. 

Lady Isabelle finds herself in a little pickle on her way to visit friends and family in Cressmouth (aka Christmas), especially her brother, the newly minted Duke of Nottingvale when her companion and lady's maid falls ill with the flu. She finds she must pose as an independent widow to avoid gossip of an unwed Lady traveling unchaperoned. She soon finds herself inextricably enmeshed with the handsome tailor in the room next to hers as dressing in the height of fashion is never a one-person job. As Belle and Calvin embark on a mutually beneficial arrangement, buttons for paintings, they quickly find an attraction that neither can afford to have. His future depends on impressing an important investor while hers is set on her family's need to marry her off to an acceptable gentleman of the ton.

Belle and Calvin were a great couple that ended up supporting and pushing each other into being a better version of themselves. I felt the ending came together very quickly and a little too neatly. I wanted more drawn out solutions or conversations. Further, the Duke put up a very little objection or protest. I was just expecting a bit more push/pull there at the end.

All in all, Dawn with a Duke is sweet and a lovely addition to the 12 Duke of Christmas series. I'm looking forward to more.

*ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*

I have very much enjoyed Erica Ridley’s “Twelve Dukes of Christmas” series. DAWN WITH A DUKE is the ninth book in this delightful series and continues the engaging plot twists that demonstrate that a duke is not always a duke...

In DAWN WITH A DUKE, the majority of the story does not take place in the lovely village of Cressmouth, better known as Christmas for its year-round holiday spirit.  Instead, we join two stranded travelers, Lady Isabelle (a duke’s sister) and Mr. Calvin McAlistair,  Both Belle and Calvin are on their separate ways to Christmas when they fall victim to a chaperone with the flu and a blizzard that just won’t give up.  Their gradually developing friendship allows them each to reveal hidden talents and hidden secrets.

Although I enjoyed the book, I would not rate it as a favorite of the series.  Being stranded at a small posting house limited the number of characters introduced, and I missed the interactions of the  characters found in the beautiful town of Christmas. That, however, is a small issue from what is, overall, a lovely adventure. I received a complimentary pre-release copy of the book from the author and NetGalley, but this opinion is entirely my own, freely provided.

I really liked the book. I like how independent and strong the main female character Belle was and I enjoyed her journey through discovering herself and her worth from the beginning to the end of the book. I also liked the Calvin the main male character however I don't feel like this character was as fleshed out as the main female character. He seemed a little bit more flat and I felt there was not as much character growth with him. I also struggled to feel as much chemistry from the characters as I would have liked.

I enjoyed the writing very much. This was my first book from Erica Ridley that I have read and I did not realise it was number 9 in a series but I will definitely be checking out more from this author in the future and will be picking up more books in this series in particular because I would like to read about more of her characters and hope some of the side characters in this book feature in previous books because I did like them very much.

I loved the setting for this novel and how the hero and heroine met. It was a situation I had not thought about before and it was so interesting. I'm looking forward to the rest of the 12 Dukes of Christmas series!

Lady Isabella or Bella as she prefers has bee brought up to know what her duties are being the daughter of a Duke and has every intention of fulfilling them. When she must stop at an inn to get help for her sick maid she knows she must protect her reputation so she poses as a widow and not using her real name. Calvin is a tailor of little means but a great dream for the future, he wants to start a line of ready-made clothes for the regular man so they too can dress to impress at an affordable price. He works around the clock time enough for fun when he gets his dream. When a blizzard strikes everyone is stranded at the inn where help is short because of this Bella must seek help from Calvin, she is amazed by his designs and he confides in her that the deadline to complete everything is approaching fast and is not sure if his partner will be able to color the pictures for their catalog. Bella is quick to show her coloring skills and ends up working with him. As the snow slows and her maid recovers she knows her time as an independent woman is coming to an end, and Calvin must also move on to find his dream. What happens when Bella tells the truth of who she really is what will Calvin say and what would the do.

Dawn with a Duke is another winning historical romance that turns the genre on its head as a Lady finds love with a common man. Lady Isabelle always seems to be on the outside looking in as her mother's rules for what a Duke's sister will and won't do seem to stifle all the things that she enjoy. An ill maid/chaperone leaves Belle unattended at a posting-house. To protect her impeccable reputation, Belle pretends to be a wealthy widow. Calvin McAlistair is not good with social graces or people in general, preferring his own company. A tailor by trade with big plans for his future that rely on a Duke for backing, Calvin never planned to fall for a wealthy widow who cannot seem to fend for herself but love has other plans. Sweet with unconventional characters, the story brings smiles and happiness for a feel good read with a memorable HEA that will leave you coming back for more of the 12 Dukes of Christmas series by one of my favorite writers of historical romance. My voluntary, unbiased review is based upon a review copy from Netgalley.

This was a very enjoyable read and a great new addition to this series. Belle and Calvin's story was a entertaining blend of sweetness, humor, emotion, drama and heart. Calvin was 5 star book boyfriend winner that will have you totally wishing he available in the real world just on the hopes you could get a chance with him! As for Belle, I liked her but I so wish that chosen to be honest before push came to shove. Despite that though, I felt that this was a really good read that had a couple you couldn't help but fall in love with.

On her way to spend Christmas with her brother, Lady Isabelle is forced to stop at an Inn to wait out a blizzard. Her maid is sick and is unavailable to chaperon her for her stay, so for the first time in her life,  Isabelle is on her own. She meets Calvin McAlistair, a tailor who is embarking on a new business venture. Isabelle fieels her new , independent self blossoming is Calvin's company but what can come of a relationship between a tailor and a duke's sister? The story was well done, showing the development of both the relationship between Calvin and Isabelle as well as how they both grow as people in their new circumstances. I got very caught up in the romance and consider this one a keeper.

Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC. I haven't read the previous installments in this series, but quite enjoyed this one. You'll definitely have to suspend familiarity with historical romance social strata, etc. here, but at the same time it shone a light on the day to day realities of people in those strata, which I thought really enriched the story. It was a quick read and super sweet. The ending could have been a bit longer and more detailed (or subtle) instead of basically wrapping up with one big blow-up, but it worked out alright. Would definitely curl up with it over hot chocolate during the holidays.

Finally managed to get this downloaded, and guess what? I LOVE this book. I am now a new fan of this author. I couldn’t recommend this enough.

This was a delightful romance between two characters who at first glance appear to come from different worlds but as one pretends to be a widow instead of the duke’s daughter that she is, love blossoms. The characters were well thought out and you couldn’t help but cheer for them.

Reared to believe that image and reputation are everything, Lady Isabelle finds herself in a dilemma when stranded in a snowstorm with a sick companion. Forced to make a quick decision, Belle assumes the role of a widow with a fictitious name, whilst her maid is put in the sick room with others suffering from the same malady. When an immaculately attired gentleman invites her to join him at his table, given that there is no other seating space in the room, Bella takes a chance and joins him. Despite their initial caution towards each other, there is attraction and a meeting of minds as they find themselves enclosed in an inn whilst the storm rages outside. Calvin offers Belle the opportunity to explore her creative side and to discover that she can be useful and have a purpose in life. All she needed was someone to believe in her. This delightful romance, part of the 12 Dukes of Christmas series, is as well-written, entertaining, witty, and enjoyable as all the previous books. I received a copy of this book as a gift and this is my honest and voluntary review.

Good historical romance with strong leading characters, great read for a wet afternoon.. All works out right in the end

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

This entire series has been an enjoyable read. I thought Bella and Calvin were an adorable couple. I loved that they shared quiet moments together and we get to see their relationship develop. Isabelle has some realizations as a result of this relationship and is able to value her skills and finally be able to go after what she wants. 

I’m looking forward to the next book in the series.

This is the ninth book in the "12 Dukes of Christmas" series.  It had a different feel to it.  Lady Isabelle feels bad when her chaperone gets sick, but she uses the opportunity to have the freedom and independence her station as a duke's daughter doesn't give her.  Pretending to be a widow, she meets the handsome Calvin McAlistair.  Isabelle discovers that she needs Calvin because without him unbuttoning her dress, she is trapped in her clothes!  As their relationship develops, Isabelle finds out more about Calvin and helps him.

I liked how Isabelle changed while she was at the inn.  She was able to develop her personality from a daughter of a duke to an independent young woman.  Calvin was a determined business man who was making his future better.  He didn't expect to find the woman he desired while snowbound at an inn, but he did!

I really wish that the end of the book could have been developed more and the book was longer.  It was one of the best books in this series.  

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC provided by the Author and NetGalley.  Thank you!!

Dawn with a Duke is the 9th book in the 12 Dukes of Christmas series by Erica Ridley. It can be read as a standalone, but if you haven't read the previous books I am sure you will want to after reading this one.

Lady Isabelle is on her way to her brother's Christmas party when she ends up snowbound at a posting inn. She has had to make an unplanned stop there because her lady's maid is very ill with the flu. The latter is quarantined with staff from the Inn who have also contracted the flu, leaving Isabelle (Belle) to cope on her own. Coping by herself is something she has never had to do.

Calvin McAlistair has been at the inn a while but he too is now snowbound. He is sitting by himself in the very crowded inn when Belle arrives and is told to look for a seat so that she can have some food. Calvin sees there is nowhere else for her to sit and welcomes her to his table. He likes to keep to himself so is surprised with himself for offering her a seat.

That is their introduction to each other and when circumstances have them spending their days together they become firm friends. The problem is that Belle has had to lie about who she is in order to save her reputation having to stay at the inn on her own. Calvin doesn't think he is good enough for her and that is without him knowing that she is a Lady. That doesn't stop either of them feeling attracted to each other but can that attraction lead anywhere? Of course, it can, but can it last when there are so many lies to be revealed.

This story is fabulous, I love that Calvin is a tailor and I love his business plans. He is such a wonderful character and I dreaded the moment he would discover that Belle had lied to him. I knew it wouldn't be pretty and I wish I could have jumped into the book to comfort him when it happened. I just hoped that Belle would find a way to make good, and she did of course, so I was left with a big smile on my face. I am sure you will end up smiling too.