This is book is part of a series in Erica Ridley's 12 duke of Christmas. Basically it's about lady. Isabelle trapped in an inn during a snowstorm with the other guest Calvin. Isabelle poses as a widow for propriety sake. Calvin is trying to set up is own men clothing design.. Isabelle during this time helps Calvin with her talent as illustrator. and she need his help as a ladies maid. 

This is a fun light hearted story that  about two people overcoming status and expectation from other people. I enjoyed it.

This was my first Erica Ridley book, but I’ll be looking out for more. 

This historical romance gave me all types of different feelings. 
From laughing to ‘awhing’ to ‘Yes FINALLY!’ 

Lady Isabelle, Belle, on her way to her brothers’ castle has to stop in a small village, because her lady maid is sick. She has to figure out how to do everything on her own and fails miserably at the beginning. Que the handsome man we meet. Calvin. He offers her help, but what does she think about that? THAT’S why you need to read this book. This is a lowborn romance that has you captured within the first chapter.

4.5 stars

Lady Isabelle “Belle”, sister to Duke of Nottingvale is on her way to Cressmouth for Christmas when her maid takes ill and she insists they stop in Houville. Worried about ruining her reputation, she tells the innkeeper she is a widow, Mrs. Lepine, thinking they will only be there for one night. She is out of her element tries to make the best of things, but is unsure what she is supposed to do, as she has never been on her own before. She is looking at the crowded dining room and notices a handsome, well dressed man. He beckons her over and invites her to sit at his table. Grateful, Belle immediately takes a liking to the handsome stranger.

Calvin McAlister is in Houville preparing for the opportunity of a lifetime, he and his partner Jonathan MacLean have come up with a revolutionary idea – a line of ready-made formal wear for the average man. They will plan to sell or rent their cloths in shops, but primarily by mail order. Up until now it has been a dream, but the chance to have the Duke of Nottingvale as an investor could make that dream a reality. Calvin is a recluse by nature and feels uncomfortable in social situations, making his partnership with Jonathan perfect. Jonathan will handle the people and Calvin the clothes. So it makes no sense to him why he offered to share his table with the lovely stranger. As soon as he offers, he regrets his decision, but is delighted to discover, Mrs. Lepine feels just as awkward as he does and that he enjoys her company.

Belle and Calvin will grow much closer when a bout of the flu leaves the inn shorthanded and leaves Belle without a maid’s assistance in dressing – a task she hires Calvin to do! When he discovers what a talented artist she is, he hires her to finish painting his catalogue sketches. They are falling hard, but when the truth of who she is comes out, will their love survive?

This was a well written, nicely paced, absolutely delightful novella. Belle and Calvin are wonderful characters who are perfect for each other despite their social status disparities. This book had secondary characters, but they really play a very small role in the story, also this book was a bit steamier than the previous offerings in the series (not a complaint!) but it fit the story and I loved the ending. I am happy to recommend this book, it is the ninth book in the series, but it can easily be read as a stand-alone title.

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that was provided to me by NetGalley and the publisher.*

‘Dawn with a Duke’ is part of the 12 Dukes of Christmas series, and the clever inclusion of the duke was very witty! Lady Isabella finds herself stranded in an inn, when her maid becomes ill with influenza and the weather makes the roads difficult to travel upon. Only one single room is available, so she decides to give herself a false name to protect her name (being unchaperoned), with her maid isolated in another part of the inn.
Here she meets Calvin MacAlistair who has the room next door to hers. When she is unable to undo the buttons on her dress, she seeks out Calvin’s assistance, and soon romance blossoms. Yet Bella is not all that truthful about her identity, posing a greater problem than either can imagine.
Both characters were delightful, and the chemistry is quite believable despite the shortness of the novella. A sweet and enjoyable story. I look forward to reading more in this series.
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Stranded in a country inn full to bursting due to a snowstorm Belle, a Duke’s daughter, must assume the character of Mrs. Lupine to avoid recognition. When her lady’s maid goes down sick with the flu she has to rely on the man next door, Calvin, to do her buttons so she can dress and undress. Soon she relies on him for more. 
Belle’s life has been one of longing to be an artist but she must marry and become the perfect ton wife. Calvin’s dream is an innovative tailoring business for which he needs the Duke’s backing. With neither realizing who the other actually is will they be able to overcome the obstacles that lay in their paths to get to their dreams and true love?
This is a fun fluffy romp of a Christmas tale. The characters are appealing and well drawn. The plot is a bit hackneyed but she pulls it off. Obviously no duke’s daughter would choose a tailor nor would her family allow it but Ms. Ridley is able to get us to suspend our disbelief for a short while. I would recommend this book to my patrons but don’t believe I’d purchase it for our collection.

Ms. Ridley writes characters that all readers are able to relate to. Calvin and Isabelle are two people stuck in a snowstorm each coming to know that they belong together. That is, until Isabelle reveals her secret. This book is a wonderful Christmas romance.

#Dawn With A Duke #NetGalley.  This is my first book that I’ve read by Ms. Ridley.  I enjoyed the story of Belle and Calvin which takes place during a cold numbing journey where Belle and her sick maid travel to an inn.  There she meets Calvin who is an inspiring tailor.  Her maid is sick with influenza and Belle poses as an independent widow to avoid ruination.  Together they help each other and with some innocent flirtation sparks fly.  I read this in one day and couldn’t put it down. I will be looking to read more of Ms Ridley books.  I received an ARC for my honest review.  I would recommend this book.

That was so much fun. I can’t for the life of me think that it’s the least bit realistic for the time, but I enjoyed the ride too much to quibble over the historical accuracy of it. I thought Calvin was adorable. His social awkwardness found a twin in my own. Belle and her circumstances made me want to cry over all the opportunities her station in life were forcing her to forgo. I thought that together they made a very sweet pair, and I’m already looking forward to seeing what else was happening in Cressmouth while they were snowed in.
I received a complimentary advanced copy of this book from the author through NetGalley.

Somewhat plain and not as exciting and sexy as I wanted the book to be but not horrible or something someone would not enjoy either.

I really enjoyed this book!  It had a twist that I haven't read before. I will definitely be going back to read this whole series as this was the first one I've read. Makes a great stand alone book but I just didn't want it to end.

Belle, the sister of a powerful duke, and Calvin, a common tailor, are trapped together in an inn during a snowstorm.  With most of the servants fallen ill, Belle must turn to Calvin to help with the buttons on her clothing and they strike an interesting deal.  I like these two characters immensely and their romance is sweet and endearing.  As with the other books in this series, it is short, so wraps up a little too quickly and neatly but still manages to be a delightful holiday read.  I look forward to others in the series and Erica Ridley is always a dependable historical romance author.  I received a digital ARC of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is #9 in the series of Dukes of Christmas. Even though the series is about Dukes, they are not all about actual dukes and this one was a lovely variation on the subject. I loved this read, maybe one of my favourites.  It was about real people and real relationships. Both characters were unpretentious and just plain loveable. Ms Ridley is so talented at writing these stories, drawing the reader into the point where it is hard to put the book down and when you are finished, you are waiting for the next one. There was some mild sex in this book which this reviewer skipped as usual but the real focus of this story was about the characters getting to know each other even when one of them is hiding their real identity.  It was just a marvellous read and not one that needs to be kept as a Christmas read. Read it all year long.  I received this as an ARC from Netgalley and freely do my review.

𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒔𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝒔𝒖𝒎𝒎𝒂𝒓𝒚 — A Christmas historical romance set in an inn, while all the servants are laid low by the flu... whats a girl with a gown that cinches in the back to do?

See more on my <a href="http://instagram.com/historyandharlots/">Instagram</a> & <a href="https://historyandharlots.blogspot.com/">blog</a>

—

This was a cute, light Christmas read. Lady Isabelle - Belle - is a likable and kind heroine. She's the daughter of a duke, the sister of a duke... and always feels like she's overshadowed by the other people in her life. Her father and brothers title, her mother's desires for her to marry well. She wants to be an artist, and yet no one takes her seriously except her maid, Ursula, who encourages her as a friend and sister.

Calvin McAlistair is a tailor, modiste, fashion designer. He's also stuck in the inn while working on a clothing line he wants the Duke of N-- (I forget the long name...) to invest in an sponsor. It'll be well made clothes for the common man, designs good enough to be worn by a duke. 

The twist? Belle can't be in an inn alone with no maid (who's laid low with the flu), so she masquerades as a widow. Calvin is presenting his designs to the Duke of N-- — her brother. 

The wrap up was way too quick in my opinion, but expected for a short story/novella.

Dawn with a Duke is the ninth book in the 12 Dukes of Christmas series by Erica Ridley. This has been such an enjoyable series to read and Dawn with a Duke is one of my favorites within the entire series. I absolutely loved the characters, Calvin McAlistair, a shy tailor, and Lady Isabelle, our socialite artist, who has never fit comfortably in with the beau monde. Both the hero and heroine are sweet, smart, and funny and so easy to relate to in so many ways. You just can't help falling in love with them. Besides the characters and their story, I loved the humor in this one. There were many times I found myself laughing out loud. I'm looking forward to catching up with the characters again in the next one.

Lady Isabelle is traveling to her brother's estate for the Christmas celebration.  En route her ladies maid becomes too ill to continue and they stop at an inn just a short distance from their destination.  Without a proper escort, Belle makes up a new name to save her honor and reputation.  Calvin McAlistair is at the same inn preparing for a life-changing presentation of his new line of clothing.  The two meet and find their artistic passions (his tailoring, her art) are compatible in this venture.  What follows is a sweetly growing romance, with a possibly scandalous outcome.  

This is a cute story with a steamy scene towards the end.  It was a good way to spend my awake hours in the middle of the night!

Thank you NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

This fun Regency romance is the ninth 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 couple is charmingly quirky. Poor Lady Isabelle has been raised to be quite helpless, and it was heartwarming to watch her learning how to pursue what she really wants, both as an artist and in love. Calvin McAlister has been resolutely pursuing his dream to be a fashion designer since childhood; it was very sweet watching him gradually accept Belle into his workshop and his heart. The teacup of roasted chestnuts makes me smile whenever I think of it. 

The ending felt a bit rushed to me, and not very realistic, but it was delightfully exciting. This is a great choice if you want a feel-good read to brighten a dark winter day (or distract from a pandemic). Note that there is one explicit scene of premarital sex; as long as such things don’t bother you, I highly recommend this book, and the entire series.

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

This was an easy book to read. The two main characters were interesting and strong. There was a good storyline. I read it in one session which shows l wanted to know the ending. I do recommend that you read this book.

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

I’m not going to lie, when I first saw this series title a while ago and the titles with “duke” in them, my eyes rolled into the back of my head, even though I resolved to give it a chance at some point, as Erica Ridley is a highly praised author. But upon further investigation of the blurbs, I was pleased to find that, unlike other all-duke hero series (no disrespect to them or any readers who love dukes), this one was doing something different and more clever, while still having the occasional duke hero. 

So, we come to this book, Dawn with a Duke. While it’s the ninth in the series, I had no trouble getting into it as a stand-alone. And it may have been the best personal starting point for my journey with this series, as it has one of my favorite tropes, the cross-class romance where the heroine is the aristocrat. And while Belle’s about who she is until things were way too tangled between them bothered me, and I did want it to be addressed a little more, I still enjoyed their relationship overall. 

Calvin is a treasure. I love his openness with his emotions, although that did lead me to feeling I wanted more from him when all the secrets were out. I also really liked how it showed him actually working to earn his living as a tailor, but without it being dreary. And the fact that his project ties into the series’ “duke” motif in such a fun and silly, yet unexpected  way was amusing. 

I will definitely be going back to read the others in the series I missed, and will also be anticipating the last few installments. And if you haven’t read Erica Ridley yet, this is a great time to start and potentially a great place as well.

This is book nine in a series of twelve.  It can be read alone but is best as part of the series.
Belle is a Lady.  Calvin is a tailor.  By some twist of fate, they end up as neighbors at an inn during a snow storm.  Reluctant to be near each other initially, the two grow to love their time together while waiting on the weather to allow them to leave.
Opinion
Erica Ridley is an extremely talented author.  This book is enjoyable like all her of books I’ve read.
There are many twists through this book that add a nice dimension or allude to another book in the series.  I love how well Ms. Ridley is able to weave the pieces so that the reader is kept entertained with “what if” questions.  
This book is so well written that I wonder if the upper crust of England had so many matches outside of their class.  It definitely had me questioning what really went on in that era.  (I’m sure Ms. Ridley took some author license but I’m also sure that some upper crust gave up titles for love.  That’s my opinion anyway.)
To sum up the series so far, it is sweet, quaint and filled with laughable moments.  You will be able to zoom through the books, not because they are short but because they will keep you entertained.
I’d like to thank Net Galley for providing me with an ARC of this book.

This book was enjoyable, and didn't follow the typical "macho man" and "helpless lady" story line. This isn't really a spoiler because it occurs so quickly at the beginning it won't "spoil" the book for you: Belle is a Lady, her brother being a very rich and powerful Duke, who gets stranded with her maid in a small town on the way to a Christmas holiday. Her maid is her best friend, and gets desperately ill, forced to be quarantined for days away from Belle. Belle meets Calvin, a tailor with a vision, in the dining hall of the inn, and eats dinner with him as there are no other places to sit. She's charmed by Calvin, but is extremely concerned with her virtue and reputation and, thus, tries to stay away from him. 

Obviously that does not happen. 

This book kept me going, was a quick read, and got very steamy at one point. Yes, there's sex in it, but if you did not expect that from the cover then I would be surprised. 

Dawn with a Duke explored a positive relationship between the couple. I can't really think of any trigger warnings. It was enjoyable and would be a cozy read during the winter. I would read more from this author in the future.