Loved the ‘double life’ aspect that Diana lived in trying to help her fellow man/woman. She is determined to be a spinster so she can help others. She wants no man to rule or control her activities. The Duke of Colehaven has taken a bet to find her a husband. He is a friend to her cousin and co-owner of the Wicked Dukes Club.

Although a novella, the love between these two seemed to grow slowly. Ironically, they both are ‘working’ to help others. He does so through the House of Lords. She does so clandestinely and on the street. Diana’s secret activity helps others not be cheated by dishonest businessmen. She wants to change the measurement system so it is more understandable and more correct.

As a beginning of the Wicked Dukes Club, this book is a great beginning and hints of others who will be part of the series. I loved the messed up proposal and the final one. Each are special and unique in their own way.

Loved the story. Cole has taken the challenge from one of his best friends to find a husband for Diana before the end of the Season. Diana has vowed to never marry and sees Cole as an intrusion but as time passes she comes to care and later love him but not enough to give up her freedom. Cole who is suppose to find her a husband, to uphold a bet he accepted, has decided he does not another man to marry her because he wants her. The book is a great read and holds your interest until the very end. The banter between Cole and Diana is hilarious at times as she is a very opinionated woman and has no qualms in expressing her opinion or displeasure. I would highly recommdnd this book.

Thank you Netgalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Not impressed by this historical romance. It lacked originality and depth. The heroine not only was described as undesirable but too old and too smart to be marriageable. While I understand this is reflective of the time period the author went overboard in her characterization. Cole doesn't initially find her desirable just a means to an end. Did not enjoy this short Novella.

Diana Middleton lives a double life, bringing dishonest businessmen to justice. Shaking off a meddling duke should be child's play. When I started reading I couldn't put down.Erica Ridley is magnifysent and amazing writer.I cannot wait to read more of there books.Keep up the great work.You should definitely read this book.Can't wait for the next book.

Chandler Sutton, the Duke of Colehaven "Cole" loves a good wager and is currently boasting a 10-year winning streak, so when he joins his friends at the tavern he co-owns and is offered a wager to get Thaddeus Middleton's "unmarriageable" ward married off - he happily accepts. Thad has some rules - Diana must be married before the end of the season, Cole can't marry her himself or show any interest in her to provoke others to marry her and she must approve and want to marry the man.

Diana Middleton has no desire to marry, when her parents died, she needed a purpose and began "working" as a weights and measures inspector - not officially, she disguises herself and pretends to be in the employ of a barrister - she is passionate about this cause and wants the government to do more - but without resources, she settles for going to local businesses and checking their scales and reports her findings to a clerk who really does work for a barrister. She has no desire to marry, she is sure that she would have to give up her freedom and that is unacceptable. She doesn't refuse to attend ton events, but she has perfected being a wallflower because she doesn't want anyone to notice or recognize her and jeopardize her "work". So when the handsome Duke of Colehaven comes to her home and makes it clear that he plans to help her find a husband - Diana holds her ground and makes it clear that she will never marry.

Cole will not concede defeat, and when he sees her at a ball, he enlists his sister to help him. Felicity tells Diana of Cole's plan and Diana is livid - the man must be stopped. She doesn't care about her own reputation, but she will not let him expose her and possibly ruin Thad!

Val, Duke of Eastleigh is at the ball and mentions to Cole that two committee chairs in Parliament will be up for vote as the Earl currently holding the seats has been injured. Cole wants to chair a committee - desperately - he doesn't feel worthy of the title and works ten times as hard as other peers to prove he deserves his title - he feels like being in charge of a committee would do that. Later he meets Diana in the Library and they have words - she then learns that he was responsible for the 1815 Weights and Measures act - she still doesn't want to marry - but maybe Cole could help her stop the corruption!

These two go back and forth - neither willing to back down or give up. They are each attracted to the other, but it can never be - she doesn't want to give up her "freedom" and he wants to prove himself worthy. Can they compromise? Will love win? Will Cole's 10-year streak come to an end?

This was a cute story with extremely likable leads, a lot of emotion, funny moments and great secondary characters. It is well written and flows nicely, the love scenes are mild and the ending is very sweet.

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

Fun, lighthearted, angst free story about a Duke and a spinster and measurements. Perfect for a light, quick read. I would have liked if it was a little more fleshed out.

I really enjoyed Cole and Diana's story!

Cole was so sure he would be able to marry off Diana and win another bet. No way would his winning streak end! That was until he met the young woman he was determined to marry off. He was intrigued by her and was soon questioning whether he wanted to win the wager or not??

I loved Diana and her nonconformity with society. She was her own woman and did what she wanted without scandalizing society too much.

This was a great start to a new series by Ridley and Burke. I'm so excited to see what they have in store for us!

This is the first in a new series “Wicked Dukes club”written along with Darcy Burke. What a wonderful way to start. As usual Ms Ridley has written both her heroine and hero with intelligence, strength, humor, honor and independence. I love the way Ms Ridley brings so much more to her characters. Each has so much understanding of their favourite interest and Ms Ridley puts so much research into it so that the reader has no doubt that the characters truly know what they are talking about. It is also wonderful the way difficulties of the era are brought to light and with the help of her characters, changed. But these books are HEA and there is the heart warming and often humorous romance to keep you reading and feeling engaged with the story. There is some very mild sex in this book which for this reviewer who always skips the sex found very acceptable. I received this book as an ARC and am now hanging out for MS Ridleys next one but in the mean time will be reading MS Burke’s, the second in the series

Cole, the Duke of Colehaven is half owner of the Wicked Duke, a pub for everyone. He is known for making and winning all his bets for the last ten years. When Lord Thaddeus Middleton dares him to find a husband for for his ward, Miss Diana Middleton. She prefers math and weights and measures and blending into the wallpaper at balls so as not to be noticed. When Cole visits Diana and tells her about his plans to find her a husband, she kicks him out of the house. She goes undercover to make sure each person charges only the correct amount for products they buy. When she sees Cole at parties, she makes sure that whatever happens, it's equal. from kissing to other things done in a garden. Diana has a notebook that she keeps in her pocket for things that need to be written down. Cole wants to marry her, but Diana sees that he only wants to change her. Will Cole surrender and lose the bet? I love all the Dukes, especially Cole, but Thaddeus is cool, too. Diana is a strong woman who knows what she wants. Great book in a new series. I voluntarily read this book for a honest review.

This is book one of the Wicked Dukes Club. This series is written by Erica Ridley and Darcy Burke- (Erica is writing the odds and Darcy the evens.) I loved this book! I read it in one day. Definitely a page turner. Great characters and wonderfully written. There also was a bonus read- "The Making of Mrs. Peabody." Must check this out!

Diana Middleton is happy with her life and does not want to marry and have her life controlled by her husband, Her cousin who is her guardian makes a bet with the Duke of Colehaven to find her a husband. She spends too much time organizing her cousin's life. He feels like she would be happier married. Diana has her own idea of what she wants to do with her life. Can Cole find her a husband or does he want her himself. The story has humor and well as romance in it.

One Night for Seduction is the first in the Wicked Dukes Club series. It was a great start to the series. Diana Middleton and the Duke of Colehaven were both wonderful characters who shared the same passion in life, which is to help others. Though they fight their attraction for each other at first, since both are not wanting to get married, because of their shared interest for Parliament matters it's a lost cause. I liked that Cole admired Diana's determination to help others, but he helps her realize that it's okay to have a balance of family, love and work.
We are also introduced to other Dukes, so we get a glimpse of who's stories are going to be told. I recommend this series! Sweet and a little steamy!

Caleb Sutton, the Duke of Colehaven, has never been able to resist a dare. So when his friend Thaddeus, hoping to find a love match and happiness for his ward, bets the Cole can't find a match for her, Cole can't help but be intrigued. Cole was merely a poor relation and never expected to inherit a dukedom, but has striven to prove himself just as worthy and capable as any other blue blood ever since he claimed the title. He plans to settle this dare quickly and focus on gaining position in the House of Lords so he can truly make a difference in the lives of everyday people.

Diana Middleton is preoccupied with arranging others' households to exhibit maximum efficiency, to the detriment of her own future, making her an irresistible challenge to Cole. But Diana has no desire to marry; she needs to maintain her freedom and remain beneath the notice of high society so she can continue her efforts at clandestinely inspecting businesses for unscrupulous uses of inaccurate weights and measures. She relies on her anonymity, living a bit of a lie, never being truly herself, and refusing to see any other way to live and still continue to help people. Cole values honesty and seeks to pry out the real Diana so he can make a good match for her, but with sparks flying between the two of them, both might get more than they bargained for.

I wasn't crazy about this heroine. I found her to be both arrogant and naive as well as quite judgmental. Thankfully, she realized all of this too and was able to compromise with the hero, both characters demonstrating great growth, especially for such a short novel. Diana and Cole were able to meet in the middle and become a real team and I found that to be delightful and a great start to this new series.

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

❤️❤️❤️❤️
💋💋
Such a scrumptious book .
This series has started with a bang with this book , the characters are really ,really, wonderful and I can’t praise them enough .
Caleb Sutton is the Duke of Colehaven , even though he came from rough beginnings he strived to make himself into the Duke he is , put all his energy and effort into his education and it’s made him the intelligent, formidable man and member of parliament he is now .
Diana is living with her cousin and guardian, but she doesn’t want Marriage ,which is what three quarters of women want , she wants to be independent, have freedom and live her life helping those who can’t help themselves.
In a bet, the Duke agrees to find her a husband , sooner him than me , this woman is feisty and not easy to control .Never the less they are about to commence a battle of the sexes . Who wins .
Read it yourself ,I highly recommended it .
I received an Arc copy of this book and chose to post this review

Diana is a rather unusual lady. She has made a job up for herself and is very good at it. Cole is going to find her a husband, no matter what she wants. That made this book different so it kept my attention with no problems.

This is a well portrayed and easy to read story. It's funny, romantic with a little angst.

Cole, Duke of Colhaven enjoys a wager and hasn't lost one in ten years. His latest wager isn't at all what he expected.

Diana is the ward of Cole's best friend and has sworn to spinsterhood because she believes in her cause. She does her best not to draw attention to herself.

Cole takes on the wager of finding Diana a husband. After all, he is on a winning streak. What can go wrong? He doesn't expect a bright and determined woman who knows what she wants. Even though they are always butting head, there is a definite spark between them. Cole has his own ambition that he works hard for. The double life that Diana lives could hinder his political career, should they have a relationship. Will they give up their dreams or can they find a compromise where they can both have what they want?

This story has a nice flow and is pretty compelling. The main characters are lovable as are the supporting ones. A great start to this new series.

An enjoyable read about a young woman of a mathematical bent who wants to right injustices but finds it impossible to do so without disguising herself and a Duke who never expected to inherit. Read in one sitting, the only thing that really felt totally wrong for the period was the idea of a Duke owning a London pub.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

As a historical romance, The Wicked Duke 1: One Night for Seduction is an average one.

It wasn't bad, far from it; but it wasn't overly good either.

Fast read since I finished in just under 8 hours.

What I like:
- quick pace
- strangely, I like Lady Felicity and wonder if she'd make her own appearance later on
- characterisations, especially the interaction between Diana and Felicity

What I don't like:
- instalove, but this is to be expected in historical romance, so proceed with your own caution

Overall, I read it with joy, but like, average joy, you feel?
Perfect for anyone who likes feisty and independence heroine (no matter how dubious the independence) and bad boy hero.

A very delightful read...

I knew from the first moment I opened this book that I would enjoy and love every page. I so love Diana Middleton's character. Strong, loyal and dedicated to what she believes in, an extraordinary woman. and Caleb, the Duke of Colehaven, handsome and oh so adorable, his sense of right and wrong is admirable, a perfect match for the high spirited, sensible and beautiful, Diana.
I love all of Ms. Ridgeley's books that I've read and this one is no exception...a must read! ❤

What a delightful introduction to the Wicked Dukes Club series! The Wicked Dukes Club is a pub in the Haymarket area of London and it is owned by two dukes who have been friends since Oxford where they were known as – you guessed it – the wicked dukes! The series is authored by Erica Ridley and Darcy Burke, so you can’t go wrong there!

This novella was very well written and the characters are delightful – I can’t wait to meet them in their own stories! The main characters are so fully fleshed out that you feel you know them and can identify with their struggles. Excellently done!

Caleb Sutton, fifth Duke of Colehaven (Cole) and Miss Diana Middleton are the stars of this story and they are a wonderful pairing. They both want the same things, they just have different ways of going about getting it. Cole can be open and aboveboard with his goals, but Diana thinks she has to use subterfuge because she is a woman and men won’t take her seriously.

Diana is the ward of her cousin, Thaddeus Middleton who took her in when her last parent died. Thaddeus is a lovely, lovely man and I can’t wait to see his story. Diana has no intention of marrying anyone – she cannot carry on with her mission if she’s married – but Thad wants her to be happy and he thinks that means marriage. When Thaddeus is talking about his incorrigible ward at the Wicked Dukes Club, he ends challenging Cole to find a husband for his cousin. Cole can never resist a challenge and the chase is on.

I can certainly recommend this novella and if it is an example of the rest of the books in the series, then I can recommend the series as well.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.