The Duke of Azureford appears over-confident, aloof, and untouchable amongst his peers. But he suffers from anxiety when it comes to social events. So much so that he becomes almost mute, unable to find the words to converse. Especially when it comes to the opposite sex. But he is determined to learn how to interact with others beyond the matters with the House of Lords.

Enter his neighbor in the village of Christmas, where the Duke owns a cottage. After having a very unsuccessful dinner party months ago, he is returning, donating his books, and forcing himself to learn how to interact with others rather than hermit in his library. Hence why he is donating the majority of his library.

Only Miss Carole Quincy had left her beloved sketchbook in his library on accident during his dinner party. And she needs to figure out a way to retrieve it.

When Adam and Carole accidentally meet up again, as Carole sneaks into the Duke's cottage to look for her sketchbook, Adam realizes Carole can help him learn how to socialize. And as you can imagine, the two are perfect for each other.

I adore Erica Ridley's historical romances. They're always fun, engaging, witty, light hearted in some areas and touch upon real issues in others. The chemistry is always excellent and the love scenes never feel gratuitous or over the top. I know whenever I read one of her novels, it will be in one sitting and this was no different.

Add in some fortune telling and billiards, and we have another lovely installment of the 12 Dukes of Christmas.

Dukes, Actually is the latest installment in Erica Ridley’s 12 Dukes of Christmas series. Adam Farland, the shy Duke of Azureford visiting his cabin in the village of Christmas (Cressmouth), asks extroverted socializer Miss Carole Quincy for help with his lack of conversational skills and the design of his new billiard room. The story is short and sweet, with the usual quirky cast of characters you can expect in a 12 Dukes book.

Carole has many passions, but the ones that burn most brightly are architecture and her commitment to her father’s well-being. Her commitment to caring for her absent (yet present) father is pretty extreme, and little by little you see her shed the mantle of caretaker that she never should have taken up in the first place. Adam nurturing her other interests helps her to gain the freedom of choice she was missing.

Adam seems aloof on the surface, but is so shy that he pretends to be detached. It isn’t until he sets aside his year-round dedication to Parliament and spends time talking about his real self that he learns to shed this fear—at least around Carole. He’s a bit hardheaded in his view of what his duchess should be (as are most dukes in historical romances), but nuances like his list of qualities modeled off of Carole are endearing and lead to Adam realizing that he doesn’t need perfection, but instead, the right person.

After losing her sketchbook in Adam’s library during a house party, the two are brought together as Carole insists on searching for it while he packs up his books for donations. Adam discovers her architectural talent, and the two find themselves in each other’s company for weeks as she directs the design of a new billiard room in Adam’s cabin. Though this is the premise that throws the two together, it’s the connections they make that seals the deal.

The town of Cressmouth/Christmas is as quirky as ever, with a spookily-accurate fortune teller, the never-ending feast at the castle, and familiar faces from the previous stories. Carole’s maid and Adam’s butler have a side romance going on as well, adding some hilarity to the book.

This is a witty and fun story that proves Paula Abdul’s assertion that opposites attract. The only drawback for me was that the ending felt rushed, especially after all the build-up that went into their relationship. It was a bit too easily resolved, but still gives a satisfying conclusion.

Falling for the Girl Next Door.
Yet another sweet and funny story of love and romance in the village of Christmas. A shy and socially awkward Duke and an outgoing spinster, with no pretensions of haut ton (but one who can play a wicked game of billiards) find their HEA together.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from the author and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Carol and the Duke are marvelous together. I couldn't put this book down. Ms. Ridley continues to write stories that readers want to read. I cannot wait for the next book in this series.

Easy to read, lovely storyline, remarkable characters and fun.

Adam is a Duke. Admired by his peers in the House of Lords, but when it comes to social interactions, he is considered to be judgemental and aloof.

Carole is the girl nextdoor who has dedicated her life, looking after her father. She has also sworn to be a spinster. Wishing to remain a spinster doesn't mean that she can't dream and oggle someone from afar.

She has a hidden talent which she intends to keep secret as being a woman this could be scandalous and detrimental to her father's good name. She just happens to have "misplaced" this object in the Duke's library. No matter, he is absent and she is cunning enough to find a way to retrieve this object.

Whilst in persuit of the misplaced object, she meets the reluctant Duke. He is very pleasing to the eyes, but his behaviour leaves a lot to be desired. Once she discovers what the Duke's plans, she offers help. It just so happens that they enjoy each other's company. The thing is that he is looking for "Duchess material" and Carole doesn't behave quite like society dictates. Can he ignore his obligations, and can she look after her father and listen to her heart at the same time?

The interactions between Adam and Carole are interesting. It's good to see how he navigates through his awkwardness with Carole's help. This is a sweet romance. An enjoyable read indeed.

I was kindly issued with an eARC from Netgalley and the views expressed are my personal opinion.

Adam, the Duke of Azureford, is perceived as cold and aloof by his peers, but really he's just shy and socially awkward. Now he wishes to do his duty to the dukedom by marrying an appropriate bride, but he'll need to make some changes first. He's planning to reinvent himself by transforming his library into a billiards room and practicing his social skills on the people of the town of Cressmouth before trying his luck on the real stage in London. His wildly inappropriate neighbor turns out to be the perfect billiards teacher, but she's make a terrible duchess. Right?

Carole Quincy loves logic and math and has been keeping her household together since her mother's death. She's happy to help loosen up the straight-laced duke and let him practice his flirting on her. She never intends to marry anyway so what could be the harm?

This was another cute Christmas story in the 12 Dukes series. It's a quick feel-good read and I think those are always enjoyable. Although these two harping on about all the reasons they couldn't be together did get a bit old after awhile, especially given that this is a short novella, overall I liked this story and look forward to the next.

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

Wonderful romcom!

Meet Adam, a shy duke, and Carole, his billiards playing neighbour. The two work closely together when Carole helps Adam build the perfect billiards room and helps him practice small talk, so that he may chat up the perfect future Duchess of Azureford. Queue HEA!

Erica Ridley’s ‘Dukes, Actually’ is the fifth book in the 12 Dukes of Christmas series. Whilst this is a great addition to the series, this is a standalone story. The story follows Adam, the Duke of Azureford, who is incredibly shy, yet loves being around people. He just isn’t sure what to say when they want to talk to him. Consequently, his air of arrogance is well known. Having purchased his home in Christmas, Cressmouth (England), he decides to clear out most of his library so that he can establish a billiards room, in the hope of meeting people and finding a wife. Carole Quincy is his neighbour and at his last party, managed to lose her book containing designs of rooms in Adam’s home. However, before she could retrieve her book, she had to leave, and has since found herself trying to get the book back. In an attempt to find her book, she ends up assisting Adam to sort through his library, to help him donate books to charity and clear the room for his dream billiards room. The more time they spend together, the more Carole and Adam, find themselves comfortable in each other’s company and realising that they have met their perfect match.
This was such a great story with two people, who finds the other so easy to be with. At times, their conversation seemed so modern in their hilarious responses to each other. In many ways, Adam’s confidence flourishing was the highlight of the story. I also enjoyed the exchange and romance between Carole’s lady’s maid and Adam’s butler. Combine all this with descriptive scenery and you have a delightful novella, just in time for Christmas.
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Another charming story in this series. The story is touching in parts, a bit sad at times and definitely amusing at others. The author does a good job of defining the characters from the start so their compunctions and actions are totally understandable. The romance with the butler and ladies maid is so adorable, even though is makes for some amusing scenes. I love heroines that are smart and unconventional and hero’s that are not so very full of themselves.

Another great story from the village of Christmas and Ridley. I just love the quirkiness of her characters and romance brought to life.

I love this Christmas series written by Erica Ridley.
She does an amazing job with the characters.
The Duke of Azureford i s on the lookout for a wife. However, in order to find a respectable lady to wed, he must first make himself a marketable asset. No one would want a Duke who can't flirt, can't carry on a conversation, and who becomes shy in big crowds, or would they.
Miss Carole Quincy is the neighbor to the Duke of Azureford. She spends her days in Christmas taking care of her father. She is very outgoing and knows everyone in town.
When she teams up with the Duke of Azureford to help him win a bride. She does not expect any feelings to come, especially when she is not planning on getting married.
Erica Ridley has done it again. Her book grabbed me from the first sentence. I finally put the book down when I had finished it completely.
I received a copy of this book in return for an honest review.

This is book five in the twelve Dukes of Christmas series. Spunky and independent Carole attracts shy Adam. He hopes she will teach him how to be more comfortable around people so he can find a suitable wife to be his duchess. Adam realizes that what makes her so attractive to him will also make her a great duchess. Erica Ridley does a great job of developing the characters in such a relatively short book. Can’t wait for the next one! I received an ARC from NetGalley for my honest review.

Another delightful novella written by Erica Ridley! I thought this was such a sweet and fun story and the two main characters, Carole and Adam, were very easy to love:) Adam first comes across as very aloof and grumpy but he's actually just the opposite, shyness is stopping him from being able to be himself when around people. Carole, on the other hand, is the opposite, full of life and loved by all who know her. And she's a genius at Billiards, how awesome is that?!!!

I loved seeing how Carole manages to get Adam out of his shell and while helping him build the perfect Billiards room, they grow closer and closer. Circumstances stand in their way, though, and the road to their HEA hits a few bumps. Apart from that, there's lots of humor in the story and I'm still giggling at Adam's come on lines! lol

I was given an ARC of this book via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

I received an advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review

Cute story, not a lot of frisson or spice

I adore these sweet Christmas romances! Ms. Ridley is masterful in the latest book in the 12 Dukes of Christmas series. Adam Farland, Duke of Azureford, gets tongue-tied in social settings. He has no problem addressing Parliament, but is at a total loss with small talk. He plans to visit his cottage to practice his social skills by building a billiards room. His next door neighbor, Miss Carole Quincy lost her precious sketchbook in that same cottage and tries to retrieve it only to be confronted by the angry Duke at her intrusion in his home.

Thus begins their relationship and it is a delightful road they're on. There were some laugh-out-loud moments when Carole demonstrates her skills in mathematics and architecture. Adam soon relaxes and begins to enjoy conversations with Carole. I love seeing the heroine have intelligence and skills beyond shopping and embroidery. I only wish there was more explanation on why Adam was so shy. Was he like that throughout his childhood and schooling? All in all this was another enjoyable read. I look forward to reading the next story in this wonderful series.

Adam, the Duke of Azureford, buys the cottage next door to the Quincy's. Shy and awkward in social conversation, he is immediately relaxed with his neighbors daughter, Carole. She becomes his hope of making himself over. What brings them together is giving her the task of remolding his library into a billiard room and teaching him to play billiards. In the meantime, their attraction becomes more, but her commitment to her father holds her back. Where do they go from here when he has to return to London?
Absolutely loved, loved reading this book. A short read that moves quickly and didn't disappoint. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book.

The Duke of Azureford is very shy though he appears aloof. His next door neighbor at his summer home in the land of Christmas all year round. Carole has offered to help him get more able to talk and interact with others so he can find a bride. All of this time they are getting more comfortable with each other and becoming good friends. She is sworn to spinsterhood. Can they make this work or not? I always enjoy the romance of Erica Ridley's books.

Dukes, Actually is book 5 in the 12 Dukes of Christmas series. It was a very sweet and enjoyable read. I loved how Carole was such a mathematician and that she had dreams of putting all her designs to use. I also liked how she didn't follow the typical mold of a society lady she wishes to have kids. Adam was a poor duke that hid behind his title. He came off as aloof, but he was just a shy man. The difference in personalities between them made them very compatible. I liked how Adam used her designs for his billiard room and gave her credit for all the work. She proved to him that she knew what she was talking about.
I liked how the author described how billiards where played and how math played a big role.
Great story!!

Thank you to the author for sending the ARC through NetGalley for an honest review.

This was an amazing book. It’s books number 5 out of 12. I enjoyed the plot and the characters. I can’t wait for the next book in the series.

Lighthearted, quirky and fun, this delightful romance sums up the theory that opposites attract. Only, the Duke of Azureford and Carole Quincy are so far off the spectrum of their respective scales, that it is a wonder that they ever found anything in common. Yet they did just that, bonding over billiards. In the process, Adam discovers that he no longer wants to find the perfect duchess, but rather the right woman, one that will fulfill him and become light and life to his icy solitude. Although this novel is fairly short, it is nevertheless fun and made me laugh out loud. Adam is a completely relatable character as I know men just as introvert and uptight as he is, and couldn't help but giggle when I saw the comparison. I received a copy of this book through NetGalley and this is my honest and voluntary review.