A light, happy Christmas romance. The perfect fun, light-headed read.

Many thanks to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading The Duke's Bride by Erica Ridley - I finished it in one sitting and found myself smiling the entire time! It was the perfect light, happy romance to read in between the heavier ones and was very suited to the Christmas period. I personally loved how well the story line and characters were developed given it's length (only 200 pages), which is sometimes lacking in other similarly sized novels. Desiree was a fantastic, delightful, and all around fun heroine - and was the perfect partner for not only Jack, but the twins as well! Overall, this was a lovely, lighthearted story to read that I would recommend in a heartbeat.

Definitely not the best book in series... However, it is an enjoyable novella that is more about feel good then a deep story. You will enjoy reading this for it is well written. Just not a lot of action or adventure in this one. Another good read for a rainy evening. I was given this book via NetGalley. All opinions expressed here are my own.

The Duke’s Bride is the sixth book in the Dukes of Christmas series. It is the first book in the series I have read. It is a stand alone, but makes you want to read the others. After the death of her parents, Desiree le Dues, a French aristocratic, with her two brothers, have come to England to escape the growing trouble in France. They are living with a family friend, but are working and saving to return to their homelands and reestablish their vineyard in France. After the death of his wife, Jack Sheffington, a private smuggler by trade, has the need of a governess for his ten year old twins. Jack visits with his friends and partners, the Le Ducs, to get a suggestion of who he could hire to help care for his children. Desiree hears about the offer and jumps at the chance to work for Jack so she can make money to help her family return to their homeland of France. Desiree and Jack both value family over everything so the question is, “Will the two find love , or will they each choose family first?” Good read. Love the twins. Hope there is a story about them.

writing and storytelling is great, descriptive, and flowing. jack was a great, wonderful hero. and Desiree was witty, charming.

Single father and confirmed bachelor Jack Skeffington is the mastermind behind an international smuggling ring, yet unable to control his rambunctious ten-year-old twins. What he needs is a stern, experienced, no-nonsense governess. What he gets is his business partner’s untouchable sister, whose delectable body Jack yearns to pull close. Mademoiselle Désirée le Duc cannot wait to return to France and regain her lost vineyard. But to do so, she must repay crippling debt. Determined to buy freedom, she accepts temporary employment from an Englishman with a wicked smile and a big… wine cellar. His kisses taste like heaven and his arms feel like home. How can she choose between two families separated by the sea?
This was a great story by a great author. I’ve read a number of her books and they don’t disappoint. I really liked both main characters as well as the plot. I recommend.
**I voluntarily read and reviewed this book

This was a fun romance with many sparks flying! I loved the adorable twins and they added so much to the story. I look forward to reading more of this series.
Many thanks to WebMotion and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

The Duke’s Bride is another amazing book in the 12 Dukes of Christmas. One of the things I love about Ms. Ridley’s books is the way she brings you right into the room with the characters as if you are part of the witty conversation.

The le Duc family just wants to return to France in any way possible. Désirée, although independent and strong, has two brothers who are a bit protective. But, stir their business partner, handsome and a bit troubled, you get the perfect mixture.

Read this as a stand alone or in the series. Cressmouth is a lovely community with likeable, real characters. You will love the Duke’s Bride!

I love Erica Ridley's books and this was no exception.
Beautiful Regency romance that you will not want to put down. I highly recommend this book.
Thank you Erica Ridley, Web Motion and NetGalley for allowing me this advance copy in exchange for my honest feedback.

I love a good historical fiction and this just was the perfect type to get me excited for not only the story but the characters as well. 5/5 stars

I absolutely adore Erica Ridley books, but this one fell a little flat for me. I wanted more relationship development between Jack and Desiree. However, it was still an entertaining read!

This was another great story from Erica Ridley. I always wondered the story of the children Annie and Frederick. I was also curious about the infamous Le Duc family. Desiree and Jack just fit together like it was just meant to be. I wonder if they had children? Anyway loving the series.

I liked Desiree and Jack, they had great chemistry. They seemed to mesh well right off the bat. Annie and Frederick has understandable hesitations with accepting someone new in their lives. I love how the author handled it and it never felt like Desiree was trying to compete/replace their mother. Overall their story was lovely.

This is a voluntary review of an advanced copy.

Wow, I think this is my favorite book in the series so far! I loved Jack and Desiree and the twins - Annie and Frederick. Desiree just fits right into the family and they get along so well, that you just keep waiting for Jack to wake up and realize that he can take another chance on love.

Some parts of the book were just so crazy they were funny - like the pet pig, Chef. Lucien and Jack each speaking their native language even when they could understand and speak the other's language - just a few examples of the playfulness of the book. The six geese a laying was carefully part of the story so much that I didn't "get it" right away because it was just so naturally in the story!!

Jack and Desiree each felt the attraction between them and tried so very hard to stay apart until they couldn't. I loved the ending with the glimpse of their life a bit down the road and how they were able to make both English and French work for them and blend their lives.

What an amazing story this is, I loved everything about it from the setting to the likeable characters, I could not stop turning the pages.

Erica Ridley is a very talented author. She knows how to create a story and she knows how to draw you in.
In this, the 6th book, the Dukes of Christmas series continues.
Jack Skeffington is an amazing friend and mastermind. However, his twins who are ten, are the ones masterminding him. He needs help and so he decides to hire a nanny, or governess.
Desiree Le Duc is part of the infamous Le Duc family.
They all desire to return home to France, and return to their previous life and nobility.
Desiree takes the position in the Skeffington household to watch over the children and to teach them.
Only one problem, Jack.
As her time in the house lengthens, so does their longing for each other.
I really enjoyed this book. I received a free book from the author in return for my honest opinion.

Jack and Desiree's story was great, I loved watching these two fall in love. His two kids just added to the story, starting out not wanting a new mother, to finally saying they only want Desiree as their new mother.

Jack Skeffington is the widowed father of twins. He is meeting with the captain of his ship to find a new smuggling route when his twins disrupt the meeting. The captain tells Jack he needs a wife. Jack won't love and lose again, but he knows he needs a governess for his wild children.

Desiree le Duc is the sister of Cressmouth's blacksmiths. Beau, Lucien, and Desiree are working hard to pay off the lease on their property so they can return to France. Lucien says they need another year to earn the money. When their friend Jack offers Desiree an outrageous amount of money to be a temporary governess, she jumps at the chance.

When Jack helps her brothers pay off their debt faster, he realizes that he loves Desiree. She is torn between helping her brothers or having her own HEA.

I loved this book! It was so well written. I enjoyed the introduction to the le Duc family.

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

I really am enjoying this series of the 12 Dukes of Christmas. This particular entry was a tad spicier than the last two, which isn't what I look for in a romance, but it made sense with the storyline. I wasn't overly pleased with the illegal activities of the MC H and the blind-eye everyone turned towards it, but I expect most people preferred their alcohol than wanted to debate just how bad rum-running was in the grand scheme of things. Again, his profession made sense, though I prefer my Heroes to be on the correct side of the law, it wasn't a huge detraction from the story.

This wasn't my favorite entry in the series, but I didn't dislike it either, so a solid 3 stars. I am looking forward to the next book in the series, which I probably won't get to until next Christmas to be honest. I really enjoy reading these during the Christmas season, since they take place in a Christmas village. It helps to make my season a little brighter. I highly recommend the series if you enjoy Regency romances. These are novellas, so easy to binge them, they are all interconnected, which I really like and while they are shorter than the average book, I feel the characters are all well fleshed out and the town is it's own character, growing with each story. Highly recommended, though it might be best to read them in order.

My thanks to NetGalley and WebMotion for an eARC copy of this book to read and review.

Cute, almost no conflict, a bit too much about the kids, even if those are rather nice kids. It just reads along with a feel good vibe, both main characters are very likeable.

It was another very cute, romantic, and well written romance novella set in the town of Christmas, where the holiday cheer goes on all year round.

I recommend other books in the series that I liked even better, like
Kiss of a Duke
or
Dukes, Actually