Pleasant and amusing historical that is a bit suspend your disbelief at times. The village of Cressmouth celebrates Christmas all year, and they have twelve ‘dukes’ of Christmas to advertise their village amusements to the tourists that flock to the castle and the village.

Lucien Le Duc, is one of these dukes. He is working as the village blacksmith along with his brother Bastien, now happily married to Eve. Forced to flee his aristocratic heritage and estates in France when his parents were killed in the French Revolution- Lucien has refused to learn English properly, and is desperate to return to France and try are regain his estate and title, and go back to the aristocracy where he feels he belongs.

Meg Church, proud spinster of the parish loves Cressmouth, and living with her cousin and husband, her parents were farmers in France who joined the revolution, and died for their efforts. She struggled to make her way to her English family, and works hard to be happy, although she feels like she doesn’t have any true connections. She is funny and witty and fond of a salacious innuendo or two. She is attracted to Lucien, but knows that he want to return to France.

They fall into spending lots of time together as she helps him to improve his English, and they are more and more attracted to each other, although they both know this is only temporary. Meg also knows that Lucien would be horrified if he knew her background. How can they find their way to their HEA

The touches of humour and emotional connections between all the characters made for a lovely fun read.

I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book via Netgalley, and all opinions are my own.

Also posted on Goodreads

I think I have to cut the super cute Christmas romances or I will end up in a sugar coma! I clearly got an addiction going for this series of 12 dukes for Christmas. I’ve read theses three beauties in short order and would read some more...but some charcoaled bird needs cutting during Christmas! Most recently I read book 8: The Duke’s desire!

Story: Meg Church adores life in a village of perennial Yuletide, and the freedom of being a spinster, but she’s harbored a secret tendre for Christmas curmudgeon Lucien le Duc since the moment she first glimpsed him. But the sexy blacksmith won’t give her the time of day. Ever since Lucien le Duc was forced to flee his beloved France during the revolution, his all-consuming goal has been to recover not only his lost land and fortune, but also his rightful place among the French aristocracy. He would never be distracted by an English dairy maid’s sultry glances…

I loved Meg! We need more heroines who are saucy and have a wicked sense of flirting! Get rid of all these female virgins! The hero: Turning this grumpy Anglophobe into a man with an interest in this English rose took quite some twisting on the author’s behalf. It wasn’t the best of the series as many of the sentiments towards people being foreign in a new land just hit a little bit too close to home. Admittedly Lucien’s conversion was not one of her best. I guess in my mind the author just spent too much time establishing his dislikes and not enough words in showing how he changed.

I read other books by this writer before and she's consistently great. The banter between the main characters is wonderfully witty. The sexual tension and desire between the couple is just right. The heroine is spirited and sassy, The hero is grumpy with a sad backstory but is eventually helped by the heroine. Love the romance and the heart warming ending. :)

THE DUKE’S DESIRE by Erica Ridley is the eighth in a series of twelve Regencies to be released and it is witty, spicy, and warm. What a great story it tells!

Meg Church is known as a spinster in the village of Cressmouth, more often referred to as Christmas, a town known for its year-round holiday cheer. Meg isn’t offended by the spinster label as she is the one who christened herself with it. She revels in reading books considered risqué and delights in quoting the more euphemistically descriptive passages of desire.

Lucien le Duc is the eldest of three siblings who arrived in England due to the atrocities of the French Revolution. The le Ducs’ parents, as members of the aristocracy, were executed. The siblings have made a home for themselves in England, although they each have interest in returning to France — Lucien most of all. Even after years, he still speaks only French and his entire focus is to return to the country of his birth. That dream is now within reach, his tickets purchased, and now he just has to wait to board the ship that will take him from England.

The interplay between Meg and Lucien is as if we’re watching a dance where they seem to alternate who is leading and who is following— and sometimes, they’re each doing both at the same time. It seems unlikely that they’ll be able to find a compromise that will allow commitment, but this is an Erica Ridley novel, so you know there will be a happily-ever-after and that it will be charming!

My reading was of a pre-release copy of the book, for which I am providing a personal review. My thanks to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley.

Welcome to Cressmouth, the town in the mountains that celebrates the yuletide all year. Meg Church is a twenty-eight year old spinster that doesn't worry about what she can and cannot do. She has her eye on
Lucien Le Duc, but he doesn't seem to notice her. Once she finds his weakness she'll make herself available. At times humorous, a little sad and not exactly
predictable. An entertaining story of the eighth Duke in a series of twelve.

The banter between the main characters are humorous and spirited allowing the reader to become engrossed in their love story. A bright and playful storyline!

So romantic so well written another wonderful book by this author.Was drawn right in and enjoyed every page.#netgalley#webmotion

Lucien la Duc is going back to France and reclaim his family's heritage. He has his ticket and nothing can stop him. Maybe Meg Church will have some influence there. He has asked her to give him English lessons so he can come to visit his family and be more comfortable with his nieces and nephews. They soon find they are interested in more than lessons. Their parents fought on opposite sides in the French revolution which makes Meg think there cannot be a 'happy ever after' for them. Can they over come it or not? I think you know the answer.

Absolutely awesome. Love this story just like all the other duke stories I’ve read by the author. Couldn’t put it down.

The Duke’s Desire is the heartwarming and absolutely laugh-at-loud funny story of Lucien le Duc and Meg Church. Other than fleeing France during the Revolution (Lucien isn’t aware that Meg had lived in France) and living in Cressmouth, these two have nothing in common. Lucien is grumpy, refuses to learn to speak English well enough to carry on a conversation (even if he wanted to). Meg is outgoing and friendly, loves naughty novels, and has no problem talking about the activities in them. She lives with her cousin and her husband who own the local dairy where she doesn’t have to help in the barn, because they already have eight maids a-milking. As I said, total opposites. It seems impossible these two will have a happily ever after; but remember, this is Cressmouth, the town of Christmas miracles.

This is the eighth story in the 12 Dukes of Christmas series. It is a delightfully humorous and unpredictable tale with lovable quirky characters, snarky banter, some difficult secrets to reveal, and a few twists and turns. One of my favorite parts is when Meg agrees to tutor Lucien in English. Their tutoring sessions are fun for Meg, Uncle Jason, and the reader, but not so much for Lucien. It does give the couple the chance to get to know each other (Lucien likes that part). I thoroughly enjoyed the story of the eighth Duke of Christmas. Now on to number nine!

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley. My review is voluntary.

Lucien Le Duc finally has a chance to return to his family estate after they were forced to escape. At Cresswll, he and his siblings have found a home and he has been successful as a blacksmith yet with his sister and brother marrying, his reasons for leaving are mounting. Yet Meg Church has other plans for Lucien and his ideas of leaving. Having adorned him from afar, she Offers to help him with improving his English by way of lessons. However, the lessons progress to more and life begins to get more complicated.
Two great characters who were are so well suited. However, I did find some of the language and behaviour of Meg more adventurous than I would expect of a woman of this time period. Otherwise, a great addition to a delightful series.
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

The last of the le Duc siblings gets their HEA ending. Lucien and Meg are an ill-matched pair; by birth, morals (she’s an alley cat/he’s chaste) and country of choice. However both are family oriented and strongly attracted to each other but Meg has a secret which can split them apart before they have even begun.
Whilst I know the turgid passages from the book Meg was reading were meant in fun, they didn’t appeal to me and distracted me from the story. Have to say this was my least favourite of the series to date.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from the author and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Highly entertaining, fun, engaging and emotionally thrilling adventure filled with exciting charters, witty dialog, heart racing turns and thrilling passion.... was a great read from beginning to end. Really enjoyed this fun journey!

The Duke’s Desire by Erica Ridley is the 8th book in the 12 Dukes of Christmas Series.
These books include quirky characters, a town always full of Christmas spirit and lots of hope and love. Meg Church is living with her cousin happily near town and with her friends around her. She also has been crushing on Lucien Le Duc. Until she needs to find a new home.

Meg’s sassy mouth and shocking statements catch Lucien off guard, but he really isn’t interested in someone like her, is he? After all, he is going back to France to live the life that was taken from him. I had not liked Lucien until I read this book and now understand his character. Meg made me laugh and her insight into Lucien was a key piece of his understanding himself. Erica Ridley has written another short fun read about the Dukes of Christmas. The Duke’s Desire by Erica Ridley was a fun read!

Little do these star-crossed lovers know, Lucien's scowls and Meg's ebullient ribaldry conceal a similar wounded past; they are both scarred children of the Revolution. Meg's idealistic parents were farmers who would gladly have helped to convict Julien's parents, had they been in the same part of France. How dare she fall for a son of nobility? She thought he was a blacksmith!

Yet the more she follows her feelings and helps him with his English, the more Julien is revealed as a hardworking, loyal and honorable man. Everything he does is for the benefit of his family. When he opens up to the temptress he never knew spoke French, it is anything but a casual amusement. Can they both leave the past behind and imagine a future together?

And will it still include the marvelous village of Christmas?

I loved this episode of the Dukes of Christmas perhaps a bit more than some of the others, because two characters who thought happiness was beyond them discovered it was closer than close.

THE DUKE’S DESIRE is the eighth book in the Twelve Dukes of Christmas series. Though each will stand on its own, please note that books six, seven, and eight are about the three Le Duc siblings.

Let’s not forget this is the eighth book – that means that there are eight maids a milkin’ – at Meg’s cousin’s dairy farm.

I have been waiting for Lucien’s story and Meg is the perfect girl for him. She is definitely not the expected shy and virginal historical romance heroine. She enjoys her life as a spinster with no reputation to guard. She is bold and unconventional, but she is more. That more just may come between her and Lucien.

I have loved Lucien’s undying patriotism from the start and his dedication to his family. His taciturn and surly mannerisms become something of a joke between them instead of something to overcome. I loved how Meg wormed her way into his heart. Meeting Meg quickly means questioning his own desire to leave England or how they can work out the obstacles of his family legacy in France.

I’ll have to wait almost a year for the final four books in this series, but I’ll know it will be worth the anticipation!

Note: While I received this book as a gifted ARC via NetGalley, my opinions are my own and are given freely.

This is another wonderful addition to the "12 Dukes of Christmas" series! This time it's Lucien's story and how his best laid plans go awry once he meets Meg.. She is unlike anyone he has ever known and although she is nothing like he wants as a wife, he can't resist kissing her!

I adored Meg's character, what a hoot she is! She will say anything to scandalize Lucien and I just loved the banter between them....in French and English!! This was a delightful story to read and I really enjoyed the bonus epilogue as well.

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

Lucien's and Meg's story was lovely. Lucien who is planning on returning to France, now that he can finally meets Meg. Meg's been eyeing him from afar for 6 years saying nothing (which seems out of character for her). Now she's giving him English lessons (just as he's preparing to go back to France).
An unlikely pairing but a sweet story nonetheless.

Why do we love those stories whose characters are most unlikely to be happily ever after?

Meg Church is brilliant. A spinster who likes the life she has but, on the other hand, hides a crush for a Frenchman who always dreamed of the day she would be able to return to his country.
But behold, two of his siblings found their happiness in the arms of English citizens.
Lucien decides to improve his English, and it's Meg who will be his teacher.
But during class, probably between a charming French and a sassy British, there would be much more to teach and to learn than a language...
An enchanted and funny story
5 stars

From start to end, the scandalously naughty Meg (my spirit animal) made this novel an instant hit and her encounters with Lucien and how easily she made him submit to her seductive ways were thus far my favorite scenes throughout my read . It had everything you're looking for: historical elements, tempting heroine, brooding hero and a whirlwind (more like instant love) romance that will surely knock you off your feet. I had this down in one sitting and it definitely felt a lot shorter than 200 pages. Nevertheless, a quick and easy read that any reader can find enjoyable.