This was a fun and cute read. I enjoyed the winter setting. I liked the grumpy sunshine vibes. The banter between Jonas and Ailis was very entertaining. This book makes me want to read about the rest of the Silver Dukes. It had everything you could want in a Historical Romance.

Jonas Langford, Duke of Ramsdale is a man few dares approach as he scares most of them. However, Miss Ailis Temple (or Temple of Virtue as Jonas calls her) is the exception to the rule! Having lost both her parents while still young, she was adopted and raised by her uncle who is the local vicar in the village. She is always doing good and caring for those in need.

While trying to secure funding for the upcoming village Christmas party, Ailis approaches the Duke of Ramsdale for the umpteenth time in the hope of getting a contribution from him. Jonas is very intrigued and attracted to Ailis and proposes to give her £1,000 for ten kisses! Ailis, who has never been kissed, decides to take him up on the offer / challenge. Unfortunately, while they were negotiating the deal, the weather becomes decidedly worse and when the meeting concludes and she makes her way back to the village, Ailis falls from her horse and dislocates her shoulder. With the worsening of the weather, she has no choice but to remain in his home until the snow abates, and her shoulder improves.

Liked reading it and other books from Meara Platt but found it a little slow at times. I received an ARC from the publishers and NetGalley and submit my honest review voluntarily.

"𝑰𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒒𝒖𝒊𝒆𝒕 𝒉𝒖𝒔𝒉 𝒐𝒇 𝒇𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒔𝒏𝒐𝒘, 𝒔𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒂𝒘 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒅 𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒕 𝒃𝒆𝒏𝒆𝒂𝒕𝒉 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒕𝒊𝒕𝒍𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒉𝒆, 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒇𝒊𝒓𝒔𝒕 𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒆, 𝒃𝒆𝒍𝒊𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒅 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝒎𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒃𝒆 𝒎𝒆𝒂𝒏𝒕 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒉𝒊𝒎."

Meara Platt’s Snowfall and the Duke is a heartwarming holiday romance that glows with emotional depth, gentle humor, and the redemptive power of love. Ailis Temple, the spirited and selfless niece of the village Vicar, is the embodiment of warmth in a wintry world. Jonas Langford, the Duke of Ramsdale, brooding with a past as stormy as the blizzard that traps them, is her reluctant counterpart. Watching these two opposites thaw each other's defenses is a delightfully slow-blooming joy.

Set against the backdrop of a snow-covered countryside, the story delivers a perfect blend of historical authenticity and heartfelt romance. Platt’s signature charm comes through in every corner; from the duke’s humorous trials with the ton's most eligible diamonds to the wonderful and fun Duke's staff, and the housekeeper was priceless! The emotional weight carried by Jonas’s strained family ties adds surprising richness to an already layered narrative.

And that ending? Both surprising and soul-satisfying, topped by a tender wedding night that feels earned, delicate, and deeply romantic. This is a story where love doesn’t just conquer; it heals, redeems, and blooms like firelight in a winter storm. I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader's Copy of this book; all thoughts and opinions are my own.

This historical romance is the fourth book in a series centered around heroes who carry a little silver in their hair. This particular hero has stayed at his country estate, determined that his brother is welcome to carry the title forward. He is never going to marry.
Our heroine is the local vicar's niece. Just because the duke doesn't mix with the people from his village, doesn't mean he can get away with not contributing to the funds raised for the needy at the Christmas ball.
This is a light hearted, amusing story with fabulous characters. It's very nice to see slightly older lead characters.
Great fun.

Ailis Temple, the local vicar’s niece, has never been kissed, and nearing 30 years of age, has accepted that that will never change. But when the handsome and muscular (oh so muscular) Duke of Ramsdale offers to donate the entire sum of money she needs to help support the poor through the cold winter, in exchange for ten kisses, she seizes what might be her last chance at this experience. They both know it can never be anything more. But with a snow storm raging outside, she is forced to weather it out at his mansion. And being forced to enjoy each others’ company, they realise just how pleasant things could be...

In my opinion, what really carried this book were the two main characters, who were likeable and dynamic, especially after the first few chapters when the book really hit its stride. Their personalities are well thought out, and their banter makes sense and feels believable. She is innocent and naive, but not a damsel in distress, she has her own opinions and feels like a fully fleshed out character. He is grumpy, yes, but there is more to him than meets the eye. In short, they both have depth, which I find is sometimes lacking in romance novels. The writing flowed nicely and it was hard to put this book down, I kept wanting to read just one more page, and one more.

For me, the weakest part of the book was the start, where, I felt, too much focus was put on the physique of the two main characters, and it felt a bit flat with the book describing repeatedly how attractive the characters were, but after the first few chapters this improved and the book could really shine.

I think this book would be good for anyone who wants to see believable characters who genuinely like each other, and who can help each other heal.

I received a free digital ARC copy of this book for reviewing from Dragonblade Publishing via Netgalley, which I am very thankful for. However, my review is based on my honest opinions.

Snowfall has caused calamities before but when it's in Regency era and with a Duke, you know it's gonna be good.
Ten little kisses, no big deal. But when each kiss has to be different, thats when hearts start bending.
Absolutely wonderful. I was more than slightly amused when the servants and just about everyone is in on the match making. I smirked more than once at the antics. A little surprised at who did what. But it was absolutely perfect. Beauty and this beast remake. The same yet not.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with guidelines.

4th in the series from Meara Platt and it just may be my favorite so far. Deemed the next "Silver Duke" by his friends, Jonas Langford, Duke of Ramsdale is not happy. He was held prisoner during the war and was badly burned and feels no one will love a man covered in scars.. So, he likes being alone, but he doesn't figure out he's lonely until Miss Temple comes to call and a snowfall keeps her close. Ailis Temple, is the Vicar's niece, and is loved by everyone. She comes to see the Duke for funds to help the people that live on or near his estate. Jonas throws a challenge: 10 kisses for 1000 pounds, she accepts. Why not, almost 30 and never been kissed. This may be her only chance since she is firmly on the shelf.. While they've been arguing, the snow starts to fall.

The meddling mother and younger brother Edward bring levity to these two main characters. She wants a house party at Christmas to find Jonas a wife and Edward brings friends that bet against Jonas marrying, And they'll assist in anyway they can, including marrying the competition.

Through manipulation and humor these two are brought together. A lovely story of believing in love, opening yourself up and sharing your heart
I'd love a story for his younger brother Edward, he deserves his on HEA.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

Thank you NetGalley. Miss Temple is living with her uncle at the vicarage and helping him to get funds for the poor. She stops to see the Duke and he gives her a hard time about donating to help. Finally they make a deal that he will donate for 10 kisses from her. She strikes the bargain and leaves. The snow is starting to fall. He sees her fall from her horse. She has a dislocated shoulder and he knows how to fix that but cares her in and puts her in his bed as none of the bedrooms are made up. She has to stay as it keeps snowing. Then he receives word his mother and brother are coming with guests. He has to get Evie home but they arrive before he can do it. They have a plan to get her out of the house.

Meara has done it once more, she’s just awesome with these stories.

Girl meets Duke, no hope of love but you just watch this space.

Meara has an incredible talent for turning the tables and ripping your heart out on the way.
I can’t wait for more, totally addicted to her books now.

I received an Arc copy of this book and chose to post this review

5 stars

Good story. Our heroine dsilocates her shoulder near our hero, the grumpy duke's house. He puts her right and she recuperates at his place. He realises that though she'd almost 30 she hasn't been kissed and she realises that she can gave passion and money for her charities.

He's been badly scared and lost his joie de vivre. He's annoyed at his friends making him a silver duke which puts a target on his back from the meddling debutantes. Luckily there's a HEA.

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

This is such a great book, it started out strong and just kept getting better. I really love books that start out with the feeling of knowing that
the main characters have the ability to tell it like it is while still giving humorous comebacks that are really funny. The cold grumpy Duke is not as bad as everyone thinks he is. Although he is still trying to hide his scars and protect his heart. Ailis, who is our heroine and spinster, has had enough of the Duke’s teasing and being put down, to last her a lifetime. The two seem to get deeper and deeper into trouble and closer and closer in their feelings for each other. Plan to have a really good read with a few tears.

One should never judge a book by its cover, as Ailis Temple discovered when she challenged Jonas, the Duke of Ramsdale. Both the main characters in this sweet romance have their shields up, preventing anyone from getting too close to them. When Jonas barters ten kisses from Ailis to pay for the parish's charity work, he does not expect her to agree with him. Nervous of the outcome, Ailis's concern for the poor under her uncle's spiritual care outweighs her scruples. An epic snowstorm, an injury, and being confined to Jonas's bed raise all sorts of concerns when his family descends on him for the Christmas season. The novel is witty and entertaining, and as Jonas starts to unravel his past, he discovers that love and trust go a long way to bring healing and new beginnings. I received a copy of this delightful romance as a gift through Dragonblade Publishing and NetGalley, and this is my honest and voluntary review.

I loved the connection between Jonas and Ailis. This story had some really good romance connection I really liked the snowed in theme feel of the story it made it feel like a cozy setting. I also liked how it was a beauty and the beast retelling, hints of this in the story. I love how he had bargained with her, by striking a bargain with her. She is to give him ten kisses, a hundred pounds a kiss. They had such good chemistry it was a great story. Thank you netgalley for the arc!

Think back to Beauty and the Beast and you will see a few similarities. Jonas Langford, Duke of Ramsdale is in hiding. Avoiding London and the ton, but his fellows dukes, those he thought were friends has entered his name at White’s as the next to marry. And his mother and brother has decided to bring a few of the first diamonds to his doorstep for a house party over the Christmas holidays. Bah humbug! The only one who he can tolerate is the victor’s niece.
Miss Ailis Temple is beloved by all. Making it her mission to help her uncle care for his flock this season even if it means going to the grumpy Duke to get a donation. And as the afternoon wears on and the snowflakes start to fall Ailis and the Duke come to an unusual agreement. Ten kisses and for each the Duke will donate 100 pounds.
Fun read with all the antics that occur during the party and the Duke realizing what he truly wants but can he reveal his true self. Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this wonderful story. All opinions expressed are my own.

Snowfall and the Duke by Meara Platt is the fourth of her Silver Dukes series. He was not one of the original Sliver Dukes, but the Duke of Ramsdale is a worthy addition. He doesn’t live anywhere near London, but rather has a residence in Yorkshire, where he lives by himself and likes it. He has irregular visitors, one of which is Miss Temple, the vicar’s niece, as always, fundraising. He’s not sure what got into him but he offered her one thousand pounds to care for the poor through the winter, one hundred for each kiss they share. She is startled, but agrees immediately, and not simply for the donation. As she is leaving at the start of a blizzard, he stands at the window where he sees her horse slip and dump her to the ground. He and several servants rush to her rescue and bring her back to the house as a servant is sent to fetch the doctor. Since no other rooms are made up, he has her put in his bed. Totally inappropriate, but necessary. She has dislocated her shoulder and has a cut on her head, as well as general bruising. He is struck by the fact that had he not been standing by the window, no one might have discovered her in time.

Thus starts an amusing story of a man who has good, but foolish, reasons for not marrying. Ones she dispenses with as soon as she discovered them. She is not of a station appropriate for a duke, but no one in Yorkshire cares about that sort of thing. The story progresses, through some amusing scenes of his mother and brother arriving with several eligible ton beauties, all intent upon trapping him. That didn’t work, and they eventually left, disgruntled. One can always count on Meara Platt for an entertaining book. This was one of many. The main characters were well-rounded an interesting, the plot was predictable, but getting to the ultimate conclusion was extremely entertaining, and it was a definite happily-ever-after, even after they traveled to London and he had to put up with the ribbing of his friends.

I was invited to read Snowfall and the Duke by Dragonblade. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #Dragonblade #MearaPlatt #SnowfallAndTheDuke

When I saw this ARC on my dashboard, I immediately nabbed it because...Regency-era historic romance? Beauty and the Beast vibes? Snowed-in plot? Bargaining kisses via a vicar's niece for the community Christmas charity ball? Hello there, my reader's heart was already thumping madly. And what a delightful read it was that delivered on all fronts.

We quickly learn that the 'Beast' is Jonas Langford, the reclusive Duke of Ramsdale, who has been approached by our undaunted Miss Ailis Temple for several years now in her pursuit of deep-pocketed donations on behalf of their village community. Their rapport is witty and reveals that they have been at this for several years now as her charitable approaches have become regular enough for him to expect them. As the wintry weather looms outdoors, Jonas comes up with the outlandish proposal that Ailis accepts ten kisses per 100 quid (pounds to the non-Brits). Queue the nasty storm and Ailis being chucked off her horse that delays her return and forces her to remain and recuperate...right in the Duke's bed.

All this makes for a great setting for our heroine and hero to get nice and cozy...and not just with the sizzling kissing, but to delve into the more intimate side of their pasts that they begin to reveal to one another. I enjoyed these elements as they slowly let their walls down and began to trust one another...and thus, become more protective of one another. The arrival of unexpected guests in the form of the duke's mother, brother and a house party full of the ton's most beautiful adds some urgency to the rest of the story as 'real life' avalanches upon them suddenly. I love how loyal and protective Jonas' staff are of him and Ailis as well when the outsiders descend, which reflects their good characters.

I'm giving this three stars because as much as I enjoyed it, I felt some of their relationship became a bit rushed and that someone like Ailis wouldn't be giving in to the kisses as readily for a modest spinster of this time (I know, I know, this is part of the allure of the story). I also felt that the so called 'diamonds' that the duke's mother brings are almost too outlandish and forward in their attempts to entrap and seduce their way to becoming prospective duchesses (also, I believe there was always only one chosen 'diamond' per season, not multiple ones). I'm a wide reader of Regency genre and felt their behaviour was too modern, and that most young ladies, especially from the cream of the crop would not have acted so brazenly because a young woman's virtue was everything during this time period. It just felt too unbelievable, especially with the two sisters bed hopping constantly, perhaps in a way to contrast to Ailis' glowing virtues (hence Jonas' fond nickname for her 'Miss Temple of Virtue', which also became rather repetitive. This behaviour was often overlooked by widows, but not by the unmarried women, so it didn't ring true on that historic sense, but if you're not looking for historic accuracy, then it shouldn't bother you.

Overall though, if you're looking for an easy read with some great tropes, witticisms and romance within a northern England village (and Christmas time!) then I think you'll enjoy this. I may even go back and read more about the other Silver Dukes as I became intrigued by their brief appearance in the story.

Huge thanks to NetGalley and Dragonblade publishing for this advanced copy!

Aah! What a wonderful, soulful story. Jonas is a silver duke who has become reclusive after the war. Ailis, is the vicar's niece, who is set on helping the downtrodden. Book 4 of this series has such subtle humor from page one all the way through. Yes, there is a bit of a struggle, but the joy, love, compassion and goodness shine so brightly that one is instantly captivated by it. I love this series for its uplifting qualities and unique plots.

Snowfall and the Duke is book 4 in The Silver Dukes, but can be read as a standalone. I have not read any of the prior books, and Platt dropping the reader into an established universe with two characters that already know each other fairly well, might be jarring to some, but I just rolled with it. The opening scenes with Jonas and Ailis bantering over him being a curmudgeon and her really needing him to apply some of his mighty wealth to the poor tenants set the pace and style for the rest of the story. I did enjoy these two very much and the story really flowed along like a warm hug. But there were some niggling details that were annoying.

The plot revolves around The Silver Dukes getting married. Jonas is described as early 40s and has silver in his hair. Ailis is about 30 so right away I was already predisposed to liking these two, simply because they were older adults. The book was tagged as Beauty and the Beast, but while Jonas is scarred from the Napoleonic wars and Ailis is caught up in a snowstorm (forced proximity!), that's really the end of the likeness. These two get along and when Jonas proposes kisses in exchange for charitable donations, Ailis is ready to play his game. She knows he's not looking for marriage despite the betting books or his mother descending upon him with his younger brother and a gaggle of what they all call diamonds. And this is where the book just started annoying me. I googled it and I can't find where women were all called diamonds by the ton during the regency period as a matter of regular discourse. I only saw it as related to Georgette Heyer who I've never read, but she was certainly not writing during the actual period. It just seemed really dumb. Also, Platt made a show of how different these women were from virginal, vicar's niece, Ailis (although the Temple of Virtue jokes were pretty funny). I thought the female rival plotlines where the other woman is portrayed as whorish went out with the 80s.

Luckily this being a historical romance, all's well that ends well, but these two details really kept this from being a 4 star read for me.

Thank you to Dragonblade Publishing and Netgalley for the arc for review purposes.

I thoroughly enjoyed this story of Ailis and Jonas. I liked that they were both more mature and knew themselves. Of course grumpy/sunshine is one of may favorite tropes! The arrival of family and the help of the staff to move along these two was lovely.

The best of the series...

I really liked this book and felt like it was the strongest so far in the series of Silver Dukes.
Jonas Langford is a grumpy duke, scarred by war who like Miss Ailis very much indeed. So much, he blackmails her for her charity cause. Ten kisses for a thousand pounds. A hundred pounds a kiss. She's never been kissed but Jonas is changing that immediately. I really liked Ailis, who stood her ground, had never been kissed until Jonas and accepted his offer and fully expects him to pay up.
Recommend.