Snowfall and the Duke is the fourth book in the "Silver Duke" series, the first of the series I've read and the first by this author too. While it mentions the characters from the other series, I do not feel it detracts from this story. There is enough content and it's very well written to be a stand alone tale.

Jonas Langford, the Duke of Ramsgate, has been named as the remaining Silver Duke and he would like to chuck that title as far from him as he could get. He has no use for the ton, and does not want to be subjected to the Marriage Mart. With the physical and emotional scars Jonas suffered in the Napoleonic War he feels it's unlikely he'd ever find a wife who would accept him unconditionally. He's lost confidence that he's worthy of love. Instead, Jonas holes up for most of the year in Langford Hall in Broadmoor except for the brief periods when Parliament is in session. He prefers his solitude, and can be quite salty when his peace is interrupted.

Ailis Temple, the niece of Broadmoor's vicar, is that very person who has been regularly interrupting the duke's peace and solitude for around six years. She doesn't wilt in the face of his grumpiness, Ailis is stalwart and firm until Jonas caves to her requests for whatever is currently needed for the people of Broadmoor. They seem to get a lot of fun out of sparring with each other. The banter between them is very entertaining. This time Jonas ups the ante and tells Ailis he will donate $1000 pounds to the latest cause but only if Ailis gives him 10 separate kisses. Shocking! But he's such a charming mischievous rake about it Ailis doesn't mind. She decides she'd like to know what kisses are like anyway since at almost 30 she'll be unlikely to marry. Plus, she's carried a tiny torch for Jonas for a while, perhaps kissing him will get it out of her system.

The snow and ice have really picked up by the time Ailis has left Langford Hall. Her horse slips on the ice just outside the manor and Ailis falls, causing a dislocated shoulder and minor concussion. Ailis wants to get home as soon as she's stable, but Jonas won't hear of it. He insists on treating her at his home and have her recuperate there too so that she doesn't suffer further injury. As soon as the blizzard stops Jonas will ensure that Ailis will be safely home with her uncle and her reputation will be protected. It will all work out perfectly, right?

What follows is a charming and funny story of Ailis & Jonas becoming ever closer and more in love with each other, his mother, brother, and some truly awful house guests arriving to celebrate the holidays. Queue sneaky plans by the dowager duchess to help get Ailis out of Langford Hall and back home before the guests realize she's been staying there unchaperoned. The "diamonds" that Dowager Duchess Ramsgate brought to socialize and possibly marry Jonas, oh my stars. Calling them horrible just scrapes the surface. They should have been tossed in a snowfall and left there until the Spring thaw.

Yet even the shenanigans by the diamonds were not able to do a deep amount of damage. One was extremely unpleasant, but her ugly behavior was resolved quickly. It was heartwarming to see the strength of the love between Ailis & Jonas come through. I enjoyed Snowfall and the Duke, I think it's a great choice of book when you need something to make you smile.

Thank you to Dragonblade Publishing & NetGalley for this ARC

Another great installment for the Silver Dukes series. A lovely and heartwarming story of Jonas and Ailis, a story of healing wounds and opening up to love. Ailis ends up stranded by an accident at Duke of Ramsdale’s house, while they share the ten kisses they bargained for and getting to know each other. Every character in this book is colorful and delightful, from Jonas well-meaning, loving and meddling family, to family retainers. And having a glimpse of the rest of the Silver Dukes was a great bonus. The author was setting up a story for Fiona (we met her in Cherish’s and Bromleigh’s story) and I can’t wait to read that too!

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book!

Ailis is recuperating at Jonas' house and they get stranded there by a snowstorm. They make a wager between them of 10 kisses. They had great, sexy banter between them. Plus both of them have a cutting wit. Excellent story about looking below the surface to the real person.
Thank you to Dragonblade for the copy of this book. Opinions are my own.

Jonas Langford, Duke of Ramsdale, was the ton’s most eligible and desired bachelor before the Napoleonic War left him horribly scarred and had him retreating to Langford Hall in the quiet Yorkshire village of Broadmoor to live out his life in solitude. That is, until one Miss Ailis Temple, the beautiful spinster he thinks of as Miss Temple of Virtue, tumbles off her horse in front of his home and dislocates her shoulder. She came to him seeking charity contributions for the local vicarage, however he strikes a bargain with her. She is to give him ten kisses, a hundred pounds a kiss, he says, never believing she will accept his terms. But she does, and Jonas realizes his life may never be the same again.
A mature couple who will melt your heart. I loved Jonas & Ailis, he’s closed himself off after being captured & scarred in the war a decade before, she’s a ray of sunshine who treats him as a man & not a title plus she makes him smile. Thrown together when she is thrown from her horse in icy conditions & then marooned when they are snowed in, it gives them an opportunity not only to get to know each other but to start to share their ten kisses. A heart warming story, beautifully written with a great cast of characters & two people finding love
I voluntarily read and reviewed a special copy of this book; all thoughts and opinions are my own

A heartwarming and entertaining story. I enjoyed the romance, banter and connection between Jonas and Ailis. Ten kisses leading all the way to a wonderful happily ever after.

I loved this book! Will not criticize this book because it was that good! 😊 I will update my review another time!

This was such a nice, cozy read! I love a man who is incredibly down bad, but struggling with his feelings. There’s just the right amount of angst without outright drama, which was so refreshing <3

This was my first book from this author, but I will definitely be checking out her other work!!

A little rambley but the positives outweigh any critiques. This series taps into old(er… ish….. I’m not expert,okay.) school historical romance vibes and does them really well.
Points for :
• a 30 year old fmc
• having her involved in the church yet not a cliche naive prude
• having the big strong duke being the insecure one who needed reassurance was an interesting change

Ailis is the village vicar’s niece and visits the Duke of Ramsdale to ask him for funds to support the needy in the community, because so far he’s not been very forthcoming. Once there, Jonas (the Duke) offers her a scandalous bargain - he’ll give her £1,000, the full sum they’re hoping to raise, if she’ll give him 10 kisses in return. Ailis doesn’t take long to decide to accept the bargain because she’s long found the Duke attractive and she seizes the opportunity to have her first kiss with him. Jonas is shocked that this paragon of virtue actually accepted his bargain (he does try to back out and give her the money without the kisses), but when an accident means that Ailis is forced to recuperate at his home during a snowstorm, he’s going to be awfully tempted to turn those 10 kisses into something more.

Both Ailis and Jonas were enjoyable characters. Ailis is a bit of a do-gooder but she’s not self-righteous about it, she’s kind and wants to help the community. She’s honest and forthright with Jonas, and I really enjoyed the way she teased him. Jonas needs someone who sees beyond his title and treats him like a fallible man.
Jonas fought in the war with the French and was a POW for a years before making an escape. His time in the war has left him scarred and surly, and he hides away in his country estate. There’s definitely strong grumpy x sunshine vibes at the start of the book, but being around Ailis slowly lets light back into Jonas’s life and shows him what he’s been missing out on.

Ailis and Jonas dance around each other, engaging in some increasingly passionate kisses (for charity of course), before they succumb to their feelings.
Chuck in a meddling brother and mother, and Jonas doesn’t stand a chance of being left to hide away. I enjoyed the relationship between them and Jonas, particularly with his brother, and the plotting to push Jonas and Ailis together.

This was an enjoyable (if predictable), low angst read that would be perfect to read around Christmas time when you’re in the mood for some fun banter, steamy kisses, and just cute vibes.

Snowfall and the Duke is the fourth book in The Silver Dukes series.

Jonas Langford, Duke of Ramsdale, has the reputation of being a beast. After the Napoleonic War left him scarred, he believes no one can possibly love him. He retreats to his country home to avoid being ton’s attention, to live out his life in solitude.

Miss Ailis Temple rides her horse out to ask the Duke, for a donation for the people that needs his help. When the Duke seems reluctant, Ailis make a bargain for 10 kisses in exchange for the donation. The two come to agreement and Miss Temple leaves only to fall off her horse in a snowstorm on his property. Feeling responsible Jonas brings her inside to care for her. But who will receive the most care between these two.

This was wonderful. It is refreshing to see a book about characters that are older than the typical debutantes. Ailis is not your average character. She is thirty, opinionated, and caring. She manages to hold her own with Jonas. The characters were well written as well as entertaining. The snowstorm adds to the story by holding them hostage, so to speak, to 'heal' one another. It was a quick afternoon read, but I was disappointed when it over all too soon. I am looking forward to the two remaining books and hope to read the three previous one.

What an adorable little treasure. Those seventeen chapters flew by far too fast. Two equally traumatized souls find redemption and true love in a snowstorm, among other things. Don’t we all long to be romanced by a dashing duke?

Ten Delicious Kisses
The surly Duke of Ramsdale thinks to get out of making a charity donation when the vicar’s niece comes to call. Ailis Temple or Miss Temple of Virtue, his moniker for the thirty year old spinister, is surprised when the Duke says he will provide the entirety of the money they require to help the poorest through the winter, if she will allow ten kisses, one hundred pounds for each kiss. But it is the Duke who is shocked when she accepts. Loved this story of this reclusive Duke who hides his scars and his heart, and the sunshiny do-gooder that everyone loves.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Meara writes her characters with such heart. she doesn't cover them in glory but nor does she blame or shame them. she strips judgement from some often battered souls. and i always find her books a ease and comfort to read even though they can have some harder themes sometimes. but of course neither does she make the harshness of some people trouble piffy or glossed over. there does as always feels the balance in this new book of hers. almost like a beauty and the beast take on it was what i got from my first reading of the blurb.
this man has been hit by war rather than a spell or curse though. and hes been hiding away ever since. but then Ali comes knocking on his door. shes not there for anything but help and charity, and risks asking it of this cold man in this isolated life he leads. but when a storm traps them both together will they find more from each other than they thought possible. and will a deal turn in to more than just a "you give me what i want and ill give back" transaction. for behind kiss there seems to be a whole lot more swirling around than a mere storm in the weather. and reading these two coming together like this is such a heartwarming read. we get the historical fiction and lovely romance all mixed together and they both lend themselves readily for this plot.
the side characters all hold their pride of place throughout the book too and add such charm and wit to an already great story.
i really enjoyed reading this book.

First off … Ailis was just the perfect blend of innocence, wit, wise in ways the duke wasn’t and accepting of so many people. She was so fun to read and enjoy her journey. Jonas was the perfect broody, scarred hero with a backstory. Him having a soft spot for Ailis made it so much fun. Jonas’ family’s plot twist in the end really had me laughing and I enjoyed every minute of the crazy chaotic masterplan.

no complaints, no criticism, that’s the standard of historical romance

I was a bit worried the kisses deal would turn out to be too transactional for my liking, but it was written great!

a pathetic /pos man with scars that thinks is tough and cold but it’s the warmest sweetheart 😩😩😩😮‍💨

thank you NetGalley for the ARC! Now I need to check all the other books in the series

I really enjoyed this book. Wonderful characters and a great story. Ailis Temple always has a hard time getting a donation from the Duke of Ragsdale. But this time he offers her a large donation if she will give him ten kisses. Then heading home she tells off horse in a snowfall and must stay at the Duke's estate and in his bedroom no less.

I always love a morally grey MMC with tragic backstory it’s probably my favorite trope of all time and I just love this time era. It’s why I was able to zoom through the bridgerton series!

I so love this author’s stories. She brings such a sense of joy, peace and comfort to her characters bedeviled souls. Ailise is the Vicar’s niece, doing all she can to help the poor and needy in the district. Jonas is the grumpy Duke she must get to help. Watching Jonas’s heart and soul change was so exquisite. Seeing him deal with the ton’s “Diamonds” was so funny, I could feel his sense of being hunted. It wasn’t until the end when we get to see what Mother and brother were trying to do and that brought such a sense of awe to the story. The characters were very well written, the snowstorm (my favorite of the seasons) was delightful and seeing Jonas’s walls broken down was wonderfully written. The Vicar’s housekeeper was hilarious and the Duke’s staff were joyful to read. There is nothing NOT to love in this story! I really didn’t want it to end!

I received this story for free and these are my own opinions

A scarred duke, an injured vicars daughter, snow bound, and an exchange made this book full of tropes.

Ailis and the duke have good vibes, banter and over time you can kind of believe that they fall in love.

The silver duke series has been fairly interesting thus far, with older, but still handsome and rich dukes succumbing to love.

# netgalley #SnowfallandtheDuke

SNOWFALL AND THE DUKE is another fantastic addition to Meara Platt’s Silver Duke series and is Jonas and Ailis‘s story. I love this series and I adored everything about this unconventional couple. He is a duke - a Silver Duke. She is the preacher’s niece and considers herself “on the shelf”. What I loved most about them was their witty banter and the swoon inducing, heated exchanges they shared. Although not considered the norm, Jonas allows himself to fall in love with a woman most would consider below him but ever the smart man, he knew he was marrying way above his station. This book and series is a keeper! I’m giving SNOWFALL AND THE DUKE the judy.ann.loves.books stamp of approval, TBR and Enjoy!