The Duke’s Embrace by Erica Ridley

Tracy’s rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series: 12 Dukes of Christmas, #7

Release Date: December 3, 2019

Eve Shelling longs to be a serious journalist, but when her exposé about the founder of Cressmouth aka Christmas is published, her father, the owner of the Cressmouth Gazette is livid and says they only write about Christmas. She argues and he agrees to let her write one “non-Christmas” story as long as he approves the subject and the story before it is published.

Sébastien “Bastien” le Duc and his brother Lucien are the local blacksmiths in town, they came to Cressmouth many years ago when they were rescued from the “terror” in France, but even after 18 years, they long to return to their home. Now that the wars are over and it is safe to return, they have a plan to go just as soon as they sell the smithy. Lucien wants to leave immediately, but Bastien says they need to some time and plans to leave on twelfth night.

Eve is watching the swans – the subject of her non-Christmas story, when her friend Margaret Church joins her and suggests she write a feature about a local citizen. Eve loves the idea and when they notice the le Duc brothers, she decides they are perfect for her story. Eve doesn’t trust men, past experience taught her a hard lesson and she vows to never be duped again. But her interest in Bastien is purely professional, she has no interest in him personally – Really! Alright, he is handsome and well dressed, so much so that his admirers call him “Beau”, but there is more to him than his fashion sense and that is what she needs to learn.

When Bastien approaches Eve about taking out an advert in the Gazette, she jumps at the chance to spend time with him writing the perfect listing for the smithy. She tells him of the swan story and he offers to introduce her to a local artist who would be happy to draw something for the paper. She immediately questions his motives, why would he help her? He says she is helping him, so he will help her.

As the days pass, Eve and Bastien’s friendship deepens and stronger feelings grow, but they each have secrets, Bastien is leaving soon and she has dreams that don’t include handsome, well-dressed blacksmiths, only a fool would fall in love…

I thought this was a sweet novella with more depth than I was expecting. Bastien and Eve are both likeable characters with a great chemistry between them. I thought the story was well written, paced nicely, had a bit of steam, a bit of heartache and a very well thought out HEA. This is the seventh book in the series, but it can easily be read as a stand-alone title. I am happy to recommend this title and look forward to future installments in this series!

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that was provided to me by NetGalley and the Publisher*

The Duke’s Bride by Erica Ridley

Tracy’s rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Series: 12 Dukes of Christmas, #6

Release Date: November 12, 2019

Jack Skeffington, widower, father of twins, wine connoisseur and smuggler is meeting with his ship captain, Capt. Redmire, trying to find a new smuggling route, when his ten year old son Fredrick bursts in the room upset that his sister Annie is beating him and his friends at hoops, Jack sends him off and picks up where he left off, after he maps the new route, the meeting is interrupted again, this time by his daughter Annie. Once he takes care of her, Redmire tells him that he needs a wife. Jack is clear, he had a wife, he loved her and lost her, he will not do that again and his children won’t accept another woman in their lives. But he will consider a governess.

Desiree le Duc is the sister to blacksmiths Sebastian “Beau” and Lucien le Duc and has many times been called the most beautiful woman in Cressmouth. Desiree and her siblings fled the French revolution after losing their parents and their lands, they settled in Cressmouth 18 years ago with an English family friend, who they lovingly call Uncle Jasper. She is content, but her brothers long to return to France and reclaim their stolen heritage. They have worked hard to pay off the lease on the property so they can leave Uncle Jasper taken care of and they are close to their goal – Lucien says another year at most. So when Jack offers an outrageous amount of money to be a temporary governess to his twins, she jumps at the chance.

Jack is attracted to Desiree, but he knows an affair is out of the question and he can’t offer her anything more, so he ignores the desire simmering in him and resolves to be friends with her – a friend he most definitely won’t be kissing.

Desiree fits right into their family and has to fight her own feelings, she can’t let herself fall in love with Jack or the twins since her time in Cressmouth is limited. But despite the best of intentions, that is exactly what happens and when she asks Jack to be her lover, she wonders how she will be able to walk away.

Jack finally admits he has fallen in love with her and knows that she wants to return to France, so he “helps” her brothers by paying them a huge payout for their help in the last smuggling run. He will let her go if that is her true desire, but he hopes she will choose to stay.
When her brothers announce that they will be returning to France immediately, Desire is torn, between helping her brothers win their heart’s desire and seizing her own.
This was a very well written novella with wonderful characters, amusing banter, steamyish love scenes, second chances and dreams coming true. This is the sixth book in the series, but it is easily read as a standalone with no issues.

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that was provided to me by NetGalley and the Publisher.*