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12 Dukes of Christmas #1-4
12 Dukes of Christmas Boxed Set
ONCE UPON A DUKE
Enjoy a fun regency romp featuring a spinster in a counting house, a grumpy duke, goats, true love, and a partridge in a pear tree. What could go wrong? Absolutely everything!
KISS OF A DUKE
A delightful romp featuring a rake (the sexy kind), a perfumer (of the chemist heroine variety), two turtle doves, one true love, and a kiss to last a lifetime.
WISH UPON A DUKE
An endearing historical romance featuring an astronomer heroine, an adventurer hero, three French hens, two nerds in love, and a wish that finally comes true.
NEVER SAY DUKE
A heartwarming romp featuring four colly birds, three French kisses, two turtledoves, one surly war hero… and the vexing young lady he cannot resist!
Enjoy a fun regency romp featuring a spinster in a counting house, a grumpy duke, goats, true love, and a partridge in a pear tree. What could go wrong? Absolutely everything!
KISS OF A DUKE
A delightful romp featuring a rake (the sexy kind), a perfumer (of the chemist heroine variety), two turtle doves, one true love, and a kiss to last a lifetime.
WISH UPON A DUKE
An endearing historical romance featuring an astronomer heroine, an adventurer hero, three French hens, two nerds in love, and a wish that finally comes true.
NEVER SAY DUKE
A heartwarming romp featuring four colly birds, three French kisses, two turtledoves, one surly war hero… and the vexing young lady he cannot resist!
660 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 11, 2019
49 people are currently reading
1199 people want to read
About the author
Erica Ridley
130 books2,198 followersGet freebies and 99¢ deals at: https://ridley.vip
Erica Ridley is a New York Times and USA Today best-selling author of historical romance novels, including THE DUKE HEIST, featuring the Wild Wynchesters. Why seduce a duke the normal way, when you can accidentally kidnap one in an elaborately planned heist?
In the 12 Dukes of Christmas series, enjoy witty, heartwarming Regency romps nestled in a picturesque snow-covered village. After all, nothing heats up a winter night quite like finding oneself in the arms of a duke!
Two popular series, the Dukes of War and Rogues to Riches, feature roguish peers and dashing war heroes who find love amongst the splendor and madness of Regency England.
When not reading or writing romances, Erica can be found eating couscous in Morocco, zip-lining through rainforests in Costa Rica, or getting hopelessly lost in the middle of Budapest.
Erica Ridley is a New York Times and USA Today best-selling author of historical romance novels, including THE DUKE HEIST, featuring the Wild Wynchesters. Why seduce a duke the normal way, when you can accidentally kidnap one in an elaborately planned heist?
In the 12 Dukes of Christmas series, enjoy witty, heartwarming Regency romps nestled in a picturesque snow-covered village. After all, nothing heats up a winter night quite like finding oneself in the arms of a duke!
Two popular series, the Dukes of War and Rogues to Riches, feature roguish peers and dashing war heroes who find love amongst the splendor and madness of Regency England.
When not reading or writing romances, Erica can be found eating couscous in Morocco, zip-lining through rainforests in Costa Rica, or getting hopelessly lost in the middle of Budapest.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
October 18, 2019
I have read all four of these books which take place in Cressmouth, where Christmas is a year-long event and enjoyed the quirky humour and light-hearted romance of these standalone novella.
Once Upon a Duke: With a nod and a wave to Charles Dickens' Christmas Carol, Once Upon a Duke takes Benjamin, the Duke of Silkridge, back to the unforgiving climes of Cressmouth, where he lost his most valuable possession. There he encounters the one woman he most regrets leaving behind. Noelle Pratchett felt her heart drop when the Duke of Silkridge appeared on the scene, reminding her of all she had lost. She vows to guard her heart but finds that all is not as she first supposed. She gently draws Benjamin into the life of the people of Cressmouth where he discovers that he, in fact, does have a part to play. This gentle love story, with hilarious incidents and outright comedy, leaves the reader with a warm heart and smile on one's face.
Kiss of a Duke: We once again meet up with Penelope Mitchell, the chemist who prefers to lose herself in her fire-proof laboratory than to socialise and attract the attention of visiting rakes. Although this book is fairly short, it is laugh-out-loud funny, and the plot is well written and intriguing. Neither Penelope nor Nick believe in love. Nick thinks it is for fools and Penelope is convinced that it is an animal attraction. They both set out to prove the other wrong, and but end up forming a friendship that leads to undeniable attraction. Needless to say, when Nick finds out that Penelope is using him as a scientific experiment any chances of furthering the relationship are put in jeopardy.
Wish Upon a Duke: Christopher Pringle determines to find the wife of his dreams. He is looking for someone sensible, who loves to travel and is willing to take long sea voyages with him. Instead, he finds a whimsical matchmaker who delights in breaking rules and has her roots down deep in Cressmouth. It seems impossible to find a compromise or a way to allay Gloria's fears. The story is humourous and sweet, leaving one with a sense of Christmas around the corner.
Never Say Duke: A beauty and the beast type romance, this novella is sweet, humorous and entertaining. Having met Virginia in previous books in this series, I wondered how this gentle woman’s quirky nature would evolve. Despite her fear of noise and crowds, she is nevertheless a determined personality, especially when it comes to rescuing strays. Theo, on the other hand, is equally determined not to be rescued but Virginia’s determination and her sly ally break through his solid wall of resistance. I enjoyed the humour and interaction between Theo and Virginia, but Duke added his own flavour to the story.
I received a copy of this book as a gift and this is my honest and voluntary review.
Once Upon a Duke: With a nod and a wave to Charles Dickens' Christmas Carol, Once Upon a Duke takes Benjamin, the Duke of Silkridge, back to the unforgiving climes of Cressmouth, where he lost his most valuable possession. There he encounters the one woman he most regrets leaving behind. Noelle Pratchett felt her heart drop when the Duke of Silkridge appeared on the scene, reminding her of all she had lost. She vows to guard her heart but finds that all is not as she first supposed. She gently draws Benjamin into the life of the people of Cressmouth where he discovers that he, in fact, does have a part to play. This gentle love story, with hilarious incidents and outright comedy, leaves the reader with a warm heart and smile on one's face.
Kiss of a Duke: We once again meet up with Penelope Mitchell, the chemist who prefers to lose herself in her fire-proof laboratory than to socialise and attract the attention of visiting rakes. Although this book is fairly short, it is laugh-out-loud funny, and the plot is well written and intriguing. Neither Penelope nor Nick believe in love. Nick thinks it is for fools and Penelope is convinced that it is an animal attraction. They both set out to prove the other wrong, and but end up forming a friendship that leads to undeniable attraction. Needless to say, when Nick finds out that Penelope is using him as a scientific experiment any chances of furthering the relationship are put in jeopardy.
Wish Upon a Duke: Christopher Pringle determines to find the wife of his dreams. He is looking for someone sensible, who loves to travel and is willing to take long sea voyages with him. Instead, he finds a whimsical matchmaker who delights in breaking rules and has her roots down deep in Cressmouth. It seems impossible to find a compromise or a way to allay Gloria's fears. The story is humourous and sweet, leaving one with a sense of Christmas around the corner.
Never Say Duke: A beauty and the beast type romance, this novella is sweet, humorous and entertaining. Having met Virginia in previous books in this series, I wondered how this gentle woman’s quirky nature would evolve. Despite her fear of noise and crowds, she is nevertheless a determined personality, especially when it comes to rescuing strays. Theo, on the other hand, is equally determined not to be rescued but Virginia’s determination and her sly ally break through his solid wall of resistance. I enjoyed the humour and interaction between Theo and Virginia, but Duke added his own flavour to the story.
I received a copy of this book as a gift and this is my honest and voluntary review.
December 12, 2021
This collection gathers the first four books in the 12 Dukes of Christmas series of holiday Regency romances by one of my favorite romance authors, Erica Ridley. The series is set in a charming village that celebrates Christmas all year and is filled with memorably quirky characters. While all of the stories interconnect, each book focuses on one couple and can be enjoyed on its own. The stories are told in chapters alternating between the hero and heroine’s perspective, which worked well. Each book also features a different “duke,” but the duke might not be what you were expecting. And watch for the relevant reference to “The Twelve Days of Christmas” carol in each book!
Once Upon a Duke (Book 1) is a cute Regency second chance romance. The book is well written with lovely descriptive text. It’s a relatively short read that mixes the hero and heroine’s past traumas with considerable silliness, including frequent references to classic holiday literature and songs. Some of the dialog is quite clever, and the romance between our main characters is sweet and occasionally steamy. It might be just what you need to put you in the holiday spirit.
The main characters of Kiss of a Duke (Book 2) are two smart, talented people living constrained lives because of fear and insecurity. It was heart-warming to watch chemist Penelope Miller and notorious rake Nicholas Pringle slowly reveal themselves to each other and fall in love. I enjoyed the banter between these two, as well as with Penelope’s friends and Nick’s brother. The plot isn’t complicated, but this is a sweet, feel-good romance with a bit of steam.
The main characters of Wish Upon a Duke (Book 3) both love astronomy. Both have been traumatized, and their traumas have led them to develop very different coping mechanisms. Among other things, Christopher travels all of the time, never wanting to stay in any one place longer than a month, and he finds security in logic and rigidly following rules. Gloria is afraid to leave her home village, afraid to go near water, afraid to try anything new, and finds comfort in flights of fancy. I liked Christopher, but I found Gloria difficult to relate to with her various phobias and extreme resistance to trying new things. I did appreciate her willingness to stand up for herself and ask for what she wanted. Their banter provides plenty of laughs to relieve the tension.
Virginia Underwood, the heroine of Never Say Duke (Book 4), is one of my favorites in this series. Virginia is smart, kind, and funny; she is also neurodivergent and has suffered terrible trauma. Theodore O’Hanlon, Viscount Ormondton, has also experienced some family trauma, and has been injured at war. Watching the two of them learn to trust each other and help each other heal was absolutely heartwarming. I also laughed out loud several times while reading this, and had to share bits with my partner. Cat lovers will appreciate the Duke in this story. The characters’ actions and dialog provide plenty of laughs and surprises, and the ending is very sweet.
I recommend this book, and the entire series, for fans of Regency romance or romantic comedy. Note that there are a few explicit scenes of premarital sex if such things bother you.
I received a free copy of this book from the author and volunteered to provide an honest review.
Once Upon a Duke (Book 1) is a cute Regency second chance romance. The book is well written with lovely descriptive text. It’s a relatively short read that mixes the hero and heroine’s past traumas with considerable silliness, including frequent references to classic holiday literature and songs. Some of the dialog is quite clever, and the romance between our main characters is sweet and occasionally steamy. It might be just what you need to put you in the holiday spirit.
The main characters of Kiss of a Duke (Book 2) are two smart, talented people living constrained lives because of fear and insecurity. It was heart-warming to watch chemist Penelope Miller and notorious rake Nicholas Pringle slowly reveal themselves to each other and fall in love. I enjoyed the banter between these two, as well as with Penelope’s friends and Nick’s brother. The plot isn’t complicated, but this is a sweet, feel-good romance with a bit of steam.
The main characters of Wish Upon a Duke (Book 3) both love astronomy. Both have been traumatized, and their traumas have led them to develop very different coping mechanisms. Among other things, Christopher travels all of the time, never wanting to stay in any one place longer than a month, and he finds security in logic and rigidly following rules. Gloria is afraid to leave her home village, afraid to go near water, afraid to try anything new, and finds comfort in flights of fancy. I liked Christopher, but I found Gloria difficult to relate to with her various phobias and extreme resistance to trying new things. I did appreciate her willingness to stand up for herself and ask for what she wanted. Their banter provides plenty of laughs to relieve the tension.
Virginia Underwood, the heroine of Never Say Duke (Book 4), is one of my favorites in this series. Virginia is smart, kind, and funny; she is also neurodivergent and has suffered terrible trauma. Theodore O’Hanlon, Viscount Ormondton, has also experienced some family trauma, and has been injured at war. Watching the two of them learn to trust each other and help each other heal was absolutely heartwarming. I also laughed out loud several times while reading this, and had to share bits with my partner. Cat lovers will appreciate the Duke in this story. The characters’ actions and dialog provide plenty of laughs and surprises, and the ending is very sweet.
I recommend this book, and the entire series, for fans of Regency romance or romantic comedy. Note that there are a few explicit scenes of premarital sex if such things bother you.
I received a free copy of this book from the author and volunteered to provide an honest review.
December 31, 2023
Book 1 - I just can’t get into the narrator’s voice (Rosie Ackerman). And the plot is just too contrived, too similar to other historicals I’ve read. And the thinly veiled allusions to A Christmas Carol are as subtle as a sledgehammer - the heroine is Noelle Pratchett (Cratchit), Tiny Tim is a pygmy goat, the duke’s grandfather is Marlow, etc. Sorry, but I can’t go further.
One more thing - I don’t understand how the deceased grandfather was so wonderful and generous with the village he lived in, helping them reinvent themselves, yet he hated his grandson and took the one momento he had of his late mother. I wish some attempt had been made to reconcile these two disparate sides of the same man. Maybe that happens in the rest of the stories. Hm.
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One more thing - I don’t understand how the deceased grandfather was so wonderful and generous with the village he lived in, helping them reinvent themselves, yet he hated his grandson and took the one momento he had of his late mother. I wish some attempt had been made to reconcile these two disparate sides of the same man. Maybe that happens in the rest of the stories. Hm.
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July 27, 2020
These are the first romance novels I've ever read so bare that in mind. The author did a good job of character development but the plot just seemed to be missing something. I did finish them all so it was entertaining enough. The year round Christmas village sounds nauseating. I received a digital copy from a Goodreads giveaway.
August 15, 2020
I received this book in a Goodreads Giveaway. I really enjoyed this collection of stories. Christmas is my favorite time of the year and I enjoyed reading about this wonderful village where it is Christmas year round. Very entertaining with enjoyable and likeable characters.
August 16, 2020
Excellent book!!!
September 19, 2020
I live Erica Ridley! I loved all of the dukes - in all of their forms. Creative stories with unique twists and turns and a way to show real compassion to individuals.
December 27, 2022
Hoopla
Cute little series based on funny tie ins to the 12 days of Christmas song.
Cute little series based on funny tie ins to the 12 days of Christmas song.
February 22, 2023
There were four great books for the Christmas season in this collection. Very enjoyable reads. And am voluntarily leaving my review.
December 18, 2025
Very cute stories!
November 15, 2019
Once Upon a Duke 4* - Second Chances.
A sweet tale of a Duke allowing love into his life. In the past he has closed himself off from all emotion, due to the loss of his parents but a return to the village of Cressmouth, better known as Christmas, reunites him with the one woman who breaks through his icy exterior.
Kiss of a Duke 4* - Biscuit Loving Rake.
Penelope is a lady chemist who doesn’t believe in love (it’s unscientific) who after the success of her fragrance for men, decides to work on a perfume for women. To prove that it works she targets rake Nicholas Pringle, if he pays attention to her whilst she is looking as unattractive as possible but wearing the perfume, that will be empirical proof. However, her test gets out of hand. A fun read.
Wish Upon a Duke 4* - Whimsical.
This doesn’t feel like a Regency novel but more like a contemporary small town romance which just happens to be set in the past. It has an almost fairy tale quality and I found it delightful.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Never Say Duke 5* - Sweetly Engrossing.
Virginia I guess falls somewhere on the autism spectrum. Her family abandoned her due to her social awkwardness but years later she has managed to make a life for herself despite them. She is an unusual woman and has a talent for healing broken animals, such as Duke the cat, who thinks he’s a dog, and a partridge she has named Dancer. When Duke’s antics lead her to discovering an injured man, she uses her talents to heal him and in the process they fall in love. I loved this story and how all the loose ends were neatly tied up in the last chapters.
I voluntarily read and reviewed a copy of this boxset from the author. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
A sweet tale of a Duke allowing love into his life. In the past he has closed himself off from all emotion, due to the loss of his parents but a return to the village of Cressmouth, better known as Christmas, reunites him with the one woman who breaks through his icy exterior.
Kiss of a Duke 4* - Biscuit Loving Rake.
Penelope is a lady chemist who doesn’t believe in love (it’s unscientific) who after the success of her fragrance for men, decides to work on a perfume for women. To prove that it works she targets rake Nicholas Pringle, if he pays attention to her whilst she is looking as unattractive as possible but wearing the perfume, that will be empirical proof. However, her test gets out of hand. A fun read.
Wish Upon a Duke 4* - Whimsical.
This doesn’t feel like a Regency novel but more like a contemporary small town romance which just happens to be set in the past. It has an almost fairy tale quality and I found it delightful.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Never Say Duke 5* - Sweetly Engrossing.
Virginia I guess falls somewhere on the autism spectrum. Her family abandoned her due to her social awkwardness but years later she has managed to make a life for herself despite them. She is an unusual woman and has a talent for healing broken animals, such as Duke the cat, who thinks he’s a dog, and a partridge she has named Dancer. When Duke’s antics lead her to discovering an injured man, she uses her talents to heal him and in the process they fall in love. I loved this story and how all the loose ends were neatly tied up in the last chapters.
I voluntarily read and reviewed a copy of this boxset from the author. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
October 25, 2023
Bk 4 Never Say Duke 5 *
Theo- returned injured from the war went to "Christmas " to heal.
Virginia- considered eccentric, loves to help injured animals
I enjoyed reading this captivating story that is fantastically written with lovable and witty characters. This story is filled with humor and life story and is my favorite so far in this series. Their story has a sweet HEA and in my opinion a rushed ending maybe I did not want it to end and to know more of her family.
The 1st 3 bks are reviewed on their own book titles
GA
Theo- returned injured from the war went to "Christmas " to heal.
Virginia- considered eccentric, loves to help injured animals
I enjoyed reading this captivating story that is fantastically written with lovable and witty characters. This story is filled with humor and life story and is my favorite so far in this series. Their story has a sweet HEA and in my opinion a rushed ending maybe I did not want it to end and to know more of her family.
The 1st 3 bks are reviewed on their own book titles
GA
October 20, 2019
I have read each of these 4 books separately but if you haven't had a chance to read them this is a great time to pick themup. At first I was wondering how Erica Ridley would write about 12 different dukes but it turns out that not all the Dukes who show up in the stories about Cressmouth are part of the peerage. This little village that celebrates Christmas all year long brings together a set of fun and interesting villaers and visitors and in the end, the all find their Happily Ever After.
November 13, 2019
I enjoyed this collection of regency romances. Fun storylines, likable characters and holiday charm are combined and skillfully crafted into four very entertaining reads. These books are easy to read and are sure to brighten your day. A very entertaining box set that is well worth reading. This is my sincere, volitional review.
December 5, 2019
Wonderful collection
Not only is Erica Ridley an entertaining author, but in this collection she has one heroine who loves science and another heroine bravely finding her way as a woman on the spectrum. Erica writes great heroines!
Not only is Erica Ridley an entertaining author, but in this collection she has one heroine who loves science and another heroine bravely finding her way as a woman on the spectrum. Erica writes great heroines!
March 19, 2024
I received this book in a Goodreads Giveaway. I love Christmas, so reading about a town that it is Christmas year round was great. There is a lot of detail in the book so it was easy to imagine the characters and town.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews