A one sitting read. A feel good romance between an unlikely couple. I greatly enjoyed reading this book. The characters were alive to me. I cared about what happened. A good read!

Gillian took a position to be a companion and help the Lord of Stapleton prepare his lively daughter for the upcoming season. Every night he would look forward to their meetings that provided insight into his daughter’s life and the time he spent with Gillian was something he grew to adore. Two widows together that finally have another chance at love. Great quick story!

Nicolas Westfall, Duke of Stapleton, sadly realizes that it’s almost time to launch his youngest, beloved daughter, Jessica, into society. Since her mother is deceased, and she can use some polish and guidance, Nicolas hires a companion for her. Gillian Thorpe is a widow, happy to take on the task of assisting Jessica since her late husband did not provide for her.

Over the course of several months, Gillian and Jessica become fast friends, and the duke is impressed with Jessica’s progress. He and Gillian have a cordial and mutually respectful relationship until everything changes. Nicolas decides to throw a week-long Christmas house party, allowing Jessica to become accustomed to social situations. Some mysterious person seems intent on placing sprigs of mistletoe all around, and when the duke kisses Gillian, it sends their relationship in a whole ‘nother direction.

Gillian’s first marriage was not a happy one, and the feelings she gets from Nicolas’s kisses are unlike anything she’s felt. She decides to take a risk and experiences genuine passion for the first time. Nicolas soon comes to realize that he wants more than just an affair with Gillian, and he’s falling in love. Before he can declare himself to Gillian, his horrible eldest daughter, Rebecca, concocts a scheme guaranteed to end their romance as well as putting Jessica under her thumb.

THE DUKE AND I is a very short but lovely and passionate romance. I love the characters of Gillian and Nicolas, and the fact that they were more mature than is normally portrayed in romance. Although he has grown children, Nicolas is still a very sexy man, and I can understand how Gillian fell for him. A second chance at love is one of my favorite tropes, and THE DUKE AND I made for a quick and satisfying read.

Widowed Nicolas Westfall, the Duke of Stapleton hires Gillian Thorpe to help with upcoming debut of Jessica, his youngest daughter for her first season in London. Nicholas decides to host a Christmas to his daughter in learning to mingle with society before her debut. He’s aware he’s a catch on the marriage market, but he can’t help being drawn to Gillian. Gillian respects and admires the Duke and she’s lured into a mistletoe kiss with him she can’t help herself it’s a dream come true. An enchanting story around Christmas of with enjoyable characters where Nicolas abhors Christmas but soon changes his mind under the mistletoe with Gillian. This is my honest opinions after I voluntarily read a copy of this book that was provided to me with no requirements for a review.

~~Reviewed by Bonnie~~

Nicolas Westfall, Duke of Stapleton, sadly realizes that it’s almost time to launch his youngest, beloved daughter, Jessica, into society. Since her mother is deceased, and she can use some polish and guidance, Nicolas hires a companion for her. Gillian Thorpe is a widow, happy to take on the task of assisting Jessica since her late husband did not provide for her.

Over the course of several months, Gillian and Jessica become fast friends, and the duke is impressed with Jessica’s progress. He and Gillian have a cordial and mutually respectful relationship until everything changes. Nicolas decides to throw a week-long Christmas house party, allowing Jessica to become accustomed to social situations. Some mysterious person seems intent on placing sprigs of mistletoe all around, and when the duke kisses Gillian, it sends their relationship in a whole ‘nother direction.

Gillian’s first marriage was not a happy one, and the feelings she gets from Nicolas’s kisses are unlike anything she’s felt. She decides to take a risk and experiences genuine passion for the first time. Nicolas soon comes to realize that he wants more than just an affair with Gillian, and he’s falling in love. Before he can declare himself to Gillian, his horrible eldest daughter, Rebecca, concocts a scheme guaranteed to end their romance as well as putting Jessica under her thumb.

THE DUKE AND I is a very short but lovely and passionate romance. I love the characters of Gillian and Nicolas, and the fact that they were more mature than is normally portrayed in romance. Although he has grown children, Nicolas is still a very sexy man, and I can understand how Gillian fell for him. A second chance at love is one of my favorite tropes, and THE DUKE AND I made for a quick and satisfying read.

Nic is the widowed Duke of Stapleton and his last daughter is about to enter the marriage mart leaving him all alone. Gillian is the companion to his daughter Jessica. As Nic and Gillian spend more time together sparks fly. Will one kiss be enough? This is a fast-paced read with steamy chemistry and a fun and entertaining story. I was hooked from beginning to end. I really liked it.

When a father hosts a week-long Christmas party to prepare his daughter for her come out season, it could only be a success, right? Nicholas Westfall, the Duke of Stapleton only wanted his daughter Jessica be happy, and with the aid of her paid companion, Widow Gillian Thorpe he was trying! When an unexpected meeting under the mistletoe brings Nicholas and Gillian together, what could be better? His daughter loves Gillian and he is finding out how much he is attracted to her. A sizzling attraction and some mischief make this story a must read!

This was such an entertaining read, the story moved long at a good pace and kept my interest throughout. I liked the characters of Gillian Thorpe and Nicolas Westfall, the Duke of Stapleton. Although a companion. Gillian was quite forthright in her opinions, especially where the welfare of Jessica was concerned. I loved the connection between Nicolas and Gillian and their growing affection for each other. There is an interfering relation with which to contend. This is a novella and can be read in an afternoon, however it is a very satisfying read. I received a copy and have voluntarily reviewed it. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

3.5 stars - rounded up because this was an ARC and will probably (hopefully) be corrected before release.

Nicolas Westfall, the Duke of Stapleton is a widower with several grown children, his youngest daughter Jessica is almost ready to make her come out and he needs someone to guide her. Enter Gillian Thorpe.

Gillian is a widow and has just lost her position as a governess when she meets Nic. She agrees to be Jessica's companion and will help prepare her for her upcoming season. She and Nic get on very well together and keep their relationship strictly professional for almost nine months, then a kiss under the mistletoe opens the flood gates and their relationship takes a steamy turn!

Nic is falling hard for Gillian and decides to ask her to marry him once all his houseguests leave. Gillian is also falling for Nic, but he has made no promises or spoken of a future, so when Nic's eldest daughter Rebecca says that Nic is going to marry and Gillian is no longer needed, she has no reason to believe it is not true and agrees to take another job.

I thought this was a very sweet story of second chance love, it was well paced for a novella and very steamy without being gratuitous, the characters were likable (except his daughter Rebecca) and the ending was very sweet and satisfying. There were a lot of typos, title errors and an inconsistent timeline - but they didn't really ruin the story for me, but they were distracting if you are a detail oriented reader (and I am). But overall it was a nice short book and I will be looking forward to the next installment.

The Duke and I by Heather Boyd is the first book in the Saints and Sinners series. This is the story of Nicolas Westfall, the Duke of Stapleton and Gillian Thorpe.
Nicolas who is a widower is that is working to bringing his daughter out to the town. Gillian is companion and is working to help the Duke with getting his daughter ready. But the daughter isn't cooperating since she doesn't wish to really do it. But Nicolas and Gillian is having a hard time with their attraction and when a kiss under the mistletoe happens things become more series.
Great, easy, quick read!

This is a sweet novella by Heather Boyd. The story follows Nicholas Westfall, the Duke of Stapleton, who is trying to debut his youngest daughter. As a widower, he finds a companion for his daughter, Gillian Thorpe, who he soon becomes fascinated by. However, they are both of a different class, and Gillian struggles to believe that all will end well for her.
Both characters were delightful, that as a reader, it is hard not to cheer for them both. Both Nicholas and Gillian act with honest intentions but as always, the female in this genre, is at the whim of the aristocracy.
This was such a delightful story that you can’t help enjoying. I received an advanced review copy in exchange for an honest review.

Widowed Nicolas Westfall, the Duke of Stapleton, cannot prevent the upcoming debut of his youngest daughter Jessica no matter how much he wishes her eventual marriage wouldn’t leave him all alone. Gillian Thorpe was hired as a companion to prepare Jessica for her first season, but it's not easy when the girl hasn’t the least interest in the men and its the widowed father makes her knees weak when he laughs with her. Nicolas abhors Christmas nonsense, but he’s hosting a Christmas house party so that his youngest daughter can experience mixing with adults before her society debut the following year. Nicholas keeps finding mistletoe & then there’s his daughter’s companion Gillian who he can’t get out of his thoughts
I read this short story as part of the Hot Winter Nights anthology & loved it then, it’s now been expanded. An enthralling, sizzling story of finding love a second time around, I especially liked that Nicolas is a grandfather & Gillian is also mature, their attraction has gradually grown over the nine months Gillian has worked for the Duke. It’s amazing what mistletoe can do

My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

The ''The Duke and I'' is a short, mature romantic novella, It is a Second Chance at love sorts story where two people discover love again in there life...well presented ,well written, scripted book ...Heather is a very competent,able author who doesn't disappoint her readers ... she always comes up with a freshness to her stories even though the story line is predictable ...

This book presents the story of widowed Nicola Westfall, the Duke of Stapleton and Gillian, also a widow who becomes his daughter's companion. They soon start to have feelings for each other. But with the difference in their stations , spite ,opposition from Nicolas daughter Rebecca there future together looks uncertain .... Nicolas's character is absolutely adorable and his persistent pursuit of Gillian is so sweet ... You can feel the sizzling chemistry , sparks, between the two characters...The only drawback was the age factor ...It didnt sit well with me that Nicolas daughter are elder to Gillian somehow it didnt synch with story, characters ...

otherwise a sweet ,short book for a lazy afternoon...Heather is a good writer ...

This is a very nice short story or novella. It's the story of Nicholas, the Duke, a widow. And Gillian, also a widow, and governess, hired to be a companion to his daughter and get her ready for the season. In the process Nicholas and Gillian form a friendship, a bond.. When Nicholas is told he should remarry, the only person he can think of is Gillian.
I do agree with another reviewer who said the math doesn't add up. His age, his middle daughter's age and her having an older sister, and when he married his first wife, just don't add up. It's a small detail but something that will nag at some.

❤️❤️❤️
💋💋
I’ve not read Heather Boyd before, so this was a first for me .
I quite enjoyed this book .
The characters were good and I liked the chemistry between the to leads .
I’m intrigued to see wether Jessica and Giddy are an item maybe in a future book .
In all a likeable story and enjoyable read .
I received an advanced copy of this book and chose to submit a review

I really enjoyed Nicolas and Gillian's story.

Gillian has lost her job and isn't quite certain what she will do next. With an unexpected encounter, she ends up in the employ of the Duke of Stapleton, Nicolas. She will act as his youngest daughter's companion during her upcoming season. Neither of them counted on some matching making going on during a house party on the estate. They soon start a liaison and start to have feelings for each other. But with the difference in their stations, can anything more come of it?

I really enjoyed this and I'm excited to see where Boyd takes us with this new series!

A charming story of how love develops over time for Nicolas and Gillian. It's not a traditional second chance romance but it is a second chance for them. They are both likeable characters and honestly I could have read more about them. I read this as part of an anthology but re-read this expanded version. Great even the second time around.

Oh my goodness, this book was so sweet! Seriously, I simply couldn't put it down because I loved those characters so hard.

The story itself, well, it is nothing unusual, him falling for the unsuitable servant, his daughter's companion with or without wedding bells ringing at the hopefully happy ending but those characters made it very special. I loved Nicolas and his unabashed pursuit of Gillian. You can feel their chemistry and talk about sparks, right? It's fireworks, actually.
And don't get me started on Gillian, she is such a delight with her refreshing honest, her lovelyness and her capability to love (and to protect when it comes to her young charge and those around them). I loved that despite him pursuing someone in his employ, you never feel like Nicolas was pressuring Gillian, all their interactions are based on respect and honor and of course - love. The kind of love that doesn't care about outward appearances or status but that feels deep and warm and turns those fireworks into some kind of glowing and heart-warming fire.
I really enjoyed reading this book and felt myself grinning and swooning all the way to the last page!

I received a copy of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley.

Nicolas appoints Gillian, a down-on-her-luck governess, to be his daughter Jessica's companion. He also anticipates that she will prepare Jessica for her coming out/season and explain the facts of life to her. He chooses Gillian for this task because he likes her and she is a widow, despite the fact that he has just met her, and despite the fact that Jessica has numerous siblings and (presumably) other relations.

I really didn't get on with this novel: I only managed to get to the end because I felt obliged to review it. I was distracted by the way the ages of the various characters didn't quite work (Nicolas needed to be at least 51 by my reckoning, rather than 49), the way the oldest of Jessica's sisters was sometimes Rebecca and sometimes Fanny, the totally inappropriate-for-the-period way Nicolas and Gillian spoke to and treated one another, the way no one even commented on the fact that Nicolas had daughters older than Gillian etc etc.

The characters were superficial - Nicolas reflects at one point that he knows little of Gillian's past, despite his having a (presumably slim) "employment file" for her, and this is how I felt about her too. She was happy to sleep with her employer with seemingly no concern about a possible pregnancy or worries about her long term prospects or even a moral qualm. I think there was one fairly humorous line, and otherwise every one took themselves deadly seriously.

Not for me.