The Duke's Bride is the sixth book in the 12 Dukes of Christmas series.
3.5 STARS!
This was an okay story for me. We meet Jack Skeffington, who is a widower with a set of twins who seem to need a better education. He then decides to hire a governess. He approaches his friends the le Duc's who have a sister, Desiree, who agrees to be his children's temporary governess. The reason she agrees is due to the fact that with her pay, she'll be able to help her brothers pay off a debt that is holding them back from traveling back to France. Who they had to leave many years ago when the war began and their parents were killed.
Jack and Desiree have great chemistry together from the start and she has no difficulty working with his kids. What creates the tension between them is that they are fighting their attraction towards each other. As time passes his children begin to get attached to her and so does Jack. Desiree teaches the Skeffington family to open their heart to one more person and they teach her that she can have a family and a home with them not just with her brothers. She finally finds that she belongs somewhere, since before them she felt that she didn't belong in France or England.
I look forwards in reading more about the dukes in this nice cozy village.
Thank you to the author/publisher who provided me with an ARC through NetGalley for an honest review.

I don’t think Erica Ridley has written a bad book and this story is definitely another winner with a wonderful cast of characters. This is the kind of romance that is enjoyable to read. Neither Jack nor Désirée are looking to fall in love and get married but they also aren’t completely against it. They eventually realize what it is that they are feeling and thankfully don’t run in the opposite direction. Both are all about family, so it is worth reading to find out if they can both have it all or if more sacrifices need to be made.

THE DUKE’S BRIDE by Erica Ridley is a delightful continuation of her series “12 Dukes of Christmas.” Now, these may not be dukes in the accepted hereditary-title-Your-Grace-kind-of-Dukes, but there’s still a duke tucked in every story!

Jack Skeffington is no duke. No, Jack is a smuggler. A rich, handsome, affectionate kind of smuggler who made me fall in love with him. He’s also a devoted father of ten year old twins, Annie and Frederick, and he recognizes that it’s about time they had a governess. Their town of Cressmouth, better known locally as Christmas, has one lady who seems ideal for the job: Désirée le Duc.

Désirée and her brothers left France years ago during the French Revolution and they all dream of returning, once they have saved enough money. When Jack offers Désirée the position of temporary governess to the children, the generous wages he offers seem a wonderful windfall that will hasten their return. But the longer Désirée is near Jack, the more difficult it becomes to consider leaving England, even while longing to return to France.

It’s just too easy to fall in love with Jack, and Désirée is too desirable to let go. Finding the answers that will work for both of them makes for a HEA!

Jack Skeffington is the logistical genius at the head of an international smuggling operation, but the brilliant widower struggles to manage his ten year old twins. He's come to the conclusion that it's time to find them an experienced governess who'll be firm with them, but instead he winds up with help from the lovely sister of his French business associates.

Desiree le Duc shares her elder brothers' dream of returning to France although she's no longer sure she'll fit in there. Before any of the le Ducs return to France, however, they must pay off a significant debt on their property in Cressmouth. To help with the repayment of the debt, Desiree accepts a well-paid position as temporary governess for Jack's children. But neither she nor Jack are quite prepared for how permanent their developing feelings become, especially when Desiree and her brothers' moving date is accelerated.

This quick, cute read really had everything I look for: the pace was fast, there was some steam that felt right for the couple, both Jack and Desiree stood boldly to proclaim their feelings to each other, even the children were cute. This was a lovely story of love and family and I loved it. Definitely one of my favorites if not the favorite of this series.

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

A widower father with a pair of rambunctious twins, Jack Skeffington has vowed never to give his heart to another woman after losing his wife. His son and precocious daughter are in complete agreement with him. In fact, the twins are quite determined never to allow another woman into their lives under any guise, who might steal some of their father's limited attention from them. However, Désirée le Duc isn't just any woman. She is a friend that can outwit them, outrun them and outride them and she has their full respect. Thus, when Jack suggests that Désirée act as governess to his children on a temporary basis until such time as he can find a proper governess, the children make room for her in their hearts and lives. Despite Désirée's attraction for Jack, family is her first priority and she and her brothers are working hard to return to their vineyard in France and reclaim their inheritance. Having dissected feelings, Désirée battles with her love for the Skeffington family, but it is allure of Jack's wine cellar that ultimately makes her realise where her priorities lie. The 12 Dukes of Christmas is a delightful series, and the le Duc siblings appear in most of the stories, making this an interesting read. I loved this witty romance and the twins, in particular, made it a fun read. I received a copy of this book through NetGalley and this is my honest and voluntary review.

Sweet, easy to read book. Very interesting book cover. The story is pretty straightforward, a widower with 2 kids in need of a governess. What the hero did not bargain for, was that it will be his friend, strong will and untouchable sister. Their interactions was sweet but I laughed a lot when the kids were involved.
Thanks the publisher and netgalley for this ARC. The opinions expressed here are all mine.

I received a copy from NetGalley; this is my honest review. #12Dukes #NetGalley
-Lovely, lovely story.
-Any part of the book that had "wassail" around it was really witty and funny.
-The author skims around grief a bit here and there but in good taste, believable, touching.
-Jack is BFF with Désirée's older brothers and she should be off-limits. Désirée aspires to be noticed by Jack; he, too, should be off-limits. But love doesn't work that way, does it?
-Loved the twins; they were really acting as ten years old children and it was sweet.
-Redmire was an absolute hoot! But very practical in any ways.
-Always a pleasure to hear about all the other characters in the village that we've met before in other books.

I am a big fan of Erica Ridley's books.
They are short, entertaining and heartfelt. Perfect when you want a quick read.
The Duke's Bride was great!
A smuggler mastermind and devoted single father to a pair of rapscallion 10 year olds.
An on the shelf French emigres who is devoted to what remains of her family.
A need for a governess and the story begins.
Jack and his twins, Frederick and Annie, are perfectly fine on their own. They have no desire to replace their wife and mother. Jack realizes that his children need more education and looks into hiring a governess.
Désirée lives with and takes care of her older brothers, Lucien and Sébastien, who run the local blacksmith shop. They had to flee France when their parents were killed and ended up in Cressmouth, a small village in England. They've been there for 18 years working hard to help pay off the land for the man who helped rescue them. Once that is done they will return to France. The war is over and they may be able to get their land and heritage back.
Once Désirée starts spending more time with the children and Jack, she soon feels like they are becoming a new family to her.
I loved Jack and Désirée's moments together. Their times spent in the wine cellar talking. The children, Frederick and Annie, add such fun to the story as well as heartwarming moments.
Looking forward to the next story with Sébastien.
I received an advance reader copy for an honest review.

Another great book in this series! Love Jack and Desiree and their interactions with Annie and Frederick. Some sweet moments as well as laugh out loud moments. Ready for the next one!

What a lovely book!! I always enjoy Mrs Ridley's books and this one was not the exception! What a delightful story!!!! Keep them coming please!!!

This is the perfect kind of Christmas story for my gooey marshmallow heart. Jack and Désirée are utterly charming together. Jack’s a frazzled single father, but everything he does is for the best of his children Désirée pines for home, but is that home in France or England? The pair long for each other but they’re both protecting their hearts from being hurt again. I loved the low angst level in this story. I know some people will think it was too sweet, but for me it was just right. The best part of the comic relief comes in the for of Jack’s twins who are whirlwinds of precocious energy that kept everyone on their toes. Already I’m looking forward to the next book which might enlighten us with even more of the le Duc siblings’ history.
I received a complimentary advanced copy of this book from the author through NetGalley.

Another cute romance in the Christmas village of Cressmouth, featuring a French refugee, a smuggler and two rambunctious children.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from the author and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I thought that this was a fun read. A entertaining plot, likable characters and a bit of holiday charm are brought together into a very enjoyable book. I loved the chemistry between Jack and Désirée as their often funny and heart melting romance unfolds.

Mademoiselle Désirée le Duc feels more at home in England than France, since she's been here most of her life. She's also more than a little interested in confirmed bachelor Jack Skeffington.
She offers to help him in order to help her brothers raise the money they need to be able to return to France, and falls deeply in love with him and his twins.
The tale is woven around the efforts both make to fight the attraction and the twins efforts to play cupid. Sweet and humorous, it turns downright steamy when the couple give into the lust they feel. This is a feel good novelette.
I requested and received a NetGalley copy to peruse and offer my opinion freely.

How does one find the town of Christmas? Can someone please give me directions because this is the town every romance reader would love to live in. Ms. Ridley continues to capture the hearts of her readers with these wonderful stories of romance in this town. Jack and Desiree are no exception. Just when you think you don't fit in is when you truly discover you did all along.

I received a free ebook from Netgalley and the author. Erica Ridley always amazes me with her fabulous books and this one takes the prize as well. The wit, the humor, the love....WOW! Jack, Desiree and the children make for a beautiful story for the ages. Absolutely loved this story.

Erica Ridley writes delightful romances. We always buy her for our library. You don't have to read the 12 Dukes of Christmas in order, but you'll want to read them all.

A beautiful love story about hearts that need healing.

Jack realizes that his ten-year-old twins need a little more than he can offer, so he asks his friend, Desiree, to recommend a young woman who could be their governess. Desiree offers herself, at least until he finds someone more permanent, and thus begins the thawing of Jack's heart. Desiree isn't interested in any long-term arrangement, either, since she's just wanting to earn enough money for her family to shed their English obligations so they can return to their native France.

This was a beautiful, tender story of what makes a family, of country loyalty, of loss and risk and starting over again. I loved Jack's heart, how much he loves his kids and the sacrifices he's willing to make for them. Desiree is a terrific book heroine; strong in her own right, not at all looking to be defined by the man she chooses. Her relationship with her brothers was superbly written.

All this, and we get another visit to the wondrous Cressmouth, a lively debate about who exactly make up the twelve dukes, and a delightful exchange about who has the honor of being the Duke's Bride. The entire book is fun, romantic, and heartwarming. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.

This is an enjoyable series to read but this one felt fluffier and less substantial than some of the others. That being said, Jack and Desiree were great characters and I absolutely loved the twins. Short and simple read, but a nice book for a quick, enjoyable read.

I love Erica Ridley's stories, but this felt diluted and lightweight. Not as much intensity as her other books. Saying that, it was a short and sweet read. Nothing against it, but she has written better.