While this title wasn’t my favorite of the series, it was still an enjoyable read.

Désirée le Duc doesn’t feel as if she’s English despite living in England most of her life but doesn’t feel French either since she barely remembers even living in France. All she really wants is to find a place she feels she belongs. Jack Skeffington has two children that need a governess and a smuggling business that needs his attention. Together, can they solve each other’s problems?

I liked both Désirée and Jack, even if neither really stood out like Erica Ridley’s characters usually do. As far as her heroines, Désirée was rather bland but nice enough. Jack didn’t really stand out much as a hero, either, but he was a nice guy and a good father.

I feel like the smuggling business was kind of glossed over and it certainly didn’t seem overly dangerous. It seemed like it was an attempt to make Jack more interesting. It didn’t take away from my enjoyment of the story, though.

I found the story to be an overall pleasant read. There wasn’t a lot of conflict, which I’m okay with. I prefer my romances without a lot of angst.

It’s always nice to visit Cressmouth again and see characters from other books! Lucien and Bastien stole the show in the scenes that featured them, and I can’t wait to read their stories!!

What I love about the town, Cressmouth, is that it doesn't matter if you're English, French or any other nationality. Everyone is welcomed, plus I love Christmas so there is that added bonus.
Jack and Desiree's story was a joy to read.

Both Jack and Desiree grew up in adversity, though for different reasons. Both have put romance on the shelf to devote their lives to family-- Jack to his motherless twins, Desiree to the fortunes of her older brothers. What happens when necessity throws their two families together? How do they convince their hearts to open again?

We readers know from the start that these two are made for one another, but their families and these possible lovers do not. How they stumble bit by bit into love is a tale of hope and healing of international scope.

The Duke’s Bride by Erica Ridley is the sixth book in the 12 Dukes of Christmas. These books include quirky characters, a town always full of Christmas spirit and lots of hope and love. Jack Skeffington is a smuggler of French wine and champagne. He is the mastermind of schedules and planning, but not for his twins. They are full of energy and questions like most ten year olds. Jack has decided he needs a governess for his children. He hires Désirée le Duc, the younger sister to his business partners.

Désirée is enchanting and not to just his children. Jack finds himself totally in love with Désirée, knowing she is leaving with her brothers to go back to France. This is another great book by Erica Ridley. Each of her characters and stories include so many interesting characters and shows her writing skills. I have enjoyed this series of novels!

The Duke’s Bride is book six in the 12 Dukes of Christmas series by Erica Ridley. I enjoyed this book. Ridley is one of my “go to” authors. She writes with a depth that is rare in romance. Her characters have layers that have to be peeled back to view the entire person. Desiree le Duc is a great heroine. She is strong without coming across cold. She is intelligent without being arrogant. I liked the hero - Jack Skeffington and I even liked his two twin children. I don’t normally like kids in romance books. I like to escape from kids and reading about them isn’t an escape. But Ridley puts the right amount of humor and steamy scenes in her story to make this a glorious escape. “Their lips crushed together like the tide crashing ashore: beautiful, unstoppable, inevitable. Her hands gripped his shoulders to keep from drowning. Her heart pounded as she pressed closer, heedless of the current threatening to drag them ever deeper.” Can’t wait for the next book in this series. I was given a copy of this book.

The Duke’s Bride is the sixth bride in the 12 Dukes of Christmas series. The series is written about couples that find their happy ever after in Cressmouth, a village by Marlowe Castle. Even though it’s a series, the books can be read as standalones. This book is Jack Skeffington and Desiree le Duc’s story. It was a fun, fast romance to read. The characters were perfect for each other. Jack was great at arranging smuggling details but couldn’t control his ten-year-old twins. He is not interested in another marriage but needs to find a tutor for his children. Desiree and her brothers had escaped France when she was nine years old. Her brothers were determined to return to France and to reclaim their property. When Jack ask her for help finding his kids a governess, Desiree volunteers so she can help contribute to the family’s income. After she falls in love with Jack can she give up him and the children up to return to France? This was a fun book that was hard to put down once I started. I can’t wait to read Sebastien’s story.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This story is about a father who loves his children and loved his wife. I find that appealing in a story. A lot of stories have the father/husband not particularly caring for their lost spouse and it is wonderful to read when one does. The progress of love between Désirée and the children and Désirée and Jack was a wonderful love story. Children can be a big no for me in stories but this story shows the love these children had for their governess and was a bright part of the story.

Jack and Désirée's story was an absolute delight to read! It was lovely to read a lighthearted story with no great angst, villains or misunderstandings. Jack's 10 year old twins really steal the spotlight, though, and they had me giggling throughout the book with their antics. Both Jack and Désirée are also wonderful characters and they come together so naturally and the big decision she has to make at the end is figured out beautifully.

My first language is French so it was fun to be able to understand whenever Désirée or her brothers spoke French:) This was definitely one of my favorite 12 Dukes of Christmas stories!

I received an ARC of this book via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

When one is decided to never engage his heart again and the other will soon leave behind her adoptive country, can they have a future together...

I loved all the stories in this series, but so far this one has become my favorite, it combines everything I love in romance, a strong and caring hero with a sweet sense of humor, a clever and unusual heroine with a heart of gold and two adorable and funny hellions.
This beautiful story made me laugh, smile but also cry at all the silly talks, antics but also thoughtful reflections of the twins.
Jack might more than border illegality with his smuggling business, yet it began to provide for his family and in the process help others when wars and its stigmas left many with nothing to live with. He is also aware it might come to an end and he expanded his sources of incomes.
He lacks only one thing, a woman in his life and his heart, but having lost his first love, he is unwilling to risk his heart again.
Désirée has lived most of her life in this peculiar city but as a French emigrant, borrowing time in England until her family’s return to France now the war is over. And with only her brothers as kin, she will go where they decide. She knows what they have lost and they hope to regain, but what does her heart truly desires?
Their relationship progresses slowly from friends to confidents, each sharing their fears and hopes until they realize choices which might hurt them will have to be made.
Mrs Erica Ridley with this wondrous tale outdid herself, from the so thoughtful father Jack is, to the inventive and resourceful Désirée and the full of mischiefs and vibrant twins, she offers us an amazing tale of acceptance and love.
5 stars as there is no higher rating.

By the way I agree with the Veuve Clicquot champagne ...

I was granted an advance copy by the author and prior to it, preordered my own.
Here is my true and unbiased opinion.