One Night with a Duke: A Regency Holiday Romance

I have read all the books in this series, The 12 Dukes of Christmas, and have enjoyed every single one. This 10th offering is no different. It has delightful main characters, enjoyable secondary characters, a plausible plot, witty dialogue, and a sweet and charming romance. This book, One Night With a Duke, is a standalone work but it might help some readers if they read the previous offering, Dawn With a Duke, before this one. The main character, Jonathan MacLean, is the business partner of Calvin McAlistair featured in the previous work. Jonathan is a philanthropist. He has done well for himself and likes to help others by investing in their potential businesses or other endeavors. He doesn’t stay permanently anywhere and enjoys his life of adventure by going from place to place. He is most dismayed when a blizzard forces him to stay awhile in the village of Cressmouth, known for celebrating Christmas all year round. Christmas is one holiday Jonathan never celebrates. Though Jonathan is friendly with everyone he meets in Cressmouth, for some reason he is drawn to Angelica Parker, a local jeweler artist. He starts visiting the shop every day. Angelica came to Cressmouth seven years ago when she had a chance to leave the family business in London and open her own in Cressmouth. She signed an agreement to fulfill a seven-year commitment. Jonathan makes it clear to Angelica that his stay in Cressmouth is only temporary. Once he and Calvin meet with the Duke of Nottingham about the Fit for a Duke clothing line, Jonathan is off for another adventure and business opportunity. Jonathan and Angelica have both experienced pain and heartache in their lives but each had focused on finding success in their life. Their journey to a HEA is a bit rocky at times. Their story was very engaging and kept my interest until the last page was read. I happily rate it 4 stars with a mild heat level and I am looking forward to the next book in the series.

Stunning, delightful Christmas romance! Every time I read one of the 12 Dukes of Christmas I'm convinced it's better than the last, and this one really stands above the rest. Angelica shines as the independent and immensely talented jeweler who is determined to call her own shots despite the heavy odds stacked against her. Jonathan is happy to live as an itinerant traveler/salesman because having no roots equals having no risks to his heart. Christmas only brings heartache to Jonathan, so he's trying to avoid it as much he can in the tiny mountain village that celebrates the holiday year-round. In Angelica he finds a kindred spirit who calms and centers him despite their vastly different outlooks on life. Social issues - women's rights, racism, slavery - are all handled brilliantly with a matter-of-fact approach that showcases the best in human virtue rather than dwelling on the worst. Nothing is swept under the rug, but issues are accepted and overcome with grace and dignity above all. This was a beautifully sweet, tender romance that knocked down all their self-erected walls and brought these two wonderfully caring people to their well-deserved HEA. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.

Jonathan MacLean is a philanthropist, adventurer, and a shrewd businessman and investor. He runs from his unhappy past and the father who never acknowledged him as fast as he can. He stays in a town no longer that he must and never visits the same town twice. He works constantly to prove he can make it on his own, without his father and his father’s money. When a blizzard strands him in Cressmouth, he explores the town. In his wanderings, he meets Miss Angelica Parker. Angelica is a talented jeweler. When her father left the family jewelry business to only her brother, she accepted a deal in Cressmouth to open her own shop. She is determined to prove herself as an artisan, to make it on her own. Jonathan is immediately stricken with Angelica. He is an irresistibly friendly chatterbox who makes others, including Angelica feel at ease. These two are falling hard for each other, but there are obstacles. The biggest, that Jonathan can’t stay still and doesn’t want to stay in one place, while Angelica wants to have roots, a home, and friends and family close by. Is there a compromise that can make them both happy, or will they just say goodbye? It’s a good thing Angelica has a big brother. This is a fast-moving (just like Jonathan) sweet story. There is good chemistry between Jonathan and Angelica. The residents and tourists in Cressmouth are friendly and welcoming and the town is festive as usual. There are appearances by characters from the other stories in the series, and some new ones. Angelica’s family is visiting for Christmas, and they are delightful, especially her nieces. I laughed when her older brother, Luther, was offended that she allowed a SCOT into her shop, when he is never allowed. Business is done, and the venture is better than expected. I love the way the story ended. One Night with a Duke is another happy visit to Christmas, and also provides insight into the Black community in England after slavery was outlawed. It is a great addition to the series. Oh, and there were ten…lads hanging ornaments. Nothing about leaping lords. A good story. I recommend it. I received an ARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. My review is voluntary.