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A review by readclever
Dawn with a Duke by Erica Ridley
4.0
(I received an ARC of this book.)
What happens when Lady Belle gets the chance to just...be? She finds true love, but more importantly, herself. Being the sister of a duke can be lonely--something that Ridley points out in several previous stories in the 12 Dukes of Christmas series--but Belle seems to be even more so. And it was easy to connect to her feelings about society, herself, the world, and being invisible. I feel like Lady Amelia would be a fantastic friend for Belle.
Ridley brings a lot of depth to Belle's journey, outside of the romance. Her worry over Ursula--companion, maid, and friend all in one. What really works best is that Calvin, the hero, offers support beyond desire. For a non-titled gentleman, he shows far more pragmatism in relationships and love. It's more than a distraction. And he treats Belle fairly. Consent is important in their communication, a common Ridley element. Sexy times with a lot of intimacy. The scenes were believable but no less filled with heat.
The only really downside I had was some of the phrase repetition in some scenes. I would have liked a little more in the scenes inside and around the Hoot & Holly (terrific name!), not just their rooms. Belle's love of nature would have been a great scene. Playing in the snow, seeing the world, as she re-envisions it on the page.
Highly recommend!
What happens when Lady Belle gets the chance to just...be? She finds true love, but more importantly, herself. Being the sister of a duke can be lonely--something that Ridley points out in several previous stories in the 12 Dukes of Christmas series--but Belle seems to be even more so. And it was easy to connect to her feelings about society, herself, the world, and being invisible. I feel like Lady Amelia would be a fantastic friend for Belle.
Ridley brings a lot of depth to Belle's journey, outside of the romance. Her worry over Ursula--companion, maid, and friend all in one. What really works best is that Calvin, the hero, offers support beyond desire. For a non-titled gentleman, he shows far more pragmatism in relationships and love. It's more than a distraction. And he treats Belle fairly. Consent is important in their communication, a common Ridley element. Sexy times with a lot of intimacy. The scenes were believable but no less filled with heat.
The only really downside I had was some of the phrase repetition in some scenes. I would have liked a little more in the scenes inside and around the Hoot & Holly (terrific name!), not just their rooms. Belle's love of nature would have been a great scene. Playing in the snow, seeing the world, as she re-envisions it on the page.
Highly recommend!