DUKES, ACTUALLY by Erica Ridley

Title:  DUKES, ACTUALLY

Series:  Twelve Dukes of Christmas #5

Author:  Erica Ridley

Publisher:  WebMotion

Publish Date:   10.22.2019

Category /Genre:  Historical Romance

Recommended for:  18+ due to sexual content

Grammar/editing:  received as an unedited ARC

Received from:  Erica Ridley

Goodreads link: Dukes, Actually

Date completed: 10.21.2019

Description from the publisher:

The Duke of Azureford isn’t the arrogant, aloof lord his peers perceive him to be.  Yes, he’s awkward, but he has a plan to fix it.  In order to woo a respectable lady, he must learn how to flirt.  The completely inappropriate girl next door would make a perfect instructor, but a terrible duchess.  So why can’t he walk away?

Incorrigible hoyden Miss Carole Quincy likes fast carriages, carom billiards, and the beautiful, buttoned-up Duke of Azureford.  She’d be delighted to help him out of his shell and into her arms.  Who cares if they’re just pretending to flirt?  The heady, breath-taking, soul-consuming feeling inside her runaway heart surely can’t be love…

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DUKES, ACTUALLY is the fifth book in the Twelve Dukes of Christmas series.  Though each will stand on their own, I highly recommend reading them all.

Usually I relate to the girl in a romance novel, because … well…. I’m a girl, but this time it was the duke; I have often been called arrogant when in truth I’m too introverted to interact.  If only it were possible to build a billiards table at work and gain the admiration of my peers!

I love this story of shy mutual interest that builds and builds as the room around them builds into something more useable for party he has planned.  Their journey together is sweet and sassy with some great laugh out loud moments. 

I loved Adam’s slow growth in confidence and his quiet acceptance of Carole just as she is.  Instead of wishing she were different, he hopes his future duchess will be just like her… until he can only see her as his future duchess.  Sigh!!

Note:  While I received this book as a gifted ARC via NetGalley, my opinions are my own and are given freely.

The Twelve Dukes of Christmas series:

1.      Once Upon a Duke

2.      Kiss of  a Duke

3.      Wish upon a Duke

4.      Never Say Duke

5.      Dukes, Actually

6.      The Duke’s Bride

7.      The Duke’s Embrace

8.      The Duke’s Desire

9.      Dawn with a Duke

10.  One Night with a Duke

11.  Ten Days with a Duke

12.  Forever Your Duke

Also from Erica Ridley:

·   Never Been Bitten

·   Two Dukes a Dueling

Dukes of War Series:

1.      The Viscount’s Christmas Temptation

2.      The Earl’s Defiant Wallflower

3.      The Captain’s Bluestocking Mistress

4.      The Major’s Faux Fiancée

5.      The Brigadier’s Runaway Bride

6.      The Pirate’s Tempting Stowaway

7.      The Duke’s Accidental Wife

8.      All I Want

Gothic Love Stories Series:

1.      Too Wicked to Kiss

2.      Too Sinful to Deny

3.      Too Tempting to Resist

4.      Too Wanton to Wed 

Magic & Mayhem Series:

1.      Kissed by Magic

2.      Must Love Magic

3.      Smitten by Magic

Nether-Netherland Series:

1.   Charmed

2.   Midwinter Magic

Passion & Promises Series:

1.      Let it Snow

2.      Dark Surrender

3.      Romancing the Rogue

Rogues to Riches Series:

1.      Lord of Chance

2.      Lord of Pleasure

3.      Lord of Night

4.      Lord of Temptation

5.      Lord of Secrets

6.      Lord of Vice

Wicked Dukes Club series:

1.      One Night of Seduction

3.      One Night of Passion

5.      One Night to Remember

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