ONCE UPON A DUKE by Erica Ridey

Title:  ONCE UPON A DUKE

Series:  Twelve Dukes of Christmas #1

Author:  Erica Ridley

Publisher:  WebMotion

Publish Date:   10.09.2018

Category /Genre:  Historical Romance

Recommended for:  18+ due to sexual content

Grammar/editing:  A – near perfect

Received from:  Erica Ridley (as an ARC gifted copy)

Goodreads link: Once Upon a Duke

Date completed: 10.22.2018

Description from the publisher:

Beware romantic spirits from Christmas past...

Due to the terms of an estranged relative's will, the Duke of Silkridge must revisit the cold, unforgiving mountains where he lost everything he once loved.  As soon as he restores his family legacy, he'll return to London where he belongs.  He definitely won't rekindle the forbidden spark crackling between him and the irresistible spitfire he'd left behind...

Noelle Pratchett is immune to charming scoundrels like the arrogant duke.  He stole her heart, stole a kiss, and then stole away one night never to return.  Now he's back—and they both know he won't stay.  But how can she maintain her icy shields when every heated glance melts her to her core?

The 12 Dukes of Christmas is a laugh-out-loud historical romance series of heartwarming Regency romps nestled in a picturesque snow-covered village.  After all, nothing heats up a winter night quite like finding oneself in the arms of a duke!

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ONCE UPON A DUKE is the first book in the Twelve Dukes of Christmas series.  I believe we will need to read them in the order of release.

There are only thirty dukes in England.  Surely not a third of them are all in one small village at the same time!  Well, if you love Christmas, why wouldn’t you be, no matter the calendar date?

I loved all of the irreverent references to classic Christmas stories and songs such as A CHRISTMAS CAROL, THE 12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS, THE GIFT OF THE MAGI, and many more.

Even though Benjamin is a real #ScroogeMcDuke, he has his reasons.  Even so, this doesn’t become a retelling of the classic.  ONCE UPON A DUKE is sweet, tender, loving, hilarious, and romantic. 

I loved this story – especially the unique characters and their wonderful personalities –  and I am looking forward to meeting the rest of the dukes in residence in Christmas (Cressmouth) England.

Note:  While I received this book as a gifted ARC, 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

Also from Erica Ridley:

·   Dark Surrender

·   Let it Snow

·   Never Been Bitten

·   Romancing the Rogue

·   Too Sinful to Deny

·   Too Wicked to Kiss

·   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

Nether-Netherland Series:

1.   Charmed

2.   Midwinter Magic

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

 

AMAZON-US

AMAZON-UK

BARNES&NOBLE

GOOGLEPLAY

iTUNES

KOBO

SPIN THE BOTTLE by Anne Conley

Title:  SPIN THE BOTTLE

Series:  Playing with Fire #3

Author:  Anne Conley

Publisher:  Anne Conley

Publish Date:  10.09.2018

Category /Genre:  Contemporary Romance

Recommended for:  18+ due to sexual content

Grammar/editing:  book received as an unedited ARC / errors excused

Received from:  Anne Conley (as an ARC gifted copy)

Goodreads link: Spin the Bottle

Date completed: 10.07.2018

Description from the publisher:

Zane has his sights set on the odd little woman with her funny rules.  When their first kiss doesn’t end well, he can't understand why she won't give him a second chance.  Now he’s seriously determined to make her see they can be explosive together.

Lettie has always believed a kiss will determine how the relationship will go.  Her disastrous lip-lock with Zane is a strong indication she's not moving forward with him.  He won't take no for an answer, though, and does the sweetest things to change her mind, including opening his home to over fifty animals while she cleans up the smoke damage at the local shelter.

Sparks fly as Lettie does her level best to extinguish their attraction to one another.  At the same time, Zane is doing all he can to fan those sparks into flames. 

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SPIN THE BOTTLE is the third book in the Playing with Fire series.  Though each stands on its own for the romance component, they will be need to be read in the order of release due to the continuing story of the arsonist.

The part of Lettie that I most relate to is her duality.  She is emotional and logical.  She is constantly trying to apply understanding and knowledge to relationships after allowing her heart to rule to previous hurts.  She knows when it comes to the furry critters that the heart can lead you to the best one for you, but she is forgetting that men are just two-footed furry critters.

I love her devotion to the animals in her charge at the shelter.  I love that Zane wants to improve

himself for her.  His immediate attraction is recognized as more than lust and that made me cheer him on from the beginning.

In the second plot – the arson – there are more clues and conjectures.  Will they lead us to the correct person or are they false leads? 

I’ll admit that I’ve already read the final book.  I know the answer…  I recommend you read the series and follow those clues.  Yikes!  The twists will turn you upside down!

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

Playing with Fire series:

1.      Truth or Dare

2.      Hide and Seek

3.      Spin the Bottle

4.      Hot Lava

Also from Anne Conley:

·            Best Laid Plans of Boys and Men

·            Fated to Mate (Paranormal Dating Agency)

·            The Fixer Upper

·            Fortune’s Kiss (Meet Cute)

·            Mae Day

Book Bitches series:

1.         Power of Love

2.         Master of Love

3.         Hunt for Love (coming soon)

4.         Fostering Love (coming soon)

5.         Will to Love (coming soon)

6.         Love’s Ward (coming soon)

Book Bitches companions:

1.         Loving the Enemy

Four Winds series:

1.         Falling for Heaven

2.         Falling for Grace

3.         Falling for Hope

4.         Falling for Faith

5.         Falling for Cyn

Moonrising Series (with KS Haigwood):

1.         Accepting the Moon

2.         Midnight Moonrising

3.         Andromeda’s Reign

Pierce Securities series:

1.         Craze

2.         Wire

3.         Click

4.         Grab

4.5  Redemption for Misty

5.         Murmur

6.         Bond

7.         Seek

8.         Hitch

9.         Echo

Stories of Serendipity Series:

1.         Neighborly Complications

2.         Dream On

3.         Chef's Delight

4.         Hot Mess

5.         Falling for Him

6.         Gambling on Love

7.         My Mistake

8.         Wrecked

9.         Saving Charlie

 

AMAZON-US

AMAZON-UK

BARNES&NOBLE