Scan barcode
shamaeem's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
eg_m's review against another edition
Couldn't work up any interest in either hero or heroine.
sarah_moynihan's review against another edition
3.0
'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…'
_________________________
3.5 stars, rounded down to 3 stars.
Dukes, Actually is the fifth book in Erica Ridley's novella holiday series, 12 Dukes of Christmas set in the mythical Christmas wonderland of Cressmouth, loveingly know as 'Christmas' to its residents.
This was a sweet story, but felt like it lost focus throughout the novella. There were pages and pages of billards details, which was relevant to the story but I didn't really understand why there was quite so much time dedicated to it instead of progressing the plot more.
I liked that Adam was shy and I liked Carol, but I just wasn't really into this novella. I think I'm going to take a pause on this series until next holiday season.
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…'
_________________________
3.5 stars, rounded down to 3 stars.
Dukes, Actually is the fifth book in Erica Ridley's novella holiday series, 12 Dukes of Christmas set in the mythical Christmas wonderland of Cressmouth, loveingly know as 'Christmas' to its residents.
This was a sweet story, but felt like it lost focus throughout the novella. There were pages and pages of billards details, which was relevant to the story but I didn't really understand why there was quite so much time dedicated to it instead of progressing the plot more.
I liked that Adam was shy and I liked Carol, but I just wasn't really into this novella. I think I'm going to take a pause on this series until next holiday season.
books_and_more_books_byt's review against another edition
5.0
Dukes, Actually is the 5th book in the 12 Dukes of Christmas Book series. It is another great novella by this author and perfect for a cozy read on a cold day. The novellas in this series all take place in the town of Cressmouth, that had been nicknamed Christmas. They are all fast past, have fun characters and can be read as standalones.
Adam, the Duke of Azureford, appeared cold and aloof, but instead he was shy and didn’t know how to make conversation. It was spring and he decided to return to his summer cottage in Christmas to learn how to converse and flirt in order to find a bride. He is going to change his library into a billiards room, learn to play billiards, the have a party and practice conversing with others before he returns to London for the season.
Carole Quincy loved her father, architecture, and billiards. She was cheerful, outgoing, and loved by all. She had dropped her book of drawings at Adam’s party six months prior and needed to retrieve it before anyone saw her drawings. She wasn’t expecting Adam to be at his summer cottage or his library to be rearranged and complicating her search for her book. Once she learned of Adam’s goals, she wanted to help him.
Carole knew she could never leave Cressmouth because her father would have no one to take care of him. Adam thought he had to marry brilliant society lady. Could their future be together when they both had different plans? I received an ARC and am voluntarily providing a review.
Adam, the Duke of Azureford, appeared cold and aloof, but instead he was shy and didn’t know how to make conversation. It was spring and he decided to return to his summer cottage in Christmas to learn how to converse and flirt in order to find a bride. He is going to change his library into a billiards room, learn to play billiards, the have a party and practice conversing with others before he returns to London for the season.
Carole Quincy loved her father, architecture, and billiards. She was cheerful, outgoing, and loved by all. She had dropped her book of drawings at Adam’s party six months prior and needed to retrieve it before anyone saw her drawings. She wasn’t expecting Adam to be at his summer cottage or his library to be rearranged and complicating her search for her book. Once she learned of Adam’s goals, she wanted to help him.
Carole knew she could never leave Cressmouth because her father would have no one to take care of him. Adam thought he had to marry brilliant society lady. Could their future be together when they both had different plans? I received an ARC and am voluntarily providing a review.
redpineapple's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 stars
This is a solid short read. The characters are fleshed out well. The writing flows nicely. My only problem with the book was that it was too short. The ending felt a little rushed to me. I would have loved, loved, loved the book if it would have been a little longer and given the characters some more time to get to know each other.
Overall, recommended.
I received a free copy from Netgalley.
This is a solid short read. The characters are fleshed out well. The writing flows nicely. My only problem with the book was that it was too short. The ending felt a little rushed to me. I would have loved, loved, loved the book if it would have been a little longer and given the characters some more time to get to know each other.
Overall, recommended.
I received a free copy from Netgalley.
bhavani's review against another edition
5.0
I'd forgotten what a delight Erica Ridley's books are!
Introverted Adam is shy and becomes tongue tied in social situations, which leaves him friendless and lonely. As a duke, he needs to marry but doesn't want the loveless society marriage of his parents.
Extroverted Carole is hiding the grief of losing her mother too soon and caring for her father, who hides from the world in his grief. To avoid her loneliness, she's made herself useful to everyone in her village. She doesn't want to marry because she wants to avoid the heartbreak of losing a partner.
These two neighbours meet and make a deal. She'll design his billiard room and teach him to play, help him throw a party, and introduce him to people so he can apply those skills in London and its marriage mart. In exchange, she gets to live her dream of being an architect. Commence Operation Billiards!
I find it difficult to articulate what's good about the stories I read. All I can think to say about this 142-page book is imagine two broken people whose broken parts fit together perfectly. That's Adam and Carole.
There's also a lovely secondary love story between his elderly butler and her elderly lady's maid, both of whom are the only father and mother figures they knew growing up.
Introverted Adam is shy and becomes tongue tied in social situations, which leaves him friendless and lonely. As a duke, he needs to marry but doesn't want the loveless society marriage of his parents.
Extroverted Carole is hiding the grief of losing her mother too soon and caring for her father, who hides from the world in his grief. To avoid her loneliness, she's made herself useful to everyone in her village. She doesn't want to marry because she wants to avoid the heartbreak of losing a partner.
These two neighbours meet and make a deal. She'll design his billiard room and teach him to play, help him throw a party, and introduce him to people so he can apply those skills in London and its marriage mart. In exchange, she gets to live her dream of being an architect. Commence Operation Billiards!
I find it difficult to articulate what's good about the stories I read. All I can think to say about this 142-page book is imagine two broken people whose broken parts fit together perfectly. That's Adam and Carole.
There's also a lovely secondary love story between his elderly butler and her elderly lady's maid, both of whom are the only father and mother figures they knew growing up.
lianareadsblog's review against another edition
3.0
While I love reading historical romance books and the author is one of my favourites in the genre, this book felt a bit too short of everything for me.
It felt too easy and not that much suspense and angsty or even funny moments in big doses to keep my attention to much or to make it memorable.
Looking forward to other books though because I won’t give up reading anything by the author for sure.
It felt too easy and not that much suspense and angsty or even funny moments in big doses to keep my attention to much or to make it memorable.
Looking forward to other books though because I won’t give up reading anything by the author for sure.
ctsquirrel's review against another edition
3.0
Just now catching up on all the books I've read since the week of Halloween, so excuse the spam. Things have been hectic at work where I usually catch up on reviews (I work at a library so it's kinda work related right?).
Just okay, which is surprising since I've loved this whole series so far (even re-reading #4 lately to get in the mood). Both characters were a bit on the boring side. I was more invested in the maid and butler's romance side-plot, they at least were interesting. Adam wants to make friends and seem more interesting and outgoing so he wants to turn his library into a billiards room. Carole has a passion for both billiards and building so she basically becomes the contractor for his remodel.
Tags: Political- Azureford is seriously serious in the House of Lords; Clean/No Sex- things get heated and they get close, I forget what interrupts but it stops there for good
Just okay, which is surprising since I've loved this whole series so far (even re-reading #4 lately to get in the mood). Both characters were a bit on the boring side. I was more invested in the maid and butler's romance side-plot, they at least were interesting. Adam wants to make friends and seem more interesting and outgoing so he wants to turn his library into a billiards room. Carole has a passion for both billiards and building so she basically becomes the contractor for his remodel.
Tags: Political- Azureford is seriously serious in the House of Lords; Clean/No Sex- things get heated and they get close, I forget what interrupts but it stops there for good
marley28's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75