Erica Ridley: One Night with a Duke

Dashing Scot Jonathan MacLean never returns to the same town twice. The happy-go-lucky philanthropist seeks constant adventure… and is desperate to outrun his past. When a blizzard traps him in a tiny mountaintop village, he meets a woman who tempts him with dreams he’d long since abandoned: Home. Community. Love. But other people’s livelihoods depend on him leaving for good as soon as the snow melts.

Talented jeweler Angelica Parker has spent her life fighting for recognition. She’s Black, she’s a woman, and she will prove her creations are the equal to any artisan in England. With a contract anchoring her in place for seven years, she lands the project of a lifetime. There’s no room for error—or distractions. Such as the charming drifter whose warm embrace and melting kisses have become more precious than jewels…

Because I liked the previous in the series, Dawn with a Duke, so much, I decided to grab this one and learned what happened while the other characters were snowed in. Happening on the same timeline, this story focuses on the venture capitalist who hates Christmas as he waits for the upcoming meeting with the Duke in a town that is all about Christmas.

Jonathan loves travelling, like a rolling stone, and prefers learning about local life, so eschews the Christmas tourist goings on to walk the town of Cressmouth on the hunt for an opportunity for stories to tell.

I have to start with the disclaimer that Jonathan, as a hero, was not my cup of tea. No, he isn’t an alphahole…but he reminds me of Justin Theroux’s character from Parks and Rec, who Ron Swanson characterizes as a tourist in other people’s life. Yes, by the end, he has some significant growth…but during the bulk of the story I was just lukewarm about his whole schtick.

Angelica, on the other hand, is a gem and a jeweler. She is a focused, ambitious woman who has struck the devil’s bargain to own her own shop. That includes being apart from her family, who comes to visit during Christmas but with minimal contact as its her high season. Angelica misses their noise and company, but is determined to keep them out of her shop until its hers.

Jonathan saunters in and immediately upends her life by first offering to serve as valet, and then second to hang and chatter while she works. Thus the “tourist in someone else’s life” comment…and why Jonathan wasn’t a good fit for me.

There are lots of sweet winter and holiday moments set in an idyllic Christmas town, so that was fun. It was also a fast read, kisses only, with low angst.

I did not love it like the previous story, but I did really like Angelica. And I do think this is a story that will work for some folks who are interested in the rolling stone type of hero.

5 Stars 4.5 out of 6 A rolling stone is brought to a halt by a beautiful, ambitious woman.