Stephanie's Reviews > Dawn with a Duke

𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒔𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝒔𝒖𝒎𝒎𝒂𝒓𝒚 — A Christmas historical romance set in an inn, while all the servants are laid low by the flu... whats a girl with a gown that cinches in the back to do?

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This was a cute, light Christmas read. Lady Isabelle - Belle - is a likable and kind heroine. She's the daughter of a duke, the sister of a duke... and always feels like she's overshadowed by the other people in her life. Her father and brothers title, her mother's desires for her to marry well. She wants to be an artist, and yet no one takes her seriously except her maid, Ursula, who encourages her as a friend and sister.

Calvin McAlistair is a tailor, modiste, fashion designer. He's also stuck in the inn while working on a clothing line he wants the Duke of N-- (I forget the long name...) to invest in an sponsor. It'll be well made clothes for the common man, designs good enough to be worn by a duke.

The twist? Belle can't be in an inn alone with no maid (who's laid low with the flu), so she masquerades as a widow. Calvin is presenting his designs to the Duke of N-- — her brother.

The wrap up was way too quick in my opinion, but expected for a short story/novella.