When the notoriously buttoned-up Duke of Southbury is forced to attend a matchmaking festival, he knows it will end in solitude—just like every soiree 
and ball. The duke doesn't want a bride. He wants his charming French valet, Vachon. An untenable situation the duke refuses to admit, even to Vachon. The only way to avoid scandal—and the pull of temptation—is to dismiss his handsome valet before Southbury says or does something that cannot be taken back.
But Vachon has pined for his taciturn employer since the moment they met. When the duke announces his impending dismissal, Vachon has only a fortnight to change his mind… and convince the ton's model of propriety that love is worth breaking all the rules.
Undressing the Duke
This is not the first Erica Ridley book I've read, but it is certainly one of my favorites. I was scrolling down her list of books and suddenly stopped and scrolled back up. One cover had two men dressed in period clothing and it caught my eye immediately. Undressing the Duke? As in a valet? I took a second look. When I realized it was MM Romance by one of my favorite historical authors, I couldn't click the buy button fast enough. Her new cover has flowers on a solid background. If that had been the one I saw, I never would have taken that second look. It says nothing about the period, the characters, or the setting. It's a shame so many authors are going for "discreet" covers. It's taken away that immediate sense of genre and flavor.
Despite the bland cover, this is a beautiful love story with a happy ending that will leave you smiling. Written with all the style you'd expect from an Erica Ridley romance. The story is easy-going and sweet, focusing on two likable, relatable characters caught in a tough situation. The duke, usually reserved and proper, is secretly longing for his valet, Vachon, who feels exactly the same way. Ridley does a great job building their chemistry at a natural pace, and the interactions between the duke and Vachon had me smiling more than once. I enjoyed how Ridley explored issues of status and expectation without making it heavy. The matchmaking festival added a nice bit of humor and fun, complementing the main romance. The ending left me satisfied and happy for both men. It's a solid pick if you're into gay romance in historical settings.
Personally, I write MM Science Fiction, but I love reading MM Historical (especially Regency). So finding this book was an enormous treat. I can't recommend it highly enough.