This is my fair and honest review in return for being allowed this ARC. I LOVE this series. I am not a Christmas kinda story woman but this entire series has been so refreshing! There is hurt and darkness and and joy and obstinance and laughter and tears and just wonderful tales in EVERY SINGLE ONE. Seriously, buy the entire set and read from the first to the last.

A Sweetly Engrossing Tale.
Virginia I guess falls somewhere on the autism spectrum. Her family abandoned her due to her social awkwardness but years later she has managed to make a life for herself despite them. She is an unusual woman and has a talent for healing broken animals, such as Duke the cat, who thinks he’s a dog, and a partridge she has named Dancer. When Duke’s antics lead her to discovering an injured man, she uses her talents to heal him and in the process they fall in love. I loved this story and how all the loose ends were neatly tied up in the last chapters.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

So far, this series has not disappointed! Theodore is hiding out in Christmas to recover from his war wounds. Virginia has escaped her life by living in Christmas. This is the story of them both learning to face their fears and learn to live life which they do while falling in love. I loved Duke, the cat. His high-jinks were funny throughout the book. Swinton, the Duke of Azureford's butler stole the show for me! Thank you for the advanced copy. This is a series that I will be sad when it ends!

Miss Virginia saved the life of a cat, a magnificent creature whom she has named Duke. He answers to it with a hiss. But if you respond with 'Thank you Your Grace,' he will present his belly for petting and purr. Once he has approved of the grouchy invalid Viscount Ormondton, he is well on his way to benefiting from her incomparable way with healing creatures.

Duke is the matchmaker in this tale set in the holiday village of Christmas. Since being carried from the battlefield incognito, Ormondton has been presumed dead by the press, when he is simply hiding from an arranged marriage. Years ago, Virginia's parents committed their 'inconvenient' eldest daughter to a sanitarium, whence she escaped and was also presumed dead. Instead she became Mr. Marlowe's ward and has followed her inclinations into biology and medicine, in the estate's shelter.

Will they both step back into society, giving one another the strength to face challenges as their true selves? Theo Ormondton has the heroism and Virginia has the endurance. It's all in how they phrase it.

When Theodore O'Hanlon, Major Viscount Ormondton arrives at the Duke of Azureford's cottage in Christmas, he expects to recover from his war injuries in peace and remain completely anonymous - but what he got was a cat named Duke who changed his entire life.

Virginia Underwood is a resident of Christmas and a nurturer by nature, she cannot resist rescuing strays or tending the wounded. So when her cat Duke invites himself into the Duke's cottage and she finds Theodore, she insists on helping him - despite his refusal. Virginia has secrets and suffers from what appears to be Asperger's Syndrome. She cannot abide crowds, bright light or loud noises.

Theodore is intrigued by Virginia and begins to look forward to her visits. They talk and she learns that he is expected to marry the daughter of his father's friend - he will do it, because Theodore always keeps his promises and does his duty. But why is he beginning to question that decision?

The more time they spend together, the more she pushes him and under her care, he begins to heal, both physically and mentally. He learns more about her past, which is as shocking as is it heartbreaking. She loves Theodore, but when she learns who he really is, isn't sure she could stand being part of his world, plus there is the little problem of the soon to be betrothed.

When it seems like they will finally have a HEA, a surprise visitor reminds Virginia why they can never be and a twist of fate gives her choices in her life - will she choose Theodore or will she let her past experiences ruin any chance for love?

This is a sweet story, that is well written and paced nicely. Theodore and Virginia are wonderful leads and Duke the cat is definitely a scene stealer, the love scenes are sweet (no heat) but there is a sizzling chemistry between them, there are lots of twists and turns, a hero that you will want for your own, a wonderful ending and an epilogue that will make you smile.

*I am voluntarily leaving a review of an eARC that was provided to me by NetGalley and the publisher.*

This was the most charming book of the Christmas Dukes series! Virginia is an interesting character, possibly autistic, in that she does not understand social situations. Her family has put her in an asylum from which she escapes and ends up in Christmas where she has spent the last 6 years treating sick and broken animals. Enter Theo, war hero and viscount, who is broken person physically. Their story had me smiling the entire way through. Thouroughly enjoyed reading this book by Erica Ridley!
I did receive an ARC of this book.

This book is a gem. The heroine is strong yet has a unique set of troubles that is seldom explored in historical romance. The hero is not the best of the bunch, but he's fine, also with some problems of his own. The story is set in Christmas and is funny, sad, and believable. This series is excellent. The heroines have all been realistic and the heroes are good too. You can read these books as stand alones, but i recommend the whole series. They have all been worth reading. They have couples that actually communicate which is refreshing.

I received this as an ARC from the author as a member of her VIP readers club. Pick it up here on netgalley as it is well worth the time. The opinion of this book is my own.