Such a lovely read. The writing and romance was sweet and even though a HEA is always on the cards I loved reaching that ending with these compelling characters. Great writing and an adorable plot.

This was a charming book with enough originality in the heroine's character to stand out. Virginia Underwood, a kind of stray herself, takes in strays - animals and now a person. I enjoyed seeing how her anxieties and panic attacks were portrayed and the support which both her partner and friends gave her. The book zips along and is peppered with amusing animal anecdotes. As with anything in this genre, the outcome is expected, but the journey here is satisfying.

Never say Duke was a great read, it is another story that takes place in the magical town of Christmas, that I so want to visit by the way. Its main characters are Virginia Underwood, a wonderfully kind, caring woman, that lives to care for those that need help. But no matter how kind she is, some people just haven't been able to look beyond some of her other odd behaviors. Theodore O’Hanlon, however, is not known to be so kind, at least not since returning from war. He has come to the town of Christmas to heal in peace, without his friends or family, or anyone really knowing that he is there. He has great plans to stay to himself and not see other people, until he meets Virginia, and then nothing seems to go as he had planned. However somethings just turn out better when the plans change.
This was another great read from Erica Ridley, that I would say "Yes go out and buy!" Cant wait for the next one.

I received a copy of this book via Netgalley, and is the fourth in the “12 Dukes of Christmas” series.


Having just returned from war, scarred in body and mind, Theodore O’Hanlon (“Mr T”), Major Viscount Ormondton, borrows the Duke of Azureford’s cottage in Christmas, in order to recover from his injuries in peace. He intends to remain completely anonymous, but much to his dismay, he gets an unexpected visitor on his first full day of solitude – a cat named Duke, who detours from his daily constitutional with his human to come and visit. His human is Virginia Underwood, resident of Christmas, a woman who cannot resist rescuing strays or tending the wounded. Knowing the Duke of Azureford is away, she realises that Duke has effectively let himself into the house, and she goes to find him and take him away. However, not only does she find Duke, she finds Theodore and insists on helping him – despite all his refusals.

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. His father arranged it, his betrothed has made it clear that she expects their announcement to happen almost immediately after he returns from war. Everyone expects it, so 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. Theodore also gets to learn more about her childhood – as the oldest daughter, who was unlikely to marry (mainly for her “personality issues”), and therefore preventing her younger sisters from marrying, she was committed to an asylum by her parents. Her desire to remain in Christmas is mainly to keep off people’s radars (she had escaped from the asylum years before, and believes that if she’s found, she would be recommitted), and because she hates being in crowded places, with too much noise, and too many people.

After a romantic, platonic evening, an unexpected visitor arrives at Theodore’s door, reminding Virginia why the two of them can never be together and she leaves.

Meanwhile, Virginia has been running the aviary, but the castle steward has decided to hire a “professional” veterinarian (read: a man) to run it as it gets bigger. Virginia feels that the sole reason for her to remain at the castle has been removed, even when the steward realises his mistake and asks for her to come back, in a much reduced capacity. Almost immediately afterwards she receives news of an unexpected windfall, which opens up her options, so she doesn’t have to fall back into her past life.

The final chapters push both the characters out of their comfort zones – Virginia enters the packed aviary to find her friend Penelope for comfort, and Theo makes his first appearance in public with his scarred face visible.

I certainly enjoyed this book, and it fitted in well with the previous books in the series. Most of the secondary characters (who remembers the valet?!) are virtually non existent, and other residents of Christmas only appear as and when necessary. Therefore the book can be read standalone and it is not necessary to have read the previous books. Whilst set in the town of Christmas, it’s not actually a Christmas themed book, so can be read any time of the year

Never Say Duke (12 Dukes of Christmas, #4) by Erica Ridley is a sweet and sincere historical romance. This is completely one of my go to authors. Viscount Ormondton heads to Christmas to convalesce after he is injured in the war. Theodore is broken and reclusive and wants to heal in peace before he is to wed. Virginia Underwood has a unique knack for healing injured things. This story brings to light the plight of young women during the times, but Virginia takes control of her own destiny and shows Theo what it is to open up and take risks on his own destiny and healing. This is a thoughtfully plotted story that flows easily as the characters banter back and forth through their inner and outer turmoil. And as always, the story leaves the reader smiling in the end. If you like any of the Rogues to Riches, you’ll enjoy this book as well. It can be read as a stand alone.

I just love everything this woman writes! Her books just suck you in the past! Erica Ridley is such a great storyteller!

A fun Regency romance that is perfect for readers who love the typical story line of Regencies. Ridley brings a lot of humor to this romantic story, along with dealing with a few threads of tough reality, wounded soldiers and non-perfect children. Of course it has its happy ending, almost to neat, but it is what is expected and would be disappointing any other way.

Highly entertaining and engaging romance that had me very invested in this journey and would not let go... loved this sweetly sexy passion. Great reading.

Miss Virginia Underwood and Theodore, Viscount Ormondton’s story; 4th in the 12 Dukes of Christmas, a standalone, happily ever after, no cheating, sweet, historical romance.
Quick read with likable quirky characters, touch of humor, learning to love one’s self.
I look forward to the rest of the series.
I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for my honest opinion.

What an absolutely amazing and heartfelt story this is! Theodore is a wounded war hero hiding out in a small village called "Christmas" and there he meets the delightfully open and funny Virginia who barrels her way into his life and decides to be his nurse and care for him as she does all the strays that she finds. Their story will make you smile, laugh, cry, swoon....and fall in love with Duke...the cat! I can't say enough how much I enjoyed reading this book!!

I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in return for an honest review.

Very sweet romance about a young lady who has been rejected by her family and finds comfort in a village called Christmas. Virginia loves to heal people and animals, she has a special talent for it. And when Theodore arrives in Christmas under a veil of secrecy to recover from war wounds, she finds her next project. She will help him get better so he can get back to London and finally get himself betrothed to the lady his father wants him to marry.
But Theodore loses his heart to the beguiling Virginia, and just might heal her too.

Okay, this book was so much more than I expected. Great story, excellent characters, witty, entriging, this book has it all. Can't wait to read more from this author.

I received a complimentary advanced copy of this book from the author through NetGalley.The fourth book in the 12 Dukes of Christmas series a book that had me smiling as I read a well written story that held my interest throughout. Both Miss Virginia Underwood and Theodore O’Hanlon, Viscount Ormondton deserve happiness. I recommend this story.

Erica Ridley's 12 Dukes of Christmas series is like a warm blanket. I love feeling all cozy and snuggling up to such nice,heartwarming stories. Her writing is fantastic and her characters have depth to them.

Never Say Duke is one of my absolute favorite books from Erica Ridley.

I pretty much know what I'm getting from an Erica Ridley book: low steam, unique female MCs, and, usually, a very sweet, easy story. Never Say Duke took me by surprise because I really, really liked it, and I had a hard time putting it down.

I adored the female MC. Though it isn't explicitly stated, Virginia Underwood seemed neuro-atypical to me, which was an unexpected pleasure. I love a unique MC, and Virginia's gentle, blunt nature and her quirks made her memorable and special to me. She had great chemistry with Theo, and also great chemistry with Duke, her feisty cat, who made the story even more fun.

I also love an interesting hero, and Theo's injuries, limp, and myriad of facial and bodily scars only increased his appeal for me. I felt very invested in his recovery, and I loved his gruff and grumpy demeanor and seeing how he softened to Virginia over time.

The story had a lot of weight to it, but it was kept light by Duke's (the cat) antics and the delightful banter between the MCs.

There was a little unnecessary drama in the last part of the story, which irritated me, but the author pulled it out in the end. It was a grand romance-y romance ending that all historical romance readers will swoon over.

*Copy provided in exchange for an honest review*

This novel has the ability to just draw you in till the very end! I loved the fact that it was modest but had all the feels and you were just turning the pages as quickly as you could to see what would happen next! A great book to just sink away with into a comfy chair on a rainy afternoon!

The Duke of the title is Miss Virginia Underwood's cat. Just one of the strays she has helped. The next stray she collects is Theodore, Viscount Ormondton, who is hiding away to recuperate from his war wounds. This is a sweet story of two outcasts from society and their families who help heal each other. You don't need to have read other in the 12 Dukes of Christmas series to enjoy this one.

A wonderful love story. Something to look forward to. Not your typical Sweet nice romance. This is the story with some meat on it. Let others tell you what the story is about I will tell you the emotions. In our story we have a grump and a woman who ignores his grumpiness. As he becomes more surly she becomes more creative. And the cat. Looks really cat in the Shirley man because I’m perfect friends. They start sharing ice cream, little bits at a time so he continues to do her bidding. Of course there’s a happy ending. But this author makes you want to read it to the end. And then you don’t want it to end

Never Say Duke by Erica Ridley
Although this delightful book is #4 in the 12 Dukes of Christmas, it can be read as a stand-alone without too much difficulty. The unifying thread for the series is the small town of Cressmouth in a remote corner of England where it is “Christmas” year-round. This book centers on Cressmouth resident Virginia, odd-girl out (and most likely what we would now characterize as “on the spectrum”) heals and cares for strays. While her strays are typically animals, this time she focuses on Theodore, a wounded war hero staying in the cottage of his friend, the Duke of Silkridge, while he attempts to recover and return to his life in London. Virginia has, herself, been “wounded,” cast out by her parents for being different and an embarrassment. The slow development of a friendship between the two is beautifully and gently portrayed with very few peripheral characters getting in the way of what is, essentially, a two-character play. There is humor as well as genuine emotion in a terrific series addition.

When I read an Erica Ridley book and series that is what I have been waiting for I get excited because I know I won't be disappointed. I again she wrote another great book.