this is a cute short story. It is part of a collection of the 12 days of Dukes. the setting in Christmas.
Each on is about a nobleman who needs help and finds his true love.

the book was fresh and well written. I plan to read the rest of the series. A good romance

I had a hard time stopping for breaks reading this book. This book made me fall in love with Theodore and Virginia Underwood's characters. I really loved this book and didn't want it to end!

Never Say Duke by Erica Ridley is a warm, touching story of finding yourself while caring for another. Two individuals who feel broken and neglected by life and family explore a friendship...
The story has elements of mystery, unexpected twists and turns. The characters are wonderfully complex. The leading characters have avocations and wounds. The secondary characters jump off the page and fill the story with complexity and depth. I wanted to return, to learn more, and spend more time in their lives. Never Say Duke is not your typical historical romance. It is so much more. Highly recommended.

Two-Sentence Review
(Just in case you’re feeling lazy to read a long one)
Simplicity at its best: neat, heartwarming, fluffy story line, likeable characters and fun dialogues. It knows what it is: A Romance Novel, and it knows what it wants: to entertain the reader.

This is fourth book in the series and features Theodore O’Hanlon, Viscount Ormondton and Virginia Underwood. Virginia loves saving strays, she even have a cat named Duke, who by the way, is the best cat in the world. This cat knows his name is Duke and loves being called Your Grace. (Just fantastic) Anyway, Theo is an injured war hero who chose seclusion until he gets better. He went to Christmas, a village literally covered in snow all year round. There, she met Virginia who at their first meeting decided to be her nurse. Though she ended up nursing not only Theo’s injury but more. (Aaaaw!)


Simplicity is indeed the best thing this novel have. I’m not saying this is mediocre, no. I’m saying, this novel don’t try really hard and still made me fall in love with it. It knows what it is-A romance book. And it knows what it wants:to entertain the reader. The story line is really neat. Boy meets girl, girl meets boy. Boy has a past, girl has a past. Boy has a future laid out and waiting for him, girl is contented with her present. The plot isn’t that complex that I’m into it from the very beginning. I didn’t have to think or decide if I love this book, I instantly know I would love this book. Sure the Main Character’s individual back stories are bit deep, especially Virginia, but still the author handled them really well.

The characters are very likeable-from main characters to the side characters. The dialogues are really fun to read. Like I said they’re not trying too hard. The author didn’t have to make our main hero too brooding and snub the main heroine for almost half the novel which is very common in this genre. No, the author just made the characters distinctive so I, the reader, knows who’s who. And I’m telling you, everyone is different and I like them all. Aside from the MCs and Duke the cat, my favorite would be Swinton, the butler. Even the other girl who’s supposedly hinder Theo and Virginia’s Happily Ever After, this other girl acted realistically without being a b*tch. That was a very realistic ending.

(Please note that the OTHER girl is not really Theo’s girlfriend, I only meant there’s other girl in the story. I don’t want anyone thinking there’s some form of cheating in here. Theo is technically single when he met Virginia. )

Compassionate, loving heroine and swoon worthy wounded hero come together in this sweet and funny romance. It was heartbreaking to hear how Virginia is badly treated by her family due her being undiagnosed for autism during that era. I adored their journey of falling in love with each other, especially the part about Theodore’s love of ice-creams. This is book four in the 12 Dukes of Christmas series but can be read as a standalone.

* I received this ARC from NetGalley and the publisher for an honest review*

This story... and it is an amazing read. I loved reading Virginia and Theo's story and watching them decide what they really want from their lives and their future.

As always happens in these stories, two people who initially come off as incredibly wrong for each other end up in love and happily ever after. The fun part is the in-between.
Virginia is the kind of person who ignores your wishes when she gets it into her head that she knows better than you, but she gets away with it because she’s so charming and beautiful in her own wacky way. He, on the other hand, is quite the grump, with no enjoyment in his life other than ice cream. And that was before his injuries, which only made his disposition worse.
I’m a little miffed that the cat gets a point of view when Captain Pugboat didn’t. There’s a Mr. T, of course, because that’s how Ms. Ridley rolls. There’s also a Queen Turkey-tiara, but she’s not as important.
Considering how much of a cloudcuckoolander she is, it’s hard to imagine her so insecure. On the other hand, it makes it all the more special when she realizes he likes her the way she is.
So it wasn’t as good as the previous one, but that was one of the best historical romances I’ve ever read, so there’s no shame here.

Never Say Duke is the latest in Erica Ridley’s 12 Dukes of Christmas series. I have all the previous books and this one proves to be as witty and amusing as the previous three. Although part of a series, you could easily read this as a standalone.

Viscount Theodore Ormondton has returned from war a broken man. He feels like he has let his men down by leaving the battlefield in France. He decides to recuperate in the village of Christmas in secret and return to the ton once he is able to walk again. He does not plan on the determined Virginia Underwood who takes on the task of bringing him back to full fitness. The romance between the two is sweet and the author tackles some difficult issues in good humour. A great story!

I received this ARC from NetGalley for and honest review. Opinions are my own.

Theodore O'Hanlon, Major Viscount Ormondton is hoping to recover from his war wounds in peace and quiet and undisturbed at the Duke of Azureford's cottage in Christmas. Virginia Underwood is a resident of Christmas and she can’t resist rescuing strays or tending the wounded. She doesn’t take no for an answer and soon turns his life upside down with her care and concern. Theodore soon becomes intrigued by Virginia and her visits. She definitely doesn’t want to fall in love, she is very uncomfortable in crowded rooms and bright lights so when she discovers who he really is she feels all is lost to her when he returns to his world. An enchanting story of a fallen warrior and the sweet Virginia who has obstacles to overcome to find their HEA!!! This my honest opinions after I voluntarily read a copy of this book that was provided to me with no requirements for a review.

This Christmas village installment deftly handles two lead characters with disabilities--a heroine who seems to be somewhere on the autism spectrum, and a wounded hero with a permanent mobility issue. That their courtship and happy ending don't involve magical transformations, but accommodation and acceptance makes this a real winner.

A quote [from ARC]:
“Scars aren’t evidence of failure,” she said softly. “They are proof of survival.”
4.5 stars
This was such a fun, enjoyable read, yet tackling serious issues and featuring a wounded hero.
The main characters are captivating and complicated, full of layers and nuances, their romance sweet and sexy.
Theo and Virginia are great characters, both wounded in ways that might never be healed. Their relationship has some obstacles, of course, but they are so good together, and they really talk and communicate. The intimacy, the sexual tension and the special moments they share are very well written.
I loved Erica Ridley’s writing style, the humor, the witty dialogue and banter, the story’s flow. And the cat is delightful, (I found myself often laughing with the feline peculiarities).
There’s a world of resonances and analogies in this story featuring a wounded hero, with real issues which aren’t underestimated, gruff yet sweet, caring and charming, a wounded heroine – with hidden scars –, whose sense of inadequacy is slowly revealed, and wounded strays in need of rescue.

I received a free ARC from netgalley.

This is my favorite so far in this series!

A heroine with a sensory disorder, an injured titled war hero, and a cat named Duke. I was entertained from first meeting to the perfect epilogue. The cover is the most scandalous part about this book--frank dialogue and some kisses make this a clean romance.

Never Say Duke is the fourth book in Erica Ridley’s 12 Dukes of Christmas. I have read one other book in this series and while part of a series, this book can be read as a standalone. I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Theodore wants to be left alone. Severely wounded on the battlefield he has journeyed to his friend, the Duke of Azureford's cottage in Christmas, a town that celebrates Christmas year round.  He wants to hide away while he heals before he must journey to London and marry the woman his father selected for him. His plans are ruined when a cat finds its way into his bedroom.

Virginia is a long term resident at the castle in Christmas. While out on her daily constitutional with her beloved companion, Duke, she is annoyed when he once again escapes through a convenient window. Following him, she meets Christmas’s newest resident and can’t help involving herself in his care.

I loved this book. While it’s light-hearted and funny it doesn’t shy away from the harshest realities of Regency England. Virginia was sent to an Asylum by her family just because she is a little different. In today’s world I have no doubt that Virginia would be diagnosed with autism, but in those days she would have been locked away just because she sees the world in a different light. I loved the dynamic between the two main characters and I loved how Theodore never once thought any less of Virginia, in fact, he appreciates, even loves the traits that make her special.

Virginia has been shown little love from her family during her lifetime. After a disastrous first season, her father sent her away so her younger sisters might have a chance at good matches. Through perseverance and a determined spirit, she made her way to the town of Christmas and has made a life for herself at the Castle. She cares for every living thing and is content to do so until she realizes she wants more.

Theodore O’Hanlon, Viscount Ormondton, has come to his friend’s estate in Christmas to recuperate after severe injuries occurred while fighting in the war. He wants no soul in Christmas to know who he is, including the woman who has taken it upon herself to become his personal nurse. Virginia takes to the mysterious Mr T like she does all her wounded animals and begins to make progress despite the stubbornness she’s met with.

Ridley takes a fresh turn on the nurse/patient love story. She gives us a young woman terrified of the ton and large gatherings, yet is completely selfless when it comes to helping others. She doesn’t know the Viscount and doesn’t care who he is. He needs help and she desires to give it. I absolutely adored Virginia! She’s sweet, a little sassy, and doesn’t give in to her patient’s grumpiness. I completely understood why Ormondton chose to hide away once his family history and experiences in the war were explained. I love how Ridley brought him to life slowly as he interacted with Virginia.

Never Say Duke is a slow burn with a well earned happily ever after. I’m excited to see what Ridley has in store for the rest of the dukes!

I received Never Say Duke for free. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Another great book in this series. I always finish one looking forward to the next one. Loved the story of Theo and Virginia! Two people who have been hurt by family and want to avoid people as much as possible. But they find each other and overcome all of those feelings. And I love Duke!! Great book!

Welcome back to Christmas, where the magic of the town is surpassed only by the magic of love!

NEVER SAY DUKE by Erica Ridley is one more sweet and sexy romance that brings two lonely souls together to find their surprise happily ever after! High on heartwarming interactions and actually low on drama, one injured soldier seeks a quiet and secluded place to recover only to find a quirky and delightful woman who won’t take no for an answer!

Theodore only wanted to be left alone, depressed, severely wounded and feeling “less” than what he was. Virginia was the family embarrassment, she danced to a different drum and escaped to Christmas to live the life she cared about, free of the pain her family inflicted.

When Virginia’s caring heart sees the hidden wounds Theodore carries, she begins her own campaign to break down his walls and help him heal, in spite of his attempts to push her away.

I loved Virginia! She is that diamond that only needs the right light to sparkle and sparkle she does!

And again, Erica Ridley makes historical romance just a little bit brighter, heartwarming and simply sweet!

I received a complimentary copy from WebMotion!

Series: 12 Dukes of Christmas - Book 4
Publisher: WebMotion (January 5, 2019)
Publication Date: January 5, 2019
Genre: Historical Romance
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
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I thoroughly loved reading the awesome fourth book in the 12 Dukes of Christmas series. When Theo, Major Viscount Ormondton, comes to his friend's cottage to rest and recover from the war, his peace and quiet ends with the appearance of Virginia Underwood. Even though Theo is promised to another woman, he finds himself looking forward to Virginia's visits and not wanting them to end. Read the highly recommended, wonderfully written romance, riveting and engaging story line, and a must read love story.
I reviewed a copy of the book from NetGalley.

I was so excited for this title and, for the most part, it lived up to my expectations!

I loved Virginia and thought she was a lot of fun in the previous two books, and this title made me love her even more. She’s just such a unique and fun character. I felt it was refreshing to have a heroine that wasn’t perfect but was socially awkward.

I thought Theo was great, too, even if he stopped being beastly relatively early on. I’m a sucker for injured heroes that have bad attitudes in the beginning but are secretly sweeties.

The story itself moved along nicely and I never felt bored. In fact, I found myself wanting to pick the book up at times I wasn’t able just to see what would happen next. I will definitely be eagerly awaiting the next title in this series!!

*I received an eARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Never Say Duke is another short heart-warming read from Erica Ridley. Viscount Theodore Ormondton went off to war because he believed it was a cause worth fighting for and also to prove himself to his father. Major Theodore O’Hanlon came home from the battlefields of France a broken man with no thoughts other than to recover his strength and mobility enough to dance with his young cousin at her coming out and to fulfil his father’s wishes by marrying the bride who was chosen for him when he was eight because of the advantages such a match would bring. Virginia Underwood who has a history of collecting waifs and strays, albeit usually the feathered or four-legged variety, immediately sets out to help Theo, along with the assistance of her erstwhile cat ‘Duke’ whether he wants it or not.

While I didn’t take to the character of Virginia in the previous books I found myself warming to her here after learning more about her past. I would have loved a bit more of her history to have been shown maybe in a flashback type of scenario to certain events just to give a bit more depth to her. I loved the character of Theo but for me the star of the show though has to be the infamous ‘Duke’. All in all this is a good book to while away the hours of a wintry afternoon.

I have grown to love the town of Christmas and all its characters. I loved Virginia and Theo's story. They are both beautifully broken in their own ways. Love brings them together and heals the hurt in both of them. This is a book you will enjoy from start to finish.