An absolute delight! I love this series and loved Theo and Virginias’s story. The clever twist to their names- O’Hanlon and Virginia was a delight. Theo being injured and Virginia helping him regain strength and their ill fated love and desire to ignore the rules of the ton was so sweet

I loved Never Say Duke! Virginia is a fun character, I really enjoyed her brief interactions during previous book in this series. I was so happy she got her own book and happily ever after! She is whitty and quirky, in this book we find out so much more about her. I am loving this series!

What a fun story! A spinster, a wounded warrior, a devious butler and a temperamental cat work together to guide (force?) the hero and heroine to their true selves, and of course, true love. The heat level is sweet, but the attraction is obvious. I enjoyed the small-town setting, nary a ballroom or assembly in sight. The reader can imagine the story could have actually taken place. I don’t know if I’ve ever r4ead Ms. Ridley before, but I’ve already downloaded a few more of her books to enjoy. Thanks to the publisher for allowing me to read Never Say Duke.

I received a copy of this book through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

My thanks to the Publishers via NetGalley for the opportunity to read this in exchange for an honest review. It is some time since I downloaded my copy of this and in the mean time I have purchased and read the first two books in this series. The third in the series was also a NetGalley read.

This is the fourth in the 12 Dukes of Christmas series. All the books are loosely linked with some returning characters in them. However, you do not need to have read the previous books in the series to enjoy this one.

I am enjoying this series of books. They are the perfect read for this time of year or any time of year to be honest. They are stories that you can immerse yourself in and have that feel good glow as the romance between the lead characters develops. You know that at the end they will be together, but it's the journey that they go on along the way that draws you in.

This story telling the relationship between Theo and Virginia as she helps him come to terms with the wounds that he has and encourages him to own them and be proud of them, rather than hide them away and in some ways be ashamed of them and the man he has now become as a result of them. It is the man inside that is more important than the outer wrappings, like a Christmas present revealing the hidden goods as you unwrap it.

Reclusive war hero ,Theodore O’Hanlon, Viscount Ormondton , is trying to recover from his injuries in peace and anonymity.
However Miss Virginia Underwood cannot resist rescuing a stray …….. Theodore .
Virginia wants nothing to do with the Ton , having been laughed out of Town in her first season , slowly starts to fall in love with her 'stray' . The feeling becomes mutual but Theodore must return to the Ton and his Father , who has already selected his future bride ….. he must decide which battles are worth fighting for .
This is a sweet , entertaining , romance where both main characters hold sway .

I was given an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review .

And Book 3 in Erica's series is another winner! Again, well-written, wonderfully interesting and lovable characters along with a feel good romance story. I'm hooked on this series! Onward to the next one! Well done, Erica!

Thoroughly enjoyable book. You can’t beat a bit of escapism with an engrossing romance and this book really delivers. Can’t wait to read more in this series.

This was absolutely adorable. I love a good recluse meets his match romance, and this definitely fit the bill.

Gotta say, I hate this cover. I think one of the models is making a weird face, and I don't think it relates in any way to the book.
You have the wounded veteran, and the weird girl who escaped from an asylum because her parents didn't understand her. It's not new, and it wasn't the best, but at least it wasn't as weird as some of the others.

This was my favorite of the four books in the series so far. Virginia was my favorite secondary character in the three preceding books, so to have her as the heroine in this book made me very happy. I like how she wasn't a sassy, take-no-prisoners too modern for the time period she is written in heroine. She wanted her independence and wasn't the "norm" for the day, but she wasn't constantly trying to fling her independent spirit into everyone's face. She felt real. She had issues, but she had friends and independence and talents of her own.

Also, the love interest wasn't an Alpha. Once in a while it's nice to read a man who is written as something other than Superman and perfect. He had his issues and talents too, and they complimented Virginia's. I really felt they worked as a couple. There were a few steamy kisses and desire for more, but it never got to more than the kisses, except off page after they were married. It was tasteful, which is fitting with who they were.

I completely loved this part of the 12 Dukes of Christmas. It doesn't hurt that the "Duke" in this was a sassy cat, lol! He was not 100% realistic, but since that was the only imagination stretch, it didn't break me out of the story. Completely loved this one. Recommended if you like Regency romances on the clean side. 5, who doesn't love a Duke, stars!

My thanks to NetGalley and WebMotion for an eARC copy of this book to read and review.

Never Say Duke by Erica Ridley is the 4th book in the 12 Dukes of Christmas series. I really liked the story of Miss Virginia Underwood and Theodore O'Hanlon, Viscount Ormondton.

I enjoyed both the story and the characters of Theo and Virginia a lot. It was my first book but the author and I’m now looking forward to reading more of her works. Thank to netgalley and the publisher for providing me with the arc.

Theo, Viscount Ormondton was hiding away in the out of the way village of Christmas in his friend the Duke of Azureford’s cottage. He was badly injured in the war and wanted to hide away from everyone. This did not stop Virginia who was used to looking after injured animals Theo was just someone else who needed her skills. This is a lovely romance between two people who have been thrown away by society and family. This story is their journey towards love and acceptance.
I was given an ARC of this book by Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Very much enjoyed this book with Virginia and Theodore O’Hanlon, Viscount Ormondton. A time to heal and learn to love.

Ebook from net galley and publishers with thanks .Opinions are entirely my own .

Miss Virginia Underwood cannot resist rescuing a stray. Her latest find turns out to be a surly, reclusive war hero trying to recover from his wounds in peace. He doesn't want her help—and Virginia definitely doesn't want to fall in love. Not when a future with him would mean returning to the same haut ton who laughed her out of Town during her very first Season. Theodore O’Hanlon, Viscount Ormondton, sequestered himself far from London to heal in anonymity. For now, he can be himself. As soon as he returns, he's meant to wed the woman his father selected years before. But when Miss Underwood turns his carefully mapped life upside-down, Theo must decide which battles are truly worth fighting for.
This was a quick and sweet story that I enjoyed. I liked both main characters and really liked the story. I recommend.
**I voluntarily read and reviewed this book

What a great story!

Never say Duke is the 4th book in the 12 Dukes of Christmas series. I haven’t read any of the previous books however will be adding them to my list now.

I loved both the MCs. Theo an injured war hero determined to be a sullen recluse until he has healed and can return to fulfill his societal obligations. Virginia who has been rejected by her family due to her unique character traits and her awkwardness in polite society.

Virginia has been tossed aside yet shows the strength and courage to try and overcome her fears every day. When she stumbles upon Theo she resolves to help him in his recovery in a way that breaks down his sullen and stubborn barriers and also helps her to grow.

Their story is delightful to read and if all the books in the series are like this I can’t wait to read more.

#12dukes #NetGalley

Love, passion and duty dominate in “Never Say Duke,” the fourth book in the “12 Dukes of Christmas” series by Erica Ridley.

Though described as a romantic comedy (and it is), the protagonists Virginia Underwood and Theodore O’Hanlon, Viscount Ormondton also tug at your heartstrings. Yes, there are many laugh out loud funny moments. But there are also a lot of times when you just want to hug Virginia and Theodore as they try to reconcile duty and their attraction with each other.

All four books in the series are joys to read, but “Never Say Duke” is my favorite. Virginia and Theodore’s story relates very well the duty and responsibility of those born to the peerage. The setting might have been two hundred years ago, but that obligation still exists today.

“Never Say Duke” is Rated T for teens.

Very good sweet historical romance where the two characters Theodore and Virginia slowly fall in love amongst a backdrop of an era which really brought the story together. Loved the cat!

Never Say Duke is the fourth book in the 12 Dukes of Christmas series by Erica Ridley. It can easily be read as a standalone book, but having read the other books in the series I have to tell you that if you haven't read them, you really should, no matter what order you read them in. This series is so uplifting, you won't be able to read any of the stories without ending up with a smile on your face.

This book is Virginia and Theodore's story. Virginia is a caring, gentle woman, misunderstood by society because of her social anxiety. Her parents even put her into an asylum because they themselves couldn't accept her as she was. Thankfully she got out of the asylum and took up residence in the town of Christmas. She fit in beautifully with the people there and it's there that thanks to her cat 'Duke' she comes across the most handsome man she'd ever met. He also happened to be very injured.

That man, know only to her as 'T' once they were introduced is actually a Viscount. He went to war against his father's wishes, and he is in Christmas recovering from terrible war wounds. He tells nobody except the friend whose house he is staying in that he is back. He wants to heal and then make his way to London, both to see his father and see the woman that he has been betrothed to by their fathers since birth. She wants to make the betrothal official. He isn't at all sure that is what he wants.

Virginia is used to taking care of strays, normally animals, but she deems that looking after an injured man who so desperately needs help just as easy to look after as her animals. Initially, Theodore is fuming at her interference, but the longer she spends with him and actually helps him, the more he begins not only to appreciate her but to find himself attracted to her too! As for Virginia, she's found him to be the most handsome man she's ever met, wounds and all. They get on so perfectly, but there is no way they can be together especially once Virginia finds out he is a Viscount. She is way below his station and besides that, she knows people find her strange. He can't possibly marry her when it will mean he is either going to be a laughing stock or shunned for his choice. Of course, he also has a bride to be waiting back in London.

Can they fight their attraction and more to the point, should they? You will need to read the story to find out.
Reviewed by AnnMarie

This was the first book I've read from this author and I enjoyed it very much. It was very well written and the characters were well thought out.