This is book 12 in the series. It can be read alone but is best read in sequence.
Alexander, the Duke of Nottingvale, plans to choose a bride. He has invited some eligible young women, with chaperones of course, to his estate for a Christmas celebration. Among those women is Cynthia Louise.
Cynthia is beyond the age of marriage. (Gasp, she is 30.). It seems that Cynthia no longer follows societies rules since she is on the shelf. She is, though, the chaperone to her young cousin, Gertrude. Cynthia plans on making Gertie the perfect match for the Duke.
When Cynthia offers her help to find Vale (Nottingvale) a bride, emotions become blurred.
Opinion
Yet another winner from Ms. Ridley. Cynthia has just the right mix of spunk and sincerity to make her a fun character. The stick stuck up Vale’s behind makes him a charming challenge. I love the fact that all of these young women come running to Vale’s estate, not for love but for title and he doesn’t find interest in any of them.
This book has a perfect blend of fun and historical propriety. While reading this, I questioned how I would have fared in that time. (I suspect I’m WAY too independent to have fared well.)
I cannot recommend this book, and series, highly enough to fans of historical romances. Ms. Ridley has quickly become one of my “one click” authors. Do yourself a favor and pick up this book.
Many thanks to Net Galley for providing me with an ARC of this book.

In the final book of the series, the Duke of Nottingvale is holding a Christmastide house party, which he hopes will gain him a bride. He seeks a blue-blooded debutante who is as respectable as he is, but he finds the inveterate spinster and unapologetic hoyden Miss Cynthia Louise Finch, all too appealing. Cynthia instead has plans for her younger cousin to be a match for the Duke, but instead, she finds herself attracted to him.
Cynthia Louise was a delightful character who was always pushing the boundaries on what a young lady should do. Her decision to do what made her happy, and not necessarily the right thing to do, was refreshing. The dialogue between Cynthia Louise and Alex was entertaining and very witty, making Alex seem more relaxed than the role had made him turn into. I found it delightful to see his playfulness, only when Cynthia Louise and he were together.
A great book to finish an well developed series, that was always enjoyable to read. I look forward to another great series by this talented author.
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Marlowe Castle - December 1814

Alexander Borland, the seventh Duke of Nottingvale’s annual Christmas house party will also be a bride hunt. He has decided to marry one of his guests and is seeking a blue-blooded debutante with a background similar to his own.

Miss Cynthia Louise Finch, 30, is a spinster and a hoyden. She has always enjoyed participating in things that are considered to be not so ladylike, but it is what she likes to do and she doesn’t care what others think.

Cynthia Louise has attended the duke’s Christmas party for years and this year she is escorting her cousin, Lady Gertrude (Gertie), 18, to the party and hopes the duke will select the shy, young woman. Cynthia Louise has always had a soft spot in her heart for the duke, but knows that they would not be a good match.

Alexander strives to make everything perfect for his guests and loves following rules. Ah, but Cynthia Louise is all for breaking the rules.

The more Cynthia Louise instigates fun events, the more intrigued by her Alexander is. That’s when he decides to join her on some of her outings and has a ball. But when she is injured on an outing, Alexander realizes how much she means to him. Will he decide to make Cynthia Louise his bride?

This is a really cute book and I loved both Cynthia Louise and Alexander. Gertie is also a special character. I hope the author writes a story about her as well. Don’t miss this sweet, clean, romance. You will love it!

Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

This book is a sweet and fun Christmas read. Alexander and Cynthia Louise are opposites. Alexander lives to follow the rules of society and Cynthia lives only by her own. Alexander is looking for the perfect duchess and Cynthia is definitely not duchess material. The love that begins to grow between them is inconvenient and makes for a delightful and heartwarming story. I enjoy the characters and can't wait for Gertie's story.

I received an ARC from NetGalley via the author; this is my honest review.
-I loved Miss Finch! Like most of the other ladies in the series, she was special. She abide to her own rules, which were basically anything contrary to all of society's rules.
-Nottingvale, on the other hand, practiced ALL of them, without fault. Well, except when he was with Cynthia Louise! What fun!
-I loved Dr. Quinney too. He's down to earth, no-nonsense kind of guy. Was he appalled by what he saw and heard? Nope, he was mostly delighted.
-Of course Miss Finch doesn't like the Duke with his "absurdly handsome face and touchably tousled soft brown hair". Of course not.
-It never occurred to me that hosts went beyond just providing roof and food: "Windows with morning light for the early risers. Snorers grouped as far as possible from light sleepers. Extra..." Wow. Just wow.
-When the party closed with a boulanger at 3 am, I had to Google it. Found a video. This is a very boring dance; I'm surprised Cynthia Louise didn't just fall asleep on the pianoforte! I couldn't find the lyrics for Soldiers Goes A-Wenching, which is too bad ...
-Two unexpected low: 1. Cynthia Louise wasn't dressed properly for the last waltz of the season (I wanted her to stand out from all the other pretty debutantes). 2. Usually we get at least one racy scene. We only got incredible kisses that were "melting, searing deliciousness".

I read this ARC for an honest review
All thoughts and opinions are mine

This is part of a series and I have read one or two of them through Netgalley which I am really appreciative of

I love Erica Ridley's book and this is another belter.

Although part of a series, I don't feel I've missed anything by not having read all of them

Loved the characters and story - couldn't put this down and read in one sitting

Loved it !!

Cynthia Louise is on the shelf. Her thin thread to the ton is due to her aunt’s marriage. At the age of thirty, she has become a chaperone. When invited to the annual holiday house party at The Duke of Nottingvale’s estate, she decides to bring her cousin along to see if she might be the perfect duchess. While Nottingvale makes her pulse race whenever he comes into view, Cynthia Louise attempts to keep her composure.

Nottingvale is all about rules. After inheriting the dukedom at a very early age, he had to do everything perfectly for he seemed to have a huge fear of failure. Selecting his duchess was no exception. Cynthia Louise tortured him with a devilish attraction. He knows he can’t have her, but that doesn’t stop the longing for her to warm his bed.

I loved Cynthia Louise from the first page. She has learned how to have fun and live life to the fullest while walking the line between acceptance and scandal. I understood Nottingvale’s actions and I loved how we see him open up and let his heart soar. We don’t see that very often in historical romance, so it was an exciting change to read his thoughts from beginning to end.

While this series is complete, I know Ridley is not slowing down any time soon. I loved this story and this series. I know it will be included on my December reading list for years to come.

I received Forever Your Duke for free. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Thank you to Erica Ridley and NetGalley for the chance to read an advance copy of this book!

FOREVER YOUR DUKE is the last of the 12 Dukes of Christmas series, and the only reason I'm not sad about that is that I've actually only read the last couple books so I have a bunch more of this delightful series to enjoy. While there are references to the stories in DAWN WITH A DUKE, ONE NIGHT WITH A DUKE, and TEN DAYS WITH A DUKE, I think this can stand well on its own, though you will definitely get hooked into the premises of the other books and want to read them immediately.

All the books in this series are novellas, but I wished this one had been longer as it is a culmination of the series AND would work well with our heroine who is A Lot and could absolutely command a epic story of her adventures. As I mentioned, I have only read 25% of this series so I don't think I've met Cynthia before, and maybe she's been developed in previous books, but I wanted more and more -- the references to all her crazy shenanigans were enticing but I wished we'd gotten more on the page and that we'd had more time to build the relationship between her and Alexander. The flip from "I need someone completely respectable" to "wow she's so crazy and amazing maybe I want that" had a little bit of manic pixie dream girl to me, where I wanted more emotional development. The final reason I wish this book had been longer was that this was a kisses-only romance and I prefer my romances steamier -- plus it would have been VERY interesting to see how the wild child / straitlaced dynamic translated into intimate scenes...(that might be steamier than Erica Ridley's style!). (Side note -- #10 and #12 in the series were kisses-only while #9 and #11 had...encounters. I'll be interested to see if this pattern of odd and even entries plays out when I go back to finish the series!)

Ultimately this is a very enjoyable and silly romance, just like the other novellas in this series, even if I wished this one was super-sized. I particularly loved the friendship and contrast between Cynthia and her cousin Gertie. Of the two, I'm much more a Gertie ("Thank you for the waltz. I'm going to drink three glasses of wine and spend the rest of the night playing ball with my puppy") than a Cynthia (Gertie says people talk about her like she's a cautionary tale; Cynthia quips "I prefer 'folk legend'") but, like Gertie, I can live vicariously through Cynthia's whirlwind approach to life.

In the last book in The 12 Dukes of Christmas series, set in Cressmouth where Christmas is a year-round event, Miss Cynthia Louise Finch finds herself in trouble once again. Ostensibly meant to be chaperoning her shy cousin, Cynthia Louise takes every opportunity to slip away from the party to meet and socialise with her friends in Cressmouth. The Duke of Nottingvale has determined to choose a bride during his Christmas house party, but thoughts of the unsuitable Miss Finch keep intruding. Unable to avoid her, the Duke is enticed into joining Cynthia Louise in her adventures and gets more excitement than he anticipated. This is a well-written, lighthearted romance that kept me entertained and chuckling, all the way through. I received a copy of this novel as a gift and this is my honest and voluntary review.

This is the final book in the series and I have read them all. I will be so sad to say goodbye to the town of Christmas. Each book became my favourite and this one is no different. It was an amazing and loving finish to a fantastic series. Each book can be read alone but it was lovely to follow the journey of each couple. This couple was amazing, the spinster who didn’t can what society thought of her and the duke who was obsessed with being perfect. This love story is about seeing the best in each other and realizing that life is only lived once and need to make the best of it, not conform to what society expects. This book was pure romance with no sex. I received this book as an ARC and freely give my review.

I volunteered to read an ARC copy of this book and it didn't disappoint. It was a lovely festive book in which a straight laced Duke finds himself falling for a woman who does anything she wants rules and polite society be damned. This fun unlikely match has me laughing, ooing and aahing throughout the entire book. This book was very well written and I absolutely loved it. I look forward to reading more from this author!

This charming Regency romance is the twelfth and final book in the 12 Dukes of Christmas series by one of my favorite romance authors, Erica Ridley. While the stories interconnect, each book focuses on one couple and can be enjoyed on its own. They’re all fun though, and I highly recommend the entire series.

I loved these characters so much! Cynthia Louise just wants to be loved and accepted as the feisty, adventurous woman she is, and it’s easy to root for her in all of her zany antics. Alexander, Duke of Nottingvale, is determined to be the perfect duke for the sake of his family. He’s such a sweet person, it’s painful to watch him give up his own happiness to do the things he thinks are expected of him.

There aren’t many surprises here, but it is so much fun to watch these two fall in love and find their happy ending. This is a light, undemanding read, perfect as a quick escape. Unlike other books in this series, this is clean and suitable for a wide audience.

I recommend this book, and the entire series, for fans of Regency romance.

I was provided an ARC through NetGalley that I volunteered to review.

It is always a little bit catnip like for me to read a blurb describing a woman in an historical romance who has no real inclination towards marriage. To read of one who also throws all societal norms out of the window too, sounded delightful.

I have to admit, for a novella, I thought parts of this story were just dragged on too much. I wanted them to get on with it - the point had been made several times. Cynthia and the Duke wanted each other, neither wanted to admit it to society and both were happy to make the other miserable in order to look better to everyone except themselves.

I got so frustrated I actually skipped to a part I thought everything would have been resolved and it was JUST at that point and then abruptly ended.

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

In the twelfth and final installment to the '12 Dukes of Christmas' series, the Duke of Nottingvale hosts his annual Christmastide party. Only this year, he also uses it as a time to find a bride. With many eligible ladies roaming around him for several weeks, it should be the perfect time for him to become acquainted with them and potentially find a connection with someone. However, it is the chaperone of one his prospects who he can't help but keep an eye on. Miss Cynthia Louise Finch has a reputation for being a wild spinster, and others tend to look down on her. Despite his reservations, the duke realizes that he can't stay away from Cynthia Louise and decides to make his own choices about who to love, rather than listen to those around him who insist he seek out anyone other than her.

Forever Your Duke is a sweet, wholesome story that made my heart flutter. The characters and plot were entertaining, and I loved Cynthia Louise's sarcasm and the freedom she embraced, not caring about what others thought of her. Alexander, the duke, was charming and kind, and watching him finally stand up for himself and go after what he wanted made me realize that he was worthy of Cynthia's love. I did think that the plot was a bit rushed between the two characters, and the chemistry between them was adequate but nothing that made me feel passionate about their relationship. Overall though, this was a lighthearted read that was quick and enjoyable!

A huge thank you to NetGalley and WebMotion for providing an ARC of Forever Your Duke!

The strait laced Duke of Nottingvale is on the hunt for a bride of impeccable standards that not only society would find no faults, but his mother would nod her approval. He is using his annual Christmastide party to find this paragon of virtue.

Cynthia Louise Finch gains an invite as companion to her niece who must wed or her father who is a Duke will marry her to a man forty years older than her young nineteen years! Cynthia is praying that she can entice the Duke to look at her niece as a contender. However, there is a slight glitch in this plan, Cynthia Louise has amorous feelings for the Duke. She could never be a prospect in this hunt for a Bride because she is a individualist who loves to defy the set societal boundaries for ladies.

The author takes you on a journey of laughter and thoughts of society strictures of past life and today! Choices we all make and Erica Ridley has done it with a expressive writing style that will keep you turning the pages till the very end! An unputdownable book!

I definitely would recommend this book!

I received an advanced copy from NetGalley and these are my willingly given thoughts and opinions.

Forever Your Duke, which is to be published tomorrow, is the last part of the 12 Dukes of Christmas-series. And it really is the perfect ending to the series.

All the books in the series are set in this little town called Cressmouth (or „Christmas“), and all the stories intertwine. You can read them as stand-alones, but to appreciate the cleverness, you need to read at least three… or five… or all 13 (yes, 13, because there is a prequel called Making Merry… 😉).

Out of all the strong heroines, Miss Cynthia Louise Finch was definately my favourite one. Completely independant, I-don´t-care-about-your-rules attitude…

I don’t want to give too much away about this lovely story, because, well, once you start it, the end seems obvious. But the ride there is wonderful. And that, to me, is often the main attraction in a book.

So if you´re in the mood for some light, period romance, and like your heroines with a bit of an attitude, check out Erica Ridley´s books.

Such a cute novella.

Forever Your Duke is the story of the Duke of Nottingvale (Belle's brother) and Cynthia Louise Finch (a woman with 2 first names so you know hijinks are sure to follow). Cynthia Louise is a spinster and now an established chaperone whose duty is to marry off her young cousin - an adorable Gertie to the Duke. What follows next is obvious but was honestly super adorable.

I have really enjoyed the other books in this series and this was no different. I have been impressed by how much emotion and sincere emotions that Erica manages to pack into these books. I enjoyed seeing Alexander and Cynthia Louise fall in love so much and although he acts as an ass, he does redeem himself with a swoony scene in the end.

It was also fun to see familiar characters. Hopefully we see more of Max and Gertie soon.

The final book in the 12 Dukes of Christmas Series, Forever Your Duke is short and simply gorgeous! The basic theme of the story is to follow your heart inspite of Duty. This is a quick read which I thoroughly enjoyed.

Set in a time when women have to be proper and behave a certain way, Miss Cynthia Louise Finch is exactly the opposite. Now declared a spinster according to the general public, she has chosen to be the way she chooses and to ignore the expected conventions. Charged with trying to pair her cousin with the Duke of Nottingvale, she ends up in even more trouble than she expected having caught his attention. all hell breaks lose as the story progresses, with Cynthia Louise attending the parties at the Duke's house as well as all the events the village has to offer.

Cynthia is a ray of sunshine and a ball of energy. I like how she interacts with her cousin with love and tenderness and they share a mutual respect. The story is on point, focusing on how Cynthia and the Duke navigate their way around each other, where Cynthia even gets a chance to push the Duke out of his comfort zone and spend some time with her in the village. All things considered, this definitely has the makings of a scandal!

A love Christmas time romance read, this book is wonderful for a quick break from a busy day with a nice mug of coffee or hot chocolate!

Miss Cynthia Louise Finch is an enigma. Six years ago after spending six years trying to live by society rules and not getting one offer, not even an offer to dance. So she decided not to live by any rules, just to have fun and live life. Alexander, The Duke of Nottingvale lives strictly by the rules. His belief is that if he doesn't act like the duke he is, things will fall apart. It doesn't matter what he wants personally, only what the rules tell him. They are two of the most opposite people in Cressmouth. However, when opposites attract, it can cause an explosion. Although Cynthia Louise is attending tbe Duke's annual party, not for the first time, this year his mother has made it known he will choose a bride. Cynthia Louise wants him to choose her shy, but perfect cousin, Gertie. As Cynthia Louise encourages Alexander to have some fun, and that the world won't stop if he does. He just has to convince himself that she would never due as his duchess. This last entry (boo hoo!) into the 12 Dukes of Christmas wraps up the series nicely. The only thing that would be better would be one more story to update and wrap up all of the dukes lives, maybe a year after. Please, please, pretty please Erica Ridley!! I am not ready to give up the dukes just yet.

What a fabulous finale to the 12 Dukes of Christmas. This has got to be one of my favourite stories in the collection. In this case, opposites really do attract as you have the stoic Duke of Nottingvale trying to be as perfect as possible and “Inveterate spinster and unapologetic hoyden Miss Cynthia Louise Finch”. These two characters play off of each other so nicely and definitely find themselves in some interesting situations and amusing conversations. I especially enjoyed their interaction after Cynthia Louise is injured where the conversation included Nottingvale telling Cynthia “I will kill you if you die,”. This is a definite must read for anyone who has read any of the stories in this series