I wanted to like this. I really did. When it comes to historical romances, the premise and the set-up of this book is my favourite - The MC's can meet-cute at a party/gathering and fall in love.

(My favourite so far is I Thee Wed by Amanda Quick and Do You Want to Start A Scandal by Tessa Dare)

The devil, however, is in the details. And as much as I was enjoying the story in the beginning, this just didn't do it for me.

What I liked:
* All 3 stars for the heroine Cynthia Louise. She's such a fresh breath of air. I loved her character.

* Additionally, Gertie was hilarious. You absolutely have to read this book just so you can read her describing herself. I was ROFL-ing so much. Also, Max the puppy was hella cute!

What I didn't like:
* The hero. Alexander was an a-hole to Cynthia Louise. Now I get that their social standing might be different and he is in need for a staid and respectable bauble (as Cynthia states) to be his bride, the fact he was hurting Cynthia Louise was a problem for me. (I had this issue with Slightly Dangerous by Mary Balogh as well).
Maybe a-holish heroes are the rage, but I personally prefer reading about heroes who defend their loves against the world, not someone against whom the lady needs to defend herself from (not physically, of course. But emotionally) I wanted to like him, but I guess my biases made it impossible for me to really do so.

* Cynthia Louise forgave him a bit too easily. What's with not letting the heroes squirm a little, huh? (I may be petty that way)

Final verdict: 3 'gloriously refreshing female character who deserved better' stars. Read it for Cynthia Louise and Gertie.

P.S. this is a part of a series, but I read it as a standalone - which in turn didn't affect the reading experience at all.

***ARC provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review***

This was a fun and delightful Christmas romance.

Cynthia Louise is not at all acceptable. She's nearing 30 and chaperoning her cousin Gertie to a month long house party where the Duke, Alexander, is going to pick a bride. The heroine makes no apologies that she has no desire to conform to what is accepted by society. She beats to her drum and likes it that way. What struck me most was how funny this book was. Cynthia really is quite the character and gets the Duke to come out of his shell.

I understand that this is a series but I have not read any of the other books. This book does fine as a standalone romance.

What I did not like is that it is somewhat of a "clean" romance and a sweet story, with none of the angst of the hero and heroine coming together. It was a sweet read, but not memorable.

This is my honest feedback. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of this book.

This was utterly delightful!

The writing had a more simplistic style than I typically prefer and a few bits were a little repetitive but other than that I loved it!

Cynthia Louise is a marvelous and hilarious character and I absolutely adored her and the way she got Alexander to come out of his shell.

My favorite thing about this book was definitely the humor. Cynthia Louise is hilarious and her cousin Gertie is just as equally, in unintentionally, funny as well. It felt like I wanted to bookmark every other page because something hilarious had just been said or done. This book also had a lot of heart though and I really loved those deeper moments as well.


Overall, I really enjoyed this and I’d highly recommend it, especially if you’re a fan of cheesy Christmas movies. I could definitely see this getting adapted into one in the future!

The 12 Dukes of Christmas comes to an end with Forever Your Duke. Cynthia Louise Finch is a spinster at the ripe old age of 30. Having given up on finding a husband several years ago, she lives her life exactly as she pleases. The Duke of Nottingvale needs a wife that's well-bred and well-mannered, certainly not anyone like Miss Finch. Which is what makes her exactly what he needs.

This is my favorite of all 12 of the books. I absolutely adored Cynthia and her free spirit, she's so witty and fun and by far my favorite character of all the ladies in the series. Of course, I'm a sucker for a slightly grumpy, super-serious MC who needs someone unexpected to soften him up. Forever Your Duke made me want to go find some snow to play in (and I don't even like winter). I love the sweet, simple feel of this entire series, they've all been really great escapes when I've needed it.

Enchanting Grinch-inspired romance!

I've been reading the 12 Dukes of Christmas series right from the start, and I have unequivocally loved every single one. I know I've said it about every one, but this one truly is the best of the bunch.

The author skillfully wove in many nods to the classic Christmas tale, without veering off track from the main plot of finding a bride for the last remaining single duke in Cressmouth. Alexander feels the weight of his title in every decision he makes, and his mother never lets him forget that his life is all about duty. When he's finally forced to confront his future and consider exactly what kind of man he wants to be aside from fulfilling his duty, his heart is right there to point him in the right direction.

Cynthia Louise has been following a duty of her own, as well; one that she is likewise called upon to reexamine in the light of her future options. I loved her carefree, lively attitude and her devotion to her friends and family, but I truly respected her when she was able to look deep into her own motivations to find the freedom that she was seeking.

I love how this author always does such a fabulous job of cutting through her characters' veneer, reaching deep into their hearts for the truths they need to address in order to clear the way for their HEA. The splendid build-up of attraction, chemistry, and longing was exquisitely rendered, and the climactic aftermath of the scene with the archers and Max was breathtaking and downright swoon-worthy. The HEA was everything I could hope for.

Get this book, get the entire series if you haven't already, and settle in for a delightful visit to the beautiful town that celebrates Christmas year-round. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.

I love the series but by this title, I was bored. A Duke with problems and a lady who is not acceptable.

This was a fun Christmas historical romance.

Cynthia-Louise is such an interesting character because she does what pleases her and not what society dictates. She skis, plays billiards, ice races, and is known and loved by all the people in the village. Alexander on the other hand is a staid and proper duke on the lookout for his future spouse. He wants to do his duty and follow all the rules. What could go wrong?

There are several funny exchanges and events in this book. Although, I think toward the end it veered into slapstick territory.

I understand this is a series, but I haven’t read any of the other books in the 12 Dukes of Christmas. This book could easily be read as a standalone.

This is a sweet Christmas romance with some hilarious moments. I recommend it to anyone who likes their historical romance on the wholesome side. 3.5/5

They saved the best for last. I think Forever Your Duke is my favorite of the series. As always, I was happily enchanted and entranced by Erica Ridley's final installment to the 12 Dukes of Christmas series. What a fun way to end the historical holiday cheer-filled romance series.

The rumor is the Duke of Nottingvale's Christmas house party will be doubling as a bride hunt. Alexander is finally heeding his mother's incessant requests that he find a wife and begin his legacy. This year's guest list is filled with winsome blue-blooded debutantes with all the pedigrees and accolades expected in a Duke's bride to be. Miss Cynthia Louise Finch, incorrigible spinster and unapologetic hoyden, is serving as her younger cousin's chaperone to the Duke's house party. She aged out of her seasons long ago and is the exact opposite of what a Duke would want in his Duchess. Having failed at the marriage mart years ago after following all the rules she has decided her life would be better lived if she never followed any of those silly rules ever again. But, as Cynthia Louise is determined to help her cousin land a good and respectable husband, she has set her sites on the most perfect man seeking a wife and help him realize what a catch her cousin is. The only problem is that Cynthia Louise has always had a certain affinity for the handsome Duke. And, said handsome duke can't seem to keep his attention to the proper, respectable ladies of his party but instead the beguiling spinster with a penchant for mischief.

Cynthia-Louise is a super fun character. She snubs her nose at all the ludicrous societal rules and does what she wants. Skiing down slopes? Drinking illegal champagne while playing billiards? Ice racing? You name it, she does it and well. I loved her lust for life. Now, I am also a HUGE fan of gruff, grumpy, stuffy male characters that are taunted, teased, and ensnared into better attitudes. I wouldn't say Alexander was a stuck up prude but more of a vanilla, apple pie, follows all the rules all the time sort. It was a treat to see him work his way out of his shell and live a little.

I really liked Forever Your Duke. I am sad to see the series end but it definitely ended with a story that made me smile. I sort of wish we had an epilogue to catch up with all our couples but.... I'm just happy with all our HEA's living on in perpetuity.

*ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*

Alexander, Duke of Nottingvale, is hosting a Christmastide house party that doubles as a bride hunt. He needs to find a proper duchess and unapologetic hoyden Cynthia Louise Finch simply will not do. But, that doesn't mean he isn't drawn to her.

This is book twelve of the series 12 Dukes of Christmas. It was fine as a stand alone story. This is my first read from this author and, word of warning that it's a clean/sex-free story.

I enjoyed the beginning of the story; it was funny and engaging. But then I felt like the middle dragged. I can usually forgive when language seems too modern or things are unrealistic, but there were things in the last quarter of the book that were distracting and took me out of the story.

* I received an ARC and this is my honest review. #12Dukes #NetGalley

A SWEET AND WORTHY END TO A WONDERFUL SERIES

I'll be honest, I didn't love every book in this series. But these last few have been superb. And this one was certainly worthy of ending the series.

👍 What I Liked 👍

Cynthia: Perhaps one of my favourite heroines in this series! Cynthia was absolutely delightful. I loved how she threw caution to the wind and didn't give a fig about social conventions - except to actively try to digress against them! She was very refreshing.

Alexander: It was nice to finally get Alexander's story, we've been waiting a while for that one! I liked how Alexander was so conscious of his duties as a duke, how much he wanted to please everyone else. And I especially liked how Cynthia made him forget all that. They were definitely opposites and an odd pair, but it totally worked!

👎 What I Disliked 👎

Smut scene: This is just a minor thing, but I am so used to getting a bit of smut with this series. I was really disappointed that this installment... had no smut! 😅

The Duke of Nottingvale is everything that is proper, and Cynthia Louise Finch is everything that is not. The Duke has finally agreed to marry and will choose his bride from among the female guests at his Yuletide party in the village of Cressmouth. At 30, Cynthia Louise is chaperoning her 18 year cousin Lady Gertrude, whilst she is more than attracted to the Duke herself, she knows he will never choose a hoyden like her. But, when he joins her in skipping some of his party’s festivities, will his priorities change? Loved it.
Can be read as a standalone.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from the author and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Everything you could want in a Christmas romance and more! I love the setting, and there was just the right amount of Christmas fun and snow shenanigans. Our “on the shelf” full of personality heroine leaned a little “I’m not like the other girls!” but also was quite honest and since about her feelings. I devoured the book and it was much fun!

Forever Your Duke is the last instalment in Erica Ridley's 12 Dukes of Christmas series. Earlier this month I read the first one and then skipped straight to this after receiving an early copy from the publisher WebMotion through Netgalley.
It is the story of Alexander, Duke of Nottingvale, and his Christmastide party that is doubling as a bride search. In attendance, Cynthia Louise Finch, 30-year-old spinster accompanying her cousin Gertie to vie for the Duke's attention (and avoid her father marrying the 18-year-old off to someone intolerable for land). Cynthia has embraced the freedom that comes with disregarding the rules of polite society. She is bold, fun and chaotic. She is gossiped about and seen as a disgrace which puts her completely out of the bridal race... Or does it?
I really enjoyed that this was an ‘older’ couple, both are 30. The reading experience was a lot of fun, with some great flirty banter and hijinks. It wasn’t a long story but I did feel a few points dragged a little which is why I’m giving it a 3.5. This one was a bit less heavily Christmas themed when compared to Once upon a Duke. Definitely worth picking up if you want a winter romance full of fun and sans steam.

Miss Cynthia Louise Finch has long given up hope of marriage, after 6 seasons of playing by the ton’s rules and no offers of marriage, she decided enough is enough and stopped trying to please the ton. In the years that have followed Cynthia Louise has had fun and in the process is no longer considered “eligible parti”. But that has stopped her from being invited to the Duke of Nottingvale’s annual Christmastide House Party. This year word is out that the duke will be choosing his bride from the invited guests. Cynthia Louise at the ripe old age of 30 will be chaperoning her cousin Lady Gertrude with the hope that Gertie and the duke will make a match.

Alexander Borland, the Duke of Nottingvale is perfect – literally – he follows all the rules, he is a perfect gentleman and host. And regardless of his personal feelings, he will choose the most suitable lady at his house party to be his duchess. And she won’t be the spinster Cynthia Louise – who is fascinating and fun and completely unsuitable. Why with so many perfect choices he shouldn’t even be giving Cynthia Louise any thought at all. But when she offers to help him choose the best possible bride from all the candidates, he jumps at the chance to spend more time with her. But only to find a bride – that isn’t her and maybe to steal a kiss or two and maybe to break a rule or two – but that is it – because no matter how much he likes her – she won’t do – definitely not – because there is not a chance in hell that this imperfect spinster could ever be his perfect match – right?

This was a well written, sweet novella with a not-so-subtle nod to the ‘Grinch that Stole Christmas’. The story is fun with lots of witty banter, naughty ditties, a heroine who has embraced her inner hoyden and a duke that needs to lighten up, a puppy named Max, skiing, arrow injuries, lots of perfect debutantes, a lame proposal, some kissing and finally a very lovely declaration scene followed by the promise of HEA. Since this is the last book in the series, I do wish there had been a more in-depth epilogue set a bit later and catching the reader up with all the “Dukes of Christmas” – but even without that, this was a sweet, low heat romance with very likable characters and happy ending.

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

I want to preface this review by stating that this is the eighth review I have written during the holiday season. Having read more than three times that number of “holiday” themed books during this time, I must say that this is a book that should not be missed. That having been said, let me proceed with my review. SETTING: Dec 1814 . Miss Cynthia Louise Finch, age of thirty, (having failed to capture the attention of a single gentleman during 6 seasons), acts as a chaperone for her cousin Gertie, accompanying her to the Duke of Nottingvale’s Christmas house party. Gertie, who is as shy as Cynthia Louise is adventurous and outgoing, is on notice from her father that she is to make a match before returning home, or she will be exchanged for land and given to a lecherous old man. Cynthia Louise, therefore, is determined to champion Gertie in capturing the Duke’s attention, as well as his hand in marriage, at this party. Meet Duke Nottingvale. Brought up to be the ever ‘proper Paragon that every Duke should be’, never breaks any of society’s rules. At the advanced age of 30, his mother is pressing him to marry, encouraging him to choose from among his house guests for the next duchess. Mix: one irrepressible hoyden (Cynthia Louise) and a Paragon of Society, and one has a reaction not to be missed! CRITIQUE: Storyline- utterly superb! Well-paced and packed with unexpected twists holding the reader’s attention. Character development: characters whose personalities blossom during the story, drawing us ever closer to them. Romance- grows from a spark at the beginning of the story to a blaze at the end. Kisses but otherwise perfect for younger readers. Is there a HEA for our H and h? Absolutely! And the world is a better place for it. I received an advance copy from Net Galley. My review is voluntary and reflects my own opinions.

Spinster Cynthia Louise Finch is helping her cousin Gertie with her first and last season...according to her father, who plans to marry her off to an old man for a piece of land, unless she can get the Duke of Nottingvale to propose.
As much as Cynthia tries to get him interested in Gertie, he is drawn to her instead, much to his and his mother’s dismay.
Over the term of the house party as he begins to see who she really is, he realizes she alone can make him happy, not the proper duchess his mother demands.
Sweet historical with bits of humor and angst.
I requested and received a NetGalley Arc and offer my opinion freely.

Forever Your Duke was an entertaining story by Erica Ridley. I love it when a proper straight laced Duke meets his love match in a fun and improper spinster at a Christmastide house party. It begs for a happily ever after.

I received this book for free from Netgalley. That did not influence this review.

I haven’t read any of Erica Ridley’s historical romances before, but this holiday novella, Forever Your Duke, sounded like fun, and I was in the mood for something lighthearted and holiday themed.

The Duke of Nottingvale owns a vacation home in Cressmouth, a mountain village that celebrates Christmas cheer year round. Its Christmas celebrations are famous, but the duke doesn’t have time to enjoy them. Weighed down by the responsibilities of being a duke, he holds yearly Christmas parties, which he also doesn’t have time to enjoy. This year, he is hosting a party that a bevy of young debutantes will attend, because he has to pick a wife–another duty. The young ladies have been chosen for their breeding, good looks, and suitability to be a duchess. One of the attendees is Lady Gertrude, an eighteen-year-old beauty whose debilitating shyness is her only flaw. She has no particular interest in the duke, but if he doesn’t choose her, her father will marry her off to an old lecher friend who has promised her father a piece of land in exchange.

Gertie is accompanied by a chaperone, her cousin, Miss Cynthia Louise. Cynthia is a thirty-year-old spinster, an orphan raised by her aunt. At her own coming out, twelve years earlier, Cynthia made very little impression on anyone. After six years of trying to attract a mate, playing by society’s rules, Cynthia decided enough was enough. She plays by her own rules now. She lives near Cressmouth and has made friends with the villagers, who call her by her given name. She plays billiards, swears, gambles, goes skiing, and generally has fun. She is not at all what the duke is looking for in a wife. And, although Cynthia is attracted to the duke, her aim is to match him up with her cousin, not win him for herself.

Over the course of a two-week house party, the duke and Cynthia flirt and court and fall in love.

The story is short and sweet. Cynthia is an amusing character and the duke is a nice guy.

Forever Your Duke is the twelfth book in a series: The 12 Dukes of Christmas. That’s probably more Christmas dukes than I need to read, but I may look up a couple more!

I think Ms. Ridley has done wonders for the literary society with this fun and very enjoyable story. Alexander Borland, the Duke of Nottingvale, Has his own cottage at Christmas and throws a party every Yuletide. This year he has decided to choose a bride.
Lady Cynthia Louise Finch is a spinster but she is a lively one. She never sits still. She is climbing mountains, skiing, and playing Billards, for instance. She loves her life except for one thing, as far as the ton goes she is no one and deserves no consideration. She never seemed good enough. She brought her young cousin to Christmas to see if they liked each other, the duke and Gertie.
There is laughter and fun and a lot of people. The characters are so engaging and amusing. When she went skiing at the castle and he joined her and she spent time teaching him how to ski. He loved it. There was so much to do in Christmas, He had never even been in the castle. When he went, he was amazed at how beautiful it was.
There were some things they had trouble admitting to themselves.
I received this ARC from Net Galley. and voluntarily reviewed it.

-- Read this review, and others, on my blog at https://hookedbythatbook.com --

This delightful series concludes with an actual duke this time. Alexander, duke of Nottingvale, is hosting his annual Christmas party in Cressmouth, but this year he is also looking for a bride. His house is besieged by young eligible ladies and their chaperones and Alex is feeling overwhelmed. But he knows his duty, and he is a stickler for the rules. Until Cynthia Louise waltzes in, accompanying her cousin, Gertrude, who is one of the eligible young ladies on display for the duke’s perusal. But Alex only has eyes for Cynthia Louise, the absolutely last person he should consider as his future duchess. She is full of life, passion, wild ideas, and hasn’t yet met a rule that she didn’t break.

Another great story of a love that defies all rules and duties, filled with funny moments and steamy romance. A definite must-read for your Christmas list this year.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with an ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.