From a New York Times bestselling author: A forbidden love, opposites attract romp between a meticulously proper duke and an impishly improper spinster in this witty, feel-good romance!This year, the Duke of Nottingvale’s Christmastide house party doubles as a bride hunt. The handsome duke seeks a blue-blooded debutante as respectable as he is, and his parlor is brimming with paragons of … is brimming with paragons of propriety.
Inveterate spinster and unapologetic hoyden Miss Cynthia Louise Finch does not fit the mold. Any mold. Her younger cousin is perfect for the duke! By matchmaking the two, Cynthia will save her favorite cousin from a horrific fate. The only problem? Cynthia has always held a tendre for the duke. And for the first time, she seems to have caught his attention…
The Duke of Nottingvale knows his responsibilities: Duty and decorum above all else. A respectable lord would never sneak away for stolen moments with a fearless, audacious minx he cannot make his duchess. He definitely wouldn’t kiss her. Or fall in love…
Welcome to a heartwarming series of fun Regency romps nestled in a picturesque snow-covered village. After all, nothing heats up a winter night quite like finding oneself in the arms of a duke!
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THE TWELVE DUKES OF CHRISTMAS:
- Once Upon a Duke
- Kiss of a Duke
- Wish Upon a Duke
- Never Say Duke
- Dukes, Actually
- The Duke’s Bride
- The Duke’s Embrace
- The Duke’s Desire
- Dawn with a Duke
- One Night with a Duke
- Ten Days with a Duke
- Forever Your Duke
more
The Duke of Nottingvale is finally choosing a bride. He has very high standards. The future Duchess must be very proper and must never create a scandal. To this end he is having a Christmastide house party. All the young debutants will be invited for his approval. However his plans go awry. Cynthia Louise Finch, a free spirited spinster, arrives as a chaperone for her young cousin. She’s a rebel who causes trouble. I loved the chemistry between Cynthia Louise and the Duke. He may be extremely proper but this hoyden tempts him with her love of adventure. When they’re together sparks fly and he forgets his duty The Duke tries to hide his feelings but he can’t. He’s smitten. This couple is amazing. The story is romantic and the dialogue is so sassy. It makes me smile. Max, the dog, adds unexpected fun with his shenanigans. I knew that a visit to Cressmouth was going to be special. I wasn’t disappointed. Forever Your Duke is a special holiday treat.
I received a copy of this book which I voluntarily read and reviewed. My comments are my honest opinion.
With the 12th book in the 12 Dukes of Christmas series, Erica Ridley has absolutely hit this one out of the park. The exceedingly proper Duke of Nottingvale is hosting a Christmas party, and has let it be known that he intends to select a bride. The guest list is full of eligible young ladies, all of whom would be eminently suitable to be his duchess… and one lady who is entirely unsuitable, but he can’t keep away from.
Cynthia Louise Finch is, at thirty, long past concerning herself what anyone thinks of her. She’s firmly on the shelf and has decided she rather likes it there, since she can do anything she likes without fearing incurring anyone’s disapproval. She does care very much about the welfare of her young cousin Gertrude, however, and plans to matchmake Gertrude with Nottingvale to save Gertrude from a much worse fate as planned by her father.
Cynthia Louise is an absolute delight. She’s whimsical, fearless, and loving. Frankly, the only thing I found incredible was that she didn’t already have hordes of swains throwing themselves at her feet. It was no wonder Nottingvale couldn’t resist her; she must have seemed like a neon rainbow blazing into his dull, grey, orderly world. They were fantastic together.
There were several callbacks to other books in the series, and while it must have been tempting to revisit everyone in this, the last of the 12, Ridley didn’t make that mistake, just sprinkling a few references with a gentle hand. She created a lovely world here in Cressmouth, the village where it’s always Christmas and dukes are around every corner (though not always the kind of duke you expect). I’ve been entirely charmed by it and I’d highly recommend the whole series to anyone looking to lose themselves in the spirit of Christmas… the whole year round.
Five stars for a lovely conclusion to a delightful series.
Disclaimer: I received a review copy of this title via NetGalley.
A triumphant conclusion of a brilliant series
This is a triumphantly written conclusion to what has been a brilliant series.The plot has you gripped and entertained from start to finish. The characters are amazing and have to battle their obstacles to achieve their happy ever afters. This is a delightful book that would be suitable for anybody who loves clean historical romances
After so many books reading about Duke of Nottingvale and his Christmastide house party, we finally his his own story.
Obviously from the position of nobility that Alexander occupied, when looking for a wife, she must have blue blood, like him; be respectable, and be prepared to take on the role of a Duchess.
But the perfect candidate had a not-so-perfect cousin… and that was where his attention was focused.
Miss Cynthia Louise Finch was fearless and did not care about all the conventions of Society.
But for so long she had a crush on the duke…. and now, he was looking for a wife… Would it be so wrong if they had a hot, fast and secret romance?
And would it be kept secret?
4 stars
Madcap adventure and fun follows Cynthia Louise Finch. An unconventional spinster, Cynthia Louise is always ready respond to a bet, a dare and try something new. The matchmaker and chaperone to her family, it’s her job to make her cousin Gertie a Duchess. Alexander, Duke of Nottingvale, is a sticker for following the rules. The plan is to find a Duchess at this year’s Christmastide party. Alexandra invited all these debutants, but the only lady he’s attracted to is Cynthia Louise. He’s never had some so much fun. It will take a compromise from both to make a marriage work. I laughed and laughed and laughed so hard I cried. I think this is my favorite book in the series. Very clever repartee!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book.
“We all eventually die, whether we want to or not. The question is how you want to live.”
Erica Ridley concludes her light-hearted holiday romance series with the Duke of Nottingvale’s Christmastide house party. The Duke has met his match in the feisty take me or leave me spinster Cynthia Louise Finch. Forever Your Duke is a sweet love story with the picturesque backdrop of the Christmas village fans of this series have come to expect. Highly recommend!
**I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book that I received via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own. **
Alexander and Cynthia are the perfect couple but it took a while for it to happen. Alexander was everything a Duke should be and then some, Cynthia was everything that Duchess should never be. Love has the final say and somehow teaches them how to make it work. I truly enjoyed every book of the series and plan to reread them. I received this as an ARC from NetGalley and this is my honest review.
I enjoyed reading this book so much, as it is funny, intelligent, and has a good developing romance. In the first chapter, I was afraid that the duke (Alexander) would turn out to be a stuffed shirt. He was so uptight and perfectionist that he was fiddling with the table arrangements rather than leaving it to his staff. Alexander is being urged by his martinet mother to marry to secure the succession. He has about as much enthusiasm for this task as getting a tooth pulled but feels that it is his duty, and Alexander is all about duty – grim though it may be. This year, his annual Christmas Party will also be a bride hunt for him. Alexander is 30 and his prospective brides are around 18 and … giggly.
Fortunately for Alexander, one of the proper young women present is accompanied by her spinster sister, also aged 30. Miss Cynthia Louise Finch is a young woman who did not ‘take’ during her own seasons. She is tall, bold, and enjoying being her own true, outspoken, unconventional self as a confirmed spinster. This year, she is attending the Christmas party with her extremely shy cousin Gertie, whose obnoxious father is threatening to marry her off to an old man if she doesn’t find a husband very soon – as, at this party. So Cynthia Louise makes a deal with the duke. She will help him find a suitable wife if he in turn will help find her cousin Gertie find a husband to her liking. Alexander has a great deal of power and influence, and they feel that he would be able to persuade Gertie’s father to give Gertie more time to find a suitable spouse.
This is the 12th and last book in the 12 Dukes of Christmas series which all take place in the village of Cressmouth, where Christmas is celebrated all year long. It’s not necessary to have read other books in the series to enjoy this book. I received an advance reading copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. These are my own opinions of the book.
Opposites attract and Miss Cynthia Louise Finch was the day as His Grace Alexander Borland, Duke of Nottingvale was the night. The odd couple. Cynthia Louise is the most fun character I have ever read. She loves life, lives by her own rules and regrets nothing. Well, nothing except falling in love with Alexander. He is holding a Christmastide house party to find a wife and Cynthia Louise does not fit the mold of a ton proper duchess. She is branded a hoyden and some people in society treat her like a disease to be avoided and is disgusting. It use to hurt her but no longer. She has plenty of friends that accept her as she is, she does what she likes, she is free and happy. What more could she ask for? Nothing was going right for Alexander. His sister Belle is betrothed to his partner, a tailor and he and his mother feel it has brought scandal to their door. He must make an appropriate match to overshadow any negative scandal of his sister. The house party was delayed for two weeks due to the snow and now he had only two weeks to find a bride. When Cynthia Louise first arrived with her cousin Gertie her plan was to match her with Nottingvale. But Gertie had a requirement of her own. She insisted Cynthia Louise help Nottingvale evaluate each debutante for suitability and if in the end she found that Gertie was the one, she would then marry him. Well, the opportunity to get to know Alexander had opened but it was Alexander who became fascinated with Cynthia Louise and it did not stop. She tried to encourage Alexander to separate the duty of a duke and having a life as a person. As a result, he tried to play billiards and had fun; he tried to ski and felt terrified and exhilarated. He was falling for Cynthia Louise but knew he could never marry her. They tried to deny their attraction to each other but ended up with passionate kisses day after day. His mother was appalled he was neglecting his house guest to spend time with that horrible woman. Alexander was developing a backbone and was starting to show it. When Cynthia Louise was seriously injured, he realized he loved her, did not want to live without her but knew his duty would not permit him to marry her. He insulted her with his proposal of marriage. Told her she had to change to meet societies standards. She said no and slammed the door in his face. I could not blame her. If he loved her, he would have to accept her as she was. But Gertie even at eighteen gave Cynthia Louise some sage advice about how she no different than Alexander was. They were more alike than she realized. This opened Cynthia Louise’s eyes but what to do now. In the end Alexander made his decision who to marry. A dynamic, page turning amusing story. I loved it. A must read.
I received an Advanced Readers Copy of this book via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Thank you, Erica Ridley, for a super wonderful series, each one better than the last! This Christmas castle and its village will not be soon forgotten! (Especially as I am currently enjoying Making Merry, thank you for this story, too.) Cynthia Louise was a scream as she escorted her ‘baby’ cousin around to get her into position to accept a proposal from the Duke of Nottingvale! Thank Goodness, Vale left his house party to see if he was lucky enough to find where Miss Finch had escaped his home to party for the afternoon and was honored to be asked to call her by Cynthia, even more intimate an address than her close friends enjoyed. So fun to visit our French blacksmith family, be with Nottingvale when Miss Harper calls to borrow clothes for her lover, and when he asks his tailor partner (soon to be brother-in-law) to alter them. I could go on and on, instead just let me say I highly recommend this book and the whole series!
Forever Your Duke by Erica Ridley
12 Dukes of Christmas #12
Opposites attract…or so they say…and so they did in this marvelous conclusion to a twelve story series of Christmas stories.
What I liked:
* Cressmouth – small town in the mountains where it is Christmas year-round – also a great place for couples to fall in love and find their happily ever afters.
* Miss Cynthia Louise Finch: a spinster, hoyden, rule breaker, and so much more. She definitely deserved her HEA ending.
* Alexander Borland, Duke of Nottingvale: a rule follower, stickler, good man who puts duty before anything else…until he doesn’t.
* Gertie: Cynthia Louise’s young cousin who should have a book of her own someday. She’s shy-ish, a musician, young, debutante with a pushy father eager to be rid of her. She was able to speak and did some more than I thought she would.
* Seeing some of the characters from previous books in the series.
* The slow coming together of the main couple
* The growth of both Cynthia Louise and Nottingvale
What I didn’t like:
* Being reminded of the expectations society had for women and also the rigid rules for men and women of the era
Did I enjoy this book? Yes
Would I read more by this author? Yes
Thank you to the author for the ARC – This is my honest review.
4 Stars
Forever Your Duke is finally the Duke of Nottingvale’s tale. Since his sister met and fell in love with his tailor, the Duke of Nottingvale is on a mission to make a respectable marriage and save his family’s standing and reputation. The lucky lady will be one of the acceptable debutantes art his Christmas party. Hoyden and firmly on the shelf spinster, Cynthia Louise Finch is determined to save her cousin Gertrude from a miserable arranged marriage and she only has a couple of weeks and the Duke’s party seems the answer. While singing Gertrude’s praises, Cynthia Louise agrees to help the Duke find a match (even though she finds him yummy and irresistible her highly unacceptable self). But fate has other plans as the wildcat who society rejected teaches the Duke how to have fun and loosen up. Cynthia Louise is one of my favorite characters in historical romance I have ever read. Spurning societal expectations, she is a fun, non conventional lead who has decided to enjoy and make the most of the life she has all the while this reader is cheering her on. How could the stuffy Duke do anything but fall for the brightest ray of sunshine to grace his path? The reader is left with nothing but to swoon over the Duke who drops his chains of expectations and gets his girl. The HEA is totally expected for a feel good dose of warm, sweet Christmas joy and a delectable ending to The Twelve Dukes of Christmas series. My voluntary, unbiased review is based upon a review copy from NetGalley.
A return to the delightful Cressmouth village, where you never know what will happen, but can be assured it will be newsworthy and wonderful! Plus it is Christmastide all year round! Yes I have been ready to go since the first visit!
Take one thirty year old hoyden spinster, Cynthia and her younger, shy, cousin Gertie, who is suppose to catch the eye of one Duke of Nottingvale and what do you have? An adventure full of witty dialogue, an unexpected attraction and a fun filled Christmas house party that is enchanting!
Alexander was a stiff “Life would be easier if everyone followed rules. Rules let him know what to do and what to expect.” Yep that is how he had lived his life. Now he needed a “proper bride.” As he was greeting the guest he saw “Miss Cynthia Louise Finch. His heart stopped, then raced faster. Miss Finch was the opposite of proper. She was a firework in a box of candles….she made him feel as though he stood dizzyingly close to a statue of a Grecian goddess come to life.”
Thus the party begins!! So sad this is the end of this series! I have adored every story and with Erica’s witty writing and creative characters, I can only look forward to her next book!
4.5
I love this series!
I always enjoy revisiting Cressmouth.
What I liked:
The writing style
The characters
Part of a series: 12 Dukes of Christmas
Standalone
HEA
Epilogue
I look forward to reading more from this author.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC.
Alexander, Duke of Nottingvale, has an obligation to choose a proper young lady as his bride. To that end, he holds a Christmas house party. But all the debutantes seem the same to him—perfect and colorless in their white dresses. The only woman who catches his eye is a thirty-year-old spinster acting as chaperone for her cousin.
No one would accuse Cynthia Louise Finch of being a proper young lady. Not anymore. After six failed seasons, she’s done with the constrictions of high society. She’s the life of the party, doing as she pleases, spreading fun wherever she goes.
Of all the assembled ladies, she’s the worst possible choice as the next Duchess of Nottingvale. But she’s the only woman Alexander has ever wanted.
This charming, witty holiday novel is a fitting end to the TWELVE DUKES OF CHRISTMAS series. It’s sweet and heart-warming with wonderful characters. There are cameos by a few of the characters from previous books in the series, but the series can be read in any order. If you’re looking for a light, fun romance this holiday season, this book is a good choice.
Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received.
I am voluntarily posting an honest review after reading an advance reader copy of this story.
Forever Your Duke, by Erica Ridley, is the ending to the 12 Dukes Of Christmas series. Available at booksellers on 12-18-2020, I found the final story to be enchanting. I’ve followed the series since Duke 1 and Nottingvale is a man whos story I’ve waited impatiently on. The Duke that all the Cressmouth stories lead to is wound tighter than a watch spring. Alexanders mother and late father did a great job of turning their son into an automaton. He walks, talks, and eats but shows no emotion. He needs Cynthia Louise to knock some sense into him. She’s embraced her spinsterhood a little too much. In flaunting every rule of society she’s trapped herself in just another pigeonhole. It’s wonderful to see them slowly merge into what becomes a whole, rounded person. Truly enjoyable.
OMG this book is sooo amazing!!! I loved it!!! I’ve become a huge fan of Erica Ridley this year!!
Alexander, the Duke of Nottingvale, is hosting a Christmastide house party and hunting for the perfect bride. She should be a blue-blooded debutante as respectable as he is, and his parlor is brimming with paragons of propriety.
Miss Cynthia Louise Finch does not fit the mold. She is a spinster and unapologetic hoyden. Her younger cousin is perfect for the duke! By matchmaking the two, Cynthia will save her favorite cousin from a horrific fate. But Cynthia has always held a tendre for the duke and she can´t stop trying to make him relax and enjoy life a bit more.
The Duke of Nottingvale is all about duty and decorum, but he can´t seem to stop following Cynthia Louise around and falling for her charm and her amazing kisses.
Is he going to choose a life of proper decorum or the woman who changed his life showing him that there’s a lot more than duty in this world?
Alexander is sweet, so proper and the perfect gentleman. Cynthia Louise has suffered a lot trying to be what society expected and fail. Two worlds apart, but love is a chance for happiness and middle ground for these two, that are going to learn a lot about life during their time together.
There’s a lot of kissing, a dog that keeps doing mischief, a sweet shy cousin who’s an amazing pianist and a dragon mum who is not happy to find that both her children fell for common people.
I highly recommend this story. It’s quite sort, witty, with great dialogs and beautiful characters.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
A wonderful regency romp! Delightful love story, full of humor, holiday cheer, and quirky characters. I loved the skiing and the historical tidbits about it. This is the first time I’ve seen skiing mentioned in a regency romance. Cynthia Louise is an exceptional character! So outspoken and willing to try new things. I love how positive her outlook is on life. She is perfect for Nottingvale. He’s spent so many years holding himself to impossible standards, living without any hope or expectation of true happiness. It was so heartwarming when he finally broke free from his mental shackles and gave into his feelings for Cynthia Louise.
Such fun!
Cindy Lou, oops, Cynthia Louise Finch (who lives in Houville) is a force of nature at 30. She’s a spinster, firmly on the shelf with a larger than life personality. Her job is to get her young cousin Gert married to the duke.
It’s finally Alexander, the Duke of Nottinvale’s turn. He’s the very proper duke who lives by the rules. Like marrying the perfect debutante. Not Cynthia.
Oh, this duke is just asking for a good rumple.
Recommend.
Erica Ridley has absolutely ruined me for any other period romances! Forever Your Duke is a wonderful finale to the 12 Dukes of Christmas series. The Duke of Nottingvale and Cynthia Louise Finch are completely wrong for each other. Just ask anyone. He’s perfect and she’s – Not. So why does his mind wander and his skin tingle when she comes near?
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader copy of this book.