Yes, Virginia, there is a Viscount… 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.
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Erica Ridley’s newest regency romance series features twelve delightful laugh-out-loud romps… and plenty of delicious dukes!
The 12 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
Get your Duke today!more
Highly entertaining and engaging romance that had me very invested in this journey and would not let go… loved this sweetly sexy passion. Great reading.
What an absolutely amazing and heartfelt story this is! Theodore is a wounded war hero hiding out in a small village called “Christmas” and there he meets the delightfully open and funny Virginia who barrels her way into his life and decides to be his nurse and care for him as she does all the strays that she finds. Their story will make you smile, laugh, cry, swoon….and fall in love with Duke…the cat! I can’t say enough how much I enjoyed reading this book!!
I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in return for an honest review.
I received a complimentary advanced copy of this book from the author through NetGalley.The fourth book in the 12 Dukes of Christmas series a book that had me smiling as I read a well written story that held my interest throughout. Both Miss Virginia Underwood and Theodore O’Hanlon, Viscount Ormondton deserve happiness. I recommend this story.
sweet
Never Say Duke book 4 by Erica Ridley in the 12 Dukes of Christmas Series. This is a marvelous story. Each needing the other to heal from the wounds they have incurred. Along the way they fall in love. The characters are great even the “Duke” the cat. My free opinion. Thanks.
After being badly injured in the war against Napoleon, Theodore O’Hanlon, Viscount Ormondton, has come to the village of Cressmouth (nicknamed Christmas) to recuperate in his friend’s vacation cottage. The major is confined to a wheelchair with a damaged knee and bandaged face, hiding out from society and his overbearing father, a marquess, who disapproves of his only son and heir’s behavior in going off to fight and expects him to wed the woman the marquess has chosen for him. Miss Virginia Underwood has never been able to pass up an injured animal in need of care and determines that she must care for Theo as well, despite his surly attitude and lack of cooperation.
I enjoyed the development of this story and the main characters’ relationship. I appreciated that Theo was decisive and there was none of the back and forth drama that’s so common in the genre and so irritating to read. In the previous installments of this series Virginia has been one of my least favorite secondary characters, as her habit of speaking in vague metaphors annoyed me, but that has been toned down some in this book and she has a tragic backstory and relatable social awkwardness that makes her likeable. This book wasn’t steamy at all, unlike its predecessors, but I find that, because of the storyline itself, this is my favorite of the series thus far; plus no cheesy puns in this one, which could be good or bad depending on your perspective. Either way, it’s a fun, quick read.
I received a complimentary ARC via NetGalley. Thank you! All thoughts and opinions are my own.
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.
Cute
What I liked:
The writing style
The characters
Duke
Part of a series: 12 Dukes of Christmas
Standalone
HEA
Epilogue
I look forward to reading the other books in this series.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC from NetGalley.
Virginia Underwood loves to help others and when she comes across Theodore O’ Hanlon she just knows he needs her help even if he protest a bit to much. Theodore dosen’t want help he just wants to recover in the quite of the country whille recovering from his wounds that he received in the war. Even though they don’t get along well at first do to Theodore protesting Virgine eventually gets him to open up. They develop feelings for each other they will have to get past her fear of the ton and his impending marriage one arranged by his father. And in a town full of Christmas cheer they may just get there wish. I was allowed to read and advance copy of this book and this is my honest review
A beauty and the beast type romance, this novella is sweet, humorous and entertaining. Having met Virginia in previous books in this series, I wondered how this gentle woman’s quirky nature would evolve. Despite her fear of noise and crowds, she is nevertheless a determined personality, especially when it comes to rescuing strays. Theo, on the other hand, is equally determined not to be rescued but Virginia’s determination and her sly ally break through his solid wall of resistance. I enjoyed the humour and interaction between Theo and Virginia, but Duke added his own flavour to the story. This story is well written, clean and can be read by most age groups. Despite the fact that it is part of a series, it is nevertheless a standalone and comes to a delightfully happy ending. I received a copy of this book as a gift and this is my honest and voluntary review.
A wounded soldier returns to England only wanting to hide till his wounds heal. A young lady makes it her mission to help him heal in unconventional ways. As each day passes their attraction grows. A cat named Duke and lots of ice cream contribute to healing them both. Only their identities remain a secret. Once they are revealed will it make difference? A charming love story that with squeeze your heart. A keeper. Given an ARC for an honest review.
This was a fun book to read in the 12 Dukes of Christmas series. It was great to see Virginia in her own story, I love series because you get to see some of the same characters again.
I enjoyed this book because Virginia is so strong and says what she thinks, she doesn’t play games and hide her emotions. And being that way helped Theo open up and heal. The chemistry between the two of them has you rooting for them from the start. And of course, Duke the cat is the perfect addition to the story!
I received an advanced copy so I could volunteer my honest opinion about the book. I recommend it, and I recommend all the books in the series, so far.
This is hilariously funny, heartbreaking, sweet and romantic. Theodore is gruff, sarcastic, charming and sweet. Virginia is bold, determined, caring, generous and vulnerable. Theodore was seriously injured during a battle and sent home, but he didn’t want to go to London until he was healed, so his friend, the Duke of Azureford, let him stay at his house in Christmas. Virginia lives in Christmas because her parents left her in a madhouse and she escaped, when she got to Christmas she decided to stay because everyone accepted her. One day while walking her cat, Duke, the cat jumped into an open window at the Duke’s home. So Virginia went to get him and found Theodore, half bandaged, sitting in his wheeled chair. She immediately took charge of him, which he didn’t appreciate, and went to see him every day to help him build up his strength so that he could walk again. As they get to know each other, Theodore is incensed by the way her parents have treated her, so he takes it upon himself to build up her self-esteem, and falls in love. Their interactions are funny, sweet and entertaining. I cannot recommend this series enough, it’s brilliant, every book is better than the last. They have intriguing storylines and brilliant and charming characters.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. This is my honest and voluntary opinion of it.
This is a well written love story about a young woman who does meet her parents expectations in the marriage mart and is placed in an asylum and forgotten. After three years she escapes to the village of Christmas where she encounters Theo, a young Viscount, who has been badly injured in the war in France. The story tells of her helping in his recovery and their falling in love. There is a lot that happens before they have their HEA and the story is sad at times especially when she feels as if she is disposable and unworthy. I would highly recommend this book as a great read and is appropriate for any age group. Duke, the cat, plays an important and comical role throughout the entire book.
Witty, page-turning historical romance! Thoroughly enjoyed Mr. T and Virginia as well as the word play involved! My favorite book of the series so far.
Voluntarily read ARC for honest review.
This is the 4th book in the 12 Dukes of Christmas and I have to wonder, can they get any better. Am absolutely loving this series. Each book I read as soon as I get them and read them in one sitting. The emotion and feeling that Ms Ridley writes into these books is amazing. There is humor, sadness and serious emotional issues that she handles with love and care. This book, two every damaged people find restoration and love helped along by an amazing cat. The secondary characters add to the joy of reading this book. You just can’t go wrong with these books. Even though it is part of a series, it can be read as a stand-alone book. It is sad that the next one won’t be released till Oct 19, so we now wait with baited breath for the next one. This was a clean read and I received it as an ARC.
A WONDERFUL DELIGHT!!!
Wow! Talk about an enlightening storyline. This is one exciting, intriguing, interesting, humorous, heartache, determination and understanding while finding your place in the world. All the twists and turns, unexpected circumstances and unpredictable surprises around every corner make for one outstanding experience. All the drama, fear, uncertainty and suspense grabs your attention from the start. A whirlwind of emotions and events that really rock this little jewel as the tale unfolds. The characters and scenes are written with such realism it really pulls this bad boy together beautifully. Erica did a wonderful job bringing this read to life flawlessly. Fantastic job Erica, thanks for sharing this awesome read with us.
Never Say Duke is the fourth book in the 12 Dukes of Christmas regency romance series. I have to say that so far this one is my favorite. This is a very powerful story of two people who have endured great suffering and found each other through it. I love how Ridley even weaves poetry from an author of that time in her book. Matilda Betham ( 1776-1852) was a poetess and portrait painter in England. Ridley incorporates a book of poetry by Betham into this magical tale.The poem “The Heir” is a focal point.
“Long kept in exile by paternal pride,
He feels no joy beneath this splendid dome;
For, till the elder child of promise died,
He knew a dearer, though a humbler home.”
The hero Theodore O’Hanlon, Major Viscount Ormondton is vulnerable and believable as a character. “She tried not to notice. He was distractingly handsome. The strong jaw, she suspected he shaved himself. Well-defined muscles from riding horses into battle and rolling his chair across thick carpets. He wore no cravat and one leg of his breeches had been sliced to the knee. The state of semi-undress made him seem at once more powerful and more vulnerable.”
I especially liked the heroine’s character Virginia Underwood. She is a mixture of strong independent woman and suffering, fearful miss. Virginia is a complex character. I love one of her lines “Scars aren’t evidence of failure,”she said softly. “They are proof of survival.”
The romance is sweet and not steamy.
I think Ridley has knocked this one out of the park. I am sure I will be reading it again and again.
Theodore O’Hanlon, Major Viscount Ormondton, has come to Cressmouth, the year-round Christmas Town, to recover in anonymity from the horrible wounds he received in the war. Miss Virginia Underwood has lived in the town’s castle since she escaped the asylum she was sent to by her parents when her social anxiety behavior embarrassed them in the Ton. Theo and Virginia meet when she rescues Duke, her cat, who has come into the cottage through an open window. Virginia loves rescuing and helping injured strays. Upon seeing his wounds, she makes him her next patient. Theo doesn’t want help, but she persists. As they spend time together, they become friends and begin to fall in love. Neither believes anything can come from their attraction. His sense of duty to his title and her abject fear of going back into Society stand firmly in the way of a future together. Or do they? It doesn’t seem possible, but this is Christmas.
Never Say Duke is the fourth book in the 12 Dukes of Christmas series. Healing and humor make this a warm sweet story. There are few very nice surprises. The characters are wonderful. Theo is handsome, courageous, honorable, and a little stubborn. Virginia is beautiful inside and out. She is kind and caring, if uncertain and a little fearful. They are both patient and understanding with each other. Swinton, the butler, and Duke, the cat, are the perfect pair to look after our hero and heroine. I loved this story and will try to wait patiently for the next book in this series. I recommend this book and the series to anyone who enjoys a happy story.
Virginia is a delightfully unique heroine!
Theo has sequestered himself at his friend’s remote guest house, hoping to recover from his crippling war wounds in complete privacy. Virginia has devoted her life to rescuing and rehabbing all sorts of wounded animals, and she sees Theo as just another creature needing her help. Neither one expects that they could develop anything more than a nurse/patient relationship, since Theo is expected to marry the woman his father chose years ago, and Virginia knows there’s absolutely no way she’d ever be accepted in Theo’s titled life.
I love how the author described just enough of Virginia’s atypical personality traits to give us an understanding that she’d fall somewhere on the autism spectrum today, without anachronistically giving us an actual label or diagnosis. Theo’s tender insight into how to make her comfortable around him was very sweet, and the epitome of gentlemanly behavior. That he would want to shows just how quickly he fell for her, long before he could even admit it to himself.
It was refreshing to see Virginia completely accepted for who – and h0w – she is in the charming community of Christmas. Even so, the epilogue was even more satisfying and did much to right the wrongs that she had endured. It’s a wonderful romance, and my favorite of this series so far. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.