A feel good, opposites attract romance between a grumpy hero and an indomitable heroine, from a New York Times bestselling author: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 … love. Not when a future with him would mean returning to the 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.
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
Are there really 12 dukes in the village of Cressmouth aka Christmas? Well, there may be but not all may be of the humankind. The first three books in this series were wonderful, full of humor, quirky characters along side of some absolutely adorable ones. This fourth book is much the same, but even better if that is possible. As much as I loved the characters in the previous books, Virginia and Theo quickly became my favorites. Both are very vulnerable, hiding out in Christmas. It was a very lucky day when Virginia’s cat, Duke, snuck into Theo`s room. In Christmas to heal from war wounds before returning to London and his family, he was in need of someone to push him. Virginia turned out to be that someone. How will they deal with each other? What about that crazy cat? And why should you not say duke around him? Just what is so terrible in Virginia’s past that she is hiding away? The answers are in Never Say Duke. A real delight to read. Looking forward to book five.
Virginia was ousted from society due to her anxiety issues and now lives in Cressmouth (Christmas town).
She collects strays and her latest stray is a viscount.
Theodore “Theo” is a viscount wounded in the war.
But his plan is to marry and return to society.
Can they heal each other’s wounds?
Never Say Duke proved to be another adorable installment of the 12 Dukes of Christmas by Erica Ridley and without a doubt is my new favorite of the series.
I have adored Virginia throughout the series and was pleased to see her get a chance at her own happily ever after. Struggling with large crowds, loud noises, and the intricacies of social interactions, Virginia spends much of her time avoiding extended interactions with the other residents and tourists of Christmas. Theo has just returned from the war, suffering from debilitating injuries. Determined not to return to London until fully healed, he chooses to convalesce at a good friend’s cottage in the village of Christmas. Virginia, a resident of Christmas, takes in injured strays and nursing them back to health. When she meets Theo, she decides to nurse him back to health. Theo initially rejects Virginia’s expertise but soon she and her quirks woo Theo. Watching their relationship bloom was adorable and I am hoping that the rearrangement of the library is noticed by the Duke of Azureford and that he will give the reaction I’m hoping for.
Never Say Duke is a quick, cozy romance with a cast of lovable secondary characters. Theo will forever be on my list of book boyfriends. His adoration and complete acceptance of Virginia is swoon-worthy. I am looking forward to the next story coming out of the village of Christmas.
**I received an advanced copy through Netgalley; all opinions are my own.
An emotionally heart-wrenching story of the misunderstood, the abandoned and the unloved. Our heroine, Miss Virginia Underwood because she is deemed to have an odd eccentric personality, she is told she is unfit for society and is cast aside to an asylum. (heavy sigh) I cannot imagine what that must have felt like. To be so unloved by parents and tossed away as if one did not matter. While reading this my heart went out to Virginia and her sweet gentle ways. She was always trying to learn how to fit in. She just wanted to be “normal”. (whatever that means) This book touched my soul. Our hero, Theodore O’Hanlon, Major Viscount Ormondton is a military man who was stationed in France to fight the war against Bonaparte. His face and leg were injured. One side of his face was disfigured and his knee was so broken that it was impossible to be set correctly. Theodore lived in the shadow of a domineering father who expected him to put duty above all else. He just wanted to be accepted for himself and valued, to be helpful, to be useful. He was also feeling dejected by the injuries to his face. He believed he was to ugly to look upon and that others would cringe in fear looking at him. At first, when Virginia and Theodore met, they semm not have very much in common. But as you read the story it reveals the pain and sorrow of the similarities between them. This is an excellent book and I highly recommend it. I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review.
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.