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
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.
NEVER SAY DUKE Erica Ridley is book Four in the 12 Dukes of Christmas Series. This is the story of Virginia Underwood and Theodore O’Hanlon. I have read the previous books, but feel you can make this as standalone book if you wish to do so.
Theodore is a war hero recovering from his injuries in the little town of Christmas, but more importantly he is a Viscount. Theodore when off to war without his father’s permission so that has put a strain of their relationship. But looking to recover in Christmas and be fully back 100% before facing his father and the women he is to marry. Virginia has anxiety especially in social functions or crowds, her family isn’t excepting of her issues. So she has ended up in the little town of Christmas where she fits in perfect. Virginia loves to take in strays and help them, so it was a normal fit for her when her cat found Theodore. Theodore was hurt and need her care but the more they were together, the more their feeling grew. But can she fit into his world and would he even break his promises he made to this other women? Enjoyed their story…loved the funny scene!
I do love this series, each new book bringing a different couple together.
This time is Virginia’s, the shy and kind rescuer of any wounded strays in Christmas town. Life has been harsh for a young woman who suffers probably from a a form of Asperger’s syndrome, why she pains to be among crowd and dislikes loud noises. But has in her a raw talent she trained to rescue and heal, preferably from the animal kind.
Theodore is in hiding, licking his wounds, bad memories from the war before taking his place in Haute Society. He just never intended to fall for the peculiar nurse he found himself paired with, when she settled she was the one to help him.
To this duet, there is a third counterpart, Duke the cat, Virginia’s non official assistant.
It was a lovely story of a double healing and also finding who you really are and accept it.
It was a clean romance for those who had read Erica Ridley previous works.
A 4 stars rate raised to 4.5 stars because of the hissing and scratching Duke.
I loved Virginia Underwood from her first appearance in this delightful series and I’m insanely pleased with her story. She gets the perfect imperfect soulmate in Theo, the wounded war hero.
Virginia’s way of speaking in quotes and her unique insights into the animals and people surrounding her make her an incredibly fascinating and endearing heroine. She’s quite the enigmatic friend in the first books in the series and it was wonderful to see that veil of mystery lifted and to get to know her better. I can’t explain without spoiling the story, but my heart broke for this strong, resourceful character and I so admire the author for her delicate touch with regards to Virginia’s differences ,and how she wove them into the story, all while keeping in mind the realistic (and horrific) drawbacks of that time.
Theo is very pragmatic and dutiful and so determined to be stoically strong… always. It was a lot of fun to see him interact with Virginia and her cat Duke, as well as with Swinton, the butler, who was an absolute hoot. The dutiful son part had me a bit worried, but luckily love turned out to be the more powerful emotion. Theo and Virginia both have emotional scars, apart from Theo’s physical scars, and the way they accept each other and care for one another, in their own way, was inspiring.
No doubt about it, this is my favorite Erica Ridley title so far! But I’ve thought that before, and then out comes her next book…
Never Say Duke is the fourth book in the 12 Dukes of Christmas series, but can be enjoyed as a stand alone. Theo is considered a war hero, but all he can see is his scars and flaws. Traveling to Christmas to heal before going to London to claim his betrothed, he wishes only for peace and to be alone, but soon Virginia and Duke throw wrenches into his plan. Virginia loves to help strays, as she’s one herself, but she’s unprepared for how much her heart desires more, especially with Theo. Can this unlikely duo realize what’s right in front of them and fight for their love?
Oh. My. Goodness. This is by far my most favorite book I’ve ever read from Ms. Ridley! Theo and Virginia stoke my heart literally from page one, and I laughed with them, cried a little, and felt my heart soar as theirs learned love and acceptance! Theo knew only his responsibilities, his flaws from his injuries, and had no light in his life until Virginia and Duke, her cat, invaded his home. Virginia had some truly terrible things happen to her, but I loved how pure her heart remained and how much she was willing to do to bring comfort and joy to Theo. I absolutely loved them together! I loved their trials, their pains, but I loved how they could face anything as long as they were together! This book was beautifully romantic, full of healing inner and outer hurts, facing your fears, and finding the most important thing you possibly can – love!
I loved having this chance to finally get to know Virginia better. Her roll in the previous books had left me thinking she was a bit of an odd duck. And, while she isn’t the typical Regency woman, all her cryptic comments and actions now make much more sense. She’s been hiding so much strength, passion, and a heartbreaking vulnerability. Theodore is every inch the strong, silent, noble man – not just a nobleman. A war hero who deeply values his honor, he’s a little at a loss when he’s sidelined by his injuries and Virginia forces him to accept her help as his nursemaid. (And that of Duke, her temperamental cat with more personality than this book can hold.) I loved this pair together. Watching them open up to one another liquified my gooey marshmallow heart.
I received a complimentary advanced copy of this book from the author through NetGalley.
She’s at her strongest when helping the weakest. He needs her to help him heal. She needs his hope to help her survive. What began as an inconvenience could be a gift unlike any other. Never Say Duke is a wondrous tale of second chances. Ridley casts a spell that is unbreakable in it’s magic and irresistibly fabulous romance. A showstopper with the heart of a champion.
Just when I think I have read the best book in this series, another one comes along that seems even better! Of course it is my favorite trope of the wounded hero who needs to find love and happiness. A cottage, a black cat and a town names Christmas finds Major Theodore, Viscount Ormondton, arriving in the town to stay in his friend’s cottage and lay low. He has to recover from his mental and physical wounds from the war before he can return to society and take his position.
But who should find him but a cat named Duke and then to follow his owner, lovely Virginia Underwood who lives in the town. Virginia has her own past and wounds to deal with but she has a wonderful nurturing nature that immediately draws her to Theodore to help him heal.
As they get to know each other, truths are revealed about her background which just touch the heart. There are many twists and turns as these two find out about each other and it seems impossible for them to be together. Can they find their happy ending?
As all of the other stories in this series, there was humor, a zany cat and two wonderful characters that will reach out to you from the pages!!
Okay, I know this series is only part way through but this is my favorite book in this series so far. Virginia and Theodore are lost characters who find companionship and trust in each other. I admit to laughing out loud at the Duke’s antics and Theodore’s surliness with him. A fantastic story for everyone to read and realize we are all different and that we must find happiness for ourselves.
I received a complimentary copy from the author and NetGalley.
“Never Say Duke” by Erica Ridley
Another great, entertaining, fun, romp in the Regency town of Christmas. Can you guess that I loved this story? I do love sweet clean regency romance with characters who grow into the people they were always meant to be.
Oh, I probably should share that I was lucky enough to get to read an ARC of this story…
Poor Virginia has always been different. In this day and age she would probably be diagnosed as autistic. In her time she is sent to an asylum. She escapes and ends up in Christmas. Theo is a war hero who has been injured goes to Christmas to heal and doesn’t want anyone to know he is there. Virginia swirls into his life to help him recover. He falls in love with the whimsical Virginia but he must first end his betrothal to another. I received a complimentary copy and I am giving a review voluntarily.
A Sweetly Engrossing Tale.
Virginia I guess falls somewhere on the autism spectrum. Her family abandoned her due to her social awkwardness but years later she has managed to make a life for herself despite them. She is an unusual woman and has a talent for healing broken animals, such as Duke the cat, who thinks he’s a dog, and a partridge she has named Dancer. When Duke’s antics lead her to discovering an injured man, she uses her talents to heal him and in the process they fall in love. I loved this story and how all the loose ends were neatly tied up in the last chapters.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
So far, this series has not disappointed! Theodore is hiding out in Christmas to recover from his war wounds. Virginia has escaped her life by living in Christmas. This is the story of them both learning to face their fears and learn to live life which they do while falling in love. I loved Duke, the cat. His high-jinks were funny throughout the book. Swinton, the Duke of Azureford’s butler stole the show for me! Thank you for the advanced copy. This is a series that I will be sad when it ends!
Never Say Duke is another heartwarming read in Erica Ridley’s 12 Dukes of Christmas series. This is book 4 set in the village of Cressmouth, where Christmas is celebrated all year round. I received an ARC from the author and offer this voluntary and unbiased review.
Viscount Ormondton, Theodore O’Hanlon, is a wounded war hero who secludes himself at his friend, the Duke of Azureford’s cottage in Cressmouth, so that he may recover from his injuries. Virginia Underwood, a supporting character in previous works in the series, takes delight in rescuing and healing stray animals. She doesn’t do well in social situations. Virginia meets Theo when she goes inside the cottage to rescue her cat, Duke, who went inside through an opened window. Though Theo is grumpy and irascible with her, Virginia is undeterred in coming on a daily basis to aid in his recovery.
In many respects, the background histories of each of them were on parallel paths. Theo wanted to be useful. His father would not let him help in maintaining or doing things for the benefit of the estate so he went off to war where he could serve a purpose. Virginia’s parents were harsher with her. As she was different from most young misses of the time, she was barred from doing almost everything. She wanted to be accepted for who she was, not rejected for who she was not, so she was pushed away.
I loved how the romance between Theo and Virginia slowly blossomed. Theo innately understood Virginia and why she talked and acted the way she did. He made her feel like she mattered, which she had never felt before.
This is a standalone work and not necessary to read the previous offerings in the series. It is a lovely, sweet, heartwarming romance and I highly recommend it. Worth 4 ½ stars.
I love this delightfully written series. The characters are endearing and the plots make captivating reading. I actually read a PRE-ARC beta copy of this book, so the final story might change for publication. This is my unbiased and voluntary review.
Theodore O’Hanlon, Major Viscount Ormondton, heir to a marquessate, was wounded in battle and has come to the tiny village of Cressmouth, otherwise known as Christmas, at the invitation of his friend the Duke of Azureford, to heal. Little did he know that he would be visited by Miss Virginia Underwood and her cat Duke. Virginia has always suffered from social anxiety, but since coming to Christmas has taught herself to face her fears at least with animals and situations, but is still awkward around people. Nevertheless, when Duke gets into Azureford’s cottage and she meets Theo, she is determined to nurse him back to health, as she has learned to do with the animals that she has rescued. As she helps him heal, they both develop a tender for each other, but his father had made an arrangement with another wealthy peer, to marry him to Lady Beatrice on the day she was born. Both Theo and Virginia want to be recognized for themselves and to be useful. Will Theo allow his father to dictate his future or will he realize his own worth and can Virginia risk rejection again? Small spoiler- the only duke in this story is the cat.
I really enjoyed this story of Virginia who has hidden herself away in Christmas to avoid crowds and Theodore who is hiding there because of his wounds and doesn’t want any one to see him. However Virginia shows up daily to help him heal physically and they soon discover the special things about each other and then point them out to the other one so they can heal emotionally.
A surprising story of healing from war injury and feeling set up in a very far village.
Witty and funny moments…
New events that will change life and bring force and surprises.
A book to all that love clean and sweet Regency romance.
I received an ARC and this is my honest and voluntary review.