Page Princess: NEVER SAY DUKE by Erica Ridley

Title: NEVER SAY DUKE

Series: Twelve Dukes of Christmas #4

Author: Erica Ridley

Publisher: WebMotion

Publish Date: 01.05.2019

Category /Genre: Historical Romance

Recommended for: 18+ due to sexual content

Grammar/editing: A – near perfect

Received from: Erica Ridley (as an ARC gifted copy)

Goodreads link: Never Say Duke

Date completed: 01.03.2019

Description from the publisher:

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 would mean returning to 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!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

NEVER SAY DUKE is the fourth book in the Twelve Dukes of Christmas series. Each will stand on its own, but I recommend reading them all and in the order of release.

Virginia has been present in the previous three books, each time poetically providing insightful suggestions or observations that lead to a happier conclusion. For herself, she doesn’t see happiness. She believes herself to be disposable. After all, her own parents said she was. I understand that perception. I’ve been there.

Then her cat, Duke, leads her on a merry chase that ends at the home of the Duke of Azureford’s front step. There, his friend Theo is convalescing his battle wounds. This is the beginning of an unasked-for friendship that could be more… if only Theodore didn’t have responsibilities in London and Virginia didn’t believe she was incapable.

Like a little girl who wrote a letter to the New York Sun, this Virginia needed to also see a newspaper. In the end, a follow up article could have said, “Yes, Virginia, there can be a happily-ever-after for you too. You only have to believe in yourself and accept that he does too.”

I loved this Christmasy story and I’m sad that I will need to wait until October for the next one to be released! Meanwhile, I’ll tell you that the cat, Duke, stole the show (and more than his fair share of ice cream).

One of my favorite bits of this series is how the lyrics from the 12 Days of Christmas are brought into the story. There is a partridge and a pear tree in ONCE UPON A DUKE. The two turtle doves in KISS OF A DUKE are beautifully brought to life as perfume bottles. In WISH UPON A DUKE, three French hens are found in the stars. The fourth book had the four calling birds drawn on cards along with an explanation about how they are actually Cally Birds. I’m looking forward to five golden rings!

Note: While I received this book as a gifted ARC via NetGalley, my opinions are my own and are given freely.

The Twelve Dukes of Christmas series:

1. Once Upon a Duke

2. Kiss of a Duke

3. Wish upon a Duke

4. Never Say Duke

5. Dukes, Actually (coming 10.22.2019)

6. The Duke’s Bride (coming 11.12.2019)

7. The Duke’s Embrace

8. The Duke’s Desire

9. Dawn with a Duke

10. One Night with a Duke