Darcy Burke

Slightly overwrought. He could NEVER propose…because he had encouraged another to play with HER nearly a decade ago. OH! The horror!!!!!
No chemistry, no sense. She gets a second chance at a season and throws it away as easily as if she’d been pursuing her pleasures for the past decade, when, in fact, she’s a virgin. Just didn’t track. The pieces might have worked but they were shoved together without credible growth.
Not interested in trying out further books.

UPDATE: Actually, just read “Her Wicked Ways” and WILL try out further books.… (plus d'informations)

The only other DB book I’d read, I gave 2 stars and put her on my “avoid” list. Don’t remember why this particular book ended up in my TBR holds but decided to give it at least a quick skim. To my surprise, I thoroughly enjoyed this story which was not a run-of-the-mill rehash of Regency ballrooms and salons. Instead, deals with trying to stretch your meager resources and slowly overcoming a lifetime of lessons in arrogance. Takes the FMC an absolute age to move past lust into love but the journey was worth it and also rather believable.
Now reading the next book, involving the FMC’s brother. DB is off my bad list.… (plus d'informations)

If the Duke Dares by Darcy Burke
Rogue Rules #1

Nice introduction to a new series by an author I love ~ The Rogue Rules list and there creation along with potential male and female main characters are provided early in the story ~ I want to read all their meet-cutes and romances that will lead to the couples in this series finding their happily ever after.

What I liked:
* Persephone Barclay: older sister, always made to feel “less” by her parents, clever, humorous, caring, kind, strong, protective, independent, impetuous, free spirit, more than she has been told she is
* Acton Loxley, Duke of Wellesbourne: raised by his father, mother left with his sisters when he was young, a rakish-rogue, amiable, friendly, protective, flirtatious, may be ready to settle down, introspective and contemplative as the story progresses
* Pandora Barclay: Persephone’s younger sister, the “pretty” sister, fell in love with the wrong man, has a lot to overcome emotionally, will probably have a book of her own
* Lady Lucinda Barclay-Fiennes: aunt of Persephone and Pandora, widow, wealthy, loving, kind, there for her nieces, doesn’t understand her brother and his wife
* That the pace picked up at about fifty percent as it was a bit slow before that
* That Persephone was willing and able to stand up to Acton, speak her mind, tease him, and state her needs
* The rat incident…and the way Acton foretold a few issues that cropped up
* The way Acton reconnected with his mother and sisters
* Knowing that there are more books to look forward to in the series

What I didn’t like:
* Who and what I was meant not to like
* The obnoxious, mean, clueless, abusive self-centered parents of Persephone and Pandora
* The rake that “ruined” Pandora and thinking about the double standards for men and women in society

Did I enjoy this book? Yes
Would I read more in this series? Yes

Thank you to the author for the ARC – This is my honest review.

3-4 Stars… (plus d'informations)