From the USA Today bestselling author of The Untouchables series comes your next Regency obsession: The Spitfire Society… Meet the smart, independent women who’ve decided they don’t need Society’s rules, their families’ expectations, or, most importantly, a husband. But just because they don’t need a man doesn’t mean they might not want one.
After failing on the Marriage Mart, Jane Pemberton … Pemberton has two choices: submit to her parents’ edict to marry their boring neighbor or become a self-declared spinster and take up residence in the official headquarters of the Spitfire Society. It’s really no choice at all, and Jane is eager to embrace her newfound independence. She soon finds an unconscious viscount on her doorstep and nurses him back to health. When he offers to compensate her, she requests payment in the form of private instruction of a scandalous and intimate kind.
Having spiraled into a self-destructive abyss following the murder of his parents, Anthony, Viscount Colton, physically recovers under the care of an alluring spitfire. But it is her charm and flirtatiousness that soothes his soul and arouses his desire—until an extortion scheme forces him to face the sins of his past. Now, to save the woman who’s given him everything he lost and more, he’ll have to pay the ultimate price: his heart.
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“A Duke Will Never Do (The Spitfire Society series book 3) by Darcy Burke
Yes, I loved this story. Yes, I was one of the lucky ones to receive an ARC of this story from the author. Yes, it is book three in the series. Yes, it can be read as a stand-alone. AND, yes, if this is the first book in the series you read. I am pretty sure you will want to read the two prior stories, too. Yes, there is spice for those of you who relish the spicy parts, but those pages are easily by-passed by those who prefer to just read the love and the intrigue without the spice. Will you figure out who the villain of the piece is before the unmasking? Happy Reading ! !
This is my favorite book so far of The Spitfire Society. Ms. Burke has written an entertaining and uplifting story of loss, grief, pain and redemption. When Anthony Colton ends up on Miss Jane Pemberton’s doorstep severely beaten, Jane has him brought inside and installed in one of the guest chambers in her home. Having declared herself a spinster, she enjoys the quiet and solitude of her home, but Anthony begins to awaken her desire for something more. She nurses him back to health and he can’t thank her enough. As a “payment” she wants him to make love to her. It was a great premise to the journey these two lonely people travel to their happily ever after. Looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
I enjoyed reading this romance between Jane and Anthony. Quick paced and not a boring moment, especially when the kittens come on the scene.
However, I could not shut out the question of how Jane can afford to live independently, albeit rent-free in her friends home. Her family is hostile to her and there is no mention of any independent income.
Series: The Spitfire Society #3
Publication Date: 5/19/20
Number of Pages: 280
I have wanted to see Anthony’s story since we first met him in The Duke of Distraction from the Untouchables series. He just begged to have a warm, loving, and very caring lady to heal his heart and soul, and he certainly found her in Jane. The story is interesting and moves at a steady pace, but if you are a stickler for period correctness, the entire Spitfire premise is very unlikely. Still, I have enjoyed the stories and am looking forward to future stories (in another series) with several of the characters we meet in this book.
Anthony Colton became a Viscount about a year before – and he’s been inside a bottle since then. His parents were murdered by a highwayman, and it is his fault. He’s to blame for their deaths and therefore he is a worthless sod who doesn’t deserve to ever forget it. He wallows in the guilt and the bottle and sees no reason to crawl out of either. Being sober means he’d have to feel – and he certainly doesn’t want that. Being drunk day-after-day and in one brawl after another has become his normal existence. So, how did he end up having his wounds tended by an angel?
Jane Pemberton just didn’t take during her seasons and her parents blamed her for it. She was never nice enough or demure enough or … well, just never enough. Her parents harangued her about it all the time and were trying to force her to marry a neighbor she just couldn’t abide. So, she declared herself a spinster and moved to the home of her friend Phoebe, who had just recently married (A Duke Is Never Enough), and moved to her husband’s home. Jane sometimes rethinks her decision, but always decides she is ‘alone but not lonely’. Yet, sometimes she is lonely and she feels that way more and more since her friends have married and are deliriously happy. Then, as she is leaving he house one morning, she stumbles upon this bloody pulp of a human crumpled in her doorway. He’s almost unrecognizable and nothing will keep her from nursing him back to health.
Jane and Anthony are perfect for each other. Jane soothes the savage beast in Anthony and helps him to realize that there is still hope in the world and Anthony gives Jane the courage to confront her family issues. When a crisis occurs and Jane thinks Anthony has abandoned her, she summons the courage to confront her issues head-on – only to learn Anthony is there lending her strength. It was a lovely, lovely romance and I truly came to like and admire both Anthony and Jane.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
This is one of the best redemption stories I have ever read. Anthony is so down on himself for what he perceives (and probably rightly so) is a wrong that he thinks he could have prevented. You might remember Anthony from a previous story – he was not a very likeable person. Well, don’t tell Jane that because she is a genuinely good person who holds Anthony up and boosts his self-confidence. I love their interactions. Sweet and sexy. The scene at the end shows Anthony as the gentleman that he truly strives to be. Loved it!
I received a complimentary copy from the author.
Riddled with guilt and self-loathing over the death of his parents, Anthony drinks to numb himself. After a fight leaves him bruised and broken on our heroine’s doorstep, he spends the week recovering at her house and for once is sober as she has instructed her staff not to serve him strong spirits. Whilst not in an alcoholic haze, Anthony starts to connect and feel once more but his guilt is not easily assuaged.
A lovely story about forgiving yourself, leaving darkness behind and moving forward into the future. The rather heavy and tragic backstory is handled with a light touch that makes it an engaging read.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from the author. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
In my opinion, this is one of the best stories that Darcy Burke has written!! Between Jane, the spinster, and Anthony, the broken and guilt ridden rake, you will become completely enmeshed in their story.
Jane has decided to declare herself a spinster, even though she still dreams of marriage and children but due to a false rumor about her, she knows there is no hope. When she finds Anthony on her doorstep, horribly beaten up and drunk, she takes care of him and the heat between them practically burns the pages:) She wants him to take her virginity but he has such a broken soul, he does everything not to ruin her. Little does he know how stubborn Jane can be, though!!
Very well written and all the steamy and passionate scenes are in good taste as well. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and the epilogue ties everything up beautifully. Darcy Burke is always a “must read” for me and this book just proves why I love her books!!
I received an ARC of this book and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
Miss Jane Pemberton has simply had enough. She’s absolutely not going to be pushed into marriage by her parents with a man she doesn’t want and she’s decided she desires to be independent. That’s all well and good for a young woman today, but in 1819 England, a very different story. Jane, not being timid or deterred, declares herself a “spinster”, moves out of her parents’ home, and into the home of her friend who once dared a similar move. A very brave thing to do, but not particularly socially acceptable, Jane joins a group of philanthropic young women who call themselves the “Spitfire Society “. But is this enough to be happy and satisfied the remainder of her life?
One morning, Anthony, Viscount Colton, dropped by. Quite literally dropped onto Jane’s doorstep, was found there in terrible shape, and he needed her help. He’d been badly beaten and needed a doctor. Anthony offered to pay Jane, who cared for him while he recovered from his injuries, but she decided it’s not money she wanted. Being a single woman for the rest of her days, Jane realized she may be missing out on some of those pleasures of the flesh married women are allowed to enjoy. Jane instead offers Anthony a rather seductive proposition as an alternative. But will he take it?
It was that day, and through this assistance, that the two began to develop a rapport, as they had mutual friends and time to acquaint themselves with one another. Thus begins their romance, the young woman, who might not make the best spinster and the man who has honor, somewhere in his troubled person.
Their heated attraction begins slowly and is timed perfectly, their banter is a delight, but it’s not just about excitement. There is depth and emotion to their story as both have histories that affect their present, and could tarnish any future either could hope to enjoy. Anthony especially must deal with his demons.
This is a wonderful story which I highly recommend. A stand-alone, and the third in a series about self sufficient young women and what rewards they’ve reaped from their choices, intended or not. Anthony, Lord Colton would most definitely be classified as a ‘reward’.
I read this as an arc which affects my review in no way at all. My opinions are my own.
A Duke Will Never Do
The Untouchables: The Spitfire Society Series #3
Darcy Burke
https://www.facebook.com/DarcyBurkeFans/
Release date 05/19/2020
Publisher Darcy Burke Publishing
Blurb :
Meet the smart, independent women who’ve decided they don’t need Society’s rules, their families’ expectations, or, most importantly, a husband. But just because they don’t need a man doesn’t mean they might not want one.
After failing on the Marriage Mart, Jane Pemberton has two choices: submit to her parents’ edict to marry their boring neighbor or become a self-declared spinster and take up residence in the official headquarters of the Spitfire Society. It’s really no choice at all, and Jane is eager to embrace her newfound independence. She soon finds an unconscious viscount on her doorstep and nurses him back to health. When he offers to compensate her, she requests payment in the form of private instruction of a scandalous and intimate kind.
Having spiraled into a self-destructive abyss following the murder of his parents, Anthony, Viscount Colton, physically recovers under the care of an alluring spitfire. But it is her charm and flirtatiousness that soothes his soul and arouses his desire—until an extortion scheme forces him to face the sins of his past. Now, to save the woman who’s given him everything he lost and more, he’ll have to pay the ultimate price: his heart.
My review :
Will his guilt be the end of their burgeoning relationship…
I have witnessed Colton spiraling down since the murder of his parents, his remorses weighting heavily on his conscience. Why he is in auto-destruction mode, engaging in damaging excesses.
And while his presence on Jane’s entry steps will remain a mystery, it might be the act of his salvation.
He might have stoped gambling but he drinks to oblivion, and he seems to have gone to far this time. Yet, his recovery is not one of a few hours of sleep. Between his self-reproach and his need of stiff drinks to numb his mind, he will need a greater impulse than friendship to clean his slate.
Jane is a newly auto proclaimed spinster, preferring her social ruin to living in the fringes of the yin’s marriage mart.
I was all along with Jane, I understood her anger, her need to right in some way the wrong done. Even she would never have been able to repair the damages and get back her lost years and her shattered dreams, she needed closure for the feelings to have be unworthy.
What a wonderful soul Jane is, she is sweet, caring but also forthright, not afraid to ask or even follow her heart. And running after Anthony is not an easy task when he is so devoted at his self destruction. Jane’s strength is in her devotion to those she cares for, refusing to let go when she senses they need her.
Mrs Darcy Burke with this last book in this series, close the page of Anthony’s downfall in a very satisfying manner and opens the door to many more tales.
5 stars
I was granted an advance copy by the author, here is my true and unbiased opinion.
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A Duke Will Never Do is a spectacular historical romance by Darcy Burke. Ms. Burke has provided readers with a well-written book populated with a fantastic cast of characters. Jane has failed to find a husband so her parents are pressuring her to marry the man they’ve chosen for her. What’s a gal to do? Jane declared herself a spinster and moved into the home of her friend that has just married and moved into her husband’s home. Anthony doesn’t know how he ended up beaten and bloody on Jane’s doorstep. He finds he enjoys being cared for by Jane during his recovery. Jane and Anthony’s story is packed with drama, humor, sexy bits, action and suspense. This book was a pleasure to read and I look forward to reading more from Darcy Burke soon. A Duke Will Never Do is book 3 of The Spitfire Society Series but can easily be read as a standalone. This is a complete book, not a cliff-hanger.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book that I received from Bookfunnel. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
This wonderful story is part of the Spitfire Society. If you have been following the stories this one is Jane Pemberton and Anthony, Viscount Colton. Anthony’s sister Sara is a good friend of Jane. The girls use to watch Anthony with other women and talk about how handsome he was. That was until the tragic murder of both of their parents. Since then Anthony has been on a destructive course to kill himself or at less drink himself to death. Drinking , chasing women, ruining himself in front of friends and the ton. His Sister is now married to his best friend and former rake Felix the Duke of Ware.
Jane is a very nice, pleasant woman who likes to help others. We have meet her in the first two books. I wasn’t sure how she was going to be in a book of her own. WOW did she surprise me, she has a backbone and has learned from her first season that was unsuccessful. Because of that season Jane has decided to live her life as she wants refusing to marry an old man her parents picked for her.
She has moved into Lennox’s House after her friend Phoebe married. Leaving her parents home and now on her own with help from Phoebe. She wants to carry on the good works of the Spitfire Society.
She finds Anthony on her doorstep, badly beaten and drunk. She takes him in and nurses him to health. As he starts to heal they become close and learn a lot about the other.
While she does not want him to pay for saving him instead she wants him to show her all she
will be missing since she plans never to marry. He is against the idea, but can’t stop thinking about
the intimate things he could teach her. The wit and flirting between these two is wonderful.
As their affair heats up so does problems around them.
Mystery about her first season, his parents death, blackmail, to name a few.
Saying any thing more will give too much of the story away.
This is a great story of second chances, reform, understand and what it means to not be alone.
I hope you will give it a chance. Its best to read the books in order but each can be read as stand alone.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Five-Plus Stars Story!
Jane Penberton never for one moment dreamed that going out for a walk before a meeting of the Spitfire Society would change her life forever.
She finds Anthony Colton, beaten up and unconscious on her doorstep and doesn’t realize that nursing him back to health would be the best mistake she has ever made.
She is quite level headed and comes to terms with various situations quite easily and is able to find quick and simple solutions to most challenges in life whether hers or another’s.
He tends to run away from his problems and attempts to drink them away.
Their union is explosive and slowly they find compromises which suit their situation and fall in love.
Oh, what a beautiful and romantic story this is. Darcy Burke just seems to write better and better with each book, conjuring up wonderful characters and amazing stories.
This is a five-plus stars book that will warm the cockles of your heart.
I read an Advance Reader Copy (ARC) of the ebook and my voluntary and unbiased review is recorded above.