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.Notorious rake Marcus Raleigh, Marquess of Ripley, is … Ripley, is gracing the gossip pages for a new reason: the rumors he may have murdered his swindling cousin. His quest for answers regarding his cousin’s death leads him to an incomparable self-declared spinster, and he is—for the first time—beguiled beyond reason. Neither is what the other wants, and yet their intense mutual infatuation is inescapable.
After abandoning her philandering betrothed at the altar, Phoebe Lennox fled from London only to return an heiress who refuses to follow the ton’s rules. She won’t risk a relationship of any kind—until she meets the scandalous Marquess of Ripley. Swept into his seductive embrace, her resolve falters in the face of a pleasure she never anticipated. But when the truth about Marcus and the murder come to light, Phoebe could lose everything she holds dear, including a love for all time.
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A Duke is Never Enough
The Spitfire Society Series #2
Darcy Burke
https://www.facebook.com/DarcyBurkeFans/
Release date 02/25/2020
Publisher Darcy Burke Publishing
Blurb :
Notorious rake Marcus Raleigh, Marquess of Ripley, is gracing the gossip pages for a new reason: the rumors he may have murdered his swindling cousin. His quest for answers regarding his cousin’s death leads him to an incomparable self-declared spinster, and he is—for the first time—beguiled beyond reason. Neither is what the other wants, and yet their intense mutual infatuation is inescapable.
After abandoning her philandering betrothed at the altar, Phoebe Lennox fled from London only to return an heiress who refuses to follow the ton’s rules. She won’t risk a relationship of any kind—until she meets the scandalous Marquess of Ripley. Swept into his seductive embrace, her resolve falters in the face of a pleasure she never anticipated. But when the truth about Marcus and the murder come to light, Phoebe could lose everything she holds dear, including a love for all time.
My review :
Will a determined spinster meets the man who makes her rethink all she knew about rakes …
I was curious about Phoebe since the previous installment. The path she has chosen is very modern and I even wonder how she can fully live it as even after reaching the age of reason, a woman had still no right, not even to manage her own money without a man’s interference.
This said it was a fun and entertains read.
Marcus is far from being the libertine everyone sees in him. He has a heart and despite hiding him, he never let a friend down.
Why he was caught fighting in the open with his swindler of a cousin.
Upon meeting Phoebe, he is intrigued by this woman living nearly as free as a man, and refusing his advance with grace. When they engage in a wager about who will kiss the other first.
He is such a considerate man, listening and never going against his interlocutor’s will. Outside his woo to never marry, he is quite a catch if people might overlook his roguish way.
But society asks for pristine reputation, so he is saved because he is a man.
But Phoebe paid the price of her rebellion, jilting her former betrothed at the altar drove her to the fringe of her circle of acquaintances.
Still she lives a life of exceptional freedom, seeming to be accountable to noone. So once she let go of her own restrictions, she opens herself to new experiences, rather improbable for a woman of her time to enjoy as an unmarried woman.
She is fun and strong, kind and caring but so very in advance for her time ( see the talk about pregnancy prevention )
It is a charming and enjoyable 4.5 stars read with a lovable hero and a determined heroine to set her own pace and path.
I was granted an advance copy by the author, I had long ago preordered mine.
Here is my true and unbiased opinion.
https://www.facebook.com/429830134272830/posts/570005206921988/?d=n
‘Notorious rake Marcus Raleigh, Marquess of Ripley, is gracing the gossip pages for a new reason: the rumors he may have murdered his swindling cousin. His quest for answers regarding his cousin’s death leads him to an incomparable self-declared spinster, and he is—for the first time—beguiled beyond reason. Neither is what the other wants, and yet their intense mutual infatuation is inescapable.
After abandoning her philandering betrothed at the altar, Phoebe Lennox fled from London only to return an heiress who refuses to follow the ton’s rules. She won’t risk a relationship of any kind—until she meets the notorious Marquess of Ripley. Swept into his seductive embrace, her resolve falters in the face of a pleasure she never anticipated. But when the truth about Marcus and the murder come to light, Phoebe could lose everything she holds dear, including a love for all time.’
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4.5 stars, rounded up to 5 stars.
A Duke is Never Enough is the second book in Darcy Burke’s The Spitfire Society series. I have not read the first in the series, Never Have I Ever With a Duke but after reading this book I will definitely be going back to read it. Not only is there romance, there is also a bit of danger and mystery. My favorite kind of book.
When the book starts, Marcus doesn’t come across as the greatest guy. He is fighting to stop his cousin from swindling money out of unsuspecting members of the peerage, but he also comes across as quite a womanizer. I was prepared not to like him very much, but he turned out to be such a great character. He is generous and kind, always taking care of those around him.
Phoebe admittedly had a bit of a modern approach on life for a woman of her time, but there’s nothing wrong with that. A woman with her wealth of funds could forge her own independence and I really liked her for it. Her bravery in jilting her fiancé, establishing her own independence, and going after what she wants earned my respect. Phoebe, like Marcus, also takes care of those around her and is such a great character. They’re so great togther and I really enjoyed reading about them and their HEA.
A Duke is Never Enough is not the first book I have read by Darcy Burke, but it is the first in this series that I’ve read. I will be going back to read the previous book in this series and look forward to the next one in May, A Duke Will Never DoThis is not a clean romance. There are several intimate scenes, but they are well written. I adored reading this book and if you like historical romance, I recommend A Duke is Never Enough to you.
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I would like to thank Darcy Burke Publishing and NetGalley for sharing an eARC of A Duke is Never Enough with me. This is my honest opinion.
Marcus Raleigh, the Marquess of Ripley, has a terrible reputation for being a rake and a libertine. He doesn’t much mind, even if his exploits are a bit exaggerated. His current focus is on finding his despicable cousin, Archibald Drobbit, whom he’s just learned is a duplicitous swindler. Marcus is determined to learn the extent of Drobbit’s crimes and ensure restitution is made, but his attempts at civilized conversation end in a fist fight in a public park. The only bright spot in the whole mess is that Marcus meets a truly beguiling woman and finds himself, for the first time in his life, utterly smitten.
Phoebe Lennox has set herself up as an independent spinster since she jilted her cheating scoundrel of a fiance and inherited a fortune of her own. She won’t risk worsening her reputation for any sort of relationship with a man, but all that changes when she meets the Marquess of Ripley. Their chemistry and connection is undeniable and things rapidly heat up between them, despite the fact that neither expected to ever marry, or have any sort of permanent relationship. But when his cousin is murdered, Marcus becomes the focus of the investigation and any potential for permanency between himself and Phoebe could be dashed when the truth comes out.
For some odd reason, it took a bit for me to get into this one, but I think that was all me and not the book. This was a great read and I really loved Phoebe and Marcus as a couple. She was so mature and sensible and I loved her for it. Marcus was surprising sweet and caring, especially given his awful reputation, and he delivered some very swoonworthy dialogues. This one also had steam by the boatload and I’m here for it. I really can’t wait for Jane and Anthony’s story now; if anyone can write a great reformed rake, it’s certainly Darcy.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.