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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Nicely done rendition of the rake and spinster trope. The characters were great, and Anthony’s slow and faltering journey to recovery was heartfelt and real. We got just enough of a glimpse at several side characters to be left wanting more.
For the next book of the Spitfire Society series, we are introduced to Jane Pemberton, who didn’t want to be forced to marry, as was the wish of her parents – especially after a few unsuccessful Seasons -, chose to declare herself a spinster and left her family house, living in Phoebe Lennox’ house, who was now Marchioness of Ripley.
One morning, when going out for a walk in the park, Jane was faced with a passed out and injured man at her door. In fact, he was also very drunk, and when he woke up, he couldn’t remember how he got to Phoebe’s door.
Anthony, Viscount Colton, Sarah’s brother, was a person who carried too heavy a burden. His parents had died for a highwayman when they were driving to country home, after Anthony had failed to fulfill his heir responsibilities and disappointed his father by always being in debt (and his father had said he would not pay his son’s debts. ). He started drinking too much to forget his guilty and sadness.
Jane felt sorry for the poor man, but she saw a unique opportunity there.
Since she didn’t think about getting married, why abstain herself from experiencing the pleasures of lust? So Viscount was chosen to take her V-card.
But in the meantime, Anthony would have to get rid of a blackmailer, while Jane would help her younger sister – forced by her parents to marry – to get rid of an unwanted husband.
The story each one is very interesting, but I confess I didn’t connect with the couple.
4 stars
When Anthony, Viscount Colton appeared in previous Spitfire Society books, I thought he had potential. He had racked up innumerable gambling debts, even borrowing from a money changer, whom he was not able to pay back. He was supposed to be in the carriage when it was attacked and his parents killed. He has spent the past year wallowing in guilt knowing he was responsible for his beloved parents’ death. Fortunately, he stopped gambling, but unfortunately he has pretty much spend the year soused. He ends up on Jane Pemberton’s doorstep, having been beatened to a pulp. Even though his face is messed up, Jane recognizes him. He spends the next week at Jane’s spinster home recovering and getting sober. Jane who has her own issues is able to see through Anthony’s outer facade to the worthy man inside. Can he love up to the vision Jane has of him? Who is trying to extort money from him? Will Jane’s parent be able to forgive her for wanting to be independent? Since I rather liked Jane and Anthony in the previous books, I was happy their story became the final book in this series. I do believe both loved up to their potential. I am excited about Ms. Burke’s next series since the characters were introduced in this book. Very interesting! I received this ARC eBook from the author and publisher for an honest review. These are my opinions.
A Duke Will Never Do is the third and last book in The Spitfire Society. The books can be read as stand-alone, but the series is so good that you want to read them all anyway. It is based on three independent women who have decided they don’t want to live by Society’s rules. Jane Pemberton refuses to marry the man her parents want her to. Instead she decides to become a spinster and moves out to live by herself. When she discovers Anthony, Viscount Colton injured on her front door she feels she must care for him. Anthony wants to compensate her for her help but all she wants is for him to teach her about passion. The death of Anthony’s parents and the guilt he feels has turned Anthony’s life into a downward spiral. Jane calms his soul and makes him want to be better, but his past comes back to haunt him and overshadows his future. He must overcome his past to have a future with Jane.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
This was actually quite a nice read, it’s a story that involves quite a few twists, that not only added to the situation that the heroine Jane found herself in, but they also helped her come full circle to find her own true happiness. It was very well written with engaging characters and the kittens were just adorable. Anthony was a wonderfully reformed rake, it was a lovely romance with a little bit of spice.
I love this story with strong characters and intense plot…
A journey to accept themselves and forgiveness…
Jane is a self-declared spinster (after some bad seasons) and a spitfire…
Anthony is tormented by the death of his parents and has taken a bad path…
She found him in front of her home…
A past that returns…
Will love salve them?
A story for all that love Regency
I was hooked from page one and couldn’t put it down all night. Secrets and scandals surround both of them and that makes for a very different kind of courtship. They both have a charm about them that makes you love them instantly and you never know what they are going to get up to. They give each other strength and passion to overcome anything that is thrown at them.
I never got close to predicting who was behind the extortion or rumor and was on pins and needles wanting to know who and why. It’s a journey of letting go of guilt and learning to feel along with letting go of the past. The ending was perfect and I didn’t want it to end.
Jane caused a scandal by declaring herself a spinster so why not be even more scandalous and enjoy the pleasures she’s heard about. I loved her right away because she saw the hurt inside him and wasn’t going to let him keep spiraling out of control. She did what no one else could do and pulled him from his guilt and helped him to feel again.
Anthony has been trying to drink his guilt and grief away, but Jane brings a new light into his life. He doesn’t want to love her, but he can’t be without her. I loved seeing him learn to let go of the past and that he is a good man. He realized that he could survive a scandal with Jane at his side.
This series gets better with each book!
Copy received for an honest and voluntary review.
The question of course is Why a Duke will never do? He would do perfectly fine I’d expect when found lying on your doorstep beat to a pulp!
Fortune smiled down on Anthony Colton when he was left for dead on the doorstep on Jane Pemberton’s home. She of course brings him in and takes care of him and his is forever thankful.
What could he do to repay her? What? give her lessons in seduction to catch a husband?
As usual Darcy’s stories contain everything I love about historical romance! A little intrigue, suspense, wonderful humor with sparks zinging between Anthony and Jane that cannot be denied.
But could he give up his rakish ways? Such and entertaining story and I have to say I love this series and those Spitfires! Cannot wait for more!
Really enjoyed this sexy, fun, action packed adventure filled with engaging and fun charters, witty banter, heart racing twists and emotionally thrilling turns. Was a great read from beginning to end and so hard to put down. Great reading!
A Duke Is Never Enough is book #3 in the Spitfire Society series. You can read it without knowledge of the previous books, although characters from previous books – from this series and others by Ms Burke – show up along the story. The series is about the members of the Spitfire Society – young women who try to be independent at a time women would only be respected if they got married and had children.
Jane Pemberton’s seasons have been unsuccessful so far. So, her parents decide she should marry a boring neighbor. To escape from this, Jane declares herself a spinster, “definitely on the shelf” and moves to the official headquarters of the Spitfire Society. It’s not an easy decision, though, as her family and part of the Ton don’t accept Jane’s new life and she becomes a kind of pariah.
Trying to get used to her new life, Jane finds a wounded man on her doorstep. After having the man cleaned and treated, Jane recognizes him – Anthony, Viscount Colton.
Colton has led a rakish life since his parents were murdered by a highwayman. Unable to deal with the pain of his loss, especially because he believes he’s to blame for his parents’ death, Anthony spends his days drinking himself to oblivion and getting into fights. When he wakes up at a strange house, with lots of wounds and purple marks, he can’t even remember why or what had happened. But he’s happy to see an “angel” taking care of him.
I was excited about reading Jane and Anthony’s story and really enjoyed the beginning of the book, especially when Jane and Anthony start to get to know each other. Still, their too-early intimacy in the story, Anthony’s asinine attitudes at times (“Don’t fall in love with me because I don’t believe in love, I don’t want to get married”…) and Jane’s compliant behavior towards Anthony made me cringe. I’m glad they have a happy end, but I’m not sure whether it will be a HEA. If I were Jane, I’d kick Anthony’s beautiful derrière and go on living in headquarters of the Spitfire Society!
I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
A Duke Will Never Do
Just spectacular writing with heart gripping emotions that make want to jump into the pages and just give Anthony a hug and shake Some sense into Jane’s parents. I absolutely loved that some of the characters from past books make it into this book.
Grief has been consuming Viscount Anthony Colton since his parents untimely death. This poor tormented soul is just so lost and his life is spiraling out of control. Fate intervened dropping him beaten and drunk on Jane’s front steps might just be what he needs.
Jane Pemberton has given up on finding a suitor and has claimed herself a spinner rather than marry the man her parents want. Living on her own in her recently married friend house guves her the freedom to do what she wants. Helping a friend’s brother that was left on her footsteps beaten and drunk is one of those things.
As their friendship develops Jane tries to help Anthony get through his grief and get over his past. When his past comes back to haunt him can he face his past and survive the repercussions and make the right decision for Jane?
I was given this ARC in exchange for an honest and fair review.
A great story with a rake filled with guilt and Jane, the kind woman who nurses him back to health. Anthony wants to repay her and she only wants him to show her passion since she feels as if she will always be a spinster. But as she falls in love with him and someone from his past makes threats, he may never be able to give his heart to her. I received a complimentary copy and I am voluntarily reviewing
If you found a man badly beaten on your doorstep, what would you do? Bring him in, nurse him back to health, and fall in love with him. Jane Pemberton, self-proclaimed spinster and member of the Spitfire Society did just that. Anthony, Viscount Colton, doesn’t remember why he was beaten so badly or who did it. He didn’t remember how he got to Jane’s front door. As he recovers, they become friends, very good friends. From the start, this couple looks perfect. Their attraction is strong and the chemistry sizzles. Anthony has dark secrets from his past and is overwhelmed with grief and guilt, not to mention being blackmailed. Jane is determined to help him through his pain. There are friends, familiar from previous books, more than willing to help. I loved the appearance of Lady Satterfield. She has a knack of steering people in the right direction. There are also two absolutely adorable kittens, Daffodil and Fern, who steal the show and love Anthony with all their little kitty hearts. There are a few surprises in the story. In finding keys to his past and blackmailer, Anthony helps Jane discover the truth about his disastrous first season. A lot of drama and a lot of humor, a cast of wonderful characters, and new characters and hints of what’s to come make a most satisfying conclusion for this enjoyable series. Another winner for Darcy Burke. I can’t wait to see what’s next.
I received an ARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. My review is voluntary.
Oh Lord! I so loved this one by Darcy Burke! Exceptionally written, complex characters with a large cast of secondary characters met in previous novels by this author. The depth of despair and loneliness suffered by both Anthony and Jane is heartbreaking and watching Jane rise above her loss and the uncertain future she faces to help Anthony sets the stage for these two wonderful characters to find their HEA. This story had the right amount of humor and wit, tragedy and redemption, dejection and optimism, angst and heat. I highly recommend this well-written, beautiful, touching story.
I received an ARC of this book and am voluntarily providing my honest review.
A spinster helps a Duke bent on self-destruction on the road to redemption after he is found badly beaten on her doorstep. Together, they also try to solve a blackmail scheme. I received an ARC of this very enjoyable book.
Anthony’s book!
I’ve been wanting to find out his story since the book where he left a house party because of his parents’ attack (I honestly don’t remember which one it was–I feel like I’ve been waiting ages, even though Ms Burke really does write fairly quickly 😉 ); watching him try to destroy himself on the sidelines of the past few books was heartbreaking, and I was rooting for him to find his way out (and get an HEA, of course!)
Jane too was intriguing in previous books…and that setup? Near dead viscount shows up on spinster’s doorstep, and she proceeds to nurse him back to health? Yes, please!
There was some excellent banter here, and the scenes between Anthony and Jane were smoking hot. Plus, there are kittens–kittens who prefer the hero (they sleep on his legs at night! He is constantly “trapped” by little furry bundles taking naps on his lap during the day!) and spend their days being adorably kittenish. All good things, and so much fun to read.
Anthony gets his HEA, conveniently joined by Jane 🙂
But…I feel like Anthony doesn’t quite do all of the work he really needs to to resolve his bigger issues. Yes, the villains of the piece are caught, the correct people are made aware of secrets that have been kept from them, and (some) families begin healing. BUT is it all enough to fix his self-medication/substance abuse problem? My heart wants to say, “Of course! Love fixes all!” but really, Anthony has to do it for himself…and IDK if that’s all in there. He made it seem awfully easy if he did.
Another BUT…it’s fiction, so I’m going with the of course it’s that easy option here. The tiny little coming soon blurbs at the end of this one have me all excited about the next three(!) books Ms Burke has planned, and I look forward to seeing Anthony prove my worries wrong in every single one…
As usual, though this isn’t the first book in the series, it should work just fine as a standalone for new readers. You won’t “get” who all the side characters are who weave in and out of the story, but you don’t need to–honestly, after so many books in this universe, half the time I don’t remember who they are either! 😉
Rating: 4 stars / B
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.
A Duke Will Never Do
The Untouchables: The Spitfire Society book 3
by Darcy Burke
Wow! This (for me) has been my favourite of the Spitfire Society! I loved Jane and Anthony’s chemistry they completed each other perfectly, Jane is exactly what Anthony needs.. Anthony has issues of guilt to deal with and feels he’s a scarred and broken man not worthy of anyone’s love especially someone like Jane who deserves a better man than him! For a long time Anthony has been living life at the bottom of a bottle and it’s consequences. One such consequence found him a bloody mess at Janes doorstep. Thankfully for him Jane’s independent spirit and strength bring him back to life with out the alcohol. With her love and patience he finds that he likes himself and he’s worthy of love, but first he must put a stop to his tormentors and lay to rest the ghosts of his past.
This was a fantastic addition to the Spitfire Society with plenty of intrigue, villains, a hero worthy of redemption and a heroines strength of character to follow her heart! I absolutely love Darcy Burke she’s an author not to be missed!
I voluntarily read this book and freely gave my honest opinion.
Loved it!
I enjoyed revisiting the Spitfire Society.
What I liked:
The writing style
The characters
Anthony
Part of a series: The Spitfire Society
Standalone
HEA
Epilogue
I look forward to reading Darcy Burke’s next book.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC.
This is a story about Jane, a woman who has failed seasons and resigns herself to be an independent spinster. Anthony, a known rake, is left at her door unconscious and, in recuperating at her house, they discover they have much in common. Can’t wait to read the next in the series! I received an ARC from NetGalley and Darcy Burke Publishing for my honest review.
This book is about finding your way forward. Neither of the main characters have the lives that they had dreamed up. Jane is putting herself on the shelf because she said 5 very bad seasons. And Colton is trying to drink himself into oblivion because he feels guilty for being a selfish person whose actions may have contributed to the death of his parents a year earlier. Both find that they have hidden strengths and that they are good people. In general, I’m not a big fan of this particular trope, but Darcy Burke has really made it work. They accept each other’s foibles and try and build each other up without taking anything away. Definitely worth your time.