Everyone Nicholas Bateman ever loved has died. Except Violet Caulfield, which must mean he never loved her. Eight years after she threw him over to marry a viscount, Nick is a widowed duke who prefers isolation. When a friend convinces him to leave his lair of self-imposed solitude, he considers taking another wife, provided she agrees to his terms: no emotional attachment of any kind.Now … kind.
Now widowed, Lady Violet Pendleton hopes for a second chance with the man she’s always loved. But she isn’t prepared for the desolation in his soul or the animosity he still bears toward her. Despite those obstacles, it’s clear their passion hasn’t dimmed. However, the heat between them isn’t enough to melt the Duke of Ice, and this time Violet may find herself the jilted party. Can love, once so tragically lost, finally be found?
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The Duke of Ice by Darcy Burke
The Untouchables #7
Young love thwarted
Second chance given
Will it be taken or squandered?
Eight years before this book begins Nick and Violet met and fell in love. With his prospects only being a mister without a title, well, Violet’s parents whisked her away to marry another – and she let them. So, when the two meet at the house party they do know one another but neither is the young, hopeful, easy person they once were. There is attraction. There is conversation and there is a kiss or two shared BUT will there be more?
Nick went to war, lost many of his loved ones and feels “cursed” and unwilling to love again. He is not as easy to approach or as spontaneous or smiling but is his old warm self really gone forever encased in the icy exterior he presents to the world? His friend Simon, Duke of Romsey (or Ruin as some call him) has not given up on him and as a result the two are off to a house party together.
Violet had an unhappy marriage to a man that did not love her and in more than one way abused her. She was happy to be rid of him though unhappy he had to die in order for her to be free. When she sees Nick the feelings of love she never surrendered are reignited and Simon encourages her to try to break through the ice surrounding the man she has continued to love.
The house party has games, events, conversations; young girls on the marriage market, older women that are “mean girls” and the potential for all to get to know one another. The hostess is hopeful that she will be able to provide ‘the’ event that will elevate her social status. The young women and their parents hope for introductions to men that might be suitors of a suitable sort. Nick hopes that rumors about Simon can be squelched and is willing to be there for his friend…just as Simon is there for Nick. After the house party there is a sense of…well…an unsettled sense for both Nick and Violet. Nick is beginning to thaw but has not thawed enough by the end of the party. The two meet again and things improve…until a wrench or two are thrown into the mix and then…misgivings arise and almost thwart true love forever…almost…until good friend Simon arrives to sort of save the day.
At times Nick baffled me. I know he had suffered much but for a smart man he seemed somewhat not-so-smart…or fearful…or…something. Violet seemed to lack the fire to pursue what she really wanted and a bit too accepting of fate. The fact that they found a HEA was satisfying not only to them but to me, too 😉
I am eager to find out what Simon tells Diana and how the two of them manage their HEA and as their story is up next…hope to find out soon!
Thank you to the author who provided me an ARC of this book via NetGalley – This is my honest review.
4 Stars