The Duke of Ruin

I absolutely flew through this book in one sitting because it was a wonderful book AND it was the perfect story for Simon. I wasn’t so sure it was going to be the perfect story for him after I finished with the Duke of Ice and Nick had left Simon to clean up a huge mess of Nick’s making. I couldn’t picture how the author was going to make Diana into the perfect Duchess for Simon, but she sure did it – as a matter of fact – she did it over the top! The ONLY thing that could have made the book more perfect in my eyes would be if there was an epilogue with Diana pregnant (Simon wanted children so very much) – maybe at some celebration at their estate. It would also mention that Diana’s father had gotten some sort of comeuppance – maybe he showed his temper to the wrong person in society and they gave him the cut direct. That would be perfect because he was so very bent on his social standing.

This book is wonderfully written, well plotted and the characters are great! I was so invested in Simon from the previous book that I couldn’t wait for his HEA. I loved Diana’s cousin Verity and would love to see her as the heroine in a book. Maybe the chastened duke (her husband) comes back from America and tries to win his wife – or – he’s dead and she gets an actual love match. **** UPDATE *** I just learned that the next book – Duke of Lies features Verity. *** I couldn’t warm up to one person who was supposed to be a sympathetic character, and that was Simon’s mother. I just couldn’t buy her being a loving mother to Simon and yet abandoning him when he needs her the most. Just don’t buy it. I also don’t buy that a loving mother would, almost immediately on meeting her new daughter-in-law, come out with all of the stuff about the death of Simon’s first wife. So – no – I never did like her and so I was pleased that she was in only a very tiny part of the book.

Just to cover a bit from the last book – in case you didn’t read it – Nick Bateman, Duke of Kilve had betrothed himself to Miss Diana Kingman even though he was deeply in love with Violet. (Men are so stupid sometimes.) Nick wants to take off to Bath in order to persuade Violet to marry him so he leaves Simon to clean up his mess with Diana. He doesn’t even tell Diana he’s breaking the engagement – he leaves all of that and the management of the scandal to poor Simon to handle.

Simon Hastings, twelfth Duke of Romney is universally blamed for the death of his first wife and unborn child. Simon doesn’t dispute it – he can’t – because he can’t remember any of the details of that night. He only knows that he loved his wife and unborn child with all his heart and soul. He can’t bear to live or even to visit his estate where they died. He blames himself as much as society does. He’s a pariah and society shuns him. Simon is also a deeply romantic and loving man who only wants to do good for others. He wants to help Diana in any way he can.

Miss Diana Kingman seems cold and aloof, but she really isn’t. She resides in a very abusive home – her father is a beast. He doesn’t strike her, but what he does do instills fear into her. She is constantly afraid of what he will do if she doesn’t please him at all times. She’s really a sweet and very caring young woman who is really nothing like her father raised her to be – she just hides that fact very, very well in order to survive. Once Simon tells her about Nick breaking the betrothal, Diana is absolutely terrified of what her father will do – not only to her but to Nick as well. Simon offers to do whatever she wants, take her wherever she wants to go – her choice – if she wants to escape her father. After she thinks about it she decides to escape with Simon – she’ll go to her cousin Verity’s place and then she’ll decide what to do next.

I loved that Diana and Simon had time to get to know each other before they were in love. They had an endless carriage ride to Verity’s estate and they had lots of opportunities to talk and share. The romance was lovely. Simon, so scarred, lonely and hurting, knew love and knew he’d never find it again – and he knew he didn’t deserve to find it. Diana had never known love or affection and had absolutely no idea what the emotion looked like much less whether she had the capacity to feel it. It was all definitely sigh-worthy.

I love that the mystery of his first wife’s death was finally revealed and I especially liked where the revelation to the mystery came from.

Truly a wonderful read and I most highly recommend it.

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“I requested and received this e-book at no cost to me and volunteered to read it; my review is my honest opinion and given without any influence by the author or publisher.”

Having read all the series, I think this is one is my favourite. I loved the Duke of Ruin who really only wanted the best for everyone. He was so misunderstood both by himself and the ton. And Diana who was so strong and yet kept under thumb and not allowed to live and be herself by her cruel father. Ms Burke has really created the perfect love story, with lots of understanding, a little adventure and a twist. This book had me turning the page, loving the interaction between all the characters including many secondary ones. Although there is not a lot of adventure or mystery, it is still very much an enjoyable read. I received this book as an ARC.

With her betrothal to Nick the Duke of Kilve in tatters and scandal imminent, Diana Kingman has two choices: live in certain ignominy or flee into obscurity. Diana wants solitude. She never wished to wed in the first place. However, her father will stop at nothing to betroth her to a Duke. Escape is Diana’s only option, and she’ll pay any price to achieve freedom. Universally blamed for the death of his wife and unborn child, Simon Hastings Duke of Romsey doesn’t dispute his guilt over an accident he cannot even remember, as he was drunk. He hasn’t had a drink since, nor a moment’s peace. Determined to be a better man, Simon meets Diana to explain his best friend Nick’s actions & offers to help her with whatever she decides to do.
This is the eighth book in the series, it could well be read by itself. However if like me you love series then I’d recommend reading this brilliant series from the start & you won’t be disappointed. The characters are so very good I really felt for Simon & the guilt he was shouldering, Diana had also had her burdens to bear, they were perfect for each other & together brought out each others strengths. The story is straightforward, the pace is very good, I was drawn in from their meeting in the park, well to be truthful I’d been waiting for their story since the Kiss the Nun game. I’m so enjoying the series & wait with bated breath for Verity’s story

My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

Simon Hastings, Duke of Romsey (aka Duke of Ruin) is probably one of the most wonderful heroes to ever grace the pages of a romance book. A man with a heart of gold, but overcome with grief, guilt and shame. Two years ago his beloved wife Miriam died along with their unborn child. Most assume that Simon killed her and he makes no move to clear his name, he was drunk at the time and doesn’t remember anything other than holding his love in his arms as she died. Unable to move past the heartbreak and the memories, he avoids the home he shared with his wife and instead travels extensively, never touches alcohol and is very much alone. Simon offers to help his friend Nick (aka the Duke of Ice) break his poorly conceived betrothal to Diana Kingmen, so he can marry the woman he loves.

Simon meets with Diana and tells her that Nick is gone and asks her to break the betrothal. Diana can’t do that, her father is a cruel, overbearing man who expects complete obedience from her, he will never let her cry off. Simon offers to take her away, anywhere she wants and help her establish herself anew. Diana is terrified of her father, but longs to be free, she didn’t really want to marry Nick, he was just the means to escape.

As Diana and Simon set off, I was surprised to find myself really liking Diana, she was so cold and aloof in the previous book, that I didn’t know if I would be able to warm up to her, but beneath the cool façade, is a delightful young woman. Diana decides that she will go to her cousin Verity’s home in Lancaster, it is a long trip and gives our lovers plenty of time to get to know each other. They travel incognito as Mr. & Mrs. Byrd and are having a great adventure until they are recognized by a notorious gossip. They continue to her cousin’s home, where Verity convinces them, marriage is the only logical option.

Simon, wants Diana, but he is consumed with guilt, he can’t seem to let go of his past or believe that he can love Diana while Miriam is still in his heart and he vowed to love her (Miriam) for all time. They travel to his home and Diana knows that she loves him, but doesn’t believe that he can love her and she doesn’t want to compete with his lost love. She instead turns her attention to finding out the truth of the night Miriam died.

This is a lovely story of forgiveness, friendship and the power of love, both old and new. There are steamy love scenes, moments of heartbreak, more than one shocking secret, forgiveness, acceptance, snowball fights, awful relatives and an epilogue with a great reunion.

I thought the writing was superb, the story was great and the characters memorable. What I had a hard time with was Simon’s love for his first wife – logically, I know humans have a great capacity for love and can romantically love more than one person, but in my books, I long for the “soulmate” or “love of a lifetime” type of love – I like that he was so steadfast in his affections, but the constant reminders of his previous love grated at me and made me feel like while I believed he loved Diana, Miriam was his soulmate and Diana is and always will be, second best.

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that was provided to me by the author*

An emotionally damaged hero and a desperate bride to be, find each other thrown together in an unexpected turn. Simon Hastings, Duke of Romsby cannot stand himself. Accused of killing his wife and unborn child he is shunned by everyone except his one friend Nick, the Duke of Klive. Nick is in desperate need to break his betrothal to Lady Diana Kingman so he can marry the woman his loves. Diana is being forced to marry Nick by her father and only wants her freedom. Will she take up Simon’s offer to take her anywhere she wants to go and help her set up a new life. As they across country and are in close quarters, the attraction is hard to deny. It seems fated that these two should come together as souls who both need healing. But outside forces might pull them apart. Can Simon and Diana be happy even though both have past fears and feelings that are hard to let go? Darcy Burke has a way of making the reader feel the emotions of the characters and become invested in their story. I love the wounded hero/heroine who hopefully can find redemption and love. Part of the fabulous The Untouchables series, this can be read as a standalone, but truly you will want to read them all.

The Duke of Ruin by Darcy Burke
The Untouchables #8

Loving this series – haven’t read all of it but every book I have read has left me satisfied with the story read but eager to read the next when it comes out.

In the previous book The Duke of Ice jilts Diana Kingman for the woman he has always loved. Well, that puts Diana in a pickle so when The Duke of Ruin, bearer of the jilting news, offers to help her in any way…she takes him up on it. Why would she trust Simon? Well, her father is NOT a man she wants to face when the news that she is no longer betrothed is revealed.

So, Simon and Diana head north to her cousin’s home knowing that they will have days and nights on the road before reaching their destination. Simon has experienced true love and great loss. He is guarding his heart but really is attracted to Diana. The attraction is mutual as Diana finds Simon handsome and so much more than his reputation. The time on the road provides information to the reader and to the couple. I have to say that I admire both hero and heroine and would love to spend time getting to know them. I liked the resolution to the situation, the mystery about Simon’s deceased wife that is revealed and the fact that both the Duke of Ice and the Duke of Ruin end up with the happily ever after that they both deserve…and that they end up with such wonderful women! Oh, I love the openness of Diana, the gentleness Simon shows and the romance that develops between them…what a delightful book this was for me to read last night!

Now…who is next in this wonderful series? I can hardly wait to find out!

Thank you to the author who bequeathed me an ARC through NetGalley – This is my honest review.

4-5 Stars

Duke of Ruin takes place immediately following the events from Duke of Ice. The book stands alone, but as with most series, having read at least Duke of Ice will enhance the story. Both Diana and Simon have pretty major roles in the previous book in the series and now it’s their turn to shine.

As Duke of Ruin opens, Simon goes to Diana to tell her that his best friend can’t marry her. As the blurb states. Diana decides to flee London’s gossip and her father’s wrath and Simon offers to help her in any way he can. And thus begins a cross country trip between these two relative strangers.

Let’s start with Simon. His first wife died and Simon was blamed for her death and nicknamed the Duke of Ruin. He’s been ostracized by society. While he’s not exactly looking for love, he’s lonely. He had a kind heart, is a giver,but is also living with guilt that he failed his wife. Doesn’t feel he deserves happiness. So, he’s torn that he’s feeling attraction to Diana.

Diana just wants to live a quiet life in the country. But she’s been groomed to be a duchess and her father will stop and nothing to see it happens. Diana isn’t a weak woman, but she is hesitant to trust and tends to keep to herself. But the more time she spends with SImon, she starts to come out of that shell.

The journey both physically and emotionally that Simon and Diana took was enjoyable all around. I loved the banter between the two as well watching both of them grow. The sparks flew off the page and I kept turning the pages to see how everything would turn out.

All in all, this was a great read. Darcy Burke is turning into a must read author for me and I’ve added the earlier books in The Untouchable series to be to-be-read list. If you’re tired of your historical romances revolving around London ballrooms or house parties, check this one out for a change of pace.

My review originally posted at Romancing the Book.

Great reading

The storyline in this book is the perfect follow-up to The Duke of Ice. We were introduced to Simon, the Duke of Ruin and Diana Kingman, former fiance of Simon’s best (and only) friend. When Nick, the Duke of Ice marries for love rather than convenience, Simon reassures Nick that he will be sure Diana does not suffer from scandal. Just now that will proceed, Simon has not planned quite that far. For now offering to take Diana where ever she wants to go to start over is just the beginning. What adventures will the two have as they get to know each other as they travel. Does Diana believe the gossip that Simon pushed his pregnant wife down the stairs to her death? Will Simon ever remember just what happened that night that changed his life and reputation? Will they be able to travel to Diana’s cousin without incident or anyone recognizing them? What about the greatest danger of all…spending time together and falling in love? This was a very nice storyline with some unique twists and quite enjoyable to read. This is a great series with wonderful characters who all seem to be connected in some way. Although they are stand-alones, I recommend reading them in order since the prior offering often gives some background for the characters in the next book.

wonderful!!! don’t miss it!