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The Untouchables #2
The Duke of Daring
Miss Lucinda Parnell is out of money, a dismal failure at the Marriage Mart, and she’d just as soon leave Society far behind. Desperate to earn funds to retire with her grandmother to the country, Lucy disguises herself as a man to gamble in London’s hells. But the Earl of Dartford, an Untouchable she never imagined speaking to let alone spending time with, is onto her in a trice. When he insists on joining her, Lucy fears her desire to remain an independent woman is destined to go up on flames.
As a boy, Andrew Wentworth, Earl of Dartford lost his family to illness, leaving him a hollow shell. Obsessed with conquering one adventure after another to fill the bitter holes inside of him, Andrew has set his sights on parachuting. Nothing will stop him from trying to achieve his goal—not the hazard of death and certainly not a woman who’s gotten far too close. Love is the one risk he doesn’t have the heart to dare.
As a boy, Andrew Wentworth, Earl of Dartford lost his family to illness, leaving him a hollow shell. Obsessed with conquering one adventure after another to fill the bitter holes inside of him, Andrew has set his sights on parachuting. Nothing will stop him from trying to achieve his goal—not the hazard of death and certainly not a woman who’s gotten far too close. Love is the one risk he doesn’t have the heart to dare.
302 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 5, 2016
391 people are currently reading
872 people want to read
About the author
Darcy Burke
206 books2,278 followersDarcy Burke is the USA Today Bestselling Author of sexy, emotional historical and contemporary romance. Darcy wrote her first book at age 11, a happily ever after about a swan addicted to magic and the female swan who loved him, with exceedingly poor illustrations. Join her Reader Club at http://www.darcyburke.com/readerclub.
A native Oregonian, Darcy lives on the edge of wine country with her guitar-strumming husband, their two hilarious kids who seem to have inherited the writing gene, two Bengal cats and a third cat named after a fruit. In her “spare” time Darcy is a serial volunteer enrolled in a 12-step program where one learns to say “no,” but she keeps having to start over. Her happy places are Disneyland and Labor Day weekend at the Gorge.
A native Oregonian, Darcy lives on the edge of wine country with her guitar-strumming husband, their two hilarious kids who seem to have inherited the writing gene, two Bengal cats and a third cat named after a fruit. In her “spare” time Darcy is a serial volunteer enrolled in a 12-step program where one learns to say “no,” but she keeps having to start over. Her happy places are Disneyland and Labor Day weekend at the Gorge.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 194 reviews
June 29, 2017
I didn't feel the romance between the couple and too be honest, this kind of felt like a paint-by-numbers. Heroine dresses as a man, hero is only one who notices, helps her on her adventures, hero and heroine committed to never marrying, hero has sad past, and then heroine gives hero a bj. Err, what? Yeah, that part kind of woke me up, lol. Felt a bit out of place, heroine seemed a bit more modern in the bedroom. I've read better by the author. I don't know, the whole thing left me uninspired with how often I've tread these same storylines. Maybe chalk it up to my been there, done that private island of regency genre t-shirts.
July 20, 2016
“You’re absolutely fearless, do you know that?”
Her gaze didn’t waver, nor did she flinch—confirming what he’d said. “I want what I want.”
He cupped the side of her face, his thumb moving over her flesh, soothing her. “And what’s that?”
“Freedom. Independence. Security.”
This started off as quite a fun read for me, the heroine is a spinster at the ripe old age of 26 and enjoys shooting and gambling. The hero is a thrill seeker, from jumping into the Thames starkers, to flying in a hot air balloon to parachuting. When Andrew visits a gaming hell with his friends one night, he is surprised to realise that the slightly built young man he sees across the room is actually a woman. He immediately takes her under his wing, ensuring that Lucy who goes by Smitty is safe.
Lucy who doesn’t really trust any man is surprised when for the first time in her life a man treats her as an equal, knowing full well that she is a woman. Lucy and Andrew have one thing in common, they both do not wish to marry but when one meets like minded people one realizes that somethings aren’t as bad as they might have been when one has said like minded person around. Andrew comes up with the elaborate plan of having Lucy/Smitty accompany him and his friends around town as they gamble and take part in all manner of manly things. But the most important thing is that Lucy can make enough money so she and her Grandmama can retire to Bath in a respectable cottage. You see Lucy is rather penniless.
She simply needed to keep her focus. Maybe she ought to think of him as a brother. She nearly laughed out loud at that thought. Then she wanted to cringe. No, definitely not a brother.
There was a lot of longing in this book, Lucy longed to be free of society's constraints, Lucy longed to be independent, Lucy longed for happiness. And she longed for Andrew despite her better judgment. Andrew had just as any if not more heart wrenching longing and pain. He lost he's family when he was much younger. Just like that, a mother, a father, 2 sisters and a little brother. All lost within 1 week. So yes, Andrew is a broken man. But what I loved about him was while he might have been living a bit wrecklessly he didn't let his loss stop him from doing whatever he wanted except love someone that is.
While Lucy may have had the age old "I'm too ugly to be loved" syndrome, she wasn't a docile little creature who let people walk all over her. She was a strong woman who was loyal to her close family and friends. I really enjoyed this book, I probably enjoyed Lucy's escapades as a man the most. I'll definitely be reading other books in this series as I'm really intrigued about Ivy's story.
“Loving someone is accepting that you might lose them.”
ARC kindly provided by author in return for an honest review
July 4, 2016
4.5 Stars
'The Duke of Daring' by Darcy Burke is book two in "The Untouchables' series. This is the story of Lucinda Parnell and Andrew Wentworth, Earl of Dartford.
Lucy didn't have a successfully time on her debut and now she is settled in the thought of staying unmarried. Lucy would like to live with her grandmother but she knows that her grandmother wouldn't be able to afford her so she makes a plan. Lucy decided to try and earn money gambling while posing as a man. At one club she runs into Andrew who catches on to her and that she is a women. Andrew is called Lord of Daring among her and her friends for all his risk that he takes. But Lucy is surprised when he offers to help her with her goal to keep her safe.
Andrew lost his family at a early age and that has put him in a restless manor, but he is surprised of his feelings for Lucy and wanting to keep her safe. But they are both trying to fight their feelings each for a different reason.
I received an eARC, from NetGalley and the publisher, in exchange for an honest review.
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'The Duke of Daring' by Darcy Burke is book two in "The Untouchables' series. This is the story of Lucinda Parnell and Andrew Wentworth, Earl of Dartford.
Lucy didn't have a successfully time on her debut and now she is settled in the thought of staying unmarried. Lucy would like to live with her grandmother but she knows that her grandmother wouldn't be able to afford her so she makes a plan. Lucy decided to try and earn money gambling while posing as a man. At one club she runs into Andrew who catches on to her and that she is a women. Andrew is called Lord of Daring among her and her friends for all his risk that he takes. But Lucy is surprised when he offers to help her with her goal to keep her safe.
Andrew lost his family at a early age and that has put him in a restless manor, but he is surprised of his feelings for Lucy and wanting to keep her safe. But they are both trying to fight their feelings each for a different reason.
I received an eARC, from NetGalley and the publisher, in exchange for an honest review.
Please follow more reviews at the below sites:
https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/1... http://sissymaereads.blogspot.com/
https://www.facebook.com/sally.mae.39...
http://sissymae.booklikes.com/
https://romancebookreviewforyou.wordp...
https://www.facebook.com/groups/17091...
https://twitter.com/soapsrus68
https://www.pinterest.com/u2soapsrus/
http://romancebookreviewforyoublog.tu...
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September 19, 20213.5
It's been awhile since I read this book. What do remember is a fun, enjoyable read.
It's been awhile since I read this book. What do remember is a fun, enjoyable read.
March 25, 2017
The Duke of Daring is Book 2 in Darcy Burke's new Untouchables series. I've never tried this author before this series, but now I'm hooked. What's more unique about these novels is their shorter format. They are longer than a novella, but shorter than many of the novels that are now being published. According to Amazon, this story clocks in at about 233 pages, which was great. I got to see a well-developed romance without any needless angst thrown in at the end to tack on the extra hundred pages required for a standard romance publication. I must say, I do wish that authors with a big publishing house got more flexibility with their page count (either longer or shorter) to tell the story exactly as they want to without having to rush or drag things out unnecessarily...no one likes that!
After greatly enjoying The Forbidden Duke (Book 1 in the series), I was eagerly anticipating the next installment. When I read the blurb for The Duke of Daring, at first I was a bit put off. Unlike many people, I am not a fan of the cross-dressing heroine. However, after seeing several good reviews and reflecting on my enjoyment of Book 1, I decided to give this a try.
Lucy Parnell is in desperate straits. She is afraid of marriage due to the dissolute living of her father and is afraid to entrust her fate to a man again. With money running low, she takes to dressing as a man so she can win money in gaming hells, just enough to have a small nest egg to retire outside of Bath with her grandmother. On her second night out, Andrew, the Earl of Dartford, sees through her disguise, and, to the surprise of both parties, offers his assistance in her quest. Within the very first chapter, the hero is in on the secret and this is what saved the novel for me. Their romance was not built on a lie, but rather, on mutual interests, inside knowledge, and tentative trust. Both are afraid of marriage for different reasons, but find they enjoy spending time together. Lucy keeps things interesting for Andrew; she loves more manly activities such as racing, shooting, and card games. Andrew respects Lucy and gives her more freedom in their friendship than Lucy ever thought a man would provide.
Lucy cross-dresses for about 60% of the book. However, there are also scenes where Dartford seeks her out when she is out in society as a woman because he finds himself desiring to know what she looks like and how he could interact with her in a society setting. The romance between these two was slow-building but inevitable. I loved how neither character was interested in marriage, but slowly changed their minds as they learned that happiness could be found with another person. Lucy changed more quickly and I enjoyed her forthrightness; Andrew was a bit more wishy-washy, but as you learn about his past, I think you will be as inclined as I was to forgive him when he acts like an idiot :) There was a bit of crazy angst at the end and I couldn't understand the reticence of either character, but as I said before, this was a shorter format so luckily, the obstacles didn't last too long.
My one quibble, and it's the same as with Book 1, was that I thought the sex scenes came on a little fast. There was very little kissing and then, suddenly, the characters were jumping into bed together. I don't think this is the book's shorter length, I think it is a writing style of Burke's. Since I saw it in Book 1, I was less surprised in Book 2, and even though I thought it came a bit out of nowhere, the scenes were still nice. It was not enough of a quibble to lower the rating either!
Overall, I thought this was an excellent short novel. The romance was nice, and I enjoyed the male friendship and camaraderie that was present throughout. Instead of most of the story taking place at formal ton events, this story developed in gaming hells, shooting ranges, race tracks, and balloon flights. It was refreshing, well described, and fun. I like Burke's writing style and appreciate the balance between angst, sexual tension, and emotional growth.
This was a lovely addition to the series. 4.5 stars. I am officially a Darcy Burke fan girl and will be eagerly awaiting the next installment in this series.
Thanks to Netgalley for a complimentary copy to read and review!
After greatly enjoying The Forbidden Duke (Book 1 in the series), I was eagerly anticipating the next installment. When I read the blurb for The Duke of Daring, at first I was a bit put off. Unlike many people, I am not a fan of the cross-dressing heroine. However, after seeing several good reviews and reflecting on my enjoyment of Book 1, I decided to give this a try.
Lucy Parnell is in desperate straits. She is afraid of marriage due to the dissolute living of her father and is afraid to entrust her fate to a man again. With money running low, she takes to dressing as a man so she can win money in gaming hells, just enough to have a small nest egg to retire outside of Bath with her grandmother. On her second night out, Andrew, the Earl of Dartford, sees through her disguise, and, to the surprise of both parties, offers his assistance in her quest. Within the very first chapter, the hero is in on the secret and this is what saved the novel for me. Their romance was not built on a lie, but rather, on mutual interests, inside knowledge, and tentative trust. Both are afraid of marriage for different reasons, but find they enjoy spending time together. Lucy keeps things interesting for Andrew; she loves more manly activities such as racing, shooting, and card games. Andrew respects Lucy and gives her more freedom in their friendship than Lucy ever thought a man would provide.
Lucy cross-dresses for about 60% of the book. However, there are also scenes where Dartford seeks her out when she is out in society as a woman because he finds himself desiring to know what she looks like and how he could interact with her in a society setting. The romance between these two was slow-building but inevitable. I loved how neither character was interested in marriage, but slowly changed their minds as they learned that happiness could be found with another person. Lucy changed more quickly and I enjoyed her forthrightness; Andrew was a bit more wishy-washy, but as you learn about his past, I think you will be as inclined as I was to forgive him when he acts like an idiot :) There was a bit of crazy angst at the end and I couldn't understand the reticence of either character, but as I said before, this was a shorter format so luckily, the obstacles didn't last too long.
My one quibble, and it's the same as with Book 1, was that I thought the sex scenes came on a little fast. There was very little kissing and then, suddenly, the characters were jumping into bed together. I don't think this is the book's shorter length, I think it is a writing style of Burke's. Since I saw it in Book 1, I was less surprised in Book 2, and even though I thought it came a bit out of nowhere, the scenes were still nice. It was not enough of a quibble to lower the rating either!
Overall, I thought this was an excellent short novel. The romance was nice, and I enjoyed the male friendship and camaraderie that was present throughout. Instead of most of the story taking place at formal ton events, this story developed in gaming hells, shooting ranges, race tracks, and balloon flights. It was refreshing, well described, and fun. I like Burke's writing style and appreciate the balance between angst, sexual tension, and emotional growth.
This was a lovely addition to the series. 4.5 stars. I am officially a Darcy Burke fan girl and will be eagerly awaiting the next installment in this series.
Thanks to Netgalley for a complimentary copy to read and review!
July 5, 2017
I have very mixed feelings about this. I absolutely loved the beginning where our heroine dressed up as a man to try her luck at gambling and forms a reluctant friendship with the hero after he discovers her secret and offers to help and keep her safe. I thought she was rather awesome, and I liked that she seemed so rational and not prone to hysterics. It made for a nice change to have two people who were so similar, who treated each other as equals.
But then she turned into a complete ninny in the second half when she started an affair with the hero. For some reason, she stopped thinking and refused to have a conversation with the hero about actual issues (he has a severe case of survivor's guild and still suffers panic attacks at the mere thought of commitment and relationships; not just romantic ones, any form of human connection sets him off) which, in the end, sadly disappear thanks to the healing powers of her magical vagina.
It made for a nice, quick read, and I'll still read all the other books, but I really didn't enjoy all the pointless angst in the second half...
But then she turned into a complete ninny in the second half when she started an affair with the hero. For some reason, she stopped thinking and refused to have a conversation with the hero about actual issues (he has a severe case of survivor's guild and still suffers panic attacks at the mere thought of commitment and relationships; not just romantic ones, any form of human connection sets him off) which, in the end, sadly disappear thanks to the healing powers of her magical vagina.
It made for a nice, quick read, and I'll still read all the other books, but I really didn't enjoy all the pointless angst in the second half...
June 16, 2020
'Miss Lucinda Parnell is out of money, a dismal failure at the Marriage Mart, and she’d just as soon leave Society far behind. Desperate to earn funds to retire with her grandmother to the country, Lucy disguises herself as a man to gamble in London’s hells. But the Earl of Dartford, an Untouchable she never imagined speaking to let alone spending time with, is onto her in a trice. When he insists on joining her, Lucy fears her desire to remain an independent woman is destined to go up on flames.
As a boy, Andrew Wentworth, Earl of Dartford lost his family to illness, leaving him a hollow shell. Obsessed with conquering one adventure after another to fill the bitter holes inside of him, Andrew has set his sights on parachuting. Nothing will stop him from trying to achieve his goal—not the hazard of death and certainly not a woman who’s gotten far too close. Love is the one risk he doesn’t have the heart to dare.'
_______________________________
The Duke of Daring is the second book in Darcy Burke's The Untouchables series and is a historical romance.
Going into this book, I was a little weary about Lucy disguising herself as a man and going into gaming hells to gamble. I wasn't sure if it as going to feel cheesy or contrived, but it was just the right amount of ridiculous and I loved it. I found Lucy and Andrew to be engaging characters and a good pairing that I enjoyed reading about.
I respected Lucy for doing all she can to try to chart her own future and establish her own financial independence. She frustrated me a bit when she seemed to become a bit noncommunicative when conflict arose between her and Andrew. This doesn't last terrbly long, but things would have been easier had she expressed her feelings more.
Andrew has demons from his past and in typical male hero fashion he keeps eveyone around him at arms length as a result to ensure that he'll never be abandoned and hurt again. But what I really loved is that the conflict between him and Lucy resulting from this doesn't get unnecessarily drawn out and exacerbate the issue. He fairly quickly comes to his senses, even if he does require some prompting to get there.
I felt that the writing was really excellent through the book and the pacing felt right. I will admit though that at times, things felt a bit modern for the regency era and seemed a tad out of place, but not so much as to ruin my enjoyment of the book.
I really liked The Duke of Daring and I believe that I enjoyed it more than the first in the series. I recommend The Duke of Daring and The Untouchable series from what I've read so far.
As a boy, Andrew Wentworth, Earl of Dartford lost his family to illness, leaving him a hollow shell. Obsessed with conquering one adventure after another to fill the bitter holes inside of him, Andrew has set his sights on parachuting. Nothing will stop him from trying to achieve his goal—not the hazard of death and certainly not a woman who’s gotten far too close. Love is the one risk he doesn’t have the heart to dare.'
_______________________________
The Duke of Daring is the second book in Darcy Burke's The Untouchables series and is a historical romance.
Going into this book, I was a little weary about Lucy disguising herself as a man and going into gaming hells to gamble. I wasn't sure if it as going to feel cheesy or contrived, but it was just the right amount of ridiculous and I loved it. I found Lucy and Andrew to be engaging characters and a good pairing that I enjoyed reading about.
I respected Lucy for doing all she can to try to chart her own future and establish her own financial independence. She frustrated me a bit when she seemed to become a bit noncommunicative when conflict arose between her and Andrew. This doesn't last terrbly long, but things would have been easier had she expressed her feelings more.
Andrew has demons from his past and in typical male hero fashion he keeps eveyone around him at arms length as a result to ensure that he'll never be abandoned and hurt again. But what I really loved is that the conflict between him and Lucy resulting from this doesn't get unnecessarily drawn out and exacerbate the issue. He fairly quickly comes to his senses, even if he does require some prompting to get there.
I felt that the writing was really excellent through the book and the pacing felt right. I will admit though that at times, things felt a bit modern for the regency era and seemed a tad out of place, but not so much as to ruin my enjoyment of the book.
I really liked The Duke of Daring and I believe that I enjoyed it more than the first in the series. I recommend The Duke of Daring and The Untouchable series from what I've read so far.
September 4, 2016
*Kindly received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for and honest review*
Yes I'm in that Regency/Historical Romance flow now.
Yes I'm in that Regency/Historical Romance flow now.
July 5, 2016
*I received an eARC copy from the author in exchange for an honest review*
4.5 stars
I liked this book, but not quite as much as the first book.
Lucy is a good heroine - she has decided that she doesn't want to marry but her grandmother can't afford to support her after the season. Lucy has decided to take matters in her own hands and has been gambling in disguise to make the funds she needs to retire with her grandmother.
Andrew has been dubbed the Duke of Daring by Lucy and her friends because of his well known risk taking. Andrew takes risks to bury his pain - his entire family died when he was a child and because of that he has anxiety attacks and refuses to let anyone get close to him.
Andrew quickly sees through Lucy's disguise and his protective instincts kick in. He confronts Lucy and offers to help her.
At first Lucy resists Andrew's assistance, but soon realizes that his help could be invaluable. Lucy doesn't really trust men - her experience with the men in her family have taught her that she can't count on a man to provide for her and longs to be independent.
Together these two have a lot of chemistry and they really fight hard to deny their attraction. The story has a lot of push and pull between the leads - maybe a little too much. I will be honest - towards the end I started to get a little frustrated with both of them.
The writing was excellent, the story stayed on point, the love scenes were steamy and the ending was worth the frustration I experienced.
I would happily recommend this book and am looking forward to the rest of the series!
4.5 stars
I liked this book, but not quite as much as the first book.
Lucy is a good heroine - she has decided that she doesn't want to marry but her grandmother can't afford to support her after the season. Lucy has decided to take matters in her own hands and has been gambling in disguise to make the funds she needs to retire with her grandmother.
Andrew has been dubbed the Duke of Daring by Lucy and her friends because of his well known risk taking. Andrew takes risks to bury his pain - his entire family died when he was a child and because of that he has anxiety attacks and refuses to let anyone get close to him.
Andrew quickly sees through Lucy's disguise and his protective instincts kick in. He confronts Lucy and offers to help her.
At first Lucy resists Andrew's assistance, but soon realizes that his help could be invaluable. Lucy doesn't really trust men - her experience with the men in her family have taught her that she can't count on a man to provide for her and longs to be independent.
Together these two have a lot of chemistry and they really fight hard to deny their attraction. The story has a lot of push and pull between the leads - maybe a little too much. I will be honest - towards the end I started to get a little frustrated with both of them.
The writing was excellent, the story stayed on point, the love scenes were steamy and the ending was worth the frustration I experienced.
I would happily recommend this book and am looking forward to the rest of the series!
June 27, 2016
Another fabulous read from the ever creative mind of Darcy Burke. I received an ARC of The Duke of Daring in exchange for an honest review. Emotion guided Lucinda. Ms. Burke broke the mold for strong female heroines with Lucinda. Heart was the driving force behind every move she made. Despite numerous disappointments and loads of weighty responsibilities she never just let life happen to her. Sure she experienced hard knocks but she picked herself up and made the best of the circumstances. Her sense of adventure landed her in sticky situations but it also showed how dedicated she was to her family and how far she was willing to go to succeed in taking care of the people she loved.
Andrew was the opposite. Heartache drove him to take risks. Death, loneliness and despair had beaten this man down to the point where he had no heart left. These two total opposites may not have much in common but did have lessons to teach each other. The Duke of Daring is a story of healing, strength and emotional self discovery that culminates into a romance filled with deep meaning and well crafted imagination.
Andrew was the opposite. Heartache drove him to take risks. Death, loneliness and despair had beaten this man down to the point where he had no heart left. These two total opposites may not have much in common but did have lessons to teach each other. The Duke of Daring is a story of healing, strength and emotional self discovery that culminates into a romance filled with deep meaning and well crafted imagination.
February 10, 2017
The Duke of Daring is one of those romances you could sit back, enjoy and breeze through. It's very low on angst and their escapades are very entertaining. I loved both characters. Lucy is not an annoying heroine. She is daring and brave and Dartford is wonderful.
I know I don't sound really thrilled, but I did enjoy this story. It is very light, in case you need such a book.
I know I don't sound really thrilled, but I did enjoy this story. It is very light, in case you need such a book.
March 7, 2024
Mad About Series Challenge 2024 HRBC. #2 in Untouchables series. MC's h Lucinda Parnell, aka Smithey a spinster masquerading as a man, H Andrew Dartford, an Earl aka Duke of Daring.
Review I liked:
“You’re absolutely fearless, do you know that?”
Her gaze didn’t waver, nor did she flinch—confirming what he’d said. “I want what I want.”
He cupped the side of her face, his thumb moving over her flesh, soothing her. “And what’s that?”
“Freedom. Independence. Security.”
This started off as quite a fun read for me, the heroine is a spinster at the ripe old age of 26 and enjoys shooting and gambling. The hero is a thrill seeker, from jumping into the Thames starkers, to flying in a hot air balloon to parachuting. When Andrew visits a gaming hell with his friends one night, he is surprised to realise that the slightly built young man he sees across the room is actually a woman. He immediately takes her under his wing, ensuring that Lucy who goes by Smitty is safe.
Lucy who doesn’t really trust any man is surprised when for the first time in her life a man treats her as an equal, knowing full well that she is a woman. Lucy and Andrew have one thing in common, they both do not wish to marry but when one meets like minded people one realizes that somethings aren’t as bad as they might have been when one has said like minded person around. Andrew comes up with the elaborate plan of having Lucy/Smitty accompany him and his friends around town as they gamble and take part in all manner of manly things. But the most important thing is that Lucy can make enough money so she and her Grandmama can retire to Bath in a respectable cottage. You see Lucy is rather penniless.
She simply needed to keep her focus. Maybe she ought to think of him as a brother. She nearly laughed out loud at that thought. Then she wanted to cringe. No, definitely not a brother.
There was a lot of longing in this book, Lucy longed to be free of society's constraints, Lucy longed to be independent, Lucy longed for happiness. And she longed for Andrew despite her better judgment. Andrew had just as any if not more heart wrenching longing and pain. He lost he's family when he was much younger. Just like that, a mother, a father, 2 sisters and a little brother. All lost within 1 week. So yes, Andrew is a broken man. But what I loved about him was while he might have been living a bit wrecklessly he didn't let his loss stop him from doing whatever he wanted except love someone that is.
While Lucy may have had the age old "I'm too ugly to be loved" syndrome, she wasn't a docile little creature who let people walk all over her. She was a strong woman who was loyal to her close family and friends. I really enjoyed this book, I probably enjoyed Lucy's escapades as a man the most. I'll definitely be reading other books in this series as I'm really intrigued about Ivy's story.
“Loving someone is accepting that you might lose them.”
Review I liked:
“You’re absolutely fearless, do you know that?”
Her gaze didn’t waver, nor did she flinch—confirming what he’d said. “I want what I want.”
He cupped the side of her face, his thumb moving over her flesh, soothing her. “And what’s that?”
“Freedom. Independence. Security.”
This started off as quite a fun read for me, the heroine is a spinster at the ripe old age of 26 and enjoys shooting and gambling. The hero is a thrill seeker, from jumping into the Thames starkers, to flying in a hot air balloon to parachuting. When Andrew visits a gaming hell with his friends one night, he is surprised to realise that the slightly built young man he sees across the room is actually a woman. He immediately takes her under his wing, ensuring that Lucy who goes by Smitty is safe.
Lucy who doesn’t really trust any man is surprised when for the first time in her life a man treats her as an equal, knowing full well that she is a woman. Lucy and Andrew have one thing in common, they both do not wish to marry but when one meets like minded people one realizes that somethings aren’t as bad as they might have been when one has said like minded person around. Andrew comes up with the elaborate plan of having Lucy/Smitty accompany him and his friends around town as they gamble and take part in all manner of manly things. But the most important thing is that Lucy can make enough money so she and her Grandmama can retire to Bath in a respectable cottage. You see Lucy is rather penniless.
She simply needed to keep her focus. Maybe she ought to think of him as a brother. She nearly laughed out loud at that thought. Then she wanted to cringe. No, definitely not a brother.
There was a lot of longing in this book, Lucy longed to be free of society's constraints, Lucy longed to be independent, Lucy longed for happiness. And she longed for Andrew despite her better judgment. Andrew had just as any if not more heart wrenching longing and pain. He lost he's family when he was much younger. Just like that, a mother, a father, 2 sisters and a little brother. All lost within 1 week. So yes, Andrew is a broken man. But what I loved about him was while he might have been living a bit wrecklessly he didn't let his loss stop him from doing whatever he wanted except love someone that is.
While Lucy may have had the age old "I'm too ugly to be loved" syndrome, she wasn't a docile little creature who let people walk all over her. She was a strong woman who was loyal to her close family and friends. I really enjoyed this book, I probably enjoyed Lucy's escapades as a man the most. I'll definitely be reading other books in this series as I'm really intrigued about Ivy's story.
“Loving someone is accepting that you might lose them.”
September 7, 2025
This series is so good 😍
November 17, 2018
DNF 62%
I was sceptic while reading, because I felt two modern characters with modern speech was pretty much dropped into Regency era. And for such a long time the main characters hardly spent any time together, so I struggled to believe their growing feelings. But when the heroine went down on the hero and swallowed during her first sexual encounter I gave up.
I was sceptic while reading, because I felt two modern characters with modern speech was pretty much dropped into Regency era. And for such a long time the main characters hardly spent any time together, so I struggled to believe their growing feelings. But when the heroine went down on the hero and swallowed during her first sexual encounter I gave up.
July 6, 2016
... daring becomes her!
I never seem to tire of the 'girl dressed as a boy' trope. Why? That picture or idea of a girl going against the mores of the times and discovering a new freedom is exhilarating, particularly when set in times where women were segregated and socialized into given roles. What harsher critic can there be than the 'ton' doing their damnedest to harness the maidenly energies of young woman into their 'proper' places and roles.
Lucinda Parnell is a fiercely independent woman. A perennial wallflower whose closest friends are of a similar ilk. Having discovered that she has no dowry left, no access to funds, Lucy determines to make her own way, to get off the marriage mart roundabout. She conceives of a scheme to earn enough money to make a modest home for herself and her grandmother. To fund it all she turns to the method by which her father had lost her dowry--gambling!
And it's in such a hell she meets Andrew Wentworth, Earl of Dartford, dubbed by Lucy and her friends, the Duke of Daring. Why becomes clear as the story progresses.
Andrew has his own set of ghosts. Haunted by the loss of his family he fends off all who might get close to him--to the point of obsessively changing his London staff every couple of years.
He cannot allow himself to be emotionally touched by anyone!
So, enter our Lucy in a disguise that piques Andrew's interest and the groundwork is laid is for a romance with a difference, beset with difficult problems, the threat of exposure and the allure of the unknown. This second of the 'Untouchables' stories contains humour, a certain amount of pathos, stalwart friends, self discovery and excitement--all topped off by the attraction Andrew and Lucy feel for each other, an attraction both are so at pains to deny.
A NetGalley ARC
I never seem to tire of the 'girl dressed as a boy' trope. Why? That picture or idea of a girl going against the mores of the times and discovering a new freedom is exhilarating, particularly when set in times where women were segregated and socialized into given roles. What harsher critic can there be than the 'ton' doing their damnedest to harness the maidenly energies of young woman into their 'proper' places and roles.
Lucinda Parnell is a fiercely independent woman. A perennial wallflower whose closest friends are of a similar ilk. Having discovered that she has no dowry left, no access to funds, Lucy determines to make her own way, to get off the marriage mart roundabout. She conceives of a scheme to earn enough money to make a modest home for herself and her grandmother. To fund it all she turns to the method by which her father had lost her dowry--gambling!
And it's in such a hell she meets Andrew Wentworth, Earl of Dartford, dubbed by Lucy and her friends, the Duke of Daring. Why becomes clear as the story progresses.
Andrew has his own set of ghosts. Haunted by the loss of his family he fends off all who might get close to him--to the point of obsessively changing his London staff every couple of years.
He cannot allow himself to be emotionally touched by anyone!
So, enter our Lucy in a disguise that piques Andrew's interest and the groundwork is laid is for a romance with a difference, beset with difficult problems, the threat of exposure and the allure of the unknown. This second of the 'Untouchables' stories contains humour, a certain amount of pathos, stalwart friends, self discovery and excitement--all topped off by the attraction Andrew and Lucy feel for each other, an attraction both are so at pains to deny.
A NetGalley ARC
July 13, 2016
I have always been charmed by stories where a heroine dresses as a man. The Duke of Daring is an enjoyable book that has some fun with the “girl-in-pants” plotline but also touches on deeper things that can touch a person and affect their lives.
Lucinda Parnell has a plan for her future and it is very different to what most young women in England would come up with. If it were up to her grandmother, Lucy would be trying her hardest to find a respectable husband and marry just for the security that it would bring. Lucy, however, never wants to marry after witnessing the irresponsible behaviors of her father and grandfather before him. She would much rather take control of her own financial security and will do so by using the only skill her wastrel father ever taught her; the ability to gamble and do it well.
Please read the full review at Romantic Historical Reviews
Lucinda Parnell has a plan for her future and it is very different to what most young women in England would come up with. If it were up to her grandmother, Lucy would be trying her hardest to find a respectable husband and marry just for the security that it would bring. Lucy, however, never wants to marry after witnessing the irresponsible behaviors of her father and grandfather before him. She would much rather take control of her own financial security and will do so by using the only skill her wastrel father ever taught her; the ability to gamble and do it well.
Please read the full review at Romantic Historical Reviews
July 31, 2016
I do love historical romance because it is a time so out of touch with today but also a time that really happened. I also love the constraints of society and the loopholes people find. Alas, this was just okay and wasn't something that made me super excited. The premise of the story is interesting but the heat level was really cool and I needed more heat.
Lucinda and Andrew meet while Lucinda is dressed as a young man and gambling. The two start a very interesting relationship of sorts from there until the end of the story. The two grow closer and closer until something far more than friendship blossoms. The story is clever but, as I mentioned earlier, it was more lukewarm than hot and I need it to be more than lukewarm to be happy. I know, it is a me thing more than the author thing.
Lucinda and Andrew meet while Lucinda is dressed as a young man and gambling. The two start a very interesting relationship of sorts from there until the end of the story. The two grow closer and closer until something far more than friendship blossoms. The story is clever but, as I mentioned earlier, it was more lukewarm than hot and I need it to be more than lukewarm to be happy. I know, it is a me thing more than the author thing.
June 24, 2017
I didn’t like this book as much as The Forbidden Duke but it was still a very good read. This was about Andrew, the Earl of Dartford, who suffered from a serious case of survivor’s guilt. His parents, two sisters and his little brother all died within weeks of each other of some kind of fever and he was afraid that loving someone meant losing them and being hurt again. Lucy went about dressed like a man to gaming hells trying to make enough money to move with her grandmother to Bath, after her father had gambled all the money and Lucy and Grandmama were not going to last with what little they had. Needless to say, Andrew figured out she was a woman and wanted to help her, so that became the beginning of their love story. Neither one of them wanted to marry so they thought they made a good team.
Overall, sad, happy, funny and a HEA. I absolutely love Lucy’s friends Aquilla and Ivy. I’ll be glad when their books are on audible so I can listen to them too.
There was explicit sex in this book, but not erotic.
As to the narration: Marian Hussey did a wonderful job with all the voices and emotions. All the men and women alike had their own individual voices.
September 14, 2020
~ 3.5 stars ~
Lucy Parnell has little desire to marry, and only wishes to move to the country with her grandmother. But after her father passed away and left his family in dept, Lucy decides to disguise herself as a man, to gamble in the dregs and make that money back. But her disguise does not fool The Earl of Dartford, Andrew Wentworth, and he convinces her to let him support her in her endeavors to ensure her safety, but their attraction only becomes another obstacle for Lucy to dodge.
If you like historical romance but wish the women had more agency and strength, I highly recommend this series, The Untouchables. Lucy was incredibly independent and self assured, and though she lived in a time when women had little opportunity, she found ways to cheat society and experience life. Her dreams and aspirations fitting outside what was expected of her was refreshing and exciting. The romance between her and Andrew was also incredibly sweet, and I loved how well their desires and goals in life matched, making them a healthy pairing. Andrew’s respect and admiration for Lucy’s wild and headstrong spirit was literally perfection. I also liked seeing Andrew be the more emotionally vulnerable and needing in the pairing, as usually it is the other way around. The story itself was also just fun and interesting, although I do wish Lucy’s gambling habits had been explored more, especially as her father had gambling addiction. Definitely found this to be a win and am instantly into the third book!
Lucy Parnell has little desire to marry, and only wishes to move to the country with her grandmother. But after her father passed away and left his family in dept, Lucy decides to disguise herself as a man, to gamble in the dregs and make that money back. But her disguise does not fool The Earl of Dartford, Andrew Wentworth, and he convinces her to let him support her in her endeavors to ensure her safety, but their attraction only becomes another obstacle for Lucy to dodge.
If you like historical romance but wish the women had more agency and strength, I highly recommend this series, The Untouchables. Lucy was incredibly independent and self assured, and though she lived in a time when women had little opportunity, she found ways to cheat society and experience life. Her dreams and aspirations fitting outside what was expected of her was refreshing and exciting. The romance between her and Andrew was also incredibly sweet, and I loved how well their desires and goals in life matched, making them a healthy pairing. Andrew’s respect and admiration for Lucy’s wild and headstrong spirit was literally perfection. I also liked seeing Andrew be the more emotionally vulnerable and needing in the pairing, as usually it is the other way around. The story itself was also just fun and interesting, although I do wish Lucy’s gambling habits had been explored more, especially as her father had gambling addiction. Definitely found this to be a win and am instantly into the third book!
July 2, 2016
Originally posted on lampshadereader.com: A Heroine in Disguise: ARC Review of The Duke of Daring by Darcy Burke.
One of my favorite tropes was used in this story. I love it when the heroine disguises herself as a male. It’s one of those things that adds to the mystery of it all and I enjoy seeing the hero try to figure out what is going on. It also adds humor to the story which always makes for an enjoyable experience.
Lucinda also plays the part of Smitty, who likes to visit gaming Hells and shoot guns. Totally not ladylike for Lucinda but rather acceptable for Smitty. Lucinda’s means to an end is through her character of Smitty. After being left penniless by her own father’s gambling habits, Lucinda finds herself having to do the same thing to recoup. It’s when Andrew sees through her disguise that made this a page turner for me. I loved reading about their camaraderie. Lucinda’s strong characteristics bloom when she’s in her disguise. Doing the exciting things that ladies in Society are not allowed to do.
Both Lucinda and Andrew share some common ground. They do not want to get married, which creates a sort of bond between them. Naturally, that bond turns into more and Lucinda begins to see Andrew’s demons. They were both well developed characters and are worth investing in.
A summary of the aspects I enjoyed:
There is a tiny bit of suspense in the story and wished there was more. The big reveal was a little less exciting than what I was expecting. But other than that, it was a really enjoyable read.
This can be read as a standalone.
*I received a copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
One of my favorite tropes was used in this story. I love it when the heroine disguises herself as a male. It’s one of those things that adds to the mystery of it all and I enjoy seeing the hero try to figure out what is going on. It also adds humor to the story which always makes for an enjoyable experience.
Lucinda also plays the part of Smitty, who likes to visit gaming Hells and shoot guns. Totally not ladylike for Lucinda but rather acceptable for Smitty. Lucinda’s means to an end is through her character of Smitty. After being left penniless by her own father’s gambling habits, Lucinda finds herself having to do the same thing to recoup. It’s when Andrew sees through her disguise that made this a page turner for me. I loved reading about their camaraderie. Lucinda’s strong characteristics bloom when she’s in her disguise. Doing the exciting things that ladies in Society are not allowed to do.
Both Lucinda and Andrew share some common ground. They do not want to get married, which creates a sort of bond between them. Naturally, that bond turns into more and Lucinda begins to see Andrew’s demons. They were both well developed characters and are worth investing in.
A summary of the aspects I enjoyed:
1. Heroine in disguise trope
2. Complex hero with somewhat of a PTSD thing going on.
3. The first kiss-sexy
4. The first sex scene-Oh my, but Lucinda is naughty!
5. Lucinda’s friends. They have their stories and I’m itching to read about them!
There is a tiny bit of suspense in the story and wished there was more. The big reveal was a little less exciting than what I was expecting. But other than that, it was a really enjoyable read.
This can be read as a standalone.
*I received a copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
July 2, 2016
I received a free copy of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
This was a pleasant historical romance. I haven't read the first book in the series but I had no difficulty in reading this as a stand-alone.
Miss Lucy Parnell is the orphan of an inveterate gambler. She and her grandmother are almost destitute and with her chances of contracting an advantageous marriage fading fast she decides to utilise her dubious heritage and try to gamble to win enough money to take her and her grandmother to live in Bath. Of course, the only way to do that is to dress as a man.
On one such excursion Lucy runs into Andrew, Earl of Dartford. He is intrigued by the slight young man who is winning so much in the gaming hell but when he accidentally grabs the man by the arm he realises Mr Smith is actually a woman. Andrew has been nicknamed the Duke of Daring by Lucy and her fellow wallflowers because of his liking for dangerous (and fairly pointless) pursuits. Behind Andrew's daredevil exterior is a man afraid to let anyone close after his entire family died when he was a young man, now he refuses to get attached to anyone or anything.
When a man who doesn't do attachments and a woman who doesn't want to get married spend evenings together gambling and partaking of other 'gentlemen's' pursuits the inevitable happens.
I liked this, I thought some of the dialogue and attitudes felt too modern but I was happy to overlook that. Lucy and Andrew were engaging characters and the plot moved along at a good pace. Whilst Darcy Burke isn't an auto-buy author based on this novel I will certainly look our for more books by this author.
This was a pleasant historical romance. I haven't read the first book in the series but I had no difficulty in reading this as a stand-alone.
Miss Lucy Parnell is the orphan of an inveterate gambler. She and her grandmother are almost destitute and with her chances of contracting an advantageous marriage fading fast she decides to utilise her dubious heritage and try to gamble to win enough money to take her and her grandmother to live in Bath. Of course, the only way to do that is to dress as a man.
On one such excursion Lucy runs into Andrew, Earl of Dartford. He is intrigued by the slight young man who is winning so much in the gaming hell but when he accidentally grabs the man by the arm he realises Mr Smith is actually a woman. Andrew has been nicknamed the Duke of Daring by Lucy and her fellow wallflowers because of his liking for dangerous (and fairly pointless) pursuits. Behind Andrew's daredevil exterior is a man afraid to let anyone close after his entire family died when he was a young man, now he refuses to get attached to anyone or anything.
When a man who doesn't do attachments and a woman who doesn't want to get married spend evenings together gambling and partaking of other 'gentlemen's' pursuits the inevitable happens.
I liked this, I thought some of the dialogue and attitudes felt too modern but I was happy to overlook that. Lucy and Andrew were engaging characters and the plot moved along at a good pace. Whilst Darcy Burke isn't an auto-buy author based on this novel I will certainly look our for more books by this author.
July 1, 2016
The Duke of Daring ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Darcy Burke
(The Untouchables #2
This was by far one of my favorite books by Ms Burke. I just adored the fact that Lucinda Parnell needed money so desperately she had to dress as a man and go to gambling hells to earn money. Lucinda considered herself a failure in seeking a husband and wanted to earn enough money to buy a cottage for her grandmother and herself and live her life as a spinster.
However, while in her disguise Andrew Wentworth, the Earl of Dartford insists on joining her at the gambling tables. Andrew senses something amiss with this gentlemen and he confronts her outside. Lucinda confesses her ruse and explains her reasoning to him. At the point, Andrew makes it his mission to accompany her while she is in her male disguise. Andrew investigates her background and wishes to meet her as a woman.
Andrew attends a ball he knows Lucy will attend and finally see the beautiful woman she hides. As Andrew and Lucy go out in the evenings her in her male disguise they begin to fall in love.
This was a cute story very enjoyable and I would highly recommend it.
(The Untouchables #2
This was by far one of my favorite books by Ms Burke. I just adored the fact that Lucinda Parnell needed money so desperately she had to dress as a man and go to gambling hells to earn money. Lucinda considered herself a failure in seeking a husband and wanted to earn enough money to buy a cottage for her grandmother and herself and live her life as a spinster.
However, while in her disguise Andrew Wentworth, the Earl of Dartford insists on joining her at the gambling tables. Andrew senses something amiss with this gentlemen and he confronts her outside. Lucinda confesses her ruse and explains her reasoning to him. At the point, Andrew makes it his mission to accompany her while she is in her male disguise. Andrew investigates her background and wishes to meet her as a woman.
Andrew attends a ball he knows Lucy will attend and finally see the beautiful woman she hides. As Andrew and Lucy go out in the evenings her in her male disguise they begin to fall in love.
This was a cute story very enjoyable and I would highly recommend it.
July 4, 2016
Fun, alluring, disguising. Lucy had her sites set on making a life for her and her grandmother away from London. With her failed take on the marriage mart she has just one option open to her. She takes the chance and makes the most of it. Until she had one chance encounter with one very daring earl, Andrew. He changes more that just her direction of the evening. He changes her completely.
I enjoyed having fun with Lucy and Andrew. Night time events became more exciting to participate in and more adventuresome. Limitations on her gender be damned. She does what she needs to do to make what she need to get where she wants. The journey fun, filled with disguise and alluring nights.
Some concepts were a bit on the modern side. Along with some more modern concepts and language but I still had a good read and enjoyed the romance between Lucy and Andrew.
**This ARC was provided via Tasty Book Tours in exchange for an honest review.**
I enjoyed having fun with Lucy and Andrew. Night time events became more exciting to participate in and more adventuresome. Limitations on her gender be damned. She does what she needs to do to make what she need to get where she wants. The journey fun, filled with disguise and alluring nights.
Some concepts were a bit on the modern side. Along with some more modern concepts and language but I still had a good read and enjoyed the romance between Lucy and Andrew.
**This ARC was provided via Tasty Book Tours in exchange for an honest review.**
June 27, 2016
I loved how the hero and heroine, Lucy Parnell and Andrew, the Earl of Dartford met and fell in love. Lucy needs money and rather than look for a husband she does the unconventional and attempts to win it rather than look for a rich husband. She's an interesting character since she is willing to do whatever it takes to get around the limitations imposed on her by Society because of her gender. I liked that she goes after what she wants knowing the risks she is taking. Andrew's past losses has made him avoid getting close to anyone but he faces his fears and his realizations enable him to be with Lucy.
I received an ARC to review this book.
I received an ARC to review this book.
July 11, 2016
An unconventional beauty set on life as a spinster meets the one man who might change her mind, only to find his painful past makes it impossible to love. Ms Burke took me on a wonderfully emotional journey from attraction, to friendship, to a love that conquers all.” - Bronwen Evans USA Today Bestselling Author
July 9, 2016
I really like thses kind of historical books and The Duke of Daring was a very enjoyable read.
It was funny in the right way and the characters were, not only entertaining, but great too!
It was funny in the right way and the characters were, not only entertaining, but great too!
September 6, 2020
4.0 Daring stars!
“I worked so hard to fill my life with adventure and distraction in order to keep love out. You, however, finagled your way in, and there was no distraction in the world—not even jumping out of a balloon—that could compare.”
It took me a while to get around to reading the second book in “The Untouchables” series because I couldn’t get my hands on it until I was able to finally nab it and it was money well spent!
Chuck full of witty dialogue and historical nuggets along with nice pacing and likable characters “The Duke of Daring” was a romance between two very similar people far too jaded to risk their heart at love.
Andrew, the Earl of Dartford known for his love and thirst of adventure finally meets his match in every sense when Lady Lucy Parnell trades skills and wit at the same card table in a game hell one evening. And his life would never be the same.
Disguised as a man, Lucy frequents the card rooms reserved only for gents in order to win monies she desperately needs to make a life for herself and her Grandmama. Her father was a gambling man and fairly emptied the family's coffers before his death, leaving Lucy and her Grandmama to live off their quickly diminishing funds. Not receiving a marriage proposal in the past few seasons has left Lucy with very few choices. She's basically been left on the shelf, a season away from declaring herself a spinster.
Lucy's written off marriage feeling she's too brash and unladylike to be marriage material. She loves gambling, shooting and riding. She's resigned to live as an independent woman not relying on any man for support. But in order to support herself and fulfill her Grandmama’s wish to retire in the country she's in desperate need of funds. And the only way to make a quick buck is by engaging in the fast money-making schemes of gambling.
When Dartford realizes that the person in disguise is a woman, he takes an interest being initially drawn to her boldness and fiery spirit.
“I hope you aren't married. If you are, I'll need to have words with your husband, and then I shall extend my extreme condolences on his choice of wife.”
“I'm an unmarried woman with no marriage prospects. My options are all but non-existent. I require funds, and unless you're prepared to make me your countess, mind your own business.”
Andrew knows the danger Lucy is placing herself in and he realizes it's only a matter of time before someone else discovers her secret. In order to expedite her goal and keep her safe, he offers Lucy opportunities unlike any she'd had access to before while he acts as a “protector”.
Lucy accepts his offer and both are off on an adventure where they would encounter their biggest fears and learn to trust their hearts to someone else.
Andrew's character was very intriguing although I wanted to throttle him at times. He'd suffered the great loss of his immediate family and lived with a heavy cloud of guilt and because of it, he'd fought tooth and nail to keep himself from growing attached to people or allowing himself to care too deeply.
Families meant love. Love meant pain. And he'd endured enough pain for his entire lifetime, however long it lasted.
He realized the slippery slope he was on as he fought his growing feelings for Lucy.
It seemed they were birds of a feather and didn't that make her even more dangerous than she'd been in that dark corner on the terrace? He'd looked at her out there and for a brief moment had wanted to sweep her into his arms and see if she tasted as good as she smelled and as delicious as she looked.
Lucy herself had her own aversions to marriage.
Aquilla pressed her lips together. “Perhaps you should revise your opinion. There has to be a gentleman out there that you can tolerate. Not all men are like your father or your grandfather.”
But Lucy didn't limit her possibilities to being someone's wife. She was a strong woman with an independent mind and a drive that took her places where very few women at that time dared to explore. I loved that about Lucy!
I appreciated how Burke kept true to Andrew's demons and although flying had been something he thrilled to accomplish, I think in another sense his wounded wings were healed so he could truly soar alongside his perfect match!
There are some very hot sexy scenes which added some sizzle to this romance and definitely worth the buildup!
LOVED!!!
RECOMMENDED!
Next in the series…
The Duke of Deception
“I worked so hard to fill my life with adventure and distraction in order to keep love out. You, however, finagled your way in, and there was no distraction in the world—not even jumping out of a balloon—that could compare.”
It took me a while to get around to reading the second book in “The Untouchables” series because I couldn’t get my hands on it until I was able to finally nab it and it was money well spent!
Chuck full of witty dialogue and historical nuggets along with nice pacing and likable characters “The Duke of Daring” was a romance between two very similar people far too jaded to risk their heart at love.
Andrew, the Earl of Dartford known for his love and thirst of adventure finally meets his match in every sense when Lady Lucy Parnell trades skills and wit at the same card table in a game hell one evening. And his life would never be the same.
Disguised as a man, Lucy frequents the card rooms reserved only for gents in order to win monies she desperately needs to make a life for herself and her Grandmama. Her father was a gambling man and fairly emptied the family's coffers before his death, leaving Lucy and her Grandmama to live off their quickly diminishing funds. Not receiving a marriage proposal in the past few seasons has left Lucy with very few choices. She's basically been left on the shelf, a season away from declaring herself a spinster.
Lucy's written off marriage feeling she's too brash and unladylike to be marriage material. She loves gambling, shooting and riding. She's resigned to live as an independent woman not relying on any man for support. But in order to support herself and fulfill her Grandmama’s wish to retire in the country she's in desperate need of funds. And the only way to make a quick buck is by engaging in the fast money-making schemes of gambling.
When Dartford realizes that the person in disguise is a woman, he takes an interest being initially drawn to her boldness and fiery spirit.
“I hope you aren't married. If you are, I'll need to have words with your husband, and then I shall extend my extreme condolences on his choice of wife.”
“I'm an unmarried woman with no marriage prospects. My options are all but non-existent. I require funds, and unless you're prepared to make me your countess, mind your own business.”
Andrew knows the danger Lucy is placing herself in and he realizes it's only a matter of time before someone else discovers her secret. In order to expedite her goal and keep her safe, he offers Lucy opportunities unlike any she'd had access to before while he acts as a “protector”.
Lucy accepts his offer and both are off on an adventure where they would encounter their biggest fears and learn to trust their hearts to someone else.
Andrew's character was very intriguing although I wanted to throttle him at times. He'd suffered the great loss of his immediate family and lived with a heavy cloud of guilt and because of it, he'd fought tooth and nail to keep himself from growing attached to people or allowing himself to care too deeply.
Families meant love. Love meant pain. And he'd endured enough pain for his entire lifetime, however long it lasted.
He realized the slippery slope he was on as he fought his growing feelings for Lucy.
It seemed they were birds of a feather and didn't that make her even more dangerous than she'd been in that dark corner on the terrace? He'd looked at her out there and for a brief moment had wanted to sweep her into his arms and see if she tasted as good as she smelled and as delicious as she looked.
Lucy herself had her own aversions to marriage.
Aquilla pressed her lips together. “Perhaps you should revise your opinion. There has to be a gentleman out there that you can tolerate. Not all men are like your father or your grandfather.”
But Lucy didn't limit her possibilities to being someone's wife. She was a strong woman with an independent mind and a drive that took her places where very few women at that time dared to explore. I loved that about Lucy!
I appreciated how Burke kept true to Andrew's demons and although flying had been something he thrilled to accomplish, I think in another sense his wounded wings were healed so he could truly soar alongside his perfect match!
There are some very hot sexy scenes which added some sizzle to this romance and definitely worth the buildup!
LOVED!!!
RECOMMENDED!
Next in the series…
The Duke of Deception
May 22, 2025
3.75⭐
Basic Premise:
- She dresses up as a man to gamble.
- He loathes getting close to people because he'll get hurt when he cares uwu.
- Basically trying to fool everyone with the gender bending.
What I liked:
- I started with Book 3 and Book 1 of the series and Lucy, the FMC of this book was far more interesting! She's daring enough to dress up as a man to go to gambling dens! I love that. The whole premise of the story where Andrew, the MMC finds out about her pretending to be a man, and then teaching her to be better at her disguise- SO MUCH FUN!
- The romance part in this novel was more believable because the two of them actually spend time together and interacted beyond the constraints of the ton.
What I thought could've been better:
- Andrew getting better at handling his grief and trauma from losing his family. It just seems so abrupt that after meeting Lucy, he got better. And they then went to the epilogue right after the whole confession moment. Getting him to be more open with Lucy throughout the novel and having less spirals would be more believable. But the whole novel is quite short so I suppose the author had to do it this way.
Some thoughts:
I think I should stop reading this series, but I can't stop because they're short novels that's easy to pick up with wonderful prose and interesting storylines.
The reason why I think I should stop reading them is because these are regency novels that's focused on a woman finding a husband. Every novel in this first four books has a similar theme - the woman is almost on the shelf / about to be a spinster at the very old age of 27+ and somehow catches the attention of a higher ranking man. Despite the women saying "I shall not marry!" and being determined to do so, society reminds them that it's the duty of a woman to be married, have kids and be happy that way. The women rebel against society's notions but through the course of the book, end up marrying anyway. Nothing is said about their forgotten dreams. The women usually have nothing to lose by marrying too, and in some cases, have to marry to save themselves from ruination.
I would recommend other books if you want a more progressive FMC, because the FMCs in these novels ain't it. I still read them though, because they're really easy to consume. Definitely a palate-cleanser sort of book after reading some tough ones.
Basic Premise:
- She dresses up as a man to gamble.
- He loathes getting close to people because he'll get hurt when he cares uwu.
- Basically trying to fool everyone with the gender bending.
What I liked:
- I started with Book 3 and Book 1 of the series and Lucy, the FMC of this book was far more interesting! She's daring enough to dress up as a man to go to gambling dens! I love that. The whole premise of the story where Andrew, the MMC finds out about her pretending to be a man, and then teaching her to be better at her disguise- SO MUCH FUN!
- The romance part in this novel was more believable because the two of them actually spend time together and interacted beyond the constraints of the ton.
What I thought could've been better:
- Andrew getting better at handling his grief and trauma from losing his family. It just seems so abrupt that after meeting Lucy, he got better. And they then went to the epilogue right after the whole confession moment. Getting him to be more open with Lucy throughout the novel and having less spirals would be more believable. But the whole novel is quite short so I suppose the author had to do it this way.
Some thoughts:
I think I should stop reading this series, but I can't stop because they're short novels that's easy to pick up with wonderful prose and interesting storylines.
The reason why I think I should stop reading them is because these are regency novels that's focused on a woman finding a husband. Every novel in this first four books has a similar theme - the woman is almost on the shelf / about to be a spinster at the very old age of 27+ and somehow catches the attention of a higher ranking man. Despite the women saying "I shall not marry!" and being determined to do so, society reminds them that it's the duty of a woman to be married, have kids and be happy that way. The women rebel against society's notions but through the course of the book, end up marrying anyway. Nothing is said about their forgotten dreams. The women usually have nothing to lose by marrying too, and in some cases, have to marry to save themselves from ruination.
I would recommend other books if you want a more progressive FMC, because the FMCs in these novels ain't it. I still read them though, because they're really easy to consume. Definitely a palate-cleanser sort of book after reading some tough ones.
July 4, 2017
3.5 that I rounded up.
Hero dealing with emotional baggage of his whole family dying when he was young. Heroine who dresses up like a man to gamble - trying to earn enough money to avoid marriage.
There were some sweet moments. the Reader on the audio version was good. It just didn't spark for me.
Hero dealing with emotional baggage of his whole family dying when he was young. Heroine who dresses up like a man to gamble - trying to earn enough money to avoid marriage.
There were some sweet moments. the Reader on the audio version was good. It just didn't spark for me.
April 24, 2018
Lucy and Andrew - Loved them ❤️
I absolutely love this series, and can’t get enough of Darcy Burke’s characters... on to book 3!
I absolutely love this series, and can’t get enough of Darcy Burke’s characters... on to book 3!
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