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The Untouchables #11
The Duke of Kisses
Frances Snowden can hardly believe her good fortune when she’s whisked away from her boring life by her sister who is now a duchess. Instead of becoming the third wife of her parents’ stuffy neighbor, she can be anything she wants: a doting aunt to her newborn niece, a debutante in London, or even an independent spinster. But when she meets and kisses a mysterious man on a walk in the countryside, she knows exactly what she desires—him.
David Langley, Earl of St. Ives, is resigned to marrying the dull woman his parents chose when he was a child. His future is suddenly, and happily, diverted when he encounters a captivating young woman who shows him everything he’s been missing. Ready to embark on a blissful life together, a long-buried feud between their families makes their marriage impossible. Nothing is more important than duty and family, but can he turn his back on love?
David Langley, Earl of St. Ives, is resigned to marrying the dull woman his parents chose when he was a child. His future is suddenly, and happily, diverted when he encounters a captivating young woman who shows him everything he’s been missing. Ready to embark on a blissful life together, a long-buried feud between their families makes their marriage impossible. Nothing is more important than duty and family, but can he turn his back on love?
274 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 27, 2018
333 people are currently reading
448 people want to read
About the author
Darcy Burke
206 books2,279 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 124 reviews
July 12, 2024
⭐
1 star.
➕ What I liked :
Some little parts of the beginning of the story.
Tallish heroine.
The heroines sister was a rather good sibling.
(She helped her sister in many ways... like getting her away from a unwanted arranged marriage among other things.)
➖ What I disliked:
Rushed in some parts.
(Mainly in the beginning of the story… a little to insta-lust.)
Too much focus/time spent on including the characters and main characters from the other books in the series… and not enough focus/time on the main characters of this book.
A little too much telling and not enough showing.
The heroine has no real personality or her own interests… she copies the hero (ornithology) and also in many ways does copy her sisters passion/interests (helping the poor etc.)
Both main characters lacked depth.
The wishy-washy behavior from the hero towards the heroine and also his mixed signals towards her.
The heroine was too naive in general… and it was strange that she was not more wary of the hero or men considering what her sister went through and her sister also cautioned her to be careful/wary.
Almost zero chemistry and tension between the main characters.
More or less zero romance/romantic build-up.
Jumbled/disjointed plot.
The heroes repetitive thoughts about his “promise” to his father.
Both main characters were rather weak… the hero cared more about his “promise” to his father than his developing feelings/feelings for the heroine… and the heroine did not mind the mixed signals and his wishy-washy behavior … which made her come across as both kind of a push-over and/or desperate.
And the hero also came across as rather vacillating/irresolute. (wanting to have the cake and eat it too.)
Lackluster dialogue.
Issues were resolved too easily/quickly.
Underwhelming.
Disappointing.
November 16, 2018
Series: The League of Rogues #11
Publication Date: 11/27/2018
Word Candy! Pure unadulterated word candy is the best description for this book. The prologue is so very sweet and lovely - what a delightful way to meet your future! I believe David is my very favorite of the heroes so far. Why is he my favorite – well, there are a lot of reasons, but his complete, unequivocal and very vocal support of Fanny in every way is the biggest. Yes, his conscience troubled him about a promise he made to his father, but once he made up his mind, it was Fanny all the way.
David Langley, Earl of St Ives first met Frances (Fanny) Snowden shortly after the death of his father. He was bereft beyond belief and the young housemaid he met lightened his day – and her memory lightened the months afterward. She was so delightful, sweet, and awkward. It is too bad that she is a housemaid because that means there could be no relationship between them – that is one reason he told her he was a steward. None of that, however, kept him from kissing her before they parted that day.
Four months later Fanny, sister to the Duchess of Clare, is attending a ball during her first season when she sees the steward she’d met months earlier. What is a steward doing at a ball? Perhaps the same thing as a housemaid! When they are formally introduced, each of them knows they must talk.
David and Fanny speak about their initial meeting and continue to meet and speak. Poor Fanny is such a klutz that she’s always tripping or falling and both she and David are abysmal dancers. No matter the issue, they have high regard for each other and that regard quickly turns into love.
Of course, it wouldn’t be a romance if there weren’t obstacles thrown in the way and David and Fanny had some big ones. Some examples? David’s family’s marriage expectations; his death-bed promise to his father; deep enmity between David and Fanny’s family. Some of those obstacles could become life-threatening.
Several things occur and Fanny and her sister, Ivy, Duchess of Clare, leave London for the Clare country seat – Stour. Then, Fanny travels on to attend her youngest brother’s wedding. Fanny’s parents are just gosh-awful! When David shows up to ask for Fanny’s hand, fisticuffs ensue. David takes Fanny back to Stour where the real danger lurks.
As perfect as I thought this book was, there were still some things that niggled at me. Now – please note the word ‘niggled’ and also note that this is a 5-star review. These are just small things that I noticed that didn’t seem to be complete – they did not take away from my enjoyment of the book.
*** First and probably the biggest is Fanny’s father’s sudden change of heart. That just isn’t realistic. Had he said that he’d been thinking about things since her angry departure and that he wanted to make amends with her and Ivy, then you could see that. But – the way it was presented he just had this grand epiphany and all was right with the world.
*** Second is the whole Miss Stokes thing. I understand the need for the stress to Fanny & David’s relationship, but we didn’t have to actually meet Miss Stokes for that.
*** Third, Jacob, Fanny’s brother seems to have had this sudden change of personality, but there is no explanation for it.
*** The races – much was made of them and they were started, but then there was no mention of them continuing, the outcomes, etc.
*** Sarah was missing from the wedding and we didn’t get a real explanation.
I highly recommend this book – and the series if you haven’t read any of the other books. It is well written and we’ve come to know the characters throughout the series. It is as if we were saying hello to old and valued friends. The ending is very exciting – you’ll love it!
Please check out my reviews at:
Blog: https://flippinpages.blog/
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/flippinpages...
Twitter: https://twitter.com/FlippinPagesRev
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BarbBookReview
"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."
Publication Date: 11/27/2018
Word Candy! Pure unadulterated word candy is the best description for this book. The prologue is so very sweet and lovely - what a delightful way to meet your future! I believe David is my very favorite of the heroes so far. Why is he my favorite – well, there are a lot of reasons, but his complete, unequivocal and very vocal support of Fanny in every way is the biggest. Yes, his conscience troubled him about a promise he made to his father, but once he made up his mind, it was Fanny all the way.
David Langley, Earl of St Ives first met Frances (Fanny) Snowden shortly after the death of his father. He was bereft beyond belief and the young housemaid he met lightened his day – and her memory lightened the months afterward. She was so delightful, sweet, and awkward. It is too bad that she is a housemaid because that means there could be no relationship between them – that is one reason he told her he was a steward. None of that, however, kept him from kissing her before they parted that day.
Four months later Fanny, sister to the Duchess of Clare, is attending a ball during her first season when she sees the steward she’d met months earlier. What is a steward doing at a ball? Perhaps the same thing as a housemaid! When they are formally introduced, each of them knows they must talk.
David and Fanny speak about their initial meeting and continue to meet and speak. Poor Fanny is such a klutz that she’s always tripping or falling and both she and David are abysmal dancers. No matter the issue, they have high regard for each other and that regard quickly turns into love.
Of course, it wouldn’t be a romance if there weren’t obstacles thrown in the way and David and Fanny had some big ones. Some examples? David’s family’s marriage expectations; his death-bed promise to his father; deep enmity between David and Fanny’s family. Some of those obstacles could become life-threatening.
Several things occur and Fanny and her sister, Ivy, Duchess of Clare, leave London for the Clare country seat – Stour. Then, Fanny travels on to attend her youngest brother’s wedding. Fanny’s parents are just gosh-awful! When David shows up to ask for Fanny’s hand, fisticuffs ensue. David takes Fanny back to Stour where the real danger lurks.
As perfect as I thought this book was, there were still some things that niggled at me. Now – please note the word ‘niggled’ and also note that this is a 5-star review. These are just small things that I noticed that didn’t seem to be complete – they did not take away from my enjoyment of the book.
*** First and probably the biggest is Fanny’s father’s sudden change of heart. That just isn’t realistic. Had he said that he’d been thinking about things since her angry departure and that he wanted to make amends with her and Ivy, then you could see that. But – the way it was presented he just had this grand epiphany and all was right with the world.
*** Second is the whole Miss Stokes thing. I understand the need for the stress to Fanny & David’s relationship, but we didn’t have to actually meet Miss Stokes for that.
*** Third, Jacob, Fanny’s brother seems to have had this sudden change of personality, but there is no explanation for it.
*** The races – much was made of them and they were started, but then there was no mention of them continuing, the outcomes, etc.
*** Sarah was missing from the wedding and we didn’t get a real explanation.
I highly recommend this book – and the series if you haven’t read any of the other books. It is well written and we’ve come to know the characters throughout the series. It is as if we were saying hello to old and valued friends. The ending is very exciting – you’ll love it!
Please check out my reviews at:
Blog: https://flippinpages.blog/
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/flippinpages...
Twitter: https://twitter.com/FlippinPagesRev
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BarbBookReview
"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."
November 21, 2018
3.5 stars
I had read and enjoyed a couple of the previous books, so I was all in on this one.
I loved Fanny and David. They’re both good, loyal people who stand up for themselves and others. I loved their open communication and the banter between them. Of course there are glimpses of some of the characters from previous books and some of them were unknown to me. I just might have to go back.
Plot wise, there’s sort of a lot going on and that’s where I struggled. The decades old family feud didn’t translate well for me and the addition of so so so many more family members left me confused. The build up to a somewhat surprising conflict was quick and just as abruptly over. I get the need for a splash of animosity, but this didn’t feel fleshed out.
Overall, it was the characters who carried the story. I could have done with a million more scenes of the two them together, but hopefully I’ll see them in the next book.
**Huge thanks to Darcy Burke for providing the arc free of charge**
I had read and enjoyed a couple of the previous books, so I was all in on this one.
I loved Fanny and David. They’re both good, loyal people who stand up for themselves and others. I loved their open communication and the banter between them. Of course there are glimpses of some of the characters from previous books and some of them were unknown to me. I just might have to go back.
Plot wise, there’s sort of a lot going on and that’s where I struggled. The decades old family feud didn’t translate well for me and the addition of so so so many more family members left me confused. The build up to a somewhat surprising conflict was quick and just as abruptly over. I get the need for a splash of animosity, but this didn’t feel fleshed out.
Overall, it was the characters who carried the story. I could have done with a million more scenes of the two them together, but hopefully I’ll see them in the next book.
**Huge thanks to Darcy Burke for providing the arc free of charge**
November 12, 2018
❤️❤️❤️❤️
💋💋
The Earl Of St.Ives is such a sweetheart.
He’s thoughtful and kind , soft in heart, strong in Honour, the perfect hero for this book and for Fanny .
Their are so many obstacles in the way of their relationship, every time they overcome something, another replaces it , can they ever live happily together ?
I really enjoyed this book a great addition to the Untouchables series.
Can’t wait for more .
I received an advance copy of this book and chose to submit a review
💋💋
The Earl Of St.Ives is such a sweetheart.
He’s thoughtful and kind , soft in heart, strong in Honour, the perfect hero for this book and for Fanny .
Their are so many obstacles in the way of their relationship, every time they overcome something, another replaces it , can they ever live happily together ?
I really enjoyed this book a great addition to the Untouchables series.
Can’t wait for more .
I received an advance copy of this book and chose to submit a review
June 7, 2021
'Frances Snowden can hardly believe her good fortune when she’s whisked away from her boring life by her sister who is now a duchess. Instead of becoming the third wife of her parents’ stuffy neighbor, she can be anything she wants: a doting aunt to her newborn niece, a debutante in London, or even an independent spinster. But when she meets and kisses a mysterious man on a walk in the countryside, she knows exactly what she desires—him.
David Langley, Earl of St. Ives, is resigned to marrying the dull woman his parents chose when he was a child. His future is suddenly, and happily, diverted when he encounters a captivating young woman who shows him everything he’s been missing. Ready to embark on a blissful life together, a long-buried feud between their families makes their marriage impossible. Nothing is more important than duty and family, but can he turn his back on love?'
_______________________________
The Duke of Kisses is the eleventh book in Darcy Burke's The Untouchables series and is a historical romance.
Fanny and David had such a sweet first meeting, very Christmas storybook. It turned a bit when there certain information wasn't shared, but that issue was quickly resolved. Which was great as such issues are ususally stretched out for far too long. Fanny quicky confronts the matter and it is resolved, I really liked that about Fanny. Also I found the name 'Duke of Kisses' to be fairly cheesy and I was glad when it turned out to be a joke name to tease him. I really liked both Fanny and David, they had a good dynamic together and they were sweet.
There was a bit of a mystery and a good dose of danger toward the end of the book, which I always think makes a book better so I'm biased but I really enjoyed that part of the plot. It really brought the book together for me. There were some moments that pushed the boundries of believablity, but I enjoyed it.
This book is part of The Untouchables series, but I think you could definitely read it as a stand-alone. The important backstory of Ivy and the circumstances that lead up to her marriage are all explained. There has been so many books between Ivy's story and now Fanny's that I barely remembered the storyline and yet I didn't feel lost because there was enough detail and explanation provided to catch me up. I'm really loking forward to reading about Felix and Sarah in the next book.
David Langley, Earl of St. Ives, is resigned to marrying the dull woman his parents chose when he was a child. His future is suddenly, and happily, diverted when he encounters a captivating young woman who shows him everything he’s been missing. Ready to embark on a blissful life together, a long-buried feud between their families makes their marriage impossible. Nothing is more important than duty and family, but can he turn his back on love?'
_______________________________
The Duke of Kisses is the eleventh book in Darcy Burke's The Untouchables series and is a historical romance.
Fanny and David had such a sweet first meeting, very Christmas storybook. It turned a bit when there certain information wasn't shared, but that issue was quickly resolved. Which was great as such issues are ususally stretched out for far too long. Fanny quicky confronts the matter and it is resolved, I really liked that about Fanny. Also I found the name 'Duke of Kisses' to be fairly cheesy and I was glad when it turned out to be a joke name to tease him. I really liked both Fanny and David, they had a good dynamic together and they were sweet.
There was a bit of a mystery and a good dose of danger toward the end of the book, which I always think makes a book better so I'm biased but I really enjoyed that part of the plot. It really brought the book together for me. There were some moments that pushed the boundries of believablity, but I enjoyed it.
This book is part of The Untouchables series, but I think you could definitely read it as a stand-alone. The important backstory of Ivy and the circumstances that lead up to her marriage are all explained. There has been so many books between Ivy's story and now Fanny's that I barely remembered the storyline and yet I didn't feel lost because there was enough detail and explanation provided to catch me up. I'm really loking forward to reading about Felix and Sarah in the next book.
November 14, 2018
I absolutely love great writing like this. The Duke of Kisses is a wonderful Regency Romance story about David Langley Earl of St. Ives and Frances/Fanny Snowden sister to Ivy Duchess of Clare.
David and Fanny made a great couple any disagreements they had they settled by being honest about what was troubling them. I love it when couples work together to grown there relationship. There sexual attraction was from the very beginning when they met.
We get to re visit old characters from other Untouchable series books. David and Fanny have some trip ups along the way with other people getting in there way like David's mother the Dowager Countess of St. Ives and Fanny's parents The Snowden's. But there love and desire to be together is so strong they quickly shut there parents down and anyone who tries to separate them.
Fanny is Young and Beautiful David is Handsome and Rich. They are a picture perfect couple which I love to read about.
The story is faced paced. A page turner. That's beautifully written. I could not put it down until I finished.
The Duke of Kisses will go on my re read list. I loved it. It made me feel happy!!
I Highly Recommend The Duke of Kisses and the entire The Untouchables series by Darcy Burke.
I RECIEVED THE ARC FOR THE DUKE OF KISSES IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW!!!FROM THE AUTHOR DARCY BURKE!!
David and Fanny made a great couple any disagreements they had they settled by being honest about what was troubling them. I love it when couples work together to grown there relationship. There sexual attraction was from the very beginning when they met.
We get to re visit old characters from other Untouchable series books. David and Fanny have some trip ups along the way with other people getting in there way like David's mother the Dowager Countess of St. Ives and Fanny's parents The Snowden's. But there love and desire to be together is so strong they quickly shut there parents down and anyone who tries to separate them.
Fanny is Young and Beautiful David is Handsome and Rich. They are a picture perfect couple which I love to read about.
The story is faced paced. A page turner. That's beautifully written. I could not put it down until I finished.
The Duke of Kisses will go on my re read list. I loved it. It made me feel happy!!
I Highly Recommend The Duke of Kisses and the entire The Untouchables series by Darcy Burke.
I RECIEVED THE ARC FOR THE DUKE OF KISSES IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW!!!FROM THE AUTHOR DARCY BURKE!!
November 26, 2018
4.5 stars
Frances "Fanny" Snowden met David Langley, Earl of St. Ives while staying at her sister's estate at Christmas. Neither is honest about their identity, he claims to be a steward and she a maid, but the attraction is real and when he walks her back to her sister's, they share a kiss.
Weeks later, they meet again, this time at a ball in London. David has come to town to assume his responsibilities of the earldom and is befriended by Anthony Colton, who convinces him to join him at the ball. He arrives and sees Fanny, she is a friend of Anthony's sister Sarah. He wants to dance with her, but ends up with Sarah. They meet again the next day in the park and talk. Later he meets her brother in law West, David would like to court Fanny, but he has obligations and cannot commit to her. But he can't seem to stay away. When his mother and uncle arrive in town, his mother reminds him of his promise to his father and David feels honor bound to meet Miss. Stokes, the woman he promised his father he would marry. He feels trapped, he wants Fanny, but can he break the promise he made?
Fanny is free for the first time in her life and is quickly falling in love with David, she wonders if he will propose and is crushed when she learns he is promised to another. He tries to explain and she is considerate to his feelings, but when his mother intervenes and threatens to expose her sister Ivy, Fanny leaves town. David decides that love trumps his promise and that his father would have wanted him to follow his heart, he approaches West about courting Fanny and learns that she has left town.
His mother is not happy with his decision and tells him what she knows about Ivy, he doesn't care, she then tells him of the bad blood between the Snowdens and the Langleys - he is stunned to learn of the allegations against Fanny's great-uncle and now isn't sure what to do, he talks with his friend and decides to give himself some time to reflect.
Fanny returns to her parents home for her brother's wedding, that is when she learns about the feud between the families. She is heartsick about losing David, worried about his mother's threats and frustrated that her parents are pushing her to marry. She slips away and is shocked to see David. He tells her he loves her and wants to marry her - Yes!
It seems like their HEA is within reach, but the bad blood between their families will cause more problems than they could have possibly anticipated and may tear them apart forever.
I think this is one of my favorite books in the series, I loved David and Fanny, the chemistry between them is obvious and I loved that David always, always supported and protected Fanny. He might actually be my favorite "Duke" - Sorry Kendal! This is a well written novel with a lot of obstacles keeping our lovers apart, but their love is true and their devotion to one another helps them triumph over all things that threaten to destroy their HEA. The book is amusing, riveting, shocking, steamy and will have you turning pages as fast as you can to find out what happens!
This is the 11th book in the series, but it can easily be read as a stand alone title with no issues. I highly recommend this story and am looking forward to Sarah & Felix's story which is slated to release early next year.
*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that was provided to me by the author*
Frances "Fanny" Snowden met David Langley, Earl of St. Ives while staying at her sister's estate at Christmas. Neither is honest about their identity, he claims to be a steward and she a maid, but the attraction is real and when he walks her back to her sister's, they share a kiss.
Weeks later, they meet again, this time at a ball in London. David has come to town to assume his responsibilities of the earldom and is befriended by Anthony Colton, who convinces him to join him at the ball. He arrives and sees Fanny, she is a friend of Anthony's sister Sarah. He wants to dance with her, but ends up with Sarah. They meet again the next day in the park and talk. Later he meets her brother in law West, David would like to court Fanny, but he has obligations and cannot commit to her. But he can't seem to stay away. When his mother and uncle arrive in town, his mother reminds him of his promise to his father and David feels honor bound to meet Miss. Stokes, the woman he promised his father he would marry. He feels trapped, he wants Fanny, but can he break the promise he made?
Fanny is free for the first time in her life and is quickly falling in love with David, she wonders if he will propose and is crushed when she learns he is promised to another. He tries to explain and she is considerate to his feelings, but when his mother intervenes and threatens to expose her sister Ivy, Fanny leaves town. David decides that love trumps his promise and that his father would have wanted him to follow his heart, he approaches West about courting Fanny and learns that she has left town.
His mother is not happy with his decision and tells him what she knows about Ivy, he doesn't care, she then tells him of the bad blood between the Snowdens and the Langleys - he is stunned to learn of the allegations against Fanny's great-uncle and now isn't sure what to do, he talks with his friend and decides to give himself some time to reflect.
Fanny returns to her parents home for her brother's wedding, that is when she learns about the feud between the families. She is heartsick about losing David, worried about his mother's threats and frustrated that her parents are pushing her to marry. She slips away and is shocked to see David. He tells her he loves her and wants to marry her - Yes!
It seems like their HEA is within reach, but the bad blood between their families will cause more problems than they could have possibly anticipated and may tear them apart forever.
I think this is one of my favorite books in the series, I loved David and Fanny, the chemistry between them is obvious and I loved that David always, always supported and protected Fanny. He might actually be my favorite "Duke" - Sorry Kendal! This is a well written novel with a lot of obstacles keeping our lovers apart, but their love is true and their devotion to one another helps them triumph over all things that threaten to destroy their HEA. The book is amusing, riveting, shocking, steamy and will have you turning pages as fast as you can to find out what happens!
This is the 11th book in the series, but it can easily be read as a stand alone title with no issues. I highly recommend this story and am looking forward to Sarah & Felix's story which is slated to release early next year.
*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that was provided to me by the author*
November 27, 2018
THE DUKE OF KISSES by Darcy Burke is book 11 in The Untouchables Series. This is the story of David Langley, Earl of St. Ives and Frances 'Fanny' Snowden. I have read the previous books but feel you can make this a standalone book if you wish to do so.
David and Fanny met when she was a maid and he pretended to be a Steward. Fanny came into his life when he was sad about his father's death. David knew that nothing could come of their friendship because of the class differences. Frances's sister ends up marrying a Duke and invites Frances to come stay with her and decide what she wants to do with her life. Frances knows that she wants David after their shared encounters but their family standing and obligations will make it hard for that to be.
Really enjoy this series and this just added to my delight of this series.
David and Fanny met when she was a maid and he pretended to be a Steward. Fanny came into his life when he was sad about his father's death. David knew that nothing could come of their friendship because of the class differences. Frances's sister ends up marrying a Duke and invites Frances to come stay with her and decide what she wants to do with her life. Frances knows that she wants David after their shared encounters but their family standing and obligations will make it hard for that to be.
Really enjoy this series and this just added to my delight of this series.
November 14, 2018
Enjoyable entry into the series. I really liked Fanny and David’s story. I feel like I missed something at the end when talking about Sarah and Anthony although I am looking forward to sarah and Felix’s story.
November 28, 2018
Full review can be found HERE --> https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
*ARC provided for a voluntary honest review.* ~Sonal
*ARC provided for a voluntary honest review.* ~Sonal
November 26, 2018
The Duke of Kisses is the 11th book in The Untouchables series by Darcy Burke. It can easily be read as a standalone book. I thoroughly enjoyed this story, as I have enjoyed the others that I have read in the series, and as always I love how the Dukes get their nicknames. Duke of Desire, Duke of Kisses etc.
Frances (Fanny) Snowdon is the sister of a duchess, Ivy, and when life gets unbearable at home Fanny takes up Ivy's offer of living with them. During a walk where she finds herself lost she ends up being rescued by a very handsome man whom she instantly finds herself attracted to. By the time he walks her back home she discovers that he is a steward in training, and knowing that their classes would come between them, she tells him that she is a maid. They say their goodbyes with a steamy passionate kiss that they know will never be repeated.
The truth is, of course, that Fanny isn't a maid, and that the man she kissed, David Langley, is not a steward in training, he is actually the new Earl of St. Ives. Some time later when they are in London for the season they are introduced at a ball and are both thrilled to see each other but also bemused at the fact that each lied to each other about who they were. They definitely needed to get some time alone to discuss what happened between them and why they both lied. If they ended up kissing again, well that wouldn't be a problem.
Their attraction to each other is palpable but there are many obstacles in their way to a happy future together. Not least a promise by David to his father on the man's deathbed. Unofficially his father and a friend of his father had an agreement that David would marry the other man's daughter. David had to promise to keep that agreement, he wanted his father to go to his grave happy. Will David be able to break his promise to his father, and even if he does, what of the other obstacles between them, are they surmountable?
This story was a pleasure to read from the very first pages when we read how David and Fanny meet. There is so much going against them having their happy ever after and I am just thrilled that David, the Duke of Kisses (lovingly named by Fanny) perseveres through thick and thin to be with the woman he loves.
The way the book ended was near perfect, there was an instance that kind of stretched believability a little. But the romantic in me, the one that loves a happily ever after despite that instant, happily just went with it and told myself that miracles can happen! All in all the book was great and I highly recommend it.
Frances (Fanny) Snowdon is the sister of a duchess, Ivy, and when life gets unbearable at home Fanny takes up Ivy's offer of living with them. During a walk where she finds herself lost she ends up being rescued by a very handsome man whom she instantly finds herself attracted to. By the time he walks her back home she discovers that he is a steward in training, and knowing that their classes would come between them, she tells him that she is a maid. They say their goodbyes with a steamy passionate kiss that they know will never be repeated.
The truth is, of course, that Fanny isn't a maid, and that the man she kissed, David Langley, is not a steward in training, he is actually the new Earl of St. Ives. Some time later when they are in London for the season they are introduced at a ball and are both thrilled to see each other but also bemused at the fact that each lied to each other about who they were. They definitely needed to get some time alone to discuss what happened between them and why they both lied. If they ended up kissing again, well that wouldn't be a problem.
Their attraction to each other is palpable but there are many obstacles in their way to a happy future together. Not least a promise by David to his father on the man's deathbed. Unofficially his father and a friend of his father had an agreement that David would marry the other man's daughter. David had to promise to keep that agreement, he wanted his father to go to his grave happy. Will David be able to break his promise to his father, and even if he does, what of the other obstacles between them, are they surmountable?
This story was a pleasure to read from the very first pages when we read how David and Fanny meet. There is so much going against them having their happy ever after and I am just thrilled that David, the Duke of Kisses (lovingly named by Fanny) perseveres through thick and thin to be with the woman he loves.
The way the book ended was near perfect, there was an instance that kind of stretched believability a little. But the romantic in me, the one that loves a happily ever after despite that instant, happily just went with it and told myself that miracles can happen! All in all the book was great and I highly recommend it.
November 30, 2018
Originally posted on Adria's Musings and Reviews
* A copy of this book was and provided by the publisher via NetGalley for the purpose of an honest review. All conclusions are my own responsibility and I was not compensated for this review.
The Story in 4 Sentences or Less: Thanks to her sister who is now a duchess, Frances Snowden has a future that doesn’t involve being forced to marry her parents’ neighbor, all she has to do is decide what she wants. Things get a tad complicated though when she meets and kisses a stranger while out walking and she decides she wants him, only to find out he’s not exactly who she though he was, he’s David Langley, the Earl of St. Ives. Meanwhile David was set to marry the woman his parents chose for him at birth but after kissing Fanny he realizes he wants more out of life. Of course, just as he and Fanny are about to make things official, an old feud between their families comes to light making things complicated and possibly dangerous.
Like It? Hate it? Love it? Why? I’ve been waiting for Fanny’s story for what seems like forever and it was definitely worth the wait. The Duke of Kisses is passionate, tender, engaging, and humorous in all the right places, I enjoyed getting to know Fanny and David and revisiting with some previous characters.
Fanny is just a delight, she’s intelligent, she’s compassionate, and even when she thinks she’s out of options she doesn’t give up. She also loves animals so that's a big plus for me too. She's definitely more of an intellectual character than one driven purely by actions. David is very similar to Fanny in that he also has a kind heart. He is the most un-aristocratic aristocrat in the series in my opinion. I could have easily confused him for a working man had other characters not reminded me every time they addressed him by his title. His most admirable trait however has to be his supportive attitude towards Fanny. He isn't condescending, he doesn't go around beating his chest to prove he is the superior man around her, he's just himself and he makes Fanny feel comfortable in her own skin without even trying. As a couple they just worked so well because they had the feeling of knowing the other would be there to catch them if they fell. So romantic.
The one thing that did kind of befuddle me was the conflict between their two families. It was thrown in there in the last third of the book and then quickly wrapped up just in time for the happy ending to happen. It was an interesting conflict but because it was just tossed in all of a sudden it felt more like a desperate attempt to garner some drama and mystery when it would have been better to have been introduced much earlier in the story and build that mystery and suspense until the end. But it really wasn't something that kept me from enjoying David and Fanny's romance.
Click It or Skip It? Click It. David and Fanny are a truly romantic couple that I loved meeting.
* A copy of this book was and provided by the publisher via NetGalley for the purpose of an honest review. All conclusions are my own responsibility and I was not compensated for this review.
The Story in 4 Sentences or Less: Thanks to her sister who is now a duchess, Frances Snowden has a future that doesn’t involve being forced to marry her parents’ neighbor, all she has to do is decide what she wants. Things get a tad complicated though when she meets and kisses a stranger while out walking and she decides she wants him, only to find out he’s not exactly who she though he was, he’s David Langley, the Earl of St. Ives. Meanwhile David was set to marry the woman his parents chose for him at birth but after kissing Fanny he realizes he wants more out of life. Of course, just as he and Fanny are about to make things official, an old feud between their families comes to light making things complicated and possibly dangerous.
Like It? Hate it? Love it? Why? I’ve been waiting for Fanny’s story for what seems like forever and it was definitely worth the wait. The Duke of Kisses is passionate, tender, engaging, and humorous in all the right places, I enjoyed getting to know Fanny and David and revisiting with some previous characters.
Fanny is just a delight, she’s intelligent, she’s compassionate, and even when she thinks she’s out of options she doesn’t give up. She also loves animals so that's a big plus for me too. She's definitely more of an intellectual character than one driven purely by actions. David is very similar to Fanny in that he also has a kind heart. He is the most un-aristocratic aristocrat in the series in my opinion. I could have easily confused him for a working man had other characters not reminded me every time they addressed him by his title. His most admirable trait however has to be his supportive attitude towards Fanny. He isn't condescending, he doesn't go around beating his chest to prove he is the superior man around her, he's just himself and he makes Fanny feel comfortable in her own skin without even trying. As a couple they just worked so well because they had the feeling of knowing the other would be there to catch them if they fell. So romantic.
The one thing that did kind of befuddle me was the conflict between their two families. It was thrown in there in the last third of the book and then quickly wrapped up just in time for the happy ending to happen. It was an interesting conflict but because it was just tossed in all of a sudden it felt more like a desperate attempt to garner some drama and mystery when it would have been better to have been introduced much earlier in the story and build that mystery and suspense until the end. But it really wasn't something that kept me from enjoying David and Fanny's romance.
Click It or Skip It? Click It. David and Fanny are a truly romantic couple that I loved meeting.
November 27, 2018
Another awesome addition to the Untouchables series! Anything can happen as Frances gets away from her uneventful life to spend time with her sister Ivy who married a Duke. Well something definitely happens when she meets David and they share a kiss. So isn't that wonderful? Each has pretended to be someone else, so when they meet again at a ball, their identities are revealed and yes, that initial attraction blooms! But David had promised his dying father to marry another man's daughter. He also finds out that a feud exists between his and Fanny's family. What else could keep them apart?
This was such a well written story and I fell in love with these two. Their romance is palpable and David is so lovable. They go through several ups and downs but true love has a way of surviving even when a terrible threat hangs in the balance.
Do not miss this wonderful addition that can be read as a standalone. This may be my favorite one, but of course I say that about each book by Darcy Burke as I turn the last page!!
This was such a well written story and I fell in love with these two. Their romance is palpable and David is so lovable. They go through several ups and downs but true love has a way of surviving even when a terrible threat hangs in the balance.
Do not miss this wonderful addition that can be read as a standalone. This may be my favorite one, but of course I say that about each book by Darcy Burke as I turn the last page!!
November 27, 2018
Given ARC for honest review.
Darcy Burke has a way of making you fall in love with all of her Dukes! Frances and David's story is one that was too cute and funny.
Fanny and David's first encounter in the countryside was memorable, both had a very instant attraction to one another but both decided not to be completely honest with one another. Fate is a funny thing, because when it's meant to be it's meant to be, a few months past and the two interesting individuals happen to run into each other during the London season.
You are rooting for Franny and David to finally be together, but there are obstacles and a interesting family history that tries to keep them apart. But the more that Fanny and the Duke spent time together the more they know that what they have is true love.
I can't wait for the next installment of the untouchables, to continue to be captivated by Burke's writing and storytelling. I honestly appreciate these books and how they are not only full of romance but also adventures.
Darcy Burke has a way of making you fall in love with all of her Dukes! Frances and David's story is one that was too cute and funny.
Fanny and David's first encounter in the countryside was memorable, both had a very instant attraction to one another but both decided not to be completely honest with one another. Fate is a funny thing, because when it's meant to be it's meant to be, a few months past and the two interesting individuals happen to run into each other during the London season.
You are rooting for Franny and David to finally be together, but there are obstacles and a interesting family history that tries to keep them apart. But the more that Fanny and the Duke spent time together the more they know that what they have is true love.
I can't wait for the next installment of the untouchables, to continue to be captivated by Burke's writing and storytelling. I honestly appreciate these books and how they are not only full of romance but also adventures.
November 27, 2018
Darcy Burke has a way of making you fall in love with all of her Dukes! Frances and David's story is one that was too cute and funny.
Fanny and David's first encounter in the countryside was memorable, both had a very instant attraction to one another but both decided not to be completely honest with one another. Fate is a funny thing, because when it's meant to be it's meant to be, a few months past and the two interesting individuals happen to run into each other during the London season.
You are rooting for Franny and David to finally be together, but there are obstacles and a interesting family history that tries to keep them apart. But the more that Fanny and the Duke spent time together the more they know that what they have is true love.
I can't wait for the next installment of the untouchables, to continue to be captivated by Burke's writing and storytelling. I honestly appreciate these books and how they are not only full of romance but also adventures.
Reviewed by: Glori I.
Fanny and David's first encounter in the countryside was memorable, both had a very instant attraction to one another but both decided not to be completely honest with one another. Fate is a funny thing, because when it's meant to be it's meant to be, a few months past and the two interesting individuals happen to run into each other during the London season.
You are rooting for Franny and David to finally be together, but there are obstacles and a interesting family history that tries to keep them apart. But the more that Fanny and the Duke spent time together the more they know that what they have is true love.
I can't wait for the next installment of the untouchables, to continue to be captivated by Burke's writing and storytelling. I honestly appreciate these books and how they are not only full of romance but also adventures.
Reviewed by: Glori I.
December 16, 2018
AS much as I usually love Darcy Burke's books from the first to the last page ... this one was a fight. I really felt no connection to the heroine - Frances. In the beginning, it's something new because she is living with her sister - a love story we all enjoyed reading - but Frances herself is ... well ... quite ordinary. David Langley, Earl of St. Ives, doesn't want to marry the woman his family picked for him but he falls in love with Frances ... well, we've had this storyline quite often already and I really did not feel like there was something new about it.
All the other Duke stories were thrilling, fast in tempo and I loved the female leads for their wit and the males for their charm. But with these two ...
All the other Duke stories were thrilling, fast in tempo and I loved the female leads for their wit and the males for their charm. But with these two ...
November 18, 2018
Frances (Franny) Snowden can hardly believe her good fortune when she’s whisked away from her life by her sister Ivy, who is now a duchess. Instead of becoming the third wife of her parents’ stuffy neighbour Mr Duckworth, she can be anything she wants: a doting aunt to her newborn niece, a debutante in London, or even an independent spinster. But when she meets and kisses a mysterious man on a walk in the countryside, she knows exactly what she desires—him.
David Langley, the new Earl of St. Ives, is resigned to marrying the woman his parents chose when he was a child. His future is suddenly, and happily, diverted when he encounters Franny, they fall in love & are ready to embark on a blissful life together when a long-buried feud between their families makes their marriage impossible.
This is the eleventh book in the series & it could easily be read on its own but seriously I’d recommend the whole series. This is another captivating read, I love how the author is building a community of friends & acquaintances as each book is somehow linked to characters in other books in the series. The characters have depth & so likeable, David is lovely, protective, caring & honourable, he’s also determined to find out what happened over a generation ago. Franny is accident prone & clumsy but has a heart of gold. They are perfect for each other. The story flowed really well & I read it in two sittings. I look forward to many books in the series
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
David Langley, the new Earl of St. Ives, is resigned to marrying the woman his parents chose when he was a child. His future is suddenly, and happily, diverted when he encounters Franny, they fall in love & are ready to embark on a blissful life together when a long-buried feud between their families makes their marriage impossible.
This is the eleventh book in the series & it could easily be read on its own but seriously I’d recommend the whole series. This is another captivating read, I love how the author is building a community of friends & acquaintances as each book is somehow linked to characters in other books in the series. The characters have depth & so likeable, David is lovely, protective, caring & honourable, he’s also determined to find out what happened over a generation ago. Franny is accident prone & clumsy but has a heart of gold. They are perfect for each other. The story flowed really well & I read it in two sittings. I look forward to many books in the series
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
November 26, 2018
Standing on the edge of tomorrow means finding a way through today. For Frances that begins with a fresh start and a chance to make choices that weren't available to her before. For David that chance lies in risking his entire future for a chance at happiness. The Duke of Kisses is a modern story set in a not so modern time. Burke picks a subject matter that we can all relate to, in order to make a point not easily forgotten. In a world where duty is everything, sometimes it pays to follow your heart.
January 4, 2019
Packed a punch. It had me reading to the early hours. Thoroughly entertaining, so enjoyable HEA.
Loved this story and love this series! 5☆
Loved this story and love this series! 5☆
November 14, 2018
The Duke of Kisses is another winner from Darcy! David Langley, Earl of St. Ives has come in to the title suddenly after his father died from an infection. He doesn't enjoy London society, has never been a particularly good dancer but is handsome & wealthy. Frances (Fanny) Snowden has come to London to live with her sister, Ivy & her husband West to attend her first season & hopefully, find a husband.
David & Fanny meet accidentally when he was out walking & she became lost chasing a rabbit. They kissed & didn't see each for several months - well, everything clicked for them when they met once again but oh the obstacles they had to get over to reach their HEA. I loved reuniting with characters from past books & meeting some new ones like Graham Kinsley & I can't wait to read Felix & Sarah's story. I highly recommend this book & all the books in The Untouchables Series - you will love them all!
David & Fanny meet accidentally when he was out walking & she became lost chasing a rabbit. They kissed & didn't see each for several months - well, everything clicked for them when they met once again but oh the obstacles they had to get over to reach their HEA. I loved reuniting with characters from past books & meeting some new ones like Graham Kinsley & I can't wait to read Felix & Sarah's story. I highly recommend this book & all the books in The Untouchables Series - you will love them all!
November 11, 2018
What starts out as a fascination-at-first-sight story ends with a bit of a mystery regarding occurrences a generation earlier. There is good dose of humor and decent dialog in between.
I think this is one of my favorite in the series. It was a joy to read.
I read an advance copy and voluntarily post this review.
I think this is one of my favorite in the series. It was a joy to read.
I read an advance copy and voluntarily post this review.
February 7, 2021
While walking through the countryside near her sister and brother-in-law's estate, Frances winds up kissing a mysterious stranger, who introduces himself as David, a steward's apprentice. Frances gives her first name only and claims to be a housemaid. Several months later, neither has forgotten the other or the kiss they shared, but both know nothing could ever be between them due to their differences in station. When David and Frances meet again in a London ballroom, they're each surprised by the other's lies, but the attraction is definitely still alive. The two spend some time together and David becomes even more drawn to her, and even more torn. The problem is that David promised his late father, on his deathbed, that he would marry Miss Arabella Stoke, daughter of his father's best friend. David's father believed this to be a good match and David now feels duty bound to honor his promise; even though no official betrothal has been made, the Stokes certainly expect it to happen soon. David is trying to do the right thing, what his father wanted for him and what his responsibilities as the new earl include, but when he's around Fanny he can relax, be himself, and forget all these stressful new responsibilities that have been thrust upon him.
Unable to stay away from Fanny, David basically winds up leading her on, but she has a loose acquaintance with Miss Stoke, so of course she winds up finding out about his promise to his father. There are several other forces working to keep these two apart, most utterly ridiculous in their reasoning, but nonetheless threatening to their happy ending.
I loved that Fanny was her own person and didn't just pine for David, and I appreciated that David was quicker to fight for her than most heroes in this trope usually are. I really enjoyed this one and will be reading the rest of the series now.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Blog link: https://mustreadalltheromance.blogspo...
Unable to stay away from Fanny, David basically winds up leading her on, but she has a loose acquaintance with Miss Stoke, so of course she winds up finding out about his promise to his father. There are several other forces working to keep these two apart, most utterly ridiculous in their reasoning, but nonetheless threatening to their happy ending.
I loved that Fanny was her own person and didn't just pine for David, and I appreciated that David was quicker to fight for her than most heroes in this trope usually are. I really enjoyed this one and will be reading the rest of the series now.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Blog link: https://mustreadalltheromance.blogspo...
April 12, 2025
Kobo+ Mad About Series Challenge HRBC 2024. Tropes: Regency Romance, Romance Mystery, Family/Friends, Love at First Sight, Erotica.
MC's h Frances Snowden, debutante, sister of Duchess of Clare, nee Ivy Breckenridge, friend of Sarah Colton & Lavinia (married to Beck). H David, Earl of St. Ives, just new to the London scene, bird watcher and looking for a Countess. He kissed Fanny at Christmas. Her sister's estate and David's are close by.
Characters in this story: Ivy & West(Seb) Duke of Clare, Franny's sister and brother in law. Sarah Colton and Lavinia Beckett & husband Beck, Marquess of Northam. Felix Havers, Anthony Colton.
Franny's family, mother, father, brothers: David and Jacob. David's mother and uncle. David's father's bestfriend's daughter and her mother.
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MC's h Frances Snowden, debutante, sister of Duchess of Clare, nee Ivy Breckenridge, friend of Sarah Colton & Lavinia (married to Beck). H David, Earl of St. Ives, just new to the London scene, bird watcher and looking for a Countess. He kissed Fanny at Christmas. Her sister's estate and David's are close by.
Characters in this story: Ivy & West(Seb) Duke of Clare, Franny's sister and brother in law. Sarah Colton and Lavinia Beckett & husband Beck, Marquess of Northam. Felix Havers, Anthony Colton.
Franny's family, mother, father, brothers: David and Jacob. David's mother and uncle. David's father's bestfriend's daughter and her mother.
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This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 25, 2018
Frances “Fanny” Snowden and David Langley had briefly met on Christmas Eve of the year 1817, and because of Frances’ kind heart and her clumsiness, Fanny and David ended up exchanging a kiss and not precisely telling the entire truth about who they really were. In April of the following year, David, Earl of St. Ives, has to familiarise himself with London society. He has made a couple of friends – Felix, the Earl of Ware, and Anthony Colton, a viscount’s son, who invite him to a ball; Anthony is escorting his sister Sarah. David would rather be in the country and looking at birds, but some sacrifices cannot be avoided, so he accompanies his new mates. David doesn’t do people, but when he sees Sarah’s friend – his lovely Frances, whom he has been thinking about for the past few months! - he reconsiders society events altogether.
Eleven books in this fabulous series and Darcy Burke is still not running out of steam! I fell in love with Fanny and David upon meeting them; they are such wonderful characters: charming, engaging, normal, and ever so sympathetic. Their connection was evident from the very start, and their conversations were so sweet; I felt the love emanating from the pages. In fact, all the dialogues in THE DUKE OF KISSES are astounding, and it dawned on me at some point that Ms. Burke masters her verb tenses like few authors (yes, I notice these things and they are important to me). With sometimes amazingly ordinary conversations between the many characters, she establishes the relationships that connect them, while adding pertinent details so that a newcomer can feel at ease right away, and that is a feat indeed! I also marvel at Ms. Burke’s talent at creating such appealing and well-defined characters, and in so few words.
The romance between David and Fanny is simply exquisite, but David has sort of tried to forget that he made a promise to his father on the latter’s deathbed, and he had pushed somewhat pushed this notion out of his mind. However, he has no choice but to remember, and oh my goodness, how cleverly all this was presented! It sent a chill down my spine as I sat, thinking of the terrible implications it could have on the lives of so many characters! There is one particular scene that is a monument of subtlety and superlative writing; barely anything is said, yet everything hangs in the air, as we are made aware of the tragedy that could strike several characters.
The threat did not come from the source I was expecting, nor in the way I was expecting; but oh the drama, the heartbreak, the complicated family relationships! I was surprised that Fanny made a decision that I thought was foolish, particularly in view of her family’s history; fortunately, there were no dire consequences from her recklessness. Unlike the previous books, the story dragged a bit in places, and there were a few repetitions; although thankfully, there was no miscommunication, which is what I feared. I admit I was disappointed with the ending: it seemed a bit far-fetched, mostly because it came about because of letters previously mentioned in the narrative; it did not make sense to me, and it seemed extremely improbable. Also, a pivotal secondary character was somewhat cavalierly brushed aside. I loved David’s friend and steward Graham, and it was love at first sight with Felix, who will thankfully star in his own book, the next instalment in The Untouchables: The Duke of Distraction, and I cannot wait; he is just wickedly delish.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Eleven books in this fabulous series and Darcy Burke is still not running out of steam! I fell in love with Fanny and David upon meeting them; they are such wonderful characters: charming, engaging, normal, and ever so sympathetic. Their connection was evident from the very start, and their conversations were so sweet; I felt the love emanating from the pages. In fact, all the dialogues in THE DUKE OF KISSES are astounding, and it dawned on me at some point that Ms. Burke masters her verb tenses like few authors (yes, I notice these things and they are important to me). With sometimes amazingly ordinary conversations between the many characters, she establishes the relationships that connect them, while adding pertinent details so that a newcomer can feel at ease right away, and that is a feat indeed! I also marvel at Ms. Burke’s talent at creating such appealing and well-defined characters, and in so few words.
The romance between David and Fanny is simply exquisite, but David has sort of tried to forget that he made a promise to his father on the latter’s deathbed, and he had pushed somewhat pushed this notion out of his mind. However, he has no choice but to remember, and oh my goodness, how cleverly all this was presented! It sent a chill down my spine as I sat, thinking of the terrible implications it could have on the lives of so many characters! There is one particular scene that is a monument of subtlety and superlative writing; barely anything is said, yet everything hangs in the air, as we are made aware of the tragedy that could strike several characters.
The threat did not come from the source I was expecting, nor in the way I was expecting; but oh the drama, the heartbreak, the complicated family relationships! I was surprised that Fanny made a decision that I thought was foolish, particularly in view of her family’s history; fortunately, there were no dire consequences from her recklessness. Unlike the previous books, the story dragged a bit in places, and there were a few repetitions; although thankfully, there was no miscommunication, which is what I feared. I admit I was disappointed with the ending: it seemed a bit far-fetched, mostly because it came about because of letters previously mentioned in the narrative; it did not make sense to me, and it seemed extremely improbable. Also, a pivotal secondary character was somewhat cavalierly brushed aside. I loved David’s friend and steward Graham, and it was love at first sight with Felix, who will thankfully star in his own book, the next instalment in The Untouchables: The Duke of Distraction, and I cannot wait; he is just wickedly delish.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
November 29, 2018
Stour’s Edge, Suffolk England - December 1817
Frances (Fanny) Snowden is meandering through the countryside when she encounters a handsome man. It has just begun to snow and she realizes she might be lost. Fanny has been living with her sister, Ivy, who is married to West, the Duke of Clare.
The man Fanny has met calls himself David. Not ready to identify herself further, Fanny says she’s a housemaid and he says he’s an apprentice to a steward. They chat as he shows her the way back to her sister’s home. They then share a passionate kiss and part their ways.
London - April 1818
David Langley, seventh Earl of Ives, is still trying to settle into his new role as Earl. At Brooks’s, he meets a man named Anthony, heir to a Viscount. Anthony persuades him to attend a ball with him and dance with some of the young ladies. Anthony’s friend, Felix, the Earl of Ware, will be joining them. David realizes he will soon be seeking a young woman to be his Countess, but he cannot stop thinking about Frances, the housemaid he met last Christmas. When Fanny and David meet at the ball, they are both thrilled to see one another again. They had truly become infatuated with one another. As they see one another, it appears that Fanny is a bit of a klutz and trips often.
David’s mother and uncle come to London where the woman reminds him that his father wanted David to marry the daughter of his best friend, Miss Arabella Stoke. Caught in the moment of his father dying, he promised the man he would marry her. Now, he feels trapped. But David loves Fanny and knows in his heart that she is the one for him. Can David leave behind the promise he made to his dying father and seek out the one woman who has stolen his heart?
This is a delightful book with some great twists that will keep the reader turning pages. I enjoyed it very much and am a fan of Darcy Burke. Well done!
Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Frances (Fanny) Snowden is meandering through the countryside when she encounters a handsome man. It has just begun to snow and she realizes she might be lost. Fanny has been living with her sister, Ivy, who is married to West, the Duke of Clare.
The man Fanny has met calls himself David. Not ready to identify herself further, Fanny says she’s a housemaid and he says he’s an apprentice to a steward. They chat as he shows her the way back to her sister’s home. They then share a passionate kiss and part their ways.
London - April 1818
David Langley, seventh Earl of Ives, is still trying to settle into his new role as Earl. At Brooks’s, he meets a man named Anthony, heir to a Viscount. Anthony persuades him to attend a ball with him and dance with some of the young ladies. Anthony’s friend, Felix, the Earl of Ware, will be joining them. David realizes he will soon be seeking a young woman to be his Countess, but he cannot stop thinking about Frances, the housemaid he met last Christmas. When Fanny and David meet at the ball, they are both thrilled to see one another again. They had truly become infatuated with one another. As they see one another, it appears that Fanny is a bit of a klutz and trips often.
David’s mother and uncle come to London where the woman reminds him that his father wanted David to marry the daughter of his best friend, Miss Arabella Stoke. Caught in the moment of his father dying, he promised the man he would marry her. Now, he feels trapped. But David loves Fanny and knows in his heart that she is the one for him. Can David leave behind the promise he made to his dying father and seek out the one woman who has stolen his heart?
This is a delightful book with some great twists that will keep the reader turning pages. I enjoyed it very much and am a fan of Darcy Burke. Well done!
Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
December 22, 2018
I’ve really enjoyed earlier books in this series, so I was honestly disappointed when The Duke of Kisses fell kind of flat for me. Fanny, sister of Ivy, Duchess of Clare, was a character I just couldn’t warm to, mainly because she didn’t seem to have any defining characteristics of her own except ‘clumsy’. She starts studying ornithology because the hero is interested in it. She gets involved with charities because that’s what her sister enjoys. I never really got any sense of what Fanny enjoyed, what she wanted out of life.
David, Earl of St. Ives, was much more interesting. A deathbed promise to his father to marry a girl he’s never met has him massively conflicted when he falls for Fanny instead of his intended bride, though to be honest I was never quite sure why he’d never met the young woman in question before. It wasn’t quite explained.
David and Fanny’s first meeting was charming, but there was a certain amount of insta-love the reader is expected to buy into, and considering I never figured out who Fanny really was despite being privy to her inner thoughts, I really didn’t buy into David’s romance with her either. And considering Fanny has personal knowledge of gentlemen who debauch young women and then fail to keep promises, through her sister’s prior experience, her eagerness to sleep with David frankly came across as naive and reckless at best, at worst making her look like the kind of woman who’d probably be called a brazen hussy if she wasn’t the heroine of the story.
A generations-old family conflict was resolved far too easily to be a real conflict, leaving the end of the story to limp to an unsatisfying conclusion.
This won’t put me off reading more of Darcy Burke’s books because I know just how well she can write and just how great most of her characters and plots were, but I honestly wish I’d given this one a miss. Two stars.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book for review through NetGalley.
David, Earl of St. Ives, was much more interesting. A deathbed promise to his father to marry a girl he’s never met has him massively conflicted when he falls for Fanny instead of his intended bride, though to be honest I was never quite sure why he’d never met the young woman in question before. It wasn’t quite explained.
David and Fanny’s first meeting was charming, but there was a certain amount of insta-love the reader is expected to buy into, and considering I never figured out who Fanny really was despite being privy to her inner thoughts, I really didn’t buy into David’s romance with her either. And considering Fanny has personal knowledge of gentlemen who debauch young women and then fail to keep promises, through her sister’s prior experience, her eagerness to sleep with David frankly came across as naive and reckless at best, at worst making her look like the kind of woman who’d probably be called a brazen hussy if she wasn’t the heroine of the story.
A generations-old family conflict was resolved far too easily to be a real conflict, leaving the end of the story to limp to an unsatisfying conclusion.
This won’t put me off reading more of Darcy Burke’s books because I know just how well she can write and just how great most of her characters and plots were, but I honestly wish I’d given this one a miss. Two stars.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book for review through NetGalley.
November 26, 2018
I have read some of the previous books in this series and loved them all, but this one is my favourite. It's charming, humourous, dramatic and so very romantic.
Frances, known as Fanny was rescued from her boring life with her parents by her long lost sister, Ivy. She now lives in the beautiful countryside of Suffolk and loves her new life.
David is the new Earl of St Ives. He loves the countryside and has a fascination for birds. He is slowly settling into his new role which came rather suddenly.
Lost in the countryside whilst taking a walk, Fanny is rescued by a mysterious gentleman. Except for first names, they don't reveal their true identities, mainly for propriety's sake, but before parting, they share a kiss. A kiss, neither David nor Fanny can forget.
David travels to London to take his place as the new Earl, even though his heart isn't in it. He makes friends with a couple of the notorious bachelors and accompanies one of them to partner his sister on the dancefloor. To his surprise, the sister's friend is the one and only Fanny. She is just as surprised to see him. Dancing isn't their forte and there are some embarrassments, but their sense of humour sees them through. They also find that their initial attraction hasn't waned in the slightest and it looks like love is in the air. They connect on so many levels, but an old family feud and David's promise to his father might well get in the way of their prospective future. Can they overcome these barriers and find their happily ever after?
I was totally absorbed in this story. It starts off light and humourous, but drama comes from past events, family interference and David's promise. The uncertainty of the future makes this a real page turner. The dangerous twist shows their strength of character and their palpable love. It's a passionate and heartfelt romance and I savoured every bit.
I was kindly issued with an eARC and the views expressed are my personal opinion.
Frances, known as Fanny was rescued from her boring life with her parents by her long lost sister, Ivy. She now lives in the beautiful countryside of Suffolk and loves her new life.
David is the new Earl of St Ives. He loves the countryside and has a fascination for birds. He is slowly settling into his new role which came rather suddenly.
Lost in the countryside whilst taking a walk, Fanny is rescued by a mysterious gentleman. Except for first names, they don't reveal their true identities, mainly for propriety's sake, but before parting, they share a kiss. A kiss, neither David nor Fanny can forget.
David travels to London to take his place as the new Earl, even though his heart isn't in it. He makes friends with a couple of the notorious bachelors and accompanies one of them to partner his sister on the dancefloor. To his surprise, the sister's friend is the one and only Fanny. She is just as surprised to see him. Dancing isn't their forte and there are some embarrassments, but their sense of humour sees them through. They also find that their initial attraction hasn't waned in the slightest and it looks like love is in the air. They connect on so many levels, but an old family feud and David's promise to his father might well get in the way of their prospective future. Can they overcome these barriers and find their happily ever after?
I was totally absorbed in this story. It starts off light and humourous, but drama comes from past events, family interference and David's promise. The uncertainty of the future makes this a real page turner. The dangerous twist shows their strength of character and their palpable love. It's a passionate and heartfelt romance and I savoured every bit.
I was kindly issued with an eARC and the views expressed are my personal opinion.
November 27, 2018
Reviewed on my blog, Becky on Books, on 11/27/18.
A sweet addition to the series!
I really liked Fanny and David's story. They were very sweet together, and how he got his unofficial title (the Duke of Kisses) was absolutely adorable. Her clumsiness added quite a few LOL moments, and it was so much fun to get glimpses into the future lives of past series characters along the way. I especially loved that she is Ivy's sister ( The Duke of Desire ); and that we find out a little more about their family life both then and now. (If you haven't read the other series books this one should do fine as a standalone--obviously you won't know who all of those other people are, but you really don't need to to appreciate Fanny and David's story on its own.)
Some of the side plots felt a bit like distractions at times--the past Snowden/Langley drama and David's deathbed promise to his father perhaps could have used a bit more fleshing out to make them feel more substantial--but it was nice that the relationship drama here didn't come from something dumb that either of the main characters did to each other for a change. The next book is tantalizingly set up in the epilogue, though it did make me feel as if I'd missed or forgotten something that had happened to Sarah (I checked, and nope--she was fine when she was last on the page...) s0 now I'm twice as anxious to get to her book, which was clearly the author's goal. Write fast, Ms. Burke! ;)
Rating: 4 stars / A-
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book
A sweet addition to the series!
I really liked Fanny and David's story. They were very sweet together, and how he got his unofficial title (the Duke of Kisses) was absolutely adorable. Her clumsiness added quite a few LOL moments, and it was so much fun to get glimpses into the future lives of past series characters along the way. I especially loved that she is Ivy's sister ( The Duke of Desire ); and that we find out a little more about their family life both then and now. (If you haven't read the other series books this one should do fine as a standalone--obviously you won't know who all of those other people are, but you really don't need to to appreciate Fanny and David's story on its own.)
Some of the side plots felt a bit like distractions at times--the past Snowden/Langley drama and David's deathbed promise to his father perhaps could have used a bit more fleshing out to make them feel more substantial--but it was nice that the relationship drama here didn't come from something dumb that either of the main characters did to each other for a change. The next book is tantalizingly set up in the epilogue, though it did make me feel as if I'd missed or forgotten something that had happened to Sarah (I checked, and nope--she was fine when she was last on the page...) s0 now I'm twice as anxious to get to her book, which was clearly the author's goal. Write fast, Ms. Burke! ;)
Rating: 4 stars / A-
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book
November 28, 2018
It has been a while since I have read a book by Darcy Burke, so I decided to take the opportunity with this new release.
But why books editors decided to release so many great authors new books on the same day?
What ever, it was a delightful read, I do adored both Fanny and David, they were good characters with fun personality and great loyalty but when faced with a dilemma, they take time to examine every options and are able to communicate.
Frances or Fanny is a kind of a klutz, she slaughters her dance partners toes, she faces to kiss any floors any time she goes out but I do liked this side of her with “her fanny moments”, she does not take herself seriously and her openness and honesty is quite refreshing.
« “And I’m trying to be a proper young Society miss, but I’d much rather kiss you.” “Then we are in agreement there.” »
She is also furiously loyal, she protects those she loves and does not shy away when she is attracted to someone.
David is also a kind and caring man, he is no big alpha like Tarzan male but once he has settle his sight on Fanny, he will never back down even when life threw constraints on their path, he is the one who will stay clear on the road and follow his heart.
They were great together, I do liked to see them interacting but also arguing and always staying true to themselves and never backing down even when they face issues, they choose to believe in each other and tackle together to find a way out of their family’s feud.
A very good new installment in this series.
But why books editors decided to release so many great authors new books on the same day?
What ever, it was a delightful read, I do adored both Fanny and David, they were good characters with fun personality and great loyalty but when faced with a dilemma, they take time to examine every options and are able to communicate.
Frances or Fanny is a kind of a klutz, she slaughters her dance partners toes, she faces to kiss any floors any time she goes out but I do liked this side of her with “her fanny moments”, she does not take herself seriously and her openness and honesty is quite refreshing.
« “And I’m trying to be a proper young Society miss, but I’d much rather kiss you.” “Then we are in agreement there.” »
She is also furiously loyal, she protects those she loves and does not shy away when she is attracted to someone.
David is also a kind and caring man, he is no big alpha like Tarzan male but once he has settle his sight on Fanny, he will never back down even when life threw constraints on their path, he is the one who will stay clear on the road and follow his heart.
They were great together, I do liked to see them interacting but also arguing and always staying true to themselves and never backing down even when they face issues, they choose to believe in each other and tackle together to find a way out of their family’s feud.
A very good new installment in this series.
November 27, 2018
The Duke of Kisses is the eleventh book in Darcy Burke's The Untouchables series of Regency romances. It is perfectly enjoyable as a standalone story, but it has clear connections to many of the other books in the series. I do recommend the entire series to fans of historical romance who don't mind sexually explicit content, including sex outside of wedlock.
This story is well-written and a fun diversion. I thought at first that it might be one of the quieter books in this series, but it turns out to be quite thrilling. There is an old conflict and lots of drama between Fanny and David’s families, and seeing how this conflict is resolved in the end was very satisfying. One storyline ended too abruptly for my preference and I wish it had received a little more attention, but I suspect the neglected character may make an appearance in a future novel in this series. One of the things I love about the series is that once a character is introduced, they are likely to reappear in subsequent books.
I liked both of our main characters as well as many of the supporting characters. The banter is quite amusing. Some of the family members were quite frustrating, but most of them generally redeem themselves in the end. I look forward to continuing the series with The Duke of Distraction in February 2019.
I volunteered to review an advanced reader copy of this book.
This story is well-written and a fun diversion. I thought at first that it might be one of the quieter books in this series, but it turns out to be quite thrilling. There is an old conflict and lots of drama between Fanny and David’s families, and seeing how this conflict is resolved in the end was very satisfying. One storyline ended too abruptly for my preference and I wish it had received a little more attention, but I suspect the neglected character may make an appearance in a future novel in this series. One of the things I love about the series is that once a character is introduced, they are likely to reappear in subsequent books.
I liked both of our main characters as well as many of the supporting characters. The banter is quite amusing. Some of the family members were quite frustrating, but most of them generally redeem themselves in the end. I look forward to continuing the series with The Duke of Distraction in February 2019.
I volunteered to review an advanced reader copy of this book.
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