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The Phoenix Club #5
Impossible
Society’s most exclusive invitation...
Welcome to the Phoenix Club, where London’s most audacious, disreputable, and intriguing ladies and gentlemen find scandal, redemption, and second chances.
Ada Treadway has been in love before, and it brought nothing but heartache. Still, she retains her cheerful optimism and is fiercely protective of the independence and respect she’s earned as bookkeeper of the Phoenix Club. When the owner enlists her help to organize his friend’s estate ledgers, she’s eager to prove her expertise and her worth. But his friend turns out to be a disagreeable, unpleasant beast, and Ada works to find the warm-hearted gentleman she’s sure lurks beneath.
Maximillian Hunt, the Viscount Warfield doesn’t care if he lives to see tomorrow, and he certainly doesn’t want to recall yesterday. The arrival of the meddlesome and effusively positive woman who will put his accounts in order not only reminds him of the past he’s desperate to forget, she sparks something within him he thought dead. Tempted by a future he never imagined, he must do the convince her that he’s worth risking her heart a second time.
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Welcome to the Phoenix Club, where London’s most audacious, disreputable, and intriguing ladies and gentlemen find scandal, redemption, and second chances.
Ada Treadway has been in love before, and it brought nothing but heartache. Still, she retains her cheerful optimism and is fiercely protective of the independence and respect she’s earned as bookkeeper of the Phoenix Club. When the owner enlists her help to organize his friend’s estate ledgers, she’s eager to prove her expertise and her worth. But his friend turns out to be a disagreeable, unpleasant beast, and Ada works to find the warm-hearted gentleman she’s sure lurks beneath.
Maximillian Hunt, the Viscount Warfield doesn’t care if he lives to see tomorrow, and he certainly doesn’t want to recall yesterday. The arrival of the meddlesome and effusively positive woman who will put his accounts in order not only reminds him of the past he’s desperate to forget, she sparks something within him he thought dead. Tempted by a future he never imagined, he must do the convince her that he’s worth risking her heart a second time.
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318 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 19, 2022
299 people are currently reading
392 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 193 reviews
April 13, 2022
Having experienced love before, and the heartache that came with it, Ada Treadway isn’t that interested in experiencing it again, but that doesn’t stop her from being cheerful and optimistic for everyone else around her. She’s happy with her position as bookkeeper at the Phoenix Club and loves the independence her role has brought her. When her friend and the club’s owner, Lucien, asks her to go to his friend’s country estate and help sort out his ledgers, Ada is eager for the challenge. Of course, Lucien’s friend is a surly, beast of a man, but Ada is certain he’s hiding a warm heart if she can just get beyond his tough exterior.
Maximillian Hunt, the very reluctant Viscount Warfield, doesn’t really care if he lives or not; he’s just trying to move beyond the memories of war and loss that haunt him daily. He certainly doesn’t need a meddlesome, nosy, insufferably cheerful woman invading his privacy. His accounts may need the attention, but she reminds him of all the things he’s been trying to forget and stirs reactions in him that he thought long dead. Soon, Max finds himself tempted by the impossibility of a future with Ada, but he must convince her he’s worth the risk, which means convincing himself of his own worthiness as well.
This book was exactly what I wanted and needed to read right now. This is tortured/scarred hero and grumpy/sunshine done very much right and I just completely melted for it. Max is all gruff and growly with everyone, including Ada at first, but pretty soon only Ada can calm him. It was like she was his lifeline, his map back to himself and I loved that. The gradual nature of the development of their relationship felt gradual and believable but was never slow enough for me to feel bored at all. These two sharing a bed just to sleep so Max could get a break from his nightmares was so adorable and pure and I think I was utterly in love with this pairing from then on. Both Max and Ada feared risking their hearts, mostly because of each having loved and lost before, especially in Max’s case. I found that fear so very, heartrendingly relatable, especially after the recent loss of my brother-in-law. Ultimately, both Max and Ada wanted to feel needed and like they had a place to belong and that’s also one of the most relatable things I’ve read in some time. I just couldn’t help but root for these two. I loved the mature communication between Ada and Max and their willingness to admit to being wrong when necessary. There was no miscommunication trope or heavy, extended angst or third act separation here. In short, this book was perfect for me, and Max’s grand romantic gesture was just the icing on the cake. This is a new favorite for me, and definitely a favorite couple.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Blog link: https://mustreadalltheromance.blogspo...
Maximillian Hunt, the very reluctant Viscount Warfield, doesn’t really care if he lives or not; he’s just trying to move beyond the memories of war and loss that haunt him daily. He certainly doesn’t need a meddlesome, nosy, insufferably cheerful woman invading his privacy. His accounts may need the attention, but she reminds him of all the things he’s been trying to forget and stirs reactions in him that he thought long dead. Soon, Max finds himself tempted by the impossibility of a future with Ada, but he must convince her he’s worth the risk, which means convincing himself of his own worthiness as well.
This book was exactly what I wanted and needed to read right now. This is tortured/scarred hero and grumpy/sunshine done very much right and I just completely melted for it. Max is all gruff and growly with everyone, including Ada at first, but pretty soon only Ada can calm him. It was like she was his lifeline, his map back to himself and I loved that. The gradual nature of the development of their relationship felt gradual and believable but was never slow enough for me to feel bored at all. These two sharing a bed just to sleep so Max could get a break from his nightmares was so adorable and pure and I think I was utterly in love with this pairing from then on. Both Max and Ada feared risking their hearts, mostly because of each having loved and lost before, especially in Max’s case. I found that fear so very, heartrendingly relatable, especially after the recent loss of my brother-in-law. Ultimately, both Max and Ada wanted to feel needed and like they had a place to belong and that’s also one of the most relatable things I’ve read in some time. I just couldn’t help but root for these two. I loved the mature communication between Ada and Max and their willingness to admit to being wrong when necessary. There was no miscommunication trope or heavy, extended angst or third act separation here. In short, this book was perfect for me, and Max’s grand romantic gesture was just the icing on the cake. This is a new favorite for me, and definitely a favorite couple.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Blog link: https://mustreadalltheromance.blogspo...
October 5, 2022
Oh, dear. I'm afraid this one didn't work for me at all. Impossible is a regency take on Beauty and the Beast, and I will give the book this: it gave me a lot to think about in terms of what makes a compelling and worthwhile retelling of a classic story. Mostly because this was a much better book when it stopped trying to be one.
The novel opens with Ada Treadway showing up to Stonehill castle, having been hired by a mutual friend to work on the estate ledgers of Lord Warfield. The estate is run-down and forbidding, all the servants look some degree of frightened to tired, and the lord of the castle is rumored to be a mean, wounded, cruel man known as the "beast of Stonehill."
So far, so familiar. Because when I say that this was a Beauty and the Beast retelling, there's literally a scene in there where Ada is wearing a blue dress and hanging from the top rung of a ladder in the library like this:
And honesty... that's totally fine! I love a good homage. But I'm afraid this book made, to my mind, just about every wrong decision about how to adapt a story that's about a very literal non-human beast who was born a man, suffered a magical enchantment, and has lost hope that anyone will come to return him to his former state.
Because the first element of an adaptation, if one is going to make BATB a non-magical story about human beings, is what makes your hero a "beast." It was pretty clear to me that this book thought the primary beastly thing about Warfield was his personality. Characters went on and on and on about how horrible and ghastly and rude and cruel he was. And when we meet him... he's mostly just a little cranky? Slightly short with people? Not all that bad, actually? At one point he chews a toast point rather loudly, and thinks about how it makes him beastly. Which, come on. Ada stands up to him. His servants read as almost fondly put-out with his "just needs a cup of coffee" levels of grumpiness. I cannot recall one thing he did that rose above the level of mild disgruntlement.
And I will say, as an avid reader of histrom, I'm pretty used, at this point, to being told that my rakes are unreformable and my dukes have dark desires and viscounts are vicious and have it all turn out to be not as sensational as I'd hoped.
But the problem here, for the reader, is that if Warfield isn't really behaving in a compellingly beastly way... the only way we have to square his characterization as a beast (a word that is used constantly in his own POV, in Ada's, and in the dialogue of everyone who meets him) is that... he has scars and PTSD from his experience in the war. Which ends up being a REALLY problematic deployment of the concept of beastliness. One that gets compounded by the other element of the BATB story that this novel decides to import: the idea that the goal of the heroine is to "reverse a spell" cast on the hero to return him to a former state. Ada's initial response to Warfield is to take on the project of an "investigation" into who he used to be before the war (ie, try to understand the curse), so she can cheerfully return him to that man through the power of positive thinking. Which just made me... so, so angry. Because as a reader, it is abundantly fucking clear that Warfield has a disability and PTSD, and the idea that the heroine is so blatantly not only trying to fix him with toxic positivity, but to return him to a former state, which holy god is not how trauma works... it was all just galling.
And the thing is, about halfway through the book, the BATB framing is entirely abandoned. (Forgotten?) At which point the characters start to do much more sensible things like talk to each other, recognize their trauma and how it still affects them, talk about how they can support each other through a slow and possibly always-incomplete healing process. Which is good, but at that point the damage was done in terms of my annoyance with the book. It really drove home to me that the repurposing of tropes actually means something. It can be incredibly powerful when done well, and actively fuck up a story when not.
Anyway, the second non-BATB half of the book takes place in London at a club that's open to both men and women, where Ada works (after she's done dealing with Warfield's ledgers). There were some positive elements to that part of the story: I enjoyed that Ada had a job, one that she loved and didn't give up at the end. The cast of supporting characters were nice, as was the way Ada supported Warfield in his efforts to be able to spend more time with his friends and in society. I was just about ready to regain a bit of goodwill for this book, when randomly we learn that part of Warfield's backstory (CW for assault discussed in under-spoiler text) . I'm not going to dwell on this other than to say I am simply begging authors to think twice before making violence against women a plot point that is entirely about the emotional damage it causes their heroes.
As a stray observation, I do appreciate that this book makes it very textually clear that Ada has had an abortion in the past, one that she does not regret and for which nobody in the text judges her. So that's a positive: one extra star for that.
I am afraid though that even without the poorly-handled elements around Warfield's past and his supposed "beastliness", this one would not have worked for me for the (admittedly subjective) reason that I found the prose style unbearably explain-y. It was like the narrator couldn't trust me to tie two thoughts together on my own:
I dunno. People's mileage varies a lot with prose style, but I felt so talked-down-to I started to take it personally. Trust me even a little bit to understand how humans think?
Anyway, sadly I can't really recommend this one. Tropes: please use responsibly.
Disclaimer: I received a free e-ARC from the publisher, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.
The novel opens with Ada Treadway showing up to Stonehill castle, having been hired by a mutual friend to work on the estate ledgers of Lord Warfield. The estate is run-down and forbidding, all the servants look some degree of frightened to tired, and the lord of the castle is rumored to be a mean, wounded, cruel man known as the "beast of Stonehill."
So far, so familiar. Because when I say that this was a Beauty and the Beast retelling, there's literally a scene in there where Ada is wearing a blue dress and hanging from the top rung of a ladder in the library like this:
And honesty... that's totally fine! I love a good homage. But I'm afraid this book made, to my mind, just about every wrong decision about how to adapt a story that's about a very literal non-human beast who was born a man, suffered a magical enchantment, and has lost hope that anyone will come to return him to his former state.
Because the first element of an adaptation, if one is going to make BATB a non-magical story about human beings, is what makes your hero a "beast." It was pretty clear to me that this book thought the primary beastly thing about Warfield was his personality. Characters went on and on and on about how horrible and ghastly and rude and cruel he was. And when we meet him... he's mostly just a little cranky? Slightly short with people? Not all that bad, actually? At one point he chews a toast point rather loudly, and thinks about how it makes him beastly. Which, come on. Ada stands up to him. His servants read as almost fondly put-out with his "just needs a cup of coffee" levels of grumpiness. I cannot recall one thing he did that rose above the level of mild disgruntlement.
And I will say, as an avid reader of histrom, I'm pretty used, at this point, to being told that my rakes are unreformable and my dukes have dark desires and viscounts are vicious and have it all turn out to be not as sensational as I'd hoped.
But the problem here, for the reader, is that if Warfield isn't really behaving in a compellingly beastly way... the only way we have to square his characterization as a beast (a word that is used constantly in his own POV, in Ada's, and in the dialogue of everyone who meets him) is that... he has scars and PTSD from his experience in the war. Which ends up being a REALLY problematic deployment of the concept of beastliness. One that gets compounded by the other element of the BATB story that this novel decides to import: the idea that the goal of the heroine is to "reverse a spell" cast on the hero to return him to a former state. Ada's initial response to Warfield is to take on the project of an "investigation" into who he used to be before the war (ie, try to understand the curse), so she can cheerfully return him to that man through the power of positive thinking. Which just made me... so, so angry. Because as a reader, it is abundantly fucking clear that Warfield has a disability and PTSD, and the idea that the heroine is so blatantly not only trying to fix him with toxic positivity, but to return him to a former state, which holy god is not how trauma works... it was all just galling.
And the thing is, about halfway through the book, the BATB framing is entirely abandoned. (Forgotten?) At which point the characters start to do much more sensible things like talk to each other, recognize their trauma and how it still affects them, talk about how they can support each other through a slow and possibly always-incomplete healing process. Which is good, but at that point the damage was done in terms of my annoyance with the book. It really drove home to me that the repurposing of tropes actually means something. It can be incredibly powerful when done well, and actively fuck up a story when not.
Anyway, the second non-BATB half of the book takes place in London at a club that's open to both men and women, where Ada works (after she's done dealing with Warfield's ledgers). There were some positive elements to that part of the story: I enjoyed that Ada had a job, one that she loved and didn't give up at the end. The cast of supporting characters were nice, as was the way Ada supported Warfield in his efforts to be able to spend more time with his friends and in society. I was just about ready to regain a bit of goodwill for this book, when randomly we learn that part of Warfield's backstory (CW for assault discussed in under-spoiler text) . I'm not going to dwell on this other than to say I am simply begging authors to think twice before making violence against women a plot point that is entirely about the emotional damage it causes their heroes.
As a stray observation, I do appreciate that this book makes it very textually clear that Ada has had an abortion in the past, one that she does not regret and for which nobody in the text judges her. So that's a positive: one extra star for that.
I am afraid though that even without the poorly-handled elements around Warfield's past and his supposed "beastliness", this one would not have worked for me for the (admittedly subjective) reason that I found the prose style unbearably explain-y. It was like the narrator couldn't trust me to tie two thoughts together on my own:
Ada wondered what had happened to make [Warfield's stable master] so disagreeable. With his lordship, she knew it was the war. At least, she assumed it was. Perhaps she oughtn't assume. It was only that she'd been told he was quite pleasant before going to war. Logically, she deduced that the war had changed him.
I dunno. People's mileage varies a lot with prose style, but I felt so talked-down-to I started to take it personally. Trust me even a little bit to understand how humans think?
Anyway, sadly I can't really recommend this one. Tropes: please use responsibly.
Disclaimer: I received a free e-ARC from the publisher, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.
June 27, 2022
Brilliant! So loved this story. 5☆
May 11, 2022
I loved Impossible, the fifth book in Darcy Burke’s The Phoenix Club series. The characters are great, the story is compelling, and the romance is swoon-worthy! The story follows Ada Treadway, bookkeeper for the Phoenix Club, as she helps Maximillian Hunt, the Marquess of Warfield organize his estate and put everything in order. Unfortunately, Max doesn’t want Ada’s help. A wounded war hero that suffered terrible trauma and tragedy in the war, Max lives in seclusion and acts more beast than man. Ada’s infectious optimism and happy outlook on life irritates the grumpy Max to no end, but soon they begin to look forward to their time together. Can this pair find happiness, and will they reveal the secrets between them?
The Phoenix Club is such a fantastic historical romance series, and I adored Max and Ada’s story. It has total Beauty and the Beast vibes, which I always enjoy. Max is grumpy and growly, and he lives a very solitary life. Ada is full of energy and optimism, much to Max’s chagrin. In many ways, they are opposites, especially when it comes to temperament. But like Beauty and the Beast, the more time this pair spends together, the closer they become, and the. more they see that they are actually quite similar. Both are independent, both have suffered unimaginable loss, and both fear risking their hearts again.
Max is tormented by things that happened in the war, and he feels tremendous guilt and self-hatred because of it. Because of that, he struggles to let people in. He’s let his estate fall into disrepair, he’s not taking care of his tenants, and he is wallowing in his unhappiness and anger. I like that she helps him see that what he’s doing doesn’t just affect him. She also helps him find happiness and hope again, which is lovely. And Max and Ada’s banter is fantastic! The way she teases and antagonizes him, the way he struggles to resist her charms by throwing out seemingly sharp comments that are actually quite funny and charming. She pushes him in a way he desperately needs.
Ada’s story is as compelling and layered as Max’s. She’s such an admirable character, and the fact that she could remain so gregarious and optimistic despite all the terrible things that have happened to her is astounding. She is a resilient person and one of my favorite in the series. And the romance between her and Max is filled with chemistry and passion! I love the way they tease and flirt with each other, how they help each other through their fears, and the way they show each other how much they care. There are so many wonderful scenes, and Max’s professions of love are super swoon-worthy! My word, when this man embraces his feelings, he really lets them show, and I adored every second of it.
The secondary characters are also fantastic, and there are a few surprises with several of the characters from previous books in the series. They all form this close-knit group, and the found family vibes are strong. The Phoenix Club brings them together, and the messages about friendship, loyalty, and forgiveness are poignant. And I love that Lucien has a big role in the story. He is so intriguing, and I can’t wait for his story. Actually, there are two characters whose stories I’m dying to read, and I’m hoping they’ll be the focus of one of the next books. The pair has a history, and I’m eager to learn more about their relationship, what ended it, and if there is a potential reconciliation.
Special thanks to Zealous Quill Press and Darcy Burke for providing me with a copy of the book. All thoughts are my own.
The Phoenix Club is such a fantastic historical romance series, and I adored Max and Ada’s story. It has total Beauty and the Beast vibes, which I always enjoy. Max is grumpy and growly, and he lives a very solitary life. Ada is full of energy and optimism, much to Max’s chagrin. In many ways, they are opposites, especially when it comes to temperament. But like Beauty and the Beast, the more time this pair spends together, the closer they become, and the. more they see that they are actually quite similar. Both are independent, both have suffered unimaginable loss, and both fear risking their hearts again.
Max is tormented by things that happened in the war, and he feels tremendous guilt and self-hatred because of it. Because of that, he struggles to let people in. He’s let his estate fall into disrepair, he’s not taking care of his tenants, and he is wallowing in his unhappiness and anger. I like that she helps him see that what he’s doing doesn’t just affect him. She also helps him find happiness and hope again, which is lovely. And Max and Ada’s banter is fantastic! The way she teases and antagonizes him, the way he struggles to resist her charms by throwing out seemingly sharp comments that are actually quite funny and charming. She pushes him in a way he desperately needs.
Ada’s story is as compelling and layered as Max’s. She’s such an admirable character, and the fact that she could remain so gregarious and optimistic despite all the terrible things that have happened to her is astounding. She is a resilient person and one of my favorite in the series. And the romance between her and Max is filled with chemistry and passion! I love the way they tease and flirt with each other, how they help each other through their fears, and the way they show each other how much they care. There are so many wonderful scenes, and Max’s professions of love are super swoon-worthy! My word, when this man embraces his feelings, he really lets them show, and I adored every second of it.
The secondary characters are also fantastic, and there are a few surprises with several of the characters from previous books in the series. They all form this close-knit group, and the found family vibes are strong. The Phoenix Club brings them together, and the messages about friendship, loyalty, and forgiveness are poignant. And I love that Lucien has a big role in the story. He is so intriguing, and I can’t wait for his story. Actually, there are two characters whose stories I’m dying to read, and I’m hoping they’ll be the focus of one of the next books. The pair has a history, and I’m eager to learn more about their relationship, what ended it, and if there is a potential reconciliation.
Special thanks to Zealous Quill Press and Darcy Burke for providing me with a copy of the book. All thoughts are my own.
May 29, 2022
Between 2.75 to 3 stars.
It was going really well until the 76% mark revelation.
I enjoyed the interactions between grumpy ogre of hero Max and sweet sunshine of heroine Ada. It was fun to watch how Ada sneakily but subtly infiltrated his life and house. Her charm was irresistible to Max. I also liked how Max slowly changed he ways.
The friendship in this book was fantastic as was the secondary characters. I liked the writing style too. The story was very engaging till the 76% mark like I said. Then heroine’s past were revealed and I loathed her action. I can’t reveal it without giving away spoilers. But it spoiled the book for me and the hot scenes.
Experienced heroine and hero.
Cheating is there in this book but not between hero-heroine. So I don’t know if you can call it a safe book.
Also there is mention of rape too, not on page and not the heroine but beware of Triggers.
It was going really well until the 76% mark revelation.
I enjoyed the interactions between grumpy ogre of hero Max and sweet sunshine of heroine Ada. It was fun to watch how Ada sneakily but subtly infiltrated his life and house. Her charm was irresistible to Max. I also liked how Max slowly changed he ways.
The friendship in this book was fantastic as was the secondary characters. I liked the writing style too. The story was very engaging till the 76% mark like I said. Then heroine’s past were revealed and I loathed her action. I can’t reveal it without giving away spoilers. But it spoiled the book for me and the hot scenes.
Experienced heroine and hero.
Cheating is there in this book but not between hero-heroine. So I don’t know if you can call it a safe book.
Also there is mention of rape too, not on page and not the heroine but beware of Triggers.
May 2, 2022
‘Ada Treadway has been in love before, and it brought nothing but heartache. Still, she retains her cheerful optimism and is fiercely protective of the independence and respect she’s earned as bookkeeper of the Phoenix Club. When the owner enlists her help to organize his friend’s estate ledgers, she’s eager to prove her expertise and her worth. But his friend turns out to be a disagreeable, unpleasant beast, and Ada works to find the warm-hearted gentleman she’s sure lurks beneath.
Maximillian Hunt, the Viscount Warfield doesn’t care if he lives to see tomorrow, and he certainly doesn’t want to recall yesterday. The arrival of the meddlesome and effusively positive woman who will put his accounts in order not only reminds him of the past he’s desperate to forget, she sparks something within him he thought dead. Tempted by a future he never imagined, he must do the impossible: convince her that he’s worth risking her heart a second time.’
____________________
4.5 stars, rounded down to 4 stars.
Impossible is the fifth book in Darcy Burke’s series, The Phoenix Club and is a beauty-and-the-beast style historical romance with a scarred hero. These tropes were handled so well within the plot of this book, it was the perfect blend.
I really liked this pairing. Ada is very sweet and genuinely wants to help others to the best of her ability, while also striving to be independent and self-sufficient. Max thinks he can get by without the care or support of others, but he’s really just surviving, not living. Even when he was being quite a jerk to everyone around him, I found it quite amusing, he was so prickly. And Ada’s insistence not to let it phase he really left him at a loss. I just thought they were a really great pairing that balanced each other well and were really sweet together.
If I had to pinpoint something that I didn’t quite enjoy, it would be that I'm not much a fan of dramatic grand gestures between the main characters. It’s just a little too much like a modern rom-com movie for me and I find it a bit cheesy. So this brought my enjoyment of the ending down a bit and is why I rounded from 4.5 down to 4 stars But I did really enjoy the book and the pairing.
Although this is part of a series, it can be read as a stand-alone. The characters are all already members or become members of the Phoenix Club and make appearances throughout the books, but it is not necessary to read them in order.
I’m looking forward to reading Dougal’s story next and also hope that Lucien, as the one who has meddled and helped in everyone else’s stories, will get his story soon.
_____
I would like to thank the author, Darcy Burke, for sharing an eARC of Impossible. This is my honest review.
Maximillian Hunt, the Viscount Warfield doesn’t care if he lives to see tomorrow, and he certainly doesn’t want to recall yesterday. The arrival of the meddlesome and effusively positive woman who will put his accounts in order not only reminds him of the past he’s desperate to forget, she sparks something within him he thought dead. Tempted by a future he never imagined, he must do the impossible: convince her that he’s worth risking her heart a second time.’
____________________
4.5 stars, rounded down to 4 stars.
Impossible is the fifth book in Darcy Burke’s series, The Phoenix Club and is a beauty-and-the-beast style historical romance with a scarred hero. These tropes were handled so well within the plot of this book, it was the perfect blend.
I really liked this pairing. Ada is very sweet and genuinely wants to help others to the best of her ability, while also striving to be independent and self-sufficient. Max thinks he can get by without the care or support of others, but he’s really just surviving, not living. Even when he was being quite a jerk to everyone around him, I found it quite amusing, he was so prickly. And Ada’s insistence not to let it phase he really left him at a loss. I just thought they were a really great pairing that balanced each other well and were really sweet together.
If I had to pinpoint something that I didn’t quite enjoy, it would be that I'm not much a fan of dramatic grand gestures between the main characters. It’s just a little too much like a modern rom-com movie for me and I find it a bit cheesy. So this brought my enjoyment of the ending down a bit and is why I rounded from 4.5 down to 4 stars But I did really enjoy the book and the pairing.
Although this is part of a series, it can be read as a stand-alone. The characters are all already members or become members of the Phoenix Club and make appearances throughout the books, but it is not necessary to read them in order.
I’m looking forward to reading Dougal’s story next and also hope that Lucien, as the one who has meddled and helped in everyone else’s stories, will get his story soon.
_____
I would like to thank the author, Darcy Burke, for sharing an eARC of Impossible. This is my honest review.
April 15, 2022
Darcy Burke is always good for a cute, sexy, low angst read, and Impossible is no different. Now note, we said "low angst," not "low CW," because this book has a ton of content that might need some warnings. Our hero, Max, has PTSD from his time at war; our heroine, Ada, had an affair with her married former employer. And that's the stuff that doesn't need a spoiler warning. (See below for more detailed CW.)
That said, this is a straightforward, well-written romance otherwise. Ada meets Max when she goes to his house for two weeks to help him get his finances in order. She's a Pollyanna-esque figure, someone who has experienced tragedy in her life but chooses to be optimistic and happy to the extent that she can be annoying to those around her. Indeed, Max at first can't stand to be around her. Soon, though, his annoyance turns to appreciation for her persistence in breaking through his walls. Is it any surprise that they fall into bed and - soon after - in love?
Do note that it's through their relationship with each other that they overcome past trauma. It's definitely "love heals all wounds" but make it "love is better than professional therapy." If that doesn't bother you and you're fine with the CW, this is a great read.
CW:
This objective review is based on a complimentary copy of the novel.
That said, this is a straightforward, well-written romance otherwise. Ada meets Max when she goes to his house for two weeks to help him get his finances in order. She's a Pollyanna-esque figure, someone who has experienced tragedy in her life but chooses to be optimistic and happy to the extent that she can be annoying to those around her. Indeed, Max at first can't stand to be around her. Soon, though, his annoyance turns to appreciation for her persistence in breaking through his walls. Is it any surprise that they fall into bed and - soon after - in love?
Do note that it's through their relationship with each other that they overcome past trauma. It's definitely "love heals all wounds" but make it "love is better than professional therapy." If that doesn't bother you and you're fine with the CW, this is a great read.
CW:
This objective review is based on a complimentary copy of the novel.
September 8, 2022
This is the 5th book in The Phoenix Club series and I didn't enjoy it as much as the previous ones.
Ada Treadway the cheerful and almost annoyingly optimistic bookkeeper of The Phoenix Club travels to the estate of Maximilian Hunt, Viscount Warfield to help with the estate ledgers. Max is surly to the point of just being downright mean most of the time.
This book definitely has a Beauty and the Beast vibe to it and although I normally enjoy that I had a hard time connecting with this one.
The first and second halves of the book felt disjointed. The first half relied strongly on the Beauty and the Beast format, but by the second half it was nearly forgotten. I did like the second half better.
I voluntarily read and reviewed a copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Ada Treadway the cheerful and almost annoyingly optimistic bookkeeper of The Phoenix Club travels to the estate of Maximilian Hunt, Viscount Warfield to help with the estate ledgers. Max is surly to the point of just being downright mean most of the time.
This book definitely has a Beauty and the Beast vibe to it and although I normally enjoy that I had a hard time connecting with this one.
The first and second halves of the book felt disjointed. The first half relied strongly on the Beauty and the Beast format, but by the second half it was nearly forgotten. I did like the second half better.
I voluntarily read and reviewed a copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
April 20, 2022
Hard to believe this is my 43rd book by Darcy Burke. I started reading her in 2015. I have read almost 2300 books and many authors in 6 years but she is one of my favorites. She is a great writer, has great stories and well written sex scenes.
I really enjoyed this book. I really liked Ada and Max and really enjoyed reading their story. I am also really loving this series. Since I read SO MANY books and especially in between until the next book in the series, it does take me a bit to remember prior couples and their stories but that never deters from the latest story.
I would definitely recommend this book.
I really enjoyed this book. I really liked Ada and Max and really enjoyed reading their story. I am also really loving this series. Since I read SO MANY books and especially in between until the next book in the series, it does take me a bit to remember prior couples and their stories but that never deters from the latest story.
I would definitely recommend this book.
April 19, 2022
Nothing is impossible when you mix one determined cheerful girl and one dejected scarred hero together and Darcy knows just how to bring them together!
This has been one memorable series and this newest addition is maybe the best. Okay I admit I may have said that about every single book, but what can I say? This author is a master at creating characters and situations the bring the heart alive!
She was sent to help him straighten out his books to get his newly inherited estate in order. Granted, she'd had her own struggles in the past but was going to do her best.
He knew he needed help, but she was a little too cheerful and he was having a hard time dealing with his past. But she was kind of growing on him!!
Two people who really need each other take a winding journey to love that is going to be fantastic!!
This has been one memorable series and this newest addition is maybe the best. Okay I admit I may have said that about every single book, but what can I say? This author is a master at creating characters and situations the bring the heart alive!
She was sent to help him straighten out his books to get his newly inherited estate in order. Granted, she'd had her own struggles in the past but was going to do her best.
He knew he needed help, but she was a little too cheerful and he was having a hard time dealing with his past. But she was kind of growing on him!!
Two people who really need each other take a winding journey to love that is going to be fantastic!!
April 25, 2022
Started this four days ago and I’ve made it 5% in. Not for me. 😬
May 29, 2022
Such a heartwarming romance story.
I loved how this grumpy sunshine type of characters are finding friendships and love through their bond of numbers and problems to solve.
I’ve read a few of the author’s books in the past and this one exceeded my expectations so far. I loved everything about it and I can’t wait to read more in the future.
Very grateful to the publisher for my review copy
I loved how this grumpy sunshine type of characters are finding friendships and love through their bond of numbers and problems to solve.
I’ve read a few of the author’s books in the past and this one exceeded my expectations so far. I loved everything about it and I can’t wait to read more in the future.
Very grateful to the publisher for my review copy
April 18, 2022
Ada Treadway is now a cheerful optimism and is fiercely protective of the independence and respect she’s earned as bookkeeper of the Phoenix Club. When the owner, Lucien enlists her help to organize his friend’s estate ledgers, she’s eager to prove her expertise and her worth. Maximillian Hunt, Viscount of Warfield doesn’t care if he lives to see tomorrow, and he certainly doesn’t want to recall yesterday. The arrival of the meddlesome and effusively positive woman who will put his accounts in order not only reminds him of the past he’s desperate to forget, she sparks something within him he thought dead.
The fifth book in the series but it’s easily read on its own. Once again the author has written an engrossing, captivating book that I found very hard to put down. I loved both Ada & Max both had suffered in the past but whilst she had looked for the positives he was still in the depths of darkness. I loved how he gradually came into the light, aided & abetted by Ada & of course Lucien (who I adore & very impatiently await his story but I guess it will be the series finale). I loved how Max & Ada found love as both felt they were undeserving, their road to a HEA wasn’t easy but it made for a riveting read – I loved it
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
The fifth book in the series but it’s easily read on its own. Once again the author has written an engrossing, captivating book that I found very hard to put down. I loved both Ada & Max both had suffered in the past but whilst she had looked for the positives he was still in the depths of darkness. I loved how he gradually came into the light, aided & abetted by Ada & of course Lucien (who I adore & very impatiently await his story but I guess it will be the series finale). I loved how Max & Ada found love as both felt they were undeserving, their road to a HEA wasn’t easy but it made for a riveting read – I loved it
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
April 18, 2022
If you love a scarred hero, beauty and the beast, grump/sunshine, then look no further than this new installment in Darcy Burke's The Phoenix Club series! This engaging, delightfully paced, steamily sensual novel is a perfect fifth edition to a really solid series. Darcy Burke gets better and better, each novel ups the steam and character development, while creating a beautiful new romance, and teasing future novels, that I am left in want of the next installment immediately!
In this novel, we get Ava, the Phoenix Club's bookkeeper, and Max's, a friend of the owners and war scarred marquess, love story. The action of the novel opens up with Ava coming to Max's estate to get his books and household in order. Max does not look kindly on Ava's appears but with tenacity and good will she breaks down his walls and shows him its time to step up and take care of his estate, employees and tenets.
I absolutely adored Ava, she loves her job, she loves finding the good in people, and she loves to help others. She is the perfect foil to bring sunshine back into Max's life. She is kind and the perfect listening ear, she does not judge others or jump to conclusions and she has the perfect calm demeanor to bring Max out of his shell and show him that he is worthy of the life he has. There are some content notes around wartime, ptsd, illusion to rape/murder of a loved one, and talk of cheating (outside of the hero/heroine's relationship) and Darcy Burke explores this with care and understanding. Watching these two come together, learning to understand the other, and willingly opening themselves up to love is really endearing and I was charmed by their relationship. They have a really lovely chemistry that softly grows as they get to know each other, and then sizzles off the page when they enter into the physical side of their relationship. Another beautiful strength of this novel is in the secondary characters of this series, think that Burke does a wonderful job showing male friendships, and female friendship, and providing the hero and heroine with people who care about them and want the best for them.
Another fantastic book in this series that I can not recommend highly enough! I am now awaiting the next installment with anticipation! Darcy Burke is definitely a must read author if you love a sensual and steamy historical romance with wonderful characters.
Thank you to Darcy Burke and NetGalley for an eARC, all thoughts and opinions are my own.
In this novel, we get Ava, the Phoenix Club's bookkeeper, and Max's, a friend of the owners and war scarred marquess, love story. The action of the novel opens up with Ava coming to Max's estate to get his books and household in order. Max does not look kindly on Ava's appears but with tenacity and good will she breaks down his walls and shows him its time to step up and take care of his estate, employees and tenets.
I absolutely adored Ava, she loves her job, she loves finding the good in people, and she loves to help others. She is the perfect foil to bring sunshine back into Max's life. She is kind and the perfect listening ear, she does not judge others or jump to conclusions and she has the perfect calm demeanor to bring Max out of his shell and show him that he is worthy of the life he has. There are some content notes around wartime, ptsd, illusion to rape/murder of a loved one, and talk of cheating (outside of the hero/heroine's relationship) and Darcy Burke explores this with care and understanding. Watching these two come together, learning to understand the other, and willingly opening themselves up to love is really endearing and I was charmed by their relationship. They have a really lovely chemistry that softly grows as they get to know each other, and then sizzles off the page when they enter into the physical side of their relationship. Another beautiful strength of this novel is in the secondary characters of this series, think that Burke does a wonderful job showing male friendships, and female friendship, and providing the hero and heroine with people who care about them and want the best for them.
Another fantastic book in this series that I can not recommend highly enough! I am now awaiting the next installment with anticipation! Darcy Burke is definitely a must read author if you love a sensual and steamy historical romance with wonderful characters.
Thank you to Darcy Burke and NetGalley for an eARC, all thoughts and opinions are my own.
January 3, 2023
I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher via NetGalley. This in no way impacted on my view.
Ada Treadway loves her job as bookkeeper at the Phoenix Club, and helping her friends, so when her boss/friend, Lucien, asks her to go to the estate of Maximillian Hunt, the Viscount Warfield, and look over his books and ledgers, she agrees. The fact that Warfield has been angry ever since his return from war, and is her best friend's half-brother - who ignored her requests for help - aside, Ada is more than ready to get into her job. But after arriving at Stonehill she realises it's a bigger job than she expected, and Warfield is more damaged too. Max wishes he wasn't he anymore, and his time in Spain has changed him. He never should've been Viscount, and he's definitely not a war hero, so he's pushed everyone away. When Ada turns up, and starts pushing her nose in and changing things, Max starts to consider what life could be like if he opened his wait up to the possibility of the future.
As soon as I realised that this book would be Ada and Warfield's, especially after hearing so much about them in Indecent, I knew I needed to get my copy opened. Ada is a character who seems to always be happy, and not let bad things disturb her. That being said, she's faced a lot in the past, and we see how much those traumas have affected her. Because of that, she doesn't like letting others spiral, and with Max, she sees a sort of kindred spirit who needs help. She was ready to hate him for his actions towards Pru, but being around him, and learning just how much the war had changed him, she wanted to do as much as possible to improve his life at Stonehill, and try and help him too. I loved the scenes when the pair were at Stonehill, and you could see a lightness start to come into Max. He allowed Ada to make repairs on the estate, hire new staff, and even dine with her. When she left, the light went with her, and I could've cheered when Max decided he needed to go to London to see her, and try and mend things with Prudence too. There are some dark themes in this book - mainly all in flashbacks or off the page - but not something I was quite expecting when I got into it. If that could be something which may bother you (CW for PTSD, rape, death, abandonment) perhaps this book is not for you. That being said, I do think this one may be my favourite book in the series, and Max and Ada's romance was phenomenal to read!
Ada Treadway loves her job as bookkeeper at the Phoenix Club, and helping her friends, so when her boss/friend, Lucien, asks her to go to the estate of Maximillian Hunt, the Viscount Warfield, and look over his books and ledgers, she agrees. The fact that Warfield has been angry ever since his return from war, and is her best friend's half-brother - who ignored her requests for help - aside, Ada is more than ready to get into her job. But after arriving at Stonehill she realises it's a bigger job than she expected, and Warfield is more damaged too. Max wishes he wasn't he anymore, and his time in Spain has changed him. He never should've been Viscount, and he's definitely not a war hero, so he's pushed everyone away. When Ada turns up, and starts pushing her nose in and changing things, Max starts to consider what life could be like if he opened his wait up to the possibility of the future.
As soon as I realised that this book would be Ada and Warfield's, especially after hearing so much about them in Indecent, I knew I needed to get my copy opened. Ada is a character who seems to always be happy, and not let bad things disturb her. That being said, she's faced a lot in the past, and we see how much those traumas have affected her. Because of that, she doesn't like letting others spiral, and with Max, she sees a sort of kindred spirit who needs help. She was ready to hate him for his actions towards Pru, but being around him, and learning just how much the war had changed him, she wanted to do as much as possible to improve his life at Stonehill, and try and help him too. I loved the scenes when the pair were at Stonehill, and you could see a lightness start to come into Max. He allowed Ada to make repairs on the estate, hire new staff, and even dine with her. When she left, the light went with her, and I could've cheered when Max decided he needed to go to London to see her, and try and mend things with Prudence too. There are some dark themes in this book - mainly all in flashbacks or off the page - but not something I was quite expecting when I got into it. If that could be something which may bother you (CW for PTSD, rape, death, abandonment) perhaps this book is not for you. That being said, I do think this one may be my favourite book in the series, and Max and Ada's romance was phenomenal to read!
April 20, 2022
On a roll with historical romances and I am loving it !!!
Miss Ada Treadway, bookkeeper of the Phoenix Club, eternal optimist, and a literal ray of positivity and cheer, is tasked with sorting out the estate ledgers for her employer's friend. The friend, Viscount Warfield aka Max, though, turns out to be a boorish recluse, bogged down by injury and loss, and hell bent on letting his estate and himself go to rot. Much as he hates the intrusion, Max's surly demeanour is no match for Ada's charm and determination. As she sets about meddling in his affairs, she slowly chips away at all his defences, revealing glimpses of the happy, witty man he used to be. When her fortnight is up and Ada has to leave, both Max and Ada realize they have come to mean so much more to each other, but they have to get past the guilt and loss of the past to be able to have a future together.
In my honest opinion, Impossible by Darcy Burke read like a revamped version of Beauty and the Beast minus the enchantments, but with wit and passion to spare. The protagonists are shown to be flawed characters who have succumbed to weaknesses in the past and make no excuses for their actions. Both Max and Ada's backstories are well-fleshed out, making their respective traumas tangible. The conversations are witty and the chemistry is incendiary.
I am not a believer in a woman 'fixing' a man, which happens to be the crux of the story, but thankfully, my romance-addled brain chose to overlook this. Seeing that this is Book 5 in the Phoenix Club series, I hope to get my hands on the previous books too.
Overall, an awesome romance. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing a digital copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Miss Ada Treadway, bookkeeper of the Phoenix Club, eternal optimist, and a literal ray of positivity and cheer, is tasked with sorting out the estate ledgers for her employer's friend. The friend, Viscount Warfield aka Max, though, turns out to be a boorish recluse, bogged down by injury and loss, and hell bent on letting his estate and himself go to rot. Much as he hates the intrusion, Max's surly demeanour is no match for Ada's charm and determination. As she sets about meddling in his affairs, she slowly chips away at all his defences, revealing glimpses of the happy, witty man he used to be. When her fortnight is up and Ada has to leave, both Max and Ada realize they have come to mean so much more to each other, but they have to get past the guilt and loss of the past to be able to have a future together.
In my honest opinion, Impossible by Darcy Burke read like a revamped version of Beauty and the Beast minus the enchantments, but with wit and passion to spare. The protagonists are shown to be flawed characters who have succumbed to weaknesses in the past and make no excuses for their actions. Both Max and Ada's backstories are well-fleshed out, making their respective traumas tangible. The conversations are witty and the chemistry is incendiary.
I am not a believer in a woman 'fixing' a man, which happens to be the crux of the story, but thankfully, my romance-addled brain chose to overlook this. Seeing that this is Book 5 in the Phoenix Club series, I hope to get my hands on the previous books too.
Overall, an awesome romance. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing a digital copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
April 17, 2022
Ada Treadway is the bookkeeper of the Phoenix Club. At the request of one the owners, she travels to the estate of the Marquess of Warfield to bring his ledgers up to date. Suffering from wounds from the war, Max does not care about his estate, he just wants to be left alone. His physical wounds have healed and left scars, but his mental heath leaves him with nightmares and little appetite. Ada decided not to live her life in despair from the past. To be happy and positive everyday is her attitude. She is just the person to bring Max out of the darkness and back into the light. He does not make it easy, but Ada is not giving up. When her heart becomes involved, she sees no happy ending, unless Max is willing to trust and give his heart. What about forgiveness? Another successful book in the series with a lot of angst and a little bit of flirting. 🔥🔥🔥🔥
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book.
May 2, 2022
Thank you to NetGalley for giving me an ARC of this to review. My review is unbiased
This book, I’m confident, was a Beauty and The Beast retelling—if not inspired by it. The heroine is sent by Max’s friend to Max’s estate to look over his ledgers and help with his failing estate. He very much is not pleased by her stay. She’s there for a fortnight but it felt longer because this book dragged. I didn’t have a connection to any of the characters until 80% of the way. The trauma that Ada and Max have experienced was mentioned heavily throughout the novel to the point it got frustrating to only see it mentioned in vague terms until the end of the book when their past is revealed to each other. I feel very neutral about this book I don’t love it nor do I hate it, it’s just there.
This book, I’m confident, was a Beauty and The Beast retelling—if not inspired by it. The heroine is sent by Max’s friend to Max’s estate to look over his ledgers and help with his failing estate. He very much is not pleased by her stay. She’s there for a fortnight but it felt longer because this book dragged. I didn’t have a connection to any of the characters until 80% of the way. The trauma that Ada and Max have experienced was mentioned heavily throughout the novel to the point it got frustrating to only see it mentioned in vague terms until the end of the book when their past is revealed to each other. I feel very neutral about this book I don’t love it nor do I hate it, it’s just there.
April 15, 2022
I received an advance ebook copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for review.
Impossible by Darcy Burke is the fifth book of the Phoenix Club. This book follows Ada and Max.
Ada is an eternal optimist despite suffering immense heartache. She is extremely independent and loves being a bookkeeper for the Phoenix Club. When the owner of the club asks her to help organize his friend’s estate ledgers, she is eager to prove herself capable of the job. But when Ada comes face to face with the unpleasant viscount, she is determined to help bring forth the charming gentleman she knows lies beneath.
Max is immediately annoyed at the arrival of the meddlesome Ada. She reminds him of his difficult past, and feelings he thought he was done with.
Both Ada and Max must work to realize their feelings for each other are worth fighting for.
I adore this book. It manages to juggle romance and heavy subjects in a way that leaves the reader breathless. I love the relationship between Max and Ada and the way they both are fighting their own battles, but together.
Impossible by Darcy Burke is the fifth book of the Phoenix Club. This book follows Ada and Max.
Ada is an eternal optimist despite suffering immense heartache. She is extremely independent and loves being a bookkeeper for the Phoenix Club. When the owner of the club asks her to help organize his friend’s estate ledgers, she is eager to prove herself capable of the job. But when Ada comes face to face with the unpleasant viscount, she is determined to help bring forth the charming gentleman she knows lies beneath.
Max is immediately annoyed at the arrival of the meddlesome Ada. She reminds him of his difficult past, and feelings he thought he was done with.
Both Ada and Max must work to realize their feelings for each other are worth fighting for.
I adore this book. It manages to juggle romance and heavy subjects in a way that leaves the reader breathless. I love the relationship between Max and Ada and the way they both are fighting their own battles, but together.
July 25, 2022
Impossible by Darcy Burke is an amazing historical romance between a fiercely independent female bookkeeper and a scarred, reclusive marquess.
I loved how their love story progressed: tentative and feeling. The pair healed with each other and it was beautiful to watch.
I especially love that they weren't dependent on each other, and, instead, understood that they needed to confront their demons by themselves.
— — — —
I loved how their love story progressed: tentative and feeling. The pair healed with each other and it was beautiful to watch.
I especially love that they weren't dependent on each other, and, instead, understood that they needed to confront their demons by themselves.
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May 1, 2022
Thanks to Zealous Quill Press for providing an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
TL;DR: Overall, while this started off strong, the romance felt a little too half-baked for me to fully enjoy it. That’s not to say that I didn’t like these characters or enjoy their story because I did, and I was actually quite convinced that this was going to be a favourite in this series, so it was quite disappointing that their romance ended up being a bit unsatisfying for me. I am looking forward to the next book in the series though as we move to Scotland?!
It’s been a while since I read a historical romance by Darcy Burke but I enjoyed it as I always do. Ada was a great female lead and Max was a flawed hero for such a heartbreaking reason. I enjoyed their chemistry and witty banter, and I loved being back at the Phoenix Club with Evie and Lucien with small cameos from previous couples. I didn’t read the previous book in this series yet so Ada and Max were mostly new to me, but as this can definitely be read as a standalone, there was no issue. If you enjoy grumpy/sunshine romances, then you will enjoy the dynamic between Ada and Max! This also served slight Beauty and the Beast retelling vibes which I didn’t expect so that was a pleasant surprise.
Ada charmed me from the very beginning. She is a literal ray of sunshine who always sees the positive in people and charms everyone with her attentiveness, kindness and wit. Although she carries the trauma of being abandoned by her family at a young age, I really admired how she refused to let any negativity into her days. Her enthusiasm and curiosity knew no bounds and it was infectious and it was exactly what Max needed in his life. Max returned from the war a completely changed man. He’s surly, bitter and carries around the heavy burden of guilt from the war for very tragic reasons. It became very obvious later in the story that he suffers from PTSD, even more than it seemed initially, and it was very heartbreaking to see him go through that. He has a good heart although he has repressed his emotions for so long that it took a while to find some semblance of his former happy self and I admired his desire to do better.
Here’s the thing: I liked Ada and Max together—they have great chemistry and I thought they complemented each other well. There was a gradual build-up to the change in their relationship dynamic as they go from hate to tolerance to gaining some understanding of each other’s pain. Max was willful and it took Ada quite a bit of teasing and persistence (something she was great at) for him to loosen up around her but I liked their banter as they got to know each other! That said, I thought the moment their platonic admiration turned into lustful feelings and sexual attraction felt a bit too sudden. It’s not insta-love but they still fall in love quickly and it felt too rushed considering they have many personal issues to deal with, which made me feel like their relationship wasn’t very healthy. In particular, Max’s character could have stood to be further developed as it was clear he was suffering greatly from PTSD and the fact that he was suddenly ‘fine’ with Ada around gave their romance a “love cures all” vibe that I didn’t agree with considering how much trauma he repressed. Focusing on this would’ve made the story much stronger and it would’ve been a story that both characters deserved because they were great and it was so easy to root for their HEA.
TL;DR: Overall, while this started off strong, the romance felt a little too half-baked for me to fully enjoy it. That’s not to say that I didn’t like these characters or enjoy their story because I did, and I was actually quite convinced that this was going to be a favourite in this series, so it was quite disappointing that their romance ended up being a bit unsatisfying for me. I am looking forward to the next book in the series though as we move to Scotland?!
It’s been a while since I read a historical romance by Darcy Burke but I enjoyed it as I always do. Ada was a great female lead and Max was a flawed hero for such a heartbreaking reason. I enjoyed their chemistry and witty banter, and I loved being back at the Phoenix Club with Evie and Lucien with small cameos from previous couples. I didn’t read the previous book in this series yet so Ada and Max were mostly new to me, but as this can definitely be read as a standalone, there was no issue. If you enjoy grumpy/sunshine romances, then you will enjoy the dynamic between Ada and Max! This also served slight Beauty and the Beast retelling vibes which I didn’t expect so that was a pleasant surprise.
Ada charmed me from the very beginning. She is a literal ray of sunshine who always sees the positive in people and charms everyone with her attentiveness, kindness and wit. Although she carries the trauma of being abandoned by her family at a young age, I really admired how she refused to let any negativity into her days. Her enthusiasm and curiosity knew no bounds and it was infectious and it was exactly what Max needed in his life. Max returned from the war a completely changed man. He’s surly, bitter and carries around the heavy burden of guilt from the war for very tragic reasons. It became very obvious later in the story that he suffers from PTSD, even more than it seemed initially, and it was very heartbreaking to see him go through that. He has a good heart although he has repressed his emotions for so long that it took a while to find some semblance of his former happy self and I admired his desire to do better.
Here’s the thing: I liked Ada and Max together—they have great chemistry and I thought they complemented each other well. There was a gradual build-up to the change in their relationship dynamic as they go from hate to tolerance to gaining some understanding of each other’s pain. Max was willful and it took Ada quite a bit of teasing and persistence (something she was great at) for him to loosen up around her but I liked their banter as they got to know each other! That said, I thought the moment their platonic admiration turned into lustful feelings and sexual attraction felt a bit too sudden. It’s not insta-love but they still fall in love quickly and it felt too rushed considering they have many personal issues to deal with, which made me feel like their relationship wasn’t very healthy. In particular, Max’s character could have stood to be further developed as it was clear he was suffering greatly from PTSD and the fact that he was suddenly ‘fine’ with Ada around gave their romance a “love cures all” vibe that I didn’t agree with considering how much trauma he repressed. Focusing on this would’ve made the story much stronger and it would’ve been a story that both characters deserved because they were great and it was so easy to root for their HEA.
April 30, 2022
I received a copy of this from NetGalley and this is my freely given opinion.
This is the fifth book in the Phoenix Club series, by Darcy Burke, and I have to admit I was prepared to not like it as much as the others. Ada Treadway just seemed too positive, interfering, and, at the time of my personal state of mind, a bit of an annoying and interfering busybody determined to inject herself into the business of Max Hunt, the Viscount of Warfield. Likewise, he seemed a broken man, scarred inside and out from his experiences in Spain during the war, witnessing terrible brutality and suffering deep personal losses, including his family. He takes up the mantle of the title and the estate after the deaths of his father and brother, but does not want it and neglects his holdings, concerning his old friends, and leading to Lucien sending Ada to help manage his bookkeeping and do something with his estate. He was beyond rude, and seemed so embittered and broken that I was not sure I could even appreciate him as a character, but as the story unfold, so much more is learned about both Ada and Max, and I appreciated the depths of their experiences and how they molded the two people into who they were, and they are more alike than it would initially seem.
Max does not want her there and does nothing to welcome her, and everything he can to push her, and his friends away. But her persistent optimism and attempts to draw him out ends up getting him engaged and involved in his estate, and eventually back into society, and re-establishing his relationships, including forging one with his half sister, Prudence. She helps him realize that he is not as broken and dead inside as he thought he was. They are unable to deny their attraction to each other, even though Ada felt that there was no future in any relationships.
I thought they were two very beautiful characters, who seem so opposite on a facile level, but are both people who share a history of loss, of love and family, and can help each other heal. Max shows his scars on his body and his behaviour. Ada's are a lot harder to see, since she has learned to find her happiness again, and forge a future of freedom and independence for herself, but her scars are still there, deep inside. Ada's support of Max and his battle with his history and his trauma made this a beautiful book for me, even though I did not initially buy into it.
This is not my favourite of the series, but ultimately I did love the story of Max and Ada.
4 stars out of 5.
This is the fifth book in the Phoenix Club series, by Darcy Burke, and I have to admit I was prepared to not like it as much as the others. Ada Treadway just seemed too positive, interfering, and, at the time of my personal state of mind, a bit of an annoying and interfering busybody determined to inject herself into the business of Max Hunt, the Viscount of Warfield. Likewise, he seemed a broken man, scarred inside and out from his experiences in Spain during the war, witnessing terrible brutality and suffering deep personal losses, including his family. He takes up the mantle of the title and the estate after the deaths of his father and brother, but does not want it and neglects his holdings, concerning his old friends, and leading to Lucien sending Ada to help manage his bookkeeping and do something with his estate. He was beyond rude, and seemed so embittered and broken that I was not sure I could even appreciate him as a character, but as the story unfold, so much more is learned about both Ada and Max, and I appreciated the depths of their experiences and how they molded the two people into who they were, and they are more alike than it would initially seem.
Max does not want her there and does nothing to welcome her, and everything he can to push her, and his friends away. But her persistent optimism and attempts to draw him out ends up getting him engaged and involved in his estate, and eventually back into society, and re-establishing his relationships, including forging one with his half sister, Prudence. She helps him realize that he is not as broken and dead inside as he thought he was. They are unable to deny their attraction to each other, even though Ada felt that there was no future in any relationships.
I thought they were two very beautiful characters, who seem so opposite on a facile level, but are both people who share a history of loss, of love and family, and can help each other heal. Max shows his scars on his body and his behaviour. Ada's are a lot harder to see, since she has learned to find her happiness again, and forge a future of freedom and independence for herself, but her scars are still there, deep inside. Ada's support of Max and his battle with his history and his trauma made this a beautiful book for me, even though I did not initially buy into it.
This is not my favourite of the series, but ultimately I did love the story of Max and Ada.
4 stars out of 5.
April 24, 2022
****1/2- Ada Treadway is the bookkeeper for the Phoenix Club which is owned by Lord Lucien Westbrook. She is sent by Lucien to one of his closest friend’s home, to organize his ledgers and to see how he can make improvements. Maximillian Hunt, Viscount Warfield, has not been the same since returning from the war. He has neglected everything that has to do with running his estate at Stonehill.
Max returned from the war with injuries. He has outer wounds that have healed and left him with scars. It is his internal wounds that have not healed. Max has a very nasty temperament. He is always angry and rejects any kind of help. He has no desire to improve his attitude. He even turned away his half sister Prudence St. James when she came for help. He also refused to give her a dowry when she married Bennet St. James, Viscount Glastonbury.
Ada arrives at Stonehill knowing this will be a challenging task. Ada is an unwelcome guest. Max hopes she will leave right away. Max wants to be left alone. Ada let’s him know he is stuck with her for the next two weeks because she intends to finish her job. Once Ada meets Max she finds him cranky and grumpy but also alluring. Ada is drawn to Max. She decides she wants to make him better. She wants to mend him and hopes she can bring out the man he used to be. Max is annoyed with Ada. She is too pleasant and wants to cheer him up. He does not understand how someone can be happy all the time. She is too curious and meddlesome. Max does not want to stop being bitter and the nasty beast that keeps everyone away from him. Unfortunately he cannot stop thinking about Ada. I loved Ada’s persistence and how she got under Max’s skin. Ada is the perfect woman for Max. It was fun to watch Max smile and laugh when he did not want to. He tried so hard not to allow Ada’s cheerfulness to invade him. Ada is able to bring out the good in Max. You cannot help but fall for Max.
This was an enjoyable book. This is book five in the Phoenix Club series. The series just gets better and better. The whole series has been wonderful. You can definitely read this book without reading the previous books. I love series that you get to see previous characters from earlier books again. I love Lucien and cannot wait for his story. I look forward to reading the next book in the series. I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
Max returned from the war with injuries. He has outer wounds that have healed and left him with scars. It is his internal wounds that have not healed. Max has a very nasty temperament. He is always angry and rejects any kind of help. He has no desire to improve his attitude. He even turned away his half sister Prudence St. James when she came for help. He also refused to give her a dowry when she married Bennet St. James, Viscount Glastonbury.
Ada arrives at Stonehill knowing this will be a challenging task. Ada is an unwelcome guest. Max hopes she will leave right away. Max wants to be left alone. Ada let’s him know he is stuck with her for the next two weeks because she intends to finish her job. Once Ada meets Max she finds him cranky and grumpy but also alluring. Ada is drawn to Max. She decides she wants to make him better. She wants to mend him and hopes she can bring out the man he used to be. Max is annoyed with Ada. She is too pleasant and wants to cheer him up. He does not understand how someone can be happy all the time. She is too curious and meddlesome. Max does not want to stop being bitter and the nasty beast that keeps everyone away from him. Unfortunately he cannot stop thinking about Ada. I loved Ada’s persistence and how she got under Max’s skin. Ada is the perfect woman for Max. It was fun to watch Max smile and laugh when he did not want to. He tried so hard not to allow Ada’s cheerfulness to invade him. Ada is able to bring out the good in Max. You cannot help but fall for Max.
This was an enjoyable book. This is book five in the Phoenix Club series. The series just gets better and better. The whole series has been wonderful. You can definitely read this book without reading the previous books. I love series that you get to see previous characters from earlier books again. I love Lucien and cannot wait for his story. I look forward to reading the next book in the series. I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
April 13, 2022
I read two Darcy Burke titles earlier this year, one in this series, and really enjoyed both so I was eager for this latest installment of the Phoenix Club.
Orphaned and disappointed in love, Ada Treadway is the optimistic and independent bookkeeper of the Phoenix Club. When the owner enlists her to organize his friend’s estate ledgers, she’s eager to prove her expertise. His friend, the surly Maximillian Hunt, Viscount Warfield, is full of self-loathing and miserable to everyone, even the remains of his loyal staff. The arrival of the meddlesome and positive woman who will put his accounts in order is a nuisance, and she is hoping to complete her task with as little interaction with him as possible.
Ada is cheerful and assertive enough to stand up to Max. I probably would have hit him and left after the first morning. Max is a wounded war hero who never expected to be viscount and Ada is a person who wants to make those around her happy. She doesn’t approach Max with this spirit, though. She seems to know he doesn’t want to be fixed. In fact, he spends a lot of time wishing he had just died in Spain.
Like Burke’s other books, the dialogue between two capable and interesting characters carry the story. Beneath the excellent dialogue is a soldier suffering from grief and ptsd and a people pleaser who was emotionally damaged by her family. They’re both plagued by their regrets.
You don’t need to read the previous books to jump into this story, but it might be helpful to read #4 Indecent about Max’s half-sister. I really enjoyed how Ada’s life choice was portrayed without her having any regret about it.
3.5 stars. I received an arc from
NetGalley
Orphaned and disappointed in love, Ada Treadway is the optimistic and independent bookkeeper of the Phoenix Club. When the owner enlists her to organize his friend’s estate ledgers, she’s eager to prove her expertise. His friend, the surly Maximillian Hunt, Viscount Warfield, is full of self-loathing and miserable to everyone, even the remains of his loyal staff. The arrival of the meddlesome and positive woman who will put his accounts in order is a nuisance, and she is hoping to complete her task with as little interaction with him as possible.
Ada is cheerful and assertive enough to stand up to Max. I probably would have hit him and left after the first morning. Max is a wounded war hero who never expected to be viscount and Ada is a person who wants to make those around her happy. She doesn’t approach Max with this spirit, though. She seems to know he doesn’t want to be fixed. In fact, he spends a lot of time wishing he had just died in Spain.
Like Burke’s other books, the dialogue between two capable and interesting characters carry the story. Beneath the excellent dialogue is a soldier suffering from grief and ptsd and a people pleaser who was emotionally damaged by her family. They’re both plagued by their regrets.
You don’t need to read the previous books to jump into this story, but it might be helpful to read #4 Indecent about Max’s half-sister. I really enjoyed how Ada’s life choice was portrayed without her having any regret about it.
3.5 stars. I received an arc from
NetGalley
April 15, 2022
Received an Advance Reader Copy in exchange for a fair review
3.5 stars.
A tortured, wounded hero finds his perfect match in “Impossible”, by Darcy Burke (Zealous Quill Press), a historical romance novel where the Beauty awakes and softens the Beast.
Max is the epitome of the reclusive wounded hero. He hides his physical, psychological and emotional scars and reacts ferociously when someone approaches him.
The pain, guilt, trauma and sense of hopelessness are hard to watch in this character. The surliness of this brooding hero is wonderfully portrayed.
Ada is a great heroine, a lovely person who truly cares about helping others. Her “eternal optimism”, determination and altruism are remarkable.
I also liked her intelligence, practical sense and management skills, which might be confounded with meddling but were somehow funny; we could feel her intentions came from a good place.
The side characters are interesting and a good contribution, too. I enjoyed the friendship, loyalty and affection between them.
I also liked that there’s some healing and comfort for Max regarding his family and not all is lost.
The plot revolves around Max’s recovering from his traumatic experiences and learning to live in society again. For Ada it’s also a relearning process, but her path is less arduous.
Besides the wounded hero trope, what I liked best is the emotional intensity between Max and Ada and how both display vulnerabilities.
I enjoyed the fluidity in the prose and the lively dialogues, too.
I liked the story way better in the beginning, when all the secrets and wounds were yet unveiled.
Some aspects, solutions and language felt anachronistic. Others seemed too easy.
3.5 stars.
A tortured, wounded hero finds his perfect match in “Impossible”, by Darcy Burke (Zealous Quill Press), a historical romance novel where the Beauty awakes and softens the Beast.
Max is the epitome of the reclusive wounded hero. He hides his physical, psychological and emotional scars and reacts ferociously when someone approaches him.
The pain, guilt, trauma and sense of hopelessness are hard to watch in this character. The surliness of this brooding hero is wonderfully portrayed.
Ada is a great heroine, a lovely person who truly cares about helping others. Her “eternal optimism”, determination and altruism are remarkable.
I also liked her intelligence, practical sense and management skills, which might be confounded with meddling but were somehow funny; we could feel her intentions came from a good place.
The side characters are interesting and a good contribution, too. I enjoyed the friendship, loyalty and affection between them.
I also liked that there’s some healing and comfort for Max regarding his family and not all is lost.
The plot revolves around Max’s recovering from his traumatic experiences and learning to live in society again. For Ada it’s also a relearning process, but her path is less arduous.
Besides the wounded hero trope, what I liked best is the emotional intensity between Max and Ada and how both display vulnerabilities.
I enjoyed the fluidity in the prose and the lively dialogues, too.
I liked the story way better in the beginning, when all the secrets and wounds were yet unveiled.
Some aspects, solutions and language felt anachronistic. Others seemed too easy.
dnf
July 3, 2022DNF at 20 %.
The main reason why I DNF'ed, is because I have an aversion to the characters. The hero is a real d*ck in the first few chapters. We quickly learn he's probably got PTSD, survivor guilt and probably some unresolved grief. Granted, that's a lot to bear and the hero, Max, copes (if we can call it that) by unloading all his anger and pain on others. Realizing all of this made it a little bit easier for me to understand his assholish behavior, but truthfully, those things don't make it okay to treat others so poorly.
However, the heroine... Don't even get me started. I've never disliked a character like this. She's such a people pleaser, got the biggest savior complex ever and denies herself any and every negative feeling. She also oversteps so many boundaries, while attributing it to her "curiosity" and calling it her "investigation" (insert noise of disgust here). She actually triggers ("provokes") him on purpose to get information. At some point, Max tells her she's "intrusive, impertinent and uselessly persistent" and to "mind her own business" after thinking she's meddlesome. I agreed full heartedly with him. But then... Then, of course, Max mellows a bit and starts answering her incessant questions and she's like "oh no, I never imagined he'd share such sentiments" and that, ladies and gents, was the straw that broke the camel's back. It may look trivial, but I was so damn frustrated when she thought that. Of course, he'll start sharing if you keep harassing him and overstepping his boundaries. 🙄
So, DNF because I can't stand Ada.
The main reason why I DNF'ed, is because I have an aversion to the characters. The hero is a real d*ck in the first few chapters. We quickly learn he's probably got PTSD, survivor guilt and probably some unresolved grief. Granted, that's a lot to bear and the hero, Max, copes (if we can call it that) by unloading all his anger and pain on others. Realizing all of this made it a little bit easier for me to understand his assholish behavior, but truthfully, those things don't make it okay to treat others so poorly.
However, the heroine... Don't even get me started. I've never disliked a character like this. She's such a people pleaser, got the biggest savior complex ever and denies herself any and every negative feeling. She also oversteps so many boundaries, while attributing it to her "curiosity" and calling it her "investigation" (insert noise of disgust here). She actually triggers ("provokes") him on purpose to get information. At some point, Max tells her she's "intrusive, impertinent and uselessly persistent" and to "mind her own business" after thinking she's meddlesome. I agreed full heartedly with him. But then... Then, of course, Max mellows a bit and starts answering her incessant questions and she's like "oh no, I never imagined he'd share such sentiments" and that, ladies and gents, was the straw that broke the camel's back. It may look trivial, but I was so damn frustrated when she thought that. Of course, he'll start sharing if you keep harassing him and overstepping his boundaries. 🙄
So, DNF because I can't stand Ada.
April 20, 2022
Just like with Max, Ada won me over too with her sunny disposition and never-give-up attitude.
Maximillian Hunt, the Marquess of Warfield, is barely surviving through each day. The war has severely traumatized him, and what is left is a bad-tempered, unlikeable shell of his former self. His friend and fellow soldier, Lucien, sends his trusty accountant, Ada Treadway, to put Max’s estate to rights.
Ada is no stranger to tragedy herself, but she has decided to embrace each day with positivity and optimism. Max did his best to drive her away initially, but Ada wormed her way under his skin and into his heart. It was no magical transformation for Max and he still has a long road ahead of him, but Ada’s love had definitely put him on the right path. And Max had helped Ada to put her own past mistakes into the right perspective so that she can heal and move on.
Max and Ada are both complex characters, who both suffered trauma, but has dealt with it very differently. Their journey together happens at a believable pace, with ups and downs that feels very realistic.
My favorite quote from the book is:
Lucien’s dark brows pitched into a V. “Dammit, don’t make me meddle.” He exhaled. “You’re going to make me meddle.”
I can recommend this book and the entire Phoenix Club series if you like historical romance with strong characters and second chances.
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
April 14, 2022
Not loving this book, Impossible! Once again Darcy Burke delivers all the love and anguish that makes a true romance. Nothing is harder to overcome than our own feelings of worth. Ada & Max have both been through so much pain in their lives. They cannot help but have self-doubt. After the tragedies of his life, Lord Warfield had shut himself off from the world and ceased to care about anything or anyone. Left with few staff and no direction in his responsibility to the Viscountcy he never thought he’d have, his friend steps in and sends Ava Treadway to see to his books and help him. Ava is the personification of positivity, and eventually wears down Max’s surly demeanor. The evolution of their love does not come easy, but it is a beauty of selfless love. In the end they both find healing in each other. I loved the power of friendship that is so intrinsic of The Phoenix Society. This is a group of friends that have proven that the family you choose can be just as powerful and sometimes more, than the family of birth. I especially loved seeing Glastonbury shine as a friend, even being new in Warfields life, he channeled the Phoenix Society friendship to the tee with his support. He has come such a long way from the gentleman we got to know originally in Intolerable. I cannot wait to continue to Dougal’s story.
April 18, 2022
Maximillian Hunt, Viscount Warfield, neglects his country seat and tenants and doesn't care about anyone. He has suffered grievous wounds both emotional and physical in the war and he wants nothing to do with anyone. When his friend sends Ada Treadway to help with the estate ledgers, Max does his best to drive her away. Ada has suffered in her young life first by her family's rejection and then by her former lover, but she's determined to look on the bright side of every situation. She wants to help Max, but he's reluctant to let her in. Can these two tortured souls find love?
This book may be my favorite of the series so far. I felt bad for Max for what he suffered in the war even though he was acting like a complete bear on the estate. Ada's innate goodness shines through in the story and I love that she never gives up on trying to help Max see that there is still goodness in the world and it's worth living. The PTSD and guilt Max suffers from are quite traumatic and I liked how Ms. Burke didn't instantly fix him. The slow-burn romance between Ada and Max is well done. I can't wait to read the next book in the series.
I voluntarily read an advanced reader copy and all opinions are my own.
This book may be my favorite of the series so far. I felt bad for Max for what he suffered in the war even though he was acting like a complete bear on the estate. Ada's innate goodness shines through in the story and I love that she never gives up on trying to help Max see that there is still goodness in the world and it's worth living. The PTSD and guilt Max suffers from are quite traumatic and I liked how Ms. Burke didn't instantly fix him. The slow-burn romance between Ada and Max is well done. I can't wait to read the next book in the series.
I voluntarily read an advanced reader copy and all opinions are my own.
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