The Duke of Defiance (The Untouchables #5) by Darcy Burke-Review, Excerpt & Giveaway
THE DUKE OF DEFIANCE
The Untouchables #5
by Darcy Burke
Genre:adult, historical, romance
Release Date: June 27,2017
Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / Chapters Indigo /itunes KOBO
ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date June 27, 2017
Difficult and defiant as a child, Bran Crowther, Earl of Knighton left England as a young man to pursue independence and adventure. He never expected to inherit the title and when duty calls him home, he still finds Society’s codes constricting and others’ expectations oppressive. Nevertheless, he needs a wife to be a mother to his young daughter, preferably a woman of intelligence and warmth who is, above all, immune to his idiosyncrasies—and to falling in love.
Widow Joanna Shaw isn’t interested in a second marriage, not after the loveless, passionless union she endured. She’d much rather dote on her young niece and nephew since they will likely be the only children in her life…until she meets a precocious girl, in desperate need of a mother. But her father, the so-called Duke of Defiance, is as peculiar as he is handsome, and Jo won’t take another risk with her heart. Their rules, however, are made to be broken, even when the consequences could destroy them both.
REVIEW
5 out of 5 for this reader folks!
The Duke of Defiance by Darcy Burke is the 5th book of her “The Untouchables” Series. A historical romance set in England, this was an easy paced, loving and passionate read that left me satisfied from the start all the way to the end.
Bran Crowther is the “black sheep” of his family. Having left home with no real destination in mind, he finds his place in Barbados where he starts living the life he can be at ease in. He marries and has a beautiful daughter. But fate has never been kind to Bran and soon enough he is a single father to his little angel girl Evie, has to return to memories of a home and family that did nothing but berate him his whole life, AND to top it all off, he has now officially inherited the title of Earl which he never wanted. Resigned to a life of disappointment, he loathes the thought of attending any proper society functions and realizes he must find a mother for his Evie.
Joanne Shaw is a widow to a vile country vicar. Jo never had the chance to “come out” to society due to family scandal, so at a young age she found herself accepting a proposal from a man who is less than ideal. After being abused and widowed, Jo makes peace with the thought that she will never marry again (one crummy marriage was enough for her thank you very much) or have any children. Then she crosses Bran’s path.
Off we go on an adventure of two perfectly flawed (yet accepting of circumstance) characters finding their perfectly flawed HEA. Jo brings a sense of family to Bran and Evie, and Bran and Evie melt away Jo’s reservations of progressing forward to maybe some day be married and enjoy motherhood. Bran has some serious issues going on, and Joanne brings a calm to his life that he can’t help but love. Joanne has a broken spirit of sorts, and Bran slowly enables her to glue them back in place. Evie .. well Evie is just the glue that binds this whole story together.
I would definitely recommend reading the first four books as some characters return from the previous books in this series, BUT, you can absolutely read this book as a stand alone. The flow of story is fantastic, the characters felt believable and the loving was some good! LOL
Recommend this my to fellow historical romance lovers for those precious quiet summer moments.
Click HERE for Rachel’s review of book four-THE DUKE OF DESIRE
HAPPY READING! 🙂
Copy supplied for review
Reviewed by Rachel T
Bran registered the tidy upsweep of her dark brown hair and the green-brown of her earnest eyes as well as the simplicity of her modest slate-gray gown. She was rather monochromatic, except for that hint of green in her eyes, and the tiny gold flecks that danced near the pupil. He recalled that she was widowed, which perhaps explained her somewhat dour appearance. Or maybe it was just that he was used to warmth and vibrancy and colors that defied possibility in England. Barbados seemed like an imaginary world now.
“I see. Do you have children of your own?” he asked.
Pale swaths of pink highlighted her cheeks. It was the barest bit of color, but he caught it. How could he not against the dull palette she provided?
Dull?
No, that wasn’t an apt description. Her attire was dull, her hair a bit too severe, but she possessed an attractive, feminine form. Indeed, her breasts were perhaps spectacular. And she was pretty, with long, dark lashes framing her eyes and rose-colored lips that were just a bit too full. Not too full, he amended.
“I do not,” she said, drawing his attention back to his question about whether she had children.
“Then how can you be qualified to help me with this endeavor?”
“My sister sent a list of characteristics and requirements you should seek.” She straightened her shoulders and looked him in the eye. “She also sent me with her express confidence.”
He liked her fortitude. “Well then, I suppose you will suffice. Come along.”
Her nostrils flared slightly, and her eyes widened just the tiniest bit, the gold flecks seeming to brighten. As he turned to lead her to his office, he considered that he might have just offended her again. He had called her abilities into question, but why wouldn’t he?
He strode toward the back corner of the house, where his office was located. It was a large chamber with a wall of bookshelves and windows that looked out to the garden. He moved behind the desk and indicated for her to take a chair on the opposite side.
She slowly sat, her gaze wary and her mouth tight.
He frowned. “My apologies if I insulted you.”
“If you’d rather I didn’t stay, you have only to say so.” There was a steely set to her shoulders and a clipped edge to her tone as she spoke. “Nora wanted to help you, but I’ll understand if you decide I won’t suffice.”
He dropped into his chair. She had cheek to go with her fortitude. He liked that too. He’d been prepared to deal with milksops and featherbrains when he’d returned to England—people like his mother and brothers. Not that they really were milksops or featherbrains, but they liked to put on as if they were, thinking it was somehow attractive. He supposed it wasn’t fair to assume an entire population shared the same characteristics as his family.
“I’m afraid I must also apologize for the other day. I meant no offense. Sometimes… I speak without realizing how my words might sound.”
One of her dark, slender brows arched. “Forgive me for saying so, but I’ve found that’s a trait shared by most men.”
Darcy Burke is the USA Today Bestselling Author of hot, action-packed historical and sexy, emotional contemporary romance. 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, and three Bengal cats. Visit Darcy online at www.darcyburke.com and sign up for her newsletter, follow her on Twitter at twitter.com/darcyburke, or like her Facebook page, www.facebook.com/DarcyBurkeFans.
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