By: Darcy Burke
Releasing
July 5, 2016
Self-Published
Miss Lucinda Parnell is out of money. A dismal
failure at the Marriage Mart, she’d just as soon leave Society far behind.
Desperate to earn funds to retire with her grandmother to the country, Lucy
disguises herself as a man to gamble in London’s hells. But the Earl of
Dartford, an Untouchable she never imagined speaking to let alone spending time
with, is onto her in a trice. When he insists on acting as her protector, Lucy
fears her chance to remain an independent woman is destined to go up in flames.
After losing his entire
family, Andrew Wentworth, Earl of Dartford built a wall to keep
attachments at bay. He believed he could keep Miss Parnell safe without
compromising his defenses, but she’s exciting and irresistible. Their deepening
relationship makes him even more determined to push her away. Nothing will stop
him from trying to avoid reliving the anguish of loss. Love is the one risk he
doesn’t have the heart to dare.
Lucinda Parnell (aka Lucy) has suffered the indignity of poverty
because of her father's gambling addiction, but since his death, has lived with
her Grandmother and had her seasons. But Lucy has proven herself a failure in
managing to secure a husband. But now her Grandmother wants to retire to the
country, but they can afford for Lucy to come too…so Lucy has no choice…she
must find a way to support herself, seen as marriage is out of the question. So
Lucy disguises he self as a man and uses the one talent she has leaned from her
father, gambling! That is until she runs in Andrew Wentworth, Earl of Dartford
(aka The Duke of Daring) and he realizes that she is a women, Lucy thinks her
plan is doomed.
But how wrong Lucy is! Andrew decides to help Lucy on her endeavor, as
long as he is with her! But the more
they stay together, the more Lucy and Andrews feeling develop, until Lucy
secret is exposed!! Now what will become of them!
I haven't read a Darcy Burke books before, but I was curious about the
storyline, so I delved right in! And boy wasn't I grateful I did.
I love the characters in this book! Especially Andrew, Lucy and Greene;
but I will be honest in saying Ivy's character got on my nerves a little, but
I'm still desperate for her story!! What caused her to be so cynical? Who is
her "Duke"? Will she give him a run for his money??? Oh my goodness!
So many questions and I'm so impatient for the answers.
The writing was smooth and without fluff! And when it comes to the
plot! Oh boy! From the first chapter you are sucked into the story and you are
grateful for it. This book can be read as a stand alone (like I did), but if
you are like me, you are going to want to know what happens in book 1!
I give The Duke of Daring 5 well deserved stars!
Andrew
took a deep breath and dashed across the street, intercepting her at the
corner. “Good evening, Miss Parnell. Where are we off to this evening?”
She
stopped upon seeing him and now glared up at him, her jaw clenched. “You were
waiting for me.”
“I
was. Couldn’t let you venture out alone again. I’m sure you understand.”
“I
understand you’re a nuisance.”
He
straightened his coat. “So you like to say, but I prefer to think of myself as
an assistant. Or maybe even a guide.”
She
opened her mouth, then snapped it shut again. Then she turned but didn’t move
away. She spun back around, her gaze a glorious blaze of outraged affront. “How
did you find out who I am?”
He’d
felt beholden to learn her identity and to do whatever he could to prevent her
from behaving recklessly. “I watched where you went last night, ascertained who
lived at that address, and the rest was quite simple.”
“Well,
good for you, but that changes nothing.” Her gaze turned wary. “Unless you plan
to expose me.”
“I
do not. I’m the Duke of Daring, not the Duke of Gossip.” He decided he liked
the nickname she’d given him.
She
frowned. It seemed she still didn’t trust him.
“Does
your grandmother know what you’re about?” he asked.
For
the first time, she looked worried. “No, and you mustn’t tell her.” She glanced
away. “I don’t wish to concern her. She has enough weighing on her mind.”
He
moved closer and spoke softly. “I won’t tell her, but you must agree to my
terms.”
She
went back to glaring at him, and he realized he’d tensed at her reaction to his
question about her grandmother. It was much easier to deal with her anger than
her distress. “I should’ve known you meant to extort me, but I still don’t
understand why.”
“I’m
a gentleman, Miss Parnell, and a gentleman does not allow a lady to continue as
you are. I would never forgive myself. Daring exploits are fine and good for
me, but not for you.”
Her
eyes widened, and her lips curled into a snarl. “Is that what you think this
is? Some sort of escapade I’ve undertaken for a bit of excitement? How nice it
must be to live for such nonsense.”
He
ignored her insults, realizing he’d hit another nerve—like the comment she’d
made about being unmarried the night before. He’d learned very little about her
today, just that her grandmother was the widow of a baronet and that Miss
Parnell was as good as on the shelf. He might not be the Duke of Gossip, but he
knew how to obtain information when he needed it.
He
crossed his arms over his chest, undaunted. “Then tell me why you’re forced to
do this. I truly wish to help. Is my solicitude that shocking?”
She
stared at him, clearly disbelieving. “Yes, actually. No one pays me any mind.
Or at least, they never have.” She glanced down at herself. “I suppose it took
me dressing up as a man.” When she looked at him again, she seemed resigned.
“You’re incredibly pompous.”
“Call
me the Duke of Arrogance, then. I’ve been called worse.” He uncrossed his arms.
“You have two choices. You can tell me what you’re about and allow me to help
you, or you can go home, where we will inform your grandmother of your
transgression.”
“This
is not a transgression. It’s a necessity. I merely need funds, you
half-wit.” Her cheeks flushed a pretty pink, and she’d never looked less like a
man. He longed to see her without her costume. He thought she must be quite
lovely.
He
didn’t bother tamping down his exasperation. “I ascertained that all on my own,
thank you. But then any half-witwould, since you’ve been gambling.
Why do you need money?” He held up his hand. “And before you think to evade me
again, let me remind you that it’s only a matter of time until you find trouble
with this scheme.” He hadn’t expected her to be this stubborn. He decided it
was time for a new tack. “Let me prove that you can trust me. I will take you
to some hells this evening. You can gamble to your heart’s content, and I will
ensure your safety.”
She
gave him a mutinous glower. “I do not gamble to content my heart.”
“There’s
no need to be defensive. Do we have an accord?”
She
tipped her head to the side, and it was somehow a feminine action.
“Don’t
do that,” he said. “You look too much like a woman.”
She
instantly straightened.
“See
how helpful I am?”
Darcy Burke is the USA
Today bestselling author of hot, action-packed historical and sexy,
emotional 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.
A native Oregonian, Darcy lives on the edge of wine
country with her guitar-strumming husband, their two hilarious kids-who each
seem to have inherited the writing gene in some form-and two Bengal cats. 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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