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sarah_moynihan's review
4.0
'Meet the smart, independent women who've decided they don't need Society's rules, their families' expectations, or, most importantly, a husband. But just because they don't need a man doesn't mean they might not want one...
Graham Kinsley is shocked when he inherits a debt-ridden dukedom, and now he has just one month to repay a loan. He needs an heiress—or find a way to recoup the former duke's losses. When he meets the alluring Arabella, he's entranced. Unfortunately, she's as bankrupt as he is, but if they work together they may be able to recover their fortunes. Though if they keep stealing kisses, they may lose their hearts instead.
Arabella Stoke can't afford an attraction to the penniless duke who has vowed to help rescue her family from financial devastation. She needs to find a wealthy husband before her father succumbs to the stress of losing everything. However, as Graham brings them closer to finding the swindler who stole their money, the war between what they want and what they need may ruin them both.'
_________________________
Never Have I Ever With a Duke is the first book in Darcy Burke's new The Spitfire Society series. I started by reading the second book in this series, A Duke is Never Enough, which I relly enjoyed and so I decided to go back and see how the series started.
I liked both Graham and Arabella as the main characters in this story. I loved that Graham was not born into nobility. A powerful man of the ton with humble beginnings is one of my favorite plot devices in a historical fiction.
Arabella was sweet and loyal. Most importantly she was willing to defy conventions to accomplish what needed to be done. Arabella was an interesting mix of bold and obedient. She defies the expectations of her day in regards to relationships with men and her conduct, which is awesome. But at the same time, when it comes to her family she is sure to follow her parents demands and wishes. She just didn't seem like much of a spitfire to me.
I did however find the both of them to frankly a bit naive in regards to the ease with which they woud be able to reverse their fortunes. I don't quite understand what lead them to believe that they would be able to so easily convince a duo known for swindling numerous people across class lies to simply return the money to them. What kind of con man would ever? All their planning hinged on pulling this plan off successfully and I found that to be quite foolish on their part.
The part of the book that bothered me was Arabella's father, he greatly infuriated me. He was careless enough to squander their money away, keeping from them how dire the situation was until it was far too late. Then he give into self weakness and illness due to the stress of the situation, thus making himself an even greater burned to the family, not only in the sense that they had to do eveything for him, but also in that a bed-ridden man can make no attempts to improve the situation the family is in. Even in illness, he refuses to divulge the extent of their circumstances until Arabella forces his hand. How can you keep your family in the dark? Only once Arabella begins taking actions toward helping the family's situation is he able to find the strength to raise himself from his bed and care for himself. At which point he seems to be in relatively perfect health...so he was just wallowing in his only self-pity all that time. Ugh, what a worthless man. Due to these reasons instead of feeling a great investment in her fathers recovery I mainly felt unmoved.
Overall I did not enjoy this book quite as much as the second in the series, but I was still invested in seeing how things would work out considering what I knew of Arabella and Graham from the following book. I really enjoy Darcy Burke's writing style and will be looking forward to the third in the series, A Duke Will Never Do as well as looking into some of her other books to read. I recommend The Spitfire Society series for Darcy Burke fans and fans of historical romance.
Graham Kinsley is shocked when he inherits a debt-ridden dukedom, and now he has just one month to repay a loan. He needs an heiress—or find a way to recoup the former duke's losses. When he meets the alluring Arabella, he's entranced. Unfortunately, she's as bankrupt as he is, but if they work together they may be able to recover their fortunes. Though if they keep stealing kisses, they may lose their hearts instead.
Arabella Stoke can't afford an attraction to the penniless duke who has vowed to help rescue her family from financial devastation. She needs to find a wealthy husband before her father succumbs to the stress of losing everything. However, as Graham brings them closer to finding the swindler who stole their money, the war between what they want and what they need may ruin them both.'
_________________________
Never Have I Ever With a Duke is the first book in Darcy Burke's new The Spitfire Society series. I started by reading the second book in this series, A Duke is Never Enough, which I relly enjoyed and so I decided to go back and see how the series started.
I liked both Graham and Arabella as the main characters in this story. I loved that Graham was not born into nobility. A powerful man of the ton with humble beginnings is one of my favorite plot devices in a historical fiction.
Arabella was sweet and loyal. Most importantly she was willing to defy conventions to accomplish what needed to be done. Arabella was an interesting mix of bold and obedient. She defies the expectations of her day in regards to relationships with men and her conduct, which is awesome. But at the same time, when it comes to her family she is sure to follow her parents demands and wishes. She just didn't seem like much of a spitfire to me.
I did however find the both of them to frankly a bit naive in regards to the ease with which they woud be able to reverse their fortunes. I don't quite understand what lead them to believe that they would be able to so easily convince a duo known for swindling numerous people across class lies to simply return the money to them. What kind of con man would ever? All their planning hinged on pulling this plan off successfully and I found that to be quite foolish on their part.
The part of the book that bothered me was Arabella's father, he greatly infuriated me. He was careless enough to squander their money away, keeping from them how dire the situation was until it was far too late. Then he give into self weakness and illness due to the stress of the situation, thus making himself an even greater burned to the family, not only in the sense that they had to do eveything for him, but also in that a bed-ridden man can make no attempts to improve the situation the family is in. Even in illness, he refuses to divulge the extent of their circumstances until Arabella forces his hand. How can you keep your family in the dark? Only once Arabella begins taking actions toward helping the family's situation is he able to find the strength to raise himself from his bed and care for himself. At which point he seems to be in relatively perfect health...so he was just wallowing in his only self-pity all that time. Ugh, what a worthless man. Due to these reasons instead of feeling a great investment in her fathers recovery I mainly felt unmoved.
Overall I did not enjoy this book quite as much as the second in the series, but I was still invested in seeing how things would work out considering what I knew of Arabella and Graham from the following book. I really enjoy Darcy Burke's writing style and will be looking forward to the third in the series, A Duke Will Never Do as well as looking into some of her other books to read. I recommend The Spitfire Society series for Darcy Burke fans and fans of historical romance.
books_and_more_books_byt's review against another edition
5.0
Never Have I Ever with a Duke is the first book of The Spitfire Society and a great book to start off the series with! Graham Kinsley was a secretary for Earl of St. Ives, but unexpectedly inherited a dukedom. Now as the new Duke of Halstead he is faced with the challenge of saving the estates. Arabella Stoke’s family was bankrupt, her father had made several bad investments. They had managed to keep in quiet, but she needed to marry a wealthy husband fast. Once Arabella and Graham realize their families had been swindled by the same gentleman, they start to work together to find the man. Graham is determined to find a wealthy wife, so he doesn’t have to sell Brixton Park, his ancestral house. The closer they get to finding the swindler, the more attached to each other they become. Graham must decide if keeping his estate is more important than the love he has for Arabella. The need to find a wealthy spouse troupe is a common one but the author did a great job with the storyline by adding the mystery of the swindler. I can’t wait to find out who the main character from the Spitfire Society will be in the next book! I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
winterreader40's review
4.0
Arabella and Graham have both been cheated out of money and they band together to attempt to get it back. Arabella is an honorary member of the spitfire society, for ladies who are deemed on the shelf or put themselves there by not putting up with other peoples(usually men) bad behavior, she's honorary because she does actually wish to wed and if she and Graham can't get the money back. They both have marriages for money in their futures but they are terribly attracted to each other.
This was interesting as we have a non virgin heroine and a new duke who used to be a secretary(I might be remembering this wrong, but it's something similar if not this) and inherited a debt ridden title. Burke's stories are always a bit short but very entertaining.
This was interesting as we have a non virgin heroine and a new duke who used to be a secretary(I might be remembering this wrong, but it's something similar if not this) and inherited a debt ridden title. Burke's stories are always a bit short but very entertaining.
readwitray's review against another edition
5.0
I took a break from historical romances for a while and just jumped back in with this book. Now I am bummed that my library doesn’t have the next books in AudioBooks.
I loved these characters and didn’t except the ending.
I loved these characters and didn’t except the ending.
sassysmutlover's review against another edition
5.0
This will definitely be an addicting series of books! These ladies are definitely spitfires that will surprise you at every turn. Arabella and Graham’s first meeting sent sparks flying, but they didn’t think their paths would cross again. Neither one is very good at following society’s rules and that just means they will surprise you with the things they do and say. I loved all their conversations and the passion between them.
I was on pins and needles when it came to the swindler and wondering what would happen when they found him. The shocking twist about who he was one I didn’t see coming at all! The ending was one of my favorites!
Arabella is nothing like you expect her to be and it’s clear from the start that she is a spitfire. She’s not shy about anything and wants to be apart of the action. I loved her right away with how she handled herself. She will shock you at times.
Graham may now by a duke, but the title hasn’t gone to his head at all. He doesn’t want to marry for money, but he desperately needs to pay off that loan. There is such a passion in him when it comes to talking about this history of his home, but the love for Arabella will force him to make hard choices.
I can’t wait for the next one in this series.
copy provided for an honest and voluntary review.
I was on pins and needles when it came to the swindler and wondering what would happen when they found him. The shocking twist about who he was one I didn’t see coming at all! The ending was one of my favorites!
Arabella is nothing like you expect her to be and it’s clear from the start that she is a spitfire. She’s not shy about anything and wants to be apart of the action. I loved her right away with how she handled herself. She will shock you at times.
Graham may now by a duke, but the title hasn’t gone to his head at all. He doesn’t want to marry for money, but he desperately needs to pay off that loan. There is such a passion in him when it comes to talking about this history of his home, but the love for Arabella will force him to make hard choices.
I can’t wait for the next one in this series.
copy provided for an honest and voluntary review.
lynettifoo's review against another edition
4.0
I have been in a historical romance slump and this book brought me out of it.
A lot of historical romances have one poor character and one rich character to both create conflict but at the end have an easy HEA.
This story is different and enjoyable because both the characters do not have money and the main conflict is their attraction to each other despite both of them needing to marry for money.
There's sort of a mystery involving the circumstances of their finances and quite a few side characters in this romance universe (from both previous serieses and the next books in the series).
The main story kept me interested but the end resolution was a bit flat. Overall an ok fun read.
A lot of historical romances have one poor character and one rich character to both create conflict but at the end have an easy HEA.
This story is different and enjoyable because both the characters do not have money and the main conflict is their attraction to each other despite both of them needing to marry for money.
There's sort of a mystery involving the circumstances of their finances and quite a few side characters in this romance universe (from both previous serieses and the next books in the series).
The main story kept me interested but the end resolution was a bit flat. Overall an ok fun read.
morvvenna's review
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
viktorian's review against another edition
4.0
When I requested this, I really swore I had read Darcy Burke before. Ironically, I may have dnf-ed the sort of companion book to this? But didn't get far enough to bother marking it?
Whatever the case, I'm glad I assumed otherwise and requested this.
Pros: the characterizations, hands down, and an enjoyable play against the usual the tropes (but not in the stereotypical "she's not like all the other girls" and "he's a rebel gentleman" way" you usually see). They're both pragmatic and practical about it, even if they waver between various feelings of guilt and embarrassment and acceptance about. For Arabella, marrying for wealth is the only way to rescue her family, even if she'd rather have an option for love or independence; it's the only option left. Graham's searching for another way for the money, but he knows marriage is the best way and he has to marry eventually anyway, right?
Spoiler-y pros:
Cons: A few of the motifs felt forced, or at least placed for future series set-up. The plot meandered a bit and felt a little flat, especially considering it has one of my favorite things (a con man/scheme). However... it also ended on a really good set-up that's going to make me search out the second book. (Even if I'm not sure how much I like the proposed pairing.)
tl;dr: This a was a solid, unconventionally fun 3.5 series starter that not only enticed me to look for book #2, but also convinced me I need to go look for more of Darcy Burke's stuff.
Disclaimer: Thanks Netgalley & publisher for the free ARC, with no incentive or coercion on your parts!
Whatever the case, I'm glad I assumed otherwise and requested this.
Pros: the characterizations, hands down, and an enjoyable play against the usual the tropes (but not in the stereotypical "she's not like all the other girls" and "he's a rebel gentleman" way" you usually see). They're both pragmatic and practical about it, even if they waver between various feelings of guilt and embarrassment and acceptance about. For Arabella, marrying for wealth is the only way to rescue her family, even if she'd rather have an option for love or independence; it's the only option left. Graham's searching for another way for the money, but he knows marriage is the best way and he has to marry eventually anyway, right?
Spoiler-y pros:
Spoiler
{Spoiler} I really appreciated that Arabella had been in love before and had no regrets or apologies about it, only a wistful remembrance about what might've been (and I was super surprised that he never did a surprise return for a conflict during the book considering he left England to make his fortune. Maybe he'll eventually be a character in a sequel?) and that Graham struggled with ~emotions and feelings~ before Arabella ever did. Also, I'm so happy that Arabella gave zero cares about St. Ives and had no bitterness, even when Graham felt awkward about his bff's role in her life. {/spoilers}Cons: A few of the motifs felt forced, or at least placed for future series set-up. The plot meandered a bit and felt a little flat, especially considering it has one of my favorite things (a con man/scheme). However... it also ended on a really good set-up that's going to make me search out the second book. (Even if I'm not sure how much I like the proposed pairing.)
tl;dr: This a was a solid, unconventionally fun 3.5 series starter that not only enticed me to look for book #2, but also convinced me I need to go look for more of Darcy Burke's stuff.
Disclaimer: Thanks Netgalley & publisher for the free ARC, with no incentive or coercion on your parts!