Oh my, what a marvelous story. Jo is now a widow and has been brow beaten by her husband, she moved in with her sister. Bran is a third son and never expected to become earl. He had moved to Barbados when he was young and made a success of his life, there.
The story grabbed and kept my attention. The characters were warm, gentle and kind, except for his mother, who had never cared for him. The descriptions were lush and vivid. The plot combined all these elements into an amazing story. Bran had trouble adjusting to life in England. He liked to wear his shirts loose and no cravats, coats, shoes or socks. Darcy Burke has out done herself on this book. Her writing as usual, is right on and enchanting as always.

What a beautiful story! Ms. Burke does it again. I fell in love with Bran and felt for Jo. Exceptional read!

There are some really icky Unfortunate Implications of the hero's time in Barbados as a slave owner, the heroine's evil gay late husband, and the idea that really good sex cures sensory processing disorder.

I really really enjoyed this book. All the characters, especially Evie were easy to love. I am so thankful for the epilogue and seeing how happy they indeed were. I wasn't sure what I expected from this title, a bit more of a rogue maybe, but this was much better!!

I really enjoyed this book. Darcy Burke is a wonderful story teller and you can't go wrong with her novels.
This story of Jo and Bran is heart warming, steamy, and never dull. Bran is the reluctant Earl of Knighton; having been born the third son he never imagined he would inherit and isn't prepared for the role. Bran left England as a young man and made a home for himself in Barbados. Now with the passing of his brothers and father he is forced to return with his daughter.
Jo is a widow, who would love a child of her own; but believes she is unable to have children of her own. Bran offers Jo the position of governess and in her desire to useful she agrees.
I was pulled into this story on an emotional level and entertained from beginning to end. It's a great sunny day read.

Love love love! Fave couple so far. It was just wonderful. I was so sad when I finished it.

I'm still smiling the next day.

Gorgeous story such a brilliant addition to this series.

Wow, that is sheltered. Was she a debutante?

Ooh, was her husband cheating?

Matchmaker, matchmaker.

He's the master of subtle digs. Too bad he doesn't realize he's doing it.

Men don't have to worry about boobs, that's why.

Blood tastes yucky, that's for sure, Evie.

Matthias sounds like a wimp.

Don't be a pussy, Kerr. She weighs maybe forty pounds!

His mother was abusive.

Dead husbands are ever so convenient for excuses.

If only you could take the same servants with you when you moved continents.

Foster is a witch. Evie is a child, you moron!

Do they know about the Tooth Fairy yet?

He has a steward though, right?

Ick, this woman. She's actually someone's mother? Bran would have been better off literally raised by wolves.

I'd change the locks, man.

It's sad that they're not knowledgeable about reproduction. It takes two to make a baby.

What. The hell?

Dirty talk in the park? My, my.

Go hang, Talbot.

Just giving him a nickname made him catnip for these silly twits.

Okay, I am so liking his father more than his mother.

This is very "The Parent Trap". Cute!

Yikes, way to dump on your poor sister!

Why do I feel like that was a paid actress?

I hope the witch is a better grandmother now.

I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Every time I read a Darcy Burke historical, it becomes my favorite. I never expect her to be able to top the previous one, but she always does. Jo and Bran are AMAZING. Their journey to each other is heartbreaking and hilarious by turns. I couldn't put it down. THIS one is my favorite.

This is my honest and fair review for this ARC. I LOVE THIS SERIES. Each Duke is so different than the others. Their tales are as unique as they (and their Ladies) are. So well written and you just want to immerse yourself in each story. I have all so far and can't wait until the next comes out. You will love them too I am sure.

WOW!!! Just WOW!!! This is an awesome romance with a strong, loving father who wants only happiness for his small daughter and a wounded lady who knows she’ll never have the family she so desperately wants. Both are flawed, but both are also capable of great depths of love.

I was so engrossed with this book that I read it straight through – finishing at about four o’clock in the morning. I just couldn’t put it down. It sucked me into the lives of these lovely people and just wouldn’t let me go! By the way – I have not read the previous books in this series and thoroughly enjoyed the book anyway. However, the characters were so intriguing that I fully intend to go back and read the first four books.

Bran Crowther left home when he was just old enough to be able to do so. He didn’t care where he was going, he just bought passage on the first ship leaving. That ship deposited him in Barbados where he proceeded to create a successful life, acquire a fortune, marry, and produce a beautiful daughter – Evie. Why would such a young man leave home without caring where he was going? Well, his family was absolutely awful to him. His older brothers tormented him constantly, his mother was a vile creature who did nothing but berate him and his father just gave up on him. Part of the problem is that Bran is much younger than the others and he has some issues. They label him ‘defiant’, but it would appear that he really had some sort of mental/physical issue. He couldn’t stand to be touched and clothes were an awful trial. He also had a lot of anxiety any time he was in the company of strangers or if he was within a crowded space. Those issues followed him into adulthood, but he had learned to manage them better. They were much better in Barbados because he was much more relaxed and in a less congested area. However, when he was forced to return to England to assume a title he didn’t want, those issues threatened to overwhelm him.

Joanna, "Jo", Shaw is the childless widow of a country vicar. Joanna had always wanted love, marriage, and children, but when her older sister, Nora, created a scandal it destroyed Joanna’s chances of having her own season and making a good marriage. She only received one offer and that was to a country vicar. She accepted the offer only to discover that the vicar was a vile mean, hateful, perverted creature who mentally abused her for years. So, when he finally died, she moved in with her sister Nora, who had brought her life around and was married to a duke. Jo isn’t sure what she wants to do with her future, but she is sure it won’t include marriage and children. After all, she could never surrender control of her life to another man, and besides, what man would want to marry her when she was worthless, unattractive and couldn’t provide him with an heir.

Evangelina, “Evie”, is the five-year-old daughter of Bran. She lost her mother at a very early age and Bran stepped into the role of both parents. The only home she has ever known is Barbados and England doesn’t compare favorably with the balmy beaches, rich colors, and fragrant scents of Barbados. She’s adjusting, but she’s not really happy with the idea of never returning to Barbados. Luckily she meets the daughter of Jo’s sister and they become fast friends. She also meets Jo and becomes instantly attached to her. To my thinking, the two little girls act much more mature than any five-year-old that I’ve ever known. They are writing plays at five – almost six. I don’t know – I loved the little girls, but they just didn’t ring true to their age to me.

One thing I really liked was that the story wasn’t filled with angsty introspection. Both of the main characters had issues and both of them went forward with accepting and dealing with those issues. It was a wonderful story of two flawed people finding acceptance and love with each other.

The very best thing about this book was the Epilogue – it was absolutely perfect! I think it should be a law that all historical romance books should have an epilogue!

"I requested and received this book at no cost to me and volunteered to read it; my review is my honest opinion and given without any influence by the author or publisher."

Ms. Burke is a talented author and I enjoyed this book immensely. Joanna Shaw endured 8 years of marriage with a miserable man as her husband who did everything in his power to belittle and mentally abuse her. So much so, that Joanna cannot even imagine marrying again. Bran Crowther, Earl of Knighton, left England 15 years ago to get away from his abusive family. With both his brothers' early deaths, Bran is forced to leave the Bahamas and return home bringing his 5 year old with him. He hates everything about the society oppressive England, everything, that is, until he meets Joanna Shaw.

The characters were well-defined from Joanna's lack of confidence in herself to Bran's quirky habits and I was routing for both of them to find the courage to form a bond together. The children in the book were adorable and added a nice touch to the plot. Fair warning: there are some explicit sex scenes in the book, but overall, I think fans of regency romance will thoroughly enjoy this story. One thing that was a little odd is that Bran is not a duke even though the moniker, Duke of Defiance, was thrown out in jest by Joanna's sister. In my opinion, it didn't quite fit the story.

My favorite Untouchable. Just wow! The story is so romantic and the characters are vulnerable and courageous and march to the beat of their own drummer. A very refreshing tale in the romance genre. Loved Bran and Joanna (and Evie). If you want a feel good read, definitely pick up this book.

The Duke of Defiance is the first book I read by Darcy Burke, but I have a feeling that it won't be my last. I liked it from start 'till finish, and the author did a great job in keeping me interested. I usually either love or DNF a historical romance taking place in England, because I get bored with unnecessary information that in my opinion don't add any value to the story. Development and the interaction between characters are what I find very important, and both Jo and Bran were a great match. There was no crazy drama thrown into the story just for the sake of it. The characters were honest and had a great open communication between them, which I really loved. I also adored Bran's daughter Evie, and I immensely enjoyed reading about her friendship with Jo's niece Becky. These two little girls were the best and so cute.

Both Bran and Jo feel the attraction between them, and it doesn't take long for them to act upon it. The love making between these two was hot and I really enjoyed them. There was no long drawn out hard to get going on, these two characters were adults and acted like one. It was very refreshing and that is why I enjoyed this book so much. The writing was great and the story had a great flow, and I am now intrigued to read the previous books in The Untouchables series. I had the pleasure of meeting some of them in this book and I am intrigued to read about them. The Duke of Defiance is a great historical romance, with an awesome set of characters that really kept me engaged throughout the book.

4.5 stars
Bran Crowther, now the 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. Difficult and defiant as a child, he was always belittled & taunted by his older brothers & mother. Nevertheless, he needs a wife to be a mother to his young daughter Evie, preferably a woman of intelligence and warmth who is, above all, immune to his idiosyncrasies which include disliking being touched & wearing an abundance of clothing.
Widow Joanna Shaw isn’t interested in a second marriage, not after being made to feel half a woman by he vicar husband. She’d much rather dote on her young niece Becky and nephew Christopher since they will likely be the only children in her life that is until she meets a precocious girl Evie, in desperate need of a mother. Bran & Jo are immediately attracted to each other & Jo agrees to become Evie’s governess, this also gives the pair a chance to explore their attraction & relationship.
A very entertaining & page turning read which I read in under a day – a true indication as to how much I’m enjoying a book. The plot is straight forward two people who are attracted to each other & ripe for love but past history means they each have bridges to cross. Jo is recovering from an abusive & unhappy marriage & thinks of herself as only half a woman as she believes herself to be barren. Bran was the third son so never expected to inherit the title, his childhood was unhappy as he was excluded from his older brothers activities & taunted by them & disapproved of by his mother. So he left, took the first ship available & found himself in Barbados where he forged a life & a fortune. The characters are well developed & it was good to catch up with characters from previous books in the series. Jo & Bran are very likeable but it’s Evie that steals the book & tries her hardest to bring the pair together. This is the fifth in the series but could be read by itself however I would recommend reading the other books in the series.

I received an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review. This book is pure romance and is very well written. Joanna, a widow, whose husband was a vile clergyman who accused her of being barren and of her inability as a woman to please her husband caused him to turn to men. He managed to destroy her self-esteem. Into her life comes Bran, new to his Earl title, and his young daughter Evie. He is interested in her and eventually they form a sexual relationship in which he makes Jo realize that she is highly desirable. The sexual encounters in the book are hot and sexy and there are several in the book. They are well written and add a great deal to the book. There is a HEA. I would highly recommend this book.

I've really enjoyed the Untouchables series. Bran can't stand to have people touch him or to dress in tight clothing. So becoming the Earl is a form of torture for him. Jo wants a family, children of her own. All of her friends are expecting, so it's just like rubbing salt in an open wound since she can't have any.
I liked the way that Jo let's Bran know what is proper without belittling him. And Brans daughter Evie fell in love with her at their first meeting. This was a heart warming book.