Thank you Netgalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This novel wasn't as enchanting as I hoped it would be. The language too flowerly and the characters bland. I did not feel the sexual passion between Félix and Sarah. They acted more like friends than lovers. Disappointing.

4.5☆
I liked it!
Darcy Burke is one of my go-to authors.

What I liked:
The writing style
The characters
Friends to lovers
Part of a series: The Untouchables
Standalone
HEA
Epilogue

I look forward to reading more from this author.

I was so happy to see that Felix was getting his own story. He deserved it I thought. Sarah is a very lucky lady, although it reads as if Felix is the lucky one. Either way, I really enjoyed, The Duke of Distraction.

Ms. Burke once again write an enjoyable novel, returning some of your favorite characters while focusing on the developing relationship between Miss Sarah Colton and Felix Havers, Earl of Ware. Sarah and Felix have know each other a long time. After all, he is her brother's best friend. Sarah has plans to open a milliner's shop. She has a passion and talent for designing hats, but plans to keep her involvement a secret. Ladies of society do not work in trade. Felix is master at planning various activities; his most recent involves racing with a men's and women's division. When Sarah's parents force er to choose a husband, Felix steps in to assist her. Felix has no desire to marry due to circumstances of his past, but helping Sarah should be no problem, right? After all, he offered to help her with her millinery. One of Felix's parties changes everything between them. Felix is there and is supportive to Sarah, encouraging her. Sarah realizes there is more to Felix than what he shows to society. Their relationship develops into something more, where fighting their attraction seems pointless, no matter how hard they try to fight it. Can Felix and Sarah overcome what holds them back from having the love they so desperately have with each other?

We are at the end of The Untouchables which is sad but also happy in that a new journey will begin. We finally get an HEA for Felix and Sarah. How sad and devastating it must be to always have a need for distraction from everyday life. I wish we knew more of the background of Felix as he is obviously troubled. This is not always a happy story but it does show the need for friendship even when we resist. A slow learning of desire through troubled times makes this story a very nice read.