Well-written, romantic, sweet, with a heroine that reads maps for fun - what’s not to love? I am heartened that the author broached the topic of homosexuality in this historical romance, without judgment or bigotry being the main feature. I truly love a HEA and am pleased that this one was so delicious and lovely.

I received an ARC courtesy of the publisher and NetGalley. The opinions are entirely my own.

Thanks to Netgalley, the publishers and the author for an Advance Reader Copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book is the first in the Phoenix Club series and one of several books that I have read by this author. Tobias is an Earl that needs a wife and has recently inherited a ward. Fiona is the ward, she's a debutante, never been to London and is a little minx. Of course Tobias falls for Fiona and vice versa, after she gets into a few scrapes and he gets over himself.

I read these books because I know there is going to be a happy ending and the way they get there is usually a lot of fun to read. However this book seemed to lack that special spark between the two lovers that is usually apparent in this author's work. In fact, there appeared to be more chemistry between Tobias and his mistress in the first few pages than there was in the first half of the book between him and Fiona.

Fiona, at times, seemed almost childlike in her ineptitude which didn't gel with the vamp she turns into in the second half of the book.

There was plenty in the way of introducing new characters and explaining the function of the Phoenix Club, which did detract a little from the main storyline.

Cassandra, for example, has a firecracker personality which detracts from Fiona's appeal - although she is a bit of a loose cannon.

The first kiss happens in a haphazard way and I felt that there was very little build-up to the sexual tension between Fiona and Tobias.

The second half of the book does redeem the story and the end is very sweet and swoon-worthy. I want to stick with the series as I am interested in what happens with Lord Aldington in the next book and want to read more about the members of the Phoenix Club and Miss Goodfellow.

This is a solid first novel in the series but I hope the next one gives us more of the fabulous romance that I am used to from this author.

This was a different type of romance between a rogue and his new female ward. I found parts of the story romantic and other aspects just seemed a little wrong. I am still not sure why this set up was chosen, was it common for young girls to be sent to live with older males? What about falling for your ward? I just couldn’t get past those aspects in order to fully enjoy their story.

"Society’s most exclusive invitation...

Welcome to the Phoenix Club, where London’s most audacious, disreputable, and intriguing ladies and gentlemen find scandal, redemption, and second chances."

I've adored the Darcy Burke books that I've read, So, it surprised me that in during my reading of this title, I found it to be a bit less sparkly and fun than her other titles that I've read. I'm not really certain why I didn't enjoy this more, but I didn't and found it to be very slow and underwhelming. I'm rating this at three stars because it was well written and engaging, even though it wasn't specifically a hit for me.

Looking forward to her next book.

I received an eARC from Zealous Quill Press through NetGalley in exchange for my review. All opinions shared are mine and are influenced by nothing other than my own reading experience.

This is a voluntary review of an advanced copy.

I enjoyed the book even though I did not read the first book that sets the stage for what is happening - The Invitation - until after this one. It gives you a bit more information as you wonder who Prudence really is and explains who Evie really is and how the Phoenix Club came to be. But, you can read this book without any of that info!

Wow, what a situation that Tobias' father had put him in and if he goes ahead and gets married, he really messes up Fiona's inheritance! You can see the attraction between them but they both are busy trying to take of their own business and lives.

I loved all the other characters with Cassandra and Prudence being there for Fiona, and Lucien and Wexford supporting Tobias through this time when he feels he has to get his reputation back on track and get married in a short period of time.

Really makes you wonder if his first choice would have been willing to get married so quickly!

Lots of drama and Fiona seemed to keep getting into trouble so there was always something going on in the book to keep you reading and not wanting to put the book down!

Can't wait for the next book in the series to find out why the married couple are living apart!

Tobias Powell, Earl of Overton, has been known as a rake, a rogue, a scoundrel, and a reprobate. Tobias now needs to repair his reputation and find a wife. The deadline is approaching for him to wed. His father had a ward named Fiona from the country. He now learns that he must give her a season so she can find a husband. This is the last thing Tobias expected or needed. When Tobias’ father died he finds out he has three months to marry or he will lose his mother’s home. He now has less than five weeks to marry. Tobias tries so hard to not be like his father. Tobias and his father never got along. Fiona is a breathe of fresh air to Tobias. Fiona is a strong and passionate character with a love of maps. Tobias is charming and vulnerable. Tobias and Fiona have fun together without realizing they are falling in love with each other. They have much passion and chemistry together. This is the first book in the Phoenix Club. This was a very good story. I look forward to reading more books in this series about the Phoenix Club. I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley and I am voluntarily leaving a review.

Improper by Darcy Burke is the first of a new series and if you haven't read her books before, you should definitely pick one up. This one had a solid story but for some reason I didn't connect well with the characters. I thought Tobias was great but Fiona got on my nerves a bit. I completely understand her desire to not be forced into marriage without experiencing more of life but for some reason she came off as a bit annoying.

Overall, I enjoy Burkes stories and although this one didn't necessarily click for me, I will still be checking out the next book in this series.

Historical slow-burn romance with a licentious Earl? Say no more.

I really, really enjoyed this romance. The angst between Tobias and Fiona is absolute perfection, and their chemistry is undeniable. You can't help but fall in love with them. Another absolutely wonderful read from Darcy Burke. I am very much looking forward to learning more about The Phoenix Club (fingers crossed) and getting to know the secondary characters even better in the books to come.

Improper (Phoenix by Darcy Burke is the story of Tobias Powell, the Earl of Overton, who is under pressure to marry due to the terms of his father's will....and he is very unhappy about it! So he begins his search for an appropriate bride - one of "sophistication and wit, one who was kind and caring" - and he has only 12 weeks to accomplish this! Enter Fiona Wingate, who is actually the Earl's ward,, who he has committed to sponsor for her first Season. She wasn't expecting him to be so young and handsome, and he wasn't expecting her to be so alluring.

Darcy Burke weaves a great romantic tale set in Regency England, and I truly liked both Tobias and Fiona - and the other characters who fill in their love story. I am absolutely looking forward to reading the next book in this series, Impassioned, and other stories by Darcy Burke.

#netgalley #improper

Improper, by Darcy Burke. Approaching their first Season Tobias and Fiona are informed that they must find someone to marry. Neither want to marry, so they venture together during balls and Society social events to find their perfect match. I found that this book focuses on the gentle side of two people coming together. The book provides readers with information surrounding society rules and how one should portray themselves when their among watchful eyes. The has realism brings the emotional romance and heart aching love affair between Tobias and Fiona from behind closed doors. I found this book a joy to cuddle up to and read.

Improper by Darcy Burke
Series - The Phoenix Club book 2
Genre - Regency/Romance
Rating - 5 out of 5 stars

This book was very well written and I absolutely loved it! It is definitely one you can read as a stand alone if you have not read the first book. Although I loved this one so much I am going to go back and read the first one called Invitation so I can catch up a bit.

This book is about a man that has a ward he knew nothing about thrust upon him with little notice. This man has been a rake for several years and when the ward comes for her first season in London he also decides it is time to settle down and marry. With a little nudge from his father’s will.

The ward herself is from a small country town and never expected to have a season in London, with the benefits that come with it. She has little interest in marrying and only wants to explore new things. She has a keen interest in maps and the parks where promenades happen. She has little skill on the dance floor that leads to some mishaps along the way.

All along the way there is talk of this “Phoenix Club” and talk of the hero of the story being a part of it. They even host assemblies where anyone who has a relative or sponsor that is a part of the “Phoenix Club’s” exclusive member list can come. It is the ward’s deepest desire to attend one of these. She gets her wish but at what cost.

Will either of the two find love in a society where it is so commonplace to enter in marriage with no love at all? Well I guess you will have to read the book to find out.

I loved this historical romance. I have been wanting to read one, and this was it. It was so charming. It has all the elements that needs to make a great historical romance. A reformed rogue, a feminist heroine, bunch of friends, society customs, also LGBTQA representation . Loved it.

Thank you NetGalley.

A 2/5 on the scorching scale, Burke's Improper will leave readers hoping for steamy forbidden romps between the sheets aching for more. A slow burning tease, Improper stars Tobias, a wounded rake with Daddy issues, and Fiona, a starry-eyed country bumpkin who loves maps almost as much as she loathes the prospect of marriage. Tossed together as guardian and ward, Improper follows the slow progression of their blossoming friendship, which reads a bit like two pieces of white toast slowly discovering the joys of butter. Bound by a dictate from his dead father, Tobias must find a wife in an improbably short amount of time. If he fails to wed, his beloved childhood home will remit to the possession of his charming ward whose curious shenanigans tarnish his reputation, making it all but impossible for him to fulfill his father's contractual demand he marry posthaste. How will Burke extricate Tobias from this tricky dilemma?

The story itself is charming, and the book is well worth the time investment to read if you're in the mood for something light-hearted albeit milquetoast. The characters themselves feel simple and superficial; the motivation behind Tobias's descent into debauchery is poorly explained, as is why the reader should truly believe in his reformation. The tension between his authentic desire for Fiona and his obligation to act as her guardian is woefully underdeveloped as is any real development of his character beyond a very simple boy-likes-girl narrative. His willingness to chaperone Fiona about town seems at odds with a rake prowling the marriage mart and his sudden discovery of his feelings for our heroine makes his proposal feel less like a fantasy and more like a very poor life choice that will inevitably end poorly for both of them. He reads much more like a teenager than a man nearing 30.

Fiona is endearing, yet her persistent musings on marriage as the end of freedom but property ownership as a miracle of independence were overdone, like a steak tossed into a volcano. Like Tobias, Fiona's underdeveloped character made her behavior perplexing. Why was she so curious about the interior of a social club? Why was she so drawn to Cassandra? It seemed unbelievable that she would be so immune to certain social mishaps--bumbling before the queen, the cruelty of Tobias's former love interest, and the sudden appearance of his mistress. Her optimistic composure made her character feel shallow and flat, though readers looking for a saccharine heroine unperturbed by social expectations may find her responses more enchanting and less nauseating than I did.

Ultimately, I found Improper had a delicious premise and I feel disappointed, as though I was left hanging on the edge of a fabulous pay off, as if it could have been so incredibly satisfying. But it just...wasn't.

Improper by Darcy Burke is a historical romance that follows the Earl of Overton, Tobias Powell, and his ward Fiona Wingate. When Tobias and Fiona are brought under the same roof, sparks start flying, but he is her guardian and any romantic relationship between them is improper. Tobias has a reputation for being a rake and a scoundrel. He is trying to change and prove to everyone that he isn’t like that anymore so he can find a suitable bride. The story takes place in this timeline of six weeks that is defined in the will.

The story manages to keep you hooked from the beginning. Although the pace takes off as the story moves ahead. I loved the dynamic between Tobias and Fiona from the beginning. They start off almost as friends and go on to become more. Tobias is accommodating of Fiona and her wishes. He tries to make her as comfortable as he possibly can. She is curious about maps, he gets her more books and later a piano. She is not used to someone caring for her and taking her side. Tobias enjoys her company. He likes that she is curious about things, has her own mind and opinions, and stands up for herself. Both f them notice the spark between them but do not want to accept it.

The romance between Fiona and Tobias builds up slowly. For the first half of the story, you can see the chemistry and tension between them. There are romantic moments and stolen glances, but they keep it platonic. The first kiss they share blows away all the reservations they have about each other. It still takes time for them to accept that they have fallen in love. The way they fall in love is so realistic; it begins naturally. I loved their romance, their chemistry, and even their conversations. There is drama in the relationship, but they communicate well with each other from the start. I felt that they dealt with things very maturely. Their concerns or reactions to situations happen organically within the story. They were great together; it was so satisfying as a reader when they finally end up together.

Improper is the first book by Darcy Burke that I have read. Once I started reading it, I had a hard time putting it down. I finished the book over the weekend. The pace of the story is good, the writing is engaging, and the story and the characters are simple yet amazing. This historical romance kept me hooked from start to finish. I loved reading this book.

Fiona had me smiling from the first chapter. She was a delightful character full of spunk and vinegar. Tobias was a good character too. He was bitter from his father's lack of love and compassion. His father's will further complicates his life. He gives his 3 months to wed or he will lose his mother's house. He also leaves him Fiona as his ward. The story was entertaining, humorous and romantic. I liked the book.

Fiona is from a small town and has come to London for a season. She is being sponsored by Tobias. He is in need of a wife.His father has left a stipulation in his will. Tobias must marry to keep his mother's family home. The two make an arrangement to help one another. Things begin to spark between the two, and even though it is very improper, the two are falling for one another,

Her life was about to change and she could not wait! She was in London and about to start her first season! Now to meet her new guardian, an Earl!

He had just come into his title, but his father had tricked him by writing in his will, for his son to inherit a property he desperately wanted, he would have to marry. The problem was trying to clean up is reputation... But now he had the responsibility of a ward...

Darcy brings her special mix of humor and wonderful characters together to create a this delightful story! The question is, how will this turn out! Will he become enchanted with his ward, or marry her off to someone else?

Great start to a new series and I cannot wait for more!

Tobias is the new Earl of Overton, and he has inherited a new ward - Miss Fiona Wingate. Fiona is from the country, and is excited to experience the glittering London social season, which is much more glamorous and fun than anything she’s done before. But Fiona is just one of the problems his father left him with....his fathers’ will also dictated that he marry within three months of his fathers death, or he will lose his childhood home.

Of course, Tobias didn’t take this threat that seriously until half the time is gone...he has to try and rehabilitate his scandalous reputation, quickly, for both his sake and his wards’. According to Tobias, they are both officially on the Marriage Mart.

Tobias tries to be the imposing Earl and dictate Fionas’ actions, but he can’t. Fiona was my favourite part of this book - she’s young and fun and looking to get all the enjoyment she can out of the opportunity to be in the big city. I also really liked the chemistry between Fiona and Tobias - they have a genuine connection, which is built up slowly. I would have liked even more steamy scenes 🔥.

Overall this was a fun and quick read, and I will definitely be reading more about the other members of the exclusive Phoenix Club.

I’m a sucker for historical romance, so I was excited when I received a free ebook ARC from Netgalley and the publisher- thank you! I’m leaving this review of my own volition.

Thank you NetGalley for sending this book for an honest review!

Ok now this book WAS ASTONISHINGLY BEAUTIFUL. Like I actually loved it and I’m not even one for historical romance. I was a little iffy to request this book at first because anything with a cover containing real people has me pushing the book away. But then I decided to read the summary and I was just like WOW I must read this book. It was like enemies to lovers, a classic one ofcourse. Both the main charcaters Tobias and Fiona have no interest in marriage, yet both are told they need to get married soon. Fiona then has happened from create a scandal in which Tobias comes to her rescue only to find out her her guardian (protector) and doing anything improper with him would be bad;)

A well worth it classic that from now on I shall not judge a book by its cover.

I loved this book. From the Phoenix Club to the secondary characters, this story was highly entertaining. Fiona wants freedom, and Tobias needs a wife and is willing to settle for less than what he wants in order to get one. The author does a good job in making their change of hearts believable.