Tobias Powell has inherited the title of Lord Overton following his father's death. His father's will requires Tobias to marry within three months of his death or forfeit his mother's house, the only place he ever felt of as home. Trying to rebuild his tattered reputation and find a wife is a tall enough order already without adding in a young ward.

Miss Fiona Wingate has led a sheltered life in the country but has been brought to London for a Season in order to find her a suitable husband by her new guardian. Although she has no title, she does have a dowry, and if Tobias fails to marry within the allotted time she will also have his mother's house - although she doesn't know this. As she is new to society Fiona makes several mistakes and gets herself into all sorts of scrapes, none of which help her to find a husband or Tobias to find a bride.

Tobias is co-founder of The Phoenix Club with his closest friends. The club was set up to cater to those who had been overlooked by London Society, because they were poor, or rakes, or women, or Irish, or second sons etc. Less stuffy than the traditional clubs like Whites, The Phoenix Club has a separate half just for married women and spinsters.

I liked this but I didn't love it. I have read at least one other series which centres on a group of men who set up their own gentlemen's gambling club and this felt too samey-samey. Also, Tobias is billed as a dissolute rogue but after the first chapter he seems to be a very kind and proper young man.

However, I am very keen to read the next book in the series which features the club's founder's stuffy older brother Lord Aldington.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

The title "Improper" likely refers to the guardian/ward status of our heroine and hero in this historical romance by Darcy Burke, though other relationships hinted at in this novel could also apply. Either way, this slow and steady romance is a surprisingly satisfying tale.

When Tobias inherits an earldom from his father, he also inherits his father's heretofore unknown ward Fiona. The will stipulates that Tobias must bring Fiona to London from the countryside and ensure that she has a Season. For Tobias, the timing is lousy because the will also states that he must give up his dissolute ways and marry before a certain date or he will lose the only unentailed property, his beloved home that once belonged to his mother.

Unlike in most guardian/ward books, this pair does not immediately fall into any sort of lust; with the exception of one or two fleeting thoughts, the first time anything really happens is about halfway through. Instead, the time is spent getting to know and like each other, which enables the reader to get to know and like them too. We learn that Tobias isn't really much of a rake and that rather than being provincial, Fiona has a good head on her shoulders and possesses a remarkable ability to laugh at herself. When the two finally come together, it is largely without artifice or drama and more a case of sighing, "There you are."

It does feel a bit as if this book serves as much to kickstart Burke's new Phoenix Club series, and a blurb at the end of the book (an ARC) lets the reader know who is next. Honestly, that little bit was the biggest surprise in the book. That said, I was not bored or antsy at all, and I finished the book in a day.

I received an ARC of this book from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for my honest opinion. Thanks!

I recieved an e-ARC in exchange of my honest opinion. Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley
I have to admit I read a fair share of historical romances, my favorites authors of this genre being Tessa Dare and Julia Quinn so I was really excited to discover a new author. I wanted to like this book more. Unfortunately, I found the beginning a bit too slow. Don't get me wrong, I liked that the main couple didn't jumped into bed in the first pages but I would have liked to see more chemistry between the two or maybe just more action ... Nothing really happens. I found the first 50% of the story boring and struggled to keep on reading. If you like slow burned romances I guess you would like this one and honestly, in the end Fiona and Tobias were cute so I ended up enjoying the story more in the last half of the book.
The writing was quite good so I will definitely pick up other books by this author.

WHAT I LIKED
- The writing
- The intimate scene
- The romance in the last half of the book
WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE
- the slow beginning and the lack of action in the first half of the book

This is a delightfully funny and poignant story.
This is the Phoenix Club, where London’s most audacious, disreputable, and intriguing ladies and gentlemen find scandal, redemption, and second chances.
The Earl of Overton, Tobias Powell has just inherited a proper lady of a ward which he needs to marry off.
Fiona is ready to swap her provincial life for the excitement of a London season.
Will Tobias and Fiona find love?
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. This in no way affects my opinion of this book which I read and reviewed voluntarily.

Not only does Tobias inherit an earldom when his father dies, but he also inherits a ward, Fiona. Tobias also must marry in 6 weeks or he loses a property that is dear to him. Fiona is so happy to see London and hopes to have a grand adventure enjoying a season. Tobias hopes to marry her off quickly as well as pick a woman to marry himself. Even though it is improper, they develop feelings for each other. Great story! Can’t wait to read the next one! I received an ARC from NetGalley and Zealous Quill Press for my honest review.

3.5 stars

I wanted to like this book more. I read the free prequel: Invitation which sets up the premise of the Phoenix Club and introduces us to some of the characters. Lucien, the owner, Tobias his friend, Evie, the housekeeper, Ada the book keeper and another couple of unconventional lords.

This book is about Tobias. He wanted to marry and was about to ask his chosen lady for her hand, when he found another had beaten him to it. Tobias's would be fiancee then humiliates him. Tobias's father was disappointed especially as Tobias then took to very rakish behaviour. In the will, the father states that Tobias's favourite estate will be given to his ward, Fiona if Tobias doesn't wed within six weeks. Tobias's poor reputation makes this a tough ask. I liked Fiona, she really wasn't looking for a husband, she wanted to explore London and experience a city life having been cooped up in the country. Tobias kept important things secret and though he solved the mystery of why his father had taken Fiona under his wing I felt he hadn't really redeemed himself much before he starts to cavort with Fiona. I was rooting for Fiona to take the independance option.

There are some amusing antics in this book and I will continue to pursue this series. I eagerly await Evie, Lucien and Cassandra's stories.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Tobias Powell, Earl of Overton has spent the last two years cultivating his scandalously rakish reputation. But with his fathers’ recent death he has just a few weeks to rehabilitate it and wed or else lose his beloved childhood home. He also suddenly finds himself guardian of a country girl, Fiona Wingate, someone he didn’t know existed.

The romance between Tobias and Fiona is a little more slow-build than the usual love at first sight lightning bolt popular in many regency romances. Whilst they both see the other is attractive they build up a friendship and rapport before it becomes something else. Both characters are likeable and are nicely fleshed out. There’s a couple of Americanisms I find jarring, but this is often the case with these kinds of novels. Overall an enjoyable regency romance.

Absolutely loved it! I couldn't keep it down, When the new Earl inherits an ward he isn't exactly sure why- but he's got to see that she's wed. But he must wed in three month or loose his mother's estate that he loves dearly. Boy is he in a pickle! Fiona, is a girl from a country and has no idea why she is so lucky to get an invitation to go to London and have a season! How wonderful although she's not ready for marriage she's anxious to see so much London. I think they the downside for her were the rules she had to follow- unwed girls really couldn't do much at all! Boy did that disappoint her.Some how her adventures get the best of her, and she ends up in a scandalous position with her guardian. I'll leave the rest for you to read. I couldn't keep it down and finished it in less than three days! Five stars, Darcy Burke doesn't disappoint. I can't wait to read the rest of the series!

Tobias needs to marry and quickly, and Fiona his new ward fresh from the country, has to be guided through society, her naivety is a joy at times, as she finds out how she is expected to behave. I really enjoyed the relationship with Casandra and Fiona as they both lead each other astray, to the chagrin of Tobias. Romance develops as Fiona and Tobias spend time together and they discover their feelings for each other but it’s not until his grandmother arrives that they act on them. I would recommend this book and look forward to reading the next instalment of The Phoenix Club and it’s members

I received an advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review

Really wanted to like this one because it was so different, but I could have used a little more old fashioned romance

This book really came as a surprise to me. This is not the first ward-guardian Historical Romance that I have read, though it is probably my new favourite in that troupe.
The main characters, Fiona and Tobias were both interesting individuals and I liked to see how their relationship progressed. (This was definitely a slow burn.) Though, Fiona’s character is not as interested in the idea of marriage as she is in the idea of London and freedom whereas Tobias has his own reasons to look for a bride that have less to do with willingness and more to do with his father’s will. In this context, I liked how the book focused on both of them trying to find people get married to but also someone they could maybe fall in love with.
Most importantly, there wasn’t anything problematic as such with the story or the characters. This is one of my main concerns while reading Historical Romance because sometimes authors tend to, in order to make things historically more accurate, add things that just don’t work in the present time. Though that has been changing recently and this book is a perfect example of that. The setting on which the whole series is based is called Phoenix club and I think all the books in this series are going to follow the co-owners of this club. I can’t wait to read the other books in the series. I can already guess a few couples and yes, I am here for them!
Lastly, the writing… this was my first Darcy Burke book and I have already picked up ‘The Untouchables’ series which is 13 books long and I plan on reading them all.

Improper by Darcy Burke is a happy novel. A pick me up for the grey times and a lovely companion for sitting reading in the sun. Good characters and a broad cast which will, I hope, be called upon for later novels. Thank you to the Author and Netgalley for a fun read.

A very cute and fun book. The heroine, Fiona was a gem from the beginning. Tobias took a little time to warm up to for me. This is likely because the reader was made aware of Fiona's interest but Tobias didn't seem affected by Fiona as quickly as expected.
The story held my interest and the other characters introduced seemed compelling.
My one complaint is that the heat level seems to keep dwindling with each new series.
Overall, worth the time spent reading. 3 1\2 stars